A Walk on the Wild Side- Wild Africa Trek Disney's #Animal Kingdom

#Animal Kingdom -  Wild Africa Trek

            In April 2011, Disney opened one of its most exclusive experiences-the Wild Africa Trek in Disney Animal Kingdom. During this three-hour tour, safari goers pick their way through the wooded overgrowth, peer over a cliff at pools of hippos, cross a rickety bridge high above Nile crocodiles and dine in a safari style camp on five star cuisines. Having always dreamed of being on safari in Africa, for me going on the Wild Africa Trek was a dream come true when I was lucky enough to go on an adventure of a lifetime.

             My day started bright an early on a beautiful sunny morning as I was allowed entry to Animal Kingdom before the park opened. Wandering through the Park with no one else present is an amazing experience all on its own. Once crossing the path into Africa, I headed to check in at the Dawa Bar located behind Tusker House. As soon as everyone that would make up our safari had checked in, we were on our way up the path to meet our guides, be outfitted in our safari gear complete with water bottles and given our first task of the day-the practice rope bridge. Now let me just say that crossing over a rope bridge 6 feet off the ground in no way prepares you mentally for the two suspension bridges we would travel over later in our trek. Once our training was completed, we were treated to "jungle juice", sunscreen and bug spray, filled up our water bottles and were off to embark on our trek of a lifetime. 

    

        Our journey began with a quick walk through Harambe met with the envious glances of the other park guests all wondering what we were getting to do. Before we knew it, we were off the beaten path and on the Pangani Forest trail.  You are immediately struck with how the outside world all but vanishes, the sudden stillness, and you totally forget that 5 minutes before you were amid the hustle and bustle of Animal Kingdom. Our guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable. As it turned out, Jenny, one of our two guides was until recently from Sacramento, which is located 90 miles east of me. It truly is a small world after all.  Each trip is tailored to the needs of the individual group, in our case ranging from children to a couple in their seventies.  

Even with our diverse group, they managed to find a happy medium of not too fast, but not too slow.  Along the path, we were educated on the history of Animal Kingdom as well as the animals we would be seeing up ahead.

            Before we knew it, we were at our first of two "tether over cliff" spots of the day, the Hippo habitat. Your vest allows you to be tethered to a track, which is fun in itself.  Once secured, you are able to literally "hang" out as far as you dare over the

exhibit right up to the very edge. At the hippo pool, we were fortunate enough to be met by a naturalist doing an internship with Disney, who along with our guides educated us on the hippos both here at Animal Kingdom and in the wild.


             The next stop on our journey was the overhang above the Nile Crocodiles. Once again, we were tethered to a track so we were able to lean out as far as we dared. Unlike the cuddly hippos, most of us were slightly more cautious approaching the edge to catch our first glimpse of these powerful creatures, especially once we found out that they were only 10 feet below us. One of the many things we learned about these amazing creatures is that while it appeared that the crocodiles were "smiling" at us, keeping their mouths open was actually part of their natural cooling system. Our guides also joked with us that while we were

tethered, it was still possible for us to slip over the edge if we ventured out too far and while the tether would not necessarily save us, it would make it easier for them to remove our remains from the croc pit so it wouldn't scare the next group of adventurers!

          The next part of our trek was where our real courage kicked in, as we faced not one but two suspension bridges that were overlooking the hippos and crocodiles that we had just met face to face. 

 Although we had trained earlier on a practice bridge, nothing can quite prepare you for this until you are actually on it. Both bridges span 100 feet in length are 30-40 feet off the ground.  The bridges have the feel of an old, rickety and weathered bridge that you are convinced will collapse at any moment.  As you can see from the picture, there are missing boards and broken planks. It dawned on me that this is Disney's way to get you to look down from your unique vantage point and marvel at all it has to offer. It only took a moment or two, and maybe a few jumps up and down, to relax and take in the entire splendor.

     Now that we had safely traversed the Pangani Forest trail, it was time to take off our safety vests and board our own open-air safari truck to continue our trek. Soon we found ourselves "off road" through the savannah itself.  Talk about the ultimate in animal adventures!  As we drove along on this privately guided expedition, we were so close we could almost reach out and touch giraffes, elephants, and rhinos just to name a few. Our driver provided us with many extended stops to allow us to take pictures to our hearts content.

