Trip Report The Story Comes ALIVE! *COMPLETED*

Hello again, my friends.

For nearly a decade it has been such a joy for me to write about 50 (yes, 50!) different trips that I have taken to WDW - including one that was virtual.

The reason? You, the reader.

I don’t do trip reports for my own documentation. I have journals for that. I write because I love interacting with y’all. Your encouragement, humor, curiosity and even snark (*ahem* @amjt660) assure me that I am not alone in my crazy affection for Disney parks. A big thanks to each of you!

I am very fortunate to be a frequent visitor to WDW (despite what @Mr Ferret 88 believes, I do not live there!) and am entering a season of monthly visits. Trip reporting is time consuming (as those of you who’ve written can attest) but I’m not ready to completely give it up - yet.

What I’d like to do is keep this as an ongoing TR for the rest of 2023. It will be highlights and moments, with live posting as the goal. My story coming alive, so to speak.

First up is spring break with my favorite girl.

Followed closely by a getaway with my favorite guy.

There will be Magician meets. New experiences. And (as always) the unexpected.

I hope you’ll join the fun!

 

[Songbird76]

One tip - unless you don’t mind climbing stairs (17 steps per flight, 1 flight to 2nd floor, 2 flights to 3rd) request a first floor room. There is one set of elevators per building (typically near the back.) I know you have a lengthy stay and climbing lots of steps after a long day in the parks grows wearisome after a few days.

Definitely request it, but also don't be surprised if they can't accommodate you. Maybe they are better about it at PO, but I've made requests at CBR every time we've stayed there and have NEVER had them granted. Last time, I requested a ground floor room, adjoining to my brother's because I have chronic bursitis in my hip that makes stairs difficult and CBR has no elevators. I got there and they gave my BROTHER a first floor room, and put me above him. I had to climb those stairs with luggage, laundry, and every day for 2 weeks to get anywhere. My brother checked in before me, but they were only staying a week, where we were staying 2, so I don't think it was a matter of him getting there first, plus I was the one who booked both rooms and made the request. I've also never gotten a request granted for tables, like fireworks view at Ohana or savannah view at Sanaa. It doesn't hurt to ask, and I will absolutely keep asking, but I don't really get my hopes up anymore because it hasn't happened yet that I got my request.

 

[Swissmiss]

Definitely request it, but also don't be surprised if they can't accommodate you. Maybe they are better about it at PO, but I've made requests at CBR every time we've stayed there and have NEVER had them granted. Last time, I requested a ground floor room, adjoining to my brother's because I have chronic bursitis in my hip that makes stairs difficult and CBR has no elevators. I got there and they gave my BROTHER a first floor room, and put me above him. I had to climb those stairs with luggage, laundry, and every day for 2 weeks to get anywhere. My brother checked in before me, but they were only staying a week, where we were staying 2, so I don't think it was a matter of him getting there first, plus I was the one who booked both rooms and made the request. I've also never gotten a request granted for tables, like fireworks view at Ohana or savannah view at Sanaa. It doesn't hurt to ask, and I will absolutely keep asking, but I don't really get my hopes up anymore because it hasn't happened yet that I got my request.

You can also ask as you check in. Last summer they put us (me and my 17 yo daughter) in a room with one king bed. We promptly turned back around and asked for a new room.

 

[Songbird76]

You can also ask as you check in. Last summer they put us (me and my 17 yo daughter) in a room with one king bed. We promptly turned back around and asked for a new room.

Good tip! I'll remember that for this trip. I'll go ahead and request ground floor, but if we don't get it, I'll remind them and ask if there's one available. Last time, my hands were tied because we were with my brother's family and I had requested adjoining rooms. They didn't give us adjoining rooms, but we WERE really close to each other, so we kind of had to stay where we were. I'm not sure how they decide who gets what room. We checked in REALLY late...like after 10pm, so I don't know if that made a difference. This time will just be my daughter and me, so we won't have anyone else to consider, and we go to Universal first, so we won't be checking in so late.

 

[Swissmiss]

Good tip! I'll remember that for this trip. I'll go ahead and request ground floor, but if we don't get it, I'll remind them and ask if there's one available. Last time, my hands were tied because we were with my brother's family and I had requested adjoining rooms. They didn't give us adjoining rooms, but we WERE really close to each other, so we kind of had to stay where we were. I'm not sure how they decide who gets what room. We checked in REALLY late...like after 10pm, so I don't know if that made a difference. This time will just be my daughter and me, so we won't have anyone else to consider, and we go to Universal first, so we won't be checking in so late.

