Thursday August 1
Our final day at WDW. Funny how on Saturday, this day felt so far away and yet here it is. Up at 7am and get dressed. Go down to the lobby to catch the character caravan and see if there are any new characters we haven't seen. Nope, off to the buses. Today we are going to Animal Kingdom. This will be our first experience with this park. We arrive around 8:30am and after a brief stand in line period, they open the gates early. First mission, Kilimanjaro Safaris. We had heard this "ride" was too rough for Dw with the pregnancy and all, but her doctor told us that he didn't see any concern since he had ridden it before. We walk right on and off we go. Since it was early morning, it was cool and we saw lots of animals. Once we returned to base camp, we headed for the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. This is a really nice leisurely walk. However I can see that if you do not get there early, the crowds could make this something to avoid. Next we went out to Conservation Station. It was OK to see, but now I think I will follow the phrase been there, done that. Not really worth a second trip in my opinion. Now DD might disagree, since she had a ball petting the goats and such but she can do that here at home at the local State Fair.
From here, we started making our way toward Maharajah Jungle Trek. On our way, we saw Divine. Had it not been for the CM accompanying her, I might have missed her. She was so cool at how she could move so slowly like a vine and keep her balance on the stilts. As we rounded the corner towards the MJT, we spotted a place that sells pearls. You know, pick an oyster, get a pearl deal. We decided to get DD one since pearl is her birthstone and it turned out to be very good. The CMl that helped us gave us a lot of information about Pearls and how they are made and so forth. DD seemed more interested in playing with the oysters though. DD picked an oyster from the bucket and the CM opened it up and we got a champagne colored pearl.
Now on to the MJT. Not real impressed with this attraction. It was cool to see the tigers, but beyond that, not really worth going back.
Next we wanted to catch a show, so off to Festival of the Lion King we go. This was an excellent show, one of the best I have seen at WDW. DD liked it as well. She kept wanting to do some of the stuff they were doing. She is in gymnastics now and I told her if she kept practicing, that she could one day. Wouldn't that be great to come to WDW and see your own child in one of the shows. Now we tought we would try to catch Pocohontis and her show while we were over on this side, but it was filled to capacity. Well, Camp Minnie-Mickey is here too, maybe that duck is here. Nope, same characters we have seen already. OK, let's try to catch Tarzan Rocks. On the way over to the show, we spot Jane signing autographs, so here we go. DD and I get in line. We also get the monkey Terk from Tarzan. We ask the CM if Tarzan is going to be out anywhere so we could get his autograph as well and she points us towards an area that he is "supposed" to be. Well the only thing we find is Pooh, Piglet and EEyore. Since we haven't gotten Piglet, we join in only to see the characters leaving. Oh well, let's eat. We head over to restaurantosaurus, a glorified McD's. This place was packed. In order to get a table, you had to spot someone about to finish eating and just hang by there table until they left.
After lunch, we head back over to see if Piglet is available and again we arrive just as they are leaving. I ask the CM when they will return and she said in just a few minutes and she was right. They vanished into this building and almost immediately returned. We then ask where Donald "that" Duck will be and we were told at 2:40pm behind restuarantosaurus. Off we go to wait, and wait and wait. No duck. It appeared that the magic from this week had been used up. After about 45 minutes (30 minutes past the proposed duck showing) and many attempts by a CM working a booth in the area to find out where Donald was, we decided to leave. Well, as luck would have it, guess who was outside the gates as we left. That's right, "THAT DUCK". DD and I quickly jumped in line. The CM announced that they had 10 minutes left. Cool, we were like 3rd in line. Finally, we had found that duck. Now as we were starting toward the bus, DW spotted Tarzan. Wow, maybe the magic hadn't ran out. It was close though, as DD got Tarzan's autograph, the CM cut the line after the next person behind us. This is also where I got a great photo. Terk came and squatted down next to DW who was squatted down resting. It appears they are having intelligent conversation.
Now we head back to WL to pack up for the trip home tomorrow. We get back to the lodge and DW and I pack up while DD takes a much needed nap. After everything is packed up and we rest a little, we head back for MK. We started the trip here and we have to end it here. No rides tonight, just Spectromagic and the fireworks. We arrive about 7pm and people are already staking places on Main Street for the parade, 2 hours later. We stop by a shop and get Mickey Ears for the grandparents and check out the pin station. Then we make our way towards the castle looking for a good place to sit. We locate a spot right at the end of Main Street where the parade makes the turn. Based on the amount of people already waiting, we decide to just sit here and wait rather than take our chances later. While we wait, DW and DD go down Main Street and pick up some ice cream sundays. Spectro was better than the one the first night we saw it. More floats and more characters. Snow White came right up to DD and shook her hand.
After the parade, we moved just 20-30 feet and had a great view of the fireworks with the castle in the foreground. Well, the fireworks are over, that means it is time to leave. We extend our stay as long as we can by shopping a little on Main Street. We extended it so much that we missed the last boat to WL. We had to catch monorail to TTC and bus to WL. A small price to pay to stay at MK a little longer, plus no crowds.
And that's the end of a great week at WDW. Lots of magic and fun galore. Tomorrow we are up at 6am and heading home to host a family reunion. Now that is how much we like WDW, stay to the last minute to return home just hours before relatives show up for a reunion at OUR house. And our one piece of advice, be there at park opening, you can do so much in the first 1-2 hours.
Until next time (year)!!!!
