AliciaG
06-05-2003, 12:28 PM
Monday, May 26
Well, we’re up early again today. We really like getting to the parks early and leaving mid-day for a break. Today is early entry at Animal Kingdom. We got on the bus at 7:25, and were at the gates waiting for opening. There were a lot of people waiting to get in today, and they did check your resort id here. They didn’t at the MK, but I guess that’s because for the most part you have to be coming to from a resort to reach the MK before the TTC opens.
We headed back to the Safari first, but we took our time along the way. There are so many little details at Animal Kingdom, and I love to soak that up. I was very surprised to find that the only things open for EE were the safari and ITTBAB. We enjoyed a great safari with one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He really took time to stop or slow and let us see the animals. Anna Kate was hilarious, ‘cause she kept waving at them all. She’s got that Miss America wave down, and will wave at just about anyone or anything that she sees.
After the safari we decided to head to Dinoland and hit all that stuff before it became crowded. On our way we got a fastpass for ITTBAB. We were at Dinosaur when it opened, but had to do baby swap for ALL the kids. I couldn’t believe Eric didn’t want to try it, but he was really concerned about a dinosaur jumping out at him. It was lots of fun, and John’s first time to ride it. I didn’t tell him much of what to expect, but he looked so calm in his picture. Not me…I was riding up front with three Japanese guys, and even though I knew what to expect, we all had terrified looks on our faces.
Next up was one of the kid’s favorites…Primeval Whirl. Once again they got to ride twice due to babyswap. They’ve changed the way you do this now. You actually take the baby with you up to where they load the ride, and this lets you make the swap much faster. John ran and grabbed fastpasses for Kali River Rapids, because our time for ITTBAB was now open. I took the kids for a restroom/water break while he did that. We got right in to ITTBAB and didn’t have to wait long for the doors to the theater to open. I just love this show! Kristen wore her glasses the entire time, but did sit forward so she wouldn’t feel the sting.
Now it was time for one of our favorites treats…Flame Tree BBQ. We’ve eaten here on every trip to Animal Kingdom. It just smells so good you can’t pass it up. I ordered while John got a table down by the river. It was pork sandwiches platters and a side order of onion rings all the way around. This was a little more pricey lunch at $38. I did buy the baby a hotdog instead of her sharing off our plates, so that probably made the difference.
After lunch we headed over to Kali River Rapids. There was a very long standby line (45 minutes), but it looked longer. We were so glad to have those fastpasses. Again, the baby swap is right near the load point, so the turnaround is fast. We got wet this time, but not the bone-drenching wet we had gotten last summer, thank goodness. The crowds were really starting to grow. It was Memorial Day, and maybe everybody thought AK was the place to be that day. Either that or EE had an effect. We decided to leave even though we hadn’t done any trails or shows yet. I felt certain we’d make it back here later in the week, and we didn’t want to fight this crowd.
http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/BCVentr.jpg
It was good to come home to the welcoming BCV!
The good thing is that we had more time for Stormalong Bay! Man, I love that pool. We grabbed a chair to keep our stuff, and had fun just lazing around in the water, and taking turns doing the slide. I always meant to get up there with a camera, but never got around to it. After awhile we went back to the room to clean up for our dinner at Teppanyaki. We really enjoyed our meal here, but our chef was not the sharpest knife on the belt. When he walked in I told John he looked like the Walter Matthau of Japanese chefs. He was nice, but not too showy, and kind of like a grumpy old man, lol. The kids did great here. They were very polite and tried everything. They liked all that they tried, and even used their chopsticks. It was funny to watch them try and figure out what to do when they brought the hot towels out. They took their clue from watching others though, and did the right thing. This evening’s meal was $87.
http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/SABslide.jpg
One of our favorite spots...the slide. :D
Since we were in Japan…it was a perfect time for Eric to spend some souvenir money. He’d be itching to buy some Japanese Yu gi oh cards since last October when we were there. He opened his packs right away, and seemed very pleased with what he’d gotten. It had been a long day, so we just strolled around the World Showcase, enjoying the sites and sounds. We ended up in China, where the guy using the magic sticks fascinated the kids. They had sample sets out for them to practice with, and they really enjoyed trying to learn. Kristen decided that this was for her, so she bought a set with her money.
http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/japandrum.jpg
The Japanese drummers are very entertaining.
It was now time to head back to the room. I had laundry to do, and we were planning another EE the next morning. As we were leaving they made the announcement that IllumiNations would start in 15 minutes. Kristen so wanted to stay and see it again, but John and Eric really wanted to get back to the room. We compromised and I stayed with her, while they went back to the room. We got ourselves a shaved ice from the cart in Japan, and found a last minute viewing spot on the balcony just outside Teppanyaki. It wasn’t as good as our spot in Norway a few nights before, but it was great for 10 minutes prior to the show. It was great to see it another time, and we made our way out listening and dancing to the music they play afterwards. It was great to walk thru the park late at night, hand in hand with my daughter after such a wonderful day.
