You can find me in da Beach Club -- COMPLETE!! Final Thoughts UPDATE 7/1 About This Page:

[Minnie Lor]

24 pages later and "by George" I think I'm caught up. I always LOVE your trip reports. I’m going back to the beginning here but

My Mom always used to quote that poem to me "There once was a little girl with a little curl ......" Made me

"child for sale" had me

Thanks for the info on the Marrakech dinner. I love the counter service place but that place didn't sound or look appetizing. :

I love your description of the Coral Reef. That's on our must-do list next time.

Oh, the "accident" in Stormalong ~ Would've totally ruined it for me.

Love your writing style. Tooo funny. Can't wait for more!

[Suzie&Jay]

Karen, this TR is hysterical...I love the accent bit. keep it coming!

[GaGirls4disney]

What a good mom you are to suffer through that drink just so Kat could have her toy.

I couldn't believe my eyes about the abercrombie prices. I just sold some of my DD a&f jeans at a garage sell for $5.

[luvnwdwgal]

Love the update! I'm off to check out Coral Reef's menu now. I've always wanted to eat there but I didn't think that DH(picky eater) would want to eat there, but after seeing the NY strip steak, I think I may just be able to persuade him now. Thanks!

[Tiggerbelle]

I know I'm going back a bit here, but I'm getting caught up....

You see, I’d just decided to start a diet on the flight home and I have this theory about loading my body with trillions of calories immediately prior to any weight loss programme. Shocks the body into parting with fat, I believe.

I think I may need to borrow this fabulous justification!

Thanks for a TR that keeps me laughing over and over.

[PrincessSharon]

Whew, I finally managed to catch up and enjoyed every second of doing it! Thanks for the laughs, Karen. Now I'm ready for more!

[DyanKJ130]

All caught up, Karen, and I'm loving every second!! Your reference to Kat sporting Jimi Hendrix hair had me She's adorable, really!! Waiting for more!

[CitrusSwirl]

I love your trip reports, Karen. We're going next month and our daughter will have just turned three so I enjoy reading about Kat's experiences (although there is no way Emma would be brave enough for TOT I'm looking forward to eating at Coral Reef after reading your review and seeing the pictures... YUM!

[Caldercup]

I somehow missed that you'd updated with your meal at Coral Reef -- on the Glowtini. It looked marvelous and I was so happy you were able to hold on to it for your spinning trip to Mars!!

Great pics of Illuminations!! When do we get more?
Eileen

[mattnkatsmum]

THURSDAY February 1st

We decided that we’d head back to Animal Kingdom this morning as I really wanted to see the new Nemo Show.

The PhotoPass photographers were out in force, so we had some family photos taken. OK, so they were all the same, but I WILL get my $125 value from my PhotoPass CD.



We wanted no repeat of Meltdown Monday, and therefore decided to indulge Kat by taking her straight to her favourite ride: Triceratops Spin. On the way to Dinoland we came across Pooh and friends.



Kat had some great interaction with Tigger. Here he is signing her autograph book. Please note that I am the least creative person in the world, so all I did was print some character pictures on A4 card stock (one page for each character) and bind them together. The characters, without exception made a big fuss of Kat when signing her book. Simple but effective.



Here Tigger and Kat are comparing feet / shoes.



And here Kat is ‘bouncing with Tigger’. I've just noticed how lonely Eeyore is looking in the background. Aaww!



As ever, we couldn’t get her off the wretched dinosaurs….



…… so I decided to go for a little spin of my own – on PrimEVIL Hurl.

Steve and I were amongst the first to ride PW - we happened to ride on the first day of the soft opening – and I hated it then and I hate it now. Still, I coerced the CM to take my photo.



I even managed a self- portrait.



I like this photo. I think I have managed to capture a certain ‘this is what I look like in the back of a spoon’ quality. Plus there’s a small amount of breakfast stuck in my teeth, which also helps the reality factor along. No airbrushing or PhotoShopping for me.

Finally we were able to coax Kat off TS, but only on the promise that she could spend some time in the Boneyard.



Another 30 minutes was killed whilst Kat played happily. Steve and I reminisced about the days when we could travel commando-style through the parks, heading from one attraction to the next. It’s impossible with a three year old.



I wanted to get some decent photos at Camp Minnie Mickey, so we ambled over there in time for its opening at 10 am. We got some lovely photos.



For some reason, Steve expressed interest in the Pocahontas Show (I can’t think why). I think he was somewhat disappointed that she was dressed like this:



Rather than like this:



The latter photo was taken at Rafiki’s Planet Watch a couple of trips ago. I think it adequately explains Steve’s disappointment without the need for more.

