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! )

 

[Ears to Disney]

Geyser point looks so relaxing! We have not visited that side since they have done all the remodeling. We cannot for January when we stay at the villas!

 

[disneyworlddad]

OK dear readers, I have made a *shocking* discovery.

I put on my Sherlock Holmes’ hat (or Columbo’s trench coat, or Jessica Fletcher’s spectacles, take your pick) and intently studied three photographs of the metal Mickey sculpture at the Contemporary ~ one from 1983, one from 1996 and one from 2019.

Guess what.

I purport the current Mickey is NOT the original. Nor is the one from 1996. The one in 1983 may be the original, as that is the earliest picture I could find (thanks to @MinnieM123.)

1983

View attachment 395113

Note the North Garden Wing behind Mickey (where Bay Lake Tower now stands). Just rooms. Do you see any water? How about the beach? The sculpture seems to be installed in Chattahoochee stone (look it up), which also appears to be Mickey-shaped.

1996

View attachment 395112

Note that the North Garden Wing is still standing, but behind Mickey is Bay Lake and on the far left in the photograph is beach. The sculpture is installed in paver stones (not Mickey-shaped). Mickey’s arms appear to be thinner and his shoes have a blue tint....although that may be the reflection of my rockin’ stonewashed denim shorts!

2019

View attachment 395111

Bay Lake Tower has appeared and you can still see Bay Lake......but the marina and a building are now also in view. The paver stones are different (to be expected) but so is the base that secures the sculpture.

Obviously Mickey’s location has “shifted” over the years. But do you agree that today’s sculpture is not the original? Is a metal sculpture sturdy enough to withstand moving several times over many years?

I clearly have way too much time on my hands.

I do a fair bit of work with metal and metal structures in my line of business. Depending on what it is actually made out of I wouldn't be surprised if the three circle mickey is the same (well two and a half). You'd be very surprised how old some of the poles lights, billboards, football/baseball scoreboards are on.

My guess is that whatever the finish of the structure is is not the underlying metal. It has probly gotten a new finish when it has moved. It looks like an aluminum finish but even aluminum that thick I dont think would hold up to someone sitting on it. Could be galvanized steel?

 

[riverside]

(Not Stacy.....we don’t care for her. Now how many forum friends have I just lost? )

Yes. As she does not care for the Stacy either

I'm in support of the no Stacy movement.

Ladies, I'm very disappointed in you.....& don't worry @Tuvalu, we can still be friends!!

I still ate it.....all.

Yes, that was quite the change from the month before but they both looked excellent!! Esp. the quinoa--I am a huge fan of it also!!

 

[Tuvalu]

You know I just read that last sentence and it sounded strange. What I meant to say is that it wasn’t hilarious about that server not waiting on you girls. (Borrowing your “senior moment” brain) Hope that cleared it up.

Clear as mud, my dear!

I have always thought if they made a small version of this, perhaps 1/4 scale, it would make an awesome souvenir. I know I would have one or two in our flower gardens.

Agree!

Hmmm they all look like the same statue to me... except for placement.

I think 1983 and 2019 are very similar (if not the same) but 1996 just looks....different.

Are my eyes going or do the eyes look different on each? Also, the shoes look different? I think they are all different ones.

I think it is the eyes.

Hmm I'm thinking they might be the same, just moved. Like you, we always took a picture by it in the 90s, so next time I'm at my folks house I might have to check in their (dozens) of photo albums and see if I can do a year by year analysis.... And who knows, at the same time, I may even make a @Tuvalu sighting in the albums! (how funny would that be, but probably not totally surprising since we went pretty often back then, and I believe Em and I are just about the same age and probably did similar things).

Would love to see your pictures if you run across them! And if your age on your profile pic is correct, you are the same age as my son sitting in Mickey’s left ear (a few years older than Em).

Geyser point looks so relaxing! We have not visited that side since they have done all the remodeling. We cannot for January when we stay at the villas!

You will love it!

 

[Tuvalu]

I do a fair bit of work with metal and metal structures in my line of business. Depending on what it is actually made out of I wouldn't be surprised if the three circle mickey is the same (well two and a half). You'd be very surprised how old some of the poles lights, billboards, football/baseball scoreboards are on.

My guess is that whatever the finish of the structure is is not the underlying metal. It has probly gotten a new finish when it has moved. It looks like an aluminum finish but even aluminum that thick I dont think would hold up to someone sitting on it. Could be galvanized steel?

Ooh, thanks for your expertise!

 

[Tuvalu]

don't worry @Tuvalu, we can still be friends!!
Esp. the quinoa--I am a huge fan of it also!!

But how do you stand on ?
KIDDING!!!

We may disagree on Stacy, but we agree on camping!

 

[riverside]

But how do you stand on ?
KIDDING!!!

We may disagree on Stacy, but we agree on camping!

I better keep my opinion on avocados to myself. Probably a wise move at this point!!

Yes, camping is not for me in the least. To be quite truthful I don't even like the smell of grass!!

 

[Loco_driver]

Count me as another one who doesn’t like “the Stacey” as @Darstarr says!

 

[Brwneyedgirl72]

I concur - not a Stacey fan!

