“You’ve got only so many minutes in your finite lifespan, and you’re bound to spend some of them waiting in lines.” -Wolfeye Mox
Introduction
My mom, sister and I were able to get FL resident annual passes, and I was able to get a discount at a Disney World Resort on a room with Disney Plus Perks, so after saving for a long while we were able to go to Disney World. We went to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. I asked for the trip as my present for my 39th birthday. Yes, I’m almost the big 40. Ugh. But, at least I got to do something cool to celebrate.
Disclaimer 1:
I am bad with names, so I can’t give shout outs to the many helpful cast members we encountered during our trip. But, there were indeed many who felt like they went above and beyond what was required by their jobs, especially the nice front desk lady who used some “pixie dust” to hook us up with an free upgrade to a preferred room from a basic room when I asked for a room on the first floor.
Disclaimer 2:
My policy for rides is to never take pictures or videos during rides. So, I took pictures during the lines, and of course around the parks, so that’s what you’ll see here.
Disclaimer 3:
I mostly took pictures of buildings. Yes, people in public are fair game legally as far as I know as long as you’re not being creepy, but people, by and large, are boring. 😝 😂 Plus, if someone was like, “Hey, freak, did you take my picture?!” I could be like, “No, buildings!” and show them all the pictures of all the buildings.
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom was… Wait for it… Magical. It was lots of fun to walk around and see all the buildings.
This area was called Main Street, USA. We didn’t go inside any of the buildings, we just walked down the street.
We walked around the castle. It was very tall.
I liked the towers and the colors. It was very impressive, they should be very proud.
We didn’t go in the Cheshire Cat Cafe, but I did like the building.
I’ve always liked medieval architecture, so that tower struck my fancy.
We didn’t visit Cartography, we were mainly speeding through the parks to get to get to the attractions and rides, but that was a nice doorway.
The second floor looked cool too.
We did go to Under the Sea: Journey of the little Mermaid, because my sister loves Ariel.
It was a nice boat, but they put poor Ariel frozen as the figurehead. Or maybe it was just a replica.
I really like the contrast in this shot, props to the environment designers.
I’d have this in my room, no joke.
Another poor frozen lady attached to the front of a boat, very sad.
Just a bit of details in the line I liked.
They had this little guy in there, I think he was mad about something.
It was sealed shut, of course. I checked. 😝😂
This gosh darn seagull kept talking about whatever it was he talked about. I’m joking, he was funny.
I think his name is Skuttle. I could be wrong. I’m not a fan of Ariel. My favorite Disney Princesses are Mulan and Leia. I even wore my Princess Leia shirt that day, because she’s a Disney Princess now that they own Star Wars.
I went on the Tomorrowland Speedway alone. It was slow, but still fun. I can’t legally drive, haven’t had my license in years, so it was extra fun being back behind the wheel. 🤣
I guess it had better be slow, they have kids driving. 🙄😂
I absolutely loved the Tron Lightcycle Run roller coaster. My body didn’t, though. I’m still sore and I think I hurt my shoulder. But, it was worth it! I don’t know how they did it. It looks different from how it looks on the outside from when you’re riding it. It really does feel like you’re riding a lightcycle. Tron Legacy is one of my favorite movies and it was great feeling like I put the throttle to maximum for a few minutes in that world.
If you do anything at Magic Kingdom, and you think your body is up to doing it, ride that ride. I’m definitely doing it again.
We didn’t go inside the Crystal Palace, but I did like the design of the building.
It’s not a palace and it’s not made of crystals but it’s a cool design.
We didn’t go inside Casey’s Corner, but I did like the building.
Look, it’s not buildings. This is from the Jungle Cruise line. That was a fun ride. I didn’t get wet except for a tiny bit of rain and the animatronic animals were cool. I’ve been fascinated with them ever since I found out about how they made the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park.
Back to a building. Just a nice little hut you’d see while waiting to go on your Jungle Cruise. But, to see that you’d need to go to the park.
We did a few other things like go on Pirates of the Caribbean, which was a blast. I really enjoyed it, it’s one of my favorite movie franchises Disney owns and the ride which inspired it exceeded expectations. I liked how they incorporated elements from the movies. Captain Jack Sparrow is my favorite character, I got a hat like his from the gift shop.
Say goodbye to the Magic Kingdom.
