Sorry for being so tardy, folks!
Life gets in the way.....I was sick, I was better. Lost an aunt. And I was sick again. Thought I got better. Sick again (currently sounding like a cross between Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck).
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On with the show!
Made it safely to AK in rent-a-car in about 10mins!! What was I concerned about?
Only found WDW signs slightly confusing! (More about that later!)
Todays crowd levels as per TouringPlans was a 1.1 for AK! I was glad to have read that as I wanted to get several attractions in, but did not want to waste time in line ups!
At Disney its so easy to put your blinders on, to rush from ride/attraction/show to the next, but of all the parks to slow down and savour, AK is the one.
I think Disney has done an amazing job of recreating a little bit of each area/country/continent portrayed there, just like Epcot has.
And theres been a lot of effort into designing the parks to entice us to slow down & observe.....(yes, shops too, to entice us to spend, but also to look thru!).
So, while I managed several attractions, I did explore here and there!
AK has so many little eating areas tucked away! If you just look around, you can always find a shady spot to sit out of the way! At least, in late September!
... Did you know behind Tusker House, is a great eating area, shady depending on time of day? And details! Look over & down to the riverside:
...If youre sitting out Dinosaur, for example: dont wait in the sun in front.... by the entrance to Dinosaur, walk to the left, past where they exit the ride. Theres several covered benches there, and a water fountain just beyond (Not to be confused with the smoking area just beyond).
My shoulders were sore, so I didn't bring my over-the-shoulder bag with me, just a slim runningbelt..... but next thing I'm juggling water bottle, fan, sunglasses, park maps, camera etc....
why the beep did I not bring a bigger bag..
...
" yes. I then bought a Disney bellybag/fannypack. $26. One of the best $26 I spent the trip. It will never see the light of a Newfoundland Day, but yes, it sure was worth it!
Next up: close encounters on Safari!
I wanted to eat meals outside as much as possible, and my plan for AK was Pizzafari for Lunch and to sit at the Tables outside the restaurant in the shade!
" Yum Yum! No picture, no idea why not! But it was Pizzafari's Pepperoni Pizza + Salad $9.50, and Draft Bud Beer $6.00 for an early lunch. I did a walk thru of the inside, but knew where I wanted to eant my meal! At tables ringing the restaurant outside, in the shade.
With the muted music around, it was very enjoyable..
.I could easily have just sat back and chilled there for an hour or so!
BUT there were things to be done!
AK was hot! I was so glad there were such low crowds! Very little waiting for everything! Dinasaur was a walkon. I timed FOTLK & Finding Nemo so I could just walk in instead of lining up outside.
SAFARI! Did that 2x, and on my second go on Safari, I got closer to a Mama Rhino & her baby than I ever want to again! She & her little one walked right next to our bus......She was eye-ing us, and I tell you, a Rhino mama is one powerful and mean looking beast!
I wasn't brave enough to snap a picture of her until she started to move away!
In that little hut store (Mandala Gifts?) where they sell neat tshirts, purses, shoes, and jewelry,
there was this t-shirt with quite a profound quote attributed to Buddha:
But, God help me.... I couldnt help thinking I think Ill have a beer......
Instead, I tackled Kali River Rapids 2 or 3 times. Love love it!
Closing time came soon enough, and time for my 2nd drive within the US of A..... Drive out of the park, on Oceola Parkway, thinking, nothing to it, just follow the signs.....
Hmm.....oh, so when the sign says "next right"... they mean "This RIGHT TURN" not "THE RIGHT TURN AFTER THIS".... lol.
Wish I had the GPS just to show where I had gone! Let alone to keep me on the right track!
AND OMG, these are MULTIPLE MULTIPLE LANES OF TRAFFIC.....deep breath, girl, just a regular road with a few dozen extra lanes (okay, it was maybe 4 lanes wide....)
Took a exit, managed to get on familar territory (Saw Pirates Mini Golf! The one by Goodings!).
Hmm.... Well, if I'm going past DTD.....Really should pick up supper!
Yum! Earl of Sandwich! The Full Montegue & a bag of Chips $7.76
Honestly, it is one of the best deals at Disney! Always delicious and satisfying.
Hopped in the car, and was back to Pop Century before the Sandwich had a chance to cool down! No problems navigating my way back there!
Ah! Finished the last half of the beer from yesterday, a quick swim and bedtime!
Gotta say no complaints about the beds at Pop Century. Not too noisy in my part of the resort.
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Next up: Got to get a run in! And moving to Boardwalk!! woo hoo!