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’m so jealous of all your many Disney travels

There needs to be a Disneyholics Anonymous

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

There needs to be a Disneyholics Anonymous

Sign me up

 

[LadyBelle]

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.)

And the boats were not running due to the excessive rain after Milton either while we were there.

 

[93boomer]

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.

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A tributary ran right up to Epcot’s entrance.

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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.

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We made it!

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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.

We don’t partake in the food booths anymore. The food is so expensive for a little bite.

 

[Tiggerish]

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

We loved the F&WF. Went every year for over ten years. Then it became "more money for less food & wine", so we haven't been in five years or more.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I wish Food and Wine still had food and beverage seminars. California Adventure has beverage seminars and those are really fun.

 

[DisneyMorgan]

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.

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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.

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

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Woohoo I've been waiting for this report! I can't believe we didn't get a picture! Next time!

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

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

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Love the ducks!

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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.

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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!

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

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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.

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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!

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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?

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

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UGH YES YES YES on the towel hook and toilet paper holder! I can't believe there is only one measly little towel bar! I ended up using the clothing rack in the closet to hang towels to dry lol. We actually did a "member update" presentation at SSR (I really just wanted to see the new Poly rooms) and I may have complained a lot to the guide about the lack of towel hooks in the BRV bathroom

 

[Nunu]

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.

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Aw, thank you for the room pics!

The room is very nice, but I agree with your comments about it. Imho, there's a (design) problem when a room at Pop Century is more functional than one at a Deluxe/DVC resort.

Storage is a big issue for me when we travel. There's usually just two of us staying at a WDW resort, but we usually stay for a week or so, we're also international visitors who can't/won't travel with just a carry-on worth of clothes.

I see plenty of unused space in this studio where a propper dresser could've easily fit. A couple of matching wood shelves on the bare wall, by the TV, would've been nice, too.

Also, can't believe there are no hanging hooks in the bathroom!, seems so logical to me to install a couple of those in there, specially if there's only one towel rack.

Anyway, didn't mean for this to be such a long post, lol. In short, I don't think you're being nitpicky at all.

 

[Tiggertoo56]

And the boats were not running due to the excessive rain after Milton either while we were there.

They started running again on the Tuesday after Milton once the water levels had reduced enough for the boats to go under the bridges. We were patiently waiting

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

“What would you like to do first?” I asked Em.

“Living with the Land,” she replied.

Done!

We had a front row seat.

I liked the embellishments themed to the current F&W Festival.

I spied some big bunches of bananas and made sure to point them out to Em.

They were unlike any she had seen before.

“That’s because I’ve never been here in October,” she said smugly.

 

[wdisney9000]

I couldn’t rise without assistance!

Ladies and gentlemen, you've all heard of Rise of The Resistance, but is this will be Disney's most immersive experience into the Wild and Unpredictable world of Geriatric Care!

 

[Tuvalu]

Ladies and gentlemen, you've all heard of Rise of The Resistance, but is this will be Disney's most immersive experience into the Wild and Unpredictable world of Geriatric Care!
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I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

 

[wdisney9000]

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Fun fact: I feel like Harold most mornings as I get out of bed.

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

Following our farm adventure, it was time to soar to new heights.

It was an experience not to be forgotten.

Believe me when I tell you, I had the absolutely worst seat in the glider. Gate C, row 3, far right.

Hello end of the screen and dangling feet!

Hello people who have a better view than me!

Or should I say moi?

When it was over, Em said these encouraging words: “Look at it this way, Mom. You sacrificed your view for others who haven’t seen this a hundred times.”

In all honesty, I found the experience much more funny than upsetting. Because now I have a story to share!

 

[rshell68]

There needs to be a Disneyholics Anonymous

HI, my name is Richelle and I'm a Disneyholic!

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

Apparently we’d missed a downpour while in The Land. Everything outside was wet and there were a few puddles on the concrete.

Em was ready to head to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Would we latecomers be admitted?

Probably - but we didn’t make it to the tapstile. As we got close to the attraction Em saw that the VQ standby line was outside the building, meaning the wait would be at least an hour.

“I don’t want to wait that long,” she said shaking her head. (I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t want to wait an hour for the exit.)

“But there’s one more thing I want to do before leaving,” Em announced.

Technically it required exiting Epcot proper. But we didn’t have to go far.

Em was on the hunt for some famous faces whose images were on “Leave a Legacy” tiles that were originally on those awful (ugly) monoliths. The new colorful walls further from the entrance are a definite improvement.

Success!

Mission accomplished, we said bye bye bye to Epcot.

 

[93boomer]

Saturday, con’t

Apparently we’d missed a downpour while in The Land. Everything outside was wet and there were a few puddles on the concrete.

Em was ready to head to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Would we latecomers be admitted?

Probably - but we didn’t make it to the tapstile. As we got close to the attraction Em saw that the VQ standby line was outside the building, meaning the wait would be at least an hour.

“I don’t want to wait that long,” she said shaking her head. (I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t want to wait an hour for the exit.)

“But there’s one more thing I want to do before leaving,” Em announced.

Technically it required exiting Epcot proper. But we didn’t have to go far.

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Em was on the hunt for some famous faces whose images were on “Leave a Legacy” tiles that were originally on those awful (ugly) monoliths. The new colorful walls further from the entrance are a definite improvement.

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Success!

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Mission accomplished, we said bye bye bye to Epcot.

Wow took me a few minutes! Had no idea they were on there! Cool!

 

[DisneyDreamer08]

Saturday, con’t

Apparently we’d missed a downpour while in The Land. Everything outside was wet and there were a few puddles on the concrete.

Em was ready to head to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Would we latecomers be admitted?

Probably - but we didn’t make it to the tapstile. As we got close to the attraction Em saw that the VQ standby line was outside the building, meaning the wait would be at least an hour.

“I don’t want to wait that long,” she said shaking her head. (I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t want to wait an hour for the exit.)

“But there’s one more thing I want to do before leaving,” Em announced.

Technically it required exiting Epcot proper. But we didn’t have to go far.

View attachment 821906

Em was on the hunt for some famous faces whose images were on “Leave a Legacy” tiles that were originally on those awful (ugly) monoliths. The new colorful walls further from the entrance are a definite improvement.

View attachment 821907

Success!

View attachment 821908

Mission accomplished, we said bye bye bye to Epcot.

Where is this located?

 

[Laurenciaa]

Saturday, con’t

Apparently we’d missed a downpour while in The Land. Everything outside was wet and there were a few puddles on the concrete.

Em was ready to head to Guardians of the Galaxy.

Would we latecomers be admitted?

Probably - but we didn’t make it to the tapstile. As we got close to the attraction Em saw that the VQ standby line was outside the building, meaning the wait would be at least an hour.

“I don’t want to wait that long,” she said shaking her head. (I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I didn’t want to wait an hour for the exit.)

“But there’s one more thing I want to do before leaving,” Em announced.

Technically it required exiting Epcot proper. But we didn’t have to go far.

View attachment 821906

Em was on the hunt for some famous faces whose images were on “Leave a Legacy” tiles that were originally on those awful (ugly) monoliths. The new colorful walls further from the entrance are a definite improvement.

View attachment 821907

Success!

View attachment 821908

Mission accomplished, we said bye bye bye to Epcot.

Nice reference to his previous Y2K occupation!

 

[Tuvalu]

Where is this located?

To the far right after exiting the tapstiles, near the parking lot (not the wall near the buses.)