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! )

 

[MinnieM123]

we got put in the front row of IaSW a lot during our last trip!! of course, we also had to ride it a lot

We got front row on the Farm Ride too!!

One time I was in the front row of the Farm Ride!! It was great because of the unobstructed views and I could take some fun pictures.

 

[DimpledDevil18]

I did it! I am finally all caught up even though it took me to almost the end of three trips to do so!

Great trip report as always Tuvalu. I live vicariously through your adventures. Sounds like its never a dull moment on any of your Disney adventures.

 

[BeautyBelle]

We dodged the water droplets on the way to our room. We watched a little TV and at 9:10 pm I announced to Woody I was going out to watch Happily Ever After.

There hadn’t been any sprinkling for awhile so I left my umbrella in the room and exited Conch Key on the marina side. I stood by the railing and waited.

I felt one drop, then two. It wasn’t bad so I stayed put. I figured I could move to the portico if any real rain started.

Another raindrop. And another.

Something poked me in the shoulder. I turned around to find Woody handing me my umbrella. What a sweetheart.....he knew his fireworks-obsessed wife would stubbornly stay put to watch them, regardless of the weather.

I popped open my umbrella and Woody went to stand under the portico.

Evidence of how determined I was to watch HEA ~ that’s my umbrella in the top of the pic.

View attachment 418464

But even a die-hard fireworks fan knows it’s time to seek shelter when there’s thunder and it starts raining sideways!

I joined Woody and a few others under the portico. The “others” were a family and a boat captain. The family had rented a pontoon for a fireworks cruise. When the captain heard reports of lightning in the area, he docked the pontoon at the GF marina and had escorted the family out of the rain. They were drying off with towels from the boat as the captain was giving instructions on rescheduling their cruise.

The view from the portico wasn’t as good as I hoped.

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The illuminated stars were the end of the Electrical Water Pageant, which was running concurrently with HEA.

After a couple minutes (and even though I did not have one) I threw in the towel. It was storming so hard that we could no longer hear the soundtrack let alone see fireworks. We went inside to our room.

But it still counted as night #5 of fireworks for me!

Where is your favorite fireworks watching location at GF, that don't require you eat dinner at a particular restaurant first? We are staying there over spring break and that's the main thing I can't figure out.

 

[MinnieM123]

Tuvalu, when are Tuvalette and Tuvaleen going to join you on a WDW vacation? Gotta start em young, yah know?

 

[DryerLintFan]

One time I was in the front row of the Farm Ride!! It was great because of the unobstructed views and I could take some fun pictures.

I like it because the audio is clear and on perfect timing. The back row sometimes gets weird audio

 

[Tuvalu]

Yummy!!! That looks so good! We like to dine al fresco as much as possible too!

Duly noted.

I remember their "nachos" made with Poly chips and pulled pork.

LOVE Captain Cooks! My hubby and I always split the pulled pork nachos.

Em and I need to try the pulled pork nachos. Woody doesn’t like pineapple so they would be a no go for him.

 

[Tuvalu]

Maybe it is my age but I swear it was hotter this August than any August I have ever been. (07,08,09,14,15,16,17, or 18!) You know how much I love summer but this year it was brutally hot and I came home to insane heat for here. It is not supposed to be 92 in the mountains the first week of October.(actual temp at the airport) It wasn’t as humid here though thankfully, So 92 felt like 95. Po-Tay-Toe/ Puh-Tah-Toe, lol still HOT!!

I will regret fussing about it though now that the pool is officially shut down and I had the heat on this morning.

And great pic of you guys at the Poly. You guys are so photogenic. Your whole face smiles when you smile. I just realized this was the first trip ever I did not set foot at the Poly at all.

We haven’t had to put the heat on yet but shorts have been traded for jeans.
Can’t believe you didn’t make the Poly on your last trip.....therefore you need to go TWICE next time!

View attachment 418493

So funny!

 

[Tuvalu]

I did it! I am finally all caught up even though it took me to almost the end of three trips to do so!

Great trip report as always Tuvalu. I live vicariously through your adventures. Sounds like its never a dull moment on any of your Disney adventures.

Wait....did you marathon through all 75 pages? You are incredible! Thanks for persevering.
I’m secretly glad there’s never a dull moment on my vacations, it makes reporting much more fun!

Where is your favorite fireworks watching location at GF, that don't require you eat dinner at a particular restaurant first? We are staying there over spring break and that's the main thing I can't figure out.

The courtyard in front of Gasparilla’s has a perfect view and the soundtrack is piped in there. You may need to arrive a little early if you want a seat, but standing has always worked for us.

Tuvalu, when are Tuvalette and Tuvaleen going to join you on a WDW vacation? Gotta start em young, yah know?

Looking like sometime in 2021. They’ll be 3 and 4, so perfect ages for Disney magic!

 

[disneyworlddad]

Shirley status -- front row of Small World!!!

In all the years of going to WDW, I have never ONCE been seated in the front row.

Travel in a part of four with two small children, we get front row almost every time.

