Trip Report The No Rain, Red Card, Vanna White, July JOURNEY! *COMPLETED*

So my most recent trip report was 44 years in the making ~ this one has taken only a month :). And for any of you keeping score, this is my 5th trip report. This year. I have been to WDW five times in 2016 and have plans to return in September. And October. And December. (Please don't hate me.)

Those of you who are tired of reading about my Disney escapades can exit now, no hard feelings. Those of you who have read any of my other reports know what you're in for and I hope I can keep your interest. I really appreciate your kind comments.

To that end I will start by playing tag ~ @TrolleyFollower91 @Doc Disney @TheMouseFan @MinnieM123 @Tiggerish @BWK05 @Gabe1 @samantha788 @coachwnh @Figment Forever @figmentfan423 @epcotisbest @Zipitidoda @MerMom1981 @LisaBelle @Matty30 @Courtney6682 @bee @lostpro9het @cgersic @sheriffwoody @blgauger @meganwdw @fractal @MississippiBelle @jrogue @ScarletBegonias @LadyBelle @disneypearl @Tony the Tigger @tcool123 @prfctlyximprct @Longers @gwhb75 @Beckett @Ciara @ajrwdwgirl @FlaggNL @mishel635 @myhappyplace

If I have omitted anyone, please forgive me and know it was not intentional! A great big thank you in advance to everyone who follows along :happy:.

"Now give me a little intro there, Gomer" (I clearly have seen the Country Bear Jamboree way too many times...)

Cast: Tuvalu and Em, a girls' summer getaway!
Date: July 23-27
Resort: Polynesian Village (surprised? Didn't think so...)

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Did all our wishes come true? You'll have to wait and see.
 
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Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Ciara said:
Happy to see you actually received a room ready text! :hilarious:
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I know!!! Could hardly believe it myself!

samantha788 said:
Yes, there are definitely two more coming :p My pass is different than an AP since it's given through work so no memory maker, but I can't really complain since the pass is free:oops:
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Free pass = spring for Memory Maker ;)

Doc Disney said:
This is my worst fear. I am always brushing up on my basic and advanced care first aid things in case someone needs a doctor on board :oops: Glad to hear he's OK
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Thank you for keeping your skills honed. You never know when you may be a life-saver.

Zipitidoda said:
If I every get the pleasure to stay at the Poly I'm definitely requesting Rarotonga!! You make a great salesman @Tuvalu
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Poly salesman yes, other things definitely not! :joyfull:
 
DisneyPrincess5

DisneyPrincess5

Well-Known Member
Following! Omg...The Poly...my heart skips a beat. Always love seeing your Poly photos. Its clear that it holds a special place with you and also us. DH and my first and second trips together we're spent at The Poly, Rarotonga specifically. And your report is making me itch to return!!!

Wow, an allergy flare up and vomiting-yikes! Love that you saw Vanna filming! Can't wait to read more.
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
DisneyPrincess5 said:
Following! Omg...The Poly...my heart skips a beat. Always love seeing your Poly photos. Its clear that it holds a special place with you and also us. DH and my first and second trips together we're spent at The Poly, Rarotonga specifically. And your report is making me itch to return!!!

Wow, an allergy flare up and vomiting-yikes! Love that you saw Vanna filming! Can't wait to read more.
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Let's hear it for Poly love! :inlove:
 
gwhb75

gwhb75

Well-Known Member
Tuvalu said:
So my most recent trip report was 44 years in the making ~ this one has taken only a month :). And for any of you keeping score, this is my 5th trip report. This year. I have been to WDW five times in 2016 and have plans to return in September. And October. And December. (Please don't hate me.)

Those of you who are tired of reading about my Disney escapades can exit now, no hard feelings. Those of you who have read any of my other reports know what you're in for and I hope I can keep your interest. I really appreciate your kind comments.

To that end I will start by playing tag ~ @TrolleyFollower91 @Doc Disney @TheMouseFan @MinnieM123 @Tiggerish @BWK05 @Gabe1 @samantha788 @coachwnh @Figment Forever @figmentfan423 @epcotisbest @Zipitidoda @MerMom1981 @LisaBelle @Matty30 @Courtney6682 @bee @lostpro9het @cgersic @sheriffwoody @blgauger @meganwdw @fractal @MississippiBelle @jrogue @ScarletBegonias @LadyBelle @disneypearl @Tony the Tigger @tcool123 @prfctlyximprct @Longers @gwhb75 @Beckett @Ciara @ajrwdwgirl @FlaggNL @mishel635 @myhappyplace

If I have omitted anyone, please forgive me and know it was not intentional! A great big thank you in advance to everyone who follows along :happy:.

"Now give me a little intro there, Gomer" (I clearly have seen the Country Bear Jamboree way too many times...)

Cast: Tuvalu and Em, a girls' summer getaway!
Date: July 23-27
Resort: Polynesian Village (surprised? Didn't think so...)

View attachment 157120

Did all our wishes come true? You'll have to wait and see.
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Wood hoo. I feel like I was just picked for the team.
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Saturday, con't

Em was selected to go through the metal detector upon our arrival at Epcot. This "randomness" and the stress of "will I or won't I get picked to walk through" could be easily solved by making everyone walk through. Yes, it's a pain, but it is the reality of the world we now live in. We already do it at airports, sports stadiums and government buildings.

We had a long, hot walk to our destination. (@Zipitidoda, I noticed a comment in my notes after our last day: "This was definitely the hottest vacation we have experienced in a long time." So you weren't crazy!! ;)) As we neared the World Showcase Promenade, we overheard a young couple in the throes of breaking up. Lots of anger, tears and drama. Hopefully they were locals, otherwise the rest of their vacation would be awkwardly awful!

