Trip Report **COMPLETED** A (Love) Bug's Life

Hi everyone!
Happy Mother's Day!!!
We just got back from Disney yesterday and it is cold and raining here so seems like a good time to start our TR!

Who?
My Mom (Mary), my Dad (Jeff) and myself (Megan)
This photo is from our trip last year

Where?
Grand Floridian - aside from a very brief stay at the Poly during a race weekend my Dad has never stayed at a Deluxe. So, with a nice AP discount we let him pick any place he wanted and he decided on the Grand

When?
May 3 - 11, 2019

Why?
No big reason - we usually go around this time every year to help with the depression of the never ending winter here at home (and its still cold BTW...)

The title?
We have seen love bugs before but we have NEVER seen this many. I know they don't bite or anything but they were everywhere and at times the amount of them was just disgusting. We could not even sit on our balcony and if we were by the pool the only place they did not bother us was in the water. Ew This is the very reason I do not live in Florida...bugs.

Day 1 May 3, 2019
Our flight was pretty early so I got up at like 2:20 am
My parents picked me up just before 3 and we were on our way! I ALWAYS email Southwest to ask what time their counters open and this time I forgot. So, we got there at 3:20 and it was not open...whoops

Everyone was lined up in the full service line but we waited by the self tag kiosks and we ended up being the first ones done with our luggage. Since it was so early the TSA pre-check line was not open yet so we had to go through regular security which is only annoying when you have have a computer and an iPad to drag out

Be prepared for my Dad not cooperating for photos

Around 4 am the food places open so we grabbed a bagel

I spy our plane

The time flew by at the airport and very quickly we were boarding the plane! Our flight was on time for once!
Gang is all here..

Next up: more travel

 

[Doc Disney]

They were swirling the Hei Hei cone the week before when we were there cause the top flavor kept plopping off.

We tried the 33 Club at the Studios.

And the earliest I ever hit WDW via SW airlines was 8:30! and I thought that was awesome.

I'm really enjoying the photos of your Mom and Dad, something from your reports I don't see as often.

I love your Mickey Sleeveless shirt. May I ask where you found that one? Too Cute!

Where is the club 33 at the studios ??
Oh really ? Flights from Buffalo are typically somewhere around 530-7 am in the earliest flight!
My Mickey shirt came from Kohls! I found it just around a week before we left

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 May 4, 2019
We got up at 6:30 am this day so that we could Rope Drop HS....I mean better to do it earlier in the trip

We had some breakfast in the lounge then headed out to the buses.
I took the most random lounge photos
The blueberry muffins were SO good...and the Mickey sugar cubes were adorable!

We planned on taking an Uber only if a bus was not coming soon but thankfully one was scheduled to come just 5 minutes later !
We got there before 8 and the park did not open until 9 but we were glad we got there early because it was already pretty crowded!

They had specialty May the 4th Star Wars merchandise so there were a lot of people rope dropping that - but still a fair amount rope dropping Toy Story Land

The park ended up opening at 8:40 - woohoo! Our goal was Slinky Dog since my Dad had not been on it yet.

We waited about 15 minutes !

Next up: more HS

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued

My Dad loved it!! (As did we obviously)
We decided to wait for TSM next. The wait was listed as an hour but Touring Plans said it was less than that and my Dad said let's do it so we did! We go way more than my Dad so my Mom and I were very much so go with the flow

Anyway...we ended up actually waiting almost an hour (I can't tell you the last time I waited an hour for anything ) and then this happened....

The ride shut down
Thankfully it was only for about 5 minutes and we were on!

We missed our Aerosmith FP while we were in line but we were OK with it because we had fun and Aerosmith is not our favorite anymore *due to headache potential

Next up: more HS

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
After our ride we briefly checked out the Incredibles area

Then we headed over towards our FP....
Another photo along the way...

Our Fast Pass was for Beauty and the Beast....my Dad picked it which we reminded him of

I hate to say it @blgauger but I just don't like this show ....
I mean its OK but I feel like the Animal Kingdom shows are much better

Next up: more HS

 

[Gabe1]

Where is the club 33 at the studios ??
Oh really ? Flights from Buffalo are typically somewhere around 530-7 am in the earliest flight!
My Mickey shirt came from Kohls! I found it just around a week before we left

Club 33 is in the Brown Derby Lounge. We pretended to tap and my kid, the adventures one walked up the open staircase.

When we fly out of Midway-Chicago it is usually a 830 arrival. For us leaving from home to Midway it is usually a 2:30am departure to airport. Last few trips we opted for Ohare-Chicago for an 8am departure. We were finding ourselves too tired to enjoy the second half of the day at Disney departing for the airport at 230 am.\\

I hate to say it @blgauger but I just don't like this show ....
I mean its OK but I feel like the Animal Kingdom shows are much better

The vocals are great in B&B but the show is too hokey for us, like many. The talent is there for so many shows but the theater not so much. We always see shows but they are mostly on a 5 year rotating schedule. Enough time to remind me Disney could put more effort into the theater side of their talent, they've pretty much mastered vocal.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Following along!
I haven't been to WDW during love bug season in a few years and I must say, with all the IG pictures I've seen from family and friends in Florida, I'm definitely not missing anything!

We have been debating Liberty Tree for our dinner on arrival night in September. We have Narcoossee's booked but the flights were taking are later than we would like, so we are debating skipping Coossee's for LTT. We LOVE LTT pot roast and the rest of the meal looks really good too!!

We always see the Declaration Muppet's show too but it's still so cute!

Love the Mickey shaped sugar and I would die over the waffles with whipped cream and strawberries! That's my favorite Disney breakfast EVER!!!!

 

[Rista1313]

Following along!
I haven't been to WDW during love bug season in a few years and I must say, with all the IG pictures I've seen from family and friends in Florida, I'm definitely not missing anything!

We have been debating Liberty Tree for our dinner on arrival night in September. We have Narcoossee's booked but the flights were taking are later than we would like, so we are debating skipping Coossee's for LTT. We LOVE LTT pot roast and the rest of the meal looks really good too!!

We always see the Declaration Muppet's show too but it's still so cute!

Love the Mickey shaped sugar and I would die over the waffles with whipped cream and strawberries! That's my favorite Disney breakfast EVER!!!!

There are a lot of us there in September.. when are you going to be there?

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

There are a lot of us there in September.. when are you going to be there?

9/28-10/5 We went earlier in the month last year so we're gonna try the end of the month this year.

 

[Rista1313]

9/28-10/5 We went earlier in the month last year so we're gonna try the end of the month this year.

aah.. we will just miss you... I'm there the 9/14-9/24

 

[Doc Disney]

Following along!
I haven't been to WDW during love bug season in a few years and I must say, with all the IG pictures I've seen from family and friends in Florida, I'm definitely not missing anything!

We have been debating Liberty Tree for our dinner on arrival night in September. We have Narcoossee's booked but the flights were taking are later than we would like, so we are debating skipping Coossee's for LTT. We LOVE LTT pot roast and the rest of the meal looks really good too!!

We always see the Declaration Muppet's show too but it's still so cute!

Love the Mickey shaped sugar and I would die over the waffles with whipped cream and strawberries! That's my favorite Disney breakfast EVER!!!!

LTT seems to be our new place to go at the beginning of a trip...we are doing it our next trip too
I wish everything was Mickey shaped at home too

 

[Doc Disney]

Club 33 is in the Brown Derby Lounge. We pretended to tap and my kid, the adventures one walked up the open staircase.

When we fly out of Midway-Chicago it is usually a 830 arrival. For us leaving from home to Midway it is usually a 2:30am departure to airport. Last few trips we opted for Ohare-Chicago for an 8am departure. We were finding ourselves too tired to enjoy the second half of the day at Disney departing for the airport at 230 am.\\



The vocals are great in B&B but the show is too hokey for us, like many. The talent is there for so many shows but the theater not so much. We always see shows but they are mostly on a 5 year rotating schedule. Enough time to remind me Disney could put more effort into the theater side of their talent, they've pretty much mastered vocal.

