Disney Characters

After Halloween all of the parks switched to holiday decorations. A few times a year, Disney will have some characters available for photo opportunities as cast members come in to work. I almost always walk right by them at Epcot, but Jennifer usually stops. 

Last week, we decided to take our cargo trailer back to Oregon. We couldn't figure out how to change the title on it to Florida, and we were paying every month to store it and not using it.

Susan and I drove to Bend in only four days, so we didn’t have time to stop and see anything. We left Susan's car in Oregon and flew home.

While we were gone, Jenn spent an evening at Hollywood Studios.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

 

This fall, Jenn was able to purchase a pass to attend most of the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parties at a special cast rate, and went to most of them.

She also enjoyed picking up a shift for one. I joined her for a party in the middle of October. We checked out the Halloween decorations at the Magic Kingdom, saw special characters and entertainment, and collected lots of candy at the trick or treat locations.

She continued going to parties the last two weeks, dressing up in various costumes and meeting characters.

Monday after work Susan came to Epcot to ride my boat. After my shift was over we checked out the Food & Wine Festival. At the International Gateway I took a photo of the progress of the France expansion.

Fall at WDW

At the end of August, the Food and Wine Festival started at Epcot. Jenn came into the park last week to check out the festival and ride my boat.

Friday night, we used one of our Holiday coupons to eat at Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. Jenn enjoyed taking photos with Dopey, Grumpy, Snow White, and the Wicked Stepmother. I enjoyed the food. We all enjoyed the decor. 

Yesterday after work I went into the Magic Kingdom to visit Susan and Jenn and check out the progress on the Tron building. 

I took the monorail over so I also checked out the progress at the front of Epcot.

Skyliner

Earlier this month we attended another DVC Moonlight Magic event, this time at Typhoon Lagoon. We didn't spend a lot of time doing slides, but we did enjoy the free food and the lazy river.

This week we attended a special cast preview for the new Skyliner. This gondola system connects Epcot and Hollywood Studios to several resorts. 

The new Riviera Resort, which was built on the northern most portion of the Caribbean Resort and will open later in the year, is also on the Skyliner.

We also got to spend more time in Galaxy's Edge. We weren't able to experience the Star Wars attractions, but I enjoyed using the Disney Play App to explore Batuu.

Around the Parks

Early in August, the Halloween decorations went up at the Magic Kingdom, and Halloween parties started. 

On the last Wednesday of August, Jennifer and I visited Epcot and Magic Kingdom. We rode the monorail between the two, so we could see the work being done at the front of Epcot.

Disney continues to work on a swing bridge between MK and the Grand Floridian.

The next day she picked up a shift at Hollywood Studios so she could work the opening day of Galaxy's Edge. Both she and Susan often give away shifts at their primary location so they can work other places at WDW.

After my shift today I visited them both at MK, and rode the Peoplemover so I could see the progress on Tron.

Galaxy's Edge

  

Last week we attended a cast preview of Galaxy's Edge, the new Star Wars area in Hollywood Studios.

The Rise of the Resistance attraction wasn't open yet, but we rode Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run twice. It was fun, a cross between Star Tours and Mission:Space, but a little tamer than either. We weren't able to experience the cantina or the lightsaber building, but enjoyed walking around the land.

I also visited Epcot last week. Work continues at the International Gateway, expanding the turnstiles and security for the opening of the Skyliner.

Last night we attended the Annual Passholder Appreciation Night at Universal Studios. This summer Universal opened another Harry Potter attraction, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. It replaced the Dragon Challenge in the Harry Potter area of Islands of Adventure. It is a lot of fun, especially at night.

Memphis

Earlier this month we flew back to Bend and drove our camping trailer out. My truck wasn't doing a good job towing it across Wyoming so we stopped in Fort Collins Colorado and traded it in for a heavier one with a bigger engine. 

We also brought the cats out with us, so we weren't able to make too many stops.  

We did stop in Memphis, and enjoyed a meal at the Hard Rock there. This was my 26th HRC.

We walked a bit on Beale Street after dinner, and spent some time driving around downtown, then headed back to our campground outside the city. The next day we drove back to Florida, completing my thirteenth trip across the country.