Our final day at WDW. Funny how on Saturday, this day felt so far away and yet here it is. Up at 7am and get dressed. Go down to the lobby to catch the character caravan and see if there are any new characters we haven't seen. Nope, off to the buses. Today we are going to Animal Kingdom. This will be our first experience with this park. We arrive around 8:30am and after a brief stand in line period, they open the gates early. First mission, Kilimanjaro Safaris. We had heard this "ride" was too rough for Dw with the pregnancy and all, but her doctor told us that he didn't see any concern since he had ridden it before. We walk right on and off we go. Since it was early morning, it was cool and we saw lots of animals. Once we returned to base camp, we headed for the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. This is a really nice leisurely walk. However I can see that if you do not get there early, the crowds could make this something to avoid. Next we went out to Conservation Station. It was OK to see, but now I think I will follow the phrase been there, done that. Not really worth a second trip in my opinion. Now DD might disagree, since she had a ball petting the goats and such but she can do that here at home at the local State Fair.
From here, we started making our way toward Maharajah Jungle Trek. On our way, we saw Divine. Had it not been for the CM accompanying her, I might have missed her. She was so cool at how she could move so slowly like a vine and keep her balance on the stilts. As we rounded the corner towards the MJT, we spotted a place that sells pearls. You know, pick an oyster, get a pearl deal. We decided to get DD one since pearl is her birthstone and it turned out to be very good. The CMl that helped us gave us a lot of information about Pearls and how they are made and so forth. DD seemed more interested in playing with the oysters though. DD picked an oyster from the bucket and the CM opened it up and we got a champagne colored pearl.
Now on to the MJT. Not real impressed with this attraction. It was cool to see the tigers, but beyond that, not really worth going back.
Next we wanted to catch a show, so off to Festival of the Lion King we go. This was an excellent show, one of the best I have seen at WDW. DD liked it as well. She kept wanting to do some of the stuff they were doing. She is in gymnastics now and I told her if she kept practicing, that she could one day. Wouldn't that be great to come to WDW and see your own child in one of the shows. Now we tought we would try to catch Pocohontis and her show while we were over on this side, but it was filled to capacity. Well, Camp Minnie-Mickey is here too, maybe that duck is here. Nope, same characters we have seen already. OK, let's try to catch Tarzan Rocks. On the way over to the show, we spot Jane signing autographs, so here we go. DD and I get in line. We also get the monkey Terk from Tarzan. We ask the CM if Tarzan is going to be out anywhere so we could get his autograph as well and she points us towards an area that he is "supposed" to be. Well the only thing we find is Pooh, Piglet and EEyore. Since we haven't gotten Piglet, we join in only to see the characters leaving. Oh well, let's eat. We head over to restaurantosaurus, a glorified McD's. This place was packed. In order to get a table, you had to spot someone about to finish eating and just hang by there table until they left.
After lunch, we head back over to see if Piglet is available and again we arrive just as they are leaving. I ask the CM when they will return and she said in just a few minutes and she was right. They vanished into this building and almost immediately returned. We then ask where Donald "that" Duck will be and we were told at 2:40pm behind restuarantosaurus. Off we go to wait, and wait and wait. No duck. It appeared that the magic from this week had been used up. After about 45 minutes (30 minutes past the proposed duck showing) and many attempts by a CM working a booth in the area to find out where Donald was, we decided to leave. Well, as luck would have it, guess who was outside the gates as we left. That's right, "THAT DUCK". DD and I quickly jumped in line. The CM announced that they had 10 minutes left. Cool, we were like 3rd in line. Finally, we had found that duck. Now as we were starting toward the bus, DW spotted Tarzan. Wow, maybe the magic hadn't ran out. It was close though, as DD got Tarzan's autograph, the CM cut the line after the next person behind us. This is also where I got a great photo. Terk came and squatted down next to DW who was squatted down resting. It appears they are having intelligent conversation.
Now we head back to WL to pack up for the trip home tomorrow. We get back to the lodge and DW and I pack up while DD takes a much needed nap. After everything is packed up and we rest a little, we head back for MK. We started the trip here and we have to end it here. No rides tonight, just Spectromagic and the fireworks. We arrive about 7pm and people are already staking places on Main Street for the parade, 2 hours later. We stop by a shop and get Mickey Ears for the grandparents and check out the pin station. Then we make our way towards the castle looking for a good place to sit. We locate a spot right at the end of Main Street where the parade makes the turn. Based on the amount of people already waiting, we decide to just sit here and wait rather than take our chances later. While we wait, DW and DD go down Main Street and pick up some ice cream sundays. Spectro was better than the one the first night we saw it. More floats and more characters. Snow White came right up to DD and shook her hand.
After the parade, we moved just 20-30 feet and had a great view of the fireworks with the castle in the foreground. Well, the fireworks are over, that means it is time to leave. We extend our stay as long as we can by shopping a little on Main Street. We extended it so much that we missed the last boat to WL. We had to catch monorail to TTC and bus to WL. A small price to pay to stay at MK a little longer, plus no crowds.
And that's the end of a great week at WDW. Lots of magic and fun galore. Tomorrow we are up at 6am and heading home to host a family reunion. Now that is how much we like WDW, stay to the last minute to return home just hours before relatives show up for a reunion at OUR house. And our one piece of advice, be there at park opening, you can do so much in the first 1-2 hours.
Until next time (year)!!!!
