Disney World - Animal Kingdom

Disney has an on line system called My Disney Experience for planning your vacation experience. Part of our itinerary had been set up by our travel agent, Christine, at Fairytale Dreams and Destinations. Kim had been adding and modifying the plans ever since.

One of the key parts of this system is the FastPass+ feature. FastPass is a system that allows guests to select a ride and, for a one hour window, use a special FastPass line that bypasses the regular Standby line. You can normally only hold one FastPass privilege at a time. The FastPass+ allows ticket holders to book three FastPasses a day using the on-line system or app (subject to some limitations). Since no one wants to spend time standing in lines, managing these opportunities is critical. Kim had made preliminary selections but we were still figuring out the nuances.

Today we were scheduled for Animal Kingdom. First, we went to the Contempo Cafe in our hotel at about 8:15 for breakfast. A cast member assisted us with our first orders, which we told the cash and tapped our bands. Then we were given a tracking device to take to the tables and someone brought our food when it was ready. This counted as a Quick Service Meal.

The Contempo Cafe

My Quick Service breakfast

After a trip back to the room to put on sun block, we headed out front to catch a bus to Animal Kingdom. They have a sign telling the arrival time of the next bus to each destination. The time kept changing but, eventually, our bus got there.

Jolene and Robyn in an alcove in our wing

Waiting for our bus

Arriving at the Animal Kingdom

The first FastPass that Kim had selected was for Dinosaur. Although Mike had the park map on his Smartphone app, I ended  up leading using the paper maps we had been given. The ride was fun as we were transported to the past to hunt for a specific dinosaur, although it bounced a lot as our "car" went over some very rough terrain. Jolene wasn't sure whether she wanted to do that again.

That wasn't the one we were chasing

Please climb on the exhibits

Hunting for the dinosaur

The next attraction was Expedition Everest. We worked our way from Dinoland USA to Asia. Kim, Jolene and I were reserved for this ride, a thrill roller coaster. It was just that, including a two direction reversals and a backwards section in the dark. It was more impressive than I had expected, although Jolene thought this might be her last Everest trip. Two for two.

Mount Everest

In the FastPass line

The Everest Expedition

Sandy, Mike and Robyn waited for us. It was probably good that they avoided the coaster. Their FastPass was for It's Tough To Be A Bug, a 3D film and live show about the trials and tribulations facing the insects of the world. Kim and I missed this back in 2001, but we were able to squeeze in this time because the Standby line was as short as the FastPass.

It was hot out. Hot and humid. We moved on to Africa and found a place in the market where we got water and ice cream for the girls. There were African drummers in the square and, somehow, Mike got drawn into the dancing.

Refreshing misting spray

Refreshments at the bar

Mike dancing up a storm

The last of our FastPass+ selections for the day was a Kilimanjaro Safari. We climbed into what appeared to be 4WD vehicles and set out on an adventure across the African Savannah with our driver pointing out various animals. I took pictures of a few of them.

Waiting for our vehicle

A flock of vultures

Young giraffe

Heffalumps

White rhinos

At the conclusion of our safari, it was even hotter. We stopped to refill our water bottles and tried to figure out how to book another FastPass. Once the three FastPass+ selections are used, you are supposed to be able to book additional single FastPasses on a revolving basis. That is, use one and then book another. But the app wouldn't allow this. (We found out later that subsequent FastPass reservations must be booked at in-park kiosks).

Unable to select a FastPass but in great need of a water ride, we decided to take the Standby line for the Kali River Rapids. Wait times for the Standby lines are posted on the app and also above the entrance. This one said 50 minutes. It took all of that and, as we stood in line, we saw the people move past us in the FastPass lane. We decided to find out how to book those subsequent passes ASAP.

Seen in the Kali River Rapids line

We got talking to a lady behind us in line. She was originally from Denver but was now living in Nebraska. For a number of years, she worked in Australia where she got to meet a Canadian couple. It turned out that the fellow she was talking about was someone I had worked with for a number of years and who Sandy had babysat when he was just a child. It's a small .....(no, don't say it). The ride was fun and we only got moderately wet.

Settled in the raft

Brian's friend on the left

After Kali, we decided to head back to the hotel. There was a stop along the way for a park photo in front of the iconic Tree of Life.

Animal Kingdom

We were framed

Can we bring it home?

The bus to the Contemporary was at the stop when we got there and we were back at the hotel by 3:15. Mike took the girls to the pool while Kim and Sandy took naps and I worked on my notes and photos.

