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.

 

[Tuvalu]

I've run into that problem too. No I have a software "big red numbers" clock on my cell phone, that works just like a hotel clock. Problem solved!

We “old timers” need our clocks! Yours is a good solution.

Brilliant. Living vicariously through all the summer reports to keep me going until our trip in November

Glad to help.

I will wish upon a star every night from now on that I can stay Club Level someday! Between the extra toiletries (haven't seen them in a DVC villa!) and the lounge, I'd be in HEAVEN

We’ve stayed club level a few times at other resorts, but this may have been our favorite by far. We felt we got a great value for the money.

Being DVC members, I fear I'll never experience the glory of eating all day in a lounge. That is a sad thing. It looks like lots of (delicious) fun!
I'll be visiting July 21 - 29. Perhaps I'll see you on the MPB or the Peoplemover and say hello!

It was delicious fun! Please say hello if you see me!

Oh wow, are you all living the LIFE!! I am living vicariously through you until we will be drive down in August!! It’s been a little while since we were at the Wilderness Lodge - it was where we stayed in our first-ever trip to Disney, so I get very nostalgic for that place.
The club level looks amazing!!! Those snacks remind me of some of the things they would set out on their cruises! I cannot wait to read more about your Summer of Disney!!!

Even I can’t believe how fortunate we are to visit our favorite place so frequently. I never take it for granted. WL has a special place in my heart ~ it is #2 on my “most stays” list. (Bet you can guess #1! )

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

Satisfied by our light supper, we headed out to the Magic Kingdom. The rain had stopped....yay!....which was very important for our plans later. The cloud cover and slight breeze made the evening very pleasant.

This IS paradise!

 

[Tuvalu]

While on our way to our first FP we encountered the re-enactment of Paul Revere’s midnight ride.

It was a great moment in history!

Raise your hand if you’re surprised we did Haunted Mansion first.

(I don’t see a single hand!)

In the stretching room the cast member let out a big SHUSH. It startled a few people.....but didn’t close the mouth of a Chatty Cathy near me. (Fun Fact: I actually owned a Chatty Cathy doll as a little girl.)

The pet cemetery is being overrun by giant ryegrass!

Somebody save Mr. Toad.....please!

 

[Tuvalu]

We had some time to kill before our next FP window opened. The standby sign for It’s a Small World said 30 minutes so we joined the line, expecting the sign would be wrong.

Oh it was wrong all right....but not in the way we had hoped. We saw the clock open three times ~ meaning our actual wait was 45 minutes.

During our wait a CM continually urged all guests to: “Keep up with the party ahead of you.” “Know the number of your party.” (Shocking that many guests don’t!) And “Prepare your luggage for boarding.” (I’ll bet the last statement was to trick folks into listening to him!)

Finally made it into a boat.

(If you make me sit in the middle, I get two selfies!)
Truthfully, the real fun in those pictures are the photobombing women behind us!

Our journey through the various continents of singing and dancing dolls was unnoteworthy until we sailed into the final room......

BRIGHT LIGHTS! BRIGHT LIGHTS! Who replaced these bulbs with LEDs??!!

 

[Sillysidewalker]

Saturday, con’t

Woody dropped me, Em and our luggage off under the port cochère so we could stay dry. He parked and grabbed an umbrella from the car and met us in the lobby.

@Tuvalu you teach me something new with every report. I didn’t know that was called a port cochere. Following along.

 

[DisSplash]

Yuck! Don’t much like those LEDs in there ... don’t much like them anywhere. (How very Suessian of me). But seriously - it just doesn’t look the same. The yellower lights are so much more warm and friendly, not to mention cozy and comforting. This is an optical assault!

 

[Tuvalu]

Upon exiting IASW we were well within our next FP window.

Look again at the picture above.
Are they seriously suggesting that 5 or 6 guests can fit in one pirate ship??!! (I don’t care if some of them are littles....it’s a tight squeeze for 3 adults, let alone 3 adults holding children!)

We always split up.

#ShirleyRidesAlone

 

[LadyBelle]

(I don’t see a single hand!)

Somebody save Mr. Toad.....please!

As that ride scared the mess outta me as a youngster, Mr. Toad can quietly fade away.

 

[DisneyMorgan]

I'm in!! Following along on the Tuvalu family adventure(s)

 

[MinnieM123]

Voilà!

Traveling in style, I see! I love the colors on your clock's digital numbers -- now, that's CLASSY! I gotta get me one of those, too!!

The “lodge” side of the resort (not to be confused with the “Copper Creek” DVC side) is slated to undergo room refurbishments starting in the fall. I imagine most of the “wilderness” theme will be stripped out and replaced with the sterile, uniform “no one can guess which resort they’re in” look Disney has now adopted.

It's been quite a few years since I stayed at WL (think maybe on 2 previous visits, just for a few days, I was up in the club level -- long before they renovated up there). A few other times I stayed in the regular guest rooms which were also nice. I liked the (Courtyard?) view of the streams below, and the pool off to the distance.

Anyway, whether up in the club, or in one of the regular guest rooms, what appealed to me most was the rustic design of the furnishings and light fixtures, with animals and a few Native American accents. I absolutely loved the decor. I pray that if they refurbish, they don't go to that uggo, bland, generic design that you referred to above. That would "kill" the atmosphere in one of the best-themed resorts on property.

