We started the day by dropping off Atticus at the boarding facility. He happily ran inside with a full weekend of playing ahead of him. Next, we ate breakfast, and I had a cute little latte. On the road again, we soon reached my next tourist stop on the bucket list, Animal Kingdom. Once we had our tickets and crossed the entrance, we were met with artfully laid out paths marked by large exhibits on either side—signs displayed each animal, where they originated from, and a little about their characteristics. I was already impressed and enjoying the park when I realized we were still in the entrance area. The walkway opened up into a large area of shops and fellow tourists. It was teeming with excited parkgoers like a small city. With so many things to see, I stopped to take everything in. Straight ahead stood a massive tree reaching for the sky. Walking closer, I saw the numerous animals carved into the tree and quickly pulled Jay towards it for a photo.

Next, we were off to the Pandora exhibit with lifesized landscapes from the Avatar movie. The details were amazing, and I loved the little plants in the themed gift shop. We also saw some very enticing-looking drinks and snacks nearby. There was a ride but the wait time was about the length of watching the movie, so we walked on.

After that, we took the train to a large petting zoo with various animals to see. There was also a building home to many bugs, reptiles, and spiders on display. It also hosted a surgery room where tourists could observe. We happened to catch part of a drawing class teaching about animation. Taking a short train ride back, we were famished and stopped at the Nomad Lounge. The food and drinks are incredible, and I recommend ordering the Yucca fries. As if that wasn’t enough, the lounge overlooks a scenic river. It’s a quiet reprieve from the otherwise crowded park making for a perfect spot to rest.

Now fed and rested, we headed out to see more exhibits. Next up was the safari tour of the wildlife reserve. Loaded up in a large open-air truck, we bounced along the dirt road. Along the way, we paused to see elephants, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs, and many others. Once the tour was over, we walked through the bird sanctuary. Surrounded by brightly colored birds walking alongside and flying overhead, we paused to enjoy the scenery.

After a long day of walking and exploring, we managed to see the whole park. It’s a must-see for people of all ages. The exhibits are easily accessible and mostly support dog friendly. You can bring food and water inside the park, and I recommend wearing good walking shoes.

We finished the night grabbing dinner at Epcot and enjoying the light show on the water.