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Trip Log:
Set off for Disney’s Animal Kingdom at 8:30am arriving around 9am. The Safari had a 10 min wait posted so headed out that way. We walked through the queue and had to wait about two trucks only. After our safari strolled through Pangani Forest on the Gorilla Exploration Trail then stopped by the Festival of the Lion King. After the show walked over to Asia and through the Jungle Trek. Decided it was too early for lunch so circled back to Africa and took the train out to Conservation Station. Nothing going on today so returned to Africa. Walked around the Tree of Life then stopped by Dinoland to pick up the AP Mufasa Post Card. Walked around Dinoland and past Expedition Everest on my way to Yak & Yeti for lunch. Timed it right and watched a series of rain bands blow through while eating. After lunch we strolled through the park and decided to head back to the Beach Club to get warmer clothes for the evening. Set out for the Magic Kingdom around 3:30pm, timed it well and only waited a couple minutes for a bus. At the Magic Kingdom saw the Jingle Cruise was down so headed to Adventureland to see if it was close to opening. I was too late and it was open with a 70 min wait so we headed for the Country Bear Musical Jamboree. After the show walked by Tiana’s then boarded the Walt Disney World Railroad for Fantasyland. Walked by TRON and went for a ride on the PeopleMover. Then walked through Tomorrowland and the hub to Liberty Square. Visited the shops before returning to the hub for the Frozen Holiday Surprise. Then back to Liberty Square for the Hall of Presidents. Spent some time in the shops on Main Street USA then found a spot for Happily Every After at the train station. After the show opted for the Resort Monorail to the TTC then transferred to the EPCOT line. Strolled through EPCOT pausing at Commicore Hall for a place to sit out of the wind. Made my way to the International Gateway bridge where I noticed the lowest tier was open to all guests so walked down and watched Luminous from there. After the show returned to the Beach Club to call it a night.
Thoughts & Observations:
- We started off with a leisurely morning today as we adjusted after traveling. Set off for the Animal Kingdom arriving at 9am, well past its opening time. We did have good bus luck showing up and boarding without a wait.
- Kilimanjaro Safari was showing only a 10 minute wait in the app so we headed that way first. Turned out to be a great call as we basically walked the queue with no stopping. There were a number of animals out as usual but nothing too interesting happening. The three new lions were out which was what we wanted to see. They are much younger/smaller than the previous ones so we will be able to watch them grow up. There was a young child, probably around two in front of us. She was having a ball pointing out the horsey (okapi) and dinosaur (rhino) as we went through the attraction. Then she found the spotting guide so every time her parents tried to point out an animal like a giraffe she would just point up at the guide vs looking outside the truck.
- Walked through Gorilla Falls and there was not much happening this morning. Most of the family was not visible and the males on the other side were stationary as usual.
- Looking at the show schedule we had a few minutes until the top of the hour and the start of a Lion King show so we headed that way and were able to walk in and be seated with a few minutes to spare only.
- Visited the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Asia. It was rather sad with few animals out/visible. The baby tiger and its mother are still backstage so only one tiger out and he was laying nearly out of site. Even the large cattle were not out today.
- Made the trek out to Conservation Station to see if anything was going on. The exam room was quiet and the schedule said nothing for today or tomorrow. I still say it would be nice to see this shared somewhere so you do not have to trek all the way out there to find nothing.
- Visited Dinoland USA to see the Christmas decorations and a final look at some of the area as it will be closed/gone by my next trip. The overall feel of the area was rather subdued. I was surprised by the number of guests playing the games. They are $6 each and the prizes are mostly generic now as they are in their final weeks of operation.
- Picked up the Mufasa post card for Annual Passholders. Not sure what I will do with it but since I was there and entitled to it stopped by and got one.
- We were successful in timing our lunch around a series of rain cells that blew through. We arrive at Yak & Yeti as it was threatening to drizzle and while eating we watching a few bands of rain blow through and dump on guests. By the time we left it was breaking up and we managed to stay dry.
- The rain marked the start of a cold front coming through and by the evening I needed a sweatshirt and jacket.
- Had great bus luck again as I set off for the Magic Kingdom this evening. Security was slow as I had to go through secondary screening. The camera bag seems to half a 50/50 shot of triggering.
- Noticed the Jingle Cruise was down so we headed that way to see if we could have some good luck. We arrived and found the attraction open but with a 70 minute wait. We decided to get in line to check it out and and realized much of the queue was full and the return had a queue too. The standby was not moving so we opted to leave.
- The Country Bear Musical Jamboree opened since my last visit so this was my first opportunity to see the new lobby displays and show. The items in the lobby were fun to see but it was too crowded this evening to really take a good look. The new show was enjoyable. I appreciated the banter and involvement of Max, Buff and Melvin. I thought the songs felt on the short side and a bit rushed but overall it was an enjoyable show and played to a nearly full house.
- Thought it was rather poor they left the perimeter fireworks warning sign up on a non party night out near TRON. How much effort is it to move an a-frame in/out on nights the warning is needed?
- Enjoyed rides on the Railroad and PeopleMover which are always relaxing for me.
- Frozen Holiday Surprise is back again. This short show features the Frozen cast lighting the castle projections for the evening. The projections are ok but nothing compared to the old Cinderella Castle Dream Lights that were a holiday staple for years.
- Visited the Hall of Presidents since the show will be going down for renovation with the new president next year. It will be interesting to see what they do. Seems the quickest turn around is to just switch the figure placement and audio. There was a good crowd this evening with guests looking for a place to warm up.
- Opted to watch Happily Ever After from the train station this evening. It is not the best view of the show but it was not crowded and something different.
- After the fireworks walked quickly toward the Monorail. The Express Monorail was backed up down the ramp to the switchbacks already so we opted to take the Resort line to the TTC this evening. Then transferred to the EPCOT line with no delays. We arrived at EPCOT a few minutes before 9pm.
- Spent some time in Communicore Hall, since the heat works there and there were seats available.
- Walked out with the plan to watch Luminous from the International gateway bridge. We arrived a few minutes before showtime and were in the 2nd or 3rd row standing. I noticed the terrace below was open so walked around and found a spot on the rail on the waters edge right as the show was about to start. The lower terrace was open to all. The upper one was blocked off for a wedding so getting there meant you had to enter from close to France. The steps were blocked off, same when it came time to exit.
Pedometer Information for the day:
| Steps |
22,328 |
| Miles |
10.22 |
| Walking Time |
3:45 |
| Total Time |
13:45 |
Full picture and video sets coming soon...
Addition Blog Picture Posts from today:
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