Trip Report I Will Survive.....Spring Break (with a hint of May) *COMPLETED*

At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live among the Spring Break crowds
But then I spent so many nights thinking how I could be wrong
And I grew strong
And I knew I could get along....

Well that’s what I’m hoping for anyway. I’m not a newbie when it comes to navigating Spring Break at WDW. I’ve got a couple decades of experience under my belt. “Spring Break” isn’t a single week of cray cray crowds (like the week between Christmas and New Years) but is spread over March and April. Unfortunately one (or more) of those weeks can end up being cray cray....and these days, there is no way to predict which one.

Please don’t let it be this week.

But we are prepared. ADRs at 180 days. FPs at 60 days. Clothing for rain or shine. (Praying for shine ~ we’ve had enough rain over the last 4 months to set an ark afloat.) And attitudes willing to “go with the flow.”

My goal is to keep the updates live. Should I fail? There’s always Part “Tu”.

Who: Tuvalu, Woody and Em (the teacher whose schedule dictates when we go)
When: Sunday, March 31 - Sunday, April 7, 2019
Where: Port Orleans French Quarter
Why: Let’s hope we don’t ask ourselves this!
How: We’ve done the plane, can’t take the train....so it must be the automobile!

Will we be smiling at the end of the week? Stay tuned.

And if you don’t hang around for the smiles, you may want to peek in and see if there are any WDWMagic meet ups. I know of at least three forum friends I hope to encounter.

Now it’s off to bed! The alarm is set for zero-dark-thirty.

 

[Tuvalu]

We’re having dinner at a sig tonight. Two of Woody’s colleagues are participating in the Star Wars Rival Run this weekend. We are meeting them and their wives in an hour, at a restaurant where we have never dined.

I will report back, though not sure how many (if any) pictures I’ll take.

So I will leave you with this.

Drumroll, please.





TA-DA!!!

(Woody and Em’s picture has yet to appear.)

 

[Tuvalu]

If it is chocolate I am in. I am pretty sure my friends Elsa and Anna would be up for some chocolate as well.

I'm all in!

Fellow chocolate and ice cream lover here ready for the challenge!

I'm in for anything that is chocolate or ice cream!

I have rarely encountered too much ice cream. I volunteer as tribute.

View attachment 361656

I think we’re gonna need another Chocolate Lover’s Kitchen Sink!

 

[MerMom1981]

Pool time! Are you northerners (which is anyone north of FL) jealous of this weather?

View attachment 361687

I found one open lounger by the pool. Sat there for about 20 minutes while being bombarded by lovebugs. (Will someone tell these insects they’re a month early for swarming?!) Texted Woody and told him to meet me at the pool bar.

He even bought me a drink.

View attachment 361688

SUPER jealous! It's in the 40's and raining in Chicago.

Also jealous of your @sheriffwoody and baby meetup! Congrats to the new Mama!

I hear you with the strangers asking questions. I get that all the time.
On the train, at the grocery store, walking down the street...

 

[Tuvalu]

A great family tradition for us, that started on my first trip to DL when I was 6. Haunted Mansion, followed by Country Bears. I am so happy that I can still do this with my kids at WDW.

❤❤❤

Em looks really great in hats. You look like Em. By science, you probably look really great in hats.

I’m more of a faith person.....as in “Trust me, I don’t look great in hats!”

I always love Em's Epcot outfit!
Aww, Liliana is sooo cute!
Also, love your safari selfie, cool shot!

Thanks!

Awww so cute! I am starting to think we may not be able to ride anything without FPs.

The early bird always catches the worm.

KEVIN'S A GIRL?!?

Mind blown, right?

Maybe this is where I was riding-I felt like there was something wrong with the 3D glasses and I felt so sick that I won't be riding again for a while

Sorry to hear of your bad experience. And since there are no guarantees where you end up, avoidance is probably best. I think I’m done with FoP for now.

Hearty salad is where it's at! We are going in December and I'm already agonizing over whether I'm going to stick with the hearty salad or try the potato hash. Looks like y'all are having a great time and enjoying some pretty weather!! It's currently raining and cold... in Mississippi! We had it coming after two straight weeks of gorgeous spring weather.

Hearty salad for the win!
Hope spring returns to Mississippi very soon!

I get a little queasy on soarin so was worried about FoP. I had a great experience and enjoyed all the special effects including the breathing banshee. I don't know what level we were on but I've decided not to ride it again and just enjoy the memory of a great experience just in case subsequent flights make me ill.

Wise decision.

 

[93boomer]

Never eat until after you’ve ridden a simulator.

View attachment 361680

For all inquiring minds, it’s true the cheeseburger pods are no longer on the adult menu.

View attachment 361679

But why would you want cheeseburger pods when you can have one of these beauties??!

View attachment 361681
Clockwise from left: chicken with noodles (Woody), beef with rice and beans (Em), beef with hearty salad (me).

We think the noodles are a new option? Woody said they are quite tasty. Similar to Lo Mein.
Not sure I can sacrifice my hearty salad for noodles though.

View attachment 361682

After leaving Saut’li Canteen, we noticed new bioluminescense being put down on the walkway. It smelled awful....like spray paint.

View attachment 361683

My fav place to eat! Love those bowls!

 

[MegRuss626]

“It looks like they just took everything out of their minivan and threw it in a cart,” Woody observed.

I’m gonna second what @fractal said earlier.....we need an entire post of just Woody-isms!

 

[krause]

So I will leave you with this.

Drumroll, please.





