It's Still Disney Magic to Me! A January 2016 Trip Report (PTR included too) Complete

[disneywlf]

Blue Skies Are Definitely Ahead...Despite A Bumpy Start Part 2 (1/10/2016)
After entering Terminal 5, the jetBlue Terminal at JFK, I made my way upstairs via the escalator to the Departure Level as quickly as OJ Simpson did in the old Hertz commercials. While the check-in line looked lengthy, I waited only about ten minutes. While I was waiting, I could see that the security line was much longer than usual (compared to other times in this terminal or at Delta Terminals 2 and 4 at JFK) and since I still had the opportunity, I purchased Even More Speed via the jetBlue application, which would grant me access to the Pre-Check line in order to increase the chances of making my flight for an additional $10 (free if you have an Even More Space Seat or higher fare).

When my turn came, I was helped by Ashley, a very polite and professional agent. As she was checking my bag, inspecting my drivers license and boarding pass, and reprinting my boarding pass to reflect my Even More Speed purchase, we talked about how long it took to get to the terminal. Ashley mentioned she had heard about the unusually high congestion outside the terminal too and said that some of her coworkers were affected by the traffic, which was likely due to a car accident. By 7:50AM, I was on my way to security and thankfully, the purchase of Even More Speed proved to be the best decision I made that morning, as I was through security in seven minutes and assisted by Officer Gordon, who was very friendly and enjoyed a laugh with me after my Nasacort and 3-ounce bottle of saline nose drops set off the metal detector. By a little after 8:00AM, I was in the secure area of the terminal and far less anxious than I was, as I knew I would make my flight! Since I have not been in Terminal 5 in a while, I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I loved the modern feel, spaciousness, many amenities, and that it is not too spread out (I'm looking at you Delta Terminal 4 at JFK ).

With time to spare, I decided to plane spot and had a grand time! I first saw two jetBlue Airbus A320s and a LAN Boeing 767-300 near Gate 22:

I then spotted two jetBlue Airbus A320s, including N775JB sporting a Jetblue Honors Our Veterans Livery:

Next, I spotted N584JB, a Jetblue Airbus A320 at Gate 28 that arrived from Santiago, Dominican Republic as Jetblue Flight 336 and was departing for St. Lucia-Hewanorra International Airport as Jetblue Flight 881

I then went to the new T5 Rooftop, which was pretty cool (it even has a pet relief area for those people traveling with their four-legged friends) and is also partially covered, so I stayed dry. From there, I spotted a British Airways Boeing 747-400 heading to London-Heathrow, United Kingdom, a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 heading to Hong Kong, and the nose of a Jetblue Embraer E190.

Since the free snacks on Jetblue would not fill me up alone, I decided to head to the Food Court.

I had originally wanted to go to Lucy's Asian Kitchen for an Asian inspired bowl, but they were not open yet, so I went to Cheeburger Cheeburger, which is a tried and true option for me. I used the easy-to-use touchscreen to order a Grilled Chicken Sandwich with all of the vegetable toppings plus mustard and I also picked up a bottle of water. Since there was no option for no bun, I let the friendly and helpful employee cooking the food know and he was happy to take my request! While I was waiting, my mother called. She let me know that she got home OK despite the rain and that by the terminal exit, there was indeed a car accident, as my check-in agent Ashley had mentioned. I told her that I was glad to have gotten through the terminal very quickly considering the circumstances and I agreed with her, as she was glad too! I then received my food, paid about $10-$11 in change for it. I continued to talk to my mother until about 8:50AM, which was about when my plane was scheduled to board. I told her not to worry about picking me up at JFK when I came home, as I knew how stressful it was for her to drive me to JFK and that I would either use the AirTrain to LIRR or a car service depending upon my timing when I came home, so she would not have to drive. Mom was very thankful and she wished me a wonderful trip before I got off the phone, as boarding time was near at Gate 22, where my flight left from.

Here's N589JB, aka "Blue Skies Ahead," a Jetblue Airbus A320-200 which inspired the title for the series of threads concerning my departure day travels and is quite fitting, as despite a rough start, it all ended well.

