We braved the 4th!!! AND the rain...and the crowds??? 7/1-7/8 BOOKED NEXT TRIP!!!!

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Okay, I have to get this TR MOVING! I haven't even developed (haha, can we still even call it that?!) my pictures yet but I've been working on another video and I just finished it! I reeeeeally want to share it with you guys but, obviously, it will be a spoiler since I've only completed 2 days of the TR!! So it's going up on youtube today...if you can find it, you can see it!! Haha! But I'm not going to link it here until the TR is done! So with that....let's keep going!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Day 3 - AK!
July 3, 2010​

This morning, I let Tom sleep a little and went to the food court to get some coffee and breakfast. Did I mention the massive amounts of tour groups at POR? For some reason I thought they all stayed off property but I guess POR was their resort of choice because there they all were! The food court was super crowded but I managed to get 2 coffees and a mickey waffle.

By the time we got up and moving, we made it to AK around 9:15am.

On the way there I had to take a picture of the POR stop sign. For some reason, Tom had such a problem with the font! I asked him why he hated it so much and he said, "I don't really hate it, I just don't buy it!" Good thing he wasn't driving!

Since I had the camera out, I also took a pic of the signs because they are SO WDW but I never thought to take a pic so....

We had no plans to run to attractions this morning so we took our time walking in, looking at the beautiful details of AK that most people just pass right by.

Since I had gotten up a little early and the temp was so much cooler than usual, I had the BRILLIANT idea to wear my hair down!

(Because of their claws?)

We had done the Maharajah Jungle Trek a few times but had never done Pagani Forest Trail so we went there first.

In this little hippo room, I read a story about how hippos became how they are today. Hopefully I can remember it.

Let's see....hmm, there was some other animal that lived near hippo, a meerkat maybe. So anyway, hippo was a total jerk, laying out in the sun all day going on and on about how beautiful all his luscious fur was. So one day meerkat had had about enough of hippos BS so he decided to play a trick on him. He made a bed of dried grass and leaves and told hippo that he made it for him to sleep on. So while hippo was sleeping, tricky meerkat set it on fire! When hippo woke up, all his fur was on fire and he had to run down to the water to put out the fire but it was too late. So THAT is why hippos have no fur AND they spend most of the day with just the tops of their heads sticking out of the water.....

Notice the hair is getting frizzier......


Ahh, finally! The gorillas!!!

This guy was so funny! He was sleeping right up against the glass and he was trying to get comfy with his arm under his head. It was so funny how much his movements were like those of a human!

Getting frizzier....

Side note: We don't really watch South Park too often, but one of our favorite episodes is Mr. Hanky's Christmas Classics. We watch it every year, just as sure as we watch Charlie Brown and Garfield and it's just the funniest thing! Anyway, having nothing to do with the episode, between commercial breaks they do this fake news story preview with this 70s looking anchor man who says, "Fighting the frizzies at 11." That's it! He says it every time, sometimes just "Frizzies: at 11!" It makes no sense at all! Anyway, that's the line we started saying about my hair that day! I was fighting the frizzies hardcore that day!

So after we walked the Pagani trail, we decided to take the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. It was still early so we were VERY lucky enough to catch some check-ups going on!!

This little guy was just getting his annual check-up.

It was really awesome to see the vet's office behind the glass. After each appointment, they would talk to the people watching (with a microphone) and they would answer any questions. There was also a screen with a schedule of appointments. They said most of the time, it's usual wellness visits but occasionally they will do a surgery!!

We walked around the room a little and looked at the caged animals.

By this time, the hair had been put in a ponytail!!

This is my best gorilla face.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Then it was THIS guy's turn for a check-up!

He was being transferred to another "zoo" (their words! not mine!) so he needed to be cleared for that. They also said that when they get new animals coming in, they are checked and quaratined for a certain amount of time before they are put in with the rest of the animals.

When the check-up was done, he was good to go!

When we got back, look who we saw busting out of the shrubbery!

We made our way to Asia...

Even in a ponytail...FRIZZIES!

He had us do some poses...

