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]

Yes, my traditional school bread breakfast. Delicious. Buuut there was drama, a table of ladies and a young boy who suddenly started screaming at the top of his lungs. A hot coffee had gotten knocked over and grandma literally leapt into action and lifted him away before he could get any on him, while grandma took the brunt of the coffee :/

Breakfast consumed, I decided to just do a little walk around World Showcase since I didn't think I would be spending much time at Epcot today.

It was a beautiful day. Chilly and windy, but beautiful.

The line for LWTL was long, like 25 minutes projected, but there are some rides I'm willing to wait within reason for, and this is one of them.

Before too long I was sitting front row. I would've liked to have seen the lights at night, but I was pleasantly surprised that some of them were on during the day.

They set the table for meeeeee but someone overhead had already warned people to keep their hands inside the boat so I decided it wasn't best to get out and enjoy my feast just yet...

Judgmental fish still judging me.

I witnessed actual people "Working" in here!

 

[Agent H]

View attachment 840634
Yes, my traditional school bread breakfast. Delicious. Buuut there was drama, a table of ladies and a young boy who suddenly started screaming at the top of his lungs. A hot coffee had gotten knocked over and grandma literally leapt into action and lifted him away before he could get any on him, while grandma took the brunt of the coffee :/
View attachment 840635
Breakfast consumed, I decided to just do a little walk around World Showcase since I didn't think I would be spending much time at Epcot today.
View attachment 840636
It was a beautiful day. Chilly and windy, but beautiful.
View attachment 840637
The line for LWTL was long, like 25 minutes projected, but there are some rides I'm willing to wait within reason for, and this is one of them.
View attachment 840639
Before too long I was sitting front row. I would've liked to have seen the lights at night, but I was pleasantly surprised that some of them were on during the day.
View attachment 840640
They set the table for meeeeee but someone overhead had already warned people to keep their hands inside the boat so I decided it wasn't best to get out and enjoy my feast just yet...
View attachment 840641
Judgmental fish still judging me.
View attachment 840642
I witnessed actual people "Working" in here!

Wow grandmas a saint! That school bread looks delicious I Will have to try it sometime

 

[Swissmiss]

185 would pay for a lot of gas for other trips

unfortunately you are both talking sense but if it's still available Friday....... ...... .....

I’ll add that 185 would also pay for a lot of ice cream

 

[tonystark]

It's a good thing there's nothing reasonable available to book right now because after the bad day I had I would have happily spent $185 American dollars on a value resort teehee

I was soon reunited with old friends.

My one attempt at the Seas, which, if you recall, broke down while I was in line. I followed in the trailblazing path of a mom and her daughter to get the heck out of that non-moving line and back out into fresh air.

While in line I recall glancing at this, snorting, and exiting out. 30 dollars almost! I can't I can'ttttttt (and yet will I in the future, likely).

This is as close as I got to this... attraction. It was cold. Apparently you can go through and not get wet but honestly I didn't care enough. I might nip in this Saturday if it's not slammed just to see.

I kind of felt like I'd done what I wanted to at Epcot barring Nemo and Soarin' (line was 50 minutes + and I wasn't willing). But one last journey on SSE and then on to the monorail.

A popcorn for you all! And other pieces of previously chewed gum!

This ancient Egyptian is pounding Pah Pie Rus, a sort (kind?) of paper.

Stopped by Caesar for a minute or two.

Boots! But then I sensed an ominous, frightening presence to my other side...

 

[Go.Nijntje]

I got evacuated from SSE last year after being stuck at the burning Rome scene for 20 minutes. That smell gets annoying after awhile. And seeing SSE with the lights on completely ruins it.

 

[tonystark]

A friend is coming with me this weekend so we got a hotel room all's well that ends well

 

[RememberWhen]

A friend is coming with me this weekend so we got a hotel room all's well that ends well

Excellent!!

 

[Tuvalu]

A friend is coming with me this weekend so we got a hotel room all's well that ends well

As do I. Remember I was only doing what you asked...

need the squad to tell me not to book A*l S*ar S*orts for 185 a night this weekend simply because it would allow me to be lazy and not drive up and back same day come on that price is ridiculous

 

[riverside]

It felt like I was in Pittsburgh again trying to get through the Fort Pitt Tunnel... a traumatizing experience to be sure.

R drives through them everyday to get to work. He’s an expert at cutting people off at the last minute to get in the tunnels.
Fortunately I only drive through them when I’m going to the airport.

 

[tonystark]

Epcot on a festival weekend HELP!!!! Lol

 

[tonystark]

Ok, need to finish the first trip report before I can start the next trip report, don't I...

It was time to make my way to my next park.

She is so happy, little did she know she'd be back in a month, and then who knows what March will bring...

I always think that this is going to be much faster than it is.

Monorail #1.

Layover #1.

Monorail #2. They were sending us on the resort monorail, I do remember the lines being rather long. So there were other layovers that I suppose we don't need to count as I did not disembark...

Finally arrived to my destination! And took the typical picture that we shall see in various states this year, I do not doubt.

Building up the anticipation...

Stopped in the Confectionary to once again look at the build your own popcorn that I wanted but have never found the endurance to wait in line, and there's always a line...

