"It's So Much Fun Not Knowin Where You're Goin" Oct. 2013 Celebration! **6/22 FIN**

[amberg93]

INTRODUCTION​

Hello! You may or may not know me from my wife MarieLightning's (still unfinished) trip report "Fine! We can go to Disney, but I'm not happy about it!" or the two pre-trip reports she's started. One for our upcoming May 2014 trip How soon is too soon to start planning?" "About right now." or the pre-trip report for this trip Something Worth Celebrating.

But if you haven't read anything that's A-okay! I'll get on with the introductions here.

Who: Amber (me) and my lovely wife.
When: October 18th through the 28th (leaving on the 29th)
Where: Disney's All-Star Music with quick service dining
Why: To celebrate me finishing chemo!
Additional information: We were taking part in the MyMagic+ but did pull regular fast passes on occasion. Given our upcoming trip in May, we purchased annual passes. And we did purchase tickets to MNSSHP.

I'll get a little more in depth with the who now.

First, is me. As I've stated, my name is Amber and I'm 20 years old. I was diagnosed with Non-Hogkins Type B Lymphoma on Memorial Day and I almost lost my life 3 times over the next week. Luckily, I'm still here and kicking. I've finished my chemo treatments and I might have to do some radiation, but I'll find that out later. During this trip we rented a wheelchair because I'm still not in the best of shape and we also brought a walker which was helpful when I wanted to walk and during the last day.

Now, some Disney facts!

Favorite Park: Epcot
Favorite Rides: Winnie the Pooh, Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania, The Haunted Mansion and The Peoplemover.
Favorite Disney movies: Beauty and the Beast, Cars 1 & 2, Wreck-it Ralph, and Tangled
Favorite Snack: Cinnamon and sugar pretzels!
Nighttime Shows in Order of Preference: Illuminations, Fantasmic, Wishes

This is my beautiful wife of a year and a half or so. Her name is Marie(-Christiane) and she's 24. She took a lot of the brunt this trip by pushing me around in my wheelchair and helping me make sure to keep on top of my meds and the like. Basically, she's awesome.

Favorite Disney Park: Likes them all but especially Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios
Favorite Rides: Toy Story Midway Mania, Mickey's Philharmagic, Star Tours, and Soarin'
Favorite Disney Movies: Princess and the Frog, Brave, Beauty and the Beast, Wreck-It Ralph, and Toy Story 3
Favorite Snack: Canadian Dream (American Dream minus the blue slush, double red slush)
Nighttime Shows in Order of Preference: Wishes, Fantasmic, Illuminations

Here is the check list we had for the trip:

• Take It Easy
• Get Our Favorite Snacks
• Divide Our Park Time
• Spend Less Time Meeting Characters
• Do Rides We Haven't Done Before
• Eat At Different Resorts
• Watch Wishes From Different Views
• Re-do Our Favorites Multiple Times

Will we accomplish them all? You'll have to read along!

Alright, is everyone ready? Oh boy! Let's get this magic started!​

 

[amberg93]

Table Of Contents​

​

Pre-Trip Report

OCTOBER 18TH, 2013
Part 1: We Were Lied To!
Part 2: "Are you worried?"
Part 3: Hunger Sets In and An Important First
Part 4: "I'm going to my happy place!"
Part 5: Calling it a Day

Real Life Update 1

OCTOBER 19TH, 2013
Part 1: "I'll pray for you!"
Part 2: Finishing the Safari
Part 3: "That smells delicious!"
Real Life Update 2
Real Life Update 3
Part 4: "Want a balloon animal?"
Part 5: Main Street of Doom!
Part 6: Glow With the Show
Part 7: "I've never done this before!"
Part 8: "Ooh, look at the glass slipper!"

Real Life Update and Mexico Mini-TR

OCTOBER 20TH, 2013
Part 1: Food Mistakes and First Aid
Part 2: A Race to be Won
Part 3: "Mom, Phineas and Ferb are meeting people at Disney World!"
Part 4: "People lose their minds at theme parks."
Part 5: "Wait, there are extra magic hours?"

OCTOBER 21ST, 2013
Part 1: Breakfast or Sleep
Part 2: "Why aren't the dishes singing and dancing?"
Part 3: "A vampire? A platypus vampire? Perry the platypus vampire?!"
Part 4: Good Finds and Bad Timing
Part 5: Marie Tries to Kill Me

OCTOBER 22ND, 2013
Part 1: "Want to go again?"
Part 2: "Want to skip a FP+ to meet characters?"
Part 3: "Are you sisters too?!"
Part 4: "That's some Grade A Honey!"
Part 5: Marie Might Blind Parade Dancers Forever
Part 6: "But I have to ride Winnie the Pooh!"