We decided we weren't going to bother to try to ride Everest at this point, or get a FP, because we had an early dinner at T-Rex. So we made our way back and stopped for lunch at Flame Tree. AGAIN, I forgot to take a pic but because dinner was at 4:30, we just split a 1/2 chicken.

After lunch, we went to Dinoland which is one of my favorite places to just BE! We walked around Chester and Hesters a little....

Then we played a few games. (It's soooo Jersey shore!) Last time we were there, you payed when you played but now you have to buy tickets and then give the tickets when you play.

We walked by Dinosaur and even though there was only a 20 or 30 minute wait (seriously people! It's JULY!) we decided it was just time to go. Had to get ready for dinner and UGH, I had to do some school work!! Boo!

But of course, we stopped for another photopass pic or two on the way out!!

Fortunately, it didn't really rain at all that day....YET!!

Up Next: Dinner and Fireworks cruise!!

 

[tinkerbell60]

I love the pictures of the signs....since we drive now, they really take me back!

Did you see the baby gorilla on Pagani Trail? So cute!! I have pictures from both March and then July - I will try to post them.

 

[Robmom]

Hey Pauline! Glad you found the TR. How was the rest of your trip? Did the kids enjoy the cruise on the 3rd?

The rest of the trip was great, even with all that rain, and we all enjoyed the cruise. It was really nice.

 

[tksbaskets]

What a great installment. Your hair may have looked frizzy to you but the pic with you looking through the hippo is super cute!

We've never been in Dinoland. May have to go there in December. Thanks for sharing your trip

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I love the pictures of the signs....since we drive now, they really take me back!

Did you see the baby gorilla on Pagani Trail? So cute!! I have pictures from both March and then July - I will try to post them.

Awww, we didn't see the baby! Too bad!

The rest of the trip was great, even with all that rain, and we all enjoyed the cruise. It was really nice.

The rain was crazy!

What a great installment. Your hair may have looked frizzy to you but the pic with you looking through the hippo is super cute!

We've never been in Dinoland. May have to go there in December. Thanks for sharing your trip

Haha thanks!

Dinoland is great. I'm going to post more about my thoughts on Dinoland in the next post!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I think a lot of people don't really get Dinoland. Why are there crappy carnival games in an animal theme park? But I think the imagineers did such a great job recreating a roadside stand from back in the day...like it is almost so realistic that people just see it as that, does that make sense?

There is a whole story behind the couple Chester and Hester. They owned a small gas station and weren't really making a lot of money until some dinosaur bones were found in the area and some researchers made the Dino-Institute nearby. (Which is the Dinosaur ride!) So they decided to profit from the people who came to the institute and turned their land into a tourist trap, complete with gift shop, cheesy signs and carnival games! Even look at the ground near dinoland...it's not the typical concrete, it's made to look like asphalt!

You can read more of the story here!
http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/08/chester_and_hesters_dinorama.html

I didn't love Dinoland at first either but knowing the back story really makes it awesome!

 

[Soopafly]

Great Update! Stef and I love the AK and it is very overlooked for some reason. She will want that Tinkerbell photopass pic for sure lol You have also given me a photo idea with the hippo skull

Fireworks cruise? *In toy story alien voice* OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! cant wait to hear about that, I bet it's fantastic.

 

[mdrob214]

Can't wait to see the photos from the fireworks cruise!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Great Update! Stef and I love the AK and it is very overlooked for some reason. She will want that Tinkerbell photopass pic for sure lol You have also given me a photo idea with the hippo skull

Fireworks cruise? *In toy story alien voice* OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH! cant wait to hear about that, I bet it's fantastic.

So glad other people appreciate the AK like we do. Definitely ask for that photopass with tink!

Can't wait to see the photos from the fireworks cruise!

Sooooon!

 

[taymacsmom]

I admit I never really got Dinoland before. Thanks for the explanation! Low crowds in July!? Hmmm, maybe I should rethink my plans for next summer.

 

[Nermel9]

LOL...I love that your DH said he didn't buy the stop sign at POR...that is totally something I would say! I can't wait to see it in person (I know, ridiculous, looking forward to seeing a stop sign! )

I just started to appreciate AK, I never really liked it until recently, so I liked how you took your time to notice all the details! It's such a beautiful park, I especially love the Asia section!

