Trip Report From Droids to Toys… Texting The Boy and Can We Just Blame It On Captain Hook? Our September 2019 Disney Journey (Including Another Ross’ Return!)

Once again, another amazing trip is complete and I have to say… it’s been really hard returning to reality this time. But such is life…

You guys should know us by now…

Me – Mary/Mom

Ross/Dad /Grumpy – as stated on his MagicBand

Julia/Sissy/ Teenager in Love

Hope/My Droid Hating Princess whose Autism always lends to some entertaining drama.

If you are new to my TR’s or if you need the background of our trip feel free to read my pre-trip…

https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/may-the-force-be-with-us.956441/#post-8780844

Disclaimer: As I am typing up this trip report, my mind is already dreaming of our next adventure. Will I finish this TR before it gets here? Only time will tell.

All caught up? Allrighty then! Let’s go!

 

[Figment Forever]

Julia was thrilled to be able to shop through the Japan gift shop.

Hope didn’t seem to mind either.

She was slowly starting to like Pokémon, just like her big sissy. Perhaps she was in the mood from watching Detective Pikachu… maybe she wanted to impress Julia… but all of a sudden she picked up a stuffed Pokeball and threw it across the store – right into Ross! He stood shocked – not expecting it. As soon as it hit him, Hope bellowed out, “DADDY’S BEEN CAUGHT!!” I had to explain to her that it’s not okay to throw things in the store or at her father. Lol ( I may have told her that she was a great Pokémon trainer.)

We walked through the little Kawaii area...

 

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It was started to look like rain as we went in search of Jasmine. We managed to get inside her building before the rain began. She was so awesome!!

Hope asked if she could ride on a magic carpet with her. I forget what Jasmine’s answer was, but Hope decided to tell her a story and tried to get the gene to come out of her lamp.

Both Jasmine and Aladdin seemed amused with her requests, and I suggested that she just be satisfied with a picture.

 

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After our time in Morocco, we began the walk back to The Land for our dinner at Garden Grill. This was also Hope’s request for her Disney birthday dinner. It was a steady rain and very windy as we made the journey over, so we had our ponchos and stroller cover on.

We made it to Garden Grill and were thrilled that we didn’t have to wait but a couple of minutes to be seated. The waitress greeted us and asked us if we have been there before. We said yes – and that’s when she got a sad look on her face. She told us that the menu had changed and proceeded to tell us what it consisted of and then asked if were ok with that.

Ross and I just kind of looked at each other ???? – we told her we were good with the menu, but then we joked about what would happen if we told her no. (Although we were sad that they no longer had sweet potato fries.)

The characters are amazing here. I suppose that’s why Hope loves this meal so much. She wasn’t too interested in the food, just the characters, all of which took their time with us and stopped by several times each!

I don't know what he was telling her...

 

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The food was quite delish!!!

Our waitress was very good and made sure to lead “Happy Birthday” to Hope and brought her a cupcake – which went uneaten because it was not “just vanilla”.

 

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After dinner, we went over to visit Figment before the Imagination Pavilion closed at 7pm.

Ross wasn't feeling so good - he had a headache.

Hope was so ecstatic to see Wreck It Ralph and Vanelope were meeting!! We ended up being the last ones to meet with them. But then I did a mom fail.. We walked away right before they exited THROUGH THE LINK!!! Hope was trying to tell me – but I was not understanding her. I promised her we would try to catch them do it another time.

She desperately wanted to go through that link! With them!! I told her a stern NO! I had enough trouble keeping up with her in this realm of life – I didn’t need to chase her through any link!! So she settled for a picture.

I made a few Figment purchases and had them sent back to POP so I didn’t have to carry them around.

 

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I hated the walls and hated the fact that the fountain was gone. It had happened during our trip. I knew they wanted a new and improved EPCOT – but I hate change.

There was some sort of dance party going on and both my girls loved that they got to dance with Nick and Judy.

I joked with Julia that she and Nick should dress as Nick and Judy for Halloween since they were Nick and Julia. Lol. (She didn’t find that has humorous as I did.)

 

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We had a return time for TT so we went there.

The FP line was long due to the down time it had over the stormy parts of the day. The people in front of us were complaining. In the end, the line really did move quickly.

An awesome ride. We took some time and to look around and played some of the games at the end.

 

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After that we made our way to the front of the park. Hope wanted to see Turtle Talk with Crush, so we rode Nemo first and then paid him a visit. Nemo was another ride that Hope had a problem with...

