The Accidental Breakfast With Donald Duck and Friends

By Nick

Sometimes, mistakes are made.

On my last trip to Walt Disney World I woke up early one morning under the impression that it was an Extra Magic Hour morning at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I don't know why. Maybe I dreamed it. Maybe because it was the last day of my trip, and I was in a "returning to reality" funk?

Regardless, I got on a bus at 720am from The Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani Village, and arrived at about 735am. I guess I should have guessed something was amiss when I was the only person on the bus, but I didn't, until I got to the front entrance and noticed there were only a few Cast Members and guests milling about!

I realized my mistake, and was contemplating just going back to the Lodge when I noticed people checking in at the entrance to go into the park early for breakfast at Tusker House.

"Hmmm," I thought, "I'm hungry." So I approached the CM holding an electronic tablet and asked if there was any possibility of a free table for a solo diner. She very politely explained I could check availability via the My Disney Experience app. I immediately searched and discovered there was indeed an opening. At 10:30am.

I told the CM this and she said to go ahead and book it, and she'd let me go ahead early, and that I would just need to tell the folks over at the Tusker House that she said it was ok!

When I arrived at Tusker, they had just opened, I explained the situation and within just a few minutes, I was being seated.

*Please note, I don't know that this would work for a larger party, or even a single, as the Cast Member who assisted me may have just taken pity on me (I did give her my "boo boo face"), and would hate to be responsible for you not having similar results!

 I love the look and feel of Tusker!

Let's take a look at the food!

I went up and got my first plate and was just finishing when Donald stopped by. His Cast Member buddy was happy to take my photo with him, and all his friends as they came by.

I finished at about 5 minutes to 9am and took a stroll to Kilimanjaro Safaris, which was just opening!

If you love breakfast buffets like me, want to get photos with the characters in a different environment and dressed in unique attire, and want to get a jump on park opening, I highly recommend getting an early ADR at Tusker House!

Kilimanjaro Safaris: Great Disney Cast Members

by: Nick

One of our favorite rides in Walt Disney World is Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom. On one particular morning in January of 2007, we headed right for this terrific ride at rope drope.
We were among the first to ride, and our guide  through the  Harambe Wildlife Reserve was Chelsea.
Seated right up front, she easily heard my comments and concerns for the well being of "Little Red" (remember him?), which made her laugh.
Later, towards park close, we once again decided to take a safari.
We were pleasantly surprised to once again have Chelsea as our driver!

She actually asked us to stay on after the trek. She said she'd been a Cast Member on this attraction for a long time, and this was the first time she'd had someone on both her very first, and very last drive of the day! We chatted for a little while, and got our picture with her. She couldn't have been nicer! The perfect way to end what had already been a wonderful surprise filled day.

The Disney Exchange- Episode 7 Show Notes: A Walk Around Animal Kingdom

By Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

-The Disney Exchange is Lisa Green, David Hodges, and me, Nicholas Maglio

-Main Topic- A Walk Around Disney's Animal Kingdom

-Lisa insists Animal Kingdom is a full day park. She gets there as early as possible and gets busy before heading to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner.
I disagree and get fired. Bye.
My wife, Barbie, and I generally just go half a day. This gives Lisa a stomach ache.
Dave gets there for rope drop if possible and also doesn't stay all day, but does return later in the day.
He points out that Animal Kingdom is wonderful at night, and I agree.

-I am pretty sure the animals at Animal Kingdom are audio-animatronics. No?

-First thing we do at the park: Lisa enjoys stopping at the cast members holding critters in glass cases with critters first thing in the morning, and will stop to look as long as she doesn't have an early FastPass. We do Kilimanjaro Safaris. Dave never gets FastPasses for the morning, opting instead to get them for late morning and early afternoon. He will ride Safari or Expedition Everest first depending on the weather.
Dave and I discuss potty locations at the front of the park.

