Trip Report Ice cream, BTMRR challenge and a Magical time .....Completed

Hi and welcome.

I’ve been home from our trip a week now and the cold, wet UK weather is depressing me so I’m going to get this TR started.

For those of you who have joined me before you’ll know I’m a bit mad on Disney - like everyone here I know but I literally just can’t get enough and really absorb every second of my time in the world. I also insist on ice cream every day when on holiday so expect ice cream photos along the way.

So the details.....

Myself and my husband Chris

This was our 23rd visit to the world with all stays being 14 days or more with the exception of our special bonus March trip this year. It had been 229 days since I stepped out of the world and I was so ready to go back.

We left on the UK on 7th November and were scheduled to leave America on 21st November - (more on that Later as there were a few bumps along the way)

We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside (home) - all trips to Disney except my extra March trip have been here. I love Riverside, it’s just so peaceful after hectic days in the park and it had been a whole year since I had been here.

Isn’t it beautiful?

And as for the rest of the TR title those of you who follow @Tuvalu TR’s will know she tags me in the BTMRR pictures. We both have a love for the ride and I curiously asked her how many times in a year she thinks she rides. So we’ve been counting and having a friendly challenge even though I thought I would never stand a change of winning it’s going to be fun to see how it turns out.

I managed to get an additional trip in this year during March and ended that trip on 7 rides (so maybe there was hope for me to win). @Tuvalu is there now though and is currently on 18 rides for the year........ So how many did I end up at?

So let’s get this started.......

 

[Tuvalu]

The log flume ride at Busch Gardens was my absolute fave when I was a young girl!
Memories........

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Sorry you had a cold while there! I got severe hives 4 days ago and went to the doctor and got a Prednisone pak and other meds.
I am finally free from the itchy, red welts! Whew, just in time - 4 days to go
Hope your cold got better for the rest of your visit!

 

[Longers]

The log flume ride at Busch Gardens was my absolute fave when I was a young girl!
Memories........

The first year we went I loved the tidal wave - very basic ride but you walked off drenched.
It wasn’t there though - much to Chris’s relief although feeling like I did I didn’t want to get wet anyway.

Sorry you had a cold while there! I got severe hives 4 days ago and went to the doctor and got a Prednisone pak and other meds.
I am finally free from the itchy, red welts! Whew, just in time - 4 days to go
Hope your cold got better for the rest of your visit!

Thank goodness you are feeling better - can’t believe your trip is so close now - have the best time.

 

[Longers]

Saturday 10th Nov - cont.....

We got off the train and headed towards the hippos. On a trip one year we spent a whole hour here so I think Chris was hoping for a quicker visit

But......

This hippos was putting on quite a show and had quite an audience.
He was trying to chase the birds that were trying to share his water and he was running up and down the bank and then diving into the water. It was fun to watch and certainly kept everyone amused.

And he was even kind enough to stop for a close up picture

I don’t know why but I like hippos - it’s a strange thing to like and they are pretty strange but I enjoyed my time here and only once the hippo settled did we move on.

 

[Rista1313]

Saturday 10th Nov - cont.....

We got off the train and headed towards the hippos. On a trip one year we spent a whole hour here so I think Chris was hoping for a quicker visit

But......

This hippos was putting on quite a show and had quite an audience.
He was trying to chase the birds that were trying to share his water and he was running up and down the bank and then diving into the water. It was fun to watch and certainly kept everyone amused.

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And he was even kind enough to stop for a close up picture

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I don’t know why but I like hippos - it’s a strange thing to like and they are pretty strange but I enjoyed my time here and only once the hippo settled did we move on.

I don't think I've ever seen a hippo move. Everytime I see them, they are just floating in water napping like a log.

 

[Longers]

Chris got a few more rides in and we started to head towards the exit but there was a cheetah demonstration just starting and we were promised the opportunity to see a cheetah run. We couldn’t miss that.

The enclosure didn’t look big enough for the speeds they were promising but that cheetah did run and it was such an awesome experience to see. Those animals are true hunters and beautiful. We were in awe at what we saw.

