Lodge-hopping... from the Pacific Northwest to an African Savannah: A July 2009 TR!

Last week we returned from our summer Disney fix so it’s time again for another monster trip report!! This one is sure to dwarf my previous reports in sheer size alone considering it was a 9 night/10 day stay at WDW and all our past trips have ranged from 3-5 night stays. I must say it’s a bit daunting, but I took detailed notes and am ready to relive our adventures (and possibly bore you with all the details)!!

The cast includes myself, Holly; the birthday boy, Brett; his parents, Kathy and Danny; and brother, Derek. Here’s one of the few pictures I have of us all from our December 2008 trip:

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The planning stages of this trip went through many variations. So let’s start at the beginning… ever since the “Celebrate” theme was released I wanted to plan a trip for Brett’s birthday. We started putting it into action sometime in early April and not long after we settled on dates and made reservations, Brett’s parents invited us to join them on their summer trip to the Wilderness Lodge Villas. It just so happened to be close to the dates we were already looking at, so we talked about it and decided if we budgeted right we could do a super trip. Woohoo for super trips :sohappy:.

We changed our dates slightly to line up with theirs, and then I cancelled our ADRs and made some new ones. Since we were on a budget we decided a value resort was a must (and we should forego signature dining)… no ifs, ands or buts about it. Or at least that’s what Brett thought… I, however, had other plans! I got it into my head that it would be so cool to surprise him with a deluxe resort so we wouldn’t, you know, be slumming when we left the WL :lol:. Once I had my mind set I practically took up a vigil waiting for the AP resort rates to be released. And when they were I snagged a pool view room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for our four night stay! Oh yeah… and we couldn’t possibly celebrate his birthday without some wine and signature dining so I made reservations for Jiko!

To make a long story even longer, Brett called me at work one day and told me his parents had to make a slight change to their dates, which meant we would either have to do the same or lose some days of “our” trip. I was freaking out (and couldn’t tell him) because I just knew the AP rate would no longer be available… and it wasn’t. So I started calling once or twice a day, every day. I can still recite the confirmation number! I was in luck though, because after three weeks of calling the AP rate magically reappeared!!! I guess I’m sharing all this basically to say sometimes it pays to be persistent. Let me just tell you… keeping this secret nearly killed me, but it was totally worth it!

Okay, so now that we've gotten all of that out of the way… let us finally begin.
 

PotteryGal

Active Member
Day 8, Saturday, July 18: Animal Kingdom/Epcot

Saturday morning we woke up early again and ran down to Mara for some breakfast. I love the muffins at Sunshine Seasons so I figured they’d be the same at the Mara… not so much. My blueberry muffin was sans blueberries. :rolleyes:

We decided to utilize the extra magic hour at the Animal Kingdom and were there bright and early. Not wanting to wait for a tram, we took off walking to the entrance from the parking lot and a parking CM in a golf cart rolled up to us and asked if we’d like a ride. Ummm… sure. Now kids, don’t get any ideas… in the real world you don’t accept rides from strangers!! We chatted a bit with him as he took us to the front and then he handed us a Magical Moments certificate and two “Honorary Citizens of WDW” buttons for us to wear throughout the day. I love how Disney does little things like this. While it was fun for us, I think it’s just as much fun for the CMs to have some freedom in providing pixie dust for guests. Kind of like the gentleman who gave Brett a free funnel cake. It’s a nice touch.

Then when we got in line to enter the park another CM came by and handed us fastpasses for one of the Festival of the Lion King shows! Woohoo Disney magic. After the opening show we followed the truck towards Africa. Nothing like a safari to start off the day. The animals didn’t think so. We didn’t see many, and the ones we did see weren’t in the mood to turn around and pose for us:

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Yeah, what's with the 'talk to the butt' pose? We got one of them too:
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Maybe it's the same one, haha! Anyway, your trip to AK sounds like the one I would have liked to have had...I just can't get my kids as into this park as I am.
 

mouselvrmom

Well-Known Member
That is unbelievable that you got picked again! How awesome!! :sohappy: I think your pictures are even better from your vantage point than if you had actually been watching the parade, this way it's more authentic! :D And how funny that all the CMs were talking about you! You must have really been having fun. :lol: Maybe about as much fun as you were having in that dinocar when you were clothesless... :eek: :lol:
 
Loving the trip report HollyBelle!!