     

When it came time to eat, Disney of course pulled out all the stops. We were taken to our own private overlook area and were served an amazing catered meal from Tusker House. After a leisurely 45-minute lunch, it was time to complete the last leg of our journey.  Once again, we boarded our truck and were led through the area where many of the big cats roamed.  Disney is so meticulous in their camouflage techniques that unless they had been pointed out to us, they would have been undetectable. Animals are separated from one another with almost invisible fences, rocks, and moats.

      All too soon, our truck was pulling up to the platform where the Kilimanjaro Safari groups also exit their trucks.   One of the many special things that the Wild Africa Trek does is to take a portion of your tour fees and donate them back to various conservation groups to help preserve wild animals and their habitats.  

     All in all the Wild Africa Trek is truly a once in a lifetime experience. I would do this again in a heartbeat and would not hesitate in recommending it to all of you!  Thank you Disney for bringing the heart of Africa to me. For more information on this tour, call 407-WDW-Tour or 407-939-8687 to book your own adventure. Wild Africa Trek is not included with standard park admission to Disney's Wild Animal Kingdom Park and is open to all guests age 8 and older. Are you ready to book your walk on the wild side?

Refurbishments in Magic Kingdom

The latest news is that Cinderellas Royal Table will be under going refurbishment from January 5th through March 2015. I found this out while talking to guest services at  1-407-WDW-dine and trying to make some dining reservations for Princess 1/2 Marathon weekend.
  It's a perfect time of year to try some other Magic Kingdom restaurants including : Be Our Guest(table service), Crystal Palace(table service), Cosmic Rays ( quick serve ), Pecos Bills Tall Tales Cafe ( quick serve) in Frontierland Golden Oaks Outpost (quick serve) just a few of my favorites.
Find a alphabetized list below of all restaurants in the Magic Kingdom and each one  has something unique and pixie dusted delicious to enjoy!

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Magic Kingdom Restaurants

Return to the main restaurants search page

• Aloha Isle Adventureland
• Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies Tomorrowland
• Be Our Guest Restaurant Fantasyland
• Casey's Corner Main Street USA
• Cheshire Cafe Fantasyland
• Cinderella's Royal Table Cinderella Castle
• Columbia Harbour House Liberty Square
• Cool Ship Tomorrowland near the Indy Speedway
• Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe Tomorrowland
• Crystal Palace Between Main Street and Adventureland
• Gaston's Tavern Fantasyland
• Golden Oak Outpost Frontierland near Splash Mountain
• Liberty Square Market Liberty Square
• Liberty Tree Tavern Liberty Square
• Lunching Pad Tomorrowland at Rocket Tower Plaza
• Main Street Bakery Main Street
• Main Street Confectionery Main Street
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe Frontierland next to the Country Bear Jamboree
• Pinocchio Village Haus Fantasyland
• Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Main Street
• Sleepy Hollow Liberty Square near the Hall of Presidents
• Storybook Treats Fantasyland near the Mad Tea Party
• Sunshine Tree Terrace Adventureland, Adjacent to the Enchanted Tiki Room
• The Diamond Horseshoe Frontierland
• The Friar's Nook Fantasyland
• The Plaza Restaurant Main Street USA around the corner from the Plaza I
• Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant On the right of the entrance to Tomorrowland from
• Tony's Town Square Restaurant Main Street Town Square next to Exposition Hall
• Tortuga Tavern Adventureland opposite the Pirates of the Caribbea
• Westward Ho Refreshments Frontierland

Aloha from the Polynesian Islands By Tamela Hansen

     Have you been swept away to the Polynesian islands lately?  If not, then make a reservation at Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show!  This is the perfect show for all ages.

     Make sure to make reservations 180 days in advance.  You have to arrive 1 hr early to this amazing dinner show.  The minute you exit your, monorail, boat, or bus you will be wisp away to the islands!  Everything from the tiki torches, the lush greenery, and the beautiful waterfall will make you feel as if you have arrived in umbrella drink paradise!  After the beautiful walk to dinner you will be greeted with a leis in the island way.  Make sure to take the opportunity to make a family memory with a beautiful photo.  Now have an island drink and take in the scenery.  There are so many areas to take a great photo or a selfie!

