It's gonna take a lot to take me away from this view! 7/10 - Finished!

[teekathepony]

Just wanted to let you know that I'm following along! Your pictures are great!

and thanks for following along!

Oh my, that's some winter weather you are having. I'm sure not going to complain about ours.
I'm going to go get some pictures today. We're getting some above freezing temperatures the next two days so I want to get a pic of the snow before it melts! (Though we would need a month of Florida summer weather to get rid of all the snow we have!)

Ahhh that kayak, I imagine it will be a few months before it gets some use. I saw your FB photo and thought someone is more motivated than I to wrap it. I would have just slapped a bow on it and declared it done. (your camera lens mug was awesome too!)
My parents are hilarious, they used Christmas table cloths!

So...Epcot lazy day. Love it.

Ellen's ride is so hard for me to get photos since it is dark. Your photo of Ellen and the dino was awesome and that is the one that never comes out for me. I know, I know, turn the ISO up/down/sideways or something like that.
It is really dark in there. ISO up! Hahaha

As for Test Track, I actually liked the old bumps and heat room. I'm glad that you liked it!
Really? That's so funny, always people on every side of every opinion, right?

So do you have a Via Naploi pizza in your future? I hope it's not the horrid Boardwalk pizza window.
Perhaps, perhaps!

Stay warm!
Oh we are, keeping the fire roaring!

Hmmm, maybe I should try Universe of Energy - I haven't been on on it yet! I corrected my past omissions of Spaceship Earth during my last trip. Perhaps it's time I correct another one.

That design process for Test Track standby queue looks a whole lot more interesting than the ones they have for the Single Rider and Fastpass lines.

You should try Ellen! It's a nice 45 minutes off your feet. And there are dinosaurs. And Bill Nye the Science Guy. And Jeopardy.

We did Test Track with a fastpass and we got to design our car... that's the only time we did that ride though so I'm not sure if it was any different than the standby...

 

[LB1122]

Enjoying the trip report...but now wanting details on the new ticker you have in place.

Hope your New Year is starting off well. Thanks for coming to see my TR.

 

[Nermel9]

I love lazy days in Epcot! Sometimes wandering the World Showcase is the best thing to do!

I still have to go on the Universe of Energy. We just always skip it because it's so long, but one day I'll do it!

 

[JOCELYNM]

Your pets are beautiful! I love the Christmas pictures~! We have fuzzy kids too....2 German Shepherds!
Really enjoying your trip report!! Thank you

 

[teekathepony]

Enjoying the trip report...but now wanting details on the new ticker you have in place.

Hope your New Year is starting off well. Thanks for coming to see my TR.

Thanks, and I fully intended to post that the other day and the day slipped away from me! I have a few spare minutes now, I'll post the details
My new year is going pretty well so far, can't complain! Hope yours is too!

I love lazy days in Epcot! Sometimes wandering the World Showcase is the best thing to do!

I still have to go on the Universe of Energy. We just always skip it because it's so long, but one day I'll do it!

Me too, I could just take it slow and look at everything around WS for days!
It is a long ride, I always use it as either a time filler, or a foot saver!

Your pets are beautiful! I love the Christmas pictures~! We have fuzzy kids too....2 German Shepherds!
Really enjoying your trip report!! Thank you

Thank you! Do you have any pictures? I'd love to see your Shepherds!

 

[teekathepony]

The Ticker Story

[Side note: I originally typed this up at work. I wanted to add the gifs, but for some reason they weren't working so I added them from home later on.]

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived Wendy and Johnny, a happy couple. For this happy couple, it was a year much like any other. They had just returned from their apparently (accidentally!) yearly Disney trip and were swearing that no Disney trip would happen the next year.

Then something magical happened.

Wendy's travel agent Mother in law won a free week at a three bedroom condo in Orlando. Of course she tried to get the couple to come with her, but with a trip to Germany (that WAS going to happen next year, no matter what!) and a potential trip across the country to visit friends, a basement reno that had been put off for three years in a row, the couple said no, there just wasn't room for Orlando this year.

