Trip Report Whose Trip Is It Anyway?

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

 

[Tiki Traveler]

Backstory ~

Upon returning to our room after the “inclement weather” pool closure, Em wistfully said, “I wish we didn’t have to get up early and drive all the way home tomorrow. It would be fun to have a bonus Disney day and spend the night in Valdosta (the halfway point) like you and Dad did on your birthday trip.”

Would you mind sharing where you stay in Valdosta? Learning our way around the south now.

 

[Tuvalu]

Would you mind sharing where you stay in Valdosta? Learning our way around the south now.

Sent you a DM.

 

[Tuvalu]

Or more accurately, things I forgot to mention when live reporting.

Poor pool behavior, per @Minnesota disney fan ‘s request:

The large man sitting in the shallow end of the pool, water up to his chin, who repeatedly sucked in a mouthful of water and then spit it back out in a fountain-like stream. (Like a whale with a blowhole.) DISGUSTING!!

Grown adults tossing tennis-size balls and small footballs back and forth to each other in the pool. Nothing is more stressful while lounging in the water than the fear of being struck by a wayward ball. This is NOT your private pool! Poor Em got pelted by a thrown ball and received a nasty bruise - as she was minding her own business.

The couple who decided to blast tunes from a small speaker, giving no thought that the rest of us might not like their choice of music and would rather hear the WL background music. This is NOT your private pool.

Speaking of loud (when we were at that venue we typically avoid ,) a very excited DJ on stage screeched into a microphone, "HOW ARE YOU DISNEY SPRINGS??!!"
Prompting Em’s reply (to me), "I'll be better when I'm in my hotel room!"

Poultry count for @dizfan917:
Turkey sandwiches 5x
Chicken tenders 3x
Chicken sandwiches 2x
Salads with chicken 2x

Funny tee shirt: I wonder if there's a bourbon out there thinking of me too.

Life got hectic upon my and Em’s return and the end of the 3+ weeks we had between trips is quickly approaching.

Up next is our

with Woody and the Tuva Tykes (9,8,3.5) family. Tu will be in full grandma mode and will be setting aside her trip reporting for now.

Thanks for following this installment!

 

[Swissmiss]

Yay for a trip with your grandkids! Enjoy your time together!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Or more accurately, things I forgot to mention when live reporting.

Poor pool behavior, per @Minnesota disney fan ‘s request:

The large man sitting in the shallow end of the pool, water up to his chin, who repeatedly sucked in a mouthful of water and then spit it back out in a fountain-like stream. (Like a whale with a blowhole.) DISGUSTING!!

Grown adults tossing tennis-size balls and small footballs back and forth to each other in the pool. Nothing is more stressful while lounging in the water than the fear of being struck by a wayward ball. This is NOT your private pool! Poor Em got pelted by a thrown ball and received a nasty bruise - as she was minding her own business.

The couple who decided to blast tunes from a small speaker, giving no thought that the rest of us might not like their choice of music and would rather hear the WL background music. This is NOT your private pool.

Speaking of loud (when we were at that venue we typically avoid ,) a very excited DJ on stage screeched into a microphone, "HOW ARE YOU DISNEY SPRINGS??!!"
Prompting Em’s reply (to me), "I'll be better when I'm in my hotel room!"

Poultry count for @dizfan917:
Turkey sandwiches 5x
Chicken tenders 3x
Chicken sandwiches 2x
Salads with chicken 2x

Funny tee shirt: I wonder if there's a bourbon out there thinking of me too.

Life got hectic upon my and Em’s return and the end of the 3+ weeks we had between trips is quickly approaching.

Up next is our

with Woody and the Tuva Tykes (9,8,3.5) family. Tu will be in full grandma mode and will be setting aside her trip reporting for now.

Thanks for following this installment!

Wow, just Wow! You had really bad luck at the pool with those ignorant people! That was really disgusting. And Em got hit and got a bruise???? I would have gone into mad mamma mode and said something, but that's just me. I tend to be mouthy when someone acts like an idiot. I think you win the trophy for "The Most Obnoxious Pool People"!!!

 

[dizfan917]

Have a blast with the family!!! Maybe get those kiddos a burger every now and then?! I really don't work for the Beef Council, I promise. I wouldn't mind a gig with the WI Cheese peeps, though. I do work for a company that sells spices, so food IS something that I dig...

Enjoy your time with the grandkids! My nephews went from little guys to college grads in the blink of an eye! Spoil them while you can.

 

[RememberWhen]

Have fun with the TuvaTykes! Maybe drop us a couple of back of head character hug pics? Or castle? Or trashcans? We’re not picky.

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Have a wonderful time with the family- enjoy being in grandma mode!

 

[93boomer]

Or more accurately, things I forgot to mention when live reporting.

