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.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

We were cutting it close for our lunch ADR (delays at SSE really caused a domino effect with our timing) so we had to power walk through World Showcase.

We were careful to avoid petting this woman’s service dog, @wdisney9000.

We arrived at Via Napoli five minutes late. It wasn’t a problem and we were seated within a couple minutes. At first I was not thrilled with our table location, a two-top behind the communal table (and next to the wall that separates the check in desk from the restaurant), but it was actually a very quiet spot.

We were able to watch the pizza bakers….

….and “the man with the silver cart,” as my family calls room service stewards.

I wish he was delivering my lunch! Woody texted me.

Our server was friendly and attentive. Our frozen strawberry limoncellos arrived in no time!

Did we finish this large Margherita pie?

What happens in Via Napoli stays in Via Napoli.

 

[wdisney9000]

We were careful to avoid petting this woman’s service dog, @wdisney9000

The people who carry their "service" dog or have it in a stroller seriously puzzle me. Dogs actually like to walk. Who would've known lol.

But I will say that if the dog is relaxed and not barking or stressing out, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as people who just have a dog dragging them around.

I COMPLETELY forgot to mention in my most recent TR about an incident at Mickeys of Hollywod (at HS). A man had a husky mix "service" dog that saw Bailey and started trying to pull the man to get closer (the dog seemed genuinely excited not mean) and the man yelled (loudly) at the dog and yanked it so hard it went flying backwards into a display with the shirts. The few people around, myself included, were just standing their with our jaws on the floor. I would have said something to the man but he stormed off very quickly. It was quite a scene.

Sorry to interject my report into yours...but hey, welcome to timeline shifting Trip Reporting!

 

[lindawdw]

I am in total agreement with you regarding Creations Shop! I really miss Mouse Gear and the selections that they offered compared to the standard generic merchandise found at Creations Shop. Ugh Your strawberry margarita looks so yummy as does the pizza!!!

 

[littleroo]

I want that pizza now!! OK maybe the strawberry lemon cello, too!

 

[LadyBelle]

After unpacking and settling in we decided to get dinner. We chose the ease of Roaring Fork. It had become too humid to dine al fresco so we sat inside in air conditioned comfort.

Love @TrolleyFollower91 ’s monorail shirt.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

I had never seen Em so disappointed after leaving a restaurant.

It had nothing to do with our meal.

You see, all morning it had been sunny and warm. Em was jonesing for some pool time. We exited Via Napoli to cloudy, gray and blustery conditions. Her face had the look of a kid on Christmas morning who did not get the toy they wanted.

I quickly put on my cheerleader uniform. “Don’t fret! Now we don’t have to rush through World Showcase! We can admire the rest of the topiaries and displays at a leisurely pace. It’ll be fun!”

And it was.

Except for the drummers. We are not fans.

 

[Tuvalu]

We thought the shaded play area for kids was cleverly themed.

I began to take a picture of the floating planters when Em advised, “Wait. Here comes the monorail!”

It made for a much better pic!

Loved these (new this year) Inside Out planters.

The Lion King topiary is always a favorite - and impossible to get a people-free picture, since a Photopass photographer is now stationed in front of it. A cropped pic will have to suffice.

 

[littleroo]

I love all the topiary pictures! Great monorail picture, too!
Happy Easter to all!!

 

[wdisney9000]

Except for the drummers. We are not fans.

Bailey respectfully disagrees

 

[Tuvalu]

Bailey respectfully disagrees

View attachment 854270

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Knowing how much Em likes our “transportation days,” I suggested a ride on the monorail from Epcot to the TTC.

“Then we could take the ferry to the MK, and the boat back to WL,” I suggested.

Em readily agreed.

But something happened along our monorail ride we were unprepared for.

Rain.

Without our trusty umbrellas, getting to the ferry was a wet proposition. We could remain on the monorail and go back to Epcot, hoping the rain would end before heading for the bus. But when we arrived at the TTC, the rain had slowed to a light drizzle. Em thought we would get less wet if we boarded the resort monorail and hung out at the Poly for awhile.

So we did.

The TAMBU Lounge has some new lighting.

I asked Em if she wanted a drink, but she is still bitter about the removal of the Island Sunset. Instead we went downstairs to peruse Boutiki and check on the opening time for Trader Sam’s. There was already a long line of guests waiting to put their names on the list so we passed.

We ventured outside since it appeared the rain had stopped. Curious, we opted to walk over to the Polynesian Island Tower to see this new addition.

The pool and spa looked nice.

Wailulu Bar and Grill, with its open air seating, gave us Geyser Point vibes.

Neither of us cared for the hanging (moss? grass?) things in the lobby.

 

[Tuvalu]

Then we did something we’ve really missed - walked the picturesque path between the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian.

My feet were starting to ache. At this point we’d walked more than 15k steps today. The breeze had also stopped, making the temperature toasty. I told Em I needed a rest break in Gasparilla’s to sit, relax in a/c and sip a cold cup of water.

Our recharge lasted 20 minutes. It helped me feel well enough to go to the lobby and fight the Easter Egg crowd.

 

[Tuvalu]

Last year we’d arrived on Easter and had the brilliant idea to visit the GF to see the eggs. The lobby was mobbed and we could barely get close enough to see the detailed chocolate creations. It was very stressful and we did not stay long.

With Easter still two weeks out, we hoped we might get a better view this year.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover the absence of chaos. There were fewer Easter eggs which were contained in one area rather than spread around the lobby’s perimeter. We were able to take our time admiring the talent of the chocolatiers.

