A Whole New Post COVID World (Nov. 2021 and Dec. 2021 TRs) UPDATE x2 3/31/2025

[disneywlf]

Lights, Camera, Action! Disney's Hollywood Studios 12/2/2021 Part 6
About two hours and fifteen minutes after I lined up for Rise of the Resistance, I knew I was nearing the preshow! We then entered the Resistance Control Center, where we were welcomed by Princess (now General) Leia as well as Rey and BB-8, as were helping to fight with The Resistance against Kylo Ren and The First Order.

-Rey:

Soon enough, I was entering a First Order Transport Vehicle!

And then I saw Mon Calamari Lieutenant Bek, who had an appearance similar to Admiral Ackbar, another character from the "Star Wars" franchise.

Then, myself and other park guests were intimidated by First Order Storm Troopers!


Finally, we were loaded onto ride vehicles by CMs who were as intimidating as the Storm Troopers, fitting with the attraction. The ride vehicles held eight guests and once we were loaded, we received instructions from Finn, another member of The Resistance. As we were transported, Mon Calamari Lieutenant Bek, who welcomed us aboard earlier, instructed our droids that we were part of a prisoner relocation program, although in reality, they were just replacing the two occupied guest transports. Once we were on our way, the ride was a lot of fun, as it was a multisensory treat! I felt this way as the ride's many movements as well as the appearances by different "Star Wars" characters immersed you in their world. If that's not enough, the ride's many movements were enhanced by trying to dodge the many Storm Troopers along the way! Once Rise of the Resistance was over, I was very happy, as although I waited a long time to ride it, I truly enjoyed this attraction and felt it was definitely one of Disney's best attractions. At this point, it was early afternoon, but I am not sure what the exact time was. Nevertheless, after all I had gotten done, I felt hungry, so a nice lunch would be in order. Based on the delicious sounding menu as well as favorable guest and critic reviews, Docking Bay 7 would be my next stop.

The menu sounded impressive, however, the Pirjanad Hot Chicken Tip Yip, which consisted of Crispy Chicken, Spicy Chipotle Glaze, White Rice, Relish of Sweet Corn, Shishito Peppers, Jicama, and Plantains, Cilantro called my name, as I found out this meal could be tailored to my allergies to eggs and all grains except for corn and rice based on reading about this restaurant. What's more? I was in the mood for a little spice with my lunch and also thought this meal sounded filling.

Once again, the theming proved to be impressive, as it truly felt like a mess hall within the Star Wars universe. Although I was hungry, I just had a grand old time taking in all of the details!



Once I was at the counter, I was assisted by CM Caracynthia, who was warm and welcoming. As I was placing my order, I mentioned how I would love the Pirjanad Hot Chicken Tip Yip, but was allergic to eggs and all grains with the exceptions of corn and rice. Caracynthia proved to be knowledgeable of the menu and my allergies as well and wasting no time, she got Chef Rafael, who was also outstanding thanks to his proactivity and kindness! He proved to be reassuring, as he said that the Pirjanad Hot Chicken Tip Yip would not really need any modification for my allergies, as the chicken was just coated with corn starch, which I am not allergic to. He did add that it would take an extra couple of minutes to prepare my food, as he wanted to prevent cross contamination of allergens. After putting in my order, he then asked me if I wanted anything to drink? I asked Chef Rafael what drink would go best with my meal and he suggested Moon Juice, thanks to its fruity flavors. Once my order was placed, I then relaxed for a little bit, continuing to take in the scenery of Docking Bay 7.



About fifteen minutes after I ordered my food, I received and was excited to tuck in! I am pleased to report that this meal was excellent, as I loved the chicken, which was juicy on the inside and on the outside, had a crunchy coating enhanced by the piquant and slightly sweet spice of the Chipotle Glaze. Additionally, the fluffy white rice was a wonderful accompaniment to absorb the extra sauce and other flavors of the dish. I also loved the Sweet Corn, which was sweet when mixed with the slightly spicy Shishito Peppers, crunchy Jicama, and sweet Plantains. Additionally, I also loved the Moon Juice, which was fruity, sweet, and refreshing!

All in all, Docking Bay 7 was a wonderful lunch and whenever I am in DHS, it is definitely a top place for a Quick Service Meal in my book! After lunch, I continued to take in a little more of Galaxy's Edge, having the pleasure of watching a distanced Meet & Greet with Rey and Chewbacca!

Although I was loving Galaxy's Edge and would have explored more if I were able to, the day was still young and there was still more to see, so I decided to leave Galaxy's Edge for the time being. Where would I go next? Find out soon!

 

[disneywlf]

Lights, Camera, Action! Disney's Hollywood Studios 12/2/2021 Part 7
After being amazed by Galaxy's Edge, time had run away with me and by the time I had finished checking it out, it was about 3:00PM. My next step was to check out Toy Story Land, which I was excited for, as I love the "Toy Story"franchise and was excited to see it be translated into a theme park. Once I left Galaxy's Edge, I was transformed into the size of a toy haha. This was especially evident by the theming, which used bright colors and scaled toys like blocks and yo-yos into a larger than life scale, making park-goers feel as if they were truly made into the size of a toy.

The theming of Toy Story Land did not stop at the restrooms, which were also built from toys that Andy had. To the left of the photo, I could see the building that housed the restrooms comprised of a Tinkertoy barrel and towards the center and right of the photo, building blocks and Scrabble tiles were built to comprise the building that housed the restrooms.

Since I needed to use the restrooms, I had the pleasure of checking them out and although they were crowded, they were very well kept and very well themed, thanks to red and black checkered floors and crayon tiles on the walls, making for some of the best themed restrooms at WDW! Once I used the restrooms, I continued to explore Toy Story Land and in the distance, I could see one of the tracks of Slinky Dog Dash.

Again, the use of scale as well as the bright colors definitely did this land justice! Looking in the opposite direction, I then saw what appeared to be a discarded box, featuring Mr. Potato Head on the left, a cardboard cutout of The Prospector, Hamm, and Wheezy in a Toy Story Mania ride vehicle in the middle, and Woody on the right making up a portion of the outside of Toy Story Mania.

