August 7th

After breakfast at Chef Mickey's, we headed over to Disney's Animal Kingdom, our park reservations for the day. Upon arriving at the park we stopped at the cotton-top tamarin exhibit. We stopped by because the animals were out and active, but then we got to watch as the trainers came out to work with the animals, teaching them to participate in their own care. It was definitely a unique and cool experience.

We next headed over to Africa, where we rode the Kilimanjaro Safaris. Today the hippos, elephants, and rhinos were more active than we typically see during our safari rides, which was a nice change. It is always fun to be out with the animals and see how they interact with one another.

While we were in Africa, we swung by Zuri's Sweets Shop, where I picked up a Mickey dark chocolate with chili pepper for Tara, and a frozen slushy drink for Jayden.

Our next destination was Asia for Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. On our way, we passed by the Feathered Friends in Flight! show, which was just about to begin. We agreed to take a detour and see the show. This showing was perhaps one of the least cooperative ones I have seen as far as the birds refusing to do their part in normal fashion. What was cool about this show, however, was the owl that flew across the audience. I'm not saying that its wing clipped my hair, but if it didn't then the wind from its wing definitely caused my hair to move. Either way, it was a very cool experience.

With the show over, we made our way across to Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Grandma Terry opted out of this one, but Jay and I went for a trip on the mountain. As always, we had a lot of fun doing so.

By this point in the day, we were all feeling pretty worn out after a couple of long days at Walt Disney World. We decided to call it a day and make our way out of the park. Of course, no trip to Disney with Grandma Terry would be complete without a stop at Chili's on our way home.

All in all, a great couple of days at Disney with my mother and my youngest. Can't wait to do it again!

Disney's Animal Kingdom
		The Tree of Life as seen from the Oasis.
		A cotton-top tamarin that we saw on Discovery Island.
		There were a lot of the little tamarins running around the exhibit today...


		The trainers came out to work with the tamarins today...
		...teaching them to participate in their own care


		...before playing with them a little bit, letting them grab a bite of food while upside down.
		A look at Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain from the bridge into Africa...

		The 'Welcome to Harambe' sign spotted upon entering into the Africa section of the park.
		There are gates throughout Africa decorated for the 30th anniversary of The Lion King animated movie. This is one of the gates that I managed to snag a picture of.
		Some of the animal translation signs as seen as we make our way through the queue for Kilimanjaro Safaris.
		Although we normally see birds in this animal pen in the safari queue, today we saw a tortoise!
		Out on the ride, we saw a variety of animals, including this okapi...
		...and a couple of bongos...
		...which Jayden was observing.
		We also spotted this kudu in the bushes...
		...which eventually crossed the road, causing is to wait as it made it all the way across.
		Jay getting a look at both a kudu and a bongo.
		A saddle-billed stork standing near the roadway.
		The hippopotamuses were quite active today, including this one...
		...seen walking about outside of the water.
		There were a couple of pink-backed pelicans...
		...hanging out near the hippo swimming pool.
		The hippopotamuses were also active in the water, like this one going under...
		...this one swimming...
		...and this one underwater as well.
		The Nile crocodile weren't as plentiful today, but they were still out to see.
		The painted dogs were enjoying their spot in the shade today...


		We saw this sable antelope standing off in the distance...
		...and a couple more resting in the grass.
		The zebras were hanging out off in the distance with the wildebeest.
		We also caughts a couple of wildebeest napping in the shade...

		We spotted (pun intended) a giraffe hanging out in the shade of the trees...
		...as well as this pair off in the distance...


		The elephants were also out and active today, with several of them moving about their space...



		Today most of the flamingos were standing off of the hidden Mickey island...

		...with only a few hanging out on land, including...
		...these young ones (the gray ones).
		Like the hippos and elephants, the white rhinoceroses were out and active today...






		We also saw a group of waterbucks out today.
		There was also a warthog that was out and about...
		...moving through its enclosure.
		We also saw several Nigerian dwarf goats...

		...at the wardens compound near the end of the ride.
		Jayden posing for pictures in front of one of the gates decorated for the 30th anniversary of The Lion King animated movie...

		...including one where she is giving a subtle Peters Family salute.
		Fichwa! Fellow.
		A couple views of the Tree of Life as seen from Asia...

		One of several blue-and-yellow macaws hanging out around the Feathered Friends in Flight! show.
		The great horned out coming out for the show...

		A rat running around a part of the building.
		One of the cast members talking with a cockatoo.
		A marabou stork flying over the audience...

		...before landing on stage.
		One of the cast members sporting a hat to match the head of the black crowned crane on stage with him.
		A cast member bringing out a bald eagle...



		Another picture of the blue-and-yellow macaws, this time being fed during the show.
		A toucan on stage.
		A knobbed hornbill hanging out on a branch...

		A yellow-cheeked gibbon hanging out next to a white-cheeked gibbon in their enclosure in Asia.
		Another view of Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain from Asia...
		A look at one of the scenes from the Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain queue.
		We got to see Kevin walking around Discovery Island.