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September 08, 2006

Animal Kingdom

First of all, I'm finally back at college! Hopefully that explains why it's been so long... I think I actually tend to blog more at college than at home because I go out more and take a lot of party pictures, but I hadn't cleared a path through my room until now meaning I couldn't easily reach my computer. Anyway, Back in August, my family and I went to the Animal
Kingdom Lodge in Disney World. There were six of us (my parents, my grandparents, Brent, and me) so we decided to get a suite so that we could all stay together. The room was amazing and had a bedroom, a living room with a pull out couch, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a balcony overlooking one of the savannas where the animals live.

The kitchen area:

Living room:

Bedroom:

Poppy in the mirror:

Brent in the mirror:

Animals outside the balcony:

Family of wart hogs:

The lodge:

We were on the concierge level, so we got to go to a special floor that had food and refreshments all day long and a little lounge area:

He's so cute:

Grandma and Poppy:

Brent and Me:

After having some snacks and watching Disney cartoons, Brent and I headed over to the Animal Kingdom for the first stop on our "park hopper" passes which allowed us to go to any of the Disney theme parks. Brent and I shared my camera while we were at the parks, so some of these pictures are taken by Brent.

Tree of Life:

Black swan:

Brent and I tried on pirate hats:

Everest-- a new roller coaster ride:

In line for Everest we saw a lot of interesting Asian statues and artifacts:

The idea of the Everest ride is that you're on a train ride that goes through Mt. Everest and you have to escape the Yeti. Before the ride, we got to walk through the Yeti Museum (part of the long long line we were on) and saw a lot of cool Yeti stuff.

Brent with the Yeti:

Brent took these really cool pictures of statues outside the line area at Everest:

Brent and Me:

The ride was a lot of fun so if you're in the Asia section of the Animal Kingdom, definitely check it out. Also in the Asia section is a white water rafting ride that was a lot of fun. The ride drags you up pretty high and then you go racing through the rapids on a big raft:

This is where the Asian monkeys live:

Brent in a silly hat:

We went to the Dinosaur World after Asia where Brent and I went on an absolutely terrifying dinosaur ride. In line for the dino ride:

The dinosaur world had an entire section that was set up as a dino themed carnival:

Brent and I went on this spinning roller coaster a couple times:

In the Africa section:

Parade in Africa (Brent lifted me up so that I could get some good pictures above the crowd):

Animals around Africa:

Meerkats!

Mom and Dad- I want a Meerkat for Christmas.

Here's where they live:

Gorillas:

This unfriendly gorilla was looking right at me and when he saw me take my camera out, he stuck his big butt in the air. Just for that, I'm posting his naked butt on the internet:

Where the gorillas live:

Brent on the drums:

Komodo Dragon:

Taiper:

Bats:

I think it's a boy!

Bats fighting:

Back in Asia, we saw tigers:

Brent:

Bird:

After a day at the Animal Kingdom, Brent and I went back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge where we met my family at Boma, an African themed restaurant. We ate a quick dinner and then headed out to MGM Studios to go on some of the rides there.

Tower of Terror:

Rock n Roller Coaster:

We actually went on the Rock n Roller Coaster three times because by the end of the night there was no line at all. As the park was closing, we got to walk outside a little bit and took a couple pictures:

Brent in front of the Casablanca poster:

Brent and Me:

Brent:

The night that we were in Disney, Epcot was open late for "Extra Magic Hours" so we headed over to Epcot until midnight:

Brent and I went on the Test Track ride which was a lot of fun and then we walked around the different countries.

Japan:

We went to France to see the Eiffel Tower but apparently you can't actually get to it, you can just look at it. Brent bought me my own miniature Eiffel Tower, though, which I have sitting on my desk right now!

It was a long day but a lot of fun. After Epcot, Brent and I went back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge where we both fell asleep watching TV on the pull out couch. The next morning Brent had to catch a really early plane, but after he left I took a few more pictures around the Animal Kingdom Lodge:

Eww!

On the big savanna outside the main part of the lodge:

I have no idea what this is, but it was really gross looking:

The Animal Kingdom Lodge... and my dad's head:

The roof:

Fire pit:

Ceiling by the elevators:

Pool:

The Mara, where we ate breakfast:

Baby giraffe:

Bird:

Flamingos:

Outside the balcony again:

That's all for Disney and the Animal Kingdom Lodge! If you've never been, you should definitely plan a trip to get there ASAP. I hope everyone is having a great end of summer!

Posted by lauren at September 8, 2006 11:06 AM

Comments

Posted by: Alena at September 10, 2006 08:48 AM

Posted by: Alena at September 10, 2006 08:48 AM

Posted by: G at September 10, 2006 11:20 AM

Posted by: brent at September 10, 2006 09:09 PM

Posted by: jocelyn at September 10, 2006 11:37 PM