 

[amjt660]

Wait....did you marathon through all 75 pages? You are incredible! Thanks for persevering.
I’m secretly glad there’s never a dull moment on my vacations, it makes reporting much more fun!


The courtyard in front of Gasparilla’s has a perfect view and the soundtrack is piped in there. You may need to arrive a little early if you want a seat, but standing has always worked for us.


Looking like sometime in 2021. They’ll be 3 and 4, so perfect ages for Disney magic!

Good call - skip the diaper phase at Disney
The first trip for my daughters was at 5 and 6

Max

 

[Swissmiss]

Good call - skip the diaper phase at Disney
The first trip for my daughter’s was at 5 and 6

Max

Max, @Tuvalu must be really happy (like the rest of us) that you are back on the boards more regularly, because she let that grammar mistake slide

 

[DryerLintFan]

Good call - skip the diaper phase at Disney
The first trip for my daughter’s was at 5 and 6

Max

Hopefully they don't read this, and they don't skip the diaper stage with you when you reach it

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Confession time: I don't know where the new picture is taken eithe r on TOT! We haven't been since December 2018. Care to let me know, or?????
I always get the hot fudge sundae in the waffle bowl at the ice cream parlor. Yum!!!

 

[amjt660]

Hopefully they don't read this, and they don't skip the diaper stage with you when you reach it

No, we went together last December.....


Max

 

[DisneyGigi]

No we went together last December.....


Max

I see a wedding pic in your avatar! Congrats to the happy couple and mom and dad. No wonder you have been MIA on the boards.

 

[MegRuss626]

Looking like sometime in 2021. They’ll be 3 and 4, so perfect ages for Disney magic!

End of November/beginning of December 2021, we're planning to be there with a 4 year old ( ) Ryleigh!

 

[amjt660]

I see a wedding pic in your avatar! Congrats to the happy couple and mom and dad. No wonder you have been MIA on the boards.

Yes- very proud papa

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, August 29

I never imagined the surprise that awaited us later today.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

Let’s begin at the wee hour of 5 am, when I found myself awake and unable to go back to sleep. It was especially frustrating since it was another planned resort day, so there was no reason to get up and get going. Then I remembered it was the opening of SW:GE so I followed reports in real time and was glad to be comfy in bed rather than in the sea of humanity at DHS (which included my buds @bee and @Tony the Tigger.)

As we readied to go to breakfast I filled Woody in on the Opening Day details (Falcon wait of 300 minutes, Boarding Group status procedure to enter the land, etc.) We decided to continue to monitor the situation throughout the day before making a final decision about visiting DHS tomorrow. (In retrospect this seems funny now that the expected daily masses of guests for SW:GE never materialized.)

Meanwhile Bright Suns had dawned on the GF.

Whose footprints are these?

Our dining destination.

A little #ShirleyStatus

The hot breakfast items were grab-n-go, a little surprising since lunch and dinner items are prepared to order. We both opted for waffles, Woody an adult portion and me a kids (gotta have purse grapes for later!)

Looking closely you’ll see Mickey and MINNIE waffles! I was so excited for a Minnie waffle (it’s the little things, folks ) and yet so disappointed on first bite. Minnie was extra crispy and had not fared well under the heat lamp. Woody had two Minnies on his plate and they were the same way. Thankfully Mickey tasted as he should (did I just veer into PG territory?) and the bacon was delish.

 

[krisri18]

Thursday, August 29

I never imagined the surprise that awaited us later today.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

Let’s begin at the wee hour of 5 am, when I found myself awake and unable to go back to sleep. It was especially frustrating since it was another planned resort day, so there was no reason to get up and get going. Then I remembered it was the opening of SW:GE so I followed reports in real time and was glad to be comfy in bed rather than in the sea of humanity at DHS (which included my buds @bee and @Tony the Tigger.)

As we readied to go to breakfast I filled Woody in on the Opening Day details (Falcon wait of 300 minutes, Boarding Group status procedure to enter the land, etc.) We decided to continue to monitor the situation throughout the day before making a final decision about visiting DHS tomorrow. (In retrospect this seems funny now that the expected daily masses of guests for SW:GE never materialized.)

Meanwhile Bright Suns had dawned on the GF.

View attachment 418601

View attachment 418602

Whose footprints are these?

View attachment 418603

Our dining destination.

View attachment 418604

A little #ShirleyStatus

View attachment 418606

View attachment 418607

The hot breakfast items were grab-n-go, a little surprising since lunch and dinner items are prepared to order. We both opted for waffles, Woody an adult portion and me a kids (gotta have purse grapes for later!)

View attachment 418605

Looking closely you’ll see Mickey and MINNIE waffles! I was so excited for a Minnie waffle (it’s the little things, folks ) and yet so disappointed on first bite. Minnie was extra crispy and had not fared well under the heat lamp. Woody had two Minnies on his plate and they were the same way. Thankfully Mickey tasted as he should (did I just veer into PG territory?) and the bacon was delish.

But were the purse grapes expired?

 

[Tuvalu]

But were the purse grapes expired?

Nope! They were fresh and yummy, thankfully!