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]

The People

Now for the family introductions. One of my brothers (T) lives nearby and the other (C) lives in Louisville with a second home near WDW. Over the years I’ve had trip overlap with both their families. T’s kids are 15,13 &11. C’s boys are grown.

Em and M are my mother’s only granddaughters. The other six are grandsons. With a twenty year age gap between the girls, M’s arrival was extra special to our family. This was her first experience at Be Our Guest - back in the good old days when lunch was quick service (and cell phone photos were bad!)

Thankfully we had Photopass on the vacation two years later where I was a Tag-a-long.

Evidence of the passage of time. Exhibit #1.

Exhibit #2.

Now let’s get this trip started!

 

[RememberWhen]

Love seeing the family pictures!!

 

[littleroo]

I don't know what makes me feel older, seeing Em at the age or remembering when BOG was a quick service at lunch Really looking forward to Tu's first TR of 2026!!

 

[93boomer]

My, how they’ve grown up fast!

 

[Tuvalu]

I don't know what makes me feel older, seeing Em at the age or remembering when BOG was a quick service at lunch

BOG served lunch (and breakfast) up until the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. Em and I ate there in February 2020. If we'd only known then it would be our last time ever....

Six years shouldn't make you feel too much older.

 

[WDisneyW]

Happy belated birthday!

 

[k8einwdw]

BOG served lunch (and breakfast) up until the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. Em and I ate there in February 2020. If we'd only known then it would be our last time ever....

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, February 14

I couldn’t have been happier as Woody and I were backing out of our driveway to begin our journey. In that moment all the stress of trip planning and preparation to leave town melted away. Note that yesterday was Friday the 13th - and in due form our microwave blew the kitchen circuit breaker, requiring a Target run to purchase a new microwave. Em was going to stay at our house to care for cats Kona and Poly, who continues to recover from a self-inflicted wound and is on daily meds and ointment.

I did not want to leave Em without a
microwave, because she was sacrificing the comfort of her own home and had to make daily visits to care for her cat Astrid. (If only non-familial cats could get along like non- familial dogs!)

The early part of the morning passed quickly as I answered birthday greetings texts from family and friends with Woody in the driver’s seat. When we arrived at the center of all things Beaver, we found an open gas pump - albeit at the very end of the pump station.

What a sweet welcome!

We did our business (purchasing Buc-ees Nug- ees for the grands was a must!) then sat in the car to enjoy our brisket and egg tacos and tater tots.

I taunted brother T with the next picture. They were still at home.

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

Except for being tailgated by a big rig (in the left lane!) and nearly sideswiped by a lane-weaving car, the rest of our drive was uneventful.

The curve ball that came next took me by surprise.

We arrived at the Springhill Suites which has open-lot parking, not a parking garage. However above each space was a sign with a QR code which patrons were supposed to scan to pay the $25 parking fee. Certain that the website had stated free parking, I told Woody not to scan the QR code until checking in at the Front Desk. Since we didn’t know if our room was ready yet, I opted to stay in the car in case it wasn’t and then we would go someplace to kill time.

As I waited I scrolled through MDE.
Yay!

I checked wait times in the parks and they were pretty crazy. I tried to come up with a non-parks option to pass time if we needed to.

Woody was gone a long time. When he returned he opened the car door and handed me a piece of paper saying, “You are about to experience one of the joys of staying in a Marriott property.”

His tone was sarcastic.

“What’s this?” I asked him.

“It’s a letter to give to the Front Desk at the Residence Inn. We have been bumped from the Springhill Suites.”

“But we booked our room three weeks ago,” I protested. “One with a fireworks view!”

“Doesn’t matter,” Woody replied. “Marriott properties are notorious for overbooking their hotels.”

Woody traveled a lot during his career. Where he stayed depended on the company he was working for. He preferred Hilton over Marriott because Hilton guaranteed his room. Many times he showed up at a Marriott only to learn he’d been moved down the street or across town - typically in the evening when it was dark, because he hadn’t checked in by 6 pm (despite having paid the deposit!)

“Will we get a comparable room?” I asked, knowing that the Residence Inn was across the main road and further away (and unlikely to have a fireworks view.)

“Sometimes it’s a better room to account for the inconvenience. But it can be a lesser room. In that case we may get a partial refund,” Woody said.

We made our way to the Residence Inn. Woody went inside while I again waited in the car.

He was gone twice as long as he was the first time. Apparently there was chaos at the Front Desk and the clerk was on the phone.

Why the chaos? The Residence Inn was overbooked. We were being bumped for the second time, to the Fairfield which was adjacent to the Residence Inn.

I’d had enough.

“Let me call Disney before we attempt the Fairfield,” I said to Woody. “Maybe there’s been a last minute cancelation for a room that’s not over 1k.”

I explained our situation to the CM. She was very sympathetic and noted our budget constraint. A room popped up at Coronado Springs and the moment she tried to grab it, it was gone.

“I’m not giving up!” she declared. Less than a minute later she announced, “I have a Little Mermaid room at Art of Animation for the same price as the Coronado room.”

“Book it!” I cried, despite wondering how a value room was the same price as a moderate. It didn’t matter as I was desperate to be freed from the Marriott debacle. Being on property was worth an extra $50.

When this appeared in MDE I was as happy as I had been pulling out of our driveway this morning.

And our room was ready!!!

 

[BigDis]

Checking in and all caught up. Hopefully the rest of the trip will be smooth sailing!

