Trip Report The Never-Ending Summer Of Disney *COMPLETED*

Seriously?!!

Can you believe it??

This is jaw-dropping news!!

If only.

Two things in life give me the blues ~ the end of summer and the end of a Disney vacation. A never-ending summer of Disney would be a dream come true! But I am certainly happy to “settle” for a WDW vacay in June....in July....and in August. And rather than write three separate trip reports (and annoy @amjt660 when my *COMPLETED* report really isn’t ) I decided to take @Rista1313 ’s suggestion and post an ongoing travelogue, à la @blgauger style.

So let’s get started!

Vacation #1
June 16-24, 2018
Tuvalu, Woody and Em get pampered at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Was there rain? Any snarky Cast Members? Ridiculous guest behavior? A Magic meet-up? How many times did we watch Happily Ever After?

You’ll have to follow along to find out.

 

[LeighM]

Are those Tevas? I'm thinking about getting some Tevas for our trip next Summer....I'm told they are really great for walking. True?

My husband I and wear Tevas at Disney when it's calling for rain and we've always found them very comfortable. I'm also extremely clumsy and these are great because of the traction they have when it's wet. I haven't slipped or fallen once

 

[Tuvalu]

This report had kept me busy this summer. I'm looking forward to the August portion of the report. Thanks

This report has kept me busy this summer. And I’m looking forward to going on the August portion!

I always enjoy your trip reports. Your kitty pics are just a nice bonus! They are both beautiful!

Awww, thanks.

These cat pics are making me want a cat!

I wouldn’t trade them for the world. I have to resist looking at kittens otherwise we’d end up with more....kittens will do you in EVERY TIME!

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, July 23

Can I say how disconcerting it was to be awakened just before 6 am by a loud thunder clap?
“Really?!” was my first thought. We had plans to hang by the pool today.

More rumbling.
I couldn’t tell if it was raining or not, and miraculously Em was still sleeping so I did not want to disturb her by opening the drapes.

I read for awhile then got dressed and went for a walk to explore both Beach and Yacht Club. First stop was Beach Club Marketplace.

The Marketplace has two entrances ~ this one near the elevators and one in a hallway across from the Solarium. Going in this entrance I walked past the merchandise we’d admired last night before reaching the food section.

This quick serve has a very limited menu for hot breakfast fare (as well as a very limited menu for lunch/dinner.

I exited out the side door and noticed this cute window display.

There are a two tables right outside the hall door for dining use (new since my last stay) but those with food typically claim tables outside on the courtyard porch or inside the Solarium.

I the Solarium. It is a pretty place to eat breakfast, read and relax....and much quieter than the lobby.

Though I didn’t know it at the time, this loveseat and side table would come into play later in the week.

 

[Tuvalu]

It was peaceful in the lobby because it was still early.

Disney is great at keeping little ones occupied with a TV and tyke-size chairs.

I walked past Cape May Cafe (which opens into the hall) but I did not take pictures because there were guests enjoying their character breakfast and I did not want to be creepy.

No shame in taking pics of the lounge though!

 

[Tuvalu]

The interior of the Beach Club ends at the lounge. To continue on to Yacht Club, you must go outside and walk past the pool. Fortunately the walkway is covered so you are (somewhat) protected from the elements.

Stormalong Bay doesn’t open until 9 am so it was a perfect time to take “people free” shots.

The next picture is the reason Em picked Beach Club.

The “Relaxation Grotto.” I coined the term for this location in Stormalong Bay.

But I confess to stealing the name from a Frasier episode.

 

[Tuvalu]

I walked past this place ~

*** Flashback ***

Wish I had an up-close pic of the menu board from 2006!

For the uninitiated, the interior is tiny! Explains why ADRs are hard to come by.

The poolside entrance to the Yacht Club is near Yachtsman Steakhouse and the Crew Cup Lounge. I had to walk past the new Ale and Compass restaurant (RIP Captain’s Grill ) before reaching the lobby.

The Yacht lobby gives off a more “formal” vibe than the Beach lobby. I often read of people complaining that the Grand Floridian is “too stuffy.” For me, Yacht Club takes the “stuffy” crown. (For the record I’ve been a Yacht guest twice.)

