Why do we have to stand in all these lines?...a TR by DM w/lots of PIX...Completed!

[Disneyolic]

Thanks DM

I love the maps

Bummer about the water you'd think it would be on sale everywhere so they could make more money Great Kali videos and thank goodness you were wearing your sports bra

Nooooooo I'm now going to have to wait 2.5 weeks for the next update aren't I

I knew that I would update for you Jo. But yes, now you'll have a lot to catch up on. Sorry! It should be enjoyable reading. Just think though. Some of the reports will not be updated while you are gone....like yours, Tracy's, V's..... See? Less to catch up on there!

Great update!! You always make it sound like I could be right there with your family throughout the day

Thanks so much. I try hard to make it as interesting as possible. It's not always easy. I think my very first TR sounded like...first we went here and then here. Then we walked here. Oh, it was not very interesting and not a lot of people subbed. Plus no pics. I never finished it...

great update. Did you draw the lines on the maps or did you do it on the computer?
can i steal the idea for my March trip when I do a tr?
Did you like Kali? It was one of the biggest disappointments for us.

I have a program that draws dashed lines so that's what I used. And no, you may not steal my idea. Well, okay! I think it's a cool idea because then you get a sense of where everyone was heading and how far a walk (kind of). I liked Kali once. Will I do it again? If the kids want to I will but it won't be on the "must do" list. I'm glad I got wet because it was really refreshing.

That maps are great! Good idea!

Goodness, it sounds like it was hot that day. I really don't know if I could handle it in the summer.

I'm sad that you didn't get to go on Dinosaur.

Thanks. The heat is very bad but you kind of get used to it providing you take the right precautions. Like keeping hydrated. Rob & I both agreed that we got used to the heat and humidity - just not the crowds.

I love that game! The B.F. and I always play each other, we get pretty competitive!

I don't blame you!

Oh you'll see a few of these in my T.R. too! Taking pictures of the pictures is the way to go!

I totally love playing that game. We've had it for years now and I wish they would update it. It's so much fun. I'm not into the fighting games and such. I like the innocent fun games. I bug Rob into playing "Life" with me.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Hey DM,

Great update! That is too bad that the boys were too scared to go back on Dinosaur with you because that ride is so much fun.

You guys all looked like you had fun on Kali, I love that you though to video tape each other as you floated by. It was nice of the CM to make sure you were able to sit with your boys.

 

[tinkgurl]

I like the innocent fun games. I bug Rob into playing "Life" with me.

We just bought 3 games at WDW: Stitch Trouble, Disney Candyland, and Disney Chutes and Ladders. Yeah we play them. We also have the Magic Kingdom Game. Helps us get our fix I guess.

 

[scottny]

We just bought 3 games at WDW: Stitch Trouble, Disney Candyland, and Disney Chutes and Ladders. Yeah we play them. We also have the Magic Kingdom Game. Helps us get our fix I guess.

What is the magic Kingdom game???

 

[blue_river]

Another great update!

Love your map idea

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Yeah an update! (Should we be thanking Jo for this?)
So since Jo asked for an update before she leaves, can I ask for one too?

Love the map idea!

Sucks that you didn't get to ride Dinosaur. Next trip if you have to do the swap I think Rob should go with 1 kid and then you go with the other the next time. That way you'll get to always ride . Just a suggestion until Brookie's big enough to ride, or if she becomes one of those girls that don't do thrill rides .

@ the Redneck photo of Dinosaur. I really need to remember the redneck photo thing. I hope Disney doesn't catch up to our cheapness and start controlling the pics.

Loved the tigers! Awwww

 

[Disneydad99]

Monday, June 25...Animal Kingdom
DinoLand to Asia and back to DinoLand


Hopes:
1. More PhotoPass pictures taken...
2. A good DIS meet with Laura...
3. No blisters on my feet...today was my Crocs Athens day again
4. A meeting with the Dream Team

Wants:
1. A good breakfast at Donald’s Breakfastosaurus...
2. Ride Expedition Everest with Laura at park opening...
3. Ride Dinosaur
4. Have a good rest at the resort in the afternoon
5. Return to Animal Kingdom in the evening for EMH

We finished with breakfast about 8:50 am so we had 10 minutes until rope drop. We walked
over to the rope area. I was immediately disappointed at where the rope was. I had no idea
where it was going to be from Dinoland but I was hoping it would be closer to Asia so we
could get right over there and ride Expedition Everest. The plan was for all of us to get over
to EE and ride it with Laura. We would then go our own ways from there.

