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]

We learn something new every day

I love that Woody knew they were trees.

In addition Woody said there are a dozen species of palm trees native to Florida and 38 non-native species, so some varieties withstand freezing better than others. In fact we noticed that there were lots of palm trees in and around the parks that looked perfectly normal, while others looked like those in my picture (no fronds) or had partial fronds.

Another fun fact: There are over 2,600 known species of palm trees worldwide.

 

[littleroo]

 

[Swissmiss]

In addition Woody said there are a dozen species of palm trees native to Florida and 38 non-native species, so some varieties withstand freezing better than others. In fact we noticed that there were lots of palm trees in and around the parks that looked perfectly normal, while others looked like those in my picture (no fronds) or had partial fronds.

Another fun fact: There are over 2,600 known species of palm trees worldwide.

And would you believe you can find palm trees in Switzerland?

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Crowds appeared light on Main Street but the situation would be drastically different before noon. We decided to take advantage of the lull while waiting for my brother’s family (henceforth known as TEAML) to arrive.

But first, a lovely window display of Daisy caught my eye.

I told Woody where I wanted to start. Though it was a very blustery (yet warm) day, it wasn’t Pooh. The opportunity for Arty Pooh had passed, since rope drop was long over.

We went to my #1 fave. And were completely surprised by the sight that confronted us. What had those playful spooks done now?!

It must have been pretty bad to warrant covering up the evidence. The draping even extended around the corner.

If Woody knew what happened he wasn’t saying. He was poker-faced as usual.

The spooks were having a field day, stopping the doom buggies numerous times inside the mansion. Know what happens when doom buggies stop frequently? It messes with the synchronization of the ride photo, leaving MDE photo galleries empty.

A twofer for the playful spooks. Well done.

 

[Tuvalu]

Given where we’d spent the night, it was fitting for us to go Unda the Sea next.

I have absolutely no idea why I took this picture.

Well what’s this? Another random photo? My memory has just been triggered!

Now I remember ~ I was practicing taking attraction pictures in low light without a flash. @donaldtoo taught me how to take decent dark-ride photos with my iPhone. But since the new iOS 26 update, settings have changed (among other things) and I no longer know the secret. I tried and tried this entire vacay, only to end up with blurry pics. Please HEELLPPP MEEE!! if you can @donaldtoo. Even after some research, Woody is stumped.

Thankfully he remembered to wave.

 

[Tuvalu]

I received a text from my sister-in-law E saying they were in the park. She said the boys had raced off to Space Mountain as she and M took their time down Main Street. We agreed to meet in Tomorrowland at the Peoplemover entrance. Soon we were taking a spin in the sky. (Technically that would be Astro Orbiter but only crazies ride that!!)

The boys were going to be in Space Mountain for awhile based on the posted wait so I asked M what she wanted to do next.

“Seven Dwarfs Mine Train!” she said with much glee.

For you M, Auntie Tu and Uncle Woody will wait in the neverending queue because of your infectious excitement! (Remember she is a teen, so said excitement does not always translate into photos that may be posted on social media.)

The next pic was taken at the 45 minute mark.

Twenty minutes later we were aboard. M requested back row. Auntie Tu prefers the front row.

The things we do for love.

Those pesky spooks also zapped our 7DMT ride photos!

 

[donaldtoo]

Now I remember ~ I was practicing taking attraction pictures in low light without a flash. @donaldtoo taught me how to take decent dark-ride photos with my iPhone. But since the new iOS 26 update, settings have changed (among other things) and I no longer know the secret. I tried and tried this entire vacay, only to end up with blurry pics. Please HEELLPPP MEEE!! if you can @donaldtoo. Even after some research, Woody is stumped.

Pull up your camera. Oval at top right has 3 icons. Left is night mode, middle is flash and right will pull up those 2 options plus more in larger format.
Toggle either on or off, as needed…both off for our purposes.
Hope this helps…?!!!

 

[RememberWhen]

Love the infectious joy of a teen at Disney! I will 1000% stand in ridiculously long lines at the request of my nieces. My kids….? Not so much….

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Because pre- and teen boys are known for their appetites, it should come as no surprise that the text we received from my brother while we waited for 7DMT said the boys were STARVING and they were getting food here:

E said we would meet them there and we both placed mobile orders to avoid the chaos at the registers.

