I looked into Amtrack myself...but it's the same price as flying for me. So I'll go with flying cause I get their faster. But I live all the way across the U.S. soo yeah.
Soooo I'm lucking.
A Third Park?
Howard and I knew that there would be a day of our week that Dani and Ray would want to go to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. My cousin is a Harry Potter fanatic, so there was no doubt that she'd be there from opening to closing! Considering the ticket prices and the fact that Howard and I don't like rollercoasters, we're not going to be joining them on that Friday. We will, however, be watching all the Harry Potter movies on the way down though! I still only watched the first two!
Anyway, since Howard and I had a day to ourselves, we started looking at what we could do. We planned on going resort hopping and exploring all the resorts we'll never stay at but would love to see. We also figured we could go back to Downtown Disney to pick up Earl of Sandwich sammies for the Amtrak ride back the next day. I also read about bike rentals too! So many things to do on that day!
As I was reading a trip report though, I started thinking about how much fun it might be to go to Animal Kingdom! I've only been there once in my entire life, and it's the kind of park that doesn't require the whole day or running from one side to the next to catch each ride. It'd be a perfect park, don't you think? Plus, we figured we might feel a little sad if Wednesday were our last park day while Dani and Ray still had WWoHP. I mean, we have to get up early that day anyway to drop them off at Universal Studios. We might as well head to a park ourselves!
The three things that really get me excited about Animal Kingdom are as follows:
(1) Getting to ride Dinosaur!
The only time I've been on this ride was obviously during that one trip. Funny, I just realized that the last time I was there was when we were in Florida with Dani and her family! Anyway, I rode this when it was still Countdown to Extinction. I know I'll probably be really scared of the dinosaurs especially after having read Kingdom Keepers 2, but I think it's the perfect kind of thrill ride for me. It's not a coaster, so I can't get sick ... well, unless I'm so old that the bumpiness and jerkiness get to me! I don't imagine that it would though. I'm curious to know if I'll be like many other DISers who duck their heads down when the picture is taken!
(2) Understanding the setting of Kingdom Keepers 2!
I can easily picture the scenes for KK1 and KK2, but I had to use some imagination for KK2. It'll be exciting to "know" that Finn and the gang were in certain spots of the park!
(3) Flame Tree Barbecue!
I've read over and over again that Flame Tree is one of the best places to use a counter service credit from the dining plan. Although we may not be on the dining plan for this trip, I'm eager to try out the food and get a taste of something different at a Disney park. Of course, Howard and I have recently started loving this restaurant called Big Ed's in New Jersey, but I'll still be eager to try this quick service! I mean, those onion rings look mighty yummy!
We do like that this is an option we'll most likely take, but we also like that it's not the end of the world if we're too tired to make it to another park. We both have days left on our no expiration tickets, so we can and we don't have to at the same time. It'll be another park to research though just like I had to research DHS for April's trip!
What are some of YOUR favorite things to do at Animal Kingdom? And for those of you have ridden it, just how scary or dizzying is Expedition Everest?
I love Dinosaur, the safari, Everest, FOTLK and just soaking in the atmosphere. The theming is great.
Just out of curiosity, what don't you like about Space Mountain? Is it the fact that it's in the dark? Because Everest only has a couple parts where you're in the dark. You know I'm going to say you should try it, but you know your limits. In a way it's like Thunder Mountain on steroids. 
Umm, YES, I think you should definitely do the Animal Kingdom!!! I can't believe you've only been there once! I love it there.
As far as Expedition Everest goes, I don't think it's scary at all. The only part that is a little bit dizzying is the part where you go backwards. It does help that that part is in the dark. But it is fast! The big drop isn't that bad. Great ride.
Make sure you check out the seating area at Flame Tree BBQ. If you head all the way down to the back you can get a nice water view with Everest! Sometimes people don't realize there are seats all the way down there and you could have a quiet lunch!
I agree with Sarah about EE. I love it but I do love thrill rides. I think the only dizzying part is when you head backwards. Love it!
Lots to look at at AK and at a leisurely pace as well. I think it would be a great park for you to go to!
Yay! You're going to AK, I love that park!!!
I agree with Sarah on EE, the backwards part is what can make you feel a little off, and after that it's just really fast. I actually think the drop is much less intense than Splash because it curves, it's not a straight drop down. I love it, but if I was really worried about getting sick I'd skip it - no sense in ruining the rest of your day for one ride
As far as my other favorites at AK, I'd say the safari and FOTLK are not to be missed. We also love the exploration trails. Oh, and It's Tough to be a Bug is a fun show, plus you get a chance to really check out the Tree of Life while your in the queue for it.
Basically, this is what I know about the ride and how it progresses:
1. After loading, the ride is pretty smooth as it seems to travel through the middle of nowhere along this scenic route.
Yep, doesn't go real fast or anything, you just kind of ride along until you get to the big incline.
2. It ascends up the first hill and through a somewhat LOUD "tunnel/building." I can already see myself covering my ears if I do decide to ride it. When it reaches the top, it starts going down a tiny bit to pick up speed as it then ascends a bit more until it reaches the broken track.
I really don't remember the tunnel/building being loud
3. The ride just stops. This is where I'd be panicking. Haha.
Yep, it just stops! Oh no, what are we going to do???!!!
4. It then goes backwards, and of course, it's near impossible to see anything in the videos because it's in the dark. What exactly happens here? I just hear screaming, and it seems to last for a rather long time! Are you just going backwards and twisting left and right? Is it a really steep hill? Is it just the darkness and the unknown that makes it scary?
It goes backwards pretty fast and it does kind of twist, I swore the first time I rode it it felt like I went upside down! I know I didn't, but it still felt that way. I know now that the further you are in the back of the train, the more you have that feeling - so if you want to limit that, wait for a seat in the front.
5. The ride pauses again where the people watch the projected (?) yeti rip the tracks out. Then it goes forward and over a slight hill before it goes down the 80 foot drop. I read that you can feel G-forces at the bottom of the hill. Is that true? Does it bother you? Does it last for a long time?
I don't think I've ever really felt the G-forces on the drop - I scream like crazy as soon as we top that hill and that seems to help
6. The ride continues through the mountain and into darkness once again. What happens here? Are there more drops inside the mountain? I know the one that's visible is the biggest one, but is the inside scary? I know that that's where the animatronic yeti is, but I've read that it rarely functions the way it's supposed to. When it does function properly, what is it supposed to do? Swing down at you?
No more drops, just some steep fast turns. It's rare now to even see the big Yeti, it's broken so it no longer swipes at you like it did when the ride first opened. Sometimes they have a strobe light on it and you can see it, other times I don't notice it at all. It's too bad too, because it's really cool - scared the crap out of me the first time I rode and it tried to take my head off though
7. The ride goes through the final room, and the people are back out in the open waiting to get off the ride.
Yep, this is where the kids say: "can we ride again?!"
Even though it's the same track. That Dinosaur whirl ride or whatever is really fun too! I hear Nemo is a good show but I was not about to battle with 5 years in a line, so we skipped it.
