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Oh I'm already a huge fan of Primo Piatto. I've eaten there several times and the breakfast is 
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Jul 15, 2021 19:33
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I usually stay at Caribbean, so I'm used to going through the Riviera station to get to Epcot. While it's not within walking distance like the Boardwalk loop, it's very fast assuming no stoppages and gives your feet a break. Even on a crowded day, you can probably expect 20 minutes or less from your Riviera door to the Epcot gate by Skyliner.
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Jul 15, 2021 21:03
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Braksgirl posted:I don't know how someone can dislike it. I'm not a big fan of its aesthetic and I think that's about all you can really feel negatively about it. It's not for me, I'm glad other people are into it, and that's cool. But it's like, bottom of the barrel choice for me. But then, tons of people feel like that about ft wilderness cabins, Coronado, etc.
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Jul 15, 2021 22:05
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I get that. SB's favorite is AoA because he enjoys the full Disney character themeing. Other people hate it. We like what we like.
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Jul 15, 2021 22:44
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Some of the big complaints I’ve seen is the lack of a real lobby compared to the other deluxe hotels and poor or understated theming. I’ve only heard good (outside of pricing) about the food at Riviera.
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Jul 16, 2021 00:43
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Braksgirl posted:I get that. SB's favorite is AoA because he enjoys the full Disney character themeing. Other people hate it. We like what we like. Unacceptable. Walt's true vision for room decor was very clearly... [Tweet 1/67]
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Jul 16, 2021 02:27
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Nephew was at the opening first day of food and wine today and said he had hoards of vloggers just up and running, cutting in front of him with cameras on gimbals in tow. He jokes he only felt not out of place when he was taking pics of the food and the merch to see if i wanted any souvenirs.
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Jul 16, 2021 02:43
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Braksgirl posted:I get that. SB's favorite is AoA because he enjoys the full Disney character themeing. Other people hate it. We like what we like. Did they ever repaint these? https://mickeyblog.com/2021/02/14/large-murals-in-front-entrance-of-art-of-animation-being-removed/
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Jul 16, 2021 02:44
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Just frigging ban vloggers the first week of whatevers new please
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Jul 16, 2021 07:14
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Junkie Disease posted:Just frigging ban vloggers everywhere, every day
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Jul 16, 2021 07:18
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Points and cash bookings - it’s definitely a pricier level - almost on par with Poly, especially around the holidays. The lobby is small, but unless you plan to just hang out in it all day - why not mosey to the coffee shop, pop downstairs to the fitness room, laze about out in the courtyard, eat gelato at the pool, grab a drink at Bar Riviera - or enjoy the Epcot fireworks from your standard view? I get it’s a mishmash of French and Italian with home pics of Walt from the 20s/30s - but it’s super easy to get where you need to be with rain cover, and it’s an easy hop to HS or the best park entrance, EP gateway. The new rooms are functionally a lot better than staying at GF, and if you had to scrounge and hit a tower studio, that’s not too bad if you just plan to be in the parks all day (great bathroom though). I love it. We had a 1BR last year in early March and had a fab time, and can’t wait to be back in one again for the 50th. I always pop over to grab a lunch or breakfast at Primo from wherever I am.
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Jul 16, 2021 18:26
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Orlando trip report (not only about WDW because we often talk about neighboring parks as well itt):
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Jul 17, 2021 17:58
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Love Stole the Day posted:Orlando trip report (not only about WDW because we often talk about neighboring parks as well itt): Nice to hear that Volcano Bay is operating smoothly now. For the first year or two there were nothing but complaints about it being stressful and unorganized and still having to wait long even after your line reservation. Keep in mind though that Volcano Bay has a very limited capacity, and you have wave pools and lazy rivers to enjoy while you wait for the slides. Having the theme parks operate this way would not be as fun. Agreed that Disney's food options are legions above everything else. There's even a variety of high quality quick service options. Anyone who complains about the food at Disney, other than its price, likely ate burgers, hot dogs, and pizza, and tried nothing else.
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Jul 17, 2021 18:30
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To be fair, I'd love if Magic Kingdom had a lazy river and wave pools too. 
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Jul 17, 2021 18:46
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Man the Discovery Cove hype has me really considering it
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Jul 17, 2021 18:49
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isn't SeaWorld like, a horrific place for animals
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Jul 18, 2021 00:24
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alg posted:isn't SeaWorld like, a horrific place for animals Worse for the trainers and workers. The documentary had some truth but a lot of spin. Seaworld does indeed do a lot of good for wildlife and generally cares for its animals as well or better than industry standards (especially now that they've stopped a lot of the more exploitative shows and stuff). They've had a significant amount of trainer deaths and Seaworld still testified that it wasn't a dangerous job. There's also all the really lovely stuff they did to labor during covid.
