amazingact21
Upendi
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2010
April 19th:
The dreaded departure day.
We all know it has to happen.
We all hate it when it arrives.
But man oh man if the WL didn’t put on a show for me that morning:
Can’t more days begin with a sunrise over the FL treetops?
If only...
Fortunately for me, I was flying back to England, which meant I didn’t have to be at the airport until 4 p.m.!
Unfortunately for my mom, she was driving and needed to head out as soon as the sun rose.
While my mom and I packed our belongings, I had a breakfast of champions:
The last of my Gideon’s cake.
I saved the peanut butter cup for last. I needed some extra sugar on this somber morning.
At seven o’clock, my mom wanted to get on the road. So we had to say our goodbyes and try not to be too sad at parting once more. The two of us were grateful for the time together. It felt like the hours flew by. Whether we were riding on the wildest ride in the wilderness or picking at a salad at the Wilderness Lodge, my mom and I made every minute a good time.
There are a few people in life you can be around all the time and never get irritated by them.
I’ve got about three.
And my mom is one of them.
I think the only thing that kept us from being too sad was the fact that we knew we were going to be seeing each other again in three months. That was no time at all in comparison to some of our other separations!
After my mom departed, I was left with 8 hours to myself.
At Walt Disney World.
This was going to be fun!
I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
As it turned out, the problem wasn’t being on my own, it was trying to narrow down what I wanted to do!
For awhile I thought I’d head back to DHS for some more thrill riding. But then I wanted to go back to DAK. I’d have the opportunity to visit my favorite park without worrying about taking too long for other people.
It sounded amazing.
I had my park pass reserved for Animal Kingdom and was ready to end my trip on a high note.
But…
I kept thinking about a joke Alex made a few days prior. After I had gotten my Gideon’s order, he had made a crack about getting some cookies to bring back home. I know he was not serious, but the idea lodged itself in my brain and wouldn’t shake.
Alex had done a lot to make sure I could go to WDW for a week. The kids were being very flexible. Heck, my friends were helping by watching the kids for me a few times. People had come together in order for me to make these lasting memories, and while yes, that’s what communities and families do, I still wanted to thank them in some way.
Gideon’s though.
That’s a feat!
I knew if I didn’t want to get caught in another long virtual queue, I needed to arrive at the bakehouse shortly before opening.
10 o’clock.
Well, if I went to DAK that plan would go out the window. I’d get lost on a trail or entranced by the Tree of Life animal carvings and lose my cookie window.
I needed to go somewhere I could knock out several things in a short amount of time.
I see you, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with your early entry hours beginning at 8:30.
Seemed to be the most fitting destination.
I gathered my belongings and went down to the lobby to drop my bags with Bell Services. This was the first time I’ve ever used them, and I was impressed with how quick and efficient the process was.
Aside from me periodically digging around my bag for my ticket, going, “I HAVE IT STILL, RIGHT?!?!” it was a smooth system.
I caught the first bus of the day to DHS and made it right around 8 a.m.
And where did I head to first?
I love TSMM, and I wanted to see how I’d do solo.
Pretty well, apparently.
One of my higher scores and a decent accuracy.
I should go to Disney solo more often.
SDD was sitting at a 60 minute wait, and while I adore the coaster, I decided there was somewhere cooler I wanted to spend my time.
And it seemed not many others shared my sentiment.
I was looking at this sight within 30 minutes:
Getting another go on Rise of the Resistance was a fantastic way to end my time in the parks. It felt larger than life, the stakes on that attraction are so high, and the energy is top notch the entire time. It’s Disney running on all cylnders, getting everything right.
Just like my trip. Everything turned out exactly as I hoped it would. Like a jigsaw without any missing pieces, April was peak Disney touring skills.
I took my time strolling back towards the front of the park after I finished with Rise. I was hoping Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway would have a short wait. It was my last ride the summer prior, with Alex, and I feel like it’s the best way to end a trip.
Saying goodbye to Mickey and Minnie. Kind of like giving them a farewell salute, thanking them for another magical trip.
When I got to the entrance, the wait was posted at 45 minutes. It didn’t look that long, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
Better to bid adieu to the parks and scurry over to Disney Springs.
