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

 

[Tiggerish]

I have yet to ride the Skyliner

 

[Tiggertoo56]

Sunday, con’t

We had completed all we’d wanted to do at Epcot, with the exception of the Donald boat ride. We did not feel like retracing our steps in the heat, nor did we feel like completing the full circuit around the lagoon. We also did not feel like making the two mile walk from Regal Eagle to the WL bus stop.

I had a solution to our conundrum.

We headed towards the International Gateway.

Woody had an empty water bottle to throw away. Unknowingly, he was about to face a test of his intelligence. One that the naysayers on these forums say the majority of Disney guests will fail.

How to use the new solar-powered trash cans.

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Woody is a college graduate, a Mr. Fix-It, a problem-solver by sight. He can explain to me how things work, whether a car engine or computer software (while all I hear is Charlie Brown’s teacher .)

Surely he could figure out how to dispose of a water bottle.

Muscle-memory had him push his hand against the swing door to drop the bottle inside, the method used for most public trash cans.

Strike one.

Perplexed, he then tried to pull the handle down.

Strike two.

“You need to step on the pedal at the bottom,” I said before the invisible umpire could call him out.

(Maybe the naysayers are right after all.)

Cast Members at the IG exit waved goodbye and told us to have a nice day. A short walk later we were onboard the Skyliner.

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TuvaWoo had a private cabin to the CBR station.

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And another private cabin to DHS.

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Upon exiting, we walked to the bus depot to catch our bus. It probably wasn’t a time saver, but it was a step saver. (And there was a nice breeze blowing into our cabin during the journey.)

I love that you can use the International Gateway for various types of travel. We may have done the same as you a few times! Skyliner to CRB, then to HS and bus to where we were headed. It's good when there is a breeze on a hot day too and saves the steps!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Back at our room my MagicBand would not unlock the door.

Three attempts, all with the red light.

Woody used his phone to unlock the door. I found my spare MB and went out into the hall to try unlocking the door.

Red light. I knocked on the door and Woody let me in. I grabbed my other MB and set off for the Front Desk while Woody settled in to watch racing.

It turned out that my MBs had been deactivated! “How?” I asked the CM.

“Technology,” she shrugged as she handed them back. “They should work now.”

I missed the helpfulness of Sammie.

Back on the 5th floor I was able to unlock our room door. However by then my enthusiasm for going to the pool was gone. I sat beside Woody and read.

In the early evening we added a new form of transportation to the day and took the small launch to MK.

We noticed some work going on which had closed the WL side of the WL/FTW dock. Those boats were now using the dock that Poly/GF boats use, and Poly/GF boats were using the FTW side of the WL/FTW dock.

This would become a major issue later.

Last month Christmas in July. Now Halloween in August.

 

[Tuvalu]

Keeping with the Halloween theme, we went to the (playful) spooky ride first.

There wasn’t much of a wait, so no complaints from us!

I got an exclusive look at the construction behind the wall. Don’t tell anyone!

I kinda feel sorry for Uncle Theo, Dorothea and Cousin Algernon. None were given a clever epitaph. Their tombstones must have been a rush order to fill now-visible space.

I told Woody again where to look for the ride camera. He did good. I on the other hand should have followed my own advice.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Woody and I got in line just in time for the drumroll!

Ten minutes from entry to being on board.

More playful spooks flying above us!

Where is the señorita with the castanets? Her señor with the guitar has finally retuned after his long absence and now she’s gone!

Is that the scent of Windex that I’m smelling?

Cleopatra has been MIA for a few months now.

Have you been through this secret door? I have!

 

[Tuvalu]

Hungry after our cruise, we did not stray far for dinner.

Cheese flatbread for Woody, pepperoni kids meal for me. The mandarin was sweet and juicy, the perfect finish!

I love how the evening sun illuminated Prince Eric’s castle.

Scuttle was inside but his crab friends were nowhere to be seen.

Gets me every time.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

I love how the evening sun illuminated Prince Eric’s castle.

Magic Kingdom at sunset is extra magical!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

My day began with a beautiful sunrise. I thought we could catch some of the sunset from the Peoplemover.

Love the rays bursting from behind a cloud.

Magic Kingdom at sunset is extra magical!

Couldn’t agree more!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sadly the rest of the sunset was not as spectacular as the views we’d had on the Peoplemover. Clouds had rolled in and we decided to head out. Woody suggested the bypass where we got a glimpse of some of the MNSSHP sets without the paywall.

His expression speaks volumes of how he feels about Halloween in August.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

And here’s when the dock switch became the major issue I alluded to earlier. Boat Dock 1 is the larger of the two Resort Launches dock, located directly across from the center of MK’s entrance plaza. It is surrounded on three sides by water so there’s usually a breeze. The canopy is made of all canvas which also helps with air flow. WL boats are assigned the left side of the dock, FTW ferries the right side. The WL side is currently out of commission because of construction to widen the walkway to the MK ferry.

Because Poly and GF share the same launch and have fewer guests, a decision was made to move the Poly/GF launch to the FTW side of Dock 1, and move all “Wilderness” water transport to Boat Dock 2.

