Sunday, April 6
The week before vacation is always a whirlwind of preparation, packing and last-minute shopping. There’s also excitement - and for those in a school environment like Em, a readiness for a break from students and staff. As tempting as it is to leave for WDW the moment the bell rings, we are savvy enough to wait a day or so to avoid the terrible traffic caused by other metro Atlantans heading south.
This morning’s excitement was palpable - we were finally on our way!
That is once I was able to pick up the last of the bags being carefully guarded by Poly, who was not a fan of being abandoned.
View attachment 853398
Em started in the driver’s seat and we encountered heavier-than-normal traffic for an early Sunday morning. Typically we can get in and out of Buc-ee’s quickly but today the place was NUTZ!
Once across the Florida border Em became the co-pilot and was able to snap the quintessential picture of the entrance gate at 1:45 pm.
View attachment 853399
(You do know there are several entrance gates to WDW property that look like this?)
Our first order of business is to fuel up the car. That way we don’t have to make a trip to a gas station before heading home. Unfortunately the most convenient station is the Speedway near The Boardwalk, where ride share drivers hang out -- some having the audacity to park in front of the pumps, blocking
paying customers from using them. Today we got lucky, as there was one open pump I was able to back into.
The stress of traveling melted away the moment we stepped into the Wilderness Lodge lobby. We were home!
View attachment 853400
(Spoiler alert - I will be wearing this tee at the appropriate resort later this year.)
I had originally booked a Bounceback offer for this week at POR. When I learned the mansions (our preferred section) were undergoing refurbishment, I kept my eyes peeled for alternate resorts. When AP discounts dropped and I saw WL was available, I hurriedly contacted Em to see if she wanted to pay a little more to make the switch.
To her it was a no-brainer. “I like being
“resorty” was her reply.
We went to Roaring Fork to get a snack since we hadn’t eaten since breakfast. As it was nearing the three o’clock hour, we hoped to get our room text while we were there enjoying the outdoors.
View attachment 853401
It didn’t happen. Rooms being ready by 3 pm seem to have gone the way of the dinosaur. Sitting there for who knows how much longer felt like a waste of time to me. “Let’s go over to the Magic Kingdom for a little while,” I suggested.
We noticed the boardwalk to the dock had undergone some “value engineering.”
View attachment 853402
Why replace the entirety when some planks are good enough? seems to fit with Disney’s current business plan.