I walked over to the bus stops and realized Disney transportation doesn’t run buses to DS from the parks.
Wha-?!
Why not?
Has this changed?
I sincerely hope so.
A bus for the WL and Contemporary showed up, and I hopped on board.
Surprise, surprise, I was the only person heading back to a resort.
I decided to get off at the Contemporary and ended up hanging out at the bus stop until the first bus of the day for DS showed up.
Defintiely missed having my own car on this day.
I was dropped off around 9:40 and made it to Gideon’s without the line being too outrageous yet.
Soon, I procured my gifts.
And coffee, of course.
I mean, I was there...
Might as well get a little midmorning pick me up, right?
Walking over to Sprinkles, marveling at the absolute magnificent weather, I sat down in their outdoor area and pulled out my ereader.
Time to sip some coffee and relax with a book:
I stayed there for almost an hour, reading and listening to the activity surrounding me.
Poor Alex.
He’s always trying to get me to spend more time at Epcot and Disney Springs. And here I was, rounding out a trip where I spent the most time at those two locations.
Pretty sure he hasn’t stopped rolling his eyes over this.
Perhaps that’s why he agreed to do the challenge with me this year.
On the hope and prayer he’d get more time in these places.
We’ll see, honey.
We’ll see.
Eventually, I packed up and headed back to the bus stop:
And made it back to the Wilderness Lodge.
I wasn’t very hungry, but I new I needed a little something in my stomach before my long flight.
It seemed like as good a time as any to try Geyser Point.
There wasn’t any table seating available, but lucky for me, I was solo!
A seat at the end of the bar was good enough for me.
I ordered a beer and the brisket appetizer, which is no longer on the menu:
This is a travesty, if you ask me.
It was so, so good!
I worked at a barbecue restaurant in high school, and the sauce in the dip is the closest I’ve ever come to tasting a similar flavor. It actually made me choke up a little bit, bringing back the memories of a time long past. Funny how foods can do that to you.
It’s why I can never eat French Onion Soup without bawling like a baby, because my late father in-law used to make it special for me every time I visited.
Or why my mom and I always go to Via Napoli when we’re together at WDW.
I’m sure you all can relate. What’s the dish that instantly transports you somewhere else?
Share your Ratataouille Anton Ego moment!
It was while I was snacking on my food that I checked my airline app and noticed Virgin had moved my seat.
No! I liked where I selected. I had used miles to give myself extra legroom. Why mess with my plans?
I clicked the seat map.
19K.
Where was that?
Oh.
Okay.
Remember when I said I had the best luck flying solo?
The trend continued.
I had been upgraded to premium!
I had never flown in that category before.
What a perfect ending to an unbelievable trip.
Finishing my meal, I went back to Bell Services and retrieved my bags, then sat and waited for my Mears ride.
The DVC CM working came over, and we had a lovely chat. He talked about how he used to live in Japan and that Tokyo Disney is his favorite park, hands down. We talked about Disney Loungefly bags, and he shared that the bags are his “traditional” gift to his wife every birthday.
It was the nicest conversation, and reaffirmed that Disney fans are some of the best humans around.
I mean, it’s why we’re all here, right? Because we all love the parks and we’re all awesome.
The journey to airport and the flight home was uneventful. Sitting in premium felt very luxurious, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget.
Near the end of flight breakfast was served, and when the attendant got to me, they were out of one of the options. So rather than make me eat the other selection, the attendant went and got the first class breakfast for me!
Nuts!
I wanted to pinch myself. What a way to round out the trip.
Alex picked me up from the airport, and when we got home I surprised everyone with the cookies. They traveled well, and it was a great snack to enjoy for the few days following my return.
Overall, the Springtime Surprise Race Weekend trip was better than I could have dreamed. So many aspects of it were unique and special. Participating in the races, getting a week at Disney with my mom, staying at the Wilderness Lodge, it all came together to be this positive experience.
I’m not going to lie, the luster of Disney had begun to fade for me. I still enjoyed the parks, and I liked watching the kids have fun on the rides and watching the shows, but I wasn’t reaching the level of joy and happiness I used to.
I was ready to take a break and move on from Disney.
