Aaaaand we're back for a bit! Got some work done over the weekend, feeling good about our all-day virtual conference coming up in a few weeks (ask me again how I feel on Friday
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But here we are...
Day Three: It's All Pure Magic (Kingdom)
After two awesome nights at the gorgeous Yacht Club, it was time to say goodbye to the Disney bubble...sorta.
Today's park pass was MK. It also happened to be the day I was checking out of Yacht and into Cabana Bay across town. It'd be my first time staying there, and I was really nervous/excited. I was also sad to leave Yacht Club, but just couldn't stretch my budget any more.
I shoved everything in my Away suitcase, chucked it into my car, and set off for the Magic Kingdom. I scored a post-park close BOG reservation (6:45 for a 6 PM close), so I was thrilled to be able to stay late and get more nighttime shots in an empty-ish park. That said, I was nervous about leaving my luggage in a hot trunk all morning. Probably irrational, but I have a fear that all my shower goods will explode. Well, the entire day turned out to be overcast and my worries were for naught.
Per Apple Maps, the Kingdom was about 15 minutes away. I heard the lot opened around 8:15, and wanted to make sure I timed it right. Getting to the gate was fine, but my slow line meant I was behind a few cars once we got in. After I figured out where I was in the lot (no tram cars), we headed to the TTC. Quick temp check, security check, and directed to the Ferry (monorails down). The ferry ride was great - spaced out top deck, and it went super quickly. Though every single mosquito on WDW property was dead and caught in the icky Ferry ceiling/rail webs. By that time, it was about 8:45.
As a side note, I felt so weird driving in and walking through the lot. I haven't driven to MK in years beyond years - I've been so used to popping on a monorail, boat, bus, or just skipping down the path when we stay at BLT. Obviously I had a great day, and driving there was just fine, but I am definitely a Disney bubble person. It's completely irrational, but the feeling is just different to me.
I didn't think I'd get the jump on so many rides at that point, so I decided to get Starbucks instead. It was a pretty short wait, though I was distracted by two adult males pulling their masks completely down every time they spoke to each other. Which is the exact opposite point of masks. I kept hoping the CM managing the line would say something, but she was busy helping guests (her job!) so I just kept sending evil eyes in their direction.
Coffee and banana bread in hand, I walked over to the Plaza/Terrace outdoor area and ate my breakfast next to a lovely little group of chirping birds. Combine that with a pretty empty hub, and it was a fantastic start to the day. After breakfast, I figured I'd hit up my favorite attraction - Space Mountain.
The 5 minute posted wait was literally just to walk through the queue. I could've gone on again, but unfortunately this was one of the few attractions where the mask possibly exacerbated my motion sickness. I was totally fine, just a little fuzzy. If I went on a second time, I'd have to sit down for a bit. I didn't want to risk it. (Also, I've never had adverse mask effects - at home, I've run for 10 miles using the same mask I wore in the parks. So it could've been a combination of things - maybe dehydration? but it was the first time I felt that way ever on Space).
Space done, time to crush popular Fantasyland attractions. Pooh was an exactly 5 minute wait, followed by a posted 35/actual 10 for Peter Pan. I skipped IASW because the line didn't look great. I figured I'd head back later, though I never did.
Next up was Haunted Mansion. Posted 40, and the extended queue went down near the river and back up into the actual queue. Actual wait was about 10 minutes or less, especially walking through the preshow. While I miss the stretching room, I'm sure the wait would've been insane if we had to limit and distance in that teeny, tiny space.
One of my favorite stores, the Frontierland Trading Post, was a bust - the only new pins I got this trip were all Food & Wine related. I'm not complaining about saving money, but new pins that are unique and interesting are becoming rarer and rarer.
Time to see how crazy Big Thunder was. Posted 50, actual maaaaybe 20? Probably less? I can't stress enough that continuously moving was so important to the overall line feel. If and when Fastpass is brought back, and especially if less passes are distributed, it's going to make a major difference.
And then a (possibly final for a while?) ride on Splash. While it's been one of my favorites since I was a kid, I can't wait to see Tiana and the bayou take root. Posted was 65, and I've always avoided Splash if the queue was in the outdoor spiral. But I went for it, and I ended up waiting exactly nine minutes. Nine minutes.
And right after the drop, I was hitting "I'm here, make my order!" for my Pecos Bill's nachos. It was ready as soon as I made my way over, and I waltzed past all the waiting folks outside. I took my time eating - I wanted to enjoy the AC, and knew my next line would probably be a bit longer than the rest.
I was right - Pirates started outside the courtyard, to the left of the attraction. The CM standing sign said 70 minutes, but after winding my way inside the courtyard, then inside the building, it ended up being about 30 minutes. Not terrible by comparison, but definitely the longest I've waited for Pirates in a while (and a far cry from the no-crowd reports of July/August).
