What better way to deal with post-trip depression than to write a trip report ?
We are just back from a Nov.2-10 visit, exactly 6 years after our last visit, which was the exact same week in 2018. Same week, but oh boy, much more crowded !!! Crowded for our own party too since last time there were only 3 of us and now, with 2 more kids in tow, we were 5 (mom, dad, and DS 13, 5, 2). I was worried a little bit because the large age range of our family often makes it difficult to please everybody. Obviously, the 13 yo is not interested in the same stuff the 5 and 2 areâŚand it started very badly when the teenager told us he didnât want to come the night before we leftâŚbut more on that laterâŚ
On previous trips, we stayed at Wilderness Lodge and AS movies. Now, as a party of 5, we needed a suite and got a Nemo at AoA. This resort was a huge hit for our family.
We stumbled by chance on a campfire with marshmallow roasting and that was also a huge hit with the 2 youngest.
We really loved AoA for the awesome theming, the suite, the pool but most importantly and by far, the Skyliner. This was the first time for us with the Skyliner and I must say we wished it also went to MK and AK. No folding the strollers, no crowded / standing up in the bus, fastâŚit was simply perfect. AoA food court we thought was just OK and overpriced, but we expected that.
I am a huge Star Wars fan and this was also our first trip since Galaxyâs edge has opened. I was super excited and role playing with the cast members (including the Baatu speech) was so cool. I loved everything in Galaxyâs edge except for the Millenium falcon ride. Man, that was such a let down. I was an engineer, sitting in the back, and even if I was trying very hard to be excited about the ride, it was just boring and confusing and a little nauseating. BUT, I was completely AMAZED by rise of the resistance. When those doors opened and I found myself in the cargo hold of the star destroyer, I could have died !!!
Even the 2 yo enjoyed himself in Baatu, which surprised and delighted us.
There were several rides that were new for our family on this trip and we were not disappointed (except for the falcon): GotG, RotR, Remy, MMRT were great. However, we were very surprised at the number of ride breakdowns happening during our trip. We had not experienced that before. Now, I donât know if we were simply lucky in the past and that was normal, but there were significant ride breakdowns every day. We could never do Frozen in Epcot despite rope-dropping it, they turned on the lights and we had to walk out of the haunted mansion, BTMRR was closed for 7 hours during on of our MK days, we got stuck at the end of kali river for 30 minutes and many other short stoppages. It felt weird.
The touring plans were, as always, a huge help, except for another new thing for us: Rider switch. We never had to do it before and this time around we had to do it many times everyday. The time counted in our TPs for RS was wildly inaccurate. For several rides, the actual time it took was double was TP said (and we had LLs). For example, TP calculated doing FoP twice would take 32 minutes. Never in a millions years, I would think. But this was something I could easily adjust after the first day.
We found, for our first time, Pixie Dust from fellow guests !!! This was very touching and if you are reading this, Kemp family from Texas, thank you so much. My kids were amazed by your generosity and they wore your bracelets during the entire trip and still wear them now that we are back home !!! 
There was also a tragedy during our trip. You see, I have been dreaming of becoming a Galactic Hero on BLSRS for many years now. I was prepared. I knew the targets. However, I got destroyed by my own flesh and blood. I guess I finally found a positive side to his countless hours of playing fortnite.
So, since we are talking about the teenager, stuck with 2 little brothers way younger than him. Well, he surprised me ! I donât know if itâs Disney magic but, even though he tried to play it cool and uninterested, he still smiled a lot when he thought we werenât looking, he took most pictures and he even did this (which I never would have believed !!!):
I do have a question though. Whatâs up with all those scooters ??? I mean, for the elderly and the injured, I obviously get it, but so many people did not seem to need them at all. Iâm from Canada and I travel a lot and I donât see them anywhere else. Is it a cultural thing ? Are there so many lazy people going to Disney (lol) ? Anyway, it was very striking for us. Not a big deal, just a tongue-in-cheek observation⌠
Weather-wise it was very hot and humid but almost no rain, we were very lucky I think.
Cast members were for the most part absolutely great. I would say 90% great, 8% OK and 2% should get a job elsewhere. I am really in admiration with the patience most of them displayed. I mean, how many times a day do they have to say ââpull on the yellow tabââ ??? And how come so many people are too dumb to be able to do it ??? 
Of course the money thing should be addressed too. We are lucky to have really good jobs my wife and I and we are very privileged to be able to travel 2-3 times a year. We bough MPLLs and ILLs for every day and we figured with the kids and their lack of patience it was worth it BUT we really think itâs getting ridiculous. Most people (I think) canât afford this at all and it makes me sad. I understand itâs all offer and demand and it wonât change (well actually I guess it will just be worse and worse) but it still makes me uncomfortable that I can give this to my kids but so many people canât. 
In conclusion, it was another great trip for us and we already want to go back despite the few but very real downsides. For me, itâs all about seeing the stars twinkle in my kidsâ eyesâŚ
