Feelin’ Groovy: A Cam and Luke TR Completed 7/31 - Page 14 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Your room location is perfect. Your pictures at AK this morning are beautiful. I need to practice my photography skills before our next trip.
I didn't take nearly as many photos this trip because I was trying to get different shots from previous trips. But for some reason, I was having issues focusing. So I've been practicing some on that myself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xwewhisper
What a wonderful start to the morning! Crazy how long the entrance/photopass lines were at this time of day!
We thought the lines were crazy, too. But later in the day we'll have a better chance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by travismom
What a great start to a day in the Parks!!
Terry and I especially like the addition of Starbucks to Disney World...just sayin'!!
Thanks! I've not a coffee fan, but I love Starbucks hot chocolate. Couldn't believe I forgot to order one, but the orange I had was great.
Sounds like you had a relaxing morning, what a lovely way to start the day.
It was a nice way to start the day.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wheezie
Great room location.
My dh and kids love Starbucks, so getting a Starbucks gift card is definitely on my to do list.
Luke thought about a gift card sort of last minute, but we'll be getting one before each trip now.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilsEagles08
I'm glad you did the Wishes Fireworks Dessert Party & gave an honest review. It doesn't really seem like something we need to try ourselves. I think Disney could really put more into it for the price they charge, imo.
I also think Stefanie had a little something to do with the room selection. She was just letting you know she was still there with you!
There were folks all around us who were eating their weight in desserts, which totally fascinated Luke and me as we neither finished a single plate. So I think they would review it much differently. But you all sound like us. Stefanie always has a way of showing us she is with us.
Great start to the day! We are big Starbucks drinkers too - great idea to buy the gift card in advance!!
I mentioned to Luke that our Kroger was having 4x fuel points for gift cards the weekend we were leaving, and he came up with the idea to buy the Starbucks cards.
Quote:
Originally Posted by guerns17
Scoring on room location is always the best!! Sounds like a great day so far! Can't wait to read more!!
No kidding! We've had rooms at the far end of nowhere, which makes it quiet and peaceful, but the walk is a disadvantage. This room was near it all, but also quiet and peaceful. Yeah!
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I forgot to mention in the last update that as we headed into Africa, I was lagging behind Luke because I was taking a few photos. There is so much that I love about Animal Kingdom, and I love preserving it in photos.
Once we had finished breakfast, we were within our FastPass+ window for riding Kilimanjaro Safaris, which many of you who have read my past trip reports know is one of my favorite rides in all of Disney World. I love animals, I love photographing animals, and I would love to visit Africa one day. Until that day I’m willing to pretend that I’m there every time I ride the Kilimanjaro Safaris. The FastPass+ queue was literally non-existent, so I was finally able to get some photos of the FP queue area itself.
We were moving so quickly that in no time, we were pointed to the front row of a truck. If I’d had time to think, I would have asked to be seated further back. We have ridden in the front before, so I know from experience that it is not really where I want to sit if I plan to take photos. It’s wonderful to be right behind the driver as it makes hearing so much easier. But it’s a horrible spot for photos for several reasons: the cab of the truck blocks at least part of every photo; the driver usually pulls further up so the guests in the back of the truck can get the best view because as the driver she’s seen it all before; it is possible to turn and shoot back towards the animals if I could focus in time, but I usually take too long from that angle. At least I was on the right side of the truck as most of the animals are on that side. I should have warned you all about a lengthy explanation up ahead in this trip report. Anyway, in spite of all these disadvantages and due to my determination, sometimes known as bullheadedness, I did manage a few photos that didn’t disappoint me and a few that might even be groovy. Forgive the blurry ones and there are quite a few of them, if you don’t mind. In the end the animals were scarce so I didn’t miss much. In fact, Luke and I talked afterwards that it might have been the most un-groovy safari we had ever had.
Okapi hiding, hiding will become a theme of this particular safari.
This black rhino was thoroughly covered in mud. A little kid aboard our truck told his mom that even he had never been that filthy. The guide then let us all know that the mud served to cool and to protect the rhino from the sun.
Look it's hippo backs.
I was trying to get a shot of the stork because the guide told us an interesting fact about them. Just I took the photos she picked up speed, jolting me and jostling that interesting fact right out of my head. It’s gone.
I don’t usually get photos of the waterfalls because I’m taking shots of the animals, but this is where the truck stopped for me and the falls are pretty.
I’ve no idea why I couldn’t focus better on the baobab tree. I’m sure it was not moving on me, but maybe the truck lurched again. Not groovy!
I was very excited when our guide announced that we were about to see the newest addition to the savanna, the African wild dogs or painted dogs. I had already seen so many photos of these canines standing up and prowling through their new habitat. But what we saw was a pile of dogs, napping. So if the critters weren’t hiding they were napping. Keep in mind this is a morning safari, too.
We rounded a bend on the savanna and right before us was a herd of gnus or wildebeests. Initially, these fellows were all just sitting and quite possibly napping, but then finally a brave gnu stood up and bravely made his own path. Groovy!
A short distance from the gnus were the springbok (I think).
From here, we moved into elephant country because we saw the tusk marks in the red clay. And of course, we also saw elephants.
The white rhinos followed the elephants, unfortunately, my photo is a big ‘ole blur.
I’m actually surprised that the next photo turned out as well as it did. The cheetahs were hiding way back near a fence.
The lion was on his rock, napping. This was the best I could do. I knew I was lucky last year when we got to see him walking around.
Zebras were wandering through a couple of areas on both sides of the safari trail.
I had to quickly turn back to catch these napping warthogs.
Back to the zebras along with the roan antelope and addax. I was fascinated that several varieties of hooved animals were grazing in the same area. Now that felt very much like a real safari.
Once last shot before exiting our safari and because our truck stopped when it was right beside me.
As we made our way back into Africa, I took a photo of the train sign because we planned on coming back for a ride, though it will take longer than expected.
Coming down the path, we veered to the right for our first look at Harambe Marketplace. This area is another one that Disney has nailed the theming on. We loved it, so I’ll let the photos show you why.
I apologize for the blurry photos but they are a testament to how much trouble I had on this particular safari getting a good shot. I was frustrated when I looked back over these as I usually take much better animal photos. But not to fear, we will have another safari on another day for round two. Groovy!
Sorry your safari was less than groovy, but your pictures really aren't that bad overall. I don't think that Baobab tree has moved for anyone since it was brought into the preserve. I can tell it wasn't your best adventure, as there isn't a single picture of a giraffe in the bunch.
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For being up front, I think you did a great job with the pics...it always seem to happen that as soon as I focus on an animal the truck lurches forward if only by a few feet. Looming forward to the second installment of the safari ride if these were from the ungroovy ride.
Well, that stinks that the animals were all lazy bones so early in the day! However, I have to say that even your blurry pics are way better than my not blurry pics!
The safari is one of my favorites as well, so I really enjoyed reading your update this morning.
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Looking forward to hearing more about your day in AK!
I should have warned you all about a lengthy explanation up ahead in this trip report. Anyway, in spite of all these disadvantages and due to my determination, sometimes known as bullheadedness, I did manage a few photos that didn’t disappoint me and a few that might even be groovy. Forgive the blurry ones and there are quite a few of them, if you don’t mind. In the end the animals were scarce so I didn’t miss much. In fact, Luke and I talked afterwards that it might have been the most un-groovy safari we had ever had. 
The guide then let us all know that the mud served to cool and to protect the rhino from the sun. 
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