Trip Report A New Hope, A New Day *COMPLETED*

That’s not a Star Wars reference.

Longtime readers of my trip reports know Star Wars isn’t my thing (although I immensely enjoy Rise of the Resistance.)

Fireworks are my thing. Like a moth to a flame, I am instinctively drawn to bursts of brilliant sparkles and colors in the sky. Just ask my family how quickly I’ve stopped whatever I’m doing to find the source of nighttime booms! I have serious fireworks FOMO.

Disney fireworks....especially Magic Kingdom fireworks....always flood me with nostalgia, happy memories and hope. After a long pandemic year, I know I am not alone in my yearning for hope of better days ahead.

Every step we take
Brings a new hope
A new day

The return of Disney fireworks, for me, is a sign that things are improving. Hooray!!

But there won’t be any pyro on my upcoming trip. And that’s ok. This vacation was booked with the assumption there would be no nighttime entertainment. (However when rumors began to suggest fireworks in July…..well let’s just say there might be another reservation in MDE for us.)

Who’s us?

Mother/daughter travel buddies, Tuvalu and Em. We last visited together in early April. We were there the day the mask mandate was dropped for stationary pictures.

Today the mask mandate for all those vaccinated has been suspended and we couldn’t be happier! We won’t have to be shrouded in a daft disguise again this summer!

I am not planning to do a full live report but may post a daily update. I’ll fill in the details when our vacation is over.

T-minus 3 days.
June 19 - 26, 2021
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Will any other Magicians make an appearance? Stay tuned.

 

[Songbird76]

Sorry to interrupt @Tuvalu , but, @Songbird76 , I think I may have asked you this before but, if your kids are finishing now when do they start up again?

Today is the last day of school and they start back up on August 30th. They get 6 weeks for Summer, one week for fall break, around 2 weeks for Christmas, 1 week in February, and then depending on the school, either 1 or 2 weeks in May. My daughter only gets one week, but my son gets 2. Then they get Ascension day and Whit Monday off, and Easter Monday...and maybe Good Friday...I don't remember now. I think they both get Good Friday off, but it's not mandatory.

 

[Tuvalu]

Day Six

I was up early again to attempt round 2 for August ADRs. I usually have better luck on the website vs. the app but this morning the website was wonky and I reverted to the app. I was mostly pleased with times I was able to book.

Em and I couldn’t believe we waited 6 days for our MK morning. After a quick breakfast we were on the boat dock awaiting the first boat of the day.

Right on the dot at 7:30 am.

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Does she recommend it, and who is the author, please?

It’s by Natasha Lester. She has three books in the same WW2 universe and this one was probably my favorite. The other two are The Paris Seamstress and the Paris Orphan.

 

[Tuvalu]

We made it to the castle hub with plenty of time to spare.

We witnessed an engagement.

Em and I discussed the pros of a morning proposal in front of the castle. First, the proposer doesn’t have to stress the entire day, waiting for the perfect moment, worrying about losing the ring and genuinely being distracted from the fun of being in the Magic Kingdom. Second, the proposee’s day just became more exciting than it already was and the celebration….the attention, showing off the ring….lasts the whole day. The couple can still enjoy castle fireworks that night, and they’ll be more relaxed.

This was the week that pre-pandemic rope drop procedures returned. Guests were held outside the entrances to each land. We waited with dozens (and dozens!) of our closest friends.

 

[RememberWhen]

Day Six

I was up early again to attempt round 2 for August ADRs. I usually have better luck on the website vs. the app but this morning the website was wonky and I reverted to the app. I was mostly pleased with times I was able to book.

Em and I couldn’t believe we waited 6 days for our MK morning. After a quick breakfast we were on the boat dock awaiting the first boat of the day.

View attachment 572576

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Right on the dot at 7:30 am.

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Nothing really compares to that early morning boat ride to the MK. We mostly stay at Boardwalk now, but when I was a kid we camped at Fort Wilderness. I really love those boats!

 

[Tuvalu]

At exactly 8 am the rope was dropped and we proceeded to our first attraction. Some of the new additions for Jungle Cruise were in place and we wanted to see them for ourselves.

A few minutes later we were boarding, with a “stern” command by the skipper to balance the boat. “That way if we sink, we sink evenly,” she quipped.

Next she asked if anyone can swim. A few raised their hands.

“Thank you so much! You will serve as our flotation devices.”

Hey, this boat sank evenly….but the flotation devices (sans one tied to the boat) seemed to be MIA. Wonder why?

New explorers get the point!

My favorite scene in the attraction. A childhood memory.

Guess Em and I will have to ride again on our next trip to see what’s behind the netting.

 

[Songbird76]

It’s by Natasha Lester. She has three books in the same WW2 universe and this one was probably my favorite. The other two are The Paris Seamstress and the Paris Orphan.

Thank you! I found 2 different books with the same title, so I wasn't sure which one it was. I love WWII history and I love historical fiction, so it might be right up my alley!

 

[cgersic]

How are your cases doing? We were just put back on red yesterday. We went from 500 cases a day to 11,000 in 24 hours in the span of one week. Germany just put us back on its list of high risk areas, so I'm thinking we won't be traveling any time soon. Granted, I don't think they have Cultural Representatives from the Netherlands (though my daughter has planned out an entire pavilion for Epcot...they should totally have a Dutch Pavilion and sell stroopwaffels.) But I know several other places are having issues as well. Spain and France, and I think maybe Italy?