We took this photo just beforehand. You can see the heady anticipation in Steve’s eyes.



After Pocahontas had saved her forest friends or whatever and Steve had got over his misery we decided to head back towards Nemo, via Africa.

We came across DeVine again. Wonderful as ever.



Then Flik



We decided to take a few random photos. Including this one…..



…..which will no doubt end up one day in a very large box entitled ‘misc. photos of The Tree of Life, Spaceship Earth and Cinderella’s Castle.’

…and this one



and this one. ‘Just one more photo for Mummy. PLEEEAASE….’



We finally got to the Nemo Show and were delighted to note that there was no line. That would be because the show as down ‘for technical reasons’. ‘WHAT??’ It’s a show. Phantom of the Opera doesn’t cancel ‘for technical reasons’. AAARRGGH. I’m thinking one of the puppeteers didn’t show up. I have to admit I was mightily miffed – that was the only reason we’d gone to AK that morning. Only one thing would save the morning: lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue.

FTB is still my AK lunch destination of choice. We’re creatures of habit and always sit in the same place (the pagoda by the lake overlooking EE) and always order the same things.

Steve’s choice - Smoked Turkey Breast Sandwich - sliced turkey breast served on a multi-grain bun with coleslaw



My choice - Smoked Pork Sandwich served with baked beans and corn on the cob



Key lime pie and chocolate cake



Loved it. Loved it all.

Kat wasn’t feeling the love for Flame Tree Barbecue, so we (predictably) took her to McDonalds. (I know, I know. Fifty squillion more Bad Mother points). Right outside the rear entrance was a guy who was obviously a Dream Granter (or whatever they’re called). In fact, I reckoned that given that he had a laptop with him, he must have been giving away one of the super duper jackpot prizes. So whilst Steve was off getting a Happy Meal, I made sure we got seats at the back of the restaurant where Dream Granter was in sight and worked out my plan of action.

Having force-fed Kat her McNuggets, I decided that the best strategy was for us to go out the front door, so we’d have to walk right past Dream Granter on the way to collect Kat’s stroller. Kat was to skip and sing and Steve and I were to act happy yet a little nonchalant. I won’t mention that Steve rolled his eyes a lot, nor that he reckoned that I’d finally taken leave of my senses because it’s irrelevant.

Anyway, Steve had to eat his scorn because my strategies were successful. I thought we'd missed our chance with Dream Granter when he called after me:

DG: ‘Excuse me Ma’am, could I have a minute of your time?’
Me (nonchalantly) ‘ Oh er…. Well yes, I suppose so. We were just leaving.’
DG: ‘You look as if you’re having a wonderful time?’
Me: ‘ Yes it’s fabulous’ but I’m thinking, please let it be the stay in Cindy’s Castle; or the DVC points. Yes that would be even better, the DVC points would do us just fine.
DG: ‘Would you be prepared to help us out with a short survey?’
Me: ‘Yes, of course’. I’m thinking short survey is Disney Speak for ‘you’ve won a star prize in the Year of a Million Dreams Giveaway’.
Computer: Have you enjoyed your visit to Restaurantasaurus?
Me: ‘errr yes’
Computer : Would you visit us again?
Me. (The mother ship finally landing). Yes. I suppose so’
Dream Granter that never was ‘Thank you and goodbye’.

So with Steve doubled over with an unjustified degree of hilarity and Kat with tummy ache, we beat a hasty retreat.

Before leaving we managed to get a photo with Timon.



And Launchpad McQuack.



How cool is that?

[chezp]

Oh Karen, that is just too funny about the non Dream Granter! What a shame about the Nemo show and I couldn't agree more - Eeyore does look very lonely in the back of that Tigger shot, very much in need of a hug!

[Jillybean]

Sorry that your Dream Granter turned out to be a survey hound. Wonderful morning at AK though - - tons of great characters!

Jill

[ilovedisney0_0]

Ahhh, trying to act nonchalant for the Dream Granter. I did the same thing...but I didn't even get picked for a survey!

Thank you soooo much for your review of Coral Reef! I have ADR's scheduled for there, but I have read so many negative reviews that I have really been on the fence about it. You put my mind at ease!

[MontiMouse]

Pocahantas has been Charlie's favorite character for several years now! It makes Macy so mad when he tells her that Pocahantas is his girlfriend. I don't think we have ever seen her in that long sleeved costume.

I love the pictures of Kat with Tigger comparing feet and the one of them bouncing! Very cute!

More please...

[JoanW]

Loved the breakfast in the teeth self photo! Very good addition and in fact, now that I've heard your voice, I read it in a Manchester accent!