An Animal Kingdom State of Being with Cam and Fam COMPLETED 9/18 - Page 52 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I would have said something to the kids as well. I find it strange how the mother just let her son go into the women's bathroom to see how his sister was doing...weird.
The giraffe looks like he's playing hide & seek with you in this picture.
I'm with Heather and now am homesick too! (Although I think she found a way to get over being homesick recently.)
I can't wait to try Boma for the first time in a few months!
I that picture of Stefanie by herself outside (by the little creek/river, I think).
Was turndown that late again? It never seems to be at a set time around there - which is kind of annoying.
nice update Cam.
I would have had to say something in the bathroom too - I mean someone needs to be the adult. I too thought there was an emergency when the boy came in but clearly they were just horsing around. I mean what mother says to her son "Go into the Ladies room and check on your sister" - huh? What the...
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I can't believe those kids...why are some parents so lazy?!
We love Zawadi's too! We always have to go in there when we eat at Boma's. I think it would be bad news if we ever do stay at AKL cause I would spend so much money!
Love all the pictures especially the entrance.
Can't wait to read about MK!
The first time we stayed at AKL back in 2003, Luke teased Stefanie and me because we had spent so much time in Zawadi that all the CMs knew us by our first names.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Wonderful pictures!! I them! It is so beautiful at AKL. I have never been there, but I think I need to make a point to check it out soon. It looks so great in the pics, I can't even imagine how much more beautiful it is in person! Can't wait to hear about MK rope drop.
AKL really is beautiful. Maybe you should dine at Boma sometime and then wander around the resort to check out the savannah and animals.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dlandmom2
I REALLY need to check out Boma some more. I didn't even notice that there was a bar that overlooked the dining area!
I just had to giggle again about the bread pudding boy, I guess his parents taught him not to cut, but they forgot to teach him to take only one serving of bread pudding at a time!
In his defense the serving spoon was huge and he was having trouble using it. But he took quite a few scoopfuls.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roxie2006
I have enjoyed reading your family's experiences on your vacation... It has been a wonderful adventure so far... You have given me many ideas for my next scrapbook, and how to handle unruley children....I am looking forward to reading more!!!!!
I'm so excited as some of my prints came in yesterday and I can finally start scrapping this trip. I got one page done yesterday!
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Originally Posted by buzzspal2
Must stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Thanks for sharing all the great photos.
You are welcome!
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Originally Posted by lexiemom
Fabulous photos!!!!! I just AKL! I love the t-shirt Stefanie was wearing. I want one in my size!
We got that t-shirt at Target, but I couldn't find one in my size.
Quote:
Originally Posted by langefamily4
Love the nighttime photos!!! We have reservations at Boma for our trip and I am hungry thinking about it now
I got hungry writing about it last night as the pork and chicken had been so this year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Luvsun
Ahhhhhh Boma! I love Boma! I am sorry that the potatoes and the falafel are no longer on the buffet!
All of your pictures of the Lodge and the animals are wonderful!
I just AKL! I just feel so relaxed and calm when I am there!
Don't you think parents are just crazy sometimes?? I mean why in the world wouldn't the mother go in and check on her daughter?! Sorry you had to use the teacher voice!
Can't wait to read all about your MK day! (which I am still sorry we never caught up to you at the MK! )
I know one of the complaints about AKL is the distance from all the parks, but I love the quiet and peace that you get there. If poor Luke's feet hadn't been hurting we would have found you all when we went back to MK, but I could tell he was through for the day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
The next 16 days will not go fast enough...I loved all your AKL pictures and I am so excited to stay there, even moreso than I already was.
The corn and chicken soup sounded delicious as did the rest of your meal, I am kind of sad that we are missing Boma for dinner, but we do have it for breakfast.
Love all your purchases, I do agree that the store at AKL is the best...we always enjoyed shopping after our meals there, love your purchases, I had a feeling when you described it but now seeing it...your yellow 71 shirt is the one that I gave in and purchased on my February trip, I fell in love with it and knew I would regret not making the purchase.
I can't wait to hear all about your trip, too! Luke picked that shirt out for me, but I am so glad I got it as it really is so cute on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shari2137
Wonderful photos, love the night time shots. Great comment from the CM about leaving troubles on the nightstand. We stayed at Kidani last January and yours photos are bringing back great memories.
One reason I love reading TRs is that so many bring back my own memories of our stays.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stubekis
Great update. My kids can get rambunctious like all kids, but my son absolutely knows better than to go in the ladies room. The mother was probably just happy to have a short break from them and didn't care what they were doing!
The evening giraffe shot looks like it could be a mother and baby giraffe I saw a number of times during our stay, possibly?