     Then off to dinner and start with a fresh salad with seasonal veggies, honey lime vinaigrette, and delicious pineapple coconut bread!  Mmmm!  The little ones and kids at heart will be invited up to learn how to hula dance before the show.  Then the show will begin. Auntie Wini will invite you to join her in a fun filled luau to welcome a local girl who has been living on the mainland. 

     While you enjoy authentic dishes such as island pulled pork, BBQ ribs, roasted chicken and polynesian rice the island dances will capture the attention of all ages!  The dances are so beautiful and unique to each Polynesian island. The show stopping fire knife performer will keep you enthralled!  Then on to dessert!  You will enjoy warm pineapple bread pudding with caramel sauce.  Also, sodas, lemonade, coffee and tea are included.  For those 21 and older you can enjoy wine or beer included with your dinner.  They also offer several cocktails and a tropical rum punch in a hand carved coconut keepsake that is extra yummy!

   

     So if you are ready to show your Disneyside in the islands, why not make a reservation for Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show!  Just remember to Always Show your DisneySide!!!

Dining For Less at Walt Disney World

 Dining for Less Cha-Ching at WDW

For breakfast I suggest eating a granola bar or pastry in your hotel room, bring them from home or stop off at a local Target- 3200 Rolling Oaks Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34747, (321) 677-3971) or Wal-Mart Supercenter- Kissimmee 3250 Vineland Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746,407-397-1125 for breakfast items, drinks, snacks and Disney souvenirs at a huge discount.

Magic Kingdom- I would grab some yummies at Main Street Bakery, for starters a Starbucks, Venti White Chocolate Mocha & a breakfast sandwich or a delicious house-made Disney sweet, you’re spending somewhere between $10 to 15 bucks. At DHS- Starring Rolls Café is my choice; my family might grab a croissant or apple turnover for under $7.00, any grab & go type of food. Over at EPCOT- Fountain View in Future World has Starbucks espresso and specialty beverages or just fill up on warm and tasty treats like Artisan breakfast sandwiches and house-made Disney sweets. While at the Animal Kingdom- try Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery.

*I would definitely save my largest meal for lunch, it’s usually less expensive during lunch hours and you could experience upscale dining without spending all your cha-ching, maybe try “Be our Guest” a quick service dining facility at Magic Kingdom with fine dining appeal, based off the popular tale Beauty & the Beast. Here you have a choice of three enchanted rooms & meals under 15.00 pp. Try the Speedy Salads and Sandwiches, Quick Quiche or the Chefs fave 8-hour-braised pork & for the little beasts, they’ll love Mickey meatloaf or whole-grain macaroni. Lunch time at DHS- 50’s Prime Time Café, it’s a stick to your ribs kind of lunch with a 50’s theme & fun lovin’ family humor. EPCOT-is a great place for Sushi, Sunshine Seasons- has an inexpensive selection, gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, and wood-fired entrées. Animal Kingdom-Tusker House hosts “Donald’s Dining Safari Character Buffet” 11am-2:45pm, with the price being a bit steep at $30 to 59.99 pp, but it’s a character buffet with African influences and it will definitely fill up the hungry hubby’s out there.

*Dinner at Magic Kingdom, I would grab a combo-style meal at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland, they have a terrific “toppings bar” so you can make the simplest item on the menu go a lot further. I like the 1/3 Angus Cheeseburger-$10.79 served with fries or apple slices or the Taco Salad-$8.79 & add some hot cheese, caramelized onions or Pico de Gallo, yummy to my tummy. I particularly like to dip my fries in the hot cheese, always a late night family fave! At DHS- the Hollywood Brown Derby $15 to $29.99 per adult from 3:30-9:30pm. Enjoy a nice signature dinner with herb-roasted rack of lamb over buttermilk blue cheese-corn pudding, desserts & more. EPCOT- Rose & Crown Pub, fish & chips with a beer, simple & tasty! Animal Kingdom-Flame Tree Barbecue for none other than yummy barbeque.

 These are just a few suggestions for daily meals at WDW. By no means are they the cheapest for dining, but they offer a nice value for your money. Happy Eating*O*

Previously published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/.

