Destination Disney

This week's theme is

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Please share with us your favorite photos,
your favorite things about Animal Kingdom,
tips to make your time there more fun, etc.
Just anything related to Animal Kingdom!

When I plan a Disney trip, I try to consider which parks are best visited on which days.  It has worked out, on our past two trips and on our upcoming trip, that we visit Animal Kingdom on our first day.  I like it this way, because I enjoy saving the best for last, and Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park.  That being said, though, it IS a Disney park, and I DO love it!

Here is a picture of all of us (our family of 4 at the time and my parents), taken on the first morning of park visiting during our last trip (2005):

One of my favorite things about Animal Kingdom is probably Camp Minnie-Mickey.  This has been one of the quickest, easiest places for the kids to meet characters.  We've never had to stand in long lines here.

(Ashley was 11 and Gracie 4 1/2 on this last trip ~ my how they've changed!)

Right across from the Meet & Greets is the theater for Festival of the Lion King - a 30-minute musical of Broadway proportions that is an absolute must-see at Animal Kingdom. We were amazed by the colors, acrobatics, and just plain fun!

No trip to Animal Kingdom is complete without Kilimanjaro Safaris - this ride, to me, is what Animal Kingdom is all about.  The Tree of Life is amazing in and of itself, though neither of my girls have been too fond of the It's Tough to be a Bug 3-D show (I think it's kinda cute!)  Kali River Rapids is great fun - but I'd only recommend this ride on a very warm day - you will get soaked! Expedition Everest was just being built on our last visit to the World, so we are very anxious to check it out in January.  Looks like fun. 

I knew that Family Fun had Kidcot stops at Animal Kingdom, but we have never really paid much attention to them (I'm not sure why, as we LOVE the passports for Future World at EPCOT).  Anyway, yesterday I found this site, and it's got me excited to try out either the Club Passport or Safari Journal.  Anyone have any experience with these?  If so, I'd love your thoughts, opinions, etc. 

Don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky so that everyone can come visit your blog!
(Remember, link us directly to your Destination Disney post, please.)

Also, be sure to check out the schedule in my right-hand side bar.
Our theme for September 5th will be COOL PHOTO.
I'm looking for ideas for next year's themes, so please e-mail me.

Share Your Thoughts

Aug. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by lisasblessings

Oh, How I love Disney. ! I love these pictures, it makes me anxious for our April trip.

Lisa

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Aug. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by crysnrod

Heidi, I wish I had pictures to share!! I wish even more I could take my family!!! Wow, what a trip that would be!!! I have been to Disney twice, once I hardly remember as a young child and another time as a teen. I'll have to see if my mom has any pictures I can scan so I can participate!!
Hugs,
Crystal

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Aug. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Ruth

Heidi,
I don't have much to share about Disney because we have never been before. We are looking forward to our trip in October. Thanks for sharing what you already know and all the great tips.
Blessings,
Ruth

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Aug. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Hi Heidi,

I need to log into http://blog.com to put my Animal Kindgom post on my blog. I can get into my blog just fine, but can not log into the http://blog.com interface site where I need to go to enter a new post. It was down last night and is still down now. :( I am leaving soon for the day but will try to log in to it later tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully they will fix this issue soon so I can play in your carnival!

I love your family photos. It is so much fun to see the kids sharing a smile with Mickey! Your girls are adorable! Have a great day!
–Kristen

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Aug. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Great post! Animal Kingdom is not my favorite park either, but I enjoy it more every time I visit. I love the Lion King show and the Safari. I also think It's Tough To Be a Bug is cute. My kids weren't big enough for Everest last year, so I am looking forward to riding it next year. I also want to see the Nemo show.

Sorry I didn't participate, but your post is great! I would've said practically the same thing!

Lauren
baseballsandbows.blogspot.com

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Aug. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Sorry I'm late with my post...I am so bad about remembering these things lol. Better late than never. Have a great week. Julie http://funinthesunmom.blogspot.com

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Aug. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Hi Heidi,
I know I already mentioned how much I enjoyed your Animal Kingdom post, but I want to tell you again that it was fun to read and thank you for sharing it— and your great pictures!

I am all posted and linked up to your site. I wasn't able to copy the new modified Destination Disney icon directly from your blog, so I left the top of my post bare. If you get a chance would you please email me the new image and I will post it on this post—and all future ones. My email address is kristencsthisandthat@yahoo.com. Thanks so much!

I am thinking of things we can do next year. There is so much there to talk about, I am sure we won't have any problems thinking of ideas!

Have a great night!

Kristen

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Aug. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mamaof3

Love the pics!! - Mark and I did ANIMAL KINGDOM and 2 days of MAGIC KINGDOM just a few weeks ago!!! Woohoo!! - When we took the kids in Jan. 2007 - we felt like that park was the one we didn't see EVERYTHING that we wanted to see. So...we spent from the time we got off the bus from our resort to the time it closed at ANIMAL KINGDOM on our first day.

We like the KAHLI RIVER RAPIDS, too and rode it 2 times in a row!!! I am not kidding. We could NOT believe the lines (being that we were there the last week in July and first of August) - It was soooo unbelievable. The longest line we waited in was 20 minutes long!! The shortest - was NO line. We walked up and got right on - this was the rapids ride AND the entire group that was on with us had so much fun and there were NO people ready to get on when we got back from our first time on the ride - that we all asked if we could stay on for a 2nd time around and they said - SURE! - Are you kidding me??!! This is DISNEY - there are lines...BUT...there were not. Mark was so baffled and trying to figure out if less people were traveling because of the price of gas - or - WHAT was going on.

I do NOT like MOUNT EVEREST - yuck!! - Mark, Aaron and Sarah - LOVE it!!! Rachel and I did NOT ride in 1/07 - but; I PROMISED our kids that Mama would ride with Daddy and I did. PTL - it was one of the last things we did - because I got quite sick. - I think it's the going backwards in the DARK - that got me.

We enjoyed the parade and the safari and the river rapids. I do enjoy the Festival of the Lion King - but; once you've seen it ON BROADWAY in NYC - it's just not quite the same.

Charity

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Aug. 25, 2008 - We love Disney too!

Posted by HoneyBee10269

I have 4 favorite things about Animal Kingdom...in no particular order...

1) breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe
2) the Festival of the Lion King
3) the walking trail where the Tigers are (have some great pics of tigers! but don't know how to share them on your blog)
4) I am a thrill ride junkie and LOVE Expedition Everest!!!

We live about 1/2 hour south of Disney, but unfortunately aren't able to go very often...last time we went to AK was back in October of 2006 just before the anual passes we had expired. Would love to get passes again someday!

Melissa
ps: like your new title banner!

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Aug. 26, 2008 - I just LINKED!

Posted by HoneyBee10269

Hi Heidi, I just linked to your Destination Disney post! At first I wasn't sure what you meant by "Mr. Linky" but then I came back to look at your post and figured out what you were talking about. So my addition is all posted so you can come check out my pics now! Have a great day! ~Melissa

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Aug. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SandBetweenMyToes

We never seem to be able to "get into" Animal Kingdom. Not sure why. We've only been for a couple of hours twice, and both times we wish we had spent that time somewhere else. Last time we were mainly there to find Pocahantas, it was a Sunday, and it was PACKED, and she was way out in the boonies~had to ride the train. It seemed to take hours just to get that one photo/autograph. We wanted to do the Safari also, but the Fast Passes were gone early that morning.
Okay, I guess I'm probably officially the party pooper for this post!
Letitia

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