Trip Report 2025 The Year of Last Minute Trips

Still having computer issues so please tolerate my slowness LOL. The last post I did was for our last minute Disney Wish trip in February. What I don't think I've posted is anything for our May and July trips. Horrible I know. These two trips will be more of a quick summary because 1. my short term memory now sucks and 2. I can't differentiate between the two trips But this report is more of a start of a trip planning/report for the last trip of the year - the Disney Treasure in November!!!

Who: Me and my husband R
When: Friday, May 16th - Tuesday, May 20th
Why: Flower and Garden redo attempt, if you remember what happened during last year's Festival
Where: Coronado Springs, standard room

We only had one day tickets for either Sunday or Monday for Epcot. I think it was on a Sunday because I was concerned about Festival crowd levels. I didn't take many pictures during this trip because I just wanted to soak it in. I really needed the mental break going into this trip. Most of the pictures are of food, I think LOL. And the same goes for the July trip

Friday, May 16th

Our plane was waiting for us when we arrived so we were lucky to not have a delay.

We had to change our entire trip dates when Jetblue cancelled the flight we were on so we ended up taking the last flight out a day before on a Friday so that we wouldn't lose Disney time. Luckily, there were still available rooms at CSR to allow us to do that cheaply. Because JB cancelled the original flight times, we got free upgrades to Boarding Group A. Which wasn't fantastic for one of our travel days because the airplane had gotten hot and they stopped boarding the plane after Group A boarded so that the AC could cool off the plane. I had a hand travel fan so I was able to stay cool in the meantime. And our pilots for both trips were fantastic. One pilot had such a smooth take off that I didn't even know we were in the air. And the pilot on the return trip had one of the best landings I've ever experienced. Can't ask for more when you're a scared flier.

We landed early and got to Mears check in. Where we waited. And waited. Then waited some more. After an hour of waiting, we finally got on the bus. And then ended up being the very last stop. Again. I did complain in the survey and the CSR gave me a refund for a portion of the trip, which I did appreciate.

The dance/cheer competitions were ending so we would not be there with the large, loud groups. And a professional conference was starting on Tuesday so people were starting to trickle in on Monday. It was a great weekend at the resort with low crowds and it was very quiet. I had asked to be close to a bus stop but I didn't make any other requests. I got the room request while waiting in the lobby. I think they honored that request

This was the first time we've stayed in the Ranchos section since 2018. They used to keep the cheerleaders in Ranchos but after Gran Destino opened, the cheer groups are in every section except Destino. In other trips, I would request a section away from them and it was always honored and we would get quiet rooms. So I was so excited to stay in Ranchos again, which is my favorite section at CSR.

This was the view from our room.

And this was our room placement.

The one thing I did notice this trip is that some of the foliage was getting really overgrown and unkept. I guess they haven't been able to hire the people they had prior to covid. But the rooms are still in great order.

 

[LeighM]

Saturday, July 5th

We slept in later than I wanted to so we were a little late getting to Disney Springs. I popped into the L'Occitaine store to try one of their perfumes to see if it worked with my body chemisry. I will definitely be ordering Osmanthus the next time they have a sale.

We got in line for Gideon's hoping they had my favorite cake but the line wasn't moving, R was getting cranky, so we left to get in line at Polite Pig. He got his new standard order

I got their Cobb Salad, which I love. I forgot to take a picture before I mixed it. It's a really good salad!

Afterwards, we to Savannah Bee Company so R could buy more of the honey flavored lip balm. While there, we did a mead tasting. We didn't want all 6 so she gave us a reduced price for 3 tasting deluxe.

The blackberry was really nice. Light and not artifical tasting. It didn't remind me of medicinal tastes at all.

The Orange Blosson mead had a strong taste of honey, which R really enjoyed. And I can't remember if this was the 3rd option or if it was one the employee recommended to us that we needed to try and order online based on his taste preferences.

We might not have taken a picture of the 3rd if R determined he didn't like it. I also purchased these because they caught my eye during our last trip but we didn't have the time to drink them.

I wanted to take them back to the room to get cold and have the next time we're just relaxing in the room. I had them the next day. The Orange Cream Delight was really nice and it did have a slight taste of dreamsicle so R claimed this one. The Yacht Rock, which was originally his, became mine when he thought it tasted too much like beer. I didn't get the beer flavor but it was definitely stronger than the Orange Cream.

We got in line for Gideon's, which was moving a lot faster than before. Unfortunately, they did not have my fav chocolate cake

But the Valentina's Cake was a calling my name. I'm always a sucker for cool marketing and pretty colors. The sky was beginning to look ominous so we decided to go back to the resort. We got off at the lobby stop so that I could buy some milk. I can't eat cake or cupcakes without milk no matter how much I love and want cake. It's a lifelong quirk of mine.

