You just graduated from college!! What's next? 5/13 - 5/21 THAT'S A WRAP!

[aj23]

Congrats to your daughter! Can't wait to hear about your trip

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Following along. You always do such a great job with your reports. Love all the attention to detail you always include.

Congratulations to your daughter!!

 

[Pfau]

I wouldn't miss this for a Dole Whip!

 

[hockeygirl14]

Following along!!

 

[Mom2m&k]

Your family is beautiful...can't wait to read about all your fun dining experiences!!

 

[kastoney]

Well ya know my food loving self just had to be here ; ) Can't wait to see how all the "kids" choices panned out.

 

[disneymomof1]

Congratulations to your daughter, what better way to celebrate than a nice long trip to Disney !!!

 

[Bethany Fine]

Reading along!

 

[suse66]

Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[butiflfeet]

Congratulations to your daughter! I can't wait for you to get started on this one!

 

[jabead]

Woot!! Sounds great, I'm in!

Congrats to Emily on her graduation, I can't think of a better place to celebrate than WDW!

Hi Carol! You were the first to join the party! I wish I had a prize to give you. Anyway, I'm very glad to see you here.

And I totally agree that there is no better place to celebrate than WDW. As for Emily though, I think she was campaigning for Las Vegas.

Woo Hoo! I love your reports! Can't wait to see all the deliciousness you have on this trip!

Thanks so much! Some deliciousness will be coming your way shortly.

Really looking forward to your reviews, Especially the Trattoria Al Forno! I was the number 1 Kouzzina fan so I've kind of been putting it off, but now I'm getting curious and thinking of changing something for our August Trip. I have Sanaa on the docket and I've already been there about 7 or 8 times and I'm contemplating changing it! So count me in!

Hi Jess! Thanks for joining in. It was the first time for all of us at Trattoria and first time for the kids at Sanaa (second for me). Will there be a second (or third for me at Sanaa)? Stay tuned to find out.

Oh no! You strayed off Disney property! It will be interesting to read your Universal reviews; I was there a few years ago and wasn't terribly impressed.

Hi Fran! Yes, I know, I know. I ventured over to the Dark Side and lived to tell the tale.

Subbing in! Have been a longtime lurker on the disboards but I've come out of hiding to say I have always loved your reviews and they have helped me a make my ADRs for my upcoming disneymoon in Aug/Sept.

Excited to see your reviews of Sanaa and California Grill!

Wow, that's awesome! I feel quite honored that you came out of hiding to post here. I hope you have a fantastic honeymoon trip (and I hope I didn't steer you wrong with your ADRs). Oh, and congrats on getting hitched (or getting hitched soon )

Signing on! Congrats to Emily!

Thanks so much and welcome to the party!

Congratulations to your daughter! Spending time with all the kids must be great, do they get along better when they are older??? I have to hope they do! Looking forward to another great report! You always give me ideas of the next place I want to try....which is all of them it seems!

Well, they don't see each other very often so I think maybe distance makes the heart grow fonder. Anyway, thanks for joining in!

This sounds delicious! Count me in!

Thanks, I hope you enjoy it!

Congrats to the graduate!! I love your trip reports and can't wait to read this one!

Thanks so much for the kind words.

Congratulations to Emily and of course you have to be fair and take her to Disney

But 17 hours of driving

Oh, I know. If we had been heading anywhere other than WDW, I'm not sure I would/could have done 17 hours straight through. It's amazing what I will do though when I have the right kind of motivation.

Seriously. If you hadn't taken her, you would have only exacerbated the middle child syndrome. I know, as I too am the middle child squished between two sisters.

Love that you have a new report going since I just finished the last one. You have some of the best food pics I've seen.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. And thanks for reading my last report and joining in for this one!

I wanna see!!! Show me the food porn! And congrats on graduating!!

Food porn coming your way very soon!

Congrats to your daughter. Can't wait to read more I always enjoy your reports.

Thanks for joining me for another report!

Congrats to Emily!!

Really looking forward to reading your reviews to get me thru the next 31 days til our trip!

Thanks Vicki! So happy to have you here!

I have been waiting for this dining report and am excited to read all about it. Also congrats on the upgrade at the Hard Rock, I love that hotel!!

Hi Lori! The Hard Rock upgrade was such a nice surprise. I can't wait to tell you all about my brief taste of rock stardom!

Love your reviews looking forward!

Thanks for joining in for another report!

Looking forward to your next report. I just started following on IG as KAA623. I should have been that here too, had I been thinking when I made my username!