 

[Baron Von Capybara]

Do Buckees not do dryer lint ?

 

[MinnieM123]

@Tuvalu -- two hotel room bumps from Marriott in one day??!!! Good grief! At least you finally found a room on-site at WDW.

 

[mpaulam]

Wow! Glad Disney came through for you!

 

[radiorae]

Oh my gosh. You’re made of stronger stuff than me; I would be near tears after a second reassignment, especially after a long day of travel. I hope the rest of the trip was easy peasy.

 

[Tuvalu]

Checking in and all caught up. Hopefully the rest of the trip will be smooth sailing!

@Tuvalu -- two hotel room bumps from Marriott in one day??!!! Good grief! At least you finally found a room on-site at WDW.

Wow! Glad Disney came through for you!

Me too!!

Oh my gosh. You’re made of stronger stuff than me; I would be near tears after a second reassignment, especially after a long day of travel. I hope the rest of the trip was easy peasy.

I told Woody before we left I was keeping my expectations in check and not let bumps upset me because I was just happy to be going!
And stick around, because I am going to need your help later.

 

[Tuvalu]

Do Buckees not do dryer lint?

How much would you like? I can pick some up on for you in April. If you can’t wait that long, you can order from Amazon.

 

[radiorae]

I told Woody before we left I was keeping my expectations in check and not let bumps upset me because I was just happy to be going!
And stick around, because I am going to need your help later.

I’m ready

 

[Tuvalu]

Saturday, con’t

It was a quick drive from Flamingo Crossing to the Western Way entrance to WDW.

A new resort for us!

Some of you may be remembering my November trip report….

Our new room was in okay condition (no smell!) and fine for one night, but Woody declared, “No more value resorts!” as we settled in to sleep.

We hauled our belongings to the car and said goodbye to All Star Sports - forever.

Yes, AoA is a value resort. Woody and I discussed this at length when my mother offered him to take her place. Since we’d be staying in suite, he was willing to give it a try.

But now we’d be spending a night in a regular value room. I admit to being a little apprehensive after we’d parked in the closest lot and headed to our room.

Uh oh - it’s Ursula!

A corner room and our MagicBands would not unlock the door…

 

[Tuvalu]

We agreed that Woody would stay with our luggage while I trekked to the lobby to sort out our MagicBands. Thankfully I hadn’t gotten too far when I received a text from Woody: I am in the room.

After several attempts he was able to pair his phone with the lock mechanism. I then tried my MB and the light turned green. Woody’s MB always flashed red and he decided not to bother with it, since we were staying only one night and he could use his phone to enter the room.

In my last report, I bemoaned the homogenization and lack of theming in value resort rooms - All Stars and Pop Century. I want theming in my Disney room!!

Little Mermaid was a magical surprise. The room was beautiful and a feast for the eyes!

(My OCD had a little trouble with the crooked portrait but I understood the intent and averted my eyes.)

The right side of the dresser housed a real fridge, not a beverage cooler.

Note the flooring - it’s the ocean!

Woody commented that the flooring should be sand colored, as we were unda the sea and not walking on water.

We agreed to disagree.

However the sheet music on the table might prove Woody’s point.

A Hooktopus!

The area around the vanity was very spacious. The lights above the mirror are seashells. Liquid hand soap and body lotion are provided.

I thought the shower curtain was fun…

…and the detailed tile was amazing!

Both of us were very impressed with the appointments of our room and get why Little Mermaid rooms are more expensive than other value rooms. The bed was even more comfortable than our last WL bed!

Views from value and moderate resort rooms aren’t important to us but we had a nice Skyliner lake view. (Yellow cabin is difficult to see on a small screen.)

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

We agreed that Woody would stay with our luggage while I trekked to the lobby to sort out our MagicBands. Thankfully I hadn’t gotten too far when I received a text from Woody: I am in the room.

After several attempts he was able to pair his phone with the lock mechanism. I then tried my MB and the light turned green. Woody’s MB always flashed red and he decided not to bother with it, since we were staying only one night and he could use his phone to enter the room.

In my last report, I bemoaned the homogenization and lack of theming in value resort rooms - All Stars and Pop Century. I want theming in my Disney room!!

Little Mermaid was a magical surprise. The room was beautiful and a feast for the eyes!

View attachment 909812
(My OCD had a little trouble with the crooked portrait but I understood the intent and averted my eyes.)

View attachment 909820

The right side of the dresser housed a real fridge, not a beverage cooler.

View attachment 909818

Note the flooring - it’s the ocean!

View attachment 909821

Woody commented that the flooring should be sand colored, as we were unda the sea and not walking on water.

We agreed to disagree.

However the sheet music on the table might prove Woody’s point.

View attachment 909817

A Hooktopus!

View attachment 909819

The area around the vanity was very spacious. The lights above the mirror are seashells. Liquid hand soap and body lotion are provided.

View attachment 909813

I thought the shower curtain was fun…

View attachment 909815

…and the detailed tile was amazing!

View attachment 909814

Both of us were very impressed with the appointments of our room and get why Little Mermaid rooms are more expensive than other value rooms. The bed was even more comfortable than our last WL bed!

Views from value and moderate resort rooms aren’t important to us but we had a nice Skyliner lake view. (Yellow cabin is difficult to see on a small screen.)

View attachment 909816

I'm happily following along
I admit that I would of Had to straighten that picture! I couldn't let it go, lol. I am happily surprised at just how themed your room is. It looks fantastic. Thanks for the great photos and awaiting more of your TR.