Got up at 6am for my first day at Walt Disney World! Showered and left my hair curly today (I usually like to straighten it easier to deal with throughout the day). Oh, but not today it was POURING, so curly it is!
Had time to go to the food court to grab some breakfast. I ordered the kids Mickey waffle plate the adult version was not a Mickey shape but had the POP logo in the middle of it. Grabbed an OJ and sat down at a table and read for a few minutes. When I headed out to the busses, I noticed and DAK bus pulling away darn it!
It was raining like crazy, but I did have a poncho and umbrella in my backpack. Got to DAK and checked in under cover for the Behind the Scenes tour. This would be my first time taking this tour and I was excited, despite the rain.
****Spoiler Warning here - might have some info about the tour....if you don't want to know specifics, skip the next couple of paragraphs****
Paul was our tour guide and I loved that, I had read some good reviews online about his tours. He gave us all a free Mickey poncho! We got set with our radio headgear and headed backstage right at the Rainforest Café. Normally you walk to the back of the park at this time but since it was raining so hard, he had arranged motorized transportation for us! YAY!! We got to drive around the outskirts of the park in a couple of white vans I always sat in the passenger seat since I was the only solo in the group.
He drove around the park pointing out things like the fence to keep some out, more than some in, the buildings and the bike racks and path for the cast members that worked there. Our first stop was the elephant barn where we got to watch the morning wash routine for one of the bull elephants and we learned a lot, even getting to ask the trainer some questions. Disney is so great about recycling they even recycle the waste from the elephants makes great fertilizer! You needed to know that, right?!
Over a month back writing this and I cant remember the order of the places we visited, but we went to the Vet Center back at Rafikis, but no surgeries were scheduled that day. Note to self (and others if you would like): Friday is a travel day for the Vets there, they go around to make house calls to animals all around WDW, therefore, surgeries are rarely scheduled on Fridays. We also visited the dietary center were we saw many things of which I will not describe for you here
but just know those animals at DAK are WELL FED!~ A Cast Member was having a birthday party that day and they had stored his cake in the fridge with the animal food but they said it was well sealed and only in with the vegetation
..hmmmmm.
We took a break in one of the buildings to watch a film about conservation and Disneys Animal Kingdom. We got to take off the ponchos, use our new mugs to fix some hot tea or hot chocolate and grab some snacks.
From there we went the backstage entrance over to the safari. We loaded where the trucks normally unload. Paul was our guide as we didnt have the regular storyline. We drove past the loading docks and there were only 1 group of 4 waiting for a truck. Another Note to self: come to the DAK in the rain, there is no one here!!
The safari was great as we took it slow and Paul showed us many of the secrets of the safari and keeping the animals safe and separate from the park goers. After the ride, we gathered in Africa to check out a big hidden mickey of stones and then we parted ways.
As I was passing through, I saw a couple of the characters from The Jungle Book, so stopped to have my picture. I was asked to take off my poncho as to not get them wet
..sorry!
I headed over to Asia to ride Expedition Everest through the single rider line. I dont think it really was necessary, but the wait in the regular line was 15 minutes, single rider, none! Got pelted in the face by some raindrops along the way, but had a great ride!
I made a call home to check in with the parental units and let them know about my tour. I was walking past the turn off for Kali River Rapids and decided what the heck, I am already drenched! Now this is unusual for many reasons
..ok, really just one reason I HATE water rides!! I rode Splash Mountain in October with my niece because it was her trip, but I did duck behind the big man sitting in front of us! So, I walk into the queue
and walk and walk some more. I was able to check out the display of artifacts along the way as NO ONE was coming into the line behind me. I even stopped a few times to yell out to see if I was even going the right way, as I saw no other human being at all! Finally saw 2 cast members trying to stay a bit out of the rain. I had one of them take a picture of me with the sign, just a little proof that I had ridden this ride.
I got onto one of the rafts and quickly stored my backpack in the center. I thought I was going to take this journey completely alone, until a dad and his 2 kids jumped on the raft with me all getting on the other side.
Not a bad ride, but nothing too great either. Not something I will have to repeat any time soon. My booty did get quite wet as the water slooshed (is that a word?) over the sides.
Got a bottle of water and went in to watch Flights of Wonder just as it was starting. This is a nice covered area, so I had a chance to take off the poncho and dry out a bit. Shhh, dont tell anyone, but I took my shoes off too as my toes were quite squishy!
After the show, I walked around the park a bit and even saw Devine. It is great to watch peoples reactions to her. Had my picture taken in front of The Tree, even got one of the bonus pictures, holding onto Simba. I only wish the photopass guy had told me how bad my hair looked!!
Went to see Its Tough to be a Bug making sure to stop and see the duplicate animal at the entrance to the theatre (something you learn on the tour you really should take it!). Half empty theatre, but still a cute show.
Next I headed over to Camp Minnie Mickey as I did not want to go another trip without seeing The Festival of the Lion King. This is probably my favorite show at Walt Disney World.
While there, I had to get my picture with some of the characters. I had never met Thumper and Miss Bunny before, and of course enjoyed getting my picture with Goofy and Donald! The cast members here were obviously quite bored and we joked around awhile, waiting for the characters to return. I even posed with one of them in Goofy style. When it was my turn with Mickey, Minnie and Pluto, I think that Pluto really needed a fire hydrant, and was even doing a little dance
..LOL.
The parade was canceled that day, due to the rain. I thought about getting something to eat there, but really just wanted to rest and get DRY! So, I headed back to my room at POP.
Back at the resort, I didnt feel like dealing with the food court. I stopped at a vending machine and got some bugles and a water. Back in the room I hung my clothes up to dry and took a shower. Watched tv for a little while and noticed how absolutely wet my jean capris were. Instead of wearing something else, I decided to iron them to get them dry hey, it worked! (but that ironing board was a pain the rest of my trip!)
I had plans to meet Andie (RockinDisney) for dinner at the Whispering Canyon Café at 8pm. Never knowing how long the transportation may take, I headed to the bus stop at 6pm to a waiting MK bus. I was at the Magic Kingdom by 6:20!! This was way too early to head to the Wilderness Lodge, so I went into the park to just look around Main Street a bit.
I took some great pictures down main street loved the lighting from the sky. Did a little window shopping and decided to go into Town Hall behind Tonys. I had heard that some characters had been spotted here. Well, there were a couple of princesses hanging out in their ball gowns. I got into the non-existent line to have my picture with Ariel and Cinderella. Ariel made a comment about my red hair and how I could be one of her sisters, but I told her I didnt have any sisters. To which Cinderella replied, well that is good, you could have awful step sisters like she does. Oh so true!
Outside I had my picture taken with Chip and Dale and then decided I better get on a boat over to Wilderness Lodge. Had to wait about 15 minutes, as the boat was just pulling away as I walked up. Still got to the Lodge in plenty of time.
cont. on next post....
Joining in!! I followed you over from my TR.
It sounds like a fun trip! We've never done any of the tours so I'm anxious to hear what you thought of them.