Although, Dinoland...I have to admit, I went there for the first time on my 08 trip, and haven't been back since. I wasn't impressed, I thought it was kinda lame, and I thought Dinosaur was a horrible ride! I might have to give it another chance, though!

Loved the pics of the animals getting their check ups!

Can't wait to read about the fireworks cruise!

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Wow...did I get that right....you didn't go on ONE ride at AK that day?!? If so...I really think that is great...all the "sight seeing" you did. I really need to try to go less comando this trip and enjoy all the things....and that is an AWESOME picture you got of lady divine!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I admit I never really got Dinoland before. Thanks for the explanation! Low crowds in July!? Hmmm, maybe I should rethink my plans for next summer.

You got it! Like I said, I didn't get Dinoland at first either but the story behind it makes it so much better!

Yes, we had really low crowds but I'm still under the assumption that it was a FREAK thing so I don't want to sway anyone's July plans based on my TR!

LOL...I love that your DH said he didn't buy the stop sign at POR...that is totally something I would say! I can't wait to see it in person (I know, ridiculous, looking forward to seeing a stop sign! )

I just started to appreciate AK, I never really liked it until recently, so I liked how you took your time to notice all the details! It's such a beautiful park, I especially love the Asia section!

Although, Dinoland...I have to admit, I went there for the first time on my 08 trip, and haven't been back since. I wasn't impressed, I thought it was kinda lame, and I thought Dinosaur was a horrible ride! I might have to give it another chance, though!

Loved the pics of the animals getting their check ups!

Can't wait to read about the fireworks cruise!

Haha, I know! The stop sign!

AK really is beautiful, isn't it? Why didn't you like Dinosaur?! That's one of my favorite rides! Yes, go back and give Dinoland another chance!

The trick to seeing the vet appointment is to go early! They do them all in the morning.

Wow...did I get that right....you didn't go on ONE ride at AK that day?!? If so...I really think that is great...all the "sight seeing" you did. I really need to try to go less comando this trip and enjoy all the things....and that is an AWESOME picture you got of lady divine!!!

Yeah...I guess it's true! We actually DIDN'T go on one ride that day! I didn't even think of it that way. As much as I LOVE the rides in WDW, it just isn't about that at all for us.

That DiVine picture was such luck! Like I said, she busted out of the bushes, crossed the path, then planted herself in the bushes on the other side. Tom had the camera on AND zoomed in because he was trying to take a picture of something else and when he saw her, he just pointed the camera at her and snapped at the exact right moment! That picture isn't even cropped or anything!

 

[MissJanice]

You can read more of the story here!
http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/08/chester_and_hesters_dinorama.html

I didn't love Dinoland at first either but knowing the back story really makes it awesome!

I read that blog, and then went to Dinoland it was so neat seeing all of the details. Especially the tires and liscens plates and way the dinosaurs on Triceratop Spin have the little tabs to make them look like the old fashioned tin toys. It is really cute!

 

[MissJanice]

Then it was THIS guy's turn for a check-up!

I had never seen them actually using the room until this trip (last week.) And they were "fixing" a new goat (the goats back was facing the window so you couldn't see the surgery) and as the guide so helpfully pointed out, his testicles were sitting on the table!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I read that blog, and then went to Dinoland it was so neat seeing all of the details. Especially the tires and liscens plates and way the dinosaurs on Triceratop Spin have the little tabs to make them look like the old fashioned tin toys. It is really cute!

Very cool, isn't it?!

I had never seen them actually using the room until this trip (last week.) And they were "fixing" a new goat (the goats back was facing the window so you couldn't see the surgery) and as the guide so helpfully pointed out, his testicles were sitting on the table!

Eewww! That's funny!

 

[MissJanice]

Eewww! That's funny!

That's what my husband said, then ran away very quickly!

 

[WLfamily]

Day 3 - AK!
July 3, 2010​

(Because of their claws?)

.

No! Because they're Macaws! LOL!!!