Trip Report Let in snoap, let it snoap, let in snoap *Completed*

Soooooo we landed back in a grey, cold London a week ago. It’s hardly stopped raining since and I miss Disney! Time to start my trip report
It’s my first attempt so go easy on me
I now realise what detailed notes some must make to share such fabulous reports with us all..... I did not make fab notes so let’s see how this goes!

My pre-trip is here: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-trip-reports-made-me-do-it.961639/#post-8956121


But the key bits summarised are:
Who: Me and M
Why: I wanted to do a Disney Christmas, but not Christmas week! We also celebrated 15 years together during the holiday.
When: 29th November- 9th December
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge

A preview pic to break up the text lol

 

[Oh bother!]

Still 5th December....

We dropped our shopping back in the room and went to re-fill our mugs at The Mara.

We took half hour or so to relax and change before heading to Epcot for the evening.

As we were on the bus I realised we would miss our Living with the Land FP. I booked these knowing we might choose to let them go and spend longer at Universal so it wasn’t a big deal.

As we had time we stopped for Photopass pictures with SSE.

Given they had to do them off to a side I didn’t think it they were too bad.

M went to Test Track to get a DAS pass, whilst I took a seat and rested.
We decided to skip our SSE FP. I was still had a bit of a headache and wasn’t sure it would help.

We came across the lights photopass again so decided to get some more.

We got a different pattern with the rainbow this time as the CM moved the light a different way

I wanted to ride living with the land in the dark to see all the Christmas lights

 

[Oh bother!]

I know some people weren’t keen on this overlay but I thought it was a nice simple add. It gave a festive feel without really taking away from the focus of the ride.

From there we headed to our final FP ... FEA.
And this picture actually turned up! First time as it was meant to without having to chase it up!

Interestingly I had my old magic band on this night.... so it seemed it was the new one that was the issue

We stopped at Norway. M got a cider and I just got some water

We decided to use my DAS pass for Test Track.

The line was very slow and then the screen wasn’t working too well

We were getting tired and my headache hadn’t completely gone so we headed out. We heard Epcot Forever from the bus stops.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thanks for posting the LWTL pix with the special lighting. I did not get to see the ride in the dark and was curious.

 

[Swissmiss]

Thanks for posting the LWTL pix with the special lighting. I did not get to see the ride in the dark and was curious.

I‘ll add my thanks as well - I did get to see it but knew my phone wouldn’t take decent pictures and my camera was back in the room, so I really appreciate seeing yours to remind me. We had a really cool experience as well - we were the very last boat to go thru the night we were there and the fireworks were going off when we were riding, which really added a memorable touch

 

[Oh bother!]

Thanks for posting the LWTL pix with the special lighting. I did not get to see the ride in the dark and was curious.

If they do the same next year and you get the chance I think it’s worth a ride. Not an over the top addition but pretty and nice to see living with the land getting some love.

 

[Oh bother!]

I‘ll add my thanks as well - I did get to see it but knew my phone wouldn’t take decent pictures and my camera was back in the room, so I really appreciate seeing yours to remind me. We had a really cool experience as well - we were the very last boat to go thru the night we were there and the fireworks were going off when we were riding, which really added a memorable touch

Oh that sounds lovely! What good timing!
I’m not sure the pictures do it complete justice but I’m liking the new iPhone night mode more and more!

 

[sheriffwoody]

Thank you!
My t-shirt is super comfy and I’m adding the foolish mortal patch now I’m home. No iron in the AKL room to do it there!

It is definitely a downgrade from the old show (was it flights of wonder?). I didn’t see the first attempt of the up show, but understand they have been tweaking it. I think they could do with changing it a lot more!!

Oh I didn't realize they had changed the Up show already!!! Ha. I guess we're not the only ones that think it's awkward

 

[Oh bother!]

Oh I didn't realize they had changed the Up show already!!! Ha. I guess we're not the only ones that think it's awkward

I’m only going on reports I’ve read so I could be wrong....
But they definitely should make more changes!

