Trip Report The Story Comes ALIVE! *COMPLETED*

Hello again, my friends.

For nearly a decade it has been such a joy for me to write about 50 (yes, 50!) different trips that I have taken to WDW - including one that was virtual.

The reason? You, the reader.

I don’t do trip reports for my own documentation. I have journals for that. I write because I love interacting with y’all. Your encouragement, humor, curiosity and even snark (*ahem* @amjt660) assure me that I am not alone in my crazy affection for Disney parks. A big thanks to each of you!

I am very fortunate to be a frequent visitor to WDW (despite what @Mr Ferret 88 believes, I do not live there!) and am entering a season of monthly visits. Trip reporting is time consuming (as those of you who’ve written can attest) but I’m not ready to completely give it up - yet.

What I’d like to do is keep this as an ongoing TR for the rest of 2023. It will be highlights and moments, with live posting as the goal. My story coming alive, so to speak.

First up is spring break with my favorite girl.

Followed closely by a getaway with my favorite guy.

There will be Magician meets. New experiences. And (as always) the unexpected.

I hope you’ll join the fun!

 

[Tuvalu]

AHEM. Where's the water? A lot of people have that problem at Aulani, too. Many people who request "Ocean View" get like a tiny sliver or can't even see the ocean. I wasn't happy we had to go with Ocean view at 7 months but it was the only thing open so at least we have a room (and we're gonna need to add on more points lol)

I hope your view is better next time. I love the room you stay in with the pool view! I still can't believe you got the same room twice!

If I spent a ton of time/money to get to Aulani and then couldn’t see the ocean from my “ocean view” room….

And I love that WL pool view room.

You talking about your view made me realize I didn't even mention our "view" in my trip report

View attachment 721759

It was right over that front portico (porte-cochere?) where you walk into the tower...so half the window was frosted, or whatever you call it. I guess it's a gamble, but it's always disappointing when your view is one of the worst possible options in the building! At least we both go often enough that one bad view isn't the end of the world

Funny - Woody and I saw (from the outside) a couple of those frosted windows and decided they couldn’t possibly be guest rooms….live and learn!

I have yet to get a great view in Disney. I always get something along these lines. We are staying at Gran Destino in August, so will see what we end up with. Maybe one day I'll get lucky!

 

[Tuvalu]

A Grand Reunion: Final Thoughts

I neglected to post on our travel day home. We left early, but thanks to the approaching summer solstice we did not have to leave in darkness. We drove five hours without stopping - Em joked that I was “on a mission” - and our one and only stop was at Buc-ees.

The place was a zoo - more crowded than anything we’d experienced at Disney. I don’t normally suffer from crowd anxiety, but I could not wait to get out of there. We grabbed chicken fajita tacos and fled. (The chicken fajita tacos were excellent and much less messy than brisket sandwiches!)

We made it home in record time. Safely.

Though this was Trip #3 (with a split stay), I am now 4/4 in not receiving my requested room location. It’s become almost comical. But in the end each location has been okay, despite not being my first choice.

Em and I ate surprisingly good food all week, but service was abysmal at every TS restaurant except La Hacienda. Usually there is one place with lackluster service on each vacation, but this was (to repeat myself) almost comical. And having to wait 20+ minutes (after pushing “I’m Here”) for a mobile order at Capt. Cooks was inexcusable. However the worst offender award goes to the pool server at Geyser Point - 45 minutes for water??!!??

I did make up for my previous trip’s lack of fireworks. Love the colors reflection in the lagoon!

And I was able to exchange Tuvalad’s onesie for a larger size.

Hands down my favorite part of vacation were the magical meets.

Reuniting with some online friends I’ve met before…..

…..and finally meeting new online friends in person!

(@cgersic and @ToInfinity - we were so close and yet so far!)

Due to unforeseen circumstances, my childhood BFF and I did not get to spend as much time together as we would have liked. But the time we had was sweet. She gave permission for me to post these.

Because a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.

 

[amjt660]

Love the wrap up and the trip report

Dreams do come true


Max

 

[93boomer]

A Grand Reunion: Final Thoughts

I neglected to post on our travel day home. We left early, but thanks to the approaching summer solstice we did not have to leave in darkness. We drove five hours without stopping - Em joked that I was “on a mission” - and our one and only stop was at Buc-ees.

The place was a zoo - more crowded than anything we’d experienced at Disney. I don’t normally suffer from crowd anxiety, but I could not wait to get out of there. We grabbed chicken fajita tacos and fled. (The chicken fajita tacos were excellent and much less messy than brisket sandwiches!)

We made it home in record time. Safely.

Though this was Trip #3 (with a split stay), I am now 4/4 in not receiving my requested room location. It’s become almost comical. But in the end each location has been okay, despite not being my first choice.

Em and I ate surprisingly good food all week, but service was abysmal at every TS restaurant except La Hacienda. Usually there is one place with lackluster service on each vacation, but this was (to repeat myself) almost comical. And having to wait 20+ minutes (after pushing “I’m Here”) for a mobile order at Capt. Cooks was inexcusable. However the worst offender award goes to the pool server at Geyser Point - 45 minutes for water??!!??

I did make up for my previous trip’s lack of fireworks. Love the colors reflection in the lagoon!

View attachment 723274

And I was able to exchange Tuvalad’s onesie for a larger size.

View attachment 723275

Hands down my favorite part of vacation were the magical meets.

