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Sounds like a nice, leisurely day at AK! My kids were not fans of Dinosaur either - they didn't even see the scary part, they were too busy hiding their faces in anticipation of it! LOL!
Is there a scary part, I thought the whole thing was scary
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
Despite ITTBAB and Dinosaur sounds like a good day at AK! Dylan didn't like Dinosaur at all this last time either. And not so much ITTBAB either.
Way to go Josie on her first big girl ride. Dylan hasn't had a chance to ride it yet.
I think Dylan would like KRR. Josie seemed to be quite pleased with that one, now if she would have gotten totally wet, I'm not so sure
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sounds like you had a great time at AK, despite ITTBAB and Dinosaur. Great pictures with the characters!!
Thank you
Quote:
Originally Posted by buzzspal2
What a fun animal kingdom day.
Thank you
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Sometimes you just have to try the attractions to know for sure what suits your family. Dinosaur and ITtBaB are both loud, dark, and scary. The first I can do without, but will go on for the sake of others and the second I love. Thanks so much for donating to DWCF in Stefanie's memory!
Donataing now to the DWCF is just something we will always do now, and always be thinking of your sweet girl while doing so
Quote:
Originally Posted by shazza
Really cute pics of the kids at AK! It sounds like Josie likes the thrill rides, just not the darker ones yet.
Yeah, that pretyy much is how she is going about. I'm proud of her for trying them all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
I'm not a fan of ITTBaB or Dinosaur either! But congrats to Josie for doing KRR and loving it! I'm so glad my kids are big enough to do that one on their own - I'm not a fan of how wet you can get (especially since we are usually there in December or January!
Looking forward to hearing about the Luau!
OH the Luau...............I'm getting to that one
Quote:
Originally Posted by shnewell
BEAUTIFUL photos of the kids at AK!
We have never done ITTBAB, but I've heard mixed reviews, so we haven't made it a priority.
I love Dinosaur, but even my adventurous 8yo thinks this ride is a bit too much!
ITTBAB is cute, but I see how it can be scary for a little one.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great pics from AK! Congrats to Josie for riding KRR!!
Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by poohbr2015
Great pics, love the one of Josie and Andre walking on the jungle trek, looks like Andre is almost the same size as her!!
Kudos to Josie for going on KRR! And lucky to not get soaked! Sam wasn't crazy about ITTBAB, there were parts that he liked and didn't like. He did enjoy dinoland this time though, a place that we never spent alot of time before but I think that has changed!
My family is now starting to really fall in love with AK, and I am so happy about it too
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laurast
Sounds like a great day at AK! And once again I have to say how adorable your kids are
Aww, thank you
Quote:
Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
Sounds like a great day at AK! Glad Josie had a great time on KRR, sorry you both didn't like Dinosaur though. I find that most people either love it or hate it...I am in the LOVE it camp!
Can't wait to hear all about the Luau!
I gots lots to say about the Luau on this trip...
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
I'm thinking Hope is going to be tall enough to ride some of the bigger rides, if not, a lot of the bigger rides, and after reading this little update, I'm going to hold off on the somewhat scary ones. Although the ones I don't think are scary (aka Cinderella's Carousel) tend to freak her out sometimes. So proud of her for getting on KRR...I don't even do that one.
42 inches is the magic number it seems, Josie was tall enough for most when we went in May but I didn't push her too much. This trip she seemed like she will try anyhting at least once, and I was happy with that
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommapants
boy you got a lot done for just a half day in AK. sorry Josie didn't like everything but she'll grow into them - right?
Oh, I totally agree, and you'll see that in an upcoming post too
So I forgot to mention as we were getting off the bus from AK when we arrived back at the Poly, we heard this loud bang on the floor. Both Arnaud and I turned to see what we dropped, but neither of us saw anything so off we went. This will be important later.
After some swimming and showers the kids decided to nap, all at the wrong time as we needed to get moving.
We had to be down at Luau Cove around 4;45pm for our 5:15 Luau. Around this time of trying to wake the kids and get going, I got a text from Mel asking what we were up too. I told her we were trying to get moving down to the Luau and it turns out she was trying to get a walk up at Ohana’. I wish that I would have tried to go down to find her but we were in a hurry and I knew I would be seeing her the next day. Remember that for later too.
Finally ready we head down to the concierge desk to grab our Luau tickets, as we get the stroller we realized a wheel was missing. AH HA!!! The loud bang we heard on the floor of the bus. I immediately start to freak out thinking that Orlando Stroller Company is now going to charge us $400 for this darn stroller. So when we go down to the concierge desk I tell them my situation. I told them we were on a bus coming from AK to the Poly around this certain time. She told me not to worry and they would take care of it. She also gives us our Luau tickets and reminds us of how to get there. I told her I knew where I was going but she felt the need to explain to me again. Follow around here, go around here and head right over to Luau Cove to check in. OK, I got it!
As we were walking up I thought, wow, they must not be sold out because there was nobody down there. I saw about 3 other parties and we were all just waiting around for someone to check us in and take our pic.
After a while I noticed some people down in the bar area so I went down to see if they moved the check in. I walked up to a CM and asked her where we check in at. She told me “OH the GCH is where you check in” uhmmm wait a second, what?? When we were here a few yrs. before we did all of the check in and photo opp stuff right here, AND not to mention the girl form the CL told me to come here! This CM did check us in but told me if I wanted our pic I would have to walk all the way back to the GCH and then back down here to get seated. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?!
So we do, because I did want that pic anyway as it was part of the PP+ package. We go all the way back (with a stroller that has only 3 wheels now when it is supposed to have 4) get our pic and then walk all the way back to Luau Cove.
