Our (Spoiler Free) Rise of the Resistance Story

We absolutely did not want to miss out on an opportunity to experience Rise of the Resistance and had only one morning to work it out. We did it! Here’s how it went…

Note: Currently, to experience this attraction, guests must first enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios park and use the My Disney Experience app to obtain a boarding group number. The numbers have been going fast once they become available for booking. Currently, that booking window begins when the Disney’s Hollywood Studios is officially open for the day. Once a boarding group number has been assigned, guests can use the app (tip: turn on notifications) to see which groups are boarding during the day. Once a guest’s group number has been called, that guest has two hours to return to Rise of the Resistance for entry.

Our (Spoiler Free) Rise of the Resistance Story

Our alarm went off just after 5:00 am on Monday morning and by 6:10 we were in front of the Contemporary waiting for our Lyft driver. Honestly, after four days of the Dopey Challenge – 5:00 am felt like a luxuriously late wake-up time.

Our ride (worth every penny) dropped us off at Disney’s Hollywood Studios just after 6:30 and we quickly made our way into the park. Finding a position to wait on Hollywood Boulevard close to the Trolley Car Cafe put us in the perfect position to grab breakfast once we’d snagged our (hopefully) low boarding group number.

Joseph and I both had our My Disney Experience apps open on our phones and he, Raymond and I stood with hundreds (thousands?) of others waiting for the official park-opening time of 7:00 am. I wish I could accurately describe the atmosphere! In the early morning light, there was an air of anticipation among the park guests surrounding us; all waiting for the exact same moment. A hush fell over the crowd, our phones counted down, and at precisely 7:00 am, we heard a bell chime nearby. Then, happy shouts and cheers began all around as different groups were assigned a boarding group number. We got ours immediately: Number 29.

Boarding group 29 seemed perfect to us. Our plans for the day were originally at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with FastPasses booked for Kilimanjaro Safaris followed by Expedition Everest, a lunch ADR for Yak & Yeti, and Flight of Passage to wrap up the day. If we got on Rise of the Resistance in a decent time, we could head for Animal Kingdom without missing a single thing. We watched our phones as boarding group numbers were added as we enjoyed our coffees and breakfast sandwiches on a bench on Sunset Boulevard.

Navigating the Queue

Before long, it was time! We headed straight for Batuu and entered the line for Rise of the Resistance. A Cast Member holding a sign made the end of the line very easy to find. We moved quickly forward and watched in dismay as the dad in the group in front of us continually pulled, pried, and wiggled any and everything along the way in an attempt to obtain a “souvenir”. I’m happy to report that he was unsuccessful (what a jerk!). Just when it seemed like we must be nearing the actual entrance to the attraction, we stopped moving. Several minutes passed and…nothing. After a few more minutes, we were surprised by Cast Members bearing snacks and water. Raymond and Joseph enjoyed bananas and Joseph snagged a cookie to go with his. While we certainly appreciated the hospitality, the snack/water distribution made us feel like whatever was broken wasn’t going to be fixed any time soon.

And We Were Right

Suddenly, we were moving again and…I promised to be spoiler-free here…we entered Rise of the Resistance and proceeded to be blown away! It was amazing! The level of detail, the sights, sounds, story-line…all absolutely incredible. I had goosebumps! And then…we were evacuated. Clearly we had just gotten to what appeared to be the most fun part of the experience and that part wasn’t operating. So, feeling excited by what we’d seen so far and pretty disappointed by what we were missing, we let a Cast Member scan our Magic Bands with the promise that we could return later in the day and ride any time, once the attraction was back up and running again.

Off to Animal Kingdom

It was still early and we had plenty of time to get to Animal Kingdom. We decided to hop on the Skyliner and ride over to check out the new Riviera Resort where we could catch a bus to Animal Kingdom. By watching the boarding group numbers on our app, we could tell when Rise of the Resistance started operating again. By 2:30 in the afternoon, we’d done all we’d planned and Animal Kingdom and were on our way back to Batuu.

This time, we knew what to expect during the first part of Ride of the Resistance. The knowledge allowed us to position ourselves to better see and hear different aspects and details we’d missed the first time. There’s a lot of detail! Things are easy to overlook because so much is going on all around you. I believe this is what will make us (and other guests) want to experience Ride of the Resistance several times. If you’re on the fence, I say DO IT! This attraction is completely different from anything else at Walt Disney World.

