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!

 

[mpaulam]

That looks like a lovely way to relax for a few hours!

 

[MissingDisney]

True. I am unable to tell from the picture if there are any markings on the other side so I can’t positively identify it but regardless of what it is it shouldn’t be on a hotel room floor. Especially somewhere with lots of young children.

They say….

But in this case….NO!
Both the bacon and unidentified gel are NOT GOOD!

 

[MickeyCB]

Then I stepped out onto our patio for a better view.

This is a magical catch!

It made us question Disney’s “Covid Cleaning Standards” they brag about on the display card in every resort room….

and did you touch them to get them on that plate?!
When we checked into Aulani there was a wet gooshy cleaning rag left on the dining bench!

 

[Tuvalu]

and did you touch them to get them on that plate?!

Yes, Dr. CB, I did.
But I made sure to thoroughly scrub my hands afterwards!

 

[MickeyCB]

Yes, Dr. CB, I did.
But I made sure to thoroughly scrub my hands afterwards!

In my defense, I didn’t used to be a germaphobe! I used to make fun of people like me!

 

[amjt660]

I found it interesting that the IP included Tangled, 101 Dalmatians and Minnie Mouse. Was there a hidden connection I was missing?

Because it might take up to one hundred and one Tuvalus to lower the Murphy bed when the throw pillows are all tangled up but only one Tu can lower the mini Murphy bed on her own.

Yeah, we’re not walking aaallll the way to the main entrance into the storm. There should be a shuttle service adjacent to the IG Skyliner station! (The Skyliner is great…..when it works.)

T and I checked out the RR in early October and we decided that it’s isolated location and less than robust transportation system does not make it worth the cost of a deluxe

Seven of us remained on the bus, all going to Riviera. We wondered why the driver didn’t ask each passenger for their destination (like Magical Express drivers did). It would have saved time and the futile effort of driving to Pop/AoA. (And as the majority, perhaps we Riviera guests could have been dropped off first?)

True but who knows if your trip to MK would have been less time

Max

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

Better to face the lake than the towers, don’t you think?

OMG. I've seen so many posts about the sub-par cleaning standards. I get they are under-staffed and overworked but it's not THATHARD to do a clean sweep (literally) of each room. But then again, I don't think I've ever seen a broom on their housekeeping carts.

What a lovely pool view!! I'd love to look at the Gondola's all morning!

 

[Tuvalu]

Because it might take up to one hundred and one Tuvalus to lower the Murphy bed when the throw pillows are all tangled up but only one Tu can lower the mini Murphy bed on her own.

T and I checked out the RR in early October and we decided that it’s isolated location and less than robust transportation system does not make it worth the cost of a deluxe

Not having "walkability" to any park is a definite downside, especially when the touted transportation (Skyliner) isn't operating. And it is very pricey (we never would have stayed without the discount.)

True but who knows if your trip to MK would have been less time

Max

Oh I'm sure a trip to MK to transfer home would have taken longer.
My whine was because we could have been back to Riviera from Beach Club in less than 10 minutes!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Before settling into a lounger I continued my stroll around the grounds.

A second entrance/exit for the quiet pool (with the all important restroom sign!)

There were a couple lawn courts for games. This one for bocce….

….and this one for cornhole, connect four and others.

The main pool had different cushions on the loungers and was zero-entry. Also lifeguards.

The feature of the feature pool. It reminded me of the slide at Disney’s Vero Beach.

There was a separate splash play area for younger children.

It was unusual to see side-by-side pools at a Disney resort, but it works here.

And the pool bar was not far from either (wIth a convenient mug refill station.)

 

[Tuvalu]

It was a hot morning. Our loungers would not be in the shade for a bit (despite being under an umbrella) so Woody and I sought refuge in the pool, which was delightful.

When hunger pains started we left the water, toweled off and placed a mobile order at Primo Piatto.

There were tables inside but we preferred to dine al fresco. I went with the kids cheeseburger, Woody the grilled chicken sandwich.

Balsamic-marinated grilled chicken with sun-dried tomato relish, spinach-artichoke spread and mozzarella, served on toasted focaccia. Woody said the sandwich was very tasty.

Romano herb fries was the accompanying side. The description and picture on the app was more appealing than the reality — basic, soggy fries with a sprinkle of cheese. The only “herb” was the tiny green leaf you see in my picture. My regular fries were better so we shared those.

Once we finished lunch our loungers were fully shaded. We relaxed and read, alternating with dips in the water.

Sounds like paradise, right?

Paradise would not include the sound of helicopters continuously buzzing over the resort. I counted eight in one hour.

“This is like being in a war zone!” Woody shouted to me during one low-flying copter round.

I appreciate pilot Bioconstruct’s (Twitter) aerial shots of the WDW resort as much as anyone, but this was ridiculous. Honestly I don’t know that it was him. Em and I had noticed an increase of helicopters flying over Epcot this summer and Riviera would be in that flight path. Is there a company that provides sightseeing helicopter rides nearby? I’m hoping our experience was a one off, otherwise Woody and I will never have another Riviera pool day. It was that annoying!

Our original plan was to hang out here until we got our room ready text from the Polynesian. Shortly before 3 o’clock rain clouds had accumulated and I told Woody I’d rather be trapped by rain at the Poly (where we’d eventually have a room) than Riviera (where we didn’t.) A thunderclap confirmed my decision, as we were forced to leave the pool deck anyway.

So what was our assessment of our 24 hour stay?

We loved the well-appointed studio (stupid bathroom doors notwithstanding.) The room was quiet, bed and linens very comfy, and there was a bonus washer/dryer unit in the room (which would be super convenient for a longer stay.) Every cast member we encountered was genuinely happy, helpful and friendly. We loved the pool and its view of the lake and gondolas.

To be honest I expected Riviera Resort to be a one and done for us. Woody said he’d return and I’d consider it for the right price - along with a “No helicopters” guarantee!

But @Loco_driver, I now understand your love for the place.

 

[rshell68]

There were tables inside but we preferred to dine al fresco. I went with the kids cheeseburger, Woody the grilled chicken sandwich.

Balsamic-marinated grilled chicken with sun-dried tomato relish, spinach-artichoke spread and mozzarella, served on toasted focaccia. Woody said the sandwich was very tasty.

Romano herb fries was the accompanying side. The description and picture on the app was more appealing than the reality — basic, soggy fries with a sprinkle of cheese. The only “herb” was the tiny green leaf you see in my picture. My regular fries were better so we shared those.

The grilled chicken sandwich sounds good! At least they had fries....

 

[Tuvalu]

At least they had fries....

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

It was unusual to see side-by-side pools at a Disney resort, but it works here.

Not unusual at Aulani! But I get what you mean—- at a WDW resort.

Sorry about the helicopters—- I’d be going crazy with that annoying noise!

 

[amjt660]

Disney was testing the new backup system for when the skyliner breaks down

Max

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Leaving in the rain from an Epcot resort and arriving in sunshine to a MK resort is one of the curiosities of central Florida! We still hadn’t received our room text - and we were still in our swimwear - so we stopped by the Front Desk to get our MagicBands coded to the Polynesian so we could hang by the Oasis pool. The CM checked to make sure our room wasn’t ready (it wasn’t) but said it shouldn’t be much longer as housekeeping was awaiting our final room check. (We appreciated that room check later since the floor was food and medicine free. )

The CM also gave us a pool key card in case our MagicBands didn’t work to open the gate. My band worked fine, as did Woody’s. The pool was a zoo without any available loungers. It was just as well because the sun was strong and the humidity was stifling. We chose to wait in the shade in the covered area by the bar.

(Confidential to @MickeyCB ~ Woody always wears a swim shirt without grumbling.)

We should have gotten drinks but we didn’t know how long our wait would be. Just before 4, my phone buzzed with our room number.

 

[MickeyCB]

(Confidential to @MickeyCB ~ Woody always wears a swim shirt without grumbling.)

I will have to share that with his grumpiness!
"Look the other boys are wearing their swim shirts, don't you want to?!"

 

[Loco_driver]

But @Loco_driver, I now understand your love for the place.

It’s pretty good, right?! Sorry about the helicopters. That definitely would’ve ruined my enjoyment of that awesome quiet pool.

 

[tonystark]

And I missed a lot!

 

[Tuvalu]

And I missed a lot!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

The CM at the Front Desk had informed us that we had a 3rd floor room in the Tokelau longhouse but she could not tell us the number since the room wasn’t officially ours yet. The words “third floor Tokelau” were enough for me, as that was the location I’d requested.

Now I had the number. Woody and I went to see the room before retrieving our luggage from the car.

3rd floor sitting area

Tokelau was our preferred longhouse when our kids were growing up (it was named Oahu then). We liked its central location. As a later addition to the Polynesian Village, the rooms were larger (bonus when you’re a family of 5) and both 2nd and 3rd floor rooms had balconies (original longhouses do not have balconies on the 2nd floor.)

Tokelau became part of DVC in 2015 and recently went through a cosmetic refresh. The new teal, turquoise and cream color palette closely aligns with the Moana themed rooms in the non-DVC section of the resort.

A half bath has a sink and a toilet.
What do you call a room with a sink and a shower?

The “full” bath

While we didn’t have the greatest view, the foliage provided us privacy when sitting outside.

We liked the convenience of having a corner room. The proximity to the exterior stairs meant (once again) we did not need to rely on the elevator.

After hauling in our stuff we took showers and prepared to head out for dinner.