You know it's gonna be EPIC!

[Keladry84]

It’s now time for my 3rd and last day at Epic. I’m fairly tired, so I set a late alarm and don’t rush. I enter the park at 9:05, just after opening. I only have about a 5 minute wait to enter, so it looks like most of the crowds from yesterday are not returning. Thank goodness!

I’m glad to have the 3rd day to enjoy the park – I’ve seen/done most things on my list, but have yet to attempt Stardust, and Minecart has been well – Minecart. Will today be the day that I will finally be able to successfully ride it?

These two attractions are top on my list.

I’m sorely tempted to start my park day the same as the other two – Isle of Berk Dragon Racers, followed by my favorite breakfast at Oak and Star! But I know if I have any chance at all of experiencing Stardust, I have to do it first thing.

As I kid, I could and did ride anything and everything. But I’m in my 40s now, and my ride tolerance has noticeably dropped. I still enjoy Rollercoasters, but at the small-mid level intensity. Stardust looks like it will be right at my ride max if not slightly over, and experiencing it when fresh in the morning is my only real chance of being able to withstand it.

Looking at the app, the ride is already at a 45 minute wait. I head directly there. Posted wait time: still 45 min. I walk 10 feet past the ride wait time sign to the line attendant and hand them my AAP. Get it back. 60 minute return time.

Huh?

Confused I walk back over to the ride wait time sign. Now it says 60 minutes. Apparently it jumped up in the 2 seconds it took me to walk to the attendant :/

At the 45 minute wait, I had been planning to find somewhere quiet near a fountain to sit and wait, but at 60 minutes I know I will need to find food/eat something before riding or my body will not do well with the G forces.

Again, I’m tempted to visit Oak and Star Tavern! But, I would also like to try more places. I remember the restaurant in Super Nintendo World that was packed during lunch/dinner the other day. But…it’s early morning now!

I head over there and the place is almost empty!! YES!



I find a table in the corner and admire the view! The theming is on par! I love the design of the chairs, and the warp pipes are awesome!



The lamps are mushrooms!

There are a few groups of people off in the distance, but I am sitting far enough way to not have difficulty with the noise/crowds.

The only flaw in my plan is the menu doesn’t really have anything for breakfast. I also know I need to eat lightly or it won’t go well on Stardust.

I decide to order the garlic knots and a fancy drink.



The knots are shaped like mushrooms! These taste decent but aren’t spectacular.

The drink is lemon-flavored and has jelly boba in the shape of stars!



I would absolutely get this drink again and would head here specifically for it. I’d order the toadstools again only if I was already here.

Finishing my drink, my return time for Stardust is coming up.

I head back across the park to the attraction. The ride time is still 60 minutes. I head through the express line. There’s about 15-20 people ahead of me before the merge.

Looking over at the main line before the merge, it is not all that long, maybe about 100 people. This makes me nervous – if this is a 60 minute wait length, then that means that most of the wait is post-merge of standby/express line. Which might end up being problematic for me.

My nervousness is compounded by the fact that the TM does NOT seem to want to pull anyone from the Express line. He is letting through 10-15 people from Standby, then 1 party from express. He’s only pulling the 1 party from express about 1x per minute – so my 15-20 people ahead of me ends up being about a 15 minute wait until the merge. By the time I am finally let through the Express merge, I’m pretty sure I would have already been through had I been in the Standby line rather than Express……

So I had a 60 minute wait outside the line as an accommodation – to then have what looks like most likely the same if not more of a wait inside the line. That I can’t do.

Ya. Uhm.

There are times, not only this, where the AAP accommodation completely breaks down. I’ve had plenty of others in the OG parks as well. I usually just leave and pivot. I lose the time waiting outside of the line, and I don’t have access to the attraction at that point, but that’s ok. There are other things I can do.

But I really want to ride Stardust, and this is my only chance. So I decide to keep going and see how long I can last. Maybe I might be able to do it??? Just maybe??

The post-merge is just as bad as I suspected.

I reach the lockers area. It’s dark, chaotic and crowded.

I advance up the steps. I see the metal detectors. I get stopped right before it’s my turn to go through.

The ride just broke down.

At this point I would have bailed, but I know I won’t be able to attempt this again.

I can hear a roar of a mass of people hidden from my sight beyond the metal detectors. I know I wouldn’t be to be in that for more than a couple of minutes. But I can’t see it so I don’t know how long it is even if it were moving.

