Merry, Magical, and Bright: Late Fall Adventures of Cam & Luke Updated 3/12 - Page 53 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Nice time in the AK and a shorter visit than usual as you need to rest up for tonight and MVMCP! You got a lot in and glad you made it in time for Na'vi River Journey. Glad you got some others in with Dinosaur and KS. It always seems you have so much luck with this and the animal sightings! Seems like you enjoyed your meal at Satu'li Canteen and the ordering worked with the WDW app!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
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You did well getting into Animal Kingdom - we were there on an Extra Magic Hours day and there was no Annual Pass entrance, so we had to wait for security (and had no-one calling us over to shorter lines ) and then wait a second time. I wish they'd put the Annual Pass entrances in all the time, not just some of the time.
It sounds like you had a great start to this AK day, despite the long lines entering. I've definitely got to remember the headband suggestion for the glasses. Your safari pictures are great. I never do well with the zoom needed to get some of those sleepy guys in the back of the areas. And, that lion must sleep 23 hours a day! I don't think i've ever seen him up and about.
Glad you enjoyed your meal at Coral Reef! Great pictures of IllumiNations! Looks like a great start to your day at AK! Other than the bag check! More great pictures!
Nice time in the AK and a shorter visit than usual as you need to rest up for tonight and MVMCP! You got a lot in and glad you made it in time for Na'vi River Journey. Glad you got some others in with Dinosaur and KS. It always seems you have so much luck with this and the animal sightings! Seems like you enjoyed your meal at Satu'li Canteen and the ordering worked with the WDW app!
I do feel we get lucky with great safaris! Hoping for a couple of good safaris in May.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Great photos from the safari!
You did well getting into Animal Kingdom - we were there on an Extra Magic Hours day and there was no Annual Pass entrance, so we had to wait for security (and had no-one calling us over to shorter lines ) and then wait a second time. I wish they'd put the Annual Pass entrances in all the time, not just some of the time.
That sounds very frustrating. I didn't realize that the AP entrances were not always there now.
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Originally Posted by disneydreamer33
Glad you found something to hold the 3D glasses in place so you could enjoy the ride this time.
Great pictures of the animals on the safari.
Thanks! I keep thinking one day I'll put the camera down on the safari, but then the animals appear and I just have to photograph them.
It sounds like you had a great start to this AK day, despite the long lines entering. I've definitely got to remember the headband suggestion for the glasses. Your safari pictures are great. I never do well with the zoom needed to get some of those sleepy guys in the back of the areas. And, that lion must sleep 23 hours a day! I don't think i've ever seen him up and about.
I've gotten fairly good at using my body as a tripod, even sitting. But I also put my camera on sports mode due to all the jostling with this ride. I agree about the lion sleeping 23 hours a day. I have caught him once or twice up and moving, but that is a rarity.
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Glad you enjoyed your meal at Coral Reef! Great pictures of IllumiNations! Looks like a great start to your day at AK! Other than the bag check! More great pictures!
Great pictures of the safari. I really enjoyed our meal at Satu’li canteen.
I noticed on the Disney Foods Blog yesterday that the Satu'li's menu has had some updates. Now the grilled beef and chicken can be combined in a bowl and a new base of black beans and rice has been added. Now I can't wait to try a slightly different bowl.
Day 10 Tuesday, November 14 Part 2 at Magic Kingdom
We left the room for the bus stop around 4:20, a little later than planned due to my realization that I had lost one of my pave Mickey head earrings. We searched the room and turned up nothing. Honestly, I didn’t notice until I got up from nap, so it could have fallen out at anytime over the course of this day. I realized it was gone right after I changed tops for the night but looking at where I had been while changing didn’t recover the earring, and we needed to leave to make our dining reservation at Be Our Guest, so we gave up the search. We had a long wait at the bus stop with a bus not arriving until 4:40, and once again we were totally stuffed in and standing room only.