OCTOBER 23RD, 2013
Part 1: "Should I come back later?"
Part 2: "But it's a Kidcot Station!"
Part 3: "You have a nice accent!"
Part 4: "Are you crying?" "Yes."

OCTOBER 24TH, 2013
Part 1: "Let me hear you roar!"
Part 2: "Ladies, gentlemen and dinos of all ages..."
Part 3: "That's a sidewalk!"

OCTOBER 25TH, 2013
Part 1: "We want to move to Canada."
Part 2: "I'm on a boat!"
Part 3: "It's okay, they're frequent flyers."
Part 4: "Jesus would use an inside voice."

Real Life Update 5

OCTOBER 26TH, 2013
Part 1: Fiesta Hoy!
Part 2: "Is someone proposing?"
Part 3: "Amber, stop."
Part 4: The Best Ariel Ever
Part 5: Parade Blockade
Part 6: "I'm so upset with that bear!"

OCTOBER 27TH, 2013
Part 1: "Now this is more like it."
Part 2: "If I was American... I'd be bawling."
Part 3: "I bet she'd give you Lydia."
Part 4: "Are you sure?"

OCTOBER 28TH, 2013
Part 1: "Are you brave?"
Part 2: "We're both pretty strong."
Part 3: Celebrate Today
Part 4: Nap Time and Tangled Restroom Appreciation
Part 5: "This is the best day."
Part 6: The Last Ride

OCTOBER 29, 2013
Goodbye

Wrap Up
The End: Final Thoughts
​

​

 

[JB Meier]

Amber:

Congrats on your victorious battle and I look forward to following along w/ Marie.

I am eager to hear about the Halloween Party; we haven't done it since '11 and I wonder if it is still as magical or even moreso...

Thanks and take care,

-JB-

 

[amberg93]

Amber:

Congrats on your victorious battle and I look forward to following along w/ Marie.

I am eager to hear about the Halloween Party; we haven't done it since '11 and I wonder if it is still as magical or even moreso...

Thanks and take care,

-JB-

Thank you! We went on day 5 for type Halloween party and we did as much as we could, so I hope I can give you the answers you'd like

I'm glad that you're reading along!

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[amberg93]

Day 1, Part 1: We Were Lied To!

The day finally arrived! And like most days to Disney, ours started off obnoxiously early. This was a problem for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, over the course of the summer, Marie and I have been subject to a very weird sleep schedule because it got all sorts of messed up while we were in the hospital and it never really fixed itself. Secondly, it was a problem because we were spending the night at my Aunt and Uncle's house (they live all of 15 minutes from the airport) and sleeping on an air mattress with a hole in it. Not exactly the best sleep before Disney.

But due to waking up on the ground about 8 minutes before our alarm was due to go off, we managed to drag ourselves out of bed at 5:30 After getting dressed under the covers (it was super cold that morning) we got together our things and headed for the airport. Arriving at 6:10 or so and checking in with Southwest.

It was our first time flying Southwest so we didn't know what to expect. Plus with two laptops, a port to worry about and a walker, getting through TSA was an adventure. But we did and headed to our gate, B5 where we met up with Todd, Kara, and Asher (my youth minister, his wife, and their son) and talked the whole time before the flight.

Marie also went to get a breakfast sandwich and me some beef jerky because we were lied to about the fact that there was supposed to be a Cinnabun past the TSA checkpoint and there wasn't. I was so upset that they lied to us like that on the website! How dare they! I wanted my Cinnabun and they cheated me out of it. Rude!

We got onto the plane when our group was called (we were A51 and A52 respectively). Marie chose us seats further back because ever since I heard the stats that you have a greater chance of survival sitting in the back if the plane crashes, that's where I sit. So we were 17B and 17C respectively. Luckily, even though the flight was supposed to be full, no one sat in the window seat.

Our flight took off on tie at 7:45 and we had a great crew that made lots of funny jokes. Once the all clear was given to use electronic devices, I went ahead and pulled out my laptop to start typing up the trip report intro and what I could To say I was eager was a bit of an understatement. This was the trip I'd been looking forward to all summer. What had helped get me through my tough times.

We got into Orlando right on time and then headed down to get into the Magical Express area. We had to get out our magicbands and scan them, which was our first experience with them. Then we got into line for the All Stars.

Here I am, waiting away on my walker.

We got a real Magical Express bus this year! It was headed to Coronado Springs and the All Stars.

Nothing gets people more excited than this movie!

Not quite the gates entirely, but we were at the back of the bus.

It stopped at Coronado Springs first and then the All Star Sports, before it finally arrived at our destination: All Star Music!

