Lifelong_Dreamer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2007
You 100% made me want to take that tour. Yours is probably the most in-depth review I have read. Thanks!
I was hoping to try the Moara Coffee Cake, but it seems that was only on the menu for a couple weeks before they pulled it.
I ended up getting the Night Blossum in a souvenir cup, to add to my collection. Which came with a glowing seed.
I had bought a special case with a caribeaner for this particular reason, but forgot it back in the room; turns out they are usually able to work with your phones. If you don’t have a case at all though, you may have to leave it behind in the locker, because they won’t have a way to attach the caribbeaner clip
That is a BIG list of things you want to do! I am guessing Nomad Lounge didn't get to as I think you have it on your plans for you next trip.
- Early morning Safari
- Sunset safari
- Ride Expedition Everest in dark
- Ride Flight of Passage 2x (w/FPs)
- See Augustus the baby hippo!
- Visit Gorilla Falls Trail (didn't do this in September)
- Visit Maharajah Jungle Trek and see baby tigers
- Try a Night Blossum
- Eat at Nomad Lounge, specifically to try the Poutine
- Eat at Tiffins
- Chocolate Waffle from Tamu Tamu
- Wild Africa Trek
- New Backstage Tales mini-tour
- Fully explore Pandora at night
- Fully explore Pandora at day
- Tree of Life Awakenings
That is an early morning. But a great pic!I did love staying at AKL, because that meant we arrived at AK at around 7:10 as the sun was cresting the trees.
He probably didn't. I barely know where any of the spots are.I did ask him what face he wanted to make on the photo, but I guess he didn’t know when the photo took, so I looked sort silly!
Too funny.
At the end the grandma looked at the kid and was like-I love you, but I am never doing that again! And I just cracked up laughing!
Too funny! Kids are always the most annoying first thing in the morning when the adults are still sleepy and tired.Then to the female area, where Stella was racing around too! Probably annoying her mom! I wish the 3rd photo hadn’t been blurry because it looked like her mom was just shaking her head!
I thought they weren't very pink in September.Past the flamingos, where were definitely less gray than the last time I saw them in September when they were still pretty young!
Hmm, are they super mean?Before we could get to the lions, we got a bit of a visitor, with an ostrich who decided to walk right next to us and give us a dirty look! The driver was pretty vigilant to warn us not to make sudden movements!
Man, baby tiger attitude is mean!
Yum! 9:30 am is def too early for run but I do think it would taste less sweet.
SLUSHEE COUNT: 4
And I really liked it! It was definitely sweet, and I could imagine some people being able to cut the sweetness with the Rum Blossum, but I just wasn’t really feeling like a shot of rum at 9:30 in the morning!
I always wondered what the middle row was for. they don't seem to have a lot of single riders.I ended up being called up quickly (they funneled me into the center single rider line), and I think I was in the center bottom of the screen.
Amazing photo!
You should absolutely try it out! It's great to have such a one-on-one tour from some great guides who love their jobs.Sounds like a wonderful tour, makes me think we should do this one of our trips. My sister loves animals and she is coming with us in March 2019 so that would be a good time.
Thanks for all the details about the animals, very interesting
Thanks about the photos! Absolutely consider the tour-it is really wonderful!Wow! Sounds like an amazing day at AK! Even before your tour started, you saw more animals than I ever do. I think sometimes I'm more focused on getting to the rides, shows, etc., that I kind of forget about the animals…like they are there as background. Aside from the safari, of course.
Maybe I'll look into your tour for our next trip. Mike (DH) would probably really like it.
Your photopass and tour photos are beautiful!
Haha, thanks! I have fun with etsy shirts!OMG I just realized what your shirt says and it's SOOOO CUTE!
It was actually a frame that you'd hold up (like the photo frames). I cropped the photos so you can't tell it's a prop!Wow I didn't realize they did that! That's cool. I have to tell my sister, she's on a mission to get all the special photopass pics.
If you get in A or B, just look up at the walls after going down the stairs. They are a bit higher than average (like if you were standing and put your hands up high). I remembered people posting about it when Pandora first opened, so I was happy to see it!I never realized this before! I think we're usually in C.