Poor pool behavior, per @Minnesota disney fan ‘s request:

The large man sitting in the shallow end of the pool, water up to his chin, who repeatedly sucked in a mouthful of water and then spit it back out in a fountain-like stream. (Like a whale with a blowhole.) DISGUSTING!!

Grown adults tossing tennis-size balls and small footballs back and forth to each other in the pool. Nothing is more stressful while lounging in the water than the fear of being struck by a wayward ball. This is NOT your private pool! Poor Em got pelted by a thrown ball and received a nasty bruise - as she was minding her own business.

The couple who decided to blast tunes from a small speaker, giving no thought that the rest of us might not like their choice of music and would rather hear the WL background music. This is NOT your private pool.

Speaking of loud (when we were at that venue we typically avoid ,) a very excited DJ on stage screeched into a microphone, "HOW ARE YOU DISNEY SPRINGS??!!"
Prompting Em’s reply (to me), "I'll be better when I'm in my hotel room!"

Poultry count for @dizfan917:
Turkey sandwiches 5x
Chicken tenders 3x
Chicken sandwiches 2x
Salads with chicken 2x

Funny tee shirt: I wonder if there's a bourbon out there thinking of me too.

Life got hectic upon my and Em’s return and the end of the 3+ weeks we had between trips is quickly approaching.

Up next is our

with Woody and the Tuva Tykes (9,8,3.5) family. Tu will be in full grandma mode and will be setting aside her trip reporting for now.

Thanks for following this installment!

That will be awesome!! Have so much fun making memories!!

 

[cgersic]

I threw up in my mouth with your description of the whale imitation

That is probably the grossest thing I have heard of, and thank goodness I wasn't the one to see it! So glad you had another wonderful trip, and thank you as always for entertaining us! I am another in the group that would love to see some Tuva Tyke photos from the next one...

 

[rshell68]

Tu will be in full grandma mode and will be setting aside her trip reporting for now.

Have the BEST TIME EVER!!! I can't wait to take our 2 grandkids when they get a little older!

 

[Captain Barbossa]

The large man sitting in the shallow end of the pool, water up to his chin, who repeatedly sucked in a mouthful of water and then spit it back out in a fountain-like stream. (Like a whale with a blowhole.) DISGUSTING!!

Shamu needs to go back to SeaWorld

 

[radiorae]

Or more accurately, things I forgot to mention when live reporting.

Poor pool behavior, per @Minnesota disney fan ‘s request:

The large man sitting in the shallow end of the pool, water up to his chin, who repeatedly sucked in a mouthful of water and then spit it back out in a fountain-like stream. (Like a whale with a blowhole.) DISGUSTING!!

Grown adults tossing tennis-size balls and small footballs back and forth to each other in the pool. Nothing is more stressful while lounging in the water than the fear of being struck by a wayward ball. This is NOT your private pool! Poor Em got pelted by a thrown ball and received a nasty bruise - as she was minding her own business.

The couple who decided to blast tunes from a small speaker, giving no thought that the rest of us might not like their choice of music and would rather hear the WL background music. This is NOT your private pool.

Speaking of loud (when we were at that venue we typically avoid ,) a very excited DJ on stage screeched into a microphone, "HOW ARE YOU DISNEY SPRINGS??!!"
Prompting Em’s reply (to me), "I'll be better when I'm in my hotel room!"

Poultry count for @dizfan917:
Turkey sandwiches 5x
Chicken tenders 3x
Chicken sandwiches 2x
Salads with chicken 2x

Funny tee shirt: I wonder if there's a bourbon out there thinking of me too.

Life got hectic upon my and Em’s return and the end of the 3+ weeks we had between trips is quickly approaching.

Up next is our

with Woody and the Tuva Tykes (9,8,3.5) family. Tu will be in full grandma mode and will be setting aside her trip reporting for now.

Thanks for following this installment!

People make me… tired

Have an amazing time with the Tuva Tykes and co! I hope you get to make a bunch of new, fun memories

 

[Tuvalu]

 

[Laurenciaa]

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THIS!!! Very happy they finally finished the rework!

 

[littleroo]

 

[Dave B]

I cant wait to hear about this adventure, hopefully the A/C is working

 

[littleroo]

The animals from AK have been direct messaging me... there has been a Tuvula sighting there!! If there are any pictures of this rare creature, please send evidence!!

 

[lindawdw]

So happy to see that the boardwalk is finished for this trip Tuvalu!!! Hope you're having the most magical time with your family!

BTW, all your pool bad behavior validates for me how civil society has gone by the wayside. I think I would have had to whisper in that guy's ear how absolutely disgusting his fountain spewing looked to the guests watching him! Sorry that Em was in the line of fire of the ball throwing. I've endured that behavior myself and find it annoying. Can't the adults just enjoy soaking in the pool and talking with other guests???

 

[Tuvalu]

@littleroo

Going to be another hot one today. The Sahara dust is blanketing central Florida. Yesterday’s high was 98 degrees with a real feel of 111!