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! )

 

[amjt660]

I’m a The Good Place watcher.

Not where I was going
Thinking more...

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Not where I was going
Thinking more...

View attachment 422072View attachment 422073View attachment 422074


Max

Well that works too!

 

[Zipadeelady]

I really like your dress. Love the colors and I've always had a thing for stripes.

 

[93boomer]

Since lunch had left something to be desired, Woody and I decided to hop over to Epcot and check out the Food & Wine Festival, which had also opened yesterday.

Weather was okay in front of the Chinese Theater.....

View attachment 422058

....but by the time we exited the park things looked a bit more ominous.

View attachment 422059
Gotta love that Florida sky rain line! But....

We got on the Friendship boat.

There was a lightning strike.

We had to get off the Friendship boat. It was now “out of service.”

Plan B then! B for bus, of course. And B for Beach Club, since we wanted to enter Epcot via the International Gateway. We made it to the bus depot just as the rain began. Only today we were prepared with umbrellas, unlike my last DHS visit with Em. ⛈

It rained all the way to Beach Club but was down to a sprinkle when we disembarked the bus. As we entered the lobby, someone surprised me!

View attachment 422060

She insisted I hand the camera to Woody so he could take a picture of both of us.

View attachment 422061

Just for you, Minnie!

Minnie loved those stripes!!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

LOL, you are not alone in not knowing about the bricks/ blasted walls and crooked pictures. I never even noticed them!!!!!
So, you don't live in the land of oblivious alone
Love your dress too, but horizontal stripes and me just don't go together!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Sorry you had a bad experience at Mama’s this trip. Arthur is my fave server there, if, he is still there. He gives you time to enjoy your meal, no rushing. Those rolls were !

 

[Tuvalu]

LOL, you are not alone in not knowing about the bricks/ blasted walls and crooked pictures. I never even noticed them!!!!!
So, you don't live in the land of oblivious alone

Phew!! Glad to know I’m not alone.

I really like your dress. Love the colors and I've always had a thing for stripes.

Thank you so much.

Sorry you had a bad experience at Mama’s this trip. Arthur is my fave server there, if, he is still there. He gives you time to enjoy your meal, no rushing. Those rolls were !

I don’t think I’ve ever been served by Arthur. Lately the wait staff has been mostly female....with the wonderful exception of ASH.

 

[Tuvalu]

Our family celebrated Woody’s birthday last night. My mom found an old (vintage?) photo and put it in this fun frame.

Almost 3-year-old Tuvalette was studying it intensely.
Pointing to myself I said, “That’s me!”
Tuvalette: “No it isn’t.”

I am officially vintage.

 

[Nunu]

Our family celebrated Woody’s birthday last night. My mom found an old (vintage?) photo and put it in this fun frame.

View attachment 422807

Almost 3-year-old Tuvalette was studying it intensely.
Pointing to myself I said, “That’s me!”
Tuvalette: “No it isn’t.”

I am officially vintage.

Love the picture, the smiles, the frame. Everything!

Happy birthday to Mr Woody!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Our family celebrated Woody’s birthday last night. My mom found an old (vintage?) photo and put it in this fun frame.

View attachment 422807

Almost 3-year-old Tuvalette was studying it intensely.
Pointing to myself I said, “That’s me!”
Tuvalette: “No it isn’t.”

I am officially vintage.

Stinker aka Lil’ Eli thinks old pics of his Papaw are his Daddy. At my moms she showed him a pic of me in the 10th grade that still hangs on the wall- (imagine huge 80s hair, and I weighed maybe 85 lbs) I was shocked when he said Gigi. Mom asked how he knew it was me and he said Duh, that is my Gigi’s smile.

Love the pic and I think you don’t ever change! Tell Woody Happy Birthday!!!
PS- Em is precious, something about her in that pic reminds me of my daughter at that age.

