Participants: DSis and myself, both 50 somethin’s, Disney park enthusiasts, third trip to DW as adults.
Stuff to note: DSis is retired military with some medical issues resulting from her service. We are very fond of good food and cocktails in a themed environment. We also love rides but more so the classic Disney sort with the charm and art direction of the original imagineers. DSis is prone to motion sickness. And so am I now that I’m getting old, dang it.
As west coast dwellers, trips to the World are rare. I love planning, but for past trips I think I took it too far and had too much FOMO, which resulted in some a bit of rushing and stressing about getting to things that we could have done without. This time, I obsessed about learning things but just to know options as we winged it. We don’t tour like most other people so this report might not represent the best way to do things, but might offer some other ways to think about touring for those of quirky tastes and dispositions. I always like hearing people’s opinions so I will put ours in here fully realizing that we are weird.
Monday 1-23
Flights all day, met up at the airport and took at Lyft to Shades of Green around 7PM. Shades of Green is a hotel serving current and retired military. It is super reasonable price-wise and the location is great, about a 15 minute walk from the Poly. This was our first time staying here and we really liked it. While we were getting organized in our room, the fireworks started and we could watch from our patio. We could also hear the train whistle. Of course we were squealing.
We were starving so we caught a golf cart ride from the bellman to the end of the property and then walked over to Poly. We got martinis, sushi and the Ohana noodles at Tambu Lounge and started our vacation off right!
We took the monorail to MK, as we had tickets for After Hours that night. You can enter at 7 but we didn’t get there until 9:45. No line to get in. We went right for Pan, it said wait was 45 but actual was 15. Then Small World, and Haunted Mansion, both walk-ons. Then SDMT, said 30, 15 actual. We were dying, this event is the best! Don’t get a ticket for the day, save yourself and just go for the evening. We got the comp popcorn, drinks and ice cream (sandwich, but like both), and then did Pooh, Mine Train again, Pirates, and Thunder Mountain. We did a few photo ops and did one last ride on Pan, which was a total walk-on. We could not believe it.
Before we left the park, we stopped into Guest Services. DSis had tried to set up DAS before we left, but was on hold for hours and hours. She tried three different days to no avail. But in person, they got her set up very quickly and with no problem at all. She has documentation from the military about her disability, but was not required to show it, but rather to discuss why she would not be able to wait in lines. She was on the fence about applying for it because she is a badass and wasn’t sure if she should, but in the end was glad she did and said it was necessary. If you are someone who needs DAS and have trouble applying before your trip, don’t sweat it, just apply in person.
It was after 1AM by then, and we learned the Monorail was closed, so we got in line for the bus back to the Poly. It took foooorrrevvver. Across from us, a kid threw himself down on the pavement and wailed, “it’s never going to come.” I was 100% wanting to do the same thing. After this, we became one with Lyft. I will spend $13 bucks to get around without hassle. Every time!
Deep thoughts:
Disney After Hours is the best thing ever and worth every dime if you like Disney at night with hardly any other people.
The bus at the end of the night is a no.
The queue for PP at DW is so magical, and SD Mine Train is just the most delightful ride in the world.
Everything was sparkly and beautiful and the music made us want to cry and it was so amazing to be back at Disney World!
