faline
09-17-2009, 07:41 PM
Cast of Characters: Gene & Me
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Plan for the Day:
Animal Kingdom
Donald’s Safari Breakast
Wildlife Discovery Excursion
Captain Jack’s for dinner
How the Day Really Went: This morning we wake up before the wake up call . Out to the bus stop and wait about 15 minutes before the Animal Kingdom bus pulls up. When we booked this breakfast for 9:30 a.m., park hours were listed at 10-5. Park hours have now been expanded and Animal Kingdom will be open from 9-7.
The line to get through bag check is the longest we’ve seen! It takes more than 5 minutes to shuffle our way through security. Getting into the park is pretty easy.
We walk to Tusker House and are there by 9:20 for our 9:30 reservation. We are handed a beeper and told to sit anywhere in the bar area. There are at least 50 people waiting to be seated at this point!
A family from Canada asks to share our table while waiting. They have two cute little girls and a 9:40 a.m. reservation. Gene goes to the podium to inquire about our reservation and is told 10-15 minutes more and that there are 6 parties to seat ahead of us. The beeper goes off for the family from Canada followed immediately by our beeper. As we head to the podium, I notice another party of two still waiting – they were already there and waiting when we arrived.
We’re directed around the corner where we encounter another line. Many families are being told to be seated and wait as their “ticket” hadn’t come up yet. Some are quite angry. Thankfully, we are not among those shuttled to the side.
Instead, we are directed to have our pictures taken with Donald Duck. As we are led into the restaurant, out server points out the Hidden Mickey on the door handles. When we are seated it is quite some distance from the buffet. Our coffee and juice orders are taken so we head to the buffet and pick up our plates. We return to our table with our laden plates. No coffee. No juice. Both items arrive about 5 minutes later, almost simultaneously with Daisy Duck!
Shortly thereafter, we are visited by Mickey and Goofy. We are then offered a package of our picture with Donald for $32.00! We decline!
This venue is extremely noisy! We can’t hear ourselves think!
There is a cute, little parade around the restaurant including the youngsters in attendance!
It takes quite a long time for the waiter to process our Tables in Wonderland discount card and longer still to cash the traveler’s check we used to pay the bill.
10:45 a.m. – we’re still at our table while the restaurant appears to be rapidly emptying out. To add to the cacophony, as we finally get ready to leave, a server drops a tray full of china and glassware and it shatters all over the floor!
We found the process here from beginning to end to be rather chaotic. I’m not sure I would rush back here!
We head over to It’s Tough to Be a Bug. Along the way, we pass the centralized fast pass distribution center. The only problem with this is that no return times are posted anywhere so you can only figure out what your return time might be by asking the person in front of you what return time they got!
We get fast passes for Expedition:Everest even though the return time falls while we will be on our tour.
As we go along the path to It’s Tough to Be A Bug, we take a number of pictures so things work out perfectly and we walk right into the show!
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/43799/2664021490104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2664021490104031159DThUfv)
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/36605/2571385290104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2571385290104031159oULoCi)
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/44695/2354802500104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2354802500104031159WVKLlL)
After this, we wander the Discovery Island Trails and take more pictures.
http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/5095/2489444230104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2489444230104031159MspsRH)
<a href="http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2271965350104031159DaJzxy"><img src="http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/45964/2271965350104031159S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01702"></a>
http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/1884/2946854690104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2946854690104031159nVFAEw)
We visit some of the shops. We’ve been on a buying expedition for our 2-year old nephew. Have you all noticed how few little boy items are for sale versus the number of little girl items that are available?
We now do something we haven’t done in quite some time. We visit the Oasis exhibits. Overall, there’s nothing here that’s really exciting. Seems like this could have been handled differently. No wonder we all rush by on our way into and out of the park!
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/15255/2477616380104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2477616380104031159dFKbyk)
By then, it’s around 12:40 and getting close to time to check in for our Safari tour. There are 8 folks on our tour – 2 women; 4 kids; Gene & me.
We get started a little early but get stuck behind a regular safari vehicle that is having a mechanical problem. Finally, we are under way.
Our guide this time (We did this same tour last year) works with the apes. This was a career change for her after spending 20 years at IBM.
We get close up looks at white rhinos and ostriches. As last year, we find a number of folks on the regular Safari are taking pics of us instead of the animals! On both outings, our guides have indicated that many on the regular tour assume our smaller vehicle stopped on the side of the road contain VIP’s of some sort. If only twas so!
