WARNING: I tend to write novels when a synopsis would do....

Day 5: Monday, April 30, 2018 -- AK & EPCOT

Cast of Characters: Me, myself and I -- 56 year old kid!!


My original plan was to do AK & DHS today, to get teh Star Wars Galactic Spectacular in, but since I was able to see this on my first night, and I missed my planned EPCOT night with those calf cramps, I changed it up just to make sure I got a showing of Illuminations in. Best laid plans, right? But that is the nice thing about a WDW solo trip, all plans are written in sand and the tide is always coming in.

Yes, I was just at AK last night, but I HAD to get another ride on the back of a banshee (ikran) in before my trip ended. Started my day by taking a nice safari ride to once again visit the African savannah to see the animals in their (simulated) natural habitat. Love the morning safaris because so many of the animals are out and about getting their breakfast. Once again, no okapi or Tommies to be found, but there were plenty of up close and personal opportunites with the fauna. This morning the baby hippo was in the water swimming beside his (her? I never did find out if the baby was male or female. My bad!) mother.

For once, I was actually able to secure FP+ options in a 'straight line' pattern and 'back-to-back-to-back' windows.

Next up was Festival of the Lion King. This show has been around since my first visit (2003) and is showing its age a bit, but it is still enjoyable and a nice break from the Florida sun. Not sure what they could or would replace this with, in this area, but they could update some of the segments. Change it up a bit just to have more reason for revisiting. Again, I still enjoy this show, but it is a once every two or three visit stop.

Time to continue my journey to a strange land far away...The 'back entrance' to Pandora is a really nice walk and is rarely heavily traveled. Do people not know it is there? In any event, it is nice for me. Still had a little time to kill before I could get in line for my FP+, so I grabbed a coffee and a lumpia and relaxed a bit. If you like pineapple and cream cheese, you really need to at least TRY one of these delicious treats!!!! My mouth is watering right now just thinking about it!!! LOL

Once again, stand-by queue was over 120 minutes, but with my FP+ I walked right on. (NOTE: I have no idea why, but my luck has been to be on spot 16 all 4 times I have been on this ride. Guess it is just the 'single rider' aspect of it.) Either they have tightened up the seats on this, or I have expanded a bit since my November trip, but the back restraint has been a bit harder to lock in this trip. Guess I need to work on the old mid-section!!! Once locked and loaded, we were ready to be linked with our ikran and fly the (sometimes not so) friendly skies of Pandora. On my first ride, I did not get any of the 4D effects, but on this ride, there were points where we were flying over water and misty areas, I felt a slight mist and got brief wisps of smells. (Of course, that could all have been in my head, as immersive as this ride can be!) Riding with people who had not yet been on this before is always fun. To see and hear their reactions and talk with them after the ride is hilarious. Often wide-eyed and incredulous, they just can't get over what they had just done. I remember being the same way after my first ride.

Decided to go back to the room after this to relax and get ready to walk miles around World Showcase in the evening....

One more evening around EPCOT...Figured I'd get a ride on Spaceship Earth to reminisce about the history of communication. Some glaring errors in the narration, that have always been there, but the storyline is good and the ride itself is enjoyable. Still wish they would do something with that ending. LOL

Kept missing all the meet and greets around World Showcase. Either I just missed them or the lines were already closed. Oh well, gives me something to come back for. So, instead I did a munchie run around the world with a few adult beverages along the way. No, I did not overdo it!! Hahahaaa It was a bit more comfortable for walking, so I made sure to hit what I could and not get burnt out before Illuminations. About half an hour before Illuminations started I found my spot beside the slushy kiosk in France and got a table and chair to relax at. This may still be my favorite nighttime show. Great music, good firework display and the Earth Globe to boot. My seating area isn't the best for viewing the globe, but I can still see everything going on with it.

After "We Go On" I let some of the crowd exit before starting to make my way out of the park. It is nice to be able to sit and watch the mass exodus without getting caught up in it. It is nice to take that long walk back to the bus queues with the World Showcase nearly empty.