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

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

The ground was wet and steaming when we exited the Land pavilion. Turns out we had missed a downpour!

Kel was all in on another trip through SSE. “I can ride it multiple times! Besides, my first ride today kept stopping so I’d love to try again.”

Tell us without telling us how you feel about riding a second time, Kel!

I’d be remiss again if I didn’t take the following picture for @radiorae. No sleuthing necessary, it’s an easy one!

It goes without saying that Kel and I were chick chatting when our photo was taken. But it worked to our advantage in that Kel is facing in the proper direction to pilot a vehicle and deep sea dive.

While I got to experience what it’s like to be a seahorse.

 

[dizfan917]

that seahorse head is kinda unsettling... I think it IS time for an update, but they better not mess it up! LOVE me some Spaceship Earth!!

 

[radiorae]

I’d be remiss again if I didn’t take the following picture for @radiorae. No sleuthing necessary, it’s an easy one!

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Winnie the Pooh! No, wait, uhmmmm Peter Pan! ; )

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

The next attraction was my daughter’s idea.

The face of her brother on the far right pretty much sums up how I felt about it. You may recall my nightmare experience last month of being stuck in the EAC. I was in no hurry to revisit that!

In recent years I have had to practically beg Em to ride it with me. Why the sudden change?

Although technically she wasn’t riding it with me today either.

All was going swimmingly until the omnimover came to a sudden halt here.

The audio did not cease, however. I was forced to listen to Mr. Ray repeatedly singing:

Science is great.
There’s so much to know.
Climb aboard explorers, it’s time to GO!

Let’s go explore, explore, explore
Let’s go explore the big blue world!

At least I wasn’t stuck in the EAC.

The delay lasted a couple minutes and we began moving again. As much as I wanted to Just keep swimming! history was about to repeat itself.

I kid you not.

AGAIN??!!! Stuck in the EAC??!!! What are the odds??!!!

Apparently for me, high enough that I should play the lottery.

This delay lasted longer than the first one. (Of course it did!)

Finally the voice of Crush boomed through the speakers. “Stay in your seats. The ride is supposed to start moving now.”

“Thanks, Crush!” I heard the voice of Kel cry out.

But no one could have been happier than me.

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

It was then time to retrace our steps back through World Showcase. Though we had reserved seating for the 5:30pm Eat to the Beat show, we wanted decent seats that weren’t in direct sun. Temps were still pretty toasty.

Success!

Tonight’s performers.

The three of us have been fans of MercyMe since the release of I Can Only Imagine, 25(!) years ago. I took my dad to see the movie in 2018 as it was one of his favorite songs and he wanted to know the backstory. When Dad was in hospice the song brought him - and me - comfort.

When it was sung in the amphitheater tonight, I wasn’t the only one overcome by emotion.

Sadly, staying for the next show wasn’t an option. Kel had to be heading home and Em and I were ready to get settled in at POR.

The three of us had #ShirleyStatus on the tram to the parking lot.

After a group hug, we parted ways. Kel became a first-time grandmother two months ago and since baby boy lives in California, we’re not sure when we’ll get together again.

But today became a core memory, that’s for sure!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Before I get into the details of this stay at Port Orleans Riverside, let’s travel back in time to when the resort was known by a different name.

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Dixie Landings was the first home for the Tuvalu family of five. Before the arrival of Em, there had been a couple of short stays with other family members at the Contemporary and Fairway Villas (now Saratoga Springs). But our inaugural trip was in July 1993 when Em was 19 months old.

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Note the fold-up umbrella stroller. It was the one she used for the next two Julys. In July 1996, Em was four and a half and walked the parks.

What about all the stuff that toddlers and school age children require? Diapers, wipes, change of clothes, snacks, refillable water bottle AND camcorder (the compact kind) were in a Land’s End medium duffel bag that Woody slung over his shoulder. (Even back then, the man was a saint!)

The Minnie plush she’s holding? She’d toddled up to a display of plush characters in Fulton’s General Store and plucked her out, keeping her in a death grip. “I guess we’re buying Minnie,” I said to Woody.

Minnie went everywhere with Em that first trip, except the pool. (Mom was mean!)

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The boys loved Ol’ Man Island. That’s them on the steps.

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Disney vacations in July meant getting used to afternoon thunderstorms. But we never expected a violent thunderstorm at 8:30 in the morning! Waiting for the bus to MGM Studios at the South Depot.

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Our family always had to stay in the rustic Alligator Bayou section of the resort (not the dreamy Mansions) because those rooms slept 5 and had the under-the-bed pullout trundle, which Miss Em had to sleep on. (The downside to being the youngest and the only girl.)

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So POR holds a special place in our family nostalgia. And before you ask, @Dave B, that’s 17 stays for a total of 55 nights.

I love your POR pictures of when your children were young. POR was our home resort for years, even when the "kids" were grown with kids of their own. It was easy for them all to fit in those Alligator Bayou rooms. We actually preferred AB to the Mansions. We liked the winding tropical paths and the resort pools in that area. So many memories.
We switched to POFQ due to it's smaller area to make it easier for my husband to navigate. We loved POFQ too, but always remember our wonderful times at POR.

