Trip Report I Vowed Never Again ~ Yet Here We Are! *COMPLETED*

Wait, what?

WDW-obsessed Tuvalu actually vowed never again ?!?!

Must. Read. More.


Clickbait! :joyfull:

But there is truth in my statement. I did vow not to visit the world whenever our spring break...always the first week in April....aligns with Easter. The first week of April typically brings heavy crowds since most southern school systems are out. I can handle heavy. But add in additional volume from schools that coordinate their break with Easter and “heavy” becomes INSANE. (Not quite the insanity of Christmas week....I am smart enough to avoid that, thanks to a one-day trip in 1994.)

But I’ve BEEN THERE ~
In 2009 (during the recession) when it took 40 minutes just to get through the Epcot parking booth....and the line for the boat ride in Mexico was out the front door of the pavilion....and Magic Kingdom was closed due to capacity.

In 2010 when the mid-morning standby wait for Test Track was 240 minutes (that’s 4 hours, people!) and the wait time for Nemo (Nemo!) was 150 minutes.

In 2015 when we watched the 6:45 am MK Welcome show in the dark because we wanted to ride a few attractions before the hordes descended.

Long lines to use the restrooms (always filthy because attendants couldn’t keep up); no available tables in quick-service locations, forcing guests to sit on the ground outside the restaurants; and a general atmosphere of cranky/angry guests who didn’t like dealing with the multitude any more than I did.

So I declared, DONE THAT!

Or so I thought.....

My darling daughter Em lives for spring break. As a student she vacationed (Disney or beach) every year but one ~ and there was nearly a mutiny! Now that she’s a teacher, going away for spring break has reached an even higher level of importance. 😉 With this year’s Easter/spring break overlap, we began researching other warm-weather destinations.

Guess what we discovered. Transportation, resort and dining costs were cheaper if we went to WDW! And having APs means our entertainment would be free. Em’s teacher budget would not be strained. The practical side of me could not argue....and the mom side of me could not disappoint my daughter.

We leave on Monday. We’re prepared. And we’re gonna be LIVE!

BB429FCD-F668-4041-835B-D5BAFEDFD831.jpeg


A few Magic meet-ups are in the works. Hope to keep them a surprise (as long as @Zipitidoda doesn’t spill the beans! :cautious:)

Despite declining MagicBands for our upcoming stay, these arrived in yesterday’s mail ~

B65C6FED-62FE-4F60-AC49-54D2F3BA526E.jpeg


Yeah, like we’re gonna wear the UGLY gray ones.....🙄

See Ya Real Soon!
 

LeighM

Well-Known Member
So they are dropping off new “Guide to the Magic” in rooms today.

The former one in our room is on the left. New guide is on the right.
View attachment 275977

Covers opened to first page in each. Old guide on top, new guide on bottom.
View attachment 275978

Notice anything?

NO BOUNCE BACK OFFER in the new guide. (And yes, I flipped through the whole pamphlet.)

Telling, isn’t it?

Maybe they changed it because many of the booklets were being taken and people didn't see the bounceback offer. Just an idea since I accidentally packed the one in our room:angelic:
 

LadyBelle

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
Bad news for @Doc Disney :cry: I think she was wanting to try the bounceback offer when she's there next month. I had never tried booking one until this past trip, but neither resort I wanted was available. Think they're doing away with it?

I always looked for the bounce back offers but never got them when I was there in either 2016 or 2017.
 
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TrolleyFollower91

Well-Known Member
I am all for security and safety. But making everyone open their wallets and flip through their cards and bills? That’s ridiculous.

The security guard at MK this evening made the man in front of me take off his lanyard, open it, and expose several hundred dollars in cash. Then, she opened his first aid kit from his backpack and sorted through every. single. bandaid. This was after she placed every content of his backpack on the table.

She made me take my camera out, take my wallet out, and unzip that inside pocket inside of all ladies’ handbags. Doing this with hands full and then have to repack your bag before heading through the medical detector is a feat that only a tightrope walker could perform. :rolleyes::mad:
 

Tony the Tigger

Well-Known Member
I am all for security and safety. But making everyone open their wallets and flip through their cards and bills? That’s ridiculous.

The security guard at MK this evening made the man in front of me take off his lanyard, open it, and expose several hundred dollars in cash. Then, she opened his first aid kit from his backpack and sorted through every. single. bandaid. This was after she placed every content of his backpack on the table.

