|
Walt Disney World and Florida Trip Reports Trip Reports and Videos |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
25 Mar 16, 04:58 PM |
#1
|
|
Imagineer
|
A Tale As Old As... January 2016 - Day 3: Animal Kingdom, AKL & Polynesian
The Index
Day 3 - Animal Kingdom with visits to Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Saturday 23 January 2016 Well today was going to be a COLD one. There had been horrendous snow in New York and D.C. that was all over the morning news and it was by far the coldest day I’ve experienced in Florida! Even with three layers! But first we were up at 6.15 today and had been awake on and off from 4.30. We could have easily stayed in bed for longer though. We got ready, I curled my hair and had granola and yoghurt for breakfast whilst Rich had cereal then toast. Rich filled up the cooler for the car, we always liked to keep it stocked full of water and sometimes fruit for when we get back to the car and it’s a lifesaver on warm days. But this certainly wouldn’t be needed today. We headed out at 7.15 and it was 7 degrees, but we’re northerners so wasn’t too phased and just happy it wasn’t raining! I gave a thought to whether all the rides would be open given it was clearly very windy too, not expecting Kali to be open of course! We drove passed Artist’s Palette and Rich parked up whilst I ran in and filled our Disney mugs with coffee (me) and tea (Rich) but I had ruined his by putting in too much milk in and he didn’t touch it! They were cleaning the pool out really thoroughly this morning with big signs up saying it was closed. I had my bargain $20 asics on that I had delivered in my boxes from Mockingjay. Back on the road for 7.30 and after ten minutes we were waved through the paying attendant who just seemed to glance at the refillable cups (maybe as it was magic hours?). We were about 30th parked up for the day. Here is a photo of our car for the trip. I think its one of the only ones I took The building works also looked pretty far on from the views on the way in. I donned my coat, gloves, hat and scarf and we set out to brave the cold winds. Hopefully with people complaining AK is the ‘hottest’ park it would mean we’d get plenty of shelter here too! We had a short wait in a queue at the tap stiles but they starting letting people in early and before we knew it we were on our way round to Everest where it was still a walk on. We got the second row and as usual loved the ride, although Rich said it made him queasy this time and wasn’t keen for a repeat ride. We both experience motion sickness so I know its not pleasant so just agreed and we carried on. The ride photo later was quite funny, but Rich insists he was ‘blinking’ From there we walked to the Jungle Trek but it was closed so we carried on going. Only stopping to take a photo for a young couple, which they then did the same for us. We continue to walk round the Tree of Life to the front of the park as we had seen a photopass photographer there earlier and knew the starbucks was near there too and we needed something to warm our hands up. After a short queue and a few photos we headed into the tree of life for the Tough to Be a Bug show walking straight into a show that was about to start and donning our ‘bugs eyes’. I’ve always enjoyed this and we did this time too, it does get dark in there though so I understand more why little ones may find it scary. It was a nice reprieve from the outside too! Next up was Starbucks. I picked up my mug that I wanted to collect and used a snack credit to big a HUGE coffee. Rich bought a huge tea and we had those in a corner (no tables) and munched on the bananas we had brought with us in Richards backpack. It was only later in the day that I checked the receipt and saw they’d charged me for the coffee instead of taking a credit so I made a mental note to pop back in and rectify later. The cupcakes looked really good in here too. We took our drinks to do the Pangani Forest Trail and was grateful to find the heated researched centre. We had a nosy at the birds list they give out but we weren't very good at spotting them so quick footed it through that section section and was sad to see the gorillas weren’t out but was told the air temp has to be a certain level before they’ll let them out as its too cold for them. We knew how they felt! Rich was really sad about this as they are pretty amazing and he’d got some really good photos of them last time. We said we’d try and make it back later in the day if it got warmer. To Be Continued...
