Trip Report The Sweet 16th(with a few surprises thrown in)!!

Hello friends!! Welcome one & all to my 2nd trip report!! To those who followed along on my first one(https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/whats-going-on-with-my-clothes.945539/) it's great to have you along again & to anyone new joining in thanks for coming on board. I'm excited to have you all here!!

WHO: my niece H(the birthday girl) & myself

WHEN: Tuesday, August 21st - Saturday, August 25th

WHERE: For anyone that read my first TR I'm sure you can guess where but for those of you that don't know me..... my home away from home, POR

Looking forward to sharing the birthday celebration with you!!

 

[mlegerto]

I'm far behind because of my long weekend adventure home, but I will catch up shortly! Just wanted to add my thoughts/comments so far based on where I am up to.

By the way, is H's birthday actually August 21st or is that just the day you decided to celebrate?

Neither one of us are picky eaters but we didn't care for the oil for the bread.

We didn't like it either! Would have much preferred either oil & vinegar to dip or just plain butter!

My filet. It was good but I think I was expecting much more. The steak I had at Yachtsman's a few months ago was much better.

I had the filet at CG too, but this trip is was better than my steak at Yachtsman this time - last trip my steak at Yachtsman was amazing so maybe I had just built it up in my head?

She said the tv was so big & bright that she had to shut it off at night or it would keep her up.

Funny that you say this! We stayed at Saratoga this trip and they haven't gone through renovations so they still have the old smaller TV's. I commented many times during our trip that we needed a bigger TV in the room - comparing it to our honeymoon stay at the Poly not too long ago which has a huge TV. I guess you win some, you lose some haha!

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH

I was up really early for my walk b/c H & I wanted to get an early start this morning.
I said hello to my home from June.

This is the quiet pool that was near our room.

We've arrived....or have we??
I don't mind walking in the least but this felt like it took FOREVER.

We finally made it in a couple minutes after 8.

Oh why must I be tortured by them keeping these tables up?? I swear this is the only QS I ever ate at in HS before it met its demise. The ham sandwich was the best.

No Launch Bay for us on this trip.

We've arrived!!

 

[sheriffwoody]

Loving your report! I have GOT to go see YeeHaa Bob one of these days. I wish I'd known about him back when we stayed at Riverside. I'm sure we'll stay there again someday, and if not I might just make a special trip!

Funny you say that—I was noticing that as I have been doing this report. She did have braces years ago & she needs something else done so I was wondering if that might be the reason why. Meanwhile they’re really not bad at all but you know how teenagers are....

I can relate. When I was around her age I HATED smiling with my teeth. Someone in school had made a comment about my teeth once and of course at that point in my life I cared what people thought...it made me really self conscious. But definitely if she had braces, she may have just gotten used to smiling with no teeth. She's a beautiful girl either way!

 

[AKemily]

Finally, finally caught up! Loving your report! I had saved some quotes to comment on on my work computer but now that I'm on my home computer, they're not here I loved that Haunted Mansion mug though. I also like how you take pictures of the annoying people and post them Little do they know there are incriminating photos of them on the internet

 

[mlegerto]

Finally I am all caught up. What a great TR so far!

I went with the apple tart. I liked the ice cream better than the tart & that's not saying much considering my love of ice cream...

Again...how are we friends?

We've arrived....or have we??
I don't mind walking in the least but this felt like it took FOREVER.

Tell me about it! I am not one to complain about walking (especially in Disney World), but making that trek in the heat while 6 months pregnant felt like complete torture.

 

[riverside]

I'm far behind because of my long weekend adventure home, but I will catch up shortly! Just wanted to add my thoughts/comments so far based on where I am up to.

By the way, is H's birthday actually August 21st or is that just the day you decided to celebrate?

I hope you had a great time & I can't wait to hear all about it!!
Her birthday is in July but I was at a loss for what to get her so I asked her if she wanted to go to Disney before school started. I would have taken her closer to her actual birthday but I couldn't fit it in with my work schedule.

We didn't like it either! Would have much preferred either oil & vinegar to dip or just plain butter!

I'm taking @Tuvalu's advice & requesting butter the next time!

I had the filet at CG too, but this trip is was better than my steak at Yachtsman this time - last trip my steak at Yachtsman was amazing so maybe I had just built it up in my head?

At this point I think I would go back to Yachtsman before CG. I'm glad we tried it but I definitely liked Yachtsman better. Tomorrow R & I are eating at Ruth's Chris. IMO they have the best steaks going. I've never had a better steak anywhere else.

