Disney World - Animal Kingdom Day 1, Part 2

Hi Buddies – welcome back to those of you brave enough to continue the DisneyWorld journey with me! I have decided that Kilimanjaro Safaris and the Tree of Life will get blogs all their very own.

So last I left you we were killing time for out 10:20 AM breakfast ressie at Tusker House (with Donald and his friends) … and so as we made over to Asia, running into opportunities to have pics made with characters … we Fasspassed Kali Rapids – a very wet ride! Then returned to Tusker House and checked in … glitch, they had just run out of the little beeper buzzer thingies, so the girl said: Check back here in a few minutes …. so we found a shaded place to sit* and in a few minutes … back to the girl: Hello, do you have a buzzer for me? Girl: We just ran out. Me: (stunned, ummm Disney – really, how can you run out of those things, I mean don’t you know you need like “OH” a million?) “okay” smiling politely as I said it and started to walk off … the other girl: “Wait! I just took this one from someone going in.” Okay – now that’ll work!

Tusker House: Buffet and the food was, well okay for a breakfast buffet … but the atmosphere was fabulous!

*Note: When we woke up this first AM and was watching the Weather Channel, we heard “record heat” and believe me it has been and was 96 degrees of Texas heat Day 1 at Animal Kingdom … plus Florida humidity … so not Florida this time of year – this is actually the start of our Day 6 and you know the umbrellas and poncho that have been in my pouch all week … we may actually get to use them today!

Onward! We took the time to do these shows, as we’d either not seen them (Nemo) or had not seen them in a long time:

Finding Nemo:  We had never seen this show on stage and to say the least about its combination of projections, puppetry and their human handlers - the show rocked! 

It’s Tough to Be a Bug:  This is another fun little show, where you are surrounded by the senses -- sort of a interactive stage show ... smell the stinkbug, feel the bugs -- pretty cool (we watch it every time we go, nice and cool in the theatre!)

Wonders of Flight:  A live bird show, that runs along the comedic vein and some of the birds are spectacular!

and then others not so much :-)



Who doesn't love a Bald Eagle?

Just Don't Upset Them!  (She moved her face real fast!)

And Then There's The "Purdy" Ones

Festival of the Lion King:  This show is one of the most incredible shows (in my opinion) in all of Disney World, the level of entertainment is "out the door!"  Just now decided it needs a separate blog, just because I can't decide which photo to choose -- Woohoo - PhotoBlog!

We did also ride Dinosaur - much to Neal’s dismay, he’s not fan as it is a bit rough … but it was sort of a tester ride for him – by me – before I decided to let him on a roller coaster! After Festival of the Lion King, it was getting to be 6:30 PM’ish, so we decided to eat at Flame Tree BBQ

Ooops, All Gone!

.... and then just return to the room, the heat and humidity was starting to take its toll … so yes, even though we still held 2 sets of Fasspasses … Kilimanjaro Safaris and Kali Rapids AND we’d not done some of Animal Kingdom at all …. we knew we had another day!

Have I mentioned: It is so nice not to have to go Commando on the parks! Okay, until the next report – I hope you look forward to it and I’m not rambling more than usual! 

Have a Goofy Day Buddies!

Disney World - Animal Kingdom, Day 1-Part 1

AWAKE in Florida …. AWAKE in our room at All Star Sports …. WAIT maybe it wasn’t just a dream!

Okay, I knew I really was in need of vacation, I recognize my signs! I will add, I knew I was getting a bit stressed out (okay more than a bit) … but this was the moment, it became all too clear: 

Upon seeing this sign – I almost burst into tears … really, all the tension still built up from Neal’s heart surgery (even being 1 year and 3 months now … I guess I’ll never truly get over almost loosing him) to not having gone on trip anywhere in 8 months (saving for this trip!) to just normal every day life – just all come to the surface at one time at the realization that YES we truly were here “Let the Memories Begin!”

We waited for park opening by a mother, her son and daughter and the grandmother – and it was their first trip to the parks – I think the grandmother (and I shall say a woman of my age!) was “fit to be tied” and I understood … since I was still giggling (and I’ve been to the parks more than several times!) I imparted a bit of my learned experience as what to do first (heeeeelllooooooooooo Kilimanjaro Safaris!)

