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

 

[DisneyGigi]

The woman with the Seasonal Pass had never seen Happily Ever After.

Em and I had not watched Happily Ever After together since July.

Missing the show tonight was non-negotiable. Once Kel announced that she didn’t need to see the projections on the Castle, we hustled over to Frontierland to view the fireworks over the water. She took a snap of Em and me just a moment before Jordan Fisher began to sing.

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And then...

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I love how I captured Kel and Em in this pic.

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I was overcome with emotion (as I usually am) during the show. What a wonderful three days we’d spent together! Kelly had nothing but superlatives for HEA: “Fantastic!” “Amazing!” “Breathtaking!”

I hate to admit, that in 6 trips since it’s debut- I have still only seen it from the Poly. (With a total meltdown, happening from my Daughter in Law’s son) So basically, I saw nothing. I think I may still be bitter about the loss of Wishes- but also seemed like every time we planned to see it everything went to heck. Here is to 2021, and hopefully seeing it up close.

 

[NessNewt]

Teacher Em’s favorite brand of pencil is Ticonderoga.

Em has excellent taste in pencils. I'm especially fond of the ones that come sharpened.

 

[RememberWhen]

Em has excellent taste in pencils. I'm especially fond of the ones that come sharpened.

Ditto. For sure. Best pencils ever!

 

[Tuvalu]

By the way, I like how you two were dressed in the same shirts -- just like twin sisters!

“Twinnies” as Tuvalette would say.

I hate to admit, that in 6 trips since it’s debut- I have still only seen it from the Poly. (With a total meltdown, happening from my Daughter in Law’s son) So basically, I saw nothing. I think I may still be bitter about the loss of Wishes- but also seemed like every time we planned to see it everything went to heck. Here is to 2021, and hopefully seeing it up close.

If you want the full effect with the projections, I suggest booking the HEA dessert party with Plaza Garden viewing. Worth it!

Em has excellent taste in pencils. I'm especially fond of the ones that come sharpened.

Ditto. For sure. Best pencils ever!

I suddenly have the urge to run out and buy some!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Sigh. Doing nothing at all would have been better than this embarrassment.

Sounds like a very spectacular decline from what it once was.

We kept the chick chat to a minimum and focused on eating since the park closed at 8 pm and there was more we wanted to do.

Laser focus is quite important! BRING IT.

The three of us could not stop smiling, even though it was time to leave.

AND THAT is how you define a perfect day....a bowl full of cherries....

This wouldn’t have been so bad except another Pop bus had just pulled in behind us and we would have had seats on that bus. Again, no biggie IF OUR BUS HAD IMMEDIATELY DEPARTED. But no. Our driver had trouble starting the bus. She sat there perplexed for several minutes as we watched the bus behind us pull away. Then she got off the bus. Then a couple of transportation workers got on and began checking gauges and sensors. Then the driver got back on the bus.

It still wouldn’t start.

HOW incredibly frustrating!!! Just a small lemon in a giant bowl of cherries!

Teacher Em’s favorite brand of pencil is Ticonderoga

I suddenly have the urge to run out and buy some

@TrolleyFollower91 from one teacher to another, Ticonderoga pencils are the ONLY pencil!! Or should be, at least....
Also, @Tuvalu I have it on good authority that teacher daughters love surprises like a box of pencils for their class....just sayin'

 

[MissViv]

Tuvalu are you at Disney????

I heard Atlanta schools were closed and I just figured you and Em would make a quick trip.

 

[Rista1313]

Tuvalu are you at Disney????

I heard Atlanta schools were closed and I just figured you and Em would make a quick trip.

Disney World is closing Sunday until the end of the month due to the Virus

 

[MissViv]

Disney World is closing Sunday until the end of the month due to the Virus

Yes, I know but Tuvalu hasn't posted since Tuesday so I thought she might be otherwise busy (at Disney again).

 

[Longers]

I haven’t been on the boards much but just found this on the last day of your trip so I am super late.

Interesting to see your comment on Pop (as you know that’s what I’ve booked for Sept) I’ll be sure to check under the bed!

I love you got to spend time with your friend - also how can so many of those rides be firsts for her? I Think she needs to get more serious about this like her friend (you)

I am apprehensive to see Epcot forever as I loved Illuminations but I fear my thoughts on it will be the same as yours. (We’ll see)

Also loved hearing the story of the BTMRR evacuation - I had been waiting for that story.