A few weeks ago Johnny's young cousin had a birthday party that Johnny and Wendy attended. The Princess was turning 11. The happy couple were surprised to learn that the Princess and her family (King, Queen, and younger Prince, age 5) would be going to Orlando with Mother and Step-Father in law. Mother in law kept begging the couple to come. It would be so fun! A big family fun trip! I'll pay to upgrade to the 4 bedroom condo! It has its own pool!

The couple were intrigued.

A Disney trip with kids? It had never happened before! What would it be like? The couple just love these kids, they're great! The Princess was excited that Wendy and Johnny knew so much about Disney and Universal, and begged them to take her on all the biggest roller coasters. They thought about free accommodations, flights with AirMiles, just a few park tickets, and their carefully constructed walls of "No Disney Trip" started to crumble.

Then one dark and stormy day, while Wendy was at work, Johnny went to visit his mother at her travel agency. She was convincing her son (who is just so agreeable!) to come with her. He never actually said yes, but she called and booked the 4 bedroom condo anyway. September 20th - 27th.

Looks like we're going to Disney!

I'll save the details for later when I'll make a new PTR. It's going to be a totally different experience for us in many ways, and isn't really a Disney trip -- more an Orlando trip with a Disney component. But there you have it, the story of the ticker. I'll be back soon with a proper update, and I'll catch up on everyone's reports!​

 

[emmysmommy]

Yay!!! And all the land rejoiced!! That's pretty exciting stuff!

We'll likely be there at the same time.

 

[jedijill]

Yay! Great news in the middle of the polar vortex!

Jill in CO

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Well, now that was the easily the best ticker reveal of all time Wendy. Just lovely.

Interesting also... I've been noticing A LOT of tickers (or at least plans for tickers) set for September of 2014. So much in fact, that I've been seriously thinking about a September 2014 dalliance myself. This'll just add more fuel to that fire, lol. (spoiler alert... it's looking likely. How could I miss out on this HUGE volume of DISers in one place.) Boo... To... YOU!

Seriously though, this is SO AWESOME to have pretty much a whole trip paid for. I need to figure out how to do that sometime!!!

And for the record... I don't have a lot of experience with Disney trips with kids, but from my limited exposure (i.e. last trip), it's the absolute BEST! You'll love it!

 

[teekathepony]

Yay!!! And all the land rejoiced!! That's pretty exciting stuff!

We'll likely be there at the same time.

No way!!! Yayyyy!!!! I'm happy dancing!

Yay! Great news in the middle of the polar vortex!

Jill in CO

Hahahaha good way of putting it!!

Well, now that was the easily the best ticker reveal of all time Wendy. Just lovely.

Interesting also... I've been noticing A LOT of tickers (or at least plans for tickers) set for September of 2014. So much in fact, that I've been seriously thinking about a September 2014 dalliance myself. This'll just add more fuel to that fire, lol. (spoiler alert... it's looking likely. How could I miss out on this HUGE volume of DISers in one place.) Boo... To... YOU!

Seriously though, this is SO AWESOME to have pretty much a whole trip paid for. I need to figure out how to do that sometime!!!

And for the record... I don't have a lot of experience with Disney trips with kids, but from my limited exposure (i.e. last trip), it's the absolute BEST! You'll love it!

...



REALLY!!?? Ohhhh buddy I am so excited!! Big ole DisMeet?? Please oh please let it work out!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

That's so awesome!! I'm really trying to convince DW for a 4 day weekend trip for Halloween next fall but so far have been hitting solid resistance. Maybe I'll take a page from your mother-in-law's strategy and keep at it

 

[IheartDDuck]

Stupid Judy! Haha. I just love that whole thing.

I liked the new Test Track. I just hate the queue! It felt like we spent a lifetime in it on our July trip.

Best Hades gif ever.

Yayayayayayayayay!!!! That's so exciting and awesome.