Hollywood Studios
Our first most important to me stop in Hollywood Studios was Star Tours. Technically … We watched a Little Mermaid show first because it was close to the entrance to please my sister, but I was there for Star Wars and only Star Wars.
My favorite droid was there hanging out! 😎
So was Goldenrod.
They did a little song and dance routine. No, they just chattered a little. But, it was fun to listen.
Artoo threatened to run us all over if we didn’t give him spice to smuggle. No, he was a very nice droid. At least, I assume so, everything he said was BEEPED.
Goldenrod was also very polite. Too polite. He’s definitely up to something. Never trust anyone that polite.
This droid saw us off on our tour of the stars. If you want to see that… You’ll have to go to Hollywood Studios.
I built a fancy but not too fancy red double bladed lightsaber at the gift shop. I’ve wanted one ever since I first saw Darth Maul turn his on while watching Episode One in theaters. I don’t even want to think about how old I was back then. 😂😬
After that, we walked into the Galaxy’s Edge area, aka the planet Batuu. My grin got bigger and bigger. 😃😁😎
The First Order have a presence in the Galaxy’s Edge area and you’ll even see that wannabe Sith Kylo Ren walking around.
They took over a building with a nice tower.
I’m not sure what these are, but I’m almost sure they could be fuel tanks.
The First Order like to make propaganda speechs but we didn’t stick around to watch them.
Walking around Galaxy’s Edge felt like walking around a real Star Wars planet. I had a huge grin on my face most of the time. I may not love the sequel trilogy because of what they did to Han, Luke and Leia, but I do like them. I watch them. Rey is my favorite character in the sequels, I have her poster on my door.
The design team did an excellent job making it possible to suspend disbelief and feel like you’re not on Earth anymore.
I got lost. My Disney Experience app kept having glitches and freezing so the GPS map part of it wasn’t working. We all had to work together to navigate, we had to ask directions, it was frustrating because a lot of the signs weren’t in English. So, it even kinda felt like visiting a new planet. I had a reservation to get a droid at the Droid Depot I was late for and my reservation to Oga’s Cantina I was also late for later that day.
Even the Restroom signs looked like they were from another planet, but thankfully were in English.
I did find the Droid Depot with some help. I named the droid B3-K4… Beaky.
I loved Oga’s Cantina. I want the music on streaming, lol. I got a Roaring Loth-cat with the fancy mug to take home and a Hyperdrive (Punch it!). Both non alcoholic drinks anyone can enjoy and both very good.
Oga’s really felt like a Star Wars cantina. I wished I had my sabacc deck, er, my Han Solo Card game from back home, to play while we had our drinks.
Another shot I liked.
I love the details.
Beaky started going crazy around here. I’m pretty sure the droids reacted to him.
More details I really liked. They did such a great job making the environment feel like a different planet I really could almost forget I was still on Earth.
There’s just a hint of the Millennium Falcon.
Behold, my favorite Star Wars ship! Second favorite is Boba Fett’s Slave One (not sure about that name, though) then the Razorcrest, then Darth Vader’s Tie Fighter, then the X-wing.
I was a gunner. So was my sister. Inside the ride was great, it felt just like being in Han Solo and Chewbacca’s ship. If you want to find out how much like it, you’ll have to ride it.
I have no idea what this is supposed to be, so I’ll call it an engine part.
Shiny! Wait, wrong franchise!
Star Wars feels lived in, that’s one of the best parts of the franchise, they did a good job capturing that in the line.
Bits and bobs, odds and ends, any second some alien mechanics could come get to work or some Jawas run in to steal stuff.
I loved the feeling of riding in the Millennium Falcon. I just hope Chewbacca isn’t too mad at me. Not going to say why he would be, ride the ride.
Rise of the Resistance was loads of fun.
It was good to join the good side for once. 😈🤣
Can’t abide the cursed First Order ever since I saw Kylo Ren kill Han Solo, not to mention them blowing up all those planets. Let’s just say they didn’t go the direction I would have with Kylo, his name almost rhymes with Jango, after all. I wanted Rey to get a double bladed lightsaber (because she had a staff, like duh), duel him, and win like Mace Windu. I would do anything to stick it to him, and now in a way I have.
I decided my character would be a Mandalorian. They’re my favorite group in Star Wars, I’d pick them over Jedi or Sith. I figure my character would want to stick it to the First Order for being decended from the Empire because of what they did to Mandalore and of course fight for peace and freedom in the galaxy. Maybe I have a brother who joined the First Order and I’m looking for him, hoping I can convince him to join the Resistance with orders to stop him if not. Yeah.
