Some last updates from last week. First, I'd super agree with this
couple of days.
- CM's for the most part were pretty awesome. We ran into a couple that didn't have that magic, but almost all others were great. We got sprinkled with some pixie dust a couple of times.
- The construction walls in Future World at Epcot are a pain in the butt to get around. It started to become frustrating to get one side of future world to the other. After a while we all just said forget Future World and stay in World Showcase.
My own experience with mobile ordering was that it was fine but felt a little obnoxious as an added step (there were times where I just wanted something like a quick dessert (I'm thinking a pop-tart from Woody's) and I couldn't get in because the windows were 20 minutes away. Everything was empty in TSL and I didn't want to wait for 20 min when I wanted to go see WWoA. Anyway - minor inconvenience truly.
9/24 - Given the day before and my plan to (a) go to DAK, which I knew was a lot more space to cover and somewhat hilly and (b) go to MK for Boo Bash, I knew I needed an ECV. I also was trying to buy 2 tickets for friends to join me at Boo Bash. Initially got a ride share to AK and they told me (after picking me up, despite my submitted destination of DAK) that they wouldn’t be able to get me there. They took me back and I got on a bus and was the first person at DAK (I speed-walked but was glad to see it was just me). Once it was time to get in (about 7:45), got the tickets and then the ECV. Went to FoP and was there pretty early (though the other people at RD got there first since I had those two - relatively short - stops). FoP was cool. Not sure I’ll pay if/when it’s a IA$. Did EE a few times in a row (didn’t bother with Single Rider because the wait was so short). Had breakfast at RFC to make use of Landry’s Select Club Rewards (breakfast was disappointing - wish I hadn’t done it). Had a later ADR for Yak & Yeti (also because of Rewards as I had my welcome and birthday to use) - it made sense originally as a meal to tide me over so I could do MK/Boo Bash commando-style. But I was getting exhausted and couldn’t hold up at AK. Left around 2; went back to AKL and napped. Met up with friends and we made it to MK around 7. Boo Bash was okay - really glad to see HEA.
9/25 - My SW flights were changed a lot (by them, and me). Eventually left on a 7p flight (wanted some extra time since I didn’t come in on Tuesday like I planned). Enjoyed a great breakfast at Boma (couldn’t get an ADR - did walk-up). Briefly lost my phone (set it down on the bench waiting for a bus to Disney Springs - realized it about 2 minutes after bus departed). Made it to DS - honestly, it wasn’t really worth it. The merchandise is so limited across WDW; I hate the lack of unique things in places (and while I heard people talk about it - it was disappointingly true). There were some unique things in places but so much of it was homogenized and found in every park/resort shop I tried. Went back to AKL and planned to do the pool but was feeling tired and unsure of whether I wanted to do that sort of thing with Covid/no masks. For what it’s worth, I wore my mask outside 90-95% of the time (there were brief moments where the heat/humidity bothered me and I would lower it). I tried some social distancing - it wasn’t great but I was willing to lose out on prime spots, etc to try to keep some space (I feel moderately concerned about covid still mostly as I have two kids unable to be vaccinated). DME back to MCO was fine. Did a rapid test at MCO to get a prelim view and then a follow-up this week back home (given kiddos who share two homes and an upcoming event where we wouldn’t have wanted them to spread anything).
I got a lot done, even with not being at the parks open-close. OTOH, I traveled by myself for the most part and so meals, etc go a lot faster. It was a good trip and I learned a ton for my upcoming trip as a single parent with two young-ish kids (9 and 5); and thank god. If I had brought them on this trip as originally planned, it could’ve been a bust. I was sad to miss out on some of the 50th stuff that I hoped might be soft launched (but totally get why it wasn’t and I didn’t feel entitled to any of it). And, I think that my next trip will totally suffice as the last for a while.
One thing that really bothered me, and seems so trivial (but also telling, given a lot of feedback about Disney’s reputation, etc these days), that I thought I’d share. Upon arrival, DME had a couple of stops before AKL. We left one place (near the firehouse, I forget which now) and on the corner was an advertisement for DVC - it’s a large sculpture/billboard with Goofy driving and some other characters in the back - maybe you’ve seen it. It looks
terrible. Like, godawful. Things of that quality would not have been allowed to be in plays/musicals performed in my HS. And I just thought - if you’re willing to let something like that go for so long without touch-ups or anything, it just sort of speaks to a resignation/giving up. And it’s super not important; but I also felt like I saw that sort of thing lots of places. The way Primieval Whirl is partially blocked off but you can see part of it (and it looks terrible). The tarp over RnRC. The walls all around Epcot. I trust that good things are coming; but, not having been to WDW in 6 years, it really felt run down (not far from how the local amusement park, Holiday World, feels). And I get all of the reasons behind it. It’s fine - and it’s telling. (This is the billboard, at least in its original state:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/any-news-on-that-billboard.1149925/)