__________________
Michelle - ShelUK Too scary, too hot & too splashy - Orlando May-June 2022 May 2017 Trippie - Complete January 2016 Trippie - Complete |
|
|
25 Mar 16, 05:13 PM |
#2
|
|
Thread Starter
Imagineer
|
...Continued
We then headed to the safari to use our first FP of the day. We passed these guys... And then stopped for a few more photopass haha! Now this is when it started to rain and it felt even colder. It really was like a winters day in England, not really what we had hoped for but we were trying to make the most of it. The best bit of the safari was that the lions were moving which was cool to see! When we got off the safari we only had about ten minutes to make it to our 10.30am fastpass for the Lion King show. But we still stopped for a jalapeno pretzel to cross of my snack list from a cart just outside the safari, using a snack credit. This was very cheesy with only a little spice, not hot at all and left a nice aftertaste. We munched it very quickly, with Rich enjoying it more, then headed into the queue at 10.30. It was only after that time came and went without us being let in did I check, and the queue opens at 10.30 for the 11am show! Doh! Well, we were there and about fifth in line (in the FP area) so decided to wait it out. We turned our backs to the wind and tried to find a wall to hide behind. Parents had clearly bought blankets and towels from the merchandise stands and had wrapped them round kids shoulders and prams and we were all stood teeth-chattering for quite a while! Finally, we were let in and shown to the elephant’s section. We got a decent-ish seat, but not any different to the non-fp really and I was unlucky to be behind a guy in his electric wheelchair who blocked quite a bit of my view as I’m rather short. Should have moved in retrospect. The show was great as always, particularly the monkeys! Leaving here I wanted to get to the 11.45 flights of wonder show, which we’d never seen before. Passing these parrots (?) on the way in. We managed to walk in no problem and get a front row seat on one of the areas towards the back. If you want the best view you’d want to sit in the middle section at the front as you’d get really close to the birds. The main thing I recall from this experience was the metal benches we were sat on and how cold the wind was that was coming through the stadium. Perfect on a summers day I guess! We liked this little show but wouldn’t rush back. We took our cold bums straight into a queue to meet Balou and Louie. We waited about 20 minutes to meet them and they had to go for a banana right before they met us but when they got back they were a nice cuddly meet. As we left the meet Doug & Russell were passing so we gave them a high five It was lunch time now around 12.30 and I thought about abandoning our plans for Yak and Yeti café as I knew we’d have to sit outside and didn’t really want to use two table credits to use the restaurant (if we could have even got in). However, the sun had started to make an appearance and it felt decidedly less cold over the past half hour whilst we had been meeting Balou and Louie so we decided to give it a go. I went to buy a Lobster Mac and Cheese for a snack credit from Beastly Kiosk nearby and arranged to meet Rich back at Yak and Yeti where he’d use a counter service credit to get a meal and a drink, and swap the dessert for the rice, which is what we did! So we shared: Teriyaki Beef Bowl – Marinated beef, carrots, snap peas, mushrooms in sweet teriyaki sauce with white rice $11.29, Chicken fried rice $3.99 and Lobster Mac & Cheese $5.99 Now it was still cold whilst we were eating but the sun was shining so made it bearable and the food was actually really good. I’d definitely eat here again! We both enjoyed the Mac and Cheese too but preferred the food from Yak and Yeti. As we were only round the corner, we decided to pop in and see safari Mickey and Minnie, who only had a ten-minute wait and we got another red card to hold. There was a really cute set of twins in the queue in front of us who kept us entertained and it was 1.10 when we got to see them both. They were super friendly and a great meet. Afterwards we decided to go and see if the Gorillas were out now the sun had made an appearance but they weren’t, too cold I guess so we went back to Everest to use our last fastpass of the day. Rich didn’t feel like riding so I went solo and got the front row – it was really good! We went to see if we could get a fastpass plus for dinosaur but