 

[amazingact21]

Sounds like a busy year ahead of you! And while I can understand the need to fulfill other obligations before another Disney trip, an almost completely paid for Orlando vacation is too good to pass up! And to get to travel with younger kids will be a lot of fun. They add a certain element to Disney.

Congrats on your next trip!

 

[wiigirl]

Great update!

 

[geckodani]

Ha! Yay for new ticker! And wow that your MIL won the condo - that's awesome!

 

[BridgetR3]

Yay for a new ticker!!! I'm finally back from our crazy Christmas. Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[pixleyyy]

Just chiming in. So happy to read what you've got done so far. Can't wait to read more.

Questions about your photography equipment in Disney: How do you carry it? Do you wear it all the time? And what about the extra lenses?

I bought a Black Rapid strap before my last Disneyland trip and found that was great but needed somewhere safe to put the camera when I was on rides. Also like to carry a second lens (since I don't have that nifty 18-250 that you have!). Suggestions based on your experience?

 

[emma212010]

Yay for going back to Disney!!!!!!!!! I just got back from Disney on the 4th. I am already trying to figure out when I can go back! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[teekathepony]

That's so awesome!! I'm really trying to convince DW for a 4 day weekend trip for Halloween next fall but so far have been hitting solid resistance. Maybe I'll take a page from your mother-in-law's strategy and keep at it

Well, she is a persistent woman. I could put you in touch and she could teach you some of her techniques! The only one I've actually been able to ascertain is the "Book it Anyway" technique!

Stupid Judy! Haha. I just love that whole thing.
I think Stupid Judy is one of my favourite Disney Villains.

I liked the new Test Track. I just hate the queue! It felt like we spent a lifetime in it on our July trip.
We didn't wait long at all, and had our FP+ so I guess I didn't get that from it this time. I can't remember much of the queue at all come to think of it!

Best Hades gif ever.
(Even better if you know anything about my past relationship with my Mother in Law... )

Yayayayayayayayay!!!! That's so exciting and awesome.
I am pretty excited! A little nervous, that's a lot of travel in one year but I'll just have to eat every second day or buy cheap toilet paper.

Sounds like a busy year ahead of you! And while I can understand the need to fulfill other obligations before another Disney trip, an almost completely paid for Orlando vacation is too good to pass up! And to get to travel with younger kids will be a lot of fun. They add a certain element to Disney.

Congrats on your next trip!

Absolutely, that's what it came down to was how do you pass up an almost free trip to Orlando?? You don't, that's how. I'm excited to go with the kids. It's going to be different for sure.

Great update!

Thanks!

Ha! Yay for new ticker! And wow that your MIL won the condo - that's awesome!

Yes indeed! Having a MIL who is a travel agent has some advantages for sure!

Yay for a new ticker!!! I'm finally back from our crazy Christmas. Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

Welcome back! Thanks, and I can't wait to hear about yours!

Just chiming in. So happy to read what you've got done so far. Can't wait to read more.

Questions about your photography equipment in Disney: How do you carry it? Do you wear it all the time? And what about the extra lenses?

I bought a Black Rapid strap before my last Disneyland trip and found that was great but needed somewhere safe to put the camera when I was on rides. Also like to carry a second lens (since I don't have that nifty 18-250 that you have!). Suggestions based on your experience?

Well, before I got the 18-250 it was always a struggle with which lens to bring. I like to get a locker if I need to switch lenses. I never usually carry anything with me. Usually I wear my camera all the time. I've found that on every ride, there's a way to hold it tight enough that it's fine. I love my Black Rapid strap, it saved my neck that's for sure!

Yay for going back to Disney!!!!!!!!! I just got back from Disney on the 4th. I am already trying to figure out when I can go back! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Isn't that always the way? On the plan/train/bus/car on the way home and you're already figuring out how to do the next one! It's a sickness!
Happy new year to you too! And I hope you also had a Merry Christmas (sounds like you did if you just got back from Disney! )

 

[teedee]

I'm more of a lurker than poster but I've read and enjoyed all your trip reports. Your love of Disney just shines through and your photos are absolutely amazing! I can't wait for the rest of it.

Terri