{"id":3826,"date":"2011-12-04T16:26:34","date_gmt":"2011-12-04T21:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.extrawdwmagic.com\/?p=3826"},"modified":"2014-02-18T15:48:14","modified_gmt":"2014-02-18T20:48:14","slug":"thanksgiving-day-guest-post-from-kris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extrawdwmagic.com\/?p=3826","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving Day – Guest Post from Kris"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today we have something special! A Guest Post! Kris & Kevin (K2) joined us on Thanksgiving Day for all of our Adventures. Kris has beat us to the punch by writing up her impressions and thoughts. Thank you so very much for contributing!<\/em><\/p>\n

Disney Does It Right!\u00a0 \u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve been saying that for 25 years ~ and they are still getting it right!\u00a0 Seems no one else can compare to their level of detail and perfection.\u00a0 Disney Doesn\u2019t Disappoint\u2026<\/p>\n

We had the extreme pleasure of having Nick and Nora as our \u201cpersonal guides\u201d in planning our awesome activities on Thanksgiving Day.\u00a0 Their expertise with all-that-is-Disney made both our itinerary and our ease of getting around the properties a \u201cwalk in the park\u201d!\u00a0 Ha Ha (enough of the cute stuff\u2026)<\/p>\n

We started off with early breakfast at Kouzzina at Disney\u2019s Boardwalk.\u00a0 I don\u2019t usually like early mornings, but the excitement of our day\u2019s adventures had me ready to go.\u00a0 We had a pleasant breakfast, in very nice surroundings and with great service.\u00a0 Nick and Nora have already shared pics of our morning feast (here<\/a>) \u2026 I was the one with the Bloody Mary!\u00a0 Kouzzina has a very unique menu, which I liked, yet it didn\u2019t have \u201cweird\u201d stuff on it that no one would eat \u2013 more like I wanted to try one of everything on it!\u00a0 My waffle with the mascarpone was better than expected.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never had that combination and it DID work very well.\u00a0 The Bloody Mary made a great presentation, but was a little too spicy for my liking.\u00a0 I would definitely like to try more of their menu items in the future.\u00a0 What I do appreciate most is the excellent, cheery service.\u00a0 I can overcome just about any dining dilemma if the service is good.<\/p>\n

After breakfast we took a stroll around the Boardwalk, just as sleepy guests were beginning to emerge for their morning brews.\u00a0 We\u2019re glad Nick and Nora like to walk! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

OFF TO ANIMAL KINGDOM for our African Trek.\u00a0 Traffic was light on this holiday morning and we arrived well ahead of our scheduled Trek time.\u00a0 This was a great opportunity to see some of the wildlife before the crowds hit.\u00a0 Nick and Nora\u2019s expertise in navigating the park was very helpful since we only had about an hour to kill.\u00a0 They were able to get us to some of the MUST SEE exhibits with no wasted time. \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0Be sure to walk the nature paths through places like the aviary \u2013 they are less crowded, lots of beauty to see and MUCH more shaded.<\/p>\n

Our Trek began \u201cbehind the scenes\u201d in Harambe Village.\u00a0 Check in was VERY easy and quick.\u00a0 Reservations were in order and all we had to do was sign a waiver.\u00a0 Nick got a survey on how the reservation process worked when booking \u2013 so that they have feedback on how to keep improving. They had us store all of our belonging in a locker (the four of us shared, the lockers are fairly large), then we were off to suit-up for the Trek.\u00a0 You do have to weigh-in before they cinch you into a vest\/harness apparatus \u2013 don\u2019t worry, no one else could see your weight except the guide behind the counter!<\/p>\n

The harness was not uncomfortable, though the straps were snugged up to keep it secure.\u00a0 There is a bungee-type strap that is used to connect you to the overhead guide wires or supports when viewing the animals from \u201cthe edges\u201d or crossing the bridges.\u00a0 I felt like a little kid with one of those harnesses that parents tether toddlers to so they won\u2019t run off! The vest portion of the harness had plenty of pockets and hooks for storing any needed items.\u00a0 Otherwise, you could only carry something if it was on a strap around your neck.\u00a0 If you drop anything \u2013 consider it gone for good.\u00a0 NO RETRIEVALS!<\/p>\n