Funny that you say this! We stayed at Saratoga this trip and they haven't gone through renovations so they still have the old smaller TV's. I commented many times during our trip that we needed a bigger TV in the room - comparing it to our honeymoon stay at the Poly not too long ago which has a huge TV. I guess you win some, you lose some haha

That's why I'm somewhat hoping to get a bayou room on my next trip--bigger TV!!

Finally I am all caught up. What a great TR so far!

Thank you!!

Again...how are we friends?

I know.....I'm different....

Tell me about it! I am not one to complain about walking (especially in Disney World), but making that trek in the heat while 6 months pregnant felt like complete torture.

I can only imagine. We left during the afternoon(during the heat of the day)& it was tough. I can't imagine what it is like leaving after fireworks though!! All those people leaving at once--no thanks!!

 

[riverside]

Loving your report! I have GOT to go see YeeHaa Bob one of these days. I wish I'd known about him back when we stayed at Riverside. I'm sure we'll stay there again someday, and if not I might just make a special trip!

Thank you very much!!
He's worth making a special trip for!! The few times I haven't stayed at Riverside I still make it a point to catch his show.

I can relate. When I was around her age I HATED smiling with my teeth. Someone in school had made a comment about my teeth once and of course at that point in my life I cared what people thought...it made me really self conscious. But definitely if she had braces, she may have just gotten used to smiling with no teeth. She's a beautiful girl either way!

I never thought about that but you could be right. I'm going to have to look back at pictures of her with the braces on & see how she smiled then. Thank you--she is beautiful & pretty special to me!! That makes me feel bad about the way you were treated--kids can be so mean it's unbelievable. When I ask one of my nieces or nephews how school is going & they're kind of quiet about it I always get nervous b/c I'm afraid someone is picking on them. I know everyone goes through it but it really bothers me. One thing I really have a hard time with is seeing someone get their feelings hurt. It makes me feel awful.

Finally, finally caught up! Loving your report! I had saved some quotes to comment on on my work computer but now that I'm on my home computer, they're not here I loved that Haunted Mansion mug though. I also like how you take pictures of the annoying people and post them Little do they know there are incriminating photos of them on the internet

Thank you very much!!
I regret not buying the mug but when I make coffee at home I take it to go & the mug would not fit in my cup holder so it would kind of be pointless for me to buy it--not that I haven't bought pointless things before!! Half the reason I take the pictures is b/c it helps me to remember things that I may not have wrote down in my notes. I kind of debate posting the pictures but it goes with the story after all!! One thing I do think about is "what if that person actually reads these TR's????" That's why R always says to be careful what I put out on the internet!!

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

Howdy partner!!
I asked H if she wanted to stop for a PP pic but she said the line was too long so we could get it later. We never did....

I was analyzing Slinky Dog to determine if I could ride it or not. I'm deathly afraid of heights(I'm fine with the indoor coasters b/c I feel "safe" since they are inside--see @mlegerto I told you I'm different). I've watched the ride on YouTube & leading up to this trip had to give this a lot of thought.

It looked so cute!! I kept telling myself I had to try it at least once.

Not a bad wait time at all.

Jessie & Woody were out. I swear the lines were longer for the characters than the rides!!

It may sound silly but I was so excited to see this ball!! I loved the commercial Disney had of the ball traveling through the country until it arrived at WDW. I should had thought to have H take my picture in front of it.

I squealed with excitement when I saw this. I thought it was brilliant!! It brought back memories of my childhood--Fisher Price toys were the stuff back in my day!!

The more I looked around the more I fell in love with this land. There were so many amazing things EVERYWHERE!!

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

We made our way over to Slinky Dog Dash. 95 minute wait at 8:25--no thanks!! There is no way my paranoid self could stand in that line that long. We would be back later.

BTW-my apologies to these two. I do my best not to get peoples faces front & center in my pictures. I obviously failed this time.

I took this to send to R. He can't wait until this opens--me on the other hand....

Funnest looking trash cans I've ever seen--where's E when you need her??

The wait for Alien Saucers said 20 minutes so we decided to get in line. First a few PP photos...

I thought everything was so much fun to look at but I am surprised that these queues are outdoors. I've heard a lot of complaints about that & I have to agree. At 8:30 we were already melting. I couldn't imagine standing in line during the middle of the day.

