Oh how tired I get just thinking about Animal Kingdom. My bones just ache. It is my favorite park, outfit-wise, because I just love the outfit I made for Megan and Jacob designed his own and he is so proud of it. When anyone asked if I sewed it I was sure to note that he designed it and told me exactly what to do. I hope I am secretly encouraging him to let me sew for him more, but so far it isn't working, lol.
Oh, and it is hot! Much hotter than the other parks. And spread out. It takes forever to get from one side to the other. I always try to do Animal Kingdom early in our trip, before we get cranky and sick of each other, but it didn't happen this time.
We got in and sent Daddy to get a fastpass for the safari. That is how we start every morning at Animal Kingdom. Then I took the kids to the dinosaur part to ride the little dino ride. We determined if Megan was big enough to go on Primeval Whirl (she is not) and then Tom took Jacob on it. I let Megan play one of those horrible carnival games so she could win a dinosaur and then we waited for the boys.
These cute painter/juggler/acrobat guys came by (how did they know we were just waiting there for something to do?):
Even Jacob was impressed when they made it off the ride:
We were off to leisurely stroll to the safari when trouble occurred. Melt down of epic proportions because the princess was tired of walking. I don't know why I didn't bring the stroller. Actually, I do know. Someone (cough, Tom, cough) had decided that almost-six was the perfect age for a little girl to walk this trip and the stroller was an inconvenience so we didn't need it. Luckily, I packed it in the car anyway because we did need it! Especially at night. But we really needed it at Animal Kingdom. And we didn't bring it.
Anyway, I sent Tom off to get fastpasses for the rapids and we ducked into the bird show.
I love the bird show. It's one of those things that doesn't have a lot of razzle dazzle but I love it anyway. The birds are cool and the story is always the same and cute and I like it. It's like an old dependable friend of mine, that bird show. Tom hates it (it's so boring, he says) so it's been a couple of years since the kids have seen it, so it was new to them (well, Megan anyway).
Ok, I think the meltdown had subsided enough to make it to the safari. It was starting to get hot and crowded and those are two things us spoiled native Floridians do not care for. It was time for fun and then a quick getaway to the hotel!
The fastpass line was "not fast" according to my little whiners. At least there were no smelly people in front of us, eh, CampbellScott?
Look, Megan's favorite birds! Yes, because they are pink:
They are pink because of the food they eat, she told us. So smart!
The lion is awake!
I don't really bother taking pictures of the animals while actually on the safari because I steal people's much better pictures of the internet and include them in our scrapbook!
Shhh, please don't tell.
Why can we not walk by those drums without stopping? Oh, because it's cute, that's why!
On the way to the river rapids, Megan's ears perked up.
Daddy, I hear screaming! she said.
Yes, that's Everest, we told her.
You know what screaming means? It must really be fun! she started to get excited.
Jacob tried to tell her that it was scary and there was a monster but she was having none of it. There was screaming and she wanted a part of it. Unfortunately it was too late in the day to get another fastpass so we told her we would take her when we came back for her birthday (on Memorial Day weekend). She was thrilled and talked about "Mountain Ever-rest" the rest of the trip. She can't wait to ride it! Jacob basically treats it like the rambling of a crazy person. He tried to tell her she was too little to ride but we found out that no, she is not too little, so he is just going to act like she is insane instead. I don't know where he gets that from!
Well, it's just too scary for a little kid to ride! he humphed.
Anyway, we finally made it over to the river rapids and got soaked! Megan said she was the wettest and she was pretty wet but we all were!
I don't know if you can tell how wet they are in the picture:
After lunch (at McDonald's, how lame it that) it was time to go! I wanted to try to see the Nemo show but it was way too crowded and these people in my family were way too cranky. Plus, we had dinner plans so we didn't want the kids to miss the pool time (although it wouldn't have bothered one of us
).
On the way out, we ran into Pocahontas. She was so sweet! She asked Megan about her outfit. Megan didn't say a whole lot, she had pool on the brain by this point.
Up next: a character meal and roasting marshmallows!
at the thought of a bunny with a New Jersey accent!
Can't wait for the next one 
The actual brains of the operation KNOW better. (that would be US!) That is why we pack the stroller AnYWAY! What would these men do without us? They'd always be hungry, the kids would always be mismatched and there would be a lot more meltdowns at Disneyworld! That's what!
. Love the clothes you made your kids for the trip. I usually have to buy off ebay since I can't sew more than a button 
They're the cutest, sweetest kids! Jacob is hilarious and kept us all entertained. I hope Megan didn't mind having both of her hands held (one by Tessa, one by Lydia) all day! It was so great spending the day with you. You're pretty great, too!
