lvcourtneyy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2012
Saturday, June 15th
All too quickly, it was our last full day in Disney. We were spending it at the only park we hadn't visited yet this trip, Animal Kingdom.
While I think Magic Kingdom will always be my favorite park because it's just iconic Disney, Animal Kingdom is a REALLY close second.
So we were up bright and early to get to EMH at 8 am. There were no bus times listed on the app when we were ready to leave so we made the executive decision to avoid the aggravation and take a Lyft. I had been reading that they can pick you up and drop you off at your building instead of just the main building so we decided to test it out. Our driver was able to pick us up in the parking lot right outside our building! Score.
I have no notes about the ride so I assume it was fine.
The ride share drop-off at Animal Kingdom is super close to the entrance.
At 6:45 AM, it was clearly very crowded.
I took our bags and waited for security to open and sent Mike into the no bags line.
We're at rope drop early at Animal Kingdom pretty often and they do a weird thing with the security guards where they rotate around the tables a zillion times, almost like musical chairs. Anyone know why? I get why they'd do it after it's open but they do it before they're letting people in so I just found it strange.
They opened security right around 7 AM and we were able to go right to the tapstyles and off the the left to get scanned in for EMH.
We weren't going far though because they were holding us at a rope in front of the Tree of Life.
I didn't mind that much because how often can you get a nice empty picture like this?
Around 7:30, the cast members began walking us to Pandora. I like this rope drop method because it's more controlled and eliminates the people full-on sprinting to the ride. It doesn't totally eliminate the chaos (eventually in my October TR you'll hear about the lady who actually pushed me out of her way and went on a rant about how she needs to get on the ride first), but it does help.
We were held here in a lovely herd of cattle.
And shortly after, they started walking us through the queue.
Look at all those new friends behind me.
If you'd like to see 80 zillion floating mountain pictures, please feel free to let me know and I'll send them to you cause I seem to have taken one at every angle possible. I've only chosen to share a couple to spare you all.
I'll call this one the backside of floating mountains.
I can't help it. The floating mountains against blue skies are just so pretty. I just find a need for ALL of the pictures.
Alas, we finally made it inside after a 17 mile walk and the photos are much less picturesque.
At 7:43, EMH hadn't officially started yet and there was already a 60 minute wait posted based on those of us they had herded in.
At 7:47, we were in this dreaded preshow room and UM ...getting ready to fly.
I can tolerate this preshow probably once a trip. After that it's just painful.
We were off the ride at 8:04 and it was wonderful as always. I love how immersive it is, no matter how many times you ride it.
Na'vi River Journey was posted as a 10 minute so we headed there. The wait was really only as long as it took to walk the queue.
I took pictures of the lamps in the queue because they reminded me of lamps somewhere else in Disney that I also took pictures of. I've since forgotten where the other lamps were so I ruined my own story.
The highlight of the ride is this animatronic.
It's a pretty ride and I'm sure it's nice to have something the whole family can ride together but it still just feels like something is missing to me.
It was 8:22 when we got off and we were planning to head over to Expedition Everest but it was still down so we headed to the safari instead.
We passed this Lion King wall on the way and I must have been tired since I didn't take a picture with it lol.
The safari was also posted at a 10 minute wait but was also a walk on.
My favorite animal on the safari is the Okapi. On the first trip my sister and I took together, our safari guide told us that the Okapi weren't believed to exist for a long time because they're solitary animals and hide so well. We both reacted by saying "I believe in the Okapi" and found it hysterical that we both though the same thing so it stuck. I also love how their legs look like zebras but that they're really not related to zebras at all. We both now have adorable stuffed animal Okapis also.
Needless to say, I was happy to see one hanging out this morning.
We continued along on our 2 week adventure.
Again, if you'd like 80 zillion animal photos, message me lol. No matter how many times we do the safari, I find a need for pictures of ALL the animals.
This one Mike took and I just love how it captures the scenery, along with the animals.
We came upon the giraffes, who were all very busy crossing the road, causing giraffic jams- you know the usual.
But today, there was a baby giraffe and if you ever want to get a safari jeep full of people all to squeal at the same time, tell them there's a baby animal to see.
This trouble maker wasn't sure if he wanted to cross but figured he'd stand just close enough to the road that the safari trucks couldn't go through
Here's a nice shot of baby and mom (or some other adult giraffe) with the side of Mike's face.
We got to the elephants and I was happy to see baby Stella! My sister and I did the Caring for Giants tour when Stella was very young and during our tour, she was playing around trying to lift stuff with her trunk but she didn't really know how to use it yet. We fell in love.
The cheetah was ACTUALLY MOVING. I was shocked. I never see more than a glimpse of them lying behind stuff.
The lions on the other hand were, well, lying.
It was just about 9 am when we got off the safari, and time for the park to officially open to everyone. We were pleased with what we were able to accomplish during EMH, even with Everest being down!
