Trip Report Start & Finish=Tragical/In Between=Magical

Hi Friends!! Before I dive into the details of this trip I just wanted to give a quick explanation about the title. Nothing serious happened to anyone. There were some down moments at the beginning & the end, hence "tragical". R actually came up with the title for this TR. I had to tweak it a bit but overall it was fitting & I was happy with it so here we are!!

WHO:

You probably remember most of us(we were the same crew that was there in July 2021 but we're minus my nephew, JC this time).
The "adults"(& I use that term loosely & not b/c of the my sisters & I ) from left to right are C, myself, R, E & D.
In the front row we have E, A, & J!!

WHEN:
Thursday, July 7th-Thursday, July 14th(R, E, J & myself)
The rest of the crew arrived on the 1st & didn't leave until the 17th so they were there quite awhile longer than we were!!

WHERE:

Beach Club Villas!!

I know, you've gotten used to the Riverside crew staying at Saratoga in recent days. Why Beach Club then?? E is a funeral director & there was a funeral directors convention during part of our trip at the Yacht Club so it made more sense to stay there than at Saratoga(don't worry, next month we will be back there)

The rest of the crew stayed off property for a bit, then transferred to Saratoga for awhile then spent their last few days at Beach Club.

I'm super excited to share this trip with everyone & I hope you all enjoy it!!

 

[riverside]

TUESDAY, JULY 12TH

After dinner we headed towards Epcot.

So we could catch the monorail.

Disney had got in touch with my sister a few days earlier & was able to reschedule our fireworks cruise for that day!!

Only this time we were being picked up at The Contemporary instead of Fort Wilderness.

C had noted on the reservation that it was A's birthday so there were balloons & a banner on the boat.

Our driver took a picture before we set sail!!

 

[riverside]

TUESDAY, JULY 12TH

Our driver/guide, Jason, was totally awesome!! He told us lots of fun facts & pointed out lots of things to us that, of course, I can't remember. It would be nice if I had helpers to chime in like @amjt660 does!!

I do remember him saying these shoes belong to former CM's. Upon leaving the company they are allowed to come out & throw their shoes in this tree.

And unfortunately that is the only thing I remember.

We drove around for quite a bit. It really was a lot of fun!!

I thought this picture turned out pretty cool!!

 

[riverside]

TUESDAY, JULY 12TH

After cruising around for awhile it was time for the Electrical Water Pageant!!

That was a lot of fun to watch!!

After that it was time to get out spot for the big finale!!

 

[riverside]

TUESDAY, JULY 12TH

So how it works is you tell your driver where you want the boat to be for the fireworks & if that area is available it's yours. I was quite surprised. There had to have been a minimum of 60 boats out there that evening.

It really was a neat way to see the fireworks!!

The sound was playing on the boat.

It was such a fun experience & I'm so glad we were able to have it rescheduled!!

We took a group photo with Jason before we departed.

Going through security to get to the bus at MK something in my bag set the metal detector off!!

 

[amjt660]

I can't remember. It would be nice if I had helpers to chime in like @amjt660 does!!

What - you don’t have a crew of trip reporters at your disposal??

Love the fireworks shots!!!

Max

 

[LisaBelle]

Hi Patti! I haven't been on here much lately so I just binge read your TR. We arrived at Disney on July 11th. Our first park day was MK on July 12. We were inside MK watching Enchantment for the first time ever while you all were on your Fireworks cruise. I wish I'd known we were both going to be at WDW at the same time! I am still planning to write a TR for our trip. I had to start back at school soon after so I haven't had time to do it yet. I am hoping for this weekend and if not then for sure during Christmas break!
Loving your report! You all always have so much fun! Hoop de Doo looks like such a fun time. It is definitely on my bucket list as is Baseline.

 

[MickeyCB]

He's like a little kid at Christmas.

It was a fun interaction & I'm glad we paid him a visit!!

It's no wonder his students and staff love and respect him so much!!

I thought this picture turned out pretty cool!!

This is a gorgeous photo!

 

[tonystark]

You caught J's vomit with your bare hands...

a better aunt than I would ever be lol

 

[mpaulam]

Best aunt ever!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I thought of you the other day when I was waiting in line for it's a small world at Disneyland. I looked down at a boat passing by and someone in the front row had our Baseline Taphouse shirt on! I wasn't quick enough to get a picture, plus it might have been a little creepy to take a picture of a random person. Anyway, hope you had a good Thanksgiving!

 

[riverside]

What - you don’t have a crew of trip reporters at your disposal??

Love the fireworks shots!!!

How I wish!!

Thanks!!

Hi Patti! I haven't been on here much lately so I just binge read your TR. We arrived at Disney on July 11th. Our first park day was MK on July 12. We were inside MK watching Enchantment for the first time ever while you all were on your Fireworks cruise. I wish I'd known we were both going to be at WDW at the same time! I am still planning to write a TR for our trip. I had to start back at school soon after so I haven't had time to do it yet. I am hoping for this weekend and if not then for sure during Christmas break!
Loving your report! You all always have so much fun! Hoop de Doo looks like such a fun time. It is definitely on my bucket list as is Baseline.

Oh bummer!! That would have been great to meet up!!
I'm glad you're doing one--I always enjoy your reports!!
Hoop De Doo was great!! It was a blast. And of course, Baseline
Thanks for reading!!

This is a gorgeous photo!

Thank you!!

It's no wonder his students and staff love and respect him so much!!

That's so nice of you to say!!

You caught J's vomit with your bare hands...

a better aunt than I would ever be lol

I really didn't have any other choice!! It was either my hands or inside my purse!!

Best aunt ever!

Thank you!!

