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View Full Version : wendy & the Goof Troop- Day 7- wolves in vests & animal dung!



wendy*darling
07-24-2001, 12:47 PM
Another installment of the adventures of the Goof Troop...Day SEVEN- June 29th

Today is the only Animal Kingdom day for most of us. Our program starts at 9:00 at Conservation Station, so that means wake-up reveille is at 6:15am. We all drag ourselves our of our sleeping bags, shower, dress, eat breakfast and make our lunches. We are on the bus stop by 7:15 and the bus comes right away. We always scare people when we get on the bus- we just keep coming and coming and their eyes get bigger and bigger. But I must say for a large group of teenage boys- we were perfectly well behaved on the buses, monorails, boats… and well… just about everywhere http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif !
Animal Kingdom is the only park you can go to directly from Fort Wilderness (I wish they would change that). So we just took the bus up to the Settlement and switched for the already waiting AK bus. We arrived at about 8:00.

This morning I learned that another of our scouts had lost his park hopper- this time it was really lost, and he warned me before we left camp. Take note of this trick- it will works for everyone and save lots of time and headaches. Before I left home, I xeroxed EVERY park hopper and program ticket we received. We had well over $7000 worth of tickets and I wasn't about to have any of them get lost and try it explain it. I wrote each scout's name on his park hopper and on my copy. That way "when" ('cause I KNEW it would happen) someone lost his ticket- I could just show guest relations exactly what was lost. So this morning I arrived at AK's guest services with my xerox copy in hand and said "This scout lost his park hopper- can we get it replaced?" Well, the CM at the window started applauding me http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif then she called over the whole group of Guest services staff and showed them my xerox records. They all applauded and thanked me for being so thorough. They said they wished everyone would do this- it would make their lives so much easier! In 2 minutes I had a replacement hopper pass and we were on our way.

We trekked back past the safari ride and got on the next train to Rafiki's Planet/Conservation Station. We met today's facilitator and started on our way. The first segment of "Team Up for Wildlife" takes place inside the buildings in a classroom setting. We were really glad for this because today was the really HOT day and we were inside the air conditioning! We learned about the plight of the grey wolf in the Rocky Mountains and talked about tracking animals in the wild and many more survival topics. We divided into small groups of "researchers" and using a box of "tools" tried to find the best way to attach a tracking device onto a stuffed animal- so as not to interfere with any of its movements, etc. The guys had fun dressing up the furry animals and pretty much all found a decent solution. The answer was to have it wear a little (& very trendy) vest.

We took a walk outside to the elephant building and talked about how the elephants share sleeping quarters and how much they eat each day- 300 pounds for each elephant http://www.intercot.com/boards/eek.gif We also got to see the food preparation center. This is where they make all the diets for the animals. It was nicer and much cleaner than any restaurant kitchen I've ever peeked into- that's for sure!

Next stop was a "lab" station where we all got to observe and discuss various kinds of animal poop! We learned how much information is contained in animal poop and how important it is for the keepers to inspect it every day. Seriously tho- it contains some of the first signs that an animal might be ill, they are eating the wrong foods, and even that they are pregnant. So daily "poop reviews" are an important part of the AK staff's lives. (Remind me not to apply for a job there)

We ended the program back in the classroom and helped decide the fate of the grey wolf. Pretty much our boys wanted the wolves to remain, but gave some concessions to the local ranchers (but not many).

While we were busy inspecting feces, our non-chaperoning adults had gotten us fast passes for the safari. So we headed right over. We all got on the same truck and had the WORST driver I have ever had. His voice was a total monotone- no excitement- no interest. UGH! The scouts were making fun of him for quite a while after the ride. http://www.intercot.com/boards/sarcblink.gif

Now it was time for lunch and we had been told of a great out-of-the-way place to eat, kind of behind the ice cream place just near the bridge to Africa. There are shaded tables back there and HUGE fans blowing a cool water mist over the tables.

Another of our chaperones had spoken with guest services during our tour and gotten us a special pass for It's Tough to be a Bug. We were very short on time today. The color guard for the flag ceremony had to leave AK by 2:45 and the rest of the gang had to leave at 3:45. So they let us have a pass that took us in front of the Fast Pass people!! I know some of you have experienced the glares of people in the stand-by line when you breeze right thru with your FPs. Let me tell you-- that is NOTHING compared to the looks (and some rude pushes ;( ) we got from the Fast Pass holders as we were escorted past them into the holding room. So we only had to wait about 5 minutes til the next show started. Everyone LOVED the show http://www.intercot.com/boards/supergrin.gif It's one of my favorites.

And as soon as the show was done we really had to hurry to get our 5 color guard guys over to the Magic Kingdom in time to practice with the MK Security Guard. The rest of them stayed a while and rode Dinosaur, then came to MK.

Next report... a truly patriotic moment and lots of tears (nice ones).




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Linda aka: wendy*darling
Intercot Staff: Disney & Orlando Dining
[email protected]

DVC owners at the Wilderness Lodge Villas
WDW:
4/92 (MK day trip only); 9/93 (Poly); 10/96 (DL & BC); 6/98 (YC); 2/00 (Contemporary); 12/00 (BWI); 6/01(FW tent camping with the Boy Scouts!!)
Next trip: June 2002 (ASMovies and VWL)

ChipDale
07-24-2001, 01:41 PM
The program today sounded very interesting. I don't think I'd apply for a job there either, though! Thanks for another great report! http://www.intercot.com/boards/smile.gif

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Jane

beth
07-24-2001, 02:19 PM
Another great report...can't wait to hear about the patriotic moment though.

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beth
[email protected]
Intercot Staff Member

"Love and Mercy that's what you need tonight. So Love and Mercy to you and your friends tonight."

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DisneyWizard
07-24-2001, 06:11 PM
I can't believe they applauded you and brought other CMs to look- that would have been one of the highlights of the day for me. Too bad about the K Safaris driver and the rudeness of other guests though... http://www.intercot.com/boards/blue.gif

Can't wait for the flag pole ceremony!

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-Casey
(Kc, Wizzy, DizWiz)

"...I say believe in the future. The world is getting better."
-Walt Disney

PolyGirl40
07-24-2001, 06:54 PM
My husband would have loved to sit in on the Wolf program...I'd like a dollar for every grey wolf item I have in my house http://www.intercot.com/boards/grazy.gif

Great report Linda..I'm anxious to hear all about the flag ceremony!

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~Carol
"To get to the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain."

MORTIMER
07-25-2001, 02:19 PM
I appreciate the tip on photocopying the park passes. This will be a fixture in our future trips.

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Sept '99
Sept '00
May '01
Next trip - Dec '01

TiggerRPh
07-25-2001, 06:58 PM
Thanks for the great tip on the tickets...we've never lost a ticket (yet), but I'll have to remember the tip.

Glad to learn about the animal poop field trip.....sounds......ummmmm.....interesting.

http://www.intercot.com/boards/grazy.gif http://www.intercot.com/boards/rollsmile.gif http://www.intercot.com/boards/grazy.gif

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...the most wonderful things about Tiggers, is I'm the only one.

Ray(aka TiggerRPh)
Intercot Staff : Disney & Orlando Dining; The Water Cooler