Who:
Me
Mom, chief obsessive tour planner, kids wild ride companion
DH
coaster-phobic
DS1
age 9, junk food expert
DD
age 6, thrill seeker, food allergies
DS2 20 months, the little guy, Pooh fan, his first Disney trip
Grandmom my mother from New Jersey
Granddad my father from New Jersey, chief stroller pusher
Day 3, Monday, September 29
We were up before daylight and ate breakfast in our room at the Polynesian. My parents brought milk and orange juice in their cooler, while I brought cereal, bowls, spoons, soy milk mix, fruit cups, and cereal bars. We hopped in the car for the ride to Animal Kingdom and arrived shortly after 8 am. The kids had fun talking with the palm tree, then we went through the gate and hit the first snag of the day cast members with animals on display. The kids had fun seeing what was in each box and asking questions, while I mentally rearranged some of my early morning plans. We finally made it to Kilimanjaro Safaris and helped chase the poachers. We had some great animal sightings. DS2 was thrilled to see the giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, hippos, gazelle, and the ducks! Our next stop was Dinoland. DH and my parents took DS2 and DD on Triceratops Spin, while DS1 and I rode Primeval Whirl. We both enjoyed Primeval Whirl, although there was a lot less whirling than I had expected. DD and DS2 loved Triceratops Spin. While they were waiting for us, DH and DD played one of the carnival games. They were the only two playing, so DD won a small stuffed dinosaur toy, which she named Dino. The next ride on the list was Dinosaur. Granddad opted to take DS2, while the rest of us rode. This was DS1 and DD first ride on Dinosaur. While waiting to board, DS1 and I waved to the ladies with whom we had shared our Primeval Whirl car. DD buried her face in my shoulder after we boarded our car. After a wild ride through time, we completed our mission and disembark. DD giggled when she saw the dinosaur roaming around on the security cameras, but decided that she wasnt brave enough to do Dinosaur again this trip. We stopped at a pretzel stand on our way to Kali River Rapids in Asia. DS1, of course, had spotted it on our way to Dinoland. Grandmom decided to stay dry, so she took DS2 while Granddad joined the rest of us in donning our ponchos. DS1 was looking forward to getting wet and decided to skip a poncho. After we boarded our raft, I realized that we had done a poor job of distributing the load. It looked like DS1 and I were going to get soaked! Sure enough, by the end of the ride DS1 was happily dripping. My poncho kept me mostly dry, but my shoes were squishy for the rest of the day. Next up was a walk through the Maharajah Jungle Trek. We had good views of the Komodo dragon, bats, birds, and tapirs, but only a few glimpses of the tigers. We decided that our last stop would be Its Tough to Be a Bug. We had had a disastrous experience with this 3D movie on our first trip in 1999 and hadnt even attempted it in 2001. DS1 and DD assured us that they really wanted to go. We all made it through this time, thanks to some tips from TourGuideMike. Even DS2 did OK. The final bug exit effect surprised my husband. I had hoped to see the Festival of the Lion King, but the kids were wearing down, so we headed back to the hotel. My parents decided to have lunch at the Rainforest Café and take the bus back. They wound up eating at the Flame Tree Barbecue, though.
Back at the room, we shared some chicken tenders from Captain Cooks, then I took DS1 and DD down to pool. DH and DS2 tried to take a nap, but ended up joining us at the pool after about an hour. After our swim, we were rejoined by my parents and rode the resort monorail to the TTC. At the TTC, the Epcot monorail left just as we approached the platform. We had to wait for the next monorail, but DH, DS1, DD, and Granddad were able to ride in the front and earn their monorail co-pilots licenses. We were running late and just had time to watch the Circle of Life film before our PS at the Garden Grille. Dinner was delicious, but DS2 was terrified by the characters. He finally got to the point were he would wave to them but only from a large distance. The layout of the tables in this restaurant doesnt seem very good for character dining. After dinner, we headed for Test Track. I warned the kids that the lines might be too long, but the wait was only 20 minutes. Grandmom took DS2 for a walk while we waited. After about 10 minutes, DD had to make a bathroom run. Granddad left DH and DS1 in line and got us Fastpasses for about 40 minutes later. I walked over to Mission Space and got Fastpasses for DS1 and me to ride later. DD and I took over DS2 duty, while Grandmom and Granddad went to ride Mission Space. They enjoyed it, but after that experience Granddad decided not to ride Test Track. DS1 was happy to use his Granddads Fastpass, so DS1, DD, and I rode Test Track. When we got out the stand-by line was only 5 minutes, so we rode again! DD loved this ride! Next, DS1 and I went to ride Mission Space. There was no line at all. I was a bit apprehensive, since close spaces (like caves) make me a bit uncomfortable, but I had no problems. The launch sequence is pretty good, but the Mars maneuvers were awesome! I think that the outside design of this ride is the best in Future World. When DS1 and I found the rest of the group, I noticed that DS2 was wearing different clothes. He and DD had discovered the fountain near Mission Space and Test Track. They had a great time, but DS2s shoes were still soaked the next day!
We returned to the Polynesian and got ready for bed. When the Electric Water Parade started, I called the kids over to watch. DS1 took one look and said Its the same as last night and returned to playing his Gameboy. At least DD and I enjoyed it!