Our Table Service supper tonight was at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge. It was just across the lagoon from the Contemporary but I wasn't able to find any details about the water transportation on-line. The website is pretty but it has some gaps and some broken links. No problem, because a quick question to one of the staff in the lobby told me there was a direct boat from our dock. There are three destinations the lagoon, the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Campground. Two boats circle the lagoon, one clockwise and the other counter-clockwise non-stop until 11:00 PM.

On our way to the boat dock (Sand Bar in the background)

We caught the boat directly to Wilderness Lodge and worked our way to the restaurant. We were shown to our table and the hostess gave us a coaster with a green side and a red side. Red side up if you wanted things quiet and green up if you liked things more rowdy. We chose rowdy. Our server, Billie from Alabama, got our drinks. The smart choice was an All You Can Drink Milkshake, which most of us ordered in various flavors.

The menu was interesting. Numerous a la carte items were available but the popular choice was an All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Skillet. This was family style so the buffet came to the table, reminding me of the breakfast at Country Vittles in Maggie Valley. From the menu:

"Starting with Family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing and Fresh-baked Cornbread. Featuring Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Chicken, Oak-roasted Beef Strip Loin, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cobb, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans"

We all ordered it. We all enjoyed it. One tradition is that if someone asks for ketchup, the cry goes up and everyone brings there ketchup bottle over. They also had hobby horse races for the kids. Generally, it was a fun place to take children for supper. And they gave us our desserts to go.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Party Animal

Stick In The Mud

After we were done, the paperwork was slow in coming so Mike and I sent the ladies ahead. The charges against the meal plans were crossed up with me being tagged for one adult and Mike for three. Billie said we could swap around at the next meal to sort it out. Mike and I hustled down to the dock but didn't see the girls, even though our direct boat was coming in. We returned to the hotel and found the rooms empty, worrying that they had waited for us somewhere at Wilderness Lodge. However, the four came in shortly after, having taken the other boat and returned the long way.

I found my cell phone had not rung while we were at Animal Kingdom but there were two messages from Coach Rick so I called him back. He was over at Magic Kingdom by now, but I had to tell him that my back was hurting and I was sorry but I would have to skip going over to meet him. He understood.

It was a busy day and we all went to bed early.

Cambridge Ontario to Disney World

I woke up just before my alarm went off at 5:00 AM and could hear others stirring as well. Kim had worked out that for six of us, it was almost as cost effective to order our own limo rather than schedule a shuttle for the 50 mile drive to Toronto Pearson International Airport. Our flight was scheduled to leave at 10:00 AM and WestJet said to arrive three hours early, so the limo was laid on for 6:00.

The long, white, stretch affair arrived a couple of minutes early. The two rear forward facing seats were equipped with the required booster seats for the girls. The driver had stocked the bar with ice, water and coke in case we were thirsty. Coffee would have been nice. After loading the luggage, we were on our way. The only problem was that the overhead panel to control the fans, heater and lights was inactive, as was the phone to the driver. They were all lit when we got in, so we suspect that Mike accidentally tripped some master switch.

Lined up in the limo

Bar none......

Mike trying to figure out the controls

It was hard to park the limo at the departure entrance to Pearson, but our driver got a spot. We loaded the luggage on two carts, Mike signed for the trip, and we were off to check in. A lady helped Kim print the boarding passes and get luggage tags at a self service kiosk, then they weighed our luggage and we moved on to US Customs and Immigration pre-clearance.

Our limo at the gate

Waiting for boarding passes

At customs, we put our passports into a scanner, answered a couple of questions on the touch screen and were asked a few more questions by an agent, who then stamped our passports and boarding passes. Then they took our checked bags and put them on a belt. This process will save a lot of time on the arrival end. Next, it was the security check where we took off our shoes. I was asked to remove my laptop from the case and send it through the scanner separately. Kim, who had been flagged from the beginning, was selected for a full body scan. No one would say whether this was random or triggered by some set of circumstances.

It was early and the lines were short, so we were through the whole process in no time at all. Once inside the secure area, we found a restaurant and had breakfast. Then we proceeded to the lounge at our gate, where our plane (a 737-800LR) was already in place.

Breakfast

Maybe we got Jolene up too early

Jolene contemplating our aircraft

Mommy and Grandma patiently waiting

They called our flight about 9:20. First those needing assistance, then WestJet Plus (their new sort of first class) and then by sections. Our seats were a complete row of six seats across but towards the rear, so it took us a while to get settled. On the left side , Jolene had the window seat with me next to her and Sandy on the aisle. On the right, Robyn had the window with Kim next to her and then Mike.