 

[myhappyplace]

Ahhh how have I missed 4 pages? All caught up though now and can't wait to read more (as always) but ESPECIALLY since you're staying at my fave

 

[Tuvalu]

I'm in!! Following along on the Tuvalu family adventure(s)

Ahhh how have I missed 4 pages? All caught up though now and can't wait to read more (as always) but ESPECIALLY since you're staying at my fave

Welcome aboard, ladies!

As that ride scared the mess outta me as a youngster, Mr. Toad can quietly fade away.

Wuss!

 

[StefDisney]

I'm in as well! Can't wait for the trio of trips

 

[MissingDisney]

Finally! I’ve been checking everyday for a new trip report. Now summer is complete Joining in your family fun adventure.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I am following along! I love Tuvalu trip reports!! Glad Christopher was so very helpful at WL! I love the idea that the pet cemetery is overrun but there's a tricky balance because we need to be able to see the headstones, too! Can't believe IASM was such a long wait! I guess that's summer at the World! I say you ride BTMRR at least 3 times this trip!

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

Our Pirate ships came to a screeching halt over London. (If you’ve ever been on Peter Pan when it stops you know what I’m talking about!) We were idle for several minutes. It was actually a pretty cool place to be stuck, as I have always loved watching the Matchbox-size “cars” drive along along the streets of London at night. Em and I used hand and facial motions to communicate as we could see each other but were too far apart to talk.

I wondered how a ride evacuation would work on Peter Pan. While the possibility was intriguing, tonight was NOT the night to find out. We were already a few minutes late for our next activity.

Before real fretting could take hold (I was already concerned about the possibility of more rain) our ships started moving. Phew!

We walked briskly (as briskly as one can walk through a packed MK) to our destination.

The HEA dessert party was Em’s gift to Woody for Father’s Day. As much as we gals love the HEA fireworks, we had never seen the “complete” show with the projections coordinated with the music/fireworks. Since Em has anxiety standing in shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, we knew we’d never find a “free” spot close enough to see the projections clearly. The dessert party was the perfect solution.

We checked in at the podium pictured above and were directed to a second podium up on the right of the upper part of the terrace. There seemed to be some confusion between the CMs working this station. We were given our wristbands and told to wait for so-and-so to escort us to our table. Then we were told never mind, get desserts first and return to the podium to wait for so-and-so to show us our table.

Em took pics while I scoped out the offerings. Woody hung back by the podium in case the CMs changed their minds about the protocol again.

I put a few things on a plate and noticed Woody motioning us to return to the podium. Turns out a CM was ready to seat us NOW.

We were led through a maze of occupied tables to one reserved for us. While our name was not on a placecard, it was clear the table was reserved for a party of three.

I did not have high expectations for the quality of the desserts based on reviews I’d read. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement......this spread was a chocoholics dream! Everything we sampled was fresh, decadent and yummy.

S’mores on a stick

OOEY GOOEY CAKE! (With “optional” vanilla ice cream....the way Ooey Gooey Cake is meant to be eaten!)

(The CM serving the Ooey Gooey mentioned how incredulous she was at the number of people who did not want the ice cream.....blasphemy, I tell you, blasphemy!)

Silly me saw the fluted glasses with sparkling liquid and thought it was champagne......

....nope, sparking cider!

BUT, if you look closely at the glass next to the purple candle, you’ll see the true beverage nectar of the party....

POG JUICE!!!!

And the best part of the experience was yet to come!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

What a fun gift, the HEA dessert party! We've thought about doing it before, but this year, our money is going to the Candlelight Processional dining package!

 

[LadyBelle]

Wuss!

You betcha!!

 

[krause]

I wondered how a ride evacuation would work on Peter Pan. While the possibility was intriguing, tonight was NOT the night to find out. We were already a few minutes late for our next activity.

I think they drag out ladders and everyone has to climb down! @AKemily has avoided PP since she found that out haha - imagine if there was a fire!!

I feel so happy for you that they had Ooey Gooey cake at the dessert party! It almost makes up for the sadness I feel that you’ve never seen the projections before They’re the best part!

 

[Tuvalu]

At 8:45 we made our way to the Plaza Garden for the 9:15 pm show. Many families had already claimed spots on the grass (turf?) and were comfortably seated. After almost 8 hours in the car earlier today we were quite happy to stand in back.

There was lots of breathing room in the garden; lots of personal space. As we waited Em noticed a Photopass photog in the back corner. It was actually the same photographer who had taken our pic on Main Street when we arrived. (I’d say “small world”......but you get the gist!) Em motioned for me to join her.

When I returned to our viewing spot I sent Woody over to Em.

Just a few minutes later HEA started....

....and I got goosebumps!

We watched in stunned silence. Okay, okay.....Woody and Em watched in stunned silence. Yours truly was loudly singing along (yes I know all the words....don’t judge ) through Weepy Wanda tears. The show was BREATHTAKING (and not in a Seinfeld way, @amjt660 ).

We got an up-close sighting of TINK!

And I love how Em captured a “hidden Tink” in this picture.

I am SO GRATEFUL to Em for taking a few pictures. She didn’t want to take any....she just wanted to be in the moment....but she caved to my pleading. Thanks @TrolleyFollower91 .

Woody said it was the best Father’s Day present ever. He is still talking about it. Em and I both were a Hot Mess at the finale.

We could have remained in the viewing area for the Once Upon A Time projection show (which we’ve also never seen, @krause ) but we had one more important thing to take care of......and a limited time to do it.