Jud - September 2006

Trip Report Wednesday and Thursday 27 and 28 September, 2006

87 photos now at WDW AK and EE If you read this report, you do not need to read the captions, and vice versa, except for the last image...

A while back a friend from the list, Robin of Texas, invited me to join her and her family, DH Walter and DS, Tucker, at Animal Kingdom during their vacation at WDW. We have been writing for about a year, so this was a welcome opportunity to meet them! Robin's Dad, Ken, was also joining us.

Since we wanted to enter the park at opening, I would be picking them up in my van at 8 at Pop Century; and since I usually don't get up till noon, I decided I had better go down the night before and sleep over to make the appointment. I also had to buy a ticket, so figured to do that at Down Town Disney (DTD).

On the drive down to WDW I was testing my new camera mount I had built on my dash and grabbed a shot of Citrus Tower, one of the earliest of the Florida Tourist attractions, then straight on to DTD.

I needed to save my batteries on my ECV for the next day so I walked into DTD and got my ticket at Guest Services, where I also inquired about being able to change dates on an MNSSHP ticket and was told that as long as the desired date was not sold out I could. The ticket I had was for the upcoming Friday and I didn't really want to go on a Friday, the most crowded of days, so this was good news.

After getting my ticket, I hit McDonald's for a chicken Caesar salad and sat down outside so I could listen to the Disney soundtrack that plays throughout DTD while I ate. After, I roamed the World of Disney store then went outside and did some shooting. The sun was low in the western sky and gave some really good lighting for The Lego Dragon and other things. By this time it was approaching 7 o'clock so I headed over to the AMC Theater and was just in time for Flyboys. This was good. Not very deep, but some great photography and the flying scenes were terrific! After it let out, I saw the new Jet Li movie and that too was very good, much more than simply a martial arts movie, more a man versus himself story very well told. It is in Chinese with English subtitles, but after a while I didn't even notice that. Then off to find a place to park the van and hit the sack.

The next morning I headed to Pop Century to pick up my friends, arriving only about 4 minutes late. Walter spotted me and waved and we all loaded in without too much trouble. We then headed over to AK, unloaded and headed in, stopping first for a shot in front of the new symbol of this years theme, "Where Dreams Come True". I only noticed when reworking the photos that there are characters in silhouette running along it.

After only a few minutes the gates opened and we headed in. As we crossed the bridge approaching the Tree of Life, the new mountain in the Disney range could be seen to the east. Ahead, Goofy Minnie and friends were on top of a double-decker bus welcoming people as they waited for the ropes to drop and open the rest of the park. I didn't hear any of it, as we were a bit late getting there, and shooting- the obligatory family shot in front of the Tree Of Life. We ran into Baloo, and he messed about with Ken a bit.

We had a bit of discussion, and decided to start with the safari so headed over there and got right on. Surprisingly, the animal sightings were rather light, no hippos, no rhinos, no elephants. The main savannah was populated, but most of the other areas were empty to our view. Except for the various birds- the birds are always there! At one point on the savannah, a Giraffe crossed right in front of us, which forced the bus to stop, and gave a great photo op!

We exited the safari and headed across the park to Expedition Everest. We arrived to find what looked like a line outside, but it was suddenly gone and we discovered that there was virtually no wait. Between the five of us, four of us rode in various combinations and Walter and I each rode three times, shooting as we went. I shot stills the first run and movies on the second and third. It is one heck of a ride! Doesn't feel very roller coaster-y. but more like Test Trak on steroids! After three runs, Walter and I both agreed that was enough (for our stomachs!) Very fast... and the views from the top are wonderful! You can see the whole World on te climb to the top! At the top we stop as we discover that some thing has torn up the tracks on which we ride! Suddenly, we are racing backwards, fast, down into the black interior of the mountain itself! It is pitch black, so I have no idea of the track configuration, but there is a bit of air time and that tickle feeling in your stomach when you are going to negative G's... then we come to a stop inside the mountain, and there is a glimpse of a shadow... and tracks being ripped apart... and we are off again, shooting straight down the side of the mountain! There is a double circle section where the speed gets faster than I thought anything could actually go, then back into the mountain and the dark and suddenly, there is something there- only a glimpse, but I think I saw... well, can't be sure... and then we are moving again and out of the mountain and back to base!

