Trip Report Our Tours - The Adventures Continue!

Greetings everyone! I haven't made one of these in a long time, but given the exciting circumstances I thought it would be fun to share and chronicle along the way. :)

About two years ago, @MonorailRed and myself became good friends on an Imagineer forum competition, working on the same team and designing a variety of projects. Red is a very talented artist and I tend to sway towards writing roles, so the styles and teamwork fit perfectly.

Chatting for about a year or so after that, we discovered that we'd be in Walt Disney World at the same time! So we planned a meet up last August, and were able to travel around to all 4 parks and both water parks, meeting each others families, etc.
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It was a great trip with an even greater person! And throughout this past year, our friendship and bond/connection has grown even stronger, despite finishing up schooling in the interim about 900 miles away. Fortunately, I saved up enough and I was able to travel down to Florida to visit Red for a 4-day trip at Port Orleans French Quarter just a few weeks ago, and it was even better than the Disney trip last year. We officially started dating!
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(Who knew that wdwmagic.com would turn into wdwmatch.com? :joyfull:)

I'm pleased to say that I'm very lucky to travel back to Disney in just another two weeks, with a stay from August 14th till the 21st with the family!

One of the goals we set out when traveling around the parks and resorts is going to attractions/locations that sometimes go overlooked when rushing around to hit all the top attractions. For instance the train room at the Boulder Ridge Villas at the Wilderness Lodge, or the small dole whip station at the Polynesian, or the Peoplemover/Carousel of Progress (two of our favorites). If anyone has any suggestions of 'off the beaten path' places around WDW that you enjoy, it'd be great to hear about them and maybe we can try them on the upcoming trip!

We also like searching for hidden mickeys throughout property, so if anyone has a particular hidden mickey they like, I'd be glad to hear it (I'm sure Red will as well, but she doesn't know I'm making this thread yet - so she will be surprised:p)

That's about it for now - excited for August and thanks for reading! The Adventures Continue Aug 14th!
 

spacemt354

Chili's
Original Poster
DAY 5 - HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS AND EPCOT (plus Pandora too!)
Part 2
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Continuing on we had dinner at Nine Dragons in China (a place I had never been before) and found a neat little Shanghai Disneyland exhibit showcasing some concept art as well this main map, and more! A quaint a/c area to explore if anyone ever gets the chance!

After dinner we ventured around World Showcase and explored the UK Pavilion and The Toy Solider Shop
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Which ironically had very little toys and more easter eggs...such as
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A S.E.A. reference! :eek::bookworm:

And a whole explorer's library
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Packed with tons of adventure novels
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And our favorite collection...:hilarious:
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The Art of Self Control The Art of Self Control The Art of Self Control:joyfull:

This was a very cool store that was really fun to explore.

As we continued around the countries it got darker and we wound up in Italy, which messing around with some of the photos I took was able to create this
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After that we headed back to the Boardwalk where we actually saw a magician perform in the lobby for us. Is that new? He was good!
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Also this...:p
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After that we went back to Pandora to ride Flight of Passage again - which was a blast!

Recap of the last day coming up next! :)
 

Disney Dad 3000

Well-Known Member
Well I should say that before Cape May we walked along the Boardwalk - one of our favorite places to walk around:D
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Then we went to Cape May which like Red had said - was fantastic
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Before leaving the Beach Club we got a really awesome sunset!
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And then it was off to Disney's Animal Kingdom!
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I have to say - after-dark Animal Kingdom becomes my favorite park! It's cooler (both aesthetically and temperature wise) but also has a sense of discovery and nuance to it that I haven't experienced in any other Disney park let alone theme park.

Naturally, Pandora was awesome - and Flight of Passage has to be one of the best attractions Disney has created in the last 25 years.

And the contrast between night and day in Pandora is stunning....
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Completely agree on AK at night. We love it during the day but it's even better overall at night. Some of the attractions take a hit, but it's such a cool escape and experience.
 

Disney Dad 3000

Well-Known Member
DAY 5 - HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS AND EPCOT (plus Pandora too!)
Part 2
4964419862317091261%253Faccount_id%253D9

a19b359f-fd1d-45ba-92d2-a630fe8c4d35

Continuing on we had dinner at Nine Dragons in China (a place I had never been before) and found a neat little Shanghai Disneyland exhibit showcasing some concept art as well this main map, and more! A quaint a/c area to explore if anyone ever gets the chance!

After dinner we ventured around World Showcase and explored the UK Pavilion and The Toy Solider Shop
6260122372403138501%253Faccount_id%253D9


Which ironically had very little toys and more easter eggs...such as
5178101638317320298%253Faccount_id%253D9

A S.E.A. reference! :eek::bookworm:

And a whole explorer's library
3998137037938617150%253Faccount_id%253D9

Packed with tons of adventure novels
2534320261264214121%253Faccount_id%253D9

247402518801115934%253Faccount_id%253D9



And our favorite collection...:hilarious:
6308404478829479362%253Faccount_id%253D9

The Art of Self Control The Art of Self Control The Art of Self Control:joyfull:

This was a very cool store that was really fun to explore.

As we continued around the countries it got darker and we wound up in Italy, which messing around with some of the photos I took was able to create this
4678968516554132277%253Faccount_id%253D9


After that we headed back to the Boardwalk where we actually saw a magician perform in the lobby for us. Is that new? He was good!
4861520288986896377%253Faccount_id%253D9


Also this...:p
1e6b5621-5602-402c-866f-975e1ef88e2a


After that we went back to Pandora to ride Flight of Passage again - which was a blast!

Recap of the last day coming up next! :)

How is nine dragons? Done the QS next door quite a few times but never done it. Heard good/bad about it. I know it seems to have reservations open a good bit of time
 

spacemt354

Chili's
Original Poster
How is nine dragons? Done the QS next door quite a few times but never done it. Heard good/bad about it. I know it seems to have reservations open a good bit of time
@MonorailRed actually found out that Nine Dragons is a third party restaurant and not actually a Disney one, so that could explain some of the mixed reviews. And for what it was...it was...okay I'm not typically a complainer when it comes to vacations, so if anything I would say we probably wouldn't go back and just say we've been there/done that:p P.F. Chang's in my opinion is a better Chinese restaurant.
 

spacemt354

Chili's
Original Poster
DAY 6 - THE ROCKING CHAIR TOUR
(Part 1)

On the final day before flying back, relaxing was key as we had gone to all the parks, been on the rides we wanted to go on, so Sunday was about taking in the atmosphere. What better way to do that then by going on a resort tour?! The Rocking Chair Tour is just the name for it as the day consists of moving from one chair to the next. :p

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Beginning in Coronado Springs with the daily walk around the resort - we headed to....

Grand Floridian Villas!
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Possibly one of the best decorated DVC lobbies around - there's chess and checkers on the table as well as some really comfortable couches to relax in! And from here it's really easy to make a stroll to the Wedding Pavilion, Polynesian, and to the Grand Floridian Main Lobby!

And eventually we made the trek over to Gasparilla for some lunch, which offers one of my favorite views. I'm sure it was intentional when this was built, but seeing the castle while sitting at your table or walking outside to the marina truly makes you feel like you're in Disney unlike anywhere else.
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Then we were able to take a ride over on the boat to the Magic Kingdom (a bit of a detour from the rocking chair tour - but our logic was....it's there haha)
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