Reuniting with some online friends I’ve met before…..

View attachment 723277

View attachment 723278

View attachment 723316

…..and finally meeting new online friends in person!

View attachment 723267

(@cgersic and @ToInfinity - we were so close and yet so far!)

Due to unforeseen circumstances, my childhood BFF and I did not get to spend as much time together as we would have liked. But the time we had was sweet. She gave permission for me to post these.

View attachment 723269

View attachment 723268

Because a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip!
So happy you at least had some time with her. You two are so cute!
I haven’t been getting my requested rooms for so long that I’ve given up.
Shame about TS though. Yes, I agree 45 mts was a bit over the top for a glass of water.
Looks like another great trip for you and Em though.

 

[RememberWhen]

Love the then and now pictures! Beautiful ladies with a beautiful friendship!

 

[cgersic]

I am really bummed we didn't get to meet up, but I'm sure it's going to happen one of these days! So glad you got some time with your friend - it's never enough!

 

[lindawdw]

As always, your final thoughts were a perfect summation of your trip with Em! The meet ups were so fun to watch online during your live TR postings! Your lifelong friend pictures are adorable. Thanks once again for taking us along on your adventures.

 

[k8einwdw]

Though this was Trip #3 (with a split stay), I am now 4/4 in not receiving my requested room location. It’s become almost comical. But in the end each location has been okay, despite not being my first choice.

I’m convinced at this point that they don’t even look at room requests anymore. Could not tell you the last time one of our requests was met.

However the worst offender award goes to the pool server at Geyser Point - 45 minutes for water??!!??

Thank you as always for sharing your trip with us!

 

[Swissmiss]

Thanks for sharing - especially the throw back picture!

 

[Songbird76]

A Grand Reunion: Final Thoughts

I neglected to post on our travel day home. We left early, but thanks to the approaching summer solstice we did not have to leave in darkness. We drove five hours without stopping - Em joked that I was “on a mission” - and our one and only stop was at Buc-ees.

The place was a zoo - more crowded than anything we’d experienced at Disney. I don’t normally suffer from crowd anxiety, but I could not wait to get out of there. We grabbed chicken fajita tacos and fled. (The chicken fajita tacos were excellent and much less messy than brisket sandwiches!)

We made it home in record time. Safely.

Though this was Trip #3 (with a split stay), I am now 4/4 in not receiving my requested room location. It’s become almost comical. But in the end each location has been okay, despite not being my first choice.

Em and I ate surprisingly good food all week, but service was abysmal at every TS restaurant except La Hacienda. Usually there is one place with lackluster service on each vacation, but this was (to repeat myself) almost comical. And having to wait 20+ minutes (after pushing “I’m Here”) for a mobile order at Capt. Cooks was inexcusable. However the worst offender award goes to the pool server at Geyser Point - 45 minutes for water??!!??

I did make up for my previous trip’s lack of fireworks. Love the colors reflection in the lagoon!

View attachment 723274

And I was able to exchange Tuvalad’s onesie for a larger size.

View attachment 723275

Hands down my favorite part of vacation were the magical meets.

Reuniting with some online friends I’ve met before…..

View attachment 723277

View attachment 723278

View attachment 723316

…..and finally meeting new online friends in person!

View attachment 723267

(@cgersic and @ToInfinity - we were so close and yet so far!)

Due to unforeseen circumstances, my childhood BFF and I did not get to spend as much time together as we would have liked. But the time we had was sweet. She gave permission for me to post these.

View attachment 723269

View attachment 723268

Because a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.

I've never gotten my room request, or a table request. I'm hoping that they'll give me my ground floor room request this time, but the track record is not in my favor.

Love all your meetups!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Love the wrap up and the trip report

Dreams do come true


Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip!
So happy you at least had some time with her.
Looks like another great trip for you and Em though.

Love the then and now pictures! Beautiful ladies with a beautiful friendship!

Thanks once again for taking us along on your adventures.

Thank you as always for sharing your trip with us!

Thanks for sharing - especially the throw back picture!

Love all your meetups!!

 

[Tuvalu]

I am really bummed we didn't get to meet up, but I'm sure it's going to happen one of these days!

 

[mpaulam]

Thanks for sharing another great trip!
I may have missed it, but when is the next one?

 

[cgersic]

Hoping to be back up the first week of December...?

 

[annienevells]

LOVE the now and then pictures with your bestie. Two beauties through the ages!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thanks for sharing another great trip!
I may have missed it, but when is the next one?

 

[Tiki Traveler]

Trying to find Barbra Streisand singing “People” to represent your trip and this is the best I could come up with from the movie Funny Girl.

How fun that you had so many meet ups and that you had a wonderful trip with your daughter! Looking forward to the next one.

 

[Zipadeelady]

@Tuvalu , Have you been to Victoria and Alberts? I think maybe you should go. I don't recall ever seeing a report about it and I'd love to hear about it. Would it be tacky to take pictures of food in Victoria and Alberts?

 

[Tuvalu]

@Tuvalu , Have you been to Victoria and Alberts? I think maybe you should go. I don't recall ever seeing a report about it and I'd love to hear about it. Would it be tacky to take pictures of food in Victoria and Alberts?

The experience would be lost on us meat and potatoes people!

I believe @Tony the Tigger took pics at Vicky and Al’s during his anniversary dinner with B.