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© Lisa Cubbon, 2005
Who: Andy and Lisa Cubbon (over 50, retired and no kids at home!)
When: April 16-20
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge
Saturday April 16th. Left home at 7:50a, dropped off trash at Nicks since our next trash pickup won’t be until almost a week after we get home and it could get very smelly by then!
We had no traffic to speak of all the way down with one exception. There was the usual Saturday morning roadwork on I75 south. That slowed us down a couple of minutes but nothing major at all after that.
The new Florida Visitors Center at the State line on I75 is open. It’s huge, with enormous bathrooms. The main visitor’s center is a large open area with alcoves off of each side filled with rack after rack of Florida Tourism brochures. The picnic area isn’t ready but there were some nice tables and benches so we were able to eat our lunch. I wonder what all the yellow jackets and bees that were resident at the other picnic grove have been doing the last year. I suspect building up resources. It looks like a couple more months of work before the whole center is finished. It’s a great improvement over the other one.
We arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at 3:38p. The line of cars getting thru the guard gate was impressive. I think we are not alone. I went to reception to check in and waited, and waited. There were probably 8 Cast Members working but it just takes time, especially with newcomers to the resort. We got assigned a room (don’t think they had my fax) and off we went to the sorriest room we have ever been assigned here. It was 3341, right at the junction of two buildings. The view was of the balcony to the room off our left. If we leaned over the railing, we could see savanna. NOT what I expected. So, Andy, God Bless him, toted the stuff we already had with us while I hustled down to guest services. The CM there< Buddy, tried to make me happy with a couple of other rooms but none were very good. So I asked for a manager/ Buddy disappeared for a few minutes and came back. He said that to met my requirements they had authorized an upgrade to a deluxe room, 5561 with no obstructed view, a view of two savannas and non-smoking. I was very thankful. We trotted up to about the farthest room in the resort. Went over to the balcony and oh my gosh! It’s a beautiful view. The room is at the northeast junction of the Arusha and Uzima savannas, more facing the Uzima. The balcony itself is about triple the normal size balcony too. With a couple of nice chairs it’s a great place to watch the animals. And there are tons of them too: Giraffes, Kudu, a family of Anoki cattle (mama, yearling, and calf), Thompson’s gazelles, Impalas, Bongos and a few Crowned Cranes and ostriches. In the Arusha savanna, we can see male Anoki cattle (I think one is the father of the two boys with mama), zebras and Wildebeest (gnu to you too). It’s just lovely and hard for me to tear myself away from. As I sit her typing away, the door to the balcony is open and less than a foot from my chair. The other “advantage to this room is the easy access to the traffic on hwy 192. I mean I can read the billboards with the binoculars and see the bright lights of all the shops, hotels, etc. Very interesting way to lay out a deluxe hotel. If we had a room facing the Arusha savanna we would have none of this. The room otherwise is very standard, two queen beds, double sinks, small refrigerator and coffee maker. Very comfortable for two old folks.
Sunday, April 17th. We are just not moving much today. Breakfast was whatever and we did not get out of the room until almost 11:30a. For some odd reason I wanted to head to the Magic Kingdom. BIG mistake; Sunday is often family day at this theme park. It’s the first full day of many people’s holiday and locals spend time in the park on Sunday. We headed to a store to buy a case for my reading glasses since the one I had I lost at the bus stop. That accomplished we headed back to Fantasyland. I want to go on the new refurbished It’s a Small World. But the line was like 40 minutes; not today. We did snag Fast Passes for Mickey’s Philharmagic for about 60 minutes later. So we wandered over to Tomorrowland to ride the TTA and it was down so we took in Carousel of Progress. Andy attempted a nap in that one and he discovered he had not put on a nicotine patch (see, I told you it was a slow day for us), so we saw philharmagic and then opted to have lunch at Pinocchio’s Village Haus. We had cheeseburgers, Figaro’s fries, a salad and soft drinks. After lunch we headed out of the park, about 45 minutes before the 3pm parade was to start and of course they were already lining the curb for the best seats. At the hotel, Andy donned his patch and I went back to watching the animals. He slept, I read the paper and just enjoyed the pleasant day. Around 4:30p I roused sleepy from the bed and we headed over to Animal Kingdom. Today is Extra Magic day for resorts guests in that park. The park closed to non-resort guests at 5p and stayed open to resort guests until 8p. We figured we could wander around, grab some dinner and see take a late safari ride. I wanted to get a gift for a friend’s child so we went over to Dinoland and I picked up some dinosaurs to