Trip Report Finally Back in Our Happy Place. A Three Week Trip With a Cruise Included

We’ve been back for just over a week from what was a wonderful three weeks. There were a few hiccups, but for the most part Disney World was just as we remembered it.

This trip was me and my two youngest daughters, Alice (18) and Lexi (15)

We stayed at Pop Century from July 7th-20th, then sailed on the Disney Magic from July 20th-25th, then French Quarter for the last three nights, July 25th-28th. For the Pop Century part of the trip we had the UK 14 day park tickets which included the waterparks.

 

[erstwo]

Wednesday 9th July (cont)

A photoshoot on the way to our next LL

View attachment 878316View attachment 878317View attachment 878318View attachment 878319

Arty photo by Alice

View attachment 878320

I’d managed to get another LL for Pirates, I think this must be because our first one had been converted to an anytime

That chess game has been going on for a very long time

View attachment 878321
View attachment 878322

We still had a LL for Peter Pan but didn’t think we’d be able to use it and watch fireworks so we went to one of our favourite spots to watch. I like that you can just turn up here right as the fireworks start, I’ve never watched from the hub as I have absolutely no desire to stand in that huge crowd for over an hour

View attachment 878323

The girls like fireworks far more than they used to

View attachment 878324

With the fireworks came the waterworks. I love Happily Ever After and even though I’d seen it by myself on my November trip from outside the park it’s just not the same as watching it inside Magic Kingdom with someone who loves it as much as you do. Alice and I had tears streaming down our faces. Lexi loved it too, just not as emotional

I didn’t take any photos during the show but Lexi snuck this one

View attachment 878325

We slowly made our way out of the park, all three of us singing along to the Happily Ever After song. It was a lovely end to a very happy day.

So much love for the love you all share for the fireworks! The sweetest

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Friday 11th July (cont)

We hadn’t planned on going to a park at all that day but we didn’t really want to go to the food court for dinner and as it was so quick and easy to get to Epcot on the skyliner we thought we would have some dinner there and then try to get a better viewing spot for the fireworks. The evening didn’t quite work out as planned.

We boarded the skyliner at Pop but when we got to the Caribbean Beach station to transfer the Epcot branch was down. So we headed towards Hollywood Studios instead to get a boat. There was quite a queue for the boat and an even bigger one developed behind us, luckily we just made it onto the first boat. We disembarked at the Yacht Club, I think it’s quicker to walk from there than criss crossing to Boardwalk then Epcot on the boat.

Even though it had taken us longer, it was quite a pleasant journey

Into Epcot

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Friday 11th July (cont)

We’d never eaten at Regal Eagle Smokehouse so decided to try it, the large indoor seating area was a big draw for us as well as the food.

The girls both had the same, the Texas Beef Brisket Sandwich, but Lexi had mac and cheese with hers

I had the Kansas City Smoked Half-Chicken with a Tennessee Lemonade

All the food was delicious, and I loved that lemonade.

As planned, after dinner we went to find a good spot to watch Luminous, there was still over 30 minutes to go but we were quite happy to wait. We started to hear a few rumbles of thunder and could see a few lightning flashes in the distance. Over the next few minutes the rumbles were getting louder and we could see some very big flashes. Lexi and I were happy to wait it out and see if the storm just passed by, but Alice is quite scared of thunderstorms and I could see how nervous she was so we decided to leave the park.

On the way out

We had to get a bus back because the skyliner was down so had quite a long walk but at least we didn’t wait long for the bus to arrive.

We were a bit sad we hadn’t got to see the fireworks, we had a really good viewing spot, but we had had an enjoyable dinner and we still had eight park days left so plenty of time to see them again.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 12th July

This was our planned Hollywood Studios early entry day and the last day that I had pre booked LLMP for. I’d also booked a LLSP for Rise of the Resistance.

I liked the sign on the way in

Our plan was to rope drop Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror before using our Lightning Lanes so we headed towards Sunset Boulevard

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 12th July (cont)

Nearly there

The queue looked huge but it was still a few minutes before 8.30 and I think we were all being held outside the building. Once we started moving it went quickly

I don’t know how people can pose on this ride, I’m always too busy screaming

I used to absolutely love this ride and while I still love the launch and the music I think I’m getting a bit too old for it. I felt a bit too jiggled about and my neck hurt . I may have to give it one more try when they retheme it though because I do love the Muppets

 

[pkkurz]

Make sure you keep your head back against the head rest. Ask me how I know.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 12th July (cont)

Next up was Tower of Terror. We were still in early entry time so non resort guests were being held in a queue just before the entrance

We didn’t stop at all in the queue area

We walked straight through the pre show area onto the ride. I’m glad it wasn’t our first ride because I think the pre show sets up context of the ride really well

We still love this ride.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 12th July (cont)

We needed a snack next

I cannot remember why the girls were doing this

All of our initial Lightning Lanes were in Toy Story Land and I wanted to time it so we used our first LL at the end of the time window and could walk straight on to our second. This meant we still had plenty of time to queue up for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, a first for us

We loved this ride, it’s just so cute.

 

[littleroo]

I really wish "the neck thing" didn't happen to me on Rock N Roll and I try to keep my head back but it doesn't work for me. I had earrings in on the last trip and ended up having to cover my ears with my hands which wasn't comfortable. I,also, had little puncture marks behind my ears from the back of my ear rings. Well worth it really... I really want to love this ride but my time, too, may be up!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 12th July (cont)

A stroll over to Toy Story Land for our first LL, Slinky Dog Dash

While Lexi was happy to ride most rides on her own, she really wanted to sit with me on this one. When she rode it for the first time, I think she was about five, and she was laugh screaming over the bumpy part of the track she noticed it made her voice wobble which she thought was hilarious and we both finished that ride laughing. Ever since we always have to say ahh over the bumps to wobble our voices, even at aged 15 that silly thing makes her laugh

Straight onto Toy Story Mania, no broken screen this time so much more respectable score

I love all the little details in this land, it’s just so fun

When we’d tapped in to Slinky Dog we got our fourth LL for Smugglers Run and when we’d tapped into Toy Story we’d managed to get an evening LL for Tiana’s which was unexpected.

We noticed on the app that Star Tours had a very short wait so we had time to ride before lunch. The queue was non existent and Alice was pleased we got the Ahsoka transmission scene