"Rope Drop" Welcome

I shall share this advice: get to Animal Kingdom at rope drop – best on early morning hours for resort guests – go directly to Kilimanjaro Safaris … do not stop for anything , get the Fasspass (yes now), get in line and ride the Safari … get off and by this time the Fasspass should (1) either be ready to be used, or (2) almost be ready to be used … if it is No. 2, take that time to explore the Harambe “market” area. The animals are most active early in the morning and if you ride back-to-back, you will notice on the second trip a change in them, as they have already eaten and are ready to settle in the shade!  (Oh, they are getting their own blog!)

YES … forget Fasspassing Expedition Everest first … or ever, they have a single rider line that is ever as fass (if not faster) than the Fasspass! (Of course, if you want to purchase the photo they take, you’re party will want to be all together … so Fasspass it, after you ride KS!)

Soooooo, that was my advice to them (and any of you that may go, are thinking about going, or have been and not used that tactic!)

This time I breached my own protocol by not getting the Fasspass … I wanted a later return time … so we rode KS, got off and I was like …. WHY didn’t you go ahead and get the Fasspass … because I could have turned right round and used it then could have gotten another when we go off … see, now what did I tell you?

Fasspass for those of you who may not know, is a wonderful system that Disney has set up, you insert your park ticket and the machine spits out a ticket with a time printed on it … now it says: Return Anytime Between ______ and ______ (an hour window) … well I had read on disboards.com that is actually is anytime after the first time printed, as long as it is the same day --- I asked several Cast Members (employees) that were at the Fasspass return line and they said “Oh yes, anytime after the first time printed, just as long as it is the same day.) Why do I digress here? We always thought it was that you had to return during that 1 hour window … you walk yourself to death, because not all rides have FPs and they are usually across the park from each other … as the major rides are! (Do be aware that they are limited and during the day on the most popular rides can run out “early” … point here, time warping ahead at bit … we slept in late one day (on purpose) went to Hollywood Studios and at 11:15 AM our return time for Toy Story Midway Mania was 8:00 PM!)

So, anyway, I’ll stop rambling about that … what it boils down to you can get another FP as soon as the first time on your present ticket is passed and you can used them at your leisure any time after the first time printed on that ride’s FP … as long as it is the same day – it so helps slow the day down = WONDERFUL!

So, with that sidetrack – Animal Kingdom was open late that evening and I’d wanted to ride one of the last Safaris, as it stands to reason the animals would be active again. So we did FP it when we came off, but didn’t ride it again “that day” … this trip is unusual for us as we have 8 days “on the ground” … if I’d only had one day at Animal Kingdom, it would have been FULL COMMANDO! hee, hee 

We had ressies at Tusker House for a sit down breakfast with Donald and his friends at 10:20 AM (I figured after traveling all day Saturday, a good breakfast would do us good!) (Oh another thing about Disney traveling, if a restaurant says “reservations recommended” make them at the 180 day mark!)

I'd heard to see Goofy's reaction by calling him Pluto -- so I planned to ask him

how he felt when people confused him with Pluto ... well, as it turns out when he showed

up at our table I said:  Good morning Pluto ... needless to say, his reaction was

HYSTERICAL! 

Yes, I drift … at this time it was only 8:30 AM – one ride down, so we proceeded to walk Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – fabulous, I must admit I love the merkats, they are so attentive!

and ever make eye contact with a gorilla?

We then still had time – YIKES .. so we roam down the path from Africa to Asia in search of a Photopass Photographer (this is also a fabulous service, I’ll briefly say we prepurchased the CD and we have over 100 photos on the “card” now that we will have … prepurchase on special: 99.99 – I’m aiming to get the cost per photo down to under $1.00 each! If you don’t prepurchase the photos are .. well about $15.00 a photo .. yes, I drift .. again!)  (More on these when I get my CD ... already ordered!)

Anyway, roaming down that path … we did finally find a Photopass Photog, but only after we ran into this fella (and some others that will be in a separate blog -- oh, I have lots to say!)

Flik - Of course, if you know me ... you know of my love of ants!

How can you not be happy here? (Believe me though, we’ve seen more than one person … obviously not happy!) So Buddies this is getting long – I suppose I have more to ramble on about the parks than I thought – so I’m splitting this report in half here AND it is about time for me to wake the Love of My Life … yes, I’m letting him sleep in again, I could get used to having 8 days on the ground at Disney – but my commando does keep coming out, but I stuff her right back in … okay, more later (if I haven’t already bored you!)

