Trip Report Let's Be Financially Irresponsible

hehehehehe....

Oh, friends, it has been so, so very long. And so much has happened in the past year! Namely, a year of clinical rotations mostly around Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, venturing as far west as Kansas. It was an experience I'd rather not repeat, and fortunately do not have to, as I graduated at the end of December, passed my board exam, moved back to Florida, and will begin a new job shortly. Phew! I just got back from the UK on Saturday, after spending Christmas with my family over there, and had to drive past WDW TWICE on my way to and from MCO. It hurt me. It hurt me so badly that after driving past it on Saturday I started talking to my mom about how I could just go.... I could just... go.

Here's where I could just go... The following morning, jet lag had me up rather early so I was like... shall I check to see if there are any hotels available? What's the harm? What is the harm. So I looked for Wednesday and Pop was available for 162 that night. I hate making decisions and that number wasn't really speaking to me, so I held off. My grandparents came over yesterday to see my new apartment now that I finally have furniture (that is a story and a half...) and while there, my grandma (the one I often go to Disney with) and my mom started being little evil devils on my shoulder whispering to me that I should just DO IT. So I looked at the hotel availability for Tuesday... and lo, All Star Sports for $93 a night. That's more like it. So, I jumped. And by jumped, I also bought my annual pass. Thus, the title of this thread (which I figure I'll just keep ongoing for the year a la @Tuvalu as long as I, of course, am not cramping your style). My credit card is taking a beating.

So, this Tuesday through Thursday I'll be at WDW, and I'm kind of just winging it. I have reservations for MK tomorrow, Epcot on Wednesday, and who knows on Thursday because I haven't decided if I'm going to go to a park or head home for any administrative stuff outstanding for my job since my remaining funemployment free time is rapidly dwindling. Don't expect great pictures for now because 1) I did not settle on the Photopass upcharge and 2) I dropped my phone this year directly on the camera and shattered the glass over the lens, thus the weird flares in the photo above. But she still works, so that will be dealt with in the future if any of the new iPhones this year tickle my fancy... a different opportunity to be financially irresponsible in 2025! Yay! So, join me on what is sure to be a year of me just riding Haunted Mansion and Peoplemover and calling it a day since I have no interest in figuring out the latest FP replacement

 

[tonystark]

While I wait for the new episode of Love Island USA here I am updating my trip report...

So, a wretched night's sleep completed, it was time for us to try to do as many parks in one day as possible when tireddddd.

Passing by Lady at 8:46 am (egads!) on the way to the bus.

And here it was! We were not going to Blizzard Beach, but we were in fact going to Animal Kingdom. We had A's child with us, and we were trying to keep a really close eye on him but unfortunately...

He fell during the bus ride and we had to really get down on the floor and reach for Remy to rescue him. We were the last off the bus but it was okay because the child was SAFE.

Time to enter my (second-to, I think) least favorite park!

I find the exit to Animal Kingdom to be confusing and maze like, and I find the entrance to be... Okay.

But I'm not a complete charlatan. I can appreciate the depth of theming this park has. I just wish there was more to do. And that it wasn't so dang hot. I feel like it's humidity coming off the foliage, because it at least has more shade compared to the other parks.

This ride, however, earns Animal Kingdom some goodwill. A 25 minute standby wait was agreeable. We spent it talking about student loans.

And admiring the exhibits.

But our wait was over all too soon and it was time to ascend Everest. Can you believe there's a Yeti up there? And he's honestly so rude, I was just trying to enjoy the mountain scenery but he ripped up the tracks I was traveling on and literally sent me backwards with no warning.

Shaken after that harrowing encounter, we wandered over to Dinosaur for the "last" ride, as every time I go on this ride I'm like this is it, it'll be gone next time... But it never is.

 

[Baloo124]

While I wait for the new episode of Love Island USA here I am updating my trip report...

So, a wretched night's sleep completed, it was time for us to try to do as many parks in one day as possible when tireddddd.
View attachment 865917
Passing by Lady at 8:46 am (egads!) on the way to the bus.
View attachment 865919
And here it was! We were not going to Blizzard Beach, but we were in fact going to Animal Kingdom. We had A's child with us, and we were trying to keep a really close eye on him but unfortunately...
View attachment 865918
He fell during the bus ride and we had to really get down on the floor and reach for Remy to rescue him. We were the last off the bus but it was okay because the child was SAFE.
View attachment 865920
Time to enter my (second-to, I think) least favorite park!
View attachment 865921
I find the exit to Animal Kingdom to be confusing and maze like, and I find the entrance to be... Okay.
View attachment 865922
But I'm not a complete charlatan. I can appreciate the depth of theming this park has. I just wish there was more to do. And that it wasn't so dang hot. I feel like it's humidity coming off the foliage, because it at least has more shade compared to the other parks.
View attachment 865923
This ride, however, earns Animal Kingdom some goodwill. A 25 minute standby wait was agreeable. We spent it talking about student loans.
View attachment 865924
And admiring the exhibits.
View attachment 865925
But our wait was over all too soon and it was time to ascend Everest. Can you believe there's a Yeti up there? And he's honestly so rude, I was just trying to enjoy the mountain scenery but he ripped up the tracks I was traveling on and literally sent me backwards with no warning.
View attachment 865926
Shaken after that harrowing encounter, we wandered over to Dinosaur for the "last" ride, as every time I go on this ride I'm like this is it, it'll be gone next time... But it never is.

