Sandwich sign for “Figment’s Inspiration Station at the Odyssey (Sponsored by SKITTLES).” The two options are a “Grape smoothie with freeze-dried bit sized SKITTLES pieces” or a “Rainbow cake with freeze-dried SKITTLES bite sized candies.” Both were very good, but smaller than they look in their respective photos.
A view of the end of Tomorrowland Speedway from a break in the trees near the entrance to Storybook Circus. It’s not my favorite picture, but I’ve already posted all of my GOOD pictures from my trip on my travel blog.
Seriously, I have been going to Disney World for thirty years now, and I have NEVER seen their entrance this empty before!!
Here are photos of my trip. It’s not enough for a full post, but I made one anyway.
Approaching the banner of the train-themed “Sunshine Flyer” motorcoach that replaces Disney’s Magical Express as the primary transportation option from MCO (Orlando International Airport) to Walt Disney World. Once I get off (at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort), I’m officially in “The Disney Bubble.”
Apparently, because of the Skyliner, Disney no longer runs buses from Epcot to POP Century. No-One told me this until I was waiting there for almost an hour. In fact, I had a Cast Member tell me the bus was running… or at least strongly implied such.
What bothers me is they had four Art of Animation buses come by (that was the driver that insisted I come to his resort rather than wait there any longer) and three Coronado Springs – the ONLY buses to come by in this entire section (which also serves All-Stars and both Port Orleans resorts – all of which are still closed). Even the driver couldn’t explain why they were serving one Skyliner resort, but not the others (not sure if Caribbean Beach or Riveria were running or not as they are in the other section).
Though it should be noted, the driver never actually called to confirm that no-one was on the Epcot/POP route. There was no sign at Epcot saying buses for POP Century weren’t running, but there WAS a sign at AoA saying that “Due to high demand for the Skyliner, buses will operate from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort” – but ONLY on the AoA side.
“Yeah, just go through the lobby and follow the walkway,” the driver said as if more walking would cheer me up.
I did plan on eating at their food court there (even though the menu is largely the same as Everything POP), but not under these circumstances. Like mirror restaurant across the pond, Landscapes of Flavor (you would think given the resort’s theme that it would be “Artist’s Palette,” but that is equally incongruently located at Saratoga Springs) is also mobile order only and given that was pitch black outside, it had to be pushing… 6:28pm. I hate Daylight Savings Time.
Anyway, I decided to use my downtime to go tree peeping around the lobby… but, unlike the crappy restaurant in my “home resort,” the food at Landscapes came up almost immediately. It was also unusually quiet for this time of day. In fact, the only other guest in their cavernous cafeteria was this fat, ugly guy who kept staring at me while I was eat… Oh right, that was my reflection.
Wait, did my hair really look like THAT all day? *facepalm*
Anyway, it was a quick wait, and the food was average at best. But the important thing was I was off my feet until I dumped my tray and walked across the “Generation Gap” (Disney’s name for the bridge connecting the two value resorts), past the nonexistent sign warning POP Century guests that there were no buses from Epcot/DHS, and back towards my room. Perfect way to end my day – my Birthday!
I’m so glad I upgraded to a “room near Classics Hall” – and it was still $40 cheaper than the next cheapest hotel on Disney property… including Art of Animation!
Life in the Uncanny Valley 