Trip Report Shortest Retirement in History?

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!

 

[Swissmiss]

If your room didn’t smell when you walked in, you are already doing better than we us.

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

This is the exterior of Big Pine Key. See the turret? Woody had told me years ago that it
was likely comprised of housekeeping units.

Woody couldn’t have been more wrong.

I gasped when I opened our room door.

The turret contained a sitting area with a chair, side table and lamp, pull-out sofa and a second flat screen TV.

It reminded me of the deluxe room at Boardwalk that Mom and I had shared - minus the balcony.

Honestly it was so warm and humid the entire week I’m not sure we would have utilized a balcony anyway.

We did have lovely views from the turret windows.

I was able to watch the sunrise over Seven Seas Lagoon….

….and Woody was able to keep tabs on me when I was at the pool without him.

View of room from sitting area.

I love the Mary Poppins art.

The vaulted ceilings made the room feel larger than it already was. The split bathroom was elegant (sorry no pics) marred only by the jet-engine sound of the fan when it first powered on. (That was my only room complaint!)

I learned that the turret rooms are referred to as “alternate studios” and there are only 4 of them in the building.

It felt like we had won the lottery!

 

[Tiggerish]

Saturday, con’t

This is the exterior of Big Pine Key. See the turret? Woody had told me years ago that it
was likely comprised of housekeeping units.

View attachment 785780

Woody couldn’t have been more wrong.

I gasped when I opened our room door.

View attachment 785783

View attachment 785784

View attachment 785781

The turret contained a sitting area with a chair, side table and lamp, pull-out sofa and a second flat screen TV.

It reminded me of the deluxe room at Boardwalk that Mom and I had shared - minus the balcony.

View attachment 785788

Honestly it was so warm and humid the entire week I’m not sure we would have utilized a balcony anyway.

We did have lovely views from the turret windows.

I was able to watch the sunrise over Seven Seas Lagoon….

View attachment 785787

….and Woody was able to keep tabs on me when I was at the pool without him.

View attachment 785786

View of room from sitting area.

View attachment 785785

I love the Mary Poppins art.

View attachment 785782

The vaulted ceilings made the room feel larger than it already was. The split bathroom was elegant (sorry no pics) marred only by the jet-engine sound of the fan when it first powered on. (That was my only room complaint!)

I learned that the turret rooms are referred to as “alternate studios” and there are only 4 of them in the building.

It felt like we had won the lottery!

The chandelier...

 

[MinnieM123]

I learned that the turret rooms are referred to as “alternate studios” and there are only 4 of them in the building.

It felt like we had won the lottery!

Possibly the lottery, or perhaps, Shirley accommodations?!

That's got to be one of the nicest guest accommodations I've seen to date.

 

[Tuvalu]

If your room didn’t smell when you walked in, you are already doing better than we us.

Oh no! Where are you staying? I hope you were able to be moved to a different room!

 

[Tuvalu]

The chandelier...

It was all doves with one penguin!

 

[Tuvalu]

Possibly the lottery, or perhaps, Shirley accommodations?!

That's got to be one of the nicest guest accommodations I've seen to date.

Us too!

 

[Swissmiss]

Oh no! Where are you staying? I hope you were able to be moved to a different room!

AKL. But it is all good - it was quickly taken care of. The start of the trip was a bit rocky but has been going well since.

 

[Tuvalu]

If your room didn’t smell when you walked in, you are already doing better than we us.

AKL.

 

[93boomer]

Saturday, con’t

This is the exterior of Big Pine Key. See the turret? Woody had told me years ago that it
was likely comprised of housekeeping units.

View attachment 785780

Woody couldn’t have been more wrong.

I gasped when I opened our room door.

View attachment 785783

View attachment 785784

View attachment 785781

The turret contained a sitting area with a chair, side table and lamp, pull-out sofa and a second flat screen TV.

It reminded me of the deluxe room at Boardwalk that Mom and I had shared - minus the balcony.

View attachment 785788

Honestly it was so warm and humid the entire week I’m not sure we would have utilized a balcony anyway.

We did have lovely views from the turret windows.

I was able to watch the sunrise over Seven Seas Lagoon….

View attachment 785787

….and Woody was able to keep tabs on me when I was at the pool without him.

View attachment 785786

View of room from sitting area.

View attachment 785785

I love the Mary Poppins art.

View attachment 785782

The vaulted ceilings made the room feel larger than it already was. The split bathroom was elegant (sorry no pics) marred only by the jet-engine sound of the fan when it first powered on. (That was my only room complaint!)

I learned that the turret rooms are referred to as “alternate studios” and there are only 4 of them in the building.

It felt like we had won the lottery!

That room is huge and wonderful!! You could just move in and live there!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

Woody and I saved unpacking for later.

We hurried to Epcot via two monorails for one reason only.

To have dinner with these fine people.

This has become “our table” at La Hacienda, right @lindawdw?

I had to break Em’s heart by sharing that her favorite on-property margarita (which took the title from Mama Melrose’s last year) has changed from this -

to this -

Whiskey in a margarita??!

She is not happy, to say the least.

The food, service and fellowship was fantastic. After our leisurely meal Woody and I headed back to GF, as we were tired from a long travel day.

We soon discovered another room perk.

Did I have the soundtrack cued up in case we could see HEA from the air-conditioned comfort of our room?

You betcha!

(By the end of the week Woody was hearing, “Ready to begin….” in his sleep. )

 

[93boomer]

Saturday, con’t

Woody and I saved unpacking for later.

We hurried to Epcot via two monorails for one reason only.

To have dinner with these fine people.

View attachment 785879
This has become “our table” at La Hacienda, right @lindawdw?

I had to break Em’s heart by sharing that her favorite on-property margarita (which took the title from Mama Melrose’s last year) has changed from this -

View attachment 785884

to this -

View attachment 785883

Whiskey in a margarita??!

She is not happy, to say the least.

The food, service and fellowship was fantastic. After our leisurely meal Woody and I headed back to GF, as we were tired from a long travel day.

We soon discovered another room perk.

View attachment 785880

View attachment 785881

Did I have the soundtrack cued up in case we could see HEA from the air-conditioned comfort of our room?

You betcha!

(By the end of the week Woody was hearing, “Ready to begin….” in his dreams. )

Ohhh that is so wrong for a margarita !! @TrolleyFollower91 I feel your pain.

 

[lindawdw]

Your room was even better than I imagined!!! I love your views to the pool and seeing the fireworks at night was just perfect! You're right about it being too hot to enjoy the balcony that week! We always have the best time when we get together for our dinners. Can't wait for more!

 

[Loco_driver]

Are those rooms a refitting of the “deluxe” rooms from the hotel side? We had a similar room in the Boca Chica section back in 2019. I think it had a balcony to the side though. A lot has happened since then so I may be remembering wrong!

 

[Tuvalu]

Are those rooms a refitting of the “deluxe” rooms from the hotel side? We had a similar room in the Boca Chica section back in 2019. I think it had a balcony to the side though. A lot has happened since then so I may be remembering wrong!

I bet you’re right.

As we were on the top floor (5th) we did not have a balcony because housekeeping (circled) was next door.

Had we been on floor 2, 3 or 4 we would have had a side balcony (looking at the turret balcony is on the left).

 

[Pirate Magic]

What a beautiful room!!! Boy did you get luck!

 

[Pirate Magic]

I mean lucky!

 

[Laurenciaa]

I can tell you so far this week it hasn’t been empty. And it has been really warm (at least for someone coming from somewhere Spring hasn’t decided whether to start or not).

I second that @Swissmiss. My hometown (and Belgium as a whole) is experiencing flooded streets everywhere.. Weren't you traveling to Orlando very very soon (to experience some excruciating pre-summer temperatures)?

EDIT: you are at AKL sorry I am running behind on the posts and events

 

[Swissmiss]

I second that @Swissmiss. My hometown (and Belgium as a whole) is experiencing flooded streets everywhere.. Weren't you traveling to Orlando very very soon (to experience some excruciating pre-summer temperatures)?

EDIT: you are at AKL sorry I am running behind on the posts and events

I confirm that until today the temperatures were almost as hot as the last time we were here, which was a couple of years ago in August. Today (now that the rain has stopped) is quite pleasant.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, May 5

Woody is not a fan of the time and effort it takes to ride TRON. On a whim at 7 this morning, I decided to attempt obtaining a VQ. If I were successful, I would only tell him if the group number was less than 13 - BGs 1-12 are typically part of the “initial wave” and are called first to ride at park opening. Being in that first group avoids the lengthy outdoor wait in the heat and the even longer wait inside. It’s akin to buying an ILL (like Em and I did last month) without having to pay for one.

Whelp, I had to tell Woody.

I honestly laughed out loud when I saw Group 5. I was so laid back and chill pushing the buttons that I was surprised to have gotten a group at all, let alone one that low.

We walked to MK and arrived in time for early entry. Arty Pooh and then TRON - 20 minutes on and off!

Little Mermaid (without the wave ), Small World and Haunted Mansion all before lunch.

And although we’d had Mexican for dinner last night, we lunched at Pecos Bill. Why?

Had to!

The pool was calling us so we spent a relaxing afternoon at the courtyard (aka quiet!) pool.

Had private bus ride to Yacht & Beach.

Dinner at Beaches & Cream. Woody had a mock No Way José and I deviated from my usual marshmallow with hot fudge.

Took a delightful evening stroll through Epcot and picked up two of these (one for Em) despite not liking Stitch.

There was no line, otherwise we would not have waited!

We watched HEA from the TTC. Woody remarked what a good location it is to watch from - a perfect castle view.