Beauty and the Beast and 101 Dalmatians.

The opposite side of the BATB egg.

Expedition:Everest and Madam Leota.

Orange Bird and Swiss Family Treehouse.

Toy Story 2.

Zootopia, Steamboat Willy and Maleficent Dragon from Festival of Fantasy Parade.

Cinderella and Duck Tales (Whoo HOO!) Tuvalette and Tuvaleen are very into Duck Tales now, just like their father was!

Wicked Queen from Snow White.

The poison apple rotated above her head!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Last year we’d arrived on Easter and had the brilliant idea to visit the GF to see the eggs. The lobby was mobbed and we could barely get close enough to see the detailed chocolate creations. It was very stressful and we did not stay long.

With Easter still two weeks out, we hoped we might get a better view this year.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover the absence of chaos. There were fewer Easter eggs which were contained in one area rather than spread around the lobby’s perimeter. We were able to take our time admiring the talent of the chocolatiers.

Beauty and the Beast and 101 Dalmatians.

View attachment 854373

The opposite side of the BATB egg.

View attachment 854374

Expedition:Everest and Madam Leota.

View attachment 854372

Orange Bird and Swiss Family Treehouse.

View attachment 854376

Toy Story 2.

View attachment 854375

Zootopia, Steamboat Willy and Maleficent Dragon from Festival of Fantasy Parade.

View attachment 854377

Cinderella and Duck Tales (Whoo HOO!) Tuvalette and Tuvaleen are very into Duck Tales now, just like their father was!

View attachment 854378

Wicked Queen from Snow White.

View attachment 854379

The poison apple rotated above her head!

I went today to see the Easter eggs and I was worried about it being mobbed because it was Easter. There were a lot of people but someone had started a line to view the eggs so it was nicely organized.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Em and I browsed the GF gift shops before boarding the monorail. Our feet had no interest in walking to the Magic Kingdom!

But we did not disembark there. Rather we continued on to the Contemporary. As our train entered the building we overheard a child ask his father, “Is this a big hotel?”

Dad replied, “Yes.”

The boy then said, “Is it haunted?”

I’m not sure why his mind went there, but it made me smile. Em and I disembarked in the haunted hotel and did more gift store browsing. We also stopped by the Contempo Café where Em discovered that her favorite peanut butter choc chip cookie was still available for sale. We picked up some muffins for the next day’s breakfast as well.

The blue launch between CR/WL/FTW operates daily starting at 3 pm and it was nearly 4, so that would be our transport back to the Lodge. Before we could head for the dock we encountered a surprise display of Easter Eggs in the CR lobby.

MUPPETS!! (and Toy Story)

The next surprise was sunshine!

Perhaps Em would get some time at the pool after all?

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Em spent nearly an hour reclining in a lounger. She was in heaven.

I relaxed in the water. My sore feet welcomed the hydration!

Now that we were “home”, neither of us was motivated to leave the resort. We got dinner to go from Geyser Point and dined al fresco on the balcony. It was wonderful!

Em opted for the yummy steak sandwich on a pretzel roll (with beer cheese sauce).

I had the Multigrain Salad with steak, a delicious choice I had poolside last summer.

We shared a Campfire Cupcake for dessert.

It had a marshmallow cream surprise!

It was a day full of surprises. And we were exhausted. We drifted off to sleep when the soundtrack to Happily Ever After ended.

 

[MinnieM123]

Neither of us cared for the hanging (moss? grass?) things in the lobby.

Agree. (Although I don't know how they look in person, they sure look uggo in that photo!)

 

[Tuvalu]

I don't know how they look in person

 

[wdisney9000]

Last year we’d arrived on Easter and had the brilliant idea to visit the GF to see the eggs. The lobby was mobbed and we could barely get close enough to see the detailed chocolate creations. It was very stressful and we did not stay long.

With Easter still two weeks out, we hoped we might get a better view this year.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover the absence of chaos. There were fewer Easter eggs which were contained in one area rather than spread around the lobby’s perimeter. We were able to take our time admiring the talent of the chocolatiers.

Beauty and the Beast and 101 Dalmatians.

View attachment 854373

The opposite side of the BATB egg.

View attachment 854374

Expedition:Everest and Madam Leota.

View attachment 854372

Orange Bird and Swiss Family Treehouse.

View attachment 854376

Toy Story 2.

View attachment 854375

Zootopia, Steamboat Willy and Maleficent Dragon from Festival of Fantasy Parade.

View attachment 854377

Cinderella and Duck Tales (Whoo HOO!) Tuvalette and Tuvaleen are very into Duck Tales now, just like their father was!

View attachment 854378

Wicked Queen from Snow White.

View attachment 854379

The poison apple rotated above her head!

I stayed at Disneys Grand Floridian Resort and Spa for 5 nights and the only attempt I made to get pics of the eggs was very early one morning when the lobby was completely empty....or so I thought.

As I lined up Bailey and the camera , a very tall potted plant/bush began to move around out of nowhere. Bailey let out the DEEPEST bark he could and it echoed throughout the lobby. It was a CM behind the tall plants moving them. Needless to say I scurried out with no pics lol.

 

[lindawdw]

It sounds like a perfect alternate plan for the afternoon and evening! So many times, in the recent years, we've started letting go of the set in stone scheduling and are more go with the flow people at WDW. I just find that you have to be more flexible when the weather changes and also when your body starts telling you to take a break! I really have to make it to Disney during April to see these Easter displays in person!!!