Anniversary trip pandemic-style January 2021

[VandVsmama]

Monday, 1/25 at HS:

And...our first ride was...



We were in line for MMRR by 9:08 am with a 20 min posted wait. At 9:21 am, we were almost in the building and at 9:27 am, got IN the ride vehicle. This is what part of the indoor queue looks like with the plexiglass barriers up:



Didn't get any pics of the actual ride itself because it was both of our first time going on this and I wanted to experience it without a screen in front of me. Neither DH or I care for the new animation style in which the characters are drawn in the new Mickey shorts. Reminds us a bit too much of Ren & Stimpy from the 90s! BUT...this attraction is well done. It's cute. I really like how there's SOMETHING for people of all ages to enjoy together at this park. We liked MMRR and decided to try going on it again later in the day. At 9:40 am, we were off the ride and even done with a quick bathroom break.

After that, the ROTR queue on the WDW app said that our estimated return would be in about 25 minutes:


We then decided to hit up Star Tours. We've ONLY ever been on Star Tours at DL. While headed to Star Tours, we walked past this, which seems to be like a spitting image of the Steamboat Willy boat:


As you can see, there's hardly anybody around! We got in line for Star Tours at 9:45 and by 9:49, were about to get on the ride vehicle...


THIS is definitely not at Disneyland! Walking under the AT-AT was pretty great.


And there's our friend C3PO...


DH & I both love Star Tours. LOVE it. Exact same ride experience as at DL. Super duper fun.

At 10:03 am, our BG was called for ROTR!!! OMG, IT'S TIME!


IT'S TIME TO GO STAR WARS LAND, PEOPLE!!!! THIS IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE BEST DAY EVER!

 

[Jaina]

I can't believe I just now found your trip report! Enjoying it for sure!! But I can't believe how you lucked out with those low wait times! Yay!! Ours were quite long for the most part, except at open and close, when I went both in October and in March. It sounds like it was lovely! My DH is a little similar, and definitely has a hard time keeping up with me most of the time. I have to try to rein it in and go at a slower pace and sometimes we split up a for an hour or two (he's an introvert and needs some time with no one, even me, talking him every day!) and do our own thing. I feel the same way about MMRR. I don't care for the new cartoons, but the attraction is so well done! I'm excited to have DLR's finished so my kids can experience it too! I can't remember if you said that you've ridden ROTR before, so I'm excited to find that out!

 

[VandVsmama]

We got back home on 6/7 from our cross-country road trip to WDW. That'll be a separate trip report! Have to finish this one first.

We're still on Jan. 25th...a HS day...and it's time to get on Rise of the Resistance!



As you can see in this pic, CMs who were in roles where they were in close proximity to guests had face shields on in addition to masks.



Disney does just a great job on theme'ing each of the lands. Even the plants looked out of this world.


Blurry photo, but I love how the walls and the ceiling look like they've been carved out with some big machine.


More cool stuff to look at in the queue...


Some spots had plexiglass up...


I think that I might have squealed with delight when we came upon this...


And does this not scream Star Wars or what?

 

[VandVsmama]

Some thermal detonators...


Resistance X-wing helmet...




We finally made it to the first pre-show room, where BB-8 'talks' to you. They told us which colored circle to stand on for social distancing.



Rey hologram. This is so cool, I just can't stand it.


X-Wing fighter...it's so big! DH said, "OMG, it's RIGHT. THERE!"


About to get on the shuttle...More colored circles to stand on.


On this trip, the CMs told you which colored circle to stand on, so you didn't have a choice. We lucked out with this one right in front of the cockpit.

 

[VandVsmama]

And then we were captured by the First Order! When you walk into this big 'room,' it's hard to describe how it feels. I think that 'awestruck' is probably the right word for it. I was speechless. The room is enormous. The First Order CMs are intimidating and amazing.


This tie fighter that's up on the 'wall' is enormous.


Then we went down this long hallway. During our June trip, the plexiglass in this photo is no longer there.


I mean...it really feels like you're on a star destroyer.



DH has always been a bit negative about the 3 newest Star Wars movies, but when we were in this part of the queue, he kept saying, "This is pretty cool."


Now it was time to be sorted. The CMs asked, "How many in your squad?"


We haven't even really gotten on the "ride" part yet and it's already been an amazing experience!


More sorting. Each 'squad' is given a color to stand on. The CMs are all totally in character. It's so awesome. I was so excited, I kept giggling and laughing and one of the CMs told me to "Keep quiet! There's nothing to laugh about here!" LOL.

