Thrillography: Animal Kingdom + Magic Kingdom: Thrillography's Great Floridian Expedition Trip Report

Hey. :}

It's Disney time. :}

The last time Thrillography went to a Disney park was...last May? I think? I lasted a whole 4 months!

The last time I went to Walt Disney World was August of 1999. It was an exciting time to be in central Florida; Y2K-fueled delusions of grandeur lead to such new diversions as:

• Gwazi, the world's largest dueling coaster (Busch Gardens)

• Journey to Atlantis, a 1-of-a-kind dark/water/coaster (Sea World)

• The transformation of Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort, featuring the expectation-shattering Islands of Adventure park and CityWalk entertainment district

Similarly, all 4 of Walt Disney World's theme parks opened significant new attractions between 1998-99:

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Magic Kingdom)

• Test Track (Epcot)

• Rock 'N' Roller Coaster (MGM Studios)

• Kali River Rapids (Animal Kingdom, which wasn't even a year old in 1999)

Also new at Walt Disney World at the time was DisneyQuest, a prototype arcade / theme park hybrid anchoring the recently expanded Downtown Disney, as well as the resort's 3rd installment in their highly successful series of economy priced hotels, All Star Movies Resort.

To say "a lot has changed" would be a gross understatement.

Time to hit the ground running, Thrillographers! Let's start with the park that has seen the most change since 1999: Disney's Animal Kingdom!

One of the most immediately noticeable developments at Animal Kingdom since 1999 is the surrealistic landscape of Pandora, inspired by James Cameron's Avatar film series.

I distinctly recall 2 things about Animal Kingdom from 1999:

1. It's really hot

2. There's nothing to do

To be fair, Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 with an impressive infrastructure that would serve as a sturdy foundation for later developments. That sort of thing was lost on me at 8 years old; at the time, any park without a roller coaster was a failure to me.

However, even with the addition of the park's second major thrill ride (Kali River Rapids), the 15-month-old park would still be considered well underdeveloped by even the most understanding park enthusiasts.

These days, Animal Kingdom has a respectable collection of flagship attractions to hang its mouse ears on, the earliest (and most significant) of which being Kilimanjaro Safaris.

The whole fam is ready to go on safari!

The spoils of our safari have manifested posthaste; what strange creatures we have congregating in the distance!

Emma is fascinated by the wildlife.

Kilimanjaro Safaris was paramount to the concept of Animal Kingdom; its ability to bring park guests face-to-face with hundreds wild animals fully exemplified the park's purpose.

Jungle puppies!

I vaguely recall my Kilimanjaro Safari from 1999, but the experience was largely lost on my uncultured entertainment palate.

At 3yrs old, Emma has a greater appreciation for animal watching than I did at 3x her age.

I'm not sure what to make of this creature, but I sure do like her pick-up truck.

Another day, another flamingo habitat.

Erin and Mike are enjoying the safari. Emma the wild child is feeling right at home.

There's a lazy kitty here, just like at home...

...and two wrinkly, old quadrupeds out back.

The ones we have at home are actually wiener dogs, but white rhinoceroses are, like, basically the same thing.

I did my best, but the winner of "Best Wild Animal Shot" goes to the Disney PhotoPass Cast Member who took this picture of my family.

I rest my case.

Here's the slightly more sedate version of the obligatory Tree of Life shot that I took.

The transition between Animal Kingdom's Africa and Asia areas is made with this impressive imperial monkey habitat.

Yeah, so animals are great and all, but this is what I'm here for.

I guess my attitude hasn't really changed that much since I was 8.

But what has changed is Animal Kingdom's E-ticket attraction lineup, which now boasts a mighty peak to pique my desires.

