Day 7 aka The Last Day - Return to Animal Kingdom, MGM, and a Stroll to Downtown Disney

Animal Kingdom

At Animal Kingdom, I was finally able to talk Mo into riding the Expedition Avalanche coaster. It was outstanding. Lots of changing directions and drops. Good stuff. Also, it was the only outdoor coaster of all the ones at Disney. At the top of the high drop, the view was great - you could see the Epcot ball, things from MGM, and see a shade of the castle at the Magic Kingdom. Very cool.


While Mo and I were off riding the coaster, Kerrie and K found some random things to do. This is a picture K took all by herself.


Here is the woman tree that scared the mess out of everyone. When we were there on Sunday, she was actually in the bushes and would randomly walk out. Today, some woman was walking by not paying attention and the shetree reached her hand out at her. Just a little screaming there.


Here is the shetree blending in.


When Salome/Karlyle plays the drum.




The gorillas weren't very active on Sunday. On Friday, they were prowling.


Find the gorilla. There was one who were walking around and this one that just sat watching.


We took the safari ride again. Mo took this picture that I liked. Those crocs were big.


The real Longhorns.


The giraffes hung out in the trees on Sunday but apparently needed a little sun today.


This picture cracked me up because of how the giraffe on the right looks. He just looks like he is about to say something.


K with Safari Donald.


K with Lilo and Stitch.


K with Tirk from Tarzan.


K with Baloo and King Louie.

MGM

At MGM, Mo and I rode the Aerosmith coaster that we skipped on Monday. It shoots you to its highest speed right off the bat and takes you immediately into a couple of loops. Short ride but good. We also saw a TON of characters and got lots of autographs. Finally, the girls got front row seats for the High School Musical show and K got to become a cast member.


K with the obligatory Mickey Mouse ice cream.


K doing some painting.


Me, K, and Mo finding out what Disney character we are most like.


K with Rocket from Little Einsteins.


K with Annie and Leo from Little Einsteins.


K with Mr. Incredible and Frozone.


K and Mo hanging out with the eggs and cheese from the Ratatouille set.


K with Emile (or as K called him "the one that eats trash") from Ratatouille.


K with June and Quincy from Little Einsteins.


K with Jojo and Goliath.


K and Mo meet Mulan and Mushu.


K with Pocahontas and Meeko.


K with Alice.


K with Mary Poppins.


K plays the pepper shaker during High School Musical.






K, Mo, and Kerrie had front row seats.



Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney is basically a strip mall done Disney style. It has a cool Lego store, a Planet Hollywood memorabilia store, and all kinds of other stuff. We were pretty worn at this point but had to kill about 2 hours before our dinner reservations at Capt' Jacks. As you will see below though, the wait was worth it.


K and Mo by the Petty #43.


Landscape of Downtown Disney.


The girls were tired.


Mo with her farewell meal of twin lobster tails (actually, this was all of our farewell meals-except for K who had a hotdog).

MGM - Grauman's Chinese Theatre Replica

Back at MGM, they had a replica of the Chinese Theatre in LA complete with hand and footprints from celebrities. I have been to the original and have a picture somewhere of me sitting by Bruce Willis' plot of concrete. No Bruno here but I did take pictures of quite a few. I am figuring the MGM park opened in 1989 because I didn't see any earlier than that. Interesting that I didn't see any prints done since 1995 - I guess the fad played itself out. Oh well...


George Lucas.


Han Solo/Indiana Jones.


Luke Skywalker.


Funny.


Unfortunately, no concrete prints from Bull or Markie Post.


The Bandit. You could just feel the dirt coming off this one.


Very cool.


Even more cool.


Based on the date, this was around the Pulp Fiction timeframe. On you will know my name is the Lord....


Yeah, brother.


Wild and Crazy Guy.


Fletch.


Sad.


So much has changed for Michael since 1990.


Speaking of things changing....


This one killed me. Betty White, Estelle Getty, and Rue McClanahan. Irene would have loved to have been here. You can bet this park was rocking on April 17, 1989 when the Golden Girls invaded. Curious that Bea Arthur didn't get an invite though.


Speaking of things changing since 1989...You will be happy to know that Pee Wee was not in the theatre watching "movies". It was funny to see this one and Michael Jackson and a few others who have since been convicted or "accused" of various crimes. I kept waiting to see the OJ Simpson handprint from his Naked Gun days.