 

[Nunu]

I clearly have way too much time on my hands.

I'll call it Passion, a very nice quality to have!

(Not Stacy.....we don’t care for her. Now how many forum friends have I just lost? )

You haven't lost this "new-ish friend"!

my rockin’ stonewashed denim shorts!

They're back in style, stonewashed and acid washed too. So you would be rockin' those today too!

 

[krisri18]

OK dear readers, I have made a *shocking* discovery.

I put on my Sherlock Holmes’ hat (or Columbo’s trench coat, or Jessica Fletcher’s spectacles, take your pick) and intently studied three photographs of the metal Mickey sculpture at the Contemporary ~ one from 1983, one from 1996 and one from 2019.

Guess what.

I purport the current Mickey is NOT the original. Nor is the one from 1996. The one in 1983 may be the original, as that is the earliest picture I could find (thanks to @MinnieM123.)

1983

View attachment 395113

Note the North Garden Wing behind Mickey (where Bay Lake Tower now stands). Just rooms. Do you see any water? How about the beach? The sculpture seems to be installed in Chattahoochee stone (look it up), which also appears to be Mickey-shaped.

1996

View attachment 395112

Note that the North Garden Wing is still standing, but behind Mickey is Bay Lake and on the far left in the photograph is beach. The sculpture is installed in paver stones (not Mickey-shaped). Mickey’s arms appear to be thinner and his shoes have a blue tint....although that may be the reflection of my rockin’ stonewashed denim shorts!

2019

View attachment 395111

Bay Lake Tower has appeared and you can still see Bay Lake......but the marina and a building are now also in view. The paver stones are different (to be expected) but so is the base that secures the sculpture.

Obviously Mickey’s location has “shifted” over the years. But do you agree that today’s sculpture is not the original? Is a metal sculpture sturdy enough to withstand moving several times over many years?

I clearly have way too much time on my hands.

I think if you paired the hat with the trenchcoat and the spectacles, you'd have quite the look! Lol
Thanks for doing the research @Tuvalu, it definitely looks like there are subtle differences in the statues, I should probably check it out in person at some point.

 

[MinnieM123]

1. I think there has been only one Mickey metal statue, and I'm sticking to my opinion here!

2. As for the Stacy, I've always enjoyed her videos. I feel like I've "arrived" at WDW when I see her TV video!

3. Avocados are so delicious -- guacamole is a favorite food of mine.

4. Nothing yet -- stay tuned.

 

[Loco_driver]

Avocados are so delicious

That’s correct!

 

[Doc Disney]

I will have to dig our photos. We have been taking this Mickey photo for ages almost every trip that I can remember

 

[Tuvalu]

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.

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!

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:

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.

The reason we came to CG....

....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!

 

[monykalyn]

Ugh gone for a bit (busy with work and family reunions at the lake) and you have snuck in and competed another trip!
Last minute ADR for Cali can be had-snagged one the night before last August: oldest kid's choice as it was her last night for her 2nd DCP program. Thought we'd be maybe a bit late for fireworks due to time of reservation-but fireworks delayed due to rain so it ended up being perfectly timed! Think we did bunch of apps and desserts.

When are your August dates? Just booked flights today (and bought MNSSHP tix and a park ticket yesterday) for a very last minute trip - leave 2 weeks from Friday (tomorrow). Staying at Grand Floridian-free! DH's oldest has a conference there and invited us along to stay with her - her work is paying for room. Only my oldest and I can go due to DH work and other kids start school that week.

And I didn't try to snag a LTT ADR as I thought it wasn't worth it if the dessert isn't the same!

 

[amjt660]

And why is there only ever one shrimp?”

“Hey Tu, the ocean called and wanted their shrimp back “

Max

 

[MinnieM123]

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!

Drives me nuts when a restaurant slams in as many tables as possible. Like you said, it appears as though other patrons listen in to your conversation, but part of that is because they're so close in proximity. I can't really blame them, as neither party had room to "move" anywhere. I'm also wondering if they were looking at the food selections brought out for you and Em, versus gawking at you both eating. Anyway, just a hunch -- but I place the blame on all this on the restaurant's greedy table seating distances.

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.

This was interesting. It's a failure on the part of the restaurant not to enforce the dress code. Either have a dress code or don't -- it's frustrating when some people dress appropriately to adhere to the code, while others waltz in wearing shorts, tee shirts and flip flops. (I read a TR from another forum member who made a similar comment about a restaurant on the DCL. Either have a dress code and enforce it, or just get rid of the code altogether.)

Lastly, that was funny that the group all looked at the California Grill's menu and left! (And like you said, how the heck did they end up there in the first place? ADRs are required and difficult to get -- so if they did make the ADR ahead of time, didn't they look at the menu first??)

 

[Darstarr]

the Oak-Grilled Filet. Done to perfection, it was melt-in-your-mouth spectacular as always

Was it, as @PineapplePrincess and my MIL would say, out of this world delicious?

 

[Dory71]

We dined at CG for the first time in May. I had the Oak grilled filet and thoroughly enjoyed my meal . In fact everyone had “happy” plates. Thanks to your trip reports and pics I decided to book CG.