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]

It’s Fall, Y’all (or how Em was finally able to check October off her bucket list)

Who: Tuvalu and Em
What: Making a dream come true
When: October 12-17, 2024
Where: Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Why: Did you not read the title?

Yet we’ll never attend another MNSSHP. Read on to find out why.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

So happy Em could take advantage of Fall Break, finally!!

 

[wdisney9000]

Yet we’ll never attend another MNSSHP. Read on to find out why.

@Tuvalu ...teasing us with her TR

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, October 12

On a cold gray day last winter I was bored. I’d recently returned from my mother’s birthday trip and thoughts of returning to sunny Florida crept into my mind. So I did what any rational Disney fan would do - I began to fantasize about another vacation.

Never mind that my spring and summer stays were already booked. I was thinking fall! Curious if there were any deals on renting DVC points, I found myself perusing confirmed reservations for October. When I saw one for Boulder Ridge Villas (part of my beloved Wilderness Lodge) I snatched it, unaware at the time my travel companion would be Em and not Woody.

Em learned in the spring that her district would have their first-ever fall break. The dates magically coincided with the BRV reservation. Woody happily bowed out so that Em’s wish could be fulfilled. October was the only month in which she had never set foot in the parks.

We gals departed at zero-dark-thirty. As Em drove the first leg, I managed to score this.

Yeah there was no way we’d make our BG on time, but past experience assured we’d be allowed entry several hours late.

Made our Buc-ees stop for fuel and breakfast and began the drive through South Georgia. The destruction from Hurricane Helene was soon apparent - downed trees, obliterated wooden billboards, twisted highway signs, decimated pecan tree orchards and the roof of the GA Welcome Center (on the northbound side) was missing chunks of shingles.

The FL Welcome Center fared slightly better, though there were plenty of leaning palms and the Dolphin out front was missing - though it may have been preemptively removed.

The landscape in the next couple hours of our journey was untouched, as it was between the paths of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The closer we got to central Florida damage from Milton became visible.

It was a very surreal commute.

 

[Tuvalu]

Once on Disney property we went to the Speedway near Boardwalk for gas. This station is typically a madhouse (don’t get me started on the ride share drivers who park in front of the pumps to hangout until their next fare) but today it wasn’t busy. There were fuel shortages in the Tampa area and we did not know what to expect at the Speedway. We certainly did not expect open pumps and cheaper fuel than in GA!

Tank filled, we continued on to Wilderness Lodge. It was 2:15-ish and our room was not yet ready. As we entered the lobby Em commented, “My body is confused over what time of year it is. It’s not Christmas and it’s not summer!”

That’s because it’s OCTOBER, dear daughter!

We hadn’t eaten since breakfast and went in search of a snack.

Em and I went out on the covered patio to enjoy our muffins. The real treat, however, was getting to meet @DisneyMorgan and her family. (Why did we not think to take a picture?)

Our room text arrived as we waited for the Epcot bus. “Let’s get our stuff and move in now rather than later,” I suggested.

The Boulder Ridge lobby is as impressive as the main lobby just on a smaller scale.

 

[Tuvalu]

Room pics for @Nunu and anyone else who likes them.

BRV rooms have undergone a recent refurbishment. The studios now sleep 5 with a double and single Murphy beds.

Love the ducks!

I was surprised this empty corner did not have a small table and chairs like the WL rooms. But it was a nice spot for open luggage. The room only has two drawers for clothing.

Not to nitpick but the TV should be on a swivel - not stationary - mount.

And what are these padded stools for? They aren’t exactly safe to use as a step stool. Em said perhaps they are for sitting down to tie shoes? For children, maybe - if I sat down that close to the ground I couldn’t rise without assistance!

The kitchen has a real mini fridge, not a beverage cooler.

There is a second closet in the vanity area. The very dark vanity area. The bulb wattage is far too low for hair and make-up!

Why do DVC rooms have only one sink?!! Regular deluxe rooms have two.

And since I’m apparently on a nitpicky rant….

Mounting the toilet paper holder behind the toilet so that one must be a contortionist to reach the TP is not cool, Disney!

And a final head scratcher - a room that accommodates 5 has only one towel rack? And no additional hooks? DVC does not receive daily housekeeping, just fresh towels on Day 4. Where are all those wet towels supposed to hang?

Glad to see the bath liquids are in new bottles. Finally.

 

[Zipadeelady]

It made me chuckle, but I agree on all valid nitpicking points.

 

[93boomer]

Room pics for @Nunu and anyone else who likes them.

View attachment 821551

BRV rooms have undergone a recent refurbishment. The studios now sleep 5 with a double and single Murphy beds.

View attachment 821555
Love the ducks!

View attachment 821552

I was surprised this empty corner did not have a small table and chairs like the WL rooms. But it was a nice spot for open luggage. The room only has two drawers for clothing.

View attachment 821553

Not to nitpick but the TV should be on a swivel - not stationary - mount.

And what are these padded stools for? They aren’t exactly safe to use as a step stool. Em said perhaps they are for sitting down to tie shoes? For children, maybe - if I sat down that close to the ground I couldn’t rise without assistance!

View attachment 821554

The kitchen has a real mini fridge, not a beverage cooler.

View attachment 821556

There is a second closet in the vanity area. The very dark vanity area. The bulb wattage is far too low for hair and make-up!

Why do DVC rooms have only one sink?!! Regular deluxe rooms have two.

View attachment 821558

And since I’m apparently on a nitpicky rant….

Mounting the toilet paper holder behind the toilet so that one must be a contortionist to reach the TP is not cool, Disney!

View attachment 821559

And a final head scratcher - a room that accommodates 5 has only one towel rack? And no additional hooks? DVC does not receive daily housekeeping, just fresh towels on Day 4. Where are all those wet towels supposed to hang?

View attachment 821560

Glad to see the bath liquids are in new bottles. Finally.

View attachment 821557

I am a nitpicker too my friend. I want more hooks for towels, hooks for coats when you come in the door, more drawers for clothes, etc. That’s all I can think of but I’m sure there’s more.

 

[k8einwdw]

And a final head scratcher - a room that accommodates 5 has only one towel rack? And no additional hooks? DVC does not receive daily housekeeping, just fresh towels on Day 4. Where are all those wet towels supposed to hang?

We had the same complaint at Kidani Village last year. I need my hooks!

 

[LadyBelle]

I am a nitpicker too my friend. I want more hooks for towels, hooks for coats when you come in the door, more drawers for clothes, etc. That’s all I can think of but I’m sure there’s more.

I just wanted drawers to unpack at Riverside. If I could get them at POP, why couldn't I have them at the moderate resort?

 

[93boomer]

I just wanted drawers to unpack at Riverside. If I could get them at POP, why couldn't I have them at the moderate resort?

Three drawers are not enough. I would hate to see where a family of four put their clothes.
I don’t like living out of a suitcase for a week.

 

[Swissmiss]

Three drawers are not enough. I would hate to see where a family of four put their clothes.
I don’t like living out of a suitcase for a week.

I consider myself lucky because my DD (19) never unpacks so any drawer or closet space is mine

 

[luvinthemajik]

It made me chuckle, but I agree on all valid nitpicking points.

Indeed! My same reaction and sentiment. Imo, you are not nit picking, just making constructive observations,thank you.

 

[MinnieM123]

@Tuvalu , all your nitpicks were spot on! I particularly agree with the one about the awkward placement of the toilet paper roll.

 

[littleroo]

@Tuvalu , all your nitpicks were spot on! I particularly agree with the one about the awkward placement of the toilet paper roll.

I completely agree, too!

 

[93boomer]

I completely agree, too!

Me too!!

 

[littleroo]

Me too!!

 

[Tuvalu]

It made me chuckle, but I agree on all valid nitpicking points.

I am a nitpicker too my friend. I want more hooks for towels, hooks for coats when you come in the door, more drawers for clothes, etc. That’s all I can think of but I’m sure there’s more.

We had the same complaint at Kidani Village last year. I need my hooks!

Indeed! My same reaction and sentiment. Imo, you are not nit picking, just making constructive observations,thank you.

@Tuvalu , all your nitpicks were spot on! I particularly agree with the one about the awkward placement of the toilet paper roll.

I completely agree, too!

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

I’m so jealous of all your many Disney travels

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

After a quick unpack we returned to the bus stop - just in time to see the Epcot bus pulling away.

But good news! The AK bus was pulling in.

Ummmm, Tuvalu - how is that good news?

I’m so glad you asked! You see, the AK bus would continue on to the Contemporary, where we could board the monorail - and use that as transportation to Epcot.

Which is exactly what we did.

From the heights of the monorail we could see that former green spaces along World Drive and Epcot Center Drive had become lakes, thanks to all the rainfall from the hurricanes.

A tributary ran right up to Epcot’s entrance.

Quite the contrast from May/June when drought caused the water levels to get so low that boat transportation was suspended in certain locations (PO Resorts to Disney Springs, for example.)

Even the waters inside Epcot were very full.

We made it!

Interesting note - though this was Em’s first fall vacation, it was not her first Food and Wine Festival. During the pandemic, Disney pushed back the start date of F&W to summer.

Em wasn’t particularly impressed then - and even less so now, with big prices for little bites of food.

Don’t expect to see any F&W pics in this report.