Thu, 12:09: I reversed my digits, boarding group called at 11:23, I got to the line around 11:30, took 25 min to board. The majority of the queue is bland wainscoted passages though with dark Remy themed wallpaper. Then there are a couple of set scenes, Paris rooftops and an artists study
Thu, 12:10: The ride is frenetic! Hard to see it all ( which is the point I guess). It is very screen-heavy but overall I like it. About to go repeat using my ILL.
Thu, 14:55: Ratatouille: the negative. It’s going to be another of the rides that can make me queasy, so many visual switches with compounded by the ride vehicle movement. Also requires 3-d glasses, which never work well over my own glasses- have reflections on the inside of lenses
Thu, 14:56: Overall though Ratatouille is fun, see it being a requirement for future Disney trips
Thu, 14:59: ILL for Ratatouille had short queue with the wainscoting, is on the other side of a short wall in the rooftop scene, then hits the join point for the boarding group queue
Thu, 15:00: Took a Lyft from Beach Club to FQ to put my feet up for a bit and collect the hearing aids before meeting Mark for a 4 pm dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table
Thu, 15:31: Weather has gone from muggy and cloudy to light rain, here comes the Rainy Day Cavalcade. Street performers had spiffy raingear in red and yellow https://t.co/2UaTeX5bdu
Thu, 16:00: Checked in at Cinderella’s, Mark arrived shortly. It is no problem to add the extra person to a one-person reservation, I’ll just pay my server as this is normally a pre-paid pre fixe meal
Thu, 21:12: We had a 30+min wait once we were allowed into the ind#side waiting area (was the Cinderella meet and greet, now suspended). However, once we were taken to our table we had a wonderful leisurely meal, took about 2 hours. Excellent service from Art.
Thu, 21:21: I had the charcuterie plate, scallops (“with Fregula Pasta w Sautéed Onions, Roasted Mushrooms, Black Garlic, & a Parmesan Cream Sauce”), and the Clock Strikes 12 (“Dark Chocolate Mousse w a Caramel & Crunchy Praline Center, served w Chocolate Sauce and Hazelnut Gelato”) https://t.co/J7gigG9kmT
Thu, 21:24: Really, the quality was right up there with the California Grill earlier this week, and with a little better service (Cali Grill rushed the appetizer and entree a bit). Not what I expected based on previous castle meals, where you come for the experience not so much the food
Thu, 21:28: Cinderella did appear periodically to wave and, at least at the tables on the sides like ours, to speak from a socially distanced gap to the kids (adults too I imagine). https://t.co/iCkSXXbdcG
Thu, 21:32: We emerged around 7 pm into the mob of people with later reservations, and the overlapping crowds from the end of the regular park hours and beginning of the nights Xmas party. And to light rain.
Thu, 21:34: Headed to Frontierland pin store first, then doubled back to Philharmagic-we’d both forgotten that there’s a new scene from Coco so that was nice to catch. Scene works very well. Stopped in the shop and Mark searched for the right set of Minnie ears in a blue plush style, no luck
Thu, 21:37: Walked out via the bypass to avoid crowds gathered for 8 pm fireworks, Mark headed back to Emporium in search of those Minnie ears, and I headed to my bus. Only waited 5 min, bus took the small group of us and headed out so everyone had a seat, yay! Beat the fireworks crowd
Thu, 21:38: Tomorrow starts D23 weekend so this was my last day with significant (possible any) park time
Fri, 09:42: D23 weekend kicks off with shopping and a chance to see the new movie Encanto a bit ahead of release. Shopping, registration, etc is at the Contemporary, movie at Disney Springs. Mark and I are also seeing the new Cirque du Soleil show this evening
Fri, 10:50: First up is Mickeys of Glendale (Imagineering) store shopping. We both got the 8 am slot, which comes with strong warnings to not line up earlier than 7. Mark ran early and showed up at 6:35 to the annoyance of security. He wasn’t the only one there that early!
Fri, 10:56: I drove to the Contemporary as we have a breakfast reservation, which lets me park. Got to the line to join Mark around 7:30. Line had been created at the base of the elevator across the registration desk area, which can’t have made the Concierge happy
Fri, 11:00: Success shopping, they had a Figment+Orange Bird spirit jersey that I took over the blue plaid flannel shirt with the same Figment design-mens shirt design so the sleeves were way too long and would have needed altering.
Fri, 11:02: Then the other lines: line to buy a special pin design + $100 gift card, which moved at a glacial pace. Then downstairs to the D23 gift pickup, a bag with a few items from sponsors and a good quality printed schedule https://t.co/WxjSu1soPS
Fri, 11:08: Last was the pin sales pickup, all event pins were sold via a Ransom Selection Process so you just picked up your bag. I didn’t want any so had put in a list of things Mark wanted another chance at. Then we took a quick spin thru sponsored shop area
Fri, 11:11: In the shop area was a display with the next-gen MagicBand which looks to be annoying-it will interact with shows and stuff in the parks. Picture the dark ride with everyone’s MagicBand lighting up or buzzing. Also the “Hey Disney” consoles going into resort rooms for guest info https://t.co/JDgQIbSkPA
Fri, 11:16: Dropped bags at the car and are now trying breakfast at Steakhouse 71 which replaced The Wave. I got Walt’s Hash made with prime rib (they say ) https://t.co/jJ8nZd9Ole