For the second year in a row, we have started out our Disney Adventure at Animal Kingdom. I really love this park, especially for the very young. I remember taking Riley here when she was two, and watching how amazed she was by everything around her was such a fantastic experience. Well, now it was Emily's turn. She was the same, just amazed at all of the beautiful things around her. I have to add this comparison shot of the girls (both at age 2) walking with their daddy into Animal Kingdom.
While at AK, we always have to go for a ride on the Kilmanjaro Safari and a stroll thru the Pangani Exploration Trail in Africa. Again, for Emily, this was the most amazing thing. But, I must admit, the the older kids on this trip, Animal Kingdom just didn't seem to excite them very much. Almost a been there, done that sort of mentality. I found I was feeling that way too. Don't get me wrong, Animal Kingdom is AMAZING, but more so the first time you have seen it, then the amazing seems to sort of wear off a bit. This year, they didn't even want to stop for face painting
at the Harambe Market Place as they had in the years past (they would make up for this later though).
But Emily was enthralled, she loved the fish, the birds, the monkeys and the freedom of running the trail - so fun to watch..
We were treated to an event that we will probably never see again. The female gorilla had given birth to a baby just the day before and was protectively carrying it around with her, while the male stood guard in his usual dominant position. So amazing to see
We stopped for some lunch at the delicious Flame Tree BBQ - mmmmm ribs. and did some wandering around before heading to DINOLAND - the kids main and most anticipated attraction area.
We spent a good chunk of our time at Dinoland. The kids stopped at a Discovery Kids Stop, to rebuild some dinosaur skeletons and learn some fun filled facts.
Following this, the dads made an executive decision that they would take Jon Owen and Riley on Dinosaur (Lauren who had previously tried this ride wanted nothing to do with it).
Dinosaur is a pretty scary ride, I've been on it, and why I agreed to it, I'm not sure. So Jay, Jacqui, Papa, Kris Riley and Jon Owen headed off for the ride, while the rest of us hung out with Dino Sue.
Well I will tell you, Riley and Jon Owen DID NOT like the ride, way too scary for both of them. But there was no backlash from the event, no haunting nightmares that night or talk about it the next day, so no harm done.
The it was time for play in the Boneyard. At The Boneyard, would-be paleontologists can play amid a world of dinosaur discoveries. Kids can wander through a maze, slide down covered slides, climb among the rocks and explore to their heart's content. The boneyard features a giant, multi-level maze with covered slides; shaded archeological dig site where kids can excavate fossils from Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Woolly Mammoth; a set of musical fossilized bones set into the side of a hill: knock on the bones of the "xylobone" to play a tune; lots of tunnels to explore; a jeep to climb and play on and many hidden secrets to discover: open doors, step on dinosaur footprints, open lids to crates and just plain explore.
And you can never go to Dino Land without a stop at Triceratops spin or a siting of Pluto or Goofy!!
Well, our first day in Disney World and Emily WANTED TO SEE MICKEY!!!!! So Down to Camp Minnie and Mickey we went, for the younger ones to see Mickey and for Lauren to take in a viewing of the Lion King with her mom and grandparents. We had another stop on the way at a Discovery kids club kiosk to play the "guess what you are feeling" game and another stamp for their passport.
Then came the big suprise of the day. At some point in all of our trips to Disney, Riley has seen all of the Princesses, all of them, except Pocahontas. Not sure if the daughter of a Chief is technically a princess, but she is always included with them. She use to have a meet and great out at Rifiki's Planet Watch, but we never made it out to see her. I was wanting to today, but Jacqui said that she wasn't there anymore. But that was ok, cause who did we run into on our way to Camp Minnie Mickey - Pocahontas - Hurray. Riley was so excited. Now, she has met them all!!!!
Then the main event - meeting Mickey. Emily was as excited as I have ever seen her as the line got shorter and our turn was soon approaching. From 5 feet away, she totally loved him. But, as I expected, was super nervous as we approached. I love the tentative shots, as as you can see but the revealing of the bra strap, she was pulling and clinging on me like crazy. Too funny.
Before leaving, we had a few more surprise greatings. From Thumper and Miss Bunny and from DAISY!!!! Three more characters that we have never met before. So exctiting.
So many times, the cutest moments, the greatest moments have nothing to do with the attractions and events. I love capturing these shared moments going on in the sidelines. Emily and Hudson were having a great time sharing a tub of popcorn. Feeding each other, and talking and laughing together. So cute.
So the days not over yet. The sun was shining, and the temperature was pretty warm considering it had been in the 50s and 60s, so we thought we would go for a post Animal Kingdom swim. The swimming was fun, and would actually be the only time we would enjoy the pool at Bay Lake. The had some great slides that the kids braved the cold to go down. But getting out of the pool - not so fun - instant freezing!!! So cold infact that we raced back up to our hotel room and ran hot water in the hot tub, and continued the "swim" inside where it was nice and warm.
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