Trip Report No Sounds Like Summer? We'll JOURNEY Anyway! *COMPLETED*

It was this week last summer that @TrolleyFollower91 and I had an epic girls trip to WDW.

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/...e-july-journey-completed.917246/#post-7369605

On our first day we rocked to the music of DSB ~ the ultimate Journey tribute band ~ at the America Gardens Theater in Epcot. It was an event we'll always remember. DSB was the final band in the annual "Sounds Like Summer" concert series. The lead singer said the band was looking forward to returning next summer.

And here we are.....it's "next summer."

But there has been no "Sounds Like Summer" concert series in 2017.
No DSB.

Don't. Stop. Believin'.

Em and I refuse to go our Separate Ways. We have too much fun together. We have one last chance to do WDW together before school starts and by golly we're gonna do it....even without DSB.

Want to tag along?

Attempting a full-fledged LIVE trip report is daunting and difficult, so I decided to follow @TheMouseFan's lead and be LIVE-ish. Real time pics and updates to be expanded on after my return home.

Oh, and I will finish my currently-in-progress trip report.

Who's ready for Summer #2?

We are!!

 

[Tuvalu]

You don’t see much of the castle projections from the Pirate Cruise, but Em and I are all about the fireworks anyway! And the reflection of the shells off the water? Beautiful!

“Ready to begin, let the wonder take hold....”

What a treat this was! I now understand the allure of watching the show from the water. And I kept thinking about how much my six-year-old nephew would love this Pirate Cruise! Cause even when Happily Ever After was over, the fun was not.

As our boat made its way back to the Contemporary, Patch led a game of Pirate Trivia, with booty for each winner. He did a nice job of discreetly encouraging the adults to let the children answer, as the booty (pirate flag, pirate hat, pirate hook and telescope) was geared towards kids. And no child was left out; everyone got treasure.

And look who was awaiting our return ~ Peter Pan!

Each family had the opportunity to meet Peter Pan and get a picture taken. Em and I decided this wasn’t a privilege we stowaways should have so we found the bench we’d been sitting on earlier and waited for the WL boat.

We caught the Electrical Water Pageant while on our way back to the Lodge!

The thrill of the unexpected Pirate Cruise had now worn off and we were starving!! We stopped in Roaring Fork and ordered the flatbread Em wanted and a kid-size portion of chicken nuggets for me and ate in the room.

We laughed that we had become “those people” who eat dinner at 10 pm. (We never understood the appeal of eating dinner that late.)

See why we declared this:
Best. Day. Ever.

 

[Tuvalu]

A few Photopass pics from earlier in the day ~

 

[Tuvalu]

Highly recommend!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

But…you were starving and got a kid sized chicken nuggets? How much good did that do? LOL.

 

[Tuvalu]

But…you were starving and got a kid sized chicken nuggets? How much good did that do? LOL.

I would have felt miserable afterward had I eaten more nuggets that late.

 

[LisaBelle]

All caught up! So many wonderful moments in need of comment. Congrats on the wedding! As so many others have said, everyone looked fantastic. What a beautiful ceremony. Another grand baby ! How exciting for all of you. Loved the @fractal family meet up and the photo of your family in the background of the @fractal family at Hoop-Dee-Doo. Jealous of all your pool lounging. Chef Art Smith's Homecomin is at the top of my list of new restaurants to try. I loved Wishes and was super sad to see it go, but I must say that HEA looks beautiful. I too will miss GMR. My DH and I rode it on our honeymoon in 1989. Your unexpected Pirates Cruise looked like a blast. What fun!! Looking forward to reading about the rest of your trip. Now that volleyball season is over I can spend some quality time reading TRs !

 

[Matt and Kelly]

That does sound like an amazing day!!!

 

[12in12]

I love how much fun you and Em had on the pirate cruise. I can totally understand why this was your favorite day of the trip as it ended on such a high note.

