Day 3 at WDW - Animal Kingdom.
When planning this trip, I wasn’t sure how comfortable I would feel in the parks, or how many rides I’d really want to go on. So this was probably the day that made me the most nervous, first because getting to AK requires a bus ride, and second because FoP, Navi, and Dinosaur are indoor rides and I didn’t want to get stuck in a looooong queue with people who were not being careful.
My plan was basically to be early for everything to minimize waiting in lines. Showed up early enough at the bus stop to snag a bench before the queue started stretching down the sidewalk, which it did within about 10 minutes. The people in line ahead of me boarded the MK bus that came at 8:15, so when the first AK bus arrived at 8:20, I was the first on. Bus spacing was OK, with no one closer than six feet, but I put on a KN95 mask and sunglasses just for good measure. Was hoping the buses would start earlier — Didn’t they always used to start running an hour before the park opened? In any event, between the bus ride and the line for the temperature check, it was 8:50 until I got to the tapstyles and actually entered the park.
I decided to keep wearing the heavier mask for the first few rides at AK. Headed straight back to Pandora (along with everyone else coming in the gate), and joined the outside queue for FoP at 8:55. The line wasn’t quite to the path that heads toward Africa, and it moved at a steady walking pace all the way through the beautiful Valley paths, the building, and into the short preshow with Dr. Ogden. There were four of us in one flight room, with an empty banshee between each party. At this point things had moved quickly enough that being indoors didn’t feel as worrisome as it would have had the line been slow or stopped. This ride is the best way to start the day! I really wakes you up and immerses you in the experience. I LOVE it!
Exited FoP At 9:20, and headed to Navi, which had a posted 20-minute wait. By now, this line was moving at a more normal (slower) pace that required stopping on the spacing markers instead of walking straight through. Time in line was pretty close to the 20-minute estimate. Exited Navi at 9:50 and headed toward the Safari. By this time the line for FoP stretched almost all the way to the bridge at the edge of Africa.
Queued up for the Safari at 10:10. Estimated wait per
MDE was 35 minutes, actual wait was 15. This was one of the best Safaris I’ve ever had - so many animals! A good half-dozen bongos were out in plain view, and the Zebras were right next to the ride vehicle, even crossing in front of it. The baby zebra was only a few feet away as we passed. Amazing! All the usual suspects were out, even the two cheetahs were up and walking around.
After the Safari, I grabbed a water and walked leisurely through Gorilla Falls. The trail wasn’t very busy, but people tended to bunch up near the more interesting animals. At the glass windows where the gorilla family hangs out, there was enforced social distancing using markers and dots on the ground, and a CM was there directing and keeping people from staying too long. The mother gorilla and her baby were out this morning - so cute to watch! People were pretty considerate at this time of day, not hogging the views and moving along in decent time.
By about noon the walkways were getting busier, and there were times when it was not possible to distance and keep moving. But then you would walk on another hundred feet and the way was completely clear. In AK especially, it seems as if one group walking slowly four abreast or stopping in the middle of the walkway can make the whole area feel crowded when it really isn’t.
Next, I caught the Bird Show (Cute!) and tried Kali Rapids for the first time in 20 years (Yikes!). Posted wait was 10 minutes, actual wait was walk-on. I like this ride so much better when you don’t get drenched! Was placed in a raft along with a family of four who sat directly opposite. We got splashed a bit, just enough to get a little wet but not soaked. It felt great!
By this time it was getting HOT, so I ditched the heavy mask for a light surgical one. Walked through the Jungle trek, and saw only one tiger but enjoyed the lush greenery. It was now time to head to Tiffin’s for my 1:25 ADR.
Was able to cross the park quickly, and arrived at Tiffin’s at 1:05, just as my mobile check-in window opened. Was seated in five minutes in the room to the outer side of Nomad Lounge. This was my first time in an indoor restaurant in over six months, so I was a little apprehensive. The tables there have always been well-spaced, and now half of them are blocked off to make the spacing even better. It did appear as if almost all of the availble table were filled at least part of the time I was there. Here’s a pic:
Menu was online-only, which was easy enough. The server brought out some savory bread and spicy oil, yum! I continued with the Tiffin’s Salad and my old hot-day favorite, a Snow Leopard Salvation, which slipped down super quickly. It may have been the heat, or the fact that it was after 1:00 and I had forgotten to eat breakfast, but everything was Soooo Delicious! For my entree I got the Tamarind-glazed Beef Short Rib (fork tender!), accompanied by the Cauliflower in Manchurian sauce (ok, fried cauliflower, but it‘a still a vegetable, right?). And I couldn’t be at Tiffin’s without having an Annapurna Zing to balance out the savory meal. Oh my, was this ever good, and worth the six-month wait.
Tiffin‘s took exactly an hour and a half, and by that time it was blisteringly hot outside. 93 degrees, with a feels-like temp of 104. To give my lunch a chance to settle, I took the train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch and explored around a few minutes. This place is a little sad with the petting zoo off-limits. It really didn’t feel worth the waits for the train there and back. But it did kill over an hour, and the crowds were really thinning out, so now I was ready to tackle The Yeti.
Everest had a posted wait time of 10 minutes at 3:45. Actually got through in half that, doing a slow steady walk all the way though the queue to the loading area. I was assigned the very last seat on the train (17 I think), a first for me on that ride. IMO, that seat may be a little bumpier, but still a ton of fun. I had been getting tired after the big lunch and the heat of the day, and this ride woke me up!
From there I headed back to the Jurassic Period to help find Our Dino. It was after 4:00 and the path from Asia to Dinoland was empty, and Dinosaur was a walk-on. I was the only person seated in the front row of our vehicle, with two more in back. One giant asteroid and one rescued Iguanadon later, It was time to go.
Overall, I was able to do everything I wanted, including the three indoor rides, by hitting the blockbusters during the first and last hour. Filling the middle was more of a challenge, especially without the big shows running. There is something about Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo — the musical shows and shared communal experience both relax you and raise your energy level at the same time. They are sorely missed.
Exited the park at 4:45. Five minute wait for a bus, which pulled away at 4:54 pm.
I won’t lie, with the heat, this day was exhausting. I still had a great time, but needed some downtime at the resort to recuperate afterward. Also had the third straight park day with no rain, though we did get a shower at the YC later.
Tomorrow it’s back to Epcot for more Food & Wine. Glad my last day will be a relaxing one!