Showing posts with label Disney's Animal Kingdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disney's Animal Kingdom. Show all posts

Thursday, September 5, 2019

On This Day Last Year: Trip Report - Day 6 // Checking in at Animal Kingdom Lodge + Visiting Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom



Day 6 - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

 We started off our day in a way that had me giddy from the get go!  After much anticipation upon hearing the news that Disney may be releasing Halloween themed rapid refill mugs, I spotted them at the Capt. Cook's!  
It's the little things, like holiday themed Disney mugs, that make my heart happy!

Along with the mugs we picked up some yummy breakfast burritos. 




My man and I, out on our private balcony watching the monorails pass by.


Hidden Mickey!


Park Time!

This was our first time skipping the complimentary Disney buses and bringing our own vehicle to the WDW Parks.  We parked and hopped aboard our first tram up to the entrance at Disney's Animal Kingdom.





This was an extra special year for Animal Kingdom (and us)! The park was celebrating its 20th Anniversary.  Jason and I honeymooned at Walt Disney World just months after this park's opening.  Seeing the banners with "Animal Kingdom 20" flooded my heart with excitement as Jason and I would be returning two months after this trip for a couple's week celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary!  More on that in upcoming trip reports! ;)
First Ride of the Trip

 We played License Plate Bingo along our road trip to WDW.  "Little One" won and claimed the prize of choosing the first ride of the trip.  She went with Expedition Everest.  A solid choice, don't you think?





Disney's ride queues are filled with magic too, so whenever you visit be sure to look around.  You might just spot a message welcoming you personally as I did here!

Thanks, Abominable Snowman Journeys! ;)

If you're wearing a Disney MagicBand in line at Expedition Everest (allowing them to know you are there in line), take a good look at the screens above you in the queue.  It's always fun when you see the name of someone in your party in a personalized message!
Our sweet girls got this trip's PhotoPass pics off to a fun start!




 And the girls rode it again and again ...
They have a lot of fun planning out their silly poses! Ha!

Next up, Dinosaur!

Not sure why I attempt to take photos of digital things, because they never turn out.  I was attempting to show that the wait time was only 10 minutes.


On to my all-time favorite musical at Animal Kingdom, Finding Nemo!







I've never watched this show with dry eyes!  It gets me every time!


Lunch with a View from Flame Tree BBQ

 If you've read other WDW trip reports here, this lunch is no surprise.  Flame Tree BBQ is one of our favorite quick service restaurants at Disney World.  You can't beat the view from the waterside tables too!

A view of Expedition Everest





I'm obsessed!

























Checking in at our Disney Vacation Club Home Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge!




After getting settled in at AKL we headed back out for a magical evening.
Magic Kingdom by Moonlight

I always think it's cute when the Haunted Mansion wait time is set to 13 minutes. 









Heigh-Ho!  Heigh-Ho!  Onto another awesome ride we go...


For more silliness and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train action (along with several other Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom rides we enjoyed that day) check out today's video on my family's YouTube channel, Eat, Sleep, Dis, Repeat.  I'll include a direct link to this day's vid at the conclusion of this post.

One of my favorite fall sights, the Mickey Jack-o-latern wreaths that line Main Street U.S.A.
This sweet scarecrow never ceases to make me smile!


Home Sweet DVC Home
This stunning lobby is one of the many reasons I'm so glad to call Animal Kingdom Lodge our vacation home.



Thanks for stopping by for another "On This Day Last Year" trip report!  It's a joy to share these pixie dusted memories with you!  I hope you'll visit again tomorrow for more Disney Parks fun including our first trip to Toy Story Land!


You can check out the video footage from this day on my family's YouTube Channel, 
Eat, Sleep, Dis, Repeat!


Direct Link to the Video of Day 6:
Day 6 - Animal Kingdom's 20th!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Previous Trip Reports from this Vacation:

Day 1 // On the Road Again!

Day 2 // The Creation Museum

Day 3 // The Ark Encounter & Gatlinburg, TN

Day 4 // Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Meeting a Dear Blogging Friend, and Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort

Day 5 // Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Beach House & Arriving at Disney World!


A sneak peek at what's to come...

Day 5-15:  Walt Disney World 
+ my 40th Birthday (September 13th)

Day 16, September 15:  Georgia Aquarium

Day 17:  Homeward Bound


Join me in the adventures to come!
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Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Trip Report Tuesday - WDW Day 12 | A Beautiful Morning in Pandora



Day 12 - Tuesday, December 4, 2017

If you were here for last week's trip report you'll remember that Little One was battling a cold, but was content as could be to stay back at our one bedroom Copper Creek Villa while we hit the parks.  She was quite comfortable with having the spacious accommodations all to herself for a bit.  She had a cozy place to relax, Disney channel, and a fully stocked kitchen, so she was having a different type of vacation back in our room as my husband, oldest daughter, and I made our way to Animal Kingdom.

