Day 3 - 6/30

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=82 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #999980;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="792890903.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Monotype Corsiva" ><I><B>SuiteDisney</B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Walt Disney Script v4.1" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>  </B></FONT><B>|</B><B>    </B><A HREF="day_1___627___62803.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 1 6/27 6/28/03">Day 1 - 6/27 - 6/28/03</A>   |   <A HREF="day_2___629.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 2 6/29">Day 2 - 6/29</A>   |   Day 3 - 6/30   |   <A HREF="day_4___71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 4 7/1">Day 4 - 7/1</A>   |   <A HREF="day_5___72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 5 7/2">Day 5 - 7/2</A>   |   <A HREF="day_6___73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 6 7/3">Day 6 - 7/3</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="e8590903.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Day 3 - 6/30</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.suitedisney.com/wdwphotos/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.suitedisney.com/wdwphotos/"><B>WDW Photos</B></A></div> <bR> <div>  <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script>  </div> <bR> <div> It's 6:30, time to wake up. Did you sleep well? Did you hear Gene holler in the middle of the night? Rachel heard him. Of course he tells us the story, which goes something like this.....</div> <div> _____________________</div> <bR> <div> I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and a big naked guy jumped out at me. It scared me so much I almost pissed myself right there. I jumped to the side and he jumped the same way I did!</div> <bR> <div> There's a full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door.</div> <div> _____________________</div> <bR> <div> BWAhahahaha! We're in hysterics. Can you remember the last time you laughed so much? And Gene is upset that we're not more sympathetic. Then he continues...</div> <div> _____________________</div> <bR> <div> I don't know what you think you're going to do today, it's been raining for hours. It poured all night and it's still raining.</div> <div> _____________________ </div> <bR> <div> Justin goes out on the porch and it's bright and sunny. Turns out Gene heard the air conditioner and a fountain right behind our patio. He pulled the curtain away from the patio door and there was a lot of condensation that he thought was rain. It was beautiful out. Time out for more laughter! Hahahaha! That's right, folks, the fun never ends in this family. There's nothing we love more than to tease one another and Gene is never going to hear the end of these stories. We'll tell them to all our friends, we'll repeat them constantly, we'll put them on the internet!</div> <bR> <div> But get dressed while you're laughing. We're going to Early Entry at the Animal Kingdom. Okay, it's Extra Magic Hour now or some such nonsense, but we all know it's Early Entry. Just like the Unlimited Magic Passes and Ultimate Park Hoppers are really Length of Stay Passes. Disney can't fool me!</div> <bR> <div> But we have Annual Passes and there is a scavenger hunt for AP holders. First stop is the Island Mercantile, where we pick up our booklet of 50 questions. Gene and the kids are going to sit at this table and fill out the questions they already know and I'm going inside Pizzafari to take pictures. Care to join me?</div> <bR> <div> Wow, it's gorgeous in here! </div> <div> <IMG SRC="7727d0060.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="518" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I love the colors. I haven't heard much about the food, but I'd consider eating here just for the atmosphere.</div> <bR> <div> But we're here to see some new things and get some pictures. As many times as we've been to the Animal Kingdom, we've never explored the Discovery Island Trails that are around the Tree of Life. How did we ever miss this all these years?!?! There are several different animal habitats back here and they're set in the roots of the Tree of Life. The otters aren't out right now, but there are some capybara and giant tortoises. And the Tree of Life looks so close!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="772849d00.jpg" border=0 width="585" height="720" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I'm ashamed that we've never been in this part of the park before. I'll certainly be back, it's beautiful here!</div> <bR> <div> My intention is to go to Rafiki's Planet Watch and take some pictures, but it's not open for another half hour. Justin and I are going to sit here and drink a bottle of water. Gene and Rachel are running over to Asia to find the answers to some of the questions for the Scavenger Hunt. Let's go check out that shop. Look at these animal chop sticks. Rachel would love them, I think I'll buy them for her. </div> <bR> <div> The live music is picking up outside and everyone's laughing. Let's go see....</div> <div> Oh my, it's a little girl, about 7 or 8, dancing to the music. She is going for gusto! This little girl is doing bumps and grinds better than most adults could do. And everyone is laughing and clapping and cheering her on. She's so cute. </div> <bR> <div> The gang is back and the train is open for Rafiki's Planet Watch, all aboard! It's an unusual train, we all face one side. It's an interesting train ride with plenty to see on our way to Rafiki's. Look, that's where they keep some of the animals. They had a baby elephant born last month...</div> <div> <IMG SRC="7729d0e00.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Here we are, let's go inside...