Great update, MEK. I LOVE the Animal Kingdom first thing in the morning when everything is coming alive. It's such a beautiful park, and the detail is amazing.
Thanks and I couldn't agree more. I just love that park and I especially love visiting it in the cooler weather. It makes it that much easier to take all the detail in and process it. Sometimes its a struggle in the heat with the crowds, but its still a place that can just pull you in no matter what the weather.
Although I don't ride EE, I would guess the front row is the best as far as getting a great view of things all around you...and in front of you.
The front row is really amazing. I feel like I have to do the front row at least once every trip. It's THAT good!
Great photopass of you and Cynthia.
Thanks!
i love that outfit in the yeti store ,I want to buy that for my boo I hope they have it in her size
That outfit is absolutely adorable! So, so cute!
Aww, this day was my birthday! Special.
Really? Both Nick and Denny have October b-days. Great month!
I swear, I've had the goal to ride EE in the front for years now and it STILL has not happened! I don't even care, next time I WILL DO IT
Definitely do it! You will love it and you generally don't have to wait very long in the front row line. I swear that 75% of the visitors don't even know its there or they are traveling in large groups making it impractical. I want to take my nephew to the front row this summer.
Your pictures are amazing!! Looks so fun! I just love DAK.
Thank you! I love taking pictures from the front row because I think it really captures the essence of the ride!
Great update, I love AK, so many cool Photo ops.
I agree. It really is the best park for unique photos, IMHO!
I don't think I could handle front row on EE. I really wanted to go on it last trip and I finally was able to go but it is a LOT faster than I thought it would be, it was fun but I definitely wouldn't go by myself so it will be a while before I go again since it's looking like next trip will be with just me and DH, maybe with my BFF and neither of them have any desire to ride.
I have found that when a coaster is more intense than I expected I do best when I close my eyes. Working up to the front row does need you to be comfortable with the ride in general. I hope you do find someone to ride with next trip. You may find its an easier ride than you remember.
Great update and awesome photos, Mary Ellen! AK can be so awesome when it is not too hot.
Thanks and I agree - when its hot AK can start to get annoying, but in the nice weather I feel like I could just live there.
And EE in the front row is a MUST!!!! Best seat in the house, you cannot beat the view. 
So, so true! This summer I am going to take my nephew to the front row. No one else in his family will ride and he has never done front row. I think its time!!!!!
Wow - I am so impressed at the pictures you take while hurtling up and down Mt. Everest! I really want to ride it but am a bit, shall we say, apprehensive?! Okay, it is SOO high up! It's scary! I would have the camera safely stashed away so I can grip the bar with all my strength!
You really should try it! Use my trick - keep your eyes closed during the scary parts. That's how I started riding coasters. It's so much less intense with your eyes shut. Then you gradually open your eyes up and look around. I think the only weird part is the backwards part. It's best if you sit near the front or middle. Definitely most intense in the back.
But you are right - for taking photos, AK is the best! SO much to see there! And then there's the animals!
Yes - then there's the animals as in the elusive lion which I can never get a picture of.
Hope Nick manages to figure out where to go to school. It's tough - I remember getting a migraine trying to decide between my last two. I've never had a migraine in my life other than that time.
Well, I think I'm the one with the migraine right now.
I just really want him to decide. It's down to the three most economical schools, but I can't really tell which direction he is heading. It's frustrating.
When you get there, you'll have to say hi to Matt and Gaby at HHI for me (they are in the activities area/lifeguard) We loved them - Gaby's from my town!
It really is a small world, isn't it? And I certainly will!
I always love seeing pictures of Animal Kingdom. We were over there three times, I think, on this trip; maybe four. I walked through Pangani twice and saw no meerkats either time and only two gorillas. I was calling it No Animal Kingdom for a while!
Really? That's so odd. Normally meerkats invade the place and gorillas are all over. Wonder what was up with that? How wonderful that you got to visit so much, but bummer on the lack of animals.
Will the real Yeti ever rise again? Since Everest is still drawing a huge crowd just with what they've got, I'm going to go with no.
I'm going with NO too! Too bad because it just adds to the wonderful theming that is Disney. It's sort of the icing on the cake. It doesn't take away from the adrenaline rush, but it does take away from the immersive experience.
and then - whoosh - we were off again. 
