Mini Spring Break March 4th-8th, Jambo House & Boulder Ridge

Prelude:

This was honestly a bit of a unique trip for me given it was my first solo trip since my College Program back in 2011, so it’s definitely an adjustment being able to plan for me and me only versus juggling the wife and and an 8:year old. Awesome travel companions, but sometimes it’s nice to run your own schedule. As for the why? My wife is doing a sibling weekend with her brothers, so she only found it fair I got to do my own thing too.

I had some credit from a DVC Rental Store reservation we cancelled from a trip last July (All the love to Poly, but when Disney is quoting you $10 more to add a night at Riverside, it’s a pretty compelling offer), and as a former EPCOT Cast Member the only Festival I hadn’t done was Flower & Garden. I decided to take a dice roll on some dates thinking that it’d be Flower & Garden, and if not, well, hopefully I beat the Spring Break crowds? Snagged a 1 bedroom value villa at Jambo from the 4th-7th. We’ll get to the night of the 7th eventually.

March 4th

Had an evening flight in from MSP and a perfect storm of bags and the Uber taking their sweet time meant I didn’t get to Jambo House until close to 9 PM. Bell services was awesome in that they offered to haul my bag up with my groceries, even if it was a dead heat to my villa.

FaceTimed the kid before he went to bed under the guise I was “in Florida seeing friends”. No lies here, right? Right?

Thursday March 5th-DAK & EPCOT

Breakfast of Champions from Mara: Savanna Platter with Coffee. Also the only day I didn’t rope drop.

DAK:

• Zootopia: Better Zoogether (First time in awhile I’ve actually been disappointed in a Disney attraction)

• Everest (Single Rider)

• Safari

Bused to Contemporary to ride the monorail to EPCOT, lunch at Connections and the Hot Honey chicken sandwich for Flower & Garden.

EPCOT:

• Test Track

• Soarin (LL)

• Spaceship Earth (LL)

• Three Caballeros

• Remy (Single Rider, prefer 2D vs. 3D)

• Canada Far & Wide (RIP Catherine O’Hara)

• Frozen (LL, I’m typically not wowed by AA figures, but these new ones are impressive!)

• Living with the Land (LL)

Took the bus to Kidani, walked around a bit to see the Saana wait was an hour. Ended up walking back to Kidani and getting the Shrimp Bowl from Mara. And yeah, Mara feels like a quick service hidden gem.

Friday March 6th-A little bit of everything?

Breakfast was a couple cherry Pop Tarts and a coffee. I had Studios to rope drop, Lightning Lanes to navigate, and things to see.

Studios:

• Rise

• Toy Story Mania

• Indy Stunt Show (LL)

• Runaway Railway (LL)

• Star Tours (LL)

Yes, an interesting lightning lane strategy here. This was my first time using Touring Plans, and upon snagging a TSM LL and inputting it, they said it wouldn’t be necessary. Alright, let’s swap it for Star Tours. Turns out there was some (technical) mania that lengthened my wait there, but it worked out. Lunch was the shrimp tacos at ABC Commissary.

Decided to hit up Disney Springs and get the souvenirs shopped and shipped, before heading back to the villa to do laundry and dishes while planning out the night. MK was the plan and I mobile ordered Casey’s mini corn dogs on the bus over. Walked and people watched for a bit, then monorailed to EPCOT to try to ride Test Track in the dark. As I’m walking up to Test Track, the closed for technical difficulties announcement. Back to Jambo, swung by Victoria Falls to get chips and some wine, then packed up.

Saturday March 8th-MK & Blooming at EPCOT

As I said at the top, today was checkout day from Jambo House.  I had already purchased the 3 day park ticket because it honestly isn’t too bad of an upcharge to add a day. Anyway, I found a pretty reasonable cash rate at Boulder Ridge in a studio. Perfect. But first, before the Boulder raving:

MK:

• Breakfast at Starbucks

• Pre-rope drop Small World

• Jungle Cruise

• Pirates

• Tiana’s

• Haunted Mansion (LL)

• Space (LL)

• Carousel of Progress

During the turn of the century scene on COP, I get the notification that my third Lightning Lane, Pooh, is down and it prompts the selection of the available alternatives. None really suited me, so made my way to the Wilderness Lodge boat for lunch at Geyser Point.

I’m pleased to report that the bison burger is, if not more, better than advertised. Best burger on property. Proceeded to hang out in the Carolwood Pacific Room until my room was ready, took a nap, then went to EPCOT to check out some festival booths.

Got back, and saw that Snow White was the outdoor movie. Cool, haven’t seen it since I was a kid. Got a beer and watched that. This was the first time I’d done a movie night, so I’m curious if the turnout of roughly ten is normal or a one off.

Sunday March 9th-

My airport Uber wasn’t until 9:30 so with my morning I packed up, got breakfast at Roaring Fork and spent most of the time with my coffee walking the resort. Maybe it was the MK boat cutting through the fog, maybe it’s the music loop, but it was at that moment I get what DVC truly means when y’all say “Welcome Home.”

I honestly felt I did the place an injustice only staying a night, but that’s why you go back, right?