Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Disney's Animal Kingdom

When it comes to vacation my motto is go big or go home. The Tour de Florida is still alive and well and has a few Disney theme parks left! The largest one offers lots by way of adventure and discovery through expeditions and safaris. The focus is on nature and of course animals who are among you in the plush surrounding park habitats. Our total time in Disney was limited to two and a half days. With Magic Kingdom under our belt, the full second day slotted for Epcot and the third day (where we needed to be at the airport around 4:30) was left for Hollywood Studios. We decided to fit Animal Kingdom in on the morning of the second day before Epcot, taking advantage of Magic Hours (extra time extended to guests staying in the park) which began at 8 am. The park opens to the general public at 9am so we had a free hour to basically do one thing before the masses arrived: ride Expedition Everest.
Yes my friends, that Himalayan mountain in the distances houses a roller coaster. At Expedition Everest you board a high speed train and zip through the misty unknown. But beware of the Yeti! You never know when the fierce legend might appear on your expedition. This must ride coaster is located in the Asia section of the park. Walking the streets of Asia definitely transcends time and place. I love the outdoorsy scene combined with the oriental Coca-Cola advertisements, among other appropriately themed architecture and signage.With an under 5 minute wait we managed to ride Everest three times in a row! Since we had plans for one other ride in Animal Kingdom, we picked up a Fast Pass knowing we'd want to return afterward to seek one more thrill line free, before we left for the day. In the meantime was off to DinoLand U.S.A.The other must ride in Animal Kingdom for us was Dinosaur.
Aboard terrain vehicles you blast back 65 million years to save the last dinosaur!
The park has a lot more to offer if you can dedicate a full day, from The Kilimanjaro Safaris to the Wildlife Express Train, to the It's Tough to be a Bug 3D Show housed in The Tree of Life. I have experienced most of these on a past trip, so I didn't mind passing this time around. I wouldn't have minded riding the Kali River Rapids, except for the fact that it was a chilly morning and whitewater rafting in turbulent waters would have proved for a miserable start to the day. Adventure awaits at Animal Kingdom so be sure and check it out if you plan a trip!

10 comments:

  1. I haven't been to Disney in AGES (or in 18 years, which makes me feel so horribly old). Your posts are making me want to go back...soon! :)

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  2. This looks like such a fun time! Just reading it made me smile :)

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  3. yay for Animal Kingdom. Love the shot you got of the big drop on Everest!

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  4. Wow, how fun! You just brought memories of years and years ago :-)

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  5. YETIIII!!!! So jealous. Fast passes are amazing. That's my favorite roller coaster :)

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  6. Now I have serious need of going to Florida!!!!! Great recap :-)

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  7. Haha, Tour de Florida. I still have a pair of those Mickey ears from when I was 2.

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  8. I love how different the Florida park is from the one here in L.A. The Expedition looks awesome!!

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  9. that looks like a lot fun, especially that rollercoaster

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  10. How fun! Also, love your sunglasses, that color is great.

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