be sent to the resort. Andy was glad that I had not intended to carry them around since I would have ultimately meant he was carrying them. Then I rode Primeval Whirl. It’s a wild mouse ride but Disney modified and fun for me; not Andy. It turns and bumps a bit but nothing too scary. I got to ride with a dad and his seven-year-old daughter. I told her I was only six and I liked this one! Then we went in search of food. Turns out the only place open was Pizzafari so we split a pepperoni pizza and a small cinnamon apple pizza and a couple of soft drinks. Then we were ready to head for our safari. It was a walk on which is nice but not a lot of animals. I suspect that most had already headed back for the night to their barns. They are not required to spend the night indoors but since each group has a special call, when they hear it they can go back or stay out. It’s their choice. There was not one giraffe out! We did see three cheetahs, which was pretty cool. They were pacing around. I suspect it had to do with the coldish weather, evening time coming and the group of Oryx’s right along the ridge next to their habitat. They can’t get to them but I am sure they looked like an easy meal. We left the park after our safari. We intended to get a drink and then just take it easy the rest of the night. Then I got a real good idea. We bought a very nice bottle of wine in the gift shop (a South African Cab) and came back to the room for a nice glass of it. Plus some nuts. Remember to have protein when you drink. End of message.
The animals were very active. We could see the Impalas chasing each other and the Tommies gamboling about. They really did look like small lambs. The feeder were out too so the giraffes were following the truck in hopes of a hand out. Some of the males were tussling with each other and it was all ours to watch. I think we have neighbors tonight. I heard a bunch of gigglers next to our balcony but then it settled down. I also smelled smoke while was watching TV from the bed. I didn’t smell it last night so I am wondering if the party next door decided to ignore the signs etc.
Monday April 18th. Well, it clear I am not getting up at 5:30am! I woke up around 7, got myself moving and dressed and then Andy got up. We had a leisurely breakfast and left the room (after taking the census of animals of course!) and headed to Disney Studios to see if there was a preview of Motor Action. Nope, but maybe tomorrow afternoon so we will go back. We went to Muppets 3D, wandered over to the BIG HAT hub and sat for about 45 minutes. There was character greeting taking place so we watched that and just enjoyed a beautiful day. I sure didn’t need the fleece jacket I had with me! We decided on lunch which was burgers at Sunset Market. Good people watching. I talked with some high school kids who were from New York. They were not looking forward to a 26 hour bus ride home which started at 4p on Monday. I thought it was good news! Maybe others would be leaving too and the parks would be less crowded. We headed back to the hotel for a rest and to wait for our friend, Bill, to arrive from Tampa for dinner at Spoodles. While we were at the room, I called and finally got thru to the Disney Dining Experience people and for 50 bucks, I could pick the letter up at Guest Relations at the front of Epcot after 5:30p. Cool beans! Bill got here around 4:30p. He had been at the resort before with us so he knew where it was but he admitted it was a bit daunting to find his way around. We are go familiar with the property that it doesn’t affect us. I brought him up to the fabulous Cubbon suite (OK, it’s just a room) and he enjoyed the view and said he could get used to this one… Lots of animals out for him to see too. We took our car to Boardwalk and since we were early for our 6:20p reservation, I decided that I would walk very fast from Boardwalk thru Epcot to the front of Epcot to Guest Relations and get the letter so we could have the 20% discount. Well, I did it and made it back just as Andy and Bill finished their walk around the lake. Bill isn’t into any aerobic activity so this was a big deal to him! I did not kill any little kids or run down any old folks either but found holes in the traffic and worked my way thru. I was amazed at what I did. When I got to Guest Relations, the CM was pretty surprised that I had made it so fast. I saw a very long line at the entrance gates and I wondered how I could get thru them quickly. I did not want to slow down my momentum! I remembered… Go left and sure enough there was a very short line on the left and of course my annual pass came up “access denied” since I had left the park and came right back in. The CM was very pleasant (from Hong Kong).
We had a delightful dinner and a very nice wine. I should know since I seem to have drunk most of it. After dinner (we skipped dessert. Too full), we took Bill on a tour of the waterways of Epcot, meaning the boat that goes from Boardwalk to Epcot and the Studios. Bill seemed to be taking it all in. We went as far as the Studios, came back, reversing our route and then got off at the Boardwalk. It was time for Bill to be heading back to Tampa. He left the AKL around 9:15p. He said it was a long drive home since they were working on I4 and have been working on I4 since it was built.
