missx0xdelaney
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2012
July 6, 2013 Part One - Target Shenanigans and AK AM!
The next morning we got up at 7 so we could get ready and stop at Target before rope drop at Animal Kingdom! Tony and I needed to pick up some Disney cards because we get a 10% discount on them, plus the monsoon the night before made us realize that we didn't bring any ponchos. This turned into a much more complicated trip than necessary. I went to the ATM to take out some cash for the giftcards (we can only use cash, check or a Target card with our discount) and my card wouldn't work (the second time it got declined). I called my bank to see what was up and of course they had put a fraud alert on my card because I had used it in a few different states for gas on the way down. (Interestingly, on the other 3 trips we've made to FL in the last year, they NEVER once did this, which is why I didn't give them a heads up on my vacation.)
After a few minutes and a lot of questions I was able to get my cash, only to find out that neither of us had our discount cards with us and the store refused to take our team member numbers instead. Even though we had the 8 digit number memorized and were paying using a card that only Target team members could get. Tony even escalated it to the manager on duty, and even she said no. The cashier was like "I would if I could", and Tony apparently told her that she can, but she just wouldn't. To be fair, there is an option on the register that she COULD have used, but some stores like to make their own rules up. We decided that when we came back later we'd be going to a different Target, which is too bad for them because we would have spent nearly $1000 there! Oh well.
After that debacle, we got back in the cars and headed down to Animal Kingdom. From where we were on 192, the quickest way was to take this back road called Sherbeth Rd down to the front of the park. It's really neat because you pass the Animal Kingdom rehearsal facility (where they do character auditions!), an ESPN VIP center, and the costuming buildings for AK! So cool! I was following Siri's directions on my iPhone to get there so I ignored the signs that said to make a right for the park and turned left (toward AK Lodge) like Siri said to..... WRONG. We ended up heading directly toward the AKL gates. I panicked and pulled over in a limited access entrance and told Tony that Siri led me astray. He just told me to turn around and get back on the road... which luckily led us toward the main gate. Finally we made it in and found a parking space. I checked in on Foursquare and said:
Arielle Hughes @missx0xdelaney 6 Jul
Finally, no thanks to Siri. (@ Disney's Animal Kingdom - @waltdisneyworld w/ 15 others) http://4sq.com/14xzNuC
Oh Siri, you scoundrel. We got to the tram area and had to wait for another one because the first was full. It came quickly enough and we made it up to the gate area. I breezed through the no bag line with my wristlet and waited off to the side for everyone else to get through. While I was waiting I occupied myself with some more selfies!
After that, we headed in and through the Oasis. Not far inside the entrance, we saw the new Wilderness Explorers outpost. Of course I had to stop! For those of you who haven't heard about it, it is a little hut right on the other side of the bridge after the Oasis. You go in, and they give you a booklet that shows all kinds of activities you can do around the park to earn badges. They start out by teaching you the Wilderness Explorers handshake and that earns you your first badge. Some of the activities are quick and you just have to fill them out in the book, and others require you to chat with a cast member or go to a certain ride to find something they have hidden. Then you need to go to a certain place to find a cast member who can verify the badge for you and give you a sticker in your book. It's really fun! PLUS I'm obssessed with Up, so it was perfect for me! My mom asked the cast member to take a picture of all of us after we got our first badge.
We continued on into the park only to stop not long after to do something I've wanted to do for a year! WE MET RUSSELL AND DUG!!! Every time Tony and I have passed their meet and greet area, they've either been taking a break or had a massive line. So imagine my excitement when there were only 3 or 4 families ahead of us! AHHH! When it was our turn, we went up and Russell noticed our Wilderness Explorers badge and started doing the secet handshake with us! It was the best. Then we took an adorable picture with them!
Before our trip, I actually said to Tony that if I only did one thing all week, it would be meeting them! I was literally skipping on our way to Kilimanjaro Safaris! We stopped on the way and got fastpasses for Expedition Everest and then practically walked on the safari. I LOVE rope drop mornings! I also love taking a safari first thing because the animals are all out and active.
