Trip Report **COMPLETED** The Hotter Than Hades Birthday Trip

Hey guys...sorry I am super delayed in writing this and I am certain it will take me forever to write this one too! But....I do want to share it so here we go!

Who?
Back to the usual ....my Mom (Mary) and myself (Megan)

When?
July 9 - 17, 2021

Where?
We stayed at the Yacht Club again

Why?
My 33rd Birthday - and it was hot out..... Also - I barely took my camera out so most of these photos are my from my phone. Sorry in advance

Day 1 July 9 2021
We got up at 3 am (), got ready and headed to the airport. My Mom stayed at my house so we could just drive together and not wake my Dad up
We got to the airport around 3:45 am and we were stuck in the Southwest line for forever because everyone forgot how to pack a suitcase, check in, take out a passport, etc etc.
Anyway - we eventually made it through security and to our gate.
Time for our usual date sign!

Airport living...

We were in row 2 on the plane!

We actually had a layover in Chicago which was super annoying. It was essentially the same distance from Chicago to Orlando as it is from Buffalo to Orlando so it was an extra 1.5 hour flight for the same distance essentially
Obviously it could not be helped as Southwest added this layover after I booked and there were no other options but we still complained
There was barely anything open at Midway to eat so we got some donuts. I only took a photo of one of them apparently. Off to a great start

It was stale so would not recommend
Anyway eventually we got on our second plane
Magic Band twins!

We made it finally!

Fonorail photos!

Next up: Day 1 continued

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 July 12, 2021
We got up around 5:45 am, got ready and headed down.
I had the wrong camera setting on but ...this photo looks cool

We took a Lyft to AK. Of course Murphy's law the AK bus came at the same time as our Lyft. I swear last trip we waited FOREVER for a bus to AK and missed RD. Anyway - things did not go smoothly on our way over. The AK parking lot was not open yet (like 40 minutes before opening...) so we had to direct our driver like 10 different times to figure out where to go/how to turn around/etc. When we did get there he missed the Lyft drop off spot (until I pointed it out). Either way somehow we still made it to Rope Drop...

Sorry to this angry looking man in my photo .... there were many people behind us.

This is what Rope Drop looked like...

We essentially walked on - in total we were inside for 15 minutes!

After our ride we stopped for a Night Blossom

Next up: more AK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
Guys....how cute is my Mom

Anyway...after this we headed to the Safari

We only waited a few minutes here too...

I am still figuring out my new camera so sorry these photos are not great...

Next up: more AK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
The giraffes were blocking the road...it was so funny!

I spy a cheetah

Baby rhino!

After this we headed over towards Everest...

Next up: more AK

 

[Bullseye1967]

Day 4 continued
The giraffes were blocking the road...it was so funny!
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I spy a cheetah
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Baby rhino!
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After this we headed over towards Everest...
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Next up: more AK

That's an odd looking flamingo!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued

We only waited 10 minutes!

We headed to Ticeratop Spin after this...
We stayed ahead of the lines so well this morning. The wait times shot up right after we got off each ride.
Anyway...this one was obviously a walk on....

We FaceTimed my nephew while on this ride....he looks so tiny here! He really enjoyed it

Next up: more AK

 

[Doc Disney]

That's an odd looking flamingo!

I meant to comment on the human

 

[amjt660]

What is hotter?

The weather is Florida on this trip or the Buffalo Bills!!!

Max

 

[cgersic]

Oh my goodness, your nephew!!! Sooo sweet and congratulations to all! I love your mom's shirt at AK

 

[krisri18]

The angry guy at RD had me laughing, what a face! Lol

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Kudos to getting up early enough for Rope Drop!! And FOP being a long, slow walk! Only waiting inside for 15 is pretty impressive!
Also, your new nephew is adorable!!

 

[Doc Disney]

What is hotter?

The weather is Florida on this trip or the Buffalo Bills!!!

Max

THE BILLSSSSSS DUH!

Oh my goodness, your nephew!!! Sooo sweet and congratulations to all! I love your mom's shirt at AK

Aww thanks! I think she got her shirt at TJ Maxx

 

[Doc Disney]

The angry guy at RD had me laughing, what a face! Lol

I know I saw it way after when I looked at my photos !

Kudos to getting up early enough for Rope Drop!! And FOP being a long, slow walk! Only waiting inside for 15 is pretty impressive!
Also, your new nephew is adorable!!

Aww thanks! I think so too! It was such a short wait!

 

[Doc Disney]

Sorry guys I was down for the 50th .... I will eventually post that TR too!
Day 4 continued
We headed to Dinosaur next

We only waited 15 minutes!

I thought this shirt was so cute!

Next up: leaving AK

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
We accomplished everything we wanted to do so we decided to head out of the park early
Some PPP on the way out

We took an Uber over to Disney Springs. Our driver dropped us off at the West Side per our request (although did not even know that was a choice!)...so we got to walk the back way through a garage which we have never seen before

Guys...we never drive because we never have a car so I was shook when we had to go through security. I thought this was new to Disney Springs! I did not know they had security all the time!
Anyway....we rope dropped Blaze

We both made our own pizzas. So yummy!!!

