Walt Disney World: Trip 2 Report

I’m back from my second trip to Walt Disney World for this year! And just like I promised in my last post, I have some more to report and comment on so let’s get it started!

Weather

It was hot.

I don’t remember our last trip in June being that hot. It felt more like August than June and I pretty much had to do laundry when I got back because I sweated through everything.

Most people in Disney had fans or cooling towels. My sister got us these nice fans we could wear around our necks. I could just leave it on and let it blow up at me or hold it against my face. It was a godsend.

Even on some rides! I read that many suspect that Disney is not fully utilizing the air conditioning to save money and I would believe it. Sometimes I was sweating inside on some rides, such as Spaceship Earth – and not because we were stuck near Rome “burning.” But there were other places where it did allow you to get comfortable but it still wasn’t as cool as I’ve experienced in the past.

We did have some storms but by now we’re used to them. A few times it rained for a few minutes or so and then felt even worse. It sometimes would rain in one park but not the other – we barely saw rain in Epcot but got reports from some other members in our party that it poured in Animal Kingdom while seeing large puddles as we took the monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

The most significant rain came the last two days in Disney. It was gray and overcast on Sunday, which was Father’s Day so we did not go to the parks. We did try to go to the pool but thunder and lightning kept us out as it poured on us. We stayed out there, huddling under the umbrella of our table while I covered myself with a towel to keep myself mostly dry. It passed for a bit so we were able to go into the pool. It then rained on and off for the rest of the day (and I believe night).

It also rained as we were leaving on Monday. It poured as we waited for the Mears bus to the airport. And it poured as we boarded the bus. The rain, though, did subside as we approached the airport (and half our group was in Universal where it apparently didn’t rain). Those two bouts of rain did seem to cool things down.

Too bad it was at the end of the trip.

Old Key West

Let’s talk about the hotel now!

This was our first time staying at Old Key West. Now that we’re Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members, we’re trying to stay in all the hotels that offer DVC at least once to say we’ve been there and to determine which ones we like. So far, we have enjoyed each one we’ve stayed at as DVC members (our home base of Wilderness Lodge, Polynesian and now this resort).

We were dropped off at the Hospitality House, which is the main building. The lobby is open and bright, smelling of a fresh scent that reminded me of Bath and Body’s Ocean Breeze, though a bit more overpowering. It didn’t trigger my allergies but it came close to it so warning for others who can’t stand strong scents for whatever reason. There was also a little lounge off the check in area that looked like a sitting room with tables, arm chairs and a TV showing cartoons. There was a strong nautical scene, which makes sense since the hotel is trying to channel the feeling of being in Key West, which is an island.

The Hospitality House

The Hospitality House was a complex that included a general store, the restaurant Olivia’s and the smaller Good’s and Olivia’s to Go. This included one of the mug refill stations as well as the quick service food. One of the pools was nearby and there was also a boat that ran to Disney Springs that left from the Hospitality House. And there was a bus stop in front of the Hospitality House, which we learned was always the last stop before the bus continued to wherever its final destination was.

Old Key West is sprawled out and so depending on your location, you could be in for a walk. It was about ten minutes from the Hospitality House to our building. But you could take the bus if you wanted – you just had to let the driver know you wanted to get off at the main building because if the bus gets full early on, they might skip the last few stops. I hardly took the bus but it was nice to know it was an option. Thankfully our building was by another pool and a second mug refill station so that reduced my need to go to the Hospitality House.

We had a deluxe studio room. It came with two queen beds, a dresser, a TV, a nightstand, a table with two chairs and a little nook with a refrigerator, sink, cabinets and a microwave. Then there was the bathroom with a shower/tub as well as a nice sized sink. And we also had a little balcony – our looked over a waterway behind our building. It was a great room.

(Our building in Old Key West)

As for the food, the to-go place wasn’t the greatest. You could pick up actual meals but if you wanted a snack, you would have to go to the market. After Pop Century’s wide variety of pastries and other options as well as the smaller but still varied options at both the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge, it was a bit of a letdown. We bought some donuts and cinnamon rolls for the room and I ate those for breakfast.

