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!

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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 ~

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

See Ya Real Soon!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Home for the next 5 nights.

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Why the grumpy face? Cause her mom is grumpy. Despite using online check in, no room has been assigned to us. Check in is at 3 pm. It is now 4:20 pm. And we have to go to the front desk.

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The CM at the far end checked us in. We waited over 10 minutes for her to punch keys, pick up the phone to call the back office, etc. Only to be told “your room is not quite ready.”

This seems to be a normal occurrence for us at FQ. Happened to us last April spring break. I took this pic while we waited.

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The CM used the opportunity as we waited to offer us the gift card for no mousekeeping. I wonder if the “direct to room” text is not working on purpose so you are forced to go to the front desk.

I’m on vacation. I want someone to make my bed and clean my room.

I declined the gift card.
 

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum. I'm looking forward to reading your very first trip report. Seems like a good start except for the room not ready thing. You ever been before? If not, you two are in for a great time. Hope it is not too crowded. My wife has done a sisters trip before and they had a good time. So which one of you is the big sister? My wife has two younger sisters. Being the big sister has it drawbacks, but perks too.
Anyway, enjoy. If you have any questions, or help with unfamiliar surroundings, there are folks on this forum that might can help.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Em sensed my “Magical Meter” was on the way down so she wisely left the check in desk and went to the lobby. She’d been gone only a minute when my phone buzzed with our room number (to the perplexity of the CM.)

It was not in the building I requested. The CM said that building was full. She said the ONLY room available NOW was the number I’d been texted. (Remember it is now after 4:30.)

Begrudgingly I met up with Em and we walked to our room. And my MagicBand did not work to open the door.

Her gray one did though. 😂

Happily all was not lost, my friends. My
“Magical Meter” went way up when we entered.

We got a refurbished room!!

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epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Em sensed my “Magical Meter” was on the way down so she wisely left the check in desk and went to the lobby. She’d been gone only a minute when my phone buzzed with our room number (to the perplexity of the CM.)

It was not in the building I requested. The CM said that building was full. She said the ONLY room available NOW was the number I’d been texted. (Remember it is now after 4:30.)

Begrudgingly I met up with Em and we walked to our room. And my MagicBand did not work to open the door.

Her gray one did though. 😂

Happily all was not lost, my friends. My
“Magical Meter” went way up when we entered.

We got a refurbished room!!

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Cool! Now if you could just get one of those red card thingies while waiting on a ride. But, that rarely happens.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
No time for sitting around....we have some FPs to make!

Boarded a bus to MK. I needed to stop at Guest Relations first to purchase Tables in Wonderland. This was crucial since we have a pricey dinner ADR and the discount is a MUST.

The line at Guest Relations outside the gate was NUTZ. I thought I’d have better luck at City Hall. So I tapped my band to enter AND MICKEY TURNED BLUE!!

ThIs required supervisor who verified my AP and had to reset my band.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you used your gray band,” Em said smugly.

The line at City Hall was out the door. Already missed FP #1 and we are now in the danger zone of missing FP #2.

Meanwhile Em discovered her SD card was broken so she went to the Emporium to buy a new one.
 

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