Trip Report A Friend Like Her *COMPLETED*

“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
~ Forrest Gump

Ah, February. The month of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. The month of romance and love. The month of someone’s Valentine birthday.

The month of the crappiest weather in 95 percent of the country. Including Florida.

The month in which another mother/daughter jaunt to WDW brought unexpected surprises.....some great, some not-so-great....much like biting into a piece of boxed chocolate.

Much like life itself.

I’d LOVE to have you follow along on our long-weekend adventure.

Who: Tuvalu and Em (with special appearances by a dear friend)
When: January 31 - February 4, 2020
Where: Disney’s Pop Century Resort

 

[Tuvalu]

First attraction was Little Mermaid.

Then used our FP to fly over Neverland.

And since we were only a hop, skip and a jump away....

Who stole the rose from Master Gracey’s tombstone?

How not to NAIL IT.

 

[Tuvalu]

Did a ghost follow us to see Winnie?

I’m guessing if one had, it would have returned to the Mansion upon seeing the 40 minute wait. Em and I breezed through with our FP.

The park had been open less than 90 minutes and there was very heavy traffic in Fantasyland. We decided to escape to Tomorrowland.

Escape to Tomorrowland would make a cool movie title!

We encountered the janitor “water artist” in the shade under TTA Peoplemover.

A man near us pointed him out to his young son who replied, “He’s just cleaning, Dad!”

Far from it, young man.

He’d already completed Mike.

I’m happy there are still some magical “extras”....like this custodial artist....that haven’t succumbed to the corporate budget slashing. Yet.

 

[Tuvalu]

We went for a spin since the line was manageable. Both sides of Buzz (below) were nutz!

Em wanted a new phone case so I suggested we visit the D-Tech store at Space Mountain. She did not find one she liked enough to shell out the $$. While she was browsing I noticed this display.

I could almost hear the sales pitch.
You bought the commemorative walkway brick.
(Sorry we had to tear it up!)
Here’s something to remind you of your brick!
Relive the memory for only $xx.oo ! (I couldn’t bear to look at the actual price. Couldn’t help but think of PT Barnum...)

 

[annienevells]

OH NO!!! I too was at MK on this day. I had a chance to obtain my Tuvalu card?!

 

[Tuvalu]

OH NO!!! I too was at MK on this day. I had a chance to obtain my Tuvalu card?!

No wonder I felt a card burning a hole in my pocket!

 

[Rista1313]

Both of you are wearing my favorite shoes... #1 skechers, #2 Allbirds. ♥

 

[lindawdw]

We went to WDW for the first weekend in February for quite a few years but last year nixed it for us with the whole Pop Warner/Cheerleading Competition that now goes on that week. It used to be such a quiet time of year to enjoy WDW, even if the weather was chilly (which it usually was), but we felt the trade off was worth it for low crowds. This year we went the last week of February and felt the crowds were still crazy but not as bad as the first week.

 

[Tuvalu]

My guess for the crowds wearing jerseys on Monday vs Sunday would be they were at the game since it was in Miami and came to MK for the parade on Monday????

I’m sure that accounted for some of the people though it’s nearly a 4 hour drive between Miami and WDW.

We went to WDW for the first weekend in February for quite a few years but last year nixed it for us with the whole Pop Warner/Cheerleading Competition that now goes on that week. It used to be such a quiet time of year to enjoy WDW, even if the weather was chilly (which it usually was), but we felt the trade off was worth it for low crowds. This year we went the last week of February and felt the crowds were still crazy but not as bad as the first week.

Good to know the end of the month was better than the beginning.

 

[Tuvalu]

I suggested an early lunch to avoid the noon rush and let Em pick the restaurant.

Chicken parm sandwich for me and a Margherita flatbread for Em. She complained it was missing fresh basil, a critical component in a Margherita pizza.

I noticed the flatbread in your TR @Doc Disney was also missing fresh basil. Seems Pinocchio’s Village Haus is now guilty of offering a “lesser Margherita.”

Em selected a table where we could watch the goings-on at It’s a Small World. We tried to figure out the purpose of the construction walls in the queue but hadn’t a clue.

Both of us were fairly quiet as we dined. Eventually Em broke the silence.

“Don’t be offended Mom, but I’m kinda missing Kelly.”

I chuckled. “Oh sweetie, I know exactly what you mean! I feel the same way but didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

That’s what happens when you have A Friend Like Her.

After lunch we used FP #3. As far as I know Italian food does not contain tryptophan, but we must have needed a nap anyway.

(Also no pressure to NAIL IT. )

Gotta get our money’s worth from our “free” Memory Maker.

And another photographer had us hitchhike the wrong way!