The Resistance is in Dire Straights, so they’ll take just about anyone, even retired bounty hunters. Yes, I’m going to say it, my guy used to run with Bo Katan and Din Djarin, lol.
But, I certainly wasn’t counting on that bantha poodoo Kylo Ren showing up and throwing off my groove. You threw off the Mandolorian’s groove! Wait, wrong franchise.
Luckily, I was able to escape. To find out how, ride the ride.
Say goodbye to Galaxy’s Edge.
May the Force Be With You.
Animal Kingdom
Aren’t you glad it isn’t buildings?
Say hello to Animal Kingdom.
I was so glad I packed ponchos, it rained most of the time we were in the Animal Kingdom. We didn’t get to go on two of the rides I wanted to try, but that’s fine, we have annual passes. The weather made it feel authentic.
Rain is only nice when you have a poncho and don’t get wet much. 🤣
I love the details they put here.
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S25 and the first thing I got for it was a waterproof case. I got it because I like high end phones but I’m going to be making payments to my phone company for a long time. But, I think the cameras are nice to have.
We walked really fast though this area and didn’t get to look at much.
We didn’t go inside the Riverside Depot but it does look cool.
We didn’t go inside Island Merch, but I liked the colors.
I don’t think I’d ever explore the Jungle like I used to explore the woods around where I lived in NY as a kid growing up, too many snakes, but it did feel like I was doing it in Animal Kingdom.
I used to go outside for hours, hiking and climbing in the hills, going up trees and just hanging out outside. That all changed when my family moved to Florida. I hate the weather down here. It rains too much and it’s too darn hot. 🥵🔥
Another place we didn’t go inside, but look at that building! It’s really cool.
I loved the design of all the buildings in the Africa area.
We didn’t go in here either, lol.
I’ve always wanted to visit Africa for real, see all the animals in their natural habitats and take pictures. It’d be dangerous but fun. But, out on the savannah, not the jungle.
Of course I’ve also wanted to visit Egypt, see the Pyramids up close. Continent that big, it’s hard to fit it all in your head, that the jungle exists on the same land mass as all that desert.
I’d hire some trustworthy guides and pay them well of course. But, I’d just want to explore and take pictures, not do the usual tourist stuff. I’d actually use the DSLR sitting on the shelf in my closet. 🤣
In Africa we rode the Wildlife Express train. It wasn’t as nice as I thought it would be, could have used more to look at, but I was on a train and I saw a rhino! I love trains and I love rhinos.
The waiting area was more interesting than the actual train ride except for seeing the rhino.
They definitely did a good job decorating it.
I felt like a tourist.
Personally, I think poachers should have to fight wild hungry lions barehanded as punishment, but that’s just me.
One of my few shots with a person, because it just came out so good. A friendly cast member doing their job.
The trash can stood out to me. Sure, a modern African city might have it, but everything else had an old school vibe.
We also went on the Safari ride. It was amazing seeing all the animals. I love animals, I’d have a ranch with tall fences and have staff to take care of wild animals from all over the world who need help if I was rich. Plus horses, dogs and cats. If I was rich, lol. 🤣 But, I digress.
Did you know elephants never forget, that’d be really helpful for my job.
Poachers? Where? I saw some hungry lions!
We didn’t go into Harambe House, but that’s a nice view.
I loved the texture of this wall.
Yes, just another view of a building.
We left Africa after some deliberation and headed towards Pandora.
The path there was nice. If I lived closer to Disney World, I could see myself visiting just to walk around Animal Kingdom.
You can barely see the bird I photographed.
We finally reached Pandora, my main reason for wanting to visit Animal Kingdom besides Africa.
Avatar with the Blue People is my favorite Avatar. It used to be Avatar the Last Airbender, but then they made Korra. I like Korra, the character. She’s badass. She is cool. I just hate that they had Aang die young. Poor Katara. And Toph is a cop?! 🙄 Not to mention the live action movie and Netflix show which changes so much. Yeah, that all kinda killed it for me. But, I digress. Pandora is beautiful and, like Galaxy’s Edge, feels like stepping onto another planet. Heck, the place should be in Hollywood Studios, doesn’t make sense it’s in Animal Kingdom, but whatever. I love it.
