Trip Report Everything Is Just So Peachy Keen! *COMPLETED*

It certainly was for us Georgia peaches this last week! For those who may be new here, let us introduce ourselves. We are Tuvalu and Em, a mother-daughter duo who love traveling together to Walt Disney World. We take multiple trips per year (this was our third for 2022) and for us, time spent at our resort is just as important to us as time spent in the parks. Slow-paced relaxation is vital to us!

I’m sure this laid-back vibe is what draws people to cruises: pools, bars, a variety of restaurants and activities from which to choose . I can’t do ships. But I can happily “land cruise” at WDW!

Hope you decide to follow along and learn about the surprises on our most recent voyage.

When: July 20-27, 2022
Where: Disney’s Yacht Club and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resorts

Nothing can stop us now!

 

[lindawdw]

Hope you were able to go back and relax at the pool before too long!!! It's too bad they couldn't detect the smell issue.

 

[AKemily]

But you didn’t try a new dessert, @AKemily is likely thinking.

I was thinking that, thank you I'm glad you got your new dessert even if its name has stumped us

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

Em and I did not venture back to the pool for a third time, @lindawdw. By now it was late afternoon so we decided to get cleaned up instead.

We didn’t have any evening plans. Yet our “unplanned evening” ended up being Em’s favorite night of the trip.

Food is always a central element in our vacation discussions. Naturally we discussed what we felt like eating for dinner. To no one’s surprise, we were on the same page.

Down to the boat dock we went.

Here comes our ride.

Yay for the small launch! We prefer these launches over the bigger….and enclosed….boats.

Surprised to see two ferries docked at MK.

Making our way to our port of call.

Florida clouds are so picturesque!

 

[Tuvalu]

For those of you who thought we were going to dine at the MK, you’d be wrong.

We weren’t done traveling yet.

Bummer, a big boat.

But we got to sit up front!

Where was our dinner destination?
Grand Flo or Poly?

 

[93boomer]

For those of you who thought we were going to dine at the MK, you’d be wrong.

We weren’t done traveling yet.

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Bummer, a big boat.

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But we got to sit up front!

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Where was our dinner destination?
Grand Flo or Poly?

I will guess-Poly?

 

[mpaulam]

Poly...

 

[Tuvalu]

I will guess-Poly?

Poly...

You’d think for someone named Tuvalu, that would be a good guess!

However….

Who wouldn’t want to dine in a construction zone??!!

FYI the building behind the wall covered in scaffolding….Boca Chica….is where Em and I had spent a couple nights just a month earlier!

 

[93boomer]

You’d think for someone named Tuvalu, that would be a good guess!

However….

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Who wouldn’t want to dine in a construction zone??!!

FYI the building behind the wall covered in scaffolding….Boca Chica….is where Em and I had spent a couple nights just a month earlier!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sometimes, when we’re on vacation, we just want a sandwich.

Simple sandwiches aren’t easy to find at WDW (Earl of Sandwich not withstanding.)

And common sense would never say, “Hmmm, I’m hungry for a sandwich. Let’s go to the GRAND FLORIDIAN!”

Yet here we were.

Fortunately we know from experience that Gaspy’s makes delicious ham and cheese sandwiches to order. And this one did not disappoint.

After we’d ordered, these adorable Mickey cake pops caught our eye.

When I went to refill our beverages, I surreptitiously purchased one and surprised Em.

It tasted even better than it looked! Inside was confetti cake.

Another new dessert for us, @AKemily!

 

[AKemily]

When I went to refill our beverages, I surreptitiously purchased one and surprised Em.

It tasted even better than it looked! Inside was confetti cake.

Another new dessert for us, @AKemily!

And so adorable, too! (And less confusing than the stump cake )

 

[Tuvalu]

When we’d finished, we popped inside the main building. While Gasparilla Island Grill is part of the main building, there is no interior access (similar to The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge.)

The refurbished gift store had reopened with a new name.

While once exclusively women’s wear, the shop now has men’s apparel too. (The men’s store was formerly located in part of the space that Enchanted Rose occupies.)

As you might expect, items here are pricey! We kept our wallets closed.

This kids-size table and chair set was cute. (The picture makes it seem adult size!)

Then we walked up the Grand staircase and listened to the pianist below.

 

[fractal]

For those of you who thought we were going to dine at the MK, you’d be wrong.

We weren’t done traveling yet.

View attachment 669374

Bummer, a big boat.

View attachment 669375

But we got to sit up front!

View attachment 669376

Where was our dinner destination?
Grand Flo or Poly?

Nice photo of you two!

 

[Tuvalu]

“You know we haven’t ridden the monorail yet,” Em said.

She was right. We try to ride the monorail every trip. It is quintessential Disney.

I expected we’d ride it to the Magic Kingdom then head back to WL.

But Em had other ideas.

“Let’s ride to Epcot so we can get a bird’s eye view of the construction,” she suggested.

Of course that meant switching lines at the TTC. But we didn’t have to wait long.

Ready to go!

The grand and miraculous Spaceship Earth.

A dream, can be, a dream come true
With just that spark, from me and you.

Construction pics for your enjoyment. How many years has this been going on now??!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

“See, we made it to Epcot!” Em proudly announced when the monorail doors opened.

But thanks to the stupid park pass system we couldn’t disembark.

So we stayed on board and returned to the TTC.

At the TTC we had the option of transferring monorails or riding the ferry to MK. Years (and I mean years) ago, a WL bus used to run between the Lodge and the TTC. We liked that since it enabled us to take the monorail into Epcot (or MK if we felt so inclined.)

“We’ve done the monorail. And the small and big launches. We should take the ferry,” I said.

Thus our “Transportation Evening” (as we would later call it) was born.

I still think the most exciting view of Cinderella Castle is from the ferryboat landing. It’s also the best place to watch fireworks.

It was a lovely evening. We opted to stay on the lower deck for the pleasant breeze.

We could watch the captain pilot the ferry. The sunset on the left was magnificent.

We were one of the first to disembark. (And also one of the last, since there were few passengers aboard!)

Had to navigate the maze which was already in place for park closing.

“See, we made it to Magic Kingdom!” Em chirped.

 

[lindawdw]

We always enjoy splitting a sandwich at Gasparilla's when we stay at GF! The Mickey Cake pops are soooo cute! I will tell you that taking the monorail from MK to Epcot is one of my favorite things to do at WDW when it's off hours and the monorail cars are not crowded. It's interesting to see the construction pit from high above but also frustrating when you think about how long this project has taken. It's a rant that I could go on and on about, but I'll leave it at that.  I'm confused at why you said you couldn't get off at Epcot because of the Park Pass reservation system since it was after 2:00 pm? How fun that you opted for the ferry to MK, and I agree with you about it being the best view of Cinderella Castle!

 

[Songbird76]

A dream, can be, a dream come true
With just that spark, from me and you.

Now my daughter and I have that song stuck in our heads.

 

[Tuvalu]

 I'm confused at why you said you couldn't get off at Epcot because of the Park Pass reservation system since it was after 2:00 pm?

We hadn’t been to a park yet that day and did not have a park reservation for Epcot.

 

[lindawdw]

We hadn’t been to a park yet that day and did not have a park reservation for Epcot.

Oh right, gotcha.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, con’t

We knew that riding the bus to WL could have meant a 5th mode of transport during our “Transportation Evening.”

Had it been raining, we would have chosen the bus.

But the breeze was too balmy and the sunset scenery was too pretty to be wasted when the small launch was an option.

“I had a lot of fun tonight,” said Em as we cruised toward Bay Lake.

So had I. Sometimes simple pleasures are the best.

 

[Songbird76]

Just wanted to ask, are you in Ian's path or is it going to pass you by? I hope you are safe!!