My Disney Birthday Wish Came True! – June 2025 Trip Report (Updated 9/5!)

[VAtink]

Relaxing in the aviary?? I'm so terrified of birds I can't even go in!! I love watching the tigers. I wish there were more / less crowded viewing areas. I'm very curious to what they do with the Dinoland area.

Haha, it's funny, I know SO many people who are afraid of birds. We like birds, minus the possibility of getting pooped on. The thing that scares me is spiders. At the National Zoo they have (or had, not sure if it's still there) an exhibit where to exit the building you have to walk by this like tree with all these real spiders all over it, and it's NOT behind glass or anything. I literally cried the one and only time I went in that building and had to walk by that stupid thing.

The tigers are so cool to watch, but yeah, it always seems to be packed in their viewing area. I wish they would make some larger areas to view them from.

I'm so torn on the removal of Dinoland. Like the new area looks like it could be amazing, but I'm still stuck on the fact they have SO much land, why can't they expand for once? Plus I feel like dinosaurs still deserve a place in the park. Do kids not go through a dinosaur phase anymore these days?!?

 

[VAtink]

I am with you. I bypass the aviary every single time!

It is nice they give the option to bypass it! You're in good company, I think most people I know are afraid of birds. Meanwhile I've fully embraced my elder millennial hobby of bird watching

 

[VAtink]

The two ride pictures turned out to be really cute. I think that is hard to pre=plan.

Thanks!

I would be a little disappointed if the LL turned out to be 30 minutes.

Yeah, I was surprised how long the line ended up being!

We never seem to have good luck seeing the tigers. They must have really good hiding places.

They really do, we've seen them occasionally, but yeah, they're often very well hidden.

 

[VAtink]

I hate when they don't deal with loading the preshow at Dinosaur correctly. What's the point of LL then?

Right? I was surprised the CM wasn't controlling the flow at all!

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, Part 4: Nomad!​

We last left off leaving the jungle trek and joining the walk-up list for Nomad.

The estimated return time when I joined the Nomad walk-up list was 10 minutes, so we made our way over there, and because apparently our timing was AMAZING this day, the second we arrived I got the table ready text! Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever had such amazing timing.

We had a table outside along the railing, which is one of my favorite spots. I just love it out there.





After settling in, and finding my charging block so I could plug my phone in, we ordered some drinks. I got the leaping lizard and my mom got a chenin blanc. We also asked if it would be possible to get the octopus from Tiffins out there. I didn’t expect to be able to since Tiffins wasn’t even open for another 45 minutes or so, but the waiter came back with a great surprise that they could make it for us!





The food and drink were, as usual, fantastic! I LOVE Nomad so much.

After finishing our food I requested the check since it was getting close to our lunch time. While we waited for it I did the mobile check-in for our lunch over at Tiffins.

Once again our timing was impeccable. The check arrived about a minute before I got the table ready text from Tiffins!

We quickly paid then made our way inside and over to Tiffins.

Next up: Tiffins!​

 

[HappyGal]

Question, how do you join the walk up list for Nomad other than being at the entrance? Is it an option on MDE?

 

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Question, how do you join the walk up list for Nomad other than being at the entrance? Is it an option on MDE?

Yup! You can join right in MDE. I've found it to be hit or miss on working though. Sometimes it'll say I'm too far away from the restaurant to join, even if I'm standing right next to it, other times like this trip I was able to join while on the other side of the park.

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, Part 5: Tiffins​

We last left off wrapping up at Nomad and heading into Tiffins for our lunch reservation.

We were brought back to our favorite room, the totem pole room (think it’s called the ceremonial room or something similar). We had a small booth near the entrance, which was great, I love when we get the booths.






Our waiter this time was amazing, we got to talking and my mom had me tell him the story about how we accidentally found Tiffins shortly after it opened and have been coming to it every trip since then!

And no, I’m not going to leave you hanging, here is the story of how we accidentally found Tiffins:

It was 2016 and some new restaurants had opened in Animal Kingdom that year. We didn’t make any ADRs because apparently back then we liked to live dangerously. So we’re in AK one day and it was getting close to dinner and we were hungry. Now I was active on these boards even back then, although more of a reader than a poster at that point, and I remembered seeing a ton of posts about this brand new restaurant at AK that everyone really loved. The only problem is, I forgot what it was called. I remembered it had an interesting name, so I pulled up the MDE app and looked for dining availability and I saw two restaurants that I thought could be the one I had read about: Yak and Yeti, and Tiffins.

Now, it turns out the restaurant everyone was raving about back then was Yak and Yeti, so I had a 50/50 shot of guessing it correctly. Well, I guessed wrong and picked Tiffins.

