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]

That is a fabulous picture of Woody on the balcony
Was it a candid shot or did he know?

Max

Interesting -- I also loved that photo. I think it's because I could "enter" the picture and sit where Woody was -- on that lovely balcony, overlooking the view.

It's fun to "dream" sometimes, isn't it?

 

[MeeskaMooska0714]

Paths at the Poly can be confusing to navigate in the dark, even for a Poly pro like me!

Ummmmm.....yes, this happened to us! It was horrible!

 

[Tuvalu]

Man does that balcony make me regret not making our less than thrilled feelings known Granted it wouldn’t have been as glorious of a view but still a nicer balcony!

All the balconies at GF......except for dormer rooms......are nice and large! Should you ever stay there again, hold out for one.

Excellent choice to watch the sunrise! Beats battling a bunch of Batuu-bound barbarians!

LOL!!! And say that three times fast!

 

[Tuvalu]

That is a fabulous picture of Woody on the balcony
Was it a candid shot or did he know?

Max

Interesting -- I also loved that photo. I think it's because I could "enter" the picture and sit where Woody was -- on that lovely balcony, overlooking the view.

It was a candid shot (that Woody hasn't even seen). Minnie, I had your exact thought while I was in the room looking out ~ and I had to capture the moment.

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

Eventually we managed to pull ourselves off the balcony and head for the bus stop. There were some black Star Wars balloons tied to a trash can....perhaps to drum up excitement for SW:GE?

Woody and I sat down on an open bench but we did not end up waiting long.

Behind the Typhoon Lagoon bus was our bus to DHS. Goofy is Woody’s favorite Disney character and we wished the Goofy bus was going our way!

However we got to claim #ShirleyStatus on the DHS bus.

And we felt exceptionally special (and safe) since there were three drivers onboard!

 

[Tuvalu]

It was around 9:30 am when we arrived the park. No big crowds at the entrance. Guess everyone was inside.

I can’t remember the last time I picked up a park map but did so today for the commemorative factor. The map was printed on heavy, high gloss paper. Wonder if it is still the same quality now?

We stopped to watch a cute Streetmosphere encounter.

Then we had some PP pics taken to document that WE WERE HERE!

We’d told family back home we would not be visiting DHS when Star Wars Land opened. So I texted the pics to my sons to get their reactions. It was purely selfish on my part since I knew both would reply. And we moms will do whatever it takes to hear from our kids, am I right?

 

[Tuvalu]

We began our touring in Toy Story Land since that is where we had our first FP. I wanted PP pictures by the sign to send to our grand girls, so we joined the short line just as Buzz Lightyear appeared.

Look! It’s Woody AND Buzz!

Then it was our turn in front of the sign.

We really didn’t need our FP since the attraction was practically a walk-on.

Look! It’s Woody AND Woody!

We did not know why we were led this peculiar way to the boarding area. Later I read something about a broken curtain in the queue (by Mr. Potato Head) which necessitated this detour.

We were sent to the new third track, a first for Woody!

@riverside ~ a CM was still guarding the secret screen!

I won’t say who won...

....cause it wasn’t me.

 

[MinnieM123]

However we got to claim #ShirleyStatus on the DHS bus.

And we felt exceptionally special (and safe) since there were three drivers onboard!

As it was a Shirley special vehicle, the minimum requirement is one driver, and two footmen.

 

[riverside]

@riverside ~ a CM was still guarding the secret screen!

 

[Loco_driver]

(I am a firm believer in you can never have too much cheese!)

Amen to that!

It is disappointing to hear about the subpar dinner experience at Be Our Guest. I know you and I had similar disappointments in the lunch experience recently, but was hoping that dinner would be a better experience.

 

[Tuvalu]

Amen to that!

It is disappointing to hear about the subpar dinner experience at Be Our Guest. I know you and I had similar disappointments in the lunch experience recently, but was hoping that dinner would be a better experience.

Yeah me too.

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

We had zipped on and off Toy Story Mania so fast that I asked Woody if we could check the wait for Slinky Dog. The line was not across the bridge as it usually was....in fact the line wasn’t even on the bridge.

The sign said 45 minutes but we waited less than 30.

