Trip Report COMPLETED - After 2 1/2 years we finally made it back to WDW

So as the title suggests we finally got back to WDW.
It was every bit as magical as I expected and was much needed after years away due to Covid.
We had such a great time. I’m not going to lie it was a different experience which I’ll explain more of but this holiday was so needed.
I’ve thought long and hard about a TR as the honest truth is I kept no notes as I just wanted to live in the moment but I’ll share with you some of it the best I can.

So let’s rewind slightly here. We already have a trip booked for Sept this year but in early November the US borders opened for us UK folk and myself and Chris watched live on u tube as the Virgin and British airways planes took off together and we both got a bit emotional. After take off we both looked at each other and the words came out of my mouth “I don’t think I can wait till Sept , if Covid has taught us anything it’s to do what you want. Can we book another trip for March?” Without hesitation Chris said yes - he is a keeper! And so the planning started. I checked out various bits of data and found the lowest weeks in terms of spring break crowds, I prepared myself for a busy trip knowing full well that there is a lot of pent up demand and just considered myself lucky to finally be able to plan a trip.

We decided to plan 10 days from 26th Feb. Disney was so expensive that we decided as this was an additional trip we would book elsewhere and settled on Sheraton Vistana Resort as it was close to Disney with no resort fees or parking costs. Our trip was still just over £4000 but money well spent in my books (and as we’ve been stuck at home for 2 1/2 years we’ve hardly spent anything!)

I’ll get into more of the detail over the next few days and I’ll try to get some pictures posted rather than it being text heavy but for now I’m back………. Hello again Disney friends

 

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We had heard the walkway to the Grand Floridian had been opened and decided to take a walk over in the sunshine.

It was such a lovely quiet walk. We enjoyed the sights and animals along the way.

 

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The GF is lovely but it’s just a bit too posh for me! We headed inside and sat on a sofa just relaxing and people watching for around 20 mins.

Chris then decided it would be good to walk onto the Polynesian and over to the golf shop at Shades of Green - how could I say no after all he lets me do!? So off we went. I have to say it’s a lovely walk and I would definitely do that again.

Purchases made in the golf shop we headed back to MK to watch the fireworks.

 

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I purposely didn’t watch any videos of the new show as I just wanted to make my own judgement but I had seen there were projections now down Main Street so we chose a spot mid way down and waited. There is something so nice about being outside on evenings where the weather has been warm.

Now my next comments might be unpopular but I wasn’t blown away by Enchantment the fireworks are amazing but I didn’t get the same feeling I got from HEA.

The start of HEA always got me the words along with the songs but from this show nothing. No tears were shed!

Our comments as we left were that at least we wouldn’t have to stay any other night to watch it and leave with the crowds. Maybe we didn’t give it enough of a chance. Will we wait in September to try again who knows!

We headed out via the ferry boat to get the car and headed back to our apartment ready for some sleep.
Today we had walked 9 miles and done 19887 steps - we were knackered but more miles and steps would be done another day

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Apologies for the like overload! Lovely photos- can see how happy you were to be 'home' again. I've been keeping away from videos of the new fireworks so that I can make my mind up when I see them for real later in the year.

 

[Longers]

Apologies for the like overload! Lovely photos- can see how happy you were to be 'home' again. I've been keeping away from videos of the new fireworks so that I can make my mind up when I see them for real later in the year.

I did exactly the same thing as I wanted to make my own mind up - I was expecting to cry but nothing.

I just think the intro and music isn’t as good but that’s only my opinion. I’m really sad I didn’t get to see HEA again before it went but I guess everything has to change and evolve. At the moment it’s just not for me.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Thanks so much for taking the time to do this TR, Tracey, and for all the Ice Creme photos, LOL. I think you might give me a run for the money on ice cream eating while at disney
BTW, I have never beat Roger at TSM or Buzz!!!!! grrr!!!! So I know how Chris feels.

 

[amjt660]

Great TR so far
Looking forward to more!