</div> <div> <IMG SRC="772ad0e90.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="489" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Oh my, where to start? Would you like to listen to sounds of the rainforest or should I take your picture next to that tiger?</div> <div> <IMG SRC="772bd0330.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="563" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Let's go over where the cast members are working. It's so nice that they take the time to explain what they're doing. Can you imagine having that woman's job and cutting up food for animals all day long? I could handle it, except for the meal worms, but she says you get used to it. Awwww, there's a video of the baby elephant. And look, they have veterinary facilities set up right here. They're taking care of a bird right now.</div> <bR> <div> Just outside if Affection Section. This is where you can go and actually touch the animals (mostly goats and sheep). Disney has a really great way to interact with the animals; they supply brushes for people to use on the animals. It's a great experience for all involved, the children get to touch an animal and the animal gets groomed. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="772cd0ff0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="511" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> There are areas where the animals can go if they want to get away from the people and larger animals (donkeys, llamas, cows) are fenced in. Disney even provides a station where you can wash your hands when you're finished. :) It's a great set up, I'm glad we came here.</div> <bR> <div> But it's time to catch the train and head back. We have more questions to answer for the Scavenger Hunt. Gene has been filling out one booklet (we each have one) and now Justin and I have to copy the answers onto our booklets while Gene and Rachel go to Dinoland and get some answers there. They're back before we're even done. We're not positive about every single answer, we had to come up with a couple of creative answers, but I think it's good enough. They can definitely tell that we made an honest attempt. We take it back to the Island Mercantile and the cast member checks it against her answer book. Close enough, we all get a special pin.</div> <bR> <div> It's hot and it's crowded and we did what we came to do. We're not going on the usual attractions this time, but we expected that. We'll be back in October. For now, we're going to leave and go to lunch.</div> <bR> <div> We're determined to make this a relaxing vacation for a change, so we're going back to Old Key West to eat lunch at Olivia's. I give the Shrimp Po' Boy two thumbs up! How convenient, we're back at our resort for a mid-day rest and relaxation. You have time to watch tv, have a little nap, or take a dip in the pool.</div> <bR> <div> Now that we're ready to head back out and play, here is all the rain that Gene was talking about this morning. There's a way around that, let's go to Disney Quest. Everybody run for Pirates of the Caribbean! I get to steer the ship, you man the cannons! Here's we go... FIRE! Oh no, we're going down, what happened??? I think it was poor shooting, not poor steering. ;)</div> <bR> <div> Let's try the Jungle Cruise next. Paddle harder! Your way... no, my way... now your way. Awww, we didn't make it. But we got farther than the last people did. We were so close to the end!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="772dd0e00.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The kids are going off to play video games. I'm going to sit here by this dancing game. I'm fascinated that these kids do so well, it looks very confusing to me. I'm also in the perfect spot to watch the human pinball game. I tried it once, but I wasn't very good. You go ahead and I'll take your picture. I don't like to play video games, I'm having more fun talking to this lady with the little baby. Go ahead and play.</div> <bR> <div> Let's look around upstairs. Would you like a bottle of water? Look down there, it's the AstroBlaster, I didn't know you could see that from up here. Just say if there's anything special you'd like to do, this is probably the only time we'll get here this trip. All done? </div> <bR> <div> Let's talk about dinner. Gene would really like to eat at Boma again. I'm game because I can get a lot of pictures while we're there. I'd like some pictures of other parts of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, too. Gene will let us off at Zawadi Marketplace, that's one place where I need more pictures. He'll park the car and meet us in the lobby. That's good, I'd like some more pictures of the lobby, too. We have a bit of a wait to be seated, you just relax and I'll get some pictures of Boma. Ready to eat? I'm a very picky eater, so I'm heading for the Prime Rib and Mac&Cheese. But there are plenty of new and unusual dishes for you to try... just follow Gene, he'll show you. Did you like it? The Prime Rib was excellent, cooked just the way I like it.</div> <bR> <div> It's late enough that Jiko isn't very crowded. I'm going to ask them if I can take some pictures... Oh, goodie, c'mon in.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="772ed0fa0.jpg" border=0 width="720" height="506" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I've eaten here once, but I'm just not adventurous enough to enjoy it. But it's a very nice restaurant and I'd recommend it for anyone other than me. I remember our server was fantastic when we ate here.</div> <bR> <div> It's getting late and time to go back to our room. Feel free to watch tv, but I'm going to sleep. Hope you had fun today, see you tomorrow.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>