You two sure do have luck with the Animal Kingdom parade!! :ROFLOL:

I myself just got back from a week long trip to the world and your report has inspired me to try my hand at my very first report... we will see how that goes! :eek:

Cant wait for the conclusion of yours!!
 

foreverbelle

Well-Known Member
I agree how did you get to be so lucky that you got picked not once but twice. I say you have some amazing pixie dust my friend. Awesome report and all. Loving it as usual.
 

sweetpee_1993

Well-Known Member
I love your nekkid in the car picture! That's so funny! :lol: I remember seeing somewhere a good while back maybe in a picture thread where 2 chicks took pics all over the place at the MK and appeared to only have towels wrapped around them. They had on strapless tops and carried the white towels around to do the pics. It was so funny to see.

Your pics of Samawati Springs have me absolutely giddy! I can't wait for our trip to AKL! I told the hubby if something happens to this trip I'll officially be crushed. :lookaroun So now I think we owe it to ourselves to do some actual swimming on our next trip. We never seem to get around to it...

Picked for the parade..twice?! Watch out for lightning girl! Go buy a lottery ticket! That's awesome! I think you guys just have that aura about you. Truly. It's Disney magic at it's finest. How could the CMs not pick you?

We've never done the Kim Possible challenge. I don't think I've even watched that show ((my boys are more into the latest & greatest from the UFC...:cry:)). It looks like fun. I love how Brett does the dramatic pictures. He's so expressive you can't help but get it. You know?

I can't wait for more! Yaaaaayyyyy! I love your TRs!!!!
 

disneygirl1

Well-Known Member
Geese Holly, you are just too lucky! LOL!!! I can not believe you got picked twice!! That is so awesome!! DS would be in all his glory just to be picked once!!!
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Love you Ak pictures! I don't particularly care for Kali Rapids either. Probably because I don't really like to get wet!

Thanks, Jenn. As I type this you're probably on your way to the World!! While I don't mind Splash Mountain levels of wet, the complete and totalness of being drenched on Kali is just too much.

I can't believe you were picked again!! That is so awesome!!:sohappy:

You do look a little nekkid in the car!:eek:

Me either, Tammy. And when I was looking through my pictures I did a double take on the car one!

Yeah, what's with the 'talk to the butt' pose? We got one of them too:
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Maybe it's the same one, haha! Anyway, your trip to AK sounds like the one I would have liked to have had...I just can't get my kids as into this park as I am.

That's funny! The safari vehicles go through there so much I guess it hardly causes them to stir. Maybe the kiddos will gain greater appreciation for AK as they get older. I know I love this park!

That is unbelievable that you got picked again! How awesome!! :sohappy: I think your pictures are even better from your vantage point than if you had actually been watching the parade, this way it's more authentic! And how funny that all the CMs were talking about you! You must have really been having fun. :lol: Maybe about as much fun as you were having in that dinocar when you were clothesless... :eek: :lol:

Yeah... only there were less spectators when we were in the dino car! :lol:

Loving the trip report HollyBelle!!

You two sure do have luck with the Animal Kingdom parade!!

I myself just got back from a week long trip to the world and your report has inspired me to try my hand at my very first report... we will see how that goes! :eek:

Cant wait for the conclusion of yours!!

Yay.... I'm so glad you'll be posting a report soon! I can't wait to read it. I've only got two days left, so we're almost there.

Amazing! Twice. Once seem fab, but twice is too ta ta for words!

I know right... I'm curious on what those odds actually are. I will say, for those of you wanting to get in the parade, your best bet is to be around the safari entrance area 30 minutes or so before it's set to start. This way your at least in their sights if they need to find any last minute families. I mean, the day we were there they needed two, so who knows!

