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]

Tuesday, con’t

According to the app Haunted Mansion had opened and we hurried over.

We cracked the code!

Walls have been installed along the queue to shield guests from the unsightly decimation of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island.

To make up for the cross breeze that used to blow in from the river, giant fans have been placed in the queue to help with air flow. It was still hot (and a bit claustrophobic.)

Thankfully we were on our ghostly tour in just a few minutes.

Playful spook trying to mess with our heads!

Did either of us nail the ride photo? You be the judge.

I informed Woody we were going on again since there wasn’t a wait. On our second pass through the portrait hall, I showed Woody where the camera is.

Did he nail it? We’ll never know. The ride photo didn’t appear in MDE.

 

[Tuvalu]

Since I did not get to hear the new verse at DL, I did not want to miss it today.

Verdict? The transition is seamless and a nice change to the repetition of the chorus in the finale scene.

Since it was a MNSSHP day walkways were wide open and Woody and I had a nice stroll from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. We popped into Star Traders along the way.

Cute merchandise I did not buy:

And your pricey pumpkin wreath @MickeyCB .

 

[Tuvalu]

After my disappointing score on Buzz Lightyear at Disneyland, I was contemplating an attempt to redeem myself today….

….but I’d completely forgotten that Buzz had closed for a major refurb!

Thankfully I had kept my contemplation to myself and not shared it with Woody. He would have razzed me for failing to be the Disney expert he thinks I am!

I suggested the Peoplemover and he was none the wiser.

He had “no recollection” of the Cool Ship and asked what was being built here.

But he did remember the Astro Orbiter had undergone a refurb and commented on “how great the planets look!”

And if one spin on the Peoplemover is good….

….is even better!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

….is even better!

Tu!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Upon crossing the hub we noticed that the Adventureland sign had been removed.

Have no fear though - I saw Blog Mickey’s recent photo and the sign has been replaced. Though the gold Abu from the 50th anniversary is no longer present.

The exterior of MK’s Pirates of the Caribbean trumps Disneyland’s. But the rest of the attraction is sadly inferior. We rode anyway.

In the gift shop we made a purchase for Tuvalad, so that his costume play would have something other than his sisters’ princess dresses.

He looks adorable in it! But his first comment was, “Where’s the hat?”

Yes, Disney - why did this costume not come with a hat? Or at least have a stack of pirate hats next to the costume display? Because it did not occur to either of Tuvalad’s grandparents that the boy would need a hat!

Guess I’ll have to go back….

 

[RememberWhen]

Gotta get that kiddo a hat! And maybe a sword…

 

[lindawdw]

OMG, I am loving all your updates that I missed over the last week! Between the disability room at WL and the rain showers it was a rough start but what fun you are having!!! I love that you did Typhoon Lagoon with Woody after all these years. Your balcony view from WL is nice although I prefer the open railing balconies as I know you do too. It's so special that you treat yourselves to the Club Lounge at WL.

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Warning - The next four pictures may trigger tears. At least they do for me!

My sincere hope is that when this area’s “reimagination” is fully complete, guests find it so fun and entertaining that sacrificing the river and Tom Sawyer island was a wise decision.

Until then, my goes on.

What better way to lift my spirits than a foot stompin’, hand clappin’ jamboree.

Though I did feel like I was cheating on Em as I enjoyed the show with Woody.

 

[dizfan917]

I gotta say that I was baffled by the queue for Pirates in CA. "Please come into our lovely home in New Orleans and GET ON A BOAT IN THE PARLOR?!" what the heck?! I thought it was an epic fail on someone's part... but the ride was longer and more interesting there, I will admit. I did talk about that loading area being ridiculous for the rest of the day... poor Kevin having to hear about my theme-ing dissatisfaction issues...

 

[Tuvalu]

I gotta say that I was baffled by the queue for Pirates in CA. "Please come into our lovely home in New Orleans and GET ON A BOAT IN THE PARLOR?!" what the heck?! I thought it was an epic fail on someone's part... but the ride was longer and more interesting there, I will admit. I did talk about that loading area being ridiculous for the rest of the day... poor Kevin having to hear about my theme-ing dissatisfaction issues...

And to think DL’s Pirates was intentionally built that way!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Woody and I had experienced 10 attractions before our 11:30 am lunch! And I had booked the ADR just 30 minutes in advance.

We sat in a corner booth in the George Washington room.

The table where Em and I sat in June was directly across from us, so of course I had to text her a picture.

But my intention was pure, as proven by the next picture.

Our server was great. He paced our meal properly, so we weren’t still nibbling on the salad when the mains arrived. I feel the servers at Liberty Tree Tavern often rush the courses at dinner.

This turkey gal (whom you’ll recall ate a smoked turkey sandwich yesterday for lunch and smoked turkey salad for dinner) limited herself to one slice - not because the turkey wasn’t delicious (it was!) but because the pot roast was OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD!! In fact, the sides were also stellar (sometimes they are merely ok.)

I ate more than I intended, but that did not stop me from requesting MY OWN Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.

I am not ashamed to admit (or maybe I should be!) that I finished the whole thing.

 

[Tuvalu]

After lunch was Main Street shopping!

I didn’t actually take pictures of what I bought. But I took pictures of what I didn’t buy!

All this Pooh could have really hurt my wallet!

What did I buy? Presents for the grands, Em and Woody.