I understand that at this point pretty much everyone and their grandma has ridden Expedition Everest. I'm a decade late to this party, but that won't stop me from dancing like no one's watching. :}

But yeah! What a great ride! I love mine trains. :}

It took like 30 years but WDW finally got their answer to Matterhorn Bobsleds. :}

I like it just as well as its technical sibling, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars in Hong Kong. :}

Any sustained wonderfeelings from one's first experience on Everest are inevitably underfoot squished by the bewildering blunderfeelings sustained from Chester + Hester's Dino-Rama. :{

The unprecedented lack of ambition that led to this meager offering was also responsible for an entire theme park at Disneyland Resort. This similarities between Dino-Rama and early era California Adventure cannot be unseen by diehard Disneylanders such as myself.

Post-Y2K era Disney was a rough one. Industry-wide chickens came home to roost as grandiose, largely unfounded theme park ambitions collapsed on a global postmillennium hangover of defaulted loans and terrorist attacks.

Disney fans of 2002-04 found what satisfaction they could in good intentions and tacky color schemes, while a the same time pretending that innumerable cut corners along the lines of unapologetically unobscured employee parking spaces were perhaps deliberate.

Okay, enough existential downerisms. Dino-Rama isn't Disney's greatest triumph, but it doesn't totally suck either. TriceraTop Spin, one of WDW's countless up-and-down-spinny-things, was a big hit with Emma.

And two garden variety spinning mouse coasters with flimsy scenery and an even flimsier storyline equals two new credits for me!

"Self Portrait #1"

"Self Portrait #2"

or

"Michael Eisner's Dream for the Future"

This is still better than California Adventure's defunct Mulholland Madness. Nothing says "invest in your brand" quite like a barebones production model wild mouse wrapped in a giant cartoon map of Hollywood.

Bye-bye, Dino-Rama! It's been fun!

(no, seriously. Something needs to happen with this area. Something thematically accurate. I suggest a meteor that wipes out everything)

Ahh. Let's get back to the real Animal Kingdom!

(If you're an AK fan wondering why Dinosaur / Countdown to Extinction is absent from this dino-rific update, it's because the fossils are out for dry cleaning and the ride is therefore closed. My 17yr old memories will have to suffice for now)

Here's my family helping Mt. Everest demonstrate one of Disney's most clever practices: forced perspective!

Here's something I have no recollection of despite it having opened with Animal Kingdom: it's Rafiki's Planet Watch! This cool animal exhibit is just a short train ride away from Africa on the Wildlife Express Train!

We came out all this way and all we found were some common chipmunks.

Just kidding. There was this amazing tree puppy waiting for us.

Also this long-tailed pigmy dinosaur.

As if cool animals and air conditioning weren't enough, Planet Watch gives us a shot at a picture with the mandrill himself! And Mickey too!

The last order of business on our inaugural half-day at AK is the park's signature show, Festival of the Lion King!

It's similar to the show of the same name at Hong Kong Disneyland, but not quite the same. :}

Shuttle time! Can you guess where we're going?

This was going to be the first park of the trip, but getting to Orlando half a day early warranted bonus Animal Kingdom time. We're way ahead of schedule! B}

You already know.

*o*

Man, this place looks great!

The Christmas Light Elves are hard at work decking the castle walls for impending celebrations later this year. :}

First Magic Kingdom ride is the hottest ticket from our last visit, Winnie the Pooh!

Many of WDW's most popular rides have incorporated activities for kiddos of all ages to enjoy while they wait in line. :}

So here's one we'll be seeing a lot of this trip; Emma's favorite ride, the Prince Charming Regal Carousel!

One of my new favorite rides at Disneyland Resort also has a home here at WDW! It's Under the Sea: Journey of The Little Mermaid!

"It's my favorite ride" says the Fantasyland Egret.

Unlike the installation at Disney California Adventure, the Magic Kingdom Little Mermaid features a large thematic queue and an Ariel Meet & Greet.

After a break at the hotel, we returned for some night time Magic Kingdom adventures. :}

Decorations are in place for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which will be featured in a future update. :}

Happy castle. :}

Who's up for a night flight with Dumbo??

Ahh yes. One of the most simple and unfathomably successful ride concepts ever.