But that was really the only con to the resort so I would stay there again.

The pool we were close to was nice and we spent some time there on Sunday since we decided to avoid the parks altogether on Father’s Day. Laundry services were also available there and I got myself a pizza from the snack shack by the pool. It was delicious! So that was also a plus, but as I said, there really was only one con.

So, I would definitely stay there again!

Olivia’s

As mentioned, this is the restaurant in Old Key West. We had looked up the menu and had been intrigued enough to choose it for dinner on Father’s Day. But when we got to the hotel on our first day, we decided to also have lunch there.

We loved it!

I had the boneless fried chicken and it was delicious. It was not greasy or overly breaded so that you were mostly eating fried breading. The skin was perfectly fried and the chicken was juicy. And the mashed potatoes and garlic string beans complemented it well. I also enjoyed a watermelon margarita to start off my vacation.

(My margarita)

I had the same thing on Father’s Day as did a few others. My mother and aunt decided to split the prime rib since it was 14 ounces. They realized they could eat 7 ounces each. Others had crab cakes or other sea food fare. In the end, everyone enjoyed their meals so I highly recommend checking out Olivia’s if you’re interested in good food with the feel of the islands.

You won’t regret it.

Moonlight Magic

This is an event for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members only and we found out about it when my mother got an email telling her to register for it. And we’re glad we did!

Moonlight Magic is a special event held six times a year – twice in Epcot, twice in Hollywood Studios and twice in Animal Kingdom. Ours took place in Hollywood Studios and the main part of the event happened after park close at 9 PM, lasting until 12:30 AM. Check in began around 6 PM, though we were delayed for a story I’ll recount later. But we made it and got our wristbands as well as vouchers for snacks, including a complementary souvenir popcorn bucket.

We decided to watch the tribute to Disney animation fireworks show that is projected onto the Chinese Theater at the end of the night. If you haven’t seen it, I do recommend watching it at least once. It will remind you of the magic of Disney movies.

After the fireworks show, we then got in line for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. With the limited numbers allowed to participate in Moonlight Magic, the wait time was about fifteen minutes. And this was common around the park as the regular guests made their way out of the park and only the registered participants remained, having to show our wristbands to get on any ride.

Though Slinky Dog Dash did breakdown while my dad and I were waiting in line. At first, we waited but when they announced there was no expected timeframe for the ride to become operational again, we decided to leave. Instead, we picked up our souvenir popcorn bucket at PizzeRizzo before also turning in a snack voucher for drinks.

We met up with my mom and aunt, who were enjoying the DJ playing music in the plaza in front of the Chinese Theater. My sister and her group were at the dance party with Disney characters – she sent us a video of Goofy and Max teaching the crowd how to do the “perfect cast” from the movie. I went down Sunset Boulevard and decided to do the Rock N’ Roller coaster since Tower of Terror appeared to be down. I pretty much walked right onto the ride.

After getting off, my sister texted that they went to do Rise of the Resistance and that it had about a fifty minute wait. Because the queue would close at 11:30, I raced from Rock N’ Roller coaster and made it to Rise of the Resistance, so…

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

(WARNING: If you do not want spoilers, scroll down to the next section!)

While I still do not like queues where I cannot see how far I am from doing the ride, I am not completely against this queue. Because lightning lanes were not available during the Moonlight Magic, our line continued to move so this is a ride where they can continually move you. However, I did note that there were benches disguised as part of the queue so people could sit while they wait and I have to applaud Disney for this design decision.

After making my way through the queue, I filed into a pre-show area with a group of other guests. BB-8 was there, rolling around and making preparations when Rey transmitted a holographic message. She welcomed us to the resistance and informed us that our planet was not safe so we were being taken to somewhere safe. The doors then opened and we were loaded on what looked like a transport ship. We held on as Poe tried to escort our ship to the safe location but the First Order intervened. He flew off for help while we were boarded by First Order officers and taken prisoner.

