Trip Report C’mon Everybody, Here We Go….*COMPLETED*

Think of all the joy you’ll find
When you leave the world behind
And bid your cares goodbye!


Ahh, a relaxing getaway from reality. No cares or concerns. Just bliss.

Not exactly a perfect picture of vacationing at Walt Disney World during Spring Break, is it?

But we’re going anyway. We’re Spring Break Veterans and it’s time for the annual reunion.

Two years ago we missed out on our usual adventure thanks to Covid. The stay-at-home vacation just wasn’t the same! (Although you can read about it here: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-“no-trip”-trip-report-completed.964173/)

Last year we were able to return, albeit under Covid protocols. We believed that enduring masks 24/7, plexiglass and vinyl dividers on attractions, mobile order Door Nazis and limited shopping/dining/entertainment would be acceptable in exchange for the very low crowds that we’d experienced on earlier pandemic trips. But the parks were packed and we ended up spending a lot of time at the pool (which wasn’t a bad thing. We’re pool people.)

Now that park capacity has increased and nearly all Covid restrictions are gone, we expect to find the shoulder-to-shoulder spring break crowds of yore. And long lines. So we’re packing our patience and “It is what it is” attitudes.

Because in spite of all the negatives WDW is still our happy place.

We can’t wait.

Who: Tuvalu and Em
When: April 3-9, 2022
Where: Our favorite moderate resort

My plan is to go live upon our departure. Fingers crossed that Disney WiFi will be my friend.

Speaking of friends, we hope to meet up with a few. You’ll have to follow along to see if we do.

 

[Tuvalu]

Lots of people everywhere. Em and I get separated and I can’t get back to her!

 

[Tuvalu]

We reunite and she suggests going to see the tigers.

We tigers.

 

[littleroo]

I couldn't agree with you more about the park reservation system or return packages to your hotel! Disney lost a lot of money last year on things I refused to carry.

I am glad it stopped raining. AK should clear out soon. I found late afternoon it became a ghost town. Say hello to the Nomad Lounge for me! I could sit there all day.

 

[RememberWhen]

That’s the nice thing about AK. If the ride times are long, you can still walk the trails. We love watching the tigers and gorillas!

 

[Tuvalu]

Before we visit the tigers, I remind Em of other AK entertainment that we enjoy.

Watching Kali River Rapids riders get sprayed by the elephants at the end of the ride!

I turn to say something to Em and notice she has moved from being a spectator to being active participant!

I did not know she has an evil streak.

Her victims.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Em’s contractually obligated to be at school at 7 am. She doesn’t like to be rushed in the morning and has a commute.

Dinosaur is down

I wish I could make myself productive in the am like Em. I hope she has good tunes or audiobooks for her commute! DINO is DOWN?? I’m afraid it IS Countdown to Extinction!

AK stores are our fave.

Mine, too! I bought great salad tongs in the shape of giraffes one year!

However without “ship back to room” service, we don’t purchase anything. Not gonna haul stuff around. Disney is losing money from guests like us.

They lost SO MUCH money from me last year because of this. They say it’s still because of the staffing but it was so very nice not to have to carry it all around!!

Are the buses in the World still half park buses and half charters? Last year, we noticed them using charter buses to take us to our on site hotel.

 

[93boomer]

Round 4 @Tuvalu !! We made it to the room before downpour #4 hit!! Lightning struck close by the room. Dish went off.

 

[amjt660]

I did not know she has an evil streak.

Max

 

[Spash007]

We see a few things we could buy.

However without “ship back to room” service, we don’t purchase anything. Not gonna haul stuff around. Disney is losing money from guests like us.

We stop to watch the entertainment.

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Very upbeat music and lots of kids are dancing.

More normalcy.

My favorite Disney memory is probably by daughter dancing to them. I can’t wait to see them again next trip!

 

[ShookieJones]

Tuesday, April 5

GOOD MORNING from POFQ!

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I went for a stroll this morning. Hope you like the pics, @Minnesota disney fan and @ShookieJones.

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These pics made my day!

 

[MickeyCB]

I shake my head and check the receipt. Scrambled eggs. Em offers to go back to the food court, but I decline (even though I didn’t want a sweet breakfast.)

I do feel bad for the kid who’s expecting Mickey waffles and ends up with my scrambled eggs.

Several years ago when I was on one of my numerous diets I was going through the Wendy's drive thru and I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, lettuce tomato nothing else.
I get about a mile down the road and open the bag. It's a double bacon cheeseburger. I look up at the roof of my car and say, "thank you God" and keep driving.

 

[Tuvalu]

The Komodo dragon is the first thing we see.

“Yuck!” declares Em, walking away.

Em despises even tiny lizards. I like the tiny lizards that roam in FL. I think they’re adorable.

But this is a gargantuan lizard. Not adorable.

We move on.

The next thing is the bat exhibit. That gets a big fat NOPE from both of us.