 

[Loco_driver]

That’s what happens when you have A Friend Like Her.

 

[Tuvalu]

When we tapped into Haunted Mansion I’d checked the app for a 4th FP. While not a huge surprise, there was NOTHING available for the next 6 hours. Not wanting to spend several hours in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds (and we had no interest in watching the MVP parade), we jumped on the monorail to take a break from MK.

We got off at the Contemporary in search of a yummy dessert from the Contempo Cafe. But first we browsed the gift shop, drawn in by the Disney characters painted on the windows.

I much prefer the “classic” renditions of the characters over the recent 2D animation versions which appear flat, less lifelike and lazily drawn to me. I am nervous about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway for that very reason.

While we are usually impressed with the dessert offerings in the Cafe’s bakery case, nothing appealed to us today. (Had there been a Wookiee Cake it would have been a different story, @Loco_driver! ) Back on the monorail we went.

Lotion? Hand sanitizer? Stuff that makes the interior smell like cat box?

Em and I discussed getting off at the Poly to check out their baked goods, but when I mentioned that Woody and I have had yummy cupcakes at Gasparilla’s we opted to stay on and disembark at the GF. (Plus the monorail was PACKED and we didn’t want to deal with the frustration of another security screening and crowded cars.)

Two items beckoned us in the bakery case at Gasparilla’s ~ a chocolate Minnie cupcake and a S’mores hazelnut tart.

DONE!

The cupcake was tasty. The s’mores tart was OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

Graham crust, rich chocolatety filling (hazelnut flavor not too strong), topped with gooey toasted marshmallow.

I can’t imagine the S’mores cookie from ABC Commissary tasting this good.

We left two happy campers!

 

[93boomer]

When we tapped into Haunted Mansion I’d checked the app for a 4th FP. While not a huge surprise, there was NOTHING available for the next 6 hours. Not wanting to spend several hours in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds (and we had no interest in watching the MVP parade), we jumped on the monorail to take a break from MK.

View attachment 454134

We got off at the Contemporary in search of a yummy dessert from the Contempo Cafe. But first we browsed the gift shop, drawn in by the Disney characters painted on the windows.

View attachment 454135

View attachment 454136

I much prefer the “classic” renditions of the characters over the recent 2D animation versions which appear flat, less lifelike and lazily drawn to me. I am nervous about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway for that very reason.

While we are usually impressed with the dessert offerings in the Cafe’s bakery case, nothing appealed to us today. (Had there been a Wookiee Cake it would have been a different story, @Loco_driver! ) Back on the monorail we went.

View attachment 454156
Lotion? Hand sanitizer? Stuff that makes the interior smell like cat box?

Em and I discussed getting off at the Poly to check out their baked goods, but when I mentioned that Woody and I have had yummy cupcakes at Gasparilla’s we opted to stay on and disembark at the GF. (Plus the monorail was PACKED and we didn’t want to deal with the frustration of another security screening and crowded cars.)

Two items beckoned us in the bakery case at Gasparilla’s ~ a chocolate Minnie cupcake and a S’mores hazelnut tart.

View attachment 454160

DONE!

View attachment 454138

The cupcake was tasty. The s’mores tart was OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

View attachment 454139
Graham crust, rich chocolatety filling (hazelnut flavor not too strong), topped with gooey toasted marshmallow.

I can’t imagine the S’mores cookie from ABC Commissary tasting this good.

We left two happy campers!

I will happily have both please!

 

[Loco_driver]

While we are usually impressed with the dessert offerings in the Cafe’s bakery case, nothing appealed to us today. (Had there been a Wookiee Cake it would have been a different story, @Loco_driver! ) Back on the monorail we went.

One day I’ll get my hands on that Wookiee cake!

Lotion? Hand sanitizer? Stuff that makes the interior smell like cat box?

This made me shoot water out of my nose! Those monorails certainly have a “unique” smell to them. Also good call on not getting off at poly, their treat selection is usually pretty boring.

 

[Tuvalu]

Did we leave room for a tropical libation?

Yes. Yes we did.

Though we could have walked from the GF to the Poly, we decided a boat ride on this lovely sunny afternoon would be a better form of transport. There were only a couple of people at the dock and one warned us not to attempt MK since “that place is a zoo today!” She went on to say her husband insists on attending the MVP parade every year and she was doing her wifely duty by accompanying him. She’d come over to the GF for a break and was on her way back to meet him.

I told her we’d been at the zoo earlier and were going to the Poly for a drink. The boat travels to the Poly before continuing on to MK.

As our boat pulled up to the Poly dock I felt a tap on my shoulder. The woman who spoke to me earlier was sitting on the opposite side of the boat so I wondered who had tapped me. I turned around.

