Thursday (yesterday) AK Report:
Summary: a nice day, good weather, only two long lines, and saw everything by 3:30pm. It seems that Thursday is a good day to visit Animal Kingdom.
Total miles walked according to my phone: 10.5
Checked out of the Polynesian at 8:25 and drove to the AK Parking Lot gates. They were holding all cars at the parking entrance. We started to move at around 8:40. There was then another traffic jam just getting to a parking spot. They seemed to have only 2 guys working in the lot! I was parked on the far, far side of the lot with a long hike to the entrance. Parked, past security and temp check and in the gate by 9:05.
I had a touring plan from you know who in hand, but immediately tossed it because I wanted to see the FOP ride but the line stretched all the way to Harambe Theatre, at just after 9:00. So I continued on to the Safari, which did have a delay but when it ran it was good. Many animals were out, and the male lion was roaring. I then made a big backtrack, picking up coffee and a cheese Danish at Creature Comforts and went to ride Dinosaur. No wait, and for some reason I really like that ride. There was a Goofy/Chip/Dale boat going past as I crossed to Asia. Next I went to Everest. No wait, but I never need to ride it again. My bag somehow came flying out of the train storage pocket and I rode half the ride trying to keep my gear from exiting the train car.
Next stop was Kali River Rapids. There was a delay for raft cleaning, but I was done and soaked (!) by about 10:40. I then did the Asian Jungle Trek followed by the African Trail, and placed a mobile lunch order for just after noon for Flame Tree. This involved another big backtrack to the far side of Discovery Island. Lunch was ribs and onion rings. It was enough for two people. Plenty of seating at the tables behind Flame Tree. I did not try for a river view.
Next was It's Tough to be a Bug! On the way over I observed a
YouTube vlogger taping his evaluation of a Disney cupcake. I thought about photobombing him, but didn't. The Bug attraction also had a longer wait that I would have expected, I think it was another cleaning cycle.
Now finally time to see FOP. It was down to a 35 minute wait, and that's about what it took. It's an excellent ride! Last on the list was the Navi River ride. It listed a 40 minute wait, and it was a long line, half of it in the sun. This ride didn't wow me, but I rewarded myself for standing in the sun so long with an ice cream sundae from Dino Bites snack bar. Then it was time to head to the parking lot, and the airport.
The airport is very quiet, no TSA line at all, and my flight home had 30 passengers.