I think the mini tour was just going on for a couple months and isn't anymore. But maybe they'll have more 30-minute tours coming up!Ah I didn't know they did this!
Will have to look into it!
Thanks! It did turn out well!This picture is everything!! It's so perfect!
Yes, definitely! It's pricey, but the have a DVC/AP discount. They also have a sunset option but that doesn't include the hippo part with the bridges, just the savannah and outlook. In December I was also considering an option they have at Kidani which is a nighttime tour with night-vision binoculars on the resort savannahs.Thanks for the tour info! It's definitely something I want to do!! It sounds awesome!
I really am a bad influence for people looking to save money! It was very cool seeing the hippos so close. You can also see the safari vehicles pass by and it's like you're part of the attraction! I took a bunch of notes right after the tour so I'd remember the various stories I learned!The Wild Africa Trek sounds amazing! You got so much information and a lot of time to stop and observe the animals. It's a shame the hippos were hanging out in the deep end that day, but at least you got to see the males munch on some food.
Love the giraffe carving in the overlook and the story behind it. You did an awesome job recording everything you learned; so many interesting tidbits in this update!
You convinced me to do the HEA fireworks dessert party, now you're making me figure out way to work this tour into my next trip! (Fortunately there's plenty of family who'll take my kiddos off my hands so I can do the tour.)
Do it! I think because I loved it so much I remembered so many of the little details.You 100% made me want to take that tour. Yours is probably the most in-depth review I have read. Thanks!
I know! So many times I read about something and then discover it's missing!It's so frustrating to me that they put things on the menu and then take them off suddenly. I wish they said limited time. There were a few things in AK I was looking for that were nowhere to be found anymore.
Haha! I think they know people have so much "essential" things they would throw a fit if they couldn't bring it. On the bridges I remember they make you take your name badge off so it doesn't accidentally fall off into the pools and you are supposed to put it in your vest pocket. But they then also don't want you to have your phone/camera in and out of that pocket cause it could still fall out. So one of the guides actually took my badge because I didn't have anyone else to keep mine while I was taking photos!I bought a bunch of stuff to secure my phone and sunglasses too when we went and then when we got there I realized that I didn't need any of it.
The early morning really helped eliminate crowds. I wish I could do more early mornings, but usually at the beginning of the trip I'm still dealing with jetlag and time changes, then at the end of the trip I've gotten so tired that I don't like getting up that early!That is an early morning. But a great pic!
They seem like they would be! I looked it up and I guess if provoked they can be very mean , but usually don't really care about humans. But I'd imagine trucks passing them all the time could be annoying. And I think I only really saw them stick to the actual roads, so they probably have to deal with that all the time!Hmm, are they super mean?
I think it was definitely set up for SRs by the imagineers, but once operations got a hold they realized how much of a disaster that could be (people trying to skip the long queue with the SR option but then still waiting just as long)! Eventually they've gotten around that by just splitting the SRs into a separate aisle; like how they have people in scooters/wheelchairs use the farthest right queue.I always wondered what the middle row was for. they don't seem to have a lot of single riders.
It really is great! The age limit is 8 yrs and 48", so Morgan could do it already, but Gwen has to wait a bit (she could do Caring for Giants though). I know the young boys on my tour seemed to have a lot of fun and the guides liked being able to teach them more about animals!Amazing photo!
The whole thing sounds amazing. I think my sisters boyfriend would love this. I just have to convince them to come down some time.
We also made the observation that the flamingos are actually not confined to their pool.
48" tall!!! Oh Man! It will be awhile for Gwen! That is ok, I probably need a couple years to work on my sister. They are world travelers and like to go abroad on there vacations.It really is great! The age limit is 8 yrs and 48", so Morgan could do it already, but Gwen has to wait a bit (she could do Caring for Giants though). I know the young boys on my tour seemed to have a lot of fun and the guides liked being able to teach them more about animals!
That is hilarious about the flamingo! I can't believe they got that far without being spotted earlier!Wow! The tour sounds really cool.
Our local zoo had two flamingos fly the coop, I think 18 years ago. One of the flamingos was recently found in Texas. I live in Kansas. I thought that was pretty crazy!
