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.

 

[Trust2deal]

love reading your trip posts - thanks

 

[93boomer]

Loving the pictures!! Spice Road Table may end up on our list!

 

[Tuvalu]

love reading your trip posts - thanks

Thank you for following along.

Loving the pictures!! Spice Road Table may end up on our list!

If it does, hope you enjoy Spice Road Table as much as we did.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, July 26

We awoke to sunny skies, hopeful that soggy days were behind us.

Little did we know we were in for the most powerful thunderstorms of our vacation.

Em was getting dressed as I was ready to leave for my usual Marketplace to-go breakfast run. I asked her what kind of muffin she wanted this morning. Though the Marketplace does have limited offerings, it is unique in offering two different types of chocolate chip muffins ~ regular and double chocolate.

“Oooooh, I don’t know!” Em replied. After all, is there such a thing as a bad chocolate chip muffin?

Fortunately, Moms are clever.....creative.....and problem solvers.

I bought one of each and did this:

The best of both! For the record, I did the same thing the next morning.

We got to the bus stop just as the MK bus was pulling up. For once we didn’t have a long wait for a bus!

Em and I ended up being one of the last to board, which meant we had to stand....or at least Em did. A nice gentleman immediately stood up and offered me his seat. I did not refuse and ended up having a delightful conversation with his wife for the duration of our journey. Their family was visiting from across the pond, where proper manners are still important virtues (less so here in the States.)

We passed quickly through security and had the AP line to ourselves.

We made it to Casey’s and I decided a restroom stop would be prudent. But first, a picture of a rare sight ~

This seating area is adorable! I’d never paid attention to it before as it is always crammed with people.

Turns out daughters can be clever and creative too! This was Em’s idea for an unusual selfie:

That’s the mirror on the piano, in case you couldn’t tell.

A not-so-unusual castle selfie to send to a friend who requested it.

 

[93boomer]

Thursday, July 26

We awoke to sunny skies, hopeful that soggy days were behind us.

Little did we know we were in for the most powerful thunderstorms of our vacation.

Em was getting dressed as I was ready to leave for my usual Marketplace to-go breakfast run. I asked her what kind of muffin she wanted this morning. Though the Marketplace does have limited offerings, it is unique in offering two different types of chocolate chip muffins ~ regular and double chocolate.

“Oooooh, I don’t know!” Em replied. After all, is there such a thing as a bad chocolate chip muffin?

Fortunately, Moms are clever.....creative.....and problem solvers.

I bought one of each and did this:
View attachment 304478

The best of both! For the record, I did the same thing the next morning.

We got to the bus stop just as the MK bus was pulling up. For once we didn’t have a long wait for a bus!
View attachment 304473

Em and I ended up being one of the last to board, which meant we had to stand....or at least Em did. A nice gentleman immediately stood up and offered me his seat. I did not refuse and ended up having a delightful conversation with his wife for the duration of our journey. Their family was visiting from across the pond, where proper manners are still important virtues (less so here in the States.)

We passed quickly through security and had the AP line to ourselves.
View attachment 304474

We made it to Casey’s and I decided a restroom stop would be prudent. But first, a picture of a rare sight ~

View attachment 304475
This seating area is adorable! I’d never paid attention to it before as it is always crammed with people.

Turns out daughters can be clever and creative too! This was Em’s idea for an unusual selfie:

View attachment 304476
That’s the mirror on the piano, in case you couldn’t tell.

A not-so-unusual castle selfie to send to a friend who requested it.

View attachment 304477

Well aren’t you both clever! I love that transformed muffin! Cool idea for that picture Em!

 

[Tuvalu]

After taking care of business, we lined up with others on the Adventureland bridge waiting for rope drop.

We waited about 15 minutes before being allowed to head for our first attraction.

Did you guess correctly, @Longers?

Our wait was short but it was sooooo humid inside the building. Only one side was operating (typical at rope drop) so the line backed up on the ramp and we were thisclose to other sweaty folks. I knew then we would not be immediately jumping back in line for a second ride.

#14 in 2018

 

[susan lees]

Wednesday, con’t

The view from our table became even more beautiful at sunset.

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Remember I had warned Em we were going to order an appetizer? After her first look at the menu, Em warned me that we would definitely order dessert!

The Chocolate Pyramid
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This was yummy and a “lighter” dessert than it appears. It was the perfect choice to cap off our meal.

We finished dessert just as the torches around the lagoon were extinguished. Then we settled into our chairs (how great was it to watch Illuminations while seated?!!) as the show began.

Fire!
View attachment 304294

Water and Earth!
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And then the < yawn > part of the show where the globe turns with projections that last too long.

Finally the best part ~ fireworks galore!
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When it was over our server returned with our bill. I left a generous tip and we stopped to use the restrooms before exiting through the International Gateway.

The best part of staying at Beach Club tonight? We were showered and in bed at 10 pm! One of the main reasons we don’t often stay for Illuminations is the hassle of the long, crowded walk to the front of the park followed by a lengthy wait for transportation back to our resort....when we are tired and usually hot.

The ease of tonight’s commute was awesome.

I like the globe part. Makes me cry every time

 

[Tuvalu]

The park had only been open 20 minutes and we were already melting into a pool of sweat.

“Need air conditioning!” I grunted.

So we raced to the closest attraction with an indoor queue.

