Today we journeyed to the Animal Kingdom in search of animal encounters. We definitely saw some amazing animals! In fact, it seemed a little crazy to be riding in an open air safari car with nothing to separate us from the animals. Perhaps the craziest was the cheetahs. Fortunately, the animals are well fed and didn't mind us at all!
After the safari, we took a train to the petting zoo,
where Alex, Zachary and Ryan made sure to brush every single goat in sight.
There wasn't much else at this train stop, so we rode back to the main station and headed to Dinosaur Land! First we stopped for lunch, where the kid's meals came in plastic buckets with shovels. Those came in super handy when we were digging for fossils! After lunch we broke off into smaller groups, with the Mason clan heading to a more adventurous ride, and we went to the play area. There was a big climbing structure with rope nets, slides and tunnels. It was from here that we found the fossil dig site. Next stop, the carnival area. Alex and Zachary convinced Grammy to ride a dinosaur!
While Zachary was busy playing carnival games (and winning big!) Alex had his face painted. You were supposed to pick from a design on the board, but Alex really wanted a green dinosaur. We asked the girl if that was possible, and I was expecting a little dinosaur on his cheek. What she created was amazing!
Alex played some games and won while Ryan was transformed into a tiger.
And finally, a walk through the dinosaur statue park.
We found a fairly unobstructed view for the Parade of Animals. The animals were giant puppet-like creatures. They were really amazing.
And of course we had to have pictures with some of the characters! Zachary just about tackled Thumper in his excitement!
Later that evening, Phil, Jeff, Leslie and I took advantage of the grandparents' babysitting skills and extended hours at Hollywood Studios. We rode a couple of the rides, determined it wasn't a very pre-schooler friendly park and called it a night.
The night for trick or treating has finally arrived! We toured the stores at the shopping center first.
And then we all went around the neighborhood. When we got back home, the boys helped me hand out candy to the trick or treaters who came by our house. Well, when they weren't eating candy that is!
Even the animals were dressed up for Halloween at the Oakland Zoo!
Once again Alex and Zachary's school celebrated Halloween with a costume parade around the block. After the parade the kids gathered around their buckets and enjoyed a treat.
Today's adventure took us back to Epcot Center. If there was a ride there, we rode it! The boys enjoyed riding through the "golf ball", or Spaceship Earth, and Living with the Land. Journey into Imagination with Figment was a big hit, and they had fun working in the Imagination Lab after the ride too.
This morning we had to say good-bye to everyone. Luckily there was time to get a few last minute pictures and for the cousins to run around and play at the playground. Alex and Ryan had a lot of fun sliding down holding hands and Zachary joined in for a game of hide and seek.
For Phil's birthday, we returned to the Happiest Place on Earth to complete the rounds. There were a few rides that we repeated, but for the most part, we explored different areas of the park. Alex, Zachary and Ryan all really enjoyed the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted House.
When we felt that every ride was ridden and every corner fully explored, we hopped onto the monorail headed for Epcot Center. 
Unfortunately, we didn't have as much time as we had hoped at Epcot. Everyone did get a chance to ride the Nemo adventure and then play with the sharks in the sunken boat. (Somehow, I didn't get any pictures of that.)
On the bus ride back to the resort, Alex lost his lucky acorn and was very sad. Luckily, there were acorns everywhere, and we were able to find a suitable replacement the next day.
where Alex, Zachary and Ryan made sure to brush every single goat in sight.
While Zachary was busy playing carnival games (and winning big!) Alex had his face painted. You were supposed to pick from a design on the board, but Alex really wanted a green dinosaur. We asked the girl if that was possible, and I was expecting a little dinosaur on his cheek. What she created was amazing!
