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]

I asked Woody if he wouldn’t mind stopping for a Photopass picture in front of the castle. I don’t plan on purchasing Memory Maker in the future as it is no longer included with our APs. Woody doesn’t mind standing with me in front of park icons to have our picture taken, but he really dislikes Magic Shots and “silly poses.”

I was hoping this photographer would snap a couple pics and we’d be on our way.

But since we were his only models, he went to town. Woody was a good sport through it all. I was happy with the results!

 

[93boomer]

I asked Woody if he wouldn’t mind stopping for a Photopass picture in front of the castle. I don’t plan on purchasing Memory Maker in the future as it is no longer included with our APs. Woody doesn’t mind standing with me in front of park icons to have our picture taken, but he really dislikes Magic Shots and “silly poses.”

I was hoping this photographer would snap a couple pics and we’d be on our way.

But since we were his only models, he went to town. Woody was a good sport through it all. I was happy with the results!

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Good job Woody!! The shots are really good. I love the Minnie one.

 

[Tuvalu]

Good job Woody!! The shots are really good. I love the Minnie one.

Woody refused to do the hand pose that I was doing.

 

[MickeyCB]

You know I love this one!!!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I love the magic shots! Good for Woody for being a good sport and yay for getting to see Kel!

 

[Zipadeelady]

I asked Woody if he wouldn’t mind stopping for a Photopass picture in front of the castle. I don’t plan on purchasing Memory Maker in the future as it is no longer included with our APs. Woody doesn’t mind standing with me in front of park icons to have our picture taken, but he really dislikes Magic Shots and “silly poses.”

I was hoping this photographer would snap a couple pics and we’d be on our way.

But since we were his only models, he went to town. Woody was a good sport through it all. I was happy with the results!

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These are fantastic!! Must not have been Colin (was that his name). They really are great.

 

[lindawdw]

I'm all caught up finally with your TR!!! Glad you got such a nice day to sit out at the Poly pool with no rain showers until the evening. How fun that you were able to have dinner with your friend Kel and her husband at WL. We visited the WL this past week and soaked in all the beautiful Christmas decorations there. We didn't add the Photopass option on to our annual pass at renewal time either when we found out they were charging for it now. It was disappointing to learn they were charging because we always had fun going around to different areas of the parks to get our pictures taken. Your MK photos are adorable, and I do love the magic shots!

 

[cgersic]

Woody refused to do the hand pose that I was doing.

He sure did a fine job with all of the others! Sooo cute you two are!

 

[Tuvalu]

These are fantastic!! Must not have been Colin (was that his name). They really are great.

He was definitely not Callan!

I love the magic shots! Good for Woody for being a good sport and yay for getting to see Kel!

Saw her in November too!

How fun that you were able to have dinner with your friend Kel and her husband at WL. We visited the WL this past week and soaked in all the beautiful Christmas decorations there. We didn't add the Photopass option on to our annual pass at renewal time either when we found out they were charging for it now. It was disappointing to learn they were charging because we always had fun going around to different areas of the parks to get our pictures taken. Your MK photos are adorable, and I do love the magic shots!

I was disappointed to have missed the WL decorations this year.
Including PP with an AP costs Disney practically nil yet garners goodwill with Passholders. What a silly budget cut.

 

[MickeyCB]

Including PP with an AP costs Disney practically nil yet garners goodwill with Passholders. What a silly budget cut.

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

After our photo shoot Woody and I went to Adventureland.

Thirty minutes didn’t seem like a bad wait for Jungle Cruise so we decided to ride.

Ummm…..

….this couldn’t possibly be a half-hour wait….

It wasn’t. We were aboard in 10 minutes. At 10 am!

As soon as all passengers were settled our guide began his schtick.

“Who thinks the captain should go down with the ship?”

Nearly everyone raised their hand.

“Well I’m the skipper so you’re outta luck!”

Thus it began. He was so fast with the puns I couldn’t keep up. I decided to capture the scenery instead.

While chuckling, of course.

The front side of water.

Monkeying around.

I didn’t realize just how many primates there are on the cruise until I looked at these pics.

As we docked our skipper issued a final warning.

“Don’t cross over the center crates. Crossing over is only allowed at the Haunted Mansion.”

(He’s got that right, @tonystark!)

 

[Tuvalu]

If Jungle Cruise had little wait we expected Pirates would also.

Not a soul in the covered exterior area.

BTW, does anyone know what is up with these tarps? They were still there in November.

Woody and I walked the entire queue without stopping.

I think this is the closest I’ve ever come to nailing the Pirates ride photo.

We skipped Splash in favor of Big Thunder Mountain.

Woody doesn’t like water rides and you may recall I’d done my “last ride” on Splash Mountain in July with Em. I had a peace about skipping it today. I would wait for Tiana and her adventure on the bayou before climbing into a log on a water flume again.

Except I didn’t. On a solo morning last month I took my final “last ride”. It was glorious!

We waited a bit longer for Big Thunder. Twenty five HOT minutes!

Finally going down to the trains.

Last car. Worth the wait!

 

[Tuvalu]

The only attraction that I had hoped to ride (figuring the park would be packed on a Saturday) was my beloved Haunted Mansion. Standby was posted at 40 minutes, but we suspected the time was inflated based on our experiences thus far.

I took the picture above while standing in full-on sun. Woody and I proceeded to wait in the sunny part of the queue for over 10 minutes and NEVER MOVED. We were melting, after already being sweaty from our BTMRR wait and subsequent walk through Frontierland to Liberty Square.

“I can’t do this,” I said to Woody.

We decided to bail. Woody opened and closed the chains for us to exit.

A cast member noticed us and thought we had a Lightning Lane pass and had gotten in the wrong line. When we told him no, he simply said, “Follow me.”

Woody and I glanced at each other. We shrugged our shoulders and followed him.

The cast member led us here. The (not so) secret servants’ entrance!

He knocked three times and the door opened. We were in! The ultimate #ShirleyStatus!!

I was excited beyond belief. A backstage entrance would be almost as good as an on-ride evacuation.

Photo credit for the next two pictures belongs to @Sillysidewalker (yes I pilfered them from your TR, Jolene!) She and her family had access here due to their private tour. Our CM shared some of the same tidbits I’d read in her report.

Circled on the right are the keys to all rooms.

Circled on the left are the bells that notify the servants that their presence is required upstairs.

(The door with the Exit sign is where we’d entered.)

This mantle clock was formerly in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.

And the adjacent door leads into the foyer with the fireplace and aging portrait of Master Gracey. Woody and I waited for other guests in this spot before joining them in stretching room.

Our ride continued as usual, with no disruptions by playful spooks.

What a fun surprise for our last day!

 

[Zipadeelady]

 

[RememberWhen]

Love the pixie dust at the Haunted Mansion!!

 

[MickeyCB]

A cast member noticed us and thought we had a Lightning Lane pass and had gotten in the wrong line. When we told him no, he simply said, “Follow me.”

Woody and I glanced at each other. We shrugged our shoulders and followed him.

The cast member led us here. The (not so) secret servants’ entrance!

He knocked three times and the door opened. We were in! The ultimate #ShirleyStatus!!

I was excited beyond belief. A backstage entrance would be almost as good as an on-ride evacuation.

Photo credit for the next two pictures belongs to @Sillysidewalker (yes I pilfered them from your TR, Jolene!) She and her family had access here due to their private tour. Our CM shared some of the same tidbits I’d read in her report.

Circled on the right are the keys to all rooms.

Circled on the left are the bells that notify the servants that their presence is required upstairs.

(The door with the Exit sign is where we’d entered.)

This mantle clock was formerly in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion.

And the adjacent door leads into the foyer with the fireplace and aging portrait of Master Gracey. Woody and I waited for other guests in this spot before joining them in stretching room.

Our ride continued as usual, with no disruptions by playful spooks.

What a fun surprise for our last day!

That is ridiculously cool!!!!

 

[littleroo]

Love the magic shots! I, as always, enjoyed your TR! Thanks!

 

[MinnieM123]

A cast member noticed us and thought we had a Lightning Lane pass and had gotten in the wrong line. When we told him no, he simply said, “Follow me.”

Of all the Shirley Status examples you've shared with us over the years, THIS has got to be the ULTIMATE one!! Tuvalu and Woody -- you rock!!

 

[cgersic]

Yup, that is amazing!! Maybe they have a Tuvalu tracker?

 

[Tuvalu]

Love the pixie dust at the Haunted Mansion!!

That is ridiculously cool!!!!

Yup, that is amazing!! Maybe they have a Tuvalu tracker?

While I don’t know why we were so fortunate, part of me thinks it was because the young CM felt sorry for the overheated old people!

Of all the Shirley Status examples you've shared with us over the years, THIS has got to be the ULTIMATE one!! Tuvalu and Woody -- you rock!!

Love the magic shots! I, as always, enjoyed your TR! Thanks!