Tuesday April 19th. We got up, had breakfast in the room and did nothing worth noting. I can’t even remember what we did. Oh, we went to Epcot for the Gardens tour. I got up at 5:30a and Andy was kicked out of bed around 6:15.We caught the 8:15a bus to Epcot and were there by 8:30. The guide was Rickie and he is a pest management person for Disney in addition to owning his own landscaping business. He’s very energetic! There were 17 of us on the tour and we just followed Rickie for three hours. He talked with us about the various plants Disney uses and we went into the World Showcase to see how flowers are used to soften the lines of the buildings and why the hanging baskets are all at different heights. Something I had never thought about. At the end of the tour we were each given the official poster from this year’s Flower and Garden Show It’s very nice, in a mailing tube. Andy refused to play light sabers….. We had lunch at the Rose and Crown and then heading towards the front with an idea of heading back for a rest. Three hours of walking on concrete takes its toll. We wandered over to the Land and sure enough Soarin was open! So we got in line. There was about 25 minute wait and we got real lucky. We got row 1 which is the row that goes up over the other rows so there are no distracting feet to see. If you have on sandals, they ask you to take them off! It was pretty darn wonderful. The sensation of moving is very real to me. I sure would like to see it again. I loved the way you just swooped around too.
So we headed back, took a nap and then headed over to Magic Kingdom around 5p. It wasn’t too crowded which was good since Andy had left his annual pass back at the hotel. One of the benefits of an AP is that you can get it replaced. We watched on family have to leave and go back to get theirs. Bummer. We really had no plan so we stopped and had a shared meal at the noodle station. This new fast food place just doesn’t do it for me. The Chicken Cashew salad was OK but very under seasoned and the pot stickers were very bad, not steamed, sorta fried but not crisp. But the ginger crème brulee was pretty good. The place was swarming with CMs too. We got asked about out dining experience and I told the young woman that the potstickers were not what I had expected. We did get a strawberry swirl later (soft serve ice cream and strawberry sorbet, yum!). We rode Tomorrowland Transit Authority and had an adventure on that. It broke down and cars were ramming into each other, and not so gently either. Then we went and took a spin on It’s a Small World, the 2005 version. I have to say it’s pretty nice; very refreshed looking and the tune is just as annoying to most people. Andy did the whole ride without putting his fingers in his ears. The we moseyed over to Liberty Square and sat for a few minutes, then we went to Pirates of the Caribbean. That only had a 5 minute wait and that’s about the time it takes to walk. It was a walk on. Then I was hungry so we got hot dogs from Casey’s and ate those for dinner. We left the park as people were beginning to assemble for the 9pm parade. It was about 8:15 and I am sure some people had been in position since 6ish. No joke! We were back at the AKL by 8:30 so I got to see some of American Idol and we watched House, MD.
Wednesday April 20th. Up and at’em early. 7:15a. yep… Today we went shopping at Downtown Disney and the World of Disney Store. Had to pick up few things, this and that. The since we had the car out, we drove to the Studios. What a zoo. Parking in the lot and taking the tram into the gate is a pain. The bus from the resort is so much better. We had some shopping to do here but first I snagged a a table for lunch at te Brown Derby. It was 11:30 and the place was not full so we sat outside and each had a glass of wine and then Andy had grouper and I had pasta with a rock shrimp, Portobello mushrooms, zucchini in a pesto sauce. It was outstanding. I even used rolls to sop up the sauce. I am so embarrassed (not!). We almost had front row seats to a testosterone grudge match. Some guy bumped into another guy’s woman (these people were all in their 50s and looked like ret. Firemen or policemen) and one guy mumbled something and then the other guy came back towards the other one chest all puffed out. It ended when one guy said he did apologize and the other one said OK. Looked like both of them would have lost the fight. I suspect the woman (who was not paying attention and that’s why she was bumped into) was embarrassed by the whole thing but still I have never been to a fight.. After lunch we did our shopping and then had a nice sit down in the hub. I took a small siesta and then we headed back to the hotel for a special project. Ha! Dirty minds…. We had to map out the hotel so when we were offered rooms we had some idea if where the room is and what the view would be. It’s all about research… Then we came back and watched the animals, did e-mails, etc.