 

[Oh bother!]

Friday 6th..... would we get a boarding group?

Going into this trip we weren’t really sure how much time we were willing to put into riding RoTR. I’m not a Star Wars fan ( pretty sure that’s already come out in this report lol) and M likes them but not a huge mega fan.

So we decided to head over and just see how it went. HWS officially opened at 9am, we were on the bus at about 7.10.

As soon as we tapped in I got on the app and ....

The only problem was we had no idea what sort of time that would be as it was only the day after opening and we had read opening day had some significant down time.

We stopped for a photopass picture.... would it really have been to expensive for Disney to get a new board rather than reusing the land opening one

We, ok I, also enjoyed this photographers jokes.

He took this....

Then turned to take a close up of M

He then feigned a heart attack/shock and told M he wasn’t so pretty

We popped into the Legends shop and within about 2 mins had the dress that we’d spend half hour not getting at Springs the day before! We had it shipped back to the hotel.

ToT showed a 13 minute wait so M went on that whilst I updated my trip report notes. I hate this ride. It’s funny as I remember being in MGM as a child the week tower of terror opened and begging my mum to take me on it. She finally agreed but the queues were just too long and we didn’t have the time. Fast forward many years and M and I went to Paris, I finally rode and hated every second. He still wishes he had bought the photo as I’m clinging on to his arm with my hair straight up above my head like I’d had some sort of shock!

Anyway... back in 2019....
M went on Rock and Roller next

I used to do this but recently decided I don’t know why as I don’t really like it! Instead I met a nice lady on the bench outside who was also sitting this one out and we chatted for a few minutes about Disney, our surprise at everything being open so far in advance of park opening and which boarding groups we had.

When M was done we said goodbye and walked to TSL. We knew today was going to be a long one so M insisted I was to use my DAS pass Where I could. So he walked over for a SDD return.

Midway mania only had 10 minute wait so we hit that next. We got on the ride around 8.30, so it was still 30 mins before official park opening.

We did not do well!

We took some pictures in the exit queue and made use of the “Disney walls”

When we left the queue had gone up to 35 mins and I wasn’t planning on hurting myself to early in the day!
So we decided to get some breakfast and have a little sit down.

We paid oop for a breakfast bowl at woodys as it wasn’t really worth a QS credit especially as neither of us wanted a coffee....

to be continued as I ran out of photo space again

 

[Oh bother!]

Our breakfast....

Probably sad but I was a bit to happy about the CM drawing a slinky dog so took a picture

I was also a little over excited to get this table...

Really cute but also pretty low!
Overall we enjoyed breakfast but I didn’t like the gravy with the eggs, only with the tots.

It wasn’t too busy so we didn’t fill bad about taking a little rest at the table until our SDD return opened up.
These lovely people turned up as “my” ride photo ....

We got a return for midway mania and walked over to Ms first FP , Star Tours. On the way over we saw an unfortunate, “unmagical” site..... a poor little squirrel was laying dead on the side walk, with a worried looking CM clearly trying to work out what to do.

M thought I was over thinking it but I was hoping the squirrel met a natural end and was very old.... and hasn’t just been squished by an EV.

I sat in the sunshine wishing Baseline Tap was open even though it was only 9.30. M seemed to be ages on Star Tours.

We checked boarding group status and it was only at 25. There were a lot of people mentioning it had gone down again. The groups were moving slowly so we figured we had a lot of time!

I wanted to see if I could move our dining reservation out as it was an early one today but the app wouldn’t let me edit. I kept trying but it wasn’t having any of it!

We decided to go use our return time on TSMM

Some how I managed to snap the arm of my glasses as I put them on. This made for a true #firstworldproblem as I couldn’t see well as balancing the glasses was pushing my false eyelashes into my eyes!

