Glennbo’s City, Sand, and Savanna PTR - TR Link (pg 73)

[glennbo123]

Double post, thanks to the DIS's issues. Just when I said that I thought it was better today.

 

[Poolrat]

Glenn,
I hear you on the DIS being better today. I have had some issues but not like the past few days. I broke this smilie out .

Seems like 9-11 is the worst. I was doing fine until 9pm and now it semms better again.

 

[glennbo123]

Seems like 9-11 is the worst. I was doing fine until 9pm and now it semms better again.

Yes, it's a killer at the high-volume times.

 

[KatMark]

Okay, I'm back and catching up on everyone's threads.

I think your plans for your park days sound great. We've not done Harry Potter at Universal but, then again, we aren't huge fans, and we'd rather leave it to the young ones (actually, at our age Universal is not a big hit with us).

No matter how many days you have, it just never seems enough.

 

[Flossbolna]

Glenn,
I hear you on the DIS being better today. I have had some issues but not like the past few days. I broke this smilie out .

Seems like 9-11 is the worst. I was doing fine until 9pm and now it semms better again.

Yes, the DIS being slow has been so frustrating and really made me post much less than usually!

And it is even slow at 9am my time which is 3am on the East Coast. So I am not sure whether it is only traffic related. I hope things will improve again...

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Just found your PTR. Just wanted to say we went to WWoHP the past 2 years.
We ended up staying at Uni. for a few days then transferred over to Disney. WWoHP is really cool even better if you have HP freaks for kids like I do.
This year we are staying in my parents timeshare so wasn't planning on going to WWoHP b/c we aren't staying there. If you stay on property you get the early access which is almost a must w/ HP and FOTL. No such thing as FP for ALL guests there just people staying there.
So we decided not to go this year b/c it's ridiculously expensive for just a 1 day ticket and we'll have to wait in long lines that we're not used to doing. My kids are extremely bummed!
So what I'm trying to say is I hope you get to go just be aware that it's a little more difficult to go for just 1 day not staying on property.
BTW The Hard Rock Hotel is awesome!! If you ever get a chance to stay.

 

[Poolrat]

Yes, the DIS being slow has been so frustrating and really made me post much less than usually!

And it is even slow at 9am my time which is 3am on the East Coast. So I am not sure whether it is only traffic related. I hope things will improve again...

That is a usual server update time for some places in the US. They figure low usage but don't take into account the international audience.

 

[glennbo123]

Okay, I'm back and catching up on everyone's threads.

I think your plans for your park days sound great. We've not done Harry Potter at Universal but, then again, we aren't huge fans, and we'd rather leave it to the young ones (actually, at our age Universal is not a big hit with us).

Most of my family has read the books, and we've all seen the movies, so it would be a logical next step for us.

No matter how many days you have, it just never seems enough.

Ain't it the truth!

Yes, the DIS being slow has been so frustrating and really made me post much less than usually!

I know -- I feel bad because I'm not posting as much on other peoples' threads, but I just don't have the time when it takes forever or just goes to some error page.

And it is even slow at 9am my time which is 3am on the East Coast. So I am not sure whether it is only traffic related. I hope things will improve again...

They need to do something!

Just found your PTR.

ddluvsdiney! Thanks for joining in!

Just wanted to say we went to WWoHP the past 2 years.
We ended up staying at Uni. for a few days then transferred over to Disney. WWoHP is really cool even better if you have HP freaks for kids like I do.

"Freaks" might be a little strong, but we're fans.

This year we are staying in my parents timeshare so wasn't planning on going to WWoHP b/c we aren't staying there. If you stay on property you get the early access which is almost a must w/ HP and FOTL. No such thing as FP for ALL guests there just people staying there.

Yeah, I know you're at a disadvantage if you're not staying there, but what're you going to do? You can't use the FOTL pass for Forbidden Journey anyway, correct? But guests staying on-property get early entrance.

So we decided not to go this year b/c it's ridiculously expensive for just a 1 day ticket and we'll have to wait in long lines that we're not used to doing.

