Trip Report One Little Spark *COMPLETED*

One little spark of inspiration
Is at the heart of all creation
A dream can be
A dream come true
With just that spark
In me and you

One little spark ignited a relationship that is currently four decades long.

One little spark inspired a surprise (and very last-minute) birthday trip to WDW.

One little spark made a dream come true.

Who: Tuvalu and Woody
When: February 8-12, 2023
Where: Disney’s Pop Century Resort

 

[Tuvalu]

Delighted to read your Via Napoli experience. Back in the day, as I’m sure you know yourself, walkups for a party oMany years ago, my party of two walked up to Sci-Fi Dine-In and were seated fairly promptly at one of the “picnic tables” in the back, near the kitchen. It remains a wonderful memory. Ok, it was 1995.

I can beat that - my party of 4 walked up to Sci Fi (which even back in the 90s was impossible to do) in summer 2007 and was also accommodated at one of the picnic tables (which are apparently reserved for the riff raff! )

Like you, it’s a fond memory because of how unusual it was. We didn’t even know there were picnic tables back there, and we’d eaten in the restaurant many times!

 

[cgersic]

That print you bought caught my eye before I even read what you wrote! She is one of my favorites too!

 

[Tuvalu]

Day 1, con’t

Leaving Italy, we backtracked towards the International Gateway. We weren’t leaving the park though.

I spied Peter Pan as we approached the U.K.

More art that I thought was fun. @cgersic you should like this one!

I can almost hear Beaker saying, “Meep Meep!”

Woody and I climbed up the steps into Canada. I had been instructed to look for someone wearing a yellow cap. No one nearby matched that description so we continued to climb higher, back to the small area by the falls.

Yellow cap wearer was there but what immediately captured my attention was a toddler ginger snap playing with her seafoam green sneaker. She had pulled it off her right foot and was methodically trying to put it back on. Despite the Velcro straps, she wasn’t having much success. Her sweet smile demonstrated she was not frustrated.

It was lil BES. (And nah, nana, boo boo @Zipadeelady, I know her real name! ) She was seated on this bench with her dad. Mom @Back!Elbow!Shoulders! sporting the yellow cap, was standing.

For the next several minutes, we couples chatted together while being entertained by lil BES. For the family’s privacy I did not take any pictures, but trust me the entire meeting was adorably sweet. I am so glad we were able to connect with the @Back!Elbow!Shoulders! family. Meeting fellow Magicians is always a highlight for me.

 

[Sillysidewalker]

Day 1, con’t

World Showcase was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday afternoon in February. But the spring-like breeze was refreshing and helped us remain calm as we maneuvered through the crowds.

Look at that blue sky!

View attachment 698678

I was craving pizza.

No….a strawberry limoncello.

No….BOTH!!!

View attachment 698679

I thought I’d test my luck and see if Via Napoli was accepting walk-ups. There were people hovering around the outdoor podium as well as sitting on nearby chairs waiting for their names to be called.

It didn’t look promising.

When it was my turn to speak with the cast member I cautiously asked, “Are you taking walk-ins?”

“How many in your party?”

“Two.”

“Your name and a number we can reach you?”

I couldn’t believe it. I was afraid to ask how long the wait would be since this seemed too easy. What if the wait was an hour? Woody and I were pretty hungry and I was unsure we could go much longer before turning ugly.

The words slipped out of my mouth. “About how long is the wait?”

“Shouldn’t be too long,” was the reply.

I turned towards Woody and grinned. The CM said we could wait in the lobby. We’d barely stepped inside when a host called our name.

I said hello to our friend Aviator Frog before being seated.

View attachment 698680

Perky Sam was our server. She was thrilled Via Napoli was taking walk-ins! She was thrilled we’d been there before! She was thrilled we were there for the pizza! She loves working at Via Napoli! (I am not mocking her. Her exuberance was infectious!) She informed us that she was not from Italy but was an American (not that we had any doubt.) She said that Disney is slowly ramping up the International Program and that all native Italians working in the restaurant wear red vests. (Of course I immediately scanned the dining room for red vests!)

