Trip Report From Batuu to the Boardwalk...and Beyond!

We're back from an absolutely wonderful trip that involved many firsts! As many times as we have been to Disney, we are always looking to try new things and find new favorites, and this trip was no exception! If you read my PTR (here) you will know that we actually went on two trips back-to-back; many of you questioned my sanity when I posted about the short trip, but you'll have to keep reading to find out exactly how crazy it was. If you're ready for food, drinks, and DRAMMA, you have come to the right place!

 

[bee]

1-2, cont.

We arrived at Epcot and saw all the construction in person for the first time. Once we got past security we needed to activate our APs at the ticket window. The CM at the window didn't give us yellow AP cards, which we thought was a little weird, but we figured it wouldn't be a big deal since we have MagicBands...this will come up later!

We FINALLY entered Epcot as Passholders once again, and immediately went to The Land to get some food at Sunshine Seasons.

The veggie "chicken" korma is a good reliable option, and we also tried the vegan gyro. It was good, not great, but we really appreciate Disney increasing the number and variety of vegetarian and vegan options! We also tried a White Claw hard seltzer. They are all the rage apparently but we'd never tried them before. Did we like it? Yes! Was it worth NINE dollars??? NO WAY!!! But now that we know we like them we can buy them from the liquor store for a much more reasonable price.

Pretty soon it was time for our first FP: Living with the Land, aka the Vegetable Boat Ride!

Uhhh...u ok??

Aren't pomegranates supposed to be red??

Mickey lettuce!

I tomatoes!

This flower display reminds me of the Contemporary Resort for some reason!

We also had a FP for Soarin', which we rode next.

We knew we needed to visit Club Cool on this trip...

Oops, did NOT do a great job with my nails this time! Don't worry, I did a better job before the Big Trip!

We also had to make sure we saw the Fountain!

After a short time in Epcot we headed out the IG to catch the boat toward DHS. But not before taking a break from the heat inside a STORE!!!

Up next: Boat time!

 

[PacNWTigger]

Those pomegranates you saw weren't quite ripe yet. You're right that they are a nice bright red when they are good to go!

 

[Darstarr]

dm me, I'll tell you about it.

Nooooo! We want a trip report!

 

[dizfan917]

1-2, cont.

We arrived at Epcot and saw all the construction in person for the first time. Once we got past security we needed to activate our APs at the ticket window. The CM at the window didn't give us yellow AP cards, which we thought was a little weird, but we figured it wouldn't be a big deal since we have MagicBands...this will come up later!

We FINALLY entered Epcot as Passholders once again, and immediately went to The Land to get some food at Sunshine Seasons.

The veggie "chicken" korma is a good reliable option, and we also tried the vegan gyro. It was good, not great, but we really appreciate Disney increasing the number and variety of vegetarian and vegan options! We also tried a White Claw hard seltzer. They are all the rage apparently but we'd never tried them before. Did we like it? Yes! Was it worth NINE dollars??? NO WAY!!! But now that we know we like them we can buy them from the liquor store for a much more reasonable price.

Pretty soon it was time for our first FP: Living with the Land, aka the Vegetable Boat Ride!

Uhhh...u ok??

Aren't pomegranates supposed to be red??

Mickey lettuce!

I tomatoes!

This flower display reminds me of the Contemporary Resort for some reason!

We also had a FP for Soarin', which we rode next.

We knew we needed to visit Club Cool on this trip...

Oops, did NOT do a great job with my nails this time! Don't worry, I did a better job before the Big Trip!

We also had to make sure we saw the Fountain!

After a short time in Epcot we headed out the IG to catch the boat toward DHS. But not before taking a break from the heat inside a STORE!!!

Up next: Boat time!

Thanks for the final Club Cool and Fountain of Nations pics! boo...

 

[NessNewt]

this will come up later!

Oooooo! Foreshadowing......

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Oh no, I read activating your AP's at Epcot and I thought there might be trouble. The two times I did AP stuff there I had the same cast member and both times he screwed up involving more time spent at guest relations and our premier pass not working at Disneyland. The Disneyland thing was fixed quickly by the Disneyland cast members but I learned my lesson not to do AP stuff at Epcot or if I see that cast member I'll just wait for another one to be free.

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody renewed his AP at Epcot one year and was accidentally given 3 bonus months.

Since he goes less frequently than I do, the only positive that came from the mistake is that we don’t have to pay for 2 renewals in the same month each year.

Can’t believe the CM did not give you the critical yellow cards!!

P.S. Dead to Me

 

[bee]

Those pomegranates you saw weren't quite ripe yet. You're right that they are a nice bright red when they are good to go!

Thank you! Great reminder not to judge anyone else's journey because you never know where they'll end up!

Thanks for the final Club Cool and Fountain of Nations pics! boo...

Oooooo! Foreshadowing......

Dun dun DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN

Oh no, I read activating your AP's at Epcot and I thought there might be trouble. The two times I did AP stuff there I had the same cast member and both times he screwed up involving more time spent at guest relations and our premier pass not working at Disneyland. The Disneyland thing was fixed quickly by the Disneyland cast members but I learned my lesson not to do AP stuff at Epcot or if I see that cast member I'll just wait for another one to be free.

We always activate ours at Epcot and have never had a problem...until now...

