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!

 

[mpaulam]

I actually prefer sitting at the end of a row when the show is full. It means I get to leave faster and escape the crowd!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, August 23

This is the first picture I took today. At 6:20.

This was the second picture I took. At 6:52.

Bats and geyser eruption right on time!

The sky was gorgeous. What’s the old adage? Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning? Does this mean we’re in for another rainy day?

 

[Tuvalu]

He had his moment at the Poly. Now it was time for WL!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

After breakfast I did a forecast check. Despite the red sky I’d seen earlier, the day looked promising for hanging at the pool. We’d been robbed of our pool time yesterday - why not give it another try?

We arrived a little past 9 am to conditions which were the complete opposite of yesterday.

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy….

 

[Laurenciaa]

Friday, con’t

After breakfast I did a forecast check. Despite the red sky I’d seen earlier, the day looked promising for hanging at the pool. We’d been robbed of our pool time yesterday - why not give it another try?

We arrived a little past 9 am to conditions which were the complete opposite of yesterday.

View attachment 818371

View attachment 818370

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy….

View attachment 818372

Good spot where you are sitting at the pool!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

Yes folks, today was a perfect pool day. Six hours of sun ‘n fun!

Lunch was from Geyser Point. Woody chose the steak sandwich on a pretzel roll (he added the beer cheese sauce after the pic) and I tried something new - the multigrain salad with chicken (mixed greens, wild rice, bell peppers and sesame vinaigrette.)

I was surprised by the crispy noodles (not mentioned in the description) but they worked well once the salad was mixed and dressed. I enjoyed this much more than I expected and would definitely order it again.

I did not expect we’d get to the pool tomorrow (our last day) so exiting was a little bittersweet. Once we showered and changed we went to Happy Hour. Just a little nibbling because we had big plans for dinner, and we did not want to be late.

It would be an unforgettable evening.

 

[Tiggerish]

It would be an unforgettable evening.

In a good way, I hope!

You sure do have a way with a cliffhanger.

 

[Katiekitten]

@Tuvalu does love a cliffhanger!

 

[lindawdw]

I am finally all caught up with your TR!!! Sorry about your HBD cancellation and I do agree that they should have sent a push notification to anyone with a reservation! It did all work out in the end and your WCC dinner is always a great alternative! Your Club Lounge food offerings on this trip have been so delectable looking and the turkey salad that they packed up for you was my idea of a perfect meal!!! I love that you made lemonade out of lemons on your rainy days and just enjoyed the resort. The WL is such a relaxing place to do that, and the BR pool area is my favorite pool spot in all of WDW. I look forward to the day that we can relax there together again! I'm sad that your TR is coming to an end soon. I truly love reading about your adventures there!!!

 

[mpaulam]

She always leaves me wanting more!

 

[Tuvalu]

In a good way, I hope!

I'm sad that your TR is coming to an end soon. I truly love reading about your adventures there!!!

 

[wdisney9000]

What’s the old adage? Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning?

Ahhh, long do I yearn for the days when I would butcher this phrase in my TR and @darstar would chime in to correct me.

It got to a point where I intentionally massacred the phrase beyond recognition and she always played along

 

[dizfan917]

Narcoossee's?!

ha!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

You may recall Woody had three ADR requests for this week - Olivia’s (which was a travel nightmare), Hollywood Brown Derby (which was unexpectedly closed) and tonight, Topolino’s Terrace. (Not Narcoossee’s @dizfan917 .)

His request for Topolino’s was based on the glowing review from Em and me when we returned from our July trip. Like me, Woody has missed eating at California Grill due to its being prix fixe and was glad to know there is a similar fine dining experience w/o prix fixe.

Both of us planned to get Filet Mignon - especially me, since I missed my opportunity for filet at Brown Derby.

Would we repeat our mistake of using Disney transportation to get to dinner instead of driving ourselves?

What do you think?

Look at the beautiful sunshine!

But the other side of Bay Lake wasn’t looking so good.

Neither was the sky over the Magic Kingdom.

At that moment I was very relieved not to have tickets for MNSSHP. I have attended two parties that were complete wash-outs, and had tickets for two more that I exchanged (paying the difference for MVMCP) at Guest Relations minutes before the events were to start. (Both times while standing in a downpour!)

Our boat docked and it wasn’t raining as we walked to the bus depot. However we had a long wait for a Riviera bus and we were a few minutes late to check in.

Which really didn’t matter since we weren’t seated for another fifteen minutes.

 

[dizfan917]

You also could have hopped on the Monorail at the MK, transferred to the EPCOT Monorail at the TTC, walked through EPCOT to the International Gateway, exited out the back, boarded the Skyliner to the Riviera stop and walked over from there...

I guess the bus was a better option.

It sure rains a lot while you're there. I think we've done 4 MNSSHPs and it drizzled before one of them and that was it. I applaud your ability to make lemonade so well!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

Light rain had already begun by the time we were escorted into the dining room. This meant the spectacular views that Topolino’s is famous for weren’t so spectacular, since the windows were foggy and covered with droplets. Sadly that was also the case during dinner with Em last month until after we were finished. We were able to sneak a few moments out on the terrace when the rain stopped.

Our server was friendly enough at the beginning but not particularly attentive during our meal. For us that’s a big negative at a signature restaurant. I asked for butter when he brought the bread, and twenty minutes later I had to flag down another server to again request it. (Butter was then promptly delivered.) Woody would have had a second glass of wine if our server had been by and noticed his empty glass.

We went to dinner intending to have Filet Mignon.

I questioned our server about “braised beef cheeks” (a fancy description for short rib) and he added the beef was wagyu and one of his favorite dishes. I enjoy polenta and don’t have it often, so I took a risk and forsook the filet.

The risk paid off. This was a remarkable entreé and I savored every bite.

Woody went back and forth between the rigatoni and the filet. He ultimately chose the rigatoni and had no regrets. (A second glass of wine as he ate would have been the cherry on top, though.)

Filet Mignon will have to wait for another time!

The light rain that was occurring when we arrived had turned into a deluge. We couldn't see out the windows at all and the terrace (of course) was closed. A radar check revealed that the storms weren't going anywhere for several hours.

It would be a long, wet commute to WL using buses. Once we were outside under Riviera's Porte Cochère and saw the sideways rain, Woody pulled out his phone and announced, "We're getting a Lyft."

Our Lyft arrived in five minutes. It was a harrowing ride through the monsoon, through no fault of the driver. That's how bad conditions were!

I've never felt happier driving under WL's Porte Cochère. Not only were we home, we were DRY.

We immediately went to the lounge for wine and dessert.

It had certainly been an unforgettable evening.

 

[93boomer]

Friday, con’t

You may recall Woody had three ADR requests for this week - Olivia’s (which was a travel nightmare), Hollywood Brown Derby (which was unexpectedly closed) and tonight, Topolino’s Terrace. (Not Narcoossee’s @dizfan917 .)

His request for Topolino’s was based on the glowing review from Em and me when we returned from our July trip. Like me, Woody has missed eating at California Grill due to its being prix fixe and was glad to know there is a similar fine dining experience w/o prix fixe.

Both of us planned to get Filet Mignon - especially me, since I missed my opportunity for filet at Brown Derby.

Would we repeat our mistake of using Disney transportation to get to dinner instead of driving ourselves?

What do you think?

View attachment 818737
Look at the beautiful sunshine!

But the other side of Bay Lake wasn’t looking so good.

View attachment 818738

Neither was the sky over the Magic Kingdom.

View attachment 818739

At that moment I was very relieved not to have tickets for MNSSHP. I have attended two parties that were complete wash-outs, and had tickets for two more that I exchanged (paying the difference for MVMCP) at Guest Relations minutes before the events were to start. (Both times while standing in a downpour!)

Our boat docked and it wasn’t raining as we walked to the bus depot. However we had a long wait for a Riviera bus and we were a few minutes late to check in.

Which really didn’t matter since we weren’t seated for another fifteen minutes.

I know the feeling. We made to Boatwrights after a very long bus wait with one minute to spare. Then, had to wait for 10 mts.

 

[Tiggerish]

$54 for scallops???!!?

 

[Tuvalu]

$54 for scallops???!!?

That’s your takeaway from my story?!!!


J/K

 

[Laurenciaa]

That’s your takeaway from my story?!!!


J/K

On another note: the food looked very goooooood! Sorry for the monsoon but hurray for Woody's quick thinking on the Lyft!