I'm back after 2 weeks and am surprised to say I would be happy to go back. I think a big game changer for my family was DD having
DAS and a stroller/wheelchair so she could sit in the queue. A typical park day was arriving between 10-11 and leaving between 5-7 in the afternoon with usually a 1-2 hour break in the middle. I think Disney is very generous with their accommodations and it meant that the limited amount of time DD could handle the park did not limit her ability to ride the amount of rides a typical park goer could manage in a full day. I also applaud Disney still limiting capacity, because even though the crowds were heavy they were never unmanageable (except in the hub during Enchantment). It did mean, however, that with that amount of people in the walkways lingering anywhere wasn't an option. So we avoided things like the scavenger hunts because it would be just to stressful trying to do it in a crowd.
Also, for a northerner, spring break is just to hot. Some days were 90+ degrees and 86% humidity, in my state that's cause for a weather warning to stay inside. And when the weather is warm rain does not clear the parks, it just shifts the crowds into queues and stores meaning with many rides closing for the rain the ones still open get really long waits. Live and learn my friends, live and learn.
Wallcot really needs more rides if just to eat some of the crowds so the Kiosk lines aren't to long. Guardians will be a welcome addition and I hope they plan to put in 2-3 more mid tier rides. The food on property was decent to very good (kiosks, quick service, and table service all considered) though Disney needs to step up their dessert game, most were mediocre and overly sweet. Even though price increase news never ends, quick service felt like we were getting good value for the portion size and quality, table service really needs to come down in price a bit (though O'hana can keep my money if they keep serving me those potstickers and bread pudding).
PSA: bring an umbrella to Epcot, when there's no shade standing in those sometimes 20+ minute kiosk lines you'll thank me.
Rides. broke. a. lot. I don't remember them ever going down so frequently in the past but I know they worked really hard to get them back up quickly. This wasn't that big of a deal having DAS, but the average park goer would have a really frustrating time with this especially trying to use
Genie+ and not being able to book while it's 'temporarily closed'. I think Universal's tear down replace model means they avoid a lot of this, Disney World is aging and it's really needing to fully refurbish some of these rides.
Staying on site vs. off site. We stayed one week Saratoga Springs and one week Waldorf Astoria. Off site had better rooms and in room amenities hands down (those H2O products dried out my skin so bad). But Disney Resorts are just better, specifically in terms of food (quality and availability), transportation (though they need benches at park bus stops), and pools (very clean with stocked life vests and multiple lifeguards on duty). If you have kids the Disney bubble provides a flexibility that just isn't matched elsewhere, and that's worth a lot.