But this trip reminded me why I fell in love with Walt Disney World. The Cast Members were kind and friendly, the races brought fans from all over together, the walks around the resort grounds showcased the intricate details and imagineering that give the property the Disney touch.
This trip was the reason why I return to Disney over and over again.
The memories and occasions my mom and I created are the reason people roll their eyes and say to me, “You’re going to Disney again? Why?”
Hearing my mom forget my age by 6 years and me yell at her, “How dare you?!” and everyone around us start laughing so hard a group of six strangers began crying, is the reason I endure, “You know there are other places to vacation than Disney” from family members.
Getting into a deep analysis with friends I’ve made over Disney at a bar over the best month to visit WDW is the reason Alex listens to, “Isn’t Disney a kid place?” from coworkers.
The hassle is worth it. It’s worth seeing my mom tell a Cast Member, “I’m at Disney with my daughter, of course I’m having a good day.”
It’s worth it to interact with a legacy Cast Member working at Roaring Forks who retrieved decaf coffee for me and said, “No need to thank me, I love my job.”
It’s worth it to pass a couple running the 10-Miler and hear one say to another, “I’m doing this to be healthy, right? We want to have a long time together.”
We all have the people in our lives who look at us like we’re crazy for being Disney fans. They JUST. DON’T. GET. IT.
And that’s all right.
Because us DISers do.
We see the worth.
We understand the value.
And we’ll keep taking as many trips as we can.
Because we never know what is coming for us in the future.
You could be like me and go to Disney with your mom and have an amazing time, and then five months later learn she’s sick.
One afternoon when I was sitting with my mom after her surgery, we were talking about our morning in Galaxy’s Edge, laughing at something mundane that occurred.
A completely crappy time, and we used Disney to relieve the stress.
The Disney trips are worth it.
You can’t change my mind.
And with that, thank you again, DIS friends, for reading and following along. It’s been so much fun reliving this trip. I hope I’ll see you over on my next report, where I recount the madness of a spontaneous summer trip with the kids and Alex.
I can assure you, there’s no relaxing when you take a 10 and 7 year old to Walt Disney World!
The dreaded departure day.
We all know it has to happen.
We all hate it when it arrives.
But man oh man if the WL didn’t put on a show for me that morning:
Can’t more days begin with a sunrise over the FL treetops?
If only...
Fortunately for me, I was flying back to England, which meant I didn’t have to be at the airport until 4 p.m.!
Unfortunately for my mom, she was driving and needed to head out as soon as the sun rose.
While my mom and I packed our belongings, I had a breakfast of champions:
The last of my Gideon’s cake.
I saved the peanut butter cup for last. I needed some extra sugar on this somber morning.
At seven o’clock, my mom wanted to get on the road. So we had to say our goodbyes and try not to be too sad at parting once more. The two of us were grateful for the time together. It felt like the hours flew by. Whether we were riding on the wildest ride in the wilderness or picking at a salad at the Wilderness Lodge, my mom and I made every minute a good time.
There are a few people in life you can be around all the time and never get irritated by them.
I’ve got about three.
And my mom is one of them.
I think the only thing that kept us from being too sad was the fact that we knew we were going to be seeing each other again in three months. That was no time at all in comparison to some of our other separations!
After my mom departed, I was left with 8 hours to myself.
At Walt Disney World.
This was going to be fun!
I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
As it turned out, the problem wasn’t being on my own, it was trying to narrow down what I wanted to do!
For awhile I thought I’d head back to DHS for some more thrill riding. But then I wanted to go back to DAK. I’d have the opportunity to visit my favorite park without worrying about taking too long for other people.
It sounded amazing.
I had my park pass reserved for Animal Kingdom and was ready to end my trip on a high note.
But…
I kept thinking about a joke Alex made a few days prior. After I had gotten my Gideon’s order, he had made a crack about getting some cookies to bring back home. I know he was not serious, but the idea lodged itself in my brain and wouldn’t shake.
Alex had done a lot to make sure I could go to WDW for a week. The kids were being very flexible. Heck, my friends were helping by watching the kids for me a few times. People had come together in order for me to make these lasting memories, and while yes, that’s what communities and families do, I still wanted to thank them in some way.
Gideon’s though.
