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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

1771886372558.jpeg
 
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riverside

riverside

Well-Known Member
Tuvalu said:
I also never made it to the Lion King or Cars sections of the resort. I’d seen pictures and intended to check out the whimsy for myself.
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😪Big mistake!! I think all of the areas there are very well themed but the Cars section is the best IMO. It made me feel like I was in the movie!! Check it out if you ever get a chance-I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!!
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
riverside said:
😪Big mistake!! I think all of the areas there are very well themed but the Cars section is the best IMO. It made me feel like I was in the movie!! Check it out if you ever get a chance-I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!!
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Back!Elbow!Shoulders! said:
I agree. (And I’ve never even seen any Cars movies…)
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Heidi Klum Hot Ones GIF by First We Feast

Maybe I can convince Em to take a Skyliner ride on our next transportation day….🤔
 
donaldtoo

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
riverside said:
😪Big mistake!! I think all of the areas there are very well themed but the Cars section is the best IMO. It made me feel like I was in the movie!! Check it out if you ever get a chance-I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!!
Click to expand...

Back!Elbow!Shoulders! said:
I agree. (And I’ve never even seen any Cars movies…)
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Tuvalu said:
Heidi Klum Hot Ones GIF by First We Feast

Maybe I can convince Em to take a Skyliner ride on our next transportation day….🤔
Click to expand...

Completely agree regarding the Cars section of AoA…!!! :)
On our July of 2012 trip we had 2 Cars family suites, as we went with another family. I was a Disney Store CM at the time, so was able to book them with my 60% resort discount. The Cars section opened less than a month before we stayed there.
I tried to do same for our June of 2013 trip, but the price had gone up considerably, and our dates were blocked out for CM discounts. We ended up in a family suite at ASMusic instead, which was fine, but not the same, of course.
Whether y’all stay at AoA again, or just go to check it out, don’t miss the Cars section, as it’s very well-themed…!!! :geek:
 
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Original Poster
Sunday, con’t

Rain was on its way, which made the decision to stay put at AoA easy. Before the heavens opened, Woody and I went to Landscape of Flavors to grab dinner.

There was a myriad of choices (a definite benefit to staying at a large resort) and we opted for Asian stir-fry. While waiting, I overheard a man with an Alabama twang order “the SALmon.”

He said it three times.

Comedy Mean GIF by CBS

(Sorry but it was too funny not to share! :angelic:)

Woody and I couldn’t decide between two choices - Mongolian Beef or Sesame Chicken - so we ordered both and shared.

IMG_0401.jpeg


Both dishes were very good though we voted Sesame Chicken better of the two. E had the Sesame Chicken later that night, loved it, and raved about it to M whom I think had it twice!

Woody watched the end of the Daytona 500 in the living area while I watched the Olympics in the bedroom. (Yay for two TVs!) The rain raged on outside, though I’m happy to report that TEAML got their TRON ride and managed to escape the deluge!
 
donaldtoo

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
riverside said:
I’ve never been there so I can’t say!!
The different areas there are all very nice & well themed but I feel like the Cars section is the most immersive.
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Yes indeed…!!! :)
Although we didn’t stay at AoA on our June of 2013 trip, we took a bus (pre-Skyliner ;)) there to check out The Little Mermaid and The Lion King sections, as only the Finding Nemo and Cars sections were open during our 2012 trip.
In our opinion, Cars is definitely the best themed section…!!! :cool:
 
donaldtoo

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
cgersic said:
The Cars section is truly best at the Golden Hour. All the lights coming on gives it the best vibe possible!
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I’ve got pictures of what you’re talkin’ about, but they’re on an old “Crackberry” (;)) Torch that got packed in a box when we moved into our new home at the end of ‘23, that I have yet to make a proper effort to find. :cyclops:
Beautiful, indeed, at that time of day, and even into the night…!!! :happy:
Inspiration, hopefully, for me finding that phone and gettin’ those pics off of there…!!! :)
 
donaldtoo

donaldtoo

Well-Known Member
Tuvalu said:
Sunday, con’t

Rain was on its way, which made the decision to stay put at AoA easy. Before the heavens opened, Woody and I went to Landscape of Flavors to grab dinner.

There was a myriad of choices (a definite benefit to staying at a large resort) and we opted for Asian stir-fry. While waiting, I overheard a man with an Alabama twang order “the SALmon.”

He said it three times.

Comedy Mean GIF by CBS

(Sorry but it was too funny not to share! :angelic:)

Woody and I couldn’t decide between two choices - Mongolian Beef or Sesame Chicken - so we ordered both and shared.

View attachment 911131

Both dishes were very good though we voted Sesame Chicken better of the two. E had the Sesame Chicken later that night, loved it, and raved about it to M whom I think had it twice!

Woody watched the end of the Daytona 500 in the living area while I watched the Olympics in the bedroom. (Yay for two TVs!) The rain raged on outside, though I’m happy to report that TEAML got their TRON ride and managed to escape the deluge!
Click to expand...

When we stayed at AoA, Landscape of Flavors had a menu item called the “Surf N’ Surf Burger”. It was a combo crab cake and fried shrimp “burger”, and, boy howdy, was it ever darn delicious…!!!!! :hungry:
Pretty sure it’s not on the menu anymore, but it sounds like they still have some great menu choices, and glad to hear y’all all enjoyed them…!!! :)
 
Tiggertoo56

Tiggertoo56

Well-Known Member
Tuvalu said:
Sunday, con’t

Rain was on its way, which made the decision to stay put at AoA easy. Before the heavens opened, Woody and I went to Landscape of Flavors to grab dinner.

There was a myriad of choices (a definite benefit to staying at a large resort) and we opted for Asian stir-fry. While waiting, I overheard a man with an Alabama twang order “the SALmon.”

He said it three times.

Comedy Mean GIF by CBS

(Sorry but it was too funny not to share! :angelic:)

Woody and I couldn’t decide between two choices - Mongolian Beef or Sesame Chicken - so we ordered both and shared.

View attachment 911131

Both dishes were very good though we voted Sesame Chicken better of the two. E had the Sesame Chicken later that night, loved it, and raved about it to M whom I think had it twice!

Woody watched the end of the Daytona 500 in the living area while I watched the Olympics in the bedroom. (Yay for two TVs!) The rain raged on outside, though I’m happy to report that TEAML got their TRON ride and managed to escape the deluge!
Click to expand...
Sesame chicken for my vote too! I remember it from our 2024 visit and ate it again on Thursday just gone. We did a Skyliner visit to AOA for a wander again and it didn't disappoint 😉 👏
 

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