Looking back towards one of the tracks of Slinky Dog Dash, I saw Jessie and Rex holding a string of Christmas lights as to connect them to multicolored building blocks. This was likely one of Andy's creations and definitely made you feel as if you were in Andy's backyard in the "Toy Story" universe!

Continuing to check out Toy Story Land, I then saw Alien Swirling Saucers, a spinning ride as well as a larger than life statue of the lovable Space Ranger himself, Buzz Lightyear! I contemplated riding Alien Swirling Saucers at this time, but thanks to longer than average standby waits, I decided to put off until close to my return time to ride Slinky Dog Dash.

Since wait times were still high for many attractions, I decided to check out the rest of DHS. As I headed back towards the center of the park, an ad promoting "Cruella," which had come out on Disney+ recently, caught my eye as I thoroughly enjoyed that film thanks to its compelling story exploring the origin of one of Disney's most famous baddies, Cruella de Vil. If that's enough, it had terrific visuals and a rocking soundtrack to boot!

I then saw a building themed to "The Incredibles," which I believed would house a meet and greet?

Back at the center of the park, I then had a grand old time checking out the 50th Anniversary busts, including BB-8 and R2-D2.

Frozone from "The Incredibles"

And Edna Mode, also from "The Incredibles" dahling

After checking out some of the 50th Anniversary busts, I decided to head back to Hollywood Boulevard, as I wanted to check out the parade, which was themed to Pixar, fitting with the fact that there are many Disney-Pixar IPs taking over DHS. Needless to say, I am not sure if any DISers remember it from the 2000s, but the walk-around characters as well as the use of themed automobiles, here in the form of Chevrolet Camaros customized in patterns with their respective Disney-Pixar films brought back fond memories of the Disney Stars and Motorcars Parade, which had walk-around characters and classic cars themed to all different Disney IPs .
Needless to say, I was excited to have memories brought back and in the distance, I could see Mr. Incredible leading the parade, followed by Edna Mode, Sulley from "Monsters Inc.," and the Green Army Men from "Toy Story."

Mr. Incredible!

And Edna Mode dahlings. Talk about making an entrance!

Sulley from "Monsters Inc."

The Green Army Men

Woody and Jessie

And of course, this Pixar themed parade would need be complete without Buzz Lightyear, who had a Camaro themed in a matching pattern to his likeness!

All in all, this parade was a wonderful celebration of Disney-Pixar and although on a smaller scale, it even brought back fond memories of the Stars and Motorcars Parade from the 2000s. The day was flying by, as the time was now getting close to 4:30PM, which would mean that I would have a little less than hour until the beginning of my Individual Lightning Lane return time at Slinky Dog Dash. How would I spend the remainder of my time? Find out soon!

 

[disneywlf]

Lights, Camera, Action! Disney's Hollywood Studios 12/2/2021 Part 8
After having a wonderful afternoon checking out Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, and the Pixar parade, the day had flown by, as the time was now twenty past four. The only other main plans I had for the day were an Individual Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog Dash at about 5:10PM and a Lightning Lane for Mickey&Minnie's Runaway Railway about an hour later. In addition, I would get a couple of other attractions in like Star Tours and Toy Story Mania! before I would end my day. Before I headed toward the aforementioned attractions, I got a photo in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater .

Thanks to a low standby wait at Star Tours, I decided to make that my next attraction.

I was able to walk on to the attraction in no time!

Although I am not a huge follower of Star Wars as I had mentioned earlier in this TR, this is still a fun attraction all the same! I loved the motion of the simulator, riding with classic Star Wars characters, and fighting off villains like Darth Vader. By the time I had finished riding Star Tours, I made my way back towards Toy Story Land since the return time for my ILL at Slinky Dog Dash was nearing. I passed through the back of DHS, right by ABC Commissary.

By the time I got back to Toy Story Land, the time was nearly 5:00PM and the sun was beginning to set.

Thanks to the fact that the sun was beginning to set, I could see the Christmas lights that Jessie and Rex were holding come to life, adding to Toy Story Land's theming.

Of course, I had to get a picture at the front of Toy Story Land alongside Sheriff Woody

Since my return for Slinky Dog Dash would be good from 5:10PM-6:10PM, I decided to get a ride at Alien Swirling Saucers in. It had a 30-minute standby wait and I was enticed by the theming outside the attraction, thanks to it reminding me of Pizza Planet from the "Toy Story" films.

There was also a lot of theming to the lovable Green Men as well as Buzz Lightyear himself!

In addition to the larger than life Buzz Lightyear outside of Alien Swirling Saucers, the larger than life theming continued with the addition of this toy alien gun in the queue.

The theming of the queue continued to impress!

Although the theming was impeccable, I did notice wear and tear in spots, like along the wall with the mural of this attraction. Namely, the wear and tear was in the form of peeling paint in spots, which was definitely a shame as it is not like at the time of my visit, Toy Story Land was that old, since it was just over three years old after opening in June 2018. Again, this was likely due to staffing cuts and COVID-19, which is a shame as DHS otherwise looked good besides this oversight. Also, this was in no way the fault of the Custodial and Maintenance CMs, as I know they were absolutely doing the best with the circumstances. Anyway, I digress. About fifteen minutes after I lined up for Alien Swirling Saucers, it was just about time to ride!

All in all, while the theming of this ride was elaborate, the ride was more simple in nature. In essence, the ride was a spinning ride, although it moved in a whiplike motion at points. Despite the simplistic design of the ride, it was fun and I would ride it again, but not without checking out the headlining attractions first, like Slinky Dog and Toy Story Mania. After riding Alien Swirling Saucers, it was now time to ride Slinky Dog Dash, which I was excited for as it would be my first time riding it. On my way there, I took in more of Toy Story Land's incredible theming, including structures composed of Tinker-Toys, alphabet blocks, and more!

My excitement grew as I got closer to Slinky Dog Dash!

By 5:32PM, I had arrived at Slinky Dog Dash. Even just looking at the entrance to the queue, my excitement grew thanks to the elaborate theming, which had a queue built from more Tinker-Toys as well as what appeared to be a drawing of Slinky Dog, lending to the impression that you were riding an attraction that Andy had built.

