11/08 - Animal Kingdom / Epcot / Magic Kingdom

Aunt Erica and I decided to go back to Disney's Animal Kingdom again today, after coming over just two days ago. While that trip was to see the PassHolder preview for the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show, this one was to pick up the new Zootopia Better Zoogether popcorn bucket. While we came to the park on the 6th, which was the second of the two PassHolder preview days, the bucket didn't come out until the 7th, which was the day that the show opened to the general public. That meant a trip back to purchase it, if I wanted to add it to my collection (which of course I wanted to!).

Once we arrived at the park, we headed over to the popcorn stand near the entrance to the Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show to purchase the bucket. After we got that, we headed over the Africa to get in line for Kilimanjaro Safaris. It was fairly warm today, and that meant that many of the animals that we typically see weren't overly active today, which made the ride a little disappointing. Despite the relative inactivity, I would definitely go back again - and hopefully I can soon!

At this point Erica and I were both getting a little hungry, but couldn't find anything that appealed to us in Animal Kingdom, especially since we had just eaten at Satu'li Canteen just two days prior. We decided to head over to Epcot to see if there was anything that appealed to us at the International Food & Wine Festival...

Disney's Animal Kingdom
		A look at Pandora – The World of Avatar from the Oasis area of the park.
		Kevin, from the movie Up, was making an appearance in the Oasis today.
		A look at the Tree of Life as we entered the park.
		After picking up my new Zootopia Better Zoogether popcorn bucket, we got to see these ring-tailed lemurs undergoing some training on Discovery Island...


		Also on Discovery Island, we saw some flamingoes - this was my favorite!
		We also spotted this American-white ibis doing his best flamingo interpretation.
		Rodney showing off his new Zootopia Better Zoogether popcorn bucket!
		We also got to see the family of Asian small-clawed otters in the Otter Grotto on Discovery Island, and this time they were very active, running about and playing with each other.
		While we waited in the queue for Kilimanjaro Safaris, we got to watch this black crowned crane strut around.
		Once our ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris got underway, we spotted this lone okapi standing away from the trail.
		This saddle-billed stork was standing near the Kilimanjaro Safaris trailway...
		...while this one was standing atop its nest.
		The bongos and kudus were difficult to see today.
		A few pink-backed pelicans sitting near the hippo pool.
		A hippo making its way out of the water.
		A couple of pink-backed pelicans enjoying a swim while the vultures sun themselves.
		Another of the hippos out of the water.
		A scenic shot of one of the waterfalls on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride.
		A masai giraffe making its way across the prairie.
		Another masai giraffe enjoying a walk.
		One of the Ankole-Watusi cattle enjoying a meal.
		A painted dog soaking up the sun.
		Some blue wildebeest relaxing during our ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride.
		A few more pictures of various masai giraffe out and about on the safari today...






		A couple of African elephants giving themselves a dirt bath.
		The white rhinos were out resting today as well...
		...those this fellow apparently didn't want to be seen...
		...as it walked away from us!
		We got to see a single lion out today, lazing about on the rocks.
		A warthog wandering about in its pen.
		Another white rhino walking around.
		We next headed down the Gorilla Falls Conservation Trail, where we got to see several gorillas, including the fella.
		A couple of American-white ibises relaxing by the water.
		A Grevy's zebra grazing along the trail...
		...while another ate the taller grass.
		Some more of the gorillas along the Gorilla Falls Conservation Trail...


		We spotted this peeking Stormtrooper while walking through the parking lot.

We made the drive over to the Transportation and Ticket Center to park, and we took the monorail over to Epcot from there so we only had to drive the car once. We checked the My Disney Experience app on our way to the park, and decided that we would head over to Test Track first., as the wait was reasonable.

Once we arrived at Epcot, we headed over to Test Track to get in line, only to find that the wait was now 135 minutes! No way we were waiting for that! We headed back to the World Showcase to check out the food options. Aunt Erica found something she found appetizing at the China Marketplace - the Beijing Zhajiang Noodles (with stir-fried minced beef, cucumber, chili, and carrots in a savory Douban sauce). She took it with her, as I opted to get the beer-battered fish and chips from Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom pavilion. As we ate, we were greeted with a dinner companion - an American white ibis who stood nearby waiting for food throughout our entire meal.

With the ride waits so long and the park so busy, we opted to head over to Disney's Magic Kingdom next, getting back on the monorail from the trip back to the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Once we got back to the Transportation and Ticket Center we decided to take the ferry boat over to the Magic Kingdom. Once inside the park, we debated on what we wanted to do, and settled on heading over to Adventureland to take a ride on the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride. This is one we don't do a lot when Grandma Terry is with us, so it was a good opportunity to enjoy the sights and smells of the Caribbean.

