Disneyland and Southern California for Christmas 2021 - Day 1

Day 1

• Got up really early - 4:15 - Like all trips, we started early.  We got up at 4:15am.  Yikes.  Surprisingly, Ellie got up not long after we were up.  We got everything ready and left before 5:30.  It was dark and cold when we left.
• Ellie got up on her own to get ready - As we were getting ready, Ellie showed up in our room and was awake and starting to get ready to go.  She was very excited.
• Parking spot was quick - Parked my truck in the Parking Spot (they are the best), and the bus was there to pick us up.  
• Security and skycap were very easy. No one in the airport yet - The Parking Spot bus dropped us off across from the Sky Cap so it was easy to check in.  There were very few people in the airport because it was so early.  We went to TSA Pre-Check (greatest thing ever), and got through security with no problem.  We walked to our gate, which was a little way to go, and then had to wait a little bit to board.  We did get to see the sun come up and some of the construction for the new airport.  When we traveled in February, they had just cleared the ground.  Now there were buildings and parking garages.  It looked really nice and can't wait until it opens.  
• Flight went well-kids and Lisa played a game (I Spy); arrived 45 min early; really foggy when we landed - Since it was just the 4 of us, Lisa and the kids sat on one side of the aisle and I sat by myself across from them.  It was a nice flight.  Everyone was mostly well behaved and stayed occupied during the entire flight.  Lisa brought a couple card games and they played the Disney I Spy game together.  When we got close to landing we couldn't see the ground from the airplane because it was so foggy and we didn't see the ground until very close to landing.  It was crazy.
• Grady when landing “Ellie, this is cool!” - Grady did great on the flight.  He was interested in what was going on and when we landed he was not completely ready.  Right after we landed he said, "Ellie, this is cool!".  It was cute.
• Got car, no problem; RAV4 - We got our luggage and made our way to the rental car bus.  I was worried we were going to have too much luggage, but everyone helped and we had not trouble.  We got to the Alamo rental office and had no trouble checking in (the lady helping us was not the most helpful or professional though).  We walked out to find a car and I though I had booked a larger SUV, but it was a small/midsize SUV.  We picked a RAV4 because we really like Lisa's new 4Runner.  These are not the same.  This car had been USED.  It also had the feature where the engine turns off when you stop.  This drove us nuts.  The car was fine and the kids were able to have some rest time while we drove around.
• Drove through LA by Tar Pits and Hollywood Blvd - We didn't really have anything planned so we drove toward Griffith Park.  We drove by the La Brea Tar Pits and the Oscars Museum.  We drove down Hollywood Blvd, which we were unable to do last time.  Then we drove to Universal.  I thought it would be fun to see CityWalk and find lunch there.
• Went to Citywalk for lunch - Mexican - ok, no veggie options - We got to Universal and since we were only going to CityWalk we could park valet and get validated for cheaper parking.  We walked around for a while and found a place to eat.  We ate at Antojitos, it was a Mexican restaurant.  Since February, Lisa and I have started a Plant-based/vegetarian diet.  At home, Mexican is a great option for vegetarians, but not hear.  They had a veggie quesadilla and guacamole, that was it for veggie only options.  We got both and they were quite good.  The service was ok, and we were a little chilly.  The restaurant was open and we did not bring jackets.  We went to a couple stores after lunch, but nothing was very exciting at CityWalk.  We were underwhelmed.  After CityWalk, we drove by Warner Bros and Disney studios on our way to the LA Zoo.
• LA Zoo - fun but not all animals out - We went to the LA Zoo in 2017 and loved it.  This time it was ok.  Before we left, we became members of the Kansas City Zoo, which got us a discount at the LA Zoo.  We were thankful of this because there were a lot of exhibit empty when we were at the LA Zoo.  We also had to show our vaccination cards before entering, which was new to us.  I was surprised at how crowded it was (it was a Sunday), and I bet there were at least 1/3 of the exhibits empty compared to last time.  Several places we saw signs that said the animal was at risk due to COVID and they were not available to see.  We still had a good time, but we didn't spend as much time there as before.  The kids enjoyed it.
• Merry Go Round - made pilgrimage to Walt’s inspiration - After the zoo, we went to the Griffith Park merry go round.  This has become a pilgrimage of ours.  Over the past couple of years, we have a couple of books that we read to Ellie about Disneyland, Walt Disney and even Mary Blair.  She has learned a lot about the history and this time she understood and appreciated the meaning behind going to the merry go round.  I really loved seeing her understand and appreciate it.  We all rode it and man does that thing go fast.  We also met a lady with an Australian Shepherd puppy (we have 2).  It was really cute.
• Checked in to hotel - both kids fell asleep on the way - Ellie and I checked in and got the stroller - After the merry go round, we headed to Anaheim to check in at our hotel.  We had dinner reservations and didn't want to miss them.  There was some traffic, but it wasn't bad and it didn't take too long to get from Griffith Park to Anaheim.  Both kids fell asleep, which they needed it.  When we got to the hotel, Ellie and I checked in and Lisa stayed with Grady in the car since he was still asleep.  We got checked in, put the luggage in the room and picked up our stroller rental.  The service at the Courtyard is fantastic.  The bellmen were all friendly and helpful getting the stroller and helping us with the luggage.  
• Returned car to Alamo and left my phone in the car; need to go back in the morning - We then drove to drop the rental car off.  They were closed, but we could put it in the after hours box.  We had everything out of the car, Ellie and I double-checked the car so I put the key in the drop box.  I then went to check my phone and it was still in the car.  Dang it!!  Not only was all of my stuff I use everyday on it, but the park tickets were on it.  I was stressed and annoyed at myself the rest of the evening.
• Walked to downtown Disney - ate at Naples - it was DELICIOUS! (Mushroom pizza, mushroom ravioli and salad); Grady and Ellie ate all of the pasta, but not the pizza - We walked to Downtown Disney from Alamo, which was a bit of a walk.  We walked in through the Disneyland Hotel entrance and Downtown Disney was packed.  I couldn't believe how busy it was.  We were eating at Naples so we had to go a ways to get there.  We got checked in and seated easily.  We got a mushroom pizza and mushroom ravioli.  The ravioli was SO good.  The sauce was amazing and we dipped the crust from the pizza in it.  Grady got a pizza and Ellie got spaghetti.  The spaghetti was a hit.  Both kids liked it and it was gone by the end of dinner.
• Walked through some shops and Grand Californian - saw gingerbread house and carolers - We walked through a couple shops and then went into the Grand Californian to see the gingerbread house.  It was awesome.  It also made us miss that hotel because we loved it so much the last time we stayed there.
• We walked back to the hotel because we were tired.  it was a full day.  We got back around 8:30 and started getting unpacked and ready for bed.  I was in the bathroom and heard a "BOOM".  I asked what that noise was and then realized it was fireworks.  We looked out the window and the Disneyland fireworks had started.  We were able to watch the fireworks not only from our room, but we laid in bed and watched them.  It was great and a wonderful way to end our first day.  More to come on the rest of our trip.

