Trip Report The ONE with the Bowl that was not so Super 🚽 2/5-2/9, 2021*COMPLETED*

HA HA HA!!!
Hello everybody! I returned yesterday from a last minute long weekend to WDW.
How? Who? Why? You ask. Well my Magical friends, here is everything you want to know, and maybe some things, you don’t.

It all began a few weeks ago at work when my bff/boss suggested we go to Disney for his birthday. I took him last year and we had a great time. We looked at dates and flights and room rates and hemmed and hawed for a couple days. We decided we would go President’s weekend. But my kids would be out of school and they would want to go. Then, texting with @Tuvalu she said “you’re going president’s weekend!?!?”

Ok, she didn’t say it like that but that is how I heard it in my mind. I said to my friend, M, “what the heck are we thinking? Let’s go the weekend before.” His sister/business partner/my other boss gave her blessing (then promptly booked a whole week in Florida for herself at the end of the month) and we started looking at rooms.
Pop was cheap with the AP discount so I booked.

We picked out our flights, then added a day and picked out new flights. Friday came, my day off and two weeks before departure and we had decided on everything. All we had to do was book the flights, which were $69 each way. Then I looked again and the flights were down to $49 each way. I texted M, “BOOK BOOK BOOK! This is not a drill!!!”

Then Saturday came and I canceled Pop and booked a studio at Saratoga Springs Resort using my DVC points. Bought M’s park ticket and made park reservations and some ADR’s. I also filled out the Magical Express request form and ordered a couple t-shirts.

13 days to go and we were all set.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I can't help to think, after looking at the gorilla butts, that it's time for me to go on a diet! I look like the back end of those gorillas in my spandex, LOL

I dont know where that first gif came from.???? I hit on the spandex first and got those gorillas,

 

[littleroo]

Great photos of the lions!!! Love the Gorilla pictures, too! I knew nothing about the I am so behind!

 

[donaldtoo]

Tuesday February 9th, 2021

Departure day

We had done most of our packing the night before but still we were up early to finish and get our bags to Bell services.

After showers it was time for breakfast:
View attachment 535497
I had X leave us two beers, he left three and they were still in the fridge. Oatmeal and beer. Yum!

Instead of calling Bell services we walked to the Carriage House as it was across the street from our room. We left our bags with them and headed back to the bus stop.
There was a nice CM from Elizabeth NJ who was washing the concrete at the Springs bus stop.
I had no idea they did this.
View attachment 535492
View attachment 535490
View attachment 535491

His glasses kept fogging up and his mask kept falling down and he apologized to us.
“No need to apologize. The place looks great! Thank you!”

The bus came at 7:25 and we were on our way to Animal Kingdom. Yay!
We arrived shortly after and took our time walking in.
View attachment 535493
View attachment 535494

First stop was Navi River Journey. I had been watching wait times before our trip and the wait for Navi had been the longest in the park, usually over 60 minutes from an hour after open until close. Flight of Passage peaked first thing then tapered off about lunch time while everything else was 5 minutes for the first hour or two.
View attachment 535495
View attachment 535496
Navi done, we just had to follow the game plan and we would see and do what we wanted in this, our last and shortest day.

BTW...
What new phone did you get, as most of your pics look great...?!!!
I’m usually at least 2 generations behind, but, finally got caught up (for at least a few more months, anyway ) this past Christmas with an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Both the camera and battery life are pretty amazing, and I’m very pleased with it...!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Hmm. I’m not sure that the shirt on the far left of the clothes line is up high enough. Aren’t goats known for eating pretty much anything? (Or is that just one of my cats? )

I was thinkin’ the same thing...!!!!!

 

[Stellajack]

Darstarr, I felt my motherly angst kick in when you posted X's phone call about the lost wallet.

Me: "No please say you didn't! Wait, let's all just stop and think now. When and where do you remember last having it?! We'll trace ALL our steps through EPCOT and check at every place we stopped!"

Darstarr: "Oh, wait! I've got pictures!"

Do you know how many family disasters you have saved by simply reporting this detail? I'll do the same thing on our next trip; only now our trips are just with me and my beloved.