For some reason we didn't take any pictures of the check in process. Probably because we were so exhausted and it took a while. We got the online check-in line and it took forever

When we finally got to the front, there was zero pixie dust at all! I had to remind her to get my celebration button and she didn't even ask what I was celebrating I mean, I get there was a lot of people but the whole process made me feel like a number in her day and not a guest. I guess I was just expecting more.

I headed to the room while Marie waited to get the wheelchair and let me tell you, it was forever away! I was exhausted by the time that I got to our room in building 7 of the Broadway building. We were in room 7420 and I was so disappointed, but it had largely to do with the amazing room and experience we had with our last trip to the POFQ.

Here I am, smiling but still not entirely happy. In our room for the next 11 days.

Continued in Next Post​

 

[amberg93]

Following along!

Yay! Welcome

 

[freckles04]

Following along!

 

[curemyreed]

Great reporting...I am looking forward to following along. I love how you coordinated your green bracelet, MB, band-aid, AND hair bow on travel day.....WOW!! I have trouble getting my shirt and shorts to match! It sounds like it has been such a challenging year for you and Marie. I hope your vacation was rejuvenating.

 

[khertz]

Well first of all, congrats on No Mo Chemo!

Second, I think I saw the two of you at Characterpalooza!! So I'm definitely joining in to see how your trip went.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Joining in Amber. First, so very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and subsequent treatments and extreme close calls, but SO VERY GLAD to hear that you're doing better and were able to do a Disney trip!!! I am so looking forward to following along with you and Marie's adventure...

... which just started!

Oh those early morning flights whose only redeeming value is the early arrival in Florida. Small price to pay, I guess, for more Disney time.

OK, question already. Are you living in Quebec, and if so, how did you get your Magic Bands? The reason I ask is I wasn't aware they would ship them to Canada. Just really curious.

Really sorry the arrival to the resort wasn't completely magical. The value's aren't quite up to the same level of the Mods or Deluxes. Here's hoping things pick up for going forward.

 

[amberg93]

Following along!

Welcome! Glad that you're here

Great reporting...I am looking forward to following along. I love how you coordinated your green bracelet, MB, band-aid, AND hair bow on travel day.....WOW!! I have trouble getting my shirt and shorts to match! It sounds like it has been such a challenging year for you and Marie. I hope your vacation was rejuvenating.

Yeah, it was totally on purpose Actually, it was just luck. I wear the bracelet all the time and I'd pre-picked my magic band so the rest just worked out. I didn't even notice until you mentioned it lol

Thanks so much! It was a great vacation, though not perfect, and I'm glad that you've stopped by to read along

Well first of all, congrats on No Mo Chemo!

Second, I think I saw the two of you at Characterpalooza!! So I'm definitely joining in to see how your trip went.

Thanks! And no way! That's awesome. I'll have to read along with yours to see if we were there on the same day! We had gotten Disney paint samples to cut green mickey heads out of to identify as Disers and then forgot to bring them to Disney. Oh well. Glad that you're here.

Joining in Amber. First, so very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and subsequent treatments and extreme close calls, but SO VERY GLAD to hear that you're doing better and were able to do a Disney trip!!! I am so looking forward to following along with you and Marie's adventure...

... which just started!

Oh those early morning flights whose only redeeming value is the early arrival in Florida. Small price to pay, I guess, for more Disney time.

OK, question already. Are you living in Quebec, and if so, how did you get your Magic Bands? The reason I ask is I wasn't aware they would ship them to Canada. Just really curious.

Really sorry the arrival to the resort wasn't completely magical. The value's aren't quite up to the same level of the Mods or Deluxes. Here's hoping things pick up for going forward.

First, thanks for following along!

And yeah, it was nice to get there early, but we didn't fully take advantage of the extra Disney time, as you'll find out soon in the next update.

Oh, I forgot to change it back. I had come back to Michigan at the beginning of the summer right before I got sick and have been here the whole time Sorry to give you false hopes! I'm in the process of immigrating to Quebec, so I do spend a lot of time there and I change my location depending on if I'm there or not.

It's okay. I just had a hard time not comparing the two and things probably would have been better if I hadn't done that.

And to anyone else reading along silently, welcome to you too

 

[MarieLightning]

I guess I should be working on my own trip report from last year now, otherwise you're gonna finish this one before I finish mine XD

 

[amberg93]

I guess I should be working on my own trip report from last year now, otherwise you're gonna finish this one before I finish mine XD

True enough and that would just be embarrassing

 

[amberg93]

Day 1, Part 2: "Are you worried?"

So now we're at Disney, the most magical place on Earth. Will possibilities swimming before us. Where should we go? What should we do first?

And the answer is... sleep. That's right. This trip report starts off with Marie and me taking a nap for a good hour. Why? Because we were tired.

In fact, at the end of our nap we laid there for a few more minutes and just talked which is where title comes from.