I’ll admit I had to make a bit of a fuss, but there was no way I was spending a week in the same bed with my teen.

 

[Songbird76]

I’ll admit I had to make a bit of a fuss, but there was no way I was spending a week in the same bed with my teen.

I think it depends on the teen. My son is Kicky McGee in his sleep, so sharing a bed with him isn't fun. When the kids were little...like 8 and 9 or something? We were on vacation and the kids shared a bed and my daughter woke up with his rear in her face. And one time he pushed her almost off the bed. But this last vacation, my daughter fell asleep in what would normally be my husband's spot, and so she and I shared the rest of the trip because I really didn't think it was a good idea to let the kids share a bed at 15/16 and not every hotel had an extra sleeping option like a couch or a cot. So DH got to share with A and I got to share with E, and we did that for a month. It was fine. No issues. And sometimes it was only a double bed, most of the time queens. A king would be absolutely fine for us.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

We escaped the masses in our treasured quiet spot.

Where did Em get her CHH shirt? Absolutely love it!

 

[Tuvalu]

Where did Em get her CHH shirt? Absolutely love it!

I got it for her from Tee Public.

 

[Skibum1970]

So, it used to be the Tragical Express ride back to the airport. What service did/do you use to get to/from the airport? Uber, Bus, rental car or other? I can't think of an other. Maybe renting a bicycle or walking, if you are that motivated.

 

[Tuvalu]

So, it used to be the Tragical Express ride back to the airport. What service did/do you use to get to/from the airport? Uber, Bus, rental car or other? I can't think of an other. Maybe renting a bicycle or walking, if you are that motivated.

We drove our own vehicle.

 

[LeighM]

Definitely request it, but also don't be surprised if they can't accommodate you. Maybe they are better about it at PO, but I've made requests at CBR every time we've stayed there and have NEVER had them granted. Last time, I requested a ground floor room, adjoining to my brother's because I have chronic bursitis in my hip that makes stairs difficult and CBR has no elevators. I got there and they gave my BROTHER a first floor room, and put me above him. I had to climb those stairs with luggage, laundry, and every day for 2 weeks to get anywhere. My brother checked in before me, but they were only staying a week, where we were staying 2, so I don't think it was a matter of him getting there first, plus I was the one who booked both rooms and made the request. I've also never gotten a request granted for tables, like fireworks view at Ohana or savannah view at Sanaa. It doesn't hurt to ask, and I will absolutely keep asking, but I don't really get my hopes up anymore because it hasn't happened yet that I got my request.

They can be so inconsistent. Did you call the main reservation number and add the room requests to your main reservation? I've always had my request honored when I've done that. One time, my husband had an injury that was making stairs difficult and the rep told me that she was putting it in the system as medically necessary bc there were no elevators (so it must've been CBR). I've requested specific things at Riverside, CBR, and Coronado. This story still makes me chuckle but when we met up with a pair of my in-laws in 2018, I requested that our rooms be in close proximity further away from the location the cheerleaders were staying, which they honored, but it was also a great location near the 2nd bus stop. My in-laws were assigned a room in a different building but in a room right across the path from us. My SIL, who thought they made a mistake, forced the CM to move them to a room in the same building as us. But they ended up much further away, in a noisier area, in an HA room LOL. And by the time they got into their room, it was too late to change it back.

 

[Songbird76]

They can be so inconsistent. Did you call the main reservation number and add the room requests to your main reservation? I've always had my request honored when I've done that. One time, my husband had an injury that was making stairs difficult and the rep told me that she was putting it in the system as medically necessary bc there were no elevators (so it must've been CBR). I've requested specific things at Riverside, CBR, and Coronado. This story still makes me chuckle but when we met up with a pair of my in-laws in 2018, I requested that our rooms be in close proximity further away from the location the cheerleaders were staying, which they honored, but it was also a great location near the 2nd bus stop. My in-laws were assigned a room in a different building but in a room right across the path from us. My SIL, who thought they made a mistake, forced the CM to move them to a room in the same building as us. But they ended up much further away, in a noisier area, in an HA room LOL. And by the time they got into their room, it was too late to change it back.