A brief failure, but where to next?

 

[tonystark]

Of course our travels would take us here! To the Peoplemover, where the line looked long but never actually is... really.

Sponsored by Enterprise and also by me.

No one was waving back to me this time.

It was about 2 o'clock and I made my way across the park to Adventureland. Look at how my poor camera struggled. Pirates was posted as a 35 minute wait and so I got in line. It was definitely longer than that, and... I had a little... I don't even know what was going on. Maybe I'd been locking my knees too long when we were standing still, had only eaten the school bread, was overheated... But I was about to go DOWN. I had a "hmm should I tell a stranger I'm about to pass out and see what happens or should I just pass out in silence?" I elected to continue staggering through the queue with my pulse pounding at my temples, ripping off all my layers, and made it...

I got in to my appointed row, and then I was probably rude to some poor little single rider man who got into the row with me... He was supposed to wait for the next boat, not sit next to me while I was having my little conniption.... But it's fine, whatever, I needed to focus on something instead of feeling like I was about to go down.

My piglet man? No.

These guys? No, not really, I was still feeling kind of unwell. I needed to eat.

Upon staggering my way to Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, I waited what felt like an eternity to get these chicken tenders and a Sprite.

At least I got a little closer to Sonny this time. I spent an hour here recuperating and then decided it was time to set out again because I was feeling normal.

A ride on Peoplemover once again will restore me.

 

[tonystark]

Healing powers activated...

A new take on my usual Starport photo.

I love Haunted Mansion but not enough to wait in this line at this moment.

Ugh, I will miss this view (well, not the huge crane). The ambiance, the ambiance!

Umm, on my walk I decided to be delusional. And then I wandered over there and saw how WET PEOPLE WERE emerging from this ride? It was not going to happen.

And neither was this. Yet. There was no way that the wait was going to be 25 minutes with the line all the way out here. I had trotted over here for nothing. But the Pirates redemption arc would be happening, later.

I suppose I could head over and see the new Country Bears...

Nice to see this guys sticking around.

Well, it was fun! I was never the Country Bears' biggest stan, so I never had strong opinions. And I guess if I had to listen to them sing Disney songs, then this was okay. I do think it lost a little bit of its strange charm. And there were more people in this theatre than I had ever seen before.

I was definitely getting my steps in, crossing to and fro in the hunt for low-enough wait times.

 

[tonystark]

Soon enough I was boarding on my front row seat.

I suppose I could become happy enough to be on the happiest cruise that ever sailed. I was feeling a lot better, too.

My poor destroyed camera makes those animatronics look like little angels. Or ghosts.

But she's no angel... I do love her reflection in the picture though lol.

And NOW it was time for the Pirates redemption arc.

This is more what I would expect for a 25 minute wait. I trusted it. Also, wow, look at that little knight in front of me that I had never noticed. Cape and all.

Me and the wall where I almost passed out. Besties!

And here was my non-front row seat, where I sat alone. But it would've been fine had I had a random passenger, for I did not have a repeat episode. Which I was kind of scared I would psyche myself into having, which is why I made myself go on Pirates again.

That image is how I felt in line for Pirates mere hours earlier.

Hello fellas. Maybe one day I will turn and take a picture of Jack Sparrow instead, but I doubt it.

 

[Go.Nijntje]

I'm glad you were feeling better for the redemption arc.

 

[Minnie1986]

View attachment 836030
Never realized that these platypi (?) are holding eggs and not little croquet balls or something.
View attachment 836031
Backed up a bit far today I felt. It was time to look around.
View attachment 836032
Clowns BEGONE!! You do not belong here. While I'm looking up....
View attachment 836034
Here's a gaping hole in the ceiling tile where the balloon drops up and down from. Surely this does not need to be such a large hole...
View attachment 836035
I do feel like this is a downgrade. I liked seeing my name on the screens. Sigh.
View attachment 836036
The park had been open for a few minutes, so you know where I had to go. The only place that matters. What would have been my first ride of the day, and what is the first ride of the day in my heart.
View attachment 836037
They have wasted no time over at Big Thunder, which I'm bummed to have missed by a day.
View attachment 836038
Greetings to my favorite family.
View attachment 836039
Good to see they've kept the chandeliers suitably cobweb strewn in my absence.
View attachment 836040
And here he is. The hatbox ghost. My opinion? I guess I didn't really... care. I remember being mad when they announced it. The STORYLINEEEE you're not SUPPOSED TO SEE A GHOST BEFORE LEOTA.... and then I realized that it's never that serious. It's fine. Projection screen animatronics are not my favorite. And this guy just stands there with his hat box. Not much to write home about.

Never realized that these platypi (?) are holding eggs and not little croquet balls or something.

When I was a kid I used to think that they were golf balls for some reason

 

[Agent H]

When I was a kid I used to think that they were golf balls for some reason

I used to think this was a golf ball

 

[Minnie1986]

I used to think this was a golf ball

Same!

 

[Agent H]

View attachment 836030
Never realized that these platypi (?) are holding eggs and not little croquet balls or something.
View attachment 836031

Must not make phineas and ferb joke must not make phineas and ferb joke