15 Tips to know before your first Walt Disney World Vacation

 

You’ve made your reservation, the magical trip is booked, congratulation’s the hard part is over- BREATH! I’ve compiled a list of fifteen tips; I think are important components when visiting the most magical place on earth. Here we gooooooooo…….

1. Have a strategic plan before your trip; Disney is not the place to wing it. Research the attractions, layout & meet & greets ahead of time. I promise the proactive approach is the only way to see WDW efficiently & will cause less headaches & aggravation. Trust me….
2. Do not park hop on your first trip, try to concentrate on one park a day. Disney World is too large & getting to & fro is more time consuming than you might think.
3. Make your advance dining reservations (ADR’S) before you leave home. Especially if you attend during peak season. Dining Reservations-(407) 939-1947, 0800 16 90 748 (UK)
4. Walt Disney World restaurants, resort hotels, shops & theme parks are smoke-free environments, except for designated smoking areas.
5. Nursing mothers or parents of small children; WDW has baby care centers available at all four theme parks. Open during regular park hours, each full-service facility is complimentary to use. Also a comfortable setting for a child who’s misplaced his parents, lost children will be looked after until a parent arrives.
6. Theme park parking-Depends on your vehicle, but each theme park lot charges the same rate per day. Automobile, taxi, limo or motorcycle: $17, Camper, trailer or RV: $18, Bus or tractor trailer: $21. Once you pay for the day, you may park at any of the theme parks. If you are a Guest of a Disney Resort hotel, you receive complimentary parking at Disney theme parks for the length of your Resort stay. 
7. You can have a wake-up call from a character- If you’re staying on-site, you can request a wake-up call and most the time- it will be a character. 
8. Adults can ride big rides even if the kids can’t- Disney has a system called “Rider Switch” that will allow the older members of your family to ride while the younger riders wait. You simply tell the Cast Member at any ride that has a height requirement that you’d like to do a Rider Switch. They’ll give you a Rider Switch pass (which works like a FastPass) so that after you ride, you can hand it to the other half of your party and they can ride without waiting in line. 
9. Free Disney world maps are available in advance of your trip. WDW provides interactive online maps or if you prefer, they can mail you customized maps (U.S. only.)
10. Walt Disney World Transportation makes it convenient to visit; Magical Express (Courtesy airport transportation to & from Orlando International, if staying at a WDW Resort Hotel) to the plethora of buses, boats & monorail that can take you between the Disney Resort hotels, theme parks, water parks and shopping venues. 
11. You are allowed to bring food items; such as light snacks or foods that do not require heating into Disney theme parks. Don’t go crazy peeps no giant watermelon, or three meals worth of entrée’s- or they will rule it out entirely. The Security Cast Member at the initial bag check will allow or disallow your food items when you enter the park. I’m sure they’ve seen it all, lol.
12. Restricted items from the theme parks: Wagons, Skateboards, Inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, strollers larger than 36" x 52" (92 x 132 cm), coolers or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" (61 cm) long x 15" (38 cm) wide x 18" (46 cm) high. Coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations. Alcoholic beverages, weapons of any kind, Folding chairs, Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles),Pets (unless they are service animals) Balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted in Disney's Animal Kingdom Park for the safety of our animals. Tripod stands or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack (per the WDW website)
13. Walt Disney World provides Guests with disabilities -the Disability Access Service Card. It helps the guest and a number of people from his or her party—to schedule a return time at a specific attraction. For more information-guests should visit the Guest Relations Lobby located at the entrance of each theme park.  
14. Use your Fastpass + whenever possible. You can book in advance by linking your park tickets to your resort reservation by using “My Disney Experience.” You can book up to 30 days in advance. Bonus- If you’re a WDW resort guest you can book up to 60 days in advance.
15. Plan your park day appropriately- according to least busiest day of the week, calendar of special events, coincide with Extra Magic Hours (view online or at your resort) & even the direction in which you manage (walk) each theme park. All of the factors will aid in an overall magical experience.

