Trip Report The Never-Ending Summer Of Disney *COMPLETED*

Seriously?!!

Can you believe it??

This is jaw-dropping news!!

If only.

Two things in life give me the blues ~ the end of summer and the end of a Disney vacation. A never-ending summer of Disney would be a dream come true! But I am certainly happy to “settle” for a WDW vacay in June....in July....and in August. And rather than write three separate trip reports (and annoy @amjt660 when my *COMPLETED* report really isn’t ) I decided to take @Rista1313 ’s suggestion and post an ongoing travelogue, à la @blgauger style.

So let’s get started!

Vacation #1
June 16-24, 2018
Tuvalu, Woody and Em get pampered at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Was there rain? Any snarky Cast Members? Ridiculous guest behavior? A Magic meet-up? How many times did we watch Happily Ever After?

You’ll have to follow along to find out.

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

What happened next brought unspeakable joy to my heart.

WE GOT TO SEE THE MUPPET MOBILE LAB!!!

I do not have the eagle-eye of my mother, so when she whacked my arm and ran off I was a little concerned. My mother doesn’t run, but she can walk faster than I can run myself, so I had to jog to keep up with her!

I don’t think I’ve seen her that excited about something since we saw the globe spinning outside of Mission:Space for its soft opening. Those pre-forum days made it difficult to know when things were happening, and I can vividly remember walking by MouseGear and hearing her yell, “I’ve heard that if the globe is spinning the ride is operating!” Now mind you, she didn’t ride it but was so excited for the rest of the family to experience it.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, June 21

Whenever we stay at a resort with an awesome pool we intentionally include “pool mornings” in our schedule, to take advantage of fewer people using the amenities (not unlike RD (“Arty” )in the parks). Today was a designated pool morning.

I was shocked to discover when I awakened that it was nearly 8 am! I never sleep in that late. Woody had already left to get breakfast and set up his workstation. I dressed and set off for the lounge in search of muffins. I saw Woody from a distance ~ he was on a call. I fixed a plate, grabbed coffee and returned to our room to find Em up.

We ate then got ready for the pool. We stopped to say good morning/goodbye to Woody on our way to the elevator. Once we were outside we noticed a lot of clouds and only a little sun but we remained optimistic.

First ones here!

Em found her lounging spot.

See that tiny sun ray on her leg? It wasn’t there for long. The sun was swallowed up by clouds. We continued to recline on our loungers, chatting, until it began to sprinkle.

We moved to a table under an umbrella to wait for the raindrops to stop.

 

[Tuvalu]

Yeah, not looking good.....

The sprinkles turned into a deluge!

And we were trapped!

It rained hard and steady for over half an hour. Just as the droplets stopped and the sun began to peek through the clouds, two lifeguards arrived to close the pool!

Apparently there was lightning on the radar and the pool deck had to be cleared.

Em and I walked our sad little selves back to our room.

 

[Tuvalu]

We debated whether to stay in our swimsuits or shower and change. After checking the forecast we decided to throw in the towel (the pool towel, that is!)

Woody arrived a little later to take his noon call in a quiet place. The lobby had been very noisy (shocker!) Em and I read until he completed the call, then the three of us went to Roaring Fork for lunch.

Sadly it was too humid to enjoy lunch al fresco on the covered patio, so we dined inside.

Flatbread for Em

BBQ sandwich for Woody

“Why bother ordering something else when this chicken sandwich is so good” for me

We were intrigued by the “Campfire Cupcake” and bought one to share.

The filling was marshmallow and the colored “coals” were edible. The cupcake was tasty, though it was more Oreo-esque (cookies and cream) than S’mores flavored.

 

[Tuvalu]

Em and I really wanted more pool time. The rain had stopped and we could see that the main pool was open, which meant the other pool should be open as well. We decided to walk the resort grounds to see if changing back into swimwear would be a good idea. Woody came along with us.

Ducks for @DisneyShe!

Sky not looking too promising....

 

[MotherofaPrincessLover]

That cupcake is super cute.

 

[Tuvalu]

Nice fire pit.

I hope there are chair cushions someplace....otherwise this furniture looks extremely uncomfortable.

Look how low to the ground the chairs are!

Private event? The place was empty!

I adore the animal prints in the concrete!

One more by the waterfall.

Em and I never made it back to the pool. The weather app predicted storms and we didn’t want to find ourselves in the same situation we had experienced earlier. Woody worked, Em napped and I read.

It never did rain!

 

[93boomer]

Yeah, not looking good.....

View attachment 296623

The sprinkles turned into a deluge!

View attachment 296624

And we were trapped!

View attachment 296622

It rained hard and steady for over half an hour. Just as the droplets stopped and the sun began to peek through the clouds, two lifeguards arrived to close the pool!

Apparently there was lightning on the radar and the pool deck had to be cleared.

Em and I walked our sad little selves back to our room.

Aww bummer!

 

[93boomer]

Nice fire pit.
View attachment 296642

I hope there are chair cushions someplace....otherwise this furniture looks extremely uncomfortable.
View attachment 296643
Look how low to the ground the chairs are!

View attachment 296644

View attachment 296645

View attachment 296646
Private event? The place was empty!