We made it! Norway....or should I say Arendelle?
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@Doc Disney, I had to check out our favorite attraction first ~

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Love the scalloped edge trim on the counter!

Standby wait was 120 minutes. We had a FP :D. Now you know why we did not have any fastpasses at the MK!

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We scanned our bands....and guess what I got?

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Our FP wait clocked in at 20 minutes. Better than two hours, yes, but we decided this trip that Disney seems to be pushing the limits of a FP wait ~ testing to see how long guests are willing to wait in a FP line before complaining. We had several FP waits at 15-20 minutes, which we think are too long.

We did not take any pictures during our first ride, as we wanted to just enjoy the experience. Clearly, we did not expect a picture to be taken of US!!!

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(Whenever we need a good laugh, we now pull up this beauty! :jawdrop: :joyfull:)

Frozen Ever After gets a thumbs up. Olaf is terrific and the Imagineers worked magic using the limited parameters of an existing ride. But a FP is a must for us as we wouldn't wait more than 30 minutes to ride again.
 
lostpro9het

lostpro9het

Well-Known Member
Tuvalu said:
Em was selected to go through the metal detector upon our arrival at Epcot. This "randomness" and the stress of "will I or won't I get picked to walk through" could be easily solved by making everyone walk through. Yes, it's a pain, but it is the reality of the world we now live in. We already do it at airports, sports stadiums and government buildings.
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Preach it sister!

Tuvalu said:
We did not take any pictures during our first ride, as we wanted to just enjoy the experience. Clearly, we did not expect a picture to be taken of US!!!

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HA! @TrolleyFollower91 looks less than impressed... I kinda think I'm gonna feel the same way if I choose to brave the insanity.
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
It was nearing 5 p.m. and we made a hurried walk past China, Africa, Germany and Italy. I wanted to make sure we would get seats for:

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Em and I joined the line that was queued outside the theater. In just a few moments the line began to move ~ thankfully, since we were melting from the brisk walk in the humidity and were standing in the sun. We found a shady bench inside and plopped down. Now, you will notice in the above picture that the first Sounds Like Summer show begins at 5:30 p.m. Shockingly, I had not done my research :jawdrop: and thought the first show was at 5. So you can imagine our surprise when the announcer said, "Put your hands together for the American Music Machine!"

Ummm, who?

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According to Disney, American Music Machine is "a 5 person a cappella sensation delivering an all-vocal musical marathon of harmonies of some of the greatest American pop songs performed in a vibrant, energetic style."

So now you know. ;)

Their performance did help pass the time for the REAL reason we came to the America Gardens Theatre. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you ~

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DSB...A Tribute to JOURNEY!!!!!!

I *may* be just a *tiny* Journey fan. I *may* crank up the volume for Who's Cryin' Now and get a tear in my eye when I hear Lights (the first song Woody and I danced to as husband and wife.) And my kids *may* have been raised with a Journey soundtrack in the background.

Steve Perry doppelgänger :happy:
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See the guy in the Kona (! :cat:) tee? There were swarms of tiny gnats all around his hat. Didn't seem to bother him, but it grossed us out!

The show rocked!! I tried to contain my enthusiasm, as to not totally embarrass Em. (There were others in the audience who were already doing that for me.) For those who may be interested, this was the set:
Be Good To Yourself
Any Way You Want It
Stone In Love
Who's Cryin' Now
Ask The Lonely
And of course the finale:
Don't Stop Believin' (The original, NOT the Glee version!)

When we exited the theater, I was one happy camper. :D
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Time to grab some dinner! We were close to one of our fave spots ~ Tangierine Cafe :hungry:.

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Em had the Mediterranean Chicken Wrap (right) and I had the Shawarma Chicken Platter.

After enjoying the yumminess, I casually asked Em if she wouldn't mind walking back past the America Gardens Theatre on our way to Future World. (We had a FP for Spaceship Earth.) DSB was just beginning their second show as we approached the theater.

As we heard the opening riff for Only The Young (one of my favorites), Em looked at me and said, "We're going to have to go back inside aren't we?" I grinned.

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As you can see, our seats weren't as close and we were not in the shade. But Em was indulging me (and hoping she might get to hear her favorite Journey song.) After each song concluded, she would chant: "Separate Ways! Separate Ways! Separate Ways!"

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But this was the set list:
Only The Young
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'
Lights :inlove:
Escape
(Medley) Foolish Heart/Patiently/Open Arms

"We have time for one more song," Doppelgänger announced.
I turned to Em and said, "Well, since they are DSB, you know they'll end with Don't Stop Believin' again."
"Yeah, you're probably right," she replied.

And then it happened. The opening chords for Separate Ways.

Em. Went. NUTS!!

There was screaming. (Her? Me? Both?) Embarassment was no longer a factor as we both sang along at the top of our lungs. It was by far the most magical moment of our trip!!

This time exiting the theater, there were TWO happy campers! :D :D We briefly discussed hanging around for the final show, but we both wanted to see Wishes at 9 p.m. and agreed it was good to leave on a "high note."

We made it back to the Poly in time to watch Wishes from the beach. There was some lightning in the area so Tink didn't fly. But the fireworks were awesome as always. :happy:

Coming up ~ will we get to see the MK opening show?
 
Zipadeelady

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
I'm glad I'm not crazy and you thought it was hotter than usual also. Love the Journey story. I got my first taste of Journey when my babysitters daughter was a mega fan and would crank Escape (I think that was the album) all the time.
 

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