Trip Report The Tuvalu Chronicles ~ Chapter 25 *COMPLETED*

Welcome, welcome, welcome to my 25th trip report.

Over the past five years, I have loved chronicling my WDW adventures with fellow forum readers who share my Disney passion. Writing keeps the magic alive for me. Discussions that result from your comments are icing on the cake! I appreciate everyone who takes the time to read my posts. (And for those of you who have been following from the beginning ~ THANK YOU!!)

All my reports have been live, live-ish, or shortly-afterwards.....except one. In 2016 I wrote a retro TR detailing my first visit to the park that forever captivated my heart. You can read about it here. Or you can merely mock the photo below which is proof positive I cannot pull off wearing a hat.

Similar in style to last summer’s novel, this report will incorporate my June, July and August vacations. The ship has already sailed for a live report for June, but I may attempt some live updates in July/August. Or not.

Trip #1
Who: Tuvalu and Em
When: June 8-13, 2019
Where: Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Did we meet the Wicked Queen? Who got shoved in the Haunted Mansion? Did the rain rain rain come down down down? Was there an attraction evac? Did one of us really cause a ride to shut down?

Answers to come!

(Special thanks to @krisri18 for another trip report title! )

 

[Elizabeth Swann]

Oatmeal does the same for me. I also booked a Whispering Canyon Cafe adr for those nachos and that chocolate cake.

 

[Nunu]

I love oatmeal and raisins cookies!

Would you allow @Darstarr ?

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I like oatmeal too but I don't make it a ton because my husband hates it. I'm picky about it's consistency so I don't often get it at any restaurant. But I agree it isn't always going to hold me until lunch. Any cream of wheat fans out there? I haven't had it in ages but my mom used to serve it to us with a big pat of butter in the middle and sprinkle sugar over that, so good!

@NunuBelle , oatmeal cookies are really good! And the oatmeal cookie ice cream at Ample Hills on the Boardwalk....YUM!

 

[Oh bother!]

Wednesday, con’t

Remember the rain that we didn’t get at the pool?

It finally came. Oh did it ever!

And while we were glad we weren’t out and about in it, the rain did put a damper on our evening plan.

View attachment 395260

We had dinner reservations at the California Grill. And the boat we’d hoped to take wasn’t operating.

Uber to the rescue once again!

We arrived a few minutes early but we got checked in and were immediately whisked up to the 15th floor. Em noticed Ryan, our fave CG server, sitting at the bar and we went to say hello before being seated at our table in the main dining room.

Our server tonight was a little too attentive and we missed Ryan’s discerning style ~ knowing when to check on us and when to leave us alone. We were also thisclose to the table beside us and I sensed that not only was the wife eavesdropping on us, she watched us eat. Awkward!

View attachment 395261

See the clouds behind Em? They produced quite the lightning show before the torrential rain began. I had the benefit of observing the forces of nature from this window too:

View attachment 395262

About halfway through our meal, a party of 4 was escorted to the table above. ^ ^
I was busy eating, but Em witnessed what I am about to share. The party consisted of three twenty-somethings and a six year old child. All of them were dressed in shorts, tee shirts and flip flops. The mom of the child was wearing a Forky tee. Now there is a “dress code” sign at the check in desk on the 2nd floor, which a) the party ignored and b) is clearly not enforced.

But the story doesn’t end here.

The group sat down and opened their menus. After a brief glance, they stood up and left the restaurant! The server hadn’t even made it over to the table to introduce himself yet.

How did these people find themselves at a signature restaurant for which they were obviously unprepared? California Grill is a hard-to-get ADR....you don’t simply walk up after a day in the parks and ask to sit at a window table during peak dinner hour. Someone must have made the reservation!

My sleuthing skills come up empty-handed on this one.

Due to the inclement weather, Em and I decided not to prolong our meal with appetizers and dessert. I’d timed our ADR so we could watch HEA from the observation deck, but tonight it made more sense to watch from the dry comfort of our room. In order to get back to the WL before fireworks, we’d just stick with entrées.

We used the sourdough bread as our appetizer.

View attachment 395263

The reason we came to CG....

View attachment 395264

....the Oak-Grilled Filet. Done to perfection, it was melt-in-your-mouth spectacular as always. We each had our own. This is a dish we DO NOT SHARE!

The asparagus was crisp and well-seasoned. The mashed potatoes were nothing special (and not just because I miss the risotto. ) Overall we were very satisfied.

We summoned another Uber to return to the Lodge. The rain ceased just before showtime but we did not regret our decision to skip watching from the observation deck....

....because watching fireworks in pjs is pretty cool!

View attachment 395265

I wish they would enforce the dress codes a little better!