So we are all right at the rope chatting away still. I figured the rope would be dropping soon
and it did. We started our trek over to Asia - all the while talking and talking away. We really
did not walk very fast. But we should have. When we approached Expedition Everest the line
was so long already that my eyes bugged right out of my head. We all looked at each other.
Then Laura said they weren’t going to ride because her son really wanted to go on Kilimanjaro.
So we said our goodbyes and I went to stand in the line for the FPs.

I got us all FPs and we headed back to Dinoland. The only thing we ever rode there before
was Triceratops Spin so we wanted to ride Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl. We saw that
Primeval Whirl had no line at all. Now this ride had a 48-inch minimum and Alec did not
measure up to 48 inches at home so I warned him that he may not be able to ride this. We
walked up to the measuring stick and he just made the 48-inch mark!! Woohooty! I took the
boys on Primeval Whirl while Rob stayed with Brookie. He snapped this picture of us going
by...

That ride really whips you around. I almost lost one of my Crocs! That would have been a
tragedy! We got off the ride and Rob quickly took Evan and Alec back on it while I took
Brooke over to Triceratops. I told her to smile for the picture but she said, “No. I don’t
wanna.”

As we were flying high on Triceratops Spin I snapped this picture of Primeval Whirl. But I
don’t like it. It really reminds me of a dumpy amusement park. I dunno...

Brookie really wanted to go on Triceratops Spin again and, because I knew we were going
on Dinosaur and Expedition while she had to sit it out, Rob took all the kids on it. I stood
below and snapped a couple of pictures. First picture - not so good...well, maybe a good
one of Rob!

Second picture not so much better but it really is hard to get a good picture on this ride.
And why are the boys looking the other way? What is so interesting that way?

Then we headed on over to see what the line at Dinosaur looked like. We still had some time
before our FP return for Expedition. I really couldn’t wait to go on this ride. Rob too, because
we missed it on our last trip that I now dub “washout day”. Would the boys chicken out? Stay
tuned...


Next installment...June 25...Animal Kingdom...DinoLand to Asia to Discovery Island back to Asia

Love the Pics!!! & the One Of Rob is Cute...Oops I meant Hansome.....oh Neither sounds Right....The Pics of the Kids & You are Great!!!...Sheww saved on that one !!!

 

[Disneydad99]

Monday, June 25...Animal Kingdom
DinoLand to Asia to Discovery Island and back to Asia...


Hopes:
1. More PhotoPass pictures taken...
2. A good DIS meet with Laura...
3. No blisters on my feet...today was my Crocs Athens day again
4. A meeting with the Dream Team

Wants:
1. A good breakfast at Donald’s Breakfastosaurus...
2. Ride Expedition Everest with Laura at park opening...
3. Ride Dinosaur...
4. Have a good rest at the resort in the afternoon
5. Return to Animal Kingdom in the evening for EMH

After I posted that last map to help out where the DinoLand rope drop is, I had a great idea
to post maps to show our trip around the park. Let me know what you think about this...

We left Primeval Whirl and headed to Dinosaur!

Time for Dinosaur. Man oh man I was looking forward to this one. Some of you may know
about this if you have Playstation but there is a Disney racing game that I absolutely love to
play. And I am so good in the Dinosaur race. So, naturally, I have to compare the game to
the ride. The wait time said 20 minutes. We grabbed the child swap pass and I told Rob to
take the boys on it first (it was his turn) while I tried to hunt down some water with Brookie.

I started off in search of a water stand. All the carts were closed still. This was very irritating
as it was so freaking hot and we wanted some bottles of water. I will not drink from a
fountain. I just have this thing for bottled water. I stock up on Poland Spring here at home.
Plus I get grossed out by putting my mouth near where some other person’s mouth might
have been, especially since I don’t know where that mouth has been. To quote Brookie in
her new favorite saying, “Ewwwwwwwww!” So, to get out of the heat, Brookie and I went
into Dinosaur’s gift shop and waited for the boys. When I finally saw their picture pop up
on the screen I rednecked it and waited for them to get off the ride.

