mikemelita
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2002
- Messages
- 17
Trip profile
WI family
me-Dad (dismaniac Trip Planner, photo/videographer)
Punkin
(PERFECT 7 year old)
Mom (Awesomely beautiful redhead)
Trip planned 30 days ahead (plane fare got cheap!)
SAT Dec 13
Animal Kingdom Day! 7:10 AM. I manage to put stiff feet on the floor and do the normal morning things. Having stuff in the room for breakfast is the only way to go, easy and fast. We get to the park entrance at 8:30, only to discover that today is NOT early entry (!) Seems the planning sheets I happily borrowed from another DisBoard person has the wrong Early Entry days. I didn't really want to get anyone in hot water, but I think it will help more than hurt KathyFP heads up, the days are different than your sheets, I am digging through my stuff to see if I can find the brochure that lists them, they are available at the resorts front desk, the ones with all the new stuff on them. We watched the opening with Mickey Minnie & Pluto and walked right into "It's Tough to Be a Bug". We sat too close. Some of the 3D was fuzzy &/or doubled to me (I wear contacts). A couple of the "scares" made Punkin scream that awesome high-pitched kid scream of hers. I won't spoil the surprise, suffice to say.. BUGS!
It is still pretty much Punkin who calls the shots, so we go to Dinoland. We ride Dino Whirl twice. Last Jan. Punkin smacked her face on the retaining bar of this ride on the last corner, it was a jarring bump. We had thought it was all over, but there was that last turn, and she was right next to the curved padded bar. Nothing damaged, but this time we put her in the middle. If your little person is less than 5 feet tall, do that! We walked around the dinosaur displays, posed and took photos, then went to ride Dinosaur! Punkin's head went into her lap and stayed there. Still too scary for her, and someday she will actually SEE what is on this ride. The sound is incredible, and she still says she liked it, but will go again some other time, and open her eyes. Mommy still gets a nice fright out of it. We bought Punkin a $5 "rock" to dig a dinosaur out of, a neat little toy, but find a bowl to do it in, the sand gets all over!
Punkin then remembered that we had promised to get her a stroller to ride in the next time we spent all day in a park, and Animal Kingdom is a big one, so we tread back to the entrance, on the way stopping for an early lunch at the Rainforest Café. We really liked our food, the restaurant and our server Sharon. One stroller rental later, and we were off to get the faces of my Beauties painted at Africa. After that we got on the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, and really enjoyed all the environmental info, the helpful guides, and even the little lizards we spotted on our way (real ones). I think everyone with kids should go, there is a real in-touch-with-nature theme that works. There were cutouts of a rhino, and a tiger, life-sized to take photos of the kids with, and lots of interactive displays. Good for an afternoon, and not too spread out. Punkin enjoyed the whole deal. Pangani Walking tour was next, and some of the scenery bored the 7 year old a little, but it was a magnificent and varied area. deer, tigers, all manner of wildlife, and a nice day to boot. The bats were Punkin's favorite. Great Big Bats.
One of the nicer CMs we met was Brian at one of the Kidstations. Not only did he do very well getting a bunch of kids involved in his display, but he was a Disney Fan, with all kinds of insights about New Park Stuff, (Everest , updates at Epcot, etc). Thanks Brian! As we walked through Asia, one of the Kodak Photo spots lent a view of the construction area of the Everest ride. I thought it was way cool to see this early work in progress, and took a couple of shots.
Asia everyone was ready for a break. Punkin is very honest about when she is tired, going back to the room is usually her idea. More proof she is perfect!
6:30 it seems like Illuminations is a good plan, we wait 30 minutes for a ride on Mission Space, and head to the UK for a different view than we have had in the past. Got right next to the fence near some folks from FL who come here often, in between trips to Ketchikan to see the natural beauty there they like there so much.
It got quite chilly, the girls were cold, I was ok. took some photos of the fireworks I thought turned pretty good for leaning a digital camera on a a fence and turning the flash off (!)
