Reentry shock

I'm not entirely sure how it happened--one minute I'm lounging on my
balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the next minute I'm sitting at my desk
at work. Ah well, never enough time for Disney. I do recommend a solo
trip now and then. I hadn't done it in years and really enjoyed myself.


My ratings this trip:

Magical Express: B
Everything that could have slowed me down did slow me down. In both
directions, I was the first onto the bus and the last off of the bus.
Plus the marathon delayed the bus on the way in. Still, they kept
things moving along, and the drivers were very friendly--chatty
even--and I got to where I was going with minimal fuss. Plus, I didn't
have to retrieve luggage at the airport.

Disney Transportation: A-
The only real delay I had was the one time I was in a hurry to get
somewhere. Overall, I almost always had a bus show up in short order.

Animal Kingdom Lodge: A-
Awesome hotel, friendly staff, efficient housekeeping, good food,
wonderful views, ice-cold pool.

Boma: A+
Breakfast only this time, but it was a really good and varied
breakfast. After the second morning, they started welcoming me back
like a long-lost relative.

In-park Counter Service: C
It was okay. There was always something to eat, but many favorite
places were closed, and the prevailing theme of the available food
seemed to be "lack of taste."

Maintenance: A-
Many of us remember a time five or six years ago when the Crystal
Palace was rotting and the Swiss Family Treehouse was losing thatch in
vast chunks. They seem to have figured out that deferred maintenance is
a losing game and the place is looking good now. The Talking Drums in
Adventureland are sporting a nice new paint job.

Cast Members: A
Overall, everyone I encountered was cheerful, helpful, and just plain
nice.

--
Caren
TDC Queen of Adventureland

Derek Janssen wrote:

> Also, I like (and, actually, need) to get a spa massage every time I do
> a Deluxe trip, and going over to Saratoga was nice last time but took
> too much out of the afternoon...
> I've heard there's a Niki Bryan mini-spa at AKL's fitness center--I know
> it can't compare to the GF's or Saratoga's, but is it worth keeping
> things on hotel property to enjoy?


I can't speak for the AKL mini-spa, but the Mandara Spa in the Dolphin
is FABULOUS - and not TOO far from the parks.

If I had to guess where the Queen of Adventureland stays, it would be
the AKL!!
It will be a long time before I get counter service at MK again, after
nearly getting sick off of a "noodle bowl" at, I think, Tomorrowland
Terrace Noodle Station. Yuck. The only counter I ever want to see, is
one where some Dole Whips are being handed to us...

I struggle with the office antipodes as well. But think of it this way:
if it weren't for the office, the Disney experience wouldn't be what it
is. But you already knew that...

CJ

On Jan 12, 3:47 pm, "Caren" <dri...@sgi.net> wrote:
> I'm not entirely sure how it happened--one minute I'm lounging on my
> balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the next minute I'm sitting at my desk
> at work. Ah well, never enough time for Disney. I do recommend a solo
> trip now and then. I hadn't done it in years and really enjoyed myself.
>
> In-park Counter Service: C
> It was okay. There was always something to eat, but many favorite
> places were closed, and the prevailing theme of the available food
> seemed to be "lack of taste."
>
> Caren
> TDC Queen of Adventureland

Julie wrote:
>
> I think your description of this experience on DME would be more like a
> c- for me. Mears shuttle used to take 30 minutes door to door. DME
> sometimes takes 2 hours. The best experience I had was probably a b.
>
Even though the ride took rather longer than I would have liked, it was
a very enjoyable experience. I got entertaining drivers, got to talk to
a nice gentleman from Canada who was bringing his grandchild for his
first trip, and I didn't have to wrestle my luggage.

--
Caren
TDC Queen of Adventureland

Card Painter wrote:
> If I had to guess where the Queen of Adventureland stays, it would be
> the AKL!!

The Queen also favors the Polynesian--another fine Adventureland annex.

> It will be a long time before I get counter service at MK again, after
> nearly getting sick off of a "noodle bowl" at, I think, Tomorrowland
> Terrace Noodle Station. Yuck. The only counter I ever want to see, is
> one where some Dole Whips are being handed to us...

For a brief time--about 20 minutes, I think--the Tomorrowland Noodle
Station served up some of the best food to be had anywhere in the
world. But then they cut costs and, surprisingly, no one wants to eat
there anymore.

> I struggle with the office antipodes as well. But think of it this way:
> if it weren't for the office, the Disney experience wouldn't be what it
> is. But you already knew that...
>
The trouble with the office is that they don't give me enough vacation
time and salary to spend enough time at Disney. The Queen really needs
to be able to inspect every Adventureland and Adventureland annex at
least annually.

--
Caren
TDC Queen of Adventureland

LisaB wrote:
> Caren wrote:
> >I'm not entirely sure how it happened--one minute I'm lounging on my
> >balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the next minute I'm sitting at my
> >desk at work. Ah well, never enough time for Disney. I do recommend
> >a solo trip now and then. I hadn't done it in years and really enjoyed
> myself.
>
> Wait, is this another virtual WDW trip or the real thing? Hm. Looks like
> the real thing.
>
> it! That's not fair!
>
>
> Lisa
> TDC Ping, Royal Heroine Warrior
> Grand Imagineer of the Trimobian Pavilion
> (AKL. <sniffle> Maybe later this year....)

Plan for October for the RADP meet and the Food and Wine Festival. We
can schedule a Trimobian meet in Adventureland for the purpose of
carrying a plate of spaghetti onto the Jungle Cruise. And you can give
us a tour of the Trimobian Pavilion. You should probably start cleaning
it now.

--
Caren
TDC Queen of Adventureland

Ping hasn't been paying attention:

> Um. What's up with the spaghetti?
>

A Jungle Cruise CM said that they don't care if we bring a plate of
spaghetti aboard. We're going to test that. Think of it as a Trimobian
Food and Wine festival.

--
Caren
TDC Queen of Adventureland

On Jan 16, 7:56 am, "Caren" <dri...@sgi.net> wrote:
> Ping hasn't been paying attention:
>
> > Um. What's up with the spaghetti?A Jungle Cruise CM said that they don't care if we bring a plate of
> spaghetti aboard. We're going to test that. Think of it as a Trimobian
> Food and Wine festival.
>
> --
> Caren
> TDC Queen of Adventureland

"Think of it as a Trimobian Food and Wine festival."

It's good to be the Queen.

(glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read this :)