We did brunch, so I do appreciate people were heading to parks afterwards, but some people were dressed more casually than I would go to McDonald’s!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Any carbohydrate choice and I am starving to death in a few hours. Steel cut oatmeal lasts longer than regular rolled oats for me, when I ate it.

 

[Nunu]

So, @Tuvalu suggested Ample Hills dark chocolate ice cream, @ajrwdwgirl and @StarBurst recommend oatmeal too!
Now, I'll have to visit and get 2 scoops. I blame all of you!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

So, @Tuvalu suggested Ample Hills dark chocolate ice cream, @ajrwdwgirl and @StarBurst recommend oatmeal too!
Now, I'll have to visit and get 2 scoops. I blame all of you!

They have a flight there I can't remember how many scoops your get, I think it might be 6. But it is a good way to taste their ice cream. Although they offer free samples too.

Spoiler

Oatmeal cookie is the best though.

 

[Tuvalu]

Wow....so great to learn I am in good company with others who find that oatmeal does not “stick to your ribs”,
like it was advertised when I was a kid!

I agree oatmeal does not keep me full either... you know what does though? A chicken biscuit from Chick-fil-a... too bad I can't have that every day!

Agree and two thumbs up for the chicken biscuit! Have you had the chicken, egg and cheese biscuit? That can keep me full until dinner (or at least late afternoon!)

Saaaaame! It's just such an easy breakfast. But yeah I end up ready for lunch at 10am.

Maybe you should try @Darstarr ‘s trick of making a double portion and eating the rest at 10 am?

Any carbohydrate choice and I am starving to death in a few hours. Steel cut oatmeal lasts longer than regular rolled oats for me, when I ate it.

I did not notice a difference when I ate still cut oats.

Any cream of wheat fans out there? I haven't had it in ages but my mom used to serve it to us with a big pat of butter in the middle and sprinkle sugar over that, so good!

I loved cream of wheat as a kid and don’t recall hunger before lunch. Perhaps it’s time for a revisit!

I also booked a Whispering Canyon Cafe adr for those nachos and that chocolate cake.

Yummmmm....hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Dark chocolate is the best though.

FTFY

I wish they would enforce the dress codes a little better!

We did brunch, so I do appreciate people were heading to parks afterwards, but some people were dressed more casually than I would go to McDonald’s!

 

[Rista1313]

Agree and two thumbs up for the chicken biscuit! Have you had the chicken, egg and cheese biscuit? That can keep me full until dinner (or at least late afternoon!)

I do get that on occasion on Friday mornings... it does hold me quite long... not quite til dinner, but it's nice not to be hungry by 10am, after eating at 7a.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

Em and I trudged along with the crowd across the Fantasyland bridge. The sea parted at the teacups ~ most guests were joining the long line for 7DMT while we practically had the Pooh queue to ourselves.

In front of us was a party of 7 ~ two parents and 5 little girls. Em said the girls were likely a mix of cousins, since all wore matching shirts with PrimoPalooza 2019! splashed across the back. The party needed two honeypots and the CM said one adult must ride in each. The problem came when the girls kept changing their minds (and therefore their assigned rows) about who would sit where. The ride would not load until everyone was settled in place. The girls kept giggling and yelling as they switched places a few times, trying the patience of the CMs and everyone else behind them in line. Of course the two adults were oblivious to the chaos the girls were causing.

Em and I decided that wherever PrimoPalooza went next, we’d go in the opposite direction.

We bounced with Tigger and sang the rain song before a brief perusing in the gift store. Then we headed to our first FP.

Where are all the strollers? (No complaints here!)

Ready to board our flight to Neverland!

 

[Tuvalu]

What genius decided it would be a good idea to remove the Haunted Mansion queue covering in the middle of JULY??!!

Fortunately for us we never stopped walking, but I can’t imagine how awful the wait was later in the hot sun!

As we entered the stretching room the CM firmly admonished: “Do keep your hands off the walls. I just finished cleaning them.”

Where are the other two cats? This poor guy needs his buddies!

We sang the rain song. Now it was time for the small world song.

We did not sing along.....although we should have.....if only to drown out the constant chatter of the Aussies seated behind us. (They made several comments about their life in Australia.)

 

[Tuvalu]

We rode over the sea.

Then we rode unda the sea....

....before battling the Evil Emperor Zurg.

Though Em wasn’t a Galactic Hero, she fared better than I did.

It was my worst Buzz score ever, including the time I played with a broken gun.

 

[MinnieM123]

“Oh no, you got oatmeal!” Em commented upon my return.

“I wanted oatmeal,” I answered matter-of-factly.