It was time for our SDD FP. Disney found these pictures in our post-holiday photo search

We agreed the back was better but we still preferred riding at night.

The green army men were out entertaining everyone

 

[Oh bother!]

We were still no where near our boarding group so we decided we would use up some of our snack credits and go to Hollywood Scoops as it was warming up. Only it wasn’t opening until 12.30.... I’m on holiday, why can’t I eat ice cream at breakfast time?!

M settled on a Mickey bar, I had a little bite but decided to hold out until I could get the good ice cream (spoiler.... I didn’t make it back to get one!)

Beauty and the beast was starting soon so we headed over and took our seats for the 11am show.

We enjoyed this more than when we saw it last year. Then the Gaston was a bit weak but today’s did a great job.

With boarding groups not progressing quickly I popped by the guest assistance stand and confirmed we could leave the park without losing our group. They confirmed and to be honest actively encouraged us to do that but to keep an eye on the groups and allow ourselves enough time to get back when our group was ready.

We had a few more bits to do before we headed out but it was good to understand our choices.

We had a FP for FEA but it was a while until that opened up.

What to do on HWS with time to kill? Get a drink, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!
Winter larger for M and some holiday cocktail for me because I wanted to the glow cube

We found a table near the FEA theatre and sat to enjoy our drinks.

Once then FP queue was open up we headed into the queue. I’d seen on Instagram that equity Ben would be today’s historian so I was excited to get a good seat

We decided if I was going to have any chance of changing before our dinner reservation this was it. So we headed out. The bus was waiting at the stop, when we got back to AKL we checked when the next bus was due to take us back to HwS, 20 mins.....

So we did the fastest change ever and made it back to the stop for that bus.

We were probably out of the park less than an hour.
All that rushing around and my lack of ice cream were catching up on me.

We didn’t want to eat to much and spoil our early dinner. So we went to backlot and split a chicken sandwich

Seems I only have a picture of the beer!
The sandwich certainly wasn’t the best thing I ate all week but it filled a hole as they say!

We were getting closer to boarding group and just as we were finishing up we were called.... at 3pm, 7 and 1/2 hours after we were assigned boarding group 50!

There were a few checks to make sure we had been called but we were cleared for boarding and joined the queue.

I haven’t put the following pictures in spoiler as we are now over a month on and there are a lot of pictures out there but skip the next few pictures if you don’t want to see the queue or ride

 

[Oh bother!]

We felt a little rushed through the star trooper room but honestly I think they were trying to catch up! All the CMs seemed very well in character though.

Now for an unpopular opinion..... This was not my favourite new ride in Orlando. That would be Hagrids.

I thought RoTR was well done, I enjoyed that the experience was different and brought together a good use of screen technology and physical sets. The problem is I understood absolutely none of what was going on, I barely understood who was a good guy or bad guy. I’ve heard people praise script choices or hints at things in the movies but it went completely over my head.

I think you can still get some enjoyment as non- star wars fan but honestly it, for me, was limited by having no connection to the source material. I probably wouldn’t wait hours to do it again.

once we were off we were potentially cutting it fine for our dinner reservation as I had no real ideal how long it would take to get there.

We got on a bus to Wilderness Lodge. The bus was a shared service with The Contemporary so I’m not sure if I could have used other transport options like a boat?

We had a few minutes so we stopped to admire the gingerbread lodge

It was a little smaller than I expected!

I took a seat planning to change into shoes I had brought especially for this dinner. This is when I found out just how swollen my ankle and foot had become! They barely went on and are several centimetres short of the strap doing up

A photo from another time which should give a clue to our dinner plans

I sulked a bit! But then checked in and took a few photos

At check in we were told the Evil Queen would not be joining dinner tonight, which was a little disappointing but you are always warned characters may change or be unavailable.

We were seated fairly quickly

We ordered drinks and I asked if I could have an alternative to prawns for the appetisers. They confirmed I could.

My alternative was a tomato salad. Served on a separate side plate, not on the leaf.