Thanks for following, both here and on Instagram!

Congrats, Emily on your graduation. I have read your dining reviews before and I love them! Looking forward to this one.

Glad to have you back for another report!

Congrats to your daughter! Can't wait to hear about your trip

Thanks so much! This party will get started momentarily so stay tuned.

Following along. You always do such a great job with your reports. Love all the attention to detail you always include.

Congratulations to your daughter!!

Thanks Debra! Happy to have you here!

I wouldn't miss this for a Dole Whip!

Wow, so honored to rank up there with a Dole Whip! Thank you so much!

Following along!!

Your family is beautiful...can't wait to read about all your fun dining experiences!!

Awww, thank you so much! And thanks for reading!

Well ya know my food loving self just had to be here ; ) Can't wait to see how all the "kids" choices panned out.

It wouldn't be the same without ya Kari!

Congratulations to your daughter, what better way to celebrate than a nice long trip to Disney !!!

Thanks so much and welcome to the party!

Reading along!

Thanks for reading!

Can't wait to hear all about it!

First installment coming shortly!

Congratulations to your daughter! I can't wait for you to get started on this one!

Thanks Kim! (It's Kim, right?) Good to have you here!

 

[jabead]

THE GRADUATION CELEBRATION KICKS OFF WITH A ONE NIGHT CL STAY AT ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE!





Our 17 hour drive was finally over when we arrived at the security gate for Animal Kingdom Lodge at around 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13th. After parking and entering the lobby, it wasn't long before we were escorted up to the 6th floor to complete the check-in process with a member of the concierge staff. While doing this, we were offered sangria (for the two of us over the age of 21) or jungle juice (which I believe is a combination of pineapple, orange, and guava juices?). And we of course accepted the offer...





Their sangria consisted of jungle juice topped with red wine. When mixed together this was very tasty and a great start to our vacation, especially after a 17 hour drive.


At first we were told that our room was ready but then they said that the room we had been assigned was one with bunk beds. When I questioned this, I was told that the bunks would probably not be a comfortable fit for any of us since we were all adults. So back to the computer they go to find a room with 2 queens which was clean and ready for the three very weary travelers. No success. We were told to grab some breakfast before they closed down the breakfast service at 10:30 and they would keep checking for an available room. So we did. I guess I was super tired though because I don't remember what I had and I completely forgot to take any photos. (But no worries, there will be breakfast food photos. You will just have to wait until the next morning. ) Before long the Kilimanjaro Club lounge was deserted, except for the staff and the three of us. Having nothing else to do, my kids pulled out their laptops and I took out my camera and started taking pictures.












The view of the beautiful lobby from the 6th floor lounge...




It was about this time that I noticed that the CM that had checked us in had disappeared. I asked the one remaining CM who was manning the concierge desk and was told that my CM had left for the day and this new person did not know that we were waiting for a room. So back to the computer, but still nothing available. By this time it was 11:30 and the Afternoon Refreshments were brought out.


There were cookies, both chocolate chip and sugar cookies with sprinkles...








Gummy bears...





Granola bars...





This was labeled as Afritude Spiced Nuts...





And this was called Arusha Trail Mix...





Barbecue Kettle Chips...





Goldfish crackers...




Yogurt-covered pretzels...





And your standard fruit selection of bananas, oranges, and apples...






Drinks included water, jungle juice, lemonade, and iced tea...





These Afternoon Refreshments are served until 3:00, but thankfully we were not there quite that long. At 12:40ish, I was told that if we didn't mind switching from the Zebra Trail room (that we had apparently been assigned to) to the Kudu Trail, then there was a room ready for us. Heck yeah, at this point I would take the Chunky Gal Trail, the Boogerman Trail, or even the Old Butt Knob Trail...all actual trail names, by the way. So off we went in search of our room on the 4th floor, Kudu Trail. Before our trip, I thought I read somewhere that all of the concierge rooms were located on either the 5th or 6th floors, but I now know that these rooms are all suites or DVC. If you book a regular concierge room then I believe you will be placed on the 4th floor, two floors down from the Kilimanjaro Lounge.


Anyway, when we finally arrived at Room 4221 we discovered that none of our Magic Bands would open the door. The kids volunteered to stay behind and guard our door. Meanwhile I returned to the 6th floor concierge desk to take care of the Magic Band problem. When I got up there I realized that I had forgotten to bring the kids' bands but I was assured that all of our bands would now work. So back to Room 4221 I went and this time the magic in my band finally worked. Of course, then my son realized that he had forgotten something in the car so left the room to retrieve it. Upon his return he attempted to open our door and guess what? Yep, no magic. So it seemed that I would need to return to the 6th floor with the kids' "Magicless" Bands, but that would have to wait until after a much needed nap.


