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One last day in Animal Kingdom. We arrived early afternoon. I wish I had brought the regular camera. This is one of those times when a real telephoto would have made better pictures. On our walk around the animal enclosures, we were able to see the Baby Gorilla, Grace, with Mom and Dad. The younger boys(five year olds) were causing trouble as always but mostly for each other. If you look carefully, you will see baby Grace sleeping in her mother's arms. We also were able to watch the Tigers, Water Buffalo, Kangaroos, and take another Safari. We also saw Kevin. We are tired and headed back to the RV.
12.3k steps - 6.08 miles
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First, lunch at Skipper's Cantina was great! By Magic Kingdom standards, it is brand new. The area was renovated into a restaurant just 4 years ago.    Next a few rides: A Small world and Haunted Mansion then we watched the parade which is always fun. We checked and it was a good time to go ride Big Thunder Mountain before the crowds got to the ride from the parade. We finally got Dole Whip. Yes, we have been to the MK many times and never have had it. Usually the lines are so long, it needs a standby sign.  Off to the Laugh Floor. It was great. We love the crowd interaction. The train is at Fantasyland Station so we decided to see it up close. It's not going anywhere because the new Tron ride is not ready to allow passengers to pass the construction. Rain drove us out of the park.
12.9k steps - 6.28 miles
We had a late start but made the best of the day.
First, a fancy Frozen French Martini with Grey Goose, Vodka, Chambord Liqueur, Pineapple, Orange and Grape Juice with Lemon-Lime Foam. Shawna liked it. 
After a walk around Epcot, we took the Skyliner over to Hollywood Studios to go on Smuggler's Run. We were chosen to be pilots and decided to pass those off to two children in the family flying with us. The family had a great time though they only spoke broken english.
The stores in Star Wars are even interesting. In this one, there is an animatronic along with some really great displays.
Later, we were walking around and came upon "The incredibles".
Oga's Cantina was great! We loved it, even the drinks were impressive.
The sun set before we left the cantina. After dark, the park is lighted in a way that is even more impressive than in the daytime.
Left Hollywood Studios on the Skyliner for Epcot. We had not seen the fireworks show at Epcot yet. The current show is a replacement for the original show we loved. We were so disappointed in the new show. It is awful! Ok not awful for a 4th of July fireworks show by a local community but for something at a Disney park, it was very disappointing. I can only hope the new show called Harmonious will be much better.
17.4k steps - 8.67 miles I had a lot of sinus pressure today. We decided to stay home and give me time to recover. Maybe I will feel better tomorrow.
 We met with a few 1,000 of our closest friends to stand outside of Hollywood Studios at 6am waiting to go in for a ride. Even though we have done this a couple of times it still seems a bit crazy to arrive at the park this early just to get on a ride. We don't even get to ride immediately but instead just get in a list to ride later in the day.  After getting our boarding pass, we decided to get a nice breakfast. Our choice was the Ale and Compass restaurant in the Yacht club near Epcot and the Boardwalk. The food was really nice and not more expensive than in park food.
We took a walk around the Boardwalk back to Epcot. After riding Sorin and relaxing in Epcot, we headed back to Hollywood Studios for the ride. Rise of the Resistance is the most impressive ride at WDW. If this is the scale of new rides coming in the future, Disney will continue to do really well. 14.6k steps - 7.27 miles
Today we go back to Animal Kingdom. Shawna had grabbed a fastpass for the roller coaster Everest.
The fastpass was later in the day so we did something new. We went to a lesson/demonstration of animation. A Disney animator walked us through drawing a single frame of animation. It was a lot of fun. So this is what pages looked like when we started, we had a bit of rain so a few drops got on my page. 
Our instructor was patient and good at describing each step in the drawing.
Okay, we don't claim any artistic talent but these turned out better than we expected.
We still were dealing with a light sprinkle of rain so we decided to go on a safari. The trucks have cover, it was very close by when we left the drawing class, and the stand by wait line was under a covered area. Several animals were being shy but some were completely unaffected by the rain. Who knew that wild animals were used to being rained on?!
Well, it's time to ride a rollercoaster. We are all buttoned up because a little rain is still falling. It may be a damp ride.
That was exciting.
The Bird Show again. 
We ended the day at Pandora. The area is very interesting after dark.
10.9k steps - 5.43 miles
We started the day at 34 degrees and then before noon it was misting/sprinkling rain. That is not really good weather for visiting the parks so we decided to take a break and stay home. Even in the afternoon, it only got into the low 50's. So maybe tomorrow, we will visit a park.
1.5k steps - .76 miles
Today we go back to Epcot for more "Artsy" foods. There are so many interesting choices.
First, we stopped off to see the Living Statues.
The food we found in China was very interesting. Spicy Beef Shumai - Char Siu Pork Bun and to drink a Sea Butterfly described as Butterfly Pea Flower infused Cocktail with Lychee Syrup, Vodka, Light Rum, and Magic Boba Pearls.
Next we stopped by the Germany booth and had Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with Parsnip Purée, Broccolini, Baby Tomatoes, and Aged Balsamic and the second dish was
Seared Corvina with Braised Ratatouille and Lemon-Thyme Beurre Blanc. Both were very good. 
We did break with our diet but not much because what we ate today was keto friendly. We actually had a dessert. Moelleux Aux Chocolats Valrhona (Molten Chocolate Cake with Pure Origin Valrhona Chocolates) and in the martini glass a Rossini (Prosecco Mousse with Strawberry Sauce)
While we were looking in the shops in England "Alice" came in and she stayed in character the entire time.
We finished the day listening to British Revolution. It was getting cold and decided to return to the RV.
11.3k steps - 5.54 miles 
One of our favorite things about visiting the parks in January other than the small crowds is the Festival of the Arts at Epcot. As part of the Festival, there are art booths throughout the World Showcase. There are also special food booths selling "artsy" food.
First we stopped at the Refreshment Port near Canada we got Lobster Chips (House-made Chips, Lobster, Lobster Bisque Cheese Sauce, Pickled Jalapeños, and Citrus Cream) and Beef Brisket Poutine (French Fries with Beef Brisket, Beer Cheese Sauce, and Poutine Gravy topped with Crispy Onions) Then we had what you see in the second picture. It was Smoked Verlasso Salmon and Cream Gâteau with Egg Yolk Cream, Paddlefish Caviar, and Micro-Herbs on the Palette a Charcuterie Palette with Artisan Cured Meats and Cheeses featuring Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Beef. 
Later in a Mexico booth and included Sopes de Barbacoa (Braised Barbacoa Beef served on Fried Guajillo Corn Shell with Black Beans, Cotija Cheese, Mexican Cream, and Chives) and Agave Pork Belly (Pork Belly caramelized with Agave atop Pumpkin Seed Pesto Lentil Salad). I was not very impressed. Shawna liked the Diego Blackberry Margarita (100% Agave Tequila, Blackberry Purée, Fresh Jalapeño-Lime Juice served with Black Ant Salt Rim).
Living statues. When people would walk up for pictures, they would move sometimes in very funny ways. Otherwise, they were still for extended periods of time.
Each year there are chalk sidewalk drawings around the park.
As part of the festival some of the countries have bands playing music. The one at England was a rock band playing variety of music from British bands.
11.3k steps - 5.57 miles
It was a sad day because we had to say goodbye to everyone. Loved watching the grandchildren see new things a Disney World. We had a wonderful time with everyone. It was exhausting but a lot of fun.
Now for a couple of days of recovery before returning to the parks as a couple. 11.2k steps - 5.6 miles |
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