Deserted Disney Date Day!

Ok, maybe not deserted- but pretty empty, but Disney standards. If you know anything about Disney, you might know that low crowd days have been a thing of the past. But the last two weeks, the parks have been pretty empty. I'd read about it, and checked wait times on the app (Unlike other parks you don't have to be IN Disney to see how long wait times are). There's likely lots of reasons for such low crowds. It's September now- so not only are Floridians back in school, most everywhere else is too. There's also the fact that now the Delta variant isn't just ravaging Florida- but it's getting worse other places too. Don't forget masks are still required indoors- I think that turns people off. And Disney just isn't as magical right now- it's not just the face masks. It's having to worry about the people around you, and following all procautions- and honestly, the cast members just aren't as magical either. It's not a big deal, but like every other group of cast members we ran into were talking about scheduling, or breaks, or staffing. That's not normally stuff you hear at Disney. In fact, when we went to get a mobile order, nobody was paying attention, and there were like five cast members crowding the doorway, talking about who would get to go home because it was so slow... and we couldn't get in. Again, not a huge deal. But, so, SO weird for Disney. (I don't mind this as much, but little things like this would annoy me if I had paid a bunch for a trip and I wasn't getting the usual Disney treatment I was used to). 

 There's also the fact that all kinds of stuff is happening starting October 1 for the 50th anniversary, so people might be holding off their trips until then. Plus, annual pass sales have still not resumed, though they're scheduled to start selling them again on September 8. So basically all of this makes the perfect storm for light crowds. I've been watching, and told Asa we should try to go again before Labor Day weekend ticks up crowds and annual pass sales begin again, so after his office hours on Thursday (Thursday and Friday he only has office hours till noon), we headed out. 

We were just at Epcot and Magic Kingdom a week ago, and we'd heard Animal Kingdom was just absolutely deserted, so we decided to head there. 

And look, new banners for the 50th! 

We parked and started the trek toward the gates. Trams still aren't running in the parking lots, and I'm firmly convinced this is not as much a covid precaution (like it started out) as a staffing issue. I mean, if you can pack an enclosed boat for a 15 minute boat ride, you can certainly put people on a tram outdoors for a couple minutes. I think they're probably just lacking people to run them.  Fun fact: there are billboards along I-4 advertising Disney jobs complete with a $1000 signing bonus (this is also very weird). 

The tram issue sucks when it's crowded. That can be a long- and hot- walk. A ten minute walk on pavement with no shade and the Florida sun beating down on you, in 100 degree heat- just to get to park- is enough to turn off lots of locals. 

I don't mind it so much, and while we were toward the back of the parking lot at the Animal Kingdom- they were only filling the right side- which means you could walk along the shaded sidewalk on the edge of the parking lot. Not too bad. 

And when we got up to the security area, we were greeted with a good sign for low waits... Nobody was there! (For all my complaints about how Disney has changed during Covid, there are some good things: mobile order for food is where it's at! And, the new security checks where you simply walk through metal detectors with everything in your bag, instead o living up to have security cast members dig through everyone's bag- is a solid improvement!) 

No line for the photo opportunity either. 

After a quick stop at the bathroom (still the worst place for compliance on the indoor mask mandate), we were through the gates in no time. We did have to scan our fingerprints again though, and I did not miss that! 

I was worried since we arrived about 1:30, the animals would all be napping in the summer afternoon heat. But, we were pleasantly surprised to see some of them out and about. (While it was still hot, we were lucky with some cloud cover and a few passing showers). 

First up, we made our way over to a usually busy Pandora. In fact, this is probably the least crowded I've ever seen the bridge over to Pandora. Crazy (and a pretty view- I love this bridge).  

While there were some people walking around, it was really empty by Pandora standards- always the busiest place in the park. 

No wait for the Pineapple Lumpia! 

We decided for lunch we would finally try out Satuli Canteen. They have make your own bowls that everyone raves about. Usually the place is packed, and even if you can get a time not too far out on mobile order, it's hard to nab a table. But, not today! So, we ordered the combination bowl with chicken and beef, noodles for our side, and creamy herb dressing for our sauce.  I cannot believe it took us this long to ever eat here. It's been open since 2017, and we've just never eaten here, despite it being on my bucket list. It's going to be a new Animal Kingdom staple. Sorry Flame Tree Barbecue, I have a new favorite. 