From the picture I couldn’t tell that Alec and Evan had been scared by that dinosaur at the
end. In fact, it scared the be-jeebers out of Alec and he said he would not ride it with me.
Evan said he did not want to ride it either. What? You bunch of freakin' wussies. I wanted
to ride it but not alone. I don’t really like being alone on things like that. So, I moped and
we headed on over to Expedition Everest. I was still in search for bottled water. There were
none on the way...

I took Evan on Expedition first and I told Rob to go hunt down some bottled water. The FP
line was very short and we boarded and took off. All I can say is WOW! We loved it. It was
so much fun. I did not get to redneck the picture because there were too many people in the
way. Bummer. Evan & I exited Expedition and started looking for Rob. I saw Brookie’s stroller
still parked where we put it but he, Alec & Brooke were nowhere to be found. I called him on
his cell phone. No answer. I had Evan get up on a rock and scan the crowd. Nope. Now I was
getting ticked, mainly because I was hot and starting to get dehydrated.

Side Note: I am prone to dehydration. At least I think I am. There have been many a times that I’ve been sick from
dehydration. One interesting story was that I suffered from dehydration/heat stroke in Bermuda once and passed out
in the middle of the street. Thank goodness a kind police woman saw me and rushed over and helped me out. She
ordered me to go straight to my room and drink some orange juice or she would drive me to the hospital. I went to
my room. Anywho, I always make sure I drink enough in the heat.

Finally I saw Rob with Alec & Brooke heading our way and I flagged them down. He was
ticked himself because he said it took him forever just to find someplace to get a bottle of
water. We both don’t understand why they didn’t have anyplace in the morning to get some.
I am positive people would be buying some. Rant over...maybe.

Rob went on Expedition with Alec while I stayed with Evan and Brooke. We went over to a
nice viewing area and I took a couple of pictures. I actually took a bunch of pictures hoping
that one of the trains had Rob & Alec on it but in the end, you just couldn’t tell so I settled
on keeping the best two photos.

We were wondering what we wanted to do next. We grabbed some FPs for Kali River
Rapids first. Then, I really wanted to go on one of the trails to check out some of the
animals.

So we went on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Almost all of us enjoyed this trail. Almost
means everyone but Alec who was being a little grump. He just did not have any interest
in looking at any of the animals. Well, too bad for him. We all enjoyed it and told him to
just keep up and keep quiet. There was only one spot that I remembered to take pictures.

And this was just too good not to take a picture!

Now the time was 11:30 am. Yes, we accomplished all this in 2½ hours. That’s good for
my family. As we were getting a bit hungry, we headed on over to Discovery Island to see
what we may want to eat over there. We did circles around here but couldn’t quite decide
on what to eat. This was definitely not in our plans.

However, the ice cream stand was calling our names and we all stopped there. We used 5
of our DDP credits and what a good use of credits on this hot and sticky day. I had my very
first Mickey Premium Bar. Yes people. My first! The kids have had them but I never did.
And, I didn’t have to share it. It was scrumptious on this sticky hot day. We all finished up
and headed back to Kali.

Rob took the boys first and Brookie and I made our way down to the end of the ride to take
a little video of them...


And when they got off, I took the boys. It was so much fun passing the long long line of
hot sweaty people. A lot of them gave us dirty looks. WhatEVER. They could have gotten a
FP so too bad for them. The CM sent us over to a raft and at first I said that we couldn’t get
in it because I only saw 2 seats. He said there were 3 in there and walked away from us.
There was 1 seat on one end 2 other seats on the other end of the raft not even together.
I was not comfortable with this arrangement so I refused to get on and a CM rushed over.
I said I needed to sit with my young boys. He scolded the group on the raft saying, “Come
on people, move over, a mother and her kids need to sit together. Come on move!” It was
a bit shocking but the people moved over. It was not a big deal for them to move either. It
was a case of people leaving 1 seat in between here and there. So, off we went. I did manage
to get pretty wet as I was headed in the backwards position at the big drop. Good thing I had
my sports bra that day as the white shirt would have flashed it all! Here’s the video Rob took...


