Trip Report Mele Kalikimaka WDW Adventure 2015-COMPLETED

Aloha! My name is Len and this is my first trip report here in a forum. I've been an avid Disney park fan for most of my life, but have never visited any of the locations during the Christmas season. My wife and I, along with some friends, were finally able to rectify that this past year. Come along as you take the journey with us from Hawaii to far off Orlando. I'll be stopping off for a bit at Universal Studios first to take a look at the Harry Potter attractions. If you stick with me, I promise we'll get to Walt Disney World in good time. Before I begin, I wanted to share with you one of my first photos from the Magic Kingdom after closing...

 

[fractal]

After we had finished up at Gaston's, we made our way to Splash Mountain for our fast pass ride. For the first two days at Orlando, we were blessed to have beautiful weather. Sunny but breezy during the day and pleasantly cool in the evenings. I had packed a couple of jeans and long sleeved wear, but cargo shorts and t-shirts were my choice of dress for the majority of the trip. After stopping to take a photo of the exterior, we headed inside for one of my favorite rides.

Splash Mountain Exterior 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Splash Mountain Ride Interiors 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Splash Mountain Ride Interiors 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Splash Mountain Ride Interiors 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Our last fast pass was the much anticipated Seven Dwarves Mine Train. It's a fun ride, not on the level of Big Thunder Mountain, but enjoyable enough. The scenes of the dwarves are well done, although very short. I actually like the ending the best with a peek into Snow White's cottage. I was lucky enough to be in the front cart for two of the four times, so I had a chance to take some decent shots of the Old Hag.

Seven Dwarves Mine Train Ride Outside View by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train Mine Scene 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train Mine Scene 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train White Old Hag (Daytime) by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Seven Dwarves Mine Train White Old Hag (Nighttime) by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

More great pics! Really like the wide angle Splash/steamboat.

 

[Mindy16]

Wow, your photos - They're all amazing!!

Sounds like you're have a great trip, thanks for sharing!

 

[Figment Forever]

Enjoying your TR - your pictures are truly amazing!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

More great pics! Really like the wide angle Splash/steamboat.

That's my favorite scene of the ride! Something about it always makes me feel happy...LOL!

Wow, your photos - They're all amazing!!

Sounds like you're have a great trip, thanks for sharing!

Thanks Mindy16! I'm glad you took a look...not sure if anyone reads these things at times.

Enjoying your TR - your pictures are truly amazing!

Thanks Figment Forever. Hope to finish this thing in a timely manner!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Tuesday morning was earmarked for Animal Kingdom. Our last visit there was in 2004 when Expedition Everest was just a metal frame skeleton. Sue and I had done the park in about a half day and didn't go back for the rest of our WDW stay. While I enjoyed the live animal exhibits, I really do prefer seeing Imagineer ingenuity in action, so the animals, while nice, didn't really hold my attention. I figured a 1/2 day today and another park split later in the week would be more than sufficient. Boy, was I wrong! For some reason, my wife and I fell in love with AK and ended up rerouting our plans to spend more time in this beautiful park. And it wasn't just the addition of Everest that made the park so fun, it was Harambe Market, DiVine, the food, and just the overall feel of the park. My biggest disappointment was not being able to photograph this park at night. We just could not fit it into our plans. I'm hoping to get back once Avatarland opens and AK runs well into dark.

The Christmas tree at the entrance is my favorite in all of WDW. The tree in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge is more of a jaw dropping variety that is hard to beat spectacle wise. But there's something about the African inspired ornaments of the AK tree that is so beautiful. The mesh of colors and design come together perfectly for me.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Christmas Tree Detail 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Entrance Sign by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr


Disney's Animal Kingdom Box Office by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Tree of Life may also be my favorite park icon in WDW! I haven't been able to photograph it yet at night, but I'm sure that would be a game clincher. As of right now, Sleeping Beauty castle and it are too close to call. We didn't do "A Bug's Life" since we saw it back in 2004. Again, another regret, as I remember the corridor to the show had some beautifully carved animals in the walls. I'm also sure I would have gotten some closer angles and views of the tree. Nonetheless, the park icon is super photogenic and its hard to get a bad shot...

Tree of Life @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Tree of Life @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Tree of Life @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue & Len @ Tree of Life In Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Tree of Life @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After entering the park, the first thing I did was look for DiVine. I had seen photos of her in some of the Disney photography forums prior to our trip. I don't recall her appearing back in 2004, so this was all new to me. From what I learned, DiVine seems to appear 45 minutes to an hour after the park opens and she is usually near the beginning of the walkway to Africa. I encountered her on two separate occasions, so the photos are of 2 different actresses portraying this whimsical muse (whimsical muse...LOL..I could only write that on a Disney blog). It's almost as fun to watch others get startled when DiVine begins to move among the plants as she blends so well into the background. Her motions are almost hypnotic as she moves with the grace of a dancer, but is walking on stilts. This juxtaposition of opposing actions makes it hard to turn away from her until she leaves at the end of a performance. I can hear Biff saying "Why don't you make like a tree and get outta here!"...hah!

