The Martindales: Disney World Part 4: Animal Kingdom

This is on the bus ride to the park. Do you notice it is still dark outside. I have no idea why Josh was making funny faces.

We went to Animal Kingdom next and their Magic Hours were at 7am. That meant getting up at 5am because we had to take a bus there and you have to wait for the bus. Anyways it was a very tiring morning and we all decided to get done with all the rides as soon as possible and head back to the hotel for a nap. It would be our first and only nap of the trip and man was I looking forward to it. There is a ride at this park called Everest Expedition that is the most popular ride. The Fast Passes run out for it in the morning and people wait in seriously long rides to ride it. When we first hit the park everyone was running to hit that ride before the crowds came. Not our party though, we sent Eric to get Fast Passes for that ride and a water ride and then he met us back at Dinoland. We got all the rides in there done with not a single line and no crowds whatsoever. It was great.

If you notice in this picture once again Ethan is screaming and crying about not riding it. I forced him to go on and he liked it but wouldn't ride it again.

I like to point out there are no crowds. Four hours later you could barely walk around this same area.

We then headed to our breakfast with Donald Duck and Friends. Once again Lexie had a great time. She was always so excited to see the characters.

I think Lexie was most excited to see Donald Duck. Go figure.

Rose and I fell asleep waiting for the characters

After breakfast we rode another popular ride called Kilamajari Safari (once again we had fast passes). Lexie loved to see the giraffes. She said they were her favorite animal.

After that we headed to ride Everest Expedition. By this time the park was so crowded it was hard to walk especially with a stroller. We were all wearing down very fast too. But I have to say that Everest is one of the best rides I have ever been on. I loved it and can understand why people would wait (though we didn't not with our Fast and Stroller Passes). I rode it twice and would have gone on it many more times if I truly wasn't so exhausted. The kids were great waiting for all the adults to ride on it. I am amazed with how well they handled the heat and the crowds and the constant waiting. They hardly ever complained. After Everest we headed to the water ride. The line was quite long even with a Fast Pass and it wasn't anything spectacular. I would never wait in line for that ride. But Lexie enjoyed it so that is what counts right.

This is us after the water ride. You can't tell by the picture but my mom was literally dripping. Lexie had worn a poncho (don't ask me why) and didn't get a drop on her. When I asked her on the flight home what her favorite ride was she said, "The one where everyone got wet and I didn't."

Then it was onward to home for us. Boy were we excited. We got in all the rides at the park and were walking out the exit at 2. We still had to take the bus home and get some lunch but we were in our beds and asleep by 3:30 and didn't have to get up until 6:30. It was heaven.

Waiting to be seated for the show

It was a good thing we got a nap because we had a dinner and a show that night that started at 9:30 and we didn't get back to the hotel until after midnight. The show was called the Hoop De Doo and it was hilarious. Lexie loved it. She laughed, cheered, clapped and danced all the way through it. It was more of an adult humor show but she managed to pick up when things were funny. I totally recommend this show. Once the show was over it was home to bed to get up early for another breakfast. Our we gluttons for punishment or what.