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!
 

slipperalwaysfits

Well-Known Member
It is coconut-based and I thought it was delicious!

Following along and enjoying your Trip Report! I will definitely have to try the coconut-based drink! I love a good refresher!
Sounds like the crowds are mad, but looks like you guys are doing a great job escaping the crowds!!

Sorry for your unimpressive food experiences at Cali Grill and Via Nap. My husband is a huge VIA Nap fan so I know we're headed there in the fall but I'm starting to debate about a different signature if Cali Grill is sub-standard, based on all the reviews of late. At least you got a delish Beaches and Cream experience!!!

The bag check guest was funny. I'm betting she didn't do math when thinking about how much her trip cost, no way would I spend $25,000 on a WDW trip, ....that'd pay for my entire DVC purchase!!! (someday!) :geek:

Can't wait to hear where you're off to tomorrow and here's hoping you find a medium-short line somewhere! :angelic:o_O
 

MinnieM123

Premium Member
55 minutes until we boarded our flight.....by that’s MUCH better than the current standby of 110 minutes.

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Fun fact for those of you who have never experienced Soarin’ ~

According to the lady next to me, “It’s a ballon ride.”

The more you know. 😉

Gotcha. Adding to the revised list of EPCOT attractions:

1. Farm Ride
2. Balloon Ride

:p
 

Tiggerish

Resident Redhead
Premium Member

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
The irony of no flowers in the restrooms of Epcot during FLOWER and Garden has not escaped me.
That's exactly what I was thinking!! How could they NOT have flowers in the bathrooms during FLOWER and Garden festival? Were the flowers so sparse everywhere else that they didn't have extras to put in the bathrooms?
No flowers in the bathrooms? Didn't they know you were coming?
I am as surprised as anyone!!

PS---that purple drink that is only at the Flower and Garden fest looks amazing! Yum!o_Oo_O:geek::geek:
Violet Lemonade is very refreshing!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Did we take the boat back to POFQ?

Nope.

We took a bus here:
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Our day was ending with another Magical meet up! We were invited to the Top of the World Lounge for drinks and HEA viewing.

The lounge
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The drinks
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The view
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The fireworks
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And the awesome man who made it possible, @Big Hair!
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Funny story to come in the full TR. (If I don’t tell it, Em threatened to!)

Easter week at WDW is turning out pretty great!

Until tomorrow.....
 
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Gabe1

Ivory Tower Squabble EST 2011. WINDMILL SURVIVOR
A leaf blower outside our door at 6:25 am?!! Poor form, Disney. Even though I’m awake, I’d wager the majority in our building are still trying to sleep!
We grand opened both PO and Dixie in their days a year and a little apart. They use to mow the lawn and trim the bushes starting at 3am. They were pretty much done at dawn. At that time Disney viewed grounds keeping as off stage and not to be seen.

I think they want everyone up and spending more money in the parks and at restaurants. The earlier you are up, the more money they hope to make from you? Did Em sleep through it?
You likely have something there. WDW over the years has implemented everything they could to keep guests up and moving, in the parks or other destinations other than the resorts. From a business standpoint it does make sense. I remember how painful it was without WiFi long long after the world had embraced WiFi. How long it took Disney to have Cell towers that actually worked. Wasn't until MDE and MB's were coming online that Disney did a feeble attempt to catch up with the world and their WiFi and Cell towers failed miserably for a very long time. They didn't want guests on Smart Phones or playing on devices at the pool not spending money. It backfired for a while there.


Wonder the story behind this....
View attachment 274833

Wonder what advertisement or commercial Disney was filming for? We use to see these all the time during the 90s and early 2000's for pre-filming for Christmas 'Parade.' They have pretty much ended the need for that sending most to the West Coast and only small captures of the MK these days. *sadness* Glad we were able to participate in a Christmas Parade way back when, once. Once was enough and that was prior to needing to sign up for a special ticket to participate.
 

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