We walk through the enclosure without slowing down.

The sacrifices we must make in order to see tigers!

We get to the first tiger viewing area. Not a tiger in sight.

We get to second viewing area and after a careful search, we see the giant cat sleeping in a corner. Such a beautiful animal.

Hoping to see a tiger in the water play area, we continue on. None have come out to play.

We do see a couple monkeys as we approach the aviary. But we’re bummed about only seeing one tiger(and a sleeping one at that) that we don’t stop in the aviary.

 

[Tuvalu]

I think this is the coolest water fountain I have ever seen.

Apparently so does the boy. His shirt provides the evidence!

 

[Tuvalu]

“Mom, there’s a Kite Tails show in ten minutes. Let’s go watch,” says Em.

We haven’t been in the open air theater since Rivers of Light ~ a show years in the making, one that held such promise.

It lasted three years.

We liked RoL (the few times we saw it) but most guests did not. The promise did not pay off. The large, expensive theater sat empty until the great minds of Disney said, “Let’s create a show of kites being pulled by watercraft.” (The exact words of two CMs standing outside the theater trying to entice guests in to watch: Come see kites pulled by watercraft!)

Watercraft = Jet skis

The performers in this show get an A for effort. They give it their all. Enthusiastic, smiling, dancing.

The problem is that it isn’t very interesting watching Jet Skis drive around in a circle pulling kites. (Don’t the drivers get dizzy?) It’s novel to watch a kite make ONE lap around the theater….and hilarious to watch the crash landing….but it’s really a yawn.

Which explains why the regular Kite Tails show is ending. It’s becoming something similar to a cavalcade ~ an unexpected pop-up to surprise guests in the vicinity of the theater.

My pics from the 12 minute show.

 

[Tuvalu]

Can’t wait to see this film. Love Disney Nature stuff.

 

[Tuvalu]

We’ve been in the park almost two hours without rain. We know it’s coming. We’ve seen the radar.

We decide to mobile order lunch.

We pass these 50th anniversary statues along the way. So fun!

I bet @93boomer knows where we’re headed.

We push “I’m here” expecting a lengthy wait. To our surprise we get the notification that our order is ready in less than 5 minutes.

Two peas in a pod. Or rather two beef bowls with hearty salad.

Em said she is so glad Satu’li Canteen has kept its original menu, and not switched to basic burgers and chicken nuggets. I agree !

As we eat we watch the storm blow in. There are several claps of thunder and bolts of lighting. We’re safe and dry, but for how long?

 

[Tuvalu]

We linger over lunch but radar indicates that the worst is yet to come. Em says she doesn’t want to be stuck inside the restaurant for hours, and we also don’t want to be table hogs. The restaurant has become very crowded with poncho clad people.

We open our umbrellas and power walk towards the park exit.

It is raining so hard that ankle-deep puddles are forming. Though it’s hard to tell in the next picture, my feet/sandals are submerged.

Em and I were so glad we prepared in advance for rain and purposely did not wear sneakers. Wet socks and shoes are the worst!

There was a mass exodus to the exit. All the bus gates were full.

And the rain rain rain
Came down down down

 

[93boomer]

We’ve been in the park almost two hours without rain. We know it’s coming. We’ve seen the radar.

We decide to mobile order lunch.

We pass these 50th anniversary statues along the way. So fun!

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I bet @93boomer knows where we’re headed.

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We push “I’m here” expecting a lengthy wait. To our surprise we get the notification that our order is ready in less than 5 minutes.

Two peas in a pod. Or rather two beef bowls with hearty salad.

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Em said she is so glad Satu’li Canteen has kept its original menu, and not switched to basic burgers and chicken nuggets. I agree !

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As we eat we watch the storm blow in. There are several claps of thunder and bolts of lighting. We’re safe and dry, but for how long?

This is the first trip in years that we didn’t eat at Satu’li!! But, there’s always tomorrow.

 

[93boomer]

We linger over lunch but radar indicates that the worst is yet to come. Em says she doesn’t want to be stuck inside the restaurant for hours, and we also don’t want to be table hogs. The restaurant has become very crowded with poncho clad people.

We open our umbrellas and power walk towards the park exit.

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It is raining so hard that ankle-deep puddles are forming. It’s hard to tell from the next picture that my feet/sandals are immersed.

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Em and I were so glad we prepared in advance for rain and purposely did not wear sneakers. Wet socks and shoes are the worst!

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There was a mass exodus to the exit. All the bus gates were full.

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And the rain rain rain
Came down down down

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Yes girlfriend, we wore tennis shoes. Wet, wet, wet. I knew I should have worn my Teva’s, but I didn’t. Alas…..

 

[Tuvalu]

Em and I do not want to spend the afternoon in our resort room.

Adventure is out there!

We board the Polynesian/Grand Floridian bus.

We want to see Easter eggs!