Summer 2016: WDW with Kids- Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disney's Animal Kingdom is both my all-time favorite theme park and favorite zoological park. Disney is known for incredible theming and there is no better themed park than Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's gorgeous and immersive, with no detail overlooked.

We spent two days at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I always could spend more time and on previous trips with friends, I left the group to spend days at Animal Kingdom on my own. I love it so much. Two days was enough for this trip though. Compared to the other parks, there are less attractions and frankly, the kids don't have a huge interest in seeing the animals.

Here is our family picture in front of the iconic Tree of Life. This is a photo pass picture and Tinkerbell was added in. I like Tinkerbell, but she doesn't belong at Animal Kingdom. If they have to add a "magical touch" why not something more appropriate? Zazu maybe? It ruins the picture, but this is the best group.

The trunk of the Tree of Life is filled with animal sculptures. My favorite is the one of David Gray Beard: primatologist Jane Goodall's favorite chimpanzee. The Tree of Life is truly stunning and worth exploring. The tree also houses the attraction, It's Tough to Be a Bug. This is a 4-D show featuring characters from A Bug's Life. It's a cute show with some uncomfortable effects, but worth seeing, if you haven't done it. We have the attraction in California, so we decided that it could be skipped.

First stop, Africa for the Kilimanjaro Safaris and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail.

We had a fast pass for Kilimanjaro Safaris, an open-air vehicle ride to see African animals in a setting to make it look as if they are roaming free on the savannah. Animals include lions, elephants, zebras, crocodiles, flamingos, and giraffe. This family-friendly attraction is definitely one of the most popular rides at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It shouldn't be missed and since it features real animals, no two rides are ever the same. One time, an Ostrich sat in front of the vehicle and we got stuck for about ten minutes.

The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail is a walk-through exhibit featuring more African animals: Meerkats, Western Lowland Gorillas, Grevy's Zebras, Naked Mole Rats, and more. I could spend all day just watching the animals on the exploration trails. One of my favorite WDW memories was arriving before park opening for a behind the scenes tour and I was allowed to wait on The Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. I was alone with the zoo keepers and got to watch them feed the hippos. The hippos were extremely active and playful, including a baby. I spent many years volunteering at The Greater Los Angeles Zoo ( both as a high student and eventually as an adult in the behavioral research department) and I can tell you, that the best time to visit a zoological park is early in the morning or at closing. The animals are most active, especially if they are excited for food or enrichment items. In California rainy days are great, because it's somewhat of a novelty for the animals.

We breezed through all of the animal trails. It was not nearly enough time for me, but I've visited Disney's Animal Kingdom many times. We wanted the kids to have the best time ever, so we let them guide how much time was spent on the trails.

From Africa to the continent of Asia.

Expedition Everest is my favorite Disney coaster. It has the best themed queue, it's truly thrilling, and it features a Yeti. Felix handled it okay compared to other thrill rides and Zoe loved it. I'd have to ask her again, but I'm fairly certain that it was her absolute favorite ride of the trip. We went on it twice, once with a Fast Pass and once without.

I took plenty of pictures of the queue, which includes a "Yeti Museum" and interactive posters elements.

Kali River Rapids is a rafting adventure ride with an ecological theme. You usually or I should say, I usually, get drenched. It's a really fun, but rather short ride, that I often avoid because of the getting drenched bit. We did it with the kids, loved it and of course, got drenched. Here are pictures of the queue, which is also very themed.

Asia has an animal trail, the Maharajah Jungle Trek, featuring Tigers, Gibbons, Komodo Dragon, and the single best thing at ANY Disney park = Malayan Flying Fox aka Giant Fruit Bats! They are fantastic. I could watch them all day long. We definitely visited them, as I would not visit Disney's Animal Kingdom without a stop to see them, but we didn't take any pictures.

From living animals to extinct animals, next we visited DinoLand U.S.A.. We spent the most amount of time in the parking-lot carnival themed area of Chester & Hester Dino-Rama. We used a Fast Pass for Primeval Whirl, a mouse-type rollercoaster that spins. The kids loved it and I have to say that it's much more comfortable to ride this sitting next to a kid, rather than another adult. We also did the Triceratop Spin, where you sit in baby triceratops and you can control the up/down, while it circles.