It was a training exercise for them where they mimic hunting with them. It’s something I remember from our day at Busch....

We left the park and headed home

Only we weren’t going home!
My day had been full of cold and I felt rough but I was on my holiday and I wasn’t stopping!

We stopped at Wallmart on the way back to Disney and I drank the medicine from the bottle whilst in the car and we drove that car straight to the Magic Kingdom.....(well the parking lot).

I still have to go to Disney even when I go somewhere else in the day and we had FP to use.

we rode Pirates, BTMRR and 7DMT FPasses and then I decided on a coke float to help me feel better (great excuse not that I need one!)

The park was busy so we left to get back before HEA - we got back to the room at 9.15pm and I think I pretty much flaked out in bed hoping to feel better in the morning.

I’m convinced I have got ill this year on both holidays as it’s been such a busy year at work I haven’t stopped. I started to wind down and bam it hit me - there’s a lesson there don’t work so hard next year!

 

[Longers]

I don't think I've ever seen a hippo move. Everytime I see them, they are just floating in water napping like a log.

It was so cool ....

 

[Rista1313]

Chris got a few more rides in and we started to head towards the exit but there was a cheetah demonstration just starting and we were promised the opportunity to see a cheetah run. We couldn’t miss that.

The enclosure didn’t look big enough for the speeds they were promising but that cheetah did run and it was such an awesome experience to see. Those animals are true hunters and beautiful. We were in awe at what we saw.

It was a training exercise for them where they mimic hunting with them. It’s something I remember from our day at Busch....

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We left the park and headed home

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Only we weren’t going home!
My day had been full of cold and I felt rough but I was on my holiday and I wasn’t stopping!

We stopped at Wallmart on the way back to Disney and I drank the medicine from the bottle whilst in the car and we drove that car straight to the Magic Kingdom.....(well the parking lot).

I still have to go to Disney even when I go somewhere else in the day and we had FP to use.

we rode Pirates, BTMRR and 7DMT FPasses and then I decided on a coke float to help me feel better (great excuse not that I need one!)

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The park was busy so we left to get back before HEA - we got back to the room at 9.15pm and I think I pretty much flaked out in bed hoping to feel better in the morning.

I’m convinced I have got ill this year on both holidays as it’s been such a busy year at work I haven’t stopped. I started to wind down and bam it hit me - there’s a lesson there don’t work so hard next year!

Well that and you were stuck in a big tube flying over the ocean with 150+ people recycling air.
3 weeks later and I'm still trying to fend off the cold I got from the airplane.

 

[LeighM]

I have a love/hate relationship with The Weather Channel. They are good at summer storms but horrible at predicting winter storms in my area. I'll never forget the time they called for 1-3 inches of snow and did not budge. Even the local meteorologists finally gave in with a higher snow amount. But here I am watching the TWC calling for a maximum 3 inches while I had already shoveled 10 inches of snow with more of the white stuff still falling LOL.

 

[fractal]

Good work on the pics of SM drop and of Chris on Kumba (a really fun coaster).

So you actually did a Busch Gardens to Magic Kingdom "park hop" - pretty cool!

 

[susan lees]

Really enjoying your report. We were there 5th to 15th Nov and must have crossed paths at some point (we were staying at FQ) so reliving our trip too. Thank you

 

[disneypearl]

I’m enjoying following along on your report. I always enjoy reading about your trips & was happy to have found your latest! I hope that you were able to get rid of your cold quickly.

 

[amjt660]

The active hippos look lime such fun to watch

As @fractal said - I think you did the ultimate park hop on that day

Further distance than USF for sure

Max

 

[Tiggertoo56]

This is in response to Susan Lee's- having issues with replying at present:
I'm pretty sure that I saw @Longers at Riverside one evening and more than likely crossed your path as I was at FQ until 15th to for an amazing 3 week trip. So love reading all the trip reports to get me through my Disney blues.

