In full-on Disney planning mode, I had intentions to be at the park gates before they opened. Every day. In my mind, kids woke on command, ate and got ready in a flash, and the journey from door to gate took whatever GoogleMaps said. I seemed to forget that no one in my family is a morning person. Not to mention, driving to the park, the line to pay for parking, finding a spot, taking a tram, going through security, then scanning tickets takes a nice chunk of time. My plans may have been optimistic delusional. Mickey Eggos did help with a “magical” breakfast, and our house rental had the perfect little plastic cups for the kids!
Copa glasses: for wine to-go, or perfect kid juice glasses? Thanks rental house!
By the time we arrived at Animal Kingdom for Day 2, the early birds had already been through it all. But it’s fine because it’s my birthday!
We don’t do subtle at Disney.
We experience our first of many claustrophobic commands to “fill all available space” with It’s Tough to Be a Bug inside The Tree of Life, setting the day’s tone by frightening the children with a 4D show about bugs crawling under you and poking you in the back. It was awesome!
The tree of life!
Then we cave with the first demand for a souvenir purchase: an irresistible baby panda in a carrying bag. Each. Surely this will curb their desire for more for the rest of the day. Silly parents—should have held out.
Lions and flamingos and elephants, oh my!
Since our FastPasses are for later, we wait an hour for the Kali River Rapids, which ended up being a mild jolting down a river with fake-out splashes—lame! FastPasses to meet Mickey and Minnie at Adventurer’s Outpost, then Kilimanjaro Safari, and another round of Mickey treats make up for it, with lunch at Flamin Tree Barbeque in between. And since it’s my special day, my spiraling descent back into carbs begins with onion rings and ketchup at lunch. Oh so good. Then we let the kids run it out in the heat while we rest in the shade at The Boneyard, an amazing play area with exactly one entrance and exit. Perfect!
Since I did the vacay planning—and I knew this day would fall on my birthday—I splurged on a River of Lights dining package at Tiffins. With a set price, the waitress slyly advises us that the Surf n Turf is the best way to stick it to the mouse and beat the price. And so my husband and I both did while the kids enjoyed their overpriced chicken tenders. The desserts were amazing, and how could they not be with my sugar-free lifestyle now thrown to the wind. Just don’t ask about the bill. Whatever you think it was… it was more. Gross.
Welcome to Pandora
My husband and I gawked in beautiful Pandora and on the Na’vi River Journey as our kids sat stone-faced because they don’t (yet) know anything about Avatar. Not that this fact keeps them from begging in the gift shop. Flight of Passage had a 2-hour wait all day and not a FastPass in sight, especially after it shut down for a while, which was a bummer. After an awesome River of Lights show in the special seating section for people that paid way too much, we’re done for the day!
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