Disney World - Day 4: Animal Kingdom, Rain, Fantasmic Lightshow

 Animal Kingdom was really fun the last time we went, but this time it was not as much fun.  It was REALLY crowded this day and REALLY sticky hot.  Robbie was grumpy in the morning. We got turned around and mixed up trying to follow the map. 

2 out of 3 aint bad

We took Robbie to The Boneyard in DinoLand where he played, climbed, splashed, and dug in the sand for most of the morning.  He really enjoyed this so we just let him play as long as he wanted. We gave our FastPasses for the Kilimanjaro Safari to another family and headed out to our lunch reservation at the Tusker House.  We tried to check in, but were too early and Robbie was starving, so we went to Pizzafari and picked him up a slice of pizza.  It was a good thing because although our reservation at Tusker House was a 12:20, we weren't seated until after 1:00!  We would have just walked out, but this meal had a cancellation fee (no fair!) so we waited.

Meeting Miss Daisy
(Robbie had no interest and really needed a nap!)

The food at Tusker House was really good - African Style buffet.  As we were leaving, it was starting to rain.  When we woke up from naps it was REALLY RAINING. We had "priority seating" at the Fantasmic Light Show and needed to get to Hollywood Studios.  We were a little worried that the show would be cancelled, but packed up our ponchos and headed to the bus stop.

Robbie was in a MUCH better mood this evening and actually enjoyed stomping around in the rain at Disney Studios.  We watched the Muppets 3D, but most of the other outside stuff was closed due to the rain.  The FastPasses were all gone for the Toy Story Midway Mania and the sign said that the wait time was 120 minutes.  We do not wait for 120 minutes on rides generally, but since it was raining and we had some time to kill before the show, we decided to wait.  Enter the most brilliant idea I read online before our trip: the kiddo camera.  

I read on a travel site that you should buy your kid their own camera to take on vacation, something cheap like a disposable.  Disposable cameras run about 10 bucks around here.  However, Walgreens has a "loyalty" camera that is digital that I was able to get for about $8.50 with Sam's discount.  It takes 50 pictures and you have to take the camera to walgreens to get it developed or pics burned to a CD.  During our 120 minute wait in line, I gave Robbie the camera and let him snap away pictures.  He took pictures of everything he could see and had a blast.  I don't think he even realized how long we stood in line because he was so distracted!  When it was finally our turn to ride, we really enjoyed it.  This was more fun than the Space Ranger Spin at MK, but I wouldn't wait as long to do this under normal non-rainy circumstances.

The rain had stopped and the Fantasmic lightshow was a go!  Robbie held his ears the entire time (or I held them so he could rest his arms).  We tried to get him to wear earplugs but he freaked out.  We are going to look into getting him some of those noise cancelling over-ear headphones before the Fourth this year.  

As for the show itself - he LOVED it!  He smiled and clapped and cheered when Mickey defeated the villains.  The joy on his face was priceless and even though he probably won't remember this trip very well because he is only three, I will remember the look on his face forever.  

On the clipboard of fun for tomorrow: Our last day! Magic Kingdom and Crystal Palace