Trip Report **COMPLETED** A (Love) Bug's Life

Hi everyone!
Happy Mother's Day!!!
We just got back from Disney yesterday and it is cold and raining here so seems like a good time to start our TR!

Who?
My Mom (Mary), my Dad (Jeff) and myself (Megan)
This photo is from our trip last year
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Where?
Grand Floridian - aside from a very brief stay at the Poly during a race weekend my Dad has never stayed at a Deluxe. So, with a nice AP discount we let him pick any place he wanted and he decided on the Grand :)

When?
May 3 - 11, 2019

Why?
No big reason - we usually go around this time every year to help with the depression of the never ending winter here at home (and its still cold BTW...)

The title?
We have seen love bugs before but we have NEVER seen this many. I know they don't bite or anything but they were everywhere and at times the amount of them was just disgusting. We could not even sit on our balcony and if we were by the pool the only place they did not bother us was in the water. Ew :grumpy::hungover: This is the very reason I do not live in Florida...bugs.

Day 1 May 3, 2019
Our flight was pretty early so I got up at like 2:20 am 😴
My parents picked me up just before 3 and we were on our way! I ALWAYS email Southwest to ask what time their counters open and this time I forgot. So, we got there at 3:20 and it was not open...whoops 🤪
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Everyone was lined up in the full service line but we waited by the self tag kiosks and we ended up being the first ones done with our luggage. Since it was so early the TSA pre-check line was not open yet so we had to go through regular security which is only annoying when you have have a computer and an iPad to drag out :hilarious:
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Be prepared for my Dad not cooperating for photos :p
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Around 4 am the food places open so we grabbed a bagel
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I spy our plane
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The time flew by at the airport and very quickly we were boarding the plane! Our flight was on time for once!
Gang is all here..
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Next up: more travel
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 3 continued
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I went last actually :)
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We all survived! Woohoo!
Since the crocs were gone we got to spend some time with the Savanah keepers in charge of the painted dogs which was cool. The dogs themselves were not around much but it was really neat to learn facts about them! Like, for example, how they are trying to get away from calling them African Wild Dogs because its harsher sounding.
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After the dogs it was time for the safari portion of the trek
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Ok this is taking me longer than I expected so that its for tonight 😁

Next up: more Trek
 

BrerWayne

Well-Known Member
Megan, what do you mean they check all of the crocs at the same time for aggression reasons? Do they sedate them all? I think it would be tough starting a Propofol drip on one of those monsters!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That is really close to the hippos!

They look much closer in the photos than they actually were :)

Megan, what do you mean they check all of the crocs at the same time for aggression reasons? Do they sedate them all? I think it would be tough starting a Propofol drip on one of those monsters!

They can not leave several behind because they will become too territorial and not let the others back in
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I feel like those hippos have been neglecting their oral hygiene, someone needs a good brushing!

They actually talked about their dental hygiene! They clean their teeth all the time and the fish do as well :hilarious: I remember it distinctly because my Mom is a dental hygienist and she was saying she could clean their teeth - it takes so long it would be like one patient a day!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 3 continued
We made it to the little dining area after the elephants. They have binoculars - I used them to watch the people on the safari trucks if I'm being honest :hilarious:
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You get a small meal/snack that includes berry yogurt topped with granola, fruit salad, brie with dried apricots, sticky fig and almond cake, prosciutto, pitas, and a salmon. We did not eat a ton because we had lunch plans but everything was pretty good (especially the yogurt for some reason). There was also plenty of POG juice!
After our snack we got back on the safari vehicle
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And sadly our experience came to an end....our lovely guides:
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We had a fantastic time! My Mom who was not sure about it at all ended up loving it and my Dad loved it too :)
The price is high but in my opinion there is nothing else like it at Disney so it is worth it! It was my second time doing it but I still thought it was great - you learn new things and the animals are obviously unpredictable so it felt like a brand new experience to me :)

Next up: lunch!
 

NessNewt

Well-Known Member
Day 3 continued
We made it to the little dining area after the elephants. They have binoculars - I used them to watch the people on the safari trucks if I'm being honest :hilarious:
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You get a small meal/snack that includes berry yogurt topped with granola, fruit salad, brie with dried apricots, sticky fig and almond cake, prosciutto, pitas, and a salmon. We did not eat a ton because we had lunch plans but everything was pretty good (especially the yogurt for some reason). There was also plenty of POG juice!
After our snack we got back on the safari vehicle
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And sadly our experience came to an end....our lovely guides:
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We had a fantastic time! My Mom who was not sure about it at all ended up loving it and my Dad loved it too :)
The price is high but in my opinion there is nothing else like it at Disney so it is worth it! It was my second time doing it but I still thought it was great - you learn new things and the animals are obviously unpredictable so it felt like a brand new experience to me :)

Next up: lunch!

Asante sana for sharing this experience! ;) It looks amazing.
 

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