We pushed back on time and there was no waiting as we taxied to the active runway. I talked Jolene through the engines spooling up and the start of the take-off roll. She wasn't concerned when we got airborne but kept asking if we were "up" yet. That meant cruising altitude to her. I was able to watch our altitude and ground speed on the screen ahead of me and assured her that she would feel the plane level off and hear the engines throttle back when we were "up". After 20 minutes or so, that's just what happened.

Jolene and Bunny at 500 MPH

The other side of the aisle

The girls were very good during the flight. Mike got them earbuds so the could listen to the TV screens in the seat backs ahead of them. I watched the flight data and read my Kindle. We don't get food but there was a non-alcoholic drink included in the flight. Having flown only once since I retired, I couldn't help but notice how much more cramped the seats were. We started our descent about Jacksonville and were on the ground in Orlando ahead of schedule.

There was a tram/train from the terminal we landed at to the main building where we went from level 3 to level A2 to collect our bags. Then we went to A1 looking for the Disney shuttle. It was on B1 so we had to go back up to A3 and across the terminal and back down. Once we got there, we showed our ticket and were sent to the correct line for the Contemporary Resort. There were multiple lines and many people. We met a fellow named Brent and his family. He was born in Peterborough but now lived in Dayton, Ohio.

Waiting at Orlando Airport for our bus to Disney World

We checked in at the Contemporary Resort front desk assisted by what Disney refers to as Cast Members. Here, we were given our Magic Bands, RFID wrist bands that they could not ship to us ahead of time because we were in Canada. These bands would authorize every aspect of our stay here from opening our hotel room door to charging our meals to access to the parks. Our rooms in the Garden Wing were quite a walk but they were first floor, large and adjoining. We were settled by 3:30 PM.

View out our patio door

Our room

We had reservations for supper at The Wave of American Flavors in our hotel at 5:30. To start the Disney experience, I led everyone to the Contemporary monorail platform about 4:30 and took the Resort Monorail clockwise around the lagoon. There is also a Magic Kingdom Monorail that travels counter-clockwise stopping only at the Transportation Center (parking lot) and the Kingdom. We got back to the Contemporary just in time to get to the restaurant.

First Monorail ride

Jolene on the Monorail

The food plan we are on allows us one Table Service Meal a day plus one Quick Service Meal and one Snack. The Wave was table service and the server explained we were entitled to one entree, one non-alcoholic drink and one dessert. Appetizers and alcohol were extra and would be charged to our room via the Magic Band, as would the gratuity of 18% (added because we were a group of six or more). He tapped Mike's band for their room and my band for our room and we each entered the PIN we had set at check-in. Mike and I had the filet with mashed potatoes and crisp green beans. Very good. Dessert was a wave, three different things.

The Wave of American Flavors

First Disney meal

Our park passes were the base level, one park per day, so we stopped at the concierge after dinner to upgrade them to Park Hoppers. This allowed us as many parks in a day as we wanted. After a check to be sure the girls were not too tired, we got back on the Monorail and then changed to another Monorail to Epcot. Bands were scanned at the park gate along with a scan of one fingerprint to be sure the band owner had not loaned it to someone else. Whoever used the band first would have to be the one to use it ever after. There was also a security line for anyone with bags.

One thing Kim had purchased was the Memory Maker. There are photographers all over the Kingdom ready to take guests' pictures. With this, they are linked to us through a tap of the band and ready for download at our leisure.

First Memory Maker photo at Epcot

The ride most associated with Epcot is Spaceship Earth, the huge geodesic dome that guards the entrance. There was no line so we climbed aboard and took the fifteen minute low intensity ride through the exhibits about the history of human communication.

Following that introductory ride, we walked to the nearby Seas pavilion, took the Finding Nemo ride and then wandered through the aquarium admiring the fish.

Many fish up close

Jolene found a friend

As it got closer to 9:00 PM, we worked our way down towards the World Showcase Lagoon for the IllumiNations fireworks show. The best seating was available by FastPass, which we hadn't though to use for this, but we still found a spot and admired the explosions and laser display.

It was now after 9:00 PM and the park full of people was closing. The assembled multitudes made their way back to the main gate. Some headed for parking lots, others lined up for buses and we (after a stop at Package Pickup for some moonshine) headed up the ramp to the Monorail. The system handles huge groups of people very efficiently and we were on the second train out of there.

After a change of Monorails at the Transportation Center, we were back at the Contemporary Resort by 10:00 PM and all of us were in bed by 11:00. I saw on Facebook that our VROC friend Coach Rick from Rhode Island, a travel agent, was on the property. He was going to Animal Kingdom tomorrow, as were we. We traded phone numbers with hopes of connecting.