🎄 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like... A Trip Report

Walt Disney World Trip Reports
1

Prologue: Escaping the Frozen North :snowflake::airplane:

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
 everywhere you go!”

Gather 'round once more, dear Liners! Your humble narrator returns—snow still melting from his metaphorical boots—to chronicle yet another adventure of @gMagicScott, our beloved ambulance-driving, mouse-chasing, coffee-dependent Disney enthusiast.

Yes, you read that correctly. Our hero embarks upon his FOURTH magical pilgrimage of 2025. At this point, the TSA agents recognize him by silhouette alone.

(The addiction is real. We do not speak of the credit card statements.)

The Shackles of Reality: One Final Shift :ambulance::snowflake:

As fate would have it, our hero’s path to paradise began not with pixie dust, but with snow plows and accident reports.

Picture the scene: Monday, 7:00 AM. Our protagonist clocks in for a 24-hour ambulance shift, fully expecting liberation at Tuesday’s dawn. Mother Nature, however, had other plans. Winter descended upon southwestern Pennsylvania with vengeful fury overnight, transforming the region’s roadways into an ice-slicked demolition derby.

Wreck after wreck. Call after call. The clock struck 7:00 AM Tuesday—the scheduled hour of freedom—and still the tones dropped.

7:45 AM. Forty-five minutes past his sentence, our hero finally escaped the base. But the trials were not over.

The commute home? A crawl through snow-packed roads at speeds that would make a sloth impatient.

8:20 AM. Home at last. But lo! The sidewalk demanded tribute—a shoveling of snow before any dreams of Disney could commence.

The Villain Vanquished: A Battery Redemption Arc :battery::sparkles:

But wait! Before we proceed, faithful readers of our November chronicles deserve an update on a certain nemesis


You may recall The Battery Betrayal of November 2025:

(The Narrator pauses here to offer a sincere apology. That November trip report—the Skyliner chronicles—remains unfinished. Abandoned mid-quest like a half-eaten churro. Photos still unposted. Chapters still unwritten. The Narrator hangs his head in shame and hereby promises to complete it
 eventually. And vows to do better with THIS report. No abandonment. No excuses. The full story, start to finish.)

doubt

But back to the battery subplot!

Dear readers, our hero DID order that Pixel 10 Pro XL. It arrived in two days flat. The case, however—ordered alongside it—proved more elusive. The tracking showed “label printed” but the package never moved. Shipping limbo. A classic villain’s final trick.

But our hero is resourceful. On a routine hospital-to-base ambulance run, he spotted his salvation: Best Buy. A quick detour. A case acquired. The battery nemesis? Vanquished.

(This trip shall not be plagued by dying percentages and desperate searches for outlets. The hero learns. The hero adapts.)

The Quest Ahead: A Holiday Spectacular :christmas_tree::castle:

And what awaits our frost-bitten protagonist in the Sunshine State?

The Goals:

  • :christmas_tree: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party — Tonight! Cookies, cocoa, and castle projections await
  • :fireworks: Disney Starlight Parade — The newest nighttime spectacular
  • :candle: Candlelight Processional — Narrated by Ashley Eckstein herself (voice of Ahsoka Tano!)
  • :performing_arts: Jollywood Nights — Because one holiday party is never enough
  • :castle: Close All Four Parks — A marathon of magical proportions
  • :magnet: AP Magnet Bundle — The collector’s quest continues

The Lodgings:

  • Animal Kingdom Lodge (December 2-4) — Savanna views and Boma breakfast
  • All-Star Sports (December 4-7) — Value resort vibes for the final stretch

The Weather Differential:

  • Pittsburgh departure: :snowflake: Snow on the ground, 30s°F
  • Orlando arrival: :sun: 70s°F and sunshine

A 40-degree improvement. This is why we do this.

The Journey Begins: PIT to MCO :airplane_departure:

11:20 AM. Packing complete. Driveway de-iced (because we are responsible homeowners, even when fleeing to Florida). Luggage loaded. The chariot—a decidedly non-magical automobile—pointed toward Pittsburgh International Airport.

The drive itself? Wet roads, snow piled on the shoulders, plow trucks doing the Lord’s work. And one particularly cautious soul maintaining a steady 35 mph in a 55 zone—without so much as a hazard light to justify the glacial pace.

(The Narrator does not condone road rage. The Narrator merely
 understands it.)

12:20 PM. Arrival at The Parking Spot. And here, dear readers, a small miracle: the shuttle driver spotted our hero pulling in and was greeting him before he’d even unbuckled his seatbelt.

(The Narrator hereby bestows upon The Parking Spot shuttle service: “A Heroic Find.” :sparkles: Efficiency deserving of a Lightning Lane.)

12:41 PM. Terminal drop-off. The hunt for Southwest check-in commences.

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12:50 PM. Bag dropped. Boarding pass acquired. The line? Nonexistent.

(The universe, perhaps feeling guilty about those overnight wrecks, was finally dealing favorable cards.)

12:55 PM. Security approached. Our hero wielded the twin powers of CLEAR and PreCheck—a combination that typically parts the TSA seas like Moses himself. One small hiccup: the belt. Two attempts through the detector. A minor tribulation.

And then
 the discovery.

In Memoriam: Rex :t_rex::broken_heart:

The new Pittsburgh International landside terminal has opened.

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For the uninitiated, this means progress. Modernization. Improved passenger flow.

For our hero, this means no more tram ride to the airside terminal.

And no more tram means
 no more Rex.

Rex—the beloved dinosaur statue who has greeted PIT travelers for years. Rex—to whom our hero would always offer a wave, a nod, a silent acknowledgment of prehistoric solidarity.

Rex is gone from the journey.

(The Narrator pauses. A single tear—metaphorical, of course—rolls down the page.)

Rest well, noble Rex. You served your post with distinction.

Gate A1: The Waiting Game :alarm_clock:

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1:05 PM. Gate A1 confirmed. No aircraft parked yet. Boarding in approximately 30 minutes.

Our hero doubled back for provisions. The mission: Dunkin’.

The Haul:

  • Large Midnight Coffee
  • Stuffed Bagel Minis (plain—they were out of Everything, a minor tragedy)
  • Sausage, Egg & Cheese Sandwich
  • Maple Glazed Donut

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The Narrator’s Decrees:

Item Verdict
Stuffed Bagel Minis (Plain) “A Trying Tribulation” :expressionless_face: — The absence of Everything seasoning is felt deeply. 2/5.
Sausage, Egg & Cheese “A Noble Effort” :+1: — Fillings decent; English muffin tough as a hockey puck. 3/5.
Midnight Coffee “A Noble Effort” :+1: — Brewed sometime during the Eisenhower administration. 3/5.
Maple Glazed Donut “A Noble Effort” :+1: — Made today. Freshness debatable. 3/5.

(Airport Dunkin’ remains the most reliable form of mediocrity. We accept it. We embrace it. We caffeinate regardless.)

Boarding Group B33: The Southwest Shuffle :slot_machine:

2:00 PM. The gate agent’s voice crackles through the speakers. Boarding commences.

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2:08 PM. Butt meets seat. Row 9, port side, window.

And glory be—one and a half windows. Not the dreaded wingview. Not the cursed windowless middle of Row 14 that plagued November’s journey. Actual, honest-to-goodness windows with actual views of actual sky.

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(The Narrator exhales. The November seat curse has been broken.)

But wait. Something is
 off.

It’s warm in here. Not “pleasant pre-flight climate control” warm. Warm warm. Is this the contrast of a hero who just fled 30°F Pittsburgh, still acclimating to enclosed spaces above freezing? Or has Southwest cranked the cabin heat to “rotisserie chicken” settings?

The mystery deepens.

But then—a discovery.

Power outlets. At the seats. Functional power outlets.

This is no aging 737 held together by duct tape and prayers. This is a newer aircraft. The kind with amenities. The kind that whispers, “We value you as a customer, even in the cattle-call boarding process.”

(The Narrator approves. The Pixel 10 Pro XL shall feast upon electrons throughout the flight. The battery villain truly has been vanquished.)

The Questions That Haunt Us :thinking:

As our hero settles into Row 9—windows abundant, phone charging, internal temperature rising—the mind wanders to the trials ahead


Will the de-icing crews delay departure, or has Pittsburgh’s ground team already conquered the frozen beast?

Will the cabin cool to reasonable human temperatures before takeoff, or shall our hero arrive in Orlando pre-basted?

Will the MVMCP parade route offer prime cookie-catching positioning despite the late arrival?

And most critically: Will this prologue actually get posted before wheels up?

(Current status: 2:20 PM. Doors not yet closed. The race continues.)

Flight Tracker: Southwest WN4163 on FlightAware

:sparkles: Stay tuned, dear Liners. The holiday adventure begins NOW. :sparkles:

Until the next chronicle


Your Humble Narrator :performing_arts:

21 Likes
2

Oooh–I was getting worried. Warm, as in pleasantly warm. I was thinking warm as in oh no I’m uncomfortably warm


Keep ‘em coming! Have a great trip!

4 Likes
3

The narrator better


Not sure I believe the narrator, but I choose to give him a second chance. Positive presumption initiated.

Yay! :grinning_face:

I wish I could get the bundle. I missed the summer one by a month, and the bundle by a month and a half. :crying_cat:

Well, at least the driver was being careful. Better than having a wreck, I suppose.

I’m sad for you.

Very awesome :clap:!

Have a great trip!

4 Likes
4

Safe travels!

2 Likes
5

Have fun! :partying_face:

My only question:

If this is your fifth trip this year, how is it the first time Rex is suddenly gone and the new terminal is done? I would think there would be a transition period where Rex would be gone but everything would be behind walls. Or maybe that is what happened.

3 Likes
6

Chapter 1: Thirty Thousand Feet and Counting :airplane::cloud:

2:37 PM. Wheels up.

The Southwest chariot—a newer 737 complete with functional power outlets and that “we actually maintain our aircraft” energy—lifted off from Pittsburgh International, leaving behind snow-covered runways and the ghost of Rex.

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Our hero settled into Row 9, port side, window seat. One and a half windows of sky. Phone charging. Orange juice delivered at 3:07 PM. Pretzels received and strategically hoarded for later.

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The only complication? A tiny villain seated directly behind—a small human with restless legs and a talent for rhythmic seat-kicking. The parental unit wages a valiant battle. The narrator practices patience.

(This is fine. Everything is fine.)

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But enough about the journey—let us address the people!

Your instincts were correct. When I wrote “rotisserie chicken settings,” I meant it. The cabin was aggressively warm during boarding—the kind of warm that makes you question every layering decision you’ve ever made.

Thankfully, once we began hurtling through the atmosphere, the climate control found its chill.

*holds up Scout sign*

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight keep up with trip reporting, post photos in a timely manner, resist the urge to abandon threads mid-churro, and finish what I start—even when the couch calls and the real world demands attention. So help me, Mickey. :raised_back_of_hand:

Fair point—assuming everyone approaching from behind notices the glacial pace before becoming intimately acquainted with their bumper.

(The Narrator, fresh off 24+ hours of responding to weather-related accidents, has Opinions about winter driving. But we digress.)

Fourth trip, technically—but excellent question! Allow me to explain:

The new landside terminal sits physically between the old landside and the existing airside. The routes differ significantly:

Old Route (RIP):
TSA → Underground tram → Exit near Rex :t_rex: → Escalators up to airside main level

New Route (Current):
TSA → Elevated walking bridge → Upper level of airside (lounges) → Escalator down to gates

The switchover happened overnight between November 17th and 18th. Construction walls came down on the new bridge; construction walls went up to block the tram.

Rex was there for November. Rex is now hidden behind construction scrim—presumably still standing guard in a corridor no traveler shall walk again.

(A moment of silence for a hidden friend.) :t_rex::broken_heart:

Current Status: Approximately 30 minutes to MCO. The race to Animal Kingdom Lodge—and then to Magic Kingdom for MVMCP—begins the moment those wheels touch Florida soil.

The cookies await. :cookie::christmas_tree:

Your Humble Narrator :performing_arts:

16 Likes
7

I’m not a fan of this. I never knew him. He must return! What’s with everyone taking away the dinosaurs! :alien:

6 Likes
8

I’m invested!

4 Likes
9

FIFY :doughnut:

4 Likes
10

I didn’t get to say goodbye :sad_but_relieved_face:

2 Likes
11

It looks so nice!! No tram ride, yay!!! :smiley:

Surprised you escaped the snowstorm 
 trying to do the math
 :thinking:

Oh I see your flight was after the apocalypse. :snowflake: :snowman_without_snow:

Following and waiting for updates. :airplane: Hope all is going well.

3 Likes
12

Chapter 2: MVMCP Night One — Cookies, Chaos & Christmas Magic :christmas_tree::castle:

4:42 PM. Wheels down at MCO.

The Southwest chariot deposited our hero onto Florida soil—a full 40 degrees warmer than the frozen wasteland left behind. One bathroom break, one monorail ride, and one mildly dramatic baggage claim switcheroo later (Belt 12? No, Belt 13! The MCO app is a fickle narrator), our protagonist emerged victorious with luggage in hand.

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5:20 PM. Lyft secured. Driver: rory, piloting a gray Toyota Sienna with impeccable 5-star credentials.

5:55 PM. The arch. The arch. The one that whispers, “You’re home now.”

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6:11 PM. Dropped at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House. Lyft total: $75.80 ($63.17 fare + 20% tip, because we reward good drivers and clean cars).

The Room: A Pleasant Surprise :zebra:

Our hero had booked a standard room—no savanna view, just four walls and a bed. But fate had other plans.

Kudu Trail, 2nd floor. The room assignment revealed itself to be an obstructed savanna view. Not the premium version, mind you—more of a “if you squint through the foliage and believe hard enough, there might be wildlife out there” situation.

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No time to soak in the vibes. Quick refresh. Change into shorts—because this is Florida and layers are for people who don’t have a Christmas party to attend. Room photos snapped while everything was still clean (a crucial step for any trip report completist).

6:40 PM. Transport decision time.

  • Minnie Van: 27-minute wait. :cross_mark:
  • Bus: 3-minute wait. :white_check_mark:

The math maths itself.

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Into the Party :tada:

7:16 PM. Bus drops at Magic Kingdom.

7:25 PM. Wristband acquired. Our hero is officially in the party.

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And immediately—a discovery. Jack & Sally meet. Posted wait: 25 minutes. Not on the original punch list, but that number was too tempting to ignore.

Actual wait: ~15 minutes.

(The Narrator approves of underpromised, overdelivered wait times.)

The Pumpkin King and his Ragdoll Queen greeted our hero with appropriate Halloweentown energy. Their question of the evening: “Are you a Werewolf?”

(The answer was no, but the Narrator appreciated the inquiry.)

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The Culinary Quest Begins :fork_and_knife:

7:50 PM. First party-exclusive food acquired: Reuben Spring Roll from the Adventureland cart.

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The Narrator’s Decree:

Item Verdict
Reuben Spring Roll “A Heroic Find” :sparkles: — Very reminiscent of the 50th anniversary pastrami spring rolls, but maybe even better. 5/5.

(If there is a more perfect party snack, the Narrator has yet to encounter it.)

8:00 PM. Sunshine Tree Terrace — Hot cider and cookies obtained. The cider? Fantastic. 4/5. Cookies hoarded for strategic later consumption.

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8:10 PM. Tortuga Tavern — Cookie and cocoa station. Because why have one cookie when you can have several?

The Entertainment Gauntlet :performing_arts:

8:20 PM. First parade time approaching. Frontierland and Liberty Square became a human river—nearly impossible to navigate. Our hero caught approximately 3 minutes of the Reindeer Wranglers while weaving through the crowds.

Initial impression: Upbeat, boot-stomping Christmas tunes with heavy electric fiddle energy. Would absolutely seek out a full set later in the trip.

8:30 PM. Needed sustenance. Needed air conditioning. Needed to sit.

Pinocchio Village Haus answered the call with fried ravioli.

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Item Verdict
Fried Ravioli “A Noble Effort” :+1: — Similar to but not quite as good as Eat’n Park’s fried ravs back home. 3/5.

(The Narrator may be biased toward Pennsylvania Italian-American cuisine. This is acknowledged.)

9:00 PM. Two PhotoPass stops en route to Tomorrowland:

  • Cinderella slipper prop :white_check_mark:
  • Tinkerbell lantern prop :white_check_mark:

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9:30 PM. Cosmic Ray’s — Another cookie and cocoa station conquered. Also: discovered there’s a water bottle refill station inside. Useful intel for future visits.

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Space Mountain: A Christmas Carol :rocket::christmas_tree:

9:35 PM. In line for Space Mountain.

  • Posted wait: 25 minutes
  • Actual wait: 13 minutes

The holiday overlay delivered. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas songs blasting through the darkness. Red and green lights flashing everywhere. A roller coaster that somehow became more magical with jingle bells.

(The seat kicker from the flight was not present. Small mercies.)

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Fireworks: Front & Center :fireworks:

Exiting Space Mountain, our hero had less than 10 minutes to find a fireworks spot.

The walking paths were closing. Standing room was filling. The clock was ticking.

And then—perfect positioning. Front and center in the Hub. The kind of spot that makes you believe in Disney magic (or excellent timing).

10:00 PM. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks commenced.

Highlights:

  • Carol of the Bells projection on the castle — absolute perfection
  • Tink flies early in this show — caught our hero completely off guard
  • The fireworks themselves — loud, colorful, Christmas-y in all the right ways

(The Narrator may have teared up. This is neither confirmed nor denied.)

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Post-Fireworks Festivities :shopping_cart::hot_dog:

10:20 PM. Popcorn bucket truck acquired.

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Old-timey truck design. Goofy in the bed with a decorated Christmas tree. Mickey driving. Minnie riding shotgun. It lights up (though the battery protector remained unpulled for transport safety).

(The collection grows.)

10:25 PM. Casey’s Corner — Holiday Pot Roast Corn Dog Bites.

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Item Verdict
Pot Roast Corn Dog Bites “A Noble Effort” :+1: — Same great corn dog nuggets, now with pot roast on top. The pot roast itself was a bit dry and lacking flavor, but the texture was good. 4/5.

The Parade: A Christmas Spectacular :santa_claus:

10:35 PM. Posted up at City Hall for Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.

11:00 PM. The parade arrived.

The Narrator’s Assessment:

This is the best WDW parade—pending judgment on the new Disney Starlight Parade later this trip.

No single standout float or segment dominates the way the gravediggers do in the Halloween parade. But in totality? The Christmas parade delivers. Float after float of holiday joy. Characters galore. Snow falling on Main Street. The works.

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The Castle Stage Show: A Mixed Bag :microphone:

11:30 PM. Posted front and center at the castle stage.

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The show started approximately 10 minutes late. Same show as the past several years: pile of Disney fur characters, one male and one female live singer (the female vocalist was particularly talented—never introduced by name, which seems like an oversight).

The Big Number: Clarabelle Cow performing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

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And then—a separate number where all the Disney characters pulled out cell phones and swayed.

(The Narrator still finds the cell phone bit odd. But the people around me seemed to love it, so perhaps the Narrator is the outlier here.)

The Journey Home :bus:

12:00 AM. On the bus back to Animal Kingdom Lodge.

MVMCP Night One: Complete.

The Stats:

  • Snack stations conquered: 4
  • Attractions ridden: 1 (but it was Space Mountain, so it counts extra)
  • Character meets: 1
  • Fireworks watched: 1
  • Parades observed: 1
  • Stage shows attended: 1
  • Popcorn buckets acquired: 1
  • Steps walked: 12,573 (and counting—1,673 more since midnight)
  • Liner meetups: 0 :pensive_face:

That last stat stings a bit. @ryan1 and our hero had hoped to cross paths at the party, but the chaos of crowds and the tyranny of timing conspired against them. Ships passing in the Christmas night.

(Next time, ryan1. Next time.)

What Lies Ahead


Wednesday has been dubbed “The Marathon” for good reason.

It begins with Boma—the legendary AKL breakfast buffet that has fueled many a Disney adventurer. It ends
 well, let’s just say our hero has ambitious plans involving multiple park closings and a certain new nighttime parade that’s been generating buzz.

But between breakfast and bedtime? Rest. Glorious, mandatory, non-negotiable rest. Because what’s coming will test the limits of human endurance.

(The Narrator knows the plan. The Narrator is already tired just thinking about it.)

But for now? Sleep. In a room that might have a savanna view if the giraffes cooperate at sunrise.

:sparkles: Stay tuned, dear Liners. The cookies were just the beginning. :sparkles:

Until the next chronicle


Your Humble Narrator :performing_arts:

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It sounds like, based on the hero’s journey, that our paths were taking us in very different directions. But that is what makes the party so interesting
something for everyone, and too much to do to hit it all!

We had planned to stock up on Christmas cookies during the night
but we only ever found exactly one cookie station all night long
at Tortuga Tavern. It didn’t even have cookies, but a Dove chocolate piece, so we skipped it.

Our night played out like this:

  • Arrive to party at about 5 pm.
  • Carousel of Progress, first
  • Head to Gaston’s to try the creme brulee croissant (it was amazing!)
  • Ride The Little Mermaid ride
  • Stop in to Star Traders to obtain MVMCP pin
  • Ride Peoplemover
  • While the party hadn’t officially started, we saw that the Christmas overlay was going on Space Mountain, so we headed there next (25 minute wait
which we waited so as to avoid backtracking later)
  • Tron was a 30 minute wait, so we hopped in line. 20 minutes into the wait, the ride broke down. We stuck it out, bit it ended up being a 45 minute wait instead because it took a while before they had it running again despite the mass exodus of people not willing to waste party time (they were probably the smart ones
but again, we didn’t want to backtrack, so we waited)
  • Starving, we headed to Friar’s Nook for the Pig in Blanket and Jalapeno Popper tots. The pig was super good. The tots were good, but skippable
  • Peter Pan was posted 20 minutes, so we got in line
was more like 25
and we realized that the queue is the best part of that attraction to us now. We barely paid attention to the ride itself. Should have skipped.
  • Next up, IASW. It was a walk on
but for some reason, the boats were backed up starting about halfway through the attraction. A 12 minute ride actually took over 25 minutes! That was crazy. Usually the boats only back up into the final scene.
  • We tried to find a spot in Fantasyland to watch the fireworks, but every decent spot was already taken. I guess the secret’s out about that. Not a secret! So we bailed
  • Haunted Mansion next. Walk on
  • Headed to PotC next. Another walk on.
  • Found our position for the parade in Frontierland. The parade was the highlight of the evening
but there was no pre-parade entertainment like there was last time, which we sorely missed. It was our favorite memory of the party in 2022.
  • Next, Beak and Barrel. Our reservation was for 11:50, but we got seated with no wait at 11:30. We were seated at a table with 6 other people. The corn food thing (forget what it was called) was delish. I got the Siren’s Whisper. It wasn’t what I was expecting, but was still good ..but, wow was it strong. Usually one drink and I feel nothing from it
but I felt it for this this time! It was cool to see, and the wait staff were really selling the experience, but definitely a one and done
  • this closed out the party. We hit Main Street at 12:10 while the final stage show was wrapping up.
  • The bus ride back was fine 
 Save for the couple of entitled “Karen’s” who caused issues, refusing to properly close up strollers on a crowded bus, blocking the ability for others to even get on the bus!!!

Overall, it ended being a very very crowded party. Felt too crowded. I think Disney is overselling. Also, we didn’t feel that this party had the same party vibe we remembered from 2022. And what happened to the cookie stations? Last time, we couldn’t NOT run into them. This time, like I mentioned above, we couldn’t find any other than the one which didn’t have cookies! Overall, it ended up being more like an After Hours party to us, aside from the parade. We enjoyed ourselves, but definitely didn’t have the same magical feeling.

I was on the lookout for @gMagicScott , but with the horrendous crowds, we could have walked right past each other and not seen each other!!!

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Oh you landed :airplane_arrival: there and went almost straight to the party! Fun! Looks like it was magical. :mx_claus:

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:open_mouth:

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To answer my own question, we should have checked the map. Our path seemed to literally avoid the cookie stations almost entirely. We were done with Tomorrowland by the time the party officially started. We went to Gaston’s before the party to get the croissant, so we didn’t have a need to head back there after the party. Also, same with the train station location. And we never walked past Sunshine Tree Terrace. We planned our paths well to avoid back-tracking, which had us missing all but one cookie station!!!

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Chapter 3: The Marathon Awakens :person_running::sun:

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
— Benjamin Franklin, clearly someone who never attended MVMCP until midnight

The Witching Hour Return :bus::crescent_moon:

When last we left our hero, he was conquering Christmas — parades watched, fireworks witnessed, cookies consumed in quantities that would concern a nutritionist.

1:00 AM. The bus back to Animal Kingdom Lodge finally departed, carrying a very tired, very satisfied protagonist through the Florida darkness.

2:30 AM. Head meets pillow. MVMCP Night One: complete.

A Word from Your Narrator: The Liner Roll Call :scroll:

But before we proceed with today’s adventures, your humble narrator must address the faithful readers who have graced this thread!

The travels were safe indeed, dear @Enchantedbythemouse! Our hero arrived intact, cookies in belly, magic in heart.

@hartcruise, your investment shall be rewarded with tales of triumph, tragedy, and an inadvisable number of snacks.

A correction on the Dunkin matter, @FelisLachesis — the donuts are indeed thawed, not made fresh. The Narrator stands corrected! Though in his defense, at 6 AM after a 24-hour shift, “warm” and “fresh” feel spiritually identical.

@Flavita, the new terminal IS quite nice — even if it comes with a heavy cost.

The 3 AM Bathroom Gambit :toilet::mobile_phone:

Somewhere in the haze of a middle-of-the-night bathroom run, our hero’s half-conscious brain achieved something remarkable: proactive planning.

The original Boma breakfast reservation? 7:35 AM.

Reader, even at 3 AM, he knew that wasn’t happening.

With the deftness of a seasoned Disney veteran operating on approximately four hours of sleep, our hero navigated the My Disney Experience app from the porcelain throne and secured a modification: 9:00 AM.

Future Scott would thank Past-Middle-of-the-Night Scott for this wisdom.

Morning Negotiations :hot_beverage::sleeping_face:

8:30 AM. Our hero’s alarm delivered its unwelcome summons.

Even 9 AM felt ambitious after yesterday’s gauntlet — a 24-hour ambulance shift, winter weather chaos, cross-country flight, and five hours of Christmas party conquest.

The room featured a Keurig. The Keurig featured coffee. The pillow, however, featured an almost supernatural gravitational pull.

The pillow won.

Boma: A Culinary Safari :fork_and_knife_with_plate::zebra:

9:06 AM. Our hero arrived at Boma — Flavors of Africa, that magnificent buffet temple within Jambo House. The morning cocktail menu beckoned with promises of liquid courage:

  • Bo’mosa Flight ($24)
  • Zebra Dome Cold Brew ($18.50) ← Target acquired
  • Tamarind Bloody Mary ($18.50)
  • Honey Bee ($17.50)

The choice was obvious.

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The Zebra Dome Cold Brew Verdict

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The garnish? A legitimate zebra dome perched atop the glass — that beloved white chocolate-Amarula mousse sphere that haunts the dreams of every AKL enthusiast. Perfection.

The actual cold brew beneath it? Our hero could taste the KahlĂșa. He could taste the cream. The coffee itself, however, remained frustratingly elusive — hiding somewhere in the mix like a shy Cast Member avoiding a guest complaint.

The Narrator’s Decree: “A Noble Effort” :+1: — carried entirely by that glorious garnish.

But wait! A realization struck: Boma serves zebra domes at dinner, not breakfast. The buffet would not satisfy this particular craving.

A side quest was born.

The Buffet Gauntlet

What followed can only be described as a culinary expedition across the African continent, compressed onto steam tables and carving stations.

The Mythical Triumphs :trophy::

  • Grilled Asparagus — Perhaps our hero’s body desperately craved something green after yesterday’s cookie marathon. Perhaps it was genuinely transcendent. Either way, these humble spears achieved the highest honor. “A Mythical Triumph!”

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The Heroic Finds :sparkles::

  • Turkey Bobotie — Somewhere between scrambled eggs and quiche, with flavors that sang (though Frank’s Red Hot would’ve made them opera)
  • Pineapple-Garam Masala Carved Ham with Sambal — Moist, flavorful, with moderate heat from the sambal. Though it couldn’t touch Dan’s bourbon-glazed ham from that Thanksgiving ambulance shift

  • Oak-grilled Roma Tomatoes — With a caveat: Eat them fresh and warm = heroic. Let them sit = villainous.
  • Spiced Cottage Cheese with Pineapple Chutney — Genuinely impossible to describe. Trust the process.
  • Ancient Grains Berry Salad — Fresh, crunchy, virtuous

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The Noble Efforts :+1::

  • Chakalaka (South African Spicy Tomato Stew) — Rich but not actually spicy
  • Steel-cut Coconut Oatmeal — Honey and banana dominated; coconut was MIA
  • Pork Sausage — Bog standard
  • Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs — No salmon detected. Capers and paprika did the heavy lifting.
  • Avocado, Papaya, and Grapefruit Salad — Pucker factor was real

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The Villainous Defeats :skull_and_crossbones::

  • Carved Turkey Breast — Dry. And they’d committed the cardinal sin: trimming off all the skin. The skin is the best part!
  • Biscuits and Sausage Gravy — Very bland. A betrayal of Southern cuisine.

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Final Damage Report: Zebra Dome Cold Brew ($18.50) + buffet ($39) - 10% AP discount + tax + tip = $68.00

Our hero may have eaten too much. Our hero definitely ate too much.

The Strategic Retreat :bed:

10:20 AM. Back to the room for mandatory recovery.

But first: a pit stop at Zawadi Marketplace for distilled water. The CPAP machine demands its tribute, and at $2.39 (after 20% AP discount), the tribute was reasonable.

10:30 AM. Called home to check on Mom and Dad. Parental status: confirmed.

The evening’s mission briefing ran through our hero’s mind:

THREE parks. ONE night. Zero excuses.

  1. :globe_showing_europe_africa: EPCOT — GEO-82 Lounge awaits
  2. :lion: Animal Kingdom — AP Magnet pickup + Extended Evening Hours
  3. :castle: Magic Kingdom — Disney Starlight Parade + Happily Ever After finale

The Marathon doesn’t mess around.

Then? Digestion protocol initiated.

Uzima Springs Interlude :man_swimming::flamingo:

12:30 PM. With The Marathon’s evening gauntlet still hours away, our hero made a strategic decision: pool time.

The Uzima Springs Pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge features a waterslide. Our hero, being a man of refined tastes and questionable judgment, partook.

Important Discovery: Said waterslide deposits riders into water that is
 not particularly deep. Our hero’s foot made uncomfortable contact with the bottom.

Note to future adventurers: tuck those legs.

The hot tub, however, delivered exactly as promised. Ninety minutes of therapeutic soaking while flamingos judged from their nearby habitat.

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The Zebra Dome Quest: Completed :zebra::trophy:

1:39 PM. En route back to the room (after turning the wrong direction off the elevator — again), our hero spotted his salvation: The Mara.

The mission:

  • :white_check_mark: Water bottle refilled with ice water
  • :white_check_mark: Plain Joffrey’s hot coffee obtained
  • :white_check_mark: Pack of zebra domes ACQUIRED

The breakfast wish? Fulfilled.

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De-Chlorination Protocol :shower:

2:07 PM. One shower later, our hero emerges refreshed, chlorine-free, and ready to rock.

The clock ticks toward evening. Three parks await. GEO-82’s mysterious cocktails call from Spaceship Earth. The AP Magnet sits unclaimed at Discovery Trading Company. And that brand-new Disney Starlight Parade — the one everyone’s been buzzing about — makes its debut on our hero’s itinerary tonight.

The Marathon begins in earnest.

Coming Up in Chapter 4:

Will our hero survive closing THREE parks in a single night? Will GEO-82 live up to the hype? What mysteries await at Extended Evening Hours? And will the Disney Starlight Parade earn the crown from Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime?

Stay tuned, dear Liners. The real adventure starts NOW. :person_running::sparkles:

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How is the temperature? It’s kind of chilly out here in AZ so I’m having a hard time imagining going in a pool right now. :sweat_smile:

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See: your Boma turkey
 :rofl:

There was a time when Dunkin’s donuts were made fresh in-store. The “Time to make the donuts” commercials were accurate at the time. Then they got cheap and went from freshly made to frozen shipped, and the kitchen in the back was converted into a thawing room. :nauseated_face:

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Dunkin donuts are still way better than Tim Hortons or Krispy Kreme. Still, we gave some local places that blow them all away.

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