Here We Go!

Universal CityWalk

LA Zoo

Griffith Park Merry Go Round

Room at Courtyard Theme Park Entrance

Grand Californian Gingerbread "House"

Watching fireworks from our room - Thanks Courtyard!

Disneyland and Southern California for Christmas 2021 - Planning

We went to Walt Disney World in Florida this February.  It was an impulse buy as we had heard the parks were not super busy and there were good deals.  Part of that was true.  We had a great rate at the Contemporary and enjoyed our stay there, but the parks were packed and there were parts of the trip that really made us miss Disneyland.  The first thing we did when we got home was think about going back to Disneyland.  I started looking at hotels right after we got home and I found some great deals because Disneyland was not reopened from their COVID closure.  I went ahead and booked the hotel, just in case we decided to go.  Marriott has a great cancellation policy.

When and Length of Stay:

The furthest out I could look when I booked the hotel was December, and that worked great because we loved being at Disneyland for the holidays.  I booked December 5th through 11th.  I did have another reservation for the 5th through the 12th, but we decided to not add the extra day.  We went back and forth on getting an annual pass, and when the Magic Key was released we decided against it for cost and for number of park reservation days.  Because of this, we went with the 5 day park hopper instead of Magic Key

Transportation: 

As usual, we will be flying Southwest to California.  The airports will be a bit different though.  The times and prices were not great for our dates roundtrip through either LAX or John Wayne.  We ended up on a morning non-stop to LAX on the way there and then home from Long Beach airport.  We have not been to Long Beach, so this will be a little different.

Like previous trips, we have decided to rent a car for the first and last day to explore the area.  I was able to book the rental cars before the prices skyrocketed.  My parents went to Yellowstone this summer and my dad said he saw week long Suburban rentals for around $1,000 per day.

We are bringing Ellie's car seat since it is a small booster, but we are going to try renting a car seat from Alamo for Grady.  We will see how this goes.

Accommodations:
In order to save some money and for flexibility, we decided to not rent DVC points for the Grand Californian.  When I booked the hotel, Disneyland was not open, and we did not know when they would open.  I booked December assuming they would reopen by then, and they opened April 30, 2021.  I found a reservation at the Residence Inn next to eh convention center and one at the Courtyard on Harbor.  These are both great hotels and we have stayed at both of them.  They were both great rates too.  After we decided to go, we needed to decide which reservation to use.  The Residence Inn is great and their rooms have 2 rooms.  There is enough space, but there is 1 bathroom and only a king size bed and a pull out sofa.  After our trip to Disney World where Lisa and I had a bed, Ellie had a bed and Grady had a bed, we were concerned if this would be the best setup.  The Courtyard room I booked has a king size bed and bunk beds in 2 different ends of the room so we all get our own bed and own space.  The bathroom is larger with a shower and a tub shower.  This will help us get ready either for bed or in the morning.  Both hotels are close, but the Courtyard is closer and there is a good view of Disneyland from the balcony.  We decided to keep the Courtyard reservation and cancel the Residence Inn reservation.  Hopefully we made the right decision.

Food:
Food was one of the biggest problems we had a Disney World.  There were not enough restaurants open and the parks closed at dinner time so we ended up eating dinner at the hotel most nights.  We waited on food a lot and there was not a large variety like normal.  To add another twist to our upcoming trip, we decided to change our eating habits and we are eating mainly plant-based food now.  We are looking forward to all of the plant-based options we have seen on the menus at Disneyland.  We have a few reservations, but most of the time we are going to eat quick service to maximize our park time.

This is a Christmas time trip, so we are also very much looking forward to the holiday treats at Disneyland.  The gingerbread and peppermint inspired treats are delicious.  We were VERY disappointed by the treats at Disney World on our last trip, so hopefully they will be back at full strength in Disneyland.

Entertainment:

We have not decided our plan for the first day.  Our flight arrives at 9:30am so we have most of the day to do something.  The next 5 days we will be at the Disneyland Resort.  We purchased park hoppers so we can switch parks after 1:00pm.  

One of the big reason I want to get back to Disneyland is for Avengers Campus.  I have become a big Marvel fan and our son Grady loves superheros too.  We can't wait to take him there to see and meet the superheros.  He is going to freak out.  I can't wait.  