I don’t know if it was because they were still so new, or maybe crowds really were much lower back then, but both had availability to book dining that afternoon and with reservation times within the next 30 minutes or so, so I booked us a reservation at Tiffins.

We made our way over there and got seated, and I immediately realized I selected the wrong restaurant, this place looked nothing like the pictures I had seen online! Oh well, we’d try it out and see if it was any good.

Turns out, this was a very fortuitus mistake, we had one of our best meals at Disney that night! We suddenly had a new favorite spot in the parks!

So I told our server that story, and also mentioned how in the years following every time we ate there, we’d get a welcome back gift of chocolates that really made the place seem extra special (sadly this has gone away). He thanked us for the almost 10 years of loyalty, then took our orders.

I got the short rib again, and once again subbed the beef tenderloin. My mom ordered the butter chicken. I also got the red wine flight and my mom got another glass of chenin blanc. First up the wine and bread came out. I love the bread they have here now!







The food was great as always. I’ve gotten the short rib with the beef tenderloin substitution the last three trips, June, January, and October, and each time it has been wildly different. This is one thing I love about Tiffins, they change some items seasonally. In October this had an amazing squash puree, in January it had artichokes, carrots, and other winter veggies, and this time it had potatoes (served in a separate dish), onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms, and was nice and spicy. I’ve enjoyed each version of this, I think my favorite though had been the fall one with the squash puree.





After we finished eating, our server had a surprise for us, a birthday dessert!



But that wasn’t all, he also brought a birthday card that the kitchen staff signed, including the chef! Then our waiter wrote happy birthday in Arabic on it too. He had me read the card, which was really sweet, and then showed me where he wrote happy birthday (because there is no way I would be able to read that).



I was practically in tears, this was so sweet! Definitely reinforced our love for Tiffins.

Once we finished our dessert, we paid and made our way out.

Next up: To Epcot We Go!​

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Nomad Lounge is one of the best additions in recent memory. So nice to take a break there. How sweet of your server at Tiffins!! I love that they regularly change the menu too, but it's a double-edged sword as sometimes they get rid of favorites! I just looked at the latest menu online and so much sounds good. I need to get back there ASAP.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I was practically in tears, this was so sweet! Definitely reinforced our love for Tiffins.

That was really nice of them. It is interesting that they can substitute short ribs for another meat. It looks like the beef tenderloin is usually served with Surf and Turf.

 

[VAtink]

Nomad Lounge is one of the best additions in recent memory. So nice to take a break there. How sweet of your server at Tiffins!! I love that they regularly change the menu too, but it's a double-edged sword as sometimes they get rid of favorites! I just looked at the latest menu online and so much sounds good. I need to get back there ASAP.

Totally agree, I love Nomad. I could spend a whole day just sitting out on that patio enjoying the food and drinks!

Our server at Tiffins this time was amazing! I couldn't believe they gave me that card and had everyone sign it. Yeah, I hear you on the menu changes. I do love that things change seasonally, but it sucks when they get rid of a favorite!

 

[VAtink]

That was really nice of them. It is interesting that they can substitute short ribs for another meat. It looks like the beef tenderloin is usually served with Surf and Turf.

It was so sweet! I was shocked! I'm glad they can do the substitute for the short ribs, a few years ago I got it with the short ribs instead of the tenderloin, and it was a horrible cut of meat. The one and only bad meal I've had there. Now that I can substitute though it has become my go-to meal there! I hope when we eat there in September they bring back the squash puree, that was soooo good!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

What a great story - both how you originally found Tiffins and also how the waiter helped make your birthday special! I love Disney magic when it happens. It makes me tear up a little. And this is why I keep going back. Not that I expect any magical moments but that they happen and I get to watch them for others. It's so hard to explain to non-Disney people. There is magic everywhere and it makes your heart glow.

 

[VAtink]

What a great story - both how you originally found Tiffins and also how the waiter helped make your birthday special! I love Disney magic when it happens. It makes me tear up a little. And this is why I keep going back. Not that I expect any magical moments but that they happen and I get to watch them for others. It's so hard to explain to non-Disney people. There is magic everywhere and it makes your heart glow.

Yes! It's so amazing when Disney magic happens! I really couldn't believe how amazing they were at Tiffins, they keep reinforcing our love for that place.

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, Part 6: To Epcot We Go!​

We last left off enjoying lunch at Tiffins. Afterwards we headed over to the buses and found the bus stop for Epcot. The line was very long by the time we got there, extending out of the queue, so we figured a bus would be coming soon, but we were wrong. Whomp whomp.

