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]

Tuesday, December 3

Today was our last day and we decided to forgo early entry. Why?

* We’d been out late then stayed up even later talking to Woody.
* We wanted to sleep in (which only happened for one of us) and not be in a rush. (Like normal people on vacation. )
* We’d be returning to the same park for the third day in a row and had already done our “musts”.

We woke to the coldest morning of our trip. 37 degrees Fahrenheit! I’d like to blame @annienevells since Elsa followed them from Maine to Florida (hey, it’s in the title of her TR) but her plane didn’t land until afternoon. Maybe Elsa was actually leading the way….

So Em and I layered up again. It was cold walking to the bus depot in the shade.

We would be thankful for the sunshine in the hours ahead.

Tradition had us standing at the countdown sign on our final day of vacation in 2024.

In 2021.

In 2019.

In 2018.

In 2017.

In 2016.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Even with our later start, the park was considerably more crowded than we expected - especially for a party day. Attractions that we’d walked on Sunday morning now boasted lengthy waits.

With the exception of the 13 minute posted wait at our fave.

We didn’t get too far into the queue when we realized we’d been duped by playful spooks. The extended queue was open and full of guests at a standstill. We didn’t move for awhile and once we did, it was mere inches at a time.

Additionally, a noisy gas-powered leaf blower sure ruined the aura as we were waiting to tour a spooky haunted house!

Thirty minutes later we finally boarded our doom buggy.

It was a rough ride with lots of stops and starts. Our longest stop was here - so close to the end!

It was an unfortunate delay for us and the surrounding doom buggies. Behind us was a terrified little kid crying and screaming, “Get me out!” over and over until we began to move.

(I’m sure it wasn’t Lincoln, @k8einwdw. )

 

[Tony the Tigger]

“Best. Birthday. EVER!”

And what a great pic of you two!!

 

[k8einwdw]

Behind us was a terrified little kid crying and screaming, “Get me out!” over and over until we began to move.

(I’m sure it wasn’t Lincoln, @k8einwdw. )

Poor kid No, Lincoln loves Haunted Mansion. He informed me this morning that the head that pops up in the graveyard is his favorite part.

 

[Zipadeelady]

View attachment 838381

I'm in love with Em's sweatshirt! @TrolleyFollower91 where did you get it!?

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

I'm in love with Em's sweatshirt! @TrolleyFollower91 where did you get it!?

I have a really good gift-giving Santa!

 

[MinnieM123]

I'm in love with Em's sweatshirt! @TrolleyFollower91 where did you get it!?

I really like it, too -- immediately caught my eye!! So nice to see another design that's not glaring to look at -- but creative and fun.

I have a really good gift-giving Santa!

Well, I can guess "who" Santa is, who gave it to you -- someone well known for excellent taste!

 

[93boomer]

Monday, con’t

I was so glad I was able to secure a nighttime LL for Big Thunder Mountain. Hard to believe we won’t be riding it again for the next 18-24 months. (At least it’s not as long as the 4-year closure of the MPB!)

We had to go big for our farewell ride. I requested the back of the train and the CM sent us to row 15 - the last car.

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It was racing around the track! But the experience was a true thrill and one that will remain a core memory (much like our MNSSHP.)

After exiting, we had just enough time to make it to our viewing spot.

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No crowds to fight, @k8einwdw.

When the show was over, we headed to LL #6.

Love that view of the fireworks!!

 

[93boomer]

Tuesday, December 3

Today was our last day and we decided to forgo early entry. Why?

* We’d been out late then stayed up even later talking to Woody.
* We wanted to sleep in (which only happened for one of us) and not be in a rush. (Like normal people on vacation. )
* We’d be returning to the same park for the third day in a row and had already done our “musts”.

We woke to the coldest morning of our trip. 37 degrees Fahrenheit! I’d like to blame @annienevells since Elsa followed them from Maine to Florida (hey, it’s in the title of her TR) but her plane didn’t land until afternoon. Maybe Elsa was actually leading the way….