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Jul 18, 2021 00:32
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Fixins posted:Man the Discovery Cove hype has me really considering it I'm going back for a second visit this week, and lordy lord, I am so excited. It's just a whole different world than the rest of Orlando. Can't wait to sip tropical drinks will floating by an island inhabited by little monkeys.
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Jul 18, 2021 01:28
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TheBigBudgetSequel posted:I'm going back for a second visit this week, and lordy lord, I am so excited. It's just a whole different world than the rest of Orlando. I looked at their website after it was mentioned here, and Discovery Cove looks pretty awesome. Florida is kind of on fire COVID-wise right now, but I'd definitely like to visit when things calm down again.
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Jul 18, 2021 01:41
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Sea World food has always been abysmal, the worst of the worst. I’d rather eat a warmed-over hot dog from a cart at Busch Gardens.
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Jul 18, 2021 03:13
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Luigi Thirty posted:Sea World food has always been abysmal, the worst of the worst. I’d rather eat a warmed-over hot dog from a cart at Busch Gardens. Odd exception is the food festivals they have tend to be pretty good. Sea World does have one sit down restaurant, Sharks Grill (Which usually requires reservations) and has an amazing view of the Shark Aquarium. Quick Service isn't, although the better of those is the restaurant behind Infinity Falls seconded by the Voyagers BBQ place. Still not great, but if you must. All the food places are understaffed right now, though (I.e. Slow). Sea World and Busch are such oddities to me though . I love the parks, they are beautiful (Especially the one in Virginia) and the animals are amazing--and I know a few trainers that worked there and they all take their jobs very seriously, but ever since Anheuser Busch sold off to Inbev, and then sold the parks off, the business side hasn't been great. (Ala how they treated employees) IMHO, the parks need to survive even if the current ownership does not. The fact all the SeaWorld parks (Incluidng really big ones like Iron Gwazi in Tampa and Pantheon in Williamsburg) have brand new coasters sitting idle right now is just weird. Atricks fucked around with this message at 04:11 on Jul 18, 2021 |
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Jul 18, 2021 03:40
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I worked at SeaWorld for a bit. While I'm no animal expert, the care the animals receive - and all the employees who actually work with the animals can attest to this - actually is top notch. Anyone still believing otherwise is misinformed and their only research was "Blackfish". SeaWorld is also exceptionally clean because of this. In terms of cleanliness both what you see and what you don't see, SeaWorld is better than Disney and WAY better than Universal (which is honestly filthy). However, doing literally any other job at SeaWorld is crap, which is why of the big three in Orlando, SeaWorld has the lowest quality of employees and service.
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Jul 18, 2021 04:05
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Sea world zookeepers do a fantastic job of trying to take care of their animals, providing excellent animal welfare and enrichment opportunities. Sea world does great work for conservation programs, like breeding SSP species and doing rehabilitation work with injured animals like manatees and pilot whales. Blackfish did a lot of harmful work for Seaworlds reputation, and it’s easy to overlook the good they do in favor of a messy documentary.
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Jul 18, 2021 15:49
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Atricks posted:The fact all the SeaWorld parks (Incluidng really big ones like Iron Gwazi in Tampa and Pantheon in Williamsburg) have brand new coasters sitting idle right now is just weird. The theory is that they haven't been paying their bills for the rides they ordered pre COVID due to cash flow problems, so the manufacturers have put liens on them to prevent their operation.
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Jul 19, 2021 08:09
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Sounds like Trader Sam's in WDW opens today with the poly reopening. Now I just need Hoop Dee Doo to somehow start up again before late August and I'll be set.
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Jul 19, 2021 13:53
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We decided to skip the Halloween party (those prices, yowza) and are instead going to F&W in early October. First trip since February, 2020. I know it’s the 50th anniversary on October 1st, but I pray crowds are manageable on October 5th since it’s a Tuesday. 
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Jul 19, 2021 14:28
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Multiple southeastern states have a fall break the first or second week of October. It will be busy. Half of Kentucky and Tennessee will be there.
skipdogg fucked around with this message at 14:57 on Jul 19, 2021 |
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Jul 19, 2021 14:51
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Well, poo poo. Oh, well. We knew what we were getting into.
