"Who Names a Trip Report After 'Brother Bear'?!" Thread 1 COMPLETE About This Page:

[Colexis Mom]

Welcome back Sharon [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Can't wait to hear all about it [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Caldercup]

Yippeeee! Can't wait to read all about what you did!!

Eileen

[lauren-roxy]

Welcome back Sharon!!! Can't wait to read all about your trip!!!

[simbarel]

Welcome back!!

[christiejay]

I'm glad you had a great time. Can't wait to read and see all about it!

[booklady1]

I'm glad you're back Sharon. I can't wait to read your report and see your pictures.

Booklady1

[WDWfan]

Sharon - I made it back, too. I had a great time meeting you and riding TOT/RNRC amd GMR. Can't wait to hear about the details of your trip.

[Caldercup]

[tap, tap, tap... tap, tap, tap...}

Not so patiently waiting to read about the hilarity -- and anxious to learn how many tubes of sugar your mom consumed!! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Eileen

[DrDolphin]

Can't wait to read your report!!

[PrincessSharon]

Up Next: Tell Everybody I’m On My Way…
Day One – Friday, September 29
OK, so you’ve heard it before. It’s the night before your Disney vacation and you’re too excited to sleep. Well, that isn’t me. I slept like a baby and even got to sleep in a little because my flight wasn’t leaving until 10:00. (I get up for work at 5:30 ) While I was finishing up all the last minute things, I had the AKL episode of Great Hotels running on the TiVo. (By the way, I’ve only watched it once since I’ve returned, but it’s still on the TiVo.)

My Dad was driving us to the airport and he hid his jealousy well. I’m sure DM and I were getting on his nerves a little with our excited chatter. Sorry about that Dad, and for the ride!

I’d already printed out our boarding passes the day before, so we just checked our luggage at the airport. The line at the counter was really very short, but we used the kiosks anyway, which had no line at all. I sent DM ahead before turning our bags over to security so I could slip the DME tags on without her seeing them.

We walked over to the security line and passed the curbside check-in area and noticed that the line there was incredibly long! And it was raining. People were standing out in the rain instead of coming inside when they could’ve been finished in less than half the time! I’m all for curbside, but only if it’ll save me time.

The security line was pretty short as well, and the TSA Agent at the front of it was asking people about their carry-on liquids (the regulations had changed only days before). DM didn’t have any liquids in her carry on. I only had my hand sanitizer, some lotion and a tube of lip gloss. I had my things in a ziploc and out for presentation, and the TSA Agent goes “you’re good!” We made it through security in about 5 minutes and were at our gate shortly thereafter.

Our plane arrived with passengers from Orlando and I tried not to gloat at them as they were ending their vacations and mine was just beginning. After all, that would be me much sooner than I cared to think about. The plane wasn’t full, so we were able to have just the two of us in our row. Our plane was at the gate next to the Shamu plane, so I snapped my first picture of the trip.




Once we were at 10,000 feet, I fired up my iPod…


Sorry for the blurry picture. I forgot to put on the macro function

I thought about DawnDenise while I was listening. Our flight was completely uneventful, which was a good thing. We arrived in Orlando right on time. We headed to the DME counter and I planned my strategy on the way. I’d taken DME before and knew that they only wanted one person to wait on line to check in, so I figured I’d be safe. (dun dun DUNNN)

The DME line was short and I got through it in just a couple of minutes. The CM confirmed our return flight info (wish I’d been listening closely, but I was a bit preoccupied). Then I collected DM and headed over to the CM pointing out which bus to take. There were two families ahead of us, and I watched carefully in case I needed to signal her to keep quiet about the resort. First family: <Disney point> “This way, please.” Next family: <Disney point> “This line, please.” Me: “Animal Kindgom Lodge, this way please.”

I hoped DM hadn’t heard, but she immediately said “Oh, I didn’t know we were staying at Animal Kingdom! I didn’t even know there was a resort at Animal Kingdom.” (told ya she did no research!) Well, she was excited anyway, and I knew she’d still be surprised about the savannah (dun dun DUNNNNN).

We immediately boarded our bus, which was a Disney Cruise Line bus instead of a DME bus, and we departed after one other family boarded behind us. In all, the entire experience took about 10 minutes.

We enjoyed the DME video, which was still all about the Happiest Celebration on Earth. I guess it wasn’t technically out of date, but it was close. After the video, the CM took over. Hehehe. My notes say “SHUT UP, ANGEL!!!” Let me explain that horrible blasphemy…

We had a bus driver whose name I forget, and Angel (which he pronounced “an-jel” not “an-hel”). I guess the bus driver was “earning his ears” and Angel was training him, because I’ve only ever had just a bus driver in the past. Anyway, Angel was one of those people. Disney know-it-alls who spew misinformation.

Here are some of the gems he told us. Definitely buy a resort mug, because it pays for itself after only four drinks. (OK, good.) But then he told us that you can use it on return trips (umm…) even at other resorts! (yeah, no you can’t). Someone closer to the front questioned him about it and he said, and I quote: “You can use it, they won’t stop you.” He encouraged everyone to use Fast Passes (OK, good). He claimed you can get another FP before the time listed on your ticket because the computer doesn’t know when you got it. (guh? ) Then he told us to always use the left side of the queue in instances where there are two lines (umm… well, sometimes that’s true, but sometimes it isn’t true, and I have first-hand proof). Then we passed the Tower of Terror and he pointed it out and told us that the reason it’s called TOT 4 is because it goes up and down 4 times (whatever ).

By now, I was wishing we didn’t have to make so many stops before ours (we stopped at Pop and Coronado Springs). This is when I was thinking “SHUT UP, ANGEL!!!” He just kept going on and on and on. When we finally neared AKL and I thought we’d be rid of him, he decides to talk about how the rooms have views of the savannah. Say it with me … “SHUT UP, ANGEL!!!” Now I’m not the only blasphemer. In all fairness, I can’t really be mad at him for spoiling my surprise, but I was mad at him already, so .

I did get a couple of shots of the AKL from the bus.



AKL sign from the DME bus



AKL from the DME bus

When we got off the bus, I had a couple of bucks out for a tip for the driver. DM didn’t think we needed to tip, but hey, I tip the driver when I just ride in a taxi, so I should tip the bus driver. Also, Angel mentioned to us that tips would be gladly accepted, which I think is beyond tacky. Is it just me, or do you think that’s just like saying “Don’t forget to tip me!” When I got off, Angel and the bus driver were both standing there and I had the money ready and started to hand it to Angel, but when I realized who it was, I hesitated and started to hand it to the driver. Angel said, “It’s okay, we share our tips.” Well, that’s that then.

We headed inside and were both awed by our first view of the lobby and just stared for a few minutes. I finally snapped to, and I headed to check in while DM roamed the lobby. The line was pretty short and I was checked in by a CM whose name I forget (incidentally, I’m really bad with names, so it takes a lot for me to remember a CM’s name – I’m looking at you, Angel! )

We were assigned a room as I’d requested, on the Kudu trail overlooking Arusha rock, except the second I walked in, I was hit with the smell of smoke. I remembered my December 2005 trip, and how the room smelled like smoke the entire time, so we headed back for another room.

Our new room was on the second floor, Zebra trail, which I found to be wonderful, so it turned out to be fine. DM claimed she couldn’t smell the smoke in the other room, but admitted our new room smelled much fresher by comparison.

The first thing I did was head for the balcony, and this is the view that greeted us…












The “baby” giraffe





I was hoping we’d have some animals wandering around at that time of the day, but I admit I got more than I’d hoped for. I must say that I found this to be a wonderful location, as there was always some animal activity every time we looked out, and being on the second floor, we felt like we were so close we could touch some of the animals. Also, we were right above a little pond, so the animals often came quite close to get a drink.

After checking out our view, I checked out the room.


















It seems like all Disney resorts have tiny, tiny bathrooms

So what did DM think of it? Well, this was a common sight during our stay…




We ran down to the food court to get some lunch. I bought a mug (gee, I should’ve brought one of my old ones with me according to Angel) and DM and I split a shrimp basket. We had a 5:30 ADR, so we didn’t want to eat much, but we hadn’t eaten anything since a light breakfast so we were hungry. We used our first quick service credit here. Along with the shrimp basket, we got a soda and I got some zebra domes as our dessert, which we put in our fridge for later.

We ate the shrimp in the Mara, and then headed back up to our room for some more animal watching.







There were some little birds right below our balcony. I kept my animal spotting guide, but I can’t locate it at the moment, so I’ll just call them birds.










My cell phone was inside on the table and I could hear it vibrating, so I went inside to answer it just as the bellman came with our luggage. We figured now was a good time to head to the Magic Kingdom, so I put on my party clothes.



Ready to Party!

Then we grabbed our MNSSHP tickets and headed for the bus stop. I loved the doors, so I took a shot of ours. (I always take a pic of the room number because it takes me forever to remember the room number.)




Up Next: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

[Caldercup]

Excellent update -- you totally cracked me up with your reaction to Angel (who was definitely not an [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/angel.gif[/img] )

Love your room and your mom's reaction to it all -- so mellow! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Can't wait to hear about MNSSHP!
Eileen

[DrDolphin]

Great start!! I can't wait to read more!

[lauren-roxy]

Fantastic start Sharon!!! Wow, what a great room for you and your mother!!! You had me cracking up over Angel, and to think that he is training other cast members. Can't wait to hear all about the party!!!!

[WDWfan]

Sharon - So glad you've started the TR. You pictures of the animals are amazing. AK is definitely on my list of places to stay at one day.

You had me [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] with your story of your bus ride. Angel certainly sounded like a pain in the behind.

Can't wait for more!

[Colexis Mom]

Great pictures of the room Sharon [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img] Love the zebra trail, you got a great room [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

Can't wait to hear about the party [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]