We took the ferry back to WL. The sun was strong and I was looking forward to going in the pool. Our room had been serviced (yay!) and I put on my swimsuit and sunscreen and headed for Boulder Ridge Cove. Woody opted to relax in the room.

I had just laid my towels on a lounger when a lifeguard entered through the gate and announced the pool was closing for inclement weather!

Bummed, I left the pool deck and sat in a chair near Geyser Point, enjoying the sunshine for the next half hour. The “inclement weather” eventually arrived in the form of a sun shower, which began once I was back in the room.

 

[Swissmiss]

I admire your shopping restraint - the candy corn eeyore and the pumpkin Pooh are very hard to resist! (Which I am assuming means you found even cuter things for the grands, Em and Woody.)

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Neither of us were enamored by tonight’s appetizers in the club lounge. I was feeling pizza, but Via Napoli had no availability. Remembering @littleroo ‘s pizza pics in her TR, I booked an ADR at Trattoria Al Forno on the Boardwalk. To save time we opted to drive ourselves. We had to park in the convention center lot and were given a three hour parking pass to put on the dashboard.

The rain had ended about an hour earlier.

This was not my and Woody’s first visit. We’ve eaten here a few times and enjoyed the Italian specialties but had never tried the pizza.

We had a short wait in the lobby before being seated. The restaurant was busy and walk-ins were not accommodated tonight.

I had a great view of the open kitchen from my seat.

Our server was prompt in taking our drink order and getting warm, yummy rolls to our table. I seriously could have made a meal from them!

I fully expected Woody to order a pasta dish but he said no, he was also in the mood for pizza. By the time we were ready to order I’d already stuffed myself with doughy deliciousness. I asked Woody if he was willing to share a pizza instead of each of us getting our own. I’m glad he agreed because the pie was large enough to satisfy both of us.

Two thumbs up for the Margherita pizza! And at under $40 including beers, tax and tip it was our cheapest table service of the vacation. (In fact two of our counter service meals cost more!)

Thanks, @littleroo!

 

[lindawdw]

I'm in total agreement with you on the loss of the river and Tom Sawyer's Island but I am trying to be forward thinking at this point on the whole project. Sorry the rain chased you away from you having your pool time. It's been a while since we last dined at Trattoria Al Forno but we might just have to give it a try this October when we stay at Boardwalk!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Though pretty full from dinner we did check out the dessert offerings in the lounge.

The strawberry peach cobbler was tempting me but I passed (thankfully it was offered another night when I could really enjoy it.) Woody and I each took a pudding cup (middle photo) which was just enough sweetness to cleanse our palate.

Spectacular MNSSHP fireworks concluded our day.

 

[lindawdw]

Wow, that dessert selection looks fantastic!!! I would have had to try a few being that they all look so tempting. Your balcony view for the fireworks and MK are truly wonderful!

 

[Swissmiss]

Wow, that dessert selection looks fantastic!!! I would have had to try a few being that they all look so tempting. Your balcony view for the fireworks and MK are truly wonderful!

Total agreement about the desserts.

 

[dizfan917]

Ummm... all that Pooh Hunnyween stuff is ADORABLE!! and I would have prolly slid 6 (or maybe 10) of those mint chocolate cupcakes into my pocket. Mint Chocolate anything is a hit for me! I'm envious of your lounge experiences. yum!

 

[Tuvalu]

Wednesday, August 20

It was a treat for me to have hot oatmeal for breakfast. Woody doesn’t care much for it and I am too lazy to go through the effort of cooking steel-cut oats for myself. I’m a purist (brown sugar only) so I had my fruit on the side.

Two reusable water bottles were in our room at check-in. Prior to this, the Old Faithful Club stocked bottles of Dasani for guests. The reusable bottles are more eco-friendly and no doubt much cheaper.

Woody had a side bowl of fruit with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Epcot was on today’s agenda. I had caved and purchased LLMP in order to experience newly-opened Test Track 3.0. I despised waiting in the queue for both 1.0 and 2.0, so it was worth the for us to skip it.

As we were walking towards the bus stop we saw the Epcot bus pulling away. It had arrived earlier than the posted time (grrrr…). Woody surprised me by offering to drive us. It was a sweet gesture because he’d rather use Disney transport when on vacation. Driving was not only faster but we were also much closer to security screening and the park entrance. I made sure he knew how happy I was!

Our first LL was for SSE. It was a “throwaway” LL first thing in the morning as the attraction was a walk-on, but it allowed me to immediately book another LL. My jaw about dropped when I was able to score Frozen Ever After for 9:35 am!

Woody and I were just beginning the ascent on SSE when the ride stopped and the work lights came on. Normally I am excited about a potential ride evacuation but not now. The unexpected LL for Frozen paired with Woody’s LLSP for Guardians had us in a time crunch. I hoped the delay would be short. 10+ minutes later I sent this to Em:

Em’s response? Slowest time travel ever!

I would have gladly gotten off here since we were so close to the entrance/exit, but we were locked in. Thankfully only a couple minutes later the ride started back up and we were moving. Slowly. Very slowly.

IYKYK.

@PineapplePrincess look at the album! (Don’t need your help this time, @radiorae )

Perhaps whomever is in charge of changing the records was on PTO!

We were stuck here for awhile.

In our future Woody is George Hamilton and I’m Marge Simpson.

Each time I get off SSE I say the same thing. The ride needs a serious refurb!