Trip Report Shortest Retirement in History?

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!

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Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Saturday, con’t

While the standby wait for Soarin’ wasn’t particularly long, it was nice to tap in with LL and skip it.

However each time we ride it seems to take longer to load the gliders. Not sure if it’s a guest issue or mechanical aging issue or both.

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We were looking forward to seeing Soarin’s new ending in person. Photos and videos do not do the improvement justice. (She says just before posting two crappy pictures of the changes.)

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(I warned you!)

Em and I thought seeing the Eiffel Tower from a distance (not up close and bent) renders the scene stunning, as it captures more of the beautiful city of Paris at night.

The finale over World Celebration makes the film much less dated. And the Mickey fireworks are still there.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Saturday, con’t

While we soared around the world we received a boarding group notification for an otherworldly ride.

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I accompanied her during the 45 minute wait but made my escape before she boarded a Starjumper. (That's what each coaster vehicle is called - I looked it up! :bookworm:)

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When we reunited, Em was happy to tell me she got her favorite song.

Music Video 80S GIF


Whoops - she did it again!

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93boomer

Premium Member
Saturday, con’t

POFQ is in the process of a lengthy room refurbishment. Buildings 1-4 have been completed; Buildings 5 and 7 await; Building 6 is under construction.

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I requested a refurbished room after the leaky toilet debacle Woody and I had in January.



We were assigned a third floor standard view room in Building 3.

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I mentioned that moderate resort views aren’t worth the extra money for me. This was actually a nice standard view.

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Better than the view was the location. We were very close to the main building and bus stop.

For comparison sake, here is the former room.

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Here is the refurbished room.

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More photos to come in next post as I’ve reached the 10 photo limit.
I'm so happy you put up pictures of the refurbished room!! I've been watching the crews working for 3 trips now. Love the updates!! Wow a shelf!! Guess where we will be this Spring?!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
With two hours to go until linner (lupper?) we needed a pick-me-up.

From Swirled Showcase -

Frozen nitro cake pop for Em.

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(Hers looks a smidge better than yours, @ToInfinity.)

A dark chocolate cone for me.

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I’ll admit I was skeptical when handed this cone. The ice cream appeared to be regular chocolate.

It was not regular chocolate! To my delight it was richly decadent and I finished it all. My mouth is sorry I never made it back for another one. (My stomach thanked me.)

Em and I wanted to check out Communicore Hall. On our way we passed dueling stages.

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Encanto on one end of the plaza….

….and Joyful! on the opposite end.

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Not sure which one would win the noise war. The sound systems for both are ridiculously loud.

Signing Sign Language GIF by @InvestInAccess
 
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lindawdw

Well-Known Member
With two hours to go until linner (lupper?) we needed a pick-me-up.

From Swirled Showcase -

Frozen nitro cake pop for Em.

View attachment 830956
(Hers looks a smidge better than yours, @ToInfinity.)

A dark chocolate cone for me.

View attachment 830957

I’ll admit I was skeptical when handed this cone. The ice cream appeared to be regular chocolate.

It was not regular chocolate! To my delight it was richly decadent and I finished it all. My mouth is sorry I never made it back for another one. (My stomach thanked me.)

Em and I wanted to check out Communicore Hall. On our way we passed dueling stages.

View attachment 830959
Encanto on one end of the plaza….

….and Joyful! on the opposite end.

View attachment 830958

Not sure which one would win the noise war. The sound systems for both are ridiculously loud.

Signing Sign Language GIF by @InvestInAccess
I totally agree with you!!! I had a nitro pop and it was delicious but too decadent to finish!
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Saturday, con’t

Inside Communicore Hall was a Spaceship Earth made out of gingerbread. It included the beacons of light. I’d read about a light show that occurred periodically throughout the day. According to the countdown clock, the next show was just over 8 minutes away.

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Gingerbread display stats.

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Some young intern’s attempt to be clever - “Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow” - might actually BE clever if more than one kind of cookie was sold here.

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The one kind being a ten dollar slice of gingerbread.

We browsed the merchandise as we waited.

Cookie tins to store the cookies purchased at the food booths. And commemorative mugs “with a bad shape,” according to Em.

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Fuzzy blanket Jerseys that were very popular when the temps dived the next couple days.

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In contrast, we only saw a couple guests wearing Figment’s sweater.

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Tell me you like pins without telling me you like pins.

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Em grew bored waiting for the “timeless celebration of Epcot’s past, present and future at Gingerbread Spaceship Earth.”

Confused Schitts Creek GIF by CBC


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Finally the countdown reached 0. We expected…..something. Music with dancing lights? Lights with alternating patterns?

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The white lights turned green. Then red. Then the extra-fancy blue and red.

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To say we were underwhelmed is an understatement. Even the live vlogger across from us ran out of words to say.
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Now that we’d seen the gingerbread version, it was time for the OG.

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Em’s sharp eye discerned today’s record. Any guesses?

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It was The Wizard of Oz. Coincidence that Wicked was just released in theaters? Methinks not!

Clearly Computer Geek has eyes for someone in our time travel vehicle.

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Pretty sure it’s not me. Could be the one with the big smile.

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Or it could be Boots. What say you, @tonystark?

We answered our screen questions about the future in a way we’d hoped would result in a scenario we’d never seen.

It worked.

In the future Em is a happy gardener.

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And I am a headless cyclist.

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Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
After tapping in at SSE, I’d booked our next LL for Nemo. Em was not pleased, since “we just did this in October.”

Sorry Sweetie, I forgot.

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She was a good sport and did it anyway.

Anyone else getting French fries vibes besides me?

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(How about “Tuvalu needs to learn how to take non-blurry pictures vibes?”)
 

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
After tapping in at SSE, I’d booked our next LL for Nemo. Em was not pleased, since “we just did this in October.”

Sorry Sweetie, I forgot.

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She was a good sport and did it anyway.

Anyone else getting French fries vibes besides me?

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(How about “Tuvalu needs to learn how to take non-blurry pictures vibes?”)

Regarding the blurry pics…
And, you may already know this, but…!!! 😉
If you’re using an iPhone, it will automatically default to “Night Mode” (a light capturing shutter delay) on dark rides, and in other dark situations. Great if you and your subject aren’t moving, not so good if you, and possibly your subject, are moving.
The night mode icon will show up in the top left corner of your phone screen as a yellow oval with how many seconds of delay it’s suggesting.
To disable it, simply tap the icon and there will be no delay.
I got this figured out later on our last trip, and finally got some pretty good dark ride pics…!!! 🙂
Some example pics below…to test it out, simply press the phone on your pant leg in camera mode and the yellow oval will show up…!!! 🙂

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