The cake itself wasn't sweet at all but the cookies and cream icing was a lot. And that black food coloring icing stained everything LOL. It was a really good cake but apparently I'm too messy to eat anything dyed black.

On our walk back to the room the skies were looking better so we decided it was probably the best time for us to check something else off our POR to do list and that's the main pool/slide. We got changed and made the short walk back to Ole Man Island. R did the slide and said it wasn't as much as the AKL Kidani slide or the slide at CSR. The pool was nice and refreshing. We were probably there for 45 minutes when the lifeguards blew the whistle for lightning in the area. So we headed back to the room, showered, and played a card game while the skies to drop buckets of rain.

It's the first time we ever played a game of cards at WDW and it was most fun! I was very thankful to have had this table. That's my one complaint about the rooms at CSR. They don't have a table like this for 2.

 

[LeighM]

Sorry for the long delay in posts. Covid and a bunch of insanity has ensued. Getting back to the trip report - we left off on July 5th playing cards in the hotel room. After the storm passed, we went back to main building for a drink refill. Maybe eat? No photographic proof of it

I will forever love this gift shop and I hope they never change anything.

We decided to go to Disney Springs and I popped into the women's room off the check in lobby. Why have I never noticed this special themed bathroom sconce before?

We caught the bus to Disney Springs and it looked like more rain was on the way. Our first stop was the Patisserie, where we got the key lime pie and creme brulee. But the rain started while we were in line and no one was leaving the tables to go outside in the rain. So we got them boxed to take to our next destination - Eet. Not many people were in there. I got the samosas, which were fantastic, and R got the garlic naan.

The space was much smaller than I thought it would be. I wouldn't mind going back for something more substantial because what I had was very good.

And finally the desserts

After finishing, the rain was still coming down steady so we decided to get the bus back to Riverside. Where I discovered that some of the pavers in the Town Center area of DS become slippery like ice when it's raining. Me and another female close by almost fell on our bottoms.

 

[LeighM]

Sunday, July 6th - Last full day

You may think we went back to Polite Pig. And you would be wrong. It was time for me to get Pepe Which I found out was probably for the last time because covid has made my celiac worse and I cannot have any kind of gluten for a while Totally heartbroken especially right before our cruise. But it could have totally been worse!

We got to Pepe and a family was taking up the entire space with all of their luggage. It was very nice of them to move their stuff so we could have a table.

Soon our food arrived and it was sooooooo good!!!!

I'm not sure why he ordered the potatoes to make it a combo when he knows I love their fritters but it was nice to try something new. It was good but not better than their chicken bechemel fritters. I'm going to miss you Pepe steak and cheese on crystal bread

After that we went to Everglazed so he could get himself his favorite donut

They had this cute one in the display that was tempting me but I had other plans for my stomach.

After getting his sugar fix, I wanted to go (finally!!!) to Jock Lindsay's. We got there soon after they opened and was able to get a table inside with no wait.

We ordered some of the Florida Fresh specials on the menu.

I can't remember the drinks we both got but I know I had to change with the husband because he didn't read what he was ordering and he didn't like the sparkling element of his drink. I was very salty about it because I actually did want (and highly liked) the drink that I had ordered for myself.

I also ordered whatever shrimp they had and I loved that too.

I really enjoyed everything here. They started to get busy as we were eating and I noticed another couple waiting for a space. So I motioned them over and let them know we were leaving as soon as we got our check. They said thank you and waited at the door. As soon as we signed the check and let them know, they came over to grab it before anyone else had a chance. To say thank you, she gave me one of the bracelets she had made.

If you're in this group, thank you!!!

 

[LeighM]

We took a boat back to Riverside and my favorite duck was waiting for me.

We just hung out in the room waiting to see if it would rain again. We had plans for a later 'Ohana dinner but I had already had too much gluten that day so we decided to cancel it. But we still wanted a nice table service dinner so we played a game I've long wanted to do. There were several restaurants that had availability that we were interested in so we got to the bus stop to see what bus would get there first. Which was Magic Kingdom, where they recently had a downpour by looking at all the deep puddles. We were going to either Grand Floridian Cafe or Kona Cafe dinner but when we got off the Riverside bus, a bus for Caribbean Beach was right there waiting so that's where we went. Sebastian's Bistro it was!

We stayed here for a couple of nights during our 3 resort split stay in 2019 (?) and ate at Sebastian's then on the old menu and it was one of my trip highlights. This was our first time with the family style. I just didn't like the rooms at CBR as much as Coronado Springs and I prefer the atmosphere at the Port Orleans resorts so it's not likely we'll stay there again unless we do another split stay and are going to either HS or Epcot.