Even the kids area is formal, with tyke-sized high-back leather chairs.

Down the hall (you can see it in the picture above) is the Yacht gift store/quick serve location. It had opened for the first time last July. I was a little surprised to see this sign ~

What kind of refurbishment is already necessary after being open only a year??

 

[mcstensrud]

Loving the report and kitty pics.
Moved to Fl. From Ma. In July so our paths may cross now!
Emmy watching Kitty TV at our new home. She made the 20 Hr drive like a champ!

 

[DisneyGigi]

Your Beach Club pics are making me wish I would have stuck with my original plans of staying there this trip! At the last minute we switched to Coronado Springs because we stayed so many times with the kids - it is kind of a sentimentel stay. I don’t see us staying there again with the whole Tower addition. I definitely think it will be Beach Club for spring though. The whole walking into Epcot is so appealing to me.
Beautiful kitties too btw!

 

[sheriffwoody]

I'm surprised our paths didn't cross while you were exploring! I was worried about that thunder too

 

[Tuvalu]

I picked up breakfast in the Yacht Market and began the trek back to the room.

When I got there, my MagicBand would not unlock the door. I was wearing a different band from yesterday. Contrary to the Front Desk CM’s assurance, “they all” did NOT work.

I tapped a little on the door, hoping Em would hear me. As I had left her sleeping, I wasn’t sure she was awake yet.

No response.

Then I had a thought. I would use the “Unlock Your Door” feature on the MDE app. Brilliant! I was saved!

Except I discovered the “Unlock Your Door” option is not available at Beach Club yet.

NO WAY was I making that long walk down to the Front Desk to have my band fixed now. Em’s coffee would be cold by the time I’d get back.

I tapped on the door again. Nothing.

I called Em’s phone. It rang and rang. She does turn the ringer off at night.

In a last attempt to save myself from going to the front desk, I banged on the door, all the while hoping I was not disturbing nearby guests.

Em opened the door. She’d been in the bathroom with the fan running.

Breakfast at last!

(The twists were full of Nutella and very yum!)

At 8:30 am there was a knock on our door. I opened it to find the housekeeper. Normally I am very much in favor of having my room made up first thing in the morning.....because normally we are out of the room by 8:30. But since we couldn’t get into the pool until 9 we were lingering.

“We’ll be gone in a half hour,” I said to the housekeeper.
“Okay, thank you!” she replied.

(What are the chances our room would be serviced when we return from the pool? If you’ve read any of my other TRs, you are likely thinking zero!)

Em and I put on our swimsuits and prayed we would get a little pool time in before the rain arrived. To our delight there was actual blue sky(!) when we got to Stormalong Bay.

Look, there’s Woody and Em frolicking in the water!

(Oh wait, that’s a throwback pic! )

 

[Tuvalu]

Here’s Em ~

And who do we have here? Why it’s @sheriffwoody!!

I am so thankful she started her TR today, so y’all can read her backstory.
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...y-swam-in-stormalong-bay.946426/#post-8321707

This was Kristi’s departure day and Em and I were glad she could hang out with us for awhile. The sun, which felt wonderful, was strong and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves here ~

Kristi suggested we try out the lazy river. You can see that section in the picture below, where the tubes are.

See the rope separating the areas? That’s because the lazy river section is 8 feet deep.....an unfortunate fact that I forgot as I attempted to situate myself in a tube and totally wiped out!

But the great thing about Disney friends? They don’t laugh at or mock you when you do something stupid. (The same cannot be said about daughters....)

We had such fun floating and chatting, and the weather was perfect! I didn’t even let the following scene from a Hitchcock movie bother me too much.......

 

[Songbird76]

My husband I and wear Tevas at Disney when it's calling for rain and we've always found them very comfortable. I'm also extremely clumsy and these are great because of the traction they have when it's wet. I haven't slipped or fallen once

Oh that sounds wonderful...I am the queen of clutz!! We sell them where I work, so I guess I will have to use my employee discount!!!

