The Promise of Spring: Flower & Garden Festival 4.0 -- A Cam and Luke TR COMPLETED 8/27 - Page 34 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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We have been out of town in Charleston, SC so I was a bit behind but I am all caught up now. Love all the Giraffe photos! What two fabulous safari rides in a row. You really lucked out.
It is great to hear that they moved the red kangaroos so you don't have to hunt for them any more.
The baby boy Gorillas are not so little any more. Totally up to mischief. But they are still adorable. Love that Mom is like leave me be, I am napping. LOL
Love your Festival of the Lion King shots, always a favorite.
Sorry that it was so hot during your trip, we had a few really warm days in March as well too. Looks like we are going to have to start going in January or February! Ugh!
Can't wait to read more.
The boy gorillas were so entertaining. We're headed back in November, and still hoping for milder weather.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wheezie
Great pics! Those baby gorillas are just so stinking cute!
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Finally all caught up. Looks like you're having a great day at AK. The pictures from your first safari ride were amazing! Lots of great activity from the giraffes. Also great pictures from Festival of the Lion King. I love that show!
Finally all caught up. Looks like you're having a great day at AK. The pictures from your first safari ride were amazing! Lots of great activity from the giraffes. Also great pictures from Festival of the Lion King. I love that show!
I know there is no way to know ahead of time what kind of safari we'll have, but I'm so glad we got up early to make EMH for this one.
After lunch we had some folks to meet for more adventures. We headed to Dinoland to join up with Linda, Pete, Phil, and Sue again. This time we’d be riding Dinosaur together. We walked right into the preview show room where the video was already in progress. When it was through, we managed to keep our party together, and soon boarded our time rover with stray guest joining us in the very back row. Linda and Pete win the prize for best ride poses here!
As we left the gift shop, we talked about what to do next. I think it was Pete who managed to get FastPasses for Expedition Everest, so I quickly went on to get one for Luke, too. We were actually surprised that we managed FP for EE this late in the day. Luke has since learned that WDW is holding back some FP for big rides later in the day. Now the six of us began the trek to Asia from Dinoland via the walkway that passes in between the theater for Nemo: The Musical and the new seating for Rivers of Light. Almost immediately, we knew we were in for a slow walk to China. The Nemo theater was emptying out while the next show’s guests were lined up snaking through the area. Strollers were parked to one side making the trail narrower than normal. The result was a human traffic jam with some folks more aggressively (think rudely) pushing their way through the congestion. Eventually, we lost Pete, Phil, and Sue. Linda was with us as she and I had been chatting along the way. At one point the press of the crowd got intense, Linda had to get out. She somehow managed to make a leap over to the area around the Rivers of Light and forged ahead to her group. Luke and I continued to plod along, hoping to catch up. Crowds this large make me claustrophobic, so I had a tight grip on Luke’s hand. Eventually, all six of us were clear of the jam. I don’t know if any of you remember our similar experience at Disneyland in October 2015. But we got stuck in a mass of people outside the Haunted Mansion at night. That was scarier, but this was a very close second. I just don’t need my body that close to that many other bodies.
A short walk later we arrived at Expedition Everest. While the guys braved the Yeti, the gals browsed the gift shop. Soon enough the guys were back full of excitement at conquering the mountain and its monster.
Then they were off again. I had gotten myself a FP, too. This is our usual practice so that Luke can get in two rides. I’m not sure if that is what Pete and Phil did as well or if they got a second FP, but in no time as I’ve already said they were off again. This time Luke wound up in a different train car, so the other guys aren’t in the ride photo.
After the second ride, we went our separate ways, but we’d be meeting up again another day. Luke and I decided we needed a short resort break before dinner. So we were headed toward the front of the park, though I got momentarily sidetracked by the Siamang apes who appeared to be playing a game of tag, chasing each other around their habitat.
When we first got back to the room, I went out on the balcony to see what animals were around. I discovered several critters out dining on the savanna: giraffes, zebra, and Roan antelopes. Luke napped on the couch again while I checked e-mails before resting.
Our dinner reservation was for 5:10 PM so left the room around 4:20, heading straight to the Animal Kingdom bus stop. Once we reached the park, we turned left at the Tree of Life to make our wait to Tiffins. We checked in, giving my cell number for a text when our table was ready. Luke wanted to go back outside to see Pandora. Honestly, with the wall up there really wasn’t much to see. But it did fill the time before we were called back inside.
I love the front desk here with the wooden map of the world.
A CM greeted us and took us straight to our table in the Grand Gallery. Our server Angela explained the Rivers of Light dining package to us, basically, we could choose any appetizer, entrée, and dessert off the menu. When she learned that we’d never been here before, she offered us suggestions and answered questions about the menu selections. Our receipt is no help as all it says is Dining Package. I do remember our appetizers, but not which of us got which one. No matter as we shared them anyway. One was the Tiffins Signature Bread Service with accompaniments of Tadka, Black-Eyed Pea Hummus, and Zhough Yogurt. Oops no photo! The other appetizer was Black-Eyed Pea Fritters served in a tiffin (see in photo below) with two accompaniments Zhough Yogurt and Peppadew Purée.