By this time, we were all pretty tuckered out and much needed a rest back at the resort.

My feet were rubbing pretty hard on the Athens from the sweat. Did I mention how hot
and sticky it was? I’m sure I did. So, back to the resort we went. Did we fall asleep back
at the resort? Did I do my most favorite thing back there? Did we get back to the Animal
Kingdom that night? Stay tuned again folks!

Love the Map Deal I wish I could Do that!!!!....
& the Pics & Videos are Awesome...Love Kali River Rapids..I get soaked there everytime....

 

[Disneydad99]

I am so far behind on all the Threads I read.....I am sorry I did not comment on everything...The Updates are Great I can't wait till the Next one....BTW I love how you have done Links to all the Updates!!!!...Very Cool...& if I could add a good Caption to some of Our Pics I would Post on your Pic thread...but I reead ti often!!!

 

[twob4him]

Hi DM! Sounds like you had a great AK day, a bit hot, but still you got on lots of attractions! Isn't Kali fun? Love the maps too! Great idea! My vote it that you all ate lunch at the pool and went swimming! Am I right???

 

[tinkgurl]

What is the magic Kingdom game???

It's this board game and it's the layout of the MK, and each attraction has a number. There are cards divided by lands and you have to draw a card of each land, but you can't show them to anybody else. Each card has one attraction on it, and you must go to all the cards you have. First player to get to all their attractions and back to the Train Station on Main Street wins!

 

[scottny]

It's this board game and it's the layout of the MK, and each attraction has a number. There are cards divided by lands and you have to draw a card of each land, but you can't show them to anybody else. Each card has one attraction on it, and you must go to all the cards you have. First player to get to all their attractions and back to the Train Station on Main Street wins!

sounds like it could be fun to play.

thanks

 

[DisneyJo]

Good Morning DM Couple of questions when you redneck the ride photos do you use flash or not? Also what Photoshop do you use? I was thinking of maybe buying it out there as it will be way cheaper

 

[WDW Fan]

Sounds like a great morning at AK!!! Kali Rapids is a great ride (especially with a fastpass) when it's that hot and sticky out!!! Hurry back with more.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Just got updated on TR. Glad you liked EE and it's too bad you're sons wimped out about Dinosaur. The first time my DD7 rode it, she was about 5ish, I think. She's pretty small so she didn't get to ride until she reached the height limit. I thought she would be really frightened, but she wasn't. She told me after, "its not real, it's just a ride!". Big surprise to me.

Anyway, I love the map idea too. I apologize if you already said this, but what map(s) is it? TIA

In answer to PP question, I usually use flash on Ride Photos (redneck?) They come out okay, some times a little blurry though.

 

[PrincessV]

DM, your maps are cracking me up! I especially liked the one in which you were going in circles in search of food and wound up with Mickey bars

I'm with you on the water deal. There have been MANy times I couldn't find a bottled water at AK... ironically the park that dehydrates me the worst.

 

[Disneyolic]

Hey DM,

Great update! That is too bad that the boys were too scared to go back on Dinosaur with you because that ride is so much fun.

You guys all looked like you had fun on Kali, I love that you though to video tape each other as you floated by. It was nice of the CM to make sure you were able to sit with your boys.

It was my idea to videotape Rob & the boys and he just copied me! But I'm glad he did. I wish Rob took more videotape with our camcorder though.

We just bought 3 games at WDW: Stitch Trouble, Disney Candyland, and Disney Chutes and Ladders. Yeah we play them. We also have the Magic Kingdom Game. Helps us get our fix I guess.

That a lot of games. I just bought the Disney Sorry game for family game night. The boys love it.

Another great update!

Love your map idea

Thank you and thank you!

Yeah an update! (Should we be thanking Jo for this?)
So since Jo asked for an update before she leaves, can I ask for one too?

Love the map idea!

Sucks that you didn't get to ride Dinosaur. Next trip if you have to do the swap I think Rob should go with 1 kid and then you go with the other the next time. That way you'll get to always ride . Just a suggestion until Brookie's big enough to ride, or if she becomes one of those girls that don't do thrill rides .

