Trip Report Disney (almost) on Ice!

Jambo my fellow Disney fans!

It’s been two years since our last adventure to Disney World. https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/all-together-now-completed.982859/

Much has changed. Like many other trip reporters our children have graduated from college and we have to coordinate four adult schedules. Adding to this both our children live in different states down south so the logistics of this trip were pretty involved.

We’re still rather private so our children will continue to go by Chip and Dale and I’ll use the same PhotoPass photo Disney has been including since before Covid.

So when our schedules pointed to early February I was very happy to attend a major EPCOT festival (even if some of the foliage had to be covered due to the cold weather).

And why Animal Kingdom? It’s been on our bucket list and life is short.

Our adventures will be forthcoming! Glad to have the opportunity to write another trip report!

Next Up - Why am I, a Buffalo, NYer, buying a winter coat for a vacation in Orlando, Fl??

 

[Tiki Traveler]

AKL is one resort I haven't stayed at, and can see myself really enjoying it! Great photos!

Thank You! I liked AKL more than I expected.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

We stopped at our room to drop off our bags. Chip decided to stay and relax while the rest of us continued to explore the lodge.

The view from the external staircase outside our room. The sun had come out but it was still cold and windy especially in the shade.

The lifeguard I asked reported that the water was 82 degrees F. I was sorely tempted to take a swim but the thought of getting in and out in the cold, windy air held me back.

Dear Disney,
Since the weather during our trip was not conducive to enjoying this wonderful pool could we get a rain check?

DH and Chip played ping pong by the side of the pool while I continued taking photographs.

Our room was the light green balcony in the second left column of rooms.

DH went back to the room and Chip and I explored the savanahs. There were a lot of CMs available to speak on various topics and answer questions.

Chip went back to the room. I found the small library right past the lobby desk and wrote out postcards and a birthday card. I hoped the birthday card would have the Disney World postmark.

Chip and Dale played more ping pong and then joined me in the library. We watched the animals and chatted casually. Now that they are out of the nest times like that are so special.

Even the mail box was amazing.

There was a special table set up by the library for cheerleading check ins. Although from Thursday on there would be cheer groups in the lobby and The Mara they were not in our hotel wing.

Soon enough it was time for dinner.

Next Up - The Pause Heard Round the Resort!

 

[fractal]

We then found The Mara and had a late lunch. DH and Chip returned our rental car on-site while Dale and I unpacked our bags from Bell Services. Then we hopped on a bus to Epcot and the Festival of the Arts!

Upon entering I got flagged for not holding my hard eyeglass case out far enough in front of me. Straight arms people!

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We arrived at Epcot at 4pm. The crowd calendars said this week would be a less busy time to visit Disney. What?? Here are some of the wait times:
- Test Track - 120 min
- Guardians of the Galaxy - 95 min
Note Frozen was under refurbishment so I knew that would increase the wait times… a little.

There were a lot of dance/cheer groups, international groups and families with younger or older kids thinking the parks would be quieter. Oh well, you have to make the best of it and thank your lucky stars you bought LL MultiPass for another day.

We made the bad decision to go on Test Track first while it was still daylight and presumably warmer. I suggested single rider but our family really likes this ride and wanted to ride it together for the first time.

We lasted in line less than 10 minutes due to a sibling MMA fight occurring between two brothers - I’m guessing one in high school and one in middle school. Their shin kicking had cleared all the space around them and once the body slamming against the nearest wall started their mom only looked up from her phone and laughed.

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Things got better as the standby line for GOG was violence free. Now many trip reporters comment on how much shorter the actual wait times are than posted. Unfortunately we are not those people. All our standard wait times were pretty accurate throughout our stay. In line I consoled myself with thoughts of our beautiful hotel.

Though we wore our winter coats while zipping through the galaxies everyone felt fine. Further we were rewarded with the song, Disco Inferno, which was new to us.

We missed picking up a Festival booklet so wandered around using our phones.

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Sadly mural painting closed at 5pm but there were still fun festival sights!

Our best Mary and Bert impressions!

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That's a great photo of the Nova Corp spaceship!