We made it inside the Magic Kingdom by 5:00, picking up our party bands as we entered. We used the walkway behind Main Street that was marked off for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas attendees where we handed a party map/guide and a Santa Cookie. There was a photo opportunity back here as well, but we couldn’t afford to stop as our Be Our Guest ADR was for 5:20. We did well, making it back to the restaurant check-in desk at 5:10. I gave the cast member my cell number, so they could text when our table was ready. The text came before we’d even walked onto the bridge. Awesome timing! We were let into the gated area, and then within seconds of our sitting down on the rocks, our hostess greeted us, taking us via the big doors to our table in the West Wing. After eating here many, many times, and always in the ballroom, we were going to be seated in the West Wing.
We found it a little difficult to read the menus in the dim lighting here, but the effects here are so cool. When our server Martin came to our table, we ordered drinks first, a Banfi Rosa Regale for me and a Coke Zero for Luke. We had both decided to try something new to go along with our new room experience. I chose the Grilled Strip Steak with garlic butter and Pommes Frites while Luke selected the other beef dish Braised Beef that was served with seasonal vegetables, baby potatoes, balsamic-caramelized onions, and crispy potato curls. Great choices for both of us.
About midway through our meal, I got a surprise hug from Tara. We chatted away so long that Muffin came to check on her, so we met him, too. Of course, we snapped a few photos to document our encounter. The first one Luke took with my camera, the second Luke took with Tara’s phone, and the last Tara took of Luke and me.
Our meals were deliciously filling, so much so that dessert was out. But we also knew there were free treats throughout the park during the party. Cookies were in our future. No visit to Be Our Guest is complete with a visit to the Master in the library. Once in line, we noticed Tara and crew ahead of us, but it took awhile before Tara could turn around and notice us. We always have the best interaction with the Beast as you’ll see in the following photos.
From the library, we headed straight for the restrooms, so we’d be party ready once we exited the castle. We didn’t see Tara anywhere in the lobby or the restrooms, and when we exited the castle, it was so dark that even though we stood for a moment and looked around we did not see them. I did love Cinderella’s Castle all lit up in its Christmas finery.
Ultimately, we headed off on our own to Big Top Souvenirs to check out the party merchandise. Nothing here was in my size. We checked out the Seven Dwarfs queue, but we neither had any desire to wait for 2+ hours to see them. We did get Luke a Peppermint Cookie and Nesquick while in this area. Then we wandered Fantasyland until we discovered a short wait at Voyage of the Little Mermaid. Our standby wait was literally the length of time it took us to walk from the entrance to the clam shells. We had not ridden this yet and it was relaxing ride.
I loved the projections as we came out of the ride. And then I caught another glimpse of the castle lights.
One of the characters we had hoped to meet was Santa Goofy, and we found him as the map noted at the Barnstormer. The line looked to be a medium wait, but it moved very slowly. I didn’t check my watch, so I have no idea of how long we waited. Then when it was nearly our turn, the PhotoPass photographer’s camera quit working. Ugh! But between me and Goofy’s handler we still managed to get some good shots. I think I did a great job filling in as PhotoPass photographer.
From our Goofy meet and greet, we meandered over to Mickey Star Traders to check out the party merchandise there. Here they had lots of t-shirts my size. I ended up choosing the red long-sleeve hoodie with one of the dancing reindeer on it. I also got one of the limited-edition party pins. Luke told me as we were checking out that he exactly which t-shirt I’d pick out when he saw writing down the sleeve. I seem to have a thing for Disney tops with writing down one sleeve.
With purchases in hand, we now headed into Cosmic Ray’s for snickerdoodles and hot cocoa. The cookie was awesome; the hot cocoa good, but nowhere near as delicious as Starbucks. But it was all free. We liked the variety of snacks at the different treat spots.
These are the reindeer like the one on my new t-shirt.
Since Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin was nearby, we decided to check out the standby time, which turned out to be a walk on.
Moving into the Hub, we stopped at 8:15 for the Castle show, and I think I managed a few good shots.
Next we walked to Frontierland for a parade viewing spot. I didn’t remember liking this parade all that much back in 2010 when we first saw it. But we both liked it much better this time. A Cast Member took up a spot beside us, and her enthusiasm for the parade was contagious. She really added to the fun with her excitement and pure joy over the floats and characters. She definitely works in the right place. I did take quite a few photos, so enjoy.