From the Show:  "Its Tough To Be a Bug"

More later, I promise - I have alot to "report," "review" and hector just simply share with ya Buddies - enjoy!

Disney World - We Made It!

Hello – onward with the report ‘eh? So, the trip from ABQ to MCO (Orlando, weird combination of letter’s huh?) without a hitch … well, except the flight from ABQ to MCO is 3-1/2 hours long … just almost too long for me to sit in one place (well, unless I’m at the office typing!) AND the dear Capitan decided to leave the seatbelts fastened sign on for all but about 10 minutes of the flight … weird, it was a smooth flight, except for an occasional shake – he even had the flight attendants sit most of the trip (makes me wonder if there was something else going on … security alert or maybe they were working a problem, but the plane seemed fine and we didn’t divert to anywhere … “hey” maybe he was a learner and nervous! Anyway, lots of yellow eyeballed people and on occasion someone would unbelt and go to the restroom and the flight attendants would chastise them for getting up … again weird, because 99.9% of the flight was in smooth air!

Neal and I were fine … was worried about him, since he is on a diuretic (because of this little heart incident), but we knew it was a long flight, so right before we boarded he used the facilities and had not drunk very much during the 3 hours on the ground in ABQ …. now as soon as we de-planed we visited the best bathroom ever! Why the best, you ask? It was very near our arrival gate!

So, off to fetch the luggage which came quickly and off to fetch the car … which didn’t take very long (yes, we decided on a car over Disney transportation and I’ll jump ahead a bit and say we are EXTREMELY happy we did – the longest time from resort to a park has been to Magic Kingdom and that was about 20 mins – door to door, so some of that was walking/floating/walking time)!

We zoomed down the toll road with me giggling like a little school girl and Neal saying “Are we here yet?” hee, hee, hee, hee … see? Then all the sudden I realized I was on the toll road, not I-4, now I’d taken this road three years ago … but! (I needed to get my “attention” on and start reading road signs because we were going into Kissimmee to the Publix for a few supplies AND I had told Neal I didn’t need any “stink’in” map … ummmm, oooops!) But I bravely drove on and the exit I took - just happened to be the correct one (sssshhhh, don’t tell Neal) and we go to the Publix without incident, decided to eat at the Cracker Barrel (YUM) … yes, I’m still giggling … yes, people are staring.

(Had a tourist honk at me because I didn’t turn right on red as quickly as he thought I should ….. and I will mention never honk at me when I’m having fun – it makes me a bit grumpy and I tend to just sit there … or go very slow … which I did around the corner, so slow the light turned green (for oncoming) and he was stuck there – glad he didn’t have road rage or anything BUT DO NOT HONK AT ME WHEN I’M HAVING FUN!) Okay, it wasn’t that bad, because it was fixing to turn green for the other guys anyway and that is actually why I had delayed my turn – hesitation! I’ll give it to the guy though, he was in a van with the wifie and … Oh I don’t know nine hundred kids and had probably already been on vaca for a week … but “come on” people that would really have fun “here” anyway (I hope his wife screamed at him for honking at me!)

Whoa … I was going to put Animal Kingdom in this installment, but I see I’ve gotten a bit longwinded – again … so I’ll wrap up Reader’s Digest style: Check In went quickly … We Arrived!

DisneyWorld - Getting There (Part 1)

Now, ya know, I’ve read some trip reports of people traveling to Disney (on disboards.com) and having all sorts of problems just getting there and I always think – those poor people! So, now I say “poor us”!

I will start by saying .. first time ever that I’ve had problems with Southwest Airlines .. we get to the airport at 5:45 AM because this was the first time ever that the Love Of My Life was flying on a senior ticket and on Southwest’s website it has these big-elaborate instructions on what to do .. our flight didn’t leave until 8:00 AM, but it appeared we’d need more time. Okay – No. 1: every time I’ve ever flown Southwest counter was open at 6:00 AM and I wasn’t the only person to think this, there were about 6 of us camped out on the chairs waiting for agents (I’ll say here they did not open until 6:45 AM = which was a little irritating!) So as we all sat and joked and wondered about when the agents would show up and sitting there chilling …. Around 6:30 AM in marched …. probably a least a 30 member Mariachi band and made beeline to the Southwest line --- while we all sat there stunned!

