Trip Report Tu in ‘25

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tu in ‘25

These lyrics came to mind when I thought about my trip reporting. (I also thought, Here we go AGAIN but the above sounds much more poignant.) It’s now that time of year when my Disney trips are frequent. And this Disney Senior loves sharing her visits with y’all because your engagement makes it fun!

Yes, there will be stuff that’s the same. Yes, there will be surprises (too soon for the reveals). And yes, there will be sun rises!

Spring break countdown is at 4 days.

Since this intro needs a picture, here are Tu.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

I bring good news - Alice had reopened again!

And the third time was the charm!

We made it to the outside part!

A successful non-stop ride!

 

[Laurenciaa]

Really liking the throw-back photos. Over the years the joys of being in a Disney Park have not diminished

 

[dizfan917]

I love all those old-school dark rides, I could ride those all day long. Hooray for Alice success!! That screaming Red Queen cracks me UP!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

The window for our first LL was open.

But where was Em going?

To a dining location? It had Plaza Pavilion vibes. Or 1980s mall.

Parking garage? Even Em was unsure.

Oohhh….it’s the entrance to Space Mountain!

Makes perfect sense.

Em and I have stopped riding MK’s Space Mountain due to its roughness. When you come off hurting it’s no longer fun! However DL’s Space Mountain is much smoother. Its downside is the loud music blaring through speakers right beside you. I tolerated it in 2013….

….but opted for the chicken exit today. (Thanks to a reminder from Em that it wasn’t just the music that made me queasy back then.)

Em remembered loving this version of Space Mountain and riding it multiple times on previous visits. Upon meeting me after she said while it was fun, she didn’t necessarily need to ride it again.

 

[littleroo]

That Space Mountain vehicle certainly looks far more comfortable in DL than DW! I am glad you finally got through Alice. That looks like so much fun!!

 

[lindawdw]

Alice is wacky but so fun and as for Mr. Toad's Wild ride, I absolutely love this classic and do miss it at WDW! Snow White is also such a great classic albeit a bit of a dark story! I could take it or leave it the Storybook Canal ride and Pinocchio has always seemed like a very weird story to me. The DL version of Space Mountain is hands down so much better than WDW!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

We had a little time until our next LL. Decided to follow these guys to their home base.

We must be in the right place.

Further confirmation when a man passed by wearing a skull and crossbones tee stating:
It’s all fun and games until someone needs an eye patch

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, off to the best Pirates show!

 

[lindawdw]

I love that ride!!!

 

[Loco_driver]

Em and I have stopped riding MK’s Space Mountain due to its roughness. When you come off hurting it’s no longer fun!

Same. I haven’t been on WDW space mountain since 2019. I also passed on the DL version last year.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Last time I rode Space at WDW was in March of 2020 at the special Villains After Dark party because it was supposed to have a special spiel with the. villains talking during the ride at certain times. We couldn’t really hear it while on the ride, at least not clearly. So we suffered through for nothing. But when we rode the Peoplemover we could hear the Villains great while going through Space Mt
.

Disneyland’s Space Mt is always a must do, much smoother. But it can still be a little tough to get out of.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

On a side street in New Orleans Square Em discovered something more valuable than pirate booty.

The (not so) secret entrance to Disneyland’s exclusive Club 33.

If you have to ask what Club 33 is, you don’t belong there.
If you have to ask how much Club 33 costs, you can’t afford it.
If you have to ask what’s the big deal about Club 33, you’re my kind of person!

Of course the door was locked to keep the riff raff out, so Em and I continued on to LL#2. A place where we would be admitted, since we were wearing the proper attire.

As we entered the queue we overheard a guest ask a CM, “Is this the train station?”

I did not notice the pet cemetery until today.

I also hadn’t heard the following commentary from the ghost host until today. As we moved into the hallway after the stretching room, the ghost host said: “There are several prominent ghosts who have retired here from crypts all over the world. Actually we have 999 happy haunts here - but there’s room for 1,000. Any volunteers? If you insist on lagging behind, the decision to volunteer may be made for you.”

Is that a threat?

The OG Hatbox Ghost.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

LL#3 immediately followed our ghostly tour.

Em and I love this version of BTMRR! The only negative we have has nothing to do with the ride but with some guests who feel the need to scream at ear-piercing decibels ONLY in the three tunnels. Not children. Grown adults who are clearly doing so on purpose.

Ears ringing, we went in search of lunch. We did not have to walk very far.

Em went to order for us while I found a table near a fan and a wonderful cross breeze. The temperature had been steadily rising all morning and we had no desire to sit in full-on sun.

Our Chicken Sonora Bowls were delicious!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

After lunch we perused a few of the shops on Main Street. We were gathering ideas for souvenirs and made just a single purchase.

Here.

The interior of this confectionery is very old-timey and well-themed. We wandered around for a bit, soaking in the atmosphere and the a/c (I told you it was hot!)

How neat is this?!! I watched a little girl have fun making Pinocchio dance as her mom smiled. A core memory made for the low price of a quarter!

Then we checked out the yummy display cases. I remembered @ajrwdwgirl (and @Loco_driver)’s high praise of a certain candy treat that I thought my chocolate-and-peanut butter lovin’ daughter might enjoy. When I thought I'd found it, I zoomed in to take a picture and waited for @ajrwdwgirl's confirmation.

She quickly replied, "That's the one!" I settled on a dark chocolate coconut cream treat for myself. We saved them for later and because of their size savored them in two sittings.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

Approximately two weeks prior to this trip, Em suggested another option to enhance our Disneyland vacation (the first being LLMP.)

Enhance =

Well what's another splurge on a rare west coast adventure? And thanks to Chase Disney Visa, this one came with a discount.

