MagicBands + Margaritas + Muggles + Minions = TRP. New TR link is up! 10/31

Extra long Food and Wine the one year I won't be going. Boo.

I might survive. Might- a trip to DL will get me over it.

We are on a no travel from Like Labor day until Oct 18 when the NRPA conference leaves town, which being a Park and Recreation Conference, means we are all involved in the "hosting" duties.

The conference is the 14-18 of Oct but why we have a no travel the whole month and a half I have no idea. Prep I guess.
 
I was going to say that you have to stay at BWV vs. AKL - because it was available and you booked it and you gotta take it when you see it sometimes - but I wasn't sure of the F&W dates...then I read on and voila! It's great when your planning seems to line up with the fates isn't it?!

I kinda wanted to ride the Jingle Cruise (thinking yaay, something different, right?), but we read about it and it didn't seem to be all that different - like you said, they could've done a whole lot more!

Cute that the boys rode IASW...as dorky as it is, it's a classic everyone has to do once!! Also a good place to sit for a bit when you're tired.

As far as your DCL plans, I think days after the cruise at WDW will definitely help the post-cruise blues!
 
You are a planning machine!!! I need a spreadsheet to keep up with your plans. ;) I love it when airfare drops and you just can't NOT book. I did that for our May trip with some of my miles. When I see the price break I don't even stop to ask my hubby if the times are fine with him. :lmao: I think I told you that we've been to San Juan and the cruise port before. Loved it.

I was glad to see F&W starting early this year since we'll be there starting Sept. 24th. :thumbsup2 Exciting stuff.

As for your TR update.... We did the Jingle Cruise for the first time last trip. It was interesting to see the little bit of the holiday overlay. I think if they had some Santa's for skippers that would have been great!

Oh no!! That's a soaking. And now dinner is pending.... yikes!!
 
The Jingle Cruise is a great way to start off a Christmas time trip! :thumbsup2
Love all the Space Mountain photos! So fun.
YIKES! That's a lot of rain!
Hope your timing works out!
 


Love the update! The ride pictures are so fun. Shame that it rained that hard! But I guess we have to expect that at Orlando.


Congrats on having one flight sorted. I would book into an Epcot resort for F&W. Fantastic that it starts earlier this year. :thumbsup2
 
I've read several other reports that the Jingle Cruise wasn't all that they thought it should be. Minimum Christmas decorations and missed opportunities for more. Oh well, it was something "different". :thumbsup2

The Photopass pictures all turned out great! I agree that the one of your parents on Splash is my favorite.

You can tell that it did some major raining from the pictures you took. Nothing worse than walking around soaking wet and miserable.
 
Extra long Food and Wine the one year I won't be going. Boo.

Isn't that always the case?

I might survive. Might- a trip to DL will get me over it.

We are on a no travel from Like Labor day until Oct 18 when the NRPA conference leaves town, which being a Park and Recreation Conference, means we are all involved in the "hosting" duties.

The conference is the 14-18 of Oct but why we have a no travel the whole month and a half I have no idea. Prep I guess.

When are you going to DL?

You know F&W does go into November....:lmao:

I was going to say that you have to stay at BWV vs. AKL - because it was available and you booked it and you gotta take it when you see it sometimes - but I wasn't sure of the F&W dates...then I read on and voila! It's great when your planning seems to line up with the fates isn't it?!

Yes, dumb luck! But I'll take it!

I kinda wanted to ride the Jingle Cruise (thinking yaay, something different, right?), but we read about it and it didn't seem to be all that different - like you said, they could've done a whole lot more!

They could have. Skipper outfits, music, even decorations throughout the ride. But it still was cute.

Cute that the boys rode IASW...as dorky as it is, it's a classic everyone has to do once!! Also a good place to sit for a bit when you're tired.

It is! I think for them, because they hadn't and had heard so much about it (not necessarily good mind you) they felt they had to go on it, so they could complain about the song with authority.

As far as your DCL plans, I think days after the cruise at WDW will definitely help the post-cruise blues!

There is that! It will be a big gap after that trip before I'm back at WDW so the blues will likely hit hard.

