Trip Report Five Parks in Four Nights: This Ain't Farewell! (9/7 - 9/11)

I have a lot to say here, so I will be separating this trip report into separate posts. This first post will contain a background and some quick overall thoughts regarding the quality of my vacation. Subsequent posts will tackle each day.

About 5 months ago, I became aware of the apparentness that WDW would be doing away with Dinosaur. We've since learned that it will be the last thing to go after Tropical Americas are complete, but at the time it wasn't clear if it would even be around by December. And me, being someone who likes thrill rides and dinosaurs - but somehow also never got the chance to ride it - was shocked. I needed to get that in! And so it was that I began planning what would balloon into the greatest theme park vacation I have ever experienced.

In total, I had been to WDW four times, most recently when I was 14. More than 15 years had passed since then- in the ensuing years I'd opted instead to spend my theme park excursions with Six Flags, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Universal. I do love me a good rollercoaster. While I had core memories of the Epcot "ball," River District, plush toys, and bits of the classic rides, nothing was fresh in my mind (except a retrospectively hilarious 2000 incident where I was terrified by a seagull stealing my soft pretzel in World Showcase- that one is pretty vivid). I never took in what WDW really was, because I'd never been there when old enough to really appreciate it. This is not to say that I didn't read plenty about it. This year especially, blogs, videos, books, and documentaries have given me a sense for the history of the company and the creation of WDW. And with this development came some strong opinions.

The stripping from Epcot of Horizons, World of Motion, Journey Into Imagination, and the entire Wonders of Life pavilion ensure that today's version of the park does not hold a candle to what it was 30 years ago- an embarrassing quality for any vacation destination. Bob Iger's philosophies have largely struck me as gross- particularly his insistence on IP integration and the needless replacement of classic attractions. Misgivings such as this came to such a head that when news broke that he would be replacing River District with a land full of talking cars, I became convinced that this would be my farewell to the entire WDW property. Sure, I'd go again if a wife or child wanted, but not of my own volition.

Boy, was I wrong.

Walt Disney World is a testament to the human appetite for adventure and travel. Iger and his cronies are throwing a little gravel into the machine, but what a massive and well-running machine it is! This is bigger than anyone in charge, bigger than the company itself. Sprawling resorts, unforgettable sights and sounds, and most impactfully, children having a blast. Walt's future city may have never come to pass, but what we have today is unparalleled in its own way. Walt Disney World is a crowning achievement of American ingenuity and passion- truly the vacation kingdom of the world. Of course I'm coming back.

Needless to say my vacation was a huge success. In the coming days, I will be breaking down each day in a separate post, and then combining them together in this original post for the sake of reader friendliness. While my post has been glowing thus far, nothing I saw has improved my impression of current top-level management. Almost all of my favorite experiences were conceptualized before the ascension of Bob Iger. A few of them are on the chopping block. So expect a pinch of salt here and there as I reminisce on this wonderful adventure. But by and large, this will be a very positive report.

Stay tuned!

 

[littleroo]

I am looking forward to your thoughts after having a long hiatus. Following!!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Can't wait to hear about your experience!

 

[cgersic]

Definitely want to hear more!

 

[Mondo]

Day 1 - Islands of Adventure

My father (61) and I (31), the only two going, arrived at the Orlando airport a little after 2pm. We decided early on that I would be planning everything, and this included the flight, so it was a relief for us to arrive with our luggage intact. From there, we took an Uber to Animal Kingdom Lodge. On the way there, I was overwhelmed with anticipation and childhood memories as we passed into WDW property. The road signs, the increasing preponderance of wilderness, the scattered patches of ornate resort architecture and little glimpses of the parks themselves- I was so ready for this. Approaching the hotel, it was reassuring to know that every car passing through the gates must present photo ID for the driver and the primary hotel guest. Our flight had been delayed, and I had lost sleep last night assuring that we would still get connecting flights for our layover; I was already tired.

But no time for that! Two days prior, I'd purchased tickets for Islands of Adventure, and now that it was the day-of, it was too late to change the dates on them. This urgency did not prevent me from being transfixed by the beauty of Jambo House. The exterior, the lobby, the art, everything about it created memories just happening before my eyes. Writing about it now, perhaps it was the right call to do IoA first; I wouldn't want to settle down for two days and then briefly leave the Disney bubble. Anyway, we unpacked our things, changed our clothes, and hurried out to Universal's (currently) best park.

On the way there, we had a great chat with the Uber driver. The traffic was insane, but I was relieved to see how mild it looked in the opposite direction. I showed him the passes out of which we could hopefully get some use- 2006, non-expiring park-hopper tickets for my father, myself, and my three other family members who couldn't be present. Tomorrow I would go to the Guest Relations counter at Animal Kingdom and see what they were now worth. We laughed about how precious little time we would have at IoA. With the park closing at 8pm, we'd be in there for close to a dollar per minute; this would be a game of priorities.

The primary item of concern for this trip would be my ankle. Roughly three weeks prior, I'd suffered a sprain while mowing my lawn. It was disconcerting to be wearing a giant boot just two weeks out from this vacation, and I'd been wondering how it would hold up. My physical therapist advised that I use a smaller brace if I needed it, and let pain be my guide. We would see, but so far it was holding up nicely.

Arriving at City Walk was like seeing an old friend, as was stepping in to Islands of Adventure. The crowds were surprisingly dense given the time of year, which had me worried about what they'd be like at Magic Kingdom. Many of the people I saw were clearly there for Halloween Horror Nights, which was held in the Studios park. I was there for Jurassic Park. After getting myself a delicious chocolate cake pop with Shrek on the icing, we headed for that section.

Passing through The Lost Continent was a delight. It was wonderful to see this time capsule of 1999, when entire lands could be build without tying in to an IP. In the interest of time, I opted to guide us over the bridge towards JP; every minute counts when you're trying to take advantage of a modest wait time for Velocicoaster, especially when the park closes in a little over two hours. My father didn't remember this ride from when we went in 2021, and oddly enough, my memories were inexplicably hazy as well. We wouldn't forget much after this time. The ride is regarded as one of the best rollercoasters in the world for a reason. Intense yet smooth, fast yet comprehensible, and full of grand moments. The corkscrew at the end feels outright dangerous in the best way possible. After exiting, we snaked through the Jurassic Park Discovery Center, where I was delighted to see people enjoying the opening-day quiz game, You Bet Jurassic, in 2024!

