DAY 4 – Saturday 8/31/19

Who:  Sue (60), DVC Member

            Chris (32), son

            Amanda (30), daughter-in-law

            Ari (3), grandson

Plan:   Hollywood Studios, Pool?, Concierge Lounge

Actual:  After a brief sleep I was up at 3:30 to get ready for the day.  The things you do for your kids/grandkid, lol!  I showered, dressed, then had a small cup of cappuccino while getting online.  By 4:40 I finished packing up my stuff and was at Chris & Amanda’s studio by 5.  They are REALLY far away – not many rooms are farther. 

We made the trek back to the lobby and went out to the car to drive over to Hollywood Studios.  That way Chris could finish charging the car and we didn’t have to deal with the buses.  The charging spots are very conveniently located, so we got a great parking spot.  Entry was very quick & easy, and we were held up at the end of Hollywood Boulevard to wait 30 minutes for the 6am opening.  Chris got something from Starbucks, since it was right there. 

At 6 cast members up ahead slowly walked everyone over to Galaxy’s Edge, which is quite a long distance.  They have it set up so everyone enters at one end and exits at the other, to keep the traffic flowing.  The area is much larger than we expected, and can hold a lot of people.  Pretty much everyone was in line for the Millenium Falcon Run thing, although some lined up to get something to eat.  We looked through the various shops and walked around for about 20 minutes, then exited into Toy Story Land.

Ari was excited to see that area, and had been telling everyone he was going to ride Slinky Dog.  We kept asking him if he was sure, but he was all excited and eager to ride.  We first rode Alien Saucer Spin, with no wait – that’s one of his favorites.  We could have stayed on for more, but decided to try Slinky Dog.  This had a 5-minute standby wait posted, but it was actually shorter.  Ari rode next to Chris, and Amanda & I were behind them.  Ari hated it!!  Chris thinks that first big drop did him in, as he’s too young to realize he’s not free-falling down to the ground.  After we got off he kept saying he didn’t like Slinky Dog, and when asked if he wanted to ride it again he gave an emphatic No.  We’ll see when he’s a little older.

Chris & I rode again, since there was no wait, and Amanda & Ari watched & waved to us.  Next was Toy Story Midway Mania, which also was a walk-on with no wait at all.  Chris had the high score, as usual.  When we finished up Amanda asked if we could ride again and they said yes.  They had us get out of the vehicle and stand to the side for a minute before loading us in from the exit side.  At that point it was probably only a little after 7 or 7:30, and we’d gotten so much done. 

We did more shopping, and then decided to join the standby queue for Millenium Falcon Run.  The wait was posted as 75 minutes, but we were walking out the exit about an hour later.  The queue area is long, and the inside part reminded us of Star Tours somewhat.  I don’t watch the movies, so I don’t know what any of the stuff is, but the others did. 

The attraction takes 6 people at a time, with 2 serving as pilots, 2 as gunners, and 2 as engineers.  It’s kind of like Star Tours except you’re flying the spaceship.  Chris and Ari were the pilots – Chris had the ability to turn us left or right and Ari had the job of making us go up or down.  Amanda and I were gunners – shooting stuff by hitting a button when it flashed.  A couple guys from Caracas were the engineers. 

Ari was looking forward to being a pilot, and he kept his hand on the throttle, but the noise and action spooked him and he was crying.  He was very happy to get out of there when it ended!  Fortunately, these bad experiences don’t traumatize him for any period of time – he’s still ready to do the next thing.

We stopped for Amanda to get some of the blue milk, which is not milk at all – it’s like a fruit slushie.  We also looked in the shops where they sell the Galaxy’s Edge shirts, and specifically passholder ones.  Chris & Amanda each found themselves a shirt.  Chris took Ari to the Lightning McQueen attraction/show, and Amanda & I met them there.  I got a call on my work phone, where the governor was looking for information (within the next hour) on what we’ve spent thus far on hurricane stuff.  I’ve been gone since Wednesday, but know what’s going on, so we were able to take care of it by phone.  When Chris & Ari came out we let Ari make a pressed penny of Lightning McQueen, and then we headed for the exit.

Ari was tired, since he’d been up so early, and fell asleep before we got back to the resort.  We stopped in the lounge, where breakfast was still going on (it was about 10am).  I had half a bagel, and then a couple pieces of banana bread that they brought out when the blueberry muffins were gone.  The others had a bunch of things they liked, and Chris really liked the turkey boboti. 

While they were eating I checked with the concierge to see if there might be a studio that’s ready now.  She could see the room I was assigned to, and housekeeping hadn’t gotten there yet.  There was another that housekeeping was in, but she said it was really far down the hallway.  She was going to tell housekeeping that I was here and waiting, but I’ve been through that before and it doesn’t seem to speed things up <g>.  She showed me on the map where the almost ready room was, and it’s close to Chris & Amanda’s.  I told her I’d take that one – it’s only 1 night, and SB isn’t here to bitch about the long walk – plus moving my stuff from their room will be pretty easy.

After breakfast we went down to their studio, where Ari got ready for his nap (I think they may have all napped).  I got my computer, left my suitcase real close to the door, and then walked back to the concierge lounge.  No sooner did I set my stuff down on the table did I get the notification my room was ready!  So, I walked back down and discovered my room is even further down the hall than theirs – the concierge was not kidding!  If I think of it, I’ll have to check how many steps it is one-way (I’m curious).  I made a quick trip back to their studio, slid my suitcase out the door, and dropped it off in my studio.