It ended up being a 20 minute wait for the next bus. During that time buses for the other parks came multiple times. We almost hopped on the third HS bus that arrived, but the Epcot bus showed up shortly after.

Now I was really worried about getting a seat for my mom on this bus since the line was so long, but I guess we got lucky and got one of the buses with the odd seat configuration towards the back where a row is turned around to face the people behind them, and weirdly close, like touching legs close. No one wanted those seats and opted to stand instead, so we grabbed them so my mom could sit. I did apologize to the couple across from us and joked about how awkward this seating was! They were cool about it though and also thought it was a strange design choice.

It was a pretty fast trip over to Epcot, and once we arrived I let everyone else in the back of the bus go past us since mom needed help going down the stairs and I didn’t want to hold people up.

Once off the bus we made our way to the entrance and scanned in.

We saw a photopass photograph in front of SE with a short line, so got in it.

This ended up being a photographer I’ve used many times, he’s the older guy who LOVES doing magic shots. He always comments that he’s only allowed to do two, but he likes to break that rule and do a ton. I appreciate him.







Now, earlier in the morning after scanning into our first LL at AK, I had booked us Soarin’ LL for this afternoon, and then after the second LL I booked us SE. We also had a LLSP for Guardians. So a decent lineup for the afternoon. Our plan was to hit up the rides at the front of the park before heading back to WS to explore the countries and do some shopping. We also wanted to pick up the new Maleficent AP magnet.

After getting our photopass pictures, we popped into Creations to pick up our magnets. This time they had it set up where you didn’t need to show your pass nor your ID, you just had to scan your park ticket, which I definitely prefer. Not only does it prevent me from digging through my bag to find my ID, but it also seems faster. This afternoon there was zero line, we just walked right in, scanned our magicbands, got our magnets and were on our way in less than a minute! I love efficiency.

Magnets secured, we made our way over to Guardians to use our LLSP, but as we got closer I saw there was zero standby line, and CMs blocking the entrance, so I realized that Guardians was down. NOOOO!!!!!!

I think my mom was even more upset about the closure, not because she loves the ride (she likes it, but doesn’t LOVE it), but because she was desperate to get into the AC. Yeah, coming from a place where the temps were only in the 50s and 60s to a place where it was in the 90s was a lot. So she started complaining about how hot she was getting.

I recommended getting some ice cold drinks to help and then make our way over to Land to use our LL for Soarin and hang out in the AC, but she was hitting that point of overheated where nothing sounded good to her. She did want to try the AP iced coffee they had in Epcot, and since we were right by the stand that sold it, we went there first.

On the way we stopped at the topiaries that were still up from Flower and Garden to get a quick picture!





We then made our way to the Joffrey’s stand. While in line, the family behind us saw the sign for the AP coffee and were talking about how they really wanted to try it, but couldn’t because they weren’t APs. But then, when they went to order, they still ordered it! I’m guessing they saw that my mom and I ordered it, and the guy in front of us ordered it, and the CM didn’t ask us to show our APs, so they decided to get it too. Which, I realize is a ridiculously stupid thing to be annoyed by, but if Disney is going to market something as AP exclusive, they should actually make it AP exclusive.

Anyways, I also put in a mobile order for the new AP cup over at Connections, with an immediate pick-up time, so I ran over there to grab that and filled it with powerade to help my mom.

We then found a four-person table (er…trashcan) to enjoy our drinks on.





About partway through her drink, my mom decided she really needed to sit down, so we made our way to the central area with all the seating and found a few seats in the shade (which there were very very few of, they seriously need more trees and shade structures there). We sat there for only a minute or two before my mom decided that no, she needed to be in the AC, and right away.

So we headed over to the land, on the way I got more pictures of the topiaries that were still up.



Once in the Land we made our way to the benches next to the Garden Grill. We ended up sitting there for about 30 minutes until my mom started feeling better. It was a nice break from the heat, and gave us time to enjoy our drinks.

Finally, my mom was feeling better and wanted to use our LL for Soarin, so we headed downstairs.

There was a bit of a wait in the LL, about 15 minutes, but not too horrible. We ended up in row 1 (yay), but in C (boo). It was a great flight as always!

Next up: My Disney Birthday Wish Came True!​

 

[Wood Nymph]

We sat there for only a minute or two before my mom decided that no, she needed to be in the AC, and right away.

There were several times during our June trip when the heat was too much for my husband and we had to find AC. Epcot is especially hot.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I didn't know about the AP cup??!!! When and where did we hear about that?

 

[VAtink]

There were several times during our June trip when the heat was too much for my husband and we had to find AC. Epcot is especially hot.

