Trip Report **COMPLETED** Our 50th Anniversary Trip

Hi everyone!
I am super behind on my trip reports (sorry).....I have two trips to write about so better get started with one

Who?
The usual suspects - My Mom (Mary) and myself (Megan)

When?
September 30- October 3

Where?
The Grand Floridian
We wanted to stay somewhere where we could walk to the Magic Kingdom!

Why?
The 50th Anniversary ! We honestly did not know if we were going to be able to go on this trip up until 1 week before. We had canceled our August trip due to COVID numbers so I watched closely and waited for permission from work to go. I finally got the green light to go after the numbers down there dropped quite a bit!

September 30, 2021
We got up at 3:15 am, got ready, and headed to the airport. Check in and security were easy and we made it to our gate with plenty of time to spare.

We did not think we would be able to eat anything because the restaurants have not been opening at the airport very early but thankfully one did and we were able to grab some bagels!

We boarded the plane on time

Magic Bands!

We always play with these things our earplanes come in and always get into a fit of hysteria over them *I'm sure it's the 3 am wakeup calls

Our flight was super easy and we were 30 minutes early!
Loved the fonorail wrap!!

Next up: more traveling

 

[amjt660]

I got a side of bacon and a side of tater tots

and

Max

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued

Then....ride number 3 because it was still a short wait!

We did all 3 rides in 35 minutes!
We headed to Toy Story Mania next which was a walk on

We headed to Runway Railway next
It was a 15 minute wait. Our short wait times were following us this whole weekend

Next up: more DHS

 

[Doc Disney]

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Max

It took me a minute but I finally got it

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued

Tower of Terror was up next!
It was a 13 minute wait (I think we waited 15...)

A light for you...

Next up: more DHS

 

[Tuvalu]

I wondered if someone would notice

I noticed you wrote the wrong restaurant name, as Roaring Fork doesn’t take reservations.

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued
Some PPP

Alien Swirling Saucers was next - 10 minute wait!

Then we headed to our lunch at Backlot Express.
I got a burger

And my Mom got chicken tenders

We also got the cutest cupcake of all time!!!

Then time for an Instagram photo

Next up: more DHS

 

[amjt660]

It took me a minute but I finally got it

I added to it to try to make it easier


Max

 

[JamieLee18]

I love your 50th outfits!

I was there too, and also had mobile order issues but of a different kind…. I couldn’t connect to wifi to let them know I had arrived!! ( at Sleepy Hollow)

My cousins tried Pecos Bill, and also had to wait an hour after they arrived.

 

[mpaulam]

Great update! I can't wait to try SDD for the first time

 

[tiggerlvr]

Day 2 continued
We did not very long for this either!
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We saw the new calvacade on the way out
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Then more photos...
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This is where our totally magical day went downhill a bit. We mobile ordered at Cosmic Rays so we checked in at 10:25. Well we waited....and waited...and waited. Half the problem was that they were selling Mickey Mouse sippers that were limited so a ton of mobile orders were just for this. We were just trying to eat. I asked a CM at one point and he said they were about 45 minutes behind. At the 60 minute mark we had it. I asked a different CM what would happen if I wanted to leave and she said if we walked out and did not pick up our food we would not be charged. Perfect. So we walked out the door (that we actually were not even supposed to be let in) and no lie as soon as we walked out I got the alert our food was ready so I walked back in.
We ordered chicken nuggets and the 1971 Meal (Barbecue Chicken Sandwich topped with Kale Slaw served with Walt's Chili & Cheese Fries, Fountain Beverage and a 50th Anniversary Themed Cake Pop). They ended up giving us 2 cake pops probably because of the wait.
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The food was (unsurprisingly) cold. The whole meal was an overall disappointment. I was not happy spending an hour of my time waiting for a quick service meal. They were clearly not prepared for the 50th crowds. I heard that almost all the quick service restaurants had the same issues all day.
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Anyway...the teacups were up next
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Next up: more MK

This was our experience at Friar Nook as well. It was EXTREMELY hard to eat at MK on the 50th!