My anticipation only grew higher after seeing Slinky Dog climb up the first portion of the track.

In addition, the elaborate theming continued with boxes from opened toys making up the walls of the attraction.

As I breezed through the Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog, my excitement continued to grow!

 

[disneywlf]

Lights, Camera, Action! Disney's Hollywood Studios 12/2/2021 Part 9
As my exciting day at DHS continued, I was in the Lightning Lane of Slinky Dog Dash, exciting to be riding this attraction for the very first time! As I continued through the queue, my senses were delighted, particularly by all of the buildings being made from what appeared to be open boxes of various toys. I knew I would be onboard shortly, as I was able to see Slinky Dog careening down the track once again.

More elaborate theming from Slinky Dog's queue.

Of course, this ride wouldn't be complete without an artist rendering by Andy himself!

Less than fifteen minutes after I lined up to ride Slinky Dog Dash, it was nearly time for me to ride!

I then had the pleasure of riding Slinky Dog Dash and boy, I had a blast! While it is not the most intense coaster out there, as I would say it is on the level of 7DMT in intensity and just below Big Thunder Mountain, the many turns, dips, and hills along the track as well as the breezy pace made for a fun ride! What's more? There was plenty of eye candy to take in as well, such as towers of Jenga blocks and different Toy Story characters. All in all, I loved Slinky Dog Dash and would be glad to ride it again! However, since I had a little bit of time before my LL at Mickey&Minnie's Runaway Railway, I took advantage and decided to ride Toy Story Mania!, an old favorite! On my way there, the Christmas lights draped across Toy Story Land grew brighter since the sun was almost done setting.

A few minutes after disembarking Slinky Dog, I was about to line up for Toy Story Mania. Since I had last visited Toy Story Mania just under eight years prior to this trip in January 2014, the entrance of this attraction was moved from its former home of Pixar Place and once Toy Story Land reopened, was moved and as a result, got an even more elaborate entrance that looked like the front of a midway.

Although the Stand-by entrance was a 50-minute wait, I did not mind, as I figured the line would move a little bit quicker and I knew the attraction would be worth the wait! While I was waiting, I decided to check for ADRs of restaurants near DHS and when Cape May Cafe popped up, I decided to book an ADR there for 7:55PM, even though the format there changed from buffet to family-style, like Chef Mickey's, as I very much enjoyed eating there on my visits to WDW in January 2014 and January 2016.

The wait went by quickly, as I had a grand time checking out all of the illustrations throughout the queue, including this sketch of Buzz Lightyear.

And looking out towards Toy Story Land. The theming was just as beautiful at night even though it was also incredible in the day.

The vibrant illustrations, the etch-a-sketch that gave tips on how to do well at Toy Story Mania! and drew games, and of course, the animatronics like a wisecracking Mr. Potato Head only whet my appetite for what was to come!

About thirty-five minutes after I had lined up to ride Toy Story Mania, I was finally onboard my ride vehicle and in addition, was donning a pair of 3-D glasses. I loved this ride as much as I had remembered, as I enjoyed how the ride is combined with the special effects that allow you to play carnival games in CGI with your Toy Story pals! I ended up scoring about 70,000 points, which tied with my best score from January 2014. All in all, I was having a delightful start to my evening, but since I was starting to feel a bit tired, I decided to make my way towards Mickey&Minnie's Runaway Railway, which would be my final attraction for the end of this wonderful day!

 

[disneywlf]

Lights, Camera, Action! Disney's Hollywood Studios 12/2/2021 Part 10
After having a fantastic time in Toy Story Land riding Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash (a new favorite!), and Toy Story Mania (an old favorite), my day was nearly coming to an end . It was a wonderful day and I knew I would end it off on a high note, as I would have the pleasure of riding Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway for the first time! Since time was running away with me, especially as I had an ADR at Cape May Cafe at 7:55PM, I decided to hotfoot it back towards the center of DHS. Of course, I had to take in the night at Toy Story Land and I have to admit, it is amazing at night!


And a few minutes later, I was back in Galaxy's Edge! The lighting here definitely makes you feel like you are on a different planet





Although seeing the lighting on the outside of Galaxy's Edge was incredible and the hues of color lent to an almost soothing feel, walking through the trading port/bazaar portion of Galaxy's Edge was definitely enchanting!


A few minutes later, I was just about out of Galaxy's Edge.

And soon enough, I was back near Echo Lake. This classic looking Christmas tree looked incredible at night!


After taking in Toy Story Land, Galaxy's Edge, and Echo Lake at night, I found myself in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater, which was once home to the Great Movie Ride and is now home to Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway. Although I loved the Great Movie Ride, I was looking forward to checking out this attraction.

Thanks to a Lightning Lane, I was on the attraction about five minutes after I had entered. While inside, I took a glimpse at the queue and I loved how they had posters for various cartoons from the "Mickey Mouse" TV series, which had a modern take on the very early Mickey Mouse cartoons. If I remember correctly, it ran from about 2013 until the late 2010s. Seeing those posters whet my appetite for this attraction and the muted colors lent to a retro feel. A few minutes later, I was onboard one of the Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway trains, ready for an adventure. The ride starts with Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto, who are set out to have a perfect picnic! As Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto scramble to pack, Mickey and Minnie sing "Nothing Can Stop Us Now," setting an upbeat mood! However, many hijinks ensue, as Minnie accidentally packs Pluto in the trunk of Mickey's car, along with the gear for the picnic. However, more importantly, while Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto are beginning to drive, they entrust Goofy, our conductor, to take us on his train. Once Mickey accidentally hits the track switch, we then got disconnected from Goofy's locomotive, starting the runaway. Of course, more hijinks ensued as our ride vehicles careened through their worlds. It was a fun attraction thanks to the zippy motions of the ride vehicles as well as the scenes of various settings, which were laden with special 3-D effects. Although all of the scenes were fun, my favorite had to be when we careened through Daisy Duck's dance studio, as the dance-like motions of our vehicles matched well to Daisy Duck leading us to a waltz followed by a conga. Of course, the ride ends happily with Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto enjoying their picnic while reprising "Nothing Can Stop Us Now." All in all, this ride was a wonderful end to my day at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Having had a fun-filled day, I made my way out of the park, but not without taking in the nighttime scenery along Sunset Boulevard.



