Trip Report 2012 Day #8 - Animal Kingdom Rope Drop, Mini Golf, Downtown Disney

Today we find ourselves at the Animal Kingdom for rope drop.  This park is something of an enigma to us.  We know lots of people love it but we are just not that into it.  Maybe it is because a 3 year old Samantha once asked why the animals were so far away on the safari, why can't they be close like our zoo.  I think it is that we are truly spoiled by our local zoo (Henry Doorly Zoo) which is arguably one of the best in the world.  With that in mind we will move ahead with our day.

After the rope drops we are off, this is a picture from the area they hold you back with the rope.  Sure there are lots of great things to see in the Tree of Life Garden but that is not why we woke up early.  People come early to head in one of two directions at Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safari or Expedition Everest.  

With our chicken little kids we headed to the safari.  Sam and Alden are tall enough to go on Expedition Everest but they are scared of the Yeti inside the ride! (2014 update: Samantha and Alden are no longer afraid of the Yeti! They went on Expedition Everest in the Fall of 2013 and LOVED it!)   

On the safari we get to see a few things that we don't have at home like full sized hippos (our zoo just has Pygmy Hippos), lots of crocodiles, and a large herd of Elephants.

This was the first time we had actually seen a lion on the safari.  We had heard that they installed a cooling unit on the edge of the rocks to entice the lions out to the edge!

This guy decided to stop in front of us for a while.  The one wild card with this attraction is you have no idea how long it will take.  You could just zoom on through or you could have to stop for 15 min for an ostrich that thinks they own the road. 

Still waiting for these eggs to hatch.

On the safari they make you set the kids in the middle which really limits what they see.   There is no way they can look down on the hippos and crocodiles real easily and if they stand the truck stops and they are told to sit rather quickly.

Once we were off the safari we walked from Africa to Asia and I rode Expedition Everest in the single rider line.  Then it was off to Dinoland USA to take a few spins on Triceratop Spin.

Clair was happy to be on a simple spinner.

Not sure what has caught their attention but it must be something fascinating.  

After spinning we headed back to Dinosaur and got a picture of Sue.

Not sure who is the most scared in this picture, but it is a scary ride and Sam and Alden did great for their first time.

After Dinosaur we went to the playground. Sam almost got her head bit off, luckily this dinosaur was no longer living.

There are lots of great slides for the kids to play on.

More sliding.

The kids took over this jeep.

Clair found one to ride.

And now for a picture with our two favorite dogs: Goofy & Pluto!

We then went over to Pizzafari for lunch and lucky for you we did not take any pictures of this meal.  We really only went there because it was already open and has indoor seating.  Flame tree BBQ is the go to counter service for good food but it is outside.  In the Florida heat I am willing to trade food quality for AC.

After lunch we stopped by Camp Minnie and Mickey.  We got the rare treat to met Pocahontas and Meeko together! 

After meeting them we ran into the strolling musician and he sang a song about the kids!

Click on the video above to hear what he sang about us. 

Nothing like a hug from Br'er Fox.  

We thin me King Louie and Baloo.

We were on our way out and remembered Russel and Dug from UP.

Had to get a picture of Dug and Doug.

And on the way out we got a picture with the Tree of Life.

This Photopass photographer went above and beyond and did lots of "magic" shots.

Then off to the car.  It was only about 1 o'clock and we really did not have another park in us so we headed to play some mini golf because we had the Water Parks and More add on to our ticket.  

We picked the Fantasia Course.  The best part was there was no one behind us because we were slow.  Clair only played about half the holes.

Alden was confident he won. He didn't.

Each hole had this little thing that told you what part of the movie it was from.

The kids had fun despite never seeing the movie.

They look like they love each other in this picture.  You can see the impending mid afternoon storm about to roll in.  We loaded up the car and they fell asleep and then the rain started to fall.  So we found a parking spot at a restaurant and let them sleep for an hour or so before eating dinner. 

Now that we were all rested and relaxed, we headed to downtown Disney for a little shopping.  Alden's mind could not handle the wall of Lego's.

We have a picture of Alden and every Lego structure so if you want to see the other 50 of them let me know.

He might be a little Dopey.

Once again they look like they like each other! (if only it didn't take 10 pictures to get the one good one)

Arrrrrrr!

We got a snack at Downtown Disney for a treat at the hotel.

Nice way to end the night with a snack and some coloring!

Trip Report 2012 Day #7 - Magic Kingdom Rope Drop, Cinderella's Royal Table, Clair's Birthday

Now we have arrived at October 2nd, 2012, the day Clair turned 3.   