Drinks were ordered and arrived quickly. I think this was the best strawberry limoncello I’ve ever had!

View attachment 698681

The pizza arrived almost as fast.

View attachment 698682
(Confidential to @Loco_driver ~ we ordered the large. We can’t handle the Mezzo Metro!)

The pizza was delicious and satisfying. We did not feel rushed. Our overall dining experience was great!

View attachment 698683

And I will be looking for Sam at the premiere of Happily Ever After in April.

Adding Strawberry Limoncello to my must have list in March.

 

[Spash007]

I’m super late! But very excited to follow along, glad to hear it cleared your blues and a happy belated birthday!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Day 1, con’t

Leaving Italy, we backtracked towards the International Gateway. We weren’t leaving the park though.

I spied Peter Pan as we approached the U.K.

View attachment 698811

More art that I thought was fun. @cgersic you should like this one!

View attachment 698813

I can almost hear Beaker saying, “Meep Meep!”

View attachment 698814

Woody and I climbed up the steps into Canada. I had been instructed to look for someone wearing a yellow cap. No one nearby matched that description so we continued to climb higher, back to the small area by the falls.

Yellow cap wearer was there but what immediately captured my attention was a toddler ginger snap playing with her seafoam green sneaker. She had pulled it off her right foot and was methodically trying to put it back on. Despite the Velcro straps, she wasn’t having much success. Her sweet smile demonstrated she was not frustrated.

It was lil BES. (And nah, nana, boo boo @Zipadeelady, I know her real name! ) She was seated on this bench with her dad. Mom @Back!Elbow!Shoulders! sporting the yellow cap, was standing.

View attachment 698815

For the next several minutes, we couples chatted together while being entertained by lil BES. For the family’s privacy I did not take any pictures, but trust me the entire meeting was adorably sweet. I am so glad we were able to connect with the @Back!Elbow!Shoulders! family. Meeting fellow Magicians is always a highlight for me.

What!! No fair @Back!Elbow!Shoulders! I even wanted a fake first initial so I could play a guessing game by myself!!

So glad you all got to meet up!

 

[LadyBelle]

I can almost hear Beaker saying, “Meep Meep!”

Oh, I'd love a print of Bunsen and Beaker. That is the epitome of my friend SJ (the daring Bunsen one) and me (the hapless sidekick Beaker).

My sister is a 60s baby as well. I came a decade later.

I'm going to say that traveling with you and Woody at Disney would be a blast!

 

[Tuvalu]

Adding Strawberry Limoncello to my must have list in March.

I’m super late! But very excited to follow along, glad to hear it cleared your blues and a happy belated birthday!

What!! No fair @Back!Elbow!Shoulders! I even wanted a fake first initial so I could play a guessing game by myself!!

So glad you all got to meet up!

Oh, I'd love a print of Bunsen and Beaker. That is the epitome of my friend SJ (the daring Bunsen one) and me (the hapless sidekick Beaker).

My sister is a 60s baby as well. I came a decade later.

I'm going to say that traveling with you and Woody at Disney would be a blast!

 

[mpaulam]

I've got to try that drink with my pizza next time

 

[riverside]

Woody and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast so first on the agenda was food! We veered right after entering the International Gateway. I had a destination in mind.

I thought for sure that it would be Regal Eagle!!

I'm going to say that traveling with you and Woody at Disney would be a blast!

I’ve never traveled with them but they’re a blast to hang out with!!

 

[Tuvalu]

I thought for sure that it would be Regal Eagle!!

It was on the short list.

 

[Tuvalu]

Day 1, con’t

After meeting the BES! family, Woody and I ventured into World Nature. (Although the front of Epcot will always be Future World to me, I’m trying to get with the times!)

Digging had commenced for Flower & Garden plantings. Portions of the finished product could be seen as well.

The Farm Ride Living with the Land was a walk-on. (Just trying to be accurate here. )

As we waited for our boat to pull up, three Soarin’ cast members passed by and stood in a gate down from us. They ended up in our boat. I’m guessing this was their situation:

Dusk was falling as we entered the greenhouses.

This ride takes on more of a “warehouse” feeling during the evening hours. I think I prefer riding during the day.

Back to work!

 

[mpaulam]

Not a bad way to spend a work break...
I don't think I have ever been on LWTL after dark. I think that might have to be something to try next trip.

 

[Tuvalu]

Did we intentionally follow the Cast Members? I’ll never tell.

Woody and I walked the queue to the merge point without stopping. The CM pointed us to Concourse B and we continued to walk. There wasn’t anyone waiting in the hold area on the ramp down; only a CM at the bottom waiting to assign us a gate.

Fantastic!! I thought.

Then I heard the dreaded assignment. Gate A. Far left. I grimaced.

“Maybe we’ll end up close to the center since we’re the last ones in our row,” said Woody optimistically.

I knew he was wrong. The people in front of us would move all the way down to the right, ending up closer to the center than we would. We were destined for distorted icons and a bendy Eiffel Tower.

How close to the end of the glider were we? A picture is worth a thousand words.

I tried to stay positive.

And was positively correct.

As we exited, a CM made this announcement: “All gates, all rows, lost luggage.”

Wonder what got left behind?

 

[Tuvalu]

I checked the current Guardians BG status and ours was getting close. Since we had to pass by Spaceship Earth, I decided we should wait in the entrance plaza and wait for the Beacons of Light show.

While waiting I saw a guy walking a dog with a vest. I wasn’t fast enough to get a good picture, but the dog is mostly visible.

Are you familiar with the service chihuahua, @wdisney9000?

I wasn’t sure what Beacons of Light show we’d get to see, but I knew which one I wanted to see. I took a “before” picture, intending to take more once the show began.

But then it happened. Dreamfinder’s voice! I was so excited that instead of taking pics, I quickly FaceTimed Em so she could experience it with us. She doesn’t remember much of the original Journey Into Imagination, but we have the soundtrack so she knows the song. The lighting on SSE was beautifully synched to the music. It was a sight to behold!

At its conclusion my phone buzzed with the notification that our BG had been called.

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody was losing steam. Travel days that begin early do that to him. I was confident that a spin on Cosmic Rewind would energize him.

I accompanied him through the queue and preshows then ducked out prior to the load zone. I happily jived to the music here….

….while Woody had a “windy” (his word) ride with September.

He did exit the attraction in a happy mood, just as I anticipated.

 

[Tuvalu]

We made a quick stop before calling it a night.

Em and I had seen a picture of the special AP magnet for FARTS. We loved it and were disappointed that we’d miss out on getting one. While some AP magnets are mailed, most special event ones have to be picked up in person. Em was bummed to miss FARTS this year. I was hoping the magnet would put a smile on her face.

Oh I got mine too. Woody use his AP to secure Em’s.

I also picked up a Festival booklet for her.

As she went through it she asked if we did such-and-such or tried this-or-that food or drink. Each time I answered “no” she frowned and shook her head.

I then had to apologize for doing FARTS wrong.

 

[Tuvalu]

Being in World Discovery (how many of you know that the front left side of Epcot is now World Discovery?) it would have been much more convenient to catch a bus to Pop Century than to walk all the way to the IG for the Skyliner.

But that wasn’t an option.

Instead we did the slow shuffle to the IG. Not because we were tired. Not because Harmonious had ended and the park had closed.

The massive crowds that now filled the promenade (that weren’t there earlier) were attendees of DVC Moonlight Magic. A special event of which Woody and I were unaware.

It made for a frustrating journey to the Skyliner.

We shared a cabin (the only time we’d share one on our trip) with a couple a decade or so younger than us. It was their first time back since 2005.

And you know what? They were having an awesome vacation. They shared positive comment after positive comment. No complaints about price gouging, Genie+ or any of the cuts/changes in the last 15+ years.

Honestly, it was refreshing.

As we strolled back to our building, Woody and I knew we’d enjoy the next few days just as much….if not more….than the couple we’d just met.

 

[mpaulam]

Gotta love those glass half-full kind of people
The AP magnet is too cute!

 

[Tiggerish]

That magnet would put a smile on anyone's face. I smiled just looking at the photo of it.