Good morning, Animal Kingdom Christmas tree!  You are such a lovely sight to see!

We started our day, where else but Pandora!  This morning we kicked things off with Na'vi River Journey.













































































Hearing these drummer play was always fun as we passed by their show.



Time for some fun with The Dino Institute on Dinosaur!





Next time you find yourself in the queue for Dinosaur, look up!  See those pipes with chemical formulas?  They are the formulas for ketchup, mustard, and mayo!  Disney details are the best!




Lunch at Flame Tree Barbecue
My long time favorite Animal Kingdom quick service restaurant was in the plans for this terrific Tuesday!  This place is quite popular.  There is typically a line before it even opens.

















I could hardly wait to try these french fries with pulled pork and cheese!

My entree was the 1/2 chicken with coleslaw (that I gave to Jason, not a fan of coleslaw in general) and baked beans.  Yummy!

When you're on a 17-day Disney trip by right around this point you sometimes need a fresh, lighter option.  Jason was in that mode on this particular day and chose a mixed green salad with roasted chicken, apple slices, pecans, cheddar and white balsamic vinaigrette.

Princess had about our 100th all-beef hot dog of the trip - ha! 









Tip for anyone who plans to dine here and would like a lovely view:  Head downstairs and look for a table near the water that looks out toward Expedition Everest!




These two are so patient with my requests for several thousand photos each vacation! 
After lunch we decided to take a stroll down the Discovery Island Trail.








































The intricate details of the Tree of Life never cease to amaze me!











Once again, you have to hear this talented musician to believe the beautiful music flowing from that harp!  Be sure to check out my husband's next Eat, Sleep, Dis, Repeat video for the footage!

A Christmastime Visit to our Disney Vacation Club Home
Being that close to Animal Kingdom Lodge, our DVC home resort, how could we resist popping by to see it in its holiday best?  We took the short bus ride over and entered through the gift shop.  Look at the Hidden Mickey formed with wreath "ears" above the gorgeous lion head behind the check out!  Loved that!

Animal Kingdom Lodge's lobby itself is a sight to behold.  The gigantic Christmas tree adorning its center was nothing short of breathtaking!

Here are some shots of the smaller tree lit up in cuteness near their fantastic table service restaurant, Boma...

We went over to The Mara, AKL's quick service restaurant to grab some treats that we would bring back to the lobby to enjoy while gazing upon that grand Christmas tree yet again!

I stood in front of the refrigerated dessert section for a bit debating what to choose.  I was between zebra domes and some scrumptious looking cupcakes.  A kind British guest approached and I apologized for blocking the refrigerator telling him there were too many good choices to decide.  He asked, "Have you tried the Zebra Domes?  They're lovely!"  I have enjoyed them on numerous occasions and agree.  His remark was the deciding factor, a lovely dessert it was!  I wasn't sure how best to describe a zebra dome for those who haven't sampled one, so I turned to the trusty Disney Food Blog.  AJ described it here like this, "A Zebra Dome is an Amarula Cream Liquor mousse enrobed in panna cotta-esque white chocolate and drizzled with chocolate and chocolate shavings.  The whole thing sits atop a thin cake base."
Princess went with a classic, premium Mickey bar, and Jason got a sweet sip complete with Mickey straw! 

We then headed back to our resort, with three of my zebra domes in hand to find their way to our fridge to be enjoyed throughout the remainder of our trip.

During our afternoon break I folded a bit of laundry.  Having accommodations equipped with a washer and dryer is so nice as it allows me to keep up with it.  Y'all know I find folding laundry relaxing so throwing some in before we hit the parks then folding on a break works perfectly for me!
Some breeze from the sliding glass door to the patio is wonderful too!

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I hope you'll return next Tuesday as the Trip Report I'll share then is one of my favorite of this vacation!  I'll be sharing the full scoop on our first Disney Vacation Club members event where we were the chosen family to be filmed for the event exclusive fireworks!  It was so magical!  I can hardly wait to share more!  See ya real soon, friends!

Direct Links to Previous Trip Report Tuesday Blog Posts:
You can check out previous years of my Disney World and Disneyland Trip Report HERE.


Join me in the adventures to come!
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I appreciate each comment, & "like"! They let me know that you enjoyed what you read, which makes it worth sharing! ;)   

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