TA-DA!!!

View attachment 361689

(Woody and Em’s picture has yet to appear.)

 

[krause]

We’re having dinner at a sig tonight. Two of Woody’s colleagues are participating in the Star Wars Rival Run this weekend. We are meeting them and their wives in an hour, at a restaurant where we have never dined.

I will report back, though not sure how many (if any) pictures I’ll take.

Is it Jiko night??

 

[MinnieM123]

This is my 4th Flight of Passage. I have ridden twice on the lower level and once on the middle. I got queasy both times on lower. Middle didn’t bother me.

Today we got to try the top level. You must climb a long flight of stairs to reach it. Two Pooh-sized older women were huffing and puffing when they arrived in our control room. I was surprised they weren’t sent to an elevator....this is one, isn’t there?

Hmm. I didn't know there were different levels. Only rode it once (last year) and just went to the queue (single riders) that the guy pointed me to.

I remember that ramp area (in your picture, and I walked up the middle section of it and went right into a room (pre-show). I had no sense of any other levels around me. Interesting -- yet another TT (Tuvalu Tip).

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I really get a kick out of Woody's quips! Makes me laugh. Have a nice dinner tonight, I'm lovin' the report!

 

[MouseDreaming]

Never eat until after you’ve ridden a simulator.

View attachment 361680

For all inquiring minds, it’s true the cheeseburger pods are no longer on the adult menu.

View attachment 361679

But why would you want cheeseburger pods when you can have one of these beauties??!

View attachment 361681
Clockwise from left: chicken with noodles (Woody), beef with rice and beans (Em), beef with hearty salad (me).

We think the noodles are a new option? Woody said they are quite tasty. Similar to Lo Mein.
Not sure I can sacrifice my hearty salad for noodles though.

View attachment 361682

After leaving Saut’li Canteen, we noticed new bioluminescense being put down on the walkway. It smelled awful....like spray paint.

View attachment 361683

Those bowls. Last trip was Christmas before last, and my DS and I still rave about them.

 

[Rista1313]

We passed a stroller farm parking area where a large Keenz wagon, filled to the gills, was stationed.

“It looks like they just took everything out of their minivan and threw it in a cart,” Woody observed.

Only 27 more days until May 1.




CMs were having vehicles park in the two-cars-in-one-space formation, one behind another. As we waited to see what space the CM would direct us to, Em pointed and said: “Oh, it’s gonna be the spot right behind that lady.”

“That lady” had opened both rear doors, along with the hatch. She stood behind the car and was attempting to open a ginormous stroller (she had already placed a cooler on the ground) as we were motioned to park behind her.

Woody pulled in very slowly and “that lady” shot us the nastiest look, like we were the ones in the wrong! I expected her to start yelling at us, as she was now forced to move the stroller and cooler out of the way. She was clearly flustered as she closed the hatch and tried to figure out what to do with her giant items.

Where was she from? Michigan.

View attachment 361686

@Rista1313, do typical Michigander females shave the lower half of their heads and pull the remaining hair (which happens to be pink) up into a braid?

Asking for a friend.

Some do.. I've seen it here in Michigan, but I've also seen it in Atlanta. My hair is full not shaved, not pink... but there is lots of gray!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Kevin is SUCH a fun character to watch interacting with guests. So glad we got to see her.

KEVIN'S A GIRL?!?

(She checked!)

 

[fractal]

Leaving Africa for Asia.

No interest in the bird show. Have not read a positive review since the addition of the UP characters.

But the stone statutes are adorable.

View attachment 361632

Watching the monkeys is always entertaining.

View attachment 361633

Those are actually apes ( no tails ) not monkeys.

 

[LadyBelle]

Do I look like a cast member?

Close enough....

Are you northerners (which is anyone north of FL) jealous of this weather?

After Tuesday’s rainy high of 43(!) in NC, Yes I am!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

Is it Jiko night??

Yes!
(I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again....you are a smarty pants! )

My first impression of Jiko is that it is a much larger restaurant than I expected. I was picturing small, intimate and dark. We arrived before sunset and there was lots of light pouring in through the wall of windows.

I loved the graceful bird lighting and the tandoori ovens in the center of the restaurant.

Our server was a bit pretentious and was a little condescending to Em. She seemed bothered that no one wanted her suggestions and then went ahead and told us what she likes best anyway.

The wine Woody ordered was “out” so she selected a new wine for him. She neglected to say it was $6 a glass more than the wine he had chosen.

I was able to take food pics because one of the wives had her phone out to Instagram her meal.

We began with the Taste of Africa bread service.

I have to say I much prefer the naan bread service at Sanaa.

Woody and I ordered the oak-grilled filet. It was every bit as good as the filet at California Grill. The grilled asparagus had a wonderful flavor ~ some of the best asparagus I’ve tasted. The mashed potatoes were just okay.

Em had the vegetarian corn tamale. She really liked it.

It was a nice evening. I know Jiko gets a lot of love in these forums and while we are glad we tried it, it won’t be on our “must-do” list.

 

[Tuvalu]

One last pic for the day.

 

[Tuvalu]

Those are actually apes ( no tails ) not monkeys.

Fixed.

 

[Swissmiss]

It’s quite interesting to see how much you can do in the amount of time I sleep, particularly as i only usually sleep about 6 hours a night

 

[susan lees]

It’s quite interesting to see how much you can do in the amount of time I sleep, particularly as i only usually sleep about 6 hours a night

Same here @Swissmiss. Then I go to work while @Tuvalu sleeps