Driving Fast, Disney Feet and Dining Fantasies – BLT Oct 3 to 14 About This Page:

[disney_duke]

What a great view, despite the parking lot. I can taste those apple tarts from France. Yummmmm......

[disneydreamer33]

What a great view you got!
Sounded like a great start to your vacation. Plus FP for AK.

[RoonieRooToo]

Day 4 – October 4 – Animal Kingdom, First Ride and Cali Grill
We got up early at 6:00 so we could both shower and be at the bus stop for the first bus to Animal Kingdom.


We only had one other family on the bus with us that early. Upon arrival we went over to the Guest Relations window to pick up Epcot Steve’s “apology”. Steve had told us that the Animal Kingdom crew would be amused by him botching our upgrade and he was right. The guy at the window happened to have been the guy who trained Steve and he was very enterntained to hear the story. He gave us three “magic tickets” that essentially work like fastpasses.

That meant our morning was very pleasant since we didn’t have to rush for fastpasses. The Animal Kingdom crew took down what people were celebrating in the line and during the opening ceremony they announced all the groups names and what they were celebrating. We were on the list for our 7th anniversary. While we were waiting, I met another TGMike person and we chatted about all the tricks we had learned on his site.

After they opened the park and we watched Minnie, Mickey, Pluto and Goofy start our adventure, we did the super fast walk to Expedition Everest with the CM’s holding the rope. John and I were wondering if you had to do a tryout for how fast you could speed walk to be a rope drop CM. After our morning jog, we were on the very first train for Everest and this would be our first ride of the trip. I totally LOVED it! I can’t decide if it replaces RnRC as my favorite. They are different but wow, Everest is at least tied for favorite for me.

After that thrilling adventure, we hotfooted it over to Dinoland and rode Primeval Whirl (which was weird after Everest) and Dinosaur. In the gift shop I got a Pluto ID tag for Gregor. Probably the most expensive doggy tag he’ll ever have but I couldn’t resist. From there we went “up the middle” to It’s Tough to Be a Bug. I really love that show. After watching the bugs we went to Africa and the Safari. By then it was 11:30 and time for lunch.



We went to Tuskers house and had a wonderful lunch. I found so many great vegetable, tofu and pasta dishes that I went meatless for that meal and it was truly excellent. I was feeling so hot though that I wanted to keep somewhat light on lunch. I had a slight headache but I think the lunch and a coke cured it in short order.
After lunch we walked through the Pangani trail and they were training with the Angolan Colubus Monkeys. We had never seen that before. After that we saw a swimming hippo and the gorilla family and one of the bachelor silverback gorillas across the stream.

A batch of snoozing hippos:


The walk helped me settle lunch so we headed over to use our “magic tickets” and encountered Devine. This is the first time we’ve seen her. I expect that on past trips we’ve walked right past her but we happened to catch her moving from one post to another tree so we actually “saw” her. She is so elegant and graceful the way she moves. After taking some photos and getting a photopass shot done, we went back to Asia to use a magic tickets to ride Expedition Everest again and then Dinosaur. Fastpass is a wonderful thing.

On the way back to Dinoland, we saw that they were just filling the theatre for the Finding Nemo Musical. This is another new thing for us and we got a great seat with almost no waiting. Great timing. We really enjoyed the musical quite a bit. I liked Dory a lot and John liked the group of fish that would say “Sure we know Sydney – Laaaaaaaa”.



After escaping the Nemo crowd at the end of the show, we did one more turn at Dinosaur and then a bit of shopping. I didn’t pack enough shirts for us for the whole 14 day trip and I don’t want to do laundry so we have enough clothes for one week and we use our souvenir shirt buying to make up for it. Is that not the best logic there is to justify shopping? Since we were going to California Grill I had to buy a nicer shirt from Animal Kingdom to go with my khakis. I found a leopard print shirt with a sequined Mickey head and a couple of “day touring” shirts plus a nice Disney tie for John. We also sprung for the throw you get for 15.95 when you spend $50, which is ridiculously easy to do.

We headed back to the room for a shower and change of clothes into dinner clothes. While waiting to go down to dinner, I spent some time on the balcony watching the buzzards that live on the beach down below. One of them soared by me very, very close and looked me dead in the eye. It was a little unsettling and kind of cool at the same time.



After John got back from a quick trip to the car, we headed out to dinner at the California Grill. We had a fabulous dinner.
For an appetizer, we split their signature Triple Cheese flatbread. Then for a starter, John had Maine Lobster Risotto which he pronounced unbelievable good. I had the Fall Plum salad with frisee, candied walnuts , plums and a citrus vinaigrette. It was pretty fabulous. For our main dishes, John got Oak Fired Filet of Beef and I had Bay Boat Scallops with the lightest gnocchi I’ve ever had.

With our meal we had a wonderful pinot from Oregon. I’m lousy with how to pick the right wine that matches the full meal so I always let the waiter help me and he did a great job.

For dessert John had an espresso and we split a meyer-lemon cheesecake with whipped cream. Quite wonderful. We then headed back to the room to laze about and for me to take time to write up our day while waiting for Wishes to start so we could watch again from our balcony. Have I said how fantastic that is yet?

Next: Soarin', Sushi and a rat!

[KMB733]

Great day at AK! And dinner sounded delicious

[B.M.]

Great time at AK and a great dinner also!

[Luvsun]

First - let me tell you that I just your doggie Gregor! Oh gosh, he is so cute! It sounds like he has a great place to go and have a doggie vacation while you guys are enjoying WDW! I wish I had a place like that for my doggies!
All of your meals sound so yummy!
Your view from your room at the Contemporary is wonderful!
How long have you guys been DVC members?
I am really enjoying your fun trip report!

[lazanya]

Sounds like a great day at AK!

[RoonieRooToo]

Originally Posted by Luvsun

First - let me tell you that I just your doggie Gregor! Oh gosh, he is so cute! It sounds like he has a great place to go and have a doggie vacation while you guys are enjoying WDW! I wish I had a place like that for my doggies!
All of your meals sound so yummy!
Your view from your room at the Contemporary is wonderful!
How long have you guys been DVC members?
I am really enjoying your fun trip report!

Thank you so much. He is our spoiled rotten "kid". This was our very first DVC trip. We bought in March after getting such a great deal on our points through the DVC webcast, we just couldn't wait.

[Sandra Bostwick]

This is a fun report (except for the allergy) I LOVE the shots of the MK view!

[Colexis Mom]

Another great day!

[debrabrown]

wow - great food and a wonderful room with a view! sounds awesome!!

[LLaffinPlace]

I love California Grill! So glad you had a great meal there to cap off a wonderful day at AK.

[chezp]

What a great time at Animal Kingdom!

[Hugmonster]

Sounds like you had a great time. Looking forward to more.

[disneydreamer33]

What an awesome day at AK. Your meal at Tusker House and Cali Grill sounded wonderful.
You got a great room. How fun that would be to watch Wishes every night from your room.