He Was Bitten, Bitten By The Bug! A Nov-Dec '12 TR **WRAP UP 7/26**

[PhoenixStrength]

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! Illuminations pictures! Absolutely beautiful!

Awww...thank you!! I really do love Illuminations, though Wishes will always be my favorite. It is so unique and I had such a great view from that spot.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Hello all!!! Sorry I've been MIA from my TR for a bit, I was busy with work, then realized I was missing pictures from my next update so I had to re-load those ones last night. I'm going to try to get an update done this afternoon, but if not I will definitely get one done tonight. Just depends on how difficult Photobucket decides to be.

 

[SAT887]

Hello all!!! Sorry I've been MIA from my TR for a bit, I was busy with work, then realized I was missing pictures from my next update so I had to re-load those ones last night. I'm going to try to get an update done this afternoon, but if not I will definitely get one done tonight. Just depends on how difficult Photobucket decides to be.

Photobucket has been troublesome lately... It rearranged all my pics so they are out of order.... Looking forward to your update!

 

[ronnmel]

I'm still holding out and on the old photobucket, but in about 2 weeks I'll have no choice but to make the switch. I'm afraid!

Photobucket has been troublesome lately... It rearranged all my pics so they are out of order.... Looking forward to your update!

Presumably because they think they know better than you how your pictures should be arranged? Annoying!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Photobucket has been troublesome lately... It rearranged all my pics so they are out of order.... Looking forward to your update!

Yeah, it's a real pain!! They actually sent me a link to a survey about the new Photobucket yesterday. I enjoyed filling that out and telling them everything I thought about it.

I'm still holding out and on the old photobucket, but in about 2 weeks I'll have no choice but to make the switch. I'm afraid!

Be afraid, be very afraid!!! It has it's good points, but it's mostly annoying to me and causing me issues with doing my updates.

 

[SAT887]

Yeah, it's a real pain!! They actually sent me a link to a survey about the new Photobucket yesterday. I enjoyed filling that out and telling them everything I thought about it.



Be afraid, be very afraid!!! It has it's good points, but it's mostly annoying to me and causing me issues with doing my updates.

While the new interface is prettier and has slightly more user friendly options... It's not very friendly - it reminds me of the iPhone app minus the whole aggravating the junk out of me!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY THREE, SATURDAY DECEMBER 1ST, PART ONE

I woke up earlier on this morning, as I was headed to DHS and they had EMH starting at 8am that day. I took a quick shower, ate my granola bar and headed out of my room around 7am to see this:

They were at least a dozen in the air. It was really cool to see them, since I had heard of them doing morning flights around WDW but had never seen them. The sun was just rising as I got to the bus stop, so I took a picture of it and got in line.

I don’t have my notes with me but I don’t think it took too long for a bus to arrive, less than 10 minutes probably?? The bus was pretty full though when we left, which I wasn’t thrilled about. I was hoping for an emptier park! Once we arrived I hot-footed toward the gates so I could be as close to the front of an entrance as possible. I did stop long enough to get a picture of this though:

I was soon in line, about 30 people back, which was fine with me. I knew I wanted to get in and hot-foot it to TSMM to get a Fastpass, then get in the stand-by line. While I waited for the gates to open I took some pictures of the decorations, sky and surroundings.

The gates opened around 7:50am and I was in a couple minutes later (thank you people in front of me for being quick!). I was soon walking quickly (no running allowed!!) thru the park to Pixar Place and the line for FPs.

I got mine very quickly, as I had beat the majority of the crowd there, and it was still for 9:55-10:55am! But when I turned to the left to get in the stand-by line I noticed they had everyone in line outside. At first I thought maybe they just weren’t going to let anyone in until official opening at 8am, but then I overheard a CM telling someone that the ride was down! What?!?!?! They didn’t have any idea how long it would be until it opened, but promised that all Fastpasses would be honored if it was still down during your window.

Since I wasn’t willing to get in that line and wait for who-knows-how-long, I decided to quickly head for another attraction before everyone else realized that TSMM was down and headed there. Where was I headed, why here of course!

There was no line there yet (yay!!) and only a 5 minute stand-by wait. I headed thru the line and went all the way in without hitting a line.

I was actually escorted right into the TV room and got one picture of some of the artifacts along the top ledge before the clip started. I took a couple pictures of that too!

I enjoyed it, of course, as it’s one of my favorite attractions in WDW, easily in the Top 5. Since I got PP+ I posed for the ride photo, this time acting mock-scared of it.

