Florida - Day 16

This was an exceedingly long and stressful travel day.  We left the house at 9:30am in order to return our rental van by 11:00am.  However, we struggled to get in to the gas station as the entrance was blocked and then traffic on the toll road to the airport was very busy, but we made it in around 10:30am.  Once in the airport, we got in a ridiculously long line for Burger King for lunch and after what seemed like almost an hour had the kids fed.  Then we boarded our flight and easily flew to Toronto.

I don't think it is a secret, but Pearson is a horrible, horrible airport.  The Canadian customs area was a gong show with self serve terminals and thousands of people with no idea where to go, because a flashing green light at the end of a long line of people is not easy to see.  Plus, the terminal only allows five people in a group and there were six of us, so we had to find a human to talk to, which is practically impossible in a modern airport.

Once we got through customs, we entered a baggage area, where it was very poorly communicated that our baggage was going straight through and then we finally exited into the main airport with no idea where to go and, again, no humans to talk to.  Our flight to Regina wasn't until 9:25pm and wasn't on any boards, so we had no idea what gate to even head towards or if we were in the right terminal.  After finally finding a human, we entered an exceedingly slow security line that was very difficult to get through.  I'm starting to hate airport security - the workers berate you for doing things wrong, but spend no time telling you what is right.

After security, we met Rene, who had left Orlando super early, spent five hours in Atlanta and had then flown to Toronto.  We had supper and found a place to park ourselves for five hours until our flight left.

Our flight was late boarding and at a crowded gate with no seats and more employees berating us for doing things wrong rather than telling us what was correct.  Once on the plane, we sat for 45 minutes, most of it without air conditioning, as they tried to get the plane working.  Of course, the plane was broken, so we had to get off of it and wait for a new plane before we could leave.  The kids were super tired at this point - Bradley was quite upset and he and Jonathan ended up falling asleep on the benches.  Finally, around 12:20am, we boarded our new plane and flew back to Regina, arriving at 2:30am - 2.5 hours late.

I went to grab a cab, but an Air Canada flight from Toronto had also been delayed and all the cabs were already taken.  The last cab leaving stopped and asked if I wanted to go with him and he would drop me off after the other passenger in the cab, so I said yes.  At home, I picked up our van and returned to the airport for my family.  We got home and got everyone into bed around 3:30am, thus ending our Florida Christmas trip.

Florida - Day 15

Today was another rest after a park day, especially as we leave tomorrow, so we need to get everything packed up and ready to go.  I wasn't too quick getting out of bed and spent the morning out in the sun, as it was very warm and sunny today.

After lunch, we all went to the big resort pool, which was pretty busy, but kept the kids occupied all afternoon.  Then it was home for supper, packing and a few games.  Tomorrow we head home and we are one of the last ones out of the house, with a 1:50pm flight to Toronto.

Florida - Day 14

I wasn't very happy after our last trip to Hollywood Studios, and if it wasn't for the new Star Wars ride, I wouldn't even set foot back in the park.  However, today was a lot of fun, which was partially because of my lowered expectations (I only planned on accomplishing a single ride the entire day) and the fact that things seemed to work out well.

There are two new Star Wars rides - Smuggler's Run, which takes place on the Millenium Falcon and opened at the end of the summer and Rise of the Resistance, which is brand new and deals with the new movies.  For Rise of the Resistance, you can only get on the ride by being in the park when it opens and pressing a button on the Disney app to get a time to go on the ride.  All the times are gone by 9:00am, but it means that the park starts the day absolutely packed with people waiting for 7:00am so that they can click Join.  Once they've done that, they all head for Smuggler's Run to get in line, so the starting lineup for that ride is over 2 hours long and wraps around the park.

I didn't care about Rise of the Resistance, as all I really wanted was the Millenium Falcon ride.  We joined the huge crowd at opening, but after the park opened, we headed to the Jedi Experience to sign the younger kids up.  That was easy to do, because very few people were in the park with kids, and we picked a time just after lunch.  Then we got in the massive line for Smuggler's Run.  It was huge, but like all Disney lines, it moves, and after almost an hour and a half we reached the ride area.  Then another almost hour and we were on.

There are six people on the ride at a time, and you enter into an area that looks somewhat like the Falcon and are assigned a role (pilot, gunner, engineer).  The six of you get into a replica of the Falcon cockpit and then the ride starts.  You sit and watch a smuggling run, but there is some interactivity, as you can fly a bit, shoot TIE fighters and repair the Falcon.  I really liked piloting with Bradley, as I got to pull the lever to go to hyperspace and it was super neat.

Once we were done with the ride, we found Sandra and Jonathan and went through the Toy Story rides.  Before the Jedi Experience, I wanted to buy the kids build your own lightsabers, which I remembered from the last time we were at the park, and I figured it would be a fun gift from Sandra and I.  Unfortunately, I didn't remember where it was, and with all the new Star Wars stuff, assumed it had moved, as there was a lightsaber building spot on the maps.  We went there, only to find out you had to sign up on the Disney app and they were all booked up for today.  I was pretty ticked off and the kids were very unhappy, so we headed towards the Jedi Experience while I tried to figure out what to do.  A refreshment cart had some cheap lightsabers that we looked at, but she also mentioned the Star Tours gift shop, so we went there and found the build your own lightsabers from the last trip.  The new area is for super detailed custom lightsabers that cost $200 and was NOT what I was looking for at all.  I just wanted the cheap $30 plastic ones, which is what we found.  All four kids built lightsabers and then it was time for Bradley and Jonathan to become Jedi.

They, and their cousins, got to fight Darth Vader and then we went back to the Falcon to take a picture.  The line was 90 minutes long at this point, so Alex, Evan and I went through the single rider line.  It took an hour and I don't think I would do it again, as the single rider line does not move.  I'd rather spend the extra 30 minutes in a line that moves.  So, at this point, I had ridden the ride I wanted twice and the kids had done everything they wanted, so the day was a success.

Now, early in the morning, I had signed up for a time for Rise of the Resistance, on the off chance that we would get on, but just me, Alex and Evan.  Our time was between 4:00pm and 5:30pm, so we went on the ride after our second time through Smuggler's Run.  We walked the big line and got on the ride, where you board a transport and are taken to a Star Destroyer.  At that point, I think there is a car you are supposed to get on for the ride, but the ride broke down.  We were ushered out, but given a FastPass since we were on the ride.

After the Indy show, we tried to get back on the ride, but it was still closed, so Evan and I used the FastPasses to go on the Millenium Falcon a third time.  Then it was time to leave, find supper and go to bed.  All in all, a very good day at the park, despite the massive crowds.