All in all, after visiting DHS today, I think it is hard to say whether DHS or Epcot is my second favorite park to the Magic Kingdom. I say this as I am able to safely say that the Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge additions are amazing, thanks to how well the theming is done as well as the fact that they house some top notch attractions. Additionally, I even felt the existing areas of the park, like Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards are underrated, as their theming does an excellent job at capturing the magic of 1930s-1950s Tinseltown alongside the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, still one of my favorite attractions to this day. All in all, it is facts like these that make it hard for me to decide whether Epcot or DHS is my second favorite park. Anyway, after taking in the scenery, I exited DHS and hotfooted it to the boat dock, where I got a Friendship Boat that was about to depart for the Epcot Resorts.

Once onboard, it was a relaxing ride, although by this time, it was a bit chilly, but a beautiful night nonetheless. As we sailed along Crescent Lake, we arrived at the Swan and Dolphin Resorts less than ten minutes after we left DHS.

After stopping at DHS, we then began the rest of our journey and a few minutes later, we arrived at Disney's Beach and Yacht Club Resorts.

I was excited to be back here, as I enjoy the theming of this resort, which harkens aesthetics that would not look out of place in seaside New England and additionally, they have a luxurious, yet laid back vibe. As I walked up the dock to reach the resorts, I marveled at the sunken pirate ship, which houses the waterslide at Stormalong Bay, which is like a mini-waterpark, with a large pool, sand beaches, lazy rivers, and slides.

I was getting closer to Disney's Beach and Yacht Club Resorts and was excited for the rest of my evening. How will it go? Find out soon!

 

[disneywlf]

Revisiting an Old Favorite?
After an incredible day at Disney's Hollywood Studios, I had arrived at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. It was a gorgeous evening, albeit chilly with temperatures dropping into the 50s. As I walked up the dock after disembarking my Friendship Boat from DHS, I took in incredible views of Stormalong Bay, one of Disney's best pool areas thanks to it being like a mini-waterpark, with a large pool, sand beaches, lazy rivers, and slides. Like I had mentioned in past TRs, if I were ever able to stay at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, I would be making a lot of time to take advantage of Stormalong Bay for sure! As I entered the resort, I found myself in one of the Yacht Club's Lobby and as I passed what appeared to be a Front Desk, this simple yet elegant Menorah shined brightly on the 5th night of Hanukkah!

This Christmas Tree was gorgeous, with its nautical motif accentuated my model ships!

In order to reach the Beach Club, I hotfooted along the outer perimeter of the resorts, passing Stormalong Bay once again.




I arrived at the entrance of Cape May Cafe right on time for my 7:55PM ADR.

At the podium, the CM, whose name escapes me at the moment, was warm and welcoming. My table was ready, so she escorted me to booth on the back perimeter of the restaurant, not far from where what was once one of the buffet stations stood. Before Cape May brought its buffet back sometime in 2022, they used these stations for food prep.

For this visit, Cape May was operating on a family style menu, not much different than Chef Mickey's, save for Cape May's menu having more seafood. Once I was seated, I was greeted by my waiter, Scott from Orlando, who would be taking care of me that evening. Just like my servers on previous visits to Cape May in January 2014 and January 2016, he was very engaging and polite, making for an excellent first impression! He asked me if I had been to Cape May before and I answered in the affirmative, but not without stating it had been over five years! Scott explained that unlike those past times I had been to Cape May Cafe, they had moved to a family style menu due to COVID-19, but still with a heavy bent on seafood. He also said that if I wanted, I was able to order more of any item. The items served for that evening included a Seasonal Harvest Salad, Cod with Two Ears of Corn, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Slow Roasted Strip Loin with a Chimichurri Sauce, Roast Chicken, Mixed Vegetables, and Mashed Potatoes. Additionally, Scott knew of my food allergies right off of the bat. He said that all of the items would be safe for me to eat, but offered to get Chef James, an offer I gladly accepted! He also took my order for a Diet Coke and he came back right away. I was glad to be back at Cape May and even with the changes, I knew I would still be in excellent hands!

A few minutes after I was seated, Chef James came out to meet with me. Chef James was very kind of course, very conscientious. Like what Scott, my Server, stated, since the items served for me were free of my allergens, which included eggs and all grains except for corn and rice, I would be safe eating all of the items served. The one exception would be dessert, as Scott stated that unlike in the past when they used Erin McKenna NYC to supply their allergy friendly desserts, they had changed suppliers, so he would verify if the desserts were safe for me towards the end of my meal. Once Chef James had tended to me, Scott delivered my Seasonal Harvest Salad, which looked delicious! And indeed, it tasted as good as it looked thanks to a base of crisp and leafy mixed greens, sweet and pleasantly acidic tomatoes, a bite of red onion slices, sweet and tart dried cranberries, and a tangy citrus based dressing. All in all, this was a great start to my meal!

Next, Scott brought out my meats and veggies. This was where things started to go downhill slightly. Although none of the items were bad, some items were better than others. Of the proteins, I enjoyed the Strip Sirloin the most, as the meat was tender and juicy, melding well with the savory Chimichurri Sauce that also had a pleasant bite from the herbs, balancing the heft of the meat well. Although chicken is one of my most consumed foods, I did not particularly care for this chicken, as while not bad, I found it to be on the dry side. As far as poultry items go, I have had plenty of better poultry dishes at WDW and even the Turkey I had as part of my family style meal two weeks prior at Chef Mickey's was better prepared. Things got better with the veggies, as I found them to be savory and well prepared. The veggies were not to be outdone by the Mashed Potatoes, which were pleasantly heavy, but earthy with salty and creamy notes.

