Joni's Digi Blog: DAY 4 (ANIMAL KINGDOM)

Today will be a short post. While planning for our trip I heard several people tell me to skip the Animal Kingdom and I am glad we didn't listen. I loved the Animal Kingdom...sure after the Magic Kingdom it is pretty much pud but I enjoyed it and I believe the kids did too! Again it was a hot hot today but thank God for Disney's Fast Passes to Kali River Rapids we managed to stay cool. Of course Dean didn't like getting wet so when we tried to ride again (never got the chance...the dang ride was down) Dean wanted to sit and watch.

The tree of life is really something else. It is HUGE in person...Just looks like a tree doesn't it?? Disney has everything mapped out beautifully. We were able to walk down around the roots, pick out the different animals in the roots and as we got down to the bottom...we were able to see a Flik!

Had to include this pic because after I took this pic, the kids and I stood for an hour while Dean was chatting with a representitive from the vacation club. It only cost 16,000 and you can come to Disney ANYTIME you want!!! Well for 16,000 we better be able to purchase a room @ the friggin Grand Floridian!!!

Ahhh Blue! He was hilarious!!! Who would have thought! He played with Kate's hair the entire time we were taking pics and even after she walked away....he chased her around the corner (she didn't even know he was there) and as soon as she turned around...he fluffed her hair one more time!

2 cute!!!!

I know boring right??? But I was proud of my alligator shot and we didn't get to see a lot of them the entire trip cuz it was so hot outside...most of them were smart enough to stay in the water!

Except this one!

LOVE LOVE LOVE Giraffes and I have never gotten to get so close to one before. He was literately 2 feet in front of us!!!

LUNCH!!! This was PLANNED! Had a bit of trouble finding this but it was sooooooo worth it. I love BBQ and this was awesome!!!! The kids were able to get their collectable AK cups here as well. Sure I had to slap Dean back to consciousness a few times over the cost but it still doesn't beat the $16.00 drink I paid for the kids to have refillable cups the entire time we were @ Nick!!! Oh the joy of vacationing!!!!

This was my absolute favorite part of Animal Kindom! This was the Festival of the Lion King. Most of my pics didn't come out because we were back pretty far and it was so dark but WOW!!!! Another one of those moments that is so moving I just wanted to cry!

Before we returned home for the evening...I had heard soo much about the Belz outlet stores that I HAD TO BE THERE!!!! Again, we had a hell of a time finding it but after we did..I was in heaven. They had a Disney store that everything (or most everything) was discounted and they had a lot of things that were still selling in the parks. I got a bunch of t-shirts there and picture frames (one of my FAVORITE souvenirs) and some really really neat glasses (the drinking kind that we wont drink out of). Also, Andy found a really cool Pirates of the Caribbean stein. Kate found a neat Mickey and Minnie pillow. I think I spent $200 in this store...but I was ready to go back on Day 5!

Back home again! Loved how this turned out with the photo effects. I love Kate's freckles (SHE HATES THEM!!!) and this really accents them in the pool!