#maestroonthemove - There’s No Cure Like Travel

 Wow - today I rode on an airplane - seems like the first time in forever - cuz it was!   

After a year of teaching in a global pandemic, it was time to put on the traveling shoes and get away for a while.  So where is the first place I decided to go? Walt Disney World - which I know doesn’t surprise anyone.  

So here I am, at my second favorite Walt Disney World Resort - Pop Century.  (My first favorite is. out Orleans Riverside - which hasn’t opened up yet) Flights were fine.  Masked the entire time, but if you aren’t used to it by now, don’t bother flying/traveling. When I booked the vacation in April, masks were still required everywhere in WDW, and as the date approached the rules changed.  On June 15 (Tuesday) the mask mandate is simple - no masks are required unless you are using Disney transportation.  So, we’ll see how things go.  

Check in is easy.  In fact, I checked in on Friday.  When you arrive, Disney sends a text with the location of your room and you can open the door with your magic band or the Walt Disney World Experience app. Saves on long lines at check in.  My room is in the 70’s section of Pop Century.  There is a huge 8-track Tape marking. The building and a very large model of a Foosball Game outside my door.  This is considered a “value” resort.  All of Disney’s Value Resorts are themed with oversized “props” from popular Disney icons or in Pop Century’s case, oversized icons from the past 4 decades or so.  It’s fun.  It’s worth a google if you want to check it out.

I unpacked and started today’s blog, then it was time to meet my travel people at the Disney Boardwalk Resort for dinner at Trattoria I’ll Forno.  I’m traveling with Amy (my boss) her mom, her sons Gavin and Mason and Gavin’s GF, Ella.  Amy and her family and I have made the trek out to WDW many times - once we get here, it’s like getting right back on the horse.  So, we had dinner, which was OK - nothing exciting but it takes a REALLY good Italian meal to impress me, but we had a great time and that’s what counts.   Oh, I took the Skyliner over to the Boardwalk area and back again afterward.  I’m obsessed with the Skyliner, I admit it.  Even though it’s had a few mishaps in the past few months, it’s still a favorite mode of transportation. 

I got back to Pop and headed to the bell desk to pick up my Instacart order.  Almond Milk, bananas, peanut butter, lots of water and Diet Coke.  Ordering groceries is a “thing” and a great idea.  From what I spent on my Instacart order, that was more than a week of just bottled water alone. In the morning, I’ll fill my Camelback backpack with ice and fill with water - and then bring along an extra bottle.  Saves a ton of bucks.

So, that’s it.  First night here.  Tomorrow is a new adventure.