Trip Report C’mon Everybody, Here We Go….*COMPLETED*

Think of all the joy you’ll find
When you leave the world behind
And bid your cares goodbye!


Ahh, a relaxing getaway from reality. No cares or concerns. Just bliss.

Not exactly a perfect picture of vacationing at Walt Disney World during Spring Break, is it?

But we’re going anyway. We’re Spring Break Veterans and it’s time for the annual reunion.

Two years ago we missed out on our usual adventure thanks to Covid. The stay-at-home vacation just wasn’t the same! (Although you can read about it here: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-“no-trip”-trip-report-completed.964173/)

Last year we were able to return, albeit under Covid protocols. We believed that enduring masks 24/7, plexiglass and vinyl dividers on attractions, mobile order Door Nazis and limited shopping/dining/entertainment would be acceptable in exchange for the very low crowds that we’d experienced on earlier pandemic trips. But the parks were packed and we ended up spending a lot of time at the pool (which wasn’t a bad thing. We’re pool people.)

Now that park capacity has increased and nearly all Covid restrictions are gone, we expect to find the shoulder-to-shoulder spring break crowds of yore. And long lines. So we’re packing our patience and “It is what it is” attitudes.

Because in spite of all the negatives WDW is still our happy place.

We can’t wait.

Who: Tuvalu and Em
When: April 3-9, 2022
Where: Our favorite moderate resort

My plan is to go live upon our departure. Fingers crossed that Disney WiFi will be my friend.

Speaking of friends, we hope to meet up with a few. You’ll have to follow along to see if we do.

 

[riverside]

I’m still here! Catching up! Awwww, I would love to know what J thinks about plants! @riverside

Only @TrolleyFollower91 knows.....
E & I weren't included in that conversation!!

The next thing is the bat exhibit. That gets a big fat NOPE from both of us.

That totally creeps me out!!

We learn a lesson. Not all the items listed on the menu are available on mobile ordering. There was a French Dip cheesesteak which sounded yummy, but that item is not listed in the app when we mobile order. So we settle for chicken strips and a sandwich.

Our food is meh.

The Riverside Mill food selection has definitely gone downhill since they reopened.

Our spirits lift when we make the pretty walk through POR on our way home.

 

[RoyWalley]

Quiz time.

Anyone know the specific location of this door?

View attachment 632042

The Pinocchio Village Haus ??
The brick looks like it matches the exterior on some pictures.

 

[joshsprincess921]

After several minutes of tap tapping, the Front Desk CM was able to work some magic for us.

Unfortunately none of our MagicBands work to unlock the door.

Em’s phone to the rescue!

Room photos for @Nunu.

View attachment 630463

View attachment 630464

View attachment 630465

We’re pretty sure we’ve stayed in this room before. In 2009 to be exact.

Tuvalu, how could you possibly remember that?

Let’s just say we have only stayed in this building once….on an extended family trip with many unfortunate medical situations. It began with an 11 pm call to 911 for my infant nephew who was having difficulty breathing. My brother’s family was in the room on the other side of this connecting door.

View attachment 630466

I was able to watch his sleeping two year old brother while baby and parents were escorted to the emergency room. After several hours they returned, baby perfectly fine.

I won’t go into details on the violent stomach bug that later downed a few family members on that trip.

Anyhoo, I packed my clock for you, @MinnieM123!

View attachment 630467

I want to stay there just because they have ceiling fans in the room!

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Quiz time.

Anyone know the specific location of this door?

View attachment 632042

Answer?

 

[Wicked Sisters]

Thanks for the pool pics @Tuvalu and it looks amazing. We have bought the Olaf towel clips we saw in another of your past TR‘s and look forward to using them. Thanks again for sharing with us and we enjoyed your magician meet ups as we feel we know them as well as we read their TR’s also.

 

[erstwo]

Quiz time.

Anyone know the specific location of this door?

View attachment 632042

I'm going to guess Liberty Square.

 

[Tuvalu]

Jumping in to satisfy @LuvtheGoof.

Answer?

Where is this door?

I had never noticed it until I was waiting for Em to check on something.

We are guessing. Is it near the Hall of Presidents? Back in the corner somewhere?

The Pinocchio Village Haus ??
The brick looks like it matches the exterior on some pictures.

I'm going to guess Liberty Square.

All good guesses, friends! But nope.


While I was hoping for the exact location, @slipperalwaysfits is the closest.

????????????????? I'm guessing in one of the alleys on Main Street?

 

[93boomer]

Jumping in to satisfy @LuvtheGoof.

Where is this door?

View attachment 633037

I had never noticed it until I was waiting for Em to check on something.






All good guesses, friends! But nope.


While I was hoping for the exact location, @slipperalwaysfits is the closest.


View attachment 633049

Wow. Now I will have to look for it!!

 

[lindawdw]

Jumping in to satisfy @LuvtheGoof.

Where is this door?

View attachment 633037

I had never noticed it until I was waiting for Em to check on something.






All good guesses, friends! But nope.


While I was hoping for the exact location, @slipperalwaysfits is the closest.


View attachment 633049

Never would have guessed it!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

When we arrived at POFQ the stroller below was parked at the top of the stairs adjacent to our room (kind of in a “no man’s land.”) It’s a decent stroller with nice tires in great condition.

That stroller has not moved the entire week. Makes us wonder just how long it has been there…..