And ice cream.......... you can eat wherever, whenever you want no matter what the weather.

I’ll make sure I check back now for the final instalments of your trip

 

[k8einwdw]

@Tuvalu Hope you guys are hanging in there okay. I don’t know what district Em teaches in, but I know several metro ATL schools have been exposed to COVID.

 

[Tuvalu]

@TrolleyFollower91 from one teacher to another, Ticonderoga pencils are the ONLY pencil!! Or should be, at least....
Also, @Tuvalu I have it on good authority that teacher daughters love surprises like a box of pencils for their class....just sayin'

I’ll make sure she’s stocked for the next school year....not sure how many pencils will be needed for the remainder of this one.

Tuvalu are you at Disney????
I heard Atlanta schools were closed and I just figured you and Em would make a quick trip.

Yes, I know but Tuvalu hasn't posted since Tuesday so I thought she might be otherwise busy (at Disney again).

Ordinarily that would not be a bad guess @MissViv but we weren’t there. Though schools are closed Em is required to work from home from 8-3 each weekday. How was your vacation? Did you enjoy POFQ?

I haven’t been on the boards much but just found this on the last day of your trip so I am super late.

Interesting to see your comment on Pop (as you know that’s what I’ve booked for Sept) I’ll be sure to check under the bed!

I love you got to spend time with your friend - also how can so many of those rides be firsts for her? I Think she needs to get more serious about this like her friend (you)

I am apprehensive to see Epcot forever as I loved Illuminations but I fear my thoughts on it will be the same as yours. (We’ll see)

Also loved hearing the story of the BTMRR evacuation - I had been waiting for that story.

And ice cream.......... you can eat wherever, whenever you want no matter what the weather.

I’ll make sure I check back now for the final instalments of your trip

You are never late, my friend.
I was truly shocked by the number of things Kel had never done! I am honored to have “initiated” her.
And you know I immediately thought of you during the BTMRR evac!
Final installments coming up. I’m extra sad since there won’t be another TR for awhile.

@Tuvalu Hope you guys are hanging in there okay. I don’t know what district Em teaches in, but I know several metro ATL schools have been exposed to COVID.

Em’s school is pretty far from those that were exposed though her county was closed for 3 days last week (and of course is now closed indefinitely.) Is your school shuttered too?

 

[MissViv]

I’ll make sure she’s stocked for the next school year....not sure how many pencils will be needed for the remainder of this one.


Ordinarily that would not be a bad guess @MissViv but we weren’t there. Though schools are closed Em is required to work from home from 8-3 each weekday. How was your vacation? Did you enjoy POFQ?


You are never late, my friend.
I was truly shocked by the number of things Kel had never done! I am honored to have “initiated” her.
And you know I immediately thought of you during the BTMRR evac!
Final installments coming up. I’m extra sad since there won’t be another TR for awhile.


Em’s school is pretty far from those that were exposed though her county was closed for 3 days last week (and of course is now closed indefinitely.) Is your school shuttered too?

I'm glad you weren't at Disney.

We had a wonderful trip and yes I did love POFQ. Thank you for the advise. They had very comfortable beds, room was clean and quiet. The only negative thing was the shower toilet area is really too small but we survived. LOL

Food court was very good - loved the western omelet for breakfast!!

 

[k8einwdw]

Em’s school is pretty far from those that were exposed though her county was closed for 3 days last week (and of course is now closed indefinitely.) Is your school shuttered too?

All the schools in our county are closed, and my office is closed. Thankfully I have the ability to work from home. J does not, and will be at work until they tell them they can’t work.

 

[Songbird76]

I’ll make sure she’s stocked for the next school year....not sure how many pencils will be needed for the remainder of this one.
is

Ordinarily that would not be a bad guess @MissViv but we weren’t there. Though schools are closed Em is required to work from home from 8-3 each weekday. How was your vacation? Did you enjoy POFQ?


You are never late, my friend.
I was truly shocked by the number of things Kel had never done! I am honored to have “initiated” her.
And you know I immediately thought of you during the BTMRR evac!
Final installments coming up. I’m extra sad since there won’t be another TR for awhile.


Em’s school is pretty far from those that were exposed though her county was closed for 3 days last week (and of course is now closed indefinitely.) Is your school shuttered too?