The next thing that was called for was to see the Lion King show, but checking the schedule, we found that it was starting at that very minute on the other side of the park. We also were feeling the need for food, so we headed over that way to eat and then hit the show. On the way, Walter went off down a trail looking for something and quickly returned saying that wasn't it, but this reminded me and I took us all down there for a special view of Everest.

Then we headed over and ate at the food place just on the African side of the bridge and Robin used one of her food plan credits for my meal- but did claim my desert (knowing I couldn't eat it anyway.) At one point, she was sitting with three different pieces of cake in front of her- wasn't quick enough to get that shot! hehehehehee... Tucker had the mac and cheese; Robin, Walter, and I had the chicken; and Ken had the fish. We were all pleased with the food. It is one of the good things that in general you can always expect good quality food at any of the on-property restaurants.

After eating, we headed down the path for the Lion King show and were seated immediately. We didn't have to wait long for the start and the show was wonderful as always. I actually got to see more of it this time, as I pretty much gave up trying to shoot it as the lighting is so horrible for photography. Walter's camera shot it beautifully! I actually couldn't believe it his shots were so good!

After the show, we wandered on up towards Discovery Island and deciding to see It's Tough to be a Bug, I led us in the back path which has the added attraction of seeing some neat animals including a big ol' tortoise, then onto the show, and the bugs under our butts and all the other delights of entering the world of the little creatures.

Our next stop was to be either Dinosaur or Kali, and since we were closer to Dinoland, I guided us there. Dinosaur is Robin's favorite ride, and again, in various combinations, we rode it a few times. Then we hit Dino-Rama and Tucker, Walter, and I did Primeval Whirl, and we got the best spin ever! The timing on our spin was perfect and in time with every corner we hit so each corner added to our spin. We were really pulling some heavy G's! A great ride! We were offered a ride-through, but once at that intensity was enough!

At some point in here, Robin went over and dropped her empty water bottle in a recycling bin and as I looked around for her, saw her talking with one of the CM's on trash detail. When she returned, she proudly showed off the special lapel pin she had been given, "Environmental Hero" featuring Jiminy Cricket! Later we conspired to give me a chance to get one, hanging onto a recyclable bottle until we could see someone on trash detail and we did, but no luck! Then as we entered Kali, Robin gave me hers, explaining that she didn't really do pins only had a few special ones. I pointed out that this one was real special, being an award, un-purchasable! But she insisted and I happily, if a bit reluctantly, accepted

On to Kali and the long walk down that entrance path. We were pulled over to a special area for handicapped loading- this was the first time I had seen anything like this- they have a special area where a boat is actually pulled out of the main flow into a separate area so the regular flow of boats is not interrupted! We loaded in, and I told Robin to come over and join the rest of us so we would have maximum unbalance for the best ride. Tucker asked me to sit beside him, so we were right in the middle of the others. This is a pretty mild water ride with only one significant drop and soaking opportunity, just a pleasant ride through the rain forest and then that one drop and splash. And if you aren't the one who gets it, it is all fun and exciting.

Tucker and I got the dump!

Wham! In an instant, the both of us were soaked in such totality that the concept of ever being dry again was simply unrealistic! And here I was in my regular clothes: I wasn't expecting to do this, and when I do the water rides at IOA, much more adventurous, I have a change of clothes for it- bathing suit and an extra T-shirt and water shoes! We came out soaked and with nothing to be done about it! I took off my shirt and wrung it out and stood on my ECV as we rode out, finding it too uncomfortable to sit in my wet pants. Once out, I went into the restroom and got a big bundle of paper toweling and made soaker pads for me and Tucker. That helped!

We headed over to safari to catch a last ride on that as it was approaching closing, all of us deciding to bypass another trip on Everest, though it was looking so pretty in the western sun.

As we passed the drums in Africa and with virtually no one else in sight, Tucker and I did some banging on the drums, matching rhythms and playing around for several minutes. It was great!

We did in fact ride the last safari of the day and having a load of people who had all ridden before, the CM went off-script and gave us some inside info including the location of a hidden Mickey!

As we left the safari, we found that we were for all intents and purposes the last people in the park and slowly made out way to the exit. I guided us through a hidden path near the front animal area, across a suspension bridge, and then out and over to my van where we said our good byes.

Exhausted from both Everest and the walking of the evening before, I decided to head home instead of staying over. It had been great day with friends and I was satisfied with this trip! As I headed out, I stopped to get a shot of Everest as seen from the parking lot, a shot I had missed on the way in that morning.