it was 2pm and the next slot was 3.15 and the wait was only 30 minutes so we decided to leave it and just queue since we hadn’t done much queueing yet. It was a delight to find the queue was heated! Rich got another red card to carry and it took us 28 minutes exactly. I spent the time catching up on my trippie notes. Now neither of remember this ride at all though we are sure we did it in 2012. I can understand why kids find it scary, its just so dark! But we enjoyed it and will hopefully remember more about it next time! It was just before 3 by this point and we wandered over to Dinoland half heartedly but there wasn’t much we wanted to do here. I find the mouse-thing too jerky on my back and Rich wasn’t keen on riding without me so we left it and got a photo pass instead. Haha. ... To Be Continued
__________________
Michelle - ShelUK Too scary, too hot & too splashy - Orlando May-June 2022 May 2017 Trippie - Complete January 2016 Trippie - Complete |
|
|
25 Mar 16, 05:31 PM |
#3
|
|
Thread Starter
Imagineer
|
...Continued
Headed to the exit we had a quick look round the gift shop and I admired the leopard print ears there but we made no purchases, just stopping for two more photo passes in front of the tree. Rich had an eye for spotting the photographers – getting our moneys worth I’m sure (although it was included in our package). One from earlier I forgot to add in We got to the car for 3.30 and drove to the Animal Kingdom lodge for a walk round. This lobby is gorgeous! So airy and open, it really took me. We ventured outside but the pool was closed due to the weather but we had a good nosy at Boma and Jiko and they both looked really nice. There were people queueing waiting for Boma to open in fact! We refilled our resort mugs at the Mara which was the only thing we didn’t like about the resort, it was pretty dirty and the selection wasn’t as good as at SSR. There wasn’t any cocoa on offer and the tea bags had to be obtained from he cashiers desk which was strange. But maybe it was just a bad day. I'd love to know if anyone has stayed there and has a view on this? We preferred this hotel to the Wilderness Lodge if we had to pick as it felt more modern, but clearly WL is the better location too. I had wanted to go over to Kidani village too but we decided we were a bit pushed for time so to head back and get straight for dinner. Back at SSR, I changed my charge to a snack credit at the concierge desk and got Rich a new button as his had broken. Then we went back and showered, had a cheeky drink each and muffin and headed back out about 5.40. It was a gorgeous dusk walk to the bus stop at Disney Springs and only about five minutes from our block. I wonder if this is changing as they looked to be moving the buses to more towards the middle of DS – does anyone know? We were on a bus to the Polynesian by 6.10 hoping to manage a drink in Trader Sams before our ADR at 7.45. We got there at 6.30 and went straight to Trader Sams to be told there was a 60-90 minute wait, but we took a buzzer and hoped it would be quicker. We had a look round the gift show then went upstairs and got a drink from the lounge just outside Ohana. I had a ginger raspberry mojito and Rich had a fat tire which came to $18.11 plus tip. We sat and enjoyed these in the seating area looking at all the changes to the Poly since our last visit, it is very pretty and I think it looks nicer now although I wasn’t keen when I heard what they intended. We tried to order another round from the waitress but she wasn’t happy to take a photocopy of our passports with our driving licences. I explained and showed her the google’d page from the Disney website saying this is sufficient but she wasn’t having any of it, harping on that it was her livelihood at risk. We gave up and just went to the bar when Rich got an IPA and I had a Moscow mule, same price as last time, both were good too. At 7.30 we admitted defeat with Trader Sams and went to hand the buzzer in, I asked a couple coming out if they wanted our buzzer but they said they’d been waiting longer than us so have just given up. Apparently there was only two more groups in front of us, which is a shame, but something for next time. Busy Ohana We checked in and was buzzed almost immediately. Shown to a table second out from the window with a distant view of the castle which we were happy with. Our servers were just great, so hard wording and spot on with everything. I just had water as I was still working on my mule and Rich had a