 

[Doc Disney]

I love your 50th outfits!

I was there too, and also had mobile order issues but of a different kind…. I couldn’t connect to wifi to let them know I had arrived!! ( at Sleepy Hollow)

My cousins tried Pecos Bill, and also had to wait an hour after they arrived.

Glad I was not alone ! It just seems like they were a bit unprepared!

Great update! I can't wait to try SDD for the first time

Oh it's so great!! You will love it!

 

[Doc Disney]

This was our experience at Friar Nook as well. It was EXTREMELY hard to eat at MK on the 50th!

How odd! I am glad I ended up eating room service for dinner then!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued
We watched the Mickey short again after this. We love it so much

Then we headed back to the GF!
They wasted no time putting the rugs out for the 50th

We headed down to the pool

We got some pool drinks! A Bourbon Breeze for me

And a Strawberry margarita for my Mom

A rain storm cut our pool time short so we headed back to the room and relaxed a bit! Then balcony photos when we finally got ready.

Some balcony view photos...

Then some croquet photos

Next up: more randomness

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued

This is probably my favorite lobby

We took a bus back to DHS and headed right to Smuggler's Run. I wrote that it was "SO hot" so it must have been hot . It is so cold here I can't imagine being hot

Next up: more DHS

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued

Then some Galaxy's Edge photos

We headed over towards our dinner spot after this

It was at the Brown Derby so we checked in and headed inside (in some air conditioning) to wait.
We were sitting on these stairs not thinking anything of it. Then some guy asked us if we were going up. We were like going up where?! Then I realized we were sitting on the Club 33 stairs and by the elevator
Honored that we looked like we could afford Club 33 I guess

Next up: more DHS

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued
We actually had quite a long wait for dinner but finally it was our turn!

A light for you...

We started with a charcuterie board

And the delicious bread/butter!

The wait for our entrees was SO long ! Our waiter, Raul, though was awesome and definitely made the experience worth it
I got the Cobb salad

And my Mom got the chicken a la king

We considered getting dessert but we were there for so long we politely declined and decided to head out. Long wait time aside, our experience and food were fantastic !
Goodbye DHS!

Next up: fireworks!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 3 continued
Back at the Grand Floridan we headed to the boat dock to watch Enchantment. I figured I would give it another try !

Well...second time was not the charm....still hated it
Anyway after this we headed to bed!

Next up: Day 4

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 October 3, 2021
We got up, got ready and packed our stuff. I hate short trips! I feel like by the time you realize you are in Disney it is over
We joined the MDE waitlist for The Grand Floridian Cafe and it was a 5 minute wait ! Perfect! Our table was actually ready before we even made it there
We were practically the only ones in the restaurant

Views.....

Table flower...

Biscuits and butter to start

And a bunch of condiments

I can not actually remember why my Mom was making this face...maybe she didn't think it was enough syrup for her waffle?

Anyway....as I alluded to my Mom ordered the waffle

And I ordered the steak and eggs (with cheesy hash brown)

Yum! It was so good!
We had time before our Tragical Express so my Mom suggested we walk over to MK.
We wandered through the Emporium and then had some time to ride the Peoplemover. I like how they put Stitch's 50th statue here !

Next up: more MK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
Peoplemover photos...

My Mom bought this Pooh doll for my nephew

THE LIGHTS WERE ON IN SPACE MOUNTAIN!!!

After our ride we sadly had to head out of MK

Next up: finishing the trip

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
We took some PP pictures on the way out. P.S. It was a bad life choice that we did not wear shorts this morning. And that I wore a jersey. I was so hot !!!

And one last photo...

And that is it!
We had the best 50th Anniversary trip!! We got so much done and got so fortunate with the low crowds
I felt so lucky to be there especially since we did not know if we were going to be able to make it or not!

Thanks for joining along!

Next up: my October/November trip (if I ever find time to write it)