A tripod would afford some great pics I think. Punkin fell asleep riding the bus, and we got back to the room at 10:30. No problem at ALL sleeping for all of us.
WI family
me-Dad (dismaniac Trip Planner, photo/videographer)
Punkin
(PERFECT 7 year old)Mom (Awesomely beautiful redhead)
Trip planned 30 days ahead (plane fare got cheap!)
SAT Dec 13
Animal Kingdom Day! 7:10 AM. I manage to put stiff feet on the floor and do the normal morning things. Having stuff in the room for breakfast is the only way to go, easy and fast. We get to the park entrance at 8:30, only to discover that today is NOT early entry (!) Seems the planning sheets I happily borrowed from another DisBoard person has the wrong Early Entry days. I didn't really want to get anyone in hot water, but I think it will help more than hurt KathyFP heads up, the days are different than your sheets, I am digging through my stuff to see if I can find the brochure that lists them, they are available at the resorts front desk, the ones with all the new stuff on them. We watched the opening with Mickey Minnie & Pluto and walked right into "It's Tough to Be a Bug". We sat too close. Some of the 3D was fuzzy &/or doubled to me (I wear contacts). A couple of the "scares" made Punkin scream that awesome high-pitched kid scream of hers. I won't spoil the surprise, suffice to say.. BUGS!
It is still pretty much Punkin who calls the shots, so we go to Dinoland. We ride Dino Whirl twice. Last Jan. Punkin smacked her face on the retaining bar of this ride on the last corner, it was a jarring bump. We had thought it was all over, but there was that last turn, and she was right next to the curved padded bar. Nothing damaged, but this time we put her in the middle. If your little person is less than 5 feet tall, do that! We walked around the dinosaur displays, posed and took photos, then went to ride Dinosaur! Punkin's head went into her lap and stayed there. Still too scary for her, and someday she will actually SEE what is on this ride. The sound is incredible, and she still says she liked it, but will go again some other time, and open her eyes. Mommy still gets a nice fright out of it. We bought Punkin a $5 "rock" to dig a dinosaur out of, a neat little toy, but find a bowl to do it in, the sand gets all over!
Punkin then remembered that we had promised to get her a stroller to ride in the next time we spent all day in a park, and Animal Kingdom is a big one, so we tread back to the entrance, on the way stopping for an early lunch at the Rainforest Café. We really liked our food, the restaurant and our server Sharon. One stroller rental later, and we were off to get the faces of my Beauties painted at Africa. After that we got on the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch, and really enjoyed all the environmental info, the helpful guides, and even the little lizards we spotted on our way (real ones). I think everyone with kids should go, there is a real in-touch-with-nature theme that works. There were cutouts of a rhino, and a tiger, life-sized to take photos of the kids with, and lots of interactive displays. Good for an afternoon, and not too spread out. Punkin enjoyed the whole deal. Pangani Walking tour was next, and some of the scenery bored the 7 year old a little, but it was a magnificent and varied area. deer, tigers, all manner of wildlife, and a nice day to boot. The bats were Punkin's favorite. Great Big Bats.
One of the nicer CMs we met was Brian at one of the Kidstations. Not only did he do very well getting a bunch of kids involved in his display, but he was a Disney Fan, with all kinds of insights about New Park Stuff, (Everest , updates at Epcot, etc). Thanks Brian! As we walked through Asia, one of the Kodak Photo spots lent a view of the construction area of the Everest ride. I thought it was way cool to see this early work in progress, and took a couple of shots.
6:30 it seems like Illuminations is a good plan, we wait 30 minutes for a ride on Mission Space, and head to the UK for a different view than we have had in the past. Got right next to the fence near some folks from FL who come here often, in between trips to Ketchikan to see the natural beauty there they like there so much.
It got quite chilly, the girls were cold, I was ok. took some photos of the fireworks I thought turned pretty good for leaning a digital camera on a a fence and turning the flash off (!)
