Trip Report Some People are Worth Melting For: Round 2! (PLUS, a little Christmas, right this very minute!)

We’re back!

Timeline: June 2024
Location: Boulder Ridge Villas at Wilderness Lodge
Cast: Me (A), Dad (R), my sister SB, brother-in-law Iz, and niece B!
Why? It is little B’s first trip! I feel so thankful to be here experiencing the magic with her for the first time.

This is all of us pre-B during our last trip all together in 2021. I’m excited for SB and Iz to finally experience WDW since the pandemic. Things were quite different back in Summer 2021! They also of course haven’t ridden Ratatouille, Guardians, or Tron yet, so I’m looking forward to that for them too.

 

[Tiki Traveler]

️I interrupt this July TR to share with you a different trip, because I feel like the content is more time sensitive! ️

When: 11/18-12/1

Where: All Star Music

Who: Just me! I had my first solo trip!

Why: Two reasons. First, I have never been to the Festival of the Holidays or Candlelight Processional and when they announced the narrators and it was Josh Gad, I had to come. Second, I am graduating in December with my Masters Degree, have officially submitted all assignments, and wanted to celebrate!

First, congratulations on your masters degree! Glad you could celebrate w/Christmas at Disney!!

Wanted to add - you and your cousin could be sisters too!

 

[cgersic]

Congratulations!!! Masters degree AND a Disney solo trip - you go girl! Can't wait to join along.

 

[fractal]

Congrats on the new trip and oh yes, the Masters Degree!

 

[ToInfinity]

Day 2: Friday, 11/29

Today is Festival of the Holidays day! I have never been at Epcot for the opening of a festival and never again this festival at all, so I was very excited. So excited in fact, that I woke up ridiculously early and couldn’t go back to sleep. By 7:15, I was out the door and headed to the bus. I had the resort all to myself on this early morning!

I was on what I believe was the first bus out that morning, and arrived at Epcot by 7:50.

Single day tickets sure are expensive nowadays, huh?

I got in, grabbed my passport, and headed to wait for Soarin’. I did not have LL today (only a Guardians ILL) since the main focus was the festival, but none of that begins until later so I wanted to see what I could accomplish in the meantime.

We waited at a checkpoint and were eventually allowed into The Land around 8:25.

 

[ToInfinity]

I literally walked straight on to Soarin’ without stopping. Pat says hello!

Right after, I headed up for my Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Garden Grill. This was a new restaurant for me. I also wasn’t sure if I’d feel awkward with the characters being alone or not. My reservation was for 8:50.

The dining package comes with an alcoholic beverage, so I ordered the Cold Brew Martini.

Warning, this was QUITE strong for 9:00 am. I only drank a few sips and that was enough for me!

 

[ToInfinity]

Very quickly after, the food came out all at once. I highly enjoyed forking it straight out of the skillet. The potatoes were my favorite by far.

We spin around slowly, I ate WAY more than I should have, and the characters made their way around. I must say, there was nothing awkward about it at all. It was so fun!

Since I had just seen it from an aerial view, I wanted the full experience so down to LwtL I went. It was a 10 minute wait.

 

[ToInfinity]

Even the tilapia are festive!

I walked over and walked right on to Figment next. I wanted to see his sweater! Here is a blurry photo of it for your viewing pleasure.

Figment had some issues today. There was no audio at all here.

And, this section had a whole piece missing. It ruined the effect, honestly.

 

[ToInfinity]

First, congratulations on your masters degree! Glad you could celebrate w/Christmas at Disney!!

Wanted to add - you and your cousin could be sisters too!

Thank you so much! I’ve never needed a special occasion to visit Disney, but this definitely worked out great!

We get that a lot. When she, my sister, and I were all together when we were younger, which was ALOT, people actually used to think she and my sister were twins most of the time!

Congratulations!!! Masters degree AND a Disney solo trip - you go girl! Can't wait to join along.

Thank you so much!

Congrats on the new trip and oh yes, the Masters Degree!

Haha thank you! It has been a long time coming!

 

[coachwnh]

this was QUITE strong for 9:00 am. I only drank a few sips and that was enough for me!

Blasphemy!

Congratulations on the Master's Degree

 

[ToInfinity]

Blasphemy!

Congratulations on the Master's Degree

The server even warned me about it when I ordered it, but I thought, oh, for Disney, it can’t be too bad! Incorrect.

Thank you! I enjoyed getting to meet you and your wife!

 

[MinnieM123]

Right after, I headed up for my Candlelight Processional Dining Package at Garden Grill. This was a new restaurant for me. I also wasn’t sure if I’d feel awkward with the characters being alone or not. My reservation was for 8:50

We spin around slowly, I ate WAY more than I should have, and the characters made their way around. I must say, there was nothing awkward about it at all. It was so fun!

Long time ago, I went to the Garden Grill as a solo diner. The food was very good, and the character interactions (with Chip and Dale) were fun! (I get those two mixed up, by the way.)

One of them came over with a cartoon picture and crayons, and we both colored it! The other one would stop by now and then, and I'd have these one-way discussions going on, as the characters cannot speak. Note: The character did nod in approval a few times, though!