Last minute December trip 2020!

[samantha3590]

Hey y’all! My name is Samantha! I’m a 30 year old nurse practitioner from Memphis, TN. My husband Colin and I are both huge Disney fans!
I used to live in Bradenton, FL when I was elementary school age (about 2 hours from Disney) We would go pretty frequently for long weekend trips as a family and obviously I have a love for Disney! After moving to Memphis we didn’t go as often. Back in 2017, my husband and I took an amazing 10 day trip the week after Thanksgiving and that re-sparked my love for Disney! (Shout out to the pre-pandemic days )
We had a DREAM trip planned for April of 2020! We were going to be renting points at AKL club level for 2 nights and then moving to beach club villas for 6 nights. Then covid happened. For a while I was concerned all my money was going to be lost since we used DVC rental companies (we actually rented from 2 different companies for that trip just because of availability.) Long story short we basically had credits to use but didn’t know when we’re going to be able to go back!
My poor cousin was supposed to get married this December but that got cancelled due to the covid numbers going up across the country. So basically I had Friday already off work and started begging Colin that we should go to Disney. Based off my credits from the DVC rental companies, I was able to find a dedicated reservation for rent Dec 10-13 at a preferred room at Saratoga Springs. My begging and persistence paid off and we booked that reservation about 2 weeks before the trip!! I couldn’t believe I was FINALLY going to get to go!

 

[samantha3590]

Thursday December 10th I worked a full day (worked though lunch actually so I could leave early) and we got to the airport at about 5 for a 7 pm flight to Orlando connecting in Atlanta! Everything went smooth with the flight and our connection and at about 11 pm we were at MCO!
We decided to get an Uber from the airport. I knew it was going to be so late when we got in and I would be exhausted from working all day that I didn’t feel like potentially having to wait for the Magical Express. Just after midnight we arrived at Saratoga Springs!!
I’ve never stayed at Saratoga before and honestly it had never been on my radar. I guess the theme didn’t sound too exciting to me? But yall. These new rooms are GORGEOUS!!
This is the first time I’ve stayed in a DVC room and I loved having all the space!

 

[samantha3590]

More photos of the room! We ordered our first meal in Disney on Uber Eats Taco Bell at 1 am bringing me back to my college days.
We then tried to get some sleep! I was super anxious though because the next morning we were going to be trying for the boarding group for rise of the resistance

 

[samantha3590]

I woke up at about 6 am the next morning and panicked for about an hour before 7 am. I had been practicing at home the past 2 weeks and was getting them most days EXCEPT the few days leading up to the trip. My confidence was shaken haha. At about 6:55 I closed out of all my apps and got on data (much faster for me than Disney WiFi.) I had taught my husband what to do as well. At 6:59:45 I opened the Disney app back up and counted down in my head. At exactly 7:00 I started pressing the button and......

I got it!!!! I was thrilled! We are both big Star Wars fans and this was a must do! I documented my heart rate afterwards for giggles
Our view from our room in the morning was gorgeous!
So my plan was to order an Uber to drive us to the Boardwalk. When I want to be somewhere on time, I really don’t like relying on Disney buses. I had seen on the boards that if you got a mobile order at one of the resorts this was the loophole on being able to have an Uber drop you off there. It worked like a charm here and the guard didn’t even ask to see anything.
I’ve always loved the walk from the Boardwalk to Hollywood Studios. It was such a pretty morning too. On our walk over there, I let my husband in on a secret! I had booked him a reservation at Savis to build a lightsaber that night as an early Christmas present! He was pretty pumped.

 

[samantha3590]

We got to Hollywood Studios at exactly 8 am for a 9 am opening. We were pretty close to the front of the line.
At 8:15 they started doing the temperature screenings and we were in the park!
I was so so excited for Hollywood Studios!! I haven’t been to Disney since April 2018 so that was pre galaxy’s edge AND toy story land!! We headed towards Slinky Dog Dash! I was so excited to ride this one.
Seeing Toy Story land for the first time!
I think we were on the second ride of the day! This ride was so cute! We were able to ride it again at night and I think I like it even better then.