I have the Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game, I’ve been a Na’vi , but there’s nothing like walking around and experiencing it for myself. Seeing (with suspension of disbelief firmly enabled) is believing.
I loved walking around, exploring and seeing the sites.
I expected any moment for a Na’vi to run by.
I adored being able to walk around Pandora, and I did…From a certain point of view. Wait, wrong franchise.
I went on the Avatar Flight of Passage Ride alone. It was great! It fit true Disney tradition, it was a long line because I couldn’t afford lightning lane or whatever it’s called, but the ride was pretty short. But it was worth the wait.
The first part of the line was interesting. I’ll just post the pictures I took without commentary, feast your eyes.
It started full of rocks and alien plants.
I wouldn’t say that the line was better than the ride but it did enhance the experience. Especially when we got to the lab. More without commentary…
After the lab I got to the last stop before the ride.
But, if you want to see the ride, you’ll have to ride it.
After that we rode the Na’vi River Journey. That was slower paced but still fun. I liked the music and what I had to remind myself was animatronics.
We went to Asia next, but weren’t feeling up any of the rides by that time. It’d stopped raining and the rides had opened, but we were foot sore, exhausted, and headed back to the resort after our stop in Asia. My sister had been really looking forward to shaved ice from Caravan Road. Imagine her disappointment when she ordered one and they handed her what she said was more like a snow cone. I liked mine, chomped it down, but she didn’t even bother to finish hers. She told me it’s from Hawaii. They actually shave ice to make it. I can imagine the disappointment of someone from Hawaii coming to Disney World, ordering shaved ice, then being handed a snow cone. We also stopped at the gift shop. Then it was time to head back to the hotel.
It was fun walking around Animal Kingdom even if it did rain most of the time we were there.
But, I was sure glad we’d gotten the annual passes with the payment plans so we can go back when we can afford another hotel room and do what we missed this time.
They have a lot more to do than just the rides, but those are the main draws for me. I am autistic and I HATE being in crowds. It’s just really overwhelming for me. But, I put up with it for the rides in theme parks, not to mention the fancy food and the gift shops.
I was able to tolerate my birthday vacation better than I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, I still had some trouble, but no anxiety attacks or panic attacks in public is always good.
I’m definitely going back when I can, hopefully I’ll be able to do what I missed out on this time.
I saved up a bunch of money just for the food and the gift shops. I spent all of it. 🤣
My favorite places were, of course, Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora, with an honorable mention to Africa. Real animals do beat fictional animals and aliens in my book.
I got a yeti sign in this gift shop.
It was a fun trip, but I definitely need a break before I do it again. I’m still sore from that Tron ride and my feet hurt. 😬🤣
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my birthday trip. But, It had some downs.
Like, I was waiting in line for a Star Wars ride in Galaxy’s Edge and I heard some obnoxious jerk saying sarcasticly “Wow, someone really likes Star Wars, wooooo!” as they clapped. I didn’t look or react, but it felt personal. Even though I’m autistic I could tell they were trying to be mean.
I was wearing a head to toe Boba Fett outfit, hat, T-shirt and shorts. I think it looks cool, I’d bought it all just to wear to Galaxy’s Edge.
Guess what, if you’re in a Star Wars area about to go on a Star Wars ride, you see someone else is excited about Star Wars, and you’re being a jerk to them because of it, they’re not the weirdo, you are.
It doesn’t take much to not try to yuck other people’s yum.
(“I like murdering people.” – Hannibal Lecter)
Better make that don’t yuck other people’s good yums.
Heck, that’s a lesson a lot of Star Wars fans need to learn.
It’s also hilarious that Disney preaches recycling and conservation when they’re into Generative AI, something that is actually harming the planet. Sure, I want them to keep helping the animals and telling people to recycle their cell phones and computers, but they’re part of what’s wrecking the planet and we don’t have another one. We don’t have Pandora or Batuu for real.
But, I digress. Here’s another one.
I don’t ignore Disney’s flaws. They just happen to be a huge corporation which owns so much of what I enjoy. Star Wars, Marvel, Avatar, Pixar, the Fox stuff, so, so much. Ugh.
I do enjoy theme parks and they built one I really enjoy which happens to be in my state with two whole areas devoted to two of my favorite franchises. I love the franchises, not Disney.
I’m definitely glad I got the annual pass and can come back anytime time I want to. It’s one perk of living in the Sunshine State … Where it rains a lot.