View attachment 296649

I adore the animal prints in the concrete!
View attachment 296647

View attachment 296648

One more by the waterfall.
View attachment 296650

Em and I never made it back to the pool. The weather app predicted storms and we didn’t want to find ourselves in the same situation we had experienced earlier. Woody worked, Em napped and I read.

It never did rain!

Oh noooo!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Later that afternoon we went in search of some fun!

The bus stop monitor was advertising the bus time feature on the app....

...which was ironic, since the feature still wasn’t working for us.

I noticed Em standing by the pressed penny machine.

Woody doesn’t get the pressed penny concept. “Why would you pay money to smash money?”

“Because it’s cool!”

Our chariot has arrived.

Did she get me? I’ll let you decide.

 

[93boomer]

Later that afternoon we went in search of some fun!

View attachment 296661

The bus stop monitor was advertising the bus time feature on the app....
View attachment 296658
...which was ironic, since the feature still wasn’t working for us.

I noticed Em standing by the pressed penny machine.
View attachment 296654

View attachment 296655

Woody doesn’t get the pressed penny concept. “Why would you pay money to smash money?”

“Because it’s cool!”
View attachment 296657

View attachment 296656

Our chariot has arrived.
View attachment 296659

Did she get me? I’ll let you decide.
View attachment 296660

Nope cause your eyes are looking at her.

 

[Tuvalu]

Has it really been 20 years? I remember our first visit in July 1998 like it was yesterday!

The other day I gave kudos to Epcot for staffing a CM at the beginning of the Passholder entry line. Today Animal Kingdom gets props for CLEARLY defining who’s entitled to use Passholder entrance.

A black swan!

(What is that CM doing??)

(Did this bird lose a fight?)

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody and I watched Em enter this cave. Being lemmings, we followed her.

A surprise awaited us on the other side!

“You want us to pose? Awww, shucks!”

Have you ever seen a calico duck, @DisneyShe?

 

[MinnieM123]

Woody doesn’t get the pressed penny concept. “Why would you pay money to smash money?”

I like Woody - so practical. I admire that trait in him, because I can't ever relate to being practical !! We always admire those who have talents that we don't have, ourselves.

 

[Tuvalu]

Woody had not been to Pandora in a year....which also means he had not been to AK in a year. Woody is fine with skipping AK every trip, even though it contains one of his top rides.....Expedition:Everest. (You expected me to say Flight of Passage, didn’t you? )

Well Woody did make a fuss over FOP last summer (I believe I heard the words incredible and amazing) so I made sure to secure FPs for this vacation. I was looking forward to riding FOP again after the extraordinary experience I had in April (re: no motion sickness).

Photographer Em got right to work.

 

[Tuvalu]

135 minutes standby wait? Having a FOP FP is truly like having a golden ticket!

I got to hold the legal warning card!

#ShirleyStatus?

Well.....was it as awesome as ever?

I was very surprised by Woody’s unimpressed demeanor. I believe I heard the words fine and interesting. He added that it wouldn’t be a “must-do” for him. It was kinda the opposite of what I expected.

Me? I was disappointed when we were led to the lower level. The lower level had really bothered my motion sensitivity on my maiden ride last summer. In April I had had no issues when I was seated in the center of level 2. I decided to adopt a “mind over matter” attitude.

It didn’t work.

I was queasy from the outset and kept my eyes closed for most of the flight. Not much fun at all.

The take-away? I won’t be stressing over obtaining FOP FPs anymore. Em still really enjoys the attraction but she can vie for her own FP.

 

[Tuvalu]

We saw this guy after exiting FOP.

I’m sure he wows kids but he didn’t do much for us.

I, on the other hand, was hoping to wow Woody with our dinner location....Satu’li Canteen.

We did not use mobile ordering since I wanted Woody to have the full experience. There were only a few folks in line so mobile ordering wasn’t necessary anyway.

He was very pleased with his meal!

(Well except for the Boba balls....does anyone actually like those things?)

I will never order any protein except the steak. So so good!

Em was feeling a little “off” and chose to have a kids bowl.

It was still a hearty portion. And no Boba balls!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Woody and I watched Em enter this cave. Being lemmings, we followed her.

View attachment 296679

A surprise awaited us on the other side!

View attachment 296680

View attachment 296681

“You want us to pose? Awww, shucks!”
View attachment 296682

Have you ever seen a calico duck, @DisneyShe?
View attachment 296683

I love Disney birds! Escpecially the ducks. That is beautiful. I don’t think I have seen it before. My turkey, that has been coming for 2 years now, I can hand feed her, came back about a month ago with 3 babies! I have been so excited... lol

 

[Tuvalu]

I love Disney birds! Escpecially the ducks.

I remember .

 

[Tuvalu]

“Let’s get some Photopass pictures before leaving Pandora,” I said.

The CM took two pictures. TWO!!

The first one was very nice.

The second?

We were hoping for a magic shot. In fact Em was certain she was being posed for a magic shot. We got a “magic” shot all right.......but nothing could have prepared Em for the horror of the final product.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MOST AWKWARD, EMBARRASSING AND MORTIFYING FAMILY PHOTO AN ADULT CHILD WILL EVER ENDURE ~

You’re welcome.