March 11th

This morning we headed off to Disney's Animal Kingdom for a day of walking the animal trails and taking in the rides. Upon arrival at the park, we decided to try out a different entrance. We snuck off towards the Rainforest Café, where they have their own entrance into the Oasis. On our way we spotted a stroller left outside the restaurant entrance, and in it were squirrels going through the basket! Glad it wasn't our stroller...

Once inside the park, we wandered through the Oasis, where we checked out a variety of animals. We then crossed the bridge onto Discovery Island. While crossing, Tara and Jayden signed up to be Wilderness Explorers. As explorers, they would be tasked with earning adventure badges as they explored the park. The first thing we did once reaching Discovery Island was to hit the Discovery Island Trails to check out even more of the animals in the park. After completing our walk on the trail, we decided to go and watch the It's Tough to be a Bug! show, even though Jay would have preferred we skip it. This is a show that is rumored to be coming to an end, with a possible Zootopia show taking its place, so we wanted to be sure to see it at least once more before it is gone forever.

After watching It's Tough to be a Bug!, we headed over to Asia to enjoy the Maharajah Jungle Trek trails, where we saw macaques, water buffalo, a tiger, a big variety of birds, among other animals.

Once we completed the jungle trek, we headed off to Africa with the intent to get something to eat and enjoy the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride, but Drew was really starting to feel the effects of whatever it was that has been ailing him since they left Michigan. It was decided that Drew and I would head back to the condo, leaving Tara and Jayden in the park to enjoy their afternoon. Tara offered to take Drew, but I get many more opportunities to enjoy the parks than she does, so it only made sense that I was the one to take him. He ended up sleeping for the next five-plus hours, so I guess he needed it.

After Drew and I left, Tara and Jayden headed over to DinoLand, U.S.A. to grab lunch at Restaurantosaurus. Jay had the chicken breast nuggets and a S'moresosaurus Shake (a vanilla shake with chocolate and caramel rrizzle topped with a chocolate-dipped s'more, toasted marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbs and rimmed with chocolate fudge sauce and graham cracker crumbs) while Tara enjoyed the Buffalo Chicken Chips (which is house-made chips served with buffalo chicken and blue cheese dressing topped with tomato and celery relish) and a Golden Margarita (Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, Grand Marnier Liqueur, sweet-and-sour, lime juice, and a salted rim) from Trilo-Bites to quench her thirst. While they were in DinoLand, U.S.A. the girls decided to take a while on TricerTop Spin. It has been so long since I have been on this one that I don't even remember what this ride is!

Tara and Jay then headed over to Asia once again, this time to ride Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain while continuing to collect their Wilderness Explorers adventure badges.

The next stop was the train ride over to Rafiki's Planet Watch Affection Section, where Jay took the time to check out all of the animals in the petting area. Once again, they collected more of their adventure badges. You can read about the rest of their day on page two of the pictures!

Disney's Animal Kingdom
		This morning we tried out the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom via the Rainforest Café. On our way to the restaurant, we spotted this squirrel going through someone's stroller. Hope they didn't have anything tasty in there!
		After making our way into the park, we wandered around the Oasis, checking out the animals - including this African spoonbill...

		...as well as this black-necked swan...
		...and this merganser.
		We also spotted this turtle hanging out on a rock.
		Our view of the Tree of Life as we crossed onto Discovery Island.
		A closer look at the Tree of Life.
		We got to see several American white ibis's and greater flamingoes while on Discovery Island...




		We also got to see these Asian small-clawed otters on the Discovery Island Trails.
		As we followed the trail, we came upon this paroon shark catfish swimming near a bridge...
		...although this one looks huge, they can grow up to ten feet long!
		A short while later we spotted these kangaroos. There are two species of kangaroos here, four of which are western grey kangaroos and there are also two red kangaroos. The red ones have a white stripe on their face, which is how you can tell the difference...


		A different view of the Tree of Life.
		A squirrel atop a fence post on Discovery Island...

		We found some ring-tailed lemurs near the exit of the Discovery Island Trails...


		A couple of ducklings swimming in a pond on Discovery Island.
		It's Dug from the movie Up!
		I couldn't resist sharing a couple more photos of the ring-tailed lemurs...

		A look at Dug & Russell's Wilderness Explorers Club House. Tara and Jayden worked diligently to complete their Wilderness Explorers guidebook today.
		Flik coming down from the ceiling during the It's Tough to be a Bug! show.
		Hopper intimidating and scaring the audience during the It's Tough to be a Bug! show.
		A look at a boat in the water as we crossed into Asia from Discovery Island.
		We got to see a white-cheeked gibbon swinging around the habitat in Asia...




		Drew spotted this hidden Mickey near the entrance trail to Kali River Rapids.
		A few more pictures of the white-cheeked gibbon crossing a rope bridge in his habitat...


		The entrance sign to the Maharajah Jungle Trek trails.
		Although hard to see, this was our first sighting of a lion-tailed macaque...
		...along with a clearer view.
		We got to see this black tree monitor lizard today (the komodo dragon wasn't out today).
		We spotted this giant Kong toy in the water near the tiger's habitat.
		A water buffalo standing in the distance.
		Drew, Jayden, and Tara making their way towards another tiger viewing place.
		More water buffaloes...


