Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom is a huge park - almost five times the size of Magic Kingdom and over 1000 animals in a park. One of the must dos on our list was to ride the Expedition Everest so we headed there first and loved it. Joshua was scared to ride in a roller coaster backwards and he LOVED it. We loved it so much we rode it three times in a row. It is pretty intense when you climb a mountain and then hear the track being ripped apart by a Yetti. It wasn't until the second time that I saw the Yetti off to the right towards the end of the ride. The props are the real equipment left behind on the Mount Everest base camps. The amazing focal point for the Animal Kingdom is known for the Tree of Life.It is entirely man made.
Up close, you will see hundreds of animals carved into it's trunk. Beneath this tree is one of best 4D shows - It's Tough To Be A Bug! This one should not be missed and definitely has a few surprises that will make you jump. One of the most popular rides in Disney's Animal Kingdom is the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. Clever use of landscaping ensures that the guests get to see a wide variety of animals on their safari - from giraffes to hippos, elephants to lions. It felt like an authentic safari ride sitting in a jeep traversing over bumpy land.Disney World is of course known for it's fabulous attention to details and theming throughout the parks. Rainforest Cafe in Animal Kingdom is one of my favorites. Rachel thought the animated animals were real and did not want to get too close. You feel like you are in a real rainforest with vegetation everywhere and the sounds of waterfalls, elephants trumpeting, and gorillas. The sudden simulated thunder and rainstorms sound real. Festival of the Lion King was the best! We all agree this is one of the best shows. Great singing, gymanstic tricks, fire dancing, and a twirling bird. Nathan showed off his ability to roar in front of the audience.All of the buildings are made to feel like you are visiting parts of Asia and Africa. Also, check out these drums. I spoke with one of the people who worked here from Asia and he said they are authenic!Don't you love that hair? I did brush it that morning. Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade.Each Disney park has an amazing parade and Animal Kingdom's was different than the others.
After days of walking, Nathan and Joshua were glad to take a rest and watch the parade. Flights of Wonder is a live show focusing on the fascinating natural behaviors and often humorous talents of at least 20 species of exotic birds. We were most impressed by the bird that could sing 7 different songs. One of Emily's favorite kind of rides are river raft rides. On the Kali River Rapids, we all got wet, but Jacob and Allan were the wettest. While rafting down the river, we went through a rain forest, under waterfalls,and past temple ruins. Another fun ride was Dinosaur. While Rachel napped with Grandma and Grandpa, we saw living dinosaurs. The sounds and size seemed genuine and there were a few surprises along the way. We also watched the musical version of "Finding Nemo," which was phenomenal. Impressive costumes, puppets, singers, beautiful scenery and bubbles.We are ready to go back anytime.