Overall, it’s a very enjoyable experience. We learn some new things. However, it’s unlikely we would do a 3rd repeat of this particular tour – at least not in the near future!
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/32263/2389724730104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2389724730104031159LUMYMe)
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/43626/2498206630104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2498206630104031159AXPlwc)
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/45268/2872566370104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2872566370104031159xpgTNN)
At the end, we received fast passes to the regular safari ride. As we had received them at the end of the tour last year, we were expecting them this year. We go straightaway to the fast pass lane, walk all the way through, and realize the standby line is a walk on and the fast passes were not needed at all! In fact, Gene and I are even provided with a whole row to ourselves and don’t need to share the seat with anyone else!
When we finish this, we walk to the other side of the park to turn in our fast passes for a Yeti hunting expedition! After successfully sighting the Yeti, we exit the park and hop on a bus for Old Key West. We just missed the Port Orleans bus and think about taking the one to Saratoga Springs but notice the Old Key West bus and opt for that one. The bus is quite crowded and there are quite a few folks standing. Somewhere up towards the front of the bus someone had a birthday button. I’m not sure who initiated it but the entire busload of folks breaks out in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” Don’t you just love when things like this happen?! Spontaneous magic!
At Old Key West, we should have gotten off at the first stop and just walked over to the boat dock. Instead, we stay on and end up riding all around the resort before finally arriving at the stop for Hospitality House.
Our wait for the boat to Downtown Disney is about 10 minutes. While waiting for the boat, I pull out my note pad and begin to update my trip notes. As the boat pulls in, the driver sees me writing notes. Interestingly, we have run into another nervous cast member when he sees me writing and he only half-jokingly asks if I’m writing good things about him! It’s time for our driver to get off shift so we need to detour to Saratoga Springs for this to happen.
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/43719/2657182780104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2657182780104031159EuPweG)
http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/42114/2376441040104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2376441040104031159egMkfG)
Finally, we arrive at Downtown Disney. We walk from the West side over to World of Disney. Let’s see. What do I “need”?! I buy a sweatshirt and a few gifts which I have shipped to our room.
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Plan for the Day:
Animal Kingdom
Donald’s Safari Breakast
Wildlife Discovery Excursion
Captain Jack’s for dinner
How the Day Really Went: This morning we wake up before the wake up call . Out to the bus stop and wait about 15 minutes before the Animal Kingdom bus pulls up. When we booked this breakfast for 9:30 a.m., park hours were listed at 10-5. Park hours have now been expanded and Animal Kingdom will be open from 9-7.
The line to get through bag check is the longest we’ve seen! It takes more than 5 minutes to shuffle our way through security. Getting into the park is pretty easy.
We walk to Tusker House and are there by 9:20 for our 9:30 reservation. We are handed a beeper and told to sit anywhere in the bar area. There are at least 50 people waiting to be seated at this point!
A family from Canada asks to share our table while waiting. They have two cute little girls and a 9:40 a.m. reservation. Gene goes to the podium to inquire about our reservation and is told 10-15 minutes more and that there are 6 parties to seat ahead of us. The beeper goes off for the family from Canada followed immediately by our beeper. As we head to the podium, I notice another party of two still waiting – they were already there and waiting when we arrived.
We’re directed around the corner where we encounter another line. Many families are being told to be seated and wait as their “ticket” hadn’t come up yet. Some are quite angry. Thankfully, we are not among those shuttled to the side.
Instead, we are directed to have our pictures taken with Donald Duck. As we are led into the restaurant, out server points out the Hidden Mickey on the door handles. When we are seated it is quite some distance from the buffet. Our coffee and juice orders are taken so we head to the buffet and pick up our plates. We return to our table with our laden plates. No coffee. No juice. Both items arrive about 5 minutes later, almost simultaneously with Daisy Duck!
Shortly thereafter, we are visited by Mickey and Goofy. We are then offered a package of our picture with Donald for $32.00! We decline!
This venue is extremely noisy! We can’t hear ourselves think!
There is a cute, little parade around the restaurant including the youngsters in attendance!
It takes quite a long time for the waiter to process our Tables in Wonderland discount card and longer still to cash the traveler’s check we used to pay the bill.
