Older kids and teens will probably get more out of this than younger kids, but much as been done over the last 20 years to archive what happened on that fateful day in 1980. I lived a few miles south of Mt. St. Helens from 1988-1990 and even though recovery was happening, there was still much evidence of that disaster. A visit in 2001 showed how the earth heals and repairs itself given enough time. A relocated and expanded visitor center provides archival photos, video, and first hand accounts of the event. The only thing to be wary of is the weather as Mt. St. Helens sits right in the Cascade range and low clouds can obscure the view of the volcanic dome.

Even our 4 year olds (who barely made the 40" height limit) got a thrill from Soarin'! A low intensity ride experience that engulfs your senses of sight, sound, and even smell! Like an iMax experience, except you feel a part of it, rather than just a viewer, Only those who are extremely sensitive to motion-sickness would be advised to skip this ride; it is no more intense than a ride on a glass elevator.

Service at the Rainforest Cafe was good, even after a short wait of approximately 20 minutes. However, all of the animatronics, music/sound effects, and distractions make for a loud dining experience. Some kids may be freaked out by the monkeys/apes that move and make noise. Forget having a conversation; much of what we said was either shouted or you got up and whispered in the ear of the person you were talking with. Would have preferred some cuisine more representative of rain forest cultures; most menu items are American entrees of beef, chicken, or seafood with tropical names. Again, not bad, but I expected more.

Our group ate at Tony's Town Square early on in our Disney Trip (3rd night). Even with reservations via the Disney Dining Plan, our wait was still more than 30 minutes. We had to ask repeatedly for a server for simple items such as crackers for the kids, drink refills, and our check. The food was forgettable at best; not sure why the service was so bad, but I would expect more from Disney and for the price you pay. Hopefully, our experience was an anomaly but be cautious and ask other guests when you arrive if they've eaten there.

Disney's Polynesian Resort is an ideal location/hub for your Disney theme park visits. It is a short bus ride from the Animal Kingdom and MGM parks, and a short monorail ride to Epcot or the Magic Kingdom. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive to our group of 6 adults and 6 kids, ranging from age 2-8. The restaurant had a very good dinner and breakfast buffet with plenty of choices, even for the pickiest of eaters. The only cons are the distance the rooms were from the main lobby (where monorail service is) and that the rooms are located in individual buildings which means you get wet if it rains. If you need a break from the theme parks, you can find plenty to do at the Polynesian with it's great swimming pools and lakeside activities.