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.

 

[Minnie1986]

Transportation leaving early is such a pet peeve of mine; especially in situations like this.

 

[Minnie1986]

Oh, how I miss Mouse Gear!

 

[Minnie1986]

Monday, con’t

We were cutting it close for our lunch ADR (delays at SSE really caused a domino effect with our timing) so we had to power walk through World Showcase.

We were careful to avoid petting this woman’s service dog, @wdisney9000.

View attachment 853831

We arrived at Via Napoli five minutes late. It wasn’t a problem and we were seated within a couple minutes. At first I was not thrilled with our table location, a two-top behind the communal table (and next to the wall that separates the check in desk from the restaurant), but it was actually a very quiet spot.

View attachment 853835

We were able to watch the pizza bakers….

View attachment 853832

….and “the man with the silver cart,” as my family calls room service stewards.

View attachment 853833

I wish he was delivering my lunch! Woody texted me.

Our server was friendly and attentive. Our frozen strawberry limoncellos arrived in no time!

View attachment 853834

Did we finish this large Margherita pie?

View attachment 853836

What happens in Via Napoli stays in Via Napoli.

As I told myself during my trip through southern Italy and Sicily, "pizza calories don't count!"

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, April 8

You may recall from the *Live* part that there was no sunrise this morning. (Of course the sun rose as it does every day, but clouds and rain concealed the beautiful colors of dawn and the big ball of fire!)

Em and I debated for the longest time whether to wear jackets to the park. The temperature was supposed to reach 75 degrees by afternoon. We had our umbrellas to protect us from rain. Did we want to lug jackets around if the sun came out?

We decided to leave them in the room. We headed for the bus stop, as there we would have a covered wait for transportation rather than a wet wait on the boat dock.

IYKYK

Yeah the bus stop protected us from the rain but what we failed to consider was the WIND. It was dang cold!! We stood there shivering for a minute and a half before Em declared, “I need my sweatshirt jacket!”

Back to the room we went. And since we had made that long walk through the Lodge now twice (and a bus wasn’t due for another 20 minutes) we opted to take our chances with the boat.

We were down the stairs and approaching the dock in less than a minute. The big boat had just arrived. Score!

Warm and dry transport to the MK. And we had our jackets. Win-win.

 

[Tuvalu]

Both of us were so excited to spend the day with our friend Kelly that we would not allow rain to dampen our spirits!

We arrived in time for early entry.

The early entry CM who waved me over had a plastic covering on his iPad and literally pretended to scan my phone for admission. “You’re good,” he announced as Em and I walked forward, trying not to laugh.

This wall on the bridge to Fantasyland really narrows the walkway. We hope Disney is finally fixing the drainage problem - this area floods very quickly during a rainstorm!

Arty Pooh!

 

[donaldtoo]

Sunday, April 6

The week before vacation is always a whirlwind of preparation, packing and last-minute shopping.

Why replace the entirety when some planks are good enough? seems to fit with Disney’s current business plan.

As to your top sentence, that’s like every 3 weeks or so, isn’t it…?!?!?!

As to the second observation, they probably thought “Hey, it gives it ‘character’...!!!”…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Took a quick Buzz pic.

View attachment 853754

He, definitely, looks buzzed…!!!

 

[wdisney9000]

left side of the stanchions

Fun fact: I don't know what it means, but I think "stanchions" is a cool word.

Fun fact #2: I may have used "stanchions" in wildly inaccurate sentences in an effort to just say the word.

Fun fact D: I actually did Google what stanchions means at one point. I've always just called them turnstiles but now I'll use the fancy terminology. Its like saying port car shay! #fancy

 

[luvinthemajik]

Fun fact: I don't know what it means, but I think "stanchions" is a cool word.

Fun fact #2: I may have used "stanchions" in wildly inaccurate sentences just in an effort to just say the word.

Fun fact D: I actually did Google what stanchions means at one point. I've always just called them turnstiles but now I'll use the fancy terminology. Its like saying port car shay! #fancy

Maybe you DID eat paint chips

 

[donaldtoo]

Monday, con’t

Neither of us cared for the hanging (moss? grass?) things in the lobby.

View attachment 854325

I first saw those things in a live stream and thought to myself how often will they hafta’ dust that stuff…?! Then I thought maybe that’s the point, with the way they’re made, nobody will ever notice the dust…!!!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

As to your top sentence, that’s like every 3 weeks or so, isn’t it…?!?!?!

 

[Tuvalu]

I actually did Google what stanchions means at one point. I've always just called them turnstiles but now I'll use the fancy terminology. Its like saying port car shay! #fancy

Stanchions

Turnstiles

Porte- Cochère

Stay cool!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

We had just left the Hundred Acre Wood when I received a text from Kel.

She was here!

