Trip Report Shortest Retirement in History? *COMPLETED*

Justin Bieber lasted 2 weeks.

Tom Brady lasted 40 days.

I, Tuvalu, outlasted them both. Not by much, mind you. Yet if not for the encouragement of some forum friends - along with some unusual circumstances - you wouldn’t be reading this.

Unusual circumstances, you say?

Around Thanksgiving my beloved Woody learned his presence was required at a work conference. In Orlando. At Universal.
Just down the road from Walt Disney World.

Woody said I could accompany him if he drove (rather than flew) to Florida. And that we could leave a couple days early and have some Disney time together.

Well you don’t have to ask me twice!

I’d be on my own during the conference. Since the majority of Universal’s attractions don’t appeal to me, it didn’t make sense for me to buy Uni tickets when I could visit WDW for free with my AP. Being solo, I thought it might be fun to do a live trip report so y’all could be my virtual companions!

Turns out I won’t be alone while Woody is occupied after all. Some friends that you have seen in my previous TRs (and one you haven’t) have offered to play with me. I can’t wait!

 

[Tuvalu]

Welcome to the Park Commandos group!!

Our membership was temporary and may have already expired.

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Our membership was temporary and may have already expired.

7 day free trial ended. We did not subscribe.

 

[93boomer]

Our membership was temporary and may have already expired.

7 day free trial ended. We did not subscribe.

 

[MinnieM123]

First order of business was securing the very important birthday button. We tapped in and went straight to Guest Relations, where we encountered the most unpleasant CM. She acted as if asking for a birthday button was a ridiculous request and one beneath her job description. She sighed as she rolled her eyes and asked for the name, not caring which of the two of us was celebrating, and never uttering the words, “Happy Birthday” or even “Have a Magical Day!” (A phrase that annoyed CMs have been known to say passive-aggressively to annoying guests. I can assure you we were nothing but kind in our conversation with her.) She handed over the button and silently turned away.

So sorry Em and you experienced that reaction from her. It was such a small request for the button -- she didn't even say Happy Birthday to Em. (What's wrong with people? )

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Let’s just say she wasn’t worthy of a Cast Compliment.

Did she look like this?

No birthday pin for you!

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

We had time for one attraction before early entry ended and the park opened for all guests. Since non-resort guests are no longer held outside the tapstiles during early entry, resort guests are scanned via iPad at the attraction entrance.

Em and I waited 15 minutes.

I prefer the second car in the train but we were assigned the third car. It was still a great ride!

There is so much to see in this room. I notice something new every time.

One two three, one two three….you’re waltzing so beautifully!

Nah. I was too busy trying to take a picture.

 

[amjt660]

Great reporting and love the short lived attempt at commando

Way to put yourself out there
A thin layer of gabardine ?

But seriously, the fact that lighting is only on during a paid extra event is just sad

And a clear state of how the place is being run into the ground


Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Love the short lived attempt at commando

Way to put yourself out there
A thin layer of gabardine ?

But seriously, the fact that lighting is only on during a paid extra event is just sad

And a clear state of how the place is being run into the ground


Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Since it was her birthday, I did a thing.

Forked out extra for LLMP.

I’m still grumbly about paid Fastpass, but have to admit it worked well for us today. The window for our first LL was soon to open and we headed that way.

But first we checked the status of RnRC. It often doesn’t open in time for early entry so it could have been open now.

But it wasn’t. In fact, Aerosmith rudely skipped out on us. There would be no ride in a very fast car for Em today.

We tapped into LL #1.

First in line when the doors opened.

I often take the exit, but I was feeling brave. Not because the ride scares me, but because a quick succession of mini-drops will give me a headache.

I’m happy to report that there was no constant up and down - our drops were long in length (the way I like) and I emerged in perfect heath.

 

[RememberWhen]

Awesome ToT picture!

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

As we were leaving Tower of Terror, I received a text that my Basin vanilla grapefruit body butter had arrived.