pomegranate lemonade. The bread disappointed us this time it was rather dry and we hoped it wasn’t going to go the way a lot of the bad reviews I’d been reading had recently. This is the only restaurant that we’ve been back to on all three trips together and the one Richard insists on! However, the salad soon arrived and that was delicious. The dressing is apparently pomegranate and its very yummy. The wings and the pot stickers arrived next and we only had one each to save room, although Rich took a liking to the pot stickers so I’m sure he had more than one! The noodles with veg i.e. broccoli arrived next and this was the highlight for me. The noodles not the broccoli (yuck) – they were so good. I tried to leave it at two decent forkfuls but it was hard! To defend the broccoli Rich really liked it but I’m never a fan anyway. After all that it was time for the main event – the meat! Chicken was up first which was really tasty and meaty. Followed by the steak which was the highlight of the night for us, cooked medium with a spice on it that was amazing (not spicy) and we managed 4 pieces of this each! Prawns up next which Rich kindly peeled and we managed 5 each. All of the meat went nicely with the two dipping sauces they give you and after all that we were stuffed! We were offered more but we kindly refused and just had refills on our drinks. Wishes came on during dinner and we had a very distant view but it was nice all the same It was dessert time next, which is a highlight of Ohana for sure! The bread pudding is simply delicious and not a patch on anywhere else (and we had Raglan Roads too later in the trip!). We managed a few spoonful’s but had to give up! Dinner should have been $85.18 for us both including tax plus tip, however we used two table credits and charged the tip to our room. Our bed was calling us now and this is when we missed having the car, knowing it was freezing outside and we had a bus journey to do and a walk back to SSR, but we made it easily and was in bed by 10.30 watching footage of Times Square under feet of snow on the news. Another great day and so happy Ohana was as good as we hoped!
__________________
Michelle - ShelUK Too scary, too hot & too splashy - Orlando May-June 2022 May 2017 Trippie - Complete January 2016 Trippie - Complete |
|
|
25 Mar 16, 07:58 PM |
#4
|
|
Imagineer
Join Date: Nov 15
|
Cold day at Ak! We are staying at AKL in October so would be interested to hear others views on Mara? Dinner looked last lovely- can't decide on Ohana but the bread pudding is so tempting! Thanks
|
|
|
25 Mar 16, 08:13 PM |
#5
|
|
VIP Dibber
|
What a fantastic day. Ohana's looks delicious 😊 We have booked for breakfast in August!
|
|
|
25 Mar 16, 09:54 PM |
#6
|
|
Imagineer
|
What a chilli day😟
|
|
|
26 Mar 16, 09:12 AM |
#7
|
|
Imagineer
Join Date: Jul 13
|
Glad the cold never spoiled your day - we love Ohanas too, it's always one we will return to as well xx
__________________
|
|
|
27 Mar 16, 08:47 PM |
#8
|
|
Thread Starter
Imagineer
|
I'd really give Ohana a go if you can fit it in! Sure you'll have a wonderful stay at AK Thanks for reading!
Thanks so much. Breakfast looks great with a bit of a stitch fun! It was freeeeezing! Haha. Would rather be there though I love to hear that other people love it too! xx
__________________
Michelle - ShelUK Too scary, too hot & too splashy - Orlando May-June 2022 May 2017 Trippie - Complete January 2016 Trippie - Complete |
|
|
27 Mar 16, 09:21 PM |
#9
|
|
Imagineer
Join Date: Jan 11
|
We went to Animal Kingdom the same day as you guys! freeeezzzziinngggg! Enjoyed our day though! Great pics!
|
|
|
27 Mar 16, 10:03 PM |
#10
|
Guest
|
Another great day, lovely pictures food looks yummy too
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
DIBB Savings |
AttractionTickets.com
Get £10 off each Disney Ticket with the code ATDIBB10 Get up to £50 off per room at Disney or Universal with the code DIBBHOTELS |
theDIBB Blog |
One of the the five worlds found in Epic Universe, How to Train Your Dragon... Read More »
Disney announced that a new nighttime show, “Disney Dreams That Soar,” will run nightly at... Read More »
Walt Disney World Resort guests can get ready to have a “glowing’’ good time when... Read More »
|
theDIBB Menu |
Exchange Rates |
US Dollar Rates
Euro Rates |
DIBB Premium Membership |
Did you know you can help support theDIBB with Premium Membership? Check out this link for more information and benefits, such as... "No adverts on theDIBB Forums" Upgrade Now |