Disney World Vacation - April 20-25, 2013
Pack up for the Polynesian after only one night here
Girls await our cab to the Polynesian Resort
Only view Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort in daylight
Drop off bags at Polynesian but the room is not yet ready
Bus over for our one day at Disney's Animal Kingdom
The one time David gets through the ticket gate quickly
Approach the Tree of Life on the way to Kilimanjaro Safari
Catch the second truck and start our safari
First animal we see is the black rhino
Pass a lake with two mud covered hippos on the lake edge
Two more hippos are underwater on the island far side
More hippos around another island of relaxing birds
Alex checks out some alligators resting in the sunlight
More islands and a suspension bridge above the gators
Alex points out another alligator to daddy
Pass from the gatorlands to the savana grasslands
An eland ventures up close to the truck
Young oryx runs past a giant termite mound
More mounds and more orynxes!
The termites really reduced this 2 story 4 bedroom house!
Erin really wants to see a giraffe
Erin, there are two of them over there!
Don't be afraid, I'm your biggest fan
The giraffe makes eye contact with Erin's toy
Look out! She shrinks giraffes very tiny! RUN!
Two more giraffes more familiar with stuffed animals
Pass by the Mandrill sisters, neither named Barbara
An elephant sees and heads off to the bushes
Turn and cross over a bridge to more adventure
Clear view of an elephant off in the distance
Two more kind enought to let us see them walk
Catch a great shot of an elephant with the video camera
Truck ahead stops with a giraffe right beside the road
We pass by very close as he continues his tall meal
An elephant walks past an iconic Baobab tree
Baobab trees this large would be over 1000 years old
Flamingos perch on a funny shaped island
Daddy, that is a Mickey Mouse head shaped island
Two cheetahs relax well away from the truck route
Looks like the left cheetah had a hidden friend with him
A solitary lion roosts up high in the rocks
Discover additional lions as well on the passby
A warthog naps in his burrow, no that is not roadkill
Two more rhinos walk near the truck route
An ostrich watches us as much as we watch him
The addax (white antelope) is from the Sahara desert
There is plenty of water here, no need to fight about it
The girls' safari continues but with fewer african animals
Stop at the Kusafiri coffee shop for beverages
Girls enjoy chocolate dipped rice krispy treats
We skip the Mombasa Marketplace across the street
Pass by the Tree of Life on the way to Asia
Many animals are carved into the Tree of Life's trunk
Erin, don't climb the statue, you could break it, uh oh
Stop at the gibbon shrine watch the monkeys play
Of picking fleas and throwing poo, I prefer this most
Girls start the Maharajah Jungle trek & see a big lizard
Komodo Dragon lifts up his head and gives us a smile
Waterfowl swim far from the Komodo Dragon
The girls see more bird in their own protected area
Group of Rodrigues Fruit Bats hang around
Is that Batman? Nope
Find a viewing window in the ancient asian walls
The girls find the two tigers hiding behind a wall
Just like house cats, laying around and grooming
Another tiger naps along an opposite wall
Time to move to the next area
Antelops run across the area in front of the girls
Photo the last 3 before they disappear in the distance
Pause at another & more colorful tiger pen
The tiger is kind enough to get up and walk across
Maybe fetch a drink from the giant kitty bowl?
Peacock hides near the giant stump with other birds
Asian ducks poke along the waters edge
Walk toward more ancient looking structures
It is OK, Alex, follow me inside
Inside is art, scupture, plants and birds
Erin watches a bird and doesn't chase it this time
Alex allows a bird to walk past her without moving
Check out the scenery as we finish the jungle trek
Pass by the gibbon shrine on the way back to Africa
Tree of Life is across Discovery River
Decide to wait for the next Flights of Wonder show
Flights of Wonder lead starts the show outside
Audience goes inside and the show begins
Bird takes a dollar from the crowd & brings it to the lead
An owl pokes his head out of the structure
And flies across the crowd to a perch in the back
Red hawk prepares to fly over the audience
Crowned crane buzzes the heads of the audience
The crane heels like a good dog
Part of the show is Hat Guy is afraid of birds
Bald Eagle just comes out for a look/see, no flying
The show ends with Macaws and Hawks taking a final bow
Crossing the bridge back to Discovery Island
Look down river as we cross back over
Awesome statue while in line for Tough to Be a Bug
Pass the Tree of Life while looking for lunch
Gotta have a closeup of the truck along with whole tree
Another exotic to me tree, maybe so for Florida as well?
Stop at the Flaming Tree for a barbecue lunch
Two sandwiches, a drumstick and two milks for lunch
Alex poses with daddy & his barbecue sandwich
Expedition Everest roller coaster across the lake
Catch the cars coming down shortly after the tall climb
To Camp Minnie-Mickey for the Festival of the Lion King
First the giraffe island crosses over the stage
Then Pumbaa the warthog and his island comes in
An elephant seals up the opening
And finally Simba, the lion king, enters the show
Monkeys do some acrobatics
Timon and Pumbaa watch the monkeys perform
Singing, gymnastics & color costumes tell the story
A bird takes flight and soars high above the crowd
More singers take the stage and belt out songs
Timon helps finish up the storyline
And the entire ensemble concludes the show on stage
Visit Mickey at the Greeting Trails, pass on King Louie
Walk across the park to Dinoland & then take a break
The girls watch a bird lead Daddy to a cold beer
Thank you very much, kind bird!
Break is over! Into Dinoland we go!
Head to a ride for the girls, TriceraTop Spin
Get inline underneath as rain begins to fall
Rain is still falling when it is finally time to ride
Erin must sit with Momma and all the rides
Our dino lifts and the ride begins
Take a few airborne photos and put the camera away
Rain falls hard enough to abandon the rest of the day
Girls rest while sheltering under a large dinosaur
Waiting for the bus, Alex & Daddy laugh about the rain
Check into our room 3609 at the Polynesian Resort
Two queen beds, a pull out couch and a great view
Plenty of room and a ceiling fan make it nice
Nice bathroom with a recycle bucket
View of volcano water slide directly out our window
Past the lake, is the Fairy Tale Wedding Chapel
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is working a new building just past the Fairy Tail Wedding Chapel
Creek flows from the Polynesian Great Ceremonial House
2nd floor view down at the start of the creek inside
Another upstairs view inside the main Polynesian building
Quickly spend our free tokens at the hotel gameroom
No suitable game for 4 or 46 year olds here
Back at the room before turning in for the night