Max

 

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Thanks so much for taking the time to do this TR, Tracey, and for all the Ice Creme photos, LOL. I think you might give me a run for the money on ice cream eating while at disney
BTW, I have never beat Roger at TSM or Buzz!!!!! grrr!!!! So I know how Chris feels.

You can never have too many ice creams in Disney!

Great TR so far
Looking forward to more!

Max

Thanks Max - I’m not doing too badly from memory.

 

[Disstevefan1]

YaY! Following

 

[Sbk1234]

This is awesome! Some of your photos have become part of my screensaver.

 

[lindawdw]

Such a fun day at MK! Glad you enjoyed the walk over to GF which we use all the time now when staying at GFV!

 

[Disstevefan1]

Sunday 27th Feb - our first full day.

Now I’ll start by saying this day didn’t start as it was meant to (and for that reason there are no photos for this first part) - more on that shortly. Also I never go to MK on a weekend if it’s the first day of our trip under normal circumstances I would have deferred MK day until Monday and gone elsewhere on a weekend. But after waiting so long to be back there was only 1 place I was going and I would just deal with the weekend crowds. I also hate crowds hence the reason for years we do Disney in November as that was quiet but you all know that no month is quiet any more so I was prepared for anything and grateful to be back.

I had told Chris I wanted to be at the front of MK for about 8am just to take it all in and absorb every second. We left our room early and headed to Denny’s for breakfast (something we’ve never done as normally that would be Golden Corral but with Covid it appeared they opened later for breakfast now and that would have delayed us.)

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Stomaches full we headed off. We knew it was marathon weekend and there were diversion signs out to MK - so we followed them! Bad mistake. We kept saying this is the wrong way but as the diversion signs we’re out we kept going. We headed past riverside and down the road that takes you by wilderness lodge campground then right towards MK - we kept saying have they put a temporary toll booth in? Still nothing and there were queues everywhere. We continued past the Polynesian and up towards the Grand Floridian. At this point I opened the window and asked a security guard but he said turn around. Clearly the signs were wrong!

Time was ticking and normally I would have been moaning but you know what the sun was shining and I was just happy. I was in the bubble (albeit in a huge car in traffic) but I was on Disney property and I had waited so long I didn’t care.

We headed back and by this point needed a restroom so we pulled in POFQ and asked politely at the front if we could come in. The lady was so lovely and off we went in search of restrooms.

At this point I was sad we hadn’t thought early and pulled into Riverside but that may have been too painful to bear.

After our quick stop we decided to just drive to Epcot and park the car there, pick up our park tickets and just monorail over to MK.

We finally made it to MK around 11am, hours after we had hoped!
Mickeys head turned green and we just looked at each other and just said “we’re finally here”. The eyes were welling up.

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We walked under the train station and immediately heard a cavalcade coming down Main Street. We stopped near the end of Main Street slightly to the left (so we still hadn’t seen the castle) and watched that cavalcade come past. The emotions I felt can’t be expressed into words. The music got me, I was waving and taking it all in. This was real, pinch me! Life was good, I was happy and crying happy tears. Even now writing this down I’m getting emotional. It really was just the best feeling and we really hadn’t even started our holiday. Years of waiting had finally turned into us finally being back.

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After the cavalcade passed we headed down Main Street towards the castle. Whilst i think it looks pretty the best castle I’ve seen over the years was the happiest celebration one. It was so pretty with gold characters over it. I was still welling up and was so grateful for sun glasses as they hide the tears. I do get a little lip quiver though so Chris could tell! Some of the photos tell the same story.

We didn’t have a plan as we had literally decided to just take it slow and take everything in. As we approached the end of Main Street chris turned to me and said “is it ice cream time?” We hadn’t done any rides, had turned up to the park later than expected but this was a great idea!

Plaza ice cream parlour it was! The smell as we entered created more emotions and as that ice cream was handed to me I had more tears and just said to the lady I’ve waited over 2 years for this I can’t wait!