After having the platter of meats and veggies, Scott then came back to take away my dishes from these items. As my seafood dishes were being prepared, I then had the pleasure of chatting with Scott for a bit. He was very engaging, first asking me how my trip was? I told him that it was excellent, thanks to the fact that I had an amazing day at DHS! Scott was impressed and wanted to know if I was able to see everything I wanted to? I enthusiastically answered yes, telling him that the new additions of Galaxy's Edge and Toy Story Land were incredible and complemented the other portions of DHS well. He heartily agreed and said he loved the new additions too! We then talked about where we lived and Scott stated that he had been in the Orlando area for a few years, originally being from the Chicago area. I asked Scott how he liked Florida and he told me he loved, thanks to the beautiful weather and environment, and of course, the proximity to Disney! He added that he lived not far from WDW, being just off of Palm Parkway, and I added that it was not far from where I had stayed two weeks earlier and where I would be staying for the evening. I told Scott what a nice area it was and he agreed once again, as he loved how beautiful it was as well as its convenient location. After having a wonderful time chatting with Scott, he then went to get the remainder of my meal and offered me a refill of my Diet Coke. A few minutes later, Scott returned with my Peel and Eat Shrimp and my Cod. I forgot to take a picture of the Peel and Eat Shrimp, but they were delicious as they were large, tender, sightly sweet, and coated with a piquant Old Bay seasoning. I also loved the Cod, which was moist, flakey, and had a mild flavor that meshed well with the piquant Old Bay seasoning applied. Additionally, the two ears of sweet corn complemented the seafood dishes well.

As I was eating, I then had the pleasure of meeting of Brittany, Kayleigh, and Abbi, three other waitresses who were working that evening. They were all very sweet and engaging, making sure that I was having a wonderful time, which I was and just going out of my way to make me feel like a value guest! Although the food at Cape May was not as good as in the past, I am pleased to say that the service was as outstanding as ever! Anyway, I was starting to feel full and as promised, Scott offered to get Chef James once again, who would discuss my dessert options. A few minutes later, Chef James came to my table and he felt a bit crestfallen, as he said that although they had gluten-free desserts, they still contained eggs, which we agreed was a shame as the former Erin McKenna NYC desserts were both egg and gluten free. He felt bad, but said I would be fine with some fresh fruit and coffee. Chef James was pleased to oblige and would make sure that Scott would deliver them. I don't know why Chef Mickey's had the Erin McKenna NYC desserts while Cape May didn't but sadly, it was just another example of now former CEO Bob Chapek's cost-cutting. A few minutes later, Scott delivered my Fruit Salad, which although simple, looked delicious as well as a pot of coffee with fresh cream and sugars. The Fruit Salad was as good as it looked, thanks to its sweet strawberries, refreshing and delicate watermelon, tart raspberries and blackberries, and sweet and sour pineapple cubes. Additionally, the coffee was fresh, bold, and on the strong side!

By the time I had finished my meal, I was stuffed, so I went ahead and asked Scott for the check. He returned about a couple of minutes later and thanks to a Disney Visa Chase discount, my total came out to about $45 with a well-deserved tip thanks to Scott's outstanding service! Although it was a bit less than when I did the buffet the previous two times I had visited, the value, while still decent, was not as good as it used to be. I found this to be the case as most of the food while still good to very good, had some misfires, namely, the chicken being on the dry side. Plus, in addition to salads, Cape May's old dinner buffet had a selection of cheeses, soups, and other goodies. Also, the dessert selection was not quite what it was in the past, even in my case, as they no longer had desserts from Erin McKenna NYC for allergies. I should note that I have not tried Cape May's character breakfast, so I cannot judge it. For these reasons, I would say that although I would still recommend Cape May Cafe thanks to most of the dishes being good as well as the outstanding service, it was not quite an old favorite like it once was. I should add that Cape May since returned to its old format, albeit with an upcharge for crab legs in addition to the normal buffet price. Anyway, I digress. I then thanked Scott and Abbi, who were still working the dining room for a wonderful evening and they bid me a fond farewell in return. The time was just past 9:00PM, so the night was still young. After dinner, I continued to explore the Beach Club for bit, first checking out their Lobby, which was accented by a lovely chandelier that I remembered from my previous visits to the resort. It was large and had lamps sticking out from the top and a half globe shaped bottom, adding to the upscale and cozy feel of the lobby. If that was not enough, for Christmas, a whimsical carousel made of gingerbread added to the lobby. It had a "Little Mermaid" theme, with horses themed to characters from the movie using their respective colors and even hairstyles when applicable, including Ariel and Ursula.


After being awed by the grandeur of the Beach Club's Lobby, I then went outside once again, continuing to take in Stormalong Bay.

I marveled at the sunken pirate ship once again and thought to myself if I were to ever stay at the Yacht and Beach Club how much fun it would be to slide down its waterslide!


Looking across Crescent Lake, I could see Disney's Boardwalk Resort, which was lit brightly with its neon lights!

Being drawn to its neon lights sort of like a mouse with cheese, I decided to take a post-dinner walk along Crescent Lake. How would the rest of the evening go? Find out soon!

 

[disneywlf]

Ending the Night on a Sweet Note
After a good, if not slightly underwhelming dinner at Cape May Cafe, I was busy exploring Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, taking in their luxurious, yet laid back vibes. After being drawn to the Boardwalk thanks to its bright neon lighting, I decided to take a post-dinner walk and check out Disney's Boardwalk, since I had never been there before. The night was beautiful, if not slightly chilly with temperatures in the 50s. As I continued to walk along the grounds of Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, I soon found myself over Crescent Lake via a pedestrian connector to Disney's Boardwalk. I took in more scenery and even got a couple of shots of two Friendship Boats almost racing each other.


I covered a good distance and a few minutes later, I was nearing Disney's Boardwalk.

Soon enough, I had arrived. Immediately, I was drown by the Boardwalk's festive atmosphere, with its architecture evoking an early 1900s beach town with a boardwalk as well as the aforementioned neon lights.


Although the atmosphere was festive, it was not that crowded. A few minutes later, I reached the end of the boardwalk and decided to check out Atlantic Dance, a nightclub that has been around for a long time. There was no crowded and the friendly CM granted me access.