BTW, I loved your trip report! One of my favorite activities is visiting the silverbacks. I love it when there is a toddler among them.

 

[donaldtoo]

Monday February 9 cont

The warthogs were driver Chris’ favorite. I have had several drivers say their favorites are the warthogs. Hmmmm
View attachment 535683

Speaking of favorites, @Captain Barbossa , either of these your favorite???
View attachment 535684

And the new goat enclosure is finished and the goats are on stage. Looks kinda cool.
It is suppose to be the Warden’s post.
View attachment 535685
View attachment 535686
View attachment 535687
View attachment 535688
View attachment 535689
Laundry on the line is a nice touch.

I think some birds may wanna’ buy the Wardens vehicle, as it looks like they put some deposits down on it...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

And with that they came rushing out, and M and I were in a primate viewing area.
View attachment 535819

 

[MinnieM123]

Next we went to the glass viewing area for the gorilla family.
“They should be out any minute,” said the CM checking her watch.

And with that they came rushing out, and M and I were in a prime viewing location.

I am amazed at the quality of your photos, considering you had glass in front of you, in that viewing area. Excellent gorilla photos!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

We made it over to the Safari. It was a slow walk on, if that makes sense

YES, this was our case one afternoon in November.

And then he looked at us and really let it out.

SOOOOOOOOOOO cool!

I love that you saw Geno and it looks like Baby Grace, too or is that another new baby?

 

[cgersic]

Monday February 9 cont

The warthogs were driver Chris’ favorite. I have had several drivers say their favorites are the warthogs. Hmmmm
View attachment 535683

Speaking of favorites, @Captain Barbossa , either of these your favorite???
View attachment 535684

And the new goat enclosure is finished and the goats are on stage. Looks kinda cool.
It is suppose to be the Warden’s post.
View attachment 535685
View attachment 535686
View attachment 535687
View attachment 535688
View attachment 535689
Laundry on the line is a nice touch.

It DOES look like a warden's post!

 

[amjt660]

I am pretty sure that is NOT physics...
This is physics:
View attachment 535484

My point was that I was filling a void/vacuum on the board
and we all know that the study of vacuums is an aspect of quantum physics as per below


(Inside Science) -- A vacuum is a space absolutely devoid of matter, at least according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. But if you talk to a physicist you may get a different answer. According to quantum physics, even vacuums are not completely empty. Constant fluctuations in energy can spontaneously create mass not just out of thin air, but out of absolutely nothing at all.

"It's like a boiling sea of appearing and disappearing particle pairs," said James Koga, a theoretical physicist from the National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology in Kyoto, Japan. The pairs, made up of one particle and one antiparticle, exist for only moments. Koga is investigating the subtle effects caused by these fluctuations.

Max

 

[38053WDW]

Friday Feb 5 cont

We headed for the Magical Express.
View attachment 531383
It was empty. Where did all those people from the plane go?
View attachment 531385
They have added stickers on the windows to indicate row numbers. Last time I was there they told me to count. Is there an app for that??
View attachment 531384
View attachment 531386
This was the best I could do from the back of the bus.
View attachment 531387
Usually, I get the “room not ready text” but an email that says “room ready” minutes after. So while on the bus I thought I would check MDE to see if they had assigned me a room. Boy did they!!!
View attachment 531392
For those of you following along you might remember I said I booked a studio. This says ONE BEDROOM!!!
They upgraded us. Not only to a one bedroom but to a one bedroom preferred!
View attachment 531391
WELCOME HOME INDEED!

Lobby photo
View attachment 531388
It was about 12:30 and we had a grocery delivery coming between 1 and 2 so we decided to mobile order some lunch from Artist’s Palette. While we waited for that I asked the front desk if they could add my son, X, to the reservation. He was thinking of coming with a friend or two. It turned out to be harder than usual, I guess because of the upgrade? I thanked everyone there for the upgrade and as the patient CM, Jeremy, continued to help me I asked him, “you down graded me again didn’t you?”
He said, “Yup!”” But don’t worry, I will upgrade you again once I add your son.”
Phew!
Front desk business handled we went to get our lunch.
View attachment 531389
Pizza for M, kids chicken nuggets and an adult bevy for me
View attachment 531390

Grocery... who did you use? Worked Well?