		...and one of a water buffalo surrounded by bar-headed geese.
		Our first sighting of the Sumatran tiger...



		Another look at a couple of bar-headed geese.
		We found a spot to get an up-close look at the Sumatran tiger...

		We moved on to the aviary on the Maharajah Jungle Trek trails. We saw several species of birds, such as this cotton pygmy goose...
		...and these nicobar pigeons...

		...and this golden-crested myna...
		...and some pied imperial pigeons...


		...and this black-collared starling...

		...as well as this great Argus...


		...and these masked lapwings...


		...and this rose-breasted cockatoo...
		...and, finally, this Victorian crowned pigeon.
		Jayden snapped this selfie of her sporting her giraffe ears.
		Jay playing in the fountain in Asia...

		On our way towards Africa, we came across Kevin from the movie Up...


		This sign is located near the Feathered Friends in Flight! entrance. "Mind Your Feet, Don't Trip on Street" by B.T. S. Anandapur
		Jayden finally got a chance to try the drink she's been waiting for - the S'moresosaurus Shake (a vanilla shake with chocolate and caramel rrizzle topped with a chocolate-dipped s'more, toasted marshmallows, and graham cracker crumbs and rimmed with chocolate fudge sauce and graham cracker crumbs), from Restaurantosaurus in DinoLand, U.S.A.
		The entrance to TriceraTop Spin.
		A couple looks at the dinosaur, known as Cementosaurus, guarding DinoLand, U.S.A...

		Jayden and Tara together on Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain...

		Jayden got lots of pictures of the animals at Rafiki's Planet Watch Affection Section, including plenty of goats...





	Please click here for page two of the photos

Grand Lake Resort

The view from our second story balcony this morning...

Disney's Animal Kingdom

This morning we tried out the entrance to Disney's Animal Kingdom via the Rainforest Café. On our way to the restaurant, we spotted this squirrel going through someone's stroller. Hope they didn't have anything tasty in there!

After making our way into the park, we wandered around the Oasis, checking out the animals - including this African spoonbill...

...as well as this black-necked swan...

...and this merganser.

We also spotted this turtle hanging out on a rock.

Our view of the Tree of Life as we crossed onto Discovery Island.

A closer look at the Tree of Life.

We got to see several American white ibis's and greater flamingoes while on Discovery Island...

We also got to see these Asian small-clawed otters on the Discovery Island Trails.

As we followed the trail, we came upon this paroon shark catfish swimming near a bridge...

...although this one looks huge, they can grow up to ten feet long!

A short while later we spotted these kangaroos. There are two species of kangaroos here, four of which are western grey kangaroos and there are also two red kangaroos. The red ones have a white stripe on their face, which is how you can tell the difference...

A different view of the Tree of Life.

A squirrel atop a fence post on Discovery Island...

We found some ring-tailed lemurs near the exit of the Discovery Island Trails...

A couple of ducklings swimming in a pond on Discovery Island.

It's Dug from the movie Up!

I couldn't resist sharing a couple more photos of the ring-tailed lemurs...

A look at Dug & Russell's Wilderness Explorers Club House. Tara and Jayden worked diligently to complete their Wilderness Explorers guidebook today.

Flik coming down from the ceiling during the It's Tough to be a Bug! show.

Hopper intimidating and scaring the audience during the It's Tough to be a Bug! show.

A look at a boat in the water as we crossed into Asia from Discovery Island.

We got to see a white-cheeked gibbon swinging around the habitat in Asia...

Drew spotted this hidden Mickey near the entrance trail to Kali River Rapids.

A few more pictures of the white-cheeked gibbon crossing a rope bridge in his habitat...

The entrance sign to the Maharajah Jungle Trek trails.

Although hard to see, this was our first sighting of a lion-tailed macaque...

...along with a clearer view.

We got to see this black tree monitor lizard today (the komodo dragon wasn't out today).

We spotted this giant Kong toy in the water near the tiger's habitat.

A water buffalo standing in the distance.

Drew, Jayden, and Tara making their way towards another tiger viewing place.

More water buffaloes...

...and one of a water buffalo surrounded by bar-headed geese.

Our first sighting of the Sumatran tiger...

Another look at a couple of bar-headed geese.

We found a spot to get an up-close look at the Sumatran tiger...

We moved on to the aviary on the Maharajah Jungle Trek trails. We saw several species of birds, such as this cotton pygmy goose...

...and these nicobar pigeons...

...and this golden-crested myna...

...and some pied imperial pigeons...

...and this black-collared starling...

...as well as this great Argus...

...and these masked lapwings...

...and this rose-breasted cockatoo...

...and, finally, this Victorian crowned pigeon.

Jayden snapped this selfie of her sporting her giraffe ears.

Jay playing in the fountain in Asia...

On our way towards Africa, we came across Kevin from the movie Up...

This sign is located near the Feathered Friends in Flight! entrance.

The entrance to TriceraTop Spin.

A couple looks at the dinosaur, known as Cementosaurus, guarding DinoLand, U.S.A...

Jayden and Tara together on Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain...

Jayden got lots of pictures of the animals at Rafiki's Planet Watch Affection Section, including plenty of goats...