Trip Report It's an Armadillo, Not a Bird Trip Report

So I've been putting this trip report off for almost two months now, but my computers finally fixed (I hope) and I'm ready to relive this trip! Let's begin!

Where - Disney's Wilderness Lodge
When - December 12-18
Who - Me! A recent college graduate, future teacher, and Disney enthusiast! My older brother, Artie, whose dinner conversations include talking about random Disney facts and his obsession with the ever deteriorating Epcot. And finally, my mom (who plans everything) and my dad!

Day 1 - Takeoff!


Around the sensible hour of 3:30am, I bolted out of bed ready for our 6:30am flight out of Atlantic City. The night before we had already packed the car up and dropped my fish off at my mommom's for the week. By 4am we were all buckled in the car and ready for the long 30 minute drive to the airport.

Something that no one tells you about early flights from small airports is that the only breakfast kiosk in the facility does not open until 6am! Desperate for a morning bagel, we stood outside of the kiosk with the other desperate families from our trip. 6am rolls around and yet the gate separated me from a desired bagel is still closed! Finally, five minutes later the gates open up and we can order breakfast. With our bagel in tow, we were finally ready to board!





We're clearly not morning people...




After a little under two hours, we landed in Orlando! (Seaworld, and Disney, and put put golfing! (a little Book of Mormon for you)). As per usual, we hired Tiffany's car service to take us to our hotel and for a quick stop at Publix for food and unnecessary alcohol (we couldn't agree on what to get, so we ended up getting too much of everything).

Around 9:30 we pulled up to The Wilderness Lodge and to everyone's surprise our room was ready! I believe we were on the sixth floor, facing the pool, near the snack shack!

As you can see, the bag of chips on my bed is already open, that's how hungry we were!







Our original plan was to stay at the hotel until the evening because Magic Kingdom was open until 2am. However, we couldn't fight the itch and decided to take the boat to Magic Kingdom for a quick lunch at the Harbor House.





I had to stop to get a pin to let everyone know I was graduating college! It wasn't quite official because I didn't technically get my diploma until December 20th, but close enough!



I think my dad got a salad, I got the tuna sandwich, my mom got the fried shrimp, and Artie got the fish and chicken platter, but we were too hungry for pictures. On our way out of the park, we stopped at the Christmas store to order our annual Christmas ornament. Unfortunately, they ended up being out of their teacher ornament (for myself) and the calligrapher was out on lunch, and you can't order a custom ornament without a calligrapher physically being there.



Before leaving we stopped at Town Hall so my dad could get his GAC card, but the line was insane so we decided to wait until the evening. We then left the Magic Kingdom for a much needed afternoon nap!



Up Next - I'm not crying, that's just dust!
 
Fun Fact: We saw an armadillo outside our room on our 2001 trip. My five year old self then promptly ran straight into the sliding glass door in an effort to get a closer look :banghead:.

P.S. I think I would have screamed too if a sprinkler by me suddenly turned on!
 

DW Aficionado

Well-Known Member
Wow, wife and I took our children the same time and we had to endure the Electric Light parade. Great that you got to view the much more enjoyable Spectra Magic parade !!!
 

party like it's 99

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Fun Fact: We saw an armadillo outside our room on our 2001 trip. My five year old self then promptly ran straight into the sliding glass door in an effort to get a closer look :banghead:.

P.S. I think I would have screamed too if a sprinkler by me suddenly turned on!
Hahah oh man that's hysterical...I mean ouch! And thank's, my dad still to this day laughs at my "fear of sprinklers"
 

party like it's 99

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 3 - The Big Golf Ball

The day began with the entire family managing to get up at a decent hour without any shower or vanity use discrepancies (which, may I say, is impressive!). Before long we were on a bus on our way to see the infamous big golf ball, ya know, Epcot!

When we arrived at Epcot we got off the bus and I got in line for bag check. Apparently the rest of the family went to the other side of bag check (where the parking tram drops you off) because someone told them the line was shorter. So here I am waiting in line wondering where my dear family is, because someone didn't obey the travel buddy system (dad, looking at you!). Anyway, I get through my line in a decent amount of time and decide to sit on a bench and wait...and wait...and wait. A half an hour later I decide to be that person and stand on a bench to look for my family, who I see is almost to the front of the bag check line on the other side. When they finally make it through I see my mom talking to a cast member sporting some not so happy body language. My mom first asked if they were amping up security (there were officers everywhere) and mentioned that some bag checkers were checking every crevice of every bag while others barely peeked inside.

So after a long long time, we finally made it inside! My mom lives for a good Disney topiary, but at this point no one else wanted to stop for a picture so my brother snapped one as we were walking!



First stop, The Epcot Ball! All is going smoothly on this journey through time, and my dad becomes so touched by this experience that he finds the inspiration to take the best picture of the trip. I present you, my dad's masterpiece...


Hahahah, let me tell you, the look on my dad's face when he went to view this picture was hysterical! He goes to show it to me on the ride and I inappropriately laugh during what's supposed to be a beautiful look at our spaceship earth. I think it's just such a funny picture because the Earth is so teensy tiny; I"m almost inspired to make it the background on my computer!

Oh man, anyway, our ride continues and as we are making our decent back to Earth the ride stops. For a solid ten minutes a voice keeps coming on saying that our ride will start momentarily. After about eight minutes the voice comes on yet again to reiterate, and I yell "You sit on a throne of lies!" which lightened the tension in our surrounding area (for those who don't know, it's a quote from Elf. Just throwing some Christmas cheer your way!).

Eventually the ride began again and we headed on over to Test Track (single rider line for the win!). My brother decided to sit this one out with my mom which worked out for me, because I didn't have to watch him and my dad look at all of the cars when the ride ended! Afterwards we all met up again and walked over to The Land for some lunch!

We were very excited for all of the dessert options!






My mom and I split a sandwich while my dad and Artie got their own meals.


Why is the bread so big?!




After we ate lunch we went over to ride Living With the Land, which actually had a wait!






Once that was done Artie, dad, and myself used our fastpass for Soarin. The ride was good but lets clean up the screen quality a little bit Disney! After that I pressured my family to ride Figment with me and the begrudgingly agreed.


It was then time to use our fastpass for the Nemo ride. No one wanted to ride with me because I jam out on that ride, but I ended up making Artie entertain me "IN THE BIG BLUE WORLD!" Afterwards, we explored the aquarium for a little bit.

In all of our visits to Disney this is the first time we've ever seen the manatees actually being mobile! Ever since doing a research project on manatees back in the good ole sixth grade, It's become a tradition to visit the cows of the sea every time we're in Disney.
image6.JPG


Just doing some pre Christmas cleaning!


Help us!!!




After narrowly escaping the jaws of Bruce we took advantage of some outdoor photo opportunities and made our way out of the park.





When we went back to the hotel, dad and Artie took a classic midday nap while me and mom lounged by the pool. While down there a cast member was hosting a game where you had to listen to a song clip and write down the name of the song. Well, mom and I happened to be sitting next to a little girl and her family who needed some guidance in order to win the game. Since my classroom motto is "teamwork makes the dream work!" my mom and I helped the family out and ended up dominating the game if I do say so myself!



Up Next - It looks...nice?
 

party like it's 99

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 3 - It looks...nice?

After freshening up for a bit we were finally ready to start our night! Since we were eating at Ohana for dinner, we decided to take the bus over to the contemporary and ride the monorail the rest of the way. Last year, we were in love with the Frozen chocolate castle display at the Contemporary and could not wait to see what wonders were in store for us this year! However, as you may know, it was the exact same display as last year (for the most part). Don't get me wrong, it was still magnificent but it wasn't as wondrous the second time around.





I did love this little guy from Frozen Ever After!


After looking around for a bit, it was time to go grab some dinner!

Our chariot awaits!


Last time we were at the Polynesian everything was blocked off for the construction. Of course we couldn't help ourselves, and before this trip we definitely looked at updated pictures online and made some premature opinions on the matter. Well, unfortunately I have to report that we were just as unimpressed with the updates in person as we were upon seeing them online. They were just, nice. Nothing spectacular. And let me stress how much I hate the bungalows on the water! Two of my favorite memories of staying at the Polynesian is watching Wishes on the beach and lying on a hammock admiring the hill I was one day destined to be married on. And now, my dreams are ruined to make rooms for some gross bungalows. Anyway, rant over.



I wonder how they change those light bulbs? Here's Anastasia with the hard hitting questions.


Isn't this the name of the new Disney Princess?


Our reservation time was for as soon as the restaurant opened, which unknown to us meant we would be graced with the completely awkward, yet charming, opening ceremony. Essentially the wait staff awkwardly stands around and sings a little song while staring at one another while they introduced one another. During this experience my dad unfortunately went to the bathroom and missed the entire thing!

This is my immature reaction to the whole event.


Ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten (I could cry just typing that, it's so nice!).




Finally the moment was here and our names were called! The moment I had been waiting for ever since the clock struck on my 21st birthday had finally arrived!

image7(1).JPG



I have to admit, the entire time I drank this I felt like Jack Sparrow, er sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow!

Throughout the whole meal our waiter was awesome! At first we felt a little rushed as one of the first families of the night but our waiter was very attentive and did not skimp on the food at all!

Going into this night I had a game plan. Every other time we ate here I took the different meat options out of obligation but I really only enjoyed the shrimp. This year after checking almost every hour for this coveted reservation, I promised myself that I would only ask for the shrimp this year! So I tell the waiter that I only want shrimp and boy did he deliver! Even when I was finished he kept sliding shrimp onto my plate!

image8.JPG






Once dinner came to an end we explored the resort for a little bit.

I learned this from my dad, so blame him!








Up Next - Finishing the Trio!
 

party like it's 99

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Our next stop that evening had to be The Grand Floridian! Now I've said it once and I'll say it again, I can appreciate The Grand Floridian but would never stay there. It's just a bit, stuffy for my taste. For instance, at The Wilderness Lodge I feel minimal shame walking down to the snack shop rocking the shower hair and jammy look; however, I feel like I'd have to look presentable the entire time I stayed here, but that's just me.





Can we just acknowledge their unique accidentally coordinating shirts.



I could, however, imagine living here!


This was the only bit of Inside Out I saw the entire trip (besides the occasional pin) which was a huge bummer! As a psych and education major this movie is my dream! I taught an entire lesson using Inside Out masks (I'll post them after). It's just such a beautiful, funny, wonderful movie that I would have liked to have seen more of.




The commitment.




Reason #2 why we could never stay here...


After exploring the lobby for a bit, making some Full House references, and riding the birdcage elevator, we were on our way!

Up Next - I WIN!
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom