I am off the train and heading towards the parking lot where I usually meet Bob from Sunray. Instead I meet Sam, a former CM himself. Bob got hung up at the airport, so he had Sam meet me. I was on my way to Pop Century. We talk about the changes he has seen since working for the mouse.
We pass under the
The CM at the Pop driveway by the building motions him a little further from the main door the he originally liked. No big deal though. There was no traffic on the way. I get out my info document, the one I just printed out on Friday, and I wait less then 3 minutes before it’s my next.
All my previous times, I requested the ground floor, but when I rebooked on Friday, I forgot to mention my room requests. But I wind up in the 70’s by the Big Wheel on the third floor and my room is ready. I did ask if they have something available on the first, I was told no. I also sign the paperwork to make my room card, a charge card too. Since tips are no longer included on the dinning plans, it is my plan to use my room key as a charge card and charge the tips back to my room.
Reading other people’s trip reports, every so often, someone gets all mad and upset at the simplest issues, they waste valuable time away from the parks. For me, all my time on site, especially missing one day already, is golden time. I know I will miss going on things, I don’t know yet, but I know I don’t have the time to make a argument, so I take the map they gave me, and head towards my room.
I go to the elevator behind the big wheel, and take it to the third floor. The wait for the elevator is maybe ½ minute or less, so it’s not that bad. I follow the signs for my room and place my card in the slot and the light goes green. I go in, place my valuables in the safe, pack up my backpack I use for the theme park, and get ready to go, but go where?
This should have been my second day here, with a
I am learning my way around Animal Kingdom as I find Flame Tree BBQ very easily. I remember back in 2005, I got very lost trying to leave, but not anymore.
Like I stated in my pre trip report, Flame Tree BBQ is a quick (counter) meal. Using a table service credit for a counter service meal should get me a certificate good for either 2 snacks, redeemable at the same time, or an open mesh bag. With free dinning in effect and adr’s hard to come by, Disney instituted this temporary policy so guests don’t feel bad about using a more expensive table service credit for a cheaper counter meal. I explain to the CM cashier what I was doing and what I should be getting, but she said no. I tried to explain to her again, that all deluxe meals are table service, and this is a counter service meal. She called over her supervisor. I explained to him, and he said the same, I was not entitled. While not holding up the line, I went to get my food, but I also requested to speak to a manager. The supervisor got the manager. I explained to the manager what was going on, he simply told the cashier to give me my certificate.
The food is the same as last year, ribs, beans, corn muffin, and chocolate cake and a large soda. I start in search of an empty table and sit down, and for the first time since waking up yesterday, I feel relaxed. While eating, I notice the table in front of me that the people just get up and left, leaving all their garbage on the table. It’s a shame, as I see other people looking for a table, and constantly skip this one. When finished eating, I take my garbage and dispose of it. And my table is quickly taken. I head back to the Pop to shave and shower. I usually do this first thing when I get into my room, but I was too hungry, so I leave Animal Kingdom. What is a pleasant re-occurrence practically through out my whole trip, either the bus is already there, or a very short wait.
Once back at Pop Century, I stop by the gift shop to redeem
my certificate for the open mesh bag. Is
it worth two credits? I don’t know, but it’s
ok. I also get my refillable mug. Since I am on the deluxe plan, I hand them my
KTTW card (Key to the world card, which is my room key, ticket for theme parks,
dinning plan, and room charge card) and they deduct one refillable mug from my
plan. Its
Its
Next up is Mission Space, the less intense ride of
course. Its
I get to
When I re-enter Epcot, I decide to walk through west side of
Future World (Soarin side) and see what wait times
are like for Soarin.
While walking I think about my meal at
When I walked by
the entrance to The Land, they had the large board telling you how long waits
were. It said Journey was closed which surprised me, as I had no idea it
would be closed during my trip. Soarin was only
10 minute wait, but I am exhausted and decide to head back to my room.
I always schedule
my first day be a minor park, not Epcot or MK, When the storm delayed my travel by a
day, My second day was Epcot, which now become my first day. So it had a
domino effect on the rest of my trip. And I just didn't have the energy
to stay there the first day the whole day. One of the good things about
going every year for the past several years, missing Illuminations isn't as bad
as if you haven't seen it for years.
I also think about
how I will do Toy Story Midway Mania. This is the newest attraction at Disney’s
Hollywood Studios. Reading other people’s
trip reports, waits of over an hour during the day is normal and fast passes
are usually gone by late morning. My strategy is going to be the same as it is
for Soarin, get there early, get a fastpass, and ride it twice. My original strategy was
to go to Animal Kingdom in the morning, then the studios in the afternoon. Since I lost a day, I lost one morning at
Epcot. So my only morning at Epcot has to be reserved for getting on Soarin. So now I am thinking to go to the studios one
morning instead of the
Its
End of day 1