 

[MinnieM123]

I'm surprised at how close the trainer was to the cheetah. Never seen that before. Interesting photos . . .

 

[susan lees]

This is in response to Susan Lee's- having issues with replying at present:
I'm pretty sure that I saw @Longers at Riverside one evening and more than likely crossed your path as I was at FQ until 15th to for an amazing 3 week trip. So love reading all the trip reports to get me through my Disney blues.

We probably did. Might even have been at airport at same time on 15th. We were flying back to Manchester and our son and daughter were flying back to gatwick. Hope you had a great trip.
We've booked again for next November but staying offsite this time to save some pennies lol.

 

[Tiggertoo56]

We probably did. Might even have been at airport at same time on 15th. We were flying back to Manchester and our son and daughter were flying back to gatwick. Hope you had a great trip.
We've booked again for next November but staying offsite this time to save some pennies lol.

We had a fantastic time, knowing that we may not be back for at least 3 years, we made the most of it. Probably were at the airport the same time - flew back to a very cool Gatwick. Hope you're looking forward to your next trip.

 

[Longers]

Well that and you were stuck in a big tube flying over the ocean with 150+ people recycling air.
3 weeks later and I'm still trying to fend off the cold I got from the airplane.

Over 400 people on our flight so that probably didn’t help!

I have a love/hate relationship with The Weather Channel. They are good at summer storms but horrible at predicting winter storms in my area. I'll never forget the time they called for 1-3 inches of snow and did not budge. Even the local meteorologists finally gave in with a higher snow amount. But here I am watching the TWC calling for a maximum 3 inches while I had already shoveled 10 inches of snow with more of the white stuff still falling LOL.

Oh my! - I guess as a tourist I just find it amusing how much time is dedicated to the weather.

Good work on the pics of SM drop and of Chris on Kumba (a really fun coaster).

So you actually did a Busch Gardens to Magic Kingdom "park hop" - pretty cool!

Coming from you I’m taking that as a win on the photo front - thank you
I’ve never riden Kumba but Chris enjoyed it
We’re pretty good on park hopping non Disney parks for Disney ones - have to get the daily fix no matter what!

Really enjoying your report. We were there 5th to 15th Nov and must have crossed paths at some point (we were staying at FQ) so reliving our trip too. Thank you

Thank you - I hope you don’t see yourself in any photos as that would be a shame we didn’t say hello. Hope you enjoyed your trip

 

[Longers]

I’m enjoying following along on your report. I always enjoy reading about your trips & was happy to have found your latest! I hope that you were able to get rid of your cold quickly.

Thank you for your kind comments. The cold lingered just a couple of days after I started taking the medicine

The active hippos look lime such fun to watch

As @fractal said - I think you did the ultimate park hop on that day

Further distance than USF for sure

Max

That hippo had everyone ooohhhing and ahhhing. He certainly had everyone interested and engaged. That’s one showman right there.
We were pretty impressed with this park hop!

I'm surprised at how close the trainer was to the cheetah. Never seen that before. Interesting photos . . .

Good point! - That thought didn’t even come into my mind as I guess we were all too interested in watching a cheetah run - maybe that’s all the cheetah was thinking about too.
Bit scary when I think about it now.

 

[Longers]

Sunday 11th Nov

I woke this morning still not feeling great but I certainly felt better following my dose of American medicine - it’s certainly better than UK cold medicines.

We woke and headed out - later than usual for us and were caught in traffic trying to get to AK (that’s never happened before).

We arrived around 9.20am and headed straight to EE for our FP.

We enjoyed our ride as normal - I can’t believe for years I never went on this ride - I love it!)

Then we decided to head round again via the single rider line.
Here comes Chris

EE fix done we headed to see the tigers to see how they had grown since our March visit - it sure if this was the baby or not as there was no one to ask.

We then headed to dinosaur - several of our every day sayings come from this ride and make us chuckle and keep the memories alive.

We then went in search of food, we ate and then enjoyed a leisurely stroll enjoying the park