10:45 a.m. – we’re still at our table while the restaurant appears to be rapidly emptying out. To add to the cacophony, as we finally get ready to leave, a server drops a tray full of china and glassware and it shatters all over the floor!
We found the process here from beginning to end to be rather chaotic. I’m not sure I would rush back here!
We head over to It’s Tough to Be a Bug. Along the way, we pass the centralized fast pass distribution center. The only problem with this is that no return times are posted anywhere so you can only figure out what your return time might be by asking the person in front of you what return time they got!
We get fast passes for Expedition:Everest even though the return time falls while we will be on our tour.
As we go along the path to It’s Tough to Be A Bug, we take a number of pictures so things work out perfectly and we walk right into the show!
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/43799/2664021490104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2664021490104031159DThUfv)
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/36605/2571385290104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2571385290104031159oULoCi)
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/44695/2354802500104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2354802500104031159WVKLlL)
After this, we wander the Discovery Island Trails and take more pictures.
http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/5095/2489444230104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2489444230104031159MspsRH)
<a href="http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2271965350104031159DaJzxy"><img src="http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/45964/2271965350104031159S600x600Q85.jpg" alt="DSC01702"></a>
http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/1884/2946854690104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2946854690104031159nVFAEw)
We visit some of the shops. We’ve been on a buying expedition for our 2-year old nephew. Have you all noticed how few little boy items are for sale versus the number of little girl items that are available?
We now do something we haven’t done in quite some time. We visit the Oasis exhibits. Overall, there’s nothing here that’s really exciting. Seems like this could have been handled differently. No wonder we all rush by on our way into and out of the park!
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/15255/2477616380104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2477616380104031159dFKbyk)
By then, it’s around 12:40 and getting close to time to check in for our Safari tour. There are 8 folks on our tour – 2 women; 4 kids; Gene & me.
We get started a little early but get stuck behind a regular safari vehicle that is having a mechanical problem. Finally, we are under way.
Our guide this time (We did this same tour last year) works with the apes. This was a career change for her after spending 20 years at IBM.
We get close up looks at white rhinos and ostriches. As last year, we find a number of folks on the regular Safari are taking pics of us instead of the animals! On both outings, our guides have indicated that many on the regular tour assume our smaller vehicle stopped on the side of the road contain VIP’s of some sort. If only twas so!
Overall, it’s a very enjoyable experience. We learn some new things. However, it’s unlikely we would do a 3rd repeat of this particular tour – at least not in the near future!
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/32263/2389724730104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2389724730104031159LUMYMe)
http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/43626/2498206630104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2498206630104031159AXPlwc)
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/45268/2872566370104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2872566370104031159xpgTNN)
At the end, we received fast passes to the regular safari ride. As we had received them at the end of the tour last year, we were expecting them this year. We go straightaway to the fast pass lane, walk all the way through, and realize the standby line is a walk on and the fast passes were not needed at all! In fact, Gene and I are even provided with a whole row to ourselves and don’t need to share the seat with anyone else!
When we finish this, we walk to the other side of the park to turn in our fast passes for a Yeti hunting expedition! After successfully sighting the Yeti, we exit the park and hop on a bus for Old Key West. We just missed the Port Orleans bus and think about taking the one to Saratoga Springs but notice the Old Key West bus and opt for that one. The bus is quite crowded and there are quite a few folks standing. Somewhere up towards the front of the bus someone had a birthday button. I’m not sure who initiated it but the entire busload of folks breaks out in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” Don’t you just love when things like this happen?! Spontaneous magic!
At Old Key West, we should have gotten off at the first stop and just walked over to the boat dock. Instead, we stay on and end up riding all around the resort before finally arriving at the stop for Hospitality House.
Our wait for the boat to Downtown Disney is about 10 minutes. While waiting for the boat, I pull out my note pad and begin to update my trip notes. As the boat pulls in, the driver sees me writing notes. Interestingly, we have run into another nervous cast member when he sees me writing and he only half-jokingly asks if I’m writing good things about him! It’s time for our driver to get off shift so we need to detour to Saratoga Springs for this to happen.
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/43719/2657182780104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2657182780104031159EuPweG)
http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/42114/2376441040104031159S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2376441040104031159egMkfG)
Finally, we arrive at Downtown Disney. We walk from the West side over to World of Disney. Let’s see. What do I “need”?! I buy a sweatshirt and a few gifts which I have shipped to our room.