We were very pleased with how the day turned out. We got to ride Rise of the Resistance one-and-a-half times, didn’t miss any of our plans in Animal Kingdom and saw a bit of the Riviera Resort. We even had plenty of time to go back to Bay Lake Tower, change for dinner, and stop by Enchanted Rose (Grand Floridian) for a cocktail before enjoying dinner at Shula’s Steakhouse (Dolphin Resort). Don’t you love it when a plan comes together this well?

So? Have you experienced Rise of the Resistance? Want to? What are your thoughts about it?

WDW Trip Recap – January 2020

This particular Disney vacation’s going to stand out in my memory for a number of reasons…all of them great! Our first Dopey Challenge, nearly perfect park-touring weather, new experiences, old favorites – lots to love! I’ll provide tons of details on specific experiences in later posts. Today I want to share the highlights.

WDW Trip Recap – January 2020

First, let me remind you of the reason for this trip – The Dopey Challenge. After The Fam completed the Natchez Trace Ride early last May, Joseph and I started training for Dopey. Having completed several other runDisney challenges, we knew we’d have to plan early dinners and skip evening activities in favor of sleep. I booked dining reservations and FastPasses accordingly.

The Planning Paid Off!

In a nutshell, the Dopey Challenge was a fantastic experience! Worth every bit of effort; we could not have been happier with every magical mile. Unfortunately, the weather for Sunday’s marathon was incredibly warm (especially for January) and made that one event extra difficult. We felt mostly well-rested each morning and still managed to have a great time in the parks.

Dining Pros and Cons

Boy, did we put our Tables in Wonderland card to good use! We may have eaten dinner unusually early every day, but we went all out! Morimoto Asia (Disney Springs), The Wave (Disney’s Contemporary Resort), Il Mulino (Disney’s Swan), Citricos (Disney’s Grand Floridian), California Grill (Contemporary Resort), and Shula’s Steakhouse (Disney’s Dolphin) – all delicious with wonderful service. More details later, but I have to admit…even at 5:30 or 6:00 in the evening, we were often too tired by then (having had to wake up between 2:30 and 3:15 am each morning) to do justice to our excellent meals. Our lunch ADRs at Skipper Canteen (Magic Kingdom), Kona Cafe (Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort), and Yak & Yeti (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) were all outstanding – probably because we were not as tired at lunchtime and extra hungry after all the running.

When We Weren’t Running or Eating…

We used the “keep moving” school of thought. Some runners chose to stay off their feet between races, we opted for park-touring in moderation so our muscles would have less time to stiffen up. We enjoyed plenty of attractions, snacks and beverages. We hung out at Jock Lindsey’s (Disney Springs), the lounge in The Wave (Contemporary) and Enchanted Rose (Grand Floridian) between park touring and dinner reservations. We may have had to turn in early and, in spite of Joseph and I having to cover those 48.6 Dopey miles, we still felt like we were truly enjoying a Disney vacation.

Sure, the weather on Sunday during the marathon felt like we were 7-inches from the sun, but the rest of the time that warm weather was amazing! The sky was unbelievably blue and it made for some beautiful pictures.

Finally, let me mention that we had one day where riding Rise of the Resistance would be possible and we were able to make it happen. Come back tomorrow for the entire (spoiler-free) story, but let me just say…HOLY MOLY! Even if you’re only passingly familiar with Star Wars, this experience is not to be missed! Try it at least one time and tell me it’s not one of Disney’s most unique and special experiences.

If you have any questions about the Dopey Challenge, our touring or dining plans, or anything else, ask away. I still have so much to share about this amazing trip! Please stop by again soon…Lisa

Review: Grand Floridian’s Enchanted Rose

As huge fans of Mizner’s Lounge, we were prepared for sadness and crushing disappointment when it was replaced by a new pub. Full of happy memories and low expectations, we visited our former favorite stop on the Resort Loop Pub Crawl. Here’s what we found at…

Grand Floridian’s Enchanted Rose

Let me say up front that Enchanted Rose’s prices are high. If you can afford the splurge and can get over missing Mizner’s, it’s a very cool place. Designed around Beauty and The Beast, Enchanted Rose is oddly themed for a Victorian-inspired resort, but surprisingly, it doesn’t feel out of place. The details are charming and the vibe is classy and just a tad bit formal – but still quite welcoming.