I think I’ve waited standby once before but this might have been my first time. Therefore I was quick to notice details in the queue, like the back of Buster’s dog tag and how high the grass is, making us feel toy-size!

Though we were under cover and there were fans blowing, it was an incredibly warm and humid wait. Watching the toy soldiers marching band helped us forget the sweat that was dripping down our backs. It was nice of them to entertain us!

Getting closer to boarding.

Ready for take off!

Wheeee!!

Wheezy welcomed us back. He wasn’t sleeping, I just caught him mid-blink.

 

[Tuvalu]

We’d done the two major TSL rides in under an hour so we thought we check the wait for the remaining attraction. Posted wait was 15 minutes. We waited 10.

This entrance/exit for Batuu is next to Alien Swirling Saucers. It was EXIT ONLY (see sign) today.

Every spin I’ve had on Saucers has been a blast....except for today. It was a very ROUGH ride, leading Woody to speculate that our vehicle had a broken wheel.

Happy faces before the torture.

I did not take an after shot. It wouldn’t have been pretty. But I’m not ready to give up on Saucers....yet.

 

[Tuvalu]

Since crowds didn’t seem to be an issue (at least in Toy Story Land) Woody and I thought we’d walk over to Grand Avenue and assess the entrance to SW:GE. It meant missing our FP for Voyage of the Little Mermaid (no big deal).

My Star Wars knowledge is extremely limited. I saw the original on the big screen in 1977. Not being a fan of science fiction, I was bored. But I became familiar with the main characters through people I love who loved the the original trilogy. There were lots of Star Wars toys in my house. I learned the basics.

My first experience on Star Tours did not go well. Motion simulators and I do not get along. I have ridden the attraction a few times since but only with my eyes closed. All this to say I don’t expect to enjoy Smugglers Run and have completely ruled out experiencing Rise of the Resistance. But I was curious to see Batuu today, even if I could not appreciate all the details.

Crowds were not an issue on Grand Avenue. It was the opposite of Opening Day. There was no line to enter Galaxy’s Edge. Instead there were excitable CMs passing out maps and translation guides.

Woody and I entered through the portal and were transported to a strange planet. The transition was seamless and well done. (“It still has that new land smell!” commented Woody.) Though there were numerous people walking around exploring, it did not feel claustrophobic (unlike Pandora.) The area is surprisingly large and there is A LOT to look at.

The first thing that excited me? A trash can.

Hey, at least I knew what it was (unlike many other objects on Batuu)!

Princess Leia(?) and a Dude with Chains at the entrance to Rise of the Resistance.

An aircraft. (Tie Fighter?)

Entrance to the Marketplace. (I think.)

Woody was the photographer during our visit. He likes the Star Wars franchise and was impressed overall. I will be sharing his pics (with my bad commentary ) over the next few posts.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Friday, August 31

Today was our last full day. The arrival of Hurricane Dorian was pushed out a few days but the forecast still called for cloudy skies and rain. Woody and I had decided in advance to just roll with whatever came our way, but to keep our umbrellas by our sides.

We had FPs and a lunch ADR at DHS. The park opened at 6 am for Extra Extra Magic Hours but we were not going to break our necks to get there early, since it was only day #2 after Star Wars:Galaxy’s Edge official opening. We figured SW:GE would be a madhouse and had no plan nor expectation to tour the land.

So instead of waiting for the turnstiles at DHS to open at 6 am, we were on our balcony waiting for the sunrise.

View attachment 420992

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Construction crews had started work early on the new bridge which will connect MK to the GF.

View attachment 420996

View attachment 420993

Many people are very excited about the possibility of walking from MK to the TTC. It sounds good in theory....but most don’t realize how FAR a walk that will be....and it is not a straight shot. It requires a convoluted walk through the grounds of the GF, then around the wedding chapel, then curvy paths from one end of the Poly to the other before reaching the final leg to the TTC. Paths at the Poly can be confusing to navigate in the dark, even for a Poly pro like me!

Since Disney has yet to release an official statement about what the bridge is for, I suppose it’s possible a perimeter walkway could also be constructed to avoid traversing the GF and Poly grounds....but that would mean more cost without any ROI. (And still a LONG walk from the MK to the TTC!)

As with all things Disney, it will be interesting to see what the next of couple years brings.