Luckily it’s quieter where I am, and I wait as long as I am able, but I reach my max tipping point. I don’t even think I will be able to proceed through the rest of the line once the ride comes back up were I to keep attempting to wait.

I have not choice but to leave. But, I really really would like to ride! So I decide to reach out to a TM.

I show them my AAP. I tell them I can’t do any more of the line and ask if I have any options.

I am lucky – I am offered an escort to the ride once it comes back up, which ironically does so just as we are talking. I go through the metal detector and am escorted to the riding platform.

They give me a choice of where to sit – I am caught off guard and didn’t expect this.

I realize at this point that this will probably be the only time I ever ride Stardust – between the fact that it is the top of my limit intensity-wise combined with the early pre-merge and difficulty I had with the queue, it is very unlikely that I will be able to access this again on a future trip.

So I go all-in and choose the front row.

It’s a good ride! I think when I was younger, I would have been in love with this coaster. I’m glad I got to experience it once, but that will have to be enough for me.

 

[Keladry84]

Exiting the ride, I need some time to re-set, so I walk around. I admire the fountains and eventually end up in Isle of Berk!

The wait-time for Hiccup’s is decent so I take a ride. I love this mild rollercoaster!

Next, I want to prioritize Minecart. Rather than try for a return time just to have it break-down when I get there (again), I decide to use one of the passes from the day before.

With headphones on, I dash through Nintendo World directly to the ride. I’m in luck! Minecart is up and running!!

For some reason when I get there, I notice the waterfall and took a picture, albeit maybe not from the best angle:



At this time, there was no official Express, meaning the line was a walk-through to the loading zone. I am put in a cart with a family of 3 and am in the back row.

The ride is whimsical. I enjoy whizzing through the different environments and the movement of the car. I do however feel that being in the back row loses some of the effect of the track illusions and the theming of the ride.

Minecart is also rough. Very rough. I’m jostled around multiple times, and it hurts. I think I said “ow” out loud multiple times. So did the adult guy sitting next to me.

The roughness is almost as bad as the far back seat of Space Mountain in WDW, but not quite. WDW Space Mountain is an absolutely no go for me again due to the pain/roughness.

I might (maybe) try Minecart again on another trip, especially to see if I could experience it from the front.

Might.

But I’ll probably end up regretting it afterwards!

Without the roughness I would absolutely love this ride. The track path, theming, and everything else was really neat and fun.

As it is, I’m good with the 1x ride for this trip!

I next head over to Darkmoor. I would like to try both rides there one more time.

With Monsters, I found that even a direct walk-on through express line is too much for me. But, what about Single Rider? I decide to try.

The Single Rider is pretty much walk-on. I also ask when putting my items in the locker if I can keep my cap – I am hoping to use it to help block the flashing lights near loading – I’m allowed, but will be required to secure it properly during the ride.

I’m happy to find out that most of the single rider line is unthemed, and I proceed to the loading dock with no problems! I’m let on almost right away, and use my shirt to secure my hat.

Yay! Single Rider for the win! I won’t ever be able to ride this with friends or family, but at least I have access

Next, it’s time to get more food before the restaurants are too crowded. I decide to try Pizza Moon. The pictures I’ve seen look spectacular and I’d like to see it for myself.

There is no line when I enter, but most tables are full. I do find one off to the side.


I’d really like to try the pizza, but I think the serving will be too much for 1 person, so I decide to order a dessert instead.

While waiting for my food to come, I look around and take some pictures:


I love this fixture on the ceiling!!

The deco really reminds me of old-school theaters before all of the digital effects.


I think that’s the pizza oven there in the middle!!!



Finally my food comes!!



I can’t remember what this was called, but it is one of the 2 desserts and sounds really really good.

The execution of it was meh, both in flavor and in design.

I was quite underwhelmed and a little bit disappointed, but I’m still glad I tried it.

I think on another trip I would like to try Pizza Moon again, but will opt for a pizza despite the larger portion size.

As I’m walking out, I notice a small side room, so take a picture.



This also looks like a very pleasant place to sit, although it is missing some of the theateresque design feel from the main room.

Looking at the time, I realize there is enough time for one more attraction before I take my afternoon break.

I head back to Darkmoor to ride Werewolf.

I did experience this the other day, and am not quite sure my opinion on it so want to ride one more time.

I’m not a fan of going backwards, but my first ride through was mostly forwards and the track itself was fun.

I am not so lucky this time. I am loaded into a cart next to a girl roughly my own size and weight. Sharing the cart on the other side are two large/heavy males.

Which makes the cart spin with the heavier weight to the bottom almost immediately.

The girl and I spend the entire ride going through the track backwards. The cart doesn’t even rotate once.

Well, it’s definitive. I’m not really a fan of Werewolf at all. I might ride again in the future with others, or possibly on a whim, but it’s not one that I would say is top for me at all.

It’s time to head out for my afternoon break. When I come back, it will be my last evening in the park!!

 

[Keladry84]

I return late afternoon to the park.

As a note: throughout the full trip, the bus transportation to/from Surfside was easy and efficient. I did not feel like I lost any time taking the breaks and/or waiting for transportation/the length of the drive. While it would have been neat to be at one of the Epic hotels, there wouldn’t have really been much time differential. I think one of the trips from the time I left my hotel room door to arrival at Epic was only 20 minutes! Not bad at all!

Re-entering the park, I head back to SNW to do Mariokart. On the way to the ride, I notice there is a meet-and-greet going!



It’s Mario and Luigi!

I would love to meet Mario and Luigi, but the wait/process is too unknown for me. This is also smack-dab in the middle of SNW and the chaos, so it’s a no-go. I take a picture off to the side instead.

I ride Mario Cart, and improve my score. Yay! Each time I repeat the ride over the trip, I do better!

I head over to wizarding world. I am debating using my last recovery ticket for ministry, but first I need to eat something more substantial as I’ve only been snacking today.

As much as I would love to try some more new things, that lemon crepe from the other day was really really good! I decide to order from there again.

I luck out that I am eating at an off-time again, and can immediately go to a table.

That crepe is so good! I think it is now one of my favorite theme park foods!

Walking by ministry, I see that it is down – looks like a re-ride is a no-go for today. Leaving the land, I pass the cauldrons at the front and try a wizarding spell. It works easily! I’d stick around and do more, but I don’t feel like battling the crowds as each spot has a line of several people.

I head to celestial park and rest by the fountain for awhile, enjoying the atmosphere and watching the water.

It’s now getting quite late and is almost time to leave the park.

I do a last round walking around the park, saying goodbye.

In Isle of Berk, I think I can get in one last ride on dragon rally racers, but just as I’m about to load, it goes on weather delay. I have the option of sticking around to wait it out, but looking at the weather forecast it does not look like it will be opening any time soon.

I finish my last round of the park, and end at super Nintendo world. I stop by Mario Cart to redeem my last ride ticket.

The ride starts for my final Epic adventure, I get to the part where you practice throwing shells, and…..nothing. I can’t shoot :/ Ride malfunction. I go through the entire ride not being able to interact. I am disappointed because this is my last ride of the trip!

When I exit, I tell the attendant, and they mark the car and then do something awesome – I am allowed an immediate re-ride!!!

This time the ride functions correctly, and I get my highest score of the trip! 127

When I exit the attendant checks that it worked this time – I give him thumbs up and finish my goodbye of the park, making one last circle around Celestial Park. By this time it has started to go dark and I can see the lights again

It is hard to say goodbye, but I leave for my hotel.

 

[Keladry84]

A heads up: The next section is all about the trip home – I’d usually just do a quick brief, but I had some really unusual adventures in the trip, so am writing a detailed account – if uninterested, just scroll past to the next post where I will do a quick re-cap/wrap-up.

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The next morning, all that’s left now is the return trip home. I have a mid-morning flight scheduled, and take an Ueber to the airport. I figured a mid-morning flight should be good to beat the Orlando afternoon thunderstorms, right?

My connecting flight is in Chicago – I only have 60 minutes scheduled between flights. As soon as I arrive at the Orlando airport, a mid-morning thunderstorm arrives. I hope it will clear before my flight, but no go, and we are delayed by 50 minutes.

I figure this is impossible to make my connecting flight, so instead of having anxiety the whole flight, I per-emptively change it to the evening flight before takeoff for free. This will make me be very late getting home, but I’ll have an 8 hour layover in Chicago and I figure I can go downtown for a bit. I’d prefer to be home at my regular time, but oh well.

We land. There’s others on my flight with my original connection and they are pushing/shoving to get off first. I wait a few minutes until my regular turn to disembark and exit…..and find out that the connecting flight I was originally on was right next to my gate. I could have made it. With 5 minutes to spare.

I ask the gate agent if I can change back but it’s a no-go because I have checked luggage :/

The impossible connection was somehow actually possible.

Oh well, I’ll have 8 hours to enjoy Chicago, right?

I ask at info where the train into the city is, and I’m told that right now the only possibility is an ueber or taxi, which is over $100 each way.

Huh? I’m confused because I know there is a commuter train route from the airport to the city. The person doesn’t give any explanation, so I just ignore that and continue looking for the train.

When I find the ticket/gate area to enter the train, there are numerous police standing around the entrance. What?!

I ask, and find out that there was a fire further down the line, and the train is down. They are not sure when it will come up, but there is an alternate bus/shuttle to bypass the stations with the problem.

It's risky, but I figure I have lots of time, let’s try it.

I join the line for the shuttle. It’s long. And slow. Luckily it’s quiet.

I give myself a cut-off time for the line – if I don’t make it to the shuttle within 1 hour, it’s a no go – my concern is the time needed for the return journey.

1 hour passes. I give up, and leave the shuttle area, walking by the train entrance once more. Right as I walk by the actual train is back up and running! I end up being first in line – looks like I had great timing bailing on the shuttle line, because I am ahead of everyone waiting there.



The first train in the station after the closed line opens back up!!

The ride into the city goes smoothly. It’s been a few years since I’ve been here, so I have a little more difficulty navigating than usual.

I pass by the Willis Tower, previously known as the Sears Tower.



But eventually I find my way to the Magnificent Mile.

It appears there’s a new Harry Potter store that’s been opened since I was last here!!



Sweet! I did pretty much just come from one of the best, most-immersive Harry Potter locations in the world, but who is going to turn down an opportunity to immerse themselves??

The store is pretty neat, but I don't find anything unique that I haven't already seen at Universal or other places.

However, I enjoy the theming. Leaving the store, there’s even a Patronus statue!



I continue along Michigan Avenue until I reach the river.



And then walk back up to Water Tower Place.



All the old sites I used to visit during grad school on weekend trips to the city! I really enjoy being among all of the tall buildings again!

It’s now time to return to the airport.



I take a picture of the subway station.

I arrive back at the airport, ready to go home. My day has already been quite adventurous and I am hoping for a non-eventful flight.........

My flight is scheduled to leave around 10 pm. I’m early at the gate.

Everything seems fine until we reach the designated boarding time. Announcement: 60 minute delay due to a mechanical problem.

Yay. I wait out the time. They give us no info until the new boarding time is reached. The delay is extended by 30 minutes. And then again. And again. And again.

They give us no information, and the gate agents snap at anyone who asks.

Finally, at 1 am, the delay extends to 5:45 am. It looks like we will finally be released from this misery!

I am 2nd in line for the hotel vouchers/rebooking. I request if possible a hotel with a shuttle and also ask to be rebooked for a flight leaving around 6:30 am as I’m nervous regarding this plane and the lack of info other than “mechanical problem.”

I’m lucky and get on the other flight – others behind me who ask the same thing have less luck as it books out quickly.

I’m also given a voucher and stupidly, very ignorantly, leave the secure area right away.

Why stupidly? Because when I call the hotel for the shuttle, I am told that they are full, and will not honor the voucher.

I have no lodging.

And also no recourse – the unsecured area of the airport is deserted except for custodial, there are no airline representatives, AND the security is closed until around 3:30 or 4:00 am.

Looks like I get a very uncomfortable night in the unsecure area of O'Hare.



Not the best picture, but hey, this is like 2:30 am on the floor of ORD, so…..

Once I can get back through security, it’s slightly more comfortable and I find a good corner at an out-of-the-way gate where I can actually sleep for about an hour. There’s carpet here, yay!

When I went back through the security, I ran into multiple people from my flight who had the same difficulty – their hotels would not honor the voucher, and/or were offered accommodation that was 30-40 minutes away from the airport that made no sense to commute to with the 5:45 am flight.

Apparently an airline hotel voucher is like a lottery – there’s no guarantee you will actually be able to use it.

Lesson learned.

I am able to board my flight at 6:30 am, somehow manage to drive the 2 hours home from the airport safely, and crash into bed exhausted.

It was a good trip. Albeit with a very adventurous ending!