Hand-delivered by my dear friend @lindawdw!

She and P had dined at Grand Floridian Cafe last night and graciously agreed to get the body butter for me. Forum friends are the best!

She and P were headed to ride ToT. Em and I had a LL for Toy Story Mania. Linda said they planned to do TSM once done with ToT. I told her we’d be hanging around Toy Story Land since we had two back-to-back LLs.

When Em and I arrived at the entrance to TSM, the standby wait was 25 minutes. I told her that if L&P arrived sooner than that, I would cancel our LL and the four of us could chick chat (and guy gab!) waiting to ride together.

They showed up in less than 20 minutes. I modified our LL to another attraction and we joined the standby line together.

I was really off my game. Em clobbered me.

But she didn’t get Best in Vehicle. That honor belonged to P!

We browsed the gift store and I debated purchasing a hoodie. Then we took pics by the checkerboard wall.

L&P left to go get some food. Em and I went back to the gift store and I bought this.

To say Tuvalad was excited to see me in this hoodie is an understatement. He was captivated by all his Toy Story friends and spent several minutes (an attention-span eternity for a 2 year old) pointing out and naming all his buddies. And of course they all needed a hug!

My investment was money well spent.

 

[Tuvalu]

Woke to a very rare Atlanta sighting….

….and it is coming down hard.

Last snow? January 2020.

We all know what happened two months later. Here’s hoping this is not indicative of future events.

 

[93boomer]

Woke to a very rare Atlanta sighting….

View attachment 835917

….and it is coming down hard.

Last snow? January 2020.

We all know what happened two months later. Here’s hoping this is not indicative of future events.

I wondered if you would get some. Yours is headed straight for us.
Same here- no snow since then.

 

[Tuvalu]

Em’s Astrid is enjoying her first snow!

 

[Figment Forever]

Woke to a very rare Atlanta sighting….

View attachment 835917

….and it is coming down hard.

Last snow? January 2020.

We all know what happened two months later. Here’s hoping this is not indicative of future events.

Nooooo. Don't even joke!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Nooooo. Don't even joke!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Our window was now open for LL #2.

The holy grail of DHS LLs.

This is absolutely my favorite part of the ride. Straight up to the heavens - or rather, To infinity and beyond!

It’s even more fun sitting directly behind Slinky Dog’s head. But Row 1 had already been assigned.

Em constantly giggles on this ride (especially on the three short hills in a row) which adds to my enjoyment.

Happy faces.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

The other remaining attraction in Toy Story Land - Alien Swirling Saucers - had a 50 minute wait. It wouldn’t be a hot wait today, but the short and sweet ride wasn’t worth that time investment.

In addition to RnRc being down, so was RotR. At 11 am, Rise had yet to open for the day. Em and I were running out of things to do. Then I remembered someone telling me the holiday version of the Frozen show was pretty good.

We’d just missed a show, but decided to enter the queue anyway.

Rather than head down the concrete, we stayed at the top and people-watched and took pictures from interesting angles.

We felt a little like spies (Woody and I have been bingeing Burn Notice) but it helped pass the time and when the theater doors opened we didn’t have to sit way down in front.

The Historians had holiday-spiced banter which was hilarious. And Josh Gad was the center of attention!

We thought we sat back far enough to escape the snow.

We were wrong.

But it was definitely a lighter snowfall than when we’ve sat closer to the stage.

Two thumbs up for Frozen Holiday!

 

[LadyBelle]

Since my quoted items got eaten…

Re: Golden Minnies. I wonder if they painted the original ones? But I’d rather have the originals back.

Re: Re: Atlanta Snow. I’m a bit sad because 90% of the time when Atlanta gets snow, I get snow. And I’m very sad that I got zilch. Zero nada.

 

[meggo819]

Golden Minnies. I wonder if they painted the original ones?

I wondered this too. Might be difficult to get back to the original without painting again?