A Stringbean, a Wingnut, and a plan! (A January '12 PTR) TRIP REPORT STARTED!! 1/16!!

[Nermel9]

Oooh, love the new Disney Dooney! The green one is really cute, I don't see a lot of people with that color!

I LOVE the zipper, it's the same on my white Lucy sketch bag!

Hope you get your ME stuff soon!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

My kids got the P&F Pez!!

LOVE your bag! Yay, Wingnut!

Favorite monorail? Love 'em all!

Favorite fountain? Fountain of Nations, duh!

I can't believe you still don't have the paperwork!

 

[Megablocks]

Fountain of Nations! I could stand there and watch it all day Just one of the umpteen things I LOVE about Epcot!

That bag is SO cute. I love the colored zipper!

 

[Merida]

Bistro de Paris has always been one of our "when we can fit this in" restaurants that we've always REALLY wanted to try, and well, now, it's right at our fingertips!

To be totally honest, I'm seriously shocked that it's now on the DDP (along with Fultons and Wolfgang Puck Upstairs for 2 credits each). I always thought those would never be on the plan. It'll be interesting to see if the restaurants undergo big changes once being added to the plan (that's especially why I wanted to get our reservation at Bistro in on this trip, early on in it's addition to the plan). I hope things don't change too much. We'll see though.

That's so fun! We looked in the windows of the France restaurant (though I guess it's the other one?) while we were walking through World Showcase and it looked really nice. I've never really had French food so those two have never been very high on our 'intriguing' list. Except for crepes! Those are amazing.

First, for my fellow P&F groupies, what I spotted in the grocery store:



Awesome

Anyways, our Magical Express info has not arrived yet, but our other Mickey Mail did come! (Luggage tags, trip insurance brochure, that packet with the vouchers for the arcade and whatnot.)

The current luggage tags:



Sadly, the pictures are not holograms like on the previous version.
...

Day 29: Your Favorite Monorail Color

My favorite monorail color is the color that happens to show up and take me to where I want to go!

I don't really have a color preference! I love all of the vehicles of the highway of the sky equally!

Day 30: your Favorite Statue, Fountain, or Anything Eye-grabbing in the Parks

Definitely the Fountain of Nations.



Love



Let's stop and watch for awhile, shall we?

How about you guys? What are your favorites? Did you think I was going to finish this list before our trip??? (I didn't!)

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!!

I'm so sad that they've changed around the flavors of Pez (not sure when, I only got some for the first time in years a few months ago). Grape, strawberry, and orange are the best and they're no longer in a package together! They have those weird mixed flavors that taste really artificial (because obvi original Pez are entirely natural ).

Also those luggage tags are the worst. I still am not sure if mine is on correctly, it seems so flimsy.

Favorite monorail color: Teal! Anything other than the brown, really. The brown just isn't a nice shade.

Favorite statue: where do people get some of these prompts?? I guess the Cinderella fountain is cute, but I always forget where it is (for some reason, I want it to be back by the Skyway/Peter Pan-ish region). There's some neat art in Animal Kingdom as well, like all the Yeti statues/imagery.

No ME packet yet...

Admittedly, this is only day 8 of the 7-10 business day window that the CM said the information would be arriving, but still. We have very few double digit days left. And I'm impatient. I just want my Magical Express info! (I want it now!!)
...
Ignore my feet in this next picture, I wanted to show the cutest part of the bag, but couldn't figure out how to get it to stand up .



Look at the colors!!! I love it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Boo no Magical Express! Love the zipper colors, rainbow always makes things better and more awesome.

Okay, think I'm all caught up now (whyyy is it so hard to catch up on things after being on vacation?? Looking at you, inbox-with-150-emails)!

 

[MEK]

OMG! Your bag is ADORABLE!!!!!! I absolutely love it and think its perfect. What a great surprise! Enjoy!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Another thing I really want to see and can't! Grrrrrrrr!

I thought you were able to see photos from Flickr?? Photobucket is the one that I usually can't see on other computers.

That bag is really cute, I almost got one on my December trip but I went with the wristlet. I just called ME last night to get more luggage tags. Now the wait for me begins, let's see if you get your ME stuff before I get my tags! I hope so!

Thank you!!! (I have the sketch pattern wristlet too, but with the white background - I love how roomy it is!!)

Hahaha I hope so too!

What a cute bag. I love crossbody bags in general and they are perfect for the parks. I love how even the zipper matches the rest of the bag. What detail. Nice Christmas gift!

Thanks!!! I've really started to wear mostly crossbody bags, I think they're so much easier when shopping and everything! And they are definitely park-perfect!

The zipper was just the icing on the cake of this adorable design for me! I literally screamed when I noticed it with joy!

Hooray for Wingnut and his superior gift! I have that bag (in pink, of course ), and it's perfect for the parks...just the right size to fit the necessities.

It's almost like Disney and Dooney got together and PLANNED it that way!

He has excellent taste, doesn't he??? I love the size and shape of this bag, it's absolutely perfect!!

What??? Designed for over-obsessive park tourers in advance???? NEVER!!!

That bag ROCKS!!!!!!!!! LOVE the colors and the zipper!

Thanks!!! I love it too!!!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Oooh, love the new Disney Dooney! The green one is really cute, I don't see a lot of people with that color!

I LOVE the zipper, it's the same on my white Lucy sketch bag!

Hope you get your ME stuff soon!

Thank you!!! I love the green, it's my favorite color!

The zipper is just the awesomest detail, isn't it??

Oh, I hope so too!!

My kids got the P&F Pez!!

LOVE your bag! Yay, Wingnut!

Favorite monorail? Love 'em all!

Favorite fountain? Fountain of Nations, duh!

I can't believe you still don't have the paperwork!

Yay!!! They look really fun!!

Thank you!!! He knows just what I love!

I know!! I have another update on that....

Fountain of Nations! I could stand there and watch it all day Just one of the umpteen things I LOVE about Epcot!

That bag is SO cute. I love the colored zipper!

I could stand there and watch it all day too! It's just so awesome and majestic!

Thanks!!! I think it's so fun!

That's so fun! We looked in the windows of the France restaurant (though I guess it's the other one?) while we were walking through World Showcase and it looked really nice. I've never really had French food so those two have never been very high on our 'intriguing' list. Except for crepes! Those are amazing.

I'm so sad that they've changed around the flavors of Pez (not sure when, I only got some for the first time in years a few months ago). Grape, strawberry, and orange are the best and they're no longer in a package together! They have those weird mixed flavors that taste really artificial (because obvi original Pez are entirely natural ).

Also those luggage tags are the worst. I still am not sure if mine is on correctly, it seems so flimsy.

Favorite monorail color: Teal! Anything other than the brown, really. The brown just isn't a nice shade.

Favorite statue: where do people get some of these prompts?? I guess the Cinderella fountain is cute, but I always forget where it is (for some reason, I want it to be back by the Skyway/Peter Pan-ish region). There's some neat art in Animal Kingdom as well, like all the Yeti statues/imagery.

Boo no Magical Express! Love the zipper colors, rainbow always makes things better and more awesome.

Okay, think I'm all caught up now (whyyy is it so hard to catch up on things after being on vacation?? Looking at you, inbox-with-150-emails)!

I'm a fan of French food, so I think Bistro should be pretty fun! Crepes are amazing, aren't they??? Have you tried the chocolate crepe from the kiosk next to the squishee kiosk? They're awesome.



Hahaha I haven't had Pez in years! I didn't know that the flavors changed, that's disappointing! It's funny, we were chatting about the old versions of cereals that used to be around, with sugar in every title (Sugar Frosted Flakes, for one), and how that's all changed. Health-consciousness takes the fun out of everything!! Purple is a vitamin!!!

There's a brown monorail?? I had no idea! I thought they only came in bright colors! But I guess M&Ms also come in brown, so why not?

The Cinderella fountain is (I believe) right by Fantasyland, tucked in one of the outer corners of the castle. So it's pretty close to Peter Pan!

Thanks! I love the colors too!

OMG! Your bag is ADORABLE!!!!!! I absolutely love it and think its perfect. What a great surprise! Enjoy!

Thanks!!! I love it too!!! I was completely surprised, and I'm totally excited to bring it to Disney with us!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

8...9...10.

Day 10 of the 7-10 window of our Magical Express documents arrival timeframe, and they were still nowhere to be seen.

And so I called, again, this time trying my luck with calling the Magical Express line directly (10 days prior, I had called Reservations).

I got an incredibly sweet CM on the phone, who checked, and the second set of documents I had requested had been printed on the day I called, and supposedly mailed 2 days later. And then they disappeared into a mail abyss, apparently.

We quadruple-confirmed our address, and she printed off a new (third, if you're keeping count) set of luggage tags and vouchers to me mailed off to us straightaway, reassuring me that they would be mailed quickly with the time crunch we were now rapidly approaching.

Just in case, I did ask what happens if we don't receive this set either. I had been looking on the Disney website for info about this, and was a bit confused, and really didn't want to have to spend lots of time at the airport working this all out.

She explained that it's very easy, very quick. If anyone ever does need this info: when you check a bag at the airport, you get something called a baggage check receipt in some form or another, could be a sticker on your ticket, etc. All we would have to do is go down to the counter at the Magical Express area in MCO, show them that baggage check receipt, and they will be able to print us off new ME vouchers and find our luggage.

As easy as this all does sound, I still REALLY want that packet to arrive. I need the comfort of those bright yellow luggage tags. And our trip is coming up SO soon, which I am very very excited about, but it's also making me nervous because that's less time for our ME info to come!

(I said to Wingnut that we're going to come home to a huge stack of ME packets in our mailbox after our trip )

Keep your fingers crossed for us, everyone!

 

[tinacaplan]

Crossing my fingers that get this ASAP.

 

[tankgirl427]

8...9...10.

Day 10 of the 7-10 window of our Magical Express documents arrival timeframe, and they were still nowhere to be seen.

And so I called, again, this time trying my luck with calling the Magical Express line directly (10 days prior, I had called Reservations).

I got an incredibly sweet CM on the phone, who checked, and the second set of documents I had requested had been printed on the day I called, and supposedly mailed 2 days later. And then they disappeared into a mail abyss, apparently.

We quadruple-confirmed our address, and she printed off a new (third, if you're keeping count) set of luggage tags and vouchers to me mailed off to us straightaway, reassuring me that they would be mailed quickly with the time crunch we were now rapidly approaching.

Just in case, I did ask what happens if we don't receive this set either. I had been looking on the Disney website for info about this, and was a bit confused, and really didn't want to have to spend lots of time at the airport working this all out.

She explained that it's very easy, very quick. If anyone ever does need this info: when you check a bag at the airport, you get something called a baggage check receipt in some form or another, could be a sticker on your ticket, etc. All we would have to do is go down to the counter at the Magical Express area in MCO, show them that baggage check receipt, and they will be able to print us off new ME vouchers and find our luggage.

As easy as this all does sound, I still REALLY want that packet to arrive. I need the comfort of those bright yellow luggage tags. And our trip is coming up SO soon, which I am very very excited about, but it's also making me nervous because that's less time for our ME info to come!

(I said to Wingnut that we're going to come home to a huge stack of ME packets in our mailbox after our trip )

Keep your fingers crossed for us, everyone!

Maybe they will overnight it to you or something. I hope this set finally makes it to you. I've heard of there being a list or something of who they are expecting so not having the ME documents isn't the worst thing in the world and you give them the baggage claim number and they just go to the carousel of unclaimed bags and pick them up for you. So it probably would take a bit longer than having the yellow tags on them.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Gosh, I hope they arrive on time! I know it can be fixed at the airport (I've read about a lot of people who've forgotten theirs and did just what you described), but I understand what you mean about being more comforted already having them in place. And you're right--you'll probably come home to a stack of ME packets! Maybe you'll be able to use them in a scrapbook or something.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

Drama! Still no Mickey mail!!

Suspense! Will it arrive in time?!?!

Fingers crossed for you...even though it's not the end of the world if it doesn't come, let's hope you don't have to use even a second of valuable WDW time fixing things at MCO!

 

[Megablocks]

Oh, gosh, I hope this set makes it to you ASAP. That's SO frustrating, I'd be freaking out too! We leave in five days and had ours at pretty much the right time. I can't imagine waiting so long!

 

[glennbo123]

I hope you get your documents, but even if you don't I know you'll be all right -- you'll be in Disney World after all!!!

 

[Merida]

I'm a fan of French food, so I think Bistro should be pretty fun! Crepes are amazing, aren't they??? Have you tried the chocolate crepe from the kiosk next to the squishee kiosk? They're awesome.



Hahaha I haven't had Pez in years! I didn't know that the flavors changed, that's disappointing! It's funny, we were chatting about the old versions of cereals that used to be around, with sugar in every title (Sugar Frosted Flakes, for one), and how that's all changed. Health-consciousness takes the fun out of everything!! Purple is a vitamin!!!

There's a brown monorail?? I had no idea! I thought they only came in bright colors! But I guess M&Ms also come in brown, so why not?

The Cinderella fountain is (I believe) right by Fantasyland, tucked in one of the outer corners of the castle. So it's pretty close to Peter Pan!

Thanks! I love the colors too!

I've actually only had crepes when I studied abroad in Germany (it was food truck crepes, where you could pick'n'choose from a large variety of stuff to put inside. Mine was usually powder sugar + chocolate or even just powder sugar. Sooo good!)

I was reading an article about the percentage of sugar in various breakfast cereals and the list of highest sugar percentage contained, like, my top 4 favorite cereals. And all the commenters were like 'THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA blah blah angry noises.' Oh well! I also still take Flintstones vitamins, I have no shame, angry internet people. Plus they're delicious!

I think it's brown? It's really dark, at least, and not all fun and exciting like the others.

Yeah, I always see it after coming out of the castle and am all 'WOW MY FOUNTAIN!!' and no one understands why I get so excited. I did just realize that they stuck characters back there too! I guess I usually enter Fantasyland from the Teacups entrance and get all turned around when coming any other way? Or I'm really bad with maps (true; I just realized that there was a bridge straight into Liberty Square. Mind blown.).

I hope your ME stuff comes! I'm sure that Disney wouldn't leave anyone at the airport when they could be at WDW, spending money, it's just standing in one more line that gets annoying.

 

[Jennifer48]

what a gorgeous D&B bag! I love the color! Great job Wingnut!

I can't believe you need a THIRD ME packet mailed out! I wonder if some post office worker confiscated your Mickey Mail. Where could it have gone?! You are right though, they'll all be in your mailbox when you return! Isn't that always how it works?!

 

[Charleston Princess]

It's only taken me how long to make my way over here???

I'm here now -- will need to catch up, but I did read your latest post about the ME tags! Agghh! Hope they arrive soon!

 

[MEK]

Does ME not know that you are am uber planner DISer who absolutely MUST have your documents before you leave your doorstep. I hope you get them, but if you don't I guess you could always go pick up your own luggage before you get on ME. That's what Jen and I did on one trip and it really only took an extra 5 or 10 minutes.

Anyway - fingers crossed!!!!!!

 

[Nermel9]

Ugh that's so annoying!! They should know people NEED these documents! I mean, it's good to know that even if you don't get them, it won't be a problem, but I'd want them too!

In 2009, when we were originally going in September and had to postpone til November, I made a lot of changes to that trip, up until maybe a week before we left. Every time I made a change, they would send me new vouchers and luggage tags! They even sent them through UPS when we were really close to the trip! I had like, 4 sets of vouchers and luggage tags for that trip, I just couldn't believe they sent them via UPS once! So maybe you will get your ME stuff that way!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Crossing my fingers that get this ASAP.

Thanks!!!

Maybe they will overnight it to you or something. I hope this set finally makes it to you. I've heard of there being a list or something of who they are expecting so not having the ME documents isn't the worst thing in the world and you give them the baggage claim number and they just go to the carousel of unclaimed bags and pick them up for you. So it probably would take a bit longer than having the yellow tags on them.

I hope so!! We definitely have it as part of our package, so I don't think we'd be just showing up. That's true, the bags would probably take a little longer to arrive at our room. But we're always prepared with our carry-ons!

Gosh, I hope they arrive on time! I know it can be fixed at the airport (I've read about a lot of people who've forgotten theirs and did just what you described), but I understand what you mean about being more comforted already having them in place. And you're right--you'll probably come home to a stack of ME packets! Maybe you'll be able to use them in a scrapbook or something.

I hope so too! I know it does have an easy solution, but it's just annoying to not have all of my ducks in a row, so to speak! Hahahaha I fully anticipate coming home to at least 2 sets!

Drama! Still no Mickey mail!!

Suspense! Will it arrive in time?!?!

Fingers crossed for you...even though it's not the end of the world if it doesn't come, let's hope you don't have to use even a second of valuable WDW time fixing things at MCO!

This has the makings of the drama movie of the century!!

Thanks!! I know, it isn't a huge deal, but I hate delaying that WDW arrival by even a minute!

Oh, gosh, I hope this set makes it to you ASAP. That's SO frustrating, I'd be freaking out too! We leave in five days and had ours at pretty much the right time. I can't imagine waiting so long!

Thanks!! I hope so too! It's just strange that they haven't arrived yet! Hopefully third time's the charm!

I hope you get your documents, but even if you don't I know you'll be all right -- you'll be in Disney World after all!!!

Thanks! I know, it's really not a big deal, but I just like being as prepared as possible!