Trip Log:

Started off the morning with a 7am wake up call to head for Breakfast and then EPCOT and strolled through from the International Gateway to the front of the park to check in for the Segway tour. After the tour we headed back to the Beach Club for some AC and a drink then bussed it over to Animal Kingdom. Once in the park headed for the Festival of the Lion King. After the show it was a quick bite in Pizzafari before grabbing Fastpasses for Kilimanjaro Safari. While waiting went through Pangani Forest Exploration tour and then the train to Conservation Station. Walked around a bit then back to ride Kilimanjaro. After our Safari we strolled out of the park and took the bus back to the Beach Club. After grabbing something cold and snacks it was off to EPCOT for a leisurely walk to EPCOT and Le Cellier for dinner. After dinner we headed up to the front of the park and some pictures of the flowers there and then road Spaceship Earth. Then over to Mission Space and to grab a spot for Illuminations. Actually ended up starting to walk at the start of the show and wondered around to the American Adventure by the finale. Then headed back to the Beach Club for the night.

Thoughts & Observations:

• We started off our Monday with the Around the World Tour at EPCOT, which is a Segway Experience. We all highly recommend this tour, even with its high price ($80 for the two hours). The tour is extremely limited, only 10 guests per day I believe. I wrote a complete write up over in the tours section (click here). Basically you spend the first 45 minutes learning to ride and demonstrating that your safe on the Segway, then you spend the last hour riding around World Showcase before it opens to the public. You get to go on several paths throughout the countries.
  
  
• The Festival of the Lion King is now completely closed in and air conditioned. They took this great show and made it better. The complete enclosure allows for much better control over the lighting effects and makes them visible at all times to you. Plus being comfortable doesn't hurt much either. Our only complaint still is the lack of shade in the queue. Yes there are some trees, and some midst fans, but it still gets extremely hot...
  
  
• Had some time to kill before heading on our Safari, so we went out to Conservation Station to see if anything was going on. Which it was not.. how we wish there were a sign or something before you take the train out there and hike to the station.
  
  
• Geek’s Brother – Road Mission Space and thought it was pretty good. His exact words were "Not Bad", which for a Disney attraction means he enjoyed it. He said the G-Forces were fairly strong but after riding other thrill attractions nothing out of the ordinary to him.
  
  
• I went through the queue and up to the ride capsule before being escorted out before the last spiel. The CM came by and asked for who was not riding. I said I wasn't and he said he would take me somewhere else to watch the spiel, instead he took me to an exit and said goodbye. I was a little disappointed in not being able to see into a ride vehicle. Overall I thought the internal queue was well done, but short. I thought the clearly marked queues (stand by, single rider, fastpass) were perfect and easy to find. I was really surprised that there was less than a 5 minute wait in the late afternoon, while Test Track had over a 45 minute wait at the same time. Seems to me that is a bad sign for this thrill attraction and its audience at EPCOT.
  
  
• Had dinner at Le Cellier, some wanted to boycott over the French name, but the steaks were too good to pass up (plus the beef comes from the English part of Canada for the most part).. The food was great as usual, just slow service as usual too...
  
  
• We tried something different for Illuminations this time around. I strolled around the lagoon while the show was ongoing. Starting at Mexico and ended up in front of France by the closing. Kind of an interesting way to see the show for the various angels while moving. I would not recommend this for a first time guest, but for someone who knows the show inside and out it was fun..

Pedometer Information for the day:

Enough with the text.. onto the pictures

Click Here