 

[Tiki Traveler]

That's a great photo of the Nova Corp spaceship!

That’s one of our PhotoPass photos where I cropped my family. I just added the credit. It’s challenging to not include family photos.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

We wanted to ride another form of transportation so we bussed to Hollywood Studios and then hopped on the Skyliner.

We had heard such good things about Flying Fish from other trip reporters we decided to give it a try! Our reservation was at 6:45pm and we were quickly led to a table.

Unfortunately the table was right against the kitchen and right next to the wait staff computer and prep station hall. The table was built differently from the other’s around it and may have been considered some sort of chef’s table since you were practically in the kitchen.

I understand that Disney is a very busy place and the restaurants need to turn tables quickly but for the prices we would be paying I drew the line. I politely asked the hostess if we could sit elsewhere because the table was way too noisy and busy for us. And that’s when the pause heard around the resort resulted.

She wasn’t angry just stunned. She stood there frozen. I smiled. She finally turned and walked over to a manager. There was a second pause around the world. Again not angry or irritated probably just thinking about how to move the pieces on this restaurant chessboard.

Well said Andre Leon Talley. RIP

I smiled and repeated the reason for my request. We were then seated at a lovely table in the back. And all the recent trip reports were right. It was a wonderful meal!

We started w/dinner and Caesar salads. We ordered a bottle of wine partly because one of the chipmunks mentioned they never had a bottle of wine at a restaurant before and we wanted them to have this experience so they would know what to expect.

Chip ordered Potato Wrapped Snapper.

DH ordered Chilean Sea Bass.

Dale ordered Char-crusted NY Strip w/Bearnaise Sauce and I had the Filet Mignon. (Yes, since we were drinking white wine we took one for the team.)

We saw the manager as we were leaving and thanked him again. I tried to give him a cast compliment but Flying Fish was not part of the compliment program.

We weren’t enamored w/the Flying Fish dessert menu but our options on the BoardWalk were limited. There wasn’t much left in the BoardWalk deli cases. We waited in line at The Cake House but backed off when we found out the cake slices were $22 each. We ubered back to AKL and shared desserts from The Mara.

While I”m mentioning manners I should also thank the young man who gave me his seat on the bus Wednesday from HS to MK. I thanked him and his mother. Well done mama!

15,109 steps
6.4 miles

Next Up - Hey Living with the Land, One Cucumber is for Amateurs!

 

[Tiki Traveler]

Day 5 - Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

Our last park day started w/breakfast at the Mara and then an uber to Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. The cold weather ensured there were only a few other golfers.

We thought Summerland would help us think warm thoughts!

After an enjoyable 18 holes we ubered back to Epcot. I always wanted to paint the festival mural. We all joined in.

*MURAL SPOILER*

After you exited the mural painting you got to see the finished product.

We had a little time before our lunch so we took in a little more chalk painting.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

Our lunch was out of this world!

Space Drinks! A lemonade and a Space Age Mule - give me all the key lime!

Lift Offs (Appetizers) - starting w/Apollo 16 Shrimp Tacos

Neptuna Tartare

Andromeda Wagyu Beef Carpaccio

We all ordered different entrees and everything was good. To me, this restaurant has a nice variety of appealing menu items. As expected the meal was pricey. Service was very slow as there appeared to be a shortage of wait staff all around.

I’d try the Space 220 Lounge someday.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

After lunch we were treated to another great show.

We had a little time until our next activity so Chip and Dale went in search of cold brew drinks. Now that they are adults they drink cold brew coffee. Not a big deal but this is a trait they just acquired since graduating and living on their own and something I’m learning about them as adults. (This trip enabled DH and I to see them as adults like never before. )

DH and I stopped in here.

These yellow ball gowns have all been worn in worldwide productions of Beauty and The Beast.

All of the costumes were incredible!

Maybe I did get my wishes started…

From my Jan. 2024 - All Together Now - Trip Report:

Afterward Dale expressed how much they enjoyed LWL and said they would like to take the Behind the Seeds tour someday. Always happy for a reason to visit Disney World with you sweetie.