Meanwhile Woody was content to sit and drink his coffee, watching the activity around the lagoon.

View attachment 420997

You can walk from SOG to the TTC and the path is also convoluted. The first part is really easy, straight up to the Poly, but then when you get there you wind around a lot, and go in and out of buildings and it's all confusing. We started taking the bus on our second day because of that. The walk back to the resort is even more confusing, for some reason.

I love that walking is an option, but we don't actually use it because it's not a good option, LOL

 

[fractal]

Since crowds didn’t seem to be an issue (at least in Toy Story Land) Woody and I thought we’d walk over to Grand Avenue and assess the entrance to SW:GE. It meant missing our FP for Voyage of the Little Mermaid (no big deal).

My Star Wars knowledge is extremely limited. I saw the original on the big screen in 1977. Not being a fan of science fiction, I was bored. But I became familiar with the main characters through people I love who loved the the original trilogy. There were lots of Star Wars toys in my house. I learned the basics.

My first experience on Star Tours did not go well. Motion simulators and I do not get along. I have ridden the attraction a few times since but only with my eyes closed. All this to say I don’t expect to enjoy Smugglers Run and have completely ruled out experiencing Rise of the Resistance. But I was curious to see Batuu today, even if I could not appreciate all the details.

Crowds were not an issue on Grand Avenue. It was the opposite of Opening Day. There was no line to enter Galaxy’s Edge. Instead there were excitable CMs passing out maps and translation guides.

View attachment 421451

View attachment 421452

View attachment 421453

Woody and I entered through the portal and were transported to a strange planet. The transition was seamless and well done. (“It still has that new land smell!” commented Woody.) Though there were numerous people walking around exploring, it did not feel claustrophobic (unlike Pandora.) The area is surprisingly large and there is A LOT to look at.

The first thing that excited me? A trash can.
View attachment 421454
Hey, at least I knew what it was (unlike many other objects on Batuu)!

Princess Leia(?) and a Dude with Chains at the entrance to Rise of the Resistance.
View attachment 421455

An aircraft. (Tie Fighter?)
View attachment 421457

Entrance to the Marketplace. (I think.)
View attachment 421458

Woody was the photographer during our visit. He likes the Star Wars franchise and was impressed overall. I will be sharing his pics (with my bad commentary ) over the next few posts.

TIE FIGHTER

X-Wing Fighter (the wings split to form an X when in battle).

 

[93boomer]

Friday, con’t

We had zipped on and off Toy Story Mania so fast that I asked Woody if we could check the wait for Slinky Dog. The line was not across the bridge as it usually was....in fact the line wasn’t even on the bridge.

The sign said 45 minutes but we waited less than 30.
View attachment 421433

I think I’ve waited standby once before but this might have been my first time. Therefore I was quick to notice details in the queue, like the back of Buster’s dog tag and how high the grass is, making us feel toy-size!

View attachment 421434

Though we were under cover and there were fans blowing, it was an incredibly warm and humid wait. Watching the toy soldiers marching band helped us forget the sweat that was dripping down our backs. It was nice of them to entertain us!

View attachment 421435

Getting closer to boarding.

View attachment 421436

Ready for take off!

View attachment 421437

Wheeee!!

View attachment 421439

Wheezy welcomed us back. He wasn’t sleeping, I just caught him mid-blink.

View attachment 421438

Now I have to check these things out. We didn’t look around much when we rode it! Thanks @Tuvalu !

 

[amjt660]

Every spin I’ve had on Saucers has been a blast....except for today. It was a very ROUGH ride

So you normally have a blast but this time you had a rough ride on your A$$?

( remember , you wanted me to come back and provide the snark)

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

I love that walking is an option, but we don't actually use it because it's not a good option, LOL

My sense of what the the reality will be should the path from MK to GF ever be completed.....“you can walk from the MK to the TTC!”

Now I have to check these things out. We didn’t look around much when we rode it! Thanks @Tuvalu !

More of those little details that make Disney, Disney.

TIE FIGHTER

X-Wing Fighter (the wings split to form an X when in battle).

Thanks for the lesson but what exactly is this then?

 

[Tuvalu]

So you normally have a blast but this time you had a rough ride on your A$$?

( remember , you wanted me to come back and provide the snark)

Max

I’m willing to take the risk!