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot Two 11 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot Two 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot Two 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot Two 10 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot One 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot One 07 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot One 14 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot One 10 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

DiVine @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Shoot One 16 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Your Animal Kingdom pictures. No words. My absolute favorite park, you captured it's essence.

 

[prfctlyximprct]

Oh! And would you recommend Cali Grill??

 

[MinnieM123]

WOW! Those are the BEST pictures I have ever seen of DiVine! Because she blends in so well with the foliage, it's hard to get a decent photo, but you managed to get some really clear pictures. (I'm also glad that you put some sort of copyright? indication on the bottom of all your photos, because that way, no one can "borrow" your pictures and pretend that they took the photos, themselves!)

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

Your Animal Kingdom pictures. No words. My absolute favorite park, you captured it's essence.

Thanks @prfctlyximprct...AK truly is an amazing place!

Oh! And would you recommend Cali Grill??

Absolutely @prfctlyximprct ! It is on the pricey side, but the food was incredible. It was the one restaurant we were seriously considering booking again during our stay at WDW.

WOW! Those are the BEST pictures I have ever seen of DiVine! Because she blends in so well with the foliage, it's hard to get a decent photo, but you managed to get some really clear pictures. (I'm also glad that you put some sort of copyright? indication on the bottom of all your photos, because that way, no one can "borrow" your pictures and pretend that they took the photos, themselves!)

One thing about DiVine is she purposely moves slow, so it's easy to focus. The copyright on the bottom is there more for dating purposes. My photography instructor recommended doing this, although it does little to protect images online (easy to crop off the name). I see some images where people place a huge watermark in the middle of the photo, but it really distracts from the viewing enjoyment (for me anyway).

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

I spent a good 10-15 minutes taking photos of DiVine, so we had to make our way quickly to Expedition Everest for our fast pass. While I love the little to no wait in line for rides, not being able to enjoy and study the queue details put in by the Imagineers is a bummer! I would almost prefer to wait in line (as long as it's not overly long) so I can take a few photos and soak in the immersive atmosphere. It always helps to build up the anticipation and mood of the actual ride. I did still snap a few pics, but it was hilarious trying to focus and keep up with my wife at the same time. I really am the poster child for the clueless tourist with a camera in tow.

Expedition Everest Landscape @ DIsney's Animal Kingdom 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom 10 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom 12 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Respect the Power of the Yeti @ Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Expedition Everest Queue Details @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 012 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Loading Dock @ Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Expedition Everest did not disappoint from a thrill ride stand point, but the fact that Disney is unable to get the Yeti working full-time was big let down. The silhouetted shadow reminds me of Ursula's appearance in The Little Mermaid dark ride. Underwhelming finale for a massive build up. With all the hikes in park passes/tickets, there's no reason this should be happening. The end result is a picture of a Yeti shadow puppet... :laugh: ...don't be too scared and in awe now!

The Road to Expedition Everest @ Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Expedition Everest Cave Art by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Shadow of the Yeti @ Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Expedition Everest @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After exiting Expedition, we did a bit of shopping in the area. Thanks to my constant photo taking obsession, I rarely had a chance to shop, let alone buy anything. I did find a pull over long sleeved jacket with some cool Expedition Everest patches. It cost around $60.00 and already has a small hole on one of the sleeves...LOL! I asked Sue if she could sew it, and she said to throw it out...YIKES! We had an hour or so before our Festival of the Lion King fast passes, so we decided to check out more of the shops and Christmas decorations. Again, I really think the unique African designs and colors added a zing to the holiday trappings that can't be found anywhere else.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Portraits 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Portraits 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom 14 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Island Mercantile 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Island Mercantile 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Island Mercantile 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom 15 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom 19 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom 27 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Our stomachs began growling as much as the Bengal tigers there, so we began hunting down food. Sue found a cart that sold these teri-beef sliders. It was the size of a small doughnut and cost five bucks, but it was amazingly tasty. We went right back and ordered another along with some type of noodles. The noodles, unfortunately, were rather tasteless. Or maybe the slider just spoiled my palette with its awesomeness....

Disney's Animal Kingdom Drink Wallah Sign by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Cast Member Serves Up Refreshments @ Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sliders & Noodles @ Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After lunch, we made our way to the Harambe Theater in order to secure good seats for the show. Sue made a stop at one of the kiosks to try out her first official Disney hat at WDW (another pic for the "Mad Suehatter" album). I think it's suppose to be a Yeti cap, although my wife is posing more like a deranged rabbit.

