Trip Report I'm Tagging Along ~ LIVE! *COMPLETED*

Almost everybody has one ~ a friend or relative who doesn't think twice about inviting his/her self along with whatever you have planned.

I never thought I'd be that person.

Fortunately, I have a very understanding family who is actually excited about my joining them at WDW. < Phew! >

It's been a year since my last live trip report, so I hope I can do @JenniferS and her fans proud!

The Who's ~
Me, @Tuvalu

My parents

My youngest brother T and his wife E

And then something my trip reports have been missing....

Adorable children!

A is 5

M is 4

and L is almost 2

Come along for tag-a-long fun!!

 

[epcotisbest]

Time to see some of those animals that M loves!

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My little buddy M sat huddled next to me the entire safari....therefore I have zero pictures. But you all know what lives on Kilimanjaro. And I had much more fun being "in the moment" with my precious niece.

But I will let M tell you what we saw (think high pitched excitable 4 year old voice) ~
Simba
Nala
Pumba
Baby ellyphont
Flamingos!!
Doggies
Zebras
Hippos
Funny birds (ostrich)
Cheetahs, my favorite of ALL the animals!!

It was the best safari ride I've had in a long time.

We invested in a funny birds farm that also included emus, many, many years ago. Lost several thousand in that venture. Should have went with ellyphonts I guess.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The park was not officially open yet and everyone was gathered on Discovery Island, in front of the Tree of Life.

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I was not fast enough with my camera (I wish I had been!) because suddenly several flocks of beautiful toucans flew in a giant circle over our heads. It was breathtaking. They landed on a post (pictured below) and then guests were allowed to head for the attractions.

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Ah, the classic toucan, er, macaw welcome show.

 

[Tuvalu]

But a good grandmother always comes prepared to turn frowns upside down. Mom had a little gift for each of them.

The packages were small figures from Lion Guard but there was no way to tell which character was inside. M got Simba and A got Rafiki. And no surprise (since that's how it goes with kids) A wanted Simba. So the pouting began. I tried to make A smile by putting Rafiki in my brother's pocket.

Laid-back L was content with his ellyphont.

 

[Scoppin]

Almost everybody has one ~ a friend or relative who doesn't think twice about inviting his/her self along with whatever you have planned.

I never thought I'd be that person.

Fortunately, I have a very understanding family who is actually excited about my joining them at WDW. < Phew! >

It's been a year since my last live trip report, so I hope I can do @JenniferS and her fans proud!

The Who's ~
Me, @Tuvalu

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My parents
View attachment 163382

My youngest brother T and his wife E
View attachment 163378

And then something my trip reports have been missing....

Adorable children!

A is 5
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M is 4
View attachment 163380

and L is almost 2
View attachment 163381

Come along for tag-a-long fun!!

They are all cute
The kids that is.

 

[Scoppin]

The bus made one stop before arriving at my resort. Guess where I'm staying. It's not where you think.

But the resort still starts with a P.

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Why, it's everyone's favorite value resort ~ Pop Century! (Ok maybe not everyone's. But it is mine )

I was excited to learn I was in the 70s section because, well, the 70s rocked!

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And I really dig 70s grooves. Ask my family. Them? Not so much.

When I opened the door to my room I was overcome by the smell of stale cigarette smoke. But I didn't want to make a room change until I found out where my parents were, since we requested to be near each other. And I have absolutely no cell service in the 70s section of Pop (just remembered this from a previous stay) so I called the front desk and asked to be connected to my folks' room.

Of course there was no answer.

So I left my stuff in the room and began walking around the resort trying to get a signal. When I finally got a single bar, I called mom's cell phone.

No answer.

I decided to go to the front desk and ask if I could know the general area of my parents' room. (I knew they would not give me the room number.) But before I got there, lo and behold ~ I saw my parents carrying their belongings towards their room!

In the 60s section. Yeah, that was close to me.

Their room was nice and odor-free. I left them to unpack and hoofed it to the front desk to request a room change. What should have been simple was of course not. Suffice it to say there were no rooms in the 60s section at all. But I was changed to another wing of the 70s which was closer to the 60s. Then I had to get my stuff out of the smelly room and move to the (thankfully) fresher smelling room I have now.

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I remembered to pack my clock this time, but I don't need it!

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(The time was wrong and I had to fix it.)

My complimentary can of mosquito repellent.
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I unpacked and just as I was ready to go meet my parents, a torrential thunderstorm started.

Epcot will have to wait.

You really don't have any luck with the start of you trips.

 

[Scoppin]

The bus made one stop before arriving at my resort. Guess where I'm staying. It's not where you think.

But the resort still starts with a P.

View attachment 163538

Why, it's everyone's favorite value resort ~ Pop Century! (Ok maybe not everyone's. But it is mine )

I was excited to learn I was in the 70s section because, well, the 70s rocked!

View attachment 163537
And I really dig 70s grooves. Ask my family. Them? Not so much.

When I opened the door to my room I was overcome by the smell of stale cigarette smoke. But I didn't want to make a room change until I found out where my parents were, since we requested to be near each other. And I have absolutely no cell service in the 70s section of Pop (just remembered this from a previous stay) so I called the front desk and asked to be connected to my folks' room.

Of course there was no answer.

So I left my stuff in the room and began walking around the resort trying to get a signal. When I finally got a single bar, I called mom's cell phone.

No answer.

I decided to go to the front desk and ask if I could know the general area of my parents' room. (I knew they would not give me the room number.) But before I got there, lo and behold ~ I saw my parents carrying their belongings towards their room!

In the 60s section. Yeah, that was close to me.