Is that daytime haze from the weather? We live in an area labeled as "unseasonably hot" for this part of June... and I'm guessing it's no better down in FL. Guess we'll find out in a few weeks...

 

[tonystark]

Is that daytime haze from the weather? We live in an area labeled as "unseasonably hot" for this part of June... and I'm guessing it's no better down in FL. Guess we'll find out in a few weeks...

No... that is from my shattered camera lens LOL. Trust that it is bright and sunny down here in FL, if not more than a little sweltering.

 

[tonystark]

It's time to go get that dino. I'll miss this ride, despite its jerkiness. But I do like Indiana Jones, so I'm not that upset at the trade.

What, another park that quickly? Yes, we scrambled out of Animal Kingdom and splurged on a Minnie Van, which was nice but probably not worth the expense, except we were already behind schedule and there was a lot of Flower and Garden treats that we wanted to get in on.
But first, it was time to get on a ride that had just come out of refurbishment.

Ominous...

Things looked good! I appreciate this ride immensely due to its short/occasionally nonexistent wait.

The first purchase... Troll... Kreme. Supposedly this was alcoholic, but did not particularly taste it. It's a cranberry and vanilla slush with (if you're lucky) dragon berry rum, and can be found in Norway. But it didn't wow me.

I was unfaithful to school bread this trip and instead opted for a troll horn. I guess I was all about trolls today. Chocolatey, very sweet, and a one and done.

A got the viking coffee, which tasted marginally more alcoholic than the troll kreme. A better option imo.

We weren't playing, okay? It was time to eat some festival food, and we walked World Showcase for some steps before heading to Beach Grub/Yacht Grub. A got this seafood bake, which I was not interested in because I hate seafood (except for a tuna sub at subway I am a freak I am aware).

We also got the s'mores bar, which I hear has replaced the s'mores brownie at Regal Eagle. This unfortunate dessert melted quite severely while we were queueing up for everything we wanted. I found this to be okay, A didn't like the smokiness of the marshmallow.

And the best of our three purchases, the dip trio with housemade chips. We liked the whipped feta and the caramelized onion.

 

[tonystark]

Epcot truly is at its prettiest during Flower and Garden. We popped into the butterfly tent, and disaster struck at some point between the butterfly tent and the surrounding area. We realized... Remy was missing from A's shoulder. Lost forever, unfortunately, even though we retraced our steps and he had only been missing for perhaps 2 minutes. Someone out there stole her CHILD from the ground.

We could only look for Remy for so long. We accepted that he was lost forever (record breaking clearance of the stages of grief). Since we were in the neighborhood, it was only right to go on LWTL. Contractually obligated, in fact!

These frightening fellows stared ominously at us.

The boat never stops at my house it's kind of awkward. Like I just want to get off and go into my house, but I can't. Some of my chickens were motionless, a little concerning.

Mammoth Shrimps. I do not eat them.

The best part of the ride? Aside from seeing my house? Jamming to the pan flutes, perhaps.

Trying to get our monies worth of this festival. It was some sort of beef mushroom dish from Canada, and I remember being particularly unimpressed. Also, it was a bit too hot outside to be consuming a hot meal. And we were still grieving for Remy.

A got this from France. Coffee flavored ice cream with I believe chocolate sauce inside of a brioche. While we sat and she ate, I got sunburned! I guess I forgot the importance of sunscreen, and we really were only motionless for 5-10 minutes, and yet... The sun has power.

A bathroom break on our stroll around World Showcase. Look at this cheeky little towel creature.

One last ride on SSE before our way out, and all I could find to eat was previously-chewed bubble gum. Ugh, guess it's a good thing I wasn't too hungry.

 

[k8einwdw]

The best part of the ride? Aside from seeing my house? Jamming to the pan flutes, perhaps.

Instant serotonin

 

[sheriffwoody]

I also thought the dip trio was a star at Flower and Garden! Other than that, wasn't super impressed with anything we got.