She made me take my camera out, take my wallet out, and unzip that inside pocket inside of all ladies’ handbags. Doing this with hands full and then have to repack your bag before heading through the medical detector is a feat that only a tightrope walker could perform. :rolleyes::mad:

:eek::eek::eek:
 

Swissmiss

Premium Member
I am all for security and safety. But making everyone open their wallets and flip through their cards and bills? That’s ridiculous.

The security guard at MK this evening made the man in front of me take off his lanyard, open it, and expose several hundred dollars in cash. Then, she opened his first aid kit from his backpack and sorted through every. single. bandaid. This was after she placed every content of his backpack on the table.

She made me take my camera out, take my wallet out, and unzip that inside pocket inside of all ladies’ handbags. Doing this with hands full and then have to repack your bag before heading through the medical detector is a feat that only a tightrope walker could perform. :rolleyes::mad:

I can't understand why they haven't put in bag screening machines like they have in DLP - even when it is crowded, they are still fairly quick and efficient. I think that I waited longer at WDW in January to go thru a bag check line of 3-4 people in front of me than I did this week at DLP with more than a dozen people ahead of me. (Though I have often suspected that the extent of the security at DLP is mandated by the French authorities and a WDW-style bag check would not meet the standards set.)
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
I am all for security and safety. But making everyone open their wallets and flip through their cards and bills? That’s ridiculous.

The security guard at MK this evening made the man in front of me take off his lanyard, open it, and expose several hundred dollars in cash. Then, she opened his first aid kit from his backpack and sorted through every. single. bandaid. This was after she placed every content of his backpack on the table.

She made me take my camera out, take my wallet out, and unzip that inside pocket inside of all ladies’ handbags. Doing this with hands full and then have to repack your bag before heading through the medical detector is a feat that only a tightrope walker could perform. :rolleyes::mad:

It has been many years since 9/11. Sufficient time for Disney to have moved past their antiquated bag check.

This story is reminding me of security at the airport during the Halloween timeframe and playing with the candy at the airport. Dumping female products necessary for the day onto the table is icky and frankly unsanitary to handle in that manner. Sure they wear gloves but what have those gloves touched that the guest will touch again shortly?

Uni has their hub of security down to a science and has for years already. Yes it was a financial investment but it is beyond efficient. Look at the volume on x ray machines and metal detectors. Then think Disney. Like I said they've had since 9/11 to get their act together and have chosen not to. Uncalled for. Uni xray machines vs securities hands on at the main security hub. Can you only imagine what TSA would be like if they went through each and every bag and zipper by hand vs Xray. I can't even go from the MK to Epcot without doing this twice. Uni wins for minimizing guests inconvenience for attempting safety for all.

I can't understand why they haven't put in bag screening machines like they have in DLP - even when it is crowded, they are still fairly quick and efficient. I think that I waited longer at WDW in January to go thru a bag check line of 3-4 people in front of me than I did this week at DLP with more than a dozen people ahead of me. (Though I have often suspected that the extent of the security at DLP is mandated by the French authorities and a WDW-style bag check would not meet the standards set.)
^^^^
This.

Disney knows how to do it better, just doesn't.
 

Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
..
So they are dropping off new “Guide to the Magic” in rooms today.

The former one in our room is on the left. New guide is on the right.
View attachment 275977

Covers opened to first page in each. Old guide on top, new guide on bottom.
View attachment 275978

Notice anything?

NO BOUNCE BACK OFFER in the new guide. (And yes, I flipped through the whole pamphlet.)

Telling, isn’t it?

Orlando tourism announced that Brazilian tourism is up 15% to 20% Fills in the gaps without need for discounts.
 
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Longers

Well-Known Member
Just caught up on yesterday
Another great day (minus the tragical express envelope!)

I now want ice cream for breakfast!

So funny that you “looked left” - I better you laughed afterwards!

And BTMRR x 3 - great job - but are you beating me yet? I’m not giving anything away - you’ll have to see from my TR when you return :)
 

Songbird76

Well-Known Member
I am all for security and safety. But making everyone open their wallets and flip through their cards and bills? That’s ridiculous.

The security guard at MK this evening made the man in front of me take off his lanyard, open it, and expose several hundred dollars in cash. Then, she opened his first aid kit from his backpack and sorted through every. single. bandaid. This was after she placed every content of his backpack on the table.

She made me take my camera out, take my wallet out, and unzip that inside pocket inside of all ladies’ handbags. Doing this with hands full and then have to repack your bag before heading through the medical detector is a feat that only a tightrope walker could perform. :rolleyes::mad:
Gracious, I would have switched lines. I accidentally got in a line with someone who was really slow, and by the time I realized what was going on, I was already next, so I waited, but I did tell the person behind me that I would recomment getting in a different line. She did, and was through before I was.
 

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