Their room was nice and odor-free. I left them to unpack and hoofed it to the front desk to request a room change. What should have been simple was of course not. Suffice it to say there were no rooms in the 60s section at all. But I was changed to another wing of the 70s which was closer to the 60s. Then I had to get my stuff out of the smelly room and move to the (thankfully) fresher smelling room I have now.

View attachment 163539

View attachment 163540

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I remembered to pack my clock this time, but I don't need it!

View attachment 163542
(The time was wrong and I had to fix it.)

My complimentary can of mosquito repellent.
View attachment 163543

I unpacked and just as I was ready to go meet my parents, a torrential thunderstorm started.

Epcot will have to wait.

Wished had read this sooner. Could have looked for you. But sad to say going home tomorrow.

 

[Tuvalu]

My folks wanted to see Flights of Wonder. TEAML had a brunch ADR. I did not feel like seeing Frasier crane so I walked with my bro's family to the restaurant.

Then I did what I enjoy most at AK ~ browse the gift stores!

Passed this guy on my way.

First stop

@MinnieM123, if you don't have her, you need to get her...

How cute is she??!!

I wonder if @TrolleyFollower91 likes this cap.

Second stop

My only purchase was some Mickey pretzels for middle son. His request.

 

[Tuvalu]

I found a shady spot to sit outside Discovery Trading while waiting for mom and dad.

It was miserably hot even at this early hour and I knew they would not want to stay at AK much longer.

 

[Tuvalu]

I was right. They were done. We made our way to the car and were back at the resort a few minutes later.

We lunched in the food court and honestly, Yak and Yeti couldn't make a better Sesame Chicken than this ~

It was mighty tasty!

 

[Tuvalu]

Dad returned to their room to nap while mom went to the MK to shop the Main Street stores (her favorite pastime). Me? Well there was something calling out my name...

The Hippy Dippy pool! So I had my first dippy in the Hippy!

(And @Courtney6682, I didn't even get rained on )

To keep you entertained while I lounge, please enjoy these Photopass pictures from yesterday that finally showed up in MDE.

 

[Tuvalu]

Mid-afternoon we went to park #2. (Technically park #3 for mom...you will find her picture next to the word go getter in the dictionary.)

We made arrangements to meet TEAML here.

You will find a picture of T&E next to the word park commando. They do not believe in taking a mid-day break. I don't think they have ever utilized their resort pool. Unfortunately this style of touring comes with collateral damage.

 

[Tuvalu]

At this point my beloved M was having a full-blown meltdown. She did not want to ride Nemo. No amount of sweet talk or cajoling was helping to change her mind. As @TrolleyFollower91 would say, M was a "hot mess."

So E stayed behind with her while the rest of us went to find Nemo. I rode with my brother and L, who had awakened. Again this laid-back toddler sat contentedly, taking everything in.

When we disembarked, he ran right to the big tank.

He was watching the dolphins.

A came and grabbed my hand and took me into the other room to show me the seahorse.

M finally calmed down and was intrigued by yet another skeleton.

 

[Tuvalu]

Turtle Talk with Crush was a big hit with everyone.

(Note: This pic was snapped before Crush came out. Just now noticed how disinterested they look, LOL!)

 

[Tuvalu]

This one cracks me up!!!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

We left the Future and headed for the Showcase. Just as we arrived at Arendelle/Norway, it began to pour. We made a beeline into the Anna & Elsa meet and greet.

Oh, @Gabe1, look what A was given!!

Little sister made a pouty face so the CM gave her one too.

The wait ended up being 20 minutes. But it was worth it to see the looks on their faces.

(L interpreted "turn around" to mean "touch tummy." )

 

[Tuvalu]

It was still raining as we made our next dash into Frozen Ever After. Just like with Nemo, M did not want to ride this. However, a precious and highly-coveted FP had been used for her entry and it was not going to go to waste. She was pretty inconsolable the entire ride.
"I never want to ride this ride ever again!" she said. A thousand times.

 

[Tuvalu]

The young 'uns needed a potty break so mom, dad and I said we'd meet them at dinner.

We listened to the new band in Germany.

And waited for TEAML here.

 

[Gabe1]

We left the Future and headed for the Showcase. Just as we arrived at Arendelle/Norway, it began to pour. We made a beeline into the Anna & Elsa meet and greet.

Oh, @Gabe1, look what A was given!!
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Little sister made a pouty face so the CM gave her one too.
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The wait ended up being 20 minutes. But it was worth it to see the looks on their faces.
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(L interpreted "turn around" to mean "touch tummy." )

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Oh my! They are now ferretting out your Grandkids too! We got very few red cards on our trip.

But we did have the other other @TrolleyFollower91 curse....you have been randomly selected....both my DS and me. One day 3x in a day for me. What the heck? 3rd time guard decided to be helpful and tried to help me remove the string backpack off, as I had just tossed on after bag check and he got it stuck in my gold necklace and wasn't noticing as he was trying to place on table next to the detector with my neck still attached. I looked at my DD as she was looking to see if my necklace was OK I said to her wait 'till I tell @Tuvalu about this! (girl looked at me like I was speaking jibberish)

 

[Tuvalu]

What do you have at a Biergarten?

BEER!

M's mama needed to have the big one.

(
(And so did her daddy! )

But what do you have at a Biergarten if you're a kid?

NOT BEER!

 

[Tuvalu]

The entertainment is one of the main reasons TEAML goes to the Biergarten.

And when the bell ringing is over it's time to DANCE!!!

Thankfully, I have no dance pictures. M dragged me down to the dance floor. Where I *may* have done the funky chicken.