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 Walt Disney World Day #1 Art of Animation, Downtown Disney, Raglin Road, Flying With Kids

It was a dark and early September morning in 2012 and the McKnight Family was about to embark on a Walt Disney World adventure like never before.  The cast was myself (Michelle), Doug, Samantha(6), Alden(4), Clair(2) and we would celebrate Alden and Clair's birthday on this trip.  It started out with a 7:30 am flight out of OMA to ATL.  We packed breakfast in our Carry-ons so we could eat while we waited for our flight.

We enjoyed some mini doughnuts however Samantha dropped about half of them on the ground and we were confident that the airport carpet was not clean enough to eat off of.  So, Doug and I were a little hungry.  Poor Sam will be reminded of how she dropped our breakfast on the floor for years. 

We kind of took over this little nook of windows of the terminal.  You can see our plane out the window.

Clair is wearing a little harness that we borrowed from the Haggs  It helped keep her still.

It was a smaller plane, which I really like with the kids.  The flight attendants get to know their names sometimes and they let us board first because they were the only kids on the plane.  They also asked the kids if they wanted anything as we got settled in and they brought them each a little bottle of water and "cookie" (I don't call it a cookie, but Delta Airlines does!)

The kids each found a neck pillow for the trip.  We planned to use this more in the car then on the plane.

They also each found a new stuffed animal in their book bags when they opened them at the airport.  We watched the Disney store online for a deal and got a couple animals on sale before the trip.  This way they can start the trip with one souvenir and we didn't have to spend much!

The first real ride in Orlando at the airport! The monorail from the terminal to the main part of the airport.

After getting the rental van we took a picture to show just how we roll.  The car seats might be the biggest bags.  

Just about 30 min later we found ourselves "Where Dreams Come True"

First stop was our hotel for night one - the brand new Art of Animation Resort.  The wing we stayed in opened just 2 weeks before our arrival.

The front of the resort.  

In the lobby there is lots of art.  It shows the progression of movies from sketches to full color.

"Mine, Mine, Mine"

Farther down the lobby is the full color art work.

And the back door to Animation Hall.

We were in a little mermaid room for just one one night.  Since Clair was still 2 for another few days we could stay in this room as a family of four.  Once she hit 3, we officially became a family of 5 in Disney's eyes, and could no longer stay in the Standard Rooms at the Value Resorts.

Lots of under the sea touches.

A shower curtain full of treasure.  

We put on our swim suits and headed down to the "Big Blue Pool" in the Nemo section.  To get there we had to wonder through the "Pride Lands"of the resort.

Scar seems to be looking on a little too closely for Alden's liking.

Crush and Dori

Squirt hangs out at the play ground.

The playground consists of about 2 slides, but it looks really cool.

A water play area.  All of Nemo's friends are there and they squirt water at you.

Samantha Pearl with Pearl.

After a swim we ventured over to Radiator Springs.

Leaning tower of tires.

Guido

Mater

Possible the coolest pool cabanas on property.  They are first come first serve, so you may have to get there early or stalk them for one to open up.

The entrance to one of the Cars Family Suite buildings.

Ramone

Lightning

Sally

Sarg

Flow

Fillmore 

Mine, Mine, Mine

Back to our building.  We had King Triton watching over us.

That night we went to downtown Disney for few things.  First to eat Dinner - we ate at Raglan Road.  It is Irish themed and they have dancers and live music.  It was kind of a long meal with our tired travelers, but good food.   Then we had to go to Guest Services to pick up our Y.E.S. Tickets.  We bought our tickets through the Youth Educational Series program.  We signed Samantha and Alden up for a science class at the Magic Kingdom and to do this you have buy the tickets through them and pick them up at Guest Services either at Downtown Disney or one of the 4 theme parks.  

While Doug went to get the Tickets we checked out the newly Remodeled Lego Store.  It is huge and every Lego fan's dream.  Then we went back to our Little Mermaid themed room to get some sleep before hitting a park the next day!