You are a planning machine!!! I need a spreadsheet to keep up with your plans. ;) I love it when airfare drops and you just can't NOT book. I did that for our May trip with some of my miles. When I see the price break I don't even stop to ask my hubby if the times are fine with him. :lmao: I think I told you that we've been to San Juan and the cruise port before. Loved it.

I am sure we'd enjoy it but I'm not going to turn down WDW days either! It's just funny.

I was glad to see F&W starting early this year since we'll be there starting Sept. 24th. :thumbsup2 Exciting stuff.

I was expecting the 26th but this was a welcome bonus.

As for your TR update.... We did the Jingle Cruise for the first time last trip. It was interesting to see the little bit of the holiday overlay. I think if they had some Santa's for skippers that would have been great!

Oh no!! That's a soaking. And now dinner is pending.... yikes!!

We were soaked. Luckily it really wasn't that cold but it was windy!

Santa skippers would be good, and music!

The Jingle Cruise is a great way to start off a Christmas time trip! :thumbsup2
Love all the Space Mountain photos! So fun.
YIKES! That's a lot of rain!
Hope your timing works out!

It was a fun first ride. The Space and Splash photos are a riot, I am very glad we have them.

Love the update! The ride pictures are so fun. Shame that it rained that hard! But I guess we have to expect that at Orlando.

We did expect rain on the trip, it just wasn't in the forecast for that day so outside of Melissa, no one had more than a poncho on them. It was a bit more torrential than I'd expected though that is for sure.

Congrats on having one flight sorted. I would book into an Epcot resort for F&W. Fantastic that it starts earlier this year. :thumbsup2

I am very pleased we were able to snag it.

I've read several other reports that the Jingle Cruise wasn't all that they thought it should be. Minimum Christmas decorations and missed opportunities for more. Oh well, it was something "different". :thumbsup2

It was cute but yes, could have been so much more!

The Photopass pictures all turned out great! I agree that the one of your parents on Splash is my favorite.

Isn't that a riot?

You can tell that it did some major raining from the pictures you took. Nothing worse than walking around soaking wet and miserable.

Luckily we knew we were headed back so it minimized the miserableness by quite a bit. And it wasn't cold at least, which helped a lot. It was kind of funny.

Kind of.
 


I had a lovely valentines day with Jeff. I hope everyone else did too!

I tried, but he said that he only had eyes for you. ;)

She arrived before I did, and let me know the boys were there waiting for us! Gotta love the DIS, there are eyes everywhere. And while they didn't know Pat, she recognized them and it was nice to know ahead of time that they were in fact, following directions! And apparently behaving.

So glad that you got to see Pat again, and this exchange is hilarious -- children will learn to fear the DIS! Eyes everywhere! :rotfl2:

I am apparently going for "look ma no hands", Pat's got the camera angle down pat (and yes, this is PROOF that we met) and Jeff, well, who knows!


This round goes to Pat! :thumbsup2

Who had gotten soaked on Splash.



This may well be my FAVORITE picture of the trip!!!!!!!!!!!

But this round, and the whole competition goes to the 'rents! This is a fantastic picture! :lmao::rotfl2: Did they like the ride at all? :confused3:laughing:

As we did so, one thing became blatantly clear.
We were cold
We were wet
We needed to change
All our stuff was stored at the Boardwalk. Or at least all our carryons were stored there with bell services. Theoretically the rest of our bags were in our room waiting for us.
There was no way my folks would have time to get their stuff, get to the Swan, get checked in, change, and make it to dinner on time.
11 of us were going to have to dry off as quickly as possible, all at once if we wanted to make it to dinner on time.

And even that might be pushing it

Ahh, good times. Seriously, this'll be a great memory. :goodvibes
 
Don't you love it when a plan comes together :thumbsup2

Love the Space and Splash photos. Esp Evan's chilled out pose.

When it rains that hard its not fun even with a poncho on. But I'd still rather be at WDW in the rain than at home.
 
