Captain_Oblivious
DIS Dad #257, Galactic Salad Dodger
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 13,458
If you had asked Scotty before we left which ride he was looking forward to the most at all of Disney World (and we did), he would have said without hesitation, "The Safari." Or, as he called it, "Da-fari". Scotty loves animals, especially dogs (all dogs are "puppies" in his world). He wore out one pair of pajamas that depicted a dog wearing a space suit, wearing them well past the point where they actually fit and the elastic...well, held up the pants. He called them his Space Puppies pajamas. One year, he even wanted a Space Puppies-themed birthday party. Try finding that at your local Target.
Anyway, we figured the Animal Kingdom would be a welcome relief for him after all those scary rides from the previous day, such as Peter Pan.
The schedule showed this to be a morning EMH day for AK, but we didn't kill ourselves trying to get there at 8:00 a.m. Instead, we slept in (for us) and got to the park around 8:45 or so. We were surprised to be stopped just past the gate for the Rope Drop ceremony.
I never did figure out if they had actually opened at 8:00 or not. Anyway, this ceremony was a little smaller than the Magic Kingdom, but we still got to see some characters. Instead of entering on a train, it was a safari jeep:
It was cute, if not memorable. Once we were let in, we made our way through the lush jungle of the Oasis and headed straight for Dafari. We zipped through the queue and basically got right on.
I think Dafari is still a great attraction, even with the lame poachers story. Nobody pays attention to that part, anyway. Just seeing the animals in a beautiful re-creation of an African savannah is enough to keep me interested.
Rhino fight! These guys were facing off over the territory by the pond, according to our driver:
We had wanted to do the safari early in the day to try and catch animals who were awake, and for the most part, they didn't disappoint. I turned around to point some animals out to Scotty, who was extremely excited to see them. And by "extremely excited to see them," I mean slouched down on the bench looking as though he was ready for a nap. I think he actually started to lie down at one point, all the time insisting that he was enjoying the ride and wanted to see more animals. How much was his ticket again?
Here's the momma lion:
I would have taken a picture of the male lion, but--you'll never believe this!--he was asleep. In all of the years I've been on this ride, I have never once seen the male lion awake. I continue to believe that Disney does not own a real male lion, but simply an animatronic one that simulates a lion sleeping.
We went from Dafari to the Pangani Forest trail, and took our time enjoying the walk and the sights. Found several birds of the (mumble-mumble) species, a fish tank that captivated the kids, some naked molerats stumbling through dirt tunnels, snakes (why did it have to be snakes?), and gorillas. The Animal Kingdom may be lighter on attractions than the other parks, but the theming of Africa and Asia is some of the best on property, in my opinion. More on that later. Here's a waterfall on the trail where I tried longer exposures to blur the water. We didn't use the tripod, so I won't bother showing you the other 10 pictures where everything was blurrier.
The weather forecast had said it would be HOT! D#$% HOT! Being that it was mid-morning and we were sweating, it was right on the money. Time to make our way to Kali River Rapids.
After enduring a certain nameless child complaining through the line that he didn't want to go on this ride, we ignored him and had everyone climb aboard the raft. Don't forget to remember us when filling out your Parents of the Year nomination forms! Another family was seated with us. Making our way to the first climb, we remembered the large fountain that shoots up at the top, and we debated with the other family as to who would get soaked. I seemed to think that it would drench the person at the front of the raft, while the other dad said he thought it got the people in the back. We hit the ramp, and yours truly got parked at the front. Maybe the other dad was right?
The raft slowly climbed, inexorably moving forward. Mist and fog shrouded the top, making it difficult to make out the fountain at the top. I sat with my back to it, unsure of my fate. "I've got a bad feeling about this," I said.
We brought a disposable water-proof camera with us, but haven't gotten the film developed yet. Once we do, I'll try and post the picture of me getting drenched at the top of the ramp so you can mock me. Thanks a lot, Mr. Non-Expert Raft Guy. I had a long streak of rapids rides where I never got wet. The last 2, I've been soaked. I don't know why my luck has turned. Maybe it's because I'm Irish.
Anyway, we got the last laugh. Mr. Non-Expert Raft Guy and his family were at the front when we went down the drop.
We let the boys take turns pressing the button on the bridge to soak other riders after we got off. It was getting close to high noon, which meant...
It was time to take on Everest.
We polled the family to see who would be brave enough to face the Yeti. Sarah said she would try it, in a halting voice. The boys...well, honestly, what do you think the chances of the boys riding Everest were? One in a hundred? I'd say more like one in a million.