After lunch, a quick check of the wait times proved we had in fact picked a very, very good day for Disney. 

Flight of Passage, the marquee ride of Pandora- was just a 15 minute wait. If you don't know Disney, you don't know how crazy this is. But, if you can ever find this under an hour, you're one lucky person. Also, I learned the wait time here will never drop below 10 minutes- because that's about how long it takes to make your way through the cue line. 

Asa and I realized while walking along the very long cue, we never actually have been in the normal line for Flight of Passage. We've only ever had a Fastpass for it. (And we've only ever been on it like three or four times). 

Look how empty! 

Despite the 15 minute wait, we basically walked right now. We got held behind three couples in this room as they divided us up into hallways... 

But those hallways were also empty. We walked right into the room for the pre-show!

As always, Asa loved the ride and I had to keep my eyes closed through 75% of it so I didn't get motion sick. I didn't love that they kept in the preshow. But, we were only in the room with about 8 other people, all masked, so it wasn't a big deal. Still, when they asked us all if we wanted to ride again without going through the line again (becuase it was that slow!), we passed. I felt like I had spent enough time with those people and was ready to get back outside. 

Besides, there was another ride I had my eye on: Kilimanjaro Safaris!

I haven't ridden on a Kilimanjaro Jeep since before Covid, and it's one of my favorites in all of Disney. That too was walk on (with a posted wait time of 5 minutes).  They were only sitting one group per row, but we did ask if we could have the back seat (just so I didn't feel like anyone was breathing right behind me for 20 minutes), and they obliged. Plus, I love the backseat on this ride- you get some good views! 

And your self taken pictures don't have people in the background. Just the savannah. 

We saw a couple of Okapis (some of my favorites! They look like giraffes, zebras and horses all rolled into one). 

And we spotted a baby hippo- you can kind of make him out there in the water next to the big one. The baby came up for air, but it was just a split second (so no pictures). Still, super cute. 

Out on the Savannah, we saw lots of animals we spotted from our hotel room at Kidani during my birthday. 

But we also saw some that Hayden and I have seen on the Behind the Scenes Animal Kingdom show on Disney Plus: like Dash, the zebra!

We spotted a tower of giraffes. 

And a couple of elephants. 

Of course there's the flamboyance of flamingos! 

And a crash of rhinos! 

But newly added, and a little weird is the outpost, complete with goats. 

I was surprised how good the animal watching was, because usually mid-day you get alot of sleepy animals hiding in the shade, but there were a lot of animals out today. They must have known it was my first time back on the ride in a year and a half. 

After our safari, we took the Gorilla Falls trail to see some more animals. 

We went through the bird house, saw some more zebras, gorillas, and merekats. 

I was so hot at that point, a Dole Whip was calling my name. I've had the opportunity to get these a couple times in the past year that I've been back at Disney, but it was never what I was feeling. Today it was, and it was better than I remembered. 

I also took note of some of the last remaining Fastpass Plus signs in Disney. For the record, I hate that Fastpass is gone, and it'll be replaced with a stupid paid "Lightning Lane". BLAH. 

We debated taking the train back to Rafiki's Planet Watch, but the weather was starting to turn... 

...and Asa really wanted to hit up Expedition Everest. It was only a five minute wait, as long as we could get him there before the rain kicked in. 

And we made it just in time! The downpour started just when he got off the ride. Luckily, I packed my water shoes. 

The rain left just as fast as it showed up though, so we were good to go on Triceratops Spin. 

With no wait! 

And then we made our way over to Dinosuar... the area was a virtual ghost town. 

Practically walk on here too. (And they're still giving parties their own row, so you don't have to sit by any strangers). 

In just a few short hours, we had done everything we wanted to do in the Animal Kingdom, and we were ready to head out. 

On a normal day, we might have just headed home. But, we checked wait times around Disney, and they were shockingly low everywhere, so we headed over to Hollywood Studios. We were even directed to park in the very first row! 

Our tummies were a little grumbly by then though, so we made a beeline for Baseline Tap House to get ourselves a charcuterie board, and a giant pretzel. 

