Observations on our past week at Disney-
Rope drop is back at all parks- the two my family tolerated at my insistence our first two days, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, did not go well for us. In general, we found wait times overinflated in all 4 parks from 10-30 minutes. No distancing, no spaces between parties in shows or rides, and only a handful in masks. Glad things are back to normal. We like mobile ordering as we always order, hit I'm Here prepare my order, then walk to restaurant for maybe a 5 minute wait when we arrive. No trouble finding seats, even at Woody's Lunch Box, because you have to have your order ready before you enter. We use Mobile order at Woody's, Flame Tree, and Regal Eagle. Check in on your TS ressies 20 minutes early if you are anywhere near there and you have no wait when you arrive. We had to wait about 15-20 minutes to be seated after our check ins.
We arrived at IG at Epcot on Saturday our first day at 10, walking from Yacht Club, were allowed through security at 1015, and held at the rocks in Canada until 1035. We rushed to Test Track to a posted 90 minute wait. We were inside the building at 1130 when it broke down for 20 minutes. But we did get to design a car! Tip-go to Frozen or Soarin" first unless you are literally at the head of the pack- lines go slightly down for Test Track-lowest we saw was 60 minutes. We rode Soarin' twice-first we lucked up and were seated on B2, 2nd day C3-what a difference without distortion! The crispy pork belly at Citrus Blossom was SO GOOD! Second day at Epcot on Monday we had a pool morning and entered at 1pm, and saw no difference in lines. Don't rope drop Epcot.
HS- First day on Sunday , walking from Yacht Club, arrived at 8-Held in a long line until 815 to go through security, into the three divided lines at 830, and on MMRR at 845. Loved the preshow! Smuggler's Run was posted 45, took about 30. ToT posted 40, walked on basically. And saw the preshow! Also rode Star Tours and Midway Mania before our 1130 Brown Derby Ressie. We never got to ride Slinky and I was so sad! The line was always past the entrance to Toy Story Land. My son would not wait in lines that we never saw below 75 minutes after our Test Track disaster. We left at 1 for a break and only came back for our boarding group at 4. Saw Muppets waiting for it to be called. Packed preshow, packed auditorium. Second day at HS on Tuesday we entered park at 9 without waiting in any lines for security and tap points, line for MMRR was 40 minutes posted. MMRR broke down when we were almost in the building after a 25 minute wait, so we came back later and had about a 40 minute wait again, which was the only correct posted time we had the entire trip.. One side of Saucers also broken down so we skipped it until later in the day. On Sunday, our first HS day, we could not get boarding group from the Yacht Club, but no trouble at 1pm inside the park. We didn't hear of anyone inside the park not being able to get it at 1. Our group time said 260 minutes, but it kept shrinking and we were called at 445. On both days, Slinky was longest lines of any rides in any of the 4 parks.
On Wednesday son refused to rope drop AK. AK is so hot and humid, as usual. We arrived by car at 1030, rode Dinosaur with a 15 minute wait posted 25, grands walked on Triceratops Spin, and Everest basically walking through the queue although posted wait was 30. We used rider swap as one grand is 40 inches-she would have ridden it and loved it as she is a thrill seeker already! Walked the Jungle Trek and ate at Yak n Yeti for our 1130 ressie. Tough to Be A Bug was a walk on. Rode Safari with a 30 minute posted wait which was a walk on, did Gorilla Fall, then did have a 60 minute posted wait at Navi and were on it in 30. 90 minute posted wait at FOP, were on it in 50, used rider swap and second party off ride in 10 minutes. Rode Kali posted at 65 minutes at 6, walked on. Left the park just prior to closing after having done . Unfortunately, son now believed no need to rope drop ever, soooooo-----
Thursday at MK, arrived at 930 by our car to what seemed the biggest crowd of our trip. Rode Peter Pan and Small World by 1030, cut through to Adventureland to the crowds. Rode Carpets, off by 11. Had a ressie at BOG at 1130, Daughter in law wanted pictures made in front of castle (we had memory maker and used it liberally) on the way so we headed there, arriving about 5 minutes after they texted our table was ready, but we were seated immediately. I had checked in 20 minutes early as usual but those pictures! After lunch we rode Pooh with a posted 30 minute wait in about 20 minutes, Haunted Mansion with a posted 20 minute wait in 10, and the stretching room is back! Rode Big Thunder with a 15 minute wait, posted 20, Pirates with a 40 minute posted wait in 30, and Jungle Cruise-my son's favorite ride, posted 55 minute wait and it took 45 in the crowded queue for a ride that currently needs those new scenes added quickly as it is sadly lacking. They were ready to leave to go to the pool. We never entered Tomorrowland! We didn't see the Tiki Room or ride People Mover! I was sad! We didn't ride Splash as it was down most of the day or Mine Train for the same reason. We didn't ride Buzz! Oh well it will be there when we come back in 2023-
Final observations. We love the calvacades, mobile ordering, no masks in the 95 degree heat, and the fact that most rides are not long waits. THe kids loved playing in the reopened Dumbo's Circus tent , Imagination Pavilion, arcades, and Pooh's Playground! Open them all! Like the Boneyard which was not open. Open the interactive queue at HM. The CM's are all amazing and friendly and helpful. We saw dozens of them being trained. around the parks, restaurants, and resorts. All the food tasted sooo good! Epcot needs more rides- when Remy and Guardians open maybe Test Track won't be a horror. Too many rides break down frequently. Splash, Mine Train, Saucers, Slinky, MMRR, Test Track all had issues during our visit. More shows need to open to eat the crowds-We love riding the Skyliner as a ride, but would hate to depend on it for transportation. They don't run boats or the Skyliner during any wind or rain which I understand, so we had to walk back to Yacht Club in one of the storms to make a reservation on time. Son refused to walk to Epcot one evening in a horrible storm, and we missed a reservation and were charged $50 for it. I may try to call and see if they will refund that one-I did call and cancel it but it was an hour away at that point so......
The magic was still there for us. 2022 we have a
Disney Cruise scheduled and 2023 we will be back. Looking at AK Lodge as we have never stayed there, we usually drive, and the grands like resort time as much as park time. I hear the activities there are wonderful when they start them back.
Some of you may remember my last day trip report earlier in the week where I said that DH wasn’t feeling good our last day and then DS the next day and it seemed like head colds. I sent them for covid tests since we are supposed to be seeing 80 yr old MIL next week and they came back negative. So that’s good but not surprising that they picked up head colds with no masks and everything pretty much back to normal in the parks. So be prepared for the normal sicknesses to be working their way back through the crowds. Honestly I wouldn’t mind to keep wearing the masks in the heavy crowds but only if it was cool out! Ha