Another big change is MaxPass and FastPass have been cancelled.  Disney World has started the new Genie+ as the replacement, but Disneyland has not implemented it yet.  If we don't have it, our strategy will change a lot because it will be like the old days of going to the parks without any type of FastPass.

Final Thoughts:

We didn't decide for sure that we were going on this trip until we purchased the park tickets, which was at the end of September.  After that we wanted to surprise the kids and tell them in a clever way.  We decided to wait until we decorated for Christmas and put packages under the tree that told them they were going.  Three of the presents had paper in them that said, "We are", "going to", and "Disneyland".  Ellie is old enough that she can read and her reaction was great when she figured it out.  We just did it this weekend and they were SO excited.  They have not stopped talking about it since we told them.  This was the first surprise that worked. We are all now SUPER excited for this trip.  The kids are at great ages (Ellie is 7 and Grady is 3).  We took Ellie to Disneyland over Christmas in 2017 when she was 3.  It was the best trip.  We didn't have to deal with the baby stuff as much and she was old enough toe ENJOY it.  We leave in 3 weeks and it's gonna be here before we know it.

Disney World February 2021 - Day 7: Disney Springs and Going Home

Day 7 - Disney Springs and Flight Home

• Slept in a little - Since we were not going to a park we slept in a little.  It was nice not to rush first thing.
• Breakfast at Contempo and Wave - Yummy - Lisa ordered breakfast while I finished packing and then we went up to eat.  The kids got food from Contempo Café and Lisa and I got food from the Wave.  It was delicious.
• Raining a lot; no Disney springs - Our plan was to go to Disney Springs and walk around before it was time to go to the airport, but right after breakfast it started pouring rain outside.  We decided to ditch those plans and just hangout around the hotel.
• Shopped in the hotel some more - We walked around the hotel and did some more last minute shopping.  
• Waited for bus - We waited for the bus and it felt like it was never going to show up.  The kids were pretty crazy.
• Grady was a little crazy running around
• Bus got there and we loaded no problem; Grady fell asleep almost to airport
• Unloaded bus and successfully transferred sleeping Grady to stroller; had helper haul our luggage to SW check in
• Got through security no problem, Grady woke up at security - We also had lunch while we waited to board our plane.  The Magical Express always arrives extremely early so you have to wait for your flight.
• Another good flight with the kiddos - I couldn't believe how well our kids did on the flights.  Grady sat with us again and Ellie sat with my parents.  They both did their thing and were occupied the entire flight.
• We made it back safely to the frozen tundra of Kansas City.  The "feels like" temperature was 77 when we left Florida and -23 degrees when we got home - We landed and there was snow everywhere and it was really cold.  My truck almost didn't start too.  We made it home no problem and had Jose Peppers Mexican food for dinner.  Yum!

Overall Trip Thoughts - We had a great trip.  Here are some takeaways from it.

• Like Disneyland better - Before this trip we had been to Disneyland 4 trips in a row.  We were really looking forward to comparing Florida to California and California won.  The weather is much better in Anaheim.  The resort setup is much easier to get around in California.  All of the transportation to and from the parks takes a long time and if you were to park hop to another park it does not get easier than going across the esplanade from Disneyland to DCA.
• Bakery/sweets were not great; Merchandise was terrible - We are hoping these were due to COVID, but the bakery and sweet treats were terrible on this trip.  We actually avoided them compared to having too many at Disneyland.  The merchandise selection was very limited all over the resort.  We had a lot of trouble finding unique souvenirs compared to Disneyland.  This could have been COVID related.
• Tough getting to and from places due buses etc - We have been spoiled in California (especially staying at the Grand Californian) because everything is so close together.  Everywhere we went took a long time to get there.  The bus system was very frustrating.  We wondered if fewer buses were running due to COVID.
• Crowd much larger than expected; no interest in going when capacity is up; made us really miss and respect MaxPass even more - This may have been the biggest problem with this trip.  We had read many reports and talked to friends that had just been to Disney World about how low the crowds were.  We even started tracking wait times and they were very low.  When we got there it was a shock.  After being home for almost a year because of the pandemic, there were a lot of people at Disney World.  In places there were too many and we felt uncomfortable.  There was no Fast Pass and I'm not sure if that was good or not.  We really missed MaxPass in California, which is the best Disney Fast Pass system.
• Kids did great overall; some typical kid struggle but much more smiles and laughs than frustration and anger; Both kids were better than expected; some sleeping issues, but a lot better than last trip and arguably better than at home - We really enjoyed ourselves with the kids.  Overall they did great.  It made it easier because Grady could do almost everything that Ellie could and he did great on all of the rides.  We were not sure how he would react to different rides.  We knew how Ellie deals with it, but didn't know about Grady.  They both did great and even meals were not a big problem.  I was impressed at how well they did at the few sit down restaurants because we hadn't eaten out in almost a year and they are crazy at home at mealtime.  
• Hotel was good - good location; room needed some TLC; main concourse could use a refresh - I was super excited to stay at the Contemporary Resort and it did not live up to my expectation (nor the price).  The transportation was not easy except going to the Magic Kingdom.  We got a great price on this room, but there is no way I would pay full/regular price for this hotel.  
• Monorail is looking old; really missed the route to Epcot - Growing up, my brother and I loved the monorail.  We recited the warning every time we got on.  But this trip, the monorail is a skeleton of what it used to be.  It smells funny, it looks rough and needs a complete refresh.  The route to EPCOT was down due to COVID and that really caused an issue in our transportation options.
• Parks were good, but not great; all parks need more rides for all ages to do (especially AK and HS); the older areas seemed MUCH older compared to newer areas (not as noticeable in DL); Epcot was a disaster with construction - Not much more to say here.  Again, growing up we went to Disney World every year and it was during the Eisner Era so there was something new every time.  At this point, a lot of those new things at the time are older, but they have not been maintained as well as Disneyland has been.  The brand new Galaxy's Edge fits into Disneyland seamlessly.  Oppositely, Hollywood Studios in Orlando looks like there is a new part and an old part.  I noticed this in quite a few areas across the resort.
• Ellie was mostly really good on trip; great helper when we needed her - Ellie really does great on vacation.  She fits well in our routine and is great helping with her brother.  
• Magical Express was ok; not as nice as our chauffeur service in. LA (but it’s included in hotel reservation)
• App was kind of a pain; could never find what I wanted as easily as needed; logged out several times - The Disney World app tries to put a lot of information in to one location.  This is a good idea, but they have not figured out the best way for guests to access all of the information in the app.  I didn't notice until the last day that there was additional hotel room info.  This is also not info nor screens you can access before you leave on your vacation.
• Different info from different sources (hotels) - Our night adventure from the Polynesian to the Contemporary was a real problem.  All resorts should have the same information.  The next day we found there were multiple ways to get back even though when we were at the Poly we were told there was no easy way back.  To me this is a communication and training issue.
• Food - not enough options in MK; not enough options for level of current capacity; quick service menus were very similar - Overall food was a real let down on this trip.  There were a couple meals we enjoyed, but overall the food was ok and the sweets and treats were bad.  Our previous trips to Disney World were amazing from a food perspective and something major has changed.  I don't know if this is COVID related or they have made some major changes that have dramatically decreased the quality of food.  We enjoyed the Brown Derby, The Wave, Satu'li, and Whispering Canyon.  These were good meals.  The rest of our trip was decent at best.
• Kids did GREAT on the plane. Best flights with kids yet. - The highlight of the trip was our kids.  We loved watching our kids enjoy the Disney parks.  It was fun to see Grady ride some bigger rides and to see Ellie ride some new thrill rides to compare to Disneyland.  I love that they enjoy riding all types of rides and for the most part don't have issues riding new rides.

