TR: Thingamabobs, Zebra & Giraffes, Oh My! Completed 3/25/15 About This Page:

[mcc0313]

What a great start to the day with the Sunrise Safari, we went on it a few years back and loved it. Such great pictures. Loved your second safari in the rain, definitely something I would do....loved the pictures.

[xwewhisper]

I've been on the Safari around a downpour once, and it was AMAZING! So glad you were brave and went for it Sometimes getting soaked is so worth it.

[Cam22]

Wonderful fun at AK! your photos of Nemo! KS in the pouring rain looked fabulous.

[KMB733]

Amazing pictures from the Sunrise Safari!! Sounds like a great time at AK. Love the pictures of the elephants playing in the rain!

[Colexis Mom]

Great day at AK! Love the pictures of the safari in the rain!

[lfredsbo]

Originally Posted by mcc0313

What a great start to the day with the Sunrise Safari, we went on it a few years back and loved it. Such great pictures. Loved your second safari in the rain, definitely something I would do....loved the pictures.

Originally Posted by xwewhisper

I've been on the Safari around a downpour once, and it was AMAZING! So glad you were brave and went for it Sometimes getting soaked is so worth it.

Originally Posted by Cam22

Wonderful fun at AK! your photos of Nemo! KS in the pouring rain looked fabulous.

Originally Posted by KMB733

Amazing pictures from the Sunrise Safari!! Sounds like a great time at AK. Love the pictures of the elephants playing in the rain!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great day at AK! Love the pictures of the safari in the rain!

Thanks everyone!!! It was definitely an exciting adventure!!

[Timon-HakunaMatata]

I was looking at the pictures of your family on page 5 and your daughter reminded me of someone. I have eventually decided that she has the look of Katherine Heigl. Hope Daddy has a handy shotgun collection handy for cleaning during date pickups. lol

[dutchdisneyfamily]

That was quite the safari experience!

[JKnott17]

The safari looked like a blast in the rain!

[OhToodles!]

What a fun day at AK! The elephants must have been fun to watch!
How did you protect your DSLR from the rain?

[lfredsbo]

Originally Posted by Timon-HakunaMatata

I was looking at the pictures of your family on page 5 and your daughter reminded me of someone. I have eventually decided that she has the look of Katherine Heigl. Hope Daddy has a handy shotgun collection handy for cleaning during date pickups. lol

Awe - thanks! She is a keeper!

Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily

That was quite the safari experience!

Thanks! It was fun!

Originally Posted by JKnott17

The safari looked like a blast in the rain!

Thanks! It was!

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

What a fun day at AK! The elephants must have been fun to watch!
How did you protect your DSLR from the rain?

Thanks! I had my DSLR in its bag, and then a poncho wrapped around the bag

[lfredsbo]

Sunday, July 6, 2014 Continued:

After returning to the resort and putting on dry clothes – I retreated to the balcony with my cheese and cracker platter and a glass of wine! There is something so peaceful about sitting on the balcony, listening to the rain, with a wonderful glass of wine! Ahhh…….






Then Emily decided that she would indeed like to go check out the pottery in the Community Hall, so she and I headed that way (Scott was taking a nap ). Given the weather, the Community Hall was actually quite busy. But we managed to decide what we would like to paint and get all the details of how it would work (our products were due to be ready Tuesday afternoon if we completed them now). We each picked a bowl that had little Mickey Heads along the border. Each bowl would be $18 (no additional discount – that is the DVC member price). We then each selected the color paints we would like to use. The CM brought over everything we needed, including our paint palettes.

























We really enjoyed this activity – although it was taking a bit longer than we anticipated and I was starting to feel rushed as we had dinner reservations. Emily was already wearing what she had planned to wear to dinner, so I finished up my painting and left Emily there (we were not too far) so that I could get ready for dinner. Scott & I returned for her, and she was just finishing her piece up. We got our bowls checked in with the desk so that they could be “fired” (I believe that is the correct term?) and we would be back in a few days for them!

Then we headed right downstairs to check in at Sanaa!




Scott & I are all dressed for dinner!




We were sat at a table near the beautiful windows and our server was Tracy. We immediately ordered drinks – Emily had the Mango Lassi Smoothie, Scott had a dirty Martini, and I have a ½ carafe of Black Pearl Oro Wine.












Of course we ordered the bread service (and I apologize – apparently I did not note what any of use ordered so I am going by the receipt (which is vague) and photos!).




Emily was ready to dig in!!!




I could just eat the bread service and wine all night and be happy!!!

For entrees, I had the Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs and Buttered Chicken with Basmati Rice.




Emily had the Tandoori Shrimp with rice.




Scott had the Tandoori Lamb with rice.




They brought this dessert for all of us to share celebrating our anniversary and Emily’s birthday – which was a nice touch.