Now before I go on with everything else we ate, lets tour the Grand Gallery. After we had placed our orders, I took the camera and wandered the dining area. In another update, you’ll see the resemblance between the lighted animals decorating this restaurant’s walls and the floats in the Rivers of Light.
Right before the appetizers came out, I returned to our table. So what did we have for our entrees? After talking with Angela, I opted for the Wagyu Strip Loin and Braised Short Rib with Rainbow Carrots and Roasted Peruvian Purple Potatoes plus Chimichurri. I have never liked carrots, but gave this a try. I still do like carrots whether they are standard orange or rainbow. As to the steak, when I ordered it, Angela said now that is served medium rare, will that be okay? I reacted a little too immediately with a stern NO. She then asked how I liked it – well done. I know some folks like their red meat barely cooked, but I’m not of that persuasion. I did compromise with medium well when Angela let me know that it would barely have any pink. I don’t eat pink. : The steak was delicious even if the chef felt it was overcooked, and purple potatoes taste like potatoes.
Luke loves fish and asked about the sustainable choice on the menu -- Whole-fried Sustainable Fish with Fermented Black Bean Sauce, Som Tam, and Peanuts. The minute Angela mentioned that it was truly the whole fish – head, tail, and all, I was positive he’d choose something else. But he decided to try something new. A server brought out our entrees and I quickly took a photo of Luke’s fish, which personally, looked disgusting. Then Angela swooped in and turned the fish to face me for a better photo. As soon as the photo was taken, Luke turned the fish back around, and I for one was thankful not to have to stare at the ugly fish face. Angela also gave Luke tips on how best to eat his ugly fish, and then left him to it. He did like it. To each their own taste.
Eventually, the steak and fish were all consumed, and dessert arrived. I had the South American Chocolate Ganache with Caramelized Banana and Cocoa Nib Tuile. Very tasty!
Luke picked the Lime Cheesecake with Almond-Sesame Tuile and Green Tea Sponge. He ate it all so I assume he enjoyed it.
Great time in AK on the rides! Love the pictures of the savanna. It looks like Tiffins was a hit. What a great place (once they cooked your steak correctly)!
Great time in AK on the rides! Love the pictures of the savanna. It looks like Tiffins was a hit. What a great place (once they cooked your steak correctly)!
We both enjoyed Tiffins and doing it on the Rivers of Light dining package was very cost effective. The package is $67 and my steak alone was $53.
Interesting about Disney keeping back some Fastpasses for the big rides. I was hoping they'd do that, as otherwise sometimes you don't stand a chance with the most popular things unless you're booking up at strictly 60 days out.
Ugh, that crowd would've really bothered me. I hate it when people start acting aggressively like that. It's not going to get them anywhere any quicker.
Great meal at Tiffins - I can't wait to go back and probably do a Rivers of Light package, so it was cool to see what you get with it.
I will be the first to admit - 1) I also do not like those type of intense crowds. To say the least they make me nervous. Can't imagine braving that while toting a child. Maybe it isn't JB who needs to be Bunga brave bit me before we go. 2) While I personally do not enjoy fish - that one was particularly ugly and would have turned me off of my meal as well. Kudos for Luke to have eaten it and enjoyed it. Not me!
What a fun time!!. So cool I hat you guys got to hang out with Linda and Pete!! I love Luke's face on the second EE ride! Your meal at Tiffins looks delicious!! Luke's fish is just-well I'll just say something else!! I hope he didn't eat the eyes!! That restaurant looks beautiful and I can't wait to try it!!
That sure was one ugly fish and it was huge amazing that Luke could finish it, your beef looked delicious although I am in the group that likes it med rare.
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Luke has since learned that WDW is holding back some FP for big rides later in the day. Now the six of us began the trek to Asia from Dinoland via the walkway that passes in between the theater for Nemo: The Musical and the new seating for Rivers of Light. Almost immediately, we knew we were in for a slow walk to China. The Nemo theater was emptying out while the next show’s guests were lined up snaking through the area. Strollers were parked to one side making the trail narrower than normal. The result was a human traffic jam with some folks more aggressively (think rudely) pushing their way through the congestion. Eventually, we lost Pete, Phil, and Sue. Linda was with us as she and I had been chatting along the way. At one point the press of the crowd got intense, Linda had to get out. She somehow managed to make a leap over to the area around the Rivers of Light and forged ahead to her group. Luke and I continued to plod along, hoping to catch up. Crowds this large make me claustrophobic, so I had a tight grip on Luke’s hand. Eventually, all six of us were clear of the jam. I don’t know if any of you remember our similar experience at Disneyland in October 2015. But we got stuck in a mass of people outside the Haunted Mansion at night. That was scarier, but this was a very close second. I just don’t need my body that close to that many other bodies. 
: The steak was delicious even if the chef felt it was overcooked, and purple potatoes taste like potatoes.
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Your meal at Tiffins looks delicious!! Luke's fish is just-well I'll just say something else!!
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