Disney World February 2021 - Day 6: Magic Kingdom

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom

• Got to park at 8:30 - Staying at the Contemporary made it very easy to get into the Magic Kingdom.  Since it was a short 10 minute walk there was no delay getting to the park.
• Mine train already 70 min wait; tried Peter Pan and it was broken - Our plan was to hit Mine Train first.  This didn't work.  We walked up to the line and it was already all the way around the outside of the attraction.  We decided to move on and try something else.
• Small World - Peter Pan was down so we hoped on Small World with no wait.  Such a great ride that we can all do together.  
• Haunted Mansion - Next we went to do Haunted Mansion (my favorite) also with no line.  This time we went with my parents.
• Grady GIANT meltdown; liberty bell got him out of tantrum - After Haunted Mansion we needed to find some breakfast.  On the way, Grady didn't want to do anything we asked.  I had to strap him into the stroller because he was throwing such a fit.  We ended up going to the walkway on the river in Frontierland to get away from people to let him calm down.  
• Waffles from Sleepy Hollow - Lisa and Ellie went to get waffles from Sleepy Hollow and Grady finally calmed down and ate.  The waffles were pretty good.
• Found family in Adventureland; they all rode jungle cruise - Grady was still a bear so I took him in the stroller and he feel asleep quick
• Long wait for Mine Train; park is BUSY - While Grady slept, we decided to stand in line for Mine Train.  The line went all the way around the outside of the attraction to the Little Mermaid.  We started there and waited in line.  It took around an hour and by then Grady woke up so he got to ride it.  It is a very cute ride, but is extremely short.  It is not worth an hour wait, but it allows smaller kids like Grady to ride more thrilling attractions.  The animatronics area also great.
• Lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace - yummy - We had wanted to eat at Tomorrowland Terrace because they were serving the Columbia Harbor House menu.  It was very tasty.  I thought the portion was small, but it was very good. 
• Grady still a bear 
• So busy!!!! - The park was terribly busy.  I have complained for years how busy Disney World is and even during COVID it was too busy.  
• Shops on Main Street - We walked through the shops on Main Street, but didn't find anything too exciting.
• Dole whip - really busy and chaotic - We walked over to Adventureland to get a Dole Whip.  We used Mobile Order thinking it would make it easier.  That area was PACKED.  It was tough getting around and there was no organization or structure to the ordering process or mobile order pickup.  The treats were delicious and we ate while we watched the Cavalcade go through Frontierland.  
• Cavalcades and Liberty Bell - We watched the Cavalcade and then went to ride the Liberty Bell riverboat.  I'm not sure of the last time we rode the riverboat, but it was not very exciting.  It was nice to sit down but that's about all.
• Peter Pan and Ariel - Next we went to ride Peter Pan because it's my mom's favorite.  The line was fairly long and actually wound through the Columbia Harbor House since they are not using it for food.  Next we rode Ariel, where there was a short wait.
• Popcorn and pictures at castle - The kids wanted popcorn so we walked to the hub and found the rest of my brother's family to take family pictures in front of the castle.
• Boat to wilderness lodge - After pictures, my brother's family stayed, but my parents and us were done so we decided to leave.  We were hungry and wanted something different to eat.  I'd been wanting to go to Wilderness Lodge and this was our chance.  The six of us took a boat from the Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge.  
• Delicious meal at whispering canyon - We ate at Whispering Canyon.  They had toned down the sarcasm and it was a very friendly comfortable place to eat.  The food is family style and they would bring more of anything you wanted.  It was VERY good and there was a lot of food.  It was a nice change from eating at our hotel.
• Back to Magic Kingdom - I have been wanting to show the Wilderness Lodge to Lisa for a long time and this was my chance.  Growing up my family stayed there several times and we really enjoyed it.  Lisa enjoyed the atmosphere and the setting.  We walked around a little after dinner and then walked through the gift shop.  After walking around the Wilderness Lodge, we decided to go back to the Magic Kingdom to go back to the Pirates shop.  My parents went back to the hotel; they were tired.
• Pirates shop and ride Jungle Cruise - we got skipper hunter again - When we got back to the park, the line for Pirates was manageable to so we rode it and then went to the gift shop.  After that we were ready to go back to the hotel, but there was no wait for the Jungle Cruise so we rode it too.  We got Skipper Hunter again and he was fantastic.  
• Rode monorail back to hotel - Then we were done.  We rode the monorail back to the hotel and crashed.