Of course, throughout dinner we kept our eyes out for our animal friends – including this crazy crane who loves to watch his reflection in the window!!!












After dinner we headed back up to our room to digest our dinner, and Scott and I changed back into park clothes as we were going to head over to Magic Kingdom for a bit tonight. The park was open until 2:00 a.m. ~ and of course Emily really wanted to give this a try!! So we relaxed before heading out.

We arrived at Magic Kingdom just before 9:00pm. (Not bad, considering our dinner was at 5:30).




We were able to snag a fastpass for Stitch’s Great Escape and basically just walked on.








Then we headed over to Carousel of Progress – I was able to get a few photos in here, as we were the only ones in our section (but of course, I still did not use flash!).



















We visited the fastpass kiosk again and was able to get another fastpass for Big Thunder Mountain, but we had a bit of time, so we just wandered a bit – and stopped in the pin shop in Frontierland as Scott was not too thrilled with the new lanyard we had picked up for him in DTD the other day, so he wanted to exchange it – easy peasy! We also grabbed a diet coke and a water while we were in there (remember, AP discount in stores!! ).

Our fastpass for BTMRR was finally ripe, so we headed over there next.




When we exited BTMRR it was nearing time for the Main Street Electrical Parade, so we found a spot in Frontierland to sit and watch. The park was not too crowded now (this was the 11pm parade).


























We love this parade and could watch it every night!

After the parade, we made our way back up into Fantasyland and rode It’s a Small World.




















It was after midnight now and we were getting those “midnight munchies” so we headed over to Storybook Treats and Emily ordered a root beer float, I had a twist cone, and Scott had a vanilla cone! We sat and people watched while enjoying our midnight treat! We could see the wait time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was still at 90 minutes right now (apparently this is where everyone in the park was!), so we figured we would check again in a bit.





So we wandered over to Space Mountain – not much of a wait here – so we got in line and got on the ride probably about 15 minutes later? We got on the ride, had our ride, came through that last tube just before you come to the end………..BAM……….the ride stops!!! We are just outside the tube……….just shy of the unloading area………..all the lights come on, we can hear everyone behind on the tracks – everyone trying to figure out what was going on……..and we are just sitting there, and sitting there………..and sitting there………CM’s are walking past us and coming back with other guests that they have obviously walked through the ride…………..and we are still sitting there …………they keep telling us to just hold tight, they have someone on the way to assist us soon………….and we are still sitting there when we see the Reedy Creek Fire Dept. guys come in with their bags and such, and of course they come right over to our car, and inspect the car, the tracks, the unloading area………they have to “rescue” us as we are not close enough to the unloading dock, and the track is elevated here (maybe 3-4 feet?) – so they literally release our belts, and one by one, hold our hands/arms to guide us to the platform! And of course, we are saying we could have easily gotten ourselves over there (we were inches), but you know, we had to be “rescued”. It was pretty darn funny – and of course Scott mentioned that he is also a firefighter/EMT, and so he and all the guys start talking “shop” while Emily and I are standing there like “REALLY??” We must have sat there for about 20-25 minutes in that spot waiting to be “rescued”! ……………Never a dull moment on a Fredsbo Family Vacation!!!

This is us waiting to be "rescued"!!



And this is before all the excitement!




So after all that excitement, we headed over to check Seven Dwarfs Mine Train again, and the wait was down to 30 minutes, so we got in line. This time we were going through the regular stand by line, so we were able to see some of the interactive stuff along the way.














It was finally time to head back to the resort………….as it was nearing 2:00 a.m.!!!!

We stopped for a Photopass photo, and I also took a photo of my lovely castle all lit up!








Main Street was fairly empty, given the hour……….and I have proof that we were there that late!








We were able to get a bus fairly quickly – and I believe each of us fell asleep on the bus!! And needless to say, I did not get to enjoy my tub soak this evening – and I don’t even remember if I even bothered to wash my face before hitting the pillow! Oh, and Scott had to be at a 7am tour!!!


Total Miles Walked today: 14.91
Total Spent on Food & Beverages: $159.47
Total Spent on Souvenirs, Activities, Misc.: $194.04 ($150 of this was the Sunrise Safari)
Total TIW Discount savings: $21.74
Total Annual Pass Discount Savings: $3.33


Up Next: Tasting the world!

[lauriep]

I can't believe all of this-- relaxing on the balcony, the ceramics, fabulous dinner, MK, lots of rides, the parade and a RESCUE-- was just the afternoon and evening! Seems like 3 days-worth of activities to me!

[cubfancolleen]

Love the bowls!! Can't wait to see the finished project!
That bread service....yum!!!!

[xwewhisper]

The ceramics looks like so much fun! Of course bread service at Sanaa is sooo tasty I love the pic of Emily ready to dive in! What an interesting experience getting "rescued" too. Always something new at Disney right?!