-Touring strategies: Dave doesn't have one, but will FastPass Expedition Everest, the Safaris and the third depends, but is normally Festival of the Lion King and he can do it over and over, seeing it every trip. I confess we've only seen it once. Lisa has done it 3 times in one trip.

-Dave points out I am uncultured. I don't disagree.

-Lisa points out we (and by we, I mean the collective us, you folks included!) need to stop and observe the wonderful details in Animal Kingdom particularly in the ride queues such as Kali River Rapids. I state I've only ridden this once.
I once again give Lisa agita.

Photo: Lisa Green

-Lisa claims she has video proof of a frog attack on Kali River Rapids. (it happens at the 4:10 mark, btw)

-My favorite ride is Dinosaur, Dave and Lisa don't agree. Spoiler Alert: the Dinosaurs are NOT real.

-Lisa gives ME an ulcer. She prefers Primeval Whirl to Dinosaur.

-Dave has ridden Triceratops Spin, while Lisa and I have not, because it is just a spinning ride.

-Lisa tells a Dumbo horror story, before we return to Animal Kingdom.

-Where do we eat? Dave eats at Flame Tree 75.3% of the time. Lisa eats there also, 90% of the time. She also likes Yak and Yeti's quick serve. But her big thing is the snacks!
We learn Dave is not a sharer.
Our favorite is Yak and Yeti for sit down, Flame Tree for quick serve.

-Top 3 attractions? Dave: Rafiki Planet Watch, (in fact, so much, he likes it twice) and Festival of the Lion King. Lisa: Pangani Forest Trail, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safari.
Me: Safari, Everest (for my wife), and Dinosaur.
I explain how my Dachshund, Squidward, looks like a Naked Mole Rat.

 

 Squidward and his sister, Shnelly

-The Wheel of Distany- One Favorite Souvenir you always buy: Lisa's is a Christmas ornament. Dave; Limited edition PIN. Me, a t-shirt.

- We meet Miss Pixie, our very own advise columnist!

-If you have a question or would like advise from Miss Pixie, contact her at:

misspixie@thedisneyexchange.com

Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please leave feedback on iTunes!

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December '14 Walt Disney World Trip Report : Part 3

By Nick

Monday, December 8th

We up early and off to Disney's Animal Kingdom for Extra Magic Hours at 8am. It was gray with a light drizzle, and cool.

We rode Kilimanjaro Safaris, but despite the cool weather, there weren't many animals out at that early hour.

As we were all hungry, and it was now drizzling harder, we decided to have breakfast at Pizzafari, a restaurant we'd never been in previously.

Since we were planning to eat lunch at Yak and Yeti, I decided to eat light and got the Ancient Grains Hot Cereal. It was filling is about all I can say good about it. A lot of cream and sugar helped make it more flavorful, but just.

We rode the Safari again, and there were a few more animals out, and we caught the giraffes feeding.

By the time we finished the ride, it was raining steadily.

We walked over to the character spot between Africa and Asia, and got photos with Baloo and King Louie. This was one of the best character interactions we've seen.

At one point they were fighting over who would get to pose with Barbie.

We then took a walk through The Maharajah Jungle Trek, but didn't see much animal activity there. I didn't even see the tigers.

After a wonderful lunch at Yak and Yeti, where we all split different dishes, we took a ride on Dinosaur.

As it was raining heavily, we all decided to head back to the Wilderness Lodge.

We all rested for a bit before meeting and catching a bus to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas Tree and Gingerbread House (and, yes, buy some goodies).

Left to right: Jill, Josh, Barbie, me, and Nicole

Then it was off to the Contemporary to see the Frozen themed gingerbread display.

We headed to the Polynesian next for a very good dinner at O'hana.

We went to the Magic Kingdom to see the Castle Lighting.

Afterwards, we'd planned on riding a few rides, but it began to rain again, so Barbie and I left Nicole, Josh, and Jill, and headed back to the Resort.

Trip Report: Part 1 and Part 2