I remember quite enjoying Raptor Encounter and Isla Nublar IPA, but both were closed off at this point. We went on the River Adventure, which is always a delight. The sights, the sounds, the smells, that T. Rex, that drop at the end. Amazing. It must be said that the ride is in need of refurbishment- all of the animatronics look pretty rough these days, although the indoor ones do not contend with rain or sunlight and so they look better. I will also say, the current paint job on the T. Rex is fantastic. We got off and went right back on, but this time I pulled down my lap bar only a few brackets so that I could really feel the effect of that drop (it was just me and Dad in the row). After a little side-eye, the operator gave the thumbs-up and off we went. It was getting dark, so the lights made for a very pretty ambiance, and it was fun watching the kids in front of me having a blast. After getting a shot glass and mug from the gift shop, I relaxed on the overlook for the ride. Change it if they must, but I hope they never close it down.

Making our way out of the park, I was reminded how pretty Marvel Superhero Island gets when its lights come on. Despite my determination to get on the Hulk rollercoaster, I caught in the corner of my eye a glimpse of Godzilla in the arcade. Okay, what was this, a claw machine? I hurried inside to see what it was, and stepped up to a VR shooting game from Raw Thrills that came out just this year. What?! I had to play this at some point soon. But with closing time within the hour, this would have to wait. It was Hulk time.

As indicated on the app, and predictably due to its age, the wait time for this ride was much shorter. Still, there was a line of people who had the same idea as me. The Hulk is a classic themed rollercoaster, one that I'd ridden on my previous trip over and over until my legs swelled up. This time was unique because we were in the back of the train, and by the time we got launched, it was dark out. A running theme of this trip would be seeing how gorgeous these parks become after dark. I went out to the lakefront, took a moment, and got a tasteful picture of the lagoon with the Jurassic Park Discovery Center framed in the center.

As our Uber driver had warned on the way over, the pickup quadrant of Universal's parking complex is a nightmare of traffic cones, lanes, and partitions. It was somewhat difficult to find a ride back, which caused some small feeling of stress because we could be late for our dinner reservation. Fortunately, we made it within the grace period.

The restaurant in question was Boma, a buffet-style restaurant that serves as the primary culinary workhorse for Animal Kingdom Lodge. Everything there was fantastic, from the pineapple-orange-guava (POG) juice to the seafood stew, Boma Mustard, and Zebra Domes. It was the biggest meal I'd had in months, and one of the best. After playing some pinball at the arcade, we headed to bed. From here on, it would be pure Disney.

Total steps: 15,713

 

[Mondo]

Day 2 - Animal Kingdom

I had trouble sleeping the night before this day, and I'm not sure why. Nonetheless, an iced coffee with espresso at Boma helped me through the morning. Boma's breakfast is comprised of more standard food than its dinner, but that doesn't mean it isn't tasty. I would recommend the spinach and goat cheese eggs, along with their tomato stew. And pog juice. I had so much pog juice on this trip.

Lathered up in sunscreen, we stepped off the bus to approach the park's turnstiles. The first order of business would be to verify the worth of these 2006 park-hopper tickets that we were carrying around. As mentioned before, dear Mom had been holding onto these since our last adventure. As a measure of precaution against laundering operations and theft, Guest Services could only assimilate the passes bearing the signatures of those present: my father and myself. I thought we were being a pain, but the CMs told us they were actually intrigued whenever someone brings in an old pass. I suppose it's not as common as one might imagine.

It turns out that these tickets are worth quite a lot. My father and I had on these passes four and five park-hopper days respectively, not to expire until 2099. We'd visited these parks as a family on our last trip; it stands to reason that the rest of the family has at least four park-hopper days waiting to be redeemed in the future! Mom's instincts had paid off big time, and I owed her thanks. The CMs offered to have these converted into digital passes or give them back to us, converted to modern-era physical passes- we chose physical. Whenever I or anyone in my immediate family returns to WDW, we will get free admission for any of the theme parks! Needless to say, this news added to the pep in my step. I'd arrived at WDW wondering if I'd be coming back, and fate itself was already beckoning me.

After a tasty Zazu float, we headed straight to Dinosaur. Finally, it was time to experience the ride that I'd never ridden before. I couldn't believe how good it felt to get to the indoor part of the queue- AK's heat and humidity had me soaked in sweat all day. The ride itself was amazing, with highly-detailed animatronics, fantastic terrain simulation, and aggressive air conditioning. It was a blast, and very cathartic to finally ride before it gets replaced. This is a ride so tucked in the corner of the park that I honestly think it should just be left alone. The land outside of it... not so much. I generally don't like what Iger is doing with the company, but it would be delusional to suggest that a fairground would be preferable to a Tropical Americas section.

Moving towards Kilimanjaro Safaris, I took in the theming and scenery around me. Discovery Island melts so perfectly into Harambe that I hardly noticed the transition. For his part, Dad was largely turning his brain off, more than happy to let me do all the planning. We enjoy spending time together, but his obsession was not with Disney so much as the WNBA and Caitlin Clark in particular. I know nothing about basketball, but I have to say that her plays are so well-done that they almost look unreal. Much of my queue time was spent watching highlights on his phone.

On Kilimanjaro Safaris, I was astounded by how many animals they managed to fit into the area. My favorite part was a giraffe munching on leaves while leaning its head on a tree, watching us go by. The whole time, I was looking for barriers of any kind- I don't think I saw any. It's incredible how Disney has managed to separate lions from zebras without making it apparent in any way. I was pleased by the duration of the safari as well. If you haven't already, definitely do this!

Our Lightning Lane for Expedition Everest wouldn't be up for a while, and we wanted to see this newer Avatar area. Cutting back through Discovery Island, we headed for Na'vi River Journey. The scenery was very pretty, and a boat ride always smells nice. I have to say, I think it would be better without the obvious screens. I did enjoy the use of lighting and projection effects, especially the lizards hopping between the giant fronds. It ended on a flat note when the acclaimed Na'vi animatronic at the end was out of order, replaced by a basic, dim screen. Overall, it was just okay. Next time, I'll do Flight of Passage.

The Satu'li Canteen was more of a hit. Perhaps tempting fate, I ordered the Ocean Moon Bowl, a dish that includes blue noodles and raw tuna. The food prices at WDW are infamous, but as someone who had recently been to Six Flags Great America, I can tell you they're far more reasonable than their reputation would suggest. This dish was a dollar cheaper than a basket of chicken tenders and fries at the midwestern rollercoaster hub. It would be a running theme that any non-alcoholic quick-service food was modestly priced by theme park standards. And, because I'd done my research beforehand, delicious.