 

[susan lees]

I know my updates have been slow in coming but life in the Tuvalu family has been crazy busy these past several weeks. Now that the wonderful event is over I thought I'd share a few pics.....

View attachment 234979

Drumr's wedding day!
View attachment 234980

View attachment 234981

View attachment 234985

View attachment 234982

View attachment 234983

View attachment 234984

And in other exciting family news, Tuvalette is going to be a big sister.

Tuvaleen is due in the spring.

Congratulations on all your lovely news

 

[susan lees]

Gonna have to join team Crunch. Some roasted nuts or cookie pieces are delicious in ice cream.

Crunch for me too. Vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and crispy m&ms heaven in a bowl

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Magic Shot with First Mate Jeff

First Mate Jeff a few weeks later with his Cast Compliment! We love complementing cast members on Twitter!

 

[blreinsel]

Did you know there is a mailbox on Main Street? And it’s REAL!

I've sent many postcards to my niece and nephews from this mailbox. I also have plans to send out my wedding invitations here so they have the Disney stamp on them.

 

[MinnieM123]

I've sent many postcards to my niece and nephews from this mailbox. I also have plans to send out my wedding invitations here so they have the Disney stamp on them.

Ha! What a great idea to get the Disney postmark on your wedding invitations!

 

[LisaBelle]

I've sent many postcards to my niece and nephews from this mailbox. I also have plans to send out my wedding invitations here so they have the Disney stamp on them.

OMG! I LOVE this idea!!!!! Was glad to read that you'd set a date! So exciting !

 

[LadyBelle]

I've sent many postcards to my niece and nephews from this mailbox. I also have plans to send out my wedding invitations here so they have the Disney stamp on them.

Don’t forget to send one to Mickey and Minne. If it’s still done, they will send an autographed picture in return.

 

[Tuvalu]

All caught up! So many wonderful moments in need of comment. Congrats on the wedding! As so many others have said, everyone looked fantastic. What a beautiful ceremony. Another grand baby ! How exciting for all of you. Loved the @fractal family meet up and the photo of your family in the background of the @fractal family at Hoop-Dee-Doo. Jealous of all your pool lounging. Chef Art Smith's Homecomin is at the top of my list of new restaurants to try. I loved Wishes and was super sad to see it go, but I must say that HEA looks beautiful. I too will miss GMR. My DH and I rode it on our honeymoon in 1989. Your unexpected Pirates Cruise looked like a blast. What fun!! Looking forward to reading about the rest of your trip. Now that volleyball season is over I can spend some quality time reading TRs !

I really appreciate all your sweet comments. I hope you don’t have to wait too long to begin crossing things off your Disney bucket list (in addition to enjoying your usual faves!)

That does sound like an amazing day!!!

It truly was, Matty. Can’t wait to read about all your fun in December. I can’t remember if our dates overlap but I will look for your beautiful girls if our days do.

I love how much fun you and Em had on the pirate cruise. I can totally understand why this was your favorite day of the trip as it ended on such a high note.

Unexpected surprises can be the BEST!

Congratulations on all your lovely news

Crunch for me too. Vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce and crispy m&ms heaven in a bowl

Thank you, Susan. @LadyBelle, here’s a Team Crunch for ya!

 

[blreinsel]

Don’t forget to send one to Mickey and Minne. If it’s still done, they will send an autographed picture in return.

They're on my list!

 

[LadyBelle]

Thank you, Susan. @LadyBelle, here’s a Team Crunch for ya!

Woohoo! Go Team Crunch!!

 

[Tiggerish]

I also have plans to send out my wedding invitations here so they have the Disney stamp on them.

Brilliant idea.

 

[Tiggerish]

@Tuvalu, what a fantastic Magical (Moment? How can a whole cruise be a Moment?) Stowaway Experience. You both obviously had a BLAST, and we vicarious travelers got the benefit of @TrolleyFollower91's gorgeous "fireworks over water" shots. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say, I'm really really glad you both lucked into that cruise! Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! (TTFN)