'it's a small world' after all

Mine Train Time!

Dole Whips, Cavalcades, and River Boats

Fun at Magic Kingdom

Disney World February 2021 - Day 5: Hollywood Studios

Day 5 - Hollywood Studios

• Quicker bus pickup -  We got out to the bus stop and didn't have to wait too long.  We did not get a Rise of the Resistance pass in the morning release.
• Slinky dog - When we got to the park, we decided to go to Slinky Dog first so we could all ride together.  It was already a long line, but it went quicker than the first time we rode it.  We had a lot of fun riding together and the kids loved it.
• Meltdown and separate from group - After the ride, the kids were getting on each others nerves and they wanted ice cream.  We decided to split up again.  Ellie was having a pretty major meltdown because she didn't want to split up.
• Swirling saucers - We ordered food at Woody's Lunch Box for breakfast then all 4 of us rode Alien Swirling Saucers.  This is a lot like Mater's ride in Carland, but not nearly as good.
• Breakfast - Woody’s lunch box - After the ride, we went to get our food and eat breakfast.  We got the same food, but Lisa added one of their fancy Pop Tarts.  The food was good again, but the Pop Tart was ok.
• Really hot and sunny; long lines everywhere - This day was exceptionally hot and the lines were long everywhere.  We didn't want to wait 45+ minutes for the popular rides and we didn't want to wait outside either.  
• Mickey shorts movie - My brother told me there was a Mickey shorts movie across from Star Tours so we tried it.  The line was short and it was inside.  It was ok.  Grady was starting to meltdown so we had a little trouble with him.  The movie was cute, but nothing to go out of your way for.
• Grady a bear - nap time; coffee and rest time - After the Mickey shorts, Grady was in full meltdown so I walked around with him while Lisa and Ellie went to Starbucks to get us cold brew.  The line at Starbucks was really long too.  I think I walked around for 30 minutes or more waiting on them.  However long it was, it was the perfect length because Grady fell asleep a couple minutes before they were done in Starbucks.
• L&Z walk with Josie and Grady; everyone else went to Walt Disney Presents - We found the rest of our group and Josie was napping too.  The rest of the group went to do Walt Disney Presents and Lisa and I took the sleeping kids.  We walked around a while and then found a Cookie Nom Nom.  Yummy!  It was good, but didn't seem as good as California's.
• Skylines to Boardwalk - lunch at boardwalk - After they were done with Walt Disney Presents, we gathered to and decided everything at Hollywood Studios was too long of a wait and it was too hot and crowded.  Because of this, we left the park and decided to take the Skyliner to the Boardwalk for lunch.  Everyone wanted to ride the new Skyliner gondola except me.  My dad and I almost took the boat instead, but I decided to give it a shot.  I'm not a fan of heights and there were some issues with the Skyliner after it opened.  The ride was fine (a little warm and small), we changed "flights" at the new Riviera resort to head to EPCOT.  The Skyliner stops at the International Gateway outside EPCOT, so it was a fairly short walk to the Boardwalk from there.  When we got to Boardwalk we found it was not fully open similar to the Polynesian.  We did have lunch from the bakery and pizza shop.  It was really delicious and a nice change.  We love the Boardwalk so it was nice to make a stop there.  There was barely anyone there too which was a great change.  
• Skyliner back to Studios - We took some cute pictures of the kids together on the Boardwalk and headed back to the Skyliner to take us back to Hollywood Studios.  I'm not sure its any faster than the boats, but it's a different/another experience.  I don't care to do it in the future and I can't imagine it in non-COVID times because they cram you in the small cabs with more random people.  I also think it is an eye-sore and takes away from the appeal of not only EPCOT, but the entire resort.
• Pictures - After we got back to the Studios, we wanted to take group pictures because hadn't had many.  We took full family pictures on Hollywood Boulevard, then we found a spot just off Hollywood Boulevard to take pictures with the grandparents and grandkids.
• Mickey and Minnie Railway - After pictures, the line for the Runaway Railway was short so we rode it.  They is a great ride.  I loved the Great Movie ride, but this is a welcome replacement and update.
• Churro and Mickey bar - This time after the railway we did get churros and Mickey bars.  We took a short break to eat outside of the ABC Commissary.
• Rise of the resistance - Ellie said these people are kind of rude - During the second boarding pass release, we were able to get boarding passes for Rise of the Resistance.  Only a smaller group of us went this time so we only had one group.  When we got to the Star Destroyer area, Ellie told me these people are kind of rude.  It was really cute because they were rude, but they were supposed to be that way.  Again, what a great ride.  Unbelievable!
• Millennium Falcon - After Rise, the line for Smuggler's Run was not terrible so we got in line.  Since most of our group hadn't done it, we needed to do it with everyone.  We split up in to boys and girls for the ride.  It was a lot of fun.  Grady got to be the "pew-pew" gunner and loved it.
• Rockin roller coaster - After Smuggler's Run, the park was about to close and some of our group really wanted to do Rockin' Roller Coaster.  My parents too the little kids and then rest of us made a beeline to the ride.  We were almost running at time because we didn't have much time to go from Galaxy's Edge to the other side of the park.  We made it just in time and were some of the last people to get in line for the day.  Elle was very excited to ride and she loved it!  After she couldn't decide between it and Everest for her favorite.
• Lost and found Ellie’s backpack - As were were leaving, Ellie realized she didn't have her new Loungefly backpack.  We backtracked our steps and didn't find it so we went to Lost and Found.  Luckily they had it.  It was a great teaching moment for Ellie because she would have been devastated if she had lost her bag with her new Minnie and camera and other things in it.
• Rain on bus - As we were walking out of the park to the bus, it started raining on it.  It rained most of the ride back to the hotel.
• Contempo cafe again - Since it was late and we were tired, we got dinner at the Contempo Cafe...........again.  It was getting old.
• Grady bad dreams - That night Grady woke up a couple times with bad dreams.  I think all of the new stuff was catching up with him.