We took the scenic route on our way to Asia, the westernmost path that brings one by Festival of the Lion King. This was where I regaled my father with the story of the Beastly Kingdom that never was, pointing out the few surviving elements of scenery that were intended to foreshadow its creation. There is something surreal about seeing rock work that hasn't been touched in 25 years. Perhaps there exists a timeline where we'd just exited Beastly Kingdom, and done the dragon rollercoaster instead. These things are fun to think about.

Expedition Everest was a blast, just as I'd hoped it would be. While the grass and trees ensured I was always aware that I was in central Florida, praise must be given to the theming everywhere else. Most importantly to me, it was just a smooth, fun, sufficiently lengthy rollercoaster. The infamously turned-off, strobe-lit "Disco Yeti" animatronic at the end remains impressive even in its stillness, thanks to its sheer size and detail. With the motion of the train providing sufficient kinetic energy, one wouldn't know that it was designed to move unless they were told beforehand. Beware that this ride jolts at the end as it stops and starts behind the station- I could see this causing whiplash, so when you see the station coming up, put those hands behind your head.

We then sat down for a refreshing beer by the Thirsty River Bar as I weighed Kali River Rapids against the Conservation Station. Fearing blisters from soaked shoes, and intrigued by this far-off corner of the park, the choice was easy. By now, it was a sweet relief to get on that Wildlife Express Train and just kick back and enjoy the behind-the scenes views. The highlight here was a peek at a couple of rhinoceros napping in their shelter.

I am so glad that we visited the Conservation Station. Perhaps owing to the day's early closure of Magic Kingdom for the Halloween party, Animal Kingdom was more crowded than usual, and boy was the contrast memorable when we stepped off of that train. It was so quiet, so peaceful and serene, as if suddenly we were VIPs for this one section of a Disney park. The building itself houses several terrariums, some of which contain very exotic creatures. My favorites were the giant stickbugs and a well-posed python. If you want an escape from the Disney rat race, make the trek over here.

Well aware that this could be our last chance to ride Dinosaur, we made our way back to that ride. By now it was fun to see the same scenery while walking in a different direction, at a different time of day. Things like that are among the unsung sweet qualities of theme parks- seeing familiar things from a different perspective. After watching Dr. Grant Seeker make a fool of himself in the preview video once again, a CM entered the room and informed us that the ride was experiencing technical difficulties, and that we could either leave or wait and see if it comes back online. With 15 minutes until park closing, it was looking pretty grim. As we sat down in the preview room, I began doing exercises for my ankle. I smirked at the appropriateness of facing a real race against time. Would we make it? Not that it mattered- I was just happy to be spending time with my father, here at Walt Disney World, having already experienced the ride for the first and perhaps last time.

Less than ten minutes to six, the CM reappeared. "Okay, we're good to go!" Perfect. I enjoyed the theming around me as we boarded our time rovers, and off we went. This ridethrough played more like the farewell segment at the end of a broadway play. Every immaculate figure that went by, I nodded towards, as the wind blasted in my smiling face. Bittersweet? Maybe, but mostly just sweet. The chapter had been closed.

Dinner that night would be at Jiko - The Cooking Place. There is a reason this restaurant is so highly rated. The Giraffe Bread, with its citrusy butter made from the fruit of the baobab tree, is a treat on its own. Be aware of what you order, though, as the shrimp are overpriced and nothing special. The New York Strip, on the other hand, is expensive for a reason. Every bite is like filet mignon. I couldn't believe how good it was.

Oddly enough, I once again had trouble sleeping that night. Was it because I wasn't used to traveling? Not sure, but this time my father felt it as well. We would contend with it the next day. Stay tuned to see how we did!

Steps taken: 20,589

 

[Zipadeelady]

Day 2 - Animal Kingdom
Our Lightning Lane for Expedition Everest wouldn't be up for a while, and we wanted to see this newer Avatar area. Cutting back through Discovery Island, we headed for Na'vi River Journey. The scenery was very pretty, and a boat ride always smells nice. I have to say, I think it would be better without the obvious screens. I did enjoy the use of lighting and projection effects, especially the lizards hopping between the giant fronds. It ended on a flat note when the acclaimed Na'vi animatronic at the end was out of order, replaced by a basic, dim screen. Overall, it was just okay. Next time, I'll do Flight of Passage.

Next time you will ride Flight of Passage? I really hope you got to ride it another time during this trip. My Animal Kingdom loving heart is hurting.

 

[Mondo]

L

Next time you will ride Flight of Passage? I really hope you got to ride it another time during this trip. My Animal Kingdom loving heart is hurting.

There were a couple bizarre omissions for this trip, lol. Spaceship Earth was the other one, don’t ask me how that even happened because I’m not quite sure. But it was a wonderful trip and I’ll be back to do those probably next year.

 

[Zipadeelady]

L

There were a couple bizarre omissions for this trip, lol. Spaceship Earth was the other one, don’t ask me how that even happened because I’m not quite sure. But it was a wonderful trip and I’ll be back to do those probably next year.

Enjoying your retelling of your Father Son trip. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so far and you plan on returning. FOP should not be missed if you don't have motion issues.

 

[Mondo]

Day 3 - Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot

You read that right- we did two parks this day. The result, in terms of making time for things, was a mixed bag. But did we have fun? Indeed we did. So try not to pull your hair out as you read through the missed opportunities, ride closures, and questionable choices here. We had a blast, and while I can't put words in my father's mouth, I will be back next year.

The day started awkwardly when we woke up super drowsy. Even with Boma coffee in me, we were still extremely sleepy. We went back to bed for a nap, and both felt much better afterwards. As we got to the bus stop, I had this nagging feeling that I should visit Hollywood Studios before Epcot. Why? Why visit the weakest park on a day when I'm already shorter on time? Chiefly, Muppet Vision 3D, which rumblings suggest is on the chopping block and could be gone by this time next year. I remembered thinking it was funny when I saw it as a teenager, but not much more about it. So it was that we took the bus to DHS.

The only negative CM interaction came at the turnstiles for this park, and it wasn't terribly unpleasant anyway. She was just so done with guests, taking a passive-aggressive Squidward-esque tone as she instructed me to swipe my pass. "C'mon, don't be shy." Hmm. Ah, well.

Making our way first to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, I was struck by how nice the park looked. Taking visual cues from golden-age Hollywood, DHS is undeniably nicer-looking than its chief rival, Universal Studios Orlando. Take into account which park has lost more since its 90s heyday, and it's a no-brainer which I'd choose in the future. What a contrast in quality Universal has with its neighboring parks these days- one perhaps my favorite, the other among my least.

The Tower was much better than I expected. I thought that we were in for a highly-themed drop tower, so I had no inkling that it would begin with a mesmerizing little dark ride. These fun optical illusions, along with the spookiness of the queue, really added a nice buildup to the "drop" segment. I'd certainly feel that falling sensation in bed that night!