Past experience should have reminded me that the chaos in the mobile order pick up area is just as bad.

The boys had saved us a table but had already finished their food. We had a great view!

I tried the new Lemon Pepper-Parmesan Chicken Strips.They were fantastic and I’d definitely get them again. Woody had my other go-to, the Chicken Parmesan sandwich, which he said was very good. I don’t know what the boys had, but they ran off to get “Mickey treats” (as they call them) while the rest of us were eating. My brother made sure their receipt was correct!

 

[Tuvalu]

Pull up your camera. Oval at top right has 3 icons. Left is night mode, middle is flash and right will pull up those 2 options plus more in larger format.
Toggle either on or off, as needed…both off for our purposes.
Hope this helps…?!!!

Thank you!!! I will do this from now on!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Thank you!!! I will do this from now on!!

No problem, my pleasure…!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

Once we all finished lunch we went outside to regroup and decide what was next.

Since I’m the planner when traveling with Woody and Em, I liked not being in charge. Tagging along meant I was responsibility-free. TEAML’s park touring style is more laid-back than commando, so our afternoon together was simply delightful.

Don’t remember who made the suggestion but this was our next destination.

It was a full house. Yet no matter how many times the CM said so and requested EVERYONE move all the way across, filling in all the available seats, there were several selfish ones who plopped down in the middle of a row and refused to move. The couple who chose to do so in our row received several (deserved) foot stompings.

The CMs aren’t lying when they say, “Every seat has the same view.” I’ve sat in various spots all over that theater and 100% concur.

 

[Tuvalu]

After Philharmagic, sis-in-law E was ready for her treat.

“I want my Dole Whip!” she announced.

When she got to Aloha Isle she opted for the pineapple upside-down cake which she generously shared (as moms do) with her children.

Craving satisfied, we moved on to the ridiculously long Pirates line, which began outside the attraction.

I took these pics of more “tree poles” while in line.

Pirates is a big people-eater and I was surprised how quickly we moved through the exterior rope queue to the interior chain queue. But once through the doors the standby line came to a halt as those with Lightning Lanes filtered in.

Teens gotta be teens.

And big brothers gotta be annoying to little brothers.

I think our wait to get into a boat was around 40 minutes.

 

[Tuvalu]

Sunday, con’t

M had told me earlier that she had only two ride requests for today. The first one was 7DMT.

And this was the second one.

We were hopeful waits in Fantasyland might be shorter since it was almost Festival of Fantasy parade time. Pooh was posted at 45 minutes, still less than it had been all day, but Ionger than my Pooh-loving self likes to wait for it.

The interactive queue noise can be more tolerable when it’s your family having fun.

Our actual wait was just shy of 40 minutes.

Of course M and I had to peruse Hundred Acre Goods. We both loved this sweatshirt jacket.

We each had gift cards. M wasn’t sure she wanted to use hers yet since it was her first day in the parks. I, however, am WDW gift shop savvy and know that if you like a clothing item and there’s only one in your size, you don’t postpone the purchase!

 

[Tuvalu]

Thinking we might get lucky with a lesser wait at Peter Pan due to the parade, we hurried over there next. Standby wait was posted at 40 minutes (not bad) and TEAML had never seen the interactive queue, nor the new tribe scene.

We moved steadily through the covered part of the exterior queue but once we entered inside we came to a screeching halt. What we failed to consider was the number of guests returning to use their LLs for Pan after watching the parade. CMs are more lenient with expired LLs due to parades. We spent nearly 30 minutes next to this portrait without moving forward at all.

Non-movement when standing that long can be a killer on older backs and feet. We kept the conversation flowing to distract ourselves and were jubilant when we began to inch forward.

If you are familiar with the queue you know we didn’t make it very far before coming to a complete stop for the second time.

Another 10 minutes passed and we still hadn’t made it into the nursery where the interactive fun begins. Woody and I were done. We explained to TEAML how much waiting was yet to come. They were willing to stick it out. My phone had buzzed with our room ready text and it seemed the right moment for me and Woody and to bail.

I was disappointed to miss TEAML’s reactions to the interactive queue and new tribe scene. I mentioned to my brother to pay close attention to this part and let me know if anything seemed familiar.

Later he sent me this.