 

[lindawdw]

That was not good odds getting stuck on Nemo and Friends again in that same area as last month! It looks like you all had such a fun day together even with the crowd levels high!

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

The moment we climbed into the car it began to rain. We’d gotten lucky for the second this day!

By the time we had driven to Riverside and found a parking spot in the right section for our room, the rain had ceased. Luck x3!

After a quick unpack, Em and I set off to find some food.

The marina and surrounding area has always been so picturesque.

The food court wasn’t terribly crowded. (Everyone was still at Epcot!) We discovered that the Lemon Pepper Parmesan chicken strips that we liked at Pinocchio’s Village Haus were also available here.

We split an order and they were as good as we remembered.

We checked out Fulton’s General Store afterwards. There was lots of Halloween-themed merchandise.

Could I have spied an Em&m?

 

[Tuvalu]

I love your POR pictures of when your children were young. POR was our home resort for years, even when the "kids" were grown with kids of their own. It was easy for them all to fit in those Alligator Bayou rooms. We actually preferred AB to the Mansions. We liked the winding tropical paths and the resort pools in that area. So many memories.
We switched to POFQ due to its smaller area to make it easier for my husband to navigate. We loved POFQ too, but always remember our wonderful times at POR.

That was not good odds getting suck on Nemo and Friends again in that same area as last month! It looks like you all had such a fun day together even with the crowd levels high!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, September 20

We made our first long walk to the East Depot this morning. We used the stairs rather than the elevator and were struck by the number of tiny baby frogs jumping around on them. The tiny amphibians greeted us every morning of our stay (we saw a few in the evenings as well.) Em and I thought they were cute, although she did not have the same sentiment towards the geckos!

Upon arrival at the Magic Kingdom, I was impressed with the orderly queue for security thanks to the barricades.

The entrance plaza was not busy at all and we hoped it indicated a low crowds day.

Em’s first look at the Halloween decor. I admit the scene was more palatable for me in September than it was in August!

She was quite taken with the Confectionery’s display windows.

Should we have called for help?

Once we saw phone scrolling we knew it wasn’t an emergency.

Happy girls in their happy place!

 

[Tuvalu]

Em chose the order of our attractions. She wanted to go through Cindy’s Castle first.

We spent a few moments admiring the tile mosaics. Em commented that she would have hated doing that job (despite being a crafty person herself!)

The sun was catching the croc at just the right angle. I rarely notice that he’s even here.

And off we go…..

Although I don’t know how we flew. We weren’t pixie dusted.

While we were in line my phone buzzed with a photo from Woody.

Since I wasn’t home he received his morning kiss from Poly!

 

[Swissmiss]

Em and I thought they were cute, although she did not have the same sentiment towards the geckos

Geckos may not be as cute as the frogs, but they are good at insect control so I more than tolerate them.

 

[Tuvalu]

Geckos may not be as cute as the frogs, but they are good at insect control so I more than tolerate them.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

A startling sight as we headed for attraction #2. It’s the attack of the giant crane!

Almost as frightening as Em’s toddler trip through the Haunted Mansion with her Uncle T.

Thankfully she’s gotten braver over the years.

The timing of the flash for ride photos was off and I knew we wouldn’t receive ours.
So I took my own.

Phineas ‘poofed’ my head, put it in a balloon and let it go. What a playful spook he is!

 

[Tuvalu]

Fantasyland was runnin’ on empty.

Where to next, Em?

Ah. A little Unda the Sea action.

Another walk-on (or is it walk-in?) just like Haunted Mansion.

Wait for it….

….and there it is!

 

[Tuvalu]

We were on the move to a different land now. On the way, Em requested a pop-in to Star Traders.

Paging @donaldtoo — shiny Mylar pants mannequin has left the building!

And oh, the irony - shiny Mylar pants with platform sneakers would make for an out-of-this-world Halloween costume!

And there were lots of Halloween accessories.

Em favored the next two items.

I couldn’t persuade her to purchase either one.

 

[Tuvalu]

Welcome to Tomorrowland! Can I interest you in a front car Peoplemover ride?

Yes, please!

We had intended to battle the Evil Emperor Zurg but unlike the short wait/no wait attractions we’d done earlier, Buzz had a ridiculously long wait. “There’s no way I’m standing in line outdoors in this humidity!” Em declared.

 

[lindawdw]

It sounds like the perfect morning at MK so far!!! Since they did the refurbishment on Buzz, we've found the line to be ridiculous long all the time now! Love all the Halloween decor and store offerings at MK!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Paging @donaldtoo — shiny Mylar pants mannequin has left the building!

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And oh, the irony - shiny Mylar pants with platform sneakers would make for an out-of-this-world Halloween costume!

Bring ‘em BAAAAAAACKKK…!!!!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

On another note…
I cut my finger doin’ dishes last night, and look who I forgot was in our medicine cabinet to come to the rescue…!!!!!!!