 

[VandVsmama]

Still not on the actual "ride" part yet. I love this part because when General Hux and Kylo Ren walk back and forth, their shadows show up down below, only those aren't animatronics...it's all done with a screen!


On our ride vehicle...we were in the 2nd row and there was plexiglass in between us and the front row. The plexiglass did NOT detract from the ride experience at all.


Exiting the ride...no, I didn't take any photos ON the actual ride. I wanted to experience it with no phone screen in front of me, like the Imagineers probably intended. This attraction is amazing. DH loved it, too! It really felt like you were in the movie.

 

[VandVsmama]

After that, we spent some time exploring Galaxy's Edge...


Not many people there on this day...


Rey and Chewbacca saying hello to guests. They're still doing socially distanced meet & greets like this in early June when we were there earlier this month.


DH wanted to get a blue milk, so we mobile ordered one with rum in it.


More exploring Star Wars land. As you can tell, it was cloudy that day. Temps were great for Florida, but we were still sweating since we're not used to humidity!


There's the Millennium Falcon!


I submitted a mobile order earlier that day at Docking Bay 7 for lunch and our pick-up window was open, so we went over there to get lunch.


Docking Bay 7 was busy and they had CMs there to help you find a table once you'd picked up your order. The inside of this QS restaurant is so cool.


There's SO much to look at here! Every couple of minutes, it sounds like there's a ship taking off or landing!


I had the pot roast. Thought it was tasty. Not sure how to rotate this pic though! LOL.

 

[VandVsmama]

Here's a pic of the dessert...


Sideways pic of it before we dug into it...


Inside Docking Bay 7:


I didn't get a photo of it, but DH had the vegetarian dish at Docking Bay 7...it had some sort of hummus with it. He really liked it. I thought it was good, definitely something we'd both be willing to get again. Docking Bay 7 had 2 thumbs up from both of us!

Next, we went into Dok Ondar's Den of Antiquities, which had NO line to get in. Earlier this month, we had to sign up in a virtual queue to get into Dok Ondar's!


There is SO much to look at in this store!




I recognize him from Hoth!


We then went into the Droid Depot, but not to build a droid. Just to explore, window show, etc.


By the way, you can translate this sign using the Play Disney Parks app on your phone! But I don't know right now what the sign says.


The clouds parted and let the sun out. Here's an intimidating First Order stormtrooper keeping an eye out for any nefarious characters...

 

[Hubie]

And then in practically the blink of an eye, we were off the Skyliner at Epcot! DH really liked the Skyliner...enough to ask me to switch our resort in June from ASMovies to Pop Century (which I did just yesterday!). However, I am a little apprehensive about how hot the Skyliner will be in June. It was very pleasant with January weather!

There was no line for the temperature screening tent. And I goofed when going through security by not getting my umbrella and cell phone battery charger out of my purse, so I got selected for additional screening. That didn't take too much time. The security CM told me what to do next time (hold it out in one hand straight in front of you).

I must say, I REALLY like the new security screening system. It's a LOT faster!

Once we got into Epcot at the International Gateway, we headed into the World Showplace building/tent and tried some of the ratatouille. This was REALLY good!
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And then we had some of this wonderful blood orange tart. The green stuff was white chocolate. This was VERY refreshing. Very light, not filling. It was super good!

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Then we spent some time exploring the various art booths in the World Showplace building. While we were there, a pianist started playing some Disney tunes on the piano on one of the stages.
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There was SO much great Disney art at this festival. We really enjoyed looking at all of it.
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I REALLY wanted to bring this home (or at least the print of it), but we were looking for some Star Wars art for this hallway in our house where we have some of DH's Star Wars Lego's displayed. So Ms. Tiana will have to wait until next time.
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And I really loved this Up-themed painting, too.

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We stayed at the RR for 10 nights in 1/20 and never ate at Primo Piatto. We'll have to try it this November when we're at SSR for 9 nights. I've also read that the burgers are exceptional.

You DH sounds like my twin. My DW loves all rides. I've ridden them all, but now I stay away from RRC, TOT and Everest. I also get park fatigue rather easy. I prefer taking DCL trips, with adding just a few days at WDW before or after the cruise. We joined DVC in 2018 and made our DD an associate. We also have 3 Disney loving DGK's that we can leave it to down the road.

 

[silverace]

nice report glad you all had a nice time - ever want to rent DVC points - let me know