We hadn't seen the Mickey & Minnie Vacation Fun, which was just a clip show of all those fun Mickey cartoons they show in the hotel room (and apparently Disney Plus, but that's just not the same). 

Oh, and there is a Potatoland Photo Op at the end. If you know, you know. 

Then we headed over to Muppet Vision 4-D, 

I was super excited to watch this, but we hit the theater at a weird time, and after 10 minutes being crammed in with everyone, we bailed. (WHY are Disney employees continually shouting 'fill in all available space, when there's tons of room to social distance? And, if that's the case, then why are there still signs - in the parking lot and entrances of all places- telling you to maintain six feet of social distancing? Ugh.) 

 We'll get around to it sometime. 

We decided to head over to Galaxy's Edge in stead. By now it was after six, and we were walking past Rise of the Resistance and I thought, I wonder if any boarding passes are available. If you don't know, to ride the newest ride (it opened just before Covid), you have to get a boarding pass. They release a group of them at 7am, and one at 1pm. Usually they're gone within minutes- if not seconds. But here I was, five hours after the second group opened up, and I had no probably getting a boarding pass. And, my pass was only 45 minutes out. 

While we waited, we headed over to Ronto Roasters to get a Ronto Wrap. Turns out though, Ronto Roasters closes at 3. 

Luckily you can mobile order a Ronto Wrap next door at Docking Bay 7 after 3. So we headed on over. Of course, the Ronto Wrap was delicious as always. And we had no trouble finding out door seating in the deserted patio of Docking Bay 7. 

The area by the Millennium Falcon was also very quiet. It's usually one of the most crowded places in all of Disney. While there were people coming and going from the ride (the wait was just 10 minutes!!!), and a line of people trying to get pictures from the Disney Photo Pass Cast Member, there was virtually nobody just hanging around. 

So we got to snap some very unique pictures with nearly nobody around! 

Over in the market place, there were a few more people. But still, this is pretty empty as far as Galaxy's Edge goes. I am glad that this isn't all roped off like it was a few months ago. A bunch of entrances and exits were blocked off and you had to wait to even walk through here. 

It wasn't long before our boarding pass time was up (it didn't even take the full 45 minutes it said it would!) 

So a year and half after it opened, we were FINALLY going on Rise of the Resistance for the FIRST TIME! 

I don't want to spoil anything, but this ride is kind of amazing. It's like Disney's answer to Escape from Gringotts. And, it's even better. 

With the boarding groups, your wait is minimal (not nothing, but not terribly long), still the ride itself is nearly 20 minutes!! So, by the time we were out of the ride the sun was starting to set, and Galaxy's Edge was even more deserted. 

Just, so bazaar. 

We made our way over to Toy Story Land and the waits were all walk on, except for Slinky Dog Dash. Though, to be fair 25 minutes is like the shortest I'd ever seen this wait. 

We opted for a walk on spin on Alien Swirling Saucers (this one is so fun!) 

And then we placed a mobile pick up order for Woody's Lunchbox. Last time we tried to get ourselves a lunch box tart, the wait was FOUR HOURS away. But, this time we placed the order on alien swirling saucers, and it was waiting for us by the time we walked over. 

And then decisions had to be made. We contemplated Slinky Dog Dash, but a storm was brewing, and we were afraid it would shut down before we made it to the front of the line (even as short as it was). So we decided to hit up a nearly empty Toy Story Mania line. 

And of course, Asa killed me. 

And it was the right decision, by the time we came out, it was pouring down rain. Time to bring out the rain jackets again! 

On our way out of the park we stopped by to pick up a carrot cake cookie to take home. One good thing that came from covid: I realized the joy of bringing home Disney food with me! 

So that's it from our Deserted Disney Date Day. 

And since this the first blog of September on here, I figured I should note Peyton passed another class, just one month into his term (after a late start thanks to his program change & then my birthday). So, we had Taco Bell to celebrate. Nice job, Peyton. Introduction to IT is all done, on to the next! 

Oh, and despite not being a baker, I did make some soft pretzels from scratch- and they weren't half bad! 

That's it from here. Calib's off all weekend, and Asa gets his bonus day off for labor day, so we'll be hanging out, drinking, watching football, and playing games. Not a bad weekend!