Also, for those DISers who are travel nerds, here are my flight statistics
**Flight Information:
Origin Airport: New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, NY
Destination Airport: Orlando International Airport (MCO), Orlando, FL
Airline and Flight Number: Jetblue Airways 483
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
Registration: N589JB aka "Blue Skies Ahead"
Cabin, Seat: Economy, 14F
Scheduled Departure/Actual Departure: 9:29AM/10:35AM
Scheduled Arrival/Actual Arrival: 12:29PM/1:19PM
Origin Airport Terminal, Gate: Terminal 5, Gate 22
Destination Airport Terminal, Gate: Airside A, Gate 7
While we boarded on time at about 8:54AM, Jetblue was experiencing irregular operations due to the weather as well as the car accident clogging up the traffic outside, as the pilot who was going to be operating the flight to Sarasota, FL, at Gate 23, was running late through security and the flight was going to be delayed. Also, our gate agent announced that for people who did not make the flight due to terminal delays, another flight at about 10:30AM would be available for them to be rebooked on. However, I was excited to fly on Jetblue again because while they are my second most used airline behind Delta, I have not been on them since August 2009, as Delta since then has always been cheaper to the various destinations I fly to (including MCO). While I don't mind flying Delta as I like their front-line staff (flight attendants, check-in agents, and the like), the usually good condition and cleanliness of their aircraft, their many flights out of NYC (JFK and LGA), and their reliability, I was excited to fly on Jetblue again as I wanted to see if they were still as good as I remembered. When boarding, which was organized and quick, was called for my row, James, the gate agent, scanned my boarding pass and wished me a good flight in a cheerful tone. I walked down the jetway and entered the aircraft via Doorway 1L, where I was warmly greeted by Alicia, a friendly, middle-aged flight attendant. As I walked down the aisle, I found the aircraft to be clean and well maintained, but with some wear and tear. I settled in Seat 14F, which was very comfortable and had plenty of legroom.

Finally, I knew I would be almost there . Would all go without a hitch? Find out in Part 3!

 

[ursalita]

Nice start to your TR! I'm in awe of your memory of all the details. I also like your cheerful tone.

I also received the MagicBand I ordered, since I do not get one as I am not staying in a Disney-owned hotel.

How much do they charge for the MB if you don't mind my asking?

Thankfully, we won't have to deal with the tough driving in the NYC area much longer as we will soon be moving to Florida and within driving distance from WDW.

Awesome!

 

[disneywlf]

Blue Skies Are Definitely Ahead...Despite A Bumpy Start Part 3 (1/10/2016)
After I got settled, I met my seat mates, who included Lenny, a young man from Roslyn, not far from where I live as well as a middle-aged Orthodox Jewish man, who rested most of the flight. We had to wait to push back a little bit, but the flight attendants did the safety announcements, we pushed back at about 9:34AM. Unfortunately, Captain John announced that due to the bad weather as well as the congestion outside of the terminal, we would be delayed departing. He stated that there were still people in the long security lines and that if they could not make the flight, there was another flight at 10:30AM available for them and that they would be rebooked on it. While being delayed is not the best thing, it could have been worse as it gave me time to plane spot and watch some TV. I first started with some CNN, which was interesting as they covering 2016 Presidential Race developments. While I was waiting, I spotted Jetblue Embraer E190s and Airbus A320s, including N238JB, a Jetblue Embraer E190 at Gate 23 that arrived from Fort Lauderdale, FL as Jetblue 1502 and was departing for Sarasota, FL, as Jetblue 163.

We then headed towards the back of the airport, where we positioned ourselves to line up for take off. Due to runway maintenance and the weather, the airport was very congested with arrivals and many departures! We first passed Terminal 8, with a lot of American Airlines action.

And this unmarked Boeing 747 with an open nose

As we headed to the other side of JFK, I spotted a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-300

I also spotted a Delta Airbus A320 taking off

At this time, Captain John announced that due to a long wait caused by nine planes ahead of us and runway work, he would be shutting one engine to conserve fuel as we moved. About a little over an hour past our scheduled departure time, we took off to the east at 10:35AM from Runway 13R, which runs from the western end of JFK to the eastern end of JFK and I could see The Rockaways from my seat.

I felt the thrust from the jet engines and we took off quickly, turning right to head southbound, where we were greeted by endless diamond skies (not unlike those Princess Jasmine sings about in "A Whole New World").

From there, we soon hit about 10,000 feet and it was at this point I found this aircraft had FlyFi, Jetblue's free wifi service, which was pretty sweet! With FlyFi activated, I emailed Tiffany Towncar to let them know I would be running late, even though they were tracking my flight, as I did not want them to think anything bad happened to me. While that was happening, I also watched South Park, which included the episodes "Damien," Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000," and "Jakovasaurs." While I was watching South Park, I enjoyed my grilled chicken sandwich from Cheeburger Cheeburger, which I found to be on the large side portion-wise and tender, moist, and juicy along with crisp and fresh vegetable toppings. We flew along the Atlantic coastline after taking off and since it was turbulent, snacks were not served until a little later in the flight as the fasten seatbelt sign was on until we reached North Carolina. A little before that point, Ryan, a young, enthusiastic female flight attendant took our beverage orders using a notepad and I ordered a Diet Coke with no ice. She then came back with our beverages and after that, Tara, another accommodating flight attendant came back with Alicia to bring snacks, which was when I selected a bag of Terra Blue Chips and a bag of Popcorners.

