Cam's Golden Birthday Adventure **Updated 8/23** COMPLETE - Page 18 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Cam- I just love you TR- it sounds like you had such a great time. I am trying to convince my hubby that I really need to go for my birthday in January. I even tried to convince him that it could be for Christmas, our anniversary, my birthday and Valentine's Day, all rolled into one.
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Great pictures!
You guys are amazing - you accomplish so much at every park! I am so impressed!
I love all of the pictures of the Festival of the Lion King. That is definitely my favorite show at AK!
A question. Where did you get the Mickey CDs?
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Great update!!! Roaring Forks!! Stefanie's interaction with the characters is wonderful. Do you have a video setting on your digital camera? That is how I catch some moments, as we gave up carry the video camera a long time ago! Your photos of FOTLK are awesome! the tumble monkeys!!! How close will the animals get during KS? Hmmm.....I'm hoping you'll get a birthday kiss from a giraffe! Can't wait to hear more
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How close can you get to the animals while on the Kilimanjaro Safari?
Day 5 Continued – Thursday, June 12 at Animal Kingdom
Once our interview with Goofy was done, we headed immediately over to Africa for our safari.
I really love FastPasses and the ability that they give us to move way ahead in the line. Within minutes we were overlooking the loading area.
My birthday button worked some magic and we were moved to the front of our vehicle to ride right behind our guide, Cory.
He was a little surprised that I took a photo of him, but I’d never ridden in the front before. So cool! We waved goodbye to the friendly cast member who had loaded us on and set out for two weeks in the wild.
In no time, we were entering the jungles of Africa and craning our necks for any glimpse of wildlife possible.
Soon a bongo was spotted very close to the trail.
We had to strain a bit (and you may, too) in order to see the hippos. The weather had turned a bit unpredictable as our guide informed us and rain began to hit the windshield. We were told that animals often take cover in these conditions. Cory really played up the sprinkles, but he made for a different experience than we’d had in the past.
Soon after the hippo nostril sighting, a baobab tree appeared on the horizon. This was not the time a year for it to be in leaf. (Ha Ha)
Stefanie was really enjoying being up front and joking with the guide.
After a few bumps in the trail, we began to see a variety of critters, including wildebeests, Ankole cattle, and Tommy gazelles.
I was frantically searching the savannah for any signs of giraffes, my very favorite critters. The giraffes were not fazed by the rain and were spending all their time eating, so they aren’t too visible in my photos.
As we traveled on, we soon discovered some elephants.
This was actually a young elephant and he truly was spooked by the rain. He took off running and I’m surprised that I was able to get such a good shot of him.
Not far from the elephant territory were the rhinoceros, which also seemed to be headed elsewhere to avoid the rain.
After the rhinos, Cory announced that if we kept looking closely we should soon spot a lion and lioness. Since lions are nocturnal, we figured they would be lying down on the job as usual. We weren’t disappointed. They were comfy on their rocks.
Just passed the lions, several animals grazed fairly close to the trail.
Then just ahead the vehicle in front of us was stopped by a white rhino which was taking it’s time crossing the trail. Our vehicle stopped as well and the young woman sharing our seat gasped that she was totally unaware that the animals could get that close to us.
When our vehicle reached the white rhino, he continued to stand close by and later when I had developed my pictures, I wondered if I had been so focused on taking his picture that I’d failed to notice that I could have reached out and touched him. Not something I’d actually have done as that horn is pretty scary.
At this point the rain started to come down a wee bit harder and Cory picked up the pace of our safari. We assisted in quickly rescuing the baby elephant from the poachers and for our safety began the trip home a few weeks early.
Back from the wild, we noticed that is was now time to trek to another continent for dinner. So we were off to Asia for dinner at Yak & Yeti.
Our reservation was for 4:30 and as we entered the main lobby, we were greeted by eager cast members and absolutely no wait. We were taken upstairs and seated by a window.
This was a bit of added magic as we soon realized we could see the Jungle Jammin’ Parade right below us.
Luke and I chose the Seared Pot Stickers as our appetizer and I got a Berry Cherry Limeade to drink. So yummy on both counts. For our entrees, Luke chose Shrimp Lo Mien (which he thoroughly enjoyed); Stefanie picked the kid’s chicken bites with fries and coke; I opted for Crispy Honey Chicken with Jasmine rice (which I give two thumbs up). I was the only brave sole to eat my entire meal with chopsticks. This restaurant will be one my family returns to often if every experience is as good as our first. I want that honey chicken and rice right now.