After certain comments (use your imagination!) … the line started growing as the agents were taking their time to show up – I finally said “Guys, we’re going to get in line before it gets any longer – good practice for DisneyWorld, I figured! Okay, thing is with a flight at 8:00 AM and agents not showing up until 6:45 AM is getting through MAF’s single line of security …. but I drift! The big-elaborate proving your age instructions … went out the window, as one the agents showed up – they moved us through in lightening speed – all 900 of us :-) (Well okay maybe not that many – but more than several!)

Then we are standing in the forever long line to get through security at 7:00 AM and I’m thinking okay maybe we will actually get on the plane, since everyone in line was going to the same place … almost! (EXCEPT the band – and I will say THANK YOU JESUS for them not being on our first flight … because as nicely dressed that they were --- they had cologne on to go with their nicely dressed ALL 30 OF THEM! I would have suffered a fate worse than death … because my eyes were watering and I could barely breathe from just standing around them in line … have I mentioned I’m allergic to a lot of perfumes and colognes?) … but once again I drift … we are about 20 people from the first stop in line of showing your ID and boarding pass, so I get ours out to give to Neal AND in all the flurry, I made my MISTAKE (not checking the boarding passes I was given) – I realized I was holding two boarding passes in my name … yes my name for the entire trip --- well sure that’s gonna work!

So we back out of the line and you know people are just obnoxious sometimes: I was pardoning and excusing and explaining we had to get out of line because our boarding passes were wrong and there were more than several “hurfs” and mean looks etc. COME ON PEOPLE just be nice to your fellow man, if they are at least trying to be polite in an ickie situation! So I told Neal to hold my bag and I’d run down the stairs and fix this … well the lady that had helped me was gone, so I used another agent and told her what happened and she politely said (and was only doing her job) “I need to see him and his drivers license.” Me: “He just showed it.” Her: “Well not to me.” … so yes, I turned towards Neal, cupped my mouth and screamed “NEAL”!!! He know my irritated voice and turned immediately and I motioned for him to come down … so, we had our boarding passes … again into line – this time it was 7:20 … 20 minutes to boarding AND we had “A” boarding passes AND I was a bit “hot under the collar” already and if we wound up sitting in the back of the plane … by missing our “A” boarding call, I was going to have words with someone!

So we make it through security at 7:35 and I told Neal “Just grab everything and let’s get to the gate.” I didn’t even put my shoes on … but then I realized I.did.not.have.my.boarding.pass … “Honey, do you have my boarding pass.” Neal: “No” Me: “Are You Sure?” Neal: “Yes” Me: (on the verge of tears at this point) “I just had it if I didn’t hand it to you where is it?” … and we start looking on the floor and in the bags and about that time … God sent an Angel! I heard a sweet voice say “Here’s one in this gray tray.” I looked up and I swear she had a halo! Yes, it was mine … we haul behinnies to the gate – and our “hommies” from 6:00 AM were sitting there and said “We were wondering where you two went.” So I was telling them, while trying to get my shoes on, what had happened.” And, I hear “Well, I did those passes, how did I screw them up?” … Sure ‘nuf, turned around and there she was, I told her and she offered to let us pre-board – Southwest does always try to make things right, I must say that!

I told her that we had “A” anyway and had appeared to make it, so it was okay ….. “Okay, those holding “A” passes, line up in your respective slots” …. was heard over the speaker …. Nothing like arriving at the airport 2 hours and 15 minutes early, to almost miss your boarding! But we board and the flight was smooth sailing and short to Albuquerque … yes, Albuquerque – was texting my eldest Sis while sitting on the ground in ABQ – for a short 3 hour layover … :-) and she had talked to her daughter in-between my texts … who reminded her about Bugs Bunny and his famous: “I knew I should have taken that right/left turn in Albuquerque.”

This isn't Florida!  I'm smart that way!

So Neal what do you think about the trip so far?

There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and a laugh my Buddies! I will say that all has been perfect since we left Midland … which is sort of a redundant statement because all things usually are perfect upon leaving Midland … whether you have trouble or not! Don’t get me wrong I love the “old girl” she affords me a good living, a comfortable home and terrific friends (who all understand when I say … it is great leaving Midland!)

…….. stay tuned, I’m running behind yes --- BUT IT IS DISNEY WORLD!!!! More Fun To Come, let see we’ve had three days at the parks and I’ve only taken a mere 1,000 photos – not too bad!