 

[samantha3590]

After Slinky we decided to head over to Smugglers run.
This was a walk on. I honestly wasn’t too excited to ride this but I was pleasantly surprised! Because of covid we were in our own ship and both got to be the pilot. I wasn’t very coordinated and I don’t think we got a very good score because of me crashing haha
Next it was time for Rise!!!

 

[Paulaparm]

Sounds awesome so far!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Hello! I am following along!

I got it!!!! I was thrilled!

It def is stressful getting that boarding groups! We had to do it in the park and I was literally had my hands shaking while I was trying to refresh and get in!

I documented my heart rate afterwards for giggles

Ha!

This was a walk on. I honestly wasn’t too excited to ride this but I was pleasantly surprised! Because of covid we were in our own ship and both got to be the pilot. I wasn’t very coordinated and I don’t think we got a very good score because of me crashing haha

I think it is a good ride, it's just not Rise of Risistance. And all of the rides can't be RoR. But it is still fun.

 

[samantha3590]

I think that I spoiled the ride for myself. I’ve watched so many YouTube videos that I felt like I knew exactly what was going to happen. My bad We were in the second row and I think the plexiglass affected my experience too (or maybe just because I’m 5 feet tall haha.) It was still an amazing ride and will always be a must do! I think I just over hyped it up in my head!
So we were finished with 3 of the main attractions by 9:45 We decided to head to TOT and Rock n roller coaster! TOT ended up being our longest wait of the trip (40 minutes) which I didn’t think was terrible. It’s probably my favorite ride in all of Disney world too so I didn’t mind waiting. I highly recommend using the touring plans lines app. It was way more accurate than what the Disney posted wait times were all weekend. We got to ride Rock n roller coaster back to back with only 15 minute waits each time?! I don’t know why the line was so short at 11 in the morning but whatever! This ride will never get old!

 

[samantha3590]

Hello! I am following along!


It def is stressful getting that boarding groups! We had to do it in the park and I was literally had my hands shaking while I was trying to refresh and get in!


Ha!


I think it is a good ride, it's just not Rise of Risistance. And all of the rides can't be RoR. But it is still fun.

Happy to have you here!!

 

[samantha3590]

It was seriously such a gorgeous day!
We were ready for some booze! Honestly can’t believe it took this long haha! Baseline tap house is one of our favorite spots in Disney! We shared the giant pretzel and each got a beer flight! That cheese sauce on the pretzel was *chef’s kiss*
We then headed over and did Toy Story Mania with a 10 minute wait and Alien swirling saucers with about a 15 minute wait. I think the aliens are hysterical so I loved that one
We got Woodys lunchbox for lunch! We split the bbq brisket grilled cheese with tots and got the lemon blueberry pop tart! These were both good! Not the best thing I’ve ever had but good!
We had an Ogas cantina reservation at I think 1:45! I was obsessively stalking the dining reservations trying to get a reservation and finally got one! Oga’s was awesome!! I’ve heard that it was even more fun pre-covid so I look forward to a more normal experience another time! We both got the fuzzy tauntaun first. I think the other 2 drinks we got were the Jedi mind trick and the dagobah slug slinger. All were great!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I think that I spoiled the ride for myself. I’ve watched so many YouTube videos that I felt like I knew exactly what was going to happen. My bad We were in the second row and I think the plexiglass affected my experience too (or maybe just because I’m 5 feet tall haha.) It was still an amazing ride and will always be a must do! I think I just over hyped it up in

Bummer! We have done it in both rows and I def perfer the front row, I am also 5' 1" and short...