The Mad SueHatter 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Festival of the Lion King turns out to be a spectacular show with world class staging, costumes, props, and musical talent. I remember attending the much ballyhooed stage production when it came to Hawaii several years ago. I found that show a big disappointment as it felt like a scene for scene rehash of the film. This production is totally different with a nice mix of new and classic material. There was one particular actor dressed as a monkey (I think) who totally caught my eye. His facial expressions were comical and entertaining. Even when he wasn't in the spotlight, the guy kept putting out an energetic performance that kept me smiling. The theater itself is not too small, not too big...a perfect stage for this marvelous show.

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 06 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 07 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 11 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 09 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 05 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 12 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 14 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

The Cast of the Festival of the Lion King 08 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Goofnut1980]

WOW! just WOW... Your TR is simply amazing.. I love the pics and only wish I was as half as good as you are with taking these photos!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

WOW! just WOW... Your TR is simply amazing.. I love the pics and only wish I was as half as good as you are with taking these photos!

Thank you for the kind words Goofnut1980 (love your handle, by the way)! The photo taking is fun, but can be a pain at times. My 1st time at WDW (in 1996), I was using those disposable instamatic cameras. In 2004, I used a DSLR but in auto mode. I finally pushed myself to shoot in manual this time around...and it was a learning experience for sure!

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

We started slowly making out way back to the park entrance, even though we had barely scratched the surface of AK. Our plan was to check out Kidani Village and the Animal Kingdom main resort since we were in the general vicinity. Although we had snacked on sliders, lunch at Sanaa was also on the agenda.

Sue and I did manage to do two meet and greets before leaving the park. The first was with Pocahontas. My wife jokingly told me she'd allow me to take photos with a hot Indian princess...LOL! As an added bonus Ratcliffe showed up just as were finished up with the main character!

Pocahontas Meet & Greet @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Pocahontas Meet & Greet @ Disney's Animal Kingdom 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Governor Ratcliffe @ Pocahontas Meet & Greet 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Our next stop was the clubhouse of Dug and Russell! Let me tell you, UP is probably my favorite Pixar film (along with Monster Inc). The 1st 10 minutes of that animated gem has more emotional impact than most movies have in their entire 2 hour run. We're dog lovers so Dug immediately won our hearts. And Russell..LOL...a lot of young Japanese boys in Hawaii are exactly like him! I swear...I grew up with kids like Russell! He was my avatar on My Disney Experiences, so getting a chance to have a picture with him was too much fun!

Dug's Collar Kiosk @ Disney's Animal Kingdom by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Dug, Sue, Len, & Russell by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After reluctantly leaving AK, the first stop was Kidani Village. Not totally sure if this resort area is strictly for DVC members, but if it is, I would seriously look into purchasing after market points to stay here. This was the most relaxing and least crowded hotel on Disney property that visited. Part of it could be due to the time...a little after lunch...placing most of the guests at the parks. The lobby is much smaller and more intimate than the bigger Jambo House lobby at the main hotel. The overall ambience really put us in a relaxed mode which allowed us to take our time soaking in the atmosphere.

Christmas Garland @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village Lobby by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village Lobby 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village Lobby 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Christmas Wreath @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

With the stellar reviews that all the AK restaurants receive from guests, it was tough choosing a place. We settled on Sanaa due partly to its location and the amazing African art embellishing the restaurant.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Sanaa Interior 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Sue @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Kidani Village 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Sanaa Reservation Desk 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Sanaa Interior 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Sanaa Interior 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Another reason was a recommendation from our friend to give the Indian-style bread a try! I can't remember what three breads or which sauces we choose, but everything was ono (delicious in Hawaiian). Paired with a glass of wine and the relaxed atmosphere (there was one other group in the restaurant besides Sue and I), I daresay this was the most leisurely and longest dining experience during our entire vacation!

Bread & Wine @ Sanaa in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

African Breads & Dipping Sauces @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Sanaa by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[Juneau Biscuits]

After literally stuffing ourselves with bread, we moseyed (not sure if that is a real word) on over to the Jambo Main House. We had stayed here a couple of nights back in 2004, so I was looking forward to seeing it again. Not much has changed...still as breathtakingly beautiful as ever. I told Sue if we ever return, we'll have to stay a couple of nights. This is our 2nd favorite Disney resort after The Wilderness Lodge. Again, the African theming and application of the culture and arts really imbues the resort with a strong sense of heritage and class.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Main Lobby 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Main Lobby 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Main Lobby 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Front Desk @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Prestige Gown (worn only by males of the king) Display @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Victoria Falls Lounge @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Map Signage @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Zawadi Marketplace @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge 02 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Zawadi Marketplace @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge 01 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Zawadi Marketplace @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge 03 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

Zawadi Marketplace @ Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge 04 by Juneau Biscuits, on Flickr

 

[MinnieM123]

AKL is gorgeous, and I agree that AKL and WL are the two most beautiful resorts now at WDW. Haven't stayed at either one for about 5 years (due to price), but they are my top two dream resorts. Your interior photos are incredible!