We filed off the transporter and into a room with rows of Stormtroopers watching us as we waited on what was another queue. But that one moved as well and I soon was placed on an orange square. My group was put into a cell where Kylo Ren threatened to torture us for the location of our final destination. But he was thankfully distracted and we were soon rescued by the Resistance.

The ride itself is very similar to Ratatouille and the Runaway Railway. You are loaded in transports piloted by droids that separate and act independently of each other as you try to escape the ship. There are stops and starts, turns and a ride on an elevator at least once. It moved quickly as a battle rages around you and is certainly quite the experience, especially as Kylo Ren tries to recapture you.

But we escape and it ends outside where you are loaded at the “safe spot,” which is still just the Star Wars section of Hollywood Studios.

(SPOILERS ARE NOW OVER! IT IS SAFE TO READ!)

I then went on Star Tours, got a picture with Chip and Dale (in their Rescue Ranger outfits!) and claimed my last snack voucher for another soda before heading back to my hotel for the night.

(A rare look at me)

No, I didn’t get a chance to ride Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind. My sister did and she did not share any spoilers. All she did was warn me that I might not make it through as I do suffer from motion sickness. I will attempt to ride it at least once and determine if I can do it again or not.

We’ll end with this topic…

Evacuations

We got evacuated twice during this trip.

The first time was when we were on the Skyliner. My father, sister, her fiance and I were traveling from Epcot back to Hollywood Studios to check in for the Moonlight Magic. We thankfully were in the Riviera station but had come to a stop between the unloading platform and the loading platform, so our door was closed. We had seen some families with wheelchairs waiting at the Epcot station and so had figured we were stopped to load them. But as we kept waiting and waiting, it soon became clear that we had broken down – which they eventually confirmed. We had to wait.

(Another shot of me in the Skyliner)

After about forty-five minutes, they managed to move our car forward enough to open the doors and let us out. We were definitely relieved and felt glad that we were at least in a station so evacuation was easier. But the downside was that since we were in a station, we did not have the breeze blowing through our car and so we were melting from the heat. So we were definitely glad to be out of that oven.

We then had to walk to the Riviera’s bus stops. And while the hotel looks beautiful, the bus stops are pretty far away from the lobby. It was a bit of hike. But we got there and the bus to Hollywood Studios pulled in shortly to take us the rest of the way.

Then the next day, we were in the Magic Kingdom when my parents and I went on Splash Mountain. And we got stuck right before the drop into the “Pretty Good Sure as You’re Born” scene. We were told pretty much right away that the ride had broken down and we were to wait for a cast member to come escort us off the ride. At one point, the parade started and we were all able to watch it from our perch.

(A shot of the Maleficent float from Splash Mountain)

Two cast members did come to let us off and unlocked our safety bars so we could climb out of the logs. My log, the last in our cluster, was the first to be evacuated and we had to stand on a walkway, still watching the parade as they emptied the other logs. We then followed the cast members down to a set of stairs and was led to the backstage area. Cast members were waiting there with iPads and we got some “magic” to make up for the evacuation. The magic was a multi experience Genie+ pass for us to use.

(Our empty log)

We did ultimately use it once Splash Mountain was up and running, this time with my sister and her fiance joining us since they still had a multi experience pass to use after Smuggler’s Run shut down the day before and our Genie+ booking was affected. We were able to finish the entire ride and got a refreshing splash (though we did notice they aren’t using as much water as they used to, probably to conserve it).

So those were our fun stories from this trip. We can add them to the vault of memories we’ve created at Disney World.

Conclusion

Despite the heat, it was another great Disney trip and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Next week, I’m heading out to Disneyland so I’m going to write something about that trip as I don’t think I’ve ever really written about Disneyland. I’ll give it a look but still write about my trip anyway.

After that, I don’t know when my next Disney trip will be. My parents are going again in October but I opted not to go on that trip as I thought a convention in Paris would be around that time. (Spoiler alert: It isn't). It seems unlikely that we'll go next year due to a few things, including my sister's wedding. 

So I’ll guess I’ll just have to see what happens next.