I thought of you the other day when I was waiting in line for it's a small world at Disneyland. I looked down at a boat passing by and someone in the front row had our Baseline Taphouse shirt on! I wasn't quick enough to get a picture, plus it might have been a little creepy to take a picture of a random person. Anyway, hope you had a good Thanksgiving!

Nice!!
I hope you did also!! It already feels like it was an eternity ago!!

 

[riverside]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH

By looking at the bananas I guess you have it figured that our trip is coming to an end!! Actually, that is inexcusable. Remember, I'm a grocery store manager.

We weren't in a huge rush to get to the park so J & I spent the morning swimming.

We headed to MK around 11:00. Today was the last day for E's convention so it was just the 3 of us.

We mobile ordered when we got inside & headed straight here.

I didn't take any food pictures but J definitely had a blue slushie!!

R really likes the HoP so we watched that next.

Then it was time for one of J's favorites!!

Then mine!!

 

[riverside]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH

At this point the rest of the family arrived(minus E) & everyone was taking turns with the sword but, no luck. There was a little boy that had pulled it out right before us & he was so excited!! It was so cute. We were all clapping & cheering for him!!

We went to PhilharMagic next.

Then paid John & family a visit.

I like Patricia's new boots!!

Wow--does he look young!!

 

[riverside]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH

E finally arrived & we had time for one ride before our dinner reservation so Pirates it was!!

We bid part of the family farewell. We were leaving the next day but they were staying until Sunday. We'd see them back in Pittsburgh!!

I never noticed this cute touch before!!

The food was excellent as always!!

I had a couple bites but I'm not a big fan......

It was a great meal!!

All gone!!

 

[riverside]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH

R wanted to go to POR to watch Bob's show so we hopped on a bus to Riverside. E & J headed back to BC.

Our plan was to hang out at Muddy Rivers for a bit then go to The River Roost.

Before we could get out of the main building it started pouring.

Muddy Rivers was out of the question at this point.

We weren't able to make it off the porch.

And it kept getting worse!!

We gave up & got a seat in The River Roost.

Bob's show was fun as always!!

 

[riverside]

THURSDAY, JULY 14TH

Unfortunately it was time to bid the BC farewell. We left our villa at 11:00 & headed to the lobby to wait for the car service.

Chip N Dale were roaming around.

The closer it got to our pickup time the more nervous I got. I mentioned that it was really odd that I never got a text from the driver(they usually always text you the day before). Then it was our pickup time & no one was there. They are always there EARLY to pick you up.

I knew something had to be wrong so I called the company. The guy told me the driver was waiting for us outside of the lobby. I told him he was not & asked him what kind of car he was driving. He put me on hold for 10 LONG minutes(think about panicking about how you're going to make it on time for your flight) then got back on & said(get ready for this BS) that the driver had a flat tire & was trying to change it. Really dude? I wasn't born yesterday. He told me he recommended that I call for an Uber & they would refund my credit card for the trip(they bill you in advance). I went absolutely nuts. I told him why don't they send another car for us. Of course, they didn't have one. While I was on the phone with them I tried getting an Uber but one wouldn't be there for quite awhile. I told him that he better figure something out. It was very obvious what happened here--they forgot about us. I was absolutely livid. Here's what gets me more than anything. If you screw up & make a mistake just admit it. We're all human. What gets me is when you're going to make up stupid lies & pretty much insult my intelligence. Then I really get angry.

The solution? Lets send the detailer to pick us up in a cargo van!! And let me tell you what a scary ride it was. We were running super late, after all, so this guy was flying. E drives super fast & even she was nervous!!

Let me just say that we were not very "happy" with Happy Limo at this point. We did use them on our last trip but I am looking into other alternatives for our next one.

We somehow made it to the airport with a little bit of time to spare so we got lunch at Cask & Larder.

R wasn't very hungry & got a kid's meal.

E & J split fried pickles.

Then I lost my appetite. A few days before the trip I had to have a CT scan on my left foot. I had gotten the results at some point during the trip. I had sent my test results to @MickeyCB to interpret them for me b/c my head was spinning. I think she pretty much summed it up by saying that my foot is a "hot mess."
Anyhow, the doctor's office called just as we got our food and told me my only option is for them to go in and clean up as much as they can & do a subtalar fusion. Kind of knew that's what they were going to say but hearing it bummed me out. Not to mention that I was still aggravated over the whole car situation.

No safety instructions!!

One last tragical event happened that day. I came home to find a juror summons in the mail!
My problem with going for jury duty is sitting there all day doing nothing. Then my mind is racing b/c of what I could be doing. Of course, I got called & sat there 3/4 of the day for them to dismiss us. The worst is that b/c of my job they have to schedule that as one of my off days. As if that's really what I want to do......

That sums this up!! Thank you all for following along. As always, I appreciate it!! Gotta admit, I'm a bit impressed with myself. I finished this one in less than 3 months!!

 

[Swissmiss]

Wow Patti - I’ve always been impressed as it is by your morning walks and then all your walking in the parks but now even more impressed because I know someone with a similar pathology and she would never be able to do all the walking you do without ending up hobbling by the end of the day!

As usual, thanks for letting me tag along on your adventures

 

[Tuvalu]

 

[Wicked Sisters]

What a great report, thank you for sharing your continued adventures. Sorry to hear about your foot diagnosis.
Would it be a long time recovering from the type of surgery you will need. Hope it doesn’t interfere with you going to WDW. My sister can only wear Skecher sneakers and special insoles as one foot needs surgery in the future but they do help.

 

[cgersic]

Another trip in the books! Thanks for sharing as always and I hope everything goes ok with the foot!