DinoLand's big dark ride, Dinosaur, was down for refurbishment, so we missed it. I think it's okay though, because it might have been a little too intense for the kids. I always still have a freaked out look in the ride photos, which are taken at the scariest part of the ride.

There were a few other things we missed. I really wish we had done Finding Nemo:The Musical, which is the best Disney stage show in any park. I really enjoy Conservation Station, which is a great place to take kids who are interested in a veterinary career. They have an area where you can watch vets working (if a procedure is scheduled) and there are animal care experts on hand to answer questions. They also have a petting zoo and you get to take a fun train ride to reach Conservation Station, taking you past the off-view animal enclosures.

Pandora: The World of Avatar was still under construction. I'm not at all a fan of Avatar, but I'm sure that the attractions and land look amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing it on our next trip. They had not started running the Animal Kingdom at Night or the new night show, Rivers of Light, so those are other things to look forward to seeing on our next vacation.

Other than snacks, we didn't dine at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but from previous trips, I highly recommend Yak and Yeti. Make sure to save room for the pineapple wonton dessert. Yummy!

Summer 2016: WDW with Kids- Magic Kingdom

Our first day at the Magic Kingdom was on Zoe's ninth birthday! Of course, we made sure to stop at City Hall for a birthday button and she felt special the entire day. We visited the Magic Kingdom three times during our Florida vacation, doing half-days each visit. and like my other trip reports, this is a combination of all of those visits.

We stayed off-site and had to drive to the Magic Kingdom. I did a major, theme park fail on the first day and did not note where we parked our car. We ended up wandering around for about an hour in the midday heat trying to find our vehicle. Not fun. Always take note of where you park.

After parking, you have your first Magic Kingdom ride choice: Ferry or Monorail?

We took the Monorail on the first day and the Ferry on subsequent visits. You can't go wrong with either.

The Magic Kingdom Train Station, taken just outside of the park entrance.

Zoe and Felix met a friend from across the pond on Main Street.

The obligatory "family in front of Cinderella's Castle" shot.

Zoe in front of the "Partners" statue in the hub.

We caught part of a show in front of the castle. I remember feeling nearly knocked over by the extreme heat. I can't imagine dancing around in a furry costume.

First stop, Fantasyland.

We had a Fast Pass for the Seven Dwarf Mine Train. This new-ish attraction was a big hit with our whole family. The roller coaster element is thrilling enough to give your tummy butterflies, but not too scary for little kids. It's a fun coaster, but also one with a long queue. It's definitely one of the most popular rides at the Magic Kingdom. We also did Peter Pan's Flight with a Fast Pass, which also always has a long queue. It's a Small World had a short queue, so we hopped on it.

The Mad Tea Party also had a short wait. The kids love anything that makes them dizzy. I skipped it and went to find the nearby tribute to Randy Pausch. If you haven't read it, his book, The Last Lecture, will change your life. He's an inspiration!

Next up, Liberty Square, where we rode the Haunted Mansion. We had a Fast Pass and we really were not too sure how the kids were going to handle this attraction. They showed hesitation and had built it up in their heads that it was going to be a scary experience. We were ready to bail, should it prove to be too intense. We walked straight up to the front, missing the graveyard and before anyone could over-think it, we were inside. The big test is in the stretching portrait room. I held my breath, but as soon as the room went dark and everyone started screaming, Felix busted out laughing. He thought the whole thing was hilarious and Zoe wasn't scared at all. They both loved the Haunted Mansion and we rode it a second time without a Fast Pass.

It's so much better without a Fast Pass, because you get to see the cemetery. They cemetery is funny and filled with interactive elements, like the tomb of a captain that leaks water. It really is part of the overall experience and shouldn't be missed.

Next to Adventureland for a few Disney classic attractions. I love corny jokes and animals: The Jungle Cruise is one of my all-time favorite attractions. I think the version at Magic Kingdom is actually better than the original at Disneyland, probably because you get to go inside of a cave.

We did Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, where my abundance of enthusiasm and terrible singing garnered a side-eye from the kids. The tiki gods would not be pleased.

