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!

 

[Tuvalu]

OMGEEEEEE!!!!!

EEEEEK we are thinking of taking a day trip next week! Can't wait to ride!!!

Might be a long day trip for you Florida gals.

 

[rshell68]

 

[cgersic]

Ok, that was a mean tease.... But you two are so cute that I'll forgive it.

 

[Tuvalu]

Ok, that was a mean tease.... But you two are so cute that I'll forgive it.

Y’all ~ Em and I are on a MPB!!!!!

View attachment 682403

Note that I said a MPB not the MPB.

 

[Loco_driver]

We visited Dollywoods’s sister park Silver Dollar City a few weekends ago. Sadly their MPB had a pretty significant incident a few weeks before our visit and was closed for the season. We still had a good time though!

 

[Tiggerish]

Note that I said a MPB not the MPB.

Haha, that is the most technical of technicalities I've ever seen.

Well done.

 

[Songbird76]

I had a dream the other night that my daughter and I were on our Disney trip and went to a QS place for lunch and just as we got to an empty table, you and Woody arrived at the same table. We enjoyed our lunch together and then I asked if I could have a card, but you were out of them!! I was so sad because I had no proof that I met you! And then I woke up.

 

[Tuvalu]

I had a dream the other night that my daughter and I were on our Disney trip and went to a QS place for lunch and just as we got to an empty table, you and Woody arrived at the same table. We enjoyed our lunch together and then I asked if I could have a card, but you were out of them!! I was so sad because I had no proof that I met you! And then I woke up.

I’ve got cards aplenty.

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, August 25 con’t

We were finished with Rise of the Resistance just in time for dinner.

Woody is a huge fan of the Cobb Salad served here. Both of us enjoy the atmosphere. However we have had our share of poor servers at this restaurant (disappointing considering its price point) and I’ve never been wowed by any of my entrées over the years.

So tonight was for Woody.

I will say our evening started well. I have always wanted to sit in one of the semi-circular booths (to see and be seen ) and we did!

But I might have given up the prime booth for a better server. Ours was young and inexperienced. He was slow in welcoming us, not very knowledgeable about the wine list and didn’t offer to toss Woody’s salad when he brought it out. He just placed it on the table and walked away!

Woody said it was as good as always, but he would have preferred not to have to mix it himself.

I ordered the Braised Short Rib. It arrived covered with Velveeta (not really) over a root vegetable purée. Something in the dish had been pickled. I disdain the new trend of pickling onions, carrots, mushrooms, etc. I just hate that taste.

Thus I enjoyed the braised pot roast and mashed potatoes at The Diamond Horseshoe waaayyyy more than this expensive substitute.

Sigh. What could have been a lovely meal simply wasn’t. We didn’t even ask to see the dessert menu.

It took forever to pay our check.

We left The Brown Derby as it began to sprinkle. By the time we reached the bus depot it was raining. The rain would eventually become a powerful storm, resulting in the cancellation of Disney Enchantment for only the second time ever. (Is it bad of me that I can’t wait for its permanent cancellation? )

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, August 26

It was a Mickey waffles kind of morning. I offered to go get them from Capt. Cooks while Woody checked on a work related issue.

The resort grounds were still quiet with only a couple families out and about.

I confess to picking up my pace so I could snap a cute pic.

Way to rock the man bun, little dude!!

 

[MickeyCB]

I will say our evening started well. I have always wanted to sit in one of the semi-circular booths (to see and be seen ) and we did!

One of my most favorite Disney memories (from way back in the day where there was always some unexpected Disney magic), was when we were picked to be the "opening family" at The Brown Derby.
Seth was really young maybe 10ish, and they asked if we would like to do this and he was hesitating and I of course said heck yeah!
They announced our names, threw confetti at us as they escorted us in, pretended to be paparazzi and take photos of us and seated us at one of those circular booths that had Mickey confetti all over it! (I still have 4 pieces of it I saved in a jar)!
Then they gave us a little book/folder that they printed up with our photo in it.
It was amazing! I don't know if they still do this or not.

 

[LeighM]

We used to take family vacations to Pigeon Forge every other year when I was growing up until my Grandma got sick (others were to St. Augustine, FL). Dollywood was a very fun place but they removed my favorite ride with some of my best memories - the Slidewinder. That ride was so much fun even with the "hike" to the top but what made it hilariously fun was my aunt hated rides like that but would go on it with me, Mom, and her granddaughter but would scream at the top of her lungs until it came to a stop LOL. Great memories

 

[MinnieM123]

I ordered the Braised Short Rib. It arrived covered with Velveeta (not really) over a root vegetable purée. Something in the dish had been pickled. I disdain the new trend of pickling onions, carrots, mushrooms, etc. I just hate that taste.

Not a fan of pickling either. As for your overall review, I've noticed a range of various comments from other people as well, and not just recently either. (I did like the semi-circular booth thought! )

 

[Darstarr]

(I still have 4 pieces of it I saved in a jar)!

 

[Tuvalu]

We used to take family vacations to Pigeon Forge every other year when I was growing up until my Grandma got sick (others were to St. Augustine, FL). Dollywood was a very fun place but they removed my favorite ride with some of my best memories - the Slidewinder. That ride was so much fun even with the "hike" to the top but what made it hilariously fun was my aunt hated rides like that but would go on it with me, Mom, and her granddaughter but would scream at the top of her lungs until it came to a stop LOL. Great memories

I pulled up a YouTube video of the Slidewinder - it sure looked like a lot of fun!

I did a mini TR if you’re interested. First post can be found here:
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...t-and-guy-gabbing-thread.977820/post-10461902

 

[MickeyCB]

I literally just spit my soda I was drinking out of my mouth!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

He can’t keep his eyes open during the launch. (I promise he wasn’t sleeping!)

Neither can I! But my mouth is always open so I look like I’m in a state or terror. Which I can’t 100% deny…

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

The forecast had called for partly sunny morning skies with thunderstorms beginning at 1 pm. We had planned this as a resort day so right after our waffles we went to the quiet pool.

Staked our spot under an umbrella.

We watched a worker replace a decorative panel on the Samoa longhouse.

Enjoyed a poolside lunch.

We got really lucky. The predicted early afternoon storm never materialized. It was the perfect mix of clouds and sunshine and we spent lots of time in the water. Total time at the Oasis? Six relaxing hours!

 

[Tuvalu]

So the rain we didn’t get earlier began the moment Woody and I left our room to meet friends for dinner.

By the time our monorail arrived at the Grand Floridian station it was a full-blown thunderstorm.

Pity we weren’t dining at the GF.

The doors opened and some passengers disembarked. None were allowed to board. The monorail had ceased operation until the storm passed.

A few guests in our car were panicking, as they were already running late for a Chef Mickey’s ADR. They did not want to be charged the no-show fee. I reassured them that as long as they did show up, the fee would be waived. I warned that they might have to wait for a bit once they arrived but they would still be seated.

Then I got to work on modifying our own reservation. Our dining companions were also caught in the storm and traffic was at a standstill. I was able to move back our ADR by 45 minutes. This was pixie dust, as we were stuck at the GF for 35 minutes! When the all-clear finally came, the door to our car would not shut despite the best efforts of the CMs on the platform.

It was at least another 5 minutes before they were able to close the door.

Woody and I disembarked at the MK station to transfer. It was still raining and we opted not to take a boat! Instead we had a #ShirleyStatus bus ride to the Wilderness Lodge.

Our friends were waiting for us in the lobby. You may remember my friend Kel from other trip reports.

Tonight her husband Tom was able to join us.

The four of us were seated in the “back porch” section of Whispering Canyon Cafe. It was the perfect location, quieter and away from most of the shenanigans in the main dining room. Our server “Gus Gus” still played around with us though.

Woody, Tom and I went with the skillet. Since there were two hungry men with me there were no leftovers this time!

And I had room for lava cake!

It was still raining when we’d finished our meal so we didn’t get to tour the resort grounds. This was Tom’s first visit to WL and he was blown away. Woody and I encouraged them to return during the holidays to see the giant tree in the lobby, something Woody and I did not get to see this year.

We also didn’t get to see fireworks this night. There was another MNSSHP. If not for the icky weather we would have gone to the Poly beach to watch them.

Tomorrow would be our last day - one with a surprise in store!

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, August 27

We slept in this morning and didn’t get to the Magic Kingdom until close to 10 am. It was a treat to find some friends atop the train station, as I wasn’t sure the “pandemic welcome” was still occurring since the “castle welcome” had resumed.

Being a Saturday I expected Main Street to be packed. It wasn’t.

Crowds were even light in the castle hub.