We had a test bridge to walk across to make sure we could handle the two on the Trek.\u00a0 It was a perfect \u201cDisney Bridge\u201d \u2013 complete with broken\/missing planks, shredded netting, wire cable railings, etc.\u00a0 Unfortunately, one of the other guests and Nick both got cuts on their hands from an UNEXPECTED fraying on the cables.\u00a0 Staff immediately inspected the bridge to correct the problem!\u00a0 All of this preliminary preparation is done \u201cout in the wild\u201d \u2013 not in a sterile building.\u00a0 Disney really likes thing to be (as they call it) on-stage.\u00a0 Again, they didn\u2019t disappoint.\u00a0 The staff, as well, was decked out in their safari gear and were cheerful, helpful and knowledgeable.<\/p>\n

Lauren and Chris were our guides \u2013 taking turns as the guide\/photographer.\u00a0 They gave us a quick briefing of our tour and gave us some Jungle Juice to hydrate before we set out.\u00a0 Also provided was an aluminum water bottle for use during the Trek and you got to take it home!\u00a0 However, they were not of the usual Disney high-quality. \ud83d\ude41 \u00a0Kevin and one of the other guests found theirs leaking.\u00a0 But, they quickly exchanged them for new ones.<\/p>\n

One thing to be sure of on this Trek is to have stable shoes (closed-toed are required) as you WILL be trekking along narrow, natural paths.\u00a0 We had to dodge some tree limbs and step over many roots and rocks.\u00a0 While it isn\u2019t vigorous, you do have to concentrate on where you\u2019re walking.<\/p>\n

Our first stop was to see the Hippo Expert!\u00a0 Hippos are Kevin favorite. \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0This was our first use of the lanyard \u2013 attached to a heavy railing behind us \u2013 so we could walk to the edge of the \u201ccliff\u201d (not that far up, but out of danger) to get a good close-up look.\u00a0 Our Expert began feeding one of the hippos while giving us great tidbits of information not only about hippos in general, but about the personalities of the two (males) in the exhibit.\u00a0 I use the term exhibit very loosely, as this really is more of a natural habitat than an exhibit.\u00a0 We did get to see a rare display \u2013 one of the hippos took a \u201cdung shower\u201d!!\u00a0 Now, you\u2019ll have to go for yourself and find out what that is\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026 Or, just use your imagination. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

More trekking and time to cross the first \u2013 pretty long \u2013 bridge!\u00a0 You DO have to watch your step.\u00a0 There are some \u201cmissing\u201d planks \u2013 not to fear, it\u2019s all \u201cDisney wood\u201d \u2013 what seems to be some kind of composite \u2013 STRONG!\u00a0 We had views of the female hippo enclosure \u2013 though not a very good view of them across the ravine and a small waterway.\u00a0 Then, a direct right on the platform and directly onto another bridge.\u00a0 WOW!\u00a0 You are directly over what seemed like a hundred VERY LARGE crocodiles!\u00a0 They were all (except one) sunning on the banks and atop each other \u2013 one was in the water.\u00a0 They were so still you would have thought they were concrete!\u00a0 However, they did take time to yawn very broadly \u2013 yikes!\u00a0 The guide told us they do that to cool themselves off.\u00a0 We then got to be tethered again so we could look right down on them from a lower viewpoint.\u00a0 But, not low enough that they could jump up and get us!\u00a0 Very fascinating. \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0Even though I see alligators where I live \u2013 these crocs were HUGE compared to what I\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n

We continued through the brush and our guides pointed out different flora and fauna along the way.\u00a0 They also showed us \u201cDisney jaws\u201d of some of the animals that they use for trail markers.\u00a0 They were able to open the jaws and explained to us how each animal utilizes the \u201ctools\u201d they have for eating, defending, etc.<\/p>\n

At the end of the trail we were able to shed our equipment \u2013 all 6.5lbs of it! \u00a0Next on to a small safari truck to see the big game up-close.\u00a0 While this part of the journey is shared with the general public \u2013 coming through on large bus-type vehicles as part of the safari attraction, we were able to pull off onto smaller pathways and stop to view the animals.\u00a0 They provided binoculars for us to use and we were able to observe giraffes, rhinos, elephants (including new little baby ones!) and MANY other beasts at a leisurely pace.<\/p>\n

Safari Camp was next on the agenda.\u00a0 Perched high up on the plain, we had a superb view of so much wildlife around us. \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0We had quaint tables and chairs, complete with black\/red checkered table cloths!\u00a0 We were served water and jungle juice and an amazing lunch in double-stack camping tins.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Nick and Nora will share photos!!\u00a0 Lovely and light \u2013 chicken curry, shrimp, smoked salmon, a most wonderful hummus with mini pita pockets (and I\u2019m not usually a big fan of hummus) and edible flower \u2026 and a few other things that I can\u2019t remember right this minute.\u00a0 It was a plentiful amount and very tasty!<\/p>\n

After lunch we were able to stroll down a boardwalk to a lookout area.\u00a0 Again, binoculars and telescopes were there for our use.\u00a0 We were able to see the rhinos and even the lion as he lay basking in the sun on the grass among the rocks. \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0Everyone was able to use the REAL bathrooms \u2013 which were in true Disney fashion \u2013 decked out in amazing detail with traditional African d\u00e9cor.\u00a0 Once again \u2013 they are always \u201con stage\u201d!\u00a0 Back in the truck to finish our day among the animals.<\/p>\n

Upon our return to base camp, we were informed about how Disney truly helps wildlife across the world with the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF).\u00a0 A large portion of the cost of the Trek actually goes to the fund!\u00a0 We were then allowed to designate where we would like our fund to be used.\u00a0 There was a choice of about 4 different animals or giving to the general DWCF.\u00a0 We were then presented with \u201cConservation Hero\u201d buttons and took one final group photo.<\/p>\n

Now \u2013 it was time for some sustenance!\u00a0 We headed out of the secure camp area and voila we were at the bar!\u00a0 We imbibed on a little adult jungle juice and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering through more of the exhibits with Nick and Nora at the helm.\u00a0 It had already seemed like a long, event-filled day and we still had one more item on our list.\u00a0 Back to get freshened up and off to the Irish Pub \u2013 Raglan Road \u2013 at Downtown Disney for Thanksgiving dinner (here<\/a>)\u2026..<\/p>\n

All I can say about Raglan Road is YUM YUM YUM!\u00a0 Again, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll see pics from Nick and Nora \u2013 we loved it so much we were back on Sunday night for dinner.\u00a0 Kevin is in love with \u201cSMOKEY CITY\u201d \u2013 a lovely smoked Haddock dish recommended by Nick and Nora.\u00a0 Without getting into too much detail about all of the food \u2013\u00a0 the best items I had between the two nights we ate there were the Risotto main dish, brussel sprouts done to perfection, potato bread and the apple\/berry crumble was OUTSTANDING!\u00a0 My only \u201cgripe\u201d with the place was that they only had one (alcoholic) cider and it was Magners, which is the only one I don\u2019t like. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

Again, I must comment on the service!\u00a0 It IS very important to us and it was superb!\u00a0 Just all around friendly, efficient and downright fun.\u00a0 We were most impressed when Kevin received his Irish Coffee (does it sound like all we do is drink, or what\u2026) that it really didn\u2019t taste like it had any whiskey in it.\u00a0 He (almost as an aside) mentioned it to the waitress, not expecting anything to be done about it.\u00a0 But, within minutes, the Manager was at our tableside with a fresh one that he had made himself!\u00a0 It DID taste much better and impressed the socks off of us. \ud83d\ude42 \u00a0Now we know why Nick and Nora love this place so much.\u00a0 We walked out of there with a full belly, a light head (we were taking a taxi), a cookbook and some tasty whiskey marmalade.<\/p>\n

What a fantastic day!<\/p>\n

Kris<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today we have something special! A Guest Post! Kris & Kevin (K2) joined us on Thanksgiving Day for all of our Adventures. Kris has beat us to the punch by writing up her impressions and thoughts. Thank you so very much for contributing!<\/p>\n

Disney Does It Right! \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been saying that for 25 years <\/p>\n

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