As you can see it was still so empty there that my elevator wasn't filled.


**Stopping here as I have to run to a clients house in a couple of minutes for an emergency visit, but I will be back later with another update!**




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[PhoenixStrength]

While the new interface is prettier and has slightly more user friendly options... It's not very friendly - it reminds me of the iPhone app minus the whole aggravating the junk out of me!

I don't have an iPhone, I have an Android, so I don't know anything about their app, but I haven't used the Android app for them either. I do think it has some nice features, but the not-so-nice ones are so frustrating!

 

[mickeystoontown]

How oh how do you pose for the Tower of Terror picture? I'm always screaming at the top of my lungs and hanging onto John.

 

[ronnmel]

Maybe if one day we're ever able to tear ourselves away from TSM (or if it's down like for you) we'll get to experience the joy of walking onto an empty Tower of Terror. It's so hard when your two favorite attractions in all of Disney are in the SAME park!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

How oh how do you pose for the Tower of Terror picture? I'm always screaming at the top of my lungs and hanging onto John.

I say you do that, and just tell everyone it's posed! They will never know you were truly terrified!!

Maybe if one day we're ever able to tear ourselves away from TSM (or if it's down like for you) we'll get to experience the joy of walking onto an empty Tower of Terror. It's so hard when your two favorite attractions in all of Disney are in the SAME park!

I always go to TSM first too, then ToT and it's usually at least a 15 minute wait by then. I just got lucky that I got there fast and that it was EMH so there were less people there. It was already I believe 25 minute wait by the time I got off.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

DAY THREE, SATURDAY DECEMBER 1ST, PART TWO

After finishing with ToT I headed next door to Rock N Roller Coaster. Since TSM was apparently still down (according to what I could overhear from those around me!) there were more people there than normal, but it wasn't too bad yet.

The Single Rider line was not open so I had to get in the stand-by line. The line was outside, though only about 25-30 people out. I got a couple shots of ToT from the RnRC line. In the second one you can see the spots were open where the elevator car was going past them. You can't see the people very well though.

I was surrounded by teenagers from a group retreat who were talking quite a bit among themselves, but respectful and I had no issues with them. After I got to the inside portion of the line I only got one more picture as the line was packed and there were too many people to see anything!

After seeing Aerosmith practicing and them inviting us to join them we were ushered into the garage, where I got one picture as well.

I was in my limo after about another 5-6 minutes waiting in the garage. My ride photo turned out okay for me, but I love the couple in front of me!

And I took a few more pictures on the way out...

I was in line and off the ride in about 22 minutes, which isn't too bad at all. I was getting a little hungry at that point, so I decided to head somewhere I always want to go in DHS, but never make it before they close, Starring Rolls!

I stopped for a few pictures with a PP on the way over. These first two pictures are from my camera. I was looking directly into the sun, which is why my eyes are a little squinty:

Then the ones from the PP, including my own magic shot from the whole trip!

After the pictures were done I headed over to Starring Rolls. I was hoping it wouldn't be too busy yet since it was still before official opening (~8:55am) and I knew they hadn't opened the gates yet. Unfortunately it was quite busy but after a few minutes I managed to get a cinnamon roll.

I liked it, though it wasn't as incredible as one I will have later in the trip! I ate about 3/4 of it while watching the guests streaming in from the official 9am opening. They were all heading toward TSM, but I knew they would be disappointed as a CM told me it wasn't open still, though it should be soon. And FPs were already for mid-afternoon at that point.

Once I finished my cinnamon roll I still had some time before I could use my FP for TSM (assuming it was open!) so I headed to check-out something I had never done before....

Yup, I had never done VoLM in any of my past visits!! It was about 9:15am then and the next show was 9:30am so I headed into the holding room, sat down near the theater doors and took pictures of the room.

An adorable 6 year old girl who was celebrating her birthday that day announced the opening of the doors, then we went in the theater. I took one quick picture before everyone got in and they told us to turn the cameras off.

I thought it was a cute show and I'm glad I saw it, though it won't be a priority on future trips.



NEXT TIME: IS IT OPEN YET??????





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[ronnmel]

I've never been through the standby queue at RNR. Is it very long once you go inside, before you merge?

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I've never been through the standby queue at RNR. Is it very long once you go inside, before you merge?

Nope, just one room with the posters on the walls, a hallway area, then you merge.