Inside, the club had a large dance floor, which appeared to be decorated with either wood or parquet flooring in a checkered pattern. Additionally, a large screen played music videos while the music played. Of course, it was pleasantly dark, adding to the atmosphere. I stayed for about half an hour dancing to a playlist consisting of pop hits from the 90s and 2000s

After getting my fill of dancing, I decided to head out, as I was beginning to feel tired after my long but wonderful day. Remembering passing Boardwalk Ice Cream a little earlier and with it still being open, I decided to head back there. A few minutes later, I had arrived at Boardwalk Ice Cream.

Although it was right before closing, there was still a line of a few customers. Inside, the atmosphere was cheerful and a modern take on old school, with a counter taking up the back half of the establishment. In order to add to the atmosphere, the bottom half of the counter had circular tiles in various shades of blue, while the left half of the wall had green rectangular shaped tiles. Opposite that, the wallpaper had a cool, geometric pattern. Of course, there were also retro style hanging lamps from the ceiling. All in all, this lent to a cheerful and old school vibe!

A few minutes later, I was assisted by CMs Maura from Salem, MA and Hannah. Both ladies were very sweet and charismatic, especially Maura, who was curious to know if I knew about Salem thanks to the Salem Witch Trials? I said that although I had not been to Salem proper but rather, other areas of Massachusetts, I had heard of Salem and the Witch Trials thanks to being a history buff. Both ladies were delighted and we all had a grand old time! Since I wanted a very nice ice cream treat but did not want something too big after my large dinner, I decided on a Kids Sundae, which had a scoop of ice cream along with toppings. I decided to keep it simple, yet delicious, by ordering Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge, Whipped Cream, and of course, cherries. The ladies worked efficiently to make my Sundae and although it was priced at a reasonable $5 in change, especially given the good portion size even for a "Kids Sundae," Maura and Hannah had one last trick up their sleeves. They told me "it was on Mickey!" When I thought about this action, this was how this section of the TR earned the title "Ending the Night on a Sweet Note." I would have been glad to pay, but I was overjoyed and thankful at this act of Disney magic. With my sweet treat now in tow, I thanked Maura and Hannah and bid them fond farewells. Outside, I grabbed a nearby table and enjoyed my treat, which was the perfect portion yet still so decadent thanks to the smooth, rich, and creamy vanilla ice cream melding well with the warm, luscious, and bold in flavor hot fudge as well as the fluffy whipped cream. The cherries around the sundae only enhanced my enjoyment of this sundae thanks to their sweet, yet tart flavor.

Feeling tired, I decided to head to my hotel, the Homewood Suites by Hilton on Palm Parkway. Since I was closer to the Swan and Dolphin Resorts Rideshare Pickups, I made my way there.

By the time I was approaching the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, it was about 11:30PM. Up ahead, I was able to see the Dolphin Resort.

On the walkway towards the resort, I spotted another gorgeous menorah!

I took in a little bit of the atmosphere of the resorts grounds, all while "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey played. About ten minutes after I had approached the Swan and Dolphin Resorts, the time was 11:43PM once I was at their Rideshare Pickup. I checked the Lyft and Uber apps for the best price and once again, Lyft won! Lucky for me, my driver, Delis, who was in a Honda Accord, was only a minute away. I then got into the rear seat of Delis's Accord. He was friendly, if not a bit quiet, but that was fine by me, since I was a bit tired. Once we left the Epcot Resort Area, we followed FL-536 aka Epcot Center Drive eastbound until we reached the interchange for Buena Vista Drive. After reaching the interchange for Buena Vista Drive, we followed Buena Vista Drive eastbound towards Disney Springs and the Disney Springs Resort Area. Less than ten minutes after we left the Swan and Dolphin, we were approaching Hotel Plaza Boulevard, which would lead to FL-535 and Interstate 4.

Once we reached Hotel Plaza Boulevard, we turned right passing the majority of the Disney Springs Resorts until we reached FL-535, where we turned left to head northbound towards Orlando. Once on FL-535, we followed the road until it became Apopka-Vineland Road for a few miles until we reached Palm Parkway, where we turned right to head east, passing more hotels, shopping centers, and residential complexes until we reached the complex where the Homewood Suites was located. Less than twenty minutes after I had left the Dolphin, Delis gave me a wonderful ride. Thankful for his excellent service, I then entered the Homewood Suites, ready to check in!

When I got back, I stopped at the Front Desk, as I had left my belongings there earlier that morning since my room was not ready. Thankfully for me, the kind and efficient Front Desk Agent, whose name escapes me, had me registered in no time! Additionally, because she saw that I had a request for a higher floor, she even assigned me Room 519, the King Studio I had booked on one of the upper floors. My Front Desk Agent was also thorough, as she went through the amenities, informing me of the information for internet access as well as that the complimentary hot breakfast would be served from 6:30AM-9:30AM. I then asked for a Late Check Out and since it was available, she extended my 11:00AM check out to 12:00PM, for which I was very thankful! Now registered and with my belongings in tow, I made my way to the nearby elevator, which was festooned with a photo of Cinderella Castle surrounded by a night sky with fireworks in the background. Additionally, Walt Disney World 50 was written on the left door whilst The World's Most Magical Celebration was written on the right door. This was definitely a fun way to cement this Homewood Suites's status as a WDW Good Neighbor Hotel.

I also noticed the other elevators were decorated photos with the other three WDW theme parks, which was a wonderful way to whet guest's appetites for WDW! Once I reached the 5th floor, I then arrived at Room 519.

Once inside, I found the room to be very spacious and in very good condition. Upon entering the room, the Kitchen, which had everything but an oven, was on the right side of the vestibule.

Then the Living Room...

And the Bed...

The Bathroom had a split layout, with the vanity just off of the Bedroom portion of the suite and a sliding, barn style door separating the toilet and shower from the vanity.