 

[38053WDW]

Sunday February 7 cont

X made the call, he wanted to go clockwise so he could end in England with fish and chips. Sounds like a well thought out and solid plan.

After ice cream and peanut butter porter we stopped at the booth near Mexico, El Artista Hambriento and got a Chile Relieno...
View attachment 533757
which was yummy,
Pork Belly Pastor...
View attachment 533759
which tasted like pork belly (ie a chunk of fat! I don’t know why pork belly is so trendy right now but it is one trend I could totally do without! Like shoulder pads!)

We also got two Diego Pomegranate Margaritas...
View attachment 533758
which were goodish. The Hibiscus salt rim was yum but there was a smoky component to it. Perhaps it was the tequila they used. But it wasn’t a good smoke like bbq. It was more like a my house is on fire acrid flavor smoke. With a different tequila these would be my new favorite I think.

We also got a Tulim Artisanal Lager...
View attachment 533760
which we all liked and I loved the bottle!

So three drinks and two food items. This is how I planned on controlling the boys, by sharing drinks and snacking.

I actually yelled “I love you Pluto!”
Tequila, it gets me everytime.
View attachment 533761
View attachment 533762
View attachment 533763
View attachment 533764

X’s friend was saying how he loved tequila so I mentioned there was a tequila bar inside the Mexico pavilion. All three of their heads shot up and they looked at each other. So into the pavilion we went. Thank goodness the line for tequila was long or they never would have made it around the world. Heck they never would have made it out of North America!

Consolation prize was a stop in the restroom and the boat ride.
View attachment 533765
View attachment 533766
shhhh....I think X is napping

 

[38053WDW]

Why we NEVER start in Mexico! I was leaving the park and Mexico was our last stop so I decided to get a "frozen drink" - well I never finished it by the time I got to the exit and got the "no drinks outside the parks" - a brain freeze later and about 30 minutes and I was yelling "but I love Pluto too!"

 

[Darstarr]

You got some good safari photos!

It must be the new phone! And driver Chris really hooked us up by slowing down and stopping.
Thanks @fractal

 

[Darstarr]

I dont know where that first gif came from.???? I hit on the spandex first and got those gorillas,

 

[Darstarr]

Great photos of the lions!!! Love the Gorilla pictures, too! I knew nothing about the I am so behind!

What new phone did you get, as most of your pics look great...?!!!

Thank you both for picture compliments.

I did get the 12 which will probably be obsolete in a few months so everyone, compliment me now please!!

 

[Darstarr]

Darstarr, I felt my motherly angst kick in when you posted X's phone call about the lost wallet.

Me: "No please say you didn't! Wait, let's all just stop and think now. When and where do you remember last having it?! We'll trace ALL our steps through EPCOT and check at every place we stopped!"

Darstarr: "Oh, wait! I've got pictures!"

Do you know how many family disasters you have saved by simply reporting this detail? I'll do the same thing on our next trip; only now our trips are just with me and my beloved.

BTW, I loved your trip report! One of my favorite activities is visiting the silverbacks. I love it when there is a toddler among them.

Thank you for reading and sharing in my angst over the “lost” wallet.

BTW, the wallet story is not over. It is the story that keeps on giving! (Or, what’s the opposite of giving?)

 

[Darstarr]

I think some birds may wanna’ buy the Wardens vehicle, as it looks like they put some deposits down on it...!!!!!

Where do you come up with this stuff??
And why??

 

[Darstarr]

I am amazed at the quality of your photos, considering you had glass in front of you, in that viewing area. Excellent gorilla photos!

Thank you very much!!!

I love that you saw Geno and it looks like Baby Grace, too or is that another new baby?

It was the cutie pututie Grace...gracing us with her presence
(If I didn’t say it @donaldtoo would have)

It DOES look like a warden's post!

It is very well themed!