 

[Pluto0809]

How cool that you saw all those hot air balloons. I've never been up in one but if I did go, flying over Disney would be awesome. Maybe someday....

You have the same touring plan that I use at HS. What a bummer though that TSM was down.

I love the ride photo from ToT. Every kid on the ride looks scared to death. the couple on RnRC is funny too. I'm thinking of getting PP+ when DH and I go in October. He makes the craziest faces on rides because he is usually scared. He's a bit of a wimp. Was it easy to use? I've heard people say that it takes a long time to get your photos from the rides.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

How cool that you saw all those hot air balloons. I've never been up in one but if I did go, flying over Disney would be awesome. Maybe someday....

You have the same touring plan that I use at HS. What a bummer though that TSM was down.

I love the ride photo from ToT. Every kid on the ride looks scared to death. the couple on RnRC is funny too. I'm thinking of getting PP+ when DH and I go in October. He makes the craziest faces on rides because he is usually scared. He's a bit of a wimp. Was it easy to use? I've heard people say that it takes a long time to get your photos from the rides.

I've never been in a REAL hot air balloon either, though I've done Characters In Flight at DTD twice.

I thought PP+ was easy to use, though I'm sure it would have been harder during a busier time since you do have to get your photo from the ride photo pick-up and if they were busy it would take a while. Never took me more than a few minutes.

 

[KatMark]

I'm a little behind...but I'm caught up now.

You got some great shots of Illuminations! And I love the photo of you by the Epcot tree.

Sorry you still weren't feeling well and couldn't stay for Extra Magic Hours.

I hate when a ride is down that you hit first thing in the morning...it sometimes just throws off your whole schedule. But you scored well with Tower of Terror (my top ride of all) and I love your pose for that picture. The pose on Rock & Roll (which I don't ride anymore) is great, but those two people in front of you

I made Mark do Voyace of Little Mermaid this past trip as well (and Andy and Des). Rumor has it that it might be going away and he didn't remember it from when the kids were little.

I'm curious to where your "better" cinnamon roll is going to be from.

 

[ronnmel]

I'm thinking of getting PP+ when DH and I go in October. He makes the craziest faces on rides because he is usually scared. He's a bit of a wimp. Was it easy to use? I've heard people say that it takes a long time to get your photos from the rides.

We had no problem using it during our trip early January. Now granted we didn't go on many rides with PP+ during the first few, busiest days of the trip. Usually there would be only a few people in front of us, sometimes none at all. If the line got bigger, they'd send more CMs.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I'm a little behind...but I'm caught up now.

You got some great shots of Illuminations! And I love the photo of you by the Epcot tree.

Sorry you still weren't feeling well and couldn't stay for Extra Magic Hours.

I hate when a ride is down that you hit first thing in the morning...it sometimes just throws off your whole schedule. But you scored well with Tower of Terror (my top ride of all) and I love your pose for that picture. The pose on Rock & Roll (which I don't ride anymore) is great, but those two people in front of you

I made Mark do Voyace of Little Mermaid this past trip as well (and Andy and Des). Rumor has it that it might be going away and he didn't remember it from when the kids were little.

I'm curious to where your "better" cinnamon roll is going to be from.

Thank you! I wish I had felt better too, but I got most of what I wanted done that day at Epcot so I wasn't terribly disappointed.

I tried not to let TSM being down throw me off too much, and thankfully it didn't. I know you love ToT, and it's definitely one of my Top 5 too, probably ranks second behind Kiliminjaro Safari. And that couple in front of me on RnRC was the whole reason I wanted the picture, as they made me too!

That is the exact reason why I did VoLM too, because I heard it may go away so they can add a Tangled themed attraction in it's place. I had never done it before and wanted to do it once at least.

The better cinnamon roll is coming up later in the trip, as it was in a different park. Starring Roll's version was delicious though!

We had no problem using it during our trip early January. Now granted we didn't go on many rides with PP+ during the first few, busiest days of the trip. Usually there would be only a few people in front of us, sometimes none at all. If the line got bigger, they'd send more CMs.

This is the same experience I had with it!

 

[ronnmel]

Oh yeah, seeing your response to Kat reminds me. What the heck were you thinking, getting a cinnamon roll from Starring Rolls? There are so many wonderful cupcakes to choose from (yes, it's perfectly acceptable to get a cupcake for breakfast ), and everyone knows nothing can beat the cinnamon roll from Main Street Bakery!