Three Sections

Enchanted Rose is divided up into three distinct areas – the library-esque room is where Mizner’s was located. Two other rooms have been extended from there – a garden room and a room themed around the ballroom from the Beast’s castle. There’s also a new outdoor patio area. We sat in the library and enjoyed beer and wine but wished later we’d sat in the ballroom bar – it had a lively crowd and was bright and cheerful.

The three separate parts of Enchanted Rose make it an appealing choice for a variety of libation-seekers. Relaxing after a day in the parks, indulging in some quiet alone-time, or bellying up to the bar for some grown-up fun are all great ways to enjoy this lounge. For sure, if you’re looking for a place to grab a drink before dinner at Citricos, Narcoossee’s, or Victoria and Albert’s, Enchanted Rose is an excellent choice.

Final Thoughts

Personally, we miss Mizner’s – so many happy memories! We’re also really disappointed about the relocation of Grand Floridian’s Lobby Society Orchestra to the lower level lobby area. One of the very best parts of enjoying a beverage at Mizner’s was being able to listen to the Orchestra, formerly located right outside the lounge’s entrance. One thing you can always count on at Walt Disney World is change. We’re embracing this one a little bit un-enthusiastically.

Have you visited the Enchanted Rose? How was your experience?

Watch for Okapis – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

There are so many cool animals to see at Walt Disney World! In Animal Kingdom, between the walking trails, the exhibits, and Kilimanjaro Safaris – the number of birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals guests can see and, more importantly, learn about is amazing. Today I want to share with you some fun facts about one of the cutest and most bashful animals you can find in Animal Kingdom – The Okapi.

Watch for Okapis – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Okapis are shy. So shy, in fact, that their existence remained nothing but a rumor (like unicorns) until around 1901! They hide from their only predators, leopards and humans, and would live peacefully and very happily alone, but are now considered endangered due to hunting, mining, and deforestation.

Okapis are often called “forest giraffes” and indeed, they are the only living relative of the more popular and well-known giraffe. While giraffes live on the African savanna, okapis spend their lives in the dense rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Both animals have long, dark tongues and love to dine on local vegetation. Both have long necks (although the giraffes’ are much longer) and the males of both species have ossicones (short, skin-covered horns on their foreheads). Also, both species walk the same way – both feet on one side step forward at the same time. Aside from those similarities, okapis have a unique look all their own.

Okapis in the Wild

Okapis live solitary lives and only occasionally graze and play together in small numbers. Their bodies have dark brown fur and their legs are striped like zebras. This allows them to blend in well among the plants of the rain forest. With lighter-colored faces and large ears, okapis are completely adorable! Those dark-colored tongues are 14-18 inches long which means that okapis can lick their own ears and eyelids! Male and female okapis stand about 5 feet tall but the females grow a bit larger (495-770 lbs.) than males (440-660 lbs.). Adult okapis eat between 45 and 60 pounds of vegetation a day! They live between 20 and 30 years.

When a mother okapi gives birth (after a 14-16 month-long pregnancy), she has a single calf that stays in a “nest” on the ground for the first 6-9 weeks. This helps to the baby safe from leopards. The mother okapi communicates with her calf using an infrasonic call (at around 14HZ) which is too low for humans to hear.

Okapis are territorial animals with males having larger home areas than females. Okapis produce a sticky, smelly tar-like substance from scent glands on their feet and use it to mark their territory. When I see an okapi in Animal Kingdom, it’s easy to imagine them happily spending their days munching on leaves, fungi and fruit in the forest.

Okapis in Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney is a leader in animal conservation and is recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its okapi conservation efforts. In October 2018 Animal Kingdom’s okapis, Zelda and Mandazi, welcomed a baby – helping to boost the world’s okapi population.

If you’re headed to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to look for okapis on Kilimanjaro Safaris and on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail. If, like me, you love them and can’t get enough, you can purchase your very own okapi and take it home with you. (I found mine in Mombasa Marketplace.)

What’s your favorite animal at Walt Disney World?