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! )

 

[Tuvalu]

We're not a fan of Via Napoli at all although we've given it about four chances to prove us wrong. We thought the service was really bad the last visit (about three years ago) and the pizza was like eating dough.

Four chances makes you an optimist like me. However Woody the realist would say, it’s time to find someplace else to eat!

You were so lucky to have an empty Epcot! Our last trip was during F&G (I know) and it was very crowded. We both used scooters to get around WS, but it was impossible to stop and look at the topiaries or other things due to the crowds. It looks like heaven to me, although a very HOT one, LOL. Haven't eaten at Via Napoli, and now probably won't. You are much nicer than me. I would have sent it back; don't like charred food. My husband would be appalled that I would send it back, but......……......……...….

Empty Epcot was a dream and would have been absolutely perfection if not for the heat.
Woody is not a fan of sending food back either. Good thing he didn’t mind the char!

 

[Tuvalu]

We should have played the lottery! All these years and our paths only crossed in May. 3 in one day? Do I hold the daily record for @Tuvalu meets?

Indeed you do!

 

[Tuvalu]

Now I get to talk about my FAVORITE part of the day.

As the old Girl Scout song goes,
Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
And the other gold.

All friends start out as strangers, right? So as odd (some may say unsafe) as it is to meet up with strangers from the internet, a common love of Disney forges an immediate connection....and friendships are made. I consider those whom I chit chat with on these boards pen pals. (Millennials look it up! ) And who wouldn’t want to meet their pen pals?

However meet-ups can pose a conundrum for family members who aren’t the pen pal....or in this case, who aren’t regulars on WDWMagic and do not feel any connection to posters on this site. To them I say, THANK YOU. Thank you for spending time (even if it’s just a quick hello) with internet strangers because you love the crazy WDWMagic poster who has put you in this situation!

Woody has offered to form a spouses support group for significant others of us Magicians. No business cards yet , but Charter Members include ~
B1 (@Tony the Tigger)
B2 (@DisneyGigi)
M (@bee)
Frank (in absentia) (@NunuBelle)
Chris (@Longers)

But there’s room for 1,000.....any volunteers?

Anyhoo, first up was a new friend. We found each other in the former lobby of CSR. Betcha can’t guess who it was.

(No, we did not coordinate on purpose!)

@bee, M, Woody and I walked over to our destination together. @DisneyGigi (old friend) and B were already waiting for us.

CM Jaimie kindly offered to set up a comfy group area for us. We’d just sat down when new friend @NunuBelle arrived. @Tony the Tigger (old friend) and B followed.

Tony surprised me with Shirley cookies. Been meaning to tell you, @Tony the Tigger, the coconut ones are awesome!

We were expecting another new friend.....but instead she sent:
️Thunderbolts of lightning, very very frightening!! ⛈

Seriously, this mega-storm came up FAST. And it was powerful. Despite being undercover, we still got sprinkled on by sideways rain. It wasn’t the typical over-in-20 minutes summer shower. It lasted a LONG time. (And we were worried about you @Darstarr!)

The Magicians.....minus the one who coined the term.

It was such fun hanging out together. We wished @Longers and her hubby had been able to join us. I took comfort in knowing she and I had a BTMRR date on Wednesday!

Speaking of dates, @bee and @DisneyGigi (and spouses) had Toledo ADRs to make. @Tony the Tigger and B had reservations for the Rose and Crown Illuminations Dining Package. Our gathering had come to an end.

Woody and I waited for @NunuBelle to finish her cig before saying goodbye. She had brought dark chocolate bars for all of us, but guess who got to keep them since everyone else had left?

Thanks for the sweets!

And the memories!!

 

[Tuvalu]

As we left Three Bridges, something beautiful caught my eye.

If you read my June TR, you know how I feel about rainbows!

Woody and I decided to grab a bite to eat at El Mercado. The place was packed with guests who’d left the parks early thanks to the monsoon.

Believe it or not, Woody and I ordered different things tonight!

Chicken rice bowl for Woody.

Turkey chili for me.

Both items were very tasty and hit the spot. For dessert we shared a scrumptious Guatemalan candy bar.

@Tony the Tigger had texted me that Illuminations was delayed due to weather. I had seen reports that parts of MK were closed due to a blown transformer, thanks to the storm. Woody and I figured there would be no HEA, so we closed the drapes.

At 9:40 pm we were startled by a loud BOOM.....I rushed to open the drapes and was happy to see MK fireworks!

A fitting way to end another Disney day!

 

[DisneyGigi]

As we left Three Bridges, something beautiful caught my eye.

View attachment 415490

@Tony the Tigger had texted me that Illuminations was delayed due to weather. I had seen reports that parts of MK were closed due to a blown transformer, thanks to the storm. Woody and I figured there would be no HEA, so we closed the drapes.

At 9:40 pm we were startled by a loud BOOM.....I rushed to open the drapes and was happy to see MK fireworks!

View attachment 415492

A fitting way to end another Disney day!

Gorgeous rainbow shot!

I have spent many an evening watching fireworks from Coronado on that bench in front of the lighted bridge, then from the hammock at Cabanas. I am going to have to stay Tower next time.

You have such a way with words, by the way, and it is one of the reasons you have always been one of my favorite trip reporters. B and I both had so much fun. As weird as it sounds, nobody felt like a stranger at all to me. Pen pal is the perfect way to describe it. I have said it before, but again, so glad you put this together.

