WHO WE ARE:
Zoe Dog -- Me; 41; went to MK several times as a child and to EPCOT once in late 1980s with DH; compulsive planner, list-maker, and tip-gatherer, but (much to my and my family's relief) was able to be flexible once we arrived
DH -- turned 41 during vacation; late 1980s trip with me was only foray into the World; was a little spooked by memory of how perfect and "Big Brothery" everything was and loved to tease me about my "disney obsession" but is a total kid at heart and began to lurk on the DIS and other helpful sites during the last weeks before departure
E -- DD (11 years) - has an incredibly vivid imagination and so was a bit apprehensive about "spooky" rides, but determined to be a big kid; loves interaction with characters and spotting live animals and noticing all of the little unexpected things
D -- DD (almost 10 years) - wants to do it all and then do it again and again . . . absolutely fearless and utterly enthusiastic
L -- DD (6 1/2 years) - doesn't like to be left behind by the big girls, but is not a thrill seeker; began to swim like a little fish thanks to daily access to warm pools
WHERE: 6 Nights WL; 3 Nights AKL
DAY SIX: Thursday June 27
We got to Animal Kingdom (remembering to bring our park passes this time!!) at opening but not in time for the awakening. It was very hot and humid and we found the park to be confusing. DH and I knew we weren't going to last long, so we decided to try to hit the highlights and try to come back again later in the week for a more a leisurely visit and a chance to wander along the trails. We got a FP for the safari and then went to see It's Tough to Be a Bug. Cute show but L really didn't like the 3D movies - not because of the glasses (which she didn't wear) but because she didn't like being sprayed with water etc. at unexpected times. The rest of us thought that it was a hoot. We got a FP for Kali River Rapids and then rode the safari. We saw all sorts of animals -- a lion and lioness, giraffes, gazelles, a cheetah, antelope, elephants, rhinos, hippos, zebras, wow! The girls shared the new binoculars that I had given to DH as an early birthday present. Wonderful time! After the safari, we poked around in a shop in Africa, but the girls and I soon sent DH on a trip to get FPs for Dinosaur -- really a ploy to get rid of him so we could buy him birthday gifts from among the woven baskets and bowls that he had admired in the shop. We all met up at Kali River Rapids (saw Baloo and King Louie on our way). L decided against it once she saw it, so she and I stayed behind while the rest rode. E and D and DH liked it but thought it was too short, and since it was becoming terribly hot and humid and crowded I decided against doing a "baby swap" and we all headed to Dinosaur. Wow! That is scary!! E and I shrieked our way through it, but D enjoyed it so much she rode it again using our FPs (because L again chose not to ride and we did the "baby swap" option). We left at lunchtime, hoping that we'd have a chance to walk the trails and see the shows and the parade later in out trip. We never really stood in line very long because we made good use of FPs, but we found the park to be so big and spread out and the day was so hot and humid that we never felt that we soaked up the experience as we had in MK and Epcot. Strange, because we had all expected to like AK the best.
We returned to the WL for lunch and a swim and then took a bus to MGM for the evening. We went to Star Tours first. E and L sat it out the first time (E is not a thrill seeker and wasn't so sure she could handle it) but when we explained it to her when we emerged (D was grinning from ear to ear), she and D rode it again. DH (after the first ride) and D (after the second) felt a bit queasy, but we all liked it a lot! Then on to Muppet 3D - very cute, but L just doesn't like 3D movies - not terrified, just doesnt like things "flying out" at her! (I looked for the sign saying that there was a key under the map, but never spotted it.) There was still time before our dinner PS so we went to the great Movie Ride. We had fun spotting beloved details from the featured movies -- especially Singin' in the Rain, which is one of our family's favorites. None of these attractions had a line - I think it was a combination of parade viewing and drizzle. We then had supper with Cousin Charlie at 50s PT - he teased the girls and us a bit, but was never over the top. We had fun watching another male relative at nearby tables who really gave his dinner guests a hard time! Cousin Charlie asked the girls what rides they had been on and encouraged them to go on the Rock n Roller Coaster. E said "No Way - that goes upside down!" He explained that it really wasn't that bad because the scariest parts were in the dark anyway. L, who had been silent and very serious all evening, piped up with "You can borrow my little flashlight if you want to." What a sweetie! After a yummy supper (DH had pot roast, E and I shared the fried chicken, and D and L had hot dogs), we headed to the stands to wait for Fantasmic. Exciting, fun show - but I don't think we'd go again unless we did a Fantasmic Dinner package so we could avoid the very long wait. It was fun to wander back through MGM in the evening, then we headed "home" to WL for our last night before moving to AKL.
