Disney Thanksgiving - Day 10 - DHS and home

November 29, 2013

We took a few moments to appreciate the view one last time this morning.  All of our relatives left early for the airport. We finished packing, called to store our luggage and took off for a whirlwind tour of Hollywood Studios.

 



We couldn't pack everything so we took pictures of some things we left behind to satisfy the kids.

Funny, we felt we were now traveling light with just the seven of us! 

Within one hour of entering the park, Jacob had two rides on Rockin' Rollercoaster (one with Marc and one with me) and one ride on Tower of Terror with me.  The other kids got a snack and looked for souvenirs. 
The park was crowded enough but with our scheduled fastpasses we blew right through it.

Next, we all rode Toy Story Mania together... everyone's favorite!

Our final ride was Star Tours where I was the rebel spy! 

Then lunch, then the bus back to Animal Kingdom Lodge to pick up our luggage and catch our ride to the airport. 

Not bad for 3 1/2 hours, huh?

We asked Magical Express to pick us up an hour earlier than they had planned just in case there were any delays and because we had to check our bags at the airport.  We were there plenty early!  The kids who had yet to pick a souvenir made their selections at the airport.  Everyone but Max made their purchase at the Disney store there.

Jacob, hoping to be a Disney Imagineer some day, bought a journal and special pen to record and illustrate his ride ideas.

Ella who picked a tin of mints as her souvenir at the park was encouraged to pick a coloring book too.

Zoe also got a coloring book even though she tried picking souvenirs every chance she had and fulfilled her quota.

Max remembered something he wanted from the last time we were at this airport and eagerly sought it out.

 

It sure was a great trip!  Our kids will miss spending day in and day out with their cousins!  We had an uneventful plane ride and go home just after 10:30pm. 

 

The next day we had a birthday party for Jacob with my family at noon.  It's one thing after another in our house but it's all good! 

Our little Zs taking it easy at home! This picture was not posed!

Disney Thanksgiving - Day 9 - Happy Thanksgiving! and Jacob and Melissa's birthdays

November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, we spent Thanksgiving at Animal Kingdom.  It really didn't feel like Thanksgiving at all.  At the park, the only indication of Thanksgiving was that two of the restaurants were serving Thanksgiving meals.  Other than that, it looked like any other day.  It was a little crowded, but not too bad.  I would guess that Magic Kingdom was packed.

Before we left, one of our resident hairdressers, Avery, spent like a half hour working on Zoe's hair



We arrived at the park by about 9:15am.  I think it may have opened at 8am.

The kids had fun trying out different African musical instruments.  Zoe had been searching for a drum since the parade in the lobby the other night, and Grandma was happy to buy her one when she found it.

As usual Triceratops Spin was our first ride or three.  Then Dinosaur and a couple rides on Primevil Whirl with fastpasses. 

Looks like Zoe was trying to pick another souvenir.  She was getting shopping advice from her coach Avery.  She picked up both princess packs and said, "I'll get both of these."  I advised her to ask Santa.

Poor Zach:

 

Melissa's so cold that she has to buy a blanket.

The Safari was the most anticipated ride of the day

Cranes like this one woke me up a couple of mornings.  They sounded like an annoying alarm clock before what appeared to be their mating ritual.

This could just as well have been a picture from our balcony

Mama and baby

 

Jacob's favorite ride at AK is Expedition Everest!  Mine too!  We got to ride twice before meeting the others at The Lion King show.

 

I was exhausted from the week's activities and decided to head back to the hotel with Zach to rest and call my family to wish them a happy Thanksgiving.  It wasn't too long before everyone else returned too and we all leisurely packed for our return home tomorrow.

 

After we left the park we celebrated Jacob's birthday which is in four days.

Jacob blowing out the pretend candle on his baby cake

Singing Happy Birthday, I guess.

 

We ate our Thanksgiving dinner at Boma, which is an African buffet.  They also had traditional Thanksgiving food on the buffet today.

 

 

 

 

A sampling of traditional food for Zoe

We also celebrated Melissa's birthday today too since hers is in three days.