That’s a feat!
I knew if I didn’t want to get caught in another long virtual queue, I needed to arrive at the bakehouse shortly before opening.
10 o’clock.
Well, if I went to DAK that plan would go out the window. I’d get lost on a trail or entranced by the Tree of Life animal carvings and lose my cookie window.
I needed to go somewhere I could knock out several things in a short amount of time.
I see you, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with your early entry hours beginning at 8:30.
Seemed to be the most fitting destination.
I gathered my belongings and went down to the lobby to drop my bags with Bell Services. This was the first time I’ve ever used them, and I was impressed with how quick and efficient the process was.
Aside from me periodically digging around my bag for my ticket, going, “I HAVE IT STILL, RIGHT?!?!” it was a smooth system.
I caught the first bus of the day to DHS and made it right around 8 a.m.
And where did I head to first?
I love TSMM, and I wanted to see how I’d do solo.
Pretty well, apparently.
One of my higher scores and a decent accuracy.
I should go to Disney solo more often.
SDD was sitting at a 60 minute wait, and while I adore the coaster, I decided there was somewhere cooler I wanted to spend my time.
And it seemed not many others shared my sentiment.
I was looking at this sight within 30 minutes:
Getting another go on Rise of the Resistance was a fantastic way to end my time in the parks. It felt larger than life, the stakes on that attraction are so high, and the energy is top notch the entire time. It’s Disney running on all cylnders, getting everything right.
Just like my trip. Everything turned out exactly as I hoped it would. Like a jigsaw without any missing pieces, April was peak Disney touring skills.
I took my time strolling back towards the front of the park after I finished with Rise. I was hoping Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway would have a short wait. It was my last ride the summer prior, with Alex, and I feel like it’s the best way to end a trip.
Saying goodbye to Mickey and Minnie. Kind of like giving them a farewell salute, thanking them for another magical trip.
When I got to the entrance, the wait was posted at 45 minutes. It didn’t look that long, but I didn’t want to take any chances.
Better to bid adieu to the parks and scurry over to Disney Springs.
I walked over to the bus stops and realized Disney transportation doesn’t run buses to DS from the parks.
Wha-?!
Why not?
Has this changed?
I sincerely hope so.
A bus for the WL and Contemporary showed up, and I hopped on board.
Surprise, surprise, I was the only person heading back to a resort.
I decided to get off at the Contemporary and ended up hanging out at the bus stop until the first bus of the day for DS showed up.
Defintiely missed having my own car on this day.
I was dropped off around 9:40 and made it to Gideon’s without the line being too outrageous yet.
Soon, I procured my gifts.
And coffee, of course.
I mean, I was there...
Might as well get a little midmorning pick me up, right?
Walking over to Sprinkles, marveling at the absolute magnificent weather, I sat down in their outdoor area and pulled out my ereader.
Time to sip some coffee and relax with a book:
I stayed there for almost an hour, reading and listening to the activity surrounding me.
Poor Alex.
He’s always trying to get me to spend more time at Epcot and Disney Springs. And here I was, rounding out a trip where I spent the most time at those two locations.
Pretty sure he hasn’t stopped rolling his eyes over this.
Perhaps that’s why he agreed to do the challenge with me this year.
On the hope and prayer he’d get more time in these places.
We’ll see, honey.
We’ll see.
Eventually, I packed up and headed back to the bus stop:
And made it back to the Wilderness Lodge.
I wasn’t very hungry, but I new I needed a little something in my stomach before my long flight.
It seemed like as good a time as any to try Geyser Point.
There wasn’t any table seating available, but lucky for me, I was solo!
A seat at the end of the bar was good enough for me.
I ordered a beer and the brisket appetizer, which is no longer on the menu:
This is a travesty, if you ask me.
It was so, so good!
I worked at a barbecue restaurant in high school, and the sauce in the dip is the closest I’ve ever come to tasting a similar flavor. It actually made me choke up a little bit, bringing back the memories of a time long past. Funny how foods can do that to you.
It’s why I can never eat French Onion Soup without bawling like a baby, because my late father in-law used to make it special for me every time I visited.
Or why my mom and I always go to Via Napoli when we’re together at WDW.
