Trip Report Shortest Retirement in History? *COMPLETED*

Justin Bieber lasted 2 weeks.

Tom Brady lasted 40 days.

I, Tuvalu, outlasted them both. Not by much, mind you. Yet if not for the encouragement of some forum friends - along with some unusual circumstances - you wouldn’t be reading this.

Unusual circumstances, you say?

Around Thanksgiving my beloved Woody learned his presence was required at a work conference. In Orlando. At Universal.
Just down the road from Walt Disney World.

Woody said I could accompany him if he drove (rather than flew) to Florida. And that we could leave a couple days early and have some Disney time together.

Well you don’t have to ask me twice!

I’d be on my own during the conference. Since the majority of Universal’s attractions don’t appeal to me, it didn’t make sense for me to buy Uni tickets when I could visit WDW for free with my AP. Being solo, I thought it might be fun to do a live trip report so y’all could be my virtual companions!

Turns out I won’t be alone while Woody is occupied after all. Some friends that you have seen in my previous TRs (and one you haven’t) have offered to play with me. I can’t wait!

 

[dizfan917]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! sorry I'm tardy (I've been directing a show that opens tonight! theatricaltendencies.com) and haven't been around the Forum.

119 pages is a True Value for the money ($0.00)!! Thanks for taking us along on your journeys. I never tire of your opinions and insight. But I don't know if I'll ever purchase a LL, I'm a bitter old cheapskate.

Looking forward to more adventures in 2025!! I don't suppose you'll be at Disneyland in late August? It will be my first trip there EVER and we're booked in the Grand Californian! woo and hoo! let's get some and in CA!

Many Happy Returns!

 

[Tuvalu]

What are the odds Woody will wear this on my birthday?

View attachment 844041

Slim to none. But it does have his fave Goofy on it, so you never know!

Apparently 100%! I didn’t have to ask (or even mention it at all!)

 

[93boomer]

Apparently 100%! I didn’t have to ask (or even mention it at all!)

View attachment 844419

What a trooper!!

 

[k8einwdw]

Happy (belated) birthday TU you!

 

[Ella's Mommy]

Happy Belated Birthday!!!

 

[Pirate Magic]

What a great Birthday surprise!!!

 

[Minnie1986]

Tuesday, con’t

Whispering Canyon had its own lobby tree. But unlike years past, there were no wreaths nor garland.

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I checked us in but the host warned they were running behind and we would not be seated on time. I could see that the restaurant was slammed (much like the lobby) and I wondered how many walk-ups had been accommodated before we arrived. I inquired if Akira was working and was told it was her day off. I saw Malibu Darby in the back but decided against a request in case it would cause a longer delay in being seated.

Thirty minutes later(!) our name was called. At least we were given a table with a nice view - but we had to wait before sitting down because the table had only been partially cleaned!

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The whole atmosphere in the restaurant was very chaotic, and not because of the usual “shenanigans.” In fact it was the opposite. Servers were rushing to and fro (short staffed, perhaps?) too busy for games/interactions. Guests were wandering around tables (why?) and two parties adjacent to us were (loudly) growing frustrated waiting to pay their bill.

This was not the celebratory end-of-vacation dinner at our favorite resort we’d hoped for.

If my memory serves we had an “earning my ears” CM wait on us. She was pleasant enough but neglectful, which could have been due to the overcrowded restaurant.

Em was happy when she finally received her Mountaineer Margarita, a drink she first discovered on our visit six weeks earlier.

View attachment 840803

She ordered the burnt ends nachos per usual and enjoyed them.

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I was so looking forward my steak with green beans and smashed potatoes (substituted sides) that I’d adored on our last visit.

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Wait - what’s the orange glob atop the steak? A tomato? No…..it’s “Cowboy Butter”, a terrible change from the usual whiskey-onion butter served alongside the steak.

The cowboy butter was savory (a big contrast from the sweetness of the whiskey-onion butter) with a strong pronounced flavor (which I disliked) that overshadowed (rather than enhanced) the natural taste of the beef. There was so much butter on the steak that even pushing it to the side resulted in a puddle that oozed into everything on the plate, contaminating my beloved smashed potatoes and beans.

I had to saw into the steak, it was that fatty. Every piece I cut had fat or gristle in it. Two bites in I rendered it inedible and poked around the potatoes and beans, trying to avoid the cowboy butter.

“You made the right choice,” I said to Em as she was finishing her nachos.

Our server never stopped by to check on us. When she came near I waved her over. “Can I see a manager?”

Her face fell in horror and I quickly added, “This isn’t about you.” (I don’t summon a manager for service issues, but if a manager stops by our table and asks I give honest feedback.) She looked relieved.

A manager arrived promptly. I began to describe the poor quality of my steak. (The price of which I noticed later was $3 more than the same steak in October!)

“The meat arrives packed in large quantities so a lesser steak can be hard to spot,” she said.

“Well this one should have never been put on the grill. Take a look,” I replied.

She was appalled by what she saw. “Let me get you another!”