We were going to leave, I had suggested going to Disney Springs – as Ross still hadn’t gotten there yet, but Hope decided she HAD to see Illuminations. She knew it was ending soon – so how could we say no?? (It was better than watching RoL. IMHO). Actually, she brought me over to a stand that was selling a farewell to Illuminations t-shirt and picked it up and handed it to me. I was shocked because she had never asked for an article of clothing before. It was because of that, I bought it for her without any questions. And since, she has worn it so many times it’s about worn out!

Of course, we couldn’t pass Soarin without going for a ride…

Julia and I went to grab a Bubble Tea from China before the show.

After Illuminations, we followed the masses out of the park.

My husband and his feet!!!!

At the hotel, Julia got on the phone and spoke with her Nick, Hope fell fast asleep and Ross (along with his bare feet) and I went to pay off our room charges with a gift card.

And with that... another Disney day was in the books.

 

[riverside]

Tiffins was fantastic!!

I haven’t ate there in years!! I may have to give it a try again soon. Your meals look fantastic!!

The show was… pretty. That’s really all I can say about it. I wrote in my notes that I wouldn’t miss it if they did away with it. (Please take note of the dramatic irony.)

Yep-was not a fan.

Breakfast was really good – I was pleasantly surprised as this place is usually not that great for the food. IMHO. But this is Hope’s pick (her Disney birthday breakfast) and the characters usually make up for it.

IMO-since they reopened after Covid I think their food is so much better than it used to be!! Breakfast & dinner both!!

 

[cgersic]

It was crazy seeing Rivers of Light in your schedule as well as the "new" construction at Epcot. Funny, but not funny. The character meal photos are just so much fun!! I really am glad you are finishing this

 

[TheMouseFan]

okay - this may be such a stupid question, but Is this real?? It doesn't seem to ever change.
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It's Disney real!! That's what they told us about this and the baobab tree on one our safaris trips!

 

[Figment Forever]

It was crazy seeing Rivers of Light in your schedule as well as the "new" construction at Epcot. Funny, but not funny. The character meal photos are just so much fun!! I really am glad you are finishing this

As I write this up, it feels like yesterday. I can't believe all the changes in the last few years.

It's Disney real!! That's what they told us about this and the baobab tree on one our safaris trips!

That's hilarious!!

 

[Figment Forever]

Day 11 Sunday September 15, 2019

So this time next week, we would be home. We were spoiled by long trips and they still never seem to be long enough. Today was our resort and waterpark day so we slept in. Well- late as far as Disney standards. Since BB was closed, we were heading to TL.

We had breakfast at the food court before we made our way out to the busses. We always enjoyed the food court and breakfast was always very yummy. Someone may have had to have a cupcake.

Hope found a new found love for video games. That’s my girl!!

 

[Figment Forever]

There were no direct busses to TL so I explained to Ross what our journey would have to be. I was amazed he did the most un-Ross like thing, he told me to call a Lyft!

I wish we had a better driver – he was very quiet and it was a little awkward with zero conversation.

Along the way, we passed a Monsters Inc bus which Julia was hoping to ride.

We made it!

 

[Figment Forever]

The lazy river was our favorite.

We did the family raft rides.

Hope did some slides.

 

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The water park would NOT be complete without mini doughnuts!

And Dippin Dots…

 

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TL was a blast! We were only there for a little while when there was a whopper of a storm come through. We hunkered down and got a bite to eat while it worked it way through. Julia got a milkshake, but she said it looked a lot better than it tasted. The good part was that the park completely emptied out!!

I didn’t get too many pictures because my phone overheated and shut down. I was freaking out because I didn’t know why it wouldn’t turn on for me! Ross told me to relax that it would come back on in a while, and he was right.

We stayed in the park til almost close. When we left, I though we would have to get a Lyft to get back, but I was shocked that there were resort busses coming. In no time we were on a bus back to POP.

Julia got a phone call while we were waiting. I wonder from who???

 

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We spent some time swimming at the hotel before we got showered and cleaned up for dinner. There was another storm coming through…

 

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At 7:15 we left and got a double bus all to ourselves! When the driver pulled up, he asked where we needed to go, so we took it to the MK and then hopped the monorail to the GF. Looking back, I’m not sur ewhy we just didn’t ask him to drop us at the GF.

Dinner was amazing! Our server not so much.

 

[Figment Forever]

Julia kept up with her craving for lobster!