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.

 

[pkkurz]

Captain Hook won our show. We were very impressed with the quality of the show.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

View attachment 884240
Captain Hook won our show. We were very impressed with the quality of the show.

I need those pants.

 

[mpaulam]

SpectroMagic was definitely a favorite for me! Looking forward to giving Starlight a try.

 

[dizfan917]

I need those pants.

do you? reallly...?!

 

[Bullseye1967]

do you? reallly...?!

I'm pretty sure he wore them in high school.

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

It was sprinkling as we exited the Villains theater but lots of puddles on the ground indicated a downpour had happened while we were inside.

We had a lunch ADR at Beaches and Cream in under an hour so we left the park and headed for the boat dock since we did not feel like making the walk to the resort in the rain.

We thought our timing was perfect as the boat arrived less than 5 minutes later. Passengers disembarked and then the captain announced boat service was suspended due to weather.

He said we’d need to take a bus to the Epcot resorts. < Insert flashback to Sunday when we got trapped at the Riviera. >

So we and the others who were waiting turned around and headed for the bus station, warning guests who were making their way towards the boat.

However the Skyliner was operating. Very curious as to why that mode of transportation was deemed safe while the boat wasn’t? Bear in mind there had been no thunder or lightning, just light rain.

Woody and I did not want to risk getting on the Skyliner, since we’d already be burned by our decision earlier this week! So we continued on to the very last bus bay and walked allll the way down.

We waited and waited. We were joined by others who needed to get to one of the Epcot resorts, including Swan and Dolphin. Someone counted at least four AK and four MK buses that passed by during that time. To say everyone was frustrated is an understatement. People were p*****.

(The Skyliner eventually ceased running.)

Our ADR time came and went and I began to fret that we would be charged the $20 no show fee. Then I remembered that a CM at the Old Faithful Club had given me her number. I contacted her and learned that restaurants don’t cancel reservations when there are weather-related issues. Phew!

Fifty minutes later a bus finally arrived and everyone waiting at the gate filled the bus to capacity!! Of course the bus had to make stops at the Swan, then the Dolphin, before Yacht Club where we got off.

The entrance was under refurbishment!

But Stormalong Bay was back open after its lengthy refurb closure. Hello, relaxation grotto!

How long would we have to wait to be seated for our missed ADR?

 

[pkkurz]

Friday, con’t

It was sprinkling as we exited the Villains theater but lots of puddles on the ground indicated a downpour had happened while we were inside.

View attachment 884365

We had a lunch ADR at Beaches and Cream in under an hour so we left the park and headed for the boat dock since we did not feel like making the walk to the resort in the rain.

View attachment 884366

We thought our timing was perfect as the boat arrived less than 5 minutes later. Passengers disembarked and then the captain announced boat service was suspended due to weather.

He said we’d need to take a bus to the Epcot resorts. < Insert flashback to Sunday when we got trapped at the Riviera. >

So we and the others who were waiting turned around and headed for the bus station, warning guests who were making their way towards the boat.

However the Skyliner was operating. Very curious as to why that mode of transportation was deemed safe while the boat wasn’t? Bear in mind there had been no thunder or lightning, just light rain.

Woody and I did not want to risk getting on the Skyliner, since we’d already be burned by our decision earlier this week! So we continued on to the very last bus bay and walked allll the way down.

View attachment 884367

We waited and waited. We were joined by others who needed to get to one of the Epcot resorts, including Swan and Dolphin. Someone counted at least four AK and four MK buses that passed by during that time. To say everyone was frustrated is an understatement. People were p*****.

(The Skyliner eventually ceased running.)

Our ADR time came and went and I began to fret that we would be charged the $20 no show fee. Then I remembered that a CM at the Old Faithful Club had given me her number. I contacted her and learned that restaurants don’t cancel reservations when there are weather-related issues. Phew!

Fifty minutes later a bus finally arrived and everyone waiting at the gate filled the bus to capacity!! Of course the bus had to make stops at the Swan, then the Dolphin, before Yacht Club where we got off.

The entrance was under refurbishment!

View attachment 884368

But Stormalong Bay was back open after its lengthy refurb closure. Hello, relaxation grotto!

View attachment 884369

How long would we have to wait to be seated for our missed ADR?

View attachment 884370

You have a picture of our 5th floor balcony from our stay a couple of weeks ago. It was a new construction view room . Also, our first visit to Beaches and Cream, yum .

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

The good news?

We were seated almost immediately after checking in.

The bad news?

We were given a two-top next to a support beam. Our table literally rested against it. Made me feel a tad claustrophobic.

There were plenty of open tables and it was soon apparent that the restaurant was understaffed. Our server was friendly enough but painfully slow, and service at surrounding tables wasn’t much better. It made me wonder if the servers were also working as cooks and sundae makers.

My meal was a colossal disappointment. The piece of grilled chicken on my sandwich was so tough and chewy it was inedible. The steak fries were not hot and crispy but soggy and cold.

Woody fared better. He said his burger was fine but his tots weren’t hot.

Woody had finished his lunch by the time our server returned to check on us. He noticed I’d barely touched my food and I explained why. He asked if I wanted another chicken sandwich and I declined. At this point I decided it was just easier to order ice cream!