Looking forward to the next installment! BTW my giraffe Sanuks came today and you are so right, they are soooooo comfy!
I suspected the mom might have just been glad to the two were temporarily out of her hair as she looked frazzled when we passed her. I'm sure they were a handful. If I remember correctly, that was the mother and baby giraffe. I talked with a CM there while I was taking pictures. I took quite a few I didn't share as they are just so hard to make out the animal, but he told me each one that I was photographing. I'm still hoping for some birthday money next week, so I can order the giraffe Sanuks, too. They are comfy! Can't wait to wear the ones I have to work.
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Originally Posted by chezp
What a great evening at the Lodge, apart from the crazy restroom incident!
We did have a wonderful evening, but I really don't like to get into teacher mode on vacation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
Absolutely LOVE AKL!!!
Although - DH will be sad there's no falafel.
Love those breakfast Mickey lounge pants. When we were there DH bought a DVC windbreaker at AKL after our DVC tour. The CM asked "How long have you been DVC members?" DH said "about an hour" I knew he was hooked!
Love that story!
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Great evening at the lodge. I love roaming about and taking photos there. Inside and out there are so many wonderful details. Apart from the rest-room incident, a good time at Boma. I'm so disappointed that the potatoes with afritude are gone! Shopping at Zawadi is definitely the best on property. I always see lots of things there I want!
When Luke came back to the table, the first thing he asked was if I had seen the potatoes. We both checked again when we returned for seconds, and when we didn't find them, I asked our server. He said that had recently done an update to the buffet and both of those had been eliminated. We did tell him how sad that made us.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jbd
The teacher voice does come in handy . As does the teacher look. Dh often tells me not to look at him like he's a seventh grader (to which I reply, "Quit acting like one."). Sounds like a nice relaxing evening, except for the odd bathroom encounter!
Luke tells me I have a teacher look, too, and I probably was wearing it for the two kiddos, but didn't really think about it.
Me and my son LOVE AKL! Next August we are goin to be stayin in the new hotel Arts of Animation, this sound pretty cool and neat and we will be stayin in a "new hotel" but I am still havin second thoughts about changein so that we can stay in AKL, my Husband and his daughter have never stayed there before, as for me and my son we have stayed there plenty of times and we just love it.........Ol what to do, what to do!
__________________
Me and Cole in the Sears Tower Skydeck, 103 floors up, in a glass box hanging off the side!
I love that Luke made his dessert in the shape of a Mickey Mouse. I think I would definitely tear just a bit if my husband made this leap. Anything he does that makes me know he likes WDW just a fraction of what I do makes me feel good.
I love your purchases! I have the breakfast pants and have been eyeing your WDW 40th Anniversary shirt on disneystore.com. I know a little boy who will be ALL OVER those Cars with the character hats! What a great idea those are!
Great update, Cam! I'm sure your "teacher voice" comes in handy--especially when you say you're going to get the principal (CM - ).
LOVELOVELOVE Zawadi! Makes me homesick. More great purchases in there. I really liked all the 40th anniversary products--1971 was such a great year! It's my 40th, too.
More wonderful pics of the resort! Thank you for being such a photography buff
I am so looking forward to our trip in November and your pics help to calm me down. LOL
Since Stefanie is such a great shopper and knows Zawadi so well, what would she recommend as a "must have" souvenir from there?
ETA: I got an email from Oriental Trading today with some giraffe inspired party supplies. Here is the link: http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/br...%20Safari%20PT (If it doesn't work, then do a search for "Paradise Safari" on the Oriental Trading website.)
Great updates!
Sorry to hear about Luke's feet. Glad to hear that you were able to take frequent breaks for him to rest.
Love that teacher voice. It can work wonders
Can't wait to see how you spent your days in the parks!
I think Stefanie and I enjoyed the breaks, too!
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Originally Posted by kingfamily1129
Love the pics of AKL, as I have never been!! You got alot of great pics!!
Those kids were out of line. Glad someone had the nerve to set them straight. Some parents just don't want to discipline their children at WDW but they need to sometimes!
Can't wait to hear if you made it to MK rope drop!
I wondered as we passed them going back into Boma what he had told his mother about what happened in the ladies' room. Probably not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nimros
What a wonderful, relaxing evening!
I would have loved to have been there in the bathroom with you to see you go into 'teacher mode' for a moment. Thanks for handling that.
Your photos are just wonderful. We didn't get to see a lot of AKL when we were there and didn't take any photos as we were too concerned with finding our meeting spot, but some of your shots I kept thinking, "There's the fire-pit we just saw!" and so on. I love the photo of Stefanie and the one of the African "Bat-pole."
Can't wait to see if you all make RD tomorrow!
