Floundering Crab
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2000
Travelers: DH & DW both 50
December 7â (Day 5) AK: Was going to try the tip we got off the boards about walking through the RFC to beat the crowds, but there were no crowdsâÂÂtoo cool. Again, must have been the weather. We walked right onto the safariâÂÂpays being a party of two. All the animals were out, some acted as though they were posing just for us. Got some great digital photos. Came back out and hit ItâÂÂs Tough to be a bug. CouldnâÂÂt wait to see DH reaction to final bug crawl. . . he didnâÂÂt fail me. Walked right into the Lion King showâÂÂonly about þ full. DH was duly impressed. Guess I forgot to tell you this was his first time at AK. Rode the dinosaur rideâÂÂthey got a great pix of me grinning at the âÂÂscareyâ dinosaur. (DidnâÂÂt buy this one.) Decided to get lunch at Mr KamalâÂÂs for the photo opâÂÂwell, itâÂÂs closed for renovationâÂÂpoop! Walked over to Tusker House in Africa and wasnâÂÂt disappointed. The chicken was delicious as was the rice. Great fast food. Walked over to take the train to Conservation Station. Saw the cutest trained goat actâÂÂcouldnâÂÂt figure out who was better trainedâÂÂthe CMs or goats. Sat in on the Song of the Rainforest then walked back to the train and then hiked the Pangani trailâÂÂvery nice CMs all along the trail at the ready to share their homeland knowledge. Took some beautiful foliage and animal photos. Walked over to take the Maharajah Jungle Trek to see the tigersâÂÂwasnâÂÂt disappointed. They too posed. Took in the Flights of Wonder show. Very well presented and when they brought the bald eagle outâÂÂthe hair on the back of my neck stood up with pride. We tried to find a viewing area for the Kali River Rapids, but didnâÂÂt and settled for watching the people stand in front of those gigantic heaters to dry off themselves. Had a wonderful, relaxing day at the parkâÂÂeven went back and took the safari a second time around because of the small crowds. Drove back to SOG to change for dinner at Whispering Canyon Café and wanted to be early so we could take in the decorationsâÂÂwas too blasted cold to go outdoors and walk around. Had a very enjoyable dinnerâÂÂthe BBQ skillet is hard to top, yet as nice as our waiter was, he spent very little time ensuring we got our refills or even to check our beverages. We always enjoy the antics of the restaurantâÂÂDH even gets into âÂÂshame-shamingâ people and waving his napkin around, but like I said, we were kind of left to our own devices this evening. Maybe Disney should be reminded that the adults are the ones who pay the bills for vacations. Returned to SOG and headed to the Sports Bar for a drink. Nice day. We could get used to this pace.
December 8âÂÂ(Day 6) MGM: We decided the night before to eat at Hollywood and Vine for brunchâÂÂlittle did we know (must have overlooked this fact) that it had been transformed into a Character restaurant. Ah shoot! WeâÂÂll just do it! DH is balding on top (says his brains are pushing the hair back) and Goofy and Pluto just wouldnâÂÂt leave him aloneâÂÂthey kept rubbing that shiny dome every chance they could. Even got a great up close pix of Goofy and DH. Were there long enough to watch Minnie and Goofy do their little dance. Food was good, but a bit pricey for breakfast, so we ate a lot (our solution, we paid later). After walking breakfast off a bit, tried to coerce DH into going on RRC w/me, but wouldnâÂÂt so got a FastPass for myself and made the decision to do it on my own. Walked over and saw Little Mermaid while I was waiting for my FP & took in the Great Movie Ride too. Well, I decided I was going to savor this ride and walked right up and into the queue for the ride. Imagine this 50+ woman, all by herself, marching up and on. . . I did! The gal I was paired with gave me the best piece of adviceâÂÂI would have forgotten if not for her. . . make sure you hold your head back against the headrests at takeoff, and I mean takeoff. I swear I felt my face squoosh back to my ears and then into the rolls. What a high. Loved that ride, but still couldnâÂÂt get the old geezer to go on w/me so only rode it that once. We didnâÂÂt even attempt the TOTâÂÂknew he wouldnâÂÂt go for that either. IâÂÂll get my 25-year old to go on that w/me next time. After my ride we went through the animation tour. That was a pleasant surprise to see the changes since our last time there. Skipped Doug Live and went over to Star ToursâÂÂhe loves that one, then took in the Drew Carey 3D sounds. CouldâÂÂve skipped that one too. Stopped at the 3D sound booth and headed over to find the Magic LightpostâÂÂwe did, but when we tried to get the picture of me standing under the umbrella, a couple kids got in the pix and refused to understand the concept of waiting your turn. Scooted on over to the Muppet 3D movie and then onto the Sci Fi for our dinner reservations. We each had all American burgers, fries, and chocolate shakes. They even sat us in the back seat so we could neck if we wanted. We shared our car with the nicest little guys youâÂÂve ever met. When we left I stopped to tell the mother how nice those boys were and that she should be very proud of them. After seeing so many obnoxious children, I really wanted to let her know sheâÂÂs doing something right. After dinner wandered on over to see the Osborne Lights. The pre-show was pretty lame, and the 3D glasses were not necessary, but what a spectacle. Really enjoyed our walk around oohing and ahhing, and then left MGM w/a smile.