Some people don't give Disney the priority it deserves48" tall!!! Oh Man! It will be awhile for Gwen! That is ok, I probably need a couple years to work on my sister. They are world travelers and like to go abroad on there vacations.
You're welcome! The boys were pretty cool to see.Thanks for the awesome review of the tour. So glad you got some up close hippo time, even if it was only the boys.
I had a lot of fun and it was definitely a highlight of my trip!I did the WAT back in 2012 and now that I read your adventure I want to do it again! I'm glad you wrote such a detailed account because I learned a lot I didn't know about the animals there.
I don't understand this... Why wouldn't they stop for even a short second! You know everyone wants to see baby animals!GUS-GUS! He was right there chilling with the other hippos! So adorable! Excuse the bad zoom and not awesome quality. The driver didn’t stop the vehicle completely-rude!
I took a shortcut through the gift shop and got to the area in front of the Harambe stage to check it out.
I made my way inside to check in for the tour
GUS-GUS!
I finally got to see the hyenas, though they were sleeping (they switch with the wild dogs around 4-4:30 and all my previous safaris have been before then).
And got to see the cheetahs pacing around. I think the zebra was teasing them!
I know! I wish I could have seen him out of the water! But he was so teeny (but still big)!Glad you got to see Augustus! So cute!
I know! And then we got stuck in a traffic jam but were already too far away from hippos to see!I don't understand this... Why wouldn't they stop for even a short second! You know everyone wants to see baby animals!
It was pretty great and lots of fun animal sightings all day!The Wild Africa Trek sounds amazing!! So many awesome photos!
Glad you got to see Augustus on your safari!
I really liked seeing the acrobatics show - it was very impressive!I really need to take the time to slow down and watch some of these shows! As many times as I've gone I'm always too busy with other stuff.
I am so bummed that they discontinued this tour.
Awesome! I haven't had the luck to spot him yet.
Oh, how did I not know there were hyenas? Maybe because I always tend to do early safaris. But in August I have a 5:15 - 6:15 pm FP booked so I will get to see them then.
Either that or they were hungry and waiting to go in for dinner.
OMG-thanks!!!! I'm totally making this, if not tonight, then this weekend!Sounds like a fantastic day in the Animal Kingdom! We did the Wild Africa Trek several years ago and also loved it. Here's the curried chicken salad recipe: https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...you-cant-feed-the-animals-but-you-get-to-eat/
It was actually a frame that you'd hold up (like the photo frames). I cropped the photos so you can't tell it's a prop!
I think the mini tour was just going on for a couple months and isn't anymore. But maybe they'll have more 30-minute tours coming up!
Yes, definitely! It's pricey, but the have a DVC/AP discount. They also have a sunset option but that doesn't include the hippo part with the bridges, just the savannah and outlook. In December I was also considering an option they have at Kidani which is a nighttime tour with night-vision binoculars on the resort savannahs.
Anyways, before the tour started, I checked which places we were going to go (I was hoping vet hospital and nutrition center), but instead we got invertebrates building and vet hospital. She made sure I was ok with bugs, which I don’t exactly like, but I knew they’d be in secure cages, so I’d deal! Because I checked in early we were able to talk more and she gave me lots of info about the nutrition center. She also explained that they couldn’t do nutrition center in afternoon because they already finished and sterilized everything, including the floor. Ok, makes sense!
The tour ended up being closer to 50 minutes rather than 30, but I think that was because Katie was so excited! It was definitely informative, and makes me want to take a full Backstage tour, but probably only if it was a longer one that went to the animal areas more.
On my way out of Pandora I stopped by Tiffins to see if I could order one of the Nomad Lounge small plates as an appetizer when I had dinner there later. The hostess said, no, I couldn’t order it from my Tiffins table. What I could do, is go to Nomad Lounge, order, get my dish, cash out, then bring it to my table at Tiffins. A pain, but possible. So, I said, ok, I’m just really wanting to try that poutine. Then she gets a strange look on her face. At first I was worried-oh, is it not that good? She responds: “No..its just…uh, that was taken off the menu…as of today…” WHAT!?! So bummed out! I definitely wanted to try it! I’ll just cross my fingers they have it back by December, and I told her, at least that makes my Tiffins meal easier to coordinate!