I hear you, believe me. But I may just do that anyway.

My kids are extremely bummed!
So what I'm trying to say is I hope you get to go just be aware that it's a little more difficult to go for just 1 day not staying on property.
BTW The Hard Rock Hotel is awesome!! If you ever get a chance to stay.

Maybe we'll check it out this time (an advance-scouting trip) and then decide to do a couple days there another year, with an on-property stay for that portion.

That is a usual server update time for some places in the US. They figure low usage but don't take into account the international audience.

I hope they get it fixed soon!

 

[Poolrat]

I know -- I feel bad because I'm not posting as much on other peoples' threads, but I just don't have the time when it takes forever or just goes to some error page.


They need to do something!


I hope they get it fixed soon!

I think..... should I say it out loud...... today .... it .... was.... better...



I read that they were moving over to new servers so maybe that was the issue. I hope.

 

[Native NYer]

I agree with you. Having an AP vs. Magic Your Way tickets definitely changes how you plan and tour.

I've been debating WWoHP as well. And with ticket prices, it's an expensive Disney diversion.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Love the Judy/Glennbo smileys!

I agree with many that say do WWOHP this trip.
Another 2-3 years, andthe interest level in Harry Potter and/or availability of the girls might be diminished!
As others have mentioned, it's a relatively compact area, so your "Savannah" people perhaps won't be too stressed!
And, there were several benches that we could just sit at and take in the scenery.
Be there for rope drop so you can soak it up before crowds form.
We were there in late September, and really enjoyed it: much of our IOA time was spent in that area.

I had got our 3 Universal tickets using AirMiles...not the most economical use of AirMiles, but good enough for me & mine (lol, especially as it was my AirMiles we used!)

 

[glennbo123]

I think..... should I say it out loud...... today .... it .... was.... better...

I don't know -- do you talk what you type?

But yes, I think it's doing much better today.

I read that they were moving over to new servers so maybe that was the issue. I hope.

Yes, I just wasn't sure if the problems were happening before, during, or after the move.

I agree with you. Having an AP vs. Magic Your Way tickets definitely changes how you plan and tour.

I like the AP way better! After we use these up, we'll have to look into going back to Annual Passes.

I've been debating WWoHP as well. And with ticket prices, it's an expensive Disney diversion.

It sure is, they've got you right where they want you.

Love the Judy/Glennbo smileys!

A faithful reader from way back...WalkingintheFog!

Thanks!

I agree with many that say do WWOHP this trip.
Another 2-3 years, andthe interest level in Harry Potter and/or availability of the girls might be diminished!
As others have mentioned, it's a relatively compact area, so your "Savannah" people perhaps won't be too stressed!
And, there were several benches that we could just sit at and take in the scenery.
Be there for rope drop so you can soak it up before crowds form.
We were there in late September, and really enjoyed it: much of our IOA time was spent in that area.

I had got our 3 Universal tickets using AirMiles...not the most economical use of AirMiles, but good enough for me & mine (lol, especially as it was my AirMiles we used!)

You're right on.....and have eloquently listed the points being made in the debate going on in my head.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

I love the Judy smilie and Molly got me this time.

Pat, I'm surprised I did! Usually you get to it first and Glenn is such a stickler when it comes to reflective Judys or parts of Judy. I really think the Rules Committee is nothing but a sham...

Thank you. Molly was on top of her game this round.

Pat is my Judy sighting nemesis! Seriously though, that smilie is too funny! Does she know that her picture is posted on the DIS?

Even Judy read the books and loved them....and that's saying something because she's not much of a reader, she's a math person. She helps with all of the math homework, and I get all of the English, science, and everything else. Good thing math is where help is almost always needed.

Ugh, I hate math. Don't tell Judy though! A good friend of mine is a math wizard and an excellent teacher but hates literature. We always joke that if we started a school, she'd teach the math classes and I'd teach the literature ones. But the HP series are really great books! I've read them all as has my two older girls so we're big fans. Heck, if Judy has read them AND you're kids have expressed a desire to go, then I don't see how you can not go to WWoHP.