There really isn’t any point in unpacking, since I’m just here overnight.  I took the laptop again and walked back to the lounge, where I spent time online.  The soups today are butternut squash and the coconut curry chicken, which made me wish I hadn’t bothered with the half a bagel just recently.  Hopefully I’ll get some later.  They’re planning to go to Epcot for Food & Wine Festival once Ari wakes up from his nap, but I’m unsure whether I’ll go.  Part of me would like to, but I HATE the front entrance of Epcot, don’t like sweating to death, and don’t want to trudge around if it’s raining.  Usually Saturday is a nightmare in terms of crowds, but with this hurricane things seem less busy then normal.

The lounge was steadily busy, with lots of people enjoying the offerings.  I got a glass of wine around 12:15, and ate some of the spiced nuts.  Around 12:45 Amanda texted saying Ari was awake, but Chris was still sleeping.  She & Ari came up to the lounge for lunch.  Ari loves the chocolate chip cookies and while we were in the Studios this morning he ate a couple I’d put aside yesterday.  He’ll have to grab a couple more while they’re out.

Chris was in the lounge by 1:30 and we all hung out for almost another hour.  He had some soup and other food for lunch, then they left to meet friends of theirs at Epcot.  The rain didn’t materialize but since the “feels like” temp was 100, I decided to just stay put in the air`conditioned lounge.  I packaged up some chocolate chip cookies for Ari, figuring I’d drop them on their kitchen counter next time I went downstairs.  I got a small bowl of the coconut curry chicken soup for my lunch.  It was delicious, as always!

I spent more time hanging out in the lounge, but around 3:30 packed up and dropped the laptop off in my studio.  After a quick stop to drop off Ari’s cookies, I walked back to check out the animal viewing areas.  It had rained while I was in the lounge earlier, but it must not have lasted very long.  The usual animals were out, in their usual places.  Overall I’m still seeing far fewer giraffe than normal.  The animals are fun to watch, but they’d be more fun if it didn’t feel like 100 degrees outside.

Eventually I went back inside to get the laptop from the studio, then headed up to the lounge just before 5.  Once again, it was not busy for the “opening” – 1 other table, plus a table of people who’d been on a feeding frenzy pretty much all afternoon.  One thing I’ve really appreciated this trip is the volume of the tv in the lounge.  It’s not blaring like it has been in the past!  They keep it very low – if you’re sitting on the sofa directly in front of it you can catch the words, but sitting back at the tables you don’t have to hear it.  I’ve complained about the too-loud volume in the past, so I was very happy to see this (finally). 

Tonight they had the Irish cheddar and a dried sausage which were excellent together – just outstanding!  They also had the Irish porter, which went very well with the brown crispy crostinis.  Along with those cheeses they had fresh sliced strawberries and milk chocolate medallions – delicious!  I didn’t even bother with any of the other stuff.  The chef was preparing the African stew with broccolini mashed potatoes, and a falafel/eggplant thing. 

The lounge was pretty busy throughout the night, which was more like normal.  Chris’ family got trapped in France in a downpour, so they were delayed getting back.  I spent a while talking to Michael about some work stuff, and was texting with Holli about DVC – seems she’s interested in that now.  She truly had no idea any of this existed (the nice resorts), and she loved everything she saw. 

Originally, Chris & Amanda were planning to head back around 6, but they never showed up.  I saved Amanda a couple of the African stews, but when there was no sign of them by 8pm I asked what was going on.  Turns out they’d left Epcot and gone back to the Studios, to Oga’s Cantina.  At almost 9 they were doing Millenium Falcon’s Run again.  The fact that they just stayed out (when I was sitting there waiting on them) without saying anything really pissed me off – especially since I’d changed my plans for tomorrow so I’d spend time with them and go home later.  Chris knew I was pissed, and face timed me from the queue at Falcon’s Run, saying they were catching a bus after that.  I let him know I wasn’t in the lounge any longer – I’m not sitting around for anyone, family or not.  We just need to set the departure time for tomorrow.

Around 7:45 I brought the laptop down to the studio, since the battery was getting low, then I returned to the lounge.  Tonight they had “zebra mousse” which was a tart filled with milk chocolate mousse and a slice of strawberry.  Not sure where the zebra came from, but it was delicious.  I didn’t pay attention to the other stuff since this was all I had – the cheese and sausage had filled me up.  Once I learned they were at the Studios I didn’t bother taking any desserts to save for them.  I’d already left their extra magic band in their studio, and wasn’t interested in waiting up until whatever time they got back. 

I was back in my studio well before 9, so it’s a quiet evening – watching the latest hurricane update.  I may stay up to see the 11pm track, just to see if it’s shifted further east (hopefully).  I’m not overly impressed with this room.  Not only is it as far from the lobby as humanly possible, my view seems to be grass & trees.  It’s been rare to see an animal, and when I did it was something far away and rather ordinary. 

Tomorrow is the unexpectedly early end to this trip, but I’ll get to spend some time with Ari at the Magic Kingdom since there’s nothing hurricane-related going on at work.

Sue