While we were there, I wanted to give Star Wars a chance. First, we did Star Tours, which was a fun motion simulator with not much to it. I left the ride joking with Dad about how manipulative Princess Leia must be, to say "you're my only hope" in apparently every distress message she sends. My favorite part was the AT-AT in the queue, which is a spectacular piece of scenery. In the gift shop coming out of the ride, a CM stopped me with widened eyes. "Dude, is that a Living With the Land shirt?!" Indeed it was; I'd decided to wear a gorgeous yellow shirt based on the cult favorite Epcot ride, and several CMs would excitedly comment on it. Not gonna lie, it felt awesome every time.

At this point, the light rain gave way to a tropical downpour. Immediately, before I could get out my poncho, everything was soaked. Would these sopping shoes give me blisters? I certainly hoped not. But regardless, we had a Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance. It was time to show up.

The queue for this ride was very impressive in its attention to theming. The CMs were all on point, making us feel as though we were prisoners set for interrogation. We were cordoned into a room where Kylo Ren would deal with us later. And later... And later... Uh-oh. Yeah, so the ride broke down. Dang! We were told that we could either wait for it to reopen, or scan our passes to redeem a Lightning Lane at any time, anywhere else. Well, then, Guardians it would be.

Walking out of the ride, it was still pouring down. I could feel in my shoes the sensation preceding a blister, and I knew I needed to get dry socks. A CM told me that I could find some at Tatooine Traders, where we'd exited Star Tours, and sure enough, there they were. A pair of long socks, one adorned with the face of Darth Vader, the other a stormtrooper. They weren't fashionable or cheap, but they were dry.

While Rock n' Rollercoaster's line was bloated due to the inoperation of Slinky Dog Dash, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run had a shorter wait then one might expect. In the queue, I pulled out my phone and learned that James Earl Jones had died shortly before we entered the park. What an absolute legend of a man.

I like the conceit of this ride, where everyone has to push the right buttons to obtain a high score. It added to the sense of piloting this vehicle, to have to take your eyes off the "windshield" and focus on operations in the cabin. I was the Engineer, as was my father on the other side. On the way out, I was jokingly teasing him because I'd scored 100 points more. As a group, we scored poorly, and it was cool to hear electrical noises and see the hallway lights flickering on our way out, reflecting the damaged state of the Falcon after our mission.

Next we got some refreshments at the Milk Stand, where I learned the hard way that Blue Milk and alcohol do not mix. Literally, as the CM warned me, the alcohol separates and rises to the top, leaving you with a drink that's basically non-alcoholic throughout, and then tastes like antiseptic at the surface. They shouldn't even sell this stuff with an alcoholic option. After sucking it down, I ordered a regular one and very much enjoyed it.

By now it was time to make tracks to Epcot, and here we were at another impasse. Should we take the Skyliner? Why yes, I figured, we should, and I'm so glad we did. This bird's-eye view gave me a physical impression of what Walt Disney World truly is. Seeing the Caribbean Beach and Boardwalk Inn resorts from such a great vantage point was something I didn't expect, and they were gorgeous in the evening. This is when it really hit me what kind of magnitude Disney operates on, how the whole of this is so much bigger than anyone in management whom I might detest. I'd already been pleasantly surprised over and over this trip- the view from the Skyliner is what cemented to me what I was really in the presence of. There is no place on Earth quite like Walt Disney World.

Arriving at Epcot, we were serenaded by the soundtrack to Ratatouille. Sadly, we never made it to this ride, although the magnitude of the crowds waiting for Luminous had me wondering if I'd even want to stick around for it. No, instead we headed for The Land Pavillion. On the way, I was taken aback by the beauty of Epcot's sightlines and lighting. The geosphere looked so perfect, I could hardly take my eyes off of it, and the sweet music added to the ambiance.

Living With the Land was a delightful experience, surprisingly moody in its first half and then intriguing in its second. By this point, it felt great to get off of our feet and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of this classic boat ride. I hope next time to do the Behind the Seeds tour, and of course ride it a couple more times for good measure. When I come back to WDW, this will be at the top of my to-do list.

The Garden Grill admittedly took up more of our time than it was worth- in the future I would rather not do a table service restaurant in the park on such a tight time budget. Nonetheless, there was a certain novelty to eating food that I knew was sourced directly from the Land greenhouse, and our pictures with Mickey and Pluto made for great show-offs to our family back at home. If you have kids and plenty of time, this is a great way to meet Mickey without dealing with big lines of people. The food, an onslaught of potatoes, green beans, salad, turkey, and steak, hits the spot, too. Beware of the barking dog in the Living With the Land ride above which the restaurant rotates- that thing woofs away incessantly, to the point where I was laughing.

Next, we went on Soarin'. What I'd pictured in my mind was way smaller than the gigantic theater we were led into. It's true that the screen has a tendency to bend vertical objects, which can be a little distracting. Nonetheless, it does accomplish delivering the sensation that you're flying around the world. I really appreciated the incorporation of scents, especially the earthy smells of the African plains.

We redeemed our phantom Lightning Lanes over at Guardians of the Galaxy. This ride had a nebulous preshow, something about the bad guy stealing the source of the big bang or some odd? It probably would've made more sense if we'd done the standby line, but I'd rather skip the wait anyway. We both found this to be a very smooth rollercoaster, but not light on thrills. Does it belong in Epcot? Probably not- ideally we could get a space-themed rollercoaster dark ride that presents itself without a focus on a Marvel IP. That being said, it fits in better than I expected.

I'm not sure what happened afterwards- why we didn't make it to Spaceship Earth or Mission: Space. Perhaps it was the food, or the time of night, or the sheer beauty of the park transfixing me and scrambling my thoughts. Again, I'm really not sure, but we attempted to lumber clockwise around World Showcase only to be met 1/3rd in by a partition. The CM there informed me that this part was cut off for Extended Evening Hours. Um, what? Oh, well, we figured as we groggily lumbered into the stunning Mexico building. Three Cabarellos would be our last romp of the day- what is it with my boat ride obsession taking precedence over these headliner rides?? I dunno, but hey, I enjoyed the cute antics of Donald Duck and the scenic little dioramas.

In case it isn't obvious, Epcot got the short end of the stick. I missed The Seas, Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space, Test Track (due to refurbishment), and basically World Showcase. In hindsight, perhaps I should've foregone Hollywood Studios altogether, perhaps Garden Grill, too. But there were experiences there that I'm glad I got to partake in. Doing the wrong fun thing is a good problem to have. What's most important is that I got to be here at all, with my Dad, bonding and making memories. As we bounced around in the bus back to Animal Kingdom Lodge, I knew that Epcot would be my first priority when I come back next year. Hey, if I get a room at POP Century, I can even use that nifty Skyliner again!