Double post, thanks to the DIS's issues. Just when I said that I thought it was better today.

Ugh, all last week was a nightmare. I just gave up after awhile because it took an eternity to load a page let alone trying to post a comment.

 

[glennbo123]

Update!

All of you have been so persuasive about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Some of the Pros and Cons have been hashed-out in the comments/replies since my last chapter:

Pros​

• Everyone in the family is a fan of the books, or at least the movies
• The area, and particular the ride “Forbidden Journey”, are awesome (per your reports)
• We’ll have a car, which will make getting there much easier than finding transportation
• The kids are at a great age to enjoy it
• The biggie – who knows how long we’ll all be able to vacation together, if we wait for “next time”?

Cons​

• Expensive for one day
• People staying at Universal hotels get early admission and Front of the Line passes
• We probably won’t be able to go as fast as we’d like

Well just look at the lists…the Pros outnumber the Cons right? So, I talked to Judy and she was all for it. She said she’d hang back with slower members of our party, if need be. Then I called my mom. She was up for going too, so looks like it’s on.

When will I squeeze it in? The only possible day (without staying longer) is Friday. We have something planned in the evening back at WDW property, so we’ll have to at least get back for that, but I’ve updated my plan to show Islands of Adventure for Friday. We’re going to try to keep it a secret from the kids, so we’ll see how that goes.

I had planned for Friday to be a relaxing day, enjoying the resort and getting some packing done, but it looks like we’ll be going strong right to the very end and throwing clothes into our suitcases at the last minute! Ah, vacations.

Link to next whatever

 

[glennbo123]

Molly you little ninja poster.

Pat, I'm surprised I did! Usually you get to it first and Glenn is such a stickler when it comes to reflective Judys or parts of Judy. I really think the Rules Committee is nothing but a sham...

Doesn't sound like you want to keep that point of yours for very long. If I had a "looking at you over my eyeglasses" smiley, I'd use it.

Pat is my Judy sighting nemesis! Seriously though, that smilie is too funny! Does she know that her picture is posted on the DIS?

Well, ah, she doesn't know that she's now down to smiley size.

Ugh, I hate math. Don't tell Judy though! A good friend of mine is a math wizard and an excellent teacher but hates literature. We always joke that if we started a school, she'd teach the math classes and I'd teach the literature ones. But the HP series are really great books! I've read them all as has my two older girls so we're big fans. Heck, if Judy has read them AND you're kids have expressed a desire to go, then I don't see how you can not go to WWoHP.

Yeah, that's pretty much the conclusion I reached too. See the update I was writing while you were posting.

Ugh, all last week was a nightmare. I just gave up after awhile because it took an eternity to load a page let alone trying to post a comment.

Yep, my experience exactly. Very frustrating.

 

[MEK]

Cute little smilie you got there. Now that I know you are going to check out Harry Potter you can throw that thing around a few more times. Nice. Sounds like it will be a blast!

 

[Flossbolna]

0 Judy!!

 

[BMC423]

YAY for WWOHP.... I can't wait to go there, but Michael is still too small we have a long wait till he is old enough to read the books. I'm already looking forward to your TR

 

[winkers]

What is this "down time" you speak of?

I have a hard time with down time on vacations because I always feel the need to squeeze every last bit of fun and family togetherness that I can. Which I must admit has lead to near "mother- in- law-cide" or "MILcide" for short.



I'm crazy I know, I need to learn how to take a relaxing vacation


I'm glad your adding on Harry potter. Iv'e been informed that we will be going there on our next trip to WDW, which to me is sacraligious to consider going to "the other park".

So, it will be good to hear how your trip there goes.

 

[eandesmom]

I had planned for Friday to be a relaxing day, enjoying the resort and getting some packing done, but it looks like we’ll be going strong right to the very end and throwing clothes into our suitcases at the last minute! Ah, vacations.

Lazy packing is overrated! WWOHP on the other hand