We had zero wait as soon as we checked in. I didn't like where we were seated in the middle of the space on a tiny 2 top table when they were half empty with booths all around us. And they stayed empty until we finished so I'm not sure why they couldn't seat us there knowing how much food was about to be brought out LOL.

It was at this point that I realized R perfectly complemented the teal decor of the space. I love teal so much and I could pick up every decor at Sebastian's and bring it into our house, I love it that much.

First came the bread service and I only allowed myself one roll. One half with the onion jam and the other half with guava butter. I think R finished the others with the guava butter, which he really enjoyed.

And the salad was really good. I would've finished this if we had space to keep it on the table.

Next up were the entrees and sides.

So much food yall!!!! R loved the plaintains and ate most of those. I wasn't expecting to like the cilantro rice but it was really good! R ate most of the pork since I don't each much pork at all. I ate the majority of the fish (forgot what it was that day but it was delicious!!). We both split the chicken and steak. I thought I would enjoy the chicken more because I don't eat much red meat either but this steak was cooked to perfection and there was no way I could resist it. It was one of the best cooked cuts of meat I've ever had. I don't know if they are always this good or if the chefs were at their peak today but it was one of the best meals we've ever eaten at Disney.

And here's photo proof

We cleaned our plates LOL. But we still had the dessert coming

The bread pudding, which I enjoyed more than the last one I got at 'Ohana. We finished most of this too. Sebastian's had the 10% Disney Visa discount so we got the same amount of food as 'Ohana, at the fraction of the cost, and the quality and flavor were much better. I never thought I would say this but, after our experience this trip, Sebastian's will be picked over 'Ohana.

We caught the first bus back to Disney Springs. We were too full to do any walking so back to Riverside bus it was. Luckily, the wait was short. We had to start packing because we had a very early 6AM Mears pick up.

 

[LeighM]

We stopped by the food court to get more drinks.

I always have the urge to pet the horses. After packing, I started to get hungry again. How, I do not know. So we split a piece of pizza.

More horse temptation.

And these were my pin purchases this trip.

I was feeling nostalgic Then it was early bedtime because we had to wake up around 5AM to be ready at the Mears pick up spot.

July 6th - Flight back home

We thought we left with plenty of time and got there 15 minutes as they suggest in their directions. And as soon as I took this picture, the smaller van with 3 other couples arrived to pick us up. We got the front row since we were going to be off the bus first at Terminal C.

There was no wait for TSA security and our plane hadn't even left their departure city so we had a while to wait. And while waiting, I was wondering how long it would take them to fix the water refill stations throughout Terminal C, considering it's so new.

And the plane arrived early so there was no delay for us leaving.

This last minute July 4th trip was such a good decision and I was very happy we did it. Now on the planning our upcoming cruise on the Treasure, which will be a continuation of this trip report, if any one wants to follow along.

 

[Swissmiss]

Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to read about your cruise.

 

[cgersic]

The dinner at Sebastian's looks fabulous! I would also love to read about the cruise!

 

[LeighM]

Now that the healing from covid is begun, more plans are starting to come together. We were originally going to drive in order to save some money but R decided the week he came down with covid that maybe we should fly and maximimize our Disney time. I'm not going to complain about being back at WDW but, honestly, I'm looking at the mounting costs with more than a little concern LOL. We're going to be gone for a total of 9 nights and I'm stressing about packing. We're going to have a checked bag this time and I'm worried I'm going to walk past bag pick up We have only been flying with carry on luggage since our last Magical Express trip in 2019. I liked the idea of driving so that we could pack whatever we wanted without worrying about little details.

Right now, we're going to start our trip at Coronado Springs using the bounceback rate (I was going to upgrade to a tower room but then I had multiple covid medical bills so that's now out). And our one night at WDW after the cruise will be at AS Music again, which I got last minute relatively (Disney) cheap. We have a couple of excursions planned - one at Cozumel, which might be cancelled depending on how my body heals (right now I have covid caused arthritis in my right knee - the doctor is sure it will leave enventually but can't guarantee it won't act up with a lot of walking in the heat of Cozumel). The other is in Grand Cayman, which I will not be cancelling. We have a Palo dinner booked for the second night. And a bottle of Cloudem Blue ordered (and I'm VERY excited to try because I hadn't even heard of it when we were on the Wish!). I have a few ADRs booked at WDW but I might end up cancelling them and just go with quick service. That's a whole extra layer of planning I haven't wanted to deal with yet. Covid worsened my celiac numbers and my insulin so I have a couple of months to get my body back where it needs to be so that I can hopefully have a cheat meal now and then like I have been able to do in the past without problems.

And I'm starting to think about joining our Facebook group's fish extender group - or just doing random pixie dusting to keep the stress down LOL. Anyone have any suggestions?