Animal Kingdom ~ the Wild Side of Disney?

Monday, May 12th

We couldn't get a Fast Pass to the Safari ride, so we decided to make a run for it.  We were not the only ones with that idea.  The morning is best to see most of the animals.   Book your Fast Pass earlier so you won't be disappointed.

We were not at all disappointed.  You get into a jeep type vehicle and bump along and see animals without the cage between you.  I remember telling Gregg how "rich" I felt.  Couldn't believe I could experience something like this, even though it is not really the Safari, it was highly enjoyable.

Ruth's day was made!

 

Sat off on a trail this time to eat our treat...then noticed a man taking a nap.  Oh so much fun.

While the rest of them were enjoying Everest, I did some walking around and found a ride that didn't have a long wait.  So I blindly went to it.  Didn't look too bad.  So I sat with strangers... a Mom and her son and well, it was a ride that twisted and spun and went up and down and felt like you were going to fly off the edge.

 I survived and thought "oh that wasn't so bad".  I convinced the rest of the family to join me and they were stunned that I had actually enjoyed myself that first time.  Felt a little more panicked and "happy-gp-pukey" on the second go around.

They also have random dance parties ?

Ruth and Mei wanted to keep riding on Everest, so Gregg, Kate and I walked through some conversation area.  The buildings looked like old ruins and there were tigers and such....plus a bird sanctuary.  Adorable birds.  oh my.

The cutest, tiniest little birds running around in the leaves

She let us try out a "toy" they were selling.  The string would rotate and change colors as well as changing shape.
 Weird and silly fun.

SQUIRREL!

Now we also took in "It's Tough to be a Bug" 4 D experience.  While you are waiting, you go "underground" and a woman came on the speaker and asked us through her thick accent "If everyone can hear me, please say Bahhhhbbb".  People were looking around at each other and thinking "BOB?"  "Bahhhh?"  This is now a family joke to see if anyone can hear us.   I wouldn't recommend this 4D experience for anyone afraid of bugs or for smaller children.  It does get dark, and they do try to "swat" you and spray you, etc.  We enjoyed it though.

Can you see the Hippo?

Thought so much of my niece!  She loves Hippos.

Birds would fly from one handler to another one down the path and right over your head.

Gregg got picked to be on the stage with the bird show.  An owl would fly over them, then back to them for a photo op.

Gregg's view 

Scary!

Adrenaline Junky

Part of the experience is having great interactions with other Disney quests... like that guy behind the girls.  We met many wonderful people and for some reason they thought we were either from Minnesota or Canada (which is Toronto if you don't know )  We were too polite and they could tell.

Going up Everest!

The girls liked how you were in a train going up Everest and it's in the dark a lot.  It takes you backwards and almost flips you, then you plunge down!

Probably one of the craziest rides they went on...they loved the height and the plunging backwards then downwards.  I took photos and prayed.

A Nemo show... wonderfully done with "puppets" being the characters.

For shows like Nemo, etc, it's best to go in early and get a seat or you'll be the nosebleed section on a hard bench with people walking by you.  Just a warning.  It was still very good.

We're excited about everything aren't we?

A ride with the dinosaurs... oh no.. they escaped!

It's 30C and we're hot... lets go to Kali Rapids and cool down hopefully.

The ride takes you through areas that fire and humans have ravished the trees and lands, then... down the rapids you go!

How wet will we get?  They have a small hold in the middle of the raft with plastic over it for your purses... hummm...maybe we'll get wet!

Now put the phone away so it doesn't get wet!

Safe to say that we did get refreshed on Kali Rapids!  Cooled off temporarily, but the sun dried us off pretty quickly.  

Waiting for the shuttle...Animal Kingdom closes earlier in the day.

Animal Kingdom is big on conversation and is more multicultural.  We liked Everest and Kali Rapids, but wanted to see more things at Magic Kingdom, so decided only the one day at Animal Kingdom.
Gifts $10
Parking $17
Treats $20