We enjoyed that ice cream with the sun on our back and Cinderella Castle in front. I was just so happy

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I am so happy for you two! Seeing your happiness and emotions makes me happy too.

 

[coachwnh]

Finally caught up. Really enjoying the pictures! Looking forward to more.

 

[Spash007]

Still catching up but I’m in! I’ve always loved your reports because your writing is so genuine, so I’m very excited for you that you were able to get back!

 

[Longers]

This is awesome! Some of your photos have become part of my screensaver.

Wow what a privilege - I didn’t think they were as good this year but I’ll take it

Such a fun day at MK! Glad you enjoyed the walk over to GF which we use all the time now when staying at GFV!

It was such a lovely walk and will definitely do that again - probably won’t have a choice as I’m sure Chris will want to go to the golf shop.

I am so happy for you two! Seeing your happiness and emotions makes me happy too.

And it makes me happy that others get the same enjoyment

Finally caught up. Really enjoying the pictures! Looking forward to more.

Hi there - here is is 1 of the people that started my trip reporting. Hope you and the family are well.

Still catching up but I’m in! I’ve always loved your reports because your writing is so genuine, so I’m very excited for you that you were able to get back!

Such a compliment thank you. I absolutely love my time in Disney. My heart is so full and happy when I’m there and even in my normal day to day life if a bit of Disney slips in it brings happiness to my day.

 

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Wednesday 2nd March

We were up relatively early for our day today as we were off to Animal Kingdom and I really wanted to gee onto FOP.

It was another lovely day in Florida.

There were changes afoot at work which affected me but I had asked not to be contacted while on holiday as I just wanted to forget all about it. My mind on the other hand wasn’t doing what my mouth was saying and I hadn’t been sleeping soundly. This morning I made a decision and sent a text to my boss asking if he would phone me. Thinking no more about it we left the house for our day in Animal Kingdom.

I like the new security booths being further away from the exit as why the time you get towards the tickets booths there is so much more space.

We waited with everyone else (apart from those on property that had early access). I guess that was the downfall of staying off site as all parks offered that half hour extra access so no matter what park you tried to rope drop you were never in front of them!

We headed with the masses and tried to find the end of the queue which stretched all the way to FOTLK. We waited a few minutes and then decided to just bail out and head to Navi instead.

Why do they always squash people on this ride? It was an uncomfortable journey round and I think in truth we were both happy to get off


still love the frogs that jump on the lily pads. Such a cool additional feature I’m sure many miss.

We took in the beautiful sights of Pandora. I really love being in this part of the park it’s truly beautiful.

 

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We left the beauty of Pandora for a Dinosaur LL
Chris was in charge of the camera and was to be fair didn’t do a bad job.

Not sure what happened with this picture we agreed to look scared but Chris just looks like he is on a day out.

 

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Next up it was safari time - I don’t know why we take so many pictures after all an elephant is an elephant so I’ll just share a few

We exited and went in search of a cookie. May as well have one as big as your head!

Notice the window behind Chris in the shop?
What happened to the bottle top displays?
In December I asked Chris to keep any bottle tops so I can make something similar. I am still collecting them and don’t have enough to make anything yet but Where had it gone?

Picture below for info that I had to search through my albums for when I got home!

We went in search of this wall but the shadow. Didn’t make for a selfie and we forgot to go back at any other time during this trip.

We took a few more pictures before moving on.

I was so disappointed EE was closed but the whole area was so empty!

 

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We headed to Dinosaur for round 2 - I still want to call this ride countdown to extinction.

Still couldn’t get it right!

 

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We were deciding what to do next when we realised there was a kite tails performance around 10 mins away so we went to sit in the sun to wait.
I thought kits tails was quite good. Qudos to those guys/girls that try to keep those kites in the air whilst going quite fast on those jet skis. Being the other side to Everest also meant we had live performers in front of us that I think also made the show good from our seats.

And they got the kites down on dry land.

News hot off the press today is that it will no longer be a show. Such a shame but glad to see we might still see something across the lake.