I’m sure you all can relate. What’s the dish that instantly transports you somewhere else?
Share your Ratataouille Anton Ego moment!
It was while I was snacking on my food that I checked my airline app and noticed Virgin had moved my seat.
No! I liked where I selected. I had used miles to give myself extra legroom. Why mess with my plans?
I clicked the seat map.
19K.
Where was that?
Oh.
Okay.
Remember when I said I had the best luck flying solo?
The trend continued.
I had been upgraded to premium!
I had never flown in that category before.
What a perfect ending to an unbelievable trip.
Finishing my meal, I went back to Bell Services and retrieved my bags, then sat and waited for my Mears ride.
The DVC CM working came over, and we had a lovely chat. He talked about how he used to live in Japan and that Tokyo Disney is his favorite park, hands down. We talked about Disney Loungefly bags, and he shared that the bags are his “traditional” gift to his wife every birthday.
It was the nicest conversation, and reaffirmed that Disney fans are some of the best humans around.
I mean, it’s why we’re all here, right? Because we all love the parks and we’re all awesome.
The journey to airport and the flight home was uneventful. Sitting in premium felt very luxurious, and it was an experience I won’t soon forget.
Near the end of flight breakfast was served, and when the attendant got to me, they were out of one of the options. So rather than make me eat the other selection, the attendant went and got the first class breakfast for me!
Nuts!
I wanted to pinch myself. What a way to round out the trip.
Alex picked me up from the airport, and when we got home I surprised everyone with the cookies. They traveled well, and it was a great snack to enjoy for the few days following my return.
Overall, the Springtime Surprise Race Weekend trip was better than I could have dreamed. So many aspects of it were unique and special. Participating in the races, getting a week at Disney with my mom, staying at the Wilderness Lodge, it all came together to be this positive experience.
I’m not going to lie, the luster of Disney had begun to fade for me. I still enjoyed the parks, and I liked watching the kids have fun on the rides and watching the shows, but I wasn’t reaching the level of joy and happiness I used to.
I was ready to take a break and move on from Disney.
But this trip reminded me why I fell in love with Walt Disney World. The Cast Members were kind and friendly, the races brought fans from all over together, the walks around the resort grounds showcased the intricate details and imagineering that give the property the Disney touch.
This trip was the reason why I return to Disney over and over again.
The memories and occasions my mom and I created are the reason people roll their eyes and say to me, “You’re going to Disney again? Why?”
Hearing my mom forget my age by 6 years and me yell at her, “How dare you?!” and everyone around us start laughing so hard a group of six strangers began crying, is the reason I endure, “You know there are other places to vacation than Disney” from family members.
Getting into a deep analysis with friends I’ve made over Disney at a bar over the best month to visit WDW is the reason Alex listens to, “Isn’t Disney a kid place?” from coworkers.
The hassle is worth it. It’s worth seeing my mom tell a Cast Member, “I’m at Disney with my daughter, of course I’m having a good day.”
It’s worth it to interact with a legacy Cast Member working at Roaring Forks who retrieved decaf coffee for me and said, “No need to thank me, I love my job.”
It’s worth it to pass a couple running the 10-Miler and hear one say to another, “I’m doing this to be healthy, right? We want to have a long time together.”
We all have the people in our lives who look at us like we’re crazy for being Disney fans. They JUST. DON’T. GET. IT.
And that’s all right.
Because us DISers do.
We see the worth.
We understand the value.
And we’ll keep taking as many trips as we can.
Because we never know what is coming for us in the future.
You could be like me and go to Disney with your mom and have an amazing time, and then five months later learn she’s sick.
One afternoon when I was sitting with my mom after her surgery, we were talking about our morning in Galaxy’s Edge, laughing at something mundane that occurred.
A completely crappy time, and we used Disney to relieve the stress.
The Disney trips are worth it.
You can’t change my mind.
And with that, thank you again, DIS friends, for reading and following along. It’s been so much fun reliving this trip. I hope I’ll see you over on my next report, where I recount the madness of a spontaneous summer trip with the kids and Alex.
I can assure you, there’s no relaxing when you take a 10 and 7 year old to Walt Disney World!
Wow your travel luck really is the best.