Back to Tomorrowland and Carousel of Progress - I never miss it, and knew I had to get it in before anything else. I was already starting to get tired, and knowing I was going to be here later, figured I'd take a break and check into my new hotel. But CoP first.
And that's what ultimately made me leave the park. I was so peeved that the minute we sat down, three people full on removed their mask, one ate an entire box of popcorn during the show, and several folks pulled masks down past their noses. I thought my experience with the Muppets show would carry over, but it didn't, and I was definitely disappointing. A great time to walk away, and get a break from people.
I decided to hop the monorail to the Poly, because they just got Aulani merch in and I wanted an Olu plush. I ended up getting the cutest keychain Olu and enjoying the sounds of the resort before strolling back to the TTC parking lot. I was in the car and over to Cabana Bay before 3 PM.
I wish I took pictures of the resort (my bad) because Cabana Bay is COOL. IMO, it's what Pop Century should've been. It has the coolest retro vibe with super detailed touches. I checked in in less than 5 minutes (top floor, near buses & elevators - perfect), and upgraded my discounted tickets to a Universal AP (first time ever, and worth the relatively small increase!)
I hung out in the room for a bit & rested (a downgrade from Yacht Club - to be expected, and it was honestly fine), and left to go back at 4:30. By that time, all but one of the parking lot booths were closed, and the single one open was free. It didn't matter to me because of my AP, but it was nice being able to drive right in with absolutely no traffic.
Walking back to the TTC monorail, I realized I hadn't eaten any of the fun fall treats I was looking forward to. I asked a Starbucks CM about the poison apple cupcake, and they directed me to Pinocchio's. I figured I'd eat, get in line for 7DMT, and dawdle until my reservation time. The longer I waited to check in, the later I'd get out and the darker it'd be. Perfect for castle shots.
By the time I got to Pinocchio's, mobile orders through the app were closed. The kind CM let me head inside and squeeze in the last manual order of the day. While the cupcake was easily the best cupcake I've ever had on Disney property, it was also the biggest - it was literally the size of my face. I would pump buttercream into my veins if it was legal, and I couldn't even finish the thing. And I had a three course meal waiting for me, too. I was in heaven and hell all at once.
Course zero mostly done, it was time for the mine train. That ended up being about 25 - 30 minutes too, and I jumped in the queue part opposite Pooh's entrance. By the time I got off, I could've easily hopped on again. I should've, but I decided to go on Under the Sea instead. And I was literally the only occupied clamshell in the Under the Sea room.
By then, it was 6. I wanted to wander around, but also didn't want to be ushered to main street and have to explain to several CMs about my reservation. I figured the best option was to take a seat by Be Our Guest and chill out, just like I did at Oga's.
Welp, the BOG CM had eagle eyes and checked in the few families that had a reservation hanging out along the path, including me. We were then sent inside the gates and over the bridge to the waiting area. From there, it was about 15 - 20 minutes before I was seated. At that time, i decided I'd try to sloooowly savor each course and fight against my natural speed-eating style.
In general, I loved BOG. My family would always get a reservation there - we liked the dinner food, and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite movie of all time. That said, we stopped eating there once they switched the menu to prix fixe. We weren't thrilled with our last dinner in the Rose Gallery, and my meal plan-loving Dad didn't want to spend two credits there (fair point). So it was nice to be back, even though I knew it'd be different. They placed me in the far corner of the Ballroom, which was spaced out in a really nice way. It's going to be weird next year when they increase capacity and stuff in more tables.
Off the bat, the CM was super friendly and great. But she was not interested in my plan to slow any part of the dinner down. I'm not a super forceful person (unless it's social justice or anything that actually matters), so when I said I'd need more time for the entree and she then immediately asked me what I wanted, I just blurted out SCALLOPS. From there, dinner was a bit of a bust. Little touches like rose napkins were gone (of VERY little concern when 28K folks just lost their jobs, to be honest), the yummy rolls were now just crusty bread slices, and the french onion soup was just OK. The scallops were good, but the greens overtook the risotto and I picked my way around the plate. And by dessert time, I very slowly dug into my gray stuff chip cup.
After the bill, I took the longest bathroom break ever, slowly waddled back down the bridge, and moseyed past every CM with a directional light, guiding me away from everything and back towards the castle. But taking it slow was worth it - and honestly, I should've sat on the curb, or taken more pictures. Plenty of folks were doing the same, and CMs were so gracious in letting us do that. And being there - not being on a ride, or eating any specific thing - just being there surrounded by practically no one was so flipping magical. No non-fancy napkin or soup or scallop could dull my day at that point. This is why I came, and it was the perfect end to my last bubble night.
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Coming down for a solo trip myself in October. Solo trips are the best!