I agree how did you get to be so lucky that you got picked not once but twice. I say you have some amazing pixie dust my friend. Awesome report and all. Loving it as usual.

Thanks, foreverbelle. Disney luck... it's been on our side for quite some time with the parades and YOAMD, which is kind of funny becuase outside of Disney, neither one of us has that kind of luck.
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I love your nekkid in the car picture! That's so funny! :lol: I remember seeing somewhere a good while back maybe in a picture thread where 2 chicks took pics all over the place at the MK and appeared to only have towels wrapped around them. They had on strapless tops and carried the white towels around to do the pics. It was so funny to see.

Your pics of Samawati Springs have me absolutely giddy! I can't wait for our trip to AKL! I told the hubby if something happens to this trip I'll officially be crushed. :lookaroun So now I think we owe it to ourselves to do some actual swimming on our next trip. We never seem to get around to it...

Picked for the parade..twice?! Watch out for lightning girl! Go buy a lottery ticket! That's awesome! I think you guys just have that aura about you. Truly. It's Disney magic at it's finest. How could the CMs not pick you?

We've never done the Kim Possible challenge. I don't think I've even watched that show ((my boys are more into the latest & greatest from the UFC...:cry:)). It looks like fun. I love how Brett does the dramatic pictures. He's so expressive you can't help but get it. You know?

I can't wait for more! Yaaaaayyyyy! I love your TRs!!!!

While I don't know about having an aura, I'm pretty sure they only pick peope who at least appear to be having some fun. And we've got that down! I doubt they'd approach a bickering couple to join the parade. :lol: How funny would that be though, to see a couple giving each other the cold shoulder as they wave to the crowd.

The idea of the towel pictures is funny... I'll have to search for those. As for Kim Possible you should definitely give it a go. You don't have to be familiar with the show to enjoy it and I think the boys will appreciate it because there's really nothing girly about it.

As for the funny face pictures, they are some of the best ones... I love that he gets all expressive with them. I noticed you guys do quite a bit of it as well! They tend to be some of my favorites.

Geese Holly, you are just too lucky! LOL!!! I can not believe you got picked twice!! That is so awesome!! DS would be in all his glory just to be picked once!!!

We couldn't believe it either. I really did feel a bit guilty at first. But I'll be honest, I let it go pretty quickly.

I love this picture, I love all the flags!! My kids love KRR, probably because it is mild and the getting wet part is wild for them!


Yum Yum Yum!! I could seriously go for some Nine Dragons about now!

I can't believe you guys got chosen again!! Awesome!!

Mmmm Nine Dragons, not today... today my lunch consists of cheez-its and a diet dr. pepper! Oh how I miss World Showcase. I, too, love the flags. I love to look up when we're at Disney. They do so much when it comes to theming the areas out of our reach!

wow, how lucky you two are to get picked twice!!!!!!! congrats. you write such great reports.

Thanks, eagles. Yeah... I'm still a little shocked by it.
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
After our rise to stardom :lookaroun :lol: we made our way back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge to relax a little and enjoy the resort before dinner. We got ready and went out to Arusha Rock to watch the animals for awhile. I think it’s great that there’s always a guide available to talk with guests and answer any questions we might have.

I thoroughly enjoyed just soaking up the magic at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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I spy a hidden mickey:

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HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We eventually went back inside after awhile and checked in at Jiko for our 7pm reservations!

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After about five minutes they led us to our table; a two-top next to the windows. Beautiful! Not long after we were seated one of the hostesses came back with a birthday card and button for Brett! He’d forgotten to wear his, but this was one of the two meals (Cape May breakfast being the other one) I actually had it marked on the reservation. While the cards are all generic on the outside, I’m really impressed with the level of attention paid to the inside. I can’t imagine how many of these they have to sign each day.

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The card, with all its different dialects, inevitably landed us in a conversation about the authenticity of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. There’s just something special about the CMs working there and the full and total immersion of the resort. It’s definitely one of my favorites! I can’t remember our server’s name, but he was from Morocco and took wonderful care of us throughout the entire meal.

