Trip Report Finally Back in Our Happy Place. A Three Week Trip With a Cruise Included. Now with a Norway Cruise on the Disney Fantasy *COMPLETED*

We’ve been back for just over a week from what was a wonderful three weeks. There were a few hiccups, but for the most part Disney World was just as we remembered it.

This trip was me and my two youngest daughters, Alice (18) and Lexi (15)

We stayed at Pop Century from July 7th-20th, then sailed on the Disney Magic from July 20th-25th, then French Quarter for the last three nights, July 25th-28th. For the Pop Century part of the trip we had the UK 14 day park tickets which included the waterparks.

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 26th July (cont)

Both girls had the scallops which they said were amazing, Lexi even ate the sweetcorn which she normally doesn’t like

I did not need the menu, I had what I always have, the snapper. I would eat this every day if I could, it is just so good

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 26th July (cont)

Dessert time

I was too full so just had an espresso martini, it was excellent

Alice saw the word chocolate

Lexi turned 16 the week after our trip and decided to start celebrating a bit early. Our server brought her an extra mini dessert as well as the one she ordered

The lemonade mousse

Our server also brought her a birthday card

Never too old for Mickey stickers

Everything about our meal was wonderful. I’ve always had an excellent experience in this restaurant

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 26th July (cont)

We exited via Abracadabar

Then strolled the Boardwalk on our way to get a spot for watching fireworks

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 26th July (cont)

We were quite early and were the only ones there for a while, by the time the fireworks started there was no room along the railings

I went for a wander while the girls held our spot. This area is so pretty at night

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Saturday 26th July (cont)

I’ve always enjoyed this spot for fireworks viewing.

Our last time watching Luminous

Then a sad walk for our last skyliner journey

It was also our worst skyliner journey of the trip. Multiple stops, one of which was quite long, and as it was at park closing we had two couples in with us and it felt quite awkward. I do worry about being stuck up there and at one point in the trip had googled what was in the emergency kit. I was very glad when this journey was over

Back at Hollywood Studios, still tour groups everywhere

Then a bus home

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July

Beignets for breakfast again. I remembered the plates this time

On the green opposite our room a guy had set up an exercise session for himself, he had plastic cones set up and was running around like crazy. I like my exercise, but it was far too hot for me

The girls wanted to go to Animal Kingdom Lodge and we decided to go via Disney Springs as we enjoy the boat ride

 

[Adventure]

Saturday 26th July (cont)

I’ve always enjoyed this spot for fireworks viewing.

Our last time watching Luminous

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Then a sad walk for our last skyliner journey

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It was also our worst skyliner journey of the trip. Multiple stops, one of which was quite long, and as it was at park closing we had two couples in with us and it felt quite awkward. I do worry about being stuck up there and at one point in the trip had googled what was in the emergency kit. I was very glad when this journey was over

Back at Hollywood Studios, still tour groups everywhere

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Then a bus home

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Could you hear the music for the fireworks from your viewing spot?

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Could you hear the music for the fireworks from your viewing spot?

Unfortunately no, we were too far away. I don’t think there’s anywhere that pipes in the music from Epcot to the resorts in the same way that Magic Kingdom resorts do

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

Disney Springs was packed. We only stopped in a few shops, mostly just walking through to get to the bus stop

We did stop in Uniqlo to get some T-shirts the girls had seen previously and in the running shop because somebody (Lexi) had left our watch charger on the ship

I liked the art work on the way to the bus stop

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

We were hungry by the time we got to Animal Kingdom Lodge so headed straight to Mara for some lunch and my favourite counter service meal of the trip

Chermoula-spiced shrimp bowl, Alice had the same. I also had the POG slush with rum, so good

Lexi had the the chicken version and the non alcoholic slush

Then some time exploring the beautiful resort

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

More AKL photos. I don’t seem to have taken many photos of the actual animals we went to see

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

On our way out

Then back to French Quarter for a rest before dinner, taking the quicker route via Animal Kingdom

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

Heading out to dinner. Our destination was the Grand Floridian but we’d deliberately set out very early so that we could stop at the Contemporary first

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

We spent some time browsing the shops and just enjoying the resort.

Construction view

Alice was hunting for something

Arriving at the Grand Floridian was a bit of a shock even though I knew about all the work happening

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

Knowing we wanted to watch Happily Ever After on our final evening I’d booked Narcoosees for dinner. I’d considered Citricos as well, which I do prefer slightly, but I didn’t want to risk being seated late and then having to rush. Narcoosees was a bit of a do over for me, the last time we’d eaten there was the evening after I’d run the marathon in January 2020. I think I was having some sort of delayed reaction to running in the heat and ended up in the bathroom.

On our way, the outside areas were still looking pretty

I liked the new look of the restaurant

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

Lovely views

I had a glass of one of my favourites, the Belle Glos Pinot Noir

Delicious bread

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

The sun was starting to set so Lexi had to go outside to get some photos

To start we shared the calamari. Lexi hadn’t read the menu properly and ate a carrot not realising that the vegetables were pickled. She didn’t like them at all, I thought they were pretty good

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

We noticed the Electrical Water Pageant go by so Lexi went outside to get some photos. And some more sunset photos

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

The girls both went with the scallops and gnocchi for their main course which they loved

I had the surf and turf. The photo does not do it justice, this was outstanding, one of the best steaks I have ever eaten

We were too full for dessert, but Lexi was given a little birthday treat

She would not do a photo recreation though

The whole meal at Narcoosees was amazing, we absolutely loved it

 

[Piglet_the_brave]

Sunday 27th July (cont)

We’d timed the meal perfectly, we finished with about ten minutes to go until Happily Ever After

I didn’t take any photos because I just wanted to enjoy our last fireworks viewing, but Lexi took a few

I’m glad she didn’t get our faces because we were blubbering messes

Far too soon it was time to go