Also, I wish I could remember what B and @Tony the Tigger were talking about at the moment that pic was snapped. You would never know by the pic that they didn’t know each other! To be honest, even though he doesn’t post, he enjoyed it just as much as I did. We all have some very supportive spouses in our Disney love, that is for sure.

 

[MinnieM123]

Woody has offered to form a spouses support group for significant others of us Magicians. No business cards yet ,

Woody is hilarious!

He'll definitely need his own set of business cards, as chair of the spouses support group. Move over Tuvalu -- looks like there will be another card-carrying VIP in the family!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

As we left Three Bridges, something beautiful caught my eye.

I did that. You’re welcome.

I got a limited supply when I got married. Using that one was totally worth it for the occasion!

Also, I wish I could remember what B and @Tony the Tigger were talking about at the moment that pic was snapped. You would never know by the pic that they didn’t know each other!

Maybe about how bad one can look in unannounced profile shots?

Everyone got along great right off the bat, it was very cool.

 

[DryerLintFan]

@Rista1313 Scott needs to join the support group

 

[DisneyGigi]

I did that. You’re welcome.

I got a limited supply when I got married. Using that one was totally worth it for the occasion!


Maybe about how bad one can look in unannounced profile shots?

Everyone got along great right off the bat, it was very cool.

Too much fun. I knew I would have a good time but for B not to be involved in the boards, he truly liked and enjoyed the time with everyone.

 

[Rista1313]

@Rista1313 Scott needs to join the support group

Right! And Ross!

 

[bee]

I thought we discussed it at Three Bridges? But we had been drinking....

I kinda remember now lol I am major ADD if multiple convos are going at one time but the 2 Margaritas and a Mai Tai may have worsened that!

We did! I remember you announcing to us all the correct way to say it, @Tuvalu!

I'll go into more depth in my TR (if I ever get to that point!) but we had so much fun meeting everyone!

PS I had pen pals growing up and I am solidly in the middle of the Millennial generation!

 

[Nunu]

I did that. You’re welcome.

I got a limited supply when I got married. Using that one was totally worth it for the occasion!


Maybe about how bad one can look in unannounced profile shots?

Everyone got along great right off the bat, it was very cool.

Tony, you look handsome from any angle!
Be glad you weren't caught holding a churro with a crazy smile!

 

[Nunu]

A few months ago, if anyone would have told me that I'd be getting together with members of an internet group, I'd have laughed and called them crazy! First time ever for me.

Frank and JC were very supportive and happy about this, which took me a bit by surprise, since they know I don't participate in any other social media. Both wanted to know everything about our meet and were very excited when they saw the pictures.

Here's hoping to get together again, not only with @Tuvalu , @Darstarr , @DisneyGigi , @Tony the Tigger and @bee , but also with so many friendly and fun members of the Trip Reports thread.

@Tuvalu, you made this possible, thank you! I'll never forget meeting such a special group of new friends.

 

[Swissmiss]

PS I had pen pals growing up and I am solidly in the middle of the Millennial generation!

You may be solidly in the middle by birth, but what has always come across by your posts is that you are much more well rounded and worldly than what we “older” folks think of as the typical millennial

 

[Zipadeelady]

Ahhhhh @Tuvalu you always get me to reminisce some how. First with the girl scout "theme song". Now I'll be singing that and "I wear my pink pajamas" all day and second, i haven't thought about Maximilian from Italy for such a long time. It's been almost 30 years since we've written. Pen pals were great!

 

[Rista1313]

As the old Girl Scout song goes,
Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
And the other gold.

oh an era of days gone by... I still have my Bluebird vest.... I didn't think I was ever that small.

 

[riverside]

As the old Girl Scout song goes,
Make new friends
But keep the old
One is silver
And the other gold.

All friends start out as strangers, right? So as odd (some may say unsafe) as it is to meet up with strangers from the internet, a common love of Disney forges an immediate connection....and friendships are made. I consider those whom I chit chat with on these boards pen pals. (Millennials look it up! ) And who wouldn’t want to meet their pen pals?

So true. My mom had a pen pal, Francine from France, & they wrote to each other all the time. It was pretty cool IMO. When I was trying to get R & E to understand WDWmagic(when we were meeting you & Em--gosh, that seems like forever ago!) I said that it really is no different than striking up a conversation with the people standing next to you in line.

BTW-I was a Girl Scout through high school then was a leader for quite a few years. As soon as I read your post my mind went from the song to The Girl Scout Promise!! Now I can't get either out of my head!!

 

[Gurt]

Fantastic meet up, I will have to get Chris to join Woody's group he has told me he isn't meeting any strangers off the internet on our trip next year, he even calls you my 'pretend friends'

 

[DryerLintFan]

Fantastic meet up, I will have to get Chris to join Woody's group he has told me he isn't meeting any strangers off the internet on our trip next year, he even calls you my 'pretend friends'

I've been through so much in the last year and a half/ two years. I can tell you that some of the forum members here were better friends than some of the friends I had in real life.

(and yes, that's "had")

 

[MegRuss626]

Fantastic meet up, I will have to get Chris to join Woody's group he has told me he isn't meeting any strangers off the internet on our trip next year, he even calls you my 'pretend friends'

George calls everyone my “imaginary friends” He joined me in stalking EquityBen in the MK last year though so he would prob be on board with meeting “strangers” lol