So I'm telling you there's a chance...
Coming Up Next: Who will brave the Himalayan Expedition? Later, who will get an actual Date Night at Disney World? And just what is a "Date", anyway? Never heard of it.
Anyway, we figured the Animal Kingdom would be a welcome relief for him after all those scary rides from the previous day, such as Peter Pan.
The schedule showed this to be a morning EMH day for AK, but we didn't kill ourselves trying to get there at 8:00 a.m. Instead, we slept in (for us) and got to the park around 8:45 or so. We were surprised to be stopped just past the gate for the Rope Drop ceremony.
I never did figure out if they had actually opened at 8:00 or not. Anyway, this ceremony was a little smaller than the Magic Kingdom, but we still got to see some characters. Instead of entering on a train, it was a safari jeep:
It was cute, if not memorable. Once we were let in, we made our way through the lush jungle of the Oasis and headed straight for Dafari. We zipped through the queue and basically got right on.
I think Dafari is still a great attraction, even with the lame poachers story. Nobody pays attention to that part, anyway. Just seeing the animals in a beautiful re-creation of an African savannah is enough to keep me interested.
Rhino fight! These guys were facing off over the territory by the pond, according to our driver:
We had wanted to do the safari early in the day to try and catch animals who were awake, and for the most part, they didn't disappoint. I turned around to point some animals out to Scotty, who was extremely excited to see them. And by "extremely excited to see them," I mean slouched down on the bench looking as though he was ready for a nap. I think he actually started to lie down at one point, all the time insisting that he was enjoying the ride and wanted to see more animals. How much was his ticket again?
Here's the momma lion:
I would have taken a picture of the male lion, but--you'll never believe this!--he was asleep. In all of the years I've been on this ride, I have never once seen the male lion awake. I continue to believe that Disney does not own a real male lion, but simply an animatronic one that simulates a lion sleeping.
We went from Dafari to the Pangani Forest trail, and took our time enjoying the walk and the sights. Found several birds of the (mumble-mumble) species, a fish tank that captivated the kids, some naked molerats stumbling through dirt tunnels, snakes (why did it have to be snakes?), and gorillas. The Animal Kingdom may be lighter on attractions than the other parks, but the theming of Africa and Asia is some of the best on property, in my opinion. More on that later. Here's a waterfall on the trail where I tried longer exposures to blur the water. We didn't use the tripod, so I won't bother showing you the other 10 pictures where everything was blurrier.
The weather forecast had said it would be HOT! D#$% HOT! Being that it was mid-morning and we were sweating, it was right on the money. Time to make our way to Kali River Rapids.
After enduring a certain nameless child complaining through the line that he didn't want to go on this ride
, we ignored him and had everyone climb aboard the raft. Don't forget to remember us when filling out your Parents of the Year nomination forms! Another family was seated with us. Making our way to the first climb, we remembered the large fountain that shoots up at the top, and we debated with the other family as to who would get soaked. I seemed to think that it would drench the person at the front of the raft, while the other dad said he thought it got the people in the back. We hit the ramp, and yours truly got parked at the front. Maybe the other dad was right? The raft slowly climbed, inexorably moving forward. Mist and fog shrouded the top, making it difficult to make out the fountain at the top. I sat with my back to it, unsure of my fate. "I've got a bad feeling about this," I said.
We brought a disposable water-proof camera with us, but haven't gotten the film developed yet. Once we do, I'll try and post the picture of me getting drenched at the top of the ramp so you can mock me. Thanks a lot, Mr. Non-Expert Raft Guy. I had a long streak of rapids rides where I never got wet. The last 2, I've been soaked. I don't know why my luck has turned. Maybe it's because I'm Irish.
Anyway, we got the last laugh. Mr. Non-Expert Raft Guy and his family were at the front when we went down the drop.
We let the boys take turns pressing the button on the bridge to soak other riders after we got off. It was getting close to high noon, which meant...
It was time to take on Everest.
We polled the family to see who would be brave enough to face the Yeti. Sarah said she would try it, in a halting voice. The boys...well, honestly, what do you think the chances of the boys riding Everest were? One in a hundred? I'd say more like one in a million.
So I'm telling you there's a chance...
Coming Up Next: Who will brave the Himalayan Expedition? Later, who will get an actual Date Night at Disney World? And just what is a "Date", anyway? Never heard of it.
