Living in Walt Disney World for a Year: A Couple's Journey & Resort Reviews

Changes at Galaxy's Edge

• 🍽️ Disney has simplified food names in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge restaurants, replacing themed names like "Fried Endorian Tip Yip" with straightforward descriptions like "fried chicken" to combat "vapor lock" and information overload for guests.
• 🚽 Similarly, the words "restrooms" were added to signage for "refreshers," prioritizing guest convenience over intricate theming.

New Ride Vehicle Patent

• 💡 A new Disney patent (2019 0302776A1) describes a ride vehicle resembling chairs around a console on an air hockey puck, designed for cooperative gameplay.
• 🎢 The concept aims to create engaging attractions where players must work together, learning from experiences with rides like the Millennium Falcon where individual actions can negatively impact the group's enjoyment.

Attraction Ratings and Epcot Forever

• ⭐ Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run receives 4.5 stars out of 5 from all age groups except preschoolers (3 stars), making it a top-10 attraction.
• 🌟 Epcot Forever, the new nighttime show, has garnered 4.5 stars out of 5 from the over-30 demographic, its apparent target audience.
• 🇨🇳 An examination of Buddy Baker's archives suggests the "Wonders of China" film may have had deleted or altered scenes, including a street scene with a cop in traffic, a bakery, acrobats, and a helicopter takeoff, which were not present in the final version.

Living the Disney Dream: Robert & Alyssa Simmons

• 🏠 Robert and Alyssa Simmons are spending a year living exclusively in Walt Disney World hotels, a decision born from Robert's remote work flexibility.
• 📊 Robert meticulously planned the logistics, creating spreadsheets to determine cost and feasibility, while Alyssa, initially skeptical, was convinced by the data and the prospect of a year without household chores.
• 🔑 Key steps included selling their house, possessions, and preparing for a year of constant movement, with a minimum stay of two nights per resort to properly experience each location.
• 💰 Their budget constraint was a maximum of $1,000 per night for cash stays, excluding the most extravagant suites, though they included club level and grand villas.

Favorite Resorts and Experiences

• 🏖️ Alyssa's favorites include Pop Century (Value), Coronado Springs (Moderate), Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe), and Old Key West (Deluxe Villa).
• 🍔 Robert's favorites are Pop Century (Value), French Quarter (Moderate), Wilderness Lodge (Deluxe), and Copper Creek (DVC Deluxe Villa), with a particular fondness for the bison burger at Wilderness Lodge.
• 🌐 They've stayed in all Walt Disney World resorts, with Bay Lake Tower being the last to check off in September.
• 💻 A significant challenge has been unstable internet connectivity at various resorts, impacting Robert's work.
• 📦 Logistics like mail are handled via a UPS store box, and laundry is done in-room if available or paid for at resort facilities.
• 🥳 For New Year's Eve, they experienced the Magic Kingdom crowds, noting the benefit of staying at resorts with easy exit options like the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower.
• ✈️ Post-Disney World, they plan to explore Disneyland, Aulani, and a Disney Cruise Line Hawaii cruise, continuing their travel adventures.