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Jul 19, 2021 15:15
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fall break? is that for year round schools or something? we went the first week in October in 2017 and it was pretty packed, but every day at Disney is packed now
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Jul 19, 2021 15:31
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I mean it's pretty much always busy, so you'll be fine, just adjust expectations accordingly. I think there are maybe 4-6 "slow" weeks left these days, and even those aren't slow anymore. It's still going to be hot as hell though. We went October 6th to 14th in 2018, and I sweat from places I didn't know you could sweat from on that trip.
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Jul 19, 2021 15:33
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skipdogg posted:I mean it's pretty much always busy, so you'll be fine, just adjust expectations accordingly. I think there are maybe 4-6 "slow" weeks left these days, and even those aren't slow anymore. yes you have to take baby powder. 100% a must for chafing.
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Jul 19, 2021 15:43
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alg posted:every day at Disney is packed now If it's not a spring/fall break for someone, it's a marathon week. Or a European holiday (ie. most of August). Or that week when all of Brazil inexplicably visits Disney. And if it's not something like that, Disney will fire off a bunch of promotions and discounts to fill up the hotels and parks. Plus now enough people are Disney-savvy that they know when the "slow" periods are and choose those times to visit, making them not-slow. Just pick a week when the weather is likely to be least-oppressive and go.
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Jul 19, 2021 16:04
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alg posted:fall break? is that for year round schools or something? It's a regional thing. TN, KY, parts of GA and parts of AL have a week long Fall break that usually lands the first or second week of October. We thought crowds would be low when we went, since most people would be going home after Columbus day. That was not the case. Just a sea of Kentucky Blue and Tennessee Orange everywhere. Different regions have different school schedules, and those easily correlate to busy times at WDW. Louisiana goes the week of Mardi Gras. New Jersey has Jersey week. I'm sure there's a bunch more. alg posted:yes you have to take baby powder. 100% a must for chafing. I use a zinc based diaper rash cream. A&D, Desitin, Boudreaux's Butt Paste, whatever is available. That works best for me. The key is to use it before you start chafing. Prevention is the name of the game WhiteHowler posted:It's this. You basically can't avoid huge crowds anymore. Yep, all this is very true. There's 3 or 4 slow weeks still, but they cut the hours and attraction capacity, so it's almost not worth going. I rather go when the hours are longest, and the weather is good no matter how busy it is. We can plan around the crowds pretty easily. The kids are at an age though I can't take them out of school anymore, and we vacation with family from another state that has a different school calendar than us. Unfortunately it looks like it's going to be Summer trips for us for the next 10 years or so. I won't go the week of Thanksgiving or over Christmas. Our best trips have always been the last week of Feb into the first week of March. You generally miss out on all the Presidents day travelers, and it's before most schools Spring Break schedule. That's our favorite time to visit. skipdogg fucked around with this message at 16:10 on Jul 19, 2021 |
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Jul 19, 2021 16:06
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Aquaphor and Bag Balm are way better for chafing than baby powder. Those are what I use for running and biking and they both last through sweat unlike powder.
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Jul 19, 2021 16:26
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Gold Bond powder very quickly became part of my standard park luggage
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Jul 19, 2021 17:12
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Last couple trips I took to WDW were before Presidents’ Day in early February. Crowds were fairly low, except that it aligned with Brazilian quinceañeras and a cheerleading competition. And weather that time of year is great, especially when traveling from the Midwest where it’s still freezing and has snow in February.
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Jul 19, 2021 17:18
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It has been a few years since I've visited now, but the best weeks I've found tend to be: Early November, as long as you leave BEFORE the weekend before Thanksgiving. The first two weeks of December. Mid-January to late February, but you have to dodge the marathon weekend. In the past I've seen a lot of corporate conferences happening around the beginning of the year. SalesForce had one at Coronado Springs starting the final day of my last visit, and the parks got ridiculously crowded. The year before, it was a big UPS conference, though that one wasn't as bad crowd-wise.
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Jul 19, 2021 18:54
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huzzah https://twitter.com/DisneyParks/status/1417233071716380675
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Jul 19, 2021 22:26
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quote:Next time you visit, you may notice the table next to President Biden is adorned with a few special items, each with their own significance to the President—including peach blossoms to represent his home state of Delaware and a pair of aviators as a nod to his proclivity for the sunglasses. This rules. They just need to add a set of Trans Am keys for the full Diamond Joe experience.
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Jul 19, 2021 23:12
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I went to Epcot this past Saturday. It's quiet enough that you can do the food stands if you arrive just before 11:00, when everything starts opening up. France gets mobbed instantly (probably because it's the closest to the Gateway) but most other stands will have no line or a very short one for the first few hours. Once you hit about 2:00 or 3:00, that's when it starts getting crazy.
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Jul 19, 2021 23:48
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