Zoe Dog -- Me; 41; went to MK several times as a child and to EPCOT once in late 1980s with DH; compulsive planner, list-maker, and tip-gatherer, but (much to my and my family's relief) was able to be flexible once we arrived
DH -- turned 41 during vacation; late 1980s trip with me was only foray into the World; was a little spooked by memory of how perfect and "Big Brothery" everything was and loved to tease me about my "disney obsession" but is a total kid at heart and began to lurk on the DIS and other helpful sites during the last weeks before departure
E -- DD (11 years) - has an incredibly vivid imagination and so was a bit apprehensive about "spooky" rides, but determined to be a big kid; loves interaction with characters and spotting live animals and noticing all of the little unexpected things
D -- DD (almost 10 years) - wants to do it all and then do it again and again . . . absolutely fearless and utterly enthusiastic
L -- DD (6 1/2 years) - doesn't like to be left behind by the big girls, but is not a thrill seeker; began to swim like a little fish thanks to daily access to warm pools
WHERE: 6 Nights WL; 3 Nights AKL
DAY SIX: Thursday June 27
We got to Animal Kingdom (remembering to bring our park passes this time!!) at opening but not in time for the awakening. It was very hot and humid and we found the park to be confusing. DH and I knew we weren't going to last long, so we decided to try to hit the highlights and try to come back again later in the week for a more a leisurely visit and a chance to wander along the trails. We got a FP for the safari and then went to see It's Tough to Be a Bug. Cute show but L really didn't like the 3D movies - not because of the glasses (which she didn't wear) but because she didn't like being sprayed with water etc. at unexpected times. The rest of us thought that it was a hoot. We got a FP for Kali River Rapids and then rode the safari. We saw all sorts of animals -- a lion and lioness, giraffes, gazelles, a cheetah, antelope, elephants, rhinos, hippos, zebras, wow! The girls shared the new binoculars that I had given to DH as an early birthday present. Wonderful time! After the safari, we poked around in a shop in Africa, but the girls and I soon sent DH on a trip to get FPs for Dinosaur -- really a ploy to get rid of him so we could buy him birthday gifts from among the woven baskets and bowls that he had admired in the shop. We all met up at Kali River Rapids (saw Baloo and King Louie on our way). L decided against it once she saw it, so she and I stayed behind while the rest rode. E and D and DH liked it but thought it was too short, and since it was becoming terribly hot and humid and crowded I decided against doing a "baby swap" and we all headed to Dinosaur. Wow! That is scary!! E and I shrieked our way through it, but D enjoyed it so much she rode it again using our FPs (because L again chose not to ride and we did the "baby swap" option). We left at lunchtime, hoping that we'd have a chance to walk the trails and see the shows and the parade later in out trip. We never really stood in line very long because we made good use of FPs, but we found the park to be so big and spread out and the day was so hot and humid that we never felt that we soaked up the experience as we had in MK and Epcot. Strange, because we had all expected to like AK the best.
We returned to the WL for lunch and a swim and then took a bus to MGM for the evening. We went to Star Tours first. E and L sat it out the first time (E is not a thrill seeker and wasn't so sure she could handle it) but when we explained it to her when we emerged (D was grinning from ear to ear), she and D rode it again. DH (after the first ride) and D (after the second) felt a bit queasy, but we all liked it a lot! Then on to Muppet 3D - very cute, but L just doesn't like 3D movies - not terrified, just doesnt like things "flying out" at her! (I looked for the sign saying that there was a key under the map, but never spotted it.) There was still time before our dinner PS so we went to the great Movie Ride. We had fun spotting beloved details from the featured movies -- especially Singin' in the Rain, which is one of our family's favorites. None of these attractions had a line - I think it was a combination of parade viewing and drizzle. We then had supper with Cousin Charlie at 50s PT - he teased the girls and us a bit, but was never over the top. We had fun watching another male relative at nearby tables who really gave his dinner guests a hard time! Cousin Charlie asked the girls what rides they had been on and encouraged them to go on the Rock n Roller Coaster. E said "No Way - that goes upside down!" He explained that it really wasn't that bad because the scariest parts were in the dark anyway. L, who had been silent and very serious all evening, piped up with "You can borrow my little flashlight if you want to." What a sweetie! After a yummy supper (DH had pot roast, E and I shared the fried chicken, and D and L had hot dogs), we headed to the stands to wait for Fantasmic. Exciting, fun show - but I don't think we'd go again unless we did a Fantasmic Dinner package so we could avoid the very long wait. It was fun to wander back through MGM in the evening, then we headed "home" to WL for our last night before moving to AKL.
Krissy