Tomorrow, the Magic Kingdom, would be my last and favorite day.

Steps taken: 24,120

 

[cgersic]

Loving your descriptions and the add in's of your conversations with your Dad. I sure miss being able to go to Disney with my Mom Epcot is my favorite park and I tend to stay at POP Century more than any other resort, so I hope you enjoy your next trip even more!

 

[Mondo]

Day 4, Part 1- Magic Kingdom

Coming from Epcot's 11pm closing all the way to Animal Kingdom Lodge, we didn't make it into our room until close to 1. I wanted to ensure that we would get at least 7 hours of sleep, so by the time we settled in our beds, I set the alarm accordingly. The next day would be our largest by far.

The next morning, we set a more comfortable pace. Instead of eating breakfast at Boma, we opted to eat the snacks that I'd towed all the way from home. This gave us some time to step out into the backyard of Jambo House and finally enjoy the views of the animals. When checking in, I'd asked if we could do a Starlight Safari, but apparently those are booked out months in advance because they only do them using one small tram. It was nice to see more of these beautiful animals, and there were CMs out there ready to answer any of our questions about them.

Just before 1pm, we arrived at the gates of the Magic Kingdom. Disney fans today tend to scoff at this park, viewing it as a hollow imitation of Disneyland and the company's weakest castle park. And maybe those things are true, but I wouldn't have guessed it myself. Likely due in no small part to this being the off-season, Magic Kingdom looked as inviting and low-stress as one could hope for.

Being the crusty grown-ups that we are, the first thing we did was visit the little museum in the Main Street Station. There, it was fun to see my father realize what I'd learned in my research, that these Disney trains actually had real history to them, that Walt was a train enthusiast. Yes, this park was built as a copy of Disneyland to entice visitors to a City of Tomorrow that never came to be. But it was also the park that Walt's brother built. What seems to be viewed by many as a wannabe Disneyland, is in fact a quintessential part of Florida history and worldwide vacation culture. And at least when it's not overburdened by heavy crowds, the reason why becomes clear as day. This place is special.

With the humidity doing its unpleasant work, I guided us through the Emporium just to feel the air conditioning. After a restroom break, we stopped and watched The Dapper Dans for a bit. I stood there wondering how they bear the heat in those long-sleeved shirts and vests, but remembered those images of Walt and his boys wearing similar attire as the scouted out this very land. I suppose that if you get used to the weather, you can adapt to it. Moving down Main Street, I took some pictures of Cinderella Castle. This thing is photogenic from every angle, every single corner of the park from which it is visible, you want to stop and get a picture. There is something about those spires.

There were things that I wanted to accomplish in this first half of the day, before Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party began and Tom Sawyer Island was closed off along with the showroom attractions (I suppose to discourage troublemakers from loitering?). Staying out of the heat sounded amazing, and I was curious about the Carousel of Progress. For how low the crowds were, and how short the wait was, I was surprised at how many people filled up the theater. Unfortunately, a gal in front of me seemed steeped in vlogger culture as she recorded the show on her bright screen and then swiped back and forth in some kind of social media interface. Thankfully she seemed to gain self-awareness as the show went on, and I got to focus on the impressive animatronics and surprisingly sardonic script.

Making our way to Space Mountain, I felt a tinge of trepidation, but not for myself. I'd read the reviews during my research and was aware of the infamous reputation that this fairly tame rollercoaster had garnered. It was built in the 70s and never re-tracked since, and after decades of operation now contrasts sharply with the silkiness of modern tracks. Today it regularly elicits complaints from guests about kinked necks and aching backs. Upon warning my father, I smiled at the irony. As a small child, I was terrified by this ride- and here I was now worrying about him.

He decided to give it a go anyway, and we very much enjoyed it. The ride imparts an effective charm through its simplistic means. Treading the comically lengthy exit hallway, we considered how incredible this must have been for guests when it was first built. Picture being 10 years old in 1977 and going on that for the first time. We'd go again during the Halloween Party.

By now I was ready for lunch, and we were both parched and ready for some coffee. Stopping at the Cheshire Café, I got myself an iced coffee, a cheese-filled pretzel, and a Queen of Hearts Slushy- Dad chose a regular hot brew. Disney Food Blog suggests that one can get a cup of water from any quick-service location, but I found this not to be the case. The CM pointed me instead across the path to Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café. Bland as this place's food is known to be, their ice water hit me just right.

I decided that our next destination should be the Liberty Square Riverboat, which we arrived at by cutting back through the Hub right through Liberty Square. I do not believe that I have ever before ridden this, and perhaps owing to the knowledge of its imminent closure, we were accompanied by a modest crowd on the Liberty Belle. Serenaded by the hokey voice-over about the surrounding area, I admired the sightlines and scenery that will soon be eliminated by the erasure of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.

Naturally, I next chose to take the ferry over to this quiet sleepy attraction. Tom Sawyer Island blew us away with its intricate theming and resourceful use of space. It's essentially a hiking trail filled with fun scenery and gorgeous views on every side. Apparently, to not understand the wonderment and joy of a child exploring hidden caves, spooky old windmills, and tucked-away forts, is to be a high-level executive at The Walt Disney Company. "But they still have it in Anaheim," I've heard. Tell that to the sorrowful 62-year-old Florida native I met there, who told me she first visited this island when she was 12 years old. Now, having given it more critical thought, perhaps there is a guest traffic argument to be made for preventing a bottleneck into the northernmost area, the planned Villain's Land. But why can't all this simply be part of a fifth park? Why are they paving over paradise when they have a plot of land larger than Manhattan? It totally confounds me that Iger is doing this, and in my opinion speaks to a disregard towards people who have enjoyed Magic Kingdom since its early days. Remember when I said this would have some salt?

We spent about an hour wandering around the trail, saying goodbye to this doomed slice of heaven. When we got back to Frontierland, I led the way to Aloha Isle where we could pick up some Dole Whip and enjoy the Tiki Room. Sadly this was already closed for the day, but hoo boy was that Dole Whip good. Ready for dinner, we then headed back to Liberty Square for Columbia Harbour House. As Dad sat down, I ordered us each a skewer of shrimp and a salmon portion. The latter item came from the kids' menu, but you wouldn't know it from the generous size. Both items came with rice and green beans, and while the rice was bland, everything was restaurant quality. We were impressed by the taste and the price. We also got water, so much water. To think that our healthiest meal this trip came from a quick-service restaurant in the Magic Kingdom! This gave us time to chat about life in a relatively quiet, cool area. Outside, it was starting to get dark. The Halloween Party would be starting in about an hour.