Next up: more DS

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
Some random Disney Springs photos...

I loved Black Widow but I took this before I saw it

After DS we headed back and to the quiet pool

But the sky looked like this...

So then we went on our balcony and read our books!
In case anyone was wondering what was in the bag that came with my balloons..

We got ready for dinner and took some photos..

Some test shots for the big day the next day!

Next up: dinner!

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
Waiting for our Uber...

Our dinner was at California Grill but we were early so we wandered around for a bit. We always joke that these chairs are in a circle for "worshiping" the trees.

Our usual Mickey photos...

We did some shopping after this...

And looked at the construction

THEN ....the best thing ever happened....we noticed the arcade was back open!!
We love the arcade!

Next up: more Contemporary

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued

Anyway eventually we checked in for dinner and we were almost immediately seated!

They did not have our usual go-to drink the Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini so we had to go outside the box.
We both ordered Old Fashioneds

Bread to start...

The oil which we ignored...

Butter...

Next up: more dinner

 

[Doc Disney]

Day 4 continued
I was eying up the Braised Beef Short Rib Wontons and the waiter was highly recommending them so I went for it.
Our waiter was adorable. He watched me eat my first few bites and was pleased as plum when I loved them!

He also found some confetti for us when he realized it was my Birthday!

For dinner my Mom ordered the vegetable pasta. She said it was delicious !

I ordered the Oak Fire Filet of Beef...amazing as per usual

Anyway...at the beginning of the meal the CM seating us said something about a cake for my Birthday and I thought that was a bit odd but then out waiter put this down and I was like oh cute!

In his other hand though....he had this beauty!!

My Mom surprised me with a cake for my Birthday and it was so pretty!!! My sister helped her order one! I was SO surprised. I order all the cakes for our family (including my own in the past) so I could not believe it! I'm certain I cried a little.

It was declicious too! It was chocolate with the grey stuff in the middle!
Our waiter was honestly the nicest man ever. His name was Nassar and he was SO excited it was my (almost) Birthday. He said I reminded him of his daughter who he missed because she lives in NYC.
He then offered to take a sunset photo for us.

And when we were leaving he put me on the phone with Goofy who sang me a Happy Birthday song....it was so cute!!!
We had the best meal and the best time! It was the best way to kick off my Birthday

Next up: Birthday Day!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Day 4 continued
I was eying up the Braised Beef Short Rib Wontons and the waiter was highly recommending them so I went for it.
Our waiter was adorable. He watched me eat my first few bites and was pleased as plum when I loved them!
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He also found some confetti for us when he realized it was my Birthday!
View attachment 591161
For dinner my Mom ordered the vegetable pasta. She said it was delicious !
View attachment 591162
I ordered the Oak Fire Filet of Beef...amazing as per usual
View attachment 591163
Anyway...at the beginning of the meal the CM seating us said something about a cake for my Birthday and I thought that was a bit odd but then out waiter put this down and I was like oh cute!
View attachment 591164
In his other hand though....he had this beauty!!
View attachment 591165
My Mom surprised me with a cake for my Birthday and it was so pretty!!! My sister helped her order one! I was SO surprised. I order all the cakes for our family (including my own in the past) so I could not believe it! I'm certain I cried a little.
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It was declicious too! It was chocolate with the grey stuff in the middle!
Our waiter was honestly the nicest man ever. His name was Nassar and he was SO excited it was my (almost) Birthday. He said I reminded him of his daughter who he missed because she lives in NYC.
He then offered to take a sunset photo for us.
View attachment 591169
And when we were leaving he put me on the phone with Goofy who sang me a Happy Birthday song....it was so cute!!!
We had the best meal and the best time! It was the best way to kick off my Birthday

Next up: Birthday Day!

What a nice surprise! The cake sounds delicious. We have had Nassar a few times and he is really nice. We had him as a server twice before the Covid shutdown and then when we returned in August of 2020 and he remembered us. I was surprised that he remembered us, hopefully he remembered good things and not how many crumbs I left on the table! HAHA!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Anyway....we rope dropped Blaze

I am SURE I could get up early enough to rope drop BLAZE!

He also found some confetti for us when he realized it was my Birthday!

Disney Confetti is the only confetti that matters!

My Mom surprised me with a cake for my Birthday and it was so pretty!!! My sister helped her order one! I was SO surprised. I order all the cakes for our family (including my own in the past) so I could not believe it! I'm certain I cried a little.

WOW! That is an amazing cake! That is so sweet! How do you even order special cakes like that at WDW? I'd love to do one when we are there!

It was declicious too! It was chocolate with the grey stuff in the middle!

That sounds PERFECT. Grey stuff mousse! Amazing.

And when we were leaving he put me on the phone with Goofy who sang me a Happy Birthday song....it was so cute!!!
We had the best meal and the best time! It was the best way to kick off my Birthday

What a fabulous birthday experience! Waiters really make the experience. I've noticed some really do go above and beyond!