Big hugs, a photo and back to Fantasyland. The 40 minute wait flew by!

Earlier in the day Em mentioned she’d like to ride Tiana’s. She periodically checked the app only to see the attraction was “temporarily closed.” As we exited Peter Pan, she happily announced, “It’s open!”

“What’s open?” Kel asked.

“Tiana’s.”

“Oooh, I’ve not ridden that yet!”

“Then let’s go!” I said, making the executive decision.

 

[ToInfinity]

Em and I debated for the longest time whether to wear jackets to the park. The temperature was supposed to reach 75 degrees by afternoon. We had our umbrellas to protect us from rain. Did we want to lug jackets around if the sun came out?

I too, debated for a LONG time on this day about a jacket. Like you, I left the room initially without one. Problem was, I didn’t decide I definitely needed one until I had already arrived at AK. So….

A new one it is!

 

[MinnieM123]

I too, debated for a LONG time on this day about a jacket. Like you, I left the room initially without one. Problem was, I didn’t decide I definitely needed one until I had already arrived at AK. So….

View attachment 854657

A new one it is!

I love the color and subtle design of your new sweatshirt!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

We took the Riverwalk to TBA.

We lucked out. Not many guests were in line, probably because they assumed the ride was closed. We didn’t rush through the queue so that Kel could see the props and we could fill her in on the backstory.

Em and I had vowed the next time we rode TBA we would request the back of the log, since we’d gotten absolutely drenched when riding in front. But Kel was first in our group to speak with a CM who said, “Rows 1 and 2.” Kel immediately jumped into Row 2 - leaving Em and me in the dreaded Row 1.

I’m not proud of what happened next, but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, right?

“Switch with us so you’ll have a better view,” I said to Kelly. She did not question my nefarious motive.

The above was taken a mere 15 minutes after we’d entered the queue. Look how happy she is!

Soon we were on our way.

Was Em harboring the same guilt I felt?

Not the big hill, but she assumed the same pose once we got there.

Our ride photo speaks volumes. Em and I cowered under our hoods while Kel had no idea she was about to be hit by a wall of water.

But her raincoat protected her upper body and only her face looked like she’d just stepped out of the shower.

“That was GREAT!!” she beamed at us.

No hard feelings after all. I breathed a sigh of relief.

 

[Tuvalu]

Might as well move along to an adjacent water ride.

The crowd looked daunting, but the line moved continuously and the 20 minute wait was accurate. We sat in the middle of the boat but I have no proof because the skull pirate was sleeping and not taking ride photos.

Some of the water cannons had been turned off (typical for a cooler day) and we did not get wet. (I’ve yet to hear anyone say, “I like getting wet on Pirates!”)

Some of us had rumbly tummies so we opted for an early lunch.

Pecos Bill order fulfillment operates at glacial speed. Doesn’t matter if you mobile order or order at a register. Today was no exception.

Yet Pecos Bill always manages to surprise us - in a positive way.

We had not dined here since the menu change. Gone is the taco trio (my go-to) and taco salad, replaced by create your own rice bowls (with something called “cowboy caviar”) and a Southwest Caesar salad. A protein (chicken, pork or ground beef) can be added for an additional charge. (A small container of guacamole is now $2.50!)

Em went with the salad while Kel and I had chicken rice bowls. Turns out “cowboy caviar” is another term for Mexican corn salsa, which we love.

A few bites in we all remarked how good the food tasted, and not just because we were hungry. Lots of flavors blended together in fresh deliciousness! Once again we were pleasantly surprised with a Pecos Bill meal.

 

[lindawdw]

Glad Kelly had fun on Tiana's Bayou ride and you managed to not get drenched this time!!! Your salads look delicious!

 

[Tuvalu]

“I love the Country Bears,” Kel remarked at lunch.

“The new show?” I asked.

“There’s a new show?”

Yah girlfriend, there’s a new show! And it’s even better than the original. We skedaddled over to the theater as soon as we finished up at Pecos Bill. Wendell was outside giving autographs.

Eager for the show to start!

It’s our Country Bear Musical Jamboree
A knee-slappin’ toe tappin’ jubilee!

Wendell had hurried back inside for his duet with Teddi Barra.

Kel had the same opinion as the other 99.5% of those watching - she loved the incorporated Disney songs that make the show more entertaining for today’s audience. As has been our experience since the changes, the theater was almost full!

 

[cgersic]

Fun fact: I don't know what it means, but I think "stanchions" is a cool word.

Fun fact #2: I may have used "stanchions" in wildly inaccurate sentences in an effort to just say the word.

Fun fact D: I actually did Google what stanchions means at one point. I've always just called them turnstiles but now I'll use the fancy terminology. Its like saying port car shay! #fancy

I literally just spit out my coffee