Are they doing online school for now? What grade level does Em have? Someone was saying they have first graders and the online school doesn't work because they can't read yet. Over here, the schools are all closed, but most are looking into online systems. My daughter's school is giving kids a schedule and during the scheduled classtime, their teacher will be available to answer questions, check homework, etc. So they have to be online during those times, working on schoolwork. My son's school never got back to us, but they can't really work from home because all of their books and materials are kept at school and most of the kids come from out of town and are bussed in, so there's no way for them to access their books right now unless the school sets up a time for them to come and pick them up, or provides online materials. But my kids are both in secondary school. Elementary school is bound to be harder since there aren't always parents at home to make sure they are working, and not all parents can help their kids with each subject. I hope Em can work it out and the kids get what they need!

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Are they doing online school for now? What grade level does Em have? Someone was saying they have first graders and the online school doesn't work because they can't read yet. Over here, the schools are all closed, but most are looking into online systems. My daughter's school is giving kids a schedule and during the scheduled classtime, their teacher will be available to answer questions, check homework, etc. So they have to be online during those times, working on schoolwork. My son's school never got back to us, but they can't really work from home because all of their books and materials are kept at school and most of the kids come from out of town and are bussed in, so there's no way for them to access their books right now unless the school sets up a time for them to come and pick them up, or provides online materials. But my kids are both in secondary school. Elementary school is bound to be harder since there aren't always parents at home to make sure they are working, and not all parents can help their kids with each subject. I hope Em can work it out and the kids get what they need!

I teach 5th grade, and they are expected to complete 90 minutes of school per day. Many of our students do not have access to technology, so we created work packets for them to complete. Parents picked up the packets or we delivered them to their doorstep. However, we are doing learning online and the district is loaning devices to students without technology. It’s been a learning curve, but I think it is good for kids to have a bit of routine.

 

[Matt and Kelly]

@TrolleyFollower91 have they said how long you are closed for? We found out yesterday that all schools in our province are closed until September. Teachers must come to work as usual. It’s a hard situation for parents who have kids and now have no where for them to go. The government did say all kids will move on to the next grade regardless. Crossing my fingers that things change fast.
kelly

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

@TrolleyFollower91 have they said how long you are closed for? We found out yesterday that all schools in our province are closed until September. Teachers must come to work as usual. It’s a hard situation for parents who have kids and now have no where for them to go. The government did say all kids will move on to the next grade regardless. Crossing my fingers that things change fast.
kelly

Wow! We are closed “until further notice” so I’m not really sure when we’ll be back. I couldn’t imagine not having students until the start of next year! In all honesty, I would be fine with going in to work. I’d at least have all my materials and would work in my classroom which is far from anyone else. All of our state-mandated testing has been cancelled, so kids will be promoted to the next grade.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Wow! We are closed “until further notice” so I’m not really sure when we’ll be back. I couldn’t imagine not having students until the start of next year! In all honesty, I would be fine with going in to work. I’d at least have all my materials and would work in my classroom which is far from anyone else. All of our state-mandated testing has been cancelled, so kids will be promoted to the next grade.

Here in Wisconsin we were told that our DPI is trying to work out something to extend testing but it will probably be cancelled too. But I'm with you in that I can't imagine not having my students for the rest of the year. I had a student teacher for 3rd quarter so I wasn't as involved with teaching them and now that I might not have them for all or part of 4th quarter too I realize I miss them. I keep thinking of things I wanted to cover with them, some of my favorite units are in the spring. Also many of my high school students are involved in this year's school musical Beauty and the Beast and I had many conversations with them about it and we were all looking forward to it.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

After our swirl on Alien Saucers, Em and I discussed what to do next. As I mentioned earlier the park was crowded, wait times were crazy, so we decided to see a show. It was, ironically, the same show (and time) I had canceled our FP for about a week prior to our vacation. I’m sure I had a logical reason at the time. I think it was in case we obtained a Boarding Group for RotR (since pre-Kelly our only scheduled DHS day was today) and I did not want to “hog” a FP we might not be able to use.

Em noticed the sign for MMRR had been installed since our visit two days earlier.

Seeing this picture now makes me especially sad because we have two FPs for it in April......

Anyhoo, this was our destination.

Another item to add to my “I never noticed this before!” list:

(There’s one of Anna too which I did not photograph.)

We waited about a half hour before the theater doors opened and the show began.

(Hey @PineapplePrincess ~ That’s not Ben!! )

 

[lindawdw]

I saw Frozen Singalong for the first time in December and loved it! I hope you're able to use your April M&MRT FP in April. I had one for the end of March which of course was cancelled and now I have one for May and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that one.