Disney

 

We started the day at Disney Studios. We got up early in order to get the Rise of the Resistance boarding group. There are 2 opportunities per day to sign up for a boarding group. One at 7:00 AM and one at 1:00 PM. Rise of the Resistance is a 18 minute ride and is the most popular ride in the world at present. Boarding groups are gone within 1 second. We were on Disney Property at 7:00 AM and Addison and I both failed to get a boarding group. Oh, well we stopped at the Disney McDonald's for breakfast and then got into line waiting for the gates to open.

When I came to Disney Studios with Addison just a month or so ago, we were able to keep moving once we entered the gate at 8:30 AM (the park officially opens at 9:00) we were able to move directly into tower of terror without obstruction and were able to ride tower of terror and Rockin' Rollercoaster all before the 9:00 AM. Imagine our dismay when we were in the park by 7:30 only to hit this obstruction to our will.

We were finally able to move on and were still able to complete Tower of Terror before 9:00 AM. I guess you can't complain with that.

Meanwhile, Olivia and Megan went to ride the Alien Saucers. 

Next, we went to Minnie and Mickey's Runaway Railway. A great new ride and then off to Millennium Falcon Smuggler's Run.

Then off to the Frozen Sing-a-long. This was a special request by Megan.

While we were in the Sing-a-long. I decided to try to get us a reservation for a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance again. 1:00 PM came and I was on it but I got the following message instead.

Fortunately, My wife had the same idea and she was successful. 

Next, we ate and Mama Melrose - good lunch!

Off then to Toy Story Mania.

We headed off the Slinky Dog Rollercoaster without Mom. She would have to find other things to do.

Megan found a parade on the way to her destination.

She tired to hide in the Air Conditioned and tidy ABC Commissary enjoying a refreshing beverage. 

We were able to find her and she ordered these paint can cakes.

Mom and this girl decided to rest while Olivia, Addison, and Dad decided to do Runaway Railway again. We got out just in time to run to our Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group.

After ROR we left to go to Magic Kingdom and were met by this double rainbow.

On this monorail and then to Pirates or the Caribbean and next to Big Thunder Mountain. 

A great first day at Disney comes to a close with a late night call to Dominos.

A Moment

 This morning we awoke without a plan once again. We all slept in late and Megan and I could not get anyone to go to the orange stand.

We learned that Florida is fighting disease in their orange trees that is caused by an insect. These trees are part of program that included the replacement of orange trees every two years or so. Normally, we were told, orange trees will produce good fruit for 50 years or so.

After lunch we made our way to Disney's Boardwalk. It is a festive place but we found that most of the action begins around 6:00 in the evening. We did some sightseeing and shopping and finally decided to move the operation to the monorail and to the Contemporary Resort, 

We parked at The Grand Floridian with a plan to take the monorail but it was down for the evening. A bus would not be nearly as much fun but would serve to get us where we needed to go.

After all of this we went to the Polynesian Resort where we had dinner. We had a good time and great food. It was a moment. Every year I seem to remind myself and anyone reading that you can not choose or schedule quality time -  it happens because you are having time together; you never know if or when but first you have to be together.  This was a night that had its arguments and difficulties but in the end it became a moment.

Family - Conversation - Food - Love - Vacation - Perfection

Emily and Addison decided to wait in this long line for a Dole Whip,

A terrific way to cap a great day!

Planless

 There is a lot more rest in this vacation than we have ever had before. This is the result of two things: 1) Olivia, Addison, and Emily Grace are getting old enough to rest without simultaneously driving us crazy and the fact that Disney is not completely ready for our full-time participation. I believe this is more a factor of not being able to find enough employees more than the pandemic, but this is just my theory. I got up in time for a run and about mid-day we did decide to head to Disney Springs,.

These girls were ready to shop and ready to snack so we were off.

There are a lot of people that give advice as to how to handle Disney but the there is one that I listen to the most. This is the lady from All Ears which is a You Tube channel. We ran into her at Everglazed Donut shop. We have benefited from her advice in the parks.

Rain drove us out of Disney Springs and back home.

This sign will drive you crazy. It is a love / hate relationships with I-4 Orlando. We love to come in on this road because we know we are near all of the fun but we try to avoid it every chance we get once we are here. When we came home today we sat in stand still traffic for 14 minutes. Our house is about 10 miles from Disney World. Very often it takes 45 minutes or better to traverse this short distance. There is construction on the other side of town expanding I-4 to 12 lanes. I would expect this side of Orlando I-4 would be next to receive similar attention. Locals of told us that they no longer blame tourist or snow birds it is the population boom they say and it is not going away. We can attest that we saw home and apartment construction everywhere we went.