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.

 

[Tuvalu]

A New Hope…..A New Day!

 

[Nunu]

A New Hope…..A New Day!

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Awww, finally!
Love your happy faces!

 

[Songbird76]

This was another last minute ADR.

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Our dinner at Tony’s last summer was meh. We knew we were taking a risk by booking an ADR here. But we were tired of eating QS food.

The bread was stale. Our meal was not starting off very well.

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Service was better than last summer, although that is not saying much. The CM who assigns tables was having a rough time. They were clearly new at their job.

On the upside, my steak medallions and roasted potatoes were quite tasty. I am not a fan of broccolini (which seems to be the veggie of choice at most WDW restaurants now) and wished I had asked our server to hold it. It was a ridiculously hefty portion.

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Em had spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were too spicy for her liking.

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Ice cream is refreshing after consuming spicy food. Tony’s had gelato….

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….or in this case cheap store-brand ice cream. It did not have the rich chocolate taste of true gelato. Certainly not worth $7 a scoop!

We’re gonna pass on Tony’s for awhile.

I'll take your broccolini! Yum! I'm sorry the food wasn't great, though! I'm a huge Lady and the Tramp fan and we used to go to Tony's every trip, but skipped it this last time after a less than stellar experience in 2016. I was thinking we might try it again, but this makes me think maybe it's not time yet. It will be a few years though, so maybe by the time we go again, it will have redeemed itself.

 

[Songbird76]

No, I haven't! That sounds like a wonderful time though! I'll have to look into it for the next trip if they are still doing it? Thanks for the tip!

I hope the character dining comes back soon. I don't know if 1900 park fare is even open yet. I don't think it is. But when it does, if they have the characters, I recommend it. It's only at dinner. Breakfast and lunch are Alice, the Madhatter, and Winnie the Pooh. The Madhatter was great, but Alice was so quiet we couldn't hear a thing she said and it was kind of boring.

 

[Katiekitten]

You both look so happy with the fireworks!!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

“Let me check with the chef,” she said. She soon returned with a smile. The chef had agreed to prepare our sandwiches.

More Disney Magic!

YAY for Disney Magic! I was under the impression that Lunch started at 11:00 across WDW properties because when I book adr's for 11 it says "serving lunch."

I enjoyed mine deconstructed.

I enjoy almost ALL my sandwiches and burgers this way. In fact, when I met my hubby, one of the first things my bff asked me about him was "has he seen you eat a sandwich yet?"

I pulled out my shrieking phone and discovered EIGHTEEN Public Safety Alert notifications.

That is INSANE for alerts! Odd you got them for a county nearby.

We weren’t in any danger. WDW isn’t in Volusia County FL.

Clicking on the link revealed a search for a suspected murderer who was (ironically) apprehended in the metro Atlanta area several days later.

Glad he was nabbed!

Beaches and Cream doubled its size and it still cannot accommodate everyone who wants to dine there. I miss the days when it was a hidden gem. Nostalgia (and the No Way José) continues to draw us back, which is why we end up here almost every vacation.

Yes, Beaches and Cream is awesome...I am glad they doubled the size so more people can enjoy it. ADR's for the win!

In my opinion, a thick burger patty needs more than a single slice of cheese. (McDonald’s agrees with me.)

YES, for big patties, there should be at least two slices of cheese!

What do y’all think? I’m still not sure.

Perhaps it was this grandma?

It sure looks like the grandma from the HM and COP are the same but maybe we will never know for sure....

There was a guy near me who sported a funny t-shirt.

Hakuna Nodolla
It means no money
For the rest of your stay

(Admit it…..you just sang that in your head, didn’t you?)

YES, we saw this on our trip last week and I found it hilarious. I was singing it the whole trip, too!

 

[Rista1313]

 

[Rista1313]

It took me awhile to get all 24 pages read, but I did it! So glad to see these trip reports again. One thing I do have to say... I am shocked at the lack of burnt end nachos in this trip report.

And @Darstarr was hiding there somewhere, or she sent a stand in.