@ the Redneck photo of Dinosaur. I really need to remember the redneck photo thing. I hope Disney doesn't catch up to our cheapness and start controlling the pics.

Loved the tigers! Awwww

Any of the rides that we could bring both boys on we did it. We liked it this way because, most of the time, it meant that they could both ride twice! I felt funny about rednecking a picture once at Dinosaur but I know I'm not the only one doing it. Some screens are better than others though. You'll see in my future pics...

Love the Pics!!! & the One Of Rob is Cute...Oops I meant Hansome.....oh Neither sounds Right....The Pics of the Kids & You are Great!!!...Sheww saved on that one !!!

And Rob totally thanks you...I think!

Love the Map Deal I wish I could Do that!!!!....
& the Pics & Videos are Awesome...Love Kali River Rapids..I get soaked there everytime....

Thanks! I love doing the map thing. It even gave me a better sense of where I was and how far we went.

 

[wahoostampingirl]

Great Installment! Our family has never been on Kali because our first trip was in Jan. and on our Jun. trip we had to skip AK since we were only at WDW a few days. So thanks for including the video. My ds6 thought it was really cool and asked to watch it a few times.

 

[Disneyolic]

I am so far behind on all the Threads I read.....I am sorry I did not comment on everything...The Updates are Great I can't wait till the Next one....BTW I love how you have done Links to all the Updates!!!!...Very Cool...& if I could add a good Caption to some of Our Pics I would Post on your Pic thread...but I reead ti often!!!

I totally understand. I am pretty far behind because I'm only on for ½ right now and this was the only time today I could get on. I've got a lot of catching up to do tomorrow!

Hi DM! Sounds like you had a great AK day, a bit hot, but still you got on lots of attractions! Isn't Kali fun? Love the maps too! Great idea! My vote it that you all ate lunch at the pool and went swimming! Am I right???

We did have fun but Rob really was not impressed by the AK. He said he could live without it but he's not as Disney as I am. I think you can understand that one....right?

Good Morning DM Couple of questions when you redneck the ride photos do you use flash or not? Also what Photoshop do you use? I was thinking of maybe buying it out there as it will be way cheaper

If anyone thinks Jo did not get this info, she did. We spoke earlier today via email. She is fast asleep now, or at least should be, and is leaving tomorrow morning for her Disney holiday!

Sounds like a great morning at AK!!! Kali Rapids is a great ride (especially with a fastpass) when it's that hot and sticky out!!! Hurry back with more.

The best part about Kali is getting wet, of course, on that hot and sticky day. Then being able to leave the park at the perfect moment. But the ride is too short.

Just got updated on TR. Glad you liked EE and it's too bad you're sons wimped out about Dinosaur. The first time my DD7 rode it, she was about 5ish, I think. She's pretty small so she didn't get to ride until she reached the height limit. I thought she would be really frightened, but she wasn't. She told me after, "its not real, it's just a ride!". Big surprise to me.

Anyway, I love the map idea too. I apologize if you already said this, but what map(s) is it? TIA

In answer to PP question, I usually use flash on Ride Photos (redneck?) They come out okay, some times a little blurry though.

I was surprised that Dinosaur scared the boys. They really are not scared that easily. But, that's okay. They knew it wasn't real. They just didn't like the end. I took a picture of the maps provided in PassPorter. I love their maps! They are so much easier to read than Disney's maps.

DM, your maps are cracking me up! I especially liked the one in which you were going in circles in search of food and wound up with Mickey bars

I'm with you on the water deal. There have been MANy times I couldn't find a bottled water at AK... ironically the park that dehydrates me the worst.

Oh yeah. That circling around was totally a waste of time. But eating was not in the plans and we had no idea what to get. Gotta love them Mickey bars... I think I need to write Disney about that water situation. It really was extremely irritating.

 

[Simba22]

Glad you guys had a good start to your AK day although it sucks you did't get to ride Dinosaur! It is quite scary for me and I'm 24!

And there is nothing worse then needing water and not being able to find any. I'm surprised that none of the little carts were open. Mr. Kamal's sells bottled water and so does the Anandapur ice cream truck from what I remember...

I'm so happy for Alec that he made the height requirement for PW! I swore I was going to go hurtling out of that little car!