We were to check in no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of our tour.

Upon check in we received our lanyards, name tag and audio devices. We were instructed how to use the devices and had a sound check. Lanyards and name badges were to remain on our persons until the tour concluded.

Tours were limited in size to twenty guests. Accompanied children were welcome (there were two in our group.) There were four time slots from which to choose for our 2-hour tour and I avoided the morning slots on purpose, so not to sacrifice potential short waits for attractions.

However, I did not expect our tour time would fall during a rare 93 degrees (with no breeze) SoCal afternoon! (More on that later.)

Sydney, our tour guide, resembled Mirabel from Encanto. This tickled me because Mirabel is middle granddaughter's favorite, so she was on my mind throughout the tour.

The tour began by the flagpole in Town Square, where Sydney described Walt's vision for a family-friendly amusement park. Fun fact: The park's original name was Mickey Mouse Park.

From there, we walked to the Cinema. Sydney shared some cartoon history. Fun fact: Dinosaur Gertie was one of the original cartoons played in the Cinema. (Where have I heard that name before?)

We then moved to the entrance of Adventureland, where Sydney gave us the backstories for Jungle Cruise and Tiki Birds. Fun facts: The elephants and savanna were later additions to the JC. And the names for the four main birds in the Tiki Room (José, Michael, Pierre and Fritz) were chosen because they were "culturally appropriate" for the time.

In the Castle hub, we learned the history of the Main Street vehicles.

More tour to come!

 

[RememberWhen]

Love the tour! Em is quite brilliant in her enhancement choices.

 

[lindawdw]

Your dessert treats look so decadent and delicious!!! I would love to do this tour if we make it out for the 70th Anniversary!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Thursday, con’t

After lunch we perused a few of the shops on Main Street. We were gathering ideas for souvenirs and made just a single purchase.

Here.
View attachment 874703

The interior of this confectionery is very old-timey and well-themed. We wandered around for a bit, soaking in the atmosphere and the a/c (I told you it was hot!)

View attachment 874700

How neat is this?!! I watched a little girl have fun making Pinocchio dance as her mom smiled. A core memory made for the low price of a quarter!

Then we checked out the yummy display cases. I remembered @ajrwdwgirl (and @Loco_driver)’s high praise of a certain candy treat that I thought my chocolate-and-peanut butter lovin’ daughter might enjoy. When I thought I'd found it, I zoomed in to take a picture and waited for @ajrwdwgirl's confirmation.

View attachment 874699

She quickly replied, "That's the one!" I settled on a dark chocolate coconut cream treat for myself. We saved them for later and because of their size savored them in two sittings.

View attachment 874701

View attachment 874702

Had to quote this so I could send more love to the peanut butter square. Just had one a couple days ago, and may have brought a few home to freeze up. The coconut thing looks good too, never tried that. I guess I have to go back now (or in a couple months).

Peanut butter squares =

 

[Tuvalu]

Love the tour! Em is quite brilliant in her enhancement choices.

That she is!

I would love to do this tour if we make it out for the 70th Anniversary!

It was very fun!

Had to quote this so I could send more love to the peanut butter square. Just had one a couple days ago, and may have brought a few home to freeze up. The coconut thing looks good too, never tried that. I guess I have to go back now (or in a couple months).

Peanut butter squares =

Dark chocolate coconut cream =

Another visit to DL this year =

 

[Minnie1986]

Thursday, con’t

The window for our first LL was open.

But where was Em going?

View attachment 874431

To a dining location? It had Plaza Pavilion vibes. Or 1980s mall.

Parking garage? Even Em was unsure.

View attachment 874437

Oohhh….it’s the entrance to Space Mountain!

View attachment 874433

Makes perfect sense.

Em and I have stopped riding MK’s Space Mountain due to its roughness. When you come off hurting it’s no longer fun! However DL’s Space Mountain is much smoother. Its downside is the loud music blaring through speakers right beside you. I tolerated it in 2013….

View attachment 874435

….but opted for the chicken exit today. (Thanks to a reminder from Em that it wasn’t just the music that made me queasy back then.)

View attachment 874434

Em remembered loving this version of Space Mountain and riding it multiple times on previous visits. Upon meeting me after she said while it was fun, she didn’t necessarily need to ride it again.

View attachment 874436

Yeah, Space Mountain here looks like you're going to Tomorrowland Terrace in Magic Kingdom; it makes absolutely no sense

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

We followed Sydney towards Tomorrowland, passing the closed for refurbishment Matterhorn. I read it was supposed to reopen on July 24 - @ajrwdwgirl can you confirm?

Sydney did a great job of finding shady spots for us to stand, often sacrificing her own comfort. But even in the shade we were quite warm and many comments were made about how unusual it was to be so hot in SoCal.

Behind Sydney is Autopia. She told us that Tomorrowland was designed for “the future of 1986.” She also shared that the original Autopia course was 1 mile long and 2 spaces wide. The cars - modeled after European sports cars - could travel 11 mph (now 6 mph) on a trackless course, resulting in (no surprise) lots of crashes! Sammy Davis Jr. was a famous crash victim. Guardrails were added in 1965 for safety.

Our group then moved on to the Tomorrowland Train Station.

Sydney shared the history of Walt’s love of trains and the DL railroad. Our group had a reserved car in which to ride the train, but the “wrong” train arrived when we were standing there, causing an unexpected (and long) delay in our tour.

Sydney kept us entertained by asking us trivia questions from our tour thus far, “to see if you were paying attention.”

When there was a slight pause after she asked, “what was the name of the cartoon dinosaur?” I piped up with, “Gertie!” I believe Em and I were the only ones who knew. #advantageWDWvets!