ThemeParkCommando

For Monday, the plan was EPCOT. 9:30am RD time for resort guests. We woke at 7am and picked up boarding group 93 for Ratatouille, with an estimated 2:35 pm time frame. I also paid for the ILL to the Frozen, 11:25 am start time. Then we got our LL for Soarin’ at 12:30pm. Not too bad for a first day, while trying to figure out exactly how the Genie+ worked. One snag we ran into, was that I had linked an account on Genie+ for my husband, that was one I made back in 2014 for FP+ stuff. It was not his usual MDE account. So, he had to add his old account on his MDE to use it for Gen

We're back. Three years of careful planning, delay due to COVID, the death of my 35 year old son who was supposed to be on this trip with us, many attempts to reserve the Candlelight Processional dining package anywhere in EPCOT, and trying get to all the new things to do... this was a trip of many emotions. I'm glad we went. Overall, we had a good time, with a lot of laughter, a few tears, a few misunderstandings and some interesting Disney magic. We flew into Orlando on Southwest, landing at 9:00 pm on Dec 5th. At 8:30 pm, I got a text from Port Orleans French Quarter that our room was

Thanks for the update! Can't wait to hear more. 😃

You would think that if one TA can book, all the TA's can book? I'd check with Jason. Use the TA to get the site for you. You don't have to pay any extra for their help!

Yay! I'm still here and following along. How awesome is it to be the first to check in on the 50th! That is a lovely memory to have.

Thanks for the trip report! It was a great read. I really miss these.

Very cool! Trip report, please?!

I agree that it is a blatant effort to move crowds, and certainly to upsell food and other options. But I can't really say that moving crowds based on wait times is a bad thing. If it can distribute people around the park so that all wait times are somewhat equal, that seems to me to be a good thing. Having the ability to see the wait times in my hand, instead of having to find a board or walk to the ride to decide, is also a good thing. However, in watching the videos of vloggers "doing what the Genie says to do", they are putting in a LOT of steps, charging back and forth across t

I'm thinking the app will work wonders for those guests who have never been to the parks, and never thought once about planning their day ahead of time. They will find it so helpful to be able to see posted wait times, and purchase the plus package to 'cut in front'. Those folks will feel special and find it magical. For those of us who plan the day and read up on average waits at each ride, understand what RD means and zag when others zig, it won't be nearly as helpful. Heck, down here in San Antonio, I see people shelling out their money to get the Quick Queue option ( $20 per person

It's always a jolt when you forget when checkout time is. Good think you remembered the alternate route!

I am ready to embrace the Genie+, but I'm sure there will be the usual bandwidth frustrations of trying to get on the Disney wi-fi. I intend to turn wi-fi search off and just use my data, and hope that the coverage is good. Virtual queue's make me happy, when done right. Being able to wander around and enjoy other activities when I would have been stuck waiting in a line is great. And for this trip, I will happily pay for RotR passes, but I am lucky because I only have 3 in my party (hopefully). I don't see paying for any other premium ride. I am sad to see the free fast passes going

I am so looking forward to eating here. This restaurant is a must do for my family. Good hot and sour soup, the spicy honey crispy chicken ( Or honey sesame chicken if you are not into spicy) is so good I found a copycat recipe to make at home. I still think it is better here, though ( because I don't have to cook it!). I am not a fan of any kind of chinese beef dish, so I've never tried them here. I may get adventurous on my upcoming trip and try the crispy duck fried rice, but I have a hard time not eating my favorite dish that I only get once ever 5 years or so from here!

the-nba-experience-at-disney-springs-will-not-reopen I am fine with this. Here's hoping they bring back an Arcade with a real restaurant and bar. They can theme it to Wreck it Ralph, and we can have DisneyQuest 2.0!

Criminy-ently, Trigger... That's a might pricey! Oh well, never expected to go to one of those parties anyway.

I'll bet it's more like 50%. It's hard to get people to move away from the area they are used to, to say nothing of leaving family, if they are close.

Thanks for writing all the trip report! I loved following along. It's nice to hear about folks having a good time at WDW again.

It would be a nice PR move, but can you imagine the ramp up in tears and other entitled parent complaints? Kids being told by their parents that the only way they are getting a wand is if they are picked so they can get the 'free' one. Parents going ballistic when their precious doesn't get picked, so now they have to buy a wand. Parents trying to bribe the employees or otherwise game the system. It'd become a nightmare.

Whew! What an adventure to get there and back again. Can't wait to hear about the good things! Sorry you had such a hard time getting there and coming back.

Wow, I'm going to have to watch out for that. I want to experience the entire story of RoR. I may have to figure out how to gripe if they try rushing us through the beginning when I'm there in December.

I'm in! So glad to be reading a trip report! Way interested in seeing if you get to keep the site.

I've been in early January, not camping, but staying on property. Temperatures can range from the 40's to the 80's, but the standard is in the 60's and 70's. Too early in the year for the every afternoon rain shower, spring storms or hurricanes, so unless you just get bad luck, you shouldn't have to worry about too much rain. Keep your poncho's handy, though. Cold fronts have been known to push down that far south, so if you have really bad luck, it may get to freezing. Crowds are usually pretty low, the Christmas/NY crowds have gone home, everyone is broke from the holidays,

I went to SeaWorld San Antonio yesterday. The temp check tent is still up, but all panels are open and no line / temp check before the entrance. Official policy is on the honor system. Masks not required at all if you are vaccinated.

I'll bet it's a pin. They like giving those out.

I'd put it down to a natural ebb and flow, compounded by COVID issues. As things return to normal, and people start camping at the fort again, I bet there will be an uptick. For those of you going to the Fort, be sure to advertise the site with your snarky signs and magnets. 😃 I'm one of the folks who came here through the great trip reports that show up. I don't even camp, but I do love hearing about all things Disney. With a number of the older poster's not as active anymore, we just need an infusion of new-to-the-Fort folks to get the board rocking again.

That is one of those 'Never hurts to ask." and " The worst that will happen is they say 'no'." moments. Just be kind if the answer is 'no'. Not the same situation, but similar: Outback took their fried mushrooms off the menu a few years back. We just kept ordering them, and they kept bringing them to the table. The answer to the order was 'Let me check if the kitchen can make them today." Now they are back on the menu.