I've read several other reports that the Jingle Cruise wasn't all that they thought it should be. Minimum Christmas decorations and missed opportunities for more. Oh well, it was something "different". :thumbsup2

I think the Jingle cruise was exactly what they said it would be. On the Disney parks site they said the boats and the line would be decorated and there would be holiday themed jokes. People only complained it wasn't decorated enough because the poster had an elephant with a santa hat on it, which wasn't in the ride. Apparently Disneyland put some Santa hats on the gorillas in the camp scene at one point though. Who know if they do it next year they might do it differently.
 
Your plans sound good! More days for vacation are great, unless you start to miss your cats! :lmao:

Glad everyone enjoyed their ride and you got in a bonafide DIS meet. Sorry you all got soaked. That's one of the definite bummers about Florida. It won't happen at Disneyland. Hopefully they won't be charging you a "per tap" fee at the hotel, the way rain here is going.

Maybe you can bring some down from Seattle with you! :thumbsup2
 
I tried, but he said that he only had eyes for you. ;)

Judy might have minded that

So glad that you got to see Pat again, and this exchange is hilarious -- children will learn to fear the DIS! Eyes everywhere! :rotfl2:

Live reporting, it was hysterical! The boys LOVED Pat. Definitely not the last we saw of her.

This round goes to Pat! :thumbsup2

She's a pro!

But this round, and the whole competition goes to the 'rents! This is a fantastic picture! :lmao::rotfl2: Did they like the ride at all? :confused3:laughing:

Picture evidence notwithstanding, they loved it. They knew what they were getting into and I believe went on it at least one more time on the trip. But oh that picture kills me!

Ahh, good times. Seriously, this'll be a great memory. :goodvibes

Definitely!

Don't you love it when a plan comes together :thumbsup2

Yes, yes I do!

Love the Space and Splash photos. Esp Evan's chilled out pose.

He is a poser that's for sure

When it rains that hard its not fun even with a poncho on. But I'd still rather be at WDW in the rain than at home.

Exactly!

Your plans sound good! More days for vacation are great, unless you start to miss your cats! :lmao:

Glad everyone enjoyed their ride and you got in a bonafide DIS meet. Sorry you all got soaked. That's one of the definite bummers about Florida. It won't happen at Disneyland. Hopefully they won't be charging you a "per tap" fee at the hotel, the way rain here is going.

Maybe you can bring some down from Seattle with you! :thumbsup2

NOOOOOOO It totally rained on us the last time we were there. Look, wet ground!



I want sun. Pool time. SUN!
 
NOOOOOOO It totally rained on us the last time we were there. Look, wet ground!

I want sun. Pool time. SUN!

I think the last time we had wet ground was while I was there at DL and it lasted maybe 2-3 hours, before that I think it was when Jenny was visiting. I mean I know we technically live in a desert, but it would be nice if we could cross the 5 inch mark for rain, last year was 7 I think and 10 qualifies a region as a desert.
 
I think the last time we had wet ground was while I was there at DL and it lasted maybe 2-3 hours, before that I think it was when Jenny was visiting. I mean I know we technically live in a desert, but it would be nice if we could cross the 5 inch mark for rain, last year was 7 I think and 10 qualifies a region as a desert.


::yes:: We brought the rain but it wasn't a bitter cold rain. Even CA has the best rain.

Utah is in a huge drought too. The resorts are only at about 65% snowpack. My beloved Pineview might be low this year. :sad1:
 
I think the last time we had wet ground was while I was there at DL and it lasted maybe 2-3 hours, before that I think it was when Jenny was visiting. I mean I know we technically live in a desert, but it would be nice if we could cross the 5 inch mark for rain, last year was 7 I think and 10 qualifies a region as a desert.

Ok I don't want you to be in a dessert so how about I send the rain the week before, or the week AFTER we are there!

::yes:: We brought the rain but it wasn't a bitter cold rain. Even CA has the best rain.

Utah is in a huge drought too. The resorts are only at about 65% snowpack. My beloved Pineview might be low this year. :sad1:

I agree, even though we got soggy on our DCA day in 2010, it wasn't cold. We've been soggy enough this year, fall was really mild but the snow has kicked in recently. I've no idea big picture though how it bodes for the summer, I think we may still be low.
 