I can't believe I didn't see the Batman resemblance in the pole until you mentioned it. I guess at was at WDW, so I wasn't thinking DC comics.
Quote:
Originally Posted by B.M.
Sounds like you had some interesting encounters with kids at Boma! Great pics!
Boy, did I!
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
Another great installment with so many wonderful photos! We've been to AKL once to eat at Sanaa, but I didn't really spend much time looking around the resort, as it was late when we finished our dinner.
I those pajama pants!!
And I love the CM's comments about leaving his troubles on the nightstand. What a great attitude!
Can't wait to hear about what you did at MK!
I keep reminding myself of the CM's idea when I'm tempted to worry myself back into wakefulness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
I would have said something to the kids as well. I find it strange how the mother just let her son go into the women's bathroom to see how his sister was doing...weird.
The giraffe looks like he's playing hide & seek with you in this picture.
He does look like he is trying to hide from me. But I think that tree needs to be a little bigger for him to pull it off.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
I'm with Heather and now am homesick too! (Although I think she found a way to get over being homesick recently.)
I can't wait to try Boma for the first time in a few months!
I that picture of Stefanie by herself outside (by the little creek/river, I think).
Was turndown that late again? It never seems to be at a set time around there - which is kind of annoying.
I had wondered that because the three nights we were there it was always at a different time. That first night as we had just gotten in the room and Luke needed to stay off his feet, we just stayed, but after that we wandered back down to the lounge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
nice update Cam.
I would have had to say something in the bathroom too - I mean someone needs to be the adult. I too thought there was an emergency when the boy came in but clearly they were just horsing around. I mean what mother says to her son "Go into the Ladies room and check on your sister" - huh? What the...
Some people just clueless.
I hadn't thought about it but I like being a kid at WDW, but I'll step up and be the adult when necessary.
Great photos from AKL! We haven't stayed at AKL yet, but by looking at your photos from AKL, I'm really liking this resort more and more!
Glad you said something to the boy & girl in the restroom. That was ridiculous and out of hand. And why couldn't the mother check on the daughter? Would have made more sense than sending the boy into the Women's restroom. I guess to each is own.
Loved all your purchases! Those Breakfast lounge pants are way cute!
I noticed on Stefanie's bag that she has the same light up Tink that I got on my last trip. Too cool! I'm going to have to get a new one as mine is so scratched up.
I swear, even looking at pictures of AKL make me feel peaceful. It doesn't sound like you are having the best customer service, though, so I hope things improve in that department!
__________________
Saturday, October 9, 2014 - Kaitlyn and I before the Happy Haunted 5K at ESPN Wide World of Sports
Me and my son LOVE AKL! Next August we are goin to be stayin in the new hotel Arts of Animation, this sound pretty cool and neat and we will be stayin in a "new hotel" but I am still havin second thoughts about changein so that we can stay in AKL, my Husband and his daughter have never stayed there before, as for me and my son we have stayed there plenty of times and we just love it.........Ol what to do, what to do!
That would be a dilemma for me, too. The new Arts of Animation Resort does sound so ! But my heart is always with AKL! I don't know if it's because it was our first Disney resort or my love of animals (and photographing them) or the whole African theming, but it just makes me happy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by emilyandlogansmom
Great update!
I love that Luke made his dessert in the shape of a Mickey Mouse. I think I would definitely tear just a bit if my husband made this leap. Anything he does that makes me know he likes WDW just a fraction of what I do makes me feel good.
I love your purchases! I have the breakfast pants and have been eyeing your WDW 40th Anniversary shirt on disneystore.com. I know a little boy who will be ALL OVER those Cars with the character hats! What a great idea those are!
Your TR is really rolling now!
Once we bought into DVC, Luke came wholeheartedly over to the "Mouse" side. I love the breakfast pants, too. The Cars are so cute! I'd have gotten even if Luke didn't!
Quote:
Originally Posted by goofysdtr
Great update, Cam! I'm sure your "teacher voice" comes in handy--especially when you say you're going to get the principal (CM - ).
LOVELOVELOVE Zawadi! Makes me homesick. More great purchases in there. I really liked all the 40th anniversary products--1971 was such a great year! It's my 40th, too.
Oh, & Luke's zebra domes had my mouth watering.
I was a brand new high school freshman when WDW opened up. My greatest disappointment that year was that my parents had turned down free WDW tickets from my great uncle who had worked on the construction crew. Right after that was the inability to open my own locker. Ugghh!
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrappyjae
What great shots of AK. I loved visting that resort and hope to stay there one day.
Those kids in the restroom....I don't blame you for going "teacher" on them.
