Day 3 - Blizzard Beach Cabana and Olivia’s Cafe Anniversary Dinner
Hello again! Monday was a late-start day. We enjoyed sleeping in and relaxing (and DD and I even cued up a YouTube yoga workout in the living room!). We arrived at Blizzard Beach about an hour after their 11 AM opening. We checked in at the Beach House (I think?) to get our Polar Patio (cabana) rental location, which was Patio 12, along the lazy river near the Warming Hut.
They gave us our towels and mugs to take with us at check in, too. Not sure if that is a standard or a COVID practice. Patio rental is a flat fee for up to six people, and then a charge per additional guest (which we did not end up having). Our August 9 cost was $362. That included the location, refillable souvenir drink mugs, water, and towels. In addition to that fee, we tipped our attendant, as well as tipped on our food and bar tabs. The patio was cool - semi private, nicely shaded, with Adirondack wood chairs. Our attendant was very responsive and nice. We ordered a few frozen drinks, a nacho platter, and an entrée. I think all came from different restaurants, but he kept the process very seamless on our end. In terms of value, the park was not crowded so I’m sure we could have found shade on our own. But it was definitely a fun indulgence. All the food and drinks were good, although the refillable mugs attracted many bees.
As a family, we took the chair lift to Teamboat Springs and also rode the Runoff Rapids slides. Waits were short, but the pavement was hot! We’ll bring water shoes next year for sure. We hopped off the sidewalks and traveled by lazy river back to our patio before heading out again. I had a date with destiny (and DD needed her phone to document it).
At some point during 18 months of planning, I had decided that a plunge down Summit Plummet was just what I needed to shake off all the COVID stress. And since I ran my mouth about it on Lines chat, I needed proof that I actually rode (see above!). DS rode, too, and liked it a lot. The scariest part was waiting near the top with him and my irrational Mom fear that he would fall off the tower! He was a champ (and I lived to tell). It was fun and I would do it again. In theory. Next year. DS also rode Slush Gusher, but I was content with just the one terrifying plunge.
It was getting windy and gloomy and we packed up to go just as the rides shut down due to thunder. The kids got in a quick swim in the wave pool first. But there was a whole area of slides (Snow Stormers, Downhill Double Dippers) we did not get to. I hope to get back there next year and ride those. I think my sister, niece, and nephews will really like Blizzard Beach, and I thought about them a lot that day.
August 9, 2021 was DH’s and my 18th wedding anniversary, so I booked a nice dinner (for all 4 of us) as soon as our plans changed. Olivia’s Café at Old Key West resort was my pick, for outdoor seating and good last-minute availability. Due to rain, though, we ended up eating inside. The restaurant and resort were bright, cheerful, and casual, and we ate every bite of our delicious food (fried chicken for DH and DS; Caesar salads with shrimp/steak for DD and me). We also split a banana pudding sundae dessert and did a little souvenir shopping. It was a fun way to celebrate the occasion (as we even unintentionally wore matching shirts - well, sort of!).
Then, it was an early night in, to rest up for MK rope drop the next morning. Thanks for following along!
Everything kept changing, from lack of FPP to crowd levels to rope drop procedures. Now, I love MK - that park is pure Disney joy - but it is challenging, too, due to the sheer number of attractions, the fact that we try to do it in one day. Armed with water, sun umbrellas, and the best information we had available, we soldiered on toward the TTC on Tuesday morning, arriving at 7:45 and taking an uncrowded early ferry to the park. Park entry was easy, no hold ups at security or the taps. We meandered down Main Street and took a place in semi-shade near the Liberty Square entrance. At exactly 9, we were off!
), so this was fun for me. On our way to the monorail, I made a quick stop to meet 
. It was nice to be able to indulge my craving for real food after a day of theme park fare! Finally, cool and comfortable in our (Crowd Level Zero) living room, we watched the Disney Parks YouTube of Happily Ever After, right as it would have been taking place in the park at 8:45. It was a great way to end an MK day!