Overall, this room made for an excellent home away from home after my wonderful day at DHS. The room was generously sized and immaculate, but felt slightly older than the room next door at the Hilton Garden Inn where I had stayed a couple of weeks prior. This may have been due to the design motifs compared to some newer and/more recently renovated Homewoods, as well as some minor wear and tear. However, this was still a great room thanks to its size, comfort, and cleanliness! Since I was now settled in, I called my Mother and although it was 12:30AM, she was still up. We talked about my day and she was very happy, as she loved hearing that I had a wonderful day! She then inquired as to what I would be doing the next day, since I would be going home later that day? I told her that for the afternoon, I would be going to Disney Springs, where I would go shopping and have lunch before I would drive home to South Florida. She that sounded wonderful and hoped I would be able to find some nice souvenirs. Since she was tired, we then ended the call and bid each other good night! I then got ready for bed, brushing my teeth and washing my face. After that, I laid down, drifting off to sleep almost instantly, feeling as happy as can be after another magical time at WDW!

 

[disneywlf]

The Quest for 50th Anniversary Merch...and More at Disney Springs Redux 12/3/2021
After having an amazing time at Disney's Hollywood Studios the day before as well as a wonderful evening with dinner at Cape May Cafe, exploring the Epcot Resort Area, and having a sweet treat to end the night at Disney's Boardwalk, I had a restful night's sleep thanks to the comfort of the Homewood's bed. Since I was not in a rush the next morning, I slept in a little bit, not awakening again until 10:00AM. Just like my trip two weeks prior, I had an evening shift at my job the day after this day, so I would be able to get home later as I could sleep in the next day if need be. Feeling well rested, I awakened and got ready to take on my day. After washing up, getting dressed, and doing some last minute packing, the time was about 10:55AM. I took in the view from my window, where looking to the west, I was able to see the shared pool complex between the Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn and further in the background, I could see a residential development and closer up, what appeared to be a couple of other hotels.

Although I had a 12:00PM Late Check Out, I did not want to stay too long as I planned to go to Disney Springs to get lunch, likely in the form of the fabulous Fish and Chips from Cooke's of Dublin that I had the pleasure of eating about two weeks ago. Additionally, I had hoped to see if I could get anymore 50th Anniversary merch, including another one of the t-shirts I had purchased. Before I left my room, I did my last minute packing, followed by checking the room to make sure that I left nothing behind. Although I normally would have stopped at the Front Desk, since I wanted to notify the Front Desk as soon as possible that I was leaving so they could prepare it for that day's arrivals, I went ahead and checked out by using the Hilton app on my iPhone.


By the time I left my room, it was 11:15AM and once I was out, I then took the elevator downstairs to the First Floor. Once I was downstairs, I then followed the hall to the back exit, since I parked my car closer to that exit. Normally, I would have stopped by the Lobby, since I was already checked out, there was no need to do so. Nevertheless, I would gladly stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton on Palm Parkway again as I felt the service was warm and welcoming, the rooms were large, clean, and in good condition, and the value for the money was very good with amenities like a complimentary hot breakfast. Also, although not on WDW property, it is not badly located since it is only a 5-10 minute ride from the FL-535 entrance to WDW. Once outside, I got in my Kia Forte, leaving the Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn complex to make my way to Palm Parkway, where I turned left to head westbound to FL-535. I passed the multitude of hotels, residential complexes, and shopping centers and a few minutes later, I had reached FL-535! At FL-535, I turned left to head southbound to Hotel Plaza Boulevard, where I would enter WDW property. Once I reached Hotel Plaza Boulevard, I followed it westbound, passing the various hotels lining the road that encompassed the Disney Springs Resorts Area until I hit Buena Vista Drive. Once I reached Buena Vista Drive, I followed it westbound until I arrived at the Lime Garage about ten minutes after I left the Hilton Garden Inn. Once I got there, I found that there were plenty of spaces available. The parking situation was organized, as there were a few CMs directing traffic and thanks to their help, I remembered parking on the Fourth Floor not far from the elevators. After that, I then took the elevator downstairs to security, which took no time! Once I got into Disney Springs, I had a wonderful time walking around and taking in the scenery once again! In addition to the fun scenery, which makes you feel like you are in an old time small town in Florida. Additionally, the weather was gorgeous, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70s.

Since I was feeling hungry due to not eating breakfast, I made my way to Cookes of Dublin, first passing Gideon's Bakehouse on my left and Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar on my right.

After taking in the scenery at Disney Springs for about half an hour, I arrived at Cookes a little after 12:00PM. Once inside, I received a warm and welcoming greeting from Nancy and Theo, who were working at the counter that day. I went ahead and ordered Fish and Chips along with a Diet Coke to drink. Once my order was placed, Theo issued me a placard for my table and invited me to sit anywhere I would like. Unlike the last time, I was able to find a table outside, which I took advantage of thanks to the beautiful weather. I relaxed for a little bit and about 15-minutes later, I received my Fish and Chips. The Gluten Free Fish and Chips proved to be outstanding once again, as the large portion of flaky cod was enrobed by a perfectly fried thin, crispy, and pleasantly crunchy batter. In addition, the chips that accompanied the fish were wide, with a slightly crunchy outside and a fluffy and earthy inside. Once I finished lunch at Cookes, the time was about 1:00PM, so I took advantage of the beautiful day, first walking back towards Paddlefish (formerly Fulton's Crabhouse) and then turned left, heading back towards The Boathouse. It was a gorgeous day!

I did another lap around Disney Springs until I decided to head back to World of Disney, as I wanted to see if they had any other 50th Anniversary merchandise I had not seen? Well, there was not much difference from what I had seen a little less than two weeks ago, but since I loved the 50th Anniversary t-shirt I had purchased two weeks ago so much, I decided to buy another one!

I perused around World of Disney for a bit and when I went back to the 50th Anniversary section of the store, I found a four pack of special edition 50th Anniversary pins, which symbolized the four WDW theme parks. Loving it, I added it to my purchase as well. Once I was done, I then went to the register, where Ena, a female CM from Brooklyn, NY, took care of my purchases. She was very sweet and we connected right away, as I was very familiar with Brooklyn thanks to having family and friends live there. I was not too far from it, as I used to live in Westbury on Long Island. Ena was not too familiar with Long Island, but had heard good things about it nonetheless. We had fun reminiscing about Brooklyn and New York, but both agreed that Florida was awesome! Wasting no time, Ena completed my transaction, complete with a small discount for using my Disney Chase Visa. Wasting no time, I continued checking out Disney Springs, then going to the Pin Trading store at about 3:30PM after getting lost in World of Disney earlier.