I'll be posting the rest later on!

 

[Mondo]

Just wanted to do a quick update-

I know it’s been a while. Don’t worry, I’m not dropping this. I’ve been pretty busy lately, and I work 10 hour days. When the time is right, I’ll make my final post.

It will include my final thoughts, which will probably be lengthy as well. This will make it my largest post. Needless to say my initial plan of stitching every day into the OP as a huge edit, has gone out the window. That would be a nightmare for new users to scroll through.

I’m flattered by everyone’s responses.

 

[burt+sal]

I have a lot to say here, so I will be separating this trip report into separate posts. This first post will contain a background and some quick overall thoughts regarding the quality of my vacation. Subsequent posts will tackle each day.

About 5 months ago, I became aware of the apparentness that WDW would be doing away with Dinosaur. We've since learned that it will be the last thing to go after Tropical Americas are complete, but at the time it wasn't clear if it would even be around by December. And me, being someone who likes thrill rides and dinosaurs - but somehow also never got the chance to ride it - was shocked. I needed to get that in! And so it was that I began planning what would balloon into the greatest theme park vacation I have ever experienced.

In total, I had been to WDW four times, most recently when I was 14. More than 15 years had passed since then- in the ensuing years I'd opted instead to spend my theme park excursions with Six Flags, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Universal. I do love me a good rollercoaster. While I had core memories of the Epcot "ball," River District, plush toys, and bits of the classic rides, nothing was fresh in my mind (except a retrospectively hilarious 2000 incident where I was terrified by a seagull stealing my soft pretzel in World Showcase- that one is pretty vivid). I never took in what WDW really was, because I'd never been there when old enough to really appreciate it. This is not to say that I didn't read plenty about it. This year especially, blogs, videos, books, and documentaries have given me a sense for the history of the company and the creation of WDW. And with this development came some strong opinions.

The stripping from Epcot of Horizons, World of Motion, Journey Into Imagination, and the entire Wonders of Life pavilion ensure that today's version of the park does not hold a candle to what it was 30 years ago- an embarrassing quality for any vacation destination. Bob Iger's philosophies have largely struck me as gross- particularly his insistence on IP integration and the needless replacement of classic attractions. Misgivings such as this came to such a head that when news broke that he would be replacing River District with a land full of talking cars, I became convinced that this would be my farewell to the entire WDW property. Sure, I'd go again if a wife or child wanted, but not of my own volition.

Boy, was I wrong.

Walt Disney World is a testament to the human appetite for adventure and travel. Iger and his cronies are throwing a little gravel into the machine, but what a massive and well-running machine it is! This is bigger than anyone in charge, bigger than the company itself. Sprawling resorts, unforgettable sights and sounds, and most impactfully, children having a blast. Walt's future city may have never come to pass, but what we have today is unparalleled in its own way. Walt Disney World is a crowning achievement of American ingenuity and passion- truly the vacation kingdom of the world. Of course I'm coming back.

Needless to say my vacation was a huge success. In the coming days, I will be breaking down each day in a separate post, and then combining them together in this original post for the sake of reader friendliness. While my post has been glowing thus far, nothing I saw has improved my impression of current top-level management. Almost all of my favorite experiences were conceptualized before the ascension of Bob Iger. A few of them are on the chopping block. So expect a pinch of salt here and there as I reminisce on this wonderful adventure. But by and large, this will be a very positive report.

Stay tuned!

This was exactly my experience! Went last March for the first time since I was 18 back in 1997 and was totally blown away. Can’t wait to read more!

 

[Mondo]

Day 4- Magic Kingdom Part 2

With the showroom attractions closed and dinner behind us, we headed back to Adventureland. The first half of the day had been focused on things that we wouldn't be able to do during the Halloween Party: Carousel of Progress, vanilla Space Mountain, the Riverboat, and Tom Sawyer Island. Now, with more than six hours until closing time, I could focus on the rest of the rides. Meanwhile, the sky was turning darker gray as the sun descended behind the overcast clouds. It might rain, but we'd make the best of it. I did bring dry socks this time.

While the sun was no longer beating down, the humidity remained, and we were both sweating again just moments after leaving the Harbour House. What would we do next? My first instinct was to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. Perhaps for this entire trip, it was the heat that made me so inclined towards indoor boat rides, and boy did it feel great. There isn't much negative to say about this ride- if this is the worst version, it's still fantastic. I suppose the story is a bit muddled; are the pirates after the gold or Jack Sparrow? And if Jack Sparrow has just found the treasure in this room at the end of the ride, why is he lounging around as if he's not still being hunted? Aside from these quibbles, I was surprised at how seamlessly they'd inserted this storyline. Most character-adding changes are far more clumsy.

Heading back to Aloha Isle, we got more Dole Whip floats. This time I opted for the Halloween-exclusive Mango and Chamoy Float. Word to the wise: do not get this. It comes with chili-lime seasoning and chamoy, which feels horrible in the mouth on a hot, humid evening when you're trying to chill with a frozen treat. Hard to imagine a Dole Whip Float that makes you feel hotter than before you ate it, but this thing did the job. After we tossed our empty cups, the loudspeakers announced that the Halloween Party would be starting momentarily. We retrieved our wristbands and candy bags near the Magic Carpets, where we both decided to simply fold up those baggies and keep them as souvenirs. None of the candy would be exclusive to Disney anyway.

At this point, I went ahead and changed into my Dr. Facilier t-shirt. On this topic, I wanted to at least check out the area for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, if not ride it. My father wasn't thrilled about the prospect of getting wet, so after taking in the views, we turned around. But why not do Big Thunder Mountain? Well, it was closed, and had been for the past few hours. Hopefully we'd be able to get to it, though. At some point during our short trip to this corner, the party had officially started, and by the time we were back to the front of the river, the fog machines were already hard at work. The view of the mist over the river is enough to make anyone say "wow." I hope it looks at least presentable when it's replaced with the Cars area.

Thinking I'd be clever, I tried to lead us through a shortcut branching from the hub-side of Liberty Square, to Fantasyland. Sadly, it was closed off, but what struck me here was the size of the line outside of Sleepy Hollow. It was for a special Souvenir Bucket, a CM told me, for which some people wait 3 hours or more. A poor prioritization of time, in my judgment, but then again, at least these people being distracted would translate to shorter queue times.