Cooling off at the Adventureland misters were a necessity. I usually handle heat very well, but I was defeated on this trip. It was so hot, especially that first day at Magic Kingdom.

Felix was going through a pirate phase: a perfect time to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. I don't think the Magic Kingdom version is as good as the original at Disneyland, but it was still a hit with the family.

Giant Disney lollipops for a treat!

After all of this excitement, we headed over to Tomorrowland for a break on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, aka Peoplemovers. I don't know what it is about this particular attraction, but I loved it as a kid and it's the former Disneyland attraction that I most wish would return. Zoe and Felix loved it too. It doesn't move fast, but it's just fun.

They enjoyed driving their own cars at Autopia, another timeless attraction.

At the Monsters Inc, Laugh Floor ( a comedy club with characters from Monsters Inc with a lot of audience participation), Dan was chosen to be "That Guy" and constantly picked on throughout the show. It was hilarious and he was rewarded with a special sticker for being a good sport. This attraction is a lot of fun for the whole family and gives you about thirty minutes in air-conditioning.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin was a huge hit and so was Space Mountain. I tried to talk the family out of doing "The Worst Disney Attraction Ever" = Stitch's Great Escape!, but they had to experience it for themselves. This ride is just gross and uncomfortable. It also made the kids nervous, since a lot of it takes place in the dark and you really don't know what to anticipate. Kids were crying coming out of this attraction, luckily not Zoe and Felix.

We did Carousel of Progress, which I love, but primarily we did it to beat the heat. It's a classic! It just didn't resonate with the kids and they were bored. Plus, we experienced technical difficulties and got stuck for a bit.

We rode the Astro Orbiter at night, giving us beautiful views of the park all lit up. It was magical.

Speaking of magical, there is nothing more magical than a Disney fireworks display! We debated splurging on the premium viewing with dessert package, but scraped it due to the overall cost of the vacation. To do it over, I would have splurged. That said, even though we didn't bother camping out to secure a great spot, as soon as the show started we were so wrapped up in the spectacle, that the crowds didn't matter. It was stunning.

Cinderella's Castle at night.

I don't often do the parades, but the Main Street Electrical Parade was on our to-do list. I've only seen this parade one other time and it happened to be at Magic Kingdom. Like the fireworks, we didn't take the time to stake out a great spot, but we got lucky. A kind family even let Zoe sit in front with their kids and Felix sat on Dan's shoulders. The Main Street Electrical Parade is delightful and whimsical. I can't believe I've skipped it so many times, especially when it was at Disneyland and I was an Annual Pass Holder.

I wish we had spent more time at Magic Kingdom. The heat and crowds did us in. Also, we spent more of our holiday relaxing by the pool, than we did in the parks. There are so many things that I wish we had not skipped - Tom Sawyer's Island, Swiss Family Treehouse, Mickey's Philharmagic, Country Bear Jamboree, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I wish we had spent more time simply enjoying the ambiance of the park. We raced through with our Fast Passes and didn't take the time to just soak up the atmosphere. We should have booked breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table.

Hopefully we will return soon and have more time to explore the Magic Kingdom!

Summer 2016: WDW with Kids- Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney's Hollywood Studios is one of my favorite parks, but unfortunately, we visited when the park was starting to under-go major transformations. It felt like the park was a big construction site.

Next to EPCOT's World-Showcase, Disney's Hollywood Studios was the second least interesting for the kids. Actually, only for one kid. At the time of our trip, Zoe was turning nine and Felix was almost seven. Zoe enjoyed the thrilled rides, while Felix was a little scared. Disney's Hollywood Studios has two of the most thrilling Disney attractions: both a big hit with Zoe, not so much with Felix.

We visited the park twice, so as with my other trip report, I'm combining the two days. Let's start at the beginning, with the park entrance.

I love the sanitized, prettied-up version of Hollywood. I grew up just about ten minutes from Hollywood and let me tell you, the Disney version is much nicer! Although, the real-deal is much better for people watching.

Posing with Gertie!