I declined, stating my disdain for the new cowboy butter. The manager said they have received numerous complaints since the switch, but the chef was insistent on keeping it.

“Can I bring you dessert on the house?” the manager asked.

Once again I declined as we had already been in the restaurant far longer than we anticipated. Whatever the wait would be for a free dessert just wasn’t worth it.

When our server brought the check she whispered, “The manager removed the steak.”

I would have left happier paying for a good steak with whiskey-onion butter.

Thankfully we still had one more fun thing left to do.

The fact that numerous people have complained about the newer butter, and the chef STILL insisted on keeping it is insane.

 

[Minnie1986]

Thank you so much for taking us all along on your wonderful trips. Happy belated birthday; I hope it was a magical one!

 

[Loco_driver]

Happy belated birthday TU!

 

[RememberWhen]

Good ole Woody! Happy BD Tu!
(I’m pretty sure all your followers here would be delighted to wear that button too!)

 

[Songbird76]

Happy belated birthday! I hope your day was magical!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

I hope you and Woody had a good half day at the park.

We did! Although we were most disappointed that Basko, the baby tiger, had already been “put to bed” when we arrived at Maharajah Jungle Trek….at 4 p.m.!!! (The park was open until 6.)

At Animal Kingdom?!!

I informed Woody he needed to visit once a year.

He replied, “Do I?”

(Apparently yes, if he wants a little pixie dust. When he approached a booth in Asia to buy a bottle of water, the CM smiled while handing him the bottle saying, “It’s on Mickey. Have a magical rest of your day!”)

Our place

The best counter service restaurant at AK!

I’m sorry to report that yet again, Satu’li Canteen was not as good as it used to be. I was hoping that eating earlier in the day (closer to lunch than dinner) would result in fresher, more flavorful food. It did not. The chicken was dry and chewy, and the noodles tasted like they had spent too much time under a heat lamp.

Our experience with flat carbonated beverages at this restaurant continues.

Cost-cutting here is quite apparent now.

 

[93boomer]

We did! Although we were most disappointed that Basko, the baby tiger, had already been “put to bed” when we arrived at Maharajah Jungle Trek….at 4 p.m.!!! (The park was open until 6.)


I informed Woody he needed to visit once a year.

He replied, “Do I?”

(Apparently yes, if he wants a little pixie dust. When he approached a booth in Asia to buy a bottle of water, the CM smiled while handing him the bottle saying, “It’s on Mickey. Have a magical rest of your day!”)



I’m sorry to report that yet again, Satu’li Canteen was not as good as it used to be. I was hoping that eating earlier in the day (closer to lunch than dinner) would result in fresher, more flavorful food. It did not. The chicken was dry and chewy, and the noodles tasted like they had spent too much time under a heat lamp.

Our experience with flat carbonated beverages at this restaurant continues.

Cost-cutting here is quite apparent now.

 

[Figgy1]

 

[Tony the Tigger]

(Apparently yes, if he wants a little pixie dust. When he approached a booth in Asia to buy a bottle of water, the CM smiled while handing him the bottle saying, “It’s on Mickey. Have a magical rest of your day!”)

They were hitting on him!

 

[Tuvalu]

They were hitting on him!

How did you know it was a guy??!!

 

[Tuvalu]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! sorry I'm tardy (I've been directing a show that opens tonight! theatricaltendencies.com) and haven't been around the Forum.

119 pages is a True Value for the money ($0.00)!! Thanks for taking us along on your journeys. I never tire of your opinions and insight. But I don't know if I'll ever purchase a LL, I'm a bitter old cheapskate.

Looking forward to more adventures in 2025!! I don't suppose you'll be at Disneyland in late August? It will be my first trip there EVER and we're booked in the Grand Californian! woo and hoo! let's get some and in CA!

Many Happy Returns!

Break a leg! (But since the show opened Friday - hope you broke a leg?)

I appreciate your kind words and birthday wishes. This bitter old cheapskate didn’t shell out money for LL this time, so stay strong! (The single pass for GotG was my Valentine’s gift to Woody.)

I’ll be in the World late August, but I hope you have an amazing time in the Land! You’re gonna love the Grand Californian! We were given an upgraded theme park view (booked standard) and it is a memory we’ll never forget.

What a trooper!!

That’s why I married him!

 

[Swissmiss]

I’ll be in the World late August,

And once again we will miss each other by thismuch

 

[Tuvalu]

And once again we will miss each other by thismuch

 

[Tuvalu]

Happy (belated) birthday TU you!

Happy Belated Birthday!!!

What a great Birthday surprise!!!

Happy belated birthday; I hope it was a magical one!

Happy belated birthday TU!

Good ole Woody! Happy BD Tu!
(I’m pretty sure all your followers here would be delighted to wear that button too!)

Happy belated birthday! I hope your day was magical!!!

In appreciation of all the birthday wishes, here’s a picturesque (@brifraz) glimpse at some of last week’s fun.

I introduced Woody to La Crêperie….

….and the Asteroid Shake!

My mom and Em got to have their turns. Now it was mine!

The end to a perfect birthday!

@donaldtoo this one’s for you!