Who invited Milton to her 21st Birthday?? An October 2024 Trip Report UPDATED October 30, 2025!

[missjackiemcg]

I'm sad I never made it to Jellyrolls, but this was a nice last run for you at least! My Girl for your baby turning 21 is pretty precious. Love that!

So happy you got a rain free day at AK! I'm excited to hear more about the Savor the Savanna tour. That's something I've been going back and forth about trying to add to our trip in December, too. We're already doing a fireworks dessert party, but I think it sounds great. I'm not sure if it would be worth it to bring Jimmy though.

 

[pkondz]

We ended up getting to Animal Kingdom around 11...

!!

Because of this we wanted to make the day extra special and we booked the Savor the Savanna tour for that afternoon

Great way to make the day special.

Clay didn't love this one...I think the backwards part made him a little sick afterwards.

Too bad. One of Disney's better coasters.

Mr. Kamal's fries...

mmmmm...

These are always so good and I literally cannot just walk past that truck without stopping for some

For sure!
But such a shame they removed all the different dips.

At some point Mike got his favorite Bloody Mary from the Dawa Bar...

Yum.

Before long we were seeing ...

Working?

Allie and Clay split a Night Blossom when we got out.

Love that drink.

the biggest disappointment was the cancellation of MNSSHP

Oh, bummer! I'd have been very disappointed.

we didn't think it would be worth it for Ava who wouldn't eat any of that food or drink.

I guess so. But you do get so much closer to all the animals.

Not to worry though, Ava was living her best life back at the resort and finally got the pool day that she absolutely loved!

Amazing how much kids love pools.

 

[buzzrelly]

My Girl for your baby turning 21 is pretty precious. Love that!

So happy you got a rain free day at AK!

We needed that after all the rain we had been getting!

I'm excited to hear more about the Savor the Savanna tour. That's something I've been going back and forth about trying to add to our trip in December, too.

We loved it! Mike and I actually just did it again last month and he told me he wants to do it for every trip!

I'm not sure if it would be worth it to bring Jimmy though.

I get that. It really depends on the kid maybe. The stopping in the middle of the safari is really cool but then when you get up to the boma there is food and wine/beer served and you're there for about an hour maybe. Ava is the fussiest eater on the planet and would have been bored sitting there watching us eat and you're not really "up close" to the animals at that point, though it's a pretty amazing view. She was definitely happier at the pool and we also didn't use a park ticket for her that day and went back to MK another day so it worked for us.

 

[buzzrelly]

!!

I know, crazy right? Mike and I stopped rope-dropping mid-trip last month and actually found it to be somewhat more enjoyable and didn't feel like we were missing anything. It's hard to make that brain shift though after thinking rope-dropping was the only way to go all these years!

Great way to make the day special.

It really was! And really just cemented AK as his favorite park.

Too bad. One of Disney's better coasters.

I know but that backwards part is so disorienting so I get it. I don't get motion sick but I can see why that wouldn't feel good to someone who does!

For sure!
But such a shame they removed all the different dips.

I don't remember there being different dips? What am I missing?? I do like the Siracha Mayo that comes with it now

Working?

I think so but really couldn't say ...my memory isn't that good!

Oh, bummer! I'd have been very disappointed.

I was more disappointed for Ava since that was going to be her first and the other parties were all sold-out so it's not like we could go another night.

I guess so. But you do get so much closer to all the animals.

That part is very nice

Amazing how much kids love pools.

Since her first trip in 2021 she's always just content to hang out at the pools because she can play with other kids and run around somewhat free.

 

[pkondz]

I know, crazy right? Mike and I stopped rope-dropping mid-trip last month and actually found it to be somewhat more enjoyable and didn't feel like we were missing anything. It's hard to make that brain shift though after thinking rope-dropping was the only way to go all these years!

I think how often you are able to go has a lot to do with it too. You don’t feel it’s quite as necessary to do all the rides. You can be content with just strolling and taking it all in.

It really was! And really just cemented AK as his favorite park.

I know but that backwards part is so disorienting so I get it. I don't get motion sick but I can see why that wouldn't feel good to someone who does!

Oh for sure.

I don't remember there being different dips? What am I missing?? I do like the Siracha Mayo that comes with it now

there used to be a dispenser with about four or five different flavours of dips. They were all good, and it was fun seeing which one was your favourite.

I think so but really couldn't say ...my memory isn't that good!

I was more disappointed for Ava since that was going to be her first and the other parties were all sold-out so it's not like we could go another night.

 

[buzzrelly]

OCTOBER 8, 2024
SAVOR THE SAVANNA

A little past 4 we checked in at the kiosk out side KS. The cast member gave us all lanyards and told us to use the restroom if we needed to since we wouldn't be able to once we got on the truck until we stopped at the boma.




Then the guide meets you and takes you off to a side entrance to load onto a safari truck. Instead of having rows this truck has bench seats shaped like a U so everyone sits and faces in but you also can turn around and have a great view. They pretty much take you the same way as the safari but then they pull into the middle and basically park there so you can just sit and watch the animals up close. Another truck pulls up alongside and puts food out for the giraffes so they are enticed to come eat and get closer to the truck. It's really amazing to be so close to them. While we were stopped there they tell you all about the animals and since we were about to have a hurricane, a lot of the discussion was about what happens to the animals during the storm. Our guide told us some of the animals had already been put away and some would be lured back into the barns but a lot of them would be left out because they would use their own instincts to keep safe. It was all very interesting to learn about.


After a while of being parked there and 10 million pictures taken,
we headed off to the boma where the buffet was waiting for us.


There were only maybe 10 of us on the tour so it's a fairly intimate setting.


Allie was having fun getting carded as a 21 year-old. The CMs were really sweet about it


This was one of our plates...

Everything was super delicious but that cheese was amazing

Mike and I loved this tour so much that we did it again this past October and I have a better picture of the spread...



Continued in next post...​

 

[buzzrelly]

OCTOBER 8, 2024
STILL SAVORING THE SAVANNA

This is the view looking out from where we were sitting. So beautiful...



Behind the dining area there is a little walkway the brings you to a lookout close to the lions
so after we were done eating we walked back there...




And then it was time to head out but even on the truck on the way back they stopped for us next to the lions again...





This tour is a 10/10 and we highly recommend!
Mike wants us to make do it on every trip...I'm not sure we'll do that but maybe make it a yearly thing.

On the way out the park was perfectly empty and we got some great pics with nobody in them...




I forgot to post our photopass pics earlier but here's Clay not enjoying himself on Everest...


And a really goofy shot of the four of us...

Like, did you even GO to Animal Kingdom if you don't have a picture growling with your claws out?

Back at the Beach Club would you believe Ava and Grammy were still at the pool?
We hurried back to the room to change and go meet them since we hadn't been to the pool yet ourselves!

​

 

[missjackiemcg]

The tour is similar to the second half of the Wild Africa Trek, which we have done twice and loved! And it looks like the food is mostly the same, as well, but you get more than just the little tiffins per person. Do they refill as people eat through? I ask because I'm obsessed with that hummus and would want to gorge myself, but would feel bad not leaving enough for others. Ha!! And because I know Rob will ask me, are the drinks unlimited, as well?

Our guide told us some of the animals had already been put away and some would be lured back into the barns but a lot of them would be left out because they would use their own instincts to keep safe.

That's so interesting! I wondered about that, too. I was watching videos of how the zoo in Jamaica prepared and stored their animals away safely for the storm last month.