Trip Report Whose Trip Is It Anyway? *LIVE*

It's mine. But it wasn't supposed to be.

The vacation to celebrate my <number redacted> birthday with my beloved Woody was supposed to happen at the end of January and included time with @lindawdw, @ajrwdwgirl and a few other forum friends. But a predicted ice storm and a couple other extenuating circumstances caused us to cancel our plans two days prior to departure.

This trip was supposed to be a belated birthday celebration for my mother during winter break for my brother's family. I was going to accompany her and assist with her mobility challenges. The day after we canceled my birthday trip, Mom announced she no longer wanted to go to WDW and insisted Woody take her place since the resort was already paid in full. (She did have several local celebrations on and around her actual birthday.)

Our airline tickets were refunded and since Woody prefers driving from Atlanta we added a couple nights to our trip. No spoilers yet, just a math problem.

Winter break + Presidents' Day + Mardi Gras + Lunar New Year + Snowbirds = A crowd collision of massive proportions

When: February 14-19, 2026
Where: Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Who: Tuvalu and Woody, with family introductions to come

 

[NomadLounger]

Thursday, con’t

Em and I returned to WL for a short break. In that short time frame it was cloudy, sunny, windy, misty and rainy.

We boated back to MK in windy mist. (“Windy mist” sounds like a paint color.)

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Note the wind in the palm trees. Thirty-eight knots according to the captain.

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The Liberty Tree Tavern meal we didn’t get on Monday night we got tonight.

We were seated at the best table in the house - next to the kitchen behind the butler’s pantry. (Em’s favorite spot! )

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The service and food made up for the location. Both of us declared the new ham the best unexpected surprise of dinner. It was amazing.

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We weren’t too full (or too embarrassed) to ask for separate Ooey Gooeys.

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The ham is a great addition! One advantage of solo travel is getting my own Ooey Gooey!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thursday, con’t

LL#5. The riff raff had to wait 40 minutes to see the Redhead. Not us!

No more LLs (other than Barnstormer and Dumbo) were available for the rest of the day. The park was still wall-to-wall people and it was time for us to head out.

We ran into @pkkurz and his bride as we walked past the Plaza Garden. Stopped to chat for a bit before saying goodbye to MK.

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, April 10

@littleroo these are for you!

 

[Tuvalu]

Ringing in our last day.

 

[lindawdw]

That weather yesterday seemed to be all over the place, but you made the best of it for sure! It looks like your last day is going to be a nice warm, sunny day!!!! Have fun at whatever park is on tap for today!

 

[littleroo]

The sunrise today was absolutely spectacular! Thank you! I am so sad that today is your last day but at least it is a beautiful day!

 

[Tuvalu]

Friday, con’t

In the park before 8 am early entry!

Where shall we go?

How about a beautiful Chinese theater?

Which was a better fit for the Great Movie Ride. With MMRR being cartoonish, the attraction theming in Disneyland works better. But the sentimental side of me is glad the Chinese theater is still here.

Dancing with Daisy.

 

[Tuvalu]

We heard the Resistance needs our help. Thankfully it’s still early entry and we’re able to beat the off-property recruits to the secret base.

It’s been awhile since Em and I have seen the preshows.

And we did not get rushed past the Stormtroopers. Plenty of time for a picture.

We’re Resistance now. Or so we were told at the end of our experience.

 

[Tuvalu]

Yikes! This is a long wait so early in the morning.

Now you know why we paid the big bucks.
LL#1

I did not take the real elevator. I told Em I was wearing the shirt so I had to accompany her on the broken one. And that I had managed to ride GotG Mission Breakout on our Cali trip last summer, so ToT couldn’t possibly have as many up and downs as that did.

Thankfully it did not. The girls on my left were screaming so I had to join them.

 

[93boomer]

But, it came too soon. You girls need to stay longer.
Have a great last day!!

 

[littleroo]

That is a great picture on TOT!! One of my absolute favorite rides!! This a framer!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Time for some vittles.

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No, it’s not Chipotle or Surcheros. But we have always been satisfied with the bowls here, despite the criticism the food receives. (Service, on the other hand, is well deserving of criticism. Is it really that difficult to put prepared food and drinks on a tray?)

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It’s almost as if he’s thinking, If she takes one more picture….

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So I put my phone away and chick chatted with Kel through lunch.

The part about Woody possibly thinking if she takes one more picture... cracks me up...!!!!!
My family used to get a bit annoyed at all my picture snapping. Then one day, when Emmy was still very young, Megan's (oldest daughter) iPhone completely crashed and she lost everything...there was no way to retrieve any of it, and she had not backed up in a while. Dear Ol' "Snappy Pappy" to the rescue...!!!!!
Not only did I have a ton of my own pics, but I had many of hers that I requested she send me.
SonIL said to her that she was so lucky I did that, and although sometimes a few other family members can still get a bit annoyed, she told me to take all the "snaps" I ever want to, from then on...!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Thursday, con’t

“Let’s do Jungle Cruise,” Kel suggested when we finished lunch. The wait was posted at 45 minutes, which wasn’t horrible and our chick chat/guy gab (Woody contributed to the conversation) helped pass the time.

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I believe we were sharing college memories at this point in line. Anyone know what’s that spikey object in the water?

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Ready to go for Niles and Niles….

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Skipper Jan (not her name but I think she looks like a Jan) was fast and furious with the puns.

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“We don’t play musical crates,” she admonished a couple kids who kept changing seats.

As we floated by the reptile curled over the branches Skipper Jan yelled, “Look at the python sitting in a tree, H I S S I N G!”

Then, “Close your eyes, kids, we’re getting mooned!”

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Cruising by the elephant watering hole:
“Frieda is the perfect example of not staying in the shower too long.

“You might become an elephant!”

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Pointing at the monkeys below: “The two of them have been doing that for days. They are trying to break a record!”

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The Jungle cruise is a fave, and we have yet to be disappointed…!!!
Even barely 1-year-old Emmy loved it so much the first time she experienced it on our 2019 “Worldwind” trip…!!!

 

[Tiki Traveler]

I did not take the real elevator. I told Em I was wearing the shirt so I had to accompany her on the broken one. And that I had managed to ride GotG Mission Breakout on our Cali trip last summer, so ToT couldn’t possibly have as many up and downs as that did.

Thankfully it did not. The girls on my left were screaming so I had to join them.

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Now I just have to get my nerve up again!

 

[Tuvalu]

Now I just have to get my nerve up again!

 

[lindawdw]

Such a great start to your morning at DHS and your shirts are so perfect for your last park day adventures! Safe travels on your ride home today!

 

[littleroo]

Safe travels!!

 

[Zipadeelady]

You can't go home today! I just looked at the weather! 80 and sunny, you need another pool day!

 

[Tuvalu]

You can't go home today! I just looked at the weather! 80 and sunny, you need another pool day!

Yes we do!

 

[Tuvalu]

I thought I could finish my live trip report in real time.

But I promise to finish asap.