Slinky Dog!

Alien Swirling Saucers

Baby Rest/Nap Time

Snack Time!

Team Holk Out!

Gondola Death Trap Fun

Cute Kids!

Bamaw, Papa and the grandkids

More Skyliner and Hollywood Studios Fun

Babies and Star Wars Land!

Disney World February 2021 - Day 4: Animal Kingdom

Floating Mountains at Pandora

Day 4 - Animal Kingdom

• Wait for bus, short ride - We got to the bus stop first thing and didn't wait long for an Animal Kingdom bus.  The ride seemed shorter than normal too.  
• Slow walking - When we got in the park, we were very slow getting around.  It was also very foggy to start the morning which gave the park an interesting aura.
• Pandora - Flight of passage - We started by heading to Pandora.  This was a new land for most of us (my brother's family had been there before).  I had very high expectations of this area because it was new and my brother had told me how great it was.  The land itself was fine.  It was hard to find the features of the land and it didn't overly excite me.  The fog gave it a very eerie feel, but otherwise it was just ok to me.  We got in line for Flight of Passage (the marquee attraction), and the line was fairly short.  We split up because most of the kids couldn't ride.  The group to ride was me, Lisa, Ellie, my brother and his daughter and my dad.  This ride was incredible.  It is Soarin' on steroids and in 3D.  It was really cool.  Most surprisingly, my dad loved it so much that he said it might be his new favorite, and he hasn't seen the movie, Avatar.  The technology is incredible.  I hope they use it in other parks with other intellectual properties.
• Coffee - After Flight of Passage, we found a quick service food spot with breakfast items called Pongu Pongu.  They had a cream cheese and pineapple spring rolls which were amazing.  Ellie and Lisa shared a night blossom drink, which was layers of slush/frozen juices topped with boba balls.  I though it was a little weird, but the girls loved it. Next we headed back to the hub and then to Africa to ride the Safari.  On the way, we stopped at Starbucks and got a cold brew.  So good!
• Safari - Grady ‘I saw a moose’ it was a cow; zebra peeing - We got on the Safari with a very short wait.  This is a great ride and you are immersed in the animals habitats.  The kids loved it.  I sat with Grady and he pointed to all of the animals.  His favorites were the crocodiles, hippos and lions (he called them Tigers).  We drove by the Zebras and one was peeing while we went by.  Not something you see every day.  Grady called it a 'moose'.  I'm not sure he knows what a moose is, but it was cute.
• Gorilla trail - hot, slow, line, fighting kids - After the safari, we wanted to go see the gorillas.  We didn't realize it, but we had to wait in line just to go down the path to see the gorillas.  It took WAY to long and it was hot and lunch time.  The kids were started to bug each other and cause trouble.  We went down the path saw the gorillas and quickly left.  
• Lunch - Satu’li - Yummy - We placed mobile orders for lunch at Satu'li Canteen while waiting for the gorillas so we headed back to Pandora after the gorillas.  We got lucky and were able to find tables inside.  It was HOT outside.  The food was delicious.  We got a cheeseburger that looked like a bao bun, a bowl with beef and chicken which was very tasty.  The kids got hot dogs wrapped in dough, which were huge.  This was a very good stop for us.  We cooled off and all ate. 
• Flight of Passage again - After lunch, the line for Flight of Passage was very short, so we rode it again.  So great.
• More drama - After Flight of Passage, the kids were really starting to not get along and causing trouble, so we split up.  
• Navi river journey - We decided to try out the Navi River Journey.  This is the other Avatar ride in Pandora.  It was always a longer ride and since we had never done it, we decided to give it a shot.  My parents stayed with us because they hadn't done it either.  The wait was around 45+ and most of it was in the sun.  It was too hot.  Overall, the kids did pretty good waiting.  We got on the ride and it was a dark ride with a boat, similar to the Pirate ride system.  It was not nearly as good as Pirates though.  There was some cool technology, like the giant Avatar animatronic, but that was it.  There was very little to see, nothing happened and it was unbelievably short.  There was nothing about this ride that was worth waiting any length of time for.
• Everest - walk on x2 Ellie loved it - After Avatar, we decided to walk around the rest of the park head toward Expedition Everest.  Animal Kingdom was very strange during COVID.  There are a lot of shows and they were all closed.  There was a lot of the park closed.  In parts of the park, like Africa and Pandora, it was very crowded.  Other areas like Asia and Dinoland, there was no one around.  We walked slowly to Everest and when we got there, there was no wait.  We left Grady with my mom and Lisa, Ellie, my dad and I went on the ride.  Ellie was VERY excited to ride Everest.  She loves the Incredicoaster in California and is quickly becoming a thrill ride enthusiast.  We walked on the ride, and Ellie LOVED it.  She wanted to go again.  My dad stayed back, but the three of us went again.  It was a lot of fun.  It's always great to find one of the top attractions with no wait so you can go back to back.  My brother's family found us so they rode Everest and Ellie went again with them.
• Ellie and Lisa - free Mickey ice cream bars - When we were waiting for my brother's family to meet us, Lisa and Ellie wanted a Mickey bar and found a spot close to Everest.  They came back with 2 Mickey bars and Lisa told me the nice guy working the booth asked what they were looking for and she said Mickey bars.  He gave her 2 and said have a great day.  She tried to pay and he said not to worry about it.  It was a great magical moment for them and I always love hearing those type of stories about cast members.
• Back to hotel - After Everest, Lisa and I were done with Animal Kingdom.  We walked back through Dinoland, which was empty, and then walked through the shops close to the Tree of Life.  The shops had all the same stuff as all of the other stores.  My parents went with us because they were hot and tired too.
• Pool time - The kids had been asking for pool time and since Animal Kingdom closed early, we went back and got our swim suits on.  This was a great change of pace.  We had a great time.  Ellie is a little fish and Grady is getting close.  The pool had life jackets for little kids so we put one on Grady.  With the life jacket on, he went everywhere in the pool by himself.  He did great.  Ellie wanted to go down the slide so I watch her do that a few times, then Grady wanted to go too.  They did great and had a lot of fun.
• Mobile order - contempo and wave - After pool time, we ate at our hotel.  Lisa got some food from the Wave and the kids and I got food from Contempo Cafe.  During our trip, I at pretty much the entire menu there.  
• Shopping - After dinner, we walked through the shops in the hotel and got a few souvenirs.  We also found some sweet treats.  We took them back to the room to eat, and they were terrible.  I'm not sure what Disney has done to their candy and sweets, but they were not good on this trip.