December 7â (Day 5) AK: Was going to try the tip we got off the boards about walking through the RFC to beat the crowds, but there were no crowdsâÂÂtoo cool. Again, must have been the weather. We walked right onto the safariâÂÂpays being a party of two. All the animals were out, some acted as though they were posing just for us. Got some great digital photos. Came back out and hit ItâÂÂs Tough to be a bug. CouldnâÂÂt wait to see DH reaction to final bug crawl. . . he didnâÂÂt fail me. Walked right into the Lion King showâÂÂonly about þ full. DH was duly impressed. Guess I forgot to tell you this was his first time at AK. Rode the dinosaur rideâÂÂthey got a great pix of me grinning at the âÂÂscareyâ dinosaur. (DidnâÂÂt buy this one.) Decided to get lunch at Mr KamalâÂÂs for the photo opâÂÂwell, itâÂÂs closed for renovationâÂÂpoop! Walked over to Tusker House in Africa and wasnâÂÂt disappointed. The chicken was delicious as was the rice. Great fast food. Walked over to take the train to Conservation Station. Saw the cutest trained goat actâÂÂcouldnâÂÂt figure out who was better trainedâÂÂthe CMs or goats. Sat in on the Song of the Rainforest then walked back to the train and then hiked the Pangani trailâÂÂvery nice CMs all along the trail at the ready to share their homeland knowledge. Took some beautiful foliage and animal photos. Walked over to take the Maharajah Jungle Trek to see the tigersâÂÂwasnâÂÂt disappointed. They too posed. Took in the Flights of Wonder show. Very well presented and when they brought the bald eagle outâÂÂthe hair on the back of my neck stood up with pride. We tried to find a viewing area for the Kali River Rapids, but didnâÂÂt and settled for watching the people stand in front of those gigantic heaters to dry off themselves. Had a wonderful, relaxing day at the parkâÂÂeven went back and took the safari a second time around because of the small crowds. Drove back to SOG to change for dinner at Whispering Canyon Café and wanted to be early so we could take in the decorationsâÂÂwas too blasted cold to go outdoors and walk around. Had a very enjoyable dinnerâÂÂthe BBQ skillet is hard to top, yet as nice as our waiter was, he spent very little time ensuring we got our refills or even to check our beverages. We always enjoy the antics of the restaurantâÂÂDH even gets into âÂÂshame-shamingâ people and waving his napkin around, but like I said, we were kind of left to our own devices this evening. Maybe Disney should be reminded that the adults are the ones who pay the bills for vacations. Returned to SOG and headed to the Sports Bar for a drink. Nice day. We could get used to this pace.
December 8âÂÂ(Day 6) MGM: We decided the night before to eat at Hollywood and Vine for brunchâÂÂlittle did we know (must have overlooked this fact) that it had been transformed into a Character restaurant. Ah shoot! WeâÂÂll just do it! DH is balding on top (says his brains are pushing the hair back) and Goofy and Pluto just wouldnâÂÂt leave him aloneâÂÂthey kept rubbing that shiny dome every chance they could. Even got a great up close pix of Goofy and DH. Were there long enough to watch Minnie and Goofy do their little dance. Food was good, but a bit pricey for breakfast, so we ate a lot (our solution, we paid later). After walking breakfast off a bit, tried to coerce DH into going on RRC w/me, but wouldnâÂÂt so got a FastPass for myself and made the decision to do it on my own. Walked over and saw Little Mermaid while I was waiting for my FP & took in the Great Movie Ride too. Well, I decided I was going to savor this ride and walked right up and into the queue for the ride. Imagine this 50+ woman, all by herself, marching up and on. . . I did! The gal I was paired with gave me the best piece of adviceâÂÂI would have forgotten if not for her. . . make sure you hold your head back against the headrests at takeoff, and I mean takeoff. I swear I felt my face squoosh back to my ears and then into the rolls. What a high. Loved that ride, but still couldnâÂÂt get the old geezer to go on w/me so only rode it that once. We didnâÂÂt even attempt the TOTâÂÂknew he wouldnâÂÂt go for that either. IâÂÂll get my 25-year old to go on that w/me next time. After my ride we went through the animation tour. That was a pleasant surprise to see the changes since our last time there. Skipped Doug Live and went over to Star ToursâÂÂhe loves that one, then took in the Drew Carey 3D sounds. CouldâÂÂve skipped that one too. Stopped at the 3D sound booth and headed over to find the Magic LightpostâÂÂwe did, but when we tried to get the picture of me standing under the umbrella, a couple kids got in the pix and refused to understand the concept of waiting your turn. Scooted on over to the Muppet 3D movie and then onto the Sci Fi for our dinner reservations. We each had all American burgers, fries, and chocolate shakes. They even sat us in the back seat so we could neck if we wanted. We shared our car with the nicest little guys youâÂÂve ever met. When we left I stopped to tell the mother how nice those boys were and that she should be very proud of them. After seeing so many obnoxious children, I really wanted to let her know sheâÂÂs doing something right. After dinner wandered on over to see the Osborne Lights. The pre-show was pretty lame, and the 3D glasses were not necessary, but what a spectacle. Really enjoyed our walk around oohing and ahhing, and then left MGM w/a smile.