I really like how the one of Santa below turned out.
When the parade finished, Luke and I made our way back to Main Street where we walked through the shops since the sidewalks were still full of folks waiting for the parade to finish its route down Main Street. We stopped in Uptown Jewelers in hopes that I could find a new set of pave Mickey head earrings. I quickly found these and purchased them. As we resumed walking down Main Street, I got a couple of photos of the Christmas tree lit up. Beautiful!
Then we headed into the theater in Towne Square and got in what was supposed to be a 20-minute line to meet Santa Mickey. Unfortunately, 20 minutes elapsed, and we had moved maybe a foot. The line had stalled with no one new being taken back. We now had only 20 minutes before Holiday Wishes, so we abandoned the queue.
To our surprise we found lot of empty curb midway down Main Street. First, we got a PhotoPass photo with the castle in the background.
Then we sat for about 10 minutes before we moved to the middle of the street to watch Holiday Wishes. I took some photos of the castle projection show prior to the start of the fireworks, but then put the camera away. It took four or five attempts, but I eventually got one of my best Disney photos ever.
Holiday Wishes was spectacular! But once the fireworks were over, we both agreed that the trip had caught up with us. We were ready to leave, and sleep was calling. We headed out stopping only for a new map/guide as I had abused the first one over the course of the evening. A Saratoga Springs bus arrived shortly after we entered the queue, and in spite of a scooter mix up when the scooter driver tried to enter through the front door, we made it on and even had seats. Back in the room, we got ready for bed and collapsed shortly after 11:30. Another long day in the record books. As to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, we enjoyed parts of it. I was disappointed that we only managed one character meet for the whole party. Lines for characters were exceptionally long. My legs and joints can’t handle standing for lengthy periods of time anymore. Walking or moving doesn’t bother me nearly as badly. I’m not sure whether we will do a party again, whether Halloween or Christmas, but we definitely will NOT do one so late in our vacation. Physically, it’s just more difficult at that point in a trip. Disney also seems to be selling to much larger crowds than at one time in the past, which makes experiencing some of the rarer characters more difficult. We had no trouble getting on the two rides we did, but we weren’t really interested in rides as we’d done most of them on our other Magic Kingdom days. With the more expensive price tag for these events, we both feel there are other more enjoyable activities for us.
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Your dinner at Be Our Guest sounds delicious. It is a little dark in there! I love all of your pictures of the castle and parade. You always capture the best shots! I am with you on having second thoughts about attending Halloween and Christmas parties (at least maybe not every year). The prices go up every year, which we don't mind paying at all, but they do seem to be so much more crowded. I guess we were spoiled in years past when these parties were not so highly attended. We used to stay until the very end and then it did get a little less crowded. Not so much staying late for us anymore! A slow day for you and Luke sounds good after such a busy party day.
How nice that you finally got to sit in the West Wing! I love how yours and Tara's Minnie ears are opposite colors!
Too bad the parties are getting more expensive, and more crowded every year! When you figure out what you're really getting for the price you pay, those "free" cookies are pretty expensive!
Dinner at BOG sounded very good as the two of you enjoyed it glad you got to eat in the West Wing and not thrown in with the masses in the ballroom. Very cool that you got to meet up with Tara and Muffin but too bad you lost sight of them!
I think you forgot to include the photos with The Beast!
Nice time for the party and parade but too bad you couldn't experience as much as you intended to with the large crowds. Not good, considering what you're paying for this event. Disney needs to rethink this and not try to cram as many people as possible for this.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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You got a lot in and glad you made it in time for Na'vi River Journey. 
Glad you got some others in with Dinosaur and KS. It always seems you have so much luck with this and the animal sightings! 
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) and then wait a second time. I wish they'd put the Annual Pass entrances in all the time, not just some of the time.
Liz 
Looks like a great start to your day at AK! Other than the bag check! More great pictures!
No visit to Be Our Guest is complete with a visit to the Master in the library. Once in line, we noticed Tara and crew ahead of us, but it took awhile before Tara could turn around and notice us. We always have the best interaction with the Beast as you’ll see in the following photos.
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