"Click" or It Will Never Get Here!

• Okay someone please tell me who has the universal remote and keeps rewinding time?
• Or has something gone really wrong with the space-time continuum?
• Why is it the closer I get to departing for DisneyWorld, the further away it seems to get?
• Can time really stand completely still?

and ... not only why is it slowing down, almost to a stop for me BUT for everyone around me -- they keep saying how the days this week are going so slow (even in light of how busy everyone is)  ... HEY, maybe they are just counting the days until they don't have to put up with me!

So anyway, was just wanting to share with someone ..... or as this blog usually is:  Just toss it out into the space-time continuum and see who catches it!  :-)

I hope you weren't expecting a great and deep blog - I just think I'm going a little nuts ... waiting, waiting and waiting for (right now) 2 days, 9 hours and 59 minutes (but who's counting) ... maybe I should have left a bunch of "last minute" stuff ... but "nopers" all I have to do is take the cat to the "hotel" and call the taxi!

How to Stay Young

I received this in an email, some of it has been around in some form or another - but I liked it anyway, so I'm sharing!
***********
We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!
1. Try everything twice. On one woman's tombstone she said she wanted this epitaph:  "Tried everything twice. Loved it both times!"

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever...Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop. And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.

6.. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. I love you, my special friend.

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second chance..

And if you don't send this to at least 4 people - who cares? But do share this with someone.

Remember! Lost time can never be found.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

To You

To you I would have given up everything,

Ready, willing and able to explore,

Two of a kind, is what we were,

Yet never given real chances,

For you had to leave early,

Too early for us to learn,

The possibility of us,

You are not yet gone from my heart.

For Wouter Weylandt - Maybe Alone on My Bike

MAYBE ALONE ON MY BIKE

by William Stafford

I listen, and the mountain lakes 

hear snowflakes come on those winter wings 

only the owls are awake to see, 

their radar gaze and furred ears 

alert. In that stillness a meaning shakes;

 And I have thought (maybe alone 

on my bike, quaintly on a cold 

evening pedaling home), Think!-- 

the splendor of our life, its current unknown

as those mountains, the scene no one sees.

O citizens of our great amnesty: 

we might have died. We live. Marvels 

coast by, great veers and swoops of air 

so bright the lamps waver in tears, 

and I hear in the chain a chuckle I like to hear.

Some Beauty in an Ugly World

An absolute bit of beauty in a rather ugly world, came my way this evening the form of the Russian National Ballet Theatre's Sleeping Beauty.  The photos in this blog are mine and the only ones that turned out half-way decent :-) (lots of light blobs there were) ... it was announced that there should be no flash photography, which - I used no flash ... now I read in the program (which I didn't read before), there should have been no photography -- well, I'm not selling these three, they are only for my personal enjoyment (and I promise never to do it again!) 

"Oh No" it is the Queen and her minions - the minions were so animated and engaged, loved watching them!

Ah - the things I could say about evil and the minions -- but I won't!

About the only time "they" stood still long enough to not be blurry!

Okay, I believe it was long 'bout this photo that I actually hit my girlfriend (actually sis'ta!) in the arm with my arm ... seems like every time "they" raised their arms *points to the Lilac Fairy on the right* my arms/hands wanted to react also .. even though I've not danced ballet in while, seems like I still have the muscle memory :-) my toes and muscles hurt by the end of the ballet!

Ssssshhhhhhhh, she's sleeping!

I found myself right at first over-analyzing the dancers and realized I was watching their feet and noticing the times some missed getting all the way on pointe, some whose pointe shoes were just on the verge of being worthless (I actually liked mine the best just at the point before they broke!)  ... anyway, I had to slap myself back to why I was there .. to WATCH a ballet - so into watching it I went.

AND was sucked in "hook, line and sinker" the dancers were beautiful, the costumes were beautiful, the music (of course) was beautiful, the set was beautiful ... I felt the joy and happiness, I felt the sadness when Aurora fell to the Queen's deception ... and against the joy of Prince Charming's true love to the happy ending.

Not much of anything written here, but I wanted to share Sleeping Beauty's ... well beauty with you -- I have decided I want to live in a fairy tale (OH WAIT 18 days 8 hours and I will be in the ultimate fairy tale, that'll do!)