Disney: Part 3/3

(Start reading with Part 1.)

Hollywood Studios was up next and, with it, our first chance to meet some Disney characters.

We had reservations for a character lunch with a few stars from various Disney Junior shows.

Hannah and Ben were excited to meet fun characters like June from Little Einsteins.

Jefferson, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with the over-sized mutes and slid under the table when any of them came over to greet us.

He did warm up to Mater, though; probably because he was actual size.

Hollywood studios had many shows and rides, which we all enjoyed; but one of the kids' favorite attractions of the entire trip was the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.

And, as you may have guessed, we finished the day with another fireworks show and another conked-out three-year-old.

Our last park was Animal Kingdom and Groompa came back down to spend the day.  And, it wouldn't be much of an animal kingdom without, you know, animals.

Even though the animals were captive, the "safari" was pretty cool.  We even had to stop to wait for these rhinos to cross the trail.

Nothing brings out your primal instincts like bongo drums.

This is the "before" picture on our way to Expedition Everest.

There is no "after" picture because no one wants to see that.  Let's just say it's a good thing Groompa was there to help with the kids so that "Thad Dad" could go sit under the pavilion with the constant spray of mist behind the Rainforest Cafe.

Since Animal Kingdom closes early, the day did not end with Jefferson dozing off at a pyrotechnics display.  Instead, we went back to enjoy the resort's pool before saying good-bye to Groompa until Christmastime.

We actually bought a fifth day of tickets and spent the morning of our last day back at the Magic Kingdom taking on a few more rides and shows, buying souvenirs and using up the last of our meal plan snacks.

The last 24 hours of our vacation included rides on a bus, a tram, a monorail, a boat, a train, a car, a people-mover and an airplane.  Just eight hours after bidding farewell to Mickey, the kids were sleeping in their own beds - dreaming of magic and fairies.

Tomorrow we all get back to work and school and our normal routine, but our daydreams will still be filled with memories of the place where dreams come true.  And, yes, the kids are already asking when we're going back.