 

[samantha3590]

Next was Star Tours with a 20 minute wait. This ride is so underwhelming now with all the new Star Wars stuff in the park We then headed to MMRR and only waited 26 minutes!!
This ride was adorable!! We then headed back to Galaxy’s edge and just got a beer and relaxed. What a view Time for the light saber build!! Look at that pure joy in his eyes
Of course he went with the red..big sith guy. This was such a fun experience and worth the money! He was worried he would be the oldest one but I think there was only one child and all grown men building one
We rode Slinky again with about a 20 minute wait and Toy story mania one more time before heading out! There was a calvacade with Mickey and Minnie on the way out
It was seriously the perfect Hollywood Studios day/one of the best Disney days I’ve ever had. The weather was perfect, wait times weren’t bad at all, and it was so fun doing all the new things! This is definitely my favorite park right now.
Next we head to Disney Springs for dinner!

 

[samantha3590]

Bummer! We have done it in both rows and I def perfer the front row, I am also 5' 1" and short...

Hoping I get lucky on my next trip and get the front row!

 

[GAN]

Great report ...glad to see you're enjoying yourselves!

 

[samantha3590]

We got back to the room and walked to Disney Springs for dinner. It was such a pretty night.
The crowds at Disney Springs were insane. I actually had covid back in November so I personally wasn’t worried but if I hadn’t had it already I think I may have been a little freaked out.
We had reservations at Wine Bar George. We had to wait a little bit so got a Dole whip froscatto before dinner and listened to a band. This was sooo good.
Our experience at Wine Bar George was good not great which was a little disappointing. It was so busy and our waiter seemed a little overwhelmed. We shared the saginyaki cheese, which they light on fire when they bring it out to you, grilled romaine, and short rib. I think I would go back, maybe for brunch. We headed back to the room exhausted and went to bed!

 

[samantha3590]

Today was our Animal Kingdom day! I went back and forth on choosing Epcot or AK for Saturday (MK was booked or I probably would have done that.) Colin’s favorite park is probably AK so he really wanted to go there. I think we ultimately decided that since it was such a quick trip, we wanted to focus more on rides and we love Flight of Passage and Everest. So AK won!
We again took an Uber to the park. We didn’t get there as early as I would’ve liked but got dropped off at 7:40 for an 8 am opening.
We headed straight to Flight of Passage!
We waited 25 minutes which wasn’t bad at all! FOP was amazing as always.
We then headed to Everest and rode 3 times in a row, complete walk on. This is hands down Colins favorite ride in Disney. We walked over to Africa and got the Mickey cinnamon roll! I think Colin got a breakfast sandwich of some kind which was also good.
We did the Safari next which was a walk on. We then walked to the complete opposite side of the park for Dinosaur and waited 30 minutes. I don’t think I’ve rode Dinosaur in the front row before but omg!! This ride is TERRIFYING! How do children ride this?? We did tricera top spin (first timers haha) and this was not as thrilling

At this point it was 11 something and wait times were kind of long everywhere. I think AK probably has the least to do right now during covid. I definitely miss the shows. We decided to leave with the plan to come back later that afternoon and took the resort bus to one of my favorite resorts for lunch...

 

[samantha3590]

We took the bus to Wilderness Lodge! This resort at Christmas is stunning. Definitely on my Disney bucket list to stay here during the holidays.
We got two bar seats at Geyser point. This place is awesome! I got the black cherry mule to drink which was delicious! We split the charcuterie board and the bison burger. OMG this burger is amazing. You have to get this if you’re here.
We got an Uber back to Saratoga Springs and rested in the room for a bit. We debated on going to the pool but honestly just wanted to lie down haha.

 

[kclark9830]

Joining in! I think Saratoga Springs resort sounds lovely. I am definitely interested in renting points to stay there some day...even though I'm a little hesitant to rent points in the future now (rented in the past) .

 

[samantha3590]

Joining in! I think Saratoga Springs resort sounds lovely. I am definitely interested in renting points to stay there some day...even though I'm a little hesitant to rent points in the future now (rented in the past) .

It really was a nice resort. It is HUGE like people always say. I think the preferred location is honestly a must. I would stay again!
Renting points in the future kind of makes me nervous too. Ever since covid I don’t like the fact that you can’t cancel with a lot of these companies.