This day started pretty early, although not nearly as early as the day before. I had VERY lofty goals today. I was up, ready, out the door and at the bus stop shortly after 6:15. It was still dark out!
Animal Kingdom was opening (officially) at 8 today, but I’d been reading all the online strategies and had decided to be at the bus stop in time for the first bus. Every report said to be at the bus stop more than 90 minutes in advance to accomplish this, so that’s exactly what I did. I was first to the bus stop, but barely. A line formed quickly behind me.
The bus arrived at the bus stop at Movies at 6:46. Even with an ECV to load, the bus was loaded and on the road quickly, and shortly before 7 we were rolling past the line of suckers that drove to the park that wouldn’t be allowed up to the tollbooths until 7. We pulled up at the bus stop at 7:02.
To decrease my chances of secondary security, and hopefully improve my efficiency (and therefore my place at the tapstyles), I took my dSLR out of my backpack on the ride to Animal Kingdom and had it hanging around my neck as I approached the scanner. The security CM gave me a thumbs up and a “good thinking” and instructed me to hold it up by my head. I made it through security without additional search, and made it to the tapstyles, where I was 4th in line at mine. Good enough. The crowd behind me grew quickly.
They opened the tapstyles at 7:15, and it was chaos getting over to the bridge to Pandora. By the bridge, I was about 8 rows from the rope, which again, I considered good enough. I made sure to stay to the right on the bridge and this worked well. They only held us there for a few minutes, before dropping that rope and walking us to the very extended queue to organize us a bit at 7:25. Once they started organizing people into some semblance of a line, they opened up the actual line and we all wove our way through Pandora. I entered the official queue (under the sign) at 7:33 and from there it was just more weaving until I reached the final holding tank before the link chamber. And by that I mean it was 12 minutes and a couple thousand steps because that queue was built to hold so many people!
Flight of Passage was, as usual, incredible, and I was off the ride by 8:03. Yup, you read that right. First bus of the morning folks. And then left at the tapstyles and right on the bridge. It works!
After FOP, I hit up a Photopass spot. Another unenthusiastic photographer here. The trend seems to be all the CMs are very (surprisingly so all things considered) pleasant, except for Photopass.
Flight of Passage was, as usual, incredible, and I was off the ride by 8:03. Yup, you read that right. First bus of the morning folks. And then left at the tapstyles and right on the bridge. It works!
After FOP, I hit up a Photopass spot. Another unenthusiastic photographer here. The trend seems to be all the CMs are very (surprisingly so all things considered) pleasant, except for Photopass.
Then I wove my way through the Navi River Journey queue. Obviously, this was a walk-on. After Navi, I took a couple pictures around Pandora.
And then it was time for Safaris! I made my way to Africa where the safaris had something like a 15 minute posted wait, but it actually was essentially a walk on. It was a pretty good safaris, and I even saw the brand new baby hippo, but lighting was tough this morning.
After Safaris it was time for second breakfast. I’d had some Belvita biscuit things in the room, but… So I went to Tamu Tamu and got the colossal cinnamon roll. It was adorable AND delicious!
Second breakfast eaten, I wandered the gorilla falls trail in search of little gorillas. I did see one, not sure how new it was, but still cute.
Having let second breakfast settle a bit, it was time to head for Asia. I made the trek to Everest and hopped in the extremely short single rider line. Everest remains my favorite, and since the single rider line was so short, I rode twice in quick succession. On the second ride, somehow seating got messed up, so I actually got my own row!
Done with Everest and quite sweaty, I placed my first mobile order of the trip. I’m so NOT a fan of being required to mobile order but anyway...Restaurantosaurus was opening shortly, so I ordered a pineapple upside down cake milkshake, for the pickup window that started when they opened. The process was much easier than I remember it being the one time I mobile ordered pre-pandemic, so that’s a plus. Then I made my way to Dinoland and hit “I’m here”. Within minutes my shake was ready, so I went inside, picked it up, and found a spot on the really nice covered porch to eat it. I’ve never actually eaten at Restaurantosaurus before, so this spot was a pleasant surprise.
Milkshake finished, I headed deeper into the park. It was time to find some floating cavalcades! And I actually didn’t have to go very far! Just as I reached the bridge to head back toward Discovery Island, the drummers came through. They were pretty awesome!
I followed the river past the Lion King show, stopping to see the drummers again, take pictures of some big tree, and also a Pocahantas and Meeko cavalcade.
Then I parked myself under a bridge and hung out in the shade for about half an hour watching the rest (I think) of the floating cavalcades cruise by. I REALLY like these and think they are the best thing to come out of the pandemic at Disney. They’re a really great addition. And seriously guys, park yourself in the shade along the path between Africa and Pandora. Great spot to watch.
Once I’d seen what I think is all of the floating cavalcades, I made my way out of the park, browsing some stores but not buying anything along the way. It was time for a break! Thankfully a bus came along shortly after I got to the bus stop, and, after a short bus ride and a quick stop in the store for some water (because...you have to mobile order it from the food court….), I was back in my room for an air conditioned break.
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