First up… the wine list, or rather book! Jiko is home to the largest assortment of South African wines in any restaurant outside of South Africa, itself. Decisions! Decisions! I went with the pinotage, which is a grape cultivated in South Africa and I can’t remember what Brett ordered. I do know we were both quite satisfied with our choices:

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The Birthday Boy… notice the new birthday button:

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HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
We’re HUGE fans of the filet with mac-n-cheese, but seeing as how we’d never tried anything else at Jiko before, we felt we ought to mix it up and try at least one new dish. So Brett ordered the filet and I ordered the Chermoula chicken with goat cheese potatoes and preserved lemons. Let me just say… those preserved lemons made the dish! Every time I bit into a little piece the flavors popped. And the filet didn’t disappoint. It’s still the absolute best piece of steak on property. I could eat bowls of the mac-n-cheese in that red wine sauce! My mouth waters just thinking about it.

Bread basket:

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Chermoula Tanglewood Chicken (the broth was actually poured over it tableside):

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To Die for Oak-Grilled Filet with mac-n-cheese:

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Before we knew it our server was back with a mini crème brulee for Brett! And even better… he brought out a telephone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker; he told Brett someone wanted to talk to him. It was Goofy! The Goof actually sang Happy Birthday. We were so excited and surprised. I mean, Jiko isn’t the type of establishment one would expect such character magic!

Mini Crème Brulee:

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And the check came with some tasty little cookies… no doubt an attempt to distract me from the total at the bottom of the bill!

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The hostesses were so sweet, they offered to take our picture as we were leaving.

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Overall, Jiko still ranks at the top of our dining list, along with the Flying Fish and a few of the other signature restaurants.
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
After dinner we decided to head over to the Sunset Savannah overlook and enjoy the view towards Kidani. I could just stand and watch the animals forever… next time maybe we’ll splurge on a savannah view.

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We walked around enjoying the lobby and lodge before heading over to Downtown Disney.

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I spy another hidden mickey:

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Downtown Disney was packed and ironically enough, Pleasure Island was wall-to-wall people. While there weren’t any clubs to go in, the common area out in front of the Comedy Warehouse had a DJ and was absolutely insane. It took us forever to get through and get over to the Westside area. It boggles my mind that they’re having DJ parties at PI when PI is technically closed and gone forever. :shrug:

Westside was also crawling with people; I’m guessing the fact that it was a Saturday had something to do with all of this. The line for Characters in Flight looked really long. I don’t know how long it takes or how many people go up at a time, but it looked like people were having to wait through multiple balloon trips until their turn. I don’t know, I guess I still don’t think it’s worth the $16 a person. After walking from one side of DTD to the other, we headed back to the car and our resort. After all, the next day was a big day… Birthday day!!

Next up: Four Parks, One Birthday!
 

Disneyfalcon

Well-Known Member
Okay, you convinced me, I have to try Jiko!! Now, let me assure you, the savannah view is worth every penny!! My kids sat on the balcony forever!! Next time, I will too!
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm enjoying this trip report so much I'm going to be sad when it's over!

Thanks, corey! It usually makes me sad when I come to the end as I'm writing them, but I will say this one has been so long I'm kind of looking forward to the end point. :D
 

HollyBelle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Okay, you convinced me, I have to try Jiko!! Now, let me assure you, the savannah view is worth every penny!! My kids sat on the balcony forever!! Next time, I will too!

Oops... missed your post! I'm hoping we'll get to try a savannah view room on one of our Christmas trips with Brett's parents. Not having to pay OOP for it would be a nice little bonus. :D And yes, you ABSOLUTELY have to try Jiko. The staff there is amazing. And I could go on and on about that perfect piece of filet mignon, and really the chicken was amazing too. :slurp: No complaints here!
 

disneygirl1

Well-Known Member
Loving the update Holl!! Man I really want to go to Jiko now, it was never on my list of places to try b/c I am a picky eater, but I think I would like that Filet and mac n cheese!!!
 

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