(Yes, Splash Mountain and Country Bear Jamboree may be closer, but Splash already had a substantial wait and Country Bears didn’t open until 10 am. )

#ShirleyStatus

@Dave Ber when we reached the load area the CM said (unsurprisingly), “Row 6.” I asked if we could sit in another row and the CM said, “Which row?”

I requested Row 3 and remarkably we had it to ourselves!

Cooled off, we had to head back out into the humidity and briskly walk to our first FP.

I loved Em’s French braid and had to take a pic!

We may not have had the last car on BTMRR, but we had it on 7DMT.

The lady in front of me is almost at GJ’s level of terror, @becca_!

 

[Tuvalu]

Since we were in the neighborhood, it would have been silly to bypass a fave.

I took the next picture for Woody. He always waves back to Ariel and Eric.

Unfortunately I forgot to send him the “wish you were here” text!

Em and I got in one more attraction before our next FP.

“The next FP may be behind you.”

 

[Tuvalu]

After flying over Neverland I needed a stop at the world’s best-themed restrooms. Em needed a bottle of water.

We had a few minutes to kill before our next FP window opened so we went for a looksee in Memento Mori.....where I pretended to be @ajrwdwgirl and took pictures of cool merchandise we didn’t buy.

Front (or back, I can’t recall)

Back (or front, ditto!)

Em and I this......

....but were bummed to discover it was Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion on the canvas and not WDW’s.

I wasn’t worried about a ghost following me home. The clouds, however, made me nervous.......

 

[fractal]

Because of you, I now can't wait to ride the Saucer Riders!

“What would you like to drink?” I answered with, “Spicy Hummus Fries.”

Lol!

Great Epcot pics by Em!

I'm longing for a Beach Club (or YC) stay!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

After flying over Neverland I needed a stop at the world’s best-themed restrooms. Em needed a bottle of water.

View attachment 304524

We had a few minutes to kill before our next FP window opened so we went for a looksee in Memento Mori.....where I pretended to be @ajrwdwgirl and took pictures of cool merchandise we didn’t buy.

View attachment 304522

Front (or back, I can’t recall)
View attachment 304520

Back (or front, ditto!)
View attachment 304521

Em and I this......
View attachment 304519
....but were bummed to discover it was Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion on the canvas and not WDW’s.

I wasn’t worried about a ghost following me home. The clouds, however, made me nervous.......

View attachment 304523

Great merch pictures. I like that painting too now that you showed it to me. We didn't make it into Momento on our last trip. I totally would have taken a picture of that painting too.

 

[riverside]

I LOVE the Happy Haunts shirt!! I can see a purchase in my future...

 

[Swissmiss]

Love Em's backpack!

 

[MinnieM123]

Oooooh, I don’t know!” Em replied. After all, is there such a thing as a bad chocolate chip muffin?

Fortunately, Moms are clever.....creative.....and problem solvers.

I bought one of each and did this:

Gotta say, that's one of the BEST things I've ever seen on this forum!!!

 

[becca_]

View attachment 304496
The lady in front of me is almost at GJ’s level of terror, @becca_!

Hahaha

 

[Ayden]

Just came back from vacation, so I'm sorry for the overload of likes looks like you had great trips so far, except for the rain, b o o b s in strollers and the diamond horseshoe. Glad to see you enjoyed the saucers! I'm happily following along

 

[LittleTuna12]

Love your trip report(s)!

I always feel hungry after reading them!!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

So glad you got on Saucers with a shortish wait! Stinks that it's not air conditioned and there aren't fans or spray mists up yet! I can't wait to try SDD and Saucers! I'm glad it didn't give you Motion Sickness, now I'm not worried anymore!

I love Em's Epcot pics from the English Channel area! Lovely!

YAY!!! You made it to Spice Road!! Impressive! The food looks AMAZING!!! I'm putting it on our list of "must dos!"


YES! I LOVE Em's tank in the last MK day!!! Beautiful!!! LOVE the Casey's pic, though I'm surprised you went to Pirates instead of HM. Is Pirates queue more indoors than HM's? I guess it is when I think about it!

 

[Laurensl]

It’s Saucer time!!

View attachment 303657

While we were still in the uncovered part of the queue, we could hear nature sounds that would be in Andy’s backyard ~ twittering birds, chirping crickets, buzzing flies. Em remarked that while the sounds “set the mood” they also did a good job of drowning out construction noise from the adjacent Galaxy’s Edge!

Though we were not in direct sunlight it was so humid that we were quickly becoming hot, sweaty messes.

“It wouldn’t have ruined my illusion of Andy’s backyard if there was air conditioning in this queue. There is no reason the covered part couldn’t have been inside a building!” Em complained.

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She was right. It was a toasty wait even at 30 minutes. Can’t imagine waiting longer....we were melting.

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Excited to be out of the line and in our saucer!
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The misery was quickly forgotten once the ride started. We became exactly like the other Saucer Riders I’d watched the other day ~ grinning, laughing and having the time of our lives!

So much fun.....and no dizziness at all!

I would easily wait 30 minutes again. Just not in the heat.

Since you brought up not being dizzy, I’m very concerned that I’m going to get dizzy on it and ruin my day. I went on tea cups (17 years ago) and was throwing up and had to leave the park. I don’t want to miss out on the fun but no ride is worth feeling sick for.