Up next…MGM, touring the DVC, and rude men on buses. :roll:
Well, we’re up early again today. We really like getting to the parks early and leaving mid-day for a break. Today is early entry at Animal Kingdom. We got on the bus at 7:25, and were at the gates waiting for opening. There were a lot of people waiting to get in today, and they did check your resort id here. They didn’t at the MK, but I guess that’s because for the most part you have to be coming to from a resort to reach the MK before the TTC opens.
We headed back to the Safari first, but we took our time along the way. There are so many little details at Animal Kingdom, and I love to soak that up. I was very surprised to find that the only things open for EE were the safari and ITTBAB. We enjoyed a great safari with one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He really took time to stop or slow and let us see the animals. Anna Kate was hilarious, ‘cause she kept waving at them all. She’s got that Miss America wave down, and will wave at just about anyone or anything that she sees.
After the safari we decided to head to Dinoland and hit all that stuff before it became crowded. On our way we got a fastpass for ITTBAB. We were at Dinosaur when it opened, but had to do baby swap for ALL the kids. I couldn’t believe Eric didn’t want to try it, but he was really concerned about a dinosaur jumping out at him. It was lots of fun, and John’s first time to ride it. I didn’t tell him much of what to expect, but he looked so calm in his picture. Not me…I was riding up front with three Japanese guys, and even though I knew what to expect, we all had terrified looks on our faces.
Next up was one of the kid’s favorites…Primeval Whirl. Once again they got to ride twice due to babyswap. They’ve changed the way you do this now. You actually take the baby with you up to where they load the ride, and this lets you make the swap much faster. John ran and grabbed fastpasses for Kali River Rapids, because our time for ITTBAB was now open. I took the kids for a restroom/water break while he did that. We got right in to ITTBAB and didn’t have to wait long for the doors to the theater to open. I just love this show! Kristen wore her glasses the entire time, but did sit forward so she wouldn’t feel the sting.
Now it was time for one of our favorites treats…Flame Tree BBQ. We’ve eaten here on every trip to Animal Kingdom. It just smells so good you can’t pass it up. I ordered while John got a table down by the river. It was pork sandwiches platters and a side order of onion rings all the way around. This was a little more pricey lunch at $38. I did buy the baby a hotdog instead of her sharing off our plates, so that probably made the difference.
After lunch we headed over to Kali River Rapids. There was a very long standby line (45 minutes), but it looked longer. We were so glad to have those fastpasses. Again, the baby swap is right near the load point, so the turnaround is fast. We got wet this time, but not the bone-drenching wet we had gotten last summer, thank goodness. The crowds were really starting to grow. It was Memorial Day, and maybe everybody thought AK was the place to be that day. Either that or EE had an effect. We decided to leave even though we hadn’t done any trails or shows yet. I felt certain we’d make it back here later in the week, and we didn’t want to fight this crowd.
http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/BCVentr.jpg
It was good to come home to the welcoming BCV!
The good thing is that we had more time for Stormalong Bay! Man, I love that pool. We grabbed a chair to keep our stuff, and had fun just lazing around in the water, and taking turns doing the slide. I always meant to get up there with a camera, but never got around to it. After awhile we went back to the room to clean up for our dinner at Teppanyaki. We really enjoyed our meal here, but our chef was not the sharpest knife on the belt. When he walked in I told John he looked like the Walter Matthau of Japanese chefs. He was nice, but not too showy, and kind of like a grumpy old man, lol. The kids did great here. They were very polite and tried everything. They liked all that they tried, and even used their chopsticks. It was funny to watch them try and figure out what to do when they brought the hot towels out. They took their clue from watching others though, and did the right thing. This evening’s meal was $87.
http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/SABslide.jpg
One of our favorite spots...the slide. :D
Since we were in Japan…it was a perfect time for Eric to spend some souvenir money. He’d be itching to buy some Japanese Yu gi oh cards since last October when we were there. He opened his packs right away, and seemed very pleased with what he’d gotten. It had been a long day, so we just strolled around the World Showcase, enjoying the sites and sounds. We ended up in China, where the guy using the magic sticks fascinated the kids. They had sample sets out for them to practice with, and they really enjoyed trying to learn. Kristen decided that this was for her, so she bought a set with her money.
http://members.aol.com/aguethlein/japandrum.jpg
The Japanese drummers are very entertaining.
It was now time to head back to the room. I had laundry to do, and we were planning another EE the next morning. As we were leaving they made the announcement that IllumiNations would start in 15 minutes. Kristen so wanted to stay and see it again, but John and Eric really wanted to get back to the room. We compromised and I stayed with her, while they went back to the room. We got ourselves a shaved ice from the cart in Japan, and found a last minute viewing spot on the balcony just outside Teppanyaki. It wasn’t as good as our spot in Norway a few nights before, but it was great for 10 minutes prior to the show. It was great to see it another time, and we made our way out listening and dancing to the music they play afterwards. It was great to walk thru the park late at night, hand in hand with my daughter after such a wonderful day.
Up next…MGM, touring the DVC, and rude men on buses. :roll: