This is my first trip report so bear with me. Last February I talked my DH into a trip to WDW because it would be our last chance to go as a family before DS graduates in 2019. AND…I successfully made the same argument again this year!!
We started at Universal (2/24-26) so the first part of my report is on the Uni board.
Cast: me, DH, DS17, DD14.
The plan for arrival day at BWI (garden view 2Q+ daybed per my TP request) was supposed to be an evening at Epcot complete with FEA FP and hard to get Teppan Edo ADRs. Monday night my family rebelled and demanded to go to MK instead. (Oh no, twist my arm). So, from the Hard Rock Hotel in Universal, I worked my Liner skills. Cancelled Teppan Edo and all my Epcot FP. Managed to grab a HM, Little Mermaid and a 7:30 Space. Thanks to @OBNurseNH’s great tutorial, I knew to grab and modify. Ended up with 12:30 HM. 1:30 mermaid, 5:15 Space.
Tuesday
Arrived at BWI from HRH via Uber at 11:30. Room, of course, wasn’t ready so we parked the bags with Bell Services and kids went in search of pins. Right at 12 we grabbed pizza at the window and fought off the flying rats while eating our lunch. DD insisted we were taking the bus to MK (“because it’s magical”) even though the app showed the next one wasn’t due for 20 minutes. Fearing we’d miss our HM FP, I went back into modify mode. Pushed our HM a bit, scored a 3:15 Space, changed Mermaid to a later IASW. Got to MK and bought Mickey ears and hat for kiddos.
On the way to HM we stopped for our first ever experience at this decrepit attraction
Never again. I know, I know. Some of you love this thing. DS17 loved it. But, he’s a little weird. Then we watched the Muppets, which I loved. DD hit the ladies room instead. On to HM where we got stuck - TWICE! (This will become a theme.) We still had some time to kill before our SM FP so we crossed back to Tomorrowland to ride People Mover. I did a little modifying and we got a FP for IASW for 5 minutes later. Family decided to get the torture over with early and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
I booked FP4 for Little Mermaid.
We got in SB line to ride POC and decided “we just don’t do Standby anymore”. Bailed on the line and went to Pecos Bills for dinner just as it started to rain. While we were eating Little Mermaid went down and our FP coverted to an Anytime. Thanks to serious Liner studying, I booked another Mermaid FP which converted. Then another! But by then the ride was back up. After dinner I taught the family “Poncho up and carry on”. We rode POC with an anytime, Mermaid with FP, Buzz with an anytime, and people mover again for the rain break before heading to the hub at 7:45 for HEA.
Take my advice - study up on how to win at Buzz. I kicked everybody’s butts!
As I had hoped, the rain kept most people away from the fireworks and we were able to find a great spot.
Took our wet and tired selves to the resort busses and packed ourselves in like soggy sardines. I realized that I had never gotten a room ready text so we had to stop at the front desk. They were very apologetic and said not to worry about stopping a bell services. They would take care of our bags. Headed up to the room which was much larger than we expected. Bell services arrived with our bags before we could even get our shoes off. At that point I noticed that we seemed to have a rather large window. I pulled back the curtains and this is what I found.
Oh, and a balloon and birthday card for DH. Unbelievable Pixie Dust!
More to come…