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!

 

[Tuvalu]

I was enlarging the pic and squinting to see where you and Woody carved your initials into the floor in 1985.

Wilderness Lodge didn’t open until 1994.

Our first stay was in May 2004. Though our family had been down the first week of April for spring break (Pop Century @ $88/night), we’d missed the Flower and Garden Festival which didn’t start until the end of April. I surprised Woody with a last-minute trip and while he thought we were staying at All Star Movies, I had booked WL.

He loved the resort when we had visited it and wanted to stay there “some day.” At the time I was neutral on the resort.

Room after tax was $155/night. We didn’t stay there again until 2006, when the oldest was at college and we were down to a family of 4 (max occupancy).

I just completed my 35th stay - WL tied now with Poly for most stays - but it will become #1 later this summer.

I’d love to pay the food prices we paid in May 2004. Prices are after tax and gratuity, for the two of us.

‘Ohana $77
Boma $68
Chef Mickey’s $64
Alfredo’s $40
Brown Derby (lunch) $39

 

[lindawdw]

Wilderness Lodge didn’t open until 1994.

Our first stay was in May 2004. Though our family had been down the first week of April for spring break (Pop Century @ $88/night), we’d missed the Flower and Garden Festival which didn’t start until the end of April. I surprised Woody with a last-minute trip and while he thought we were staying at All Star Movies, I had booked WL.

He loved the resort when we had visited it and wanted to stay there “some day.” At the time I was neutral on the resort.

Room after tax was $155/night. We didn’t stay there again until 2006, when the oldest was at college and we were down to a family of 4 (max occupancy).

I just completed my 35th stay - WL tied now with Poly for most stays - but it will become #1 later this summer.

I’d love to pay the food prices we paid in May 2004. Prices are after tax and gratuity, for the two of us.

‘Ohana $77
Boma $68
Chef Mickey’s $64
Alfredo’s $40
Brown Derby (lunch) $39

You are amazing at remembering so many details!!! Have you always kept a journal itemizing your expenses from your trips? We used to stay at The Polynesian and The Contemporary back in the early to mid 1980's but once the Caribbean Beach Resort opened in 1988 and then the Port Orleans French Quarters opened in 1991, we switched to the moderate resorts before finally grabbing the bargain prices at Pop Century in 2003.

 

[Tuvalu]

You are amazing at remembering so many details!!! Have you always kept a journal itemizing your expenses from your trips? We used to stay at The Polynesian and The Contemporary back in the early to mid 1980's but once the Caribbean Beach Resort opened in 1988 and then the Port Orleans French Quarters opened in 1991, we switched to the moderate resorts before finally grabbing the bargain prices at Pop Century in 2003.

Do I have detailed journals?

 

[lindawdw]

Do I have detailed journals?

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Shockingly we found our way to the boat launch without getting lost.

#ShirleyStatus at the Mickey floral. If only the inside of the park were this empty!

Wait a minute. Been there. Done that.

4:30 pm 7/19/20

I’ll take people over pandemic, thank you.

There weren’t a lot of people here though. At 4:25 pm 6/9/24 I snagged this.

(This may have been the day the 1 pm VQ remained open until park close!)

If you know us….and you do….you’ll know our first attraction.

I’ve never stopped here long enough to read these. They’re funny!

Speaking of stopping, those playful spooks got us a couple times in the attic.

They did not poof our ride photo - although Em wished they had. I had to promise to crop her out if I posted it. But y’all I it!

 

[MinnieM123]

I’d booked a water view king. We like having the desk and comfy chair (with an ottoman) that the two queens room doesn’t have.

Those are nice perks, due to the increased space with just one (king) bed in the room.

We also prefer the stall shower over the tub/shower combo.

I also prefer the stall shower -- much easier.

Lastly, you mentioned you liked the 3rd floor level. What influenced your decision, over the upper level floors?

 

[Tuvalu]

Lastly, you mentioned you liked the 3rd floor level. What influenced your decision, over the upper level floors?

People (and wildlife!) are more “life sized” since lower floors are closer to the ground and I get to see facial expressions, etc. versus looking down from a higher level at “ants” (so to speak.)

Our room was high enough to be private as no one noticed me when I sat outside.

 

[lindawdw]

It's rare that you get to take a selfie in front of the Mickey Floral without other people in the picture! I can't get over that you were able to snag a TRON VQ at that time of day and that it wasn't sold out until park close! We do like reading over the headstones and all the details outside of the HM especially when the line is long as it passes the time. Great job on nailing the picture!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Seems appropriate that my last WDW dinner with Woody would be my first WDW dinner with Em.

Only this time we won the two-top table lottery!

No more dark meat turkey! The feast was fabulous and Em commented that the mac & cheese was exceptionally good. We shared the Ooey Gooey Cake (why does a party of 2 get only one?) and though our mouths wanted more our bellies were full. (Guess I just answered my own question!)

We did several attractions after dinner. All had posted standby waits of 10 minutes - most were walk ons.

Doll on trunk MIA @Figment Forever - alert Hope!

A grooovy Woody wave

Tomorrowland spin

Hoping to ride Tiana Bayou’s Adventure later in the week.

A Pirates Life for us!

Our early morning wake up was catching up with us and we decided to head out. We were on Main Street when our TRON BG was called.

We knew it would mean at least another hour in the park (the VQ wait can be quite long) and we just didn’t have the stamina tonight.

Would we later regret not riding TRON?

 

[lindawdw]

You definitely scored the BEST table in LTT! We always have a great meal there. Bummer that you didn't have the stamina to ride TRON but you're right about it being an hour wait for that ride and when you're hot and tired, it's a long wait.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

But y’all I it!

You got hammered?

Or you it?

You hit the ?

Got it on the ?

How is there not a nail emoji? And Sam did nothing.

 

[Tuvalu]

How is there not a nail emoji?

And Sam did nothing.

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, June 10

I began the day with some peaceful balcony time, watching the sun rise over the lodge and seeing guests scurrying to make the first boat to MK. The first boat does not depart until 7:30 am but I saw guests on their way to the dock before 7.

I spent most mornings here. The wildlife kept me entertained. One determined squirrel made sure to get the remnants of some spilled dry cereal….

….then chilled out in satiated bliss.

Em and I were fortunate that this planned pool day had perfect weather - not too humid, a nice mix of sunshine and clouds.

We claimed our spot shortly after 9 am.

BYOL

After the disappointment of a menu change at Geyser Point, Em and I decided to pack a lunch. We did use the refill station for our beverages.

Some people don’t get the concept of personal space. Without asking, this guy took a chair (from a table behind us) and positioned it mere inches from me, in order to utilize the shade from our umbrella. (Note the space before and after from the pics above and below.)

Not only was this awkward and rude, it was a challenge for me to get up and go into the pool.

Around 4 pm Em and I had our fill and packed up. As we were leaving Em said, “I think I just saw Patti outside the gate.”

Sure enough - @riverside and R were hanging out before their Artist Point ADR. We had a nice chat and then escorted them inside the lodge.

Em and I had our own meal to get ready for.

 

[93boomer]

Monday, June 10

I began the day with some peaceful balcony time, watching the sun rise over the lodge and seeing guests scurrying to make the first boat to MK. The first boat does not depart until 7:30 am but I saw guests on their way to the dock before 7.

View attachment 794023

View attachment 794025

I spent most mornings here. The wildlife kept me entertained. One determined squirrel made sure to get the remnants of some spilled dry cereal….

View attachment 794027

….then chilled out in satiated bliss.

View attachment 794026

Em and I were fortunate that this planned pool day had perfect weather - not too humid, a nice mix of sunshine and clouds.

We claimed our spot shortly after 9 am.

View attachment 794019

BYOL

View attachment 794020

After the disappointment of a menu change at Geyser Point, Em and I decided to pack a lunch. We did use the refill station for our beverages.

View attachment 794022

Some people don’t get the concept of personal space. Without asking, this guy took a chair (from a table behind us) and positioned it mere inches from me, in order to utilize the shade from our umbrella. (Note the space before and after from the pics above and below.)

View attachment 794021

Not only was this awkward and rude, it was a challenge for me to get up and go into the pool.

Around 4 pm Em and I had our fill and packed up. As we were leaving Em said, “I think I just saw Patti outside the gate.”

Sure enough - @riverside and R were hanging out before their Artist Point ADR. We had a nice chat and then escorted them inside the lodge.

Em and I had our own meal to get ready for.

I can’t believe some people.

 

[lindawdw]

That is a pet peeve of mine when people ignore the personal space rule!!! Love that pool though.

 

[ToInfinity]

I would have had to kindly ask him to find shade elsewhere!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I would have had to kindly ask him to find shade elsewhere!

I would throw some.

 

[Tiggerish]

I would throw some.

Would shade be the only thing you'd throw??

 

[k8einwdw]

Some people don’t get the concept of personal space. Without asking, this guy took a chair (from a table behind us) and positioned it mere inches from me, in order to utilize the shade from our umbrella. (Note the space before and after from the pics above and below.)

 

[mpaulam]

Wow…unbelievable!!