Love this water fountain!!

I continued to analyze SDD while we were in line. What to do, what to do?

 

[MeeskaMooska0714]

Finally caught up on this one (and I still have to finish reading your first report)! Loving this so far!

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

The line moved pretty quickly but then something went wrong & they weren't operating the right side. After a few minutes everything was working again.

I thought the ride was cute & really enjoyed it! I wouldn't wait more than the 20 minutes that we did for it but it was fun. I think I enjoyed it more than H did.

Side note: Notice how shiny red my nose is? Shame on me for not wearing sunscreen. Now I have a brown spot on my nose & Clinique Dark Spot Corrector has become my new friend. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works.

My thoughts were still with SDD.

I still had time to decide.

But for now....TSMM!!

 

[riverside]

Finally caught up on this one (and I still have to finish reading your first report)! Loving this so far!

Thank you so much & thanks for reading!!

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

I thought I'd be creative & take a picture of the screen. Looking at this picture makes me feel like I've had a few.

Ok, I won but it's obviously nothing to brag about. H & I's scores were really close the whole time until the last round.

I thought this was adorable!!

The area is so colorful & fun!!

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

It was now time for uncool me to introduce my niece to the latest wall to become an instagram sensation.

I guess she likes pictures with her hair up & down.

The more I looked around the more details I noticed. It is pretty cool!!

 

[sheriffwoody]

I never thought about that but you could be right. I'm going to have to look back at pictures of her with the braces on & see how she smiled then. Thank you--she is beautiful & pretty special to me!! That makes me feel bad about the way you were treated--kids can be so mean it's unbelievable. When I ask one of my nieces or nephews how school is going & they're kind of quiet about it I always get nervous b/c I'm afraid someone is picking on them. I know everyone goes through it but it really bothers me. One thing I really have a hard time with is seeing someone get their feelings hurt. It makes me feel awful.

I'm ok now if that makes you feel better At that age though, you know it's hard not to let things get to you! I grew out of that after about mid-high school. Now I know how to let stuff roll off my shoulders... It just sucks that you can't shield kids from hurtful things.

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

H was hungry so we decided to try Woody's Lunch Box.

How I wish I would have realized that they had Mobile Ordering there. The people in front of us were super frustrating & took forever.

This made me think of my brother. Cooties was one of his favorite games when we were kids.

H went with the Smoked Turkey Breast Sandwich and the Mystic Portal Punch. I had the Banana Split Yogurt Parfait and the Cold Brew Coffee.

She said the sandwich was really good but there was way too much turkey on it.

I just loved this bench!!

It was time to leave TSL for now but we would be back. We caught the army men on our way out.

 

[riverside]

I'm ok now if that makes you feel better At that age though, you know it's hard not to let things get to you! I grew out of that after about mid-high school. Now I know how to let stuff roll off my shoulders... It just sucks that you can't shield kids from hurtful things.

Glad to hear that!! I know what you mean. The teenage years can be a bit tough. I'm the type that I don't care what anyone says about me but if one of the kids feelings are hurt I feel like my heart is torn in two.

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

I only got to catch their performance for a moment while H was in a store.

We had FP's for H's favorite ride! I will go on this ride but I prefer not to so being the nice aunt that I am I told H as long as she didn't mind riding alone she could use my FP after she used hers. She took me up on that offer pretty quick!!

I took some random pictures of the display windows at the gift shop while I waited.

This was taken inside the gift shop. I never noticed this before. It really is neat to see all kinds of new things when you can take your time and look around.

Here's H's ride pictures

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

Time for one of my favorites!!

I was really trying to take pictures of new things instead of the same ones I take all of the time.

H was embarrassed of my ride photo.

 

[riverside]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH(CONT.)

E & J had arrived. She texted me & said they were going to watch BatB. We managed to sit in the same row as them!

Oh hi there!!

After the show we walked through the shops. I sent this picture to R to see if he liked any of these shirts. I didn't tell him but I bought him the black pullover shirt/jacket.

E took J to see Disney Jr. while H & I headed to the Muppets. We planned on meeting for lunch after that.

While H was using the rest room I happened to notice this. What??????
I wish I could have got a better picture but you should be able to make it out. His chair was attached to her scooter with a rope!! I really didn't know what to make of it. They happened to come by a second time when H was out of the bathroom. I asked her what her take was on it & she was dumbfounded. I wonder how they manage it in scooter parking?

Snapped this for R.