The conversation went a bit like this: "Are you worried?" "About what?" "That this time might not be as magical as last time."

We didn't have long to dwell on the subject because soon after a knock came on the door and our luggage arrived. And we decided to get ready.

First, though, we decorated our windows for the season! Look how awesome it looks!

At that point, we got changed out of our pants and grabbed our lanyards and pins. So that we could get going!

Here I am, ready for adventure!

So we trudged back to the front of the resort in order to go and catch a bus. But first we made a quick pit stop in order to get our refillable mugs and fill them with something to drink.

We were about to use our Magic Bands in order to go ahead and pay but they'd forgotten to have us set a pin. So we used our KTTW cards for the moment and filled our cups.

Then we had to head over to get a pin from a nice person and we asked about fridges (hoping we'd be given the option to take a room credit instead). Alas, they put in a fridge request instead.

Business taken care of, we finally headed outside.

But where could we possibly be heading? With all the possibilities?

On our first day? Of course we're going to the Magic Kingdom!

We had to for a bus for a few minutes but we were the only people on the bus! Score! Our whole drive only took about 15 minutes and then we arrived.

Since it was mid-day, the crowds outside were deceptively low.

Isn't it exciting?! Being right outside from the Magic Kingdom, it's just so much anticipation.

The bag check lines were totally empty!

We had business to attend to after passing the bag check, important business. We had to upgrade to annual passes!

First we headed over to ticketing, but they gave us the wrong price for what we'd paid for our tickets, so we had to head over to Guest Relations.

As always, Guest Relations was a long line and it took a while in the heat to get to the front. Even worse cause people were picking up/buying their tickets for MNSSHP that night. They sorted out the ticket prices, but I'd forgotten my ID in the room because we hadn't known I'd need it. I admit, I cried because I felt like I ruined everything and we had plans to park hop that night.

The lady was nice though, she gave us a one day park hopper option that we paid for right then. She just put it back on our room cards instead of giving us separate tickets. (Later, I'd find out I'd had my ID in my coat pocket the entire time so it had been with us but c'est la vie).

Once that was finished, we finally went inside!

The little fall Mickey's on the lamp post are adorable!

Oh, Main Street, how I miss you right now.

Now we're beginning to glimpse the crowds that we'd have to share the park with.

The Castle is finally in view!

Also, Marie was so confused at Merida being out and about. Only to later remember it was the Halloween Party that night

Balloons! And of course, the Castle in the background!

The street was emptying in anticipation for the 3 o'clock parade, which was happening very shortly.

Making our way up and capturing more decorations.

No Castle pictures from close up now. We were heading somewhere else with the idea of getting some fast passes?

Any guesses where? Mind you, looks can be deceiving.


Continued in Next Post​

 

[MarieLightning]

Yaaay for napping first thing Well, not really, but it did help some, so you know.

 

[freckles04]

Nothing wrong with a good power nap! I love the decorated windows. Just makes my heart sing when I'm at WDW and see those. Can't wait to see what you got into next.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Haha, of all the possible reasons to take a nap, "Because we were tired" has to be the best.

I do love the window decorations. It really helps make it feel a bit like home.

Arriving at MK mid-day is always so peaceful outside. Oh no, you had the ID the whole time!!

For me, walking in MK for the first time on a trip is when it all becomes real. There is just nothing else like that in the world.

 

[amberg93]

Yaaay for napping first thing Well, not really, but it did help some, so you know.

That's cause we're just that cool.

Nothing wrong with a good power nap! I love the decorated windows. Just makes my heart sing when I'm at WDW and see those. Can't wait to see what you got into next.

Yeah, we figured it would make it more homey too. Plus, it never helps to have a little reminder as to where our room is But glad you're following along

Haha, of all the possible reasons to take a nap, "Because we were tired" has to be the best.

I do love the window decorations. It really helps make it feel a bit like home.

Arriving at MK mid-day is always so peaceful outside. Oh no, you had the ID the whole time!!

For me, walking in MK for the first time on a trip is when it all becomes real. There is just nothing else like that in the world.

It's as good as a reason to eat at Pizzafari because "Rob on the Disboards said it was good!"

Yeah, there isn't anything to celebrate on our next trip so that won't be as fun. But hopefully someday we'll go near a holiday again.

I was so distressed to find out that I had it with me the whole time. I felt soo bad.

That's totally true! Epcot may be my favorite park, but starting out at the Magic Kingdom makes me feel like I've really arrived at Disney World.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

It's as good as a reason to eat at Pizzafari because "Rob on the Disboards said it was good!"

Haha fair enough, However, I did hear that Pizzafari attendance has sky-rocketed since that review.

Oh, and before I forget, thank you for clarifying the MB issue as I just could not figure out how you guys got them. Now it makes perfect sense.