6/6:
MK day. Last park day. We avoided AK on purpose on this trip...too hot there. MK park hours started at 8 am and I **intended** for us to be out the door early, but that didn't work out.
I got up at 6:10. By the time everybody showered, got dressed, and ate breakfast, it was 7:40 am. So we were already behind. Had to get batteries for 1 of our WDW fans. Learned that our DME pick up for the next day was NOT scheduled like my
travel agent had told us, so I had to go to the front desk in order to get that sorted out. Front desk agent said it was good I went there in the morning because with that much time ahead of time, she could resolve it herself instead of me having to call. Pick up for the next day was at 10:30 am.
Then went to the MK bus line and the line was insanely long. And not socially distanced long, but parties 2-3' apart long. DH & I took 1 look at that line and said to each other, "It's going to take an hour to get there. Forget it, let's get a Lyft." So that's exactly what we did and we ended up with the same driver who'd taken us to Epcot 2 evenings prior.
8:49 am - were in Adventureland, REALLY wanted to go on Jungle Cruise, but wait time was 30 min, so YDD said, "Let's skip it and see what the wait is later. I really love that ride, but I dont' want to wait half an hour for it." Went on Aladdin's Magic Carpets instead with a 10 min wait (was really 5).
9:02 - in line for BTMRR with a 16 min wait, but was really half of that. DH now officially likes this attraction.
After that, we went on Peter Pan (had to wait outside in the sunny queue for a few min, so the UV umbrellas saved us), then Mad Tea Party with a 5-10 min wait. After that, we all noticed how much more intense the heat felt today compared to 1 or 2 days' prior, so we stopped for drinks and snacks before moving on to Dumbo (5 min wait), then Peoplemover (posted 20 min, but was 7-8).
After that, it was 11:54 and we were on a bus to the Riviera (5 min wait for the bus). Pre-ordered lunch while on the bus - 2 pizzas, 2 Italian sandwiches with tomato soup. Dh & I browsed in the Riviera gift shop. There's a Princess & the Frog painting there that I'd like to purchase on our next trip. Love the vibe of the Riviera. I'd like to stay there some day.
then it was Skyliner back to Pop, followed by nap, pool, nap, shower, laundry
Took a bus back to MK and only waited 10 min this time for the MK bus. We had 5:40 ADR at The Wave for dinner. Took resort monorail to CR with no wait. Checked in at The Wave at 5:35. Dinner was good. Both kids ordered the steak and really enjoyed it. We shared a 7-layer chocolate cake and carrot cake for dessert. Kids liked the 7-layer cake a lot.
After dinner, took the monorail back to MK, but got on board on the wrong side, so we took the scenic deluxe resort circle tour around the resort monorail loop on accident.
Tried again for Jungle Cruise, but it was still a 40-60 min wait and YDD said, "No way, forget it." At 7:48, got in line for POTC. Probably waited 10 min for this. A really annoying family of 5 (2 parents, 3 young children) were so close to us that the mom and kids were touching my rear end. After a few min of this, I couldn't take it anymore and told them to please go on ahead of us. And then I watched them snuggle up to the rear ends of the people who were in front of us.
After POTC, we thought again about Jungle Cruise, but decided against it. We only had time for probably 1 more ride before park close. Went over to 7DMT and the wait was posted at 40 min with the queue extending way way down towards Dumbo. Did we want to wait 40 min? No.
How about BTMRR? Maybe. But we got to HM and it was a walk on, so we did that instead. Finished up with HM about 4 min before official park close.
On Main Street, we split up...DH & YDD went into the Emporium while ODD & I went to the Pandora shop because she wanted to spend some of her money on a Pandora charm. Then we all met up at the bus stop.
Bus stop to Pop this time wasn't nearly as long as it had been a few nights' prior. Lots of buses coming every couple of minutes. I think it was about 20 min by the time we were seated on a bus. LOTS of scooters. By the way, they were not pulling the scooters out of line for priority access, so somebody in a scooter at the back of the line didn't get to "cut" in front of the dozens of other parties.
About 30-50% of the buses were these larger, newer, fancier "Academy" buses, but those don't take scooters. The Academy buses accommodate strollers by putting the strollers in the luggage compartment area under the bus. Sometimes, you didn't even have to fold up the stroller.
Stopped at the Pop food court to pick up a mobile order of Mickey rice krispy treats and chocolate chip cookies. I really wish that there were more options there for desserts.
The following day was check out day. Met up with a local Orlando friend for breakfast (picked us up at Pop), then got our bags from the room and headed to the bus stop for the Tragical Express bus ride to the airport!
Overall impressions:
- It was a fun and awesome trip.
- I live in AZ and am used to hot weather, but not used to FL hot.
- I hope they reopen the ice cream parlor on Main Street again soon.
- Bus service from Pop to MK early in the morning is a pain in the neck.
- My DH is a bit of a primadonna about food prices at WDW and would like to be able to order a Deluxe resort TS-quality omelette at a value resort food court for breakfast.
- Star Wars Galaxy's Edge was amazing.
- Saw Goofy at Pop Century 1 afternoon doing socially distanced meet & greets while I was walking back from the laundry room. That was cool.
- The customer service at WDW is really great.
- I'd like the dining plan to return so we can use it on our next trip and my DH can quit whining about the cost of the food.