And speaking of naps, by the time I thought about taking photos of our room, the kids were already occupying both of the beds. However, our room looked identical to the standard room (#4209) which I had on my last trip. Here are my pics from that room...







One difference in the rooms is that these chocolates and a Welcome letter from the Concierge staff were lying on one of our beds...





Not a big deal, but I was a little sad to see that they were no longer giving the cute chocolate giraffes that I had seen in some online reviews for the Kilimanjaro Club...





But at least I got to see a real giraffe from the balcony of our room...




Which was located to the left of Arusha Rock, so we had this view of the Arusha savanna...




​

Next up: Afternoon Tea at the Kilimanjaro Club Lounge

 

[macraven]

hope i'm not late for the party.....

have enjoyed your past threads so much and looking forward to this one!

 

[Hadley's Mom]

Bummer on the wait for the room and magic bands and no chocolate giraffes. But yeah on the one outside your window. When we stayed there, a baby giraffe and mama stayed outside our window almost the entire stay. We had lots of balcony time that trip.

 

[strawberrysh]

I love your reviews....so excited to follow along!!

 

[Pfau]

That sangria looks delicious! I'm sorry that your magic bands weren't so magical. Hopefully the rest of the trip wasn't as troublesome!

 

[Denamac]

Do they still serve the mimosas too, or just the sangria now? We arrive at AKL CL in 17 days! Staying DVC this time so our room will be on the same floor as the lounge. I didn't like being on the 4th floor and having to go to the 6th for the lounge. Looking forward to more reviews!

 

[jabead]

hope i'm not late for the party.....

have enjoyed your past threads so much and looking forward to this one!

You're not late at all. This party is just getting started! Thanks for joining in!

Bummer on the wait for the room and magic bands and no chocolate giraffes. But yeah on the one outside your window. When we stayed there, a baby giraffe and mama stayed outside our window almost the entire stay. We had lots of balcony time that trip.

Awww...a baby giraffe! I would have loved to see that!

I love your reviews....so excited to follow along!!

Thanks, happy to have you here!

That sangria looks delicious! I'm sorry that your magic bands weren't so magical. Hopefully the rest of the trip wasn't as troublesome!

Unfortunately there would be more Magic Band problems in our future, but other than that our time at Disney was trouble-free.

Do they still serve the mimosas too, or just the sangria now? We arrive at AKL CL in 17 days! Staying DVC this time so our room will be on the same floor as the lounge. I didn't like being on the 4th floor and having to go to the 6th for the lounge. Looking forward to more reviews!

Hmmm...I don't think they had mimosas. At least they were not offered to us and I didn't see anyone else there with a mimosa. And I agree with you regarding the 4th floor location of the regular CL rooms. It will be nice for you to have a room closer to the lounge.

 

[jabead]

AFTERNOON TEA AT THE ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
WHO KNEW??​

After a short nap I returned to the concierge desk on the 6th floor to take care of the problem with the kids' bands. Once done I checked out the offerings in the Kilimanjaro Club Lounge for their Afternoon Tea which had begun at 3:00 and goes until 4:30. I was in a bit of a hurry though, as I was planning to take the Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour that began at 3:45. Therefore I only took a few photos. I believe that the previously shown cookies were still out, however I can not say with 100% certainty since I did not take a photo of them. I also failed to take photos of the beverages offered but I'm pretty sure they were the same water, lemonade, jungle juice, and iced tea that were out during their Afternoon Snack time, plus coffee and a variety of teas.

What I did take photos of were these three new items...



Scones




Rice Krispies Treats (or Crisped Rice Treats, as they were labeled here )




Peanut Butter Brownies



I took one of each of these and dropped off the plate in our room for the kids to enjoy.




Their review of the three was that the Rice Krispies treat and brownie were both good, but the scone was hard and dry. I think I recall there being clotted cream served, so the scone would have probably benefited from a dab of cream. I myself didn't partake of these treats because I was saving room for the Culinary Tour samples, the appetizers and desserts that would be offered at the lounge later, and our dinner at Sanaa.

​

Next up: Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour

​

Next up: Animal Kingdom Lodge Culinary Tour

 

[strawberrysh]

Is the culinary tour free? How do you sign up??