If you are going for garden/pool view right at 7m you have a good chance. If you want me to check dates just let me know :goodvibes Standard and Boardwalk go early, often at 11m

I have been kinda watching. I can see the dates approaching. I can see I would most likely need to waitlist for standard. Question though... if I go ahead and book garden/pool and then standard comes through won't that do funny things to my points? I have two rooms currently booked. One used the 2013 points... the next used the remaining 2013 and borrowed from 2014. I wasn't too worried about this since IF I booked a standard at BWV it would be the same points as what I already booked with. IF I switched and booked at either say BCV or a garden/pool view at BWV then it would cost more points... thus needing to borrow more points from 2014. THEN if the waitlist came through those points would be put into holding, yes? :rolleyes:


Torrential!!!!!!!!! And this was not the worst or wettest day. Not by a long shot.

:sad2: I know you had it far worse than we did. You will have to forgive me as I complain on my TR... I will try and keep in mind I could have had it worse. I just hated how cold and wet it was!
 
I have been kinda watching. I can see the dates approaching. I can see I would most likely need to waitlist for standard.

Honestly, I think your chances at Standard, unless it's only for a couple of nights, are really slim. I can check as far out as you need if you like, just FB me the dates. You are fighting ToT, F&W and MNSSHP. There just aren't very many of the standard studios in inventory to even work with (I have the number some where lol). Chances are excellent for pool/garden on the 7m day but even with a waitlist on the standard, it's likely it won't go through unless it's only 1-2 nights. Especially if you are trying to get 2 rooms. I got lucky and I think I only got lucky as everyone assumed F&W was starting a week later than it ended up being. And they didn't make the announcement until mid day, on the day I booked. Pure dumb luck. Ironic too as I do own there but am using Aulani points so I couldn't have booked early even if I wanted to. Since we didn't even decide for sure until Monday what we were doing and 7m day was Tuesday, it really was unbelievable how well it played out.

Question though... if I go ahead and book garden/pool and then standard comes through won't that do funny things to my points? I have two rooms currently booked. One used the 2013 points... the next used the remaining 2013 and borrowed from 2014. I wasn't too worried about this since IF I booked a standard at BWV it would be the same points as what I already booked with. IF I switched and booked at either say BCV or a garden/pool view at BWV then it would cost more points... thus needing to borrow more points from 2014. THEN if the waitlist came through those points would be put into holding, yes? :rolleyes:

Yes. In your scenario no matter what you do, since it's after the banking deadline it doesn't much matter which "extra" points you end up with, they'd be in holding. So basically there is zero benefit to waitlisting if it is less than what you booked already, simply given where it falls in your use year. You could waitlist off of what you have booked and be risk free but if you want to be sure of either BVW or BCV then you'll have to borrow and then at that point, may as well leave it there.

I'm in a similar boat for our last 2 nights. I'd like AKV Value. It's not looking good. I have to buy a few points to make it happen. I can't do that for a waitlist so unless it's available when I make the ressie, I can't do it at all. I could buy points to fill out the ressie on a Standard view and then waitlist the value. But that's pretty silly since on the off chance it did come through, all that would happen is I'd lose 3 points to holding which I know I can't use and possibly end up with a worse view.


:sad2: I know you had it far worse than we did. You will have to forgive me as I complain on my TR... I will try and keep in mind I could have had it worse. I just hated how cold and wet it was!

Well we had one REALLY cold day (ok, maybe two now that I think about it) and one REALLY wet day. The rest were mixes I think. It was all over the board. Complain away though, wet and cold is wet and cold and not what anyone wants in Florida even when you know it can happen!

In general though we did pack for it so all things considered it really was manageable. We changed some plans but for the most part just worked through it. And really, is it any worse than the horrid humidity and rain in the summer? Same thing, just opposite spectrum. You are still at Disney!
 
When are you going to DL?

You know F&W does go into November....:lmao:

Going to be in Vegas for my annual conference the DL hopefully. It might go the other way, DL then Vegas but I would rather have the conference first.

