Austins Disney Xpedition! Part 1 of 6: Animal Kingdom

[Austin]

This has to be the most fun I have had on a vacation in years. I had a blast in the parks, you just cant beat it. We started on Saturday at 7 AM driving all the way into a small town called Lake City which is just inside the Florida border and stayed for the night, then got up at 8:30 and left at 9:30 and drove all the way to Orlando and checked into the All-Star Sports Resort. Since it was mid-day we went down to Downtown Disney to scout the shops and then came back to swim.

The next day we began our day in Animal Kingdom with fastpasses for Expedition Everest and rode Dinosaur then Everest again then rode the other major rides and did the Festival of the Lion King and finally headed over to spend the second half of our day in the Magic Kingdom which we spent most of our time in Tomorrowland. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor was really hilarious. I don't see why people hate it. The show changes every time you ride so you don't know what your going to get. Space Mountain is just top notch now. After its 2009 rehab, its just amazing. super smooth again, you cant see the track or supports anymore, new effects and the queue and exit along with the station are spectacular. The only downside I had was the trains need replacements to accommodate people taller than 5 ft 5 (I'm 6 ft. 1). Which I believe we might get Matterhorn's old trains once the new prototypes are ready to replace them.



The park entrance


Tree of Life


Headed to Asia for some amazing Coasters. What a way to start a day!


I cant wait to ride! It teases you the whole time since its so visible.


Actually we aren't here for Everest, we're here for Asian Coca Cola.


The monkey play gym area.


See how beautiful that thing is!


Looking up from the queue


A yeti statue in the queue


Another yeti statue.


The company delivering Tea through the mountain.


Yeti mask.


And remember folks, respect the power of the Yeti.


They even built a viewing area to watch guests get chased out of the mountain.


Here comes some happy guests now!


The great themeing around the ride.


As seen from the Asia-Dinoland USA bridge


The park is beautiful.


I have heard this show is really good but I haven't gotten to see it yet.


The group posing for a picture, I'm taking the picture.


Artistic shot.


Another coaster?!


The parks equivalent to Dumbo.


I want to know, who is Chester and Hester?


Primeval Whirl's queue


Your Time Machine.


The queue and ride for Triceratop Spin.





A really fun ride. My on-ride picture is embarrassing though..


Some of the queue


Theories of Extinction


Once you turn the corner this thing tries to eat you.


Your typical vortex capacitor.


My sister is having a blast (pink), Troy (green) looks confused, Mom (next to troy) scared to death, and finally me (orange) looks like I just crapped myself.


They have Prehysterically low prices.


Back to Dino-Rama


And back to Everest for our second ride of the day





The train. The end car actually puffs smoke when it pulls into the station. It used to do a lot more but it was pretty much overkill.


Coming to the top of the first mini hill.


Now for the main lift.


And if your in the front seat you will probably get scared to death lol.


The Yeti ripping the tracks out. Didn't Mr. Yeti ever learn manners?


Heading towards Africa you pass this restaurant. I believe its the Yak and Yeti.


Didn't do this again.


Tree of life up close.


Kilimanjaro Safaris


Part of the queue


They do a great job of making you feel like your in a wildlife reserve.


Your transport vehicles





Yes they do actually drive. There is no tracks at all.


Rhino


Beautifully landscaped habitats.


I think this tree is fake


The Savannah





Just remember catch the poachers, and save the rhinos!


Baby elephant and a parent


It came out of no where


Some white rhinos


The Warden's Post.


I still haven't even gotten to do this yet.


Themeing as you leave Africa





To add to the realness of the area they have this stuff.


Everest as seen from Africa





Pretty good picture of the Tree of Life


Family picture.


This place has some really good pulled pork BBQ sandwiches


Handlers training some animals


Carvings on the tree of life





I wanted to see Weevil Kneevil but they were sold out so I settled for Its Tough to be a Bug. :/


Pretty amazing detailing here


The show screen for Its Tough to be a Bug.


I hope this area goes away soon.


But it does have some beautiful sights.


Goofy with his line up in a tree.


Donald with his usual bad luck


The best show in the park and one of the best in the resort.





I'll have a video of the full show later on but its too big to upload to Youtube so I'm editing it into three videos.


And thats the Animal Kingdom! Check back later for part two: Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Thanks to our friends over at Orlando Theme Park News for the graphic at the top! Part 2 will be here later this week so keep checking.

[nitrofan]

Wow, sounds like a lot of fun! I always loved Animal Kingdom.

I'm surprised you haven't done it yet, but I'm adding this to the index now.

[Austin]

Just got back from the lake. Part 2 will be ready by tomorrow morning!