My one scoop chocolate marshmallow sundae.

Here’s the real reason Woody wanted to come here - the No Way José.

Poor service and poor quality food at an outrageous cost means we won’t be back anytime soon (which saddens me because Beaches and Cream was always a staple for us.) Today’s bill was $55 with the AP discount and my meal was comped!

It had poured down rain all through lunch. Radar indicated there was more to come. We decided to catch the MK bus from Beach Club and then transfer to the WL bus to stay dry.

The front entrance of Beach Club was being refurbished too.

 

[littleroo]

I am so sorry all that happened at Beaches and Cream, before and during. I hate it when a go to, let's me down! Somehow it is so much worse because I am expecting a higher standard! Thank heavens ice cream is delicious and hard to screw up!!

 

[lindawdw]

I'll just start off by saying that you both have a lot more patience that I do. The whole boat/bus situation sounded very frustrating! You would think that because Disney stopped the boat service to Epcot resorts due to the weather that they would have buses waiting to pick up those guests who now had to use alternative transportation. It's such a bummer when a restaurant that you've always enjoyed in years past, let's you down. Before the refurbishment of B&C, it used to get such high praise from guests but since they enlarged the restaurant, it just seems like they've lost that magic.

 

[RememberWhen]

Beaches and Cream has always been a miss for us. Sounds like you should make an ADR just for ice cream.

 

[rshell68]

Sounds like it was a good thing we cancelled our reservation for Beaches and Cream last trip.

 

[Tuvalu]

I am so sorry all that happened at Beaches and Cream, before and during. I hate it when a go to, let's me down! Somehow it is so much worse because I am expecting a higher standard!

I'll just start off by saying that you both have a lot more patience that I do. The whole boat/bus situation sounded very frustrating! You would think that because Disney stopped the boat service to Epcot resorts due to the weather that they would have buses waiting to pick up those guests who now had to use alternative transportation. It's such a bummer when a restaurant that you've always enjoyed in years past, let's you down. Before the refurbishment of B&C, it used to get such high praise from guests but since they enlarged the restaurant, it just seems like they've lost that magic.

Buses should always be waiting as alternate transportation when the boat and Skyliner go down - it’s not like storms are a rarity in central Florida!

Agree that the magic is gone at B&C.

Beaches and Cream has always been a miss for us. Sounds like you should make an ADR just for ice cream.

If the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor continues to offer the All American Sundae (essentially the No Way José) we won’t need to return to B&C for ice cream either.

Sounds like it was a good thing we cancelled our reservation for Beaches and Cream last trip.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Sorry to hear that your Beaches and Cream experience was so lack luster. I haven't been since I met up with you and Em there. We were thinking of adding it in the rotation for March but maybe not now.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sorry to hear that your Beaches and Cream experience was so lack luster. I haven't been since I met up with you and Em there. We were thinking of adding it in the rotation for March but maybe not now.

 

[pkkurz]

So sorry about your visit to B&C. We were there a couple of weeks ago (after your visit) and had great food and service. The place was packed, no excuse, but maybe that has something to do with it. I had the patty melt with fries and it was delicious. My wife had tomato soup and grilled cheese. She said it was hot and very tasty.

 

[Tuvalu]

So sorry about your visit to B&C. We were there a couple of weeks ago (after your visit) and had great food and service. The place was packed, no excuse, but maybe that has something to do with it. I had the patty melt with fries and it was delicious. My wife had tomato soup and grilled cheese. She said it was hot and very tasty.

Happy to hear you had a good experience!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

Upon our arrival at MK the sun was out so we decided to pop into the park for a bit.

The train had just pulled in to the Main Street station and we wanted to experience the “backwards” shuttle service between Main Street and Fantasyland. We have a video of us riding backwards on the MPB decades ago, back when all benches faced forward. Now seven benches in each car have been flipped, so that those who prefer to ride forward can do so on the reverse route.

We’re forward facing.

These guests aren’t.

A couple of benches in each car (closed to guests) mark the transition.

We hated the Stitch commentary with the conductor that plays on the P.A., but it was interesting to see the sights on that portion of the track in reverse!

We opted to get off in Fantasyland though we could have remained on board if we wanted to.

 

[Tuvalu]

There was another MNSSHP tonight so wait times were very low. Woody and I were able to accomplish a lot in only a couple hours. There was no rain, just mostly cloudy skies with sunshine peeking through. We’d make lemonade from those lemons we were given earlier!

Since the attraction was close by, we started with Little Mermaid.

Wait — too soon for the wave?

Yeah. We’d only just begun!

But it’s a short ride and soon we were approaching the pivotal scene.

I nearly had a heart attack as we glided past King Triton and Woody had his arms crossed! Had he forgotten? Was he distracted? Was his famous wave over and done after all this time?

It wasn’t. I breathed a sigh of relief as I captured the moment.

I told him afterward he was cutting it close!

He seemed perplexed by my comment.

 

[Tuvalu]

Moving on to the 13 minute wait.

I spy with my little eye….

Woody must have paid those playful spooks to destroy the ride photo. I’m sure he wanted to avoid my mocking him for missing the camera again.

Since Haunted Mansion was obviously my request, I said he could choose our next attraction….

….one of his nostalgic faves.

He crooned with the flowers.