With our route altered, we snaked past Cheshire Cafe once more and arrived at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Why not? This ride is a tasteful mix of rollercoaster and dark ride. Very charming, silky smooth, with fun tilting cars. That "Heigh Ho" song is utilized to great effect here, but not so effective are the projection-faced dwarfs. Why are their noses so dark? My favorite part of this was the scene at the end, complete with the witch about to cause major trouble. Nice.

Hungry for more thrills, we decided to head towards Tron: Lightcycle Run. Now it was starting to get truly dark out. The lights were beginning to create unforgettable vistas. This attention to detail is something that I must admit, you won't find even at Islands of Adventure. During my visit to the Magic Kingdom, I must have stopped a couple dozen times just to admire the view.

Tron isn't very good. The facade is incredible, giving you plenty of moments to anticipate the ride ahead, but the thing itself just does not deliver the goods. It's smooth, sure, and thrilling while it lasts, but as others have said, it's too darn short. Also, its vehicles are fundamentally flawed, forcing riders to lean forwards to the point where they really can't see much. If you look ahead, you're basically staring at someone's butt and your instincts tell you to knock it off real quick. If you turn to either side, you just kind of get a blur of lights. This lack of quality didn't stop it from taking, by far, the most of our time out of any queue. Meanwhile we struck up a chat with this Kentucky guy about humidity and paint work, spurred on by the graying of the pure white columns supporting the canopy above. Tomorrowland looks tired and worn in several places, but apparently the Florida climate makes that degradation inevitable in a matter of weeks. Anyway, if you want to experience the best of Tron, just find a spot under the canopy and admire the trains going by.

After putting on some moleskin and changing my socks, I decided to head back to Space Mountain. This spooky version, with all of the lights turned off and Halloweeny music paying, isn't as effective as the regular one. Worse yet, the jolts and turns are more pronounced and potentially injurious, because now you can't see them coming. Getting off the ride, Dad complained of a kinked neck. I enjoy Space Mountain, but it definitely needs a re-track. Personally, I still enjoyed it.

Next up was the Peoplemover, which was relaxing and charming. Now is a good time to talk about breakdowns, though. In this instance, we got stuck behind Space Mountain, and just got to chill in pitch black listening to spooky music. More hilarious was the event the prior day, where we got stuck on Three Cabarellos. Did we get to listen to six minutes of the animatronic mariachi band? Nope, just the troupe saying "goodbye" over and over while the next boat repeatedly crashed into our traffic jam. Not gonna lie, this made me laugh pretty hard. This post is getting pretty long, so I will save my final thoughts for later, but let me say that ride reliability did seem to be an issue during our stay at Walt Disney World.

Next up would be the Astro Orbiter, from which I hoped we could view the fireworks. No dice, but the ride itself surprised me. First, I love how high it takes the rider, giving me a great chance to admire the nighttime views. Second, I was struck by how far diagonal you can bring your car if you maximize the height with your joystick. Upon exiting, I was tempted to do this ride again. The Imagineers did a fantastic job with such a rudimentary ride system.

With Big Thunder Mountain still down, the choice was easy to simply head north again. At this point, I was on a mission for Gaston's Tavern, but not before getting distracted by The Barnstormer. This Goofy-themed kiddie coaster is built just right for small children- short enough that they won't get overwhelmed (or the ride will be over soon if they hate it), and just thrilling enough to keep most of them entertained but not crying. I saw a POV and wondered, what was the point, but then I actually rode it and it all clicked for me. The kids around us were having a blast. It's a scrappy little diversion that's worth subbing for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train if the latter has a long wait time.

Gaston's Tavern, like other closed-roof quick-service locations, was closed for business, only serving trick-or-treat candy. Boooooo. I really wanted a souvenir stein and a mug of LeFou Brew. This didn't stop me from taking some pictures of the scenery. The Halloween Party map could do a better job communicating what capacity these places are still open in, because the map had me believe they were still serving food.

At this point, I'd like to share a story from my first visit in the late 90s. Little me was kind of afraid of everything. Despite my parents' assurances, I hated Space Mountain. When I got off, I angrily insisted upon riding It's a Small World over and over again. "It's a very happy ride," I apparently explained to my Dad at the time. And now as the fireworks went off, we decided to avoid the crowd and ride this one again. I'd forgotten how long this ride is. I'd forgotten that the same two verses play incessantly, without interruption. This time, one loop was more than enough. "I made you go on this over and over? Wow... sorry."

Hindsight being what it is, we should've saved this ride for after the fireworks. Not because we wanted to join the crowd, but because immediately after we got out of Small World, everyone flooded towards The Haunted Mansion. We wouldn't be riding that this moment.

For his part, my father was now getting very tired. "I might go back if that's okay." I explained to him that he shouldn't worry. At this point it was after 10, and besides, there is a novelty to enjoying a theme park by oneself. This made him feel better about heading to the Lodge, and I'm glad he got to beat the rush and get the rest that he needed. I was here to press on, blisters or not. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was back online.

One of the benefits of being a group of one is that you apparently quite often get a whole row to yourself. This was the case for Big Thunder, where I pulled a "Jurassic Park" with the lap bar and pulled it down just enough for the operators to give the okay. What a fun time I had, sliding from one side of the cabin to the other, feeling those stomach drops, closing my eyes to savor the sensation so that I would feel it while dozing off later on. I hope they never close this ride.

One thing they've already closed was Splash Mountain, replaced now with the infamously unreliable Tiana's Bayou Adventure. Here's a disastrous overlay that downgraded a super-headliner, constantly breaks down, and ignites a firestorm of controversy whenever one speaks out against it. But I was ready to give it a chance to ride it in person. Even if it's not as good, it does look charming enough. The queue was fun to walk through, as I enjoyed getting an update on how things are going in this world after the events of the underrated film. And then I reached the front, and the ride stopped for a solid five minutes. Heeere we go... So common are these malfunctions that when the "technical difficulties" voiceover rang out, the cast members sardonically recited alongside word for word. I'm not kidding. I would've waited if I had the time, but in fact I had precious little before closing. Even if it started back up, I couldn't have it petering out again and getting me stuck. So I made the wise choice and bailed on this mistake of a ride before I made one myself. The "special spice" is salt!

With everyone now securing spots for the parade, the wait for The Haunted Mansion was a short one. I took in the unforgettable sightlines as I made my way towards the imposing facade, serenaded by the ponderous organ tune that emanated from within. What followed was my favorite part of the "Halloween Party" experience: a chat with Madam Carlotta and her butler, Broome. Carlotta complimented my outfit, I did the same in return, and before we knew it we were having a back-and-forth while everyone around me watched. She even had me sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star- it was great! Someone was filming this, so it might be floating online for all I know. I didn't take a picture, instead choosing to live in the moment. I'll post a picture from the internet. The ride itself delivered all the spooky vibes I was hoping for. I do wish they'd relocate the Hatbox Ghost to somewhere else among the other ghouls, as he's fairly incongruent with his current surroundings. Upon exit, the ambience outside the mansion, especially at the pet cemetery, had me spellbound. Halloween feels like it's coming early this year.

