Day 4 - Animal Kingdom

Sunday morning we got up and ready to go to Animal Kingdom. I think though had we said "Nevermind, we're staying here and playing in the pool all day" nobody would have complained! So we put on a happy face, bought some Mickey Ears for the girls and that seemed to brighten some spirits!

But we made it there and had a great day. It was just as hot & humid as yesterday but not a cloud in the sky. Animal Kingdom though is very very lush and well treed and there is lots of shade so I think we all felt it was more bearable.

Our first stop when we got there was to the Kilimanjaro Safari. It is like a real safari with real animals and you trek through it in a safari vehicle. Only difference is the animals are all penned up at night! Strange to see where the elephants sleep and the lions etc. But we saw a bunch of animals, from the elephants and lions, to the giraffes and rhinos, hippos, strange African cows with huge horns (I'm sure they have a name!) crocodiles, etc etc etc. It was very well done and we were glad we did it early. We had gotten a fast pass for 40 min later but then someone gave us her 3 fast passes for right then - so no wait. We returned the favour when we got back and gave our three fast passes to a family who was going to have to return in an hour for their fast pass time!

After that we did a little walking trail through "Africa" and saw more animals and some conservation efforts of the Disney Animal Kingdom. Jason will post some pics I'm sure.

Then off to Asia for lunch at the "Yak & Yeti" - again in the heat, less than relaxing but very good Chinese food. We got another fast pass for the Kali River Rapids - again another ride Oakley couldn't go on but figured it would be good for when she was napping to have Jason and Abbey go and I'd stay with Oaks. Then we tried to cool off as best we could and lathered up again in the SPF 50 sunblock and decided to go back through Africa to Rafiki's Planet Watch - only accessible through Africa and on a train. There was a conservation centre there, a petting zoo, interpretive centre, etc. We got a picture of Oakley with Rafiki and watched a bit of a bird show and then left. Back to Asia for the Kali River Rapids -and we finally had a snoring girl. So off Jason and Abbey went and I walked with Oakley. A nice cast member told me about a jungle trek that was cool and shaded and if I wanted to walk Oakley in there it was a good spot. So off I went - and saw some bats & tigers along the way! I waited for Jason and Abbey to come off the ride then we did a Rider Switch - they let you do that when you have a little one who is too small to ride the rides so then one parent can stay with them and the other one can ride with the older child - then the other parent can go when the older child goes twice. Worked out pretty good!

The Kali River Rapids were GREAT - a fast ride (only took 5 min or so, like most of them) but was like white water rafting. We got soaked - seriously took me the rest of the day to dry off! I am glad Abbey's camera is waterproof - we got some good pics! Abbey enjoyed going on it twice!

Then off to another roller coaster! Expedition Everest is the name of the ride and it's a huge roller coaster that looks like Mount Everest.We went through the single rider line - knowing it would be less of a wait and that we likely wouldn't get to sit together. Poor Abbey's face when she saw the guy she'd be sitting with and me three rows ahead. The nice lady I was put with offered to trade spots as she realized that we wanted to be together! So up we went! It was an awesome ride too (geez Abbey might be making a roller coaster addict out of me yet!) It was a different ride than the day before, no loopdie loops - but we had to go backwards!! UGGG... but fun!

Meanwhile Jason and Oakley were waiting for us in a nice shady spot. Off we went to explore everything we could before we had to leave. We got one more fast pass for the Dinosaur show for Jason and Abbey and then walked through Dinoland USA which would have been fun to explore had we had more time. And still Oakley slept....

Back to the front of the park (we just did a big loop around)... and there was "It's Tough to be a Bug" - a show I had heard of but couldn't take Oakley in - so off Jason and Abbey went again! Oakley and I cruised around some huge air conditioned gift shops, and by the time they came out she was up! They had a blast, said it was the most fun they had yet - the bugs on the screen spit at you and then something actually sprays you! Or kicks your seat! Or rolls across your back! Sounds like fun!

Then off to use our last Fast Pass before we had to go - Dinosaur. On our way there we found a character meet & greet with Tigger, Pooh and Eyeore... which was fun, Oakley's reaction to them was so funny. And great timing - they all took a break right after Oakley's turn! Then only after a few minutes delay we were off to the Dinosaur ride. Oakley and I walked around while they did that and we ended up finding yet another character spot with Goofy and Pluto. It took longer than we planned but Jason and Abbey found us after their ride on Dinosaur and we all were done with Animal Kingdom. (I never really did get the review on the Dinosaur ride - I assume then it was ok but not great!)

We had dinner reservations for 5 pm at the Yachtsman Steakhouse in one of the fancier Disney Resorts, so we hopped the bus there. The bus was hot and crowded and smelled very badly. :) But then again I am sure we smelled very badly too. I was afraid they wouldn't let us in - we were not exactly fancy restaurant type people at this point - I mean we were still wet from the River Rapids ride, hot and stinky, and in running shoes! But they let us in and although we stuck out a bit we didn't care. We had a fabulous steak dinner, and Oakley had noodles in cheese sauce - and she ate almost the entire plate. We were all so relieved. She has eaten so poorly lately that to see her eat was just so wonderful. I guess they will eat when they are hungry right? So aside from the food that was amazing, this place also had lots of nice touches. They ALSO were told it was Jason & Abbey's birthday - and had special menus printed up with "Happy Birthday Jason & Abigail" on them! And a birthday card signed by 'a few people in the back' - like Tigger, Mickey, Minnie, Chip & Dale, Pocohontas, etc etc. And special birthday desserts!

Then back to our hotel. Of course there is no direct line from a fancy hotel to our budget hotel - we had to go to a park then hop a bus. But we got to take a boat - since the Disney Yacht Club is on the lake - so the boat took us back to Hollywood Studios where we were yesterday and then we took our bus back.

When we got back to the hotel I got Oakley in her swim suit and headed to the pool. We hit three pools tonight - the Goofy Splash Pad again, the BIG pool as she calls it, and then a smaller pool with a few little fountains. I had to drag her out kicking and screaming! Tub time and bed time and what a bear she's been - but she's out now! Hope she stays that way!

I booked our transfers for tomorrow morning at 8:25 - we are off to our day 1 at Universal Studios! Wish us luck!