 

[Songbird76]

Here’s Em ~

View attachment 300422

And who do we have here? Why it’s @sheriffwoody!!

View attachment 300423

I am so thankful she started her TR today, so y’all can read her backstory.
https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads...y-swam-in-stormalong-bay.946426/#post-8321707

This was Kristi’s departure day and Em and I were glad she could hang out with us for awhile. The sun, which felt wonderful, was strong and it wasn’t long before we found ourselves here ~

View attachment 300424

Kristi suggested we try out the lazy river. You can see that section in the picture below, where the tubes are.

View attachment 300425

See the rope separating the areas? That’s because the lazy river section is 8 feet deep.....an unfortunate fact that I forgot as I attempted to situate myself in a tube and totally wiped out!

But the great thing about Disney friends? They don’t laugh at or mock you when you do something stupid. (The same cannot be said about daughters....)

We had such fun floating and chatting, and the weather was perfect! I didn’t even let the following scene from a Hitchcock movie bother me too much.......
View attachment 300426

View attachment 300427

8 FEET DEEP?? How is one supposed to get into a tube?

 

[sheriffwoody]

THE BIRDS That was a little eerie.

 

[LadyBelle]

That’s because the lazy river section is 8 feet deep.

Holy moly! I’ll have to pass on that one. I’d drown, seeing as how I cannot swim.

 

[myhappyplace]

Our new little Remy likes the sink too. (This was several weeks ago--yes the kittens will get ya!! Acquiring her was NOT intentional, given the brood we already have, but....kitten!)

We really enjoyed Beach Club and Stormalong Bay and will definitely stay there again! Though I think I missed the solarium even though I ventured that way...hmmm.

Love Em's bathing suit!!

 

[Tiggerish]

What kind of refurbishment is already necessary after being open only a year?

Maybe to give it some personality? IMO, it really doesn’t coordinate with the rest of the Yacht Club decor. It’s very “modern industrial” and blah

The twists were full of Nutella and very yum!)

Oh, my! I hope I can find those at Wilderness Lodge next month—if not, I might have to venture over to Beach Club!!


And those birds—yikes!

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

WOW!!! The birds are kind of creepy! I enjoyed your tour of the Beach Club and Yacht Club resorts! I am going to have to look for the solarium on our next visit over there!

So nice that you found @sheriffwoody! Also, very cool of her not to mock you! I know I'd be laughing at/with my mom if that happened to her, but it's FAR MORE likely I'm the one that would struggle getting in a tube! The Lazy River at Aulani isn't more than 4 or 5 feet deep and it was a challenge for me last year!

Hope you guys didn't get sunburned! Wonder how you spent your evening??

 

[Tuvalu]

@LadyBelle

The Wandas were weeping.....

.....but oh so much !!

 

[Tuvalu]

Loving the report and kitty pics. Moved to Fl. From Ma. In July so our paths may cross now! Emmy watching Kitty TV at our new home. She made the 20 Hr drive like a champ!

Hope our paths do cross. Love the pic of Emmy!

Your Beach Club pics are making me wish I would have stuck with my original plans of staying there this trip! At the last minute we switched to Coronado Springs because we stayed so many times with the kids - it is kind of a sentimentel stay. I don’t see us staying there again with the whole Tower addition. I definitely think it will be Beach Club for spring though.

Don’t second-guess your decision. Beach Club will always be there ~ but as you said, the CSR that you knew and love won’t ever be the same.

8 FEET DEEP?? How is one supposed to get into a tube?

BEFORE getting in the water! That was my mistake.

View attachment 300517
Our new little Remy likes the sink too!!

Remy is too cute for words! Enjoy her!
Unless you are intentional in looking for it, the Solarium is easy to pass by unnoticed.

Maybe to give it some personality? IMO, it really doesn’t coordinate with the rest of the Yacht Club decor. It’s very “modern industrial” and blah!

I think you’re onto something! Is it just me or is the “modern industrial” fad overdone?

Hope you guys didn't get sunburned! Wonder how you spent your evening??

As you’ll soon see, we were never in danger of sunburn. Evening activities coming up!