A Perfect Day At Animal Kingdom and Epcot - Day 4 At Walt Disney World
It's Day 4 of our 9-day Disney vacation and this was a big one for our feet, as we traveled to Animal Kingdom and Epcot with an extra stop at Disney's Boardwalk for a special treat.
It’s day four of our Walt Disney World trip, and we’re hitting up two parks.
Let’s get into it.
Hey everybody, welcome to the channel! I am Joe, and today we are talking about a big day with a lot of movement between two parks—so big, in fact, we’re giving this one a title:
“37,000 Steps.”
And no, the thumbnail is not clickbait. Stick around—you’ll see.
Starting at Animal Kingdom
We took the bus from Pop Century to Disney’s Animal Kingdom and stopped to check out the Christmas tree before making a beeline to Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Avatar Flight of Passage
We kicked things off with Flight of Passage.
It’s honestly one of the most amazing queues out there. The buildup, the atmosphere, and the experience of “flying” on the back of a banshee—it’s just incredible.
Na’vi River Journey
Next up was Na’vi River Journey with a minimal wait time. A calm, beautiful ride that balances out the intensity of Flight of Passage nicely.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Getting those rides done early let us head over to Kilimanjaro Safaris before the heat kicked in—plus, we scored a low wait time.
Always a highlight.
Exploration Trail
After the safari, we took a walk along the exploration trail to spot animals we missed earlier—including some adorable meerkats (very Timon energy) and gorillas out in full force.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch & The Goats
We hopped on the train to Rafiki’s Planet Watch for what might have been the most anticipated activity of the day for the kids—especially Abby:
The goats.
And yes, they lived up to expectations.
But goats weren’t the only animals we met. We also got to interact with a snake named Noodles, who has been at Animal Kingdom for 17 years. Super interesting experience—and a cool learning moment.
Lunch at Satu’li Canteen
After all that, we were definitely hungry—so we headed back to Pandora for lunch at Satu’li Canteen.
What We Ordered:
Chimichurri Beef & Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl (me)
Absolutely fantastic. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, perfectly seasoned, and not overpowering. The chicken had great char, slightly drier than the beef but still solid. The charred green onion dressing tied everything together beautifully. Huge portion and perfect for refueling.Ocean Moon Bowl (Carrie)
Super colorful and fresh—tuna, blue noodles, edamame, mango pearls, and more. She loved it.Beach Blonde Ale (Carrie)
Light, citrusy, refreshing. Not the green drink she wanted—but still a win.Kids Quesadilla (Rhys)
Solid choice—but the veggie chips had a bit of spice, so maybe skip those if you’re sensitive.Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl (Abby)
She loved it overall, though she wasn’t a fan of the sour boba pearls (which Rhys happily took off her hands).
Overall, a fantastic meal across the board.
Expedition Everest (and No Evidence)
After lunch, we headed to Expedition Everest.
Now, I do get motion sickness—especially on backwards rides—and I had just eaten a massive meal… so I was a little nervous.
Here’s the weird part:
I have no footage from this entire experience.
None. Zero.
Maybe I was just focused on not throwing up in front of strangers. Who knows.
Good news: I survived. Meds worked. Nobody had to clean anything up. Win-win.
Saying Goodbye to Dinosaur
Next, we headed to Dinoland U.S.A. to say goodbye to Dinosaur.
This is where I shared a bit of my perspective on Disney closing attractions:
I get why people are sad—nostalgia matters. But at the end of the day, Walt Disney World is for today’s kids. And while we may love these classic rides, they don’t always resonate the same way with the next generation.
That doesn’t mean I always agree with what replaces them—but I understand the need for change.
Kali River Rapids (How Wet Did We Get?)
We had a Lightning Lane for Kali River Rapids (though we didn’t really need it—only about a 5-minute wait).
The real question: how wet would we get?
Answer:
I got soaked… but only on my right side.
The seat next to me (which would’ve been Abby’s) was empty—she opted out.
Smart move.
One More Flight of Passage
Before leaving Animal Kingdom, we got lucky—Flight of Passage had a shorter wait again, so we squeezed in one more ride.
No complaints there.
Heading to EPCOT
We grabbed a bus to EPCOT for dinner, but made a quick stop along the way to check out the gingerbread Spaceship Earth.
Beautifully made.
And… don’t ask me how I know… but it tasted okay.
BoardWalk Snack Stop: Giant Mozzarella Stick
Before dinner, we detoured to the BoardWalk to try the famous giant mozzarella stick.
Verdict:
Huge. Definitely shareable.
A bit heavy on seasoning (oregano/thyme), but still tasty
Marinara sauce was surprisingly good
Messy? Yes. Worth it? Also yes.
Dinner at San Angel Inn (Mexico Pavilion)
We headed back into EPCOT and made our way to the Mexico Pavilion for dinner at San Angel Inn.
It was too loud to film a full review inside, but here’s the breakdown:
What We Ate:
Carrie:
Classic margarita (loved it)
Pork with mole negro (great flavor, skipped the plantains)Me:
Fish tacos with cabbage, lime aioli, and pineapple relish
Super light and flavorful—just removed a bit of the aioliRhys:
Kids quesadilla (again—living his best life)Abby:
Chicken Caesar salad (not very “Mexico,” but she wasn’t super hungry)
Dessert:
Brownie sundae (rich… maybe too rich for that day)
Flan (shared and enjoyed as much as possible)
Wrapping Up the Day
After dinner, we made the long walk back to the International Gateway and took the Skyliner to Pop Century.
And then we checked the step count:
37,745 steps.
No wonder our feet were done.
It was an incredibly active day—and not even our last 30,000+ step day of the trip.
Final Thoughts
We covered two parks, rode some of the best attractions, ate amazing food, and made some unforgettable memories.
Needless to say, we were very ready to put our feet up by the end of it—but also ready for a huge day five.
Let me know in the comments:
What’s the most steps you’ve ever taken in a single day—and why?
Or just drop your favorite emoji—it all helps!
And as always…
If you can’t see the magic, make it magical.