Whoever made this decision should be forced to spend a hot summer day and/or night waiting in the enclosed queue, which is covered by a hard canopy and has no fans, and thus zero air flow.

Here’s Dock 2 from the water.

Only one side is open to the water and that’s the line for Fort Wilderness.

Trapped inside the queue, the air was deathly still and the humidity was unbearable. Woody checked the weather app and the “real feel” temperature was 98 degrees (at 8:30 pm). I can guarantee it was hotter than that as we stood stationary for over 20 minutes, sweat pouring down our backs, waiting for the WL ferry.

Once it finally arrived and we boarded, we had to wait an additional 10 minutes before departing due to “traffic.” There was still no breeze and tempers of us weary passengers were flaring. We were all hot, tired and wanted to be home!

The only light-hearted moment (which made me chuckle) was a know-it-all woman who loudly announced to her companion, “There’s The Continental Hotel.”

A name change of which I was unaware.

Both of us showered off the sweat once we were back in our room. We cranked the a/c down low.

Not the best end to an otherwise fun day.

 

[AndrewWasHere]

My sister-in-law also calls the Contemporary the Continental just to annoy my brother.

 

[Tuvalu]

My sister-in-law also calls the Contemporary the Continental just to annoy my brother.

She was on the boat with me??!!!!

Seriously, I’ve never heard anyone refer to the CR as the Continental!

 

[lindawdw]

I'm finally all caught up with your last few updates! The American Adventure restaurant can NEVER switch out our favorite smores dessert!!!!

The sunset pictures of the People Mover at MK were so spectacular!!! I loved the photo of Woody hating on all the Halloween decorations backstage of Main Street. Your wait for the boat back to WL sounded absolutely miserable.

 

[Tuvalu]

I loved the photo of Woody hating on all the Halloween decorations backstage of Main Street.

The best part? It wasn’t an intentional pose.

 

[muddyrivers]

The best part? It wasn’t an intentional pose.

Before I even read your caption I looked at the picture and said "Boy, he looks thrilled" I think this is the picture of the trip!

 

[Minnie1986]

I'm finally all caught up with your last few updates! The American Adventure restaurant can NEVER switch out our favorite smores dessert!!!!

The sunset pictures of the People Mover at MK were so spectacular!!! I loved the photo of Woody hating on all the Halloween decorations backstage of Main Street. Your wait for the boat back to WL sounded absolutely miserable.

I'm going to have to try one of these smores desserts on my upcoming trip

 

[Tuvalu]

I'm going to have to try one of these smores desserts on my upcoming trip

If you don’t we can’t be friends.

 

[littleroo]

I am on team Woody, as per usual! I am so tired of holidays being rushed and stores filled with Halloween and shortly, Christmas things already!! Try to look for a swimsuit at the beginning of August. I guess I will be buying a swimsuit next February when there is snow there ground

Disney also needs to invest in fans and benches especially around Les Halles. The one thing I did want to mention is the line at Les Halles does move quite quickly and you can also take things to go. Last trip, we got things to go and ate by the water, across from Germany, with no one around.

Lastly, no trip report is comple without a Woody wave to the happy couple
PS. That and sunrise pictures

 

[Tuvalu]

I am on team Woody, as per usual! I am so tired of holidays being rushed and stores filled with Halloween and shortly, Christmas things already!! Try to look for a swimsuit at the beginning of August. I guess I will be buying a swimsuit next February when there is snow there ground

Disney also needs to invest in fans and benches especially around Les Halles. The one thing I did want to mention is the line at Les Halles does move quite quickly and you can also take things to go. Last trip, we got things to go and ate by the water, across from Germany, with no one around.

Lastly, no trip report is comple without a Woody wave to the happy couple
PS. That and sunrise pictures

Swimwear is long gone and I live in the south!!

Good to know that the Les Halles line moves quickly but I refuse to wait outdoors in the heat, which is sometimes where the line ends. Perhaps I will try again in winter 2027.

More sunrise pics on the way!

 

[Tuvalu]

Monday, August 17

As promised @littleroo!

I caught the morning star in the sunbeams below.

I decided to focus on the sun as it was rising behind the under-construction Lakeshore Lodge, which required me to zoom in a little.

A peek of the fireball.

A few minutes later I could no longer look in that direction without being blinded.

I went inside to mobile order breakfast for us. Woody offered to do the pick up at Roaring Fork. Before he returned I was able to move the table and chairs around on the balcony so that we could dine al fresco without the sun in our eyes.

Woody had ordered the breakfast platter with scrambled eggs, potato barrels, sausage, bacon and a cheese biscuit. It was a lot of food which ended up being a good thing, since my oatmeal was inedible.

Yes, once again the brown sugar was in a melted puddle on top rather than in its own container as advertised. But the extra sweetness was not the problem. The oatmeal tasted like burnt coffee - or rather the smell of burnt coffee, since I am not a coffee drinker. Yuck!

I was not about to send Woody back to Roaring Fork for a replacement (most likely the entire pot of oatmeal was bad) so he offered to share some of his food with me.

“Sharing breakfast on our balcony is another reason I’m glad we didn’t stay club level,” said Woody. “Being with you while listening to the waterfall is so peaceful.”