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]

Thursday, con’t

Heading over to MK.

“Boat or bus?” I asked Em.

“Your choice.”

Looks like I picked correctly. Another pop-up shower!

Wouldn’t have been much fun being out in the middle of Seven Seas lagoon during a downpour.

 

[sheriffwoody]

What happened in the second half of that book?

And the author missed an opportunity to name the protagonist “Summer.”

Honestly I was BOREDDDDDDD until things shifted to more of a whodunnit It got a little wild. But I've figured out that I just do not like to read about social media. I read to get away from social media, so books about influencers are bleh. Also HA, I didn't even think of that. I didn't care for the book, but I didn't want to say that when you were still reading it

 

[TrolleyFollower91]

Honestly I was BOREDDDDDDD until things shifted to more of a whodunnit It got a little wild. But I've figured out that I just do not like to read about social media. I read to get away from social media, so books about influencers are bleh. Also HA, I didn't even think of that. I didn't care for the book, but I didn't want to say that when you were still reading it

It did drag at times! Definitely not my favorite, probably 2.5 stars.

 

[Tuvalu]

We came to MK for three reasons.

#1 was most important.

I’ll bet @Loco_driver knows why.

Em had sacrificed a No Way José for the All American Sundae.

She thoroughly enjoyed it and said the new method of using a cup for the sundae made it easier to eat and way less messy than when it was served in a fluted container.

Reason #2 was a bust. The Emporium did not have what I was looking for.

Reason #3 was also a bust. We wanted to take the Grand Circle Tour on the MPB. But apparently “lightning in the area” (it hadn’t rained and was sunny) had “temporarily closed” the train and all other outdoor attractions. (The Castle stage show was even halted mid-performance.)

We looked around for @coachwnh and his family but no luck in spotting them. Another bust!

 

[lindawdw]

Good move on the bus choice! I love getting the kid's cone at the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor because they serve it with the thin mint wafer as Mickey ears! Hope you get to do something fun while at MK tonight!

 

[coachwnh]

We came to MK for three reasons.

#1 was most important.

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I’ll bet @Loco_driver knows why.

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Em had sacrificed a No Way José for the All American Sundae.

View attachment 731429

She thoroughly enjoyed it and said the new method of using a cup for the sundae made it easier to eat and way less messy than when it was served in a fluted container.

Reason #2 was a bust. The Emporium did not have what I was looking for.

Reason #3 was also a bust. We wanted to take the Grand Circle Tour on the MPB. But apparently “lightning in the area” (it hadn’t rained and was sunny) had “temporarily closed” the train and all other outdoor attractions. (The Castle stage show was even halted mid-performance.)

We looked around for @coachwnh and his family but no luck in spotting them. Another bust!

We just walked down Main Street to the bus stop. We will be back around 8 tonight.

 

[Loco_driver]

Em had sacrificed a No Way José for the All American Sundae.

 

[wdwfamilynh]

Thursday, July 20

You couldn’t pay me enough to do the job these guys are doing!

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(Though I do appreciate a clean roof!)

Late night means lazy morning.

Can’t think of a better place to spend it.

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Lunch from Roaring Fork. Cheeseburger and chicken tenders.

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Livin’ the dream.

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I could use some quiet pool time like that

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

Park hopped.

 

[93boomer]

Thursday, con’t

Park hopped.

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Love that dress!!

 

[MickeyCB]

Absolutely gorgeous photos!

 

[Darstarr]

Breaking news:

Plastic straws in France…

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

The item I’d looked for in the Emporium I found here -

Before I do the reveal I will preface by saying I never thought I’d own one pair, let alone two. Always considered them hideous.

But after owning pair #1 for almost a year I can understand what all the hype is about.

And they are great support for sufferers of plantar fasciitis.

So if I’m gonna wear them they may as well be cute ones.

Every time I look at my feet those Mickey heads will make me smile!

 

[Tuvalu]

But the Crocs were not the reason for the park hop. (They were a bonus.)

Em was due for her favorite margarita.

And I was due for my favorite rolls!

The NY strip and four cheese macaroni did not disappoint. Neither did the Margherita flatbread.

The disappointment was with the rude and demanding party seated next to us. They treated four servers and two managers with utter contempt. Their behavior sickened Em so much that after we finished we went straight to Guest Relations.

Em wanted to give cast compliments to all the staff that had to contend with that table. Each CM had been nothing but patient, kind and accommodating to the party. None of them deserved to be berated.

The CM at Guest Relations was so appreciative of our feedback that she was going to reach out to Mama’s immediately.

 

[Tuvalu]

Em and I have not seen Fantasmic in years.

We decided to catch a performance this trip to see the updates.

We wanted to attend on a night with little chance of rain. The forecast looked good tonight and I kept checking the radar for updates once we were in the park.

We had some time to kill before going to the amphitheater. It was still toasty outside so we opted for ten minutes of a/c.

The cartoon made us both laugh.

This was the sky when we exited.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Em and I have not seen Fantasmic in years.

We decided to catch a performance this trip to see the updates.

We wanted to attend on a night with little chance of rain. The forecast looked good tonight and I kept checking the radar for updates once we were in the park.

We had some time to kill before going to the amphitheater. It was still toasty outside so we opted for ten minutes of a/c.

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The cartoon made us both laugh.

This was the sky when we exited.

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I see Mickey in those clouds.

And I haven’t had a drink yet.

 

[Tuvalu]

Lots of blue sky.

I thought Pocahontas was no longer featured in the show?

As we made the long walk towards the theater we thought we heard a couple rumbles of thunder. But they weren’t loud and we considered the noise might have been a rolling trash cart.

Before being seated we popped into the restroom. When we popped out, there was an announcement: Due to weather in the vicinity you must leave your seats and take shelter immediately!

A little extreme perhaps, but Em and I were glad we hadn’t entered the theater and were now ahead of all the evacuees heading for the exit. (The queue was dumped as well as the theater.) Guests were lined up all along Sunset waiting to re-enter as the show was merely “delayed.”

Em and I didn’t wait around. We continued walking to the front of the park and exited the gate. We were the last two people allowed on the full WL/CR bus.

We were in our room when we received this notification -

While sad that we’d missed seeing the show, we’re glad we left when we did.

 

[Swissmiss]

Breaking news:

Plastic straws in France…
View attachment 731474

Maybe they have all been shipped to Epcot since they have been banned from commercial usage in the country since 2021

 

[Songbird76]

If you don’t like pineapple juice, you won’t like the spicy pineapple margarita. The cucumber melon reminded me of a pickled cucumber- just not what I want with my tequila. The waiter said this flight is really hit or miss with people. I’m not sure you can just get one, but at $22 it’s not significantly more than just one margarita to be able to sample different types.

 

[Songbird76]

If you don’t like pineapple juice, you won’t like the spicy pineapple margarita. The cucumber melon reminded me of a pickled cucumber- just not what I want with my tequila. The waiter said this flight is really hit or miss with people. I’m not sure you can just get one, but at $22 it’s not significantly more than just one margarita to be able to sample different types.

Thank you! I really do want to try the black cherry one...but I just happened to think, you're actually staying at WL, right? Does one have to be a guest at WL to access the bar? It's a poolside bar, isn't it?