Yup that leaves no time for F & W :worried:




So glad that you got to see Pat again, and this exchange is hilarious -- children will learn to fear the DIS! Eyes everywhere! :rotfl2:

It was funny, we had planned to cross paths when we realized our FP+ were for the same time. A couple of texts back and forth and I just happened to be closer to SM. As I scanned the crowd, with my best LG eyes, I spotted the boys. The came over to the side and sat on the wall and waited. I figured as a parent Cynthia would like to know the boys made it and were doing as they were told. :thumbsup2

I know I was always happier to find out my kids behaved better when out in public than they did at home. :lmao:




This round goes to Pat! :thumbsup2

This was the left side - they one I was not used to going in since usually the right side feeds the FP. :lmao:



Live reporting, it was hysterical! The boys LOVED Pat. Definitely not the last we saw of her.

Had nothing to do with the boys getting my extra duplicate Sorcerers cards. :rolleyes1

I figured like I replied to Glenn that as a parent it is always nice to know the boys heard you when you gave them instructions. :goodvibes
 
Honestly, I think your chances at Standard, unless it's only for a couple of nights, are really slim. I can check as far out as you need if you like, just FB me the dates. You are fighting ToT, F&W and MNSSHP. There just aren't very many of the standard studios in inventory to even work with (I have the number some where lol). Chances are excellent for pool/garden on the 7m day but even with a waitlist on the standard, it's likely it won't go through unless it's only 1-2 nights. Especially if you are trying to get 2 rooms. I got lucky and I think I only got lucky as everyone assumed F&W was starting a week later than it ended up being. And they didn't make the announcement until mid day, on the day I booked. Pure dumb luck. Ironic too as I do own there but am using Aulani points so I couldn't have booked early even if I wanted to. Since we didn't even decide for sure until Monday what we were doing and 7m day was Tuesday, it really was unbelievable how well it played out.

I think you are right... I can hope... but seriously doubt it. If you could look... my dates are 10/1 to 10/8. I looked at OKW in studio near hospitality and already it is full for race weekend. One not near hospitality is open... but it shows me that host resorts will lack availability that weekend. I could look at just a one bedroom and but that defeats the "alone" style Steve was hoping for not to mention his family wants their own space. :rolleyes:

Yes. In your scenario no matter what you do, since it's after the banking deadline it doesn't much matter which "extra" points you end up with, they'd be in holding. So basically there is zero benefit to waitlisting if it is less than what you booked already, simply given where it falls in your use year. You could waitlist off of what you have booked and be risk free but if you want to be sure of either BVW or BCV then you'll have to borrow and then at that point, may as well leave it there.

I may end up just doing that... keeping the OKW rooms and waitlisting. that way if the standard comes through great... if not, we don't end up losing points by switching to a "lower point" option. Then again, maybe I just borrow more from 2014 to cover the needed extra points. I need more points..... I can see it already.

I'm in a similar boat for our last 2 nights. I'd like AKV Value. It's not looking good. I have to buy a few points to make it happen. I can't do that for a waitlist so unless it's available when I make the ressie, I can't do it at all. I could buy points to fill out the ressie on a Standard view and then waitlist the value. But that's pretty silly since on the off chance it did come through, all that would happen is I'd lose 3 points to holding which I know I can't use and possibly end up with a worse view.

How many single use points can you purchase at a time?


Well we had one REALLY cold day (ok, maybe two now that I think about it) and one REALLY wet day. The rest were mixes I think. It was all over the board. Complain away though, wet and cold is wet and cold and not what anyone wants in Florida even when you know it can happen!

In general though we did pack for it so all things considered it really was manageable. We changed some plans but for the most part just worked through it. And really, is it any worse than the horrid humidity and rain in the summer? Same thing, just opposite spectrum. You are still at Disney!


You are right... as bad as the weather can sometimes get... still being in Disney beats anything else. :goodvibes
 
Caught up. Thanks for not posting skittle pictures!! I do appreciate it!!

I always think you should just opt for more time in Disney with the cruise! Hope it all works out! Can't wait until I finally take a cruise!

How you coordinate so many people at so many different places all to meet up at the same time is beyond me. I've got my tiny little family of 3 and I'm all, "I'm good. There's enough on my plate!" :rotfl: Don't know how you do it, wonder woman! Can't believe how wet you guys got! It's gets to the point to where all you can do is laugh because no matter how you fight it, you're gonna get wet!
 

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