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.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 16th July (cont)

I didn’t want to ride so found a spot to wait just as another downpour started. The girls were doing single rider so I was hoping not to have too long a wait

I ended up waiting in that little spot for over 30 minutes with it gradually getting more crowded with annoying people flicking their wet ponchos about.

Eventually the rain eased up enough for me to make a dash across the road, where I browsed the shops until the girls were done

The start of some Halloween merchandise

There were announcements outside that currently no one would be seated for Fantasmic because of the weather, there were still some lightning warnings. Guests were being advised that for safety reasons they should not start lining up to get in the theatre.

The guests being safe and not lining up

I ended up waiting close to an hour for the girls to ride single rider. They enjoyed themselves though.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 16th July (cont)

Now the girls were hungry and they wanted to go to Backlot Express. We had to recreate some photos on the way

They don’t fit anymore

And the last few statues for the girls to complete the game on the app

 

[MinnieM123]

Now the girls were hungry and they wanted to go to Backlot Express. We had to recreate some photos on the way

Those are some fun recreated photos!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Wednesday 16th July (cont)

Silly us hadn’t checked the opening hours for Backlot Express and we arrived just as it was closing. So we had to traipse all the way back where we’d just come from to get the girls something to eat. It was very busy and hard to get a table

I was still full from my totchos but I did claim the drink that came with Alice’s meal because she only wanted water. I think it was some kind of lemonade with alcohol.

.
The girls wanted to watch Fantasmic which was now being seated after the earlier bad weather. I agreed even though I didn’t really want to see it. I have a bit of a Catch-22 relationship with Fantasmic. I refuse to sit and wait 90 minutes for a good view on uncomfortable seats particularly when it can be subject to last minute cancellations, so I get there last minute and get a bad view and don’t really enjoy it.

My view

This had been Lexi’s view when we first sat down and I had a better one, but I was a nice parent and swapped with her. The show was fine, I do like the music and I like the ending, but I’m not in a rush to watch it again.

Leaving was as chaotic as it always is, but I wasn’t as panicked as I used to be when the girls were younger worried that we would be split up. I thought we’d exit the backstage route that ends at the front of the park but we exited onto Sunset Boulevard. That gave an extra level of chaos because an after hours event had started with lots of people going in the opposite direction

 

[Tuvalu]

I refuse to sit and wait 90 minutes for a good view on uncomfortable seats particularly when it can be subject to last minute cancellations, so I get there last minute and get a bad view and don’t really enjoy it.

The show was fine, I do like the music and I like the ending, but I’m not in a rush to watch it again. Leaving was as chaotic as it always is.

 

[cgersic]

I have no idea where the recreated photo location is? And I'm sure I've walked past them a million times. So cute!!

 

[meggo819]

I have no idea where the recreated photo location is? And I'm sure I've walked past them a million times. So cute!!

I thought the same!

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

I have no idea where the recreated photo location is? And I'm sure I've walked past them a million times. So cute!!

I thought the same!

It really isn’t hidden away. It’s just one of the little details that adds to the magic.

I think one of my older girls jumped in one time and it just became a thing to always take a photo there

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Thursday 17th July

Our original plan had been to rope drop Hollywood Studios before our late breakfast reservation at Topolino’s Terrace, but as we’d only just been there the evening before we opted for a lazier start to the morning.

On our way to breakfast

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Thursday 17th July (cont)

We hadn’t been inside Riviera Resort before so took our time exploring

 

[cgersic]

It really isn’t hidden away. It’s just one of the little details that adds to the magic.

View attachment 887622
I think one of my older girls jumped in one time and it just became a thing to always take a photo there

That makes all of the sense in the world, because I never take that route behind the building. Thanks for the locate!