Now then, I still had time for one more ride. What would it be? Well, my blisters were starting to kick in big time, and Pirates was a good one to hit on the way out. Why not kick back in that boat and enjoy those sights and smells one more time? On my way there, I slowed my pace to admire the parade, which contained awesome Pirates and Haunted Mansion floats.

Approaching Pirates, my ears were greeted by the Rusty Cutlass Band, a group of merry pirates playing familiar songs with a scurvy twist. Even better, as I exited the ride, they were playing a spruced-up version of "Yo-Ho." I joined the crowd and admired their work, taking in the atmosphere there in Caribbean Plaza. As they finished and thanked us for being part of the event, I happily wandered back to Aloha Isle, where I got myself a Tropical Serenade. I'd call it the best Dole Whip float they offer, and perhaps because I'd done so much walking, it was my favorite treat of the whole trip.

Here at midnight, I was at a crossroads. Should I beat the rush and take the bus home, or should I join the crowd in the hub and watch the Hocus Pocus Villain Spectacular? My feet were killing me, and I'd have to stand in place the whole time... Well, you really do only live once. This was a lot of fun, seeing my favorite villains (including my boy Dr. Facilier) prance about onstage with flawless choreography. Plenty of people were filming, but again I figured it would be online in better quality if I wanted to relive it. Better to just be where you are and enjoy it. A couple of preshow pictures of the castle were enough for me, and they did turn out great.

On my way out, I was stunned by one more sightline: Main Street after dark. Somehow, the funnel of people was much more tolerable than I'd imagined it would be, and better yet, the Emporium was still open even then. As I searched for something, it struck me that I'd gone this entire trip without encountering a jerk. No entitled parents, no unruly teens, no sloshed-out college kids. Just me and Dad having a wonderful time, all four days. I grabbed a plush Mickey doll for the two-year-old son of my close friends back at home. The evening I got back, I gave it to him and he went to sleep hugging it. Not a bad way to part with 30 bucks.

Between the wait for the bus and the long ride back, I didn't get to my room until close to 2am. This didn't stop us from getting one more breakfast at Boma before checking out that morning. Despite some weird choices on my part, inclement weather, and ride malfunctions, our trip was a resounding success. I'll save my final thoughts for the next post, but I'm already in the beginnings of my plan for next time.

Steps taken: 34,095

 

[meggo819]

I do wish they'd relocate the Hatbox Ghost to somewhere else among the other ghouls, as he's fairly incongruent with his current surroundings.

I’ve wondered about this, as I haven’t seen it myself yet. Is he before Madame Leota summons the ghosts?

I’ve enjoyed reading your trip report. Your writing style is very thoughtful and descriptive.

 

[Mondo]

I’ve wondered about this, as I haven’t seen it myself yet. Is he before Madame Leota summons the ghosts?

I’ve enjoyed reading your trip report. Your writing style is very thoughtful and descriptive.

Yeah, he’s just kind of hanging out right before Madame Leota summons the ghosts. It’s awkward and tacky, if I’m being honest.

And thank you!

 

[Wicked Sisters]

Really enjoyed your thoughts and trip report. So pleased you and your father had a good time and you want to go again. We went September last year after a 15 year break also and we were just as excited there as before and we are in our 60’s We have already booked for next year in September and we have decided to have it more relaxing this time. We always have 2 weeks there as we are from the UK so we can pace ourselves. Loved your Halloween photos and we are doing that for the first time next year as well.

 

[Mondo]

Final Thoughts

You’ll notice that my opinions range from glowingly positive to decidedly negative. I think this speaks to the gulf in quality between the philosophy of current management, vs what they inherited. This is not to say that there haven’t been wins under Iger. The lights on Spaceship Earth, Guardians of the Galaxy, the theming in Pandora and Galaxy’s Edge, the Skyliner- those are all real success stories.

And yet his recent decisions for Magic Kingdom in particular have ranged from regrettable to disastrous. Tron is a misfire that takes up a massive footprint that could’ve gone to a better ride. Tiana’s lives in the shadow of its predecessor and doesn’t even run properly. Cars Land will never look as good as the river, and unless done perfectly, will be an absolute eyesore.

That last part pains me to say because Disney has historically been much more mindful for sight lines and beautification than their competitors across the swamp. Universal has been brazen in their disregard for sightlines, to the point where Hogwarts Castle was visible from on the Jurassic Park River Adventure until the vegetation thankfully concealed it. My hope is that Disney continues this trend, but with so many former Imagineers working on Epic Universe, plywood beams behind the rock work of Galaxy’s Edge visible from the highway, and the coming Villains Land wrapping behind Haunted Mansion, I’m wondering if things will flip.

One thing I don’t see Universal surpassing is Disney’s capacity to entertain children. We saw so many instances of kids having a great time during our stay, whether they were participating with the show during Muppet Vision 3D (“He’s over there!!”), dancing with the Country Bears in a big mob, or watching the Boo-To-You Parade, it was heartwarming every time.

Disney also has the blessing of size working for it. Walt Disney World is enormous, a sprawling vacation kingdom unlike anywhere else on Earth. The amount of potential in this area is probably more than most of us realize. I don’t like the current management of the company, but the silver lining is that they’ve not come even close to squandering the future. Most likely, a brighter, bolder CEO will come along one day and make better use of this American institution.

I’m glad that we went in September. For those of you planning a visit, check the crowd calendars and let those be your guide. Go for the parks first, the rides second. Don’t count on extended evening hours being reliable enough for you to do what you want- half of World Showcase was closed when we tried that.

I am already planning my next trip. It will be several months from now, so I don’t have much decided. I can say that I would prefer to stay at the Pop Century, with its Skyliner access. I don’t know who will be with me, but if this trip was centered on Animal Kingdom, I want the next one to focus on Epcot. I have to imagine that it will be relatively easy to visit the park if we enter through the back door in France.

Here are some photos that I had to cut from my last post:

I didn’t snap one myself, so here are the characters I met outside the Haunted Mansion (they looked slightly different because they weren’t the same actors):

Here is another great view of Fantasyland at night:

Gaston’s Tavern

The Tropical Serenade (with POG juice!):

The castle with a spooky projection:

Main Street at night: