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

 

[brifraz]

Saturday, con’t

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.

View attachment 909576

“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.

Sorry I'm late to this party! Haven't been on the boards very much the past few weeks, but I was getting prepared to do my Princess Half Trip Report and saw that you had a new (-ish) TR that I hadn't seen. So, now I'm getting caught up! I can't recall how much I shared from my last (yes, LAST) trip with 100+ high school kids, but... we had booked the Springhill Suites and at 7pm the night before check-in, I called from a bus on I95 to verify the room assignments and halls since we had specific layout of rooms with kids rooms and chaperone rooms. I'd talked to them on the phone at least 10 times in the preceding weeks and months and everything appeared to be in order, but I wanted to verify. And, of course, none of the people that I had ever spoken with were available and they were moving us to the Residence Inn with rooms scattered across 4 floors instead of 2 floors in a block together.

I have sworn off Marriott properties ever since, hence upcoming Hyatt and independent hotel bookings.

I cannot even imagine how I would have reacted if my party of 120 had been bumped twice!!!

 

[SMJS]

That missing right arm would not be acceptable to my second born. LOL she would be probably make me lodge a complaint

 

[Tuvalu]

I’ve always thought the Test Track photo was out on the track, based on the way my hair looks if I don’t have it pulled back! There’s a point with a flash of light, so I just assumed that was it. Looks like everyone is having fun!

Thanks for the tip!

And we were having a great time!

 

[lindawdw]

The single rider line for TT is definitely the way to go if you don't mind not riding with your family/friends! I always thought the ride photo was taken outside because my hair is usually flying all over the place. I'm with ya on waiting on a long line like Frozen for a 5-minute ride!

 

[muddyrivers]

I'm a few days late but like your husband, I'm a big Cobb Salad fan from HBD (and I don't like veggies!) At the RetroMagic convention a few years ago, they had a panel where they hosted Chef Reimund Pitz who opened MGM and HBD. He tells a story about opening day and the cobb salad which people may find interesting:

 

[radiorae]

Tuesday, con’t

When Woody and I arrived at SSE we did not see the boys in the outdoor queue. We did see more tree poles!

View attachment 912541

We got in line which ended up taking a little longer than the posted 15 minute standby wait. A family in front of us was playing the Head’s Up game, with a teen boy holding the answer across his forehead.

Mom gave the first clue: “It grows on palm trees.”
The teen furrowed his brow in thought as Mom repeated, “It grows on palm trees.”
“Pineapples!” he shouted with excitement.

Stay in school, son.

As we boarded our time travel vehicle, I wondered how many stops we were in for today.

View attachment 912534

Surprisingly it was just one, here:

View attachment 912535

The omnimover did travel more slowly than usual which I didn’t mind at all, as it is better than stopping every few feet!

Paging @radiorae. Here’s where I need your help - or shall I say your eagle eye? I’m counting on you!

View attachment 912536
(This feels like it should be an easy one but I haven’t a clue!)

Most of you are probably familiar with the Headless Horseman.

But I betcha you’re not familiar with the Headless Tuvalu!

View attachment 912537

View attachment 912538

View attachment 912539

Oh gosh! You’re right, that is a tricky one it looks like a person, but it doesn’t look like it has a title, which is weird. We might have to crowdsource some help on this one.

 

[donaldtoo]

Monday, con’t

Which park was our destination?

View attachment 911733

TEAML had about 15 minute head start over us and headed first to Slinky Dog. Since Woody and I are not line cutters we opted for another attraction during early entry.

View attachment 911736

The wait wasn’t too bad. The CM assigned us to gate 2, where a family of four was waiting to board the next “lokey motive.” The dad (dressed in athletic gear) turned to me and announced, “I’m gonna stretch cuz everything hurts.”

He then proceeded to do so, using the gate bars for support, as he reached up, down and squatted in the thirty second period before the train arrived.

Was he invading my space? Absolutely. Did he care? Absolutely not.

I was thankful we did not have to share the seat with him.

View attachment 911734

View attachment 911735

Your above post, regarding Sir Stretchy , makes me think somebody should rework and rename another version of the below video game…they could call it “Personal Space Invaders”…!!!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

I'm a few days late but like your husband, I'm a big Cobb Salad fan from HBD (and I don't like veggies!) At the RetroMagic convention a few years ago, they had a panel where they hosted Chef Reimund Pitz who opened MGM and HBD. He tells a story about opening day and the cobb salad which people may find interesting:

What a fun story! Thank you for sharing it.

Oh gosh! You’re right, that is a tricky one it looks like a person, but it doesn’t look like it has a title, which is weird. We might have to crowdsource some help on this one.

I thought the character looks cartoonish and I am stumped!

Your above post, regarding Sir Stretchy , makes me think somebody should rework and rename another version of the below video game…they could call it “Personal Space Invaders”…!!!!!

View attachment 912758

I can’t even tell you how obsessed I was with this game back in the day! Woody had it on Atari when we were in college and I could play it for hours. Thanks for jarring my memory!

 

[Tuvalu]

Sorry I'm late to this party! Haven't been on the boards very much the past few weeks, but I was getting prepared to do my Princess Half Trip Report and saw that you had a new (-ish) TR that I hadn't seen. So, now I'm getting caught up! I can't recall how much I shared from my last (yes, LAST) trip with 100+ high school kids, but... we had booked the Springhill Suites and at 7pm the night before check-in, I called from a bus on I95 to verify the room assignments and halls since we had specific layout of rooms with kids rooms and chaperone rooms. I'd talked to them on the phone at least 10 times in the preceding weeks and months and everything appeared to be in order, but I wanted to verify. And, of course, none of the people that I had ever spoken with were available and they were moving us to the Residence Inn with rooms scattered across 4 floors instead of 2 floors in a block together.

I have sworn off Marriott properties ever since, hence upcoming Hyatt and independent hotel bookings.

I cannot even imagine how I would have reacted if my party of 120 had been bumped twice!!!

I believe I recall reading your TR about that event but I don’t think you got into specifics in regard to the hotel property. WOW.

Don’t blame you for joining the Marriott Never-Again Club! (It’s probably bigger than we think.)

That missing right arm would not be acceptable to my second born. LOL she would be probably make me lodge a complaint

Perhaps we should have requested a refund for our LL because “it ruined the magic!”
(Sarcasm of course.)

 

[SMJS]

I believe I recall reading your TR about that event but I don’t think you got into specifics in regard to the hotel property. WOW.

Don’t blame you for joining the Marriott Never-Again Club! (It’s probably bigger than we think.)


Perhaps we should have requested a refund for our LL because “it ruined the magic!”
(Sarcasm of course.)

now that sounds like my first born LOL

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

After leaving Norway Woody and I strolled towards Italy, admiring some of the art.

While Em is partial to anything It's A Small World themed, she said a $575 gallery wrapped canvas was a little out of her price range!

All of these were great. Woody was fond of Goofy Singing in the Rain, and @Tony the Tigger I think you and B need Chip and Dale at Fort Wilderness!

Upon arriving in Italy we headed to Via Napoli to see if the restaurant was accepting walk-ins. The take-out window at Pizza Al Taglio next door was mobbed and there were lots of folks milling around, so I didn't get my hopes up.

Much to my delight, Woody and I were seated at a table in the enclosed patio less than 10 minutes later. It certainly was a quieter location than the main dining room!

This was our view -

Behind us in a booth was a mother and daughter wearing matching tees that said Magic Tragic. While I don't know for sure, I assume it was their last day of vacation.

I smiled inside knowing we had 2.5 days left!

For us there are two musts at Via Napoli.

Pinot Grigio and Frozen Strawberry Limoncello beverages

AND

a large Margherita pizza!

It was the perfect lunch.

 

[lindawdw]

That's the exact table that Pete and I almost always get on our last lunch of vacation!!! It is so nice in the porch area! Love the choice of drinks and pizza!

 

[donaldtoo]

I can’t even tell you how obsessed I was with this game back in the day! Woody had it on Atari when we were in college and I could play it for hours. Thanks for jarring my memory!

Glad to hear my post, although inadvertently , brought back some good memories for you…!!!
Truthfully, I was never much into video games back then, but I was definitely into pinball.
Although, Pac-Man and Space Invaders were two video games I played from time to time.
Funny thing is, I remember when my best friend in junior high first got the home version of Pong sometime in 1975. We both thought it was pretty cool, but I was not as intrigued as he was, and he eventually went on to become a quite successful video game designer, actually…!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

You should be honored that he wants to become a member of the PSI (Personal Space Invaders) just for you, you lucky lady…!!!!!!!

 

[Tuvalu]

Tuesday, con’t

Woody and I continued around World Showcase and eventually made it back to World Celebration/Nature/Discovery (madness! Can’t the front of the park revert back to one name?)

We saw this (early) topiary. Not sure which named section it was in.

Woody and I killed some time in Creations Shop while waiting for TEAML. Everyone but me had a LL for Guardians. The girls were the first to arrive. M was carrying an adorable baby Eeyore plush that she had recently purchased.

“You won’t be able to take him on the ride,” E said, as M squeezed Eeyore tightly in a protective hug.

“But I did on the Donald boat ride!” M protested.

Auntie Tu stepped in. “M, I promise to take good care of Eeyore while you’re on the ride. He and I will be waiting for you at the top of the stairs.”

Uncle Woody asked me to hold on to his hat, which I promptly put on Eeyore. It was a true Kodak moment.

Pretty sure M enjoyed saving the galaxy, as there appears to be a smile underneath the flyaway hair. Her brothers sure did!

She was the first one up the stairs when the ride was over, still smiling. I immediately handed over Eeyore, my donkeysitting complete.

Woody and T appear to be looking at whatever always captures Em’s attention on this attraction.

Their song?

According to Woody, it was “Run.”

 

[Swissmiss]

I assume that “Run” would be “I Ran”?

 

[Tuvalu]

I assume that “Run” would be “I Ran”?

In Woody-speak, yes.

 

[Tuvalu]

Glad to hear my post, although inadvertently , brought back some good memories for you…!!!
Truthfully, I was never much into video games back then, but I was definitely into pinball.
Although, Pac-Man and Space Invaders were two video games I played from time to time.
Funny thing is, I remember when my best friend in junior high first got the home version of Pong sometime in 1975. We both thought it was pretty cool, but I was not as intrigued as he was, and he eventually went on to become a quite successful video game designer, actually…!!!

Continuing with my walk down Memory Lane….brother C saved his money and bought a full-size pinball machine (Bally 8 Ball) which also occupied way too much of my time! I’ll blame my dad, who did buy us the original Pong for our TV. (Looking back, how slow and boring was that!?!)

You should be honored that he wants to become a member of the PSI (Personal Space Invaders) just for you, you lucky lady…!!!!!!!

I don’t mind friends as PSI, it’s the SWABs that are a problem! (Right, @radiorae?)

 

[donaldtoo]

Continuing with my walk down Memory Lane….brother C saved his money and bought a full-size pinball machine (Bally 8 Ball) which also occupied way too much of my time! I’ll blame my dad, who did buy us the original Pong for our TV. (Looking back, how slow and boring was that!?!)


I don’t mind friends as PSI, it’s the SWABs that are a problem! (Right, @radiorae?)

Yea, one thing about Pong, that I liked anyway, was there was at least that competitive spirit with another player, whereas, IIRC (hey, I’ve slept since then ), the vast majority of video games of the time were just you against the machine.
Pong really wore thin after a while though, especially when more advanced games came out.
I’m not really sure what they coulda’ done with it to keep up…”Super Duper Pongitty-Pong Pong”…???!!!!!

Perhaps the friends should be referred to as FWABs then…?!?!?!
So many acronyms, so little time…OK, I’ll stop now…!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Upon arriving in Italy we headed to Via Napoli to see if the restaurant was accepting walk-ins. The take-out window at Pizza Al Taglio next door was mobbed and there were lots of folks milling around, so I didn't get my hopes up.

Much to my delight, Woody and I were seated at a table in the enclosed patio less than 10 minutes later. It certainly was a quieter location than the main dining room!

View attachment 912792

This was our view -

View attachment 912795

Behind us in a booth was a mother and daughter wearing matching tees that said Magic Tragic. While I don't know for sure, I assume it was their last day of vacation.

I smiled inside knowing we had 2.5 days left!

For us there are two musts at Via Napoli.

View attachment 912793

Pinot Grigio and Frozen Strawberry Limoncello beverages

AND

a large Margherita pizza!

View attachment 912794

It was the perfect lunch.

The one and only time we’ve ever eaten at Via Napoli, we were also seated in that room after a walk-up, and we loved it…!!!
It was in Feb. of 2016, on our Princess 5K trip.
The other 5 in our group had pizza (Margherita, 4-cheese and pepperoni pizzas) and I had the Eggplant Parm, as I wanted to compare it to my Mom’s. Everything was delicious, but my Mom’s EP is still better…!!!!!