Trip Report Tu in ‘25

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tu in ‘25

These lyrics came to mind when I thought about my trip reporting. (I also thought, Here we go AGAIN but the above sounds much more poignant.) It’s now that time of year when my Disney trips are frequent. And this Disney Senior loves sharing her visits with y’all because your engagement makes it fun!

Yes, there will be stuff that’s the same. Yes, there will be surprises (too soon for the reveals). And yes, there will be sun rises!

Spring break countdown is at 4 days.

Since this intro needs a picture, here are Tu.

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Click to expand...
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday, con’t

Em and I wanted to make it to Cars Land by dusk to watch the neon lights turn on. Once we finished our sandwiches, we left the room.

There were two observation windows on either side of our hallway which overlooked the monorail track. Every time we passed these windows during our stay Em and I would pause for a few moments hoping to catch a monorail gliding beneath us.

We never did. Until tonight.

As I glanced out the window on my right I saw an approaching monorail. “Here it comes!” I gleefully cried to Em. “I’ll take pictures coming in. Go to the other window and take pictures of it going out.”

Sometimes it’s the little things that bring us much joy. :hilarious:

My pics ~

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Em’s pics ~

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Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday, con’t

We didn’t quite make it to Cars Land in time for the neon illumination. But when I reviewed my 2013 journal once back at home, I discovered there wasn’t a big reveal moment (like the Osborne Lights) - the neon was turned on one section at a time. It made me feel better that we hadn’t missed out tonight.

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Whoops, wrong year!

Better.
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Last edited:
93boomer

93boomer

Premium Member
Tuvalu said:
Friday, con’t

Em and I wanted to make it to Cars Land by dusk to watch the neon lights turn on. Once we finished our sandwiches, we left the room.

There were two observation windows on either side of our hallway which overlooked the monorail track. Every time we passed these windows during our stay Em and I would pause for a few moments hoping to catch a monorail gliding beneath us.

We never did. Until tonight.

As I glanced out the window on my right I saw an approaching monorail. “Here it comes!” I gleefully cried to Em. “I’ll take pictures coming in. Go to the other window and take pictures of it going out.”

Sometimes it’s the little things that bring us much joy. :hilarious:

My pics ~

View attachment 879966

View attachment 879967

Em’s pics ~

View attachment 879968

View attachment 879969
Click to expand...
Ooo nice pictures! Very artistic.
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday, con’t

Em and I had ridden Radiator Springs Racers six times in four days.

But we wanted to make it a perfect
Number 7 Sept GIF by Zhot


We also wanted a night experience. The Single Rider line would be our best option, since we’d already used LLSP today.

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Our wait wasn’t too long and due to some confusion in the load area we ended up seated together in the same car.

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Waterfall at night was pretty.

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Our racer got a new paint job from Ramone before we zoomed around the track.

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So. Much. Fun! I’d be far less salty about the loss of the Rivers of America at MK if Radiator Springs Racers was put it its place.

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And with that, it was time to say goodbye to Cars Land.

IMG_8487.jpeg

Whoops, wrong photo!

Better.
IMG_9973.jpeg


But an unexpected surprise awaited us.
 
93boomer

93boomer

Premium Member
Tuvalu said:
Friday, con’t

Em and I had ridden Radiator Springs Racers six times in four days.

But we wanted to make it a perfect
Number 7 Sept GIF by Zhot


We also wanted a night experience. The Single Rider line would be our best option, since we’d already used LLSP today.

View attachment 880119

Our wait wasn’t too long and due to some confusion in the load area we ended up seated together in the same car.

View attachment 880118

Waterfall at night was pretty.

View attachment 880117

Our racer got a new paint job from Ramone before we zoomed around the track.

View attachment 880120

So. Much. Fun! I’d be far less salty about the loss of the Rivers of America at MK if Radiator Springs Racers was put it its place.

View attachment 880116

And with that, it was time to say goodbye to Cars Land.

View attachment 880114
Whoops, wrong photo!

Better.
View attachment 880115

But an unexpected surprise awaited us.
Click to expand...
I’m loving these earlier pix of you two!!
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Friday, con’t

As Em and I neared the park exit we caught a surprise projection show on the Carthay Circle Theater - a special Tinker Bell “awakening” for the 70th anniversary celebration. It was lovely.

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I could hear Em’s little girl voice saying, “Why does Disney make it so hard to leave?”

Because of unexpected magic on the night before departure!

We made it to our room in time to enjoy DL’s fireworks, the perfect nightcap to our incredible day.

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I don’t know when we’ll make it back to the west coast but I do know we’ll cherish the memories we made. And if someone asks me, “Which is better, Disneyland or Disney World?” I’ll say, “Both are great in their own way!“ :inlove:

Up next - Tu’s two homes
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Tu's Two Homes

When I joined this forum nearly 15 years ago and needed a username, Tuvalu immediately came to mind. The Polynesian was my favorite resort and I'd recently experienced a theme park view room in the Tuvalu longhouse which blew me away. I must always stay in this room!, I remember thinking (and I did, a couple more times.)

Our kids grew up at the Polynesian and my nostalgia there is strong. The tropical vibe was so relaxing and the location couldn't be beat. And then the arrival of bungalows and a DVC conversion of three longhouses changed my beloved resort forever. (As did social media, but that's another story.)

In time (2017 to be exact) the passion for my first love had faded and was replaced by a new love. The theming of Wilderness Lodge could not have been more opposite, but the peaceful, relaxation vibe was strong. So strong in fact that over the last two years, WL overtook Poly for my number of stays and nights.

And since someone is bound to ask:
WL 42 stays/216 nights
Poly 36 stays/206 nights

The addition of Polynesian Island Tower confirmed that my stays at the Poly were over. As if the resort wasn’t already overrun with people, let’s add more rooms!

Yet - Tuvalu needed closure. And I was curious about the theme park views in that big new eyesore.

Enter a generous friend who offered to rent me DVC points. One night was all I needed.

When: August 16-24, 2025
Who: Tuvalu and Woody
Where: Disney’s Polynesian Island Tower and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

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