When we got off the Pirates of the Caribbean , we decided that we would head over to Tomorrowland to take a ride on TRON Lightcycle / Run. As we made our way through Fantasyland we got to catch some of the fireworks, though I am not sure if it was from the usual Happily Ever After show or not (I honestly don't believe they were, as their timing seemed far apart for that), as they were doing filming for the Christmas special tonight as well. Regardless, it was a cool sight to see the fireworks from a different perspective.

The wait for TRON Lightcycle / Run was 85 minutes, but we decided it was worth the wait, as Aunt Erica had never ridden at night. The ride was as remembered, but it was cool to see how the red lighting effects looked in the darkness.

At this point we were getting tired, and decided to head back. We hopped back on the ferry before heading to the car for the drive home. Thankfully traffic was bearable tonight, and we made good time coming back.

Until next time!

Disney's Magic Kingdom
		A couple looks at the sun peeking out from the clouds from the ferry at the Transportation and Ticket Center...

		A few scenes from our time on the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride...



		As we made our way from Adventureland to Tomorrowland, we got to see the fireworks going off over Fantasyland.
		A look at the lights over Cinderella Castle during the fireworks...

		Some views of the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy from the queue...


		Space Mountain in the background behing the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy.
		The fireworks over the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy.
		A couple shots of Space Mountain from the TRON Lightcycle / Run queue...

		Some shots of the TRON Lightcycle / Run coaster going under the canopy...


		A look at the Astro Orbiter high above Tomorrowland.
		Another look at the lights shining above Cinderella Castle.

Here are a couple of Disney PhotoPass pictures from our time at Disney's Magic Kingdom today.


		Aunt Erica and Rodney on Pirates of the Caribbean.
		Rodney (Zzzz!) and Aunt Erica...
		...on TRON Lightcycle / Run.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

A look at Pandora – The World of Avatar from the Oasis area of the park.

Kevin, from the movie Up, was making an appearance in the Oasis today.

A look at the Tree of Life as we entered the park.

After picking up my new Zootopia Better Zoogether popcorn bucket, we got to see these ring-tailed lemurs undergoing some training on Discovery Island...

Also on Discovery Island, we saw some flamingoes - this was my favorite!

We also spotted this American-white ibis doing his best flamingo interpretation.

Rodney showing off his new Zootopia Better Zoogether popcorn bucket!

We also got to see the family of Asian small-clawed otters in the Otter Grotto on Discovery Island, and this time they were very active, running about and playing with each other.

While we waited in the queue for Kilimanjaro Safaris, we got to watch this black crowned crane strut around.

Once our ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris got underway, we spotted this lone okapi standing away from the trail.

This saddle-billed stork was standing near the Kilimanjaro Safaris trailway...

...while this one was standing atop its nest.

The bongos and kudus were difficult to see today.

A few pink-backed pelicans sitting near the hippo pool.

A hippo making its way out of the water.

A couple of pink-backed pelicans enjoying a swim while the vultures sun themselves.

Another of the hippos out of the water.

A scenic shot of one of the waterfalls on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride.

A masai giraffe making its way across the prairie.

Another masai giraffe enjoying a walk.

One of the Ankole-Watusi cattle enjoying a meal.

A painted dog soaking up the sun.

Some blue wildebeest relaxing during our ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride.

A few more pictures of various masai giraffe out and about on the safari today...

A couple of African elephants giving themselves a dirt bath.

The white rhinos were out resting today as well...

...those this fellow apparently didn't want to be seen...

...as it walked away from us!

We got to see a single lion out today, lazing about on the rocks.

A warthog wandering about in its pen.

Another white rhino walking around.

We next headed down the Gorilla Falls Conservation Trail, where we got to see several gorillas, including the fella.

A couple of American-white ibises relaxing by the water.

A Grevy's zebra grazing along the trail...

...while another ate the taller grass.

Some more of the gorillas along the Gorilla Falls Conservation Trail...

We spotted this peeking Stormtrooper while walking through the parking lot.

Epcot

Rodney posing for a picture inside of Epcot.

A look at the heavy crowds as we make our way through the Germany pavilion.

An American white ibis waiting for us to drop some food as I ate my dinner from Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom pavilion.

A couple shots of Spaceship Earth as we left Epcot...

Disney's Magic Kingdom

A couple looks at the sun peeking out from the clouds from the ferry at the Transportation and Ticket Center...

A few scenes from our time on the Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride...

As we made our way from Adventureland to Tomorrowland, we got to see the fireworks going off over Fantasyland.

A look at the lights over Cinderella Castle during the fireworks...

Some views of the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy from the queue...

Space Mountain in the background behing the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy.

The fireworks over the TRON Lightcycle / Run canopy.

A couple shots of Space Mountain from the TRON Lightcycle / Run queue...

Some shots of the TRON Lightcycle / Run coaster going under the canopy...

A look at the Astro Orbiter high above Tomorrowland.

Another look at the lights shining above Cinderella Castle.

Aunt Erica and Rodney on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Rodney (Zzzz!) and Aunt Erica...

...on TRON Lightcycle / Run.