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!

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

We were in MK on this day too

 

[Tuvalu]

We were in MK on this day too

 

[mpaulam]

I love your early morning pictures of the resort!

 

[Tuvalu]

I love your early morning pictures of the resort!

Thanks. There are more to come!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

I was happy we got to take the small launch to MK.

Only 72 more days til Halloween!

We pretended the decorations were for fall instead. Just ignored the giant bats and spider in the plants.

Only 33 more days til fall!

We stopped to admire the Haunted Mansion window display.

I’m not into scary clothing for littles, but I did like this toddler tee.

However this was a better choice for Tuvalad. He had been stealing his sister’s Minnie ball cap, and was delighted to receive a cap of his own….and sunglasses!

 

[Spash007]

Tuesday, con’t

I was happy we got to take the small launch to MK.

View attachment 814105

Only 72 more days til Halloween!

View attachment 814107

We pretended the decorations were for fall instead. Just ignored the giant bats and spider in the plants.

View attachment 814106

Only 33 more days til fall!

View attachment 814108

View attachment 814109

We stopped to admire the Haunted Mansion window display.

View attachment 814110

I’m not into scary clothing for littles, but I did like this toddler tee.

View attachment 814112

However this was a better choice for Tuvalad. He had been stealing his sister’s Minnie ball cap, and was delighted to receive a cap of his own….and sunglasses!

View attachment 814111

We got that same set for Liam back in the day! It must have been his first trip in 2020.

Word of warning - grabby, exploring toddlers can break the ears off the hat pretty easily

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Woody and I caught the fireworks at the conclusion of the opening show on the castle stage. We were on the bridge to Adventureland and as soon as the rope dropped we hustled to Jungle Cruise.

We boarded the second boat of the day.

Our skipper was quite entertaining. Boo to me for forgetting to note his name!

Some of his spiel:

“Don’t get too close to that python. He gets a crush on everyone he sees.”

“The giraffes have joined Bambi and his friends for a party. In a tropical forest. Which makes perfect sense.”

“There’s a whole lot going on here. It’s Skipper Phil’s first day. He lost his boat and it’s not going well.”

“Guess we know what happened to Skipper Phil’s boat. Chimp-a-palooza!”

“Bertha is an example of what happens when you stay in the shower too long. You turn into an elephant.”

“It almost happened to me once.”

“Just kidding, I don’t shower!”

 

[Tuvalu]

Our LL for Peter Pan was now open. We took the cut-through near Aladdin from Adventureland to Frontierland/Liberty Square.

I asked Woody if we could take a quick detour before Pan. Thirteen minute wait is code for walk on.

(I was feeling artsy!)

Clearly, nailing the ride photo was more important than listening to whatever Woody had to say!

Now I was ready to take flight.

Too bad my MagicBand wasn’t. I had to scan it three times before Mickey’s head turned green.

“It took longer for you to tap in than it did to wait in line,” Woody observed.

The attraction refresh looks very nice. I was hoping the effect where Captain Hook commands, “Fire, Mr. Smee!” (and the cannon glows red) would be restored but it wasn’t. I fondly remember the first time my young son exclaimed, “They’re shooting at us!” (and would continue doing so as he grew up.)

Which begs the question - why is it ok for Pirates of the Caribbean to shoot cannonballs at guests but not Hook and Smee?

I don’t understand all the controversies about the old - AND the new - Native American scene. I like both. All I know is that someone remarked that the drummer looks like Bill Cosby and now I can’t unsee it.

Upon leaving Pan, I made Woody step off to the side with me so I could book a new LL. This was Woody’s main complaint about LLMP - the time I spent on my phone looking for a new LL, trying to modify existing LLs, trying to decide which attractions were the best use of a LL, etc. The “thrill of the hunt” took me out of the present moments of being with him and enjoying the ambiance of being in our favorite place.

He was right. He also didn’t share his feelings with me until we were home. He knew I was “doing research” for this trip report and did not want to intervene. In the future I plan to be more self aware.

I was able to book Big Thunder Mountain for an almost immediate return.

 

[Minnie1986]

Our LL for Peter Pan was now open. We took the cut-through near Aladdin from Adventureland to Frontierland/Liberty Square.

I asked Woody if we could take a quick detour before Pan. Thirteen minute wait is code for walk on.

View attachment 814264
(I was feeling artsy!)

Clearly, nailing the ride photo was more important than listening to whatever Woody had to say!

View attachment 814265

Now I was ready to take flight.

View attachment 814266

Too bad my MagicBand wasn’t. I had to scan it three times before Mickey’s head turned green.

“It took longer for you to tap in than it did to wait in line,” Woody observed.

The attraction refresh looks very nice. I was hoping the effect where Captain Hook commands, “Fire, Mr. Smee!” (and the cannon glows red) would be restored but it wasn’t. I fondly remember the first time my young son exclaimed, “They’re shooting at us!” (and would continue doing so as he grew up.)

Which begs the question - why is it ok for Pirates of the Caribbean to shoot cannonballs at guests but not Hook and Smee?

I don’t understand all the controversies about the old - AND the new - Native American scene. I like both. All I know is that someone remarked that the drummer looks like Bill Cosby and now I can’t unsee it.

