Animal Kingdom

On Wednesday August 11th, 2010 we helped set up for the R2-D2 Builders' Club room at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for Star Wars: Celebration V which would start the next day. We were scheduled for 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, but we ended up staying until after 5:00 and the room still wasn't done. (I'll be posting those pictures on my R2's blog soon.)

We had planned to go to the Animal Kingdom after set-up, but the Animal Kingdom closes at 7:00, so we didn't have much time. It was ok, because the kids got to see a lot of really cool animals and they got to wander around the park. Originally, we didn't think we'd be able to go to all 4 parks, but thanks to a wonderful friend (who wishes to remain anonymous) we were able to go to all 4 because this friend bought us 3-day tickets (I had previously purchased tickets for the "Last Tour To Endor" party at Disney's Hollywood studios)!

After we left The Animal Kingdom we went to Downtown Disney, which we hadn't had the time to do yet so it all worked out well.

Here are the pictures we took:



Benjamin with a replica Wampa ice creature from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (CV was a celebration of ESB's 30th anniversary) :



Anna and Benjamin with a replica (smaller than life sized) AT-AT Imperial Walker (also from Empire Strikes Back) :




At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Tree of Life:



Pink Flamingos:



Kangaroos:


This kangaroo was digging in the dirt to bring up some cooler soil to lay down in:


Carvings in the tree of life:

A little waterfall near the "roots" of the tree of life:


Swan:



On a bridge overlooking "Asia", you can see the mountains of Expedition Everest, the newest rollercoaster in the Disney family. We didn't even try for it, since we knew the kids wouldn't meet the height requirements:


Shops in "Africa":







African Cichlids:




A hippo butt:

The front of the hippo after it came back around, but the reflections in the plexi ruined the picture:



Playing with African drums:


"Asia":



Monkeys in the trees:








Just about to leave:


On the tram to the parking lot (you are parked in Giraffe 32...that's Giraffe 32...):




At Downtown Disney, the "World Of Disney" store:



Another Disney store, this one just toys:






Jedi Mickey statue (NOT cheap!) at the Art of Disney store :


Then, we went "home" for the night in preparation for a busy day at Star Wars Celebration V.