Venue: Disney World – Orlando, FL
Dates: Feb 9th-20th, 2021 (12 Days)
Note: Because the Disney World articles are a multi-post review, I suggest you start with the very first article in this series entitled “Disney World”, then read on from there….. Enjoy!
Day 2: We woke up early on this first full day at Disney World. Today we were to visit the Magic Kingdom which opens at 8am (All 4 park opening & closing times can change on a daily basis). We were told that sometimes the parks open earlier than the stated time. The advantage of this is being able to enjoy the more popular attractions before the wait times get crazy. For Example: You may be able to quickly jump on the most desired rides such as “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad”, “Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train” and “Space Mountain” all within 45 minutes with early entry. Just a bit later in the morning the wait times can increase up to 90+ mins per attraction…. Uuuuugh
Transportation: To put the need for fluid transportation in perspective, understand that Disney World is approximately 40 square miles in size. This is larger than Manhattan and about the same size as San Francisco. It is Gigantic. Due to this fact they have 4 different modes of transport to get you from place to place, all free of charge (and a 5th paid option as well):
Bus: Bus depots can be found everywhere and your “chariot” arrives approximately every 20 mins. They ride from the resorts and the TTC (Transportation and Ticket Center) to the parks and back (also to & from Disney Springs). You cannot take a direct bus to hop from park to park. You would need to stop at one of the resorts or the TTC in order to transfer to a different bus or mode of transport. For me, riding this beast is my least favorite option. There is no magic in waiting in lines for the bus or being cramped in a Covid partitioned vehicle. Sometimes you will need to wait for the next bus to arrive due to lack of space available depending on your place in line.
Monorail: The monorails are awesome! They arrive often, hold more people, load up quickly, ride smoothly and only stop a few times. Most of all, they are kinda fun to ride. You have a great bird’s-eye view of your surroundings as you cruise through the different themed resorts heading towards your destination. They also have an express line that runs directly from the TTP to the Magic Kingdom. Sadly, this elevated railway is only available in certain areas of the Disney complex, mainly around the Magic Kingdom.
Skyliner: These enclosed aerial gondolas are also very cool to ride. They can hold up to 8 people but because of these Covid times, they will not mix groups. As a result, the two of us enjoyed a spacious private car as we glided across the sky in comfort on many occasions. I would suggest you experience the Skyliner even without a destination in mind. The night-time view is especially enticing. Much like the monorail, boarding moves quickly and the carts arrive continuously. Unfortunately, this mode of transportation is only available around the Epcot and Hollywood Studios Area.
Friendship Boat: Anywhere there are lakes or connecting water ways, you can find a designated passenger pier to ferry to your destination. The boats arrive approximately every 15 mins. Due to Covid-19, they are only filling the vessels to half capacity. It is slow moving but will get you off your feet. Sometimes it is quicker just to walk but it’s nice to chill while gliding across the water. There are many different bodies of water throughout Disney World but many are not connected. Due to this fact, the Friendship Boat is only useful for local hops within any particular area…. All Aboard!!!
Uber: Yep, this is the paid option in which I mentioned. Provided a car is within your proximity and the price is reasonable, you can beat the crowds traveling this way. The free transportation options begin approximately 45 mins before the first park opens. If you arrive before the mob does, you can roam in an almost empty park for about an hour before the chaos sets in. The drivers know the area well and will get you as close as possible to the front gate of your park destination. Of course, there is also the option to drive yourself if have a vehicle with you.
After a quick shower and chowing down on a couple slices of leftover pizza from the night before, we headed out to catch an Uber to the Magic Kingdom. The only other option from our hotel was the long-lined bus. No thank you, the private early Uber ride was totally worth the tip included $13.
Preparing for a long day at the park: First and foremost, wearing a mask all day long in hot or rainy weather sucks! Bring extra face coverings, your mask will get nasty and will need replaced within a few hours. We brought a backpack filled with water, sunscreen, umbrella, hand sanitizer, external phone charger, masks, and light jackets for when the night sets in. Your smart phone is essential in navigating your day, be sure it does not die. Packing light snacks can also be a good idea but we were more interested in sampling the random yum-yums in which Disney has to offer.
Magic Kingdom: As mentioned, we arrived early. First, we went through security. You must remove all metal objects including your phone from your bags and pockets. To get through quickly, hold the items with your arms fully extended out in front of you while you go through the metal detector. If you are flagged, you and your bags will be searched for the next 5 mins or so. This is simple to avoid if you follow protocol. Next, we swiped our Magic Bands on the circular Mickey scanner to enter the park “ding-a-ling”- we were in!
As we passed through the gates, we found ourselves being welcomed by Walt Disney’s dream version of small-town America; Main Street. At the end of the thoroughfare stands the majestic fairy-tale castle in full view. The whole design of this area is basically an exact replica of California’s Disneyland. When I mentioned this to my companion, she quickly explained in an irritated tone of voice that Sleeping Beauty’s castle resides in Disneyland, and this castle is the home of Cinderella. Well, excuuuuuse me. Evidently my knowledge of Disney folklore is not near as extensive as hers. When we reached the palace, we quickly snapped a few pics and rushed off to hit the more “in demand” rides within the hour. Waking up super early was tough, especially after the long trip the day before, but now the effort was definitely worth it. It was also cooler this time of day. As expected, soon a large crowd of young families piled in and the infamous Florida humidity emerged.
Of course the attractions are really cool but what impresses me the most is the level of detail that goes into running the park properly. They really do create the atmosphere that is the “Happiest Place on Earth”. I’m not only referring to the parks, this includes all aspects within the bubble known as Disney World. For example: I noticed there is no nasty, sticky, chewed up gum anywhere on the premises. Most theme parks are riddled with it, especially on the ground and under tables, etc. I was told by a cast member that all shops, even the food markets and gas stations, are prohibited from selling gum on Disney property…. Nice!
Disney policy regarding masks: As a rule, as long as you are standing or walking, a face covering must be worn. If you sit down 6 feet away from others to eat or drink, only then may you take off your mask. This means no taking a swig of water while waiting in a long line regardless how dehydrated you get. The truth is everyone in line sneaks in a few gulps, as common-sense dictates. There are six-foot markers to keep people separated in line for every attraction. Some follow, some do not. They also have designated rest areas throughout the parks where you are seated in an isolated area. These “Relaxation Stations” usually have fans blowing and the smothering veil can be removed from your face.
Be Our Guest: After roaming the park for 5-6 hours, we were ready for a good sit-down meal. This extremely popular restaurant was more difficult to book than most. We had to keep checking back on the My Disney Experience app until we finally found an opening about a week earlier. This “Beauty and the Beast” themed dining hall was spacious and elegant emulating the ballroom in the animated feature film. There is a set fee of $62 per person not including tip or alcohol. The meal includes unlimited non-alcoholic drinks, your choice of appetizer, entrée and a set dessert trio. The French onion soup is an absolute must as an appetizer. The filet mignon I ordered for the main course was cooked perfectly and the Dessert Trio consisted of a dark chocolate truffle, a white chocolate “Chip” cup and a vanilla cake with lemon curd. The “Chip” cup was modeled after the character in the movie but my fav was the cookie shaped cake…. Scrumptious
As a bonus, the Beast grandly walks the room and takes bows about every 20 mins or so and the Enchanted Rose is on display in a different smaller dining hall off to the side. The “Be Our Guest Restaurant” is definitely pricey but the cuisine is excellent and the atmosphere is “enchanting”. Most importantly, my companion was thoroughly enjoying the whole experience due to “Beauty and the Beast” being one of her favorite childhood movies. So, in my opinion, totally worth it…. To be continued….
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