As we exited I snapped a few shots of the restaurant and just couldn’t pass up getting Stefanie’s photo with Budda.
We browsed the shops near Yak & Yeti and then decided we were ready for another attraction. But as we exited Asian, I remember that I was hoping to locate one of those cool backpacks I had seen on the gentleman in the queue for it’s a small world way back on Day 2. Island Mercantile was handy and Stefanie was excited to do a little more shopping.
In short order, I located the cute backpack and a matching wallet plus an AK long-sleeve t-shirt for when the weather gets cold again (and it will in spite of today’s high of 99 degrees and 68% humidity). I couldn’t wait to trade out stuff and begin using my new bag. I do have a very nice orange Baggallini messenger bag, but my short torso causes the padded strap to fall well below my shoulder. Instead, the metal ring bores into my shoulder with the full weight of my bag’s contents. Stefanie got a small purse-size flashlight, which she loved shining on everything the rest of the vacation. Still shines it on everything here at home, too. We both also made a donation to the wildlife fund and picked up our yearly pin.
Luke was tired of shopping and his girls were happy, so we decided to make a showing of It’s Tough to Be a Bug.
Stefanie as a bug!
A bat for Luke and a giraffe for me.
This 3-D show was my sister and her family’s favorite last year and we couldn’t help thinking about them as we became honorary bugs. Then we moved on to another adventure – Dinosaur.
Stefanie always asks as we amble through the line, “Do I like this one?” We remind her that she usually has no problem with it. This year was bit different though. She got off and declared that she had had enough of dinosaurs – maybe forever. So we’ll see if we get her on it again next year.
While Stefanie and I shopped some more, Luke rode Primeval Whirl, a ride he has declared is so rough that one time a trip is enough.
That’s Luke’s head just over the fence as he prepares to begin the ride.
By now the park was getting pretty deserted and we felt we could probably get on Expedition Everest without a long wait. Stefanie said she’d be fine waiting in the gift shop for a half hour or more, but the Stand By line was only a 20 minute wait. It really didn’t even seem that long. The birthday day pin worked its magic again and we were seated in the very front of our soon-to-be runaway train. This ride is fun, but the backwards part always gets me as my brain feels the same sensation it does when I’m being turned upside down. So once a trip is all I can do on this rollercoaster. We were soon back with Stefanie, having survived the Yeti one more time.
We decided that we were almost done in, but we’d give Kali River Rapids a ride before leaving for the day. On the way to it, we came across a PhotoPass photographer who had Expedition Everest as a backdrop, a spot we’ve missed in the past. We handed over our card and smiled for the camera. This is one of my favorites from this trip and is now framed and sitting on my computer armoire.
There was absolutely no wait for Kali River Rapids. If you aren’t afraid to be a bit chilled on the bus ride back to your resort, try this one at 7:30 in the evening. Boarding was a little confusing as they allowed a family to stay on to ride again, but the cast member was trying to resituate folks so Stefanie and I wouldn’t get too wet. Unfortunately, this family had trouble understanding her and Stefanie and I wound up with a bulls-eye on us, at least as far as water was concerned. But before the ride was over, every single one of us on the raft was sopping, dripping, wring-me-out wet and laughing our heads off.
We shivered our way back to the front entrance and boarded a bus to Wilderness Lodge.
Our evaluation of late arrival at Animal Kingdom is two thumbs up. We found the lines overall to be shorter and the weather was slightly cooler. We will probably try this again next year. In fact, after today I promised my two pals that we’d sleep in each day and take a less hectic pace through our days.
Once back at the room, I think Luke watched one of the NBA championship games while I did laundry. I had been happy to discover that the laundry was just across the hall from our room. While I waited on the laundry, I changed out stuff from my Baggallini to my brand new cool Kilimanjaro backpack. It had so many compartments, including one on the outside for my cell phone, another which was perfect for two ponchos, and another for first aid supplies besides the large main compartment. I was able to get two loads done before weariness set in and I curled up for a long sleep.
Great pictures!
You guys are amazing - you accomplish so much at every park! I am so impressed!
I love all of the pictures of the Festival of the Lion King. That is definitely my favorite show at AK!
A question. Where did you get the Mickey CDs?
I got them at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom, but I also saw them at World of Disney.
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Me with my children, Spencer and Kaytee
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Margaret
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: it's such a great show and I love all of your character photos as well. 
FOTLK too! Your family picture with Mickey was a GREAT one!!
Stephanie looks like she is having a wonderful time! 
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