 

I hope these hints were helpful and will encourage you to plan ahead without being overly structured. Have fun and enjoy “The Most Magical place on Earth!” This article was previously published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/ Check out my blog http://dawnsdorkydiary.com/

Downtown Disney Is New Again Disney Springs

Downtown Disney Reimagined~ Disney Springs

 

Downtown Disney consists of seventy five extraordinary shops, dining venues & outdoor artisans that fans of Walt Disney World and locals have enjoyed for decades. A few years ago they began chipping away pixie dust by pixie dust, taking the beloved clubs away that made up Pleasure Island & everyone’s favorite the Adventurer’s Club. The Adventurers Club featured animatronics, puppets, and a cast of adventurers who performed in shows and improvisational comedy while mingling with the club's patrons. The Adventurers Club opened with the rest of Pleasure Island on May 1, 1989 and was designed by Joe Rohdes who also designed Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge & Aulani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. In good Disney fashion, change is a comin’, if it’s possible to have more stores, dining venues & entertainment~ why not~ and make it a bit more themed~ Go big or go home-right, hence; Disney Springs.

Doubling in size & grandeur, Disney Springs will have more than 150 unique restaurants & retail shops, themed after the lakeside towns along the Florida coastline at the turn of the century. Homey charm & distinctive décor with food trucks galore will make this location on Disney property sought after by many. It will hopefully invoke family togetherness & a laid back vibe, in hopes that many Disney peeps magically forget they’re spending lots of coinage, lol. The expansion plans consist of much needed parking garages; the new garages should add thousands of parking spaces to the area. Disney Springs will feature a charming Town Center which will include shopping & dining along a relaxing promenade & three other sections named: Landing, Marketplace and West Side. Landing will consist of restaurants with water views; Marketplace will have an innovative footbridge spanning the bay between Fulton's and Cap'n Jack's and an expanded World of Disney store, yes I said EXPANDED-as if World of Disney needs to be larger! West Side will consist of new elevated spaces with magical entertainment. My family is fevered with anticipation and look forward to the completion of Disney Springs, in Spring 2016.Originally published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/.

Tips for Parents and Little Ones Visiting Walt Disney World

Tips for Parents visiting Walt Disney World with little ones

• Have a strategic plan before your trip; Disney is not the place to wing it, as I’ve often said. Research the attractions, layout & meet & greets ahead of time. I promise the proactive approach is the only way to see WDW efficiently & will cause less headaches & aggravation. Trust me….
• Minimize those meltdowns by NOT Park hopping on your first trip. Try to concentrate on one park a day. Disney World is too large & getting to & fro is more time consuming than you might think. Take breaks & rest. Keep your routine as close to normal even on vacay.
• Adults can ride big rides, even if the little kids can’t- Disney has a system called “Rider Switch” that will allow the older members of your family to ride while the younger riders wait. You simply tell the Cast Member at any ride that has a height requirement that you’d like to do a Rider Switch. They’ll give you a Rider Switch pass (which works like a FastPass) so that after you ride, you can hand it to the other half of your party and they can ride without waiting in line.
• Nursing mothers or parents of small children; WDW has baby care centers available at all four theme parks. Open during regular park hours, each full-service facility is complimentary to use. Also a comfortable setting for a child who’s misplaced his parents, lost children will be looked after until a parent arrives.
• Bring snacks that they can snack on such as fruit snacks, apples or gold fish to keep their energy going or NOT, lol. You are allowed to bring food items; such as light snacks or foods that do not require heating into Disney theme parks. The Security Cast Member at the initial bag check will allow or disallow your food items when you enter the park. I’m sure they’ve seen it all, I bet it would be quite funny to hear all of the things peeps thought they could bring into the parks & a little scary too.

• Waterproof Sunscreen & please reapply.
• Make sure if your child has disabilities you have proper identification Walt Disney World provides Guests with disabilities -the Disability Access Service Card. It helps the guest and a number of people from his or her party—to schedule a return time at a specific attraction. For more information-guests should visit the Guest Relations Lobby located at the entrance of each theme park. 
• Safety, please watch your children closely. It’s a new exciting environment & they’re more prone to venture off- check into http://www.safetytat.com/or a dog-tag type necklace with parents name & number for security.
• Make sure you have proper medicines & prescriptions with doctor’s name & phone numbers with you while traveling.

• Be patient & enjoy your kids at their very age~ soon, very soon, they’ll be at a new stage in life & might not have the same likes & dislikes as before, so enjoy them in the moment. Originally published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/.

Check out this information and much, much more on http://dawnsdorkydiary.com/ & http://www.mqpodcast.com/.