So Em and I layered up again. It was cold walking to the bus depot in the shade.

View attachment 838304

We would be thankful for the sunshine in the hours ahead.

View attachment 838303

Tradition had us standing at the countdown sign on our final day of vacation in 2024.

View attachment 838302

In 2021.

View attachment 838308

In 2019.

View attachment 838309

In 2018.

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In 2017.

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In 2016.

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And how cute you two still are!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

After our Haunted Mansion experience we decided to focus our time in the MK on shows and shopping. Waits for shows are bearable…

….even when you are one of the first to arrive.

Added bonus - theaters are warm when Baby, it’s cold outside!

Tummies rumbling, we went in search of grub.

Apparently so did everyone else. Columbia Harbor House was crazy busy. There were no open tables near a window so we had to settle for a large round table in the center of the room.

 

[Tuvalu]

One gift shop we had not visited in awhile is Bonjour! Village Gifts in Fantasyland, mainly because it is often closed. When the store debuted in 2012 it carried unique Beauty and the Beast themed merchandise. Em and I always managed to find something we loved and many a purchase was made.

Other Princess (and Villain) items came later. Then the shop transitioned to an Art of Disney location. We bought less but enjoyed browsing. When the shop became a mish-mash of merch found elsewhere we quit entering.

Others must have also, because the pandemic shuttered it for a few years.

The garland above the open doors welcomed us inside. Em deemed the shop “marginally improved” and we left empty-handed.

As we approached Little Mermaid a quick check of the standby sign revealed a low wait. So we went unda the sea.

Can’t not do the Woody wave.

 

[annienevells]

Our sincere apologies for dragging Elsa with us from Maine to WDW

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Continuing with our shopping.

This is a fun store. We don’t always make our way into Storybook Circus but when we do we always pop in here.

Found a great gift for anyone named Dan.

And one that I thought a certain forum friend *ahem* would take a liking to, given the mascots.

Apparently it was “too girly.”

One of my dad’s favorite sayings was, “It’s never too cold for ice cream.” (He also would say, “It’s never too early for ice cream” when my kids requested ice cream in the morning while on vacation.) Well it was a cold afternoon so Em and I honored our beloved patriarch by indulging in Asteroid Shakes from Auntie Gravity’s.

Yes, these were worth every calorie. We were surprised at how empty the indoor seating area was considering the temperature. Thanks to our warm accommodation, it really wasn’t too cold for ice cream!

 

[lindawdw]

I felt it was cold the whole week we were there this year, which was a bummer, but the sun still felt nice on our faces! The Haunted Mansion broke down for us on this trip also, but it was in front of the Hatbox Ghost, and we got some great pictures!!! We actually forgot to visit the "Big Tent" this trip which is usually always a stop for pin trading. That chocolate Asteroid Shake looks delicious! So sad that this trip is coming to an end!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

There was one more show we had to see. And unlike a certain forum friend, we allowed ourselves enough time to do so. (OUCH! )

But why is Em giving a thumbs down?

Because this theater did not have these new comfortable seats!

Which begs the question - what has Disney been doing since last July that our theater still had the old seating??!!

The Christmas scene was most relevant because it was December.

 

[meggo819]

Which begs the question - what has Disney been doing since last July that our theater still had the old seating??!!

Weird! A very good question.

 

[lindawdw]

Wow, wonder why they would cheap out on replacing all the seats. The old ones are so dirty and stinky!

 

[Tuvalu]

Weird! A very good question.

Wow, wonder why they would cheap out on replacing all the seats. The old ones are so dirty and stinky!

Supply chain issues? (Oh wait, it’s no longer 2021. )

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Methinks it must have been too cold for the Astro Orbiter!

And our Peoplemover ride was Brrrrr!

 

[MinnieM123]

And our Peoplemover ride was Brrrrr!

But, you wore a most appropriate sweatshirt -- Minnie in a winter scene! Love it!