Yeah, it was definitely hard with that heat. Especially coming from a much cooler place. We'll be going again next June, but later in the month, so I'm hoping we have some warmer temps here ahead of time so we can acclimate a bit before heading down next year!

 

[VAtink]

I didn't know about the AP cup??!!! When and where did we hear about that?

So I'm not 100% sure, but it was either here (maybe the shopping thread?), a Disney AP instagram post, or a Facebook post. I feel like it was most likely through the Disney AP instagram account, I seem to get most of the news there. The info is also in that passholder buzz section of the MDE app, but I rarely get news there, but I will go there to check out the details.

 

[VAtink]

Day 4, Part 7: My Disney Birthday Wish Came True!​

It’s finally here everyone! The post where I explain the title to this trip report!

We had just finished a fun ride on Soarin’. After the ride we discussed what we wanted to do. I was up for doing SE and hope that Guardians would be open by the time we got off (it still wasn’t open at this point), but my mom had had enough. She was tired, overheated, and getting grumpy and wanted to leave. So I agreed we’d start making our way out and get pictures with the topiaries on the way, with the one caveat that if Guardians opened before we made it to the exit, we would head there first.

My mom agreed that was a good plan so we started to head out. We only made it about 20 steps before I saw that Guardians had opened! YAY!!!!!! So we rushed over there….only to see the longest line I’ve ever seen for LL. The line went all the way back to Mission Space!

There was a CM there holding the end of LL sign that was announcing it would be a 75+ minute wait for the LL! Yikes. But, I had this feeling that she was overexaggerating so people would come back later and the LL line would get back to normal length.

So I told my mom we would wait in line, and if we didn’t make it to the indoor portion of the queue within 10 minutes we could leave, and she agreed. It was a gamble, but I had faith my Disney spidey sense wouldn’t betray me. Sure enough, even though the line was alllllllllll the way back to Mission Space when we got in it, we made it indoors in 8 minutes! My mom was both impressed, and annoyed.

Once inside we moved pretty quickly, only stopping once. When we got to the LL/Standby merge room I saw the most glorious thing I’ve ever seen. Stanchions were set up in the room to file people through still in a line (no more crushing of people all trying to get to the right), AND even more amazing, the stanchions didn’t lead to the door to the first preshow room but to the doors that lead to the backstage corridor! WHAT!?! And bonus, they were only letting people in the LL through, which makes sense considered we paid for a shorter wait.

Now, at this point I was starting to get an inkling that something I had literally told my mom the previous day I wanted for my birthday may actually happen.

So we follow the queue into the side hall, and I see that we’re passing the double doors for the first preshow room. At this point I’m practically jumping up and down with excitement, because as you may have guessed, my birthday wish was to be able to skip the preshows on Guardians!

Now, I thought we were just skipping the first preshow room at first, but then instead of turning into the second preshow room, we were led right into the post preshow hall!!!!!!

Guys, I almost cried with excitement. I had just the previous night told my mom that my birthday wish this year was to be able to skip the preshows for Guardians and it ACTUALLY HAPPENED!! Seriously, what are the chances!?!? Even more amazing, as we were exiting the merge room, a CM was following us removing the stanchions, so we juuuuust made it in time to skip the preshows. I couldn’t believe it.

In all, from entering the LL line to getting on the ride, it took 23 minutes, which I feel like is less time than when the preshows are actually running.



Now, because I apparently used my birthday wish on skipping the preshows, I didn’t get my secondary wish of finally getting Disco, but I would 100% pick skipping the preshows again over getting that song! We got I Ran for our song, which seems to have replaced September as the song we get the most.

Anyways, after the ride I was in a great mood, my mom however was done, she just wanted to go back to the hotel and take a nap. So we started to make our way out.

Since my mom’s foot was really starting to hurt, I decided to surprise her by booking a Minnie Van to get back, I didn’t want to chance her not getting a seat on the bus with how much her foot hurt. So when we got to the bus area I lead her to the benches by the Minnie Van pickup area, and told her I’d keep an eye out for our bus since the bus stop was only like 2 down, but since her foot was really hurting she should sit there until the bus arrived. She thought that was a great plan and settled in. Needless to say, she was soooooo confused when a Minnie Van pulled up a few minutes later and the driver knew my name!

My mom hates when I spend money on Minnie Vans, but honestly with how she was feeling I was more than happy to spend the money on it.

It was a nice ride back to WL, this time we chatted with the driver about all the fun drivers we’ve had over the years. He was actually pretty impressed we remember the names of most of them, and of course he knew the NASCAR driver (Bob) and the trainer (Boomer). We got home around 4:30, and made our way upstairs to rest a bit.

Next up: Dinner #1 at the Lounge​