 

[lindawdw]

When we arrived at POFQ the stroller below was parked at the top of the stairs adjacent to our room (kind of in a “no man’s land.”) It’s a decent stroller with nice tires in great condition.

View attachment 633215

That stroller has not moved the entire week. Makes us wonder just how long it has been there…..

Very strange!

 

[Wrangler-Rick]

When we arrived at POFQ the stroller below was parked at the top of the stairs adjacent to our room (kind of in a “no man’s land.”) It’s a decent stroller with nice tires in great condition.

View attachment 633215

That stroller has not moved the entire week. Makes us wonder just how long it has been there…..

 

[Billy6]

When we arrived at POFQ the stroller below was parked at the top of the stairs adjacent to our room (kind of in a “no man’s land.”) It’s a decent stroller with nice tires in great condition.

View attachment 633215

That stroller has not moved the entire week. Makes us wonder just how long it has been there…..

Probably a "pay it forward" or I have been in Forums on Socials (DVC Free) where you can post things to grab from members leaving. All sorts of stuff on those boards...Maybe no one picked it up, cause then they would have to "pay it forward" as it were...

 

[Tuvalu]

View attachment 633278

 

[Tuvalu]

Probably a "pay it forward" or I have been in Forums on Socials (DVC Free) where you can post things to grab from members leaving. All sorts of stuff on those boards...Maybe no one picked it up, cause then they would have to "pay it forward" as it were...

We briefly considered putting it in our car and taking it to a women's shelter.

 

[amjt660]

It’s a decent stroller with nice tires in great condition.

Sounds like a one owner - low mileage beauty

On another note Tuvalu will be launching WDWMagic Marketplace based on how many abandoned items she can find on her Disney trips
(gotta pay for that gas price increase some how!!)


Max

 

[cgersic]

We briefly considered putting it in our car and taking it to a women's shelter.

If they were leaving for the next person, you would think they would put a note on it or let someone know about it? Weird, but so nice you would think to do this.

 

[Tuvalu]

On another note Tuvalu will be launching WDWMagic Marketplace based on how many abandoned items she can find on her Disney trips
(gotta pay for that gas price increase some how!!)

Funny you should mention fuel.

Gas prices in metropolitan ATL when we left on 4/3 hovered just under $4/gallon. (Not doing the metric conversion, Max ) When we arrived at WDW, the pump price was $4.19/gallon.

I had to stop for gas in middle (rural) Georgia on our way home. The exit had a Kroger gas station (unbeknownst to me at the time). I collect Kroger fuel points and had enough to save $1 off each gallon, which I had planned to use sometime later in the month at home.

The price of gas here was $3.24/gallon. With my discount I paid $2.24/gallon!!!

I felt like a bandit!

 

[amjt660]

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Our Last Night

What could have been a stellar conclusion to our vacation ends on a disappointing note.

After a relaxing afternoon at the pool (and a little too much sun) we return to the Magic Kingdom. There isn't quite enough time for an attraction before our dinner ADR, so we check in at the podium and wait on the porch until our name is called. It's a good people-watching spot and I really hope to catch a glimpse of @Sillysidewalker and her family.

I do not. (Disappointment #1)

We are escorted inside the restaurant ten minutes past our reservation time.

Woody and I had such a wonderful meal at Crystal Palace in October that Em was persuaded to eat here tonight, now that the buffet has returned. (She and I had dined here last summer when food was plated and served to us.)

We are seated at a lovely window table.

Unfortunately this table is between two tables of a single party of 14 (6 adults and 8 children under 8 yrs of age) that has been split. You can see this party in the background of the pictures of Em and I below.

The kids are completely out of control. One has plopped herself down....shoeless....in the aisle next to us. She rolls around on the carpet, singing. The boys behind me keep running around between both tables, occasionally stepping on aisle girl. A toddler is screaming....not in discomfort, merely testing his vocal chords. The parents/grandparents are totally ignoring the chaos. And as a result, our server is ignoring us. (While I understand his desire to avoid the fracas, we would like our drinks refilled and dirty plates removed from the table.)

Getting to the buffet proves challenging for Em and myself, so we limit our food intake. Which is too bad, because we both agree the food is fabulous.

It's soon clear that the kids are DONE with dinner and one of the dads even makes that observation: "They're getting pretty wild over there."

DO YOU THINK??!!??

But do any of the adults say anything to the children? Not one word. They continue to laugh, drink, and talk amongst themselves for awhile longer.

I have reached my tipping point. Em senses it. "I'll get dessert for both of us," she says. While she is gone, our server settles the bill for the large party. He then swings by our table and asks if we want beverage refills. (Of course we do!)

The rude party finally leaves. Our server brings our drinks. I tell him I have an AP and show him my card. "Be right back with your bill," he says.

We don't see him again for several minutes. Then he shows up with a broom and dustpan. He and another server begin to clean the awful mess left behind by the party of 14.

I watch in disbelief. WHERE IS OUR CHECK?

Eventually I get his attention with a wave. He nods and fetches our check.

It does not have the AP discount.

He has already resumed cleaning the table behind Em. I have to get his attention a second time. He takes the bill back and says he will find a manager to adjust it.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

At last the check arrives corrected.

When all is said and done, Em and I have been at dinner for a frustratingly long 90 minutes. (Disappointment #2)

And I receive a text from my friend @Darstarr, informing me she has decided to stay at Epcot and we won't get to see her. (Disappointment #3)