I LOVE stroopwaffels!!! I agree with your daughter!!

 

[Songbird76]

I LOVE stroopwaffels!!! I agree with your daughter!!

Have you ever had the fresh ones from a food cart/window? The warm, melty ones? Those are the best...and the one in Arnhem that we always went to when we went shopping is gone now. Cleared out completely...I don't think it's coming back. So we decided Disney needs a pavilion. It can have a windmill, and have a walkup window for the stroopwaffels and Frikandel. Several beers are from the Netherlands...they could do Heinekin and Grolsch. They can sell Tulip bulbs and wooden shoes, cheese, etc. Anyway, it's all planned out for when my daughter becomes an imagineer.

 

[cgersic]

Have you ever had the fresh ones from a food cart/window? The warm, melty ones? Those are the best...and the one in Arnhem that we always went to when we went shopping is gone now. Cleared out completely...I don't think it's coming back. So we decided Disney needs a pavilion. It can have a windmill, and have a walkup window for the stroopwaffels and Frikandel. Several beers are from the Netherlands...they could do Heinekin and Grolsch. They can sell Tulip bulbs and wooden shoes, cheese, etc. Anyway, it's all planned out for when my daughter becomes an imagineer.

We have a Dutch bakery nearby and she makes them fresh and I am obsessed! Your daughter sounds very creative! Did you see where they are expanding operations to a new campus in Florida? Maybe she should look into it?

 

[LadyBelle]

Was thinking a green dress version of the Redhead, or maybe one of the other ladies?!

Why that's Redd's cousin from out West - Olive.

 

[Ears to Disney]

“One of them has hit a wall,” whispered Em.

What happened next was almost comical. The rest of this extended family continued walking on ahead, not bothering to check on the grandma who had gotten the ECV stuck against the wall. But perhaps they knew they didn’t need to….since the abuela literally leapt off the scooter and ran to catch up with them….leaving an adult male to figure out how to correctly maneuver the ECV. It was now blocking the path of everyone behind it

Ugh! They should have road tests before renting these things out!

Love the shorts Em!

Only guests seated in the vehicle that is the last one to leave Daisy’s dance studio have the opportunity to hear Daisy laugh….or, more accurately, cackle….exactly like the Wicked Witch of the West.

This is a super fun find! Hope we get to experience this!

 

[Tuvalu]

Day Six, con’t

Yo Ho Yo Ho off to Pirates we go!

Yay! No more plexiglass in the queue!

We walked right in and onto a boat.

A front row seat in Pirates made me nervous….”there be rough waters ahead!”

Rough waters and cannon blasts made for a soaked Tuvalem. Too bad the auction didn’t include some dry clothing.

When you’re thisclose to the exit and the ride stops temporarily.

 

[Tuvalu]

Since we were already wet, we decided to ride Splash Mountain next.

But there was a little flaw in our plan…..

Lots of cast members at the entrance to an attraction is never a good sign.

So Em and I did what everyone else did. We joined the BTMRR line.

What’s that big pink puff?

Could it be??

Calling @dryerlintfan ~ your order is ready. Make sure you save some for @King Raccoon 77.

A coupla’ ducks for you, @DisneyGigi. (They’re camouflaged well.)

Sometimes the best Disney Magic happens….like row 15 on the train.

Still no water feature on the lift hill, but otherwise a great ride on the wildest ride in the wilderness.

 

[King Panda 77]

Since we were already wet, we decided to ride Splash Mountain next.

But there was a little flaw in our plan…..

View attachment 572688
Lots of cast members at the entrance to an attraction is never a good sign.

So Em and I did what everyone else did. We joined the BTMRR line.

View attachment 572687

What’s that big pink puff?

View attachment 572689

Could it be??

View attachment 572690

Calling @dryerlintfan ~ your order is ready. Make sure you save some for @King Raccoon 77.

A coupla’ ducks for you, @DisneyGigi. (They’re camouflaged well.)
View attachment 572691

Sometimes the best Disney Magic happens….like row 15 on the train.

View attachment 572692

Still no water feature on the lift hill, but otherwise a great ride on the wildest ride in the wilderness.

View attachment 572693

Do they ship internationally ?

 

[Tuvalu]

Do they ship internationally ?

I believe so.

 

[King Panda 77]

I believe so.

A lot of places don't class a dumpster as a recognised address.

 

[Tuvalu]

A lot of places don't class a dumpster as a recognised address.

 

[Tuvalu]

More Disney magic ~ Splash was now open!

How did we fare?

We had another front row seat on a water ride. Do the math.

 

[Tuvalu]

Four headliners in less than two hours. Tuvalem was on a roll!

Paging @tonystark ….

No plexiglass worries on your upcoming visit. It be GONE!!

Two young women had joined the line, each holding a Nutella waffle from Sleepy Hollow. They did not realize how quickly the line was moving and offered us one of the waffles. We declined, but they made a young teen very happy!

Playful spooks stopped our doombuggy in the attic….

…..and switched our ride photo.

Great expressions, ladies!

Certainly better than mine….(when our photo eventually appeared in MDE.)

Yah, not posting the unedited version this time either!