Woody renewed his AP at Epcot one year and was accidentally given 3 bonus months.

Since he goes less frequently than I do, the only positive that came from the mistake is that we don’t have to pay for 2 renewals in the same month each year.

Can’t believe the CM did not give you the critical yellow cards!!

P.S. Dead to Me

 

[bee]

1-2, cont.

Let's back up a moment. Before we left Epcot we stopped in Guest Relations to purchase a Tables in Wonderland card. The CM asked to see my AP card, and...that's right, I didn't have one! I told her we had just activated our APs at the front entrance and we weren't given cards. She said something like, "Well that's not good. You need cards!" And she happily gave us cards and linked them to our accounts.

Back to our story!

We left via the International Gateway and immediately boarded a Friendship.

We're coming for you, Boardwalk!

We're coming for you too, Swolphin...just not yet!

Not coming for you...

We made the journey to Hollywood Studios and waited in an abominable bag check line before realizing that there were a whole bunch of empty bag check lines around the corner. But once we found the empty lines we were in the park in no time!

We arrived around 3:30 and our SWGE preview was to begin at 5:00. How to pass the time?

M had the cider on tap and I had the Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPA, and we shared the pretzel. We enjoyed the pretzel and drinks. What we did NOT enjoy was the queue setup (or lack thereof) at the bar, and the lack of seating. I'm so tired of Californians who have never experienced a Florida summer designing all these places with too much outdoor seating and not enough indoor seating! This will continue to come up in this trip report. Every time we had to sit outside (or wait in a long outdoor queue) we would say, "Did a Californian design this??" PS No offense to any actual Californians reading this, but they should have asked at least ONE Floridian!!! M also said that Baseline should have a sign inside saying, "20 minute seating only" a la NYC.

Up next: Thank goodness we stopped and got some AP cards...

 

[Darstarr]

Did a Californian design this??" PS No offense to any actual Californians reading this, but they should have asked at least ONE Floridian!!!

None taken???

 

[NessNewt]

What we did NOT enjoy was the queue setup (or lack thereof)

Yes, my sister was especially irritated by this. As were people around us. It's very odd...

 

[bee]

1-2, cont.

After we finished our drinks we still had about half an hour until our SWGE preview block was to begin. We started to head toward the bathroom, but a CM stopped us and asked if we were there for the preview. We said yes, and she told us we could go ahead in early! We needed our AP cards (!) and our photo IDs, and we had to show/scan our AP cards twice. Thank goodness we actually received some at Epcot Guest Relations!!!

And just like that, we were in Galaxy's Edge!!

Someone dropped this...

As we moved throughout the land I had a HUGE grin on my face that only got bigger with each new sight and sound! It was overwhelming and even cooler than I expected!!

And remember how we needed the bathroom but never went there?? I present: BATHROOMS IN SPACE!

Up next: More exploring!

 

[Tuvalu]

And remember how we needed the bathroom but never went there?? I present: BATHROOMS IN SPACE!

And I present to you:

 

[fizzieee]

So excited to hear more! Love your TRs!!!

 

[bee]

And I present to you:
View attachment 406215

Love it!

So excited to hear more! Love your TRs!!!

View attachment 406382

Welcome!

 

[bee]

1-2, cont.

After our bathroom adventure (lol) we continued exploring the land.

And finally, WE SAW HER!!!

Up next: Smugglers Run!

 

[bee]

1-2, cont.

The sign for Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run was a little wonky, but it said there was a 45 minute wait, so we hopped right on line!

While we were in one of the outside parts of the queue, Rey appeared and walked over to us! She started talking to the people behind us and I'm honestly glad she didn't talk to us because we were so starstruck I don't think I could have formed coherent sentences to have a conversation! A+++ Disney casting! This girl looked and sounded SOOOO much like Daisy Ridley that from even a few feet away she could have been her. After she finished chatting with the people behind us she went and stood under the Falcon and was looking up at the underside of it.

Queue, cont....

Up next: Meeting Hando!

 

[bee]

1-2, cont.

The queue experience went by very fast as there was lots to see and hear, and soon we were in the pre-show room with Hando!

The Hando animatronic was pretty good, not like mind-blowing, but reasonably believable.

Then we went down the hallway where we'd be assigned to our crews.

We were placed with an adult couple, their small son, and a single rider. The parents were pilots, the boy and M were gunners, and the single rider and I were engineers.

Oops, blurry...

The ride was fun, but it was clear that the little boy didn't want to ride and was scared. He didn't even want to sit down in the ride seat, but his parents convinced him to eventually. Then he was too scared of the ride and kept his eyes closed the whole time while holding his mom's hand. Why do parents force their kids to go on rides they're not ready for??

Anyway, despite the kid not shooting anything as a gunner (and it affecting the outcome of the ride), we still had a fun time and would ride again later that evening!

Up next: Food!

 

[Zipadeelady]

And I present to you:
View attachment 406215

My absolute favorite sketch from Muppets! Even now every once in awhile I'll find myself saying " Piiiiiiiigs in Spaaaaaace" no one gets it! Thank you for the flashback.

 

[Rista1313]

My absolute favorite sketch from Muppets! Even now every once in awhile I'll find myself saying " Piiiiiiiigs in Spaaaaaace" no one gets it! Thank you for the flashback.

I would get it!!!