Now when we get back there they are starting to seat people.We finally get taken to our table and I just stood there in disbelief. I had paid OOP for Cat 1 seating, thinking we would have a nice view for Josie to be able to see all of the show. Our table was the last table in the back off center section before you head to the next level. At that point I could have just saved my money and paid for Cat 3. We asked if we could be moved and our server said we could go back outside and wait for another table, but since it was sold out it wouldn’t be likely. She also told us that they assign seating in the order you book the reservation. I’m not sure I believe that one though. I did not book this one at the 180 day mark, but I know it was by the 90 day mark. I said fine and we just sat down and started getting our food.
As I was still shaking my head over this, the tables in front of us get seated and it was like a party of 10 adults, with 2 kids who sat in the front of the table. So now our Josie’s view, because she is little, was 10 big adults and not a glimpse of the stage. This whole time Arnaud kept his eye on this empty 4 top table at the front of the room that remained vacant during the whole show.
Once the show started I pushed Josie chair out in the aisle a bit so she could see down the row. Our server did come by to give her an extra seat cushion to give her some height, but it didn’t really work. The server for the table in front of us was really annoyed that Josie’s chair was pushed out so far in the aisle, and if we were in more of a closed setting I could understand why because of fire hazards or what not. But with this open air setting, I didn’t really get his whole attitude about the situation. She is a 5 yr. old who just wants to see what is going on up on the stage.
All this aside, she was loving the show and took every chance she could to get up on the stage, Even at times when they weren’t asking for people to come up. At one point she was up there dancing and I had both my iPhone and the video camera in my hand and when she came running off the stage she ran to hug me and knocked my phone out of my hand. Needless to say the whole screen cracked and was wacky the whole rest of the trip. She felt horrible about it, but I brushed it off like it was not a big deal. When really it was, but what could I do??
This time around we thought the show of the Luau was great! The food this time…not so much. This is completely flopped of how we felt when we went in 09’. The food, aside from the salad, was really terrible. Of course now I noticed that they have changed the menu.
Overall, I was annoyed with this whole night. BUT before you all get up in my grill about how I could possibly complain about anything since I have gotten some many other wonderful things on this trip, this was one thing I planned for. I paid for Cat 1 OOP, I went down early to check in. I really think they need to reevaluate the seating in here. Our seats should have been at Cat 2 for sure. The whole check in thing gets me too; I still don’t know what was up with that.
After dinner we spent some time just wondering around the resort. We played out on the beaches for quite some time and made it an early night with of course stopping in the lounge for some drinks and snacks. When we walked back into our room, there lying on the bed was the missing wheel from the stroller. HALLEUIJAH!!! Another night of watching Wishes from the balcony and all was right with the world.
UNTIL I got a text from Melanie…………They were bumped from a flight and had to leave super early in the AM, which meant our meet for the next morning was off. I was really so bummed about this because I have become really close with Mel and was so looking forward to meeting her and Meri. I was even madder now that I didn’t take the chance to find them earlier when they were at the Poly. Another time I guess.
So now that left us with a decision on what to do tomorrow morning as well, since we had planned for an easy morning playing with them on the beach.
UP NEXT: What to do when a change of plans happens??
Finally catching up on my reading, between the power, the internet going in and out and then heading back to work finally on Monday I have hardly gotten to read anyone's posts
I am so happy you guys made it through ok, I spoke to Kelly a few nights after the storm and I was so glad she had spoken with you, I thought of you guys being so close to AC...still cannot get over the devestation, I saw pictures from your neck of the woods, just terrible. Jasmine's boyfriend has been a permanent fixture in our home, they are still without power and they lost everything....I finally got her out of the house later in the week as she and some friends went to help out with some of their friends that lived out in Rockaway and Breezy, the pictures she brought back just were devestating.
So love the pictures but I always do...what a great morning at AK and YEAH for Josie for going on KRR!!!
Glad the concierge was able to find your stroller wheel...definitely a nice thing to see after your not so great seating at the Luau...your view definitely did not look like Tier 1 seating, but so glad Josie got up there and got to be part of the show. A friend of mine just came back and also sad that they did not enjoy the food at the Luau this time around...great family shots though from dinner, even though you had to walk back to the GCH to get them.
So sorry that Mel had to leave early as I know you both were looking so forward to your morning.
I'd be upset too with the Luau situation. It's a real shame they couldn't do something. Did that empty table ever get filled? I'm so glad Josie enjoyed it though - I guess that's all that matters in the end.
Bummer you couldn't meet up with Melanie & Meri. Always missing people by a day!
I can't remember what you did the next morning, so I'm looking forward to the decision you made.
Very annoying about the Luau seating. If it's determined by when you call, why do they have an option to pay extra for a closer table? That doesn't look like a Tier 1 table to me. Glad that Josie got to participate, though-- so cute. How great that they found the stroller wheel for you! Such a disappointment that Melanie and Meri had to leave early and missed seeing you. (I hope they're ok-- haven't seen posts from Mel in a while.)
That stinks about the luau seating. On the reverse side of things, we did the luau in 2009 and used the dining plan, which we knew meant settling for Tier 2. Those actually turned out to be really good seats. It seems like they need to reevaluate their seating categories. But I'm glad Josie still had fun.
Sorry to hear that even though you paid OOP for Cat 1 seating, that is not what you got. That stinks! Glad to see that Josie had so much fun dancing at the luau though. Hope you aren't buried in snow right now.
That stinks about the seating and makes me nervous for my Cat 1 seats at Hoop de doo. Cat 1 was all they had at around 80 days.
Getting the stroller wheel back is amazing.
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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Dreams, Wishes, Hopes... these are the parts of childhood we should never lose.
"Sparky"(My first trip.)
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