I only got a few shots because Tony was on the side with the most action. I need to upload his shots still so I'll continue in another post!
The next morning we got up at 7 so we could get ready and stop at Target before rope drop at Animal Kingdom! Tony and I needed to pick up some Disney cards because we get a 10% discount on them, plus the monsoon the night before made us realize that we didn't bring any ponchos. This turned into a much more complicated trip than necessary. I went to the ATM to take out some cash for the giftcards (we can only use cash, check or a Target card with our discount) and my card wouldn't work (the second time it got declined). I called my bank to see what was up and of course they had put a fraud alert on my card because I had used it in a few different states for gas on the way down. (Interestingly, on the other 3 trips we've made to FL in the last year, they NEVER once did this, which is why I didn't give them a heads up on my vacation.)
After a few minutes and a lot of questions I was able to get my cash, only to find out that neither of us had our discount cards with us and the store refused to take our team member numbers instead. Even though we had the 8 digit number memorized and were paying using a card that only Target team members could get. Tony even escalated it to the manager on duty, and even she said no. The cashier was like "I would if I could", and Tony apparently told her that she can, but she just wouldn't. To be fair, there is an option on the register that she COULD have used, but some stores like to make their own rules up. We decided that when we came back later we'd be going to a different Target, which is too bad for them because we would have spent nearly $1000 there! Oh well.
After that debacle, we got back in the cars and headed down to Animal Kingdom. From where we were on 192, the quickest way was to take this back road called Sherbeth Rd down to the front of the park. It's really neat because you pass the Animal Kingdom rehearsal facility (where they do character auditions!), an ESPN VIP center, and the costuming buildings for AK! So cool! I was following Siri's directions on my iPhone to get there so I ignored the signs that said to make a right for the park and turned left (toward AK Lodge) like Siri said to..... WRONG. We ended up heading directly toward the AKL gates. I panicked and pulled over in a limited access entrance and told Tony that Siri led me astray. He just told me to turn around and get back on the road... which luckily led us toward the main gate. Finally we made it in and found a parking space. I checked in on Foursquare and said:
Arielle Hughes @missx0xdelaney 6 Jul
Finally, no thanks to Siri. (@ Disney's Animal Kingdom - @waltdisneyworld w/ 15 others) http://4sq.com/14xzNuC
Oh Siri, you scoundrel. We got to the tram area and had to wait for another one because the first was full. It came quickly enough and we made it up to the gate area. I breezed through the no bag line with my wristlet and waited off to the side for everyone else to get through. While I was waiting I occupied myself with some more selfies!
After that, we headed in and through the Oasis. Not far inside the entrance, we saw the new Wilderness Explorers outpost. Of course I had to stop! For those of you who haven't heard about it, it is a little hut right on the other side of the bridge after the Oasis. You go in, and they give you a booklet that shows all kinds of activities you can do around the park to earn badges. They start out by teaching you the Wilderness Explorers handshake and that earns you your first badge. Some of the activities are quick and you just have to fill them out in the book, and others require you to chat with a cast member or go to a certain ride to find something they have hidden. Then you need to go to a certain place to find a cast member who can verify the badge for you and give you a sticker in your book. It's really fun! PLUS I'm obssessed with Up, so it was perfect for me! My mom asked the cast member to take a picture of all of us after we got our first badge.
We continued on into the park only to stop not long after to do something I've wanted to do for a year! WE MET RUSSELL AND DUG!!! Every time Tony and I have passed their meet and greet area, they've either been taking a break or had a massive line. So imagine my excitement when there were only 3 or 4 families ahead of us! AHHH! When it was our turn, we went up and Russell noticed our Wilderness Explorers badge and started doing the secet handshake with us! It was the best. Then we took an adorable picture with them!
Before our trip, I actually said to Tony that if I only did one thing all week, it would be meeting them! I was literally skipping on our way to Kilimanjaro Safaris! We stopped on the way and got fastpasses for Expedition Everest and then practically walked on the safari. I LOVE rope drop mornings! I also love taking a safari first thing because the animals are all out and active.
I only got a few shots because Tony was on the side with the most action. I need to upload his shots still so I'll continue in another post!