LaurenS
Me
Mom, chief obsessive tour planner, kids wild ride companionDH
coaster-phobicDS1
age 9, junk food expertDD
age 6, thrill seeker, food allergiesDS2 20 months, the little guy, Pooh fan, his first Disney trip
Grandmom my mother from New Jersey
Granddad my father from New Jersey, chief stroller pusher
Day 3, Monday, September 29
We were up before daylight and ate breakfast in our room at the Polynesian. My parents brought milk and orange juice in their cooler, while I brought cereal, bowls, spoons, soy milk mix, fruit cups, and cereal bars. We hopped in the car for the ride to Animal Kingdom and arrived shortly after 8 am. The kids had fun talking with the palm tree, then we went through the gate and hit the first snag of the day cast members with animals on display. The kids had fun seeing what was in each box and asking questions, while I mentally rearranged some of my early morning plans. We finally made it to Kilimanjaro Safaris and helped chase the poachers. We had some great animal sightings. DS2 was thrilled to see the giraffes, elephants, lions, rhinos, hippos, gazelle, and the ducks! Our next stop was Dinoland. DH and my parents took DS2 and DD on Triceratops Spin, while DS1 and I rode Primeval Whirl. We both enjoyed Primeval Whirl, although there was a lot less whirling than I had expected. DD and DS2 loved Triceratops Spin. While they were waiting for us, DH and DD played one of the carnival games. They were the only two playing, so DD won a small stuffed dinosaur toy, which she named Dino. The next ride on the list was Dinosaur. Granddad opted to take DS2, while the rest of us rode. This was DS1 and DD first ride on Dinosaur. While waiting to board, DS1 and I waved to the ladies with whom we had shared our Primeval Whirl car. DD buried her face in my shoulder after we boarded our car. After a wild ride through time, we completed our mission and disembark. DD giggled when she saw the dinosaur roaming around on the security cameras, but decided that she wasnt brave enough to do Dinosaur again this trip. We stopped at a pretzel stand on our way to Kali River Rapids in Asia. DS1, of course, had spotted it on our way to Dinoland. Grandmom decided to stay dry, so she took DS2 while Granddad joined the rest of us in donning our ponchos. DS1 was looking forward to getting wet and decided to skip a poncho. After we boarded our raft, I realized that we had done a poor job of distributing the load. It looked like DS1 and I were going to get soaked! Sure enough, by the end of the ride DS1 was happily dripping. My poncho kept me mostly dry, but my shoes were squishy for the rest of the day. Next up was a walk through the Maharajah Jungle Trek. We had good views of the Komodo dragon, bats, birds, and tapirs, but only a few glimpses of the tigers. We decided that our last stop would be Its Tough to Be a Bug. We had had a disastrous experience with this 3D movie on our first trip in 1999 and hadnt even attempted it in 2001. DS1 and DD assured us that they really wanted to go. We all made it through this time, thanks to some tips from TourGuideMike. Even DS2 did OK. The final bug exit effect surprised my husband. I had hoped to see the Festival of the Lion King, but the kids were wearing down, so we headed back to the hotel. My parents decided to have lunch at the Rainforest Café and take the bus back. They wound up eating at the Flame Tree Barbecue, though.
Back at the room, we shared some chicken tenders from Captain Cooks, then I took DS1 and DD down to pool. DH and DS2 tried to take a nap, but ended up joining us at the pool after about an hour. After our swim, we were rejoined by my parents and rode the resort monorail to the TTC. At the TTC, the Epcot monorail left just as we approached the platform. We had to wait for the next monorail, but DH, DS1, DD, and Granddad were able to ride in the front and earn their monorail co-pilots licenses. We were running late and just had time to watch the Circle of Life film before our PS at the Garden Grille. Dinner was delicious, but DS2 was terrified by the characters. He finally got to the point were he would wave to them but only from a large distance. The layout of the tables in this restaurant doesnt seem very good for character dining. After dinner, we headed for Test Track. I warned the kids that the lines might be too long, but the wait was only 20 minutes. Grandmom took DS2 for a walk while we waited. After about 10 minutes, DD had to make a bathroom run. Granddad left DH and DS1 in line and got us Fastpasses for about 40 minutes later. I walked over to Mission Space and got Fastpasses for DS1 and me to ride later. DD and I took over DS2 duty, while Grandmom and Granddad went to ride Mission Space. They enjoyed it, but after that experience Granddad decided not to ride Test Track. DS1 was happy to use his Granddads Fastpass, so DS1, DD, and I rode Test Track. When we got out the stand-by line was only 5 minutes, so we rode again! DD loved this ride! Next, DS1 and I went to ride Mission Space. There was no line at all. I was a bit apprehensive, since close spaces (like caves) make me a bit uncomfortable, but I had no problems. The launch sequence is pretty good, but the Mars maneuvers were awesome! I think that the outside design of this ride is the best in Future World. When DS1 and I found the rest of the group, I noticed that DS2 was wearing different clothes. He and DD had discovered the fountain near Mission Space and Test Track. They had a great time, but DS2s shoes were still soaked the next day!
We returned to the Polynesian and got ready for bed. When the Electric Water Parade started, I called the kids over to watch. DS1 took one look and said Its the same as last night and returned to playing his Gameboy. At least DD and I enjoyed it!
LaurenS
