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!

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

While in the queue I noticed an homage to our favorite Dollywood attraction,@JenniferS.

Ready for our wildest ride in the wilderness. 100% better at night.

 

[Tuvalu]

It was getting close to the 11:15 pm Boo To You as we left BTMRR. While Em wouldn’t have minded watching it a second time, she still wanted the party-exclusive treat from the Main Street Bakery (aka Starbucks.) I wanted to stop in the Arribas Bros. shop. We crossed the parade route at its starting point in Frontierland, hustled through Adventureland, and kindly pushed through the Main Street crowds lined up for the parade.

We decided to divide and conquer - she went to the bakery and I went to the glass shop. While I was purchasing a gift for Woody, I heard the impending arrival of the Headless Horseman. The CM told me to go outside and see him while he wrapped up the item.

I’m pleased with these pics (especially in LIVE mode.)

Meanwhile Em got her chocolate & peanut butter Mini Witch’s Hat which she enjoyed at a table in the courtyard.

It wasn’t as good as she thought it would be.

 

[Zipadeelady]

It was getting close to the 11:15 pm Boo To You as we left BTMRR. While Em wouldn’t have minded watching it a second time, she still wanted the party-exclusive treat from the Main Street Bakery (aka Starbucks.) I wanted to stop in the Arribas Bros. shop. We crossed the parade route at its starting point in Frontierland, hustled through Adventureland, and kindly pushed through the Main Street crowds lined up for the parade.

We decided to divide and conquer - she went to the bakery and I went to the glass shop. While I was purchasing a gift for Woody, I heard the impending arrival of the Headless Horseman. The CM told me to go outside and see him while he wrapped up the item.

I’m pleased with these pics (especially in LIVE mode.)

View attachment 824581

View attachment 824582

Meanwhile Em got her chocolate & peanut butter Mini Witch’s Hat which she enjoyed at a table in the courtyard.

View attachment 824583

View attachment 824584

It wasn’t as good as she thought it would be.

This post deserves both a and a

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Em may have been disappointed with her treat but she was very excited by what happened next.



It was completely unexpected and she raced to take a video for her brother. I’m glad I can post Blog Mickey’s video, as it was as fun as it looks.

When the Powerline Dance party was over we decided to call it a night. With over 20k steps today, my lower legs were aching.

I had developed a bad case of vasculitis - otherwise known as The Disney Rash. Google it if you’re interested. The discomfort was so intense I put a cool, wet towel across my legs as soon as we got back to the room.

The heat from my legs warmed and dried the towel quickly so I had to wet it down again, then slept with the covering for a little while.

But I had no regrets. The suffering was worth it. Em and I had an amazing time at MNSSHP. So amazing we never want to do it again.

Tonight had been perfect. There was no way to top it. To risk forking out hundreds of dollars (parties are expensive!) for a potentially lesser experience (due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances) is not a risk we want to take.

Instead….

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, October 15

Our plan to sleep in after a late night was foiled.

Remember I mentioned that we are morning people? Our body clocks woke us up early and there was no going back to sleep. I had purchased LLMP for today in case we didn’t make rope drop.

We actually arrived during early entry.

We went to Rock ‘n Roller Coaster first. We didn’t get to watch the preshow since the CMs were telling everyone to keep moving into the alley.

I waited for Em in the gift shop. The ride photo feature was broken and no photos appeared on the preview screens.

She said her very fast ride was very fun.

 

[Tuvalu]

We used our first LLMP here. The fog from the misters was on theme!

I accompanied Em through the lobby, library and boiler room before taking the real “unbroken” elevator to the attraction exit.

No ride photo again.

Later in the morning we overheard a frustrated father snap, “The next person who argues with me has to go on Tower of Terror!”

That’s one way to quench squabbling!

 

[Tuvalu]

Now it was time for Tu to ride something!

I’d read about a Single Rider option that was being tested for Rise of the Resistance. It was on, then it was off, then it was back on again. Since Rise is one of my faves, we decided to check out the situation.

I had no idea how the process worked. Luckily we saw this CM after entering Galaxy’s Edge.

There was no line near him to speak of, so we waited until he finished his conversation with the other person in the photo. The CM pointed us towards the exit for RotR and said another CM would tell us where to go.

Helpful.

We stood near the exit, clueless, until we saw another CM.

“Single Rider?” I asked sheepishly.

“Over by the door,” she pointed.

“The door” was a backstage exit/entry for Cast Members. There were a number of people in line and whomever was in the doorway had the privilege of holding the door open. We had no idea how many guests were ahead of us and where we would find ourselves once allowed in.

Since the line was stationary we also didn't know if single riders were pulled one at a time from the line. If that were the case, we likely had a long wait ahead of us.

But just a few minutes later we had the answers to our questions. The line began to move forward en masse into the holding area by the doors for the first preshow. Regular riders were held back and all us single riders were told to enter the room once the door opened.

Hello, BB-8 and Rey!

When this part ended, we were told to hurry outside and onto the transport ship (second preshow). When that part ended in the reveal of the Stormtroopers, CMs barked at us to keep moving. It was all I could do to take a quick pic. It was clear none of us were allowed to stop.

We single riders were told to keep left in the double queue.

As we inched closer to the holding cells, a CM directed each single rider where to go. When Em and I got to the front of the line, that CM sent both of us down to the same CM who was filling the gray and orange spots for a holding cell. We got lucky in that we were assigned the same color and ended up next to each other in the transport vehicle.

The only special effect not working was the probe droid (I don't count the cannons anymore) and we had a great ride!

The whole process took about 30 minutes (the standby wait was over an hour) and we had the exact experience as when using a LLSP - but this was free!

 

[RememberWhen]

Awesome! I’ll keep that single rider option in my back pocket for our trip! Also, love the shirt!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

We wandered through Batuu and exited into Toy Story Land, where our next two LLMPs were booked.

The park was very busy this morning and while we were glad to have LLMP for three short waits, that was all we would have. Unlike August when I had success booking additional LLMPs - for attractions we wanted at times we wanted - that was not the case today. After ToT, I searched LL availability for MMRR. The earliest return time was mid-afternoon. I refreshed and tried to modify multiple times over three hours and zilch.

LLMP #2

Eh - more of a Medium Lane than a Lightning Lane.

We were sent to the newest track.

Em was on her game today!

 

[Tuvalu]

LLMP #3

I was happily surprised to score a morning slot for SDD on Day 4. In August I had to wait until Day 7 for morning availability.

Whee!

I actually prefer sitting in front rather than back. On the final lift hill I can literally reach for the sky!