“Excuse me,” said a sweet Southern voice. “But may I have a card? I just love your trip reports.”

Immediately flattered, I asked for her Magician name. She laughed and said she rarely posts and couldn’t remember her name! When we got off the boat I fished in my pocket for a Tuvalu card and had a delightful conversation with @jumnzert and her travel-buddy cousin.

We said our goodbyes when we reached the pool as they were headed to their room and we were headed for the Great Ceremonial House and the Tambu Lounge.

Two Island Sunsets, please!

Mmmm....so good!! We slowly sipped our drinks as we relaxed on loungers. (Em did give me grief about forgetting to pack the stainless steel straws.) We must have looked blissfully content as a passerby commented, “Now THAT’S being on vacation!”

I glanced over at Em who was doing something with her phone. “Wanna watch the MVP parade?” she asked as she turned the screen towards me, revealing the livestream she‘d found.

We had the best seats in the house for an up-close-and-personal view of MVP Patrick Mahomes...comfy chairs, frozen drinks in hand....and NO CROWDS!

But wait ~ there’s more.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Kel.

Are you still at the Magic Kingdom? Because I’m on my way!

Fear not, my friend. Wild horses couldn’t prevent us from returning to MK!

 

[RememberWhen]

I much prefer the “classic” renditions of the characters over the recent 2D animation versions which appear flat, less lifelike and lazily drawn to me. I am nervous about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway for that very reason.

Me too. I really don’t care for the new ones. You’ll have to let us know what you think of the new ride! We’ll try to ride in July, but I’m sure you’ll be there before then!

 

[Nunu]

Two Island Sunsets, please!

Yep, a vacation in a glass right here! Tropical cocktails are my thing. This looks good.

 

[lindawdw]

Love your boat ride story and hope to meet you one day at WDW too! Your monorail dessert/beverage tour sounds so wonderful! Sounds like you are heading back to the crowds at MK

 

[Tuvalu]

Also good call on not getting off at poly, their treat selection is usually pretty boring.

My exact comment to Em!

Me too. I really don’t care for the new ones. You’ll have to let us know what you think of the new ride! We’ll try to ride in July, but I’m sure you’ll be there before then!

We have FPs for next month. Will be interesting to see if we use them both.

Yep, a vacation in a glass right here! Tropical cocktails are my thing. This looks good.

Have you not tried an Island Sunset? Put that on your must-do list for your next trip! It’s exclusive to the Tambu Lounge so make sure you visit the Poly!

 

[annienevells]

Now you've got me dreaming of an Island Sunset (the beverage kind and literal kind) at my desk

 

[93boomer]

Did we leave room for a tropical libation?

Yes. Yes we did.

Though we could have walked from the GF to the Poly, we decided a boat ride on this lovely sunny afternoon would be a better form of transport. There were only a couple of people at the dock and one warned us not to attempt MK since “that place is a zoo today!” She went on to say her husband insists on attending the MVP parade every year and she was doing her wifely duty by accompanying him. She’d come over to the GF for a break and was on her way back to meet him.

I told her we’d been at the zoo earlier and were going to the Poly for a drink. The boat travels to the Poly before continuing on to MK.

View attachment 454161

As our boat pulled up to the Poly dock I felt a tap on my shoulder. The woman who spoke to me earlier was sitting on the opposite side of the boat so I wondered who had tapped me. I turned around.

“Excuse me,” said a sweet Southern voice. “But may I have a card? I just love your trip reports.”

Immediately flattered, I asked for her Magician name. She laughed and said she rarely posts and couldn’t remember her name! When we got off the boat I fished in my pocket for a Tuvalu card and had a delightful conversation with @jumnzert and her travel-buddy cousin.

View attachment 454162

We said our goodbyes when we reached the pool as they were headed to their room and we were headed for the Great Ceremonial House and the Tambu Lounge.

Two Island Sunsets, please!
View attachment 454163

Mmmm....so good!! We slowly sipped our drinks as we relaxed on loungers. (Em did give me grief about forgetting to pack the stainless steel straws.) We must have looked blissfully content as a passerby commented, “Now THAT’S being on vacation!”

I glanced over at Em who was doing something with her phone. “Wanna watch the MVP parade?” she asked as she turned the screen towards me, revealing the livestream she‘d found.

We had the best seats in the house for an up-close-and-personal view of MVP Patrick Mahomes...comfy chairs, frozen drinks in hand....and NO CROWDS!

But wait ~ there’s more.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Kel.

Are you still at the Magic Kingdom? Because I’m on my way!

Fear not, my friend. Wild horses couldn’t prevent us from returning to MK!

I will take one of those too please!