To combat heartbreaking wait times, Dumbo the Flying Elephant boasts two identical Dumbo rides side-by-side (hereafter referred to as "Dueling Dumbos") an this marvelous indoor play area. Kiddos and their families can wait in a virtual queue while they play under Dumbo's Big Top! Amazing, right?

I feel you, Bo.

Emma is a fan.

So are my parents. The only losing party here is my sister, who got elbowed in the face at least once as I was trying to take pictures. Sorry, Erin.

But it was worth it, right Erin? These pictures are so cute!

(Well. Emma is cute. Mike is just glaring into the camera like some kind of Ralph Lauren posterboy)

Emma just can't keep away from Dumbo.

(I have no idea what my dad is doing here. I've stopped trying to fully understand him)

This photo will be enlarged on oils and framed over the mantle at some point.

Family photo in front of Dumbo!

(Which isn't running. So it looks like we're just sitting in front of a closed ride)

(I don't know. We were too excited to notice. Day 1 and the delirium is already apparent)

WDW finally has a Casey Jr. attraction! It may not be an actual train like Disneyland Resort or Disneyland Paris, but it's still super cute and looks great with the Walt Disney World Railroad,

We took Emma on Goofy's Barnstormer. She was appeased.

I remember this from 1999 but I don't remember it being this cute.

Here we are trying to convince Emma that a ride on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a good idea.

She seemed to handle it alright.

Everyone in the family really enjoyed the ride.

(Except for Emma, who seemed conflicted about how to feel)

It isn't terribly long, but I am utterly living for this ride. I love the dark ride scene, I love the swinging cars, and I love the salvaged cottage with the original animatronics from Snow White's Scary Adventures inside.

I want one at Disneyland, like, yesterday.

PhotoPass has a pretty amazing onride video package that automatically uploads to your MyMagic Band. Every time you ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride, it sends you a video of that particular ride experience, all edited and everything. Pretty cool stuff.

I had a Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride contact high for like the next two hours.

Lucky for me, the Main Street Electrical Parade is starting soon!

I like this castle. :}

Crowds are gathering on Main Street for the show!

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Disney proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination in thousands of sparking lights and electrosynthomagnetic musical sounds! The Main Street Electrical Parade!"

I'M SO EXCITED

*o*

*dances*

The Main Street Electrical Parade has seen a few changes over the years, but it's still just like how I remember!

Disney's Paint the Night Parade may be the hot new kid on the block, but the Electrical Parade was the trailblazer!

I love the sounds that the turtles and snails make as the toddle by.

Ah yes, the parade is rather Alice-centrtic. Lots of things roaming around that you might find in your garden.

Fun Fact: The Main Street Electrical Parade theme music is called "Baroque Hoedown".

The song was recorded by the first generation electronic music composer duo Perrey and Kingsley for their 1967 album Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Electronic Pop Music From Way Out.

An album title like that seems rather Alice-ish, no? :}

This turtle thinks so.

Achievement Unlocked:

A picture of the Caterpillar float beneath moonlight reflected upon the clouds in the shape of a heart.

Here comes the royal caravan!

He Cindy!

(look how quickly the cloud reflection of the moon changed! It was only a heart for a moment!)

Well, well, well...aren't you all just a lovely bunch of hormonal teenagers out to find love in all the wrong places?!

Look now the clouds look sort of like a moose head.

I see you Hook. You ain't slick.

Woohoo! Here comes the Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride float!

Unlike the roller coaster, these mine carts do not swing back and forth.

You betta work, Snow White!

Like Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has a significant presence in the parade.

HEIGH HOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Pinocchio! You have no ride here! A float or two will have to do!

Well this right here is approaching "nightmare fuel" territory.

Gotta love the details on Pleasure Island.

Pete's Dragon is enjoying some renewed popularity thanks to the success of this summer's live action adaptation.

Finale float :}

Main Street Electrical Parade is now headed to Disneyland Resort for one last series of encore performances to close out their Diamond Anniversary celebration (or something like that).