Trip Report Shrouded In A Daft Disguise *COMPLETED*

Two weeks ago today, I returned home from the most surreal Disney vacation I have ever experienced.

During my last visit in February, I couldn’t have imagined having to wear a face mask and have my temperature taken before being allowed into a park. “Social distancing” wasn’t part of my vocabulary. Hand sanitizer was something I carried in a little bottle in my purse, not something in giant containers at the entrance/exit of every attraction.

No park hopping? No Fastpasses? No FIREWORKS :jawdrop: ?!! Not even on my radar screen.

Like a bolt out of the blue, the pandemic struck and life was dramatically altered. For everyone. And there is no Magic Mirror to tell us when it will be over. For me the pandemic has been a reminder to take nothing for granted ~ and that there can still be joy in the darkest days.

My name is Tuvalu and I have been a WDW annual passholder for nearly 25 years. I was raised on Disney and so were my children. The parks have always been my “escape” from real life. Could they still be an “escape” in the midst of a pandemic? After months of quarantine, I was ready to find out.

My daughter Em was my travel buddy. My husband Woody had reservations, but not for our safety. He was concerned we’d struggle with the restrictions and disappointment with all the changes. He wanted us to come back happy and wasn’t sure we would. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure we would either. After much research and due diligence, Em and I felt prepared to embark on a vacation with few expectations.

6603EDC0-8856-4CF0-9F82-3A98E965AA50.jpeg


Full disclosure ~ I‘ve wrestled with writing a report of our trip. The pandemic and subsequent events have caused much division on this Disney fan forum. I’ve always considered the trip reports section to be a “safe space” and hope it stays that way. My goal is to provide entertainment to the reader, nothing more.

With that in mind.....

DE01E0D7-DEFD-4267-AEA4-9339E1E1B4A7.jpeg
 

slipperalwaysfits

Well-Known Member
For anyone wondering how refillable mugs are handled, you show your mug to a CM and tell them what beverage you want. The CM fills a paper cup and hands it to you. You can then transfer the liquid from paper cup to refillable mug.

I think this is still worth getting a refillable mug this year, even though the process is a bit more complicated.

We were the first ones at the pool this morning.

As an avid reader (of more than trip reports 😍 :geek:) I would like to know @TrolleyFollower91's book of choice....
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Wednesday, con’t

Em had never been to Epcot during Food & Wine. The Festival....and MNSSHP....have been on her bucket list for quite some time. When she learned that a “Taste of Epcot” version of Food & Wine was occurring during our dates, she was very excited!

Bucket List ✅
3DBCD3ED-B6F9-4031-AF3B-3CCDC89D1272.jpeg


We planned only one day at Epcot. That park is a HOT MESS in more ways than one. It saddens both of us as it used to be our #2 fave. Now the pandemic has greatly lengthened the time until Epcot becomes appealing again.

The bus was waiting at the stop and we had the bus to ourselves.

EEE9C8FA-039A-4392-8DCB-CE8DE868CA50.jpeg


We pulled into the lot a few minutes past 11 am. We had checked the revised weather forecast and rain was likely, so we wanted to get a head start on the eats!

I think I took this picture to show the distance markers.

CC00FF96-238E-4EA7-B23B-87F34FCAB7F0.jpeg


Ditto here.

6906DBFC-3F96-40B8-9140-BD49EA56FEB3.jpeg


Welcome to Walcot!
Wall #1.

AE20D00C-BBDF-40AA-AE4B-72CE540FBC39.jpeg


#2.

F3EABC92-0D55-494C-9BD0-71CCB0EFF36E.jpeg


#3.

4033478A-37E7-4EE6-928C-19ED974E1443.jpeg


#4.

F33867F6-EE88-4CBC-8EB7-CBA5BB3EBA57.jpeg


#5.

18124BE2-AE39-4390-BA6E-72843AEE6CBF.jpeg


Lots of zig-zagging and we hadn’t made it to World Showcase yet!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
At last we made it to the Promenade!

2B7824E3-94A9-4F55-8992-8149B23FEA67.jpeg


One of the numerous CMs reminding guests of the mask policy.

7A56D9F5-16A8-444E-BA66-D503479C4893.jpeg


Em had created a list of the items she wanted to sample in order of importance. The first two were in proximity to each other which was convenient.

First:

ABC3EE1B-51BF-4261-89FA-8016AA24CFC3.jpeg


The Kālua Pork Slider was too spicy for me (I’m a weenie when it comes to heat) but Em liked it.

5848F2E8-CD66-49C1-BB90-1919A37C9302.jpeg


Second:

6ECBD15C-D337-44BB-9C08-71616E3BB597.jpeg


The Ropa Vieja Empanada was delish!

D4555E87-D38D-4DB8-9EFF-BB360C1BC876.jpeg


Em was smiling despite my eating half of the empanada. I think she would have preferred not to share it!

F698603F-D627-419A-B22C-59B549C5C39B.jpeg


Raise your hand if you see leftover Flower & Garden merchandise in the “Food & Wine” Festival Market. 🙋🏻‍♀️
Raise your hand if you think the merchandise should be discounted. 🙋🏻‍♀️
It was not. :bored:

E0BC0874-EBAA-4A52-921E-6611FFA16476.jpeg


Also I’m not sure where the sunshine on the booth was coming from, since this is what it looked like directly across from it:

E6629D76-09DA-4334-96A5-324F770CFD1F.jpeg


Gotta move on Em, a storm’s a brewin’!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Despite it being the end of July in Central Florida, Em thought Beer Cheddar Cheese soup was a good idea.

