Welcome to the Happiest Place on Earth*. Yes, we went to Disney in the middle of the pandemic. No, we are not crazy. Yes, we had a good time. No, it wasn't normal, but then nothing in 2020 is. Yes, Disney, just like city planning and crowd management, should be put in charge of the COVID-19 response. Yes, as always we experienced new and wondrous things. No, we probably won't go back until the pandemic is over.
* Experiences may vary during a global pandemic
We had certain Must-Dos for this visit and we achieved most of it. We finally rode on Pandora, Flight of Passage. Twice! You feel like you are riding a breathing, flying beast from an alien world; turning, diving, and soaring over Pandora. The 3D action and moving seats were a little disorienting for me, but the kids loved it. If you looked under your glasses for just a second you could see just how huge the theater you are sitting in actually is.
The Animal Kingdom Park was quiet at 25% capacity. We were there from open until close and did everything we wanted to. We rode our favorite, Expedition Everest two time and brave the Kali River Rapids with Lisa who didn't get too wet. An afternoon downpour only slightly alleviated the heat of the day. For an added adventure we retraced our steps to try to locate TJ's lost iPhone only to give up and find it at Guest Services. Why didn't we do that first?!
Hollywood Studios did not disappoint us. Because we were staying within walking distance we got there almost 90 minutes before the park opened. We actually entered the park an hour before it officially opened and were on rides 20 minute before Rope Drop. We visited Toy Story Land and rode Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania right away before heading to Black Spire Outpost on Bantuu, the Galaxy's Edge.It was amazing how Disney transports you from a backyard of oversized toys to a galaxy far, far away in a matter of a few hundred feet. We were immersed in the sights and sounds of an active spaceport with droids, citizens, and the occasional First Order troopers. First stop, Oga's Canteena for out of this world drinks.
We got in line for the Millennium Falcon ride; walking around, under, over, and into the famed ship. There was so much to geek out over that I missed most of it until I looked at the photos later on. Grant and I sat at the "chess board". Luke's lightsaber trainer is there on the shelf. We got to go into the cockpit to fly! So geeky and nerdy and so fun that we did it twice. No, we didn't get on Rise of the Resistance - next time!
The highlight, believe it our not, was not Star Wars land but Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theater. We braved the heavy rain that seemed to be constantly on the horizon but pulled out the ponchos anyway. Without giving too much away, when the train pulled up and there were no real tracks expect what was painted on the floor I knew the next eight minutes would be amazing. The eyes and the mind betrays reality. I. Love. Disney. Magic... and so did the rest of the family on this ride.
Dinner at Mama Melrose's was a great meal of homemade pasta and meatballs that got us of a another late season downpour.
Our stay at Disney Boardwalk was nice - walking distance to Hollywood Studios. The boys made the most out of the pool while Lisa and I sat in the hot tub. One hundred twenty degree water kills COVID-19, right? It was the last time we will ever see that scary clown head at the bottom of the water slide. If you have been there you know what I am referring to. It was dismantled and carted away the week after we left. It as about time that creepy thing was removed.
In the end we finished off with a bit of natural magic with rainbows in our hands from both autumn leaves the size of Grant's head to the sun coming out after a shower. It was nice trip because we needed to get way and Disney doesn't disappoint - even in a pandemic.
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