I'm going to keep that expressions and use it "going 'teacher.'" it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by PamelaK
More wonderful pics of the resort! Thank you for being such a photography buff
I am so looking forward to our trip in November and your pics help to calm me down. LOL
Since Stefanie is such a great shopper and knows Zawadi so well, what would she recommend as a "must have" souvenir from there?
ETA: I got an email from Oriental Trading today with some giraffe inspired party supplies. Here is the link: Paradise Safari (If it doesn't work, then do a search for "Paradise Safari" on the Oriental Trading website.)
Stefanie has gotten several of the small African musical instruments from Zawadi. I finally let her get the drum this trip. It can be very loud, but she's been very well behaved with it. I all that party stuff! Thanks so much for the link!
At 6:50 AM Luke’s iPhone went off sounding like music in Tomorrowland. All three of us got moving fairly quickly. Each of us showered and was dressed by 8:00. Then it was out the door to the lounge for a bite of breakfast. I had two pastries, Luke had fresh fruits, and Stefanie drank a Nesquick. By 8:25 we were off to the bus stop and immediately boarded a Magic Kingdom bus. We arrived at MK at 8:50 and saw the Rope Drop show just starting as we made our way to the gates. So cute, even from the rear of the line! Stefanie kept saying, “This is the song on our CD.” She was all smiles!
Our first mission inside the park was to meet characters. Stefanie chose the princesses first. She was initially rather shy with Aurora and Belle. I think she may have been a bit overwhelmed in checking out the new location. But she perked up with Cinderella who had her in a lengthy conversation. That was also the point at which the Bloggie died.
First Aurora with our camera:
Then the PhotoPass pictures of Stefanie and Aurora:
First sight of the princesses!
I really like this new Princess border.
Next up was Belle with our camera:
Now the PhotoPass pictures:
One of my favorites!
Finally to our favorite princess, Cinderella with our camera:
I think Stefanie was telling her something here about her lanyard.
At one point Stefanie and Cinderella were talking about Gus and Jaq as they are Stefanie’s favorites when Cinderella explained that the mice helped her in many ways. Cinderella asked Stefanie if she had any mice at home to help her with stuff. Stefanie’s replied, “Yes, my Mom!” So Cinderella asked if Stefanie’s Mice would like to be in the picture, too. That’s my kid!
Now the PhotoPass pictures:
A final hug before we depart.
Once out of the Princesses chambers, we got in Mickey and Minnie’s line. The line was delayed due to lighting difficulties, but we were finally admitted backstage and met the couple. Luke began snapping photos of all the backstage props.
Now the CM who helped with our camera failed to let any of us know when she was taking a shot, so we are all looking away.
Mickey loved Stefanie’s fingernails and my toenails, too. Now for the PhotoPass pictures:
One of my favorite family shots of the trip! It had been a really great visit with our two favorite mice, but it was time to let another family have their turn.
Back out on Main Street, Stefanie squealed, “There’s the castle!” Too cute! And of course, we had to stop for a PhotoPass picture (or two).
Oops! My eyes were closed!
Stefanie chose Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin as our first ride. While she and I walked to Tomorrowland, Luke headed off to get Peter Pan FastPasses. We had a short wait at Buzz though it was pretty much a walk-through. Luke was our highest scorer with 90,000+ (he couldn’t remember his exact score when he got off), I had 39,500, and Stefanie got 2,500. We were left in his dust. Since were were in Tomorrowland, our next ride chose was the Wedway People Mover/TTA. After a relaxed spin around the land, we took in the classic Carousel of Progress. All three of these were cool and allowed Luke some time off his feet!
As we came out of CoP, Luke and I spotted Chip and Dale in a meet and greet. So we headed Stefanie in that direction for some chipmunk loving.
I love Stefanie’s smile in this one.
Dale noticed Stefanie’s nails.
Up Next: New Adventures in Fantasyland and It truly is a Small World
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that picture of Stefanie by herself outside (by the little creek/river, I think).
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
Holly: 
..I am looking forward to reading more!!!!!
this year. 
If I remember correctly, that was the mother and baby giraffe. I talked with a CM there while I was taking pictures. I took quite a few I didn't share as they are just so hard to make out the animal, but he told me each one that I was photographing. I'm still hoping for some birthday money next week, so I can order the giraffe Sanuks, too. They are comfy! Can't wait to wear the ones I have to work. 
. As does the teacher look. Dh often tells me not to look at him like he's a seventh grader (to which I reply, "Quit acting like one."). Sounds like a nice relaxing evening, except for the odd bathroom encounter!
My normal everyday computer routine!
Would have made more sense than sending the boy into the Women's restroom. I guess to each is own. 
! But my heart is always with AKL! I don't know if it's because it was our first Disney resort or my love of animals (and photographing them) or the whole African theming, but it just makes me happy. 
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