diff --git a/test/functional/page_objects/visualize_page.ts b/test/functional/page_objects/visualize_page.ts
index ceae95f637493..521d2afe578c4 100644
--- a/test/functional/page_objects/visualize_page.ts
+++ b/test/functional/page_objects/visualize_page.ts
@@ -66,8 +66,30 @@ export class VisualizePageObject extends FtrService {
     });
   }
 
-  public async gotoVisualizationLandingPage() {
-    await this.common.navigateToApp('visualize');
+  /**
+   *  Try to speed resets a bit if the Visualize Library breadcrumb is available
+   */
+  private async clickOnVisualizeLibraryBreadcrumb() {
+    // Try to navigate to the Visualize Listing page from breadcrumb if available
+    const selector = '[data-test-subj="breadcrumb first"][title="Visualize Library"]';
+    const visualizeLibraryBreadcrumb = await this.find.existsByCssSelector(selector);
+    if (visualizeLibraryBreadcrumb) {
+      await this.find.clickByCssSelector(selector);
+      // Lens offers a last modal before leaving the page for unsaved charts
+      // so close it as quick as possible
+      if (await this.testSubjects.exists('confirmModalConfirmButton')) {
+        await this.testSubjects.click('confirmModalConfirmButton');
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  public async gotoVisualizationLandingPage(
+    { forceRefresh }: { forceRefresh: boolean } = { forceRefresh: false }
+  ) {
+    if (forceRefresh || !(await this.clickOnVisualizeLibraryBreadcrumb())) {
+      await this.common.navigateToApp('visualize');
+    }
   }
 
   public async selectVisualizationsTab() {
@@ -142,8 +164,15 @@ export class VisualizePageObject extends FtrService {
     });
   }
 
-  public async navigateToNewVisualization() {
-    await this.gotoVisualizationLandingPage();
+  /**
+   * Navigation now happens without URL refresh by default
+   * so a new "forceRefresh" option has been passed in order to
+   * address those scenarios where a full refresh is required (i.e. changing default settings)
+   */
+  public async navigateToNewVisualization(
+    options: { forceRefresh: boolean } = { forceRefresh: false }
+  ) {
+    await this.gotoVisualizationLandingPage(options);
     await this.header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
     await this.clickNewVisualization();
     await this.waitForGroupsSelectPage();
@@ -158,8 +187,7 @@ export class VisualizePageObject extends FtrService {
   }
 
   public async navigateToLensFromAnotherVisualization() {
-    const button = await this.testSubjects.find('visualizeEditInLensButton');
-    await button.click();
+    await this.testSubjects.click('visualizeEditInLensButton');
   }
 
   public async hasNavigateToLensButton() {
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/geo_field.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/geo_field.ts
index 790160a4b1bba..98008e3b7bb12 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/geo_field.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/group5/geo_field.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     });
 
     it('should visualize geo fields in maps', async () => {
-      await PageObjects.visualize.navigateToNewVisualization();
+      // as navigation does not happen via URL refresh by default, force a reset via URL navigation
+      await PageObjects.visualize.navigateToNewVisualization({ forceRefresh: true });
       await PageObjects.visualize.clickVisType('lens');
       await PageObjects.lens.switchDataPanelIndexPattern('logstash-*');
       await PageObjects.header.waitUntilLoadingHasFinished();
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/dashboard.ts
index e5a2a8f6a8971..24fac3f726bc9 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/dashboard.ts
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ export default function ({ getPageObjects, getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const dashboardAddPanel = getService('dashboardAddPanel');
   const filterBar = getService('filterBar');
 
-  // FLAKY: https://github.com/elastic/kibana/issues/179307
-  describe.skip('Dashboard to TSVB to Lens', function describeIndexTests() {
+  describe('Dashboard to TSVB to Lens', function describeIndexTests() {
     before(async () => {
       await visualize.initTests();
     });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/index.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/index.ts
index 90b0eb2c88186..b48211b1af938 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/index.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/lens/open_in_lens/tsvb/index.ts
@@ -52,11 +52,12 @@ export default function ({ loadTestFile, getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProvid
       }
 
       await esNode.load(esArchive);
-      // changing the timepicker default here saves us from having to set it in Discover (~8s)
-      await PageObjects.timePicker.setDefaultAbsoluteRangeViaUiSettings();
       await kibanaServer.uiSettings.update({
         defaultIndex: indexPatternString,
         'dateFormat:tz': 'UTC',
+        // changing the timepicker default here saves us from having to set it in Discover (~8s)
+        // The TSVB tests are using a slightly difference end date, so it needs to be set manually here
+        'timepicker:timeDefaults': `{ "from": "${PageObjects.timePicker.defaultStartTime}", "to": "Sep 22, 2015 @ 18:31:44.000" }`,
       });
       await kibanaServer.importExport.load(fixtureDirs.lensBasic);
       await kibanaServer.importExport.load(fixtureDirs.lensDefault);