 

[Swissmiss]

Happy birthday @Woodywrkr

 

[krisri18]

Love the photo and Happy Birthday Woody!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

Woody and I entered Epcot with the intention of sampling items from the Food and a Wine Festival booths.

You know what they say about good intentions....

Immediately it was apparent that Epcot had gotten heavy rain which hadn’t chased the crowds away. Lines at the kiosks....the ones that were open....were LONG. Other booths were closed, due to lightning having caused registers to malfunction and rendering them unable to accept payments. (@bee talked about this in her TR.)

The walkways were packed. The humidity was at 100% and it looked like more rain might be on the way.

It was not the good idea I’d hoped it would be. Getting to Mexico for some a/c became the goal and the journey was not pleasant.

A cool boat ride helped to improve our mood.

I remembered I wanted to pick up the F&W Passholder magnet so we headed towards Future World.

I snapped this

and then Woody insisted I get in the shot.

 

[MinnieM123]

Happy Birthday Woody!!! Best wishes, and may there be many, many more rides on the moving benches in your future!

 

[wdwfamilynh]

Our family celebrated Woody’s birthday last night. My mom found an old (vintage?) photo and put it in this fun frame.

View attachment 422807

Almost 3-year-old Tuvalette was studying it intensely.
Pointing to myself I said, “That’s me!”
Tuvalette: “No it isn’t.”

I am officially vintage.

Happy Birthday, Woody

Tuvalu, you are only “vintage” if it means you are like really good wine!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Happy Birthday to Woody!

 

[Tuvalu]

Magnet in hand, I suggested one final attraction before leaving.

We passed the Fountain of Nations practicing for its demise.

(That was as high as the water went.)

Always good to end with a favorite.

And then, just like that, my summer park touring was officially over.

Take me back to the GF, monorail!

A little reminder in our room to never forget the wonderful upgrade we’d received.

Woody and I went out onto the balcony. We needed to rest our tired feet after logging nearly 16,000 steps. As we sat, we could hear Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire being performed on the Castle stage!

After a little while Woody left to take a shower. I continued to enjoy our million dollar view. I do wish the sun had been out, but at least it wasn’t raining.

 

[Tuvalu]

When Woody was finished it was my turn to clean up. Then we were faced with the where are we gonna eat? decision.
MK was out because it was a MNSSHP night.
Epcot was out because the crowds were the reason for our departure earlier.
AK was out because....well, it’s AK.
And neither of us felt like returning to DHS.

We were tired. We wanted something quick and easy. And there was one monorail resort we hadn’t eaten at yet.

Dinner was a WINNER! After all the disappointing meals we’d had this week, this one ended up in the top 3.

The fried chicken wrap came from the cold case. It was fresh, filling and delicious!

I recommended the Italian Beef sandwich to Woody and he devoured it.

Plus how fun is it to watch the monorails glide by while dining?!!

The Contempo Cafe always has unique desserts. We’ve been privy to some amazing cupcakes and other sweet treats over the years.

Look what we found tonight ~ a mini Wookiee cake!

Rich, moist chocolate cake covered in chocolate buttercream frosting....

....with a surprise caramel center!

I raved about this to Em in a text and she requested I bring one home for her.

Done! (She was caring for Poly and Kona, after all. )

 

[Tuvalu]

You might recall the awkward monorail screening station from a month earlier.

I was happy to see the new improvements. It’s quite Contemporary now, don’t you think?

There was a yappy mom in the same car with us running commentary to her kid from the TTC to the GF. She was a know-it-all who actually knew very little. If I hadn’t been so tired I might have gently corrected a couple of her “facts.” But I’m glad I didn’t as then we would have missed the best gem of all.

As the Villas at Grand Floridian (DVC building) came into view, she announced: “Inside that fancy building is the PRINCESS DIANA suite! Even Presidents have stayed there!”

All you DVC members might want to start saving up your points.

 

[Tuvalu]

How great that Night #7 of MK fireworks was the Halloween edition!!

I went to sleep a happy magician. (Did you think I was going to say camper?)