Trip Report It's been 6 years and a global pandemic, but we are back!

Our last trip to WDW was during the summer of 2014. We have since visited six European countries and traveled across the USA (more than once), but we are ready to return to Disneyworld! We began planning over a year ago, fresh on the heels or our latest European adventure. We asked our kids where they wanted to go next summer (2020), Europe or Disney, and they chose Disney (thankfully as we would not be allowed to travel to Europe this summer). I have to say, as much as I enjoyed our visits to Europe, I'm very excited to return to Walt Disney World. So many of our early family adventures were to Disney and I'm excited to be there again now that our kids are older. So much to share since our last visit, and so much to say about our upcoming trip. So much has changed since our original reservation, including a global pandemic. Updates soon!
 

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Good morning. Well, we are just 10 days out this morning. I'll share our plans for our upcoming trip as well as flashbacks to some older trips over the next few days. At this point, our flights have been changed by the airline and our days we would be in WDW were adjusted because of this, the resort was changed, ADRs were made, canceled, and made again, and our park days have been selected. We did get our Magical Express tags, but found out yesterday we wouldn't need them. Still waiting for our magic bands.
 

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
A few flashback pictures from 7 years ago today! We began our day at the Main Street Barber Shop.

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We then did the Family Magic Tour (with just one other family) and searched the Magic Kingdom For Captain Hook's hook! We got to meet some friends along the way.

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Madelyn would eventually discover the hook in a flower near the Pirates of the Caribbean.

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Our guide for the day was so nice. She no longer works for Disney. She is now a blogger on another Disney-related site.
 

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Definitely following along! Where are you guys going to be staying this time?
We booked our original stay (last July) at Coronado Springs from July 20 to July 27 and All Star Movies from the 27th to August 2. We were scheduled to fly SWA from Philadelphia to Orlando at 5:30 am on the 20th, and return to Philly the 2nd at 10:30 pm. Southwest changed our flights and they were no longer direct flights. We also would not arrive in Orlando on the 20th until early evening, and would return on the 2nd mid -morning. We were going to lose two Disney days! Because of the pandemic, we were able to easily select new flights at no cost that would better meet or schedule. Our new flights are once again direct. We still leave July 20, now at 7:15 am, and return a day later on August 3, and 2:30 pm. We got our two days back!

Right before the pandemic hit and things began to shut down, we noticed Coronado now had availability for our entire stay with a room only discount. We did not need park tickets as we purchased new APs last winter. We then canceled our All Star Movies part of the trip and extended the dates to our Coronado reservation. Man would this really help us out in the future!!!! We figured we'd hold out until AP room discounts would come out, which they obviously didn't do until this week, but it turns out we did better than any discount could have!

Once the new reservation system was up and running and details were posted online, we saw that Coronado would not be reopening with Disney in time for our stay. We called Disney, but could not get through the first day. My wife was able to reach them the next afternoon. After spending nearly 5 hours on hold and watching day become night, in less than 10 minutes we were relocated to a one-bedroom villa at the Riviera Resort at no cost! So excited about this resort.
 
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coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Our plans:

Monday, July 20 Magic Kingdom with dinner at Liberty Tree at park closing

Tuesday, July 21 Hollywood Studios with lunch at 50's Prime Time and drinks later at Oga's Cantina

Wednesday, July 22 Animal Kingdom with dinner at Raglan Road

Thursday, July 23 Epcot with dinner at San Angel Inn

Friday, July 24 Animal Kingdom with dinner at California Grill

Saturday, July 25 Magic Kingdom with lunch at Grand Floridian Cafe

Sunday, July 26 Hollywood Studios with lunch at Sci-Fi

Monday, July 27 Animal Kingdom with dinner at T-Rex

Tuesday, July 28 Epcot with dinner at Garden Grill

Wednesday, July 29 Hollywood Studios with lunch at Mama Melrose

Thursday, July 30 Magic Kingdom with lunch at Skipper Canteen

Friday, July 31 Epcot with lunch at Beaches and Cream

Saturday, August 1 Hollywood Studios (no dinner plans yet)

Sunday, August 2 Magic Kingdom with lunch at Be Our Guest

Monday, August 3 breakfast at Topolino's Terrace
 

brifraz

Marching along...
Premium Member
Our plans:

Monday, July 20 Magic Kingdom with dinner at Liberty Tree at park closing

Tuesday, July 21 Hollywood Studios with lunch at 50's Prime Time and drinks later at Oga's Cantina

Wednesday, July 22 Animal Kingdom with dinner at Raglan Road

Thursday, July 23 Epcot with dinner at San Angel Inn

Friday, July 24 Animal Kingdom with dinner at California Grill

Saturday, July 25 Magic Kingdom with lunch at Grand Floridian Cafe

Sunday, July 26 Hollywood Studios with lunch at Sci-Fi

Monday, July 27 Animal Kingdom with dinner at T-Rex

Tuesday, July 28 Epcot with dinner at Garden Grill

It's pretty impressive that we can overlap for 9 days and have none of the same parks reserved! On the 22nd we are having dinner at CityWorks, so maybe we can wave at each other as we walk through Disney Springs! Looks like you are going to have a pretty excellent trip.
 

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It's pretty impressive that we can overlap for 9 days and have none of the same parks reserved! On the 22nd we are having dinner at CityWorks, so maybe we can wave at each other as we walk through Disney Springs! Looks like you are going to have a pretty excellent trip.
We eat at Raglan Road at 8 pm that night. If you are around then, it would be great to say hello!
 

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