Both our first and last ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios was Star Tours. We had watched the original Star Wars films with the kids and they were somewhat familiar with the characters and Star Wars universe. This attraction is great, because it's thrilling, without being too scary. We used a Fast Pass for our first ride, but just did the queue the second time. I love the Star Wars queue in Florida.

Speaking of Star Wars, we also used a Fast Pass for a character meet and greet at the Star Wars: Launch Bay. We had a choice of characters and decided to meet Chewbacca. The whole area is themed and you wait behind a door until it's your turn for pictures, giving your group one-on-one time with the character. I was entirely unprepared for how tall and intimidating Chewy would be. He was right at the door when it opened and I jumped back. Dan is very tall, but not as tall as Chewy and Chewy gave him a pat on the head, making us all laugh. Check me out in this picture, it's me still giving a bit of distance because he was so gigantic.

I think we underestimated how much the kids would enjoy meeting characters. The character meet and greets were a huge hit and we have pictures to cherish from the experience.

We had also watched the Indiana Jones movies with the kids and they LOVED them. Indiana Jones was a bigger hit than Star Wars. They had fun at the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, which we also used Fast Passes to secure good seats.

One of my all-time favorite attractions, a close second to Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure, is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. I'm a huge fan of the Twilight Zone ( many happy memories of watching the 4th of July marathons with my uncle) and I love the whole theming of the attraction. It's so immersive. Plus, it's just a exciting thrill ride. We rode it twice with Fast Passes. Zoe loved it, but Felix was scared. I think more than the motion, the loud sounds freaked him out. He was a trooper and even rode it a second time, after we told him that I would sit it out with him. I'm fairly certain that it was his least favorite attraction of the entire trip.

Our birthdays are all within less than three months and so we celebrate in the summer. Dan's sister, Ali. and her family, sent us money for a sweet birthday treat during our trip. This picture of Dan, Zoe, and Felix is one of my favorites from our vacation. Thank you Higgin's family!

The other big thrill ride is Rock N' Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. I'm a big chicken and it took me years to go on Rock N' Roller Coaster. YEARS. I was in my late twenties before giving it a go. It's pretty intense, but when I finally rode it, it was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated. The kids were both a bit shocked when they got off, but then excited that it had been their first upside down rollercoaster! That's a great milestone.

We also had a fun moment in the queue, when my magic band triggered a personalized tour poster. This personalization of objects in the queue was something that Dan and I first experienced on our winter 2015-2016 trip. It's a magical addition to a few of the attractions and is exciting when your name pops up.

Ending with the tame: Muppet Vision 3D is a must-do attraction for me. No matter how many times I've seen it ( over fifty?), it never fails to delight and make me laugh. Is there anyone who doesn't adore the Muppets?

One piece of unfortunate marketing. The show was canceled before our visit, but the poster was still up. How was this overlooked? The wording is very unfortunate and appropriate.

We were sad that Lights! Motor! Action! had closed a few months before our trip. Felix is car obsessed and would have loved it. Dan isn't a fan of The Great Movie Ride, but I wish we would have done it, because it is now forever closed. I also wish we had done Fastasmic, as I think that would have been a big hit for the whole family. It just didn't work into our schedule.

We should have made sure to do Toy Story Midway Mania. The kids would have loved it. The reason we skipped it is because we couldn't get a Fast Pass for it. The Fast Pass Plus system at Disney's Hollywood Studios is broken into two tiers, with more popular rides in one tier and less popular ones in another. You are not allowed Fast Passes for too many of the most popular attractions, which is fair enough. So it's really more we prioritized other attractions and didn't select Toy Story Midway Mania.

I'm not a fan of the Fast Pass system and I wish we could go back to the days of just waiting for what you want to ride. However, my family is a fan of Fast Pass and would rather skip a ride, than wait in a queue. I've done everything in the parks many times, so I went along with the majority. We really skipped too much at this park. To do it over again, I would have allowed another half-day to our tour plans. My other advice, is to make sure to do a dining experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We should have booked Sci-Fi Dine-in or 50's Prime Time Cafe, both uber themed and great for the kids.

We just caught this park in a transition period. The new Toy Story Land looks awesome and I know that the Star Wars expansion will be amazing. I hope we can return to WDW soon!