One major reason to celebrate a 3rd birthday at Disney World is because it is FREE!!!

(2 and under = no park ticket and free at buffets and family style meals. You just need to arrive at your Disney World Resort to start your trip at least 1 day before the 3rd birthday of your child if you want them to be counted as a 2 year old. Disney uses your "arrival birthdate" as the age for the whole trip.)

We started her day with an 8:05am reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table for her birthday meal!  Clair gets to eat free because she was 2 when we started the trip. 

This is what a pre rope drop view of Cinderella Castle looks like.  Not as free of people as you would think with three things taking reservations at 8am (Crystal Palace, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique)

We try to get a picture with the Cinderella fountain every trip.  The key word is TRY.  There are usually at least 5 people just sitting in front of it so that makes it tough.  We took this while Doug checked us in.

Once checked in they call your name then you get in a short line to meet Cinderella herself.  The picture is included with the meal.  Then it's up the stairs (or elevator) to the dining room.

First they bring you a plate of breakfast pastries then you order off the menu.  If you want to see more about the meal check out this link HERE. 

First up we met Snow White.

Then peasant Belle.

Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

Last, but not least, Ariel visited us.

Clair with her birthday cupcake!

Make sure you tell them when you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary because they will bring you a special dessert.  

This meal has some question marks for us because they give all the boys swords, but the girls do get magic wands to defend themselves.

A picture with just the boy to counter balance all the princess stuff (but really he loved it just as much, you saw that hug with Ariel)

After breakfast we rushed over to meet Merida.  Her meet is a rope drop priority because the line will build and stay there all day long.  We were done eating just a little before 9am so we left the castle just as the people from the front gate were getting there. We ended up second in line for Merida, but while we were waiting the group in front of us let us go first because it was Clair's birthday (VERY sweet family to let us to do that).   

They kids had lots of questions for her.

They got to talk quite a while because they were first.  Thanks to the family that let us go first if you ever read this!

Right after Merida we high tailed it over to adventureland to meet some of pixie hallow's most important fairies.  First up was Tink in her winter outfit.

Then we met Periwinkle (Tinker Bell's sister)  

(Please note: you can only meet Tinker Bell alone as of May 2014)

And a nice smile with the winter fairy.

We then met Pirate Goofy who meets by Pirates of The Caribian. The sad thing is this was our first time to meet him and will be our last because this was the last day he met there.  Tomorrow he would start meeting in the New Fantasyland Meet & Greet.

A spin on the Magic Carpets.

We met Woody & Jessie from Toy Story at the exit of Splash Mountain. 

  Then it was time for a wardrobe change as the temperatures were starting to climb and a princess dress is only so comfy in the heat!

The next thing we did was the Hoedown Happening.  This is a "unscheduled event" that takes place in Fronteirland about every hour or so.  If you ask a cast member about it they will claim they have no idea what you are talking about.  The best thing about it is there are lots of Characters that you can't see any other way.  We often call Clair "Clarabelle" as a nickname so we really wanted her to meet Clarabelle the Cow on her birthday.  We mentioned this to one of the cast members that had "never heard of a Hoedown" and as the next hoedown started Clarabelle "magically" came over to Clair and asked her to dance!

Clair danced with Clarabelle the whole time.  Alden and Sam danced with some other characters and Cast Members throughout the 10 min that it lasted.

These characters usually don't pose for pictures but they were extra nice with the birthday girl.

After all that dancing it works up an appetite so we walked into Pecos Bills for lunch around 11:00 to beat the crowds.

After lunch the big kids and I used a fast pass on Thunder Mountain, while Doug and Clair made their way over to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

After a Spin on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, the kids were imprissioned with Zurg.

Then we met the Galactic Hero himself.

Followed by a spin on Dumbo

Clair and Doug

We used a Fastpass for The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh and a Photopass Photogarapher was catching people as the ride ended.

Next we split up again and Clair and I met Minnie & Mickey, while Doug and the big kids played Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

Daisy Duck

Marie (from the Aristocrats) 

And a nice picture of the two of us!

This is what Alden and Sam were up to as we met the characters.  They love the interactive game.  They played on Main St. USA and beat the level.  They were so excited.  I could see them move from spot to spot as we went from character to character.  

After all that we met up again with a Mickey Bar and a glass of free Ice Water!

Our day at Magic Kingdom had come to an end, and we went back to the hotel!  Clair was asleep before we were out of the parking lot.  I think it was a great way to spend a 3rd birthday.

This is a short video of the special day for Clair and her birthday!