I think our drinks arrived after the first course.
Can’t remember what Ms was called but I had an enchanted apple, most appropriate to my outfit

 

[Oh bother!]

Snow White came to our table first. It was a quick interaction but I was ok with that!

Followed by grumpy and dopey

Time for our main course

I had gnocchi which was lovely and I’d happily have again

M had beef which he enjoyed

His biggest complaint was the Yorkshire puddings needing more gravy.

Whilst we ate there was more character entertainment with a “dance” around from rhs characters.

Then to our surprise The Queen arrived

Dessert arrived

 

[Oh bother!]

We met the queen before the hunters gift was delivered

M looks worried as the queen was telling him off shoot something.

We settled the bill and headed out.

Overall my impression of Artist Point was great interaction with the Queen, we enjoyed the food and the drinks we had. We felt service was pretty poor, we weren’t offered extra drinks (which we would have bought oop), we had to ask for water and they didn’t check once we were ok or enjoying our meal. I’d go back in time, I don’t think one less than stellar service experience would be enough to take away from all the good aspects.

We had a look around the shops after. M bought a Twinkie for later as apparently he had never had one. I did try to warm him that with all the Disney treats available he would be disappointed he chose a Twinkie but he wouldn’t listen!

We waited a while for a bus back to HWS. The park was pretty busy but we expected that today.
Originally we had Oga’s booked for this evening but we both decided we weren’t bothered about going again so I moved out the reservation and eventually cancelled.

M did want to go back to galaxies edge so he could do Smugglers run again.
I sat it out.

M was an engineer this time, which he said was good but would still rather pilot!

it may seem that I sit a few bits out but I like M to do the rides he wants as I know other elements of Disney aren’t so “him”. Plus these opportunities are good for me to rest. And to people watch. I do like observing what goes on in Disney parks!

Storm troopers were out again. They had been every time we went into the land. M decided to get a blue milk.... and that it should have rum in it

I didn’t enjoy the sip I tried. Not sure if that was more to do with the rum though.

I got a full size of the vodka not chocolate available as part of a flight

Then it was time for a final ride on SDD.... no photo again!

 

[Loco_driver]

Oh man, we could’ve ended up at the same table at ogas if you’d kept your reservation! Maybe. Anyways I’ll continue check for myself in the backgrounds of you photos!

 

[krisri18]

View attachment 441156View attachment 441157View attachment 441158View attachment 441159View attachment 441160
I know some people weren’t keen on this overlay but I thought it was a nice simple add. It gave a festive feel without really taking away from the focus of the ride.

From there we headed to our final FP ... FEA.
And this picture actually turned up! First time as it was meant to without having to chase it up!
View attachment 441161
Interestingly I had my old magic band on this night.... so it seemed it was the new one that was the issue

We stopped at Norway. M got a cider and I just got some water
View attachment 441162
We decided to use my DAS pass for Test Track.

The line was very slow and then the screen wasn’t working too well
View attachment 441163
We were getting tired and my headache hadn’t completely gone so we headed out. We heard Epcot Forever from the bus stops.

Rekorderlig!!! Love that cider! Nice to know I'll be able to get it in Epcot too and not just at The Wave!

 

[Oh bother!]

Oh man, we could’ve ended up at the same table at ogas if you’d kept your reservation! Maybe. Anyways I’ll continue check for myself in the backgrounds of you photos!

I’m almost at posting my pictures of jingle bam.... I’m pretty sure that’s where we were standing in more or less the same area!!

 

[Oh bother!]

Rekorderlig!!! Love that cider! Nice to know I'll be able to get it in Epcot too and not just at The Wave!

I don’t remember very well but I think they had a couple of flavour options as well

 

[Tink86]

Those shoes are amazing!!! Where did you get them??? Cindy

 

[Oh bother!]

Those shoes are amazing!!! Where did you get them??? Cindy

They are from the irregular choice princess collection x