Animal Kingdom in the fog

Flight of Passage and breakfast at Pongu Pongu

Safari Time!

Satu'li Canteen and Mask Kisses!

Everest Time!  Ellie's new favorite.

Back at the Hotel

Disney World February 2021 - Day 3: Hollywood Studios

Day 3 - Hollywood Studios

• Got Rise boarding pass - We woke up early to try and get virtual boarding passes for Rise of the Resistance.  It was pretty cool because you could do it from anywhere as long as you had a park reservation.  Lisa, Spence and I were all on and ready.  Spence got 'em! Yay!
• Long wait for bus - After we got up and ready, we went out and met the rest of our group at the bus stop.  The park opened at 8:30 (official opening was 9:00).  We were at the bus stop around 8:00 and did not get on a bus until after 8:30.  It was pretty annoying.
• Mickey and Minnie - Great! - When we got in the park, we were deciding where to go first and as we walked by the Chinese Theater, there was no line at Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.  This is a new ride that replaced the Great Movie Ride.  We were all looking forward to riding this as it opened in 2019.  It was great!  The queue and preshow were abbreviated due to COVID, but the ride was great regardless.  This is a trackless ride with glasses-free 3D effects.  It takes place in a Mickey and Minnie cartoon and Goofy's train goes nuts.  We all loved it.
• Ellie meltdown - After the Railway, there was a churro stand.  Well, most of our group got churros, but Lisa and I agreed we needed to find breakfast.  Ellie did not like that answer and got very upset that they all got churros and she didn't.  We ended up ordering food from Woody's Lunchbox, but we had to wait a while.  She threw a fit all the way to Toy Story Land and then most of the time we waited for our food.
• Grady/Lisa - swirling saucers - While I waited with Ellie on the food, Lisa and Grady rode Alien Swirling Saucers.  The wait time showed basically no wait, but they had to wait quite a while.  Ellie and I actually got the food while they were still waiting.
• Breakfast at Woody’s Lunch Box - The mobile order eating experience was quite the experience.  They have the eating area roped off so only people eating there that have ordered can sit when their food is ready.  This made it much easier to find a seat to sit while you eat.  The food was good.  The kids got a breakfast bowl which was tater tots, eggs and cheese.  We got the adult version which had gravy on it.  It was really good.
• Star Wars and milk stand - After we ate, we walked through Star Wars land (Galaxy's Edge).  We stopped at the Milk Stand and got both a green and blue milk to try.  On the last trip, I got a blue milk, but drank it by myself.  All four of us tried these.  Ellie and I liked the blue milk better and Lisa and Grady liked the green milk better.
• Muppets - long wait - We met up with the rest of our group and my brother wanted to go to Muppet Vision 3D because the app showed a short wait.  We found after 10:30 the parks would get busy and the wait times would skyrocket.  We decided to wait for Muppets as it was one of the shorter lines at the time.  It took a lot longer than expected.  This was not a "must do" ride either so it was a little annoying.  We also had a lunch reservation that we didn't want to miss.  The show was fine, but it is really old and needs to be either replaced or updated.
• Lunch - delicious, cooled off and the kids did really good - The Brown Derby is one of our favorite Disney restaurants.  Lisa and I have gone there on all of our trips and we went almost every trip as a family when we were growing up.  They did not disappoint during COVID.  Lisa and I got the Cobb Salad (because you have to get the cobb salad).  We tried to order Ellie a kids Cobb Salad, but that's not what was brought to the table.  She got a basic side salad.  I traded salads with her because she liked our cobb salad.  Her salad was basically cole slaw.  The cobb salad was delicious.  We were also very impressed with our kids because they were very well behaved and ate their food.  It was a great rest and reboot for us.  It was also air conditioned, which was hard to find on this trip.
• Shopped and Grady fell asleep - After lunch, we talked to Grady about taking a nap and thankfully he went to sleep pretty quick.  We decided to go shopping up and down Hollywood Boulevard.  Ellie got a nuiMO Minnie and an outfit for her.  This is a dress up character and Ellie loves her baby dolls at home.  She loved this little thing and changed its clothes the rest of the trip.  The shops were pretty much the same as all of the other shops.
• Slinky dog - Waited while Grady slept; line moved - We walked back to Toy Story Land and decided to go ahead and get in line at the Slinky Dog Dash.  It was around 50 minutes for the wait time.  I walked the line with Grady asleep in the stroller.  We got out of line when we got close and waited.  Ellie and Lisa loved it.  The wait time was pretty accurate too.  It is a cute area with instructions and the box of the toy Slinky Dog Dash.