 

[Tuvalu]

Love your photo (above) of the WL lobby. Had a bit of deja vu -- brought me back to the first time I stayed there, which was about 5 weeks after they first opened up the hotel -- in 1994. Still, to this day, I think WL has the most magnificent lobby. The views from above on higher floors, or on the ground level -- all are stunning.

There is no lobby at WDW that can rival the feeling you get when you walk into The Wilderness Lodge!!! I truly love following along on your TR's.

I agree the WL lobby is stunning - I have only visted for a meal - never stayed - but it reminds me of the Grand Californian at DLR.

Max

But the Grand Californian does not have a bubbling geyser in the lobby that flows out to the pool.

And yes, I have stayed at the GC.

 

[ferbtones]

@Tuvalu did you do a trip report for your stay in California? I thought I remembered reading it and would like to see it again for research for next year.

Loving this trip report, especially your fireworks pictures.

 

[Billy6]

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But the Grand Californian does not have a bubbling geyser in the lobby that flows out to the pool.

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And yes, I have stayed at the GC.

I concur...Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby a close second(IMHO)...

 

[Tuvalu]

I'll take your broccolini!

You both look so happy with the fireworks!!

I was under the impression that Lunch started at 11:00 across WDW properties because when I book adr's for 11 it says "serving lunch."

 

[Tuvalu]

One thing I do have to say... I am shocked at the lack of burnt end nachos in this trip report.

Ahhh, but this report ain't over yet!

@Tuvalu did you do a trip report for your stay in California? I thought I remembered reading it and would like to see it again for research for next year.

Actually Em wrote the TR for our last California visit.

Who Wants a Churro?: A trip to the West Coast!

Introductions & Day 1! Hello and welcome to my first official trip report! After a long time lurking and reading everybody else’s wonderful trip reports, I decided to join in on the fun! It’s a little crazy that I’m starting off with a Disneyland Trip Report since I’ve been to WDW at least 45...

forums.wdwmagic.com

(There isn't a TR for our stay at the Grand Californian.)

I concur...Animal Kingdom Lodge lobby a close second(IMHO)...

 

[Tuvalu]

Our BONUS trip.

The ONE with the FIREWORKS.*

The vacation we truly needed after a stress-filled and anxiety-laden several weeks.

The one that was just about perfect in every way.

July 23-29, 2021
Two Disney Resorts

* @Darstarr ~ Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

 

[93boomer]

Our BONUS trip.

The ONE with the FIREWORKS.*

The vacation we truly needed after a stress-filled and anxiety-laden several weeks.

The one that was just about perfect in every way.

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July 23-29, 2021
Two Disney Resorts

* @Darstarr ~ Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Love that tee @TrolleyFollower91 !!
You always look so cute in your dresses @Tuvalu !! Let’s do this!

 

[Songbird76]

I saw on DFB that there is a spiked POG juice drink at the barefoot pool bar, and I think it's a secret menu item. But knowing your love of POG juice, you may already know about this. It's called the Samoan Sunrise, in case you want to check it out if you DIDN'T already know about it.

 

[cgersic]

Your comment on Em's trip report to Disneyland made me go back and read it yesterday. The one thing I found that I was was missing in that report was fabulous photos like this of the two of you! I just cannot wait for the day that I'm there when you kids are!

 

[Katiekitten]

Yay! This is exactly what I needed to see today!

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Your comment on Em's trip report to Disneyland made me go back and read it yesterday. The one thing I found that I was was missing in that report was fabulous photos like this of the two of you! I just cannot wait for the day that I'm there when you kids are!

Someone wanted to keep “anonymity” on the internet. Oh how times have changed!

 

[Tuvalu]

I saw on DFB that there is a spiked POG juice drink at the barefoot pool bar, and I think it's a secret menu item. But knowing your love of POG juice, you may already know about this. It's called the Samoan Sunrise, in case you want to check it out if you DIDN'T already know about it.

Thanks for the tip!

I just cannot wait for the day that I'm there when you kids are!

I look forward to meeting you too!

Yay! This is exactly what I needed to see today!