All too quickly, it was our last full day in Disney. We were spending it at the only park we hadn't visited yet this trip, Animal Kingdom.
While I think Magic Kingdom will always be my favorite park because it's just iconic Disney, Animal Kingdom is a REALLY close second.
So we were up bright and early to get to EMH at 8 am. There were no bus times listed on the app when we were ready to leave so we made the executive decision to avoid the aggravation and take a Lyft. I had been reading that they can pick you up and drop you off at your building instead of just the main building so we decided to test it out. Our driver was able to pick us up in the parking lot right outside our building! Score.
I have no notes about the ride so I assume it was fine.
The ride share drop-off at Animal Kingdom is super close to the entrance.
At 6:45 AM, it was clearly very crowded.
I took our bags and waited for security to open and sent Mike into the no bags line.
We're at rope drop early at Animal Kingdom pretty often and they do a weird thing with the security guards where they rotate around the tables a zillion times, almost like musical chairs. Anyone know why? I get why they'd do it after it's open but they do it before they're letting people in so I just found it strange.
They opened security right around 7 AM and we were able to go right to the tapstyles and off the the left to get scanned in for EMH.
We weren't going far though because they were holding us at a rope in front of the Tree of Life.
I didn't mind that much because how often can you get a nice empty picture like this?
Around 7:30, the cast members began walking us to Pandora. I like this rope drop method because it's more controlled and eliminates the people full-on sprinting to the ride. It doesn't totally eliminate the chaos (eventually in my October TR you'll hear about the lady who actually pushed me out of her way and went on a rant about how she needs to get on the ride first), but it does help.
We were held here in a lovely herd of cattle.
And shortly after, they started walking us through the queue.
Look at all those new friends behind me.
If you'd like to see 80 zillion floating mountain pictures, please feel free to let me know and I'll send them to you cause I seem to have taken one at every angle possible. I've only chosen to share a couple to spare you all.
I'll call this one the backside of floating mountains.
I can't help it. The floating mountains against blue skies are just so pretty. I just find a need for ALL of the pictures.
Alas, we finally made it inside after a 17 mile walk and the photos are much less picturesque.
At 7:43, EMH hadn't officially started yet and there was already a 60 minute wait posted based on those of us they had herded in.
At 7:47, we were in this dreaded preshow room and UM ...getting ready to fly.
I can tolerate this preshow probably once a trip. After that it's just painful.
We were off the ride at 8:04 and it was wonderful as always. I love how immersive it is, no matter how many times you ride it.
Na'vi River Journey was posted as a 10 minute so we headed there. The wait was really only as long as it took to walk the queue.
I took pictures of the lamps in the queue because they reminded me of lamps somewhere else in Disney that I also took pictures of. I've since forgotten where the other lamps were so I ruined my own story.
The highlight of the ride is this animatronic.
It's a pretty ride and I'm sure it's nice to have something the whole family can ride together but it still just feels like something is missing to me.
It was 8:22 when we got off and we were planning to head over to Expedition Everest but it was still down so we headed to the safari instead.
We passed this Lion King wall on the way and I must have been tired since I didn't take a picture with it lol.
The safari was also posted at a 10 minute wait but was also a walk on.
My favorite animal on the safari is the Okapi. On the first trip my sister and I took together, our safari guide told us that the Okapi weren't believed to exist for a long time because they're solitary animals and hide so well. We both reacted by saying "I believe in the Okapi" and found it hysterical that we both though the same thing so it stuck. I also love how their legs look like zebras but that they're really not related to zebras at all. We both now have adorable stuffed animal Okapis also.
Needless to say, I was happy to see one hanging out this morning.
We continued along on our 2 week adventure.
Again, if you'd like 80 zillion animal photos, message me lol. No matter how many times we do the safari, I find a need for pictures of ALL the animals.
This one Mike took and I just love how it captures the scenery, along with the animals.
We came upon the giraffes, who were all very busy crossing the road, causing giraffic jams- you know the usual.
But today, there was a baby giraffe and if you ever want to get a safari jeep full of people all to squeal at the same time, tell them there's a baby animal to see.
This trouble maker wasn't sure if he wanted to cross but figured he'd stand just close enough to the road that the safari trucks couldn't go through
Here's a nice shot of baby and mom (or some other adult giraffe) with the side of Mike's face.
We got to the elephants and I was happy to see baby Stella! My sister and I did the Caring for Giants tour when Stella was very young and during our tour, she was playing around trying to lift stuff with her trunk but she didn't really know how to use it yet. We fell in love.
The cheetah was ACTUALLY MOVING. I was shocked. I never see more than a glimpse of them lying behind stuff.
The lions on the other hand were, well, lying.
It was just about 9 am when we got off the safari, and time for the park to officially open to everyone. We were pleased with what we were able to accomplish during EMH, even with Everest being down!
That happens.
That'll do it every time.