• Really hot! - It was really hot this day.  We kept searching for shade because it seemed to be 10+ degrees hotter in the sun.  Toy Story Land and Galaxy's Edge do not have much shade.
• Mickey bar  - After the girls rode Slinky Dog, Grady woke up and we were all hot.  The girls wanted a Mickey ice cream bar, so we found some and found a shady spot to eat there.  They are delicious.  Grady and I shared one.  He did pretty good.  They were not as rock hard as in the past, so we had to eat them faster.
• Toy story mania - After our ice cream break, the line for Toy Story Mania was pretty short so we did it.  The entrance has been moved to the backside of the building.  It is really cute with Uno cards and other toys building the queue line.  The ride was fun as well.  
• Slinky rider swap -Zack and Grady - He did so good, then got scared at the end - We got a rider swap for Slinky Dog for Grady to ride since he was asleep when Lisa and Ellie rode it.  This time I got to ride with Grady.  Other than Goofy's Barnstormer, this was Grady's first "big" roller coaster.  He was pretty excited.  With the rider swap, we got to use the Fast Pass line to go through.  We got to be next and we were in the front.  The ride stopped though.  We had to wait a little while for it to restart.  While waiting, Grady got anxious and started banging on the walls of the entrance gate.  The cast member running the ride had to ask him to stop, and he did.  We got on and he was very excited.  He screamed and giggled the entire ride.  It was great.  I loved riding this ride with him.  It was a lot like Ellie riding Big Thunder Mountain for the first time.  He loved it and when it was over, he wouldn't get off.  I had to drag him out.  
• Droid shop - We moved on to Galaxy's Edge and stopped in the Droid Depot.  This is a cute store and I was pretty close to buying a BB8.  We decided when Grady is older we will get him one to play with.
• Rise of the Resistance - I got a text from my brother saying it was time for Rise of the Resistance. We met everyone outside the ride and since Grady and Josie couldn't ride, we had to split up.  We decided to go boys then girls.  This ride is great.  It was just as good as Disneyland and every time we ride there are new details to see.  Crosby went with us.  I was worried he wouldn't like it because he historically gets scared pretty easily on rides.  He did great on this one and loved it.  That made the ride even more enjoyable.  My dad rode with my brother, me and Crosby.  My dad has gone on all Disney rides in Florida and most in California.  He is a lifelong Disney visitor.  He loved this ride and was blown away by what they had created.  After we were done, the girls rode, and we watched Josie and Grady.
• Shopping Star Wars - We walked over to the shops and when the girls were done we split up.  The four of us stayed in Galaxy's Edge and everyone else went to their dinner reservation at '50s Primetime Cafe.  We walked through the marketplace area in Star Wars land.  They are cool looking shops, but the merchandise is not my cup of tea.
• Millennium Falcon - short line; lot of fun, just us - After the shops, we ordered dinner at Docking Bay 7 for around a 6:50 pickup (the park closed at 7:00).  We then walked by the Millennium Falcon and found that Smuggler's Run was a short wait.  All 4 of us could ride so we decided to give it a shot.  The pre-show was skipped due to COVID, but the line was very short.  This was Grady's first time on this ride.  We got to the ship and the kids were assigned pilots and Lisa and I were gunners.  We got the ship to ourselves, which was probably good for everyone else.  We had a great time.  The kids loved being pilots (even though Ellie was going the opposite directions instructed).  We had a lot of fun on this ride.  After we were done we went to get our dinner, and found that our order had been cancelled because we missed our pickup time while on Smuggler's Run.  We were a little sad (and hungry), but it was ok since we got to ride Smuggler's Run with a very short line.
• Back to hotel - bus was better wait
• Dinner at the Wave - On the bus we were looking for somewhere to eat and found the standby line at the Wave was short so we decided to try it out.  We got back to our hotel and dropped off our stuff at the room and walked back to the Wave.  We didn't have to wait too long and were seated.  The kids did really well again at this restaurant and the food and service were great.  It was also very nice to be able to sit and relax while we waited on food.  We even had cocktails and dessert.  Lisa and I each got the steak to share with Grady and Ellie got pasta. The entrees were delicious, but so was dessert.  Lisa got the Chocolate Flight (chocolate croissant bread pudding, brownie creme brulee, and German chocolate cake) and I got the regular creme brulee.  They were delicious.  

Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway

Alien Swirling Saucers

Star Wars Milk Stand

Muppets in 3D

Brown Derby Lunch - Sooooo Good

Toy Story Land

Slinky Dog Dash

Mickey Bars and Toy Story Mania

Grady and I on Slinky Dog Dash

Rise of the Resistance

Galaxy's Edge and Smuggler's Run