F6D4E02C-793B-4A70-9016-1890ACE26AC1.jpeg


She was right. There’s never a bad time for this Canadian delicacy. Especially when paired with pretzel bread.

6C884E98-23D8-4FB7-979F-64E52E08B805.jpeg

(Note to @riverside ~ Joey would like the pretzel bread, no salt!)

Still have an uneasy feeling about those clouds....

EA884643-2274-436E-A704-B35CC1F518A5.jpeg


Em’s next must-try was in France, so we hurried our way through the U.K. (Sorry @Longers and other Magicians from across the pond!)

C13615AF-C42C-41F1-AF63-7E72F4863B90.jpeg
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Oh no! Time to look for shelter, how about at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie? 😉

You read my mind, Nunu! (And in a SPOILER-free sort of way....unlike @Zipitidoda. :cautious: )

C36330D7-9E82-4845-8C5A-03F57800C905.jpeg


The plan was for Em to get her must-try while I would (hopefully) secure us a table Les Halles.

There was plenty of open seating from which to to choose.

86004FCB-D186-428B-BCA0-0B2718124155.jpeg


Atop each table was this note ~

87AF70F7-44AB-4762-B18A-69504D449212.jpeg


Em returned with her Frosé. (Her preference over a Frozen Mojito, @slipperalwaysfits. 😉)

993410C5-B471-4326-BEEE-A79B84C57A0F.jpeg


Uncertain of what the weather had in store for us....and because I was hungry....I thought it would be a good idea to procure some food from Les Halles.

That it just happens to be the best sandwich in the “World” was a bonus. A virtual Jambon Beurre for you, @Captain Barbossa. (Although IRL I shared it with Em.)

5340EB19-17AA-4862-9B43-7E991BF59EFF.jpeg


All the CMs working in Les Halles were authentically French. Each was wearing the official costume for France. They were obviously full-time employees. Most pavilions relied on international college program staff before COVID. Since the program has been suspended, local CMs now fill in those positions. They are not allowed to wear the host country’s costume but rather sport the Epcot flag shirt and white bottoms.

After finishing the sandwich I went back for dessert.

862B0B8B-2D87-4A1B-9BA2-36D3D799B979.jpeg


One of my favorite treats from Les Halles. :hungry:

We hung out there for awhile. It was eerily quiet in a place that is usually abuzz with people.

“Will we even be able to tell when the movie lets out?” I joked to Em.

When it did, only four guests exited into the gift shop.

Strange times, indeed.
 

lindawdw

Well-Known Member
I'm so happy to see that you're back to writing this TR!!! 😊 I love that you both enjoy your pool time at the WL so much and was glad that the large family moved onto the main pool at 11:00 am! I cannot get over the low crowd levels every where but especially at Les Halles!!! We always either stand at one of the tables or end up walking out to find a place to sit around the fountain because it's always so crowded in there!!!
 

slipperalwaysfits

Well-Known Member
Most pavilions relied on international college program staff before COVID. Since the program has been suspended, local CMs now fill in those positions. They are not allowed to wear the host country’s costume but rather sport the Epcot flag shirt and white bottoms.

I knew the program had been suspended but I didn't know the Epcot Flag shirt was the uniform for Cast Members from the US now!


“Will we even be able to tell when the movie lets out?” I joked to Em.

When it did, only four guests exited into the gift shop.


But you could still tell! :bookworm::facepalm: It is absolutely eerie how empty it is these days....I wonder what Disney will do about increasing capacity?! With the discounts they just announced....I'm wondering how much longer that will make the lines and how much more crowded Disney will let it get...
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Em and I may have missed a heavy downpour but it was sprinkling when we left France. With full bellies, we had no desire to check out the food booths between Morocco and Germany. We did stop for a peak at the train though!

D86EBE7C-8E92-4DDC-9CE2-099AC0341182.jpeg

The remaining plants from Flower & Garden seemed to have taken over the village. :jawdrop:

We were able to close our umbrellas as we approached Norway. Decided to visit the Arendelle sisters.

AF1CB98A-0F35-4AA6-A04D-D220EB42FDD1.jpeg


9F32AB55-DB43-438A-8C67-0EA261225693.jpeg


Typically we ride Frozen Ever After using FP. I believe we have only waited standby once or twice. Today we were able to appreciate the details in the standby queue.

D670AA81-D01C-4447-A38B-F42415F5C80C.jpeg


4D3FCCAD-7CFF-4F95-95C0-02396EC3236E.jpeg


CE8542F6-7536-480B-9853-2F54C98A448F.jpeg


78F7E423-7DD9-40D7-AADA-031FF7EEB4B2.jpeg


The ever-present plexiglass.

35DEF551-5AE5-4BA9-A4E8-E37577401C80.jpeg


I was delighted to watch Oaken’s face through the window in the sauna door. The window fogs and Oaken wipes it clean.

AE38F460-0892-4711-815B-99120201CF75.jpeg


Our wait to board ended up being 25 minutes. Clearly we have no idea where the camera is on this attraction.

B1E37CD3-1E25-4909-B128-D4FB499672D5.jpeg
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom