Trip Report SummerPalooza: When 1 resort reservation morphs into 5 resorts

We have had a few trips this year that were odd for us. The trip where my family had to end their vaction but I stayed on for 3.5 more weeks. I didn't even book a return ticket. Never did that before. My April/May Flower Trip Report: https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-one-way-ticket.939721/#post-8162457

This report will start out mostly of semi in-the-moment of the day posts at least for the first half of 3 weeks as we all will be arriving at different points. Like the above report I am not overly wordy but enjoy posting photos of WDW and Food along with adult beverages. Sometimes a tad odd to me behaviors in the parks.

This trip kept expanding in days and as a result resorts this time for reasons I will get around to explaining later, for now mostly photo's of the day. Hope you enjoy.

EDIT: Most of these photos will be Apple Live photos for those of you with Apple devices.

 

[Gabe1]

My folks live near a train station. From age of a toddler my son loved trains. If he heard the horns at my folks he'd run to the window. Coming home from Daycare I'd pull over when I knew a train was due on the way home just so he could see the commuter trains, a freight extra joy. Riding on the train at Disney at 14 months and further through his preschool years was a joy for him like no other. With my DD her memories and mine was her drifting off with the motion as a toddler as we were leaving the 2nd stop, Frontierland and the old spiel of blah blah and no sleeping on the train....her from laying, drifting in my arms to popping up erect at a trance, eye popping, I'm not sleeping....so not a rule breaker was she then or now.

So the train is a must do for us every trip, so many memories. The train going into a photo op for who knows how long, but very long we had to ride them this trip as it is likely to be down by the time we return again....sadness.

 

[Gabe1]

Blurg. I know the stores put out school supplies in June and Winter Coats in July. Disney does Halloween in August....the seasons are all so blurred. But in mid-September to see the Christmas Crane behind the Castle on a Halloween party night it was kinda disheartening. Halloween so early as the decorations for Christmas are being put up

And my mind drifted as to how much I genuinely miss the Osborne Lights. I was fortunate enough to see both Studio versions of Osborne. As much as I love the lights on the Castle I loved Osborne more, especially the first version where you would stroll through the areas to Christmas music and the various areas of Osborne and ultimately to the homes and the Manger Scene at the end. A Gem. A Gem lost.

 

[Gabe1]

Sunshine Season's has just undergone some additional menu changes including the beloved fish taco's but their sandwich still as large as a ship remains. Sadly the replaced slice of strawberry shortcake has not returned, still in the 4 oz wine glass version with jelly and a slice of a fresh strawberry. Not worth the asking price of $5

 

[Gabe1]

@dryerlintfan We got caught fortunately under the overhang of Mouse Gears in Future World but this is what we mostly encountered with the forecasted rain for Orlando.

So we ducked into Test Track. Another instance when additional FP+ are available with determination

TT remained the most difficult FP though to grab even prior to trip. Maybe cause it goes down every time a bird spits

 

[Gabe1]

The new bridge from Pandora to Africa is a nice quiet stroll, pretty and fun things to look at alon the way and saves a lot of steps along the way.

If you happen to be walking by The Tree of Life is pretty at night and the soundtrack is soothing late in the evening, a nice way to end a night at AK

 

[Gabe1]

We road Dinosaurs more times than I can remember. Glad they finally fixed the ride photo. This last time we had the Jeep to ourselves Dinosaur

 

[Gabe1]

French Quarter was one of the resorts this trip. It had a nicer set up this round

 

[Gabe1]

As much as I love Riverside the French Quarter is lovely.

 

[Gabe1]

And who can’t love Animal Kingdom Lodge?
Bus joined to the DVC still is Sucidoodles on the Lodge side. The walk to DVC for food painful in summer

Note the frozen POG juice. The solution to strawless around animals extends to Lodge. Problem Mickey straw doesn’t allow Frozen drink up straw. Too narrow. Like a slurpee without a straw.

 

[Gabe1]

And our final resort. The sister resorts that hold my heart. We opened the once named Port Orleans, now French Quarter in '91 and the once Dixie Landings now Port Riverside in '92 for its spectacular Grand Opening in '92. While we have had stays at at values to most Deluxe resorts my heart is with decades of these Sister Resorts. The Charm. The quiet from guests and parks invasion. When you leave the hype they are quiet and tranquil resorts. Very few venture invade this beyond lovely resort as a tourist guest place. People pass and say 'Hello.'

I wrestle which of the two sister resorts I love more. I tend to lean to POR and yet I love the small quaintness of the French Quarter and the ease of getting point to point. Ultimately POR barely edges out the FQ because it does have a bit more to offer. Still the busing when not shared is better at the FQ. The Ying and the Yang with our family that I doubt will ever resolve itself.

So our final resting place of this long adventure. Riverside. Hi @riverside

Up the left side of this staircase and to the left, with a strange happening a pool side view.

 

[Gabe1]

Likely my most wordy post...however it was how we came to be for the remainder of our vacation and good vibes and that is how it played out.

Actually this is both room reservation 4 and 5. As the last member joined us mid trip it happened was to happen a day earlier than originally planned, woot! But messing with that more that 2 adults per room without a reservation I wasn't going to mess with the French Quarter reservation for a night in a multi night reservation. So I booked an additional one night reservation at POR which made sense as that is where our final 11 days would be and hoped we could just stay put in the room we were assigned. And then a tiny bit of drama.

My one day reservation for 2 was a garden view. A lovely room in the Magnolia Building as we requested for both reservations. The glitch was the 5th reservation kept popping up as a Pool view. We booked a standard room via our travel agent for this leg of the trip. Still the pool view kept popping up but the $$$ paid was standard. Disney's my experience is so very glitchy we just accepted that and expected a standard room for reservation #5 but no.

We explained at check-in and requested to stay put through #4 and #5 reservation in the same room. They placed us in my additional Garden View room which was perfect (the resort was not booked by any means) so close to the bride to main areas and a very straight shot to the buses. Happiness. Happiness until the phone rang from the front desk that we could not stay in that room for the balance of the trip as it didn't match our 11 days following. Oy. At that point I told my DD see what they can do and I'd just pay the difference which somehow wasn't necessary Color me confused. Somehow the glitch in the experience app that we saw for months followed through the reservation system. The Standard room we paid for still was in reservations as a pool view room. They said on the phone as we were sitting in the room originally assigned that they could move us to our 12 day stay. We didn't know where we were moving, I didn't care at this point. I just didn't want to move yet again tomorrow and need to be out by 11 and a new room. I was so done and this was actually our ORIGINAL 11 day room booked, everything beyond was bonus after bonus days for some of us and today a bonus for one. Oy I know. So we removed our tushies, grabbed our belongings and headed to the new room number for 2 of us anyhow as one is still at FQ for the night. Still floor 2, my favorite, bonus. As we wind the mansion building with is huge, we find our room. Beautiful view of the quiet pool and right at the staircase to her. Not more than a few steps to the front of building facing the river is the bridge to the feature pool and direct path to the Lobby buildings and Food Court along with the Restaurant and the Lounge. We stayed in this Mansion throughout my children's Childhood, I knew immediately how awesome this was, it took them a bit to recall and appreciate the location, they were stuck on the awesomeness of the room and its location to the quiet pool and bus. Me, I KNEW both the pool, the view, the Main Pool, the Food proximity, the Bus Proximity. The Disney Lords had made some Magic happen when I clearly said I was willing to downgrade my #4 reservation to the level of our #5 not to have to move yet again. An ultimate upgrade to most Preferred room location over Garden or Standard. Way to go Disney for making some Magic happen.

 

[Gabe1]

I am really happy Disney found a way to keep Space open with its new exit being constructed. Still this temporary crossing for guests is a little unnerving especially for guests with young children. Those not familiar with exit are unaware their kids will be crossing a live, non gated railroad track. It’s just suddenly there. When most with children approach a live rail tracks with kids parents we see it. Disney does have a CM posted at the crossing but there is the possibility of an unexpected darting kid and countless parents not knowing what actually lies ahead which isn’t the Disney Norm. I was kinda surprised.

Note the rail track crossing was the candy distribution site for the Halloween Party for Space. The train was asleep by then but if you look at the track crossing inside of Space would be a more stable area.

 

[Gabe1]

This was new to us this year. Saw it in the parks and more notably at one of our resorts. At POR it was a frustrating but a hallarious encounter my adult kid was having at the bakery trying to purchase an ice cream cone. You know the drill. Ice cream on top of a cone. It went back and forth. Wanted to lick the ice cream on a cone, traditional way.

CM yes ice cream on cone served with cone ontop of ice cream in a cup. Kid no just ice cream on cone. CM certainly but it will be put in a cup. Back and forth. No cone purchased.

We were seeing ice cream cones in every park splatted in cups. Ice cream down cone placed on top like it was a topping into a dish and given a spoon.

stock photo since kid didn't buy it.

I remember when a paper cup and a plastic spoon wasn’t what you received when ordering an ice cream cone. Funny when Disney now has to put it in a cup and give you a spoon.

 

[MinnieM123]

I am really happy Disney found a way to keep Space open with its new exit being constructed. Still this temporary crossing for guests is a little unnerving especially for guests with young children. Those not familiar with exit are unaware their kids will be crossing a live, non gated railroad track. It’s just suddenly there. When most with children approach a live rail tracks with kids parents we see it. Disney does have a CM posted at the crossing but there is the possibility of an unexpected darting kid and countless parents not knowing what actually lies ahead which isn’t the Disney Norm. I was kinda surprised.

Note the rail track crossing was the candy distribution site for the Halloween Party for Space. The train was asleep by then but if you look at the track crossing inside of Space would be a more stable area.

View attachment 317144View attachment 317145View attachment 317146

That last photo made me pause ... and no pre-warning sign for the guests that they would be crossing a 'live" track? (No suggestion such as "parents, please take small children by the hand" etc.?) At minimum, they have a CM there (even though not in the photo), but as you say, sometimes little kids just like to run ahead, totally oblivious to what might be there.

 

[Tuvalu]

That last photo made me pause ... and no pre-warning sign for the guests that they would be crossing a 'live" track? (No suggestion such as "parents, please take small children by the hand" etc.?) At minimum, they have a CM there (even though not in the photo), but as you say, sometimes little kids just like to run ahead, totally oblivious to what might be there.

Unless things have changed since summer, the picture Gabe posted is not the railroad track crossing for guests (it may be for CMs). The exit walkway for guests is safe with fencing on both sides and there were at least three CMs at the crossing point each time we rode Space Mountain.

Walking toward train tracks

The actual crossing point (CMs on right). The CMs use ropes to prevent guests from crossing when a train is on the way.

End of temporary walkway (note ropes)

 

[meggo819]

The CMs use ropes to prevent guests from crossing when a train is on the way.

I also noticed that they stop pedestrians *long* before the train reaches that spot (felt like we waited forever). I didn’t feel that it was unsafe at all, just somewhat annoying

 

[Gabe1]

Unless things have changed since summer, the picture Gabe posted is not the railroad track crossing for guests (it may be for CMs). The exit walkway for guests is safe with fencing on both sides and there were at least three CMs at the crossing point each time we rode Space Mountain.

Walking toward train tracks
View attachment 317162

The actual crossing point (CMs on right). The CMs use ropes to prevent guests from crossing when a train is on the way.
View attachment 317164

End of temporary walkway (note ropes)
View attachment 317163

Blurg apology folks. I posted the CM crossing photo which is also live just like the guest one somehow missed posting the second live track photo. I stand corrected @Tuvalu Was at a funeral all day yesterday and I should know better than to post while sad. Was just looking for a distraction from all that. Sorry I derailed my own thread. Didn't mean to turn my trip report into N&R thread just an oversight on a bad day. Apologies.

Good night all.

 

[LeighM]

I love pretty much everything about PO Riverside. Even the music they play on the resort buses. Disney keeps releasing Disney Visa discounts for CSR and CBR that I'm unable to turn down...even though my heart belongs to POR lol. I liked CSR but it wasn't the same. And I'm looking forward to my short stay at CBR next year just to try something new but in 2021, I'm going back to Riverside!!!

 

[MinnieM123]

The actual crossing point (CMs on right). The CMs use ropes to prevent guests from crossing when a train is on the way.

Whew! Now that's more like it !!

 

[Gabe1]

Whew! Now that's more like it !!

Not really. A rope is not really a great safety barrier for trains. OSHA even seemed a small fence around moat at castle was only partially adequate when a child drowned. Disney 50% liable. A rope at a rail crossing allows for a child to slip under like we see at parades. Ropes for rope drop which our beloved @Tuvalu loves after the opening show at the MK is fine but I question how OSHA would consider this an adequate barrier given their previous rulings. If you look at attractions with gates before crossing from Small World to to Thunder etc this is flimsy and minimalist at best

If Disney stations a CM plus at Town Square, Frontierland and Fantasyland with metal gates at rail crossings why would they move to a single rope? Is the metal gates unnecessary?