View attachment 814268

Upon leaving Pan, I made Woody step off to the side with me so I could book a new LL. This was Woody’s main complaint about LLMP - the time I spent on my phone looking for a new LL, trying to modify existing LLs, trying to decide which attractions were the best use of a LL, etc. The “thrill of the hunt” took me out of the present moments of being with him and enjoying the ambiance of being in our favorite place.

He was right. He also didn’t share his feelings with me until we were home. He knew I was “doing research” for this trip report and did not want to intervene. In the future I plan to be more self aware.

I was able to book Big Thunder Mountain for an almost immediate return.

View attachment 814267

All I know is that someone remarked that the drummer looks like Bill Cosby and now I can’t unsee it.

I will never be able to get this picture out of my head

 

[joshsprincess921]

Bill Cosby...hahaha! I can't unsee it now either.

My husband is Native American and he doesn't understand the controversies either, but I like the new scene.

 

[rshell68]

He was right. He also didn’t share his feelings with me until we were home. He knew I was “doing research” for this trip report and did not want to intervene. In the future I plan to be more self aware.

Thank Woody for us!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Before heading to Big Thunder, we opted to take advantage of the five minute wait at It’s a Small World. A large number of LL holders arrived at the LL entrance the exact moment we entered the standby entrance. Due to each guest having to tap in at both touch points - and no one ahead of us in standby - Woody and I were in a boat and on our way by the time the LL guests reached the load area.

There was nobody for us to wave at in Pinocchio’s Village Haus.

I feel like the dolls at the beginning of the cruise don’t get photographed as much as others. Decided to give Scotland and Ireland a little love.

Hmmmm….Greece is blue.
Windex is blue.
Coincidence?

Of course Polynesia is also bathed in blue….

 

[k8einwdw]

Hmmmm….Greece is blue.
Windex is blue.
Coincidence?

 

[lindawdw]

Getting on the JC is the perfect way to begin your morning at MK! We haven't ridden it in a while because the line is always so long, but I will remember to be at the Adventureland entrance at rope drop to do it first thing in October! I agree with you about the PP ride and the changes made. Being that my mom is from Scotland, I always take a picture of the first room with the Scottish dolls! I understand Woody feeling that way about the LL which is one of the many reasons we rarely buy it.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

I’d mentioned to Woody earlier that Haunted Mansion is an attraction I could ride over and over without getting off. He asked me how long I could go without getting bored - thirty minutes? An hour? Two hours?

I told him I honestly did not know, but it would be fun to try.

Wait time was still posted at 13 minutes as we were making our way to BTM.

“Let’s go again!” he suggested.

Who am I to say no?

As we entered the queue I stopped to take a couple pictures of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. For posterity.

A rose was on Madam Leota’s headstone. It often moves between hers and Master Gracey’s.

Caught her with open eyes!

As much as I would enjoy continuous HM rides, they would need to be free from the “playful spooks” that cause the ride to inexplicably stop. The spooks were in fine form this time, as we had multiple stops that were long delays. It was almost laughable.

Long stop here….

….and here.

Yep, by the time we reached the unload area, I was ready to get off!

 

[Tuvalu]

Yay! I was hoping someone would get the reference!

Being that my mom is from Scotland, I always take a picture of the first room with the Scottish dolls! I understand Woody feeling that way about the LL which is one of the many reasons we rarely buy it.

My mom’s paternal grandparents emigrated from Scotland. Small World!
And ditto re:LL.

 

[rshell68]

As we entered the queue I stopped to take a couple pictures of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. For posterity.

We will be paying our last respects Sept 16th.....

 

[littleroo]

Getting on the JC is the perfect way to begin your morning at MK! We haven't ridden it in a while because the line is always so long, but I will remember to be at the Adventureland entrance at rope drop to do it first thing in October! I agree with you about the PP ride and the changes made. Being that my mom is from Scotland, I always take a picture of the first room with the Scottish dolls! I understand Woody feeling that way about the LL which is one of the many reasons we rarely buy it.

Me too!!! My mom was born in Strathaven, Scotland in 1948 and came to the states in 1955 so I do the same thing on a small world. Lol

 

[Tuvalu]

Being that my mom is from Scotland, I always take a picture of the first room with the Scottish dolls!

Me too!!! My mom was born in Strathaven, Scotland in 1948 and came to the states in 1955 so I do the same thing on a small world. Lol

 

[lindawdw]

Tuesday, con’t

I’d mentioned to Woody earlier that Haunted Mansion is an attraction I could ride over and over without getting off. He asked me how long I could go without getting bored - thirty minutes? An hour? Two hours?

I told him I honestly did not know, but it would be fun to try.

Wait time was still posted at 13 minutes as we were making our way to BTM.

“Let’s go again!” he suggested.

Who am I to say no?

As we entered the queue I stopped to take a couple pictures of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. For posterity.

View attachment 814487

View attachment 814488

A rose was on Madam Leota’s headstone. It often moves between hers and Master Gracey’s.

View attachment 814489
Caught her with open eyes!

As much as I would enjoy continuous HM rides, they would need to be free from the “playful spooks” that cause the ride to inexplicably stop. The spooks were in fine form this time, as we had multiple stops that were long delays. It was almost laughable.

Long stop here….

View attachment 814490

….and here.

View attachment 814491

Yep, by the time we reached the unload area, I was ready to get off!

I know the feeling.