I didn't call them, I did the request online. Or I guess I had Touringplans do the request for me, maybe? They say they have some algorithm they use and specific wording to get what they want, but it has never worked for me. The closest we've come is that my brother was put in a ground floor room. (When he checked in, the CM even told him he got a great room and that his sister knew what she was doing when she made the request. Yes, she did, but then why wasn't SHE the one who got it??) I didn't realize there was a difference between calling and requesting online. I guess when I call to pay off my balance, I'll request a ground floor room because of my bursitis. Hopefully they will honor that one.

 

[wdisney9000]

Would have been shorter except….McDonough )

McDonough...The bane of a drive home from Florida to Atl.

 

[Skibum1970]

We drove our own vehicle.

Sorry. Missed that part. While I could do it, facing a 13-15 hour drive from Orlando to where I live would be the pure definition of a tragical express. Bad enough trekking to MCO but having to drive would be like rubbing salt in the wound.

Edit: I went back to the beginning and I even read that you had driven down and thought at one point, "Hmm, Chik-Fil-A does sound good right now." Sheesh.

 

[LeighM]

I didn't call them, I did the request online. Or I guess I had Touringplans do the request for me, maybe? They say they have some algorithm they use and specific wording to get what they want, but it has never worked for me. The closest we've come is that my brother was put in a ground floor room. (When he checked in, the CM even told him he got a great room and that his sister knew what she was doing when she made the request. Yes, she did, but then why wasn't SHE the one who got it??) I didn't realize there was a difference between calling and requesting online. I guess when I call to pay off my balance, I'll request a ground floor room because of my bursitis. Hopefully they will honor that one.

The rep that I spoke to explained the differences between the request added to your reservation notes and online requests but it's been too long ago for me to remember the specifics. When I would make the requests, I wouldn't get too specific. At Riverside, I've asked for close to the parking lot during the years we drove (and, to make the request happen, they upgraded us to a pool view) and close to the West Depot, the first theme park bus stop, and that room was so close to that bus stop that it was only a one minute walk. We loved that location!!! At Coronado, I've asked for a room away from the cheerleaders for 2 of my stays there, one of those trips they upgraded us to a Casitas room with a prime location. And at Caribbean Beach my request was a first floor room bc of the injury. I just keep the request really simple so it's been easy for room assigners and so far they were all honored. Definitely talk with someone at reservations and ask them to put a room request notation on your reservation since it's for a medical reason. It's been so long since I've called and made a request that I've forgotten the best time to do it but I think it's about 5-7 days before the start of your trip. In my earlier trips, I would call and have them added to my reservation but then would send an online fax to the room assignment number a week before my trip as a backup. Not sure what their process is now post covid and mousekeeping staff shortage but I would think they would honor a medical request as simple as a first floor room.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

It’s Abu!

Last Fall DH and I were determined to find ALL the statues in all 4 parks!! DH used the app to check them off as we found them via magic bands. Abu and Tink were the sneakiest. On our last night, we searched the internet for where Abu was, after not having luck all week. After spending MORE THAN AN HOUR looking for Tink, I asked the CM at the Castle Popcorn cart and he pointed her right out. It was a fun hunt and I can’t believe we found all 50!!

BTW—- great report, looking forward to your next adventure!

 

[Tuvalu]

Last Fall DH and I were determined to find ALL the statues in all 4 parks!! DH used the app to check them off as we found them via magic bands. Abu and Tink were the sneakiest. On our last night, we searched the internet for where Abu was, after not having luck all week. After spending MORE THAN AN HOUR looking for Tink, I asked the CM at the Castle Popcorn cart and he pointed her right out. It was a fun hunt and I can’t believe we found all 50!!

BTW—- great report, looking forward to your next adventure!

I forgot to look for Tink this visit. Em pointed her out to me last summer. Congrats on finding all the statues!

 

[sheriffwoody]

I know I'm super late, but loved reading about your spring break trip

 

[Katiekitten]

Thank you for sharing! I'm glad you made it home safe and as always I'm looking forward to your next trip report!

 

[Sillysidewalker]

And Genie+ is again $35 for the second day in a row.

Disney beat me down this trip. I was Mr Burns by the end of our trip.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I forgot to look for Tink this visit. Em pointed her out to me last summer. Congrats on finding all the statues!

It's those little things like Statue hunts or "How many times can you ride Big Thunder in a year" that change up the routines and make it just a wee bit more exciting (though it's always exciting!).