Trip Report Our "It's 'Disney' real" June 2016 trip

We're back!! We had a fantastic time with some not so fantastic moments thrown in, but what trip doesn't have those!

For those of you that haven't read my pre-trip report, here is a quick synopsis:
Who: Me (Amy), my husband Brian, and our kids Logan (13), Lily (11), and Owen (8)
What: 10 day trip with free dining
When: June 2-11, 2016
Where: Caribbean Beach resort

Unfortunately, our flight was set to leave from Columbus at 5:30am. We live in Dayton, which is a little over an hour away from Columbus, so my goal was to leave our house by 3am on Thursday, June 2. We made it!!

Everyone was very excited!

We made it to the airport before the security check even opened! By the time we got our bags checked in to Southwest, we only had to wait a few minutes to get through security.
We were in early boarding group A, so we were on the plane in no time! Still excited!


We got to see the sun coming up once we were in the air.

 

[blreinsel]

I thought the same thing about the bus stops at DS. One that's close to World of Disney probably would have been wise since that's where the majority of the crowd congregates.

 

[TheMouseFan]

I'm trying to go through all my pics, and someone is not helping!!

Hopefully, I'll have more up later tonight!

 

[MinnieM123]

I'm trying to go through all my pics, and someone is not helping!!
View attachment 146310
Hopefully, I'll have more up later tonight!

But, HE thinks he's helping!

 

[TheMouseFan]

But, HE thinks he's helping!

Yeah, he's really good at helping with lots of things!!

 

[MinnieM123]

Yeah, he's really good at helping with lots of things!!

I completely understand. My dog also thinks it's his job to "help" me with everything . . .

 

[TheMouseFan]

I'm having issues with editing my PhotoPass pics, so I will go ahead and just post with my pics and add in the PP pics when I get them done!

Friday, June 3
Our first park day was Animal Kingdom, which was definitely my favorite park this year!
The view at CBR on the way to the bus:




This sign was at the bus stop to advise of the new water park routes:


Logan decided he needed to get a pic of the rest of us during our horrendously long wait for the AK bus.

Then Lily had to try.

You obviously don't have kids if you can't figure out what the next pic is going to be!

 

[TheMouseFan]

We finally made it!!





Our ADR wasn't until 8:15am, so we took our time getting back to Africa.






I was kind of disappointed in the lack of PP photographers early in the morning. They were there last trip if I am remembering correctly! Even right at park opening this year, there seemed to be less photogs. There were plenty later in the day, but then the lines were so long my family didn't want to wait for them!

 

[TheMouseFan]

Still on our way to Africa:

First view of Tiffins (we checked it out closer during our second day in AK):

 

[TheMouseFan]

We finally reached our destination:

Lots of pics between check in and being seated because Owen needed a potty break!


Again, disappointed that they no longer take your family photo here:





We were seated and made out way to the food quickly! I love the decor in Tusker House!




Love this sign that was near our table.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Brian's first plate:

My first plate:

The jungle juice:

All was delicious! I think Logan drank his own weight in Junge Juice. Owen wasn't too far behind him!!
Then the characters started coming around:


This pic is Donald trying to steal Owen's bowl of Froot Loops! The kids though it was hilarious! He just nonchalantly picked the bowl up off the table when Owen wasn't paying attention!

Not sure why Lily decided to do the duck lips for the pics with Donald and Daisy. Crazy kids!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

We were finished a few minutes before 9, and headed right for KS.


This is where the title of my report comes from. When we got to the part of the tour where the driver talks about the baobob tree, he told us it was "Disney real". Logan was the one who picked up on that term when the driver said it, and later that day Owen asked if something was real, and Logan and Brian replied that it was "Disney real", so many times during the trip, one of us would randomly ask if something was real. We, of course, got the answer from the others that it was "Disney real"!! The kids had a good time with it!
Now, on with the safari pics!




African painted dogs:

 

[TheMouseFan]

More safari:


I don't remember seeing this in the past, maybe I am just not very observant!



It's hard to see, but the female lion is lounging in this pic on the rocks to the right:

 

[prfctlyximprct]

So excited you started your report! Your Ohana pictures have got me drooling!!! Glad to hear you had a wonderful trip! Can't believe it was here already! Feels like just yesterday I was reading your pre-trip report, waiting for you to tell the kids! The AK pics are gorgeous, as always! My favorite park! Looking forward to more!~!

 

[MinnieM123]

Those are some great pictures. Oddly enough, my favorite one was the photo of the 3 zebras. I don't think I've ever seen such a good close-up of them, anywhere on the forums before. Nicely done!!

 

[TheMouseFan]

So excited you started your report! Your Ohana pictures have got me drooling!!! Glad to hear you had a wonderful trip! Can't believe it was here already! Feels like just yesterday I was reading your pre-trip report, waiting for you to tell the kids! The AK pics are gorgeous, as always! My favorite park! Looking forward to more!~!

Thanks! Now you have me drooling thinking about 'Ohana!! I can't believe it's over already! I love AK and always go a little overboard on the picture taking, so there are lots more to come!

Those are some great pictures. Oddly enough, my favorite one was the photo of the 3 zebras. I don't think I've ever seen such a good close-up of them, anywhere on the forums before. Nicely done!!

Thank you!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Loving so much already!!

Love Love Love all of Lily's posing and I'm loving that bench with the dragon mixed in with the African animals! And how in the heck did you get all those awesome pictures of that lion?! And why was he not eating those antelopes?

 

[TheMouseFan]

Loving so much already!!

Love Love Love all of Lily's posing and I'm loving that bench with the dragon mixed in with the African animals! And how in the heck did you get all those awesome pictures of that lion?! And why was he not eating those antelopes?

HaHa! I was thinking the same thing about the lion and the antelopes!

 

[TheMouseFan]

After the safari, we decided to skip the Pangani Trail for the time being and head over for the first Festival of the Lion King show of the day.



We really weren't that early, but we were the first ones in the standby line.

As it got closer to time to enter the building, they kept making the announcement for everyone to move forward to fill in all available space and to be sure to stay behind the yellow lines as the doors would open outward. We decided to break the rules:

Brian was not amused!!


We finally entered and were seated in the lion section. I didn't get many pics, as I was trying to be more mindful of being in the moment and enjoying things instead of viewing it all through the camera.









The tumble monkeys were definitely our favorite part of the show!

 

[TheMouseFan]

We then went back to do the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. (I thought it was being renamed and was surprised to see the old sign still up!)





Close up of a hippo!
We really enjoyed watching the meerkats, especially the baby!





It's blurry, but the baby gorilla was having a good ol' time playing in the tree.

 

[LisaBelle]

Love the hippo close up! Awww! Baby meerkats! Adorable!