I agree I think its a bit too hokey

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
After the Beauty and the Beast show we headed over to eat some lunch at ABC Commissary. I don't know why we decided on this for lunch because we have never been there before but it worked out well. I am glad I mobile ordered since that part was empty and the lines to order were packed!
My Dad got the Mediterranean Salad with Chicken

My Mom got the kids chicken nuggets

And I got the kids Mac and cheese

We also got the 30th Anniversary dessert...because you know...mobile order offers it to you and I always accept

My Dad carried around this spoon we got the day before for the Hei Hei cones so it will make an appearance here and there - don't worry he did not use it but it became a running joke

The hat was: Lemon Sponge Cake, Vanilla Swiss Buttercream, Lemon Curd and White-Chocolate Glaze
It was yum!!!!! Everything was actually really great!
After lunch we headed to get a quick May the 4th picture for my IG (doing it for the 'gram as they say)

Then, we headed back to TSL for our final FP

My Dad did not ride Alien Swirling Saucers because he does not enjoy spin rides

Next up: back to the resort

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
We headed out after this and back to the Grand Floridian.
We did go down to the pool but my Mom and I did not get dressed for it since it was going to rain soon
Oh yea-- there was a wedding so we got to see the horses and the carriage !

I got the magazine from Sugar Loaf ...

It rained for several hours so we spent some time in the room and eventually took an Uber to Epcot.
The security was EXTRA long - it literally took over 10 minutes to get in. On the bright side the rain stopped just as we got there
We stopped for a quick PP picture

Look at this cool bird!

She/he actually had a nest below the umbrella

I do not remember what happened but somehow we ended up being almost late for our dinner reservation so we ended up walk sprinting (aka fast walking) to Morocco and made it just in time. My Dad picked Spice Road Table for dinner and we were doing the Garden Rocks dining package
We were going to ask to sit inside due to love bugs but we were not given a choice. We were put outside but there were no love bugs in sight thankfully !!
We were right on the water which was nice

Next up: more dinner

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
So many good lights

Another light ...

Next up: dinner

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
Since we were doing a dining package we each got an appetizer, entree and dessert
Appetizers:
I got the brie fondue

My Dad got the fried calamari

My Mom got the hummus and imported olives

For entrees:
I got the NY strip steak with Rosemary Potatoes, Green Beans, and Harissa Demi Glace

My Dad had the Lamb Sliders (Brioche, Cucumber Dill, Mixed Olives, and Mint Tzatziki Sauce) with Hummus Fries

My Mom got the Mix Grill Skewers (Marinated Beef and Chicken) with French Green Beans, Toasted Almonds, and Rosemary Potatoes

For dessert:
I got the baklava

My Dad (aka my Mom and I since my Dad does not eat a ton of sweets) got the chocolate pyramid (there were only three options so we essentially just asked for all 3)

My Mom had the Pistachios and Saffron Custard

Everything (except maybe the chocolate pyramid which was just ho hum) was fantastic! We loved it!! This was a first for my Dad (and a surprising second for my Mom and I)

Next up: some after dinner fun

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued

After dinner we had a bit of time so we wandered around

I was obsessed with this duck who was sleeping - adorable

More lights...

I spy my Dad in the background

Next up: more Epcot

 

[krisri18]

Day 2 continued
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After dinner we had a bit of time so we wandered around
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I was obsessed with this duck who was sleeping - adorable
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More lights...
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I spy my Dad in the background
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Next up: more Epcot

Love your dress!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
I don't know why but it turned into a photoshoot

What's this?

Next up: less photoshoot pictures

 

[Doc Disney]

Love your dress!

Thank you - its from Old Navy!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 2 continued
We headed over to Japan after this

Again...I swear my Dad was there...
Then we wandered over to the line for the dining package - there was barely anyone in it - complete opposite of the Candlelight Processional !

Soon enough we were seated and we had some nice seats up pretty close
Who were we seeing?

Heman's Hermits starring Peter Noone! We saw them last year as well but had to miss most of it and they are one of my Mom's favorites so that's why we did the dining package.

Next up: more Epcot