Once inside, I checked out the myriad selection of pins and once inside, I was assisted by Ada from Long Beach, CA, who was cheerful and very knowledgeable about all of the pins. With a dizzying selection of all sorts of pins, it was hard to decide what to purchase. Sensing this, Ada showed me a few of her favorites and seeing that I liked special edition pins based on the fact I purchased the special edition 50th Anniversary pins, which symbolized the four WDW theme parks, showed me a special edition WDW Florida pin. It was love at first sight and thanks to Ada's help, I decided to purchase it. Feeling a little parched, a treat was then in order. Not far from where I had just purchased my pin, I stopped at Marketplace Snacks, a stand specializing in the famous Dole Pineapple Whips.

This was an easy decision, as it is one of my favorite WDW snacks! Once at the counter, a friendly and efficient CM took my order for a Pineapple/Vanilla Swirl Float. A couple of minutes later, I had my treat and I was in heaven after I grabbed a table. As always, the Pineapple Float was outstanding thanks to its base of sweet, sour, and refreshing pineapple juice along with a generous helping of cool, creamy, sweet, and slightly tangy Pineapple/Vanilla Swirl Dole Whip. With the time being about 4:30PM, I decided to wind down my time at Disney Springs, as I had done everything I wanted to and wanted to being driving home to Delray Beach. I made my way back towards the Lime Garage and took in this gorgeous Christmas Tree once again.

A few minutes later, I had arrived near the Lime Garage. I first used the nearby restroom before I made my way upstairs. After that, I then took the elevator to the fourth floor, where my car was parked. By the time I got to my car, it was 5:00PM, so I knew that if I started driving, it would be a 2.5-3 hour drive back to Delray Beach. I first hooked up my iPhone to CarPlay, as I wanted to see how my ride home would look? When I punched in my home address, it showed me two possible routes. Although the Florida's Turnpike (FL-91) is usually the fastest route to where I live, taking about 2.5-3 hours each way as it also the most direct route as it travels straight from Central Florida before turning eastbound into the Treasure Coast region of Florida as well as South Florida, Apple Maps said it would be a longer than average drive at close to 4-hours due to a couple of accidents as well as construction. Although it is slightly less direct as I would have to go east in order to go south, my GPS suggested I take the Beachline Expressway (FL-528) eastbound, which I was familiar with as it is a common route from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) to WDW. The unfamiliar part would be that I would take it eastbound to Interstate 95 southbound. Usually, I would not use this route as it is less direct than using the Turnpike to/from South Florida, however, it would only take 3.5-hours at most, better than 4-hours. I punched this route into CarPlay and before I set off, I turned on "The Ultimate Disney Roadtrip Playlist" on Spotify. Additionally, I then called my Mother, who wished me a safe and wonderful trip home! With all of those tasks done, I pulled out of my space in the Lime Garage a little after 5:00PM. After turning right onto Buena Vista Drive westbound, I then took it to World Center Drive eastbound. Once I got on World Center Drive eastbound, I followed the road until I was off Disney property and I got Interstate 4 eastbound towards Orlando. I followed I-4, passing through the tourist mecca surrounding WDW and also Sea World. Traffic moved, albeit slowly until I reached Exit 71: Sea World and picked up after that. Luckily, I would not be on I-4 for much longer as I exited at Exit 72: FL-528 east (Beachline Expressway)-Orlando International Airport, Cape Canaveral. Once on the Beachline, traffic moved quickly as I passed tourist areas including hotels, shopping, and restaurants serving travelers to the Orlando area followed by hotels and other businesses serving MCO another few miles later. All of this terrain was somewhat familiar, as I had seen it as a passenger. However, past Exit 11: FL-436 north (Semoran Boulevard)-International Airport, was where it became less familiar as I had not driven this way. Nonetheless, it was exciting, as when I continued driving east through Orange County, it became just a bit less developed, with a lot of beautiful forests lining the road. The road was mostly forested and a little faster than I had expected, I had reached Exit 42A: Interstate 95 south-Miami. Time was going faster than expected and by the time I was on I-95 south, I breezed through the remainder of Brevard County, which was longer than I thought it was until I reached the Brevard County Rest Area at Mileage Marker 169, as I needed to use the restroom. The time was 6:45PM, so I had been driving for a little less than two hours, which was not bad at all! Although the rest areas were not as elaborate as the service plazas along the Florida's Turnpike, they did an excellent job at serving their purposes thanks to being well lit and having clean restrooms.


About ten minutes later, I got back in my Kia Forte and continued my journey to South Florida, passing through more of Brevard County past Melbourne and Palm Bay until I had crossed the Brevard-Indian River county line. From there, the drive continued to go quickly as I breezed through Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach Counties until I was finally at my exit, Exit 52: FL-806 (Atlantic Avenue) in Delray Beach. Although this route felt longer for sure and less direct, I was grateful to have made good time and not have been stuck in traffic. Once I exited I-95, I turned right to head westbound on Atlantic Avenue towards the western suburbs of Delray Beach, passing the various shopping centers and residential complexes that lined the street. About five minutes after I left I-95, I turned onto the streets leading into my neighborhood. After parking my car in my driveway, I checked my trip computer as I am a statistics nerd. From what I saw, my trip took 3:10, which was faster than the estimated time on Apple Maps and not bad at all considering this route was longer and less direct than the Turnpike. Additionally, as expected, my car did amazing on fuel economy, as I averaged an impressive 44.2-mpg, which is awesome my car's four-cylinder engine is fairly powerful for a compact car with 139-hp and I was traveling at highway speeds. All in all, this Kia proved to be an impressive road trip companion once again as it was comfortable, efficient, and safe! After I unloaded my car and brought my stuff inside, my Mother and dogs were excited to see me and I was over the moon to see them! All in all, I loved the new additions at Disney's Hollywood Studios and one day, I hope to visit DHS and the other WDW theme parks again!