Mickey Mouse closes the parade, as he does with most parade in the Disney parks. I say 'most' because there are several where he is either first or somewhere in the middle, such as the Christmas parades and the Tokyo Disneyland parade/show currently showing Rock Around the Mouse.
Whenever you see Pluto around, that means that Mickey isn't all that far behind.
The Kangaroo Drums Float
Donald Duck's jeep is one that looks like it's ready for the beach and not for a safari. Lining his jeep is mostly swim gear. Behind, he's towing a boat.
Terk and Timon, who each have shows within Disney's Animal Kingdom, took time out of their schedule to be in the parade and greet their fans.
The Tropical Bird Drums Float
Goofy's jeep is interesting. As it passes by, you get a heavy blast of the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers. Apparently, he's dragging a grill still smoking and still lit.
Brer Bear and Brer Rabbit meet the guests with Goofy's Float behind them
The Camel Drums Float
Minnie's float features a lot of her "bare necessities" and bubbles that come out from her bathtub.
The Elephante Drums Float
Chip and Dale are my favorite Disney characters! It must be the Asian blood in me, because they are very popular over at Tokyo Disneyland. Not as popular as Mickey, but definately right up there as far as stuff with their likeness you can buy and how many shows they've been included in.
Rafiki as Grand Marshal
Baloo and Louie open the parade
...Monkey brest-feeding her baby. Seriously.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is the only place in all of Walt Disney World where you will see blood, crap, and monkeys brest-feeding their young. Monkey breeding sex shows, however, are kept off stage.
I had to fight to get this show. Okay, not really, but there was pushing and shoving involved considering it was a rather crowded bridge I was on. Thankfully, it was designed to take on a lot of weight, or else I and everyone else on the bridge would be in the pool with the tiger.
I wonder where people would think I went to if I showed them this and didn't say that it was taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
This curious little bird practically walked up to the window for me to take a picture of it. Talk about tame.
Doesn't look like I'm still at Disney's Animal Kingdom, does it?
Dude! It's, like, Crush's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparent or something like that!
A close up of the monster that scared the pee out of my mother. Litterally. Thankfully, not in the ride vehicle, or else we'd have a problem.
In the waiting area of Dinosaurs (AKA Countdown to Extinction), there is a giant Carnosaurus skeleton. This dangerous meat eater eventually starts chasing you in the ride, which my sister didn't like.
There are not a lot of Disney fans that like this ride for one reason or another. Some call it cheap, while others say the ride is just plan ugly. I must be in the minority for actually liking it.
This crow should have been over at the Haunted Mansion and not at Disney's Animal Kingdom, but then again, this crow wasn't made by Disney.
Timon decided to come back to help close the show with the audiance participation part. Basically, we each take a different part of the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight and attempt to be louder than the the other three sections. In the end, we just make more noise than music. But, hey, it was fun.
This aerial ballet takes place during Can You Feel The Love Tonight? and is a real crowd pleaser. It's more beautiful in person.
This fire dancer is the highlight of the Be Prepared number of the show.
Timon was trying to sing a song, but these monkeys inturrupted him. Timon went into Prima Donna mode and left the show for a while. The monkeys then took it upon themselves to entertain us with their acrobatic skills.
Pumba watching The Festival of the Lion King
Simba watching The Festival of the Lion King
This is the same float that was in the Lion King parade several years before. However, the remake of this float is a step up from what you see in the show. For the 50th, Disney's new Lion King float features a Simba whose front legs move and can dance a bit as well as a Nala puppet that can wink to the crowd. The only thing this puppet in the photo can do is act and pose for pictures during the post show.
The hosts and hostesses of The Festival of the Lion King
In true Zoo Tycoon fasion, Disney decided to put both the meerkats and warthogs together in one big exhibit. Surprisingly, they do get along with each other in real life. This meerkat is one of two that were picked to do morning watch. The warthogs were still asleep when we came by, but you could see their tusks pretty well inside their dens.
On one of the many walking trails, you can see more animals from the various regoins. On this one, we were able to see into the hippo pool and find that there is more than just water. The fish, however, didn't want us to see their main attraction. I think they were kind of jelous.
These water fowl were asleep when we passed by. Below them is a hippo pool, but they were hiding.
The story goes that the creator of the African Savannah let every animal pick a plant to represent them. When it came to the Hyena's turn, someting odd happened. The Hyena, having a twisted sense of humor, asked that the Boab Tree be the tree that represents their speices, but asked that the tree be planted upside-down. The creator did so, which is why the Boab's branches look like its roots.
It is said that the rinos will sometimes challenge the safari vehicles on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. Thankfully, the vehicles are stable enough to withstand the blow, but if you find yourself in that kind of situation, you got more bang for your buck.
Just remember, no two safaries are the same!
The Icon of Disney's Animal Kingdom
It's not that hard to get a good picture of it. Getting a great picture, on the other hand, takes some planning and patience.
Mickey, Minnie, and all their friends welcome those guest that came right as the park opened.
Yes, I made my family get to the park right as it opened. They didn't much appreciate it, but at least we got our money's worth by staying from opening to closing.
My mother insisted that I have a picture of me in front of the DisneyQuest building, so I reluctently did as she asked.
In case you can't tell, I don't like getting in front of the camera.
Some VR Game I never got the chance to play. Too long of a line.
Not to be confused with the ride at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. This is actually a bumper car ride where you roll over dodge balls that are then used to shoot at other bumper cars. If they hit your car's target, your car goes spinning out of control for a few seconds. You need a friend in order to play this game, otherwise no going on it.
In my opinion, the rides at the two Disneylands I mentioned are worlds better.
Yup, they even have DDR at DisneyQuest. It's right across the Mighty Ducks game and next to the elevator. Gets very good foot traffic if you are looking to show off to a lot of people. Thing is, when I was there, they only had the first US version. There is a Disney version that they have at Tomorrowland last I heard, but who knows if it was moved into DisneyQuest.
A game where you play the pinball. It's not as painful as you might think.
The hub of DisneyQuest pointing to the various floors and featured games on those floors looks better than how I photographed it. Trust me.
This pod can be found outside of DisneyQuest's building. It is a preview of the other pods found inside DisneyQuest at the CyberSpace Mountain game where you can design your own roller coaster... and then ride it!
DisneyQuest is a five-floor arcade with games ranging from Pong to Dance Dance Revolution to even a few exclusive games like a Pirates of the Carribean VR Game! And the best part is that it is all air conditioned!
Woody on his float which closes the parade.
Part of a small "lost" collection of pictures from a 1996 trip to Disney/MGM Studios
Woody's float and a HotWheel's Go-Cart.
Part of a small "lost" collection of pictures from a 1996 trip to Disney/MGM Studios
Bo Peep follows closely behind Buzz's float. She must like the view. ;)
Part of a small "lost" collection of pictures from a 1996 trip to Disney/MGM Studios