“You KNOW what happens when you eat oatmeal for breakfast,” replied Em. “You end up starving a couple hours later. It’s not a pretty sight when you’re hangry.”

She was right. Unlike the majority of oatmeal eaters, this nutrient-dense grain does not keep me full and satisfied until lunch. It does the opposite. I usually have hunger pains well before lunch. It is the only thing I eat in the morning which has that effect on me.

I love oatmeal but no matter what the “experts” say, it doesnt keep me full until lunch. But I have a tip that has worked for me and I will share it with you...make a double batch and eat the second half when you feel hungry. Easy peasy

I do the same with oatmeal!! It’s because it’s mostly liquid. I love oatmeal though.

Darstarr almost has it right, but I can make another suggestion for all of you. Double the oatmeal recipe and eat it ALL at once (no need to break out the oatmeal container again at 10:00 AM, when hunger pangs appear)!

(Yes, I've actually eaten a double oatmeal for breakfast! ) I wasn't hungry until lunchtime!

 

[Tuvalu]

“Now is the time
Now is the best time
Now is the best time of your life!”

Whoops.....wrong century!

“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day!”

Ever notice how this little girl never appears in another scene?

I have always liked this house. I don’t care if it’s dated.

Ride #8 before our 11:30 am ADR.

 

[Darstarr]

I love oatmeal and raisins cookies!

Would you allow @Darstarr ?

Absolutely. My mom used to make oatmeal choc chip cookies to get us to eat oatmeal. It worked as I love it.( And oatmeal choc chip cookies!!!)

 

[Tuvalu]

Absolutely. My mom used to make oatmeal choc chip cookies to get us to eat oatmeal. It worked as I love it.( And oatmeal choc chip cookies!!!)

Oatmeal choc chip cookies =

Oatmeal raisin cookies =

(Sorry, @NunuBelle.)

 

[Tuvalu]

Feeling proud of all we had accomplished in a couple hours, we made our way to lunch.

I was hungry. But I did a reaalllyyyy good job of not complaining about it to Em!

I checked in and we were the only ones waiting in the lobby (though there were a few guests already enjoying their lunch.) I cannot remember whose room we sat in, although I think it was John Adams. It was the same room Mom and I sat in back in January.

Except today Em and I had a window table.

It was great for people-watching!

A few new entrées had been added to the menu.

However none of the newbies could tempt Em and I away from our usuals.

Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger for Em:

And the Pilgrim’s Feast for me:

These mashed potatoes were twice as good as the mashed potatoes I had the night before at California Grill. The turkey was succulent and the beans were crisp-tender. I could have easily licked the plate clean except I wanted to save room for dessert!

Em’s burger was done to perfection and our server brought her the BBQ sauce she requested. The Tavern fries are her favorite.....and not too many WDW restaurants serve them anymore.

Thus far we had been most pleased with our meal ~ good table, delicious food, excellent service.

Now for the moment of truth.

Would the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake be as fabulous as it once was? How would it compare with the Ooey Gooey I devoured at the HEA Dessert Party last month?

It arrived on a plate instead of a skillet.

It was warm-ish (an improvement over room temperature) and the ice cream melted a little. It was definitely better than the last two LTT Ooey Gooeys I had.

But the Dessert Party (DP) Ooey Gooey was still superior. And I’ve concluded the reason is in the pan. LTT used to bake the cake in a deep pan, which enabled the center to remain soft and gooey. Now the batter is baked in a shallow pan (resulting in an even “doneness” like a cookie) and two layers are placed atop each other to attain the thickness of the former cake.

The DP Ooey Gooey was in a deep pan that was kept over a warmer, resulting in the melt-in-your mouth texture I prefer.

YMMV.

But the cake did provide a sweet ending to our lunch, and Em and I agreed that LTT may make it back into our regular rotation.

 

[93boomer]

We rode over the sea.

Then we rode unda the sea....

View attachment 395872

....before battling the Evil Emperor Zurg.

View attachment 395874

Though Em wasn’t a Galactic Hero, she fared better than I did.

View attachment 395873

It was my worst Buzz score ever, including the time I played with a broken gun.

View attachment 395875

That face is priceless!!!!

 

[93boomer]

“Now is the time
Now is the best time
Now is the best time of your life!”

View attachment 395882

Whoops.....wrong century!

“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day!”

View attachment 395883
Ever notice how this little girl never appears in another scene?

I have always liked this house. I don’t care if it’s dated.
View attachment 395884

Ride #8 before our 11:30 am ADR.

View attachment 395885

View attachment 395886

Have they updated the seats yet? They were really in bad shape in April.

 

[Tuvalu]

Have they updated the seats yet? They were really in bad shape in April.

Sadly nope.