I enjoyed my snack and since nothing else was on television, I decided to watch Sunday House Call on Fox News with Dr. Marc Siegel and Dr. David Samadi, which was interesting as they were talking about ways in which the cold weather could be dangerous for the body and advised tips, like how to be careful when shoveling snow, which was useful. While I was watching, I chatted more with Lenny and we talked about Roslyn a bit, like how we love the various restaurants in town such as Kotobuki, an excellent sushi restaurant. We also talked about where we were traveling to. Lenny mentioned that he was traveling to Costa Rica and was connecting in Orlando, but he was concerned as due to the flight's late arrival, he would not make his connecting flight. When Ryan came by, Lenny inquired about the connecting flight and he was reassured that if they did not hold it, which she said there was a chance of, they would be able to put him on the next flight. After chatting with Lenny for a bit, I then used the lavatory since we would be landing soon as it was nearing 1:00PM. I arrived back at my seat and sadly, Ryan informed Lenny that he would not make his flight as it would still be departing on schedule and not waiting for other passengers, which was a shame . However, Ryan did inform him that the gate agent awaiting our flight would be able to rebook him onto the next flight, so I hope Lenny made it to Costa Rica after all. At about 1:00PM, we began our descent into the Orlando area, entering Florida near Daytona Beach and flying I-4 most of the way. Before I knew it, I could see that we were on approach to Orlando and I could see that we were flying over the Central Florida Greenway (FL-417). Finally, we were landing in Orlando and I was excited beyond belief!

We touched down in Orlando at 1:19PM, about 50 minutes behind our scheduled time, but it could have been worse as I could have not been there at all. When we were cleared to use handheld electronic devices, I called my mom to let her know I arrived safe and sound and she wished me a wonderful time! As I deplaned, I thanked Ryan and Alicia, who were stationed at the front of the plane and they wished me a great trip! Despite the delay, I enjoyed this flight on JetBlue due to the ample legroom, excellent service, and TV, which was a bonus in my book! After I disembarked at Airside A, Gate 7, I made my way to the fake monorail for the Main Terminal. While I was onboard, I spotted some more aircraft, which included an XA-GOL, an Aeromexico Boeing 737-700 at Gate 24 that arrived from Mexico City as Aeromexico Flight 434 and was heading back to Mexico City as Aeromexico Flight 435, XA-VOM aka "Margarita," a Volaris Airbus A319 at Gate 25 that arrived from Mexico City as Volaris Flight 980 and was heading back to Mexico City as Volaris Flight 981.

About five minutes after I disembarked my plane, I was at the Main Terminal, where I made my way down the escalator to Baggage Claim 9. Masud, my driver from Tiffany Towncar, was also waiting for me with my name on a tablet. It was a bit confusing to find him at first as there were many limo drivers waiting for arriving conventioneers, but we found each other . Not unlike my previous experience with Tiffany, I found Masud to be excellent, as he was very friendly, polite, professional, and intent on providing first class service! Ten minutes later, Masud had my suitcase and Masud escorted me to his black Lincoln Towncar, which was parked right outside the exit from the ground transportation area one level below the baggage claim. This was not unlike the previous time I arrived in Orlando, as I presume that the people manning the outside exit allowed him to park there, as he was friendly with them due to picking up at MCO many times. Nevertheless, it meant a much shorter walk for me, so I was happy! . While we were outside, I also took off my vest and sweatshirt, as it was a balmy 70 degrees, which felt warm but wonderful! All in all, the time from disembarking to claiming my bag took about 20 minutes, which compares favorably to my last trip, which also took about the same amount of time. With everything loaded, we were on our way to Publix, where shopping is indeed a pleasure as well as the Buena Vista Palace .

 

[disneywlf]

Nice start to your TR! I'm in awe of your memory of all the details. I also like your cheerful tone.

Thank you ursalita! I try to keep tabs on everything, as I enjoy recounting every detail in order to give a fuller trip report not only for the readers, but for myself as well as I enjoy looking back at my previous trips . I certainly agree it always helps to be cheerful as it leads to a better life in my view . I don't know if you like Jimmy Buffet at all but to quote him in his song "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," "If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane ." Keep on reading for more and to quote Aladdin in "A Whole New World," "hold your breath it [the TR] gets better."

How much do they charge for the MB if you don't mind my asking?

I ordered the standard red MB, which they charged about $12-$13 for and came out to about $19-$20 total with tax and 5-7 day standard shipping. They had some more complex designs like Anna and Elsa, Peter Pan, and a vintage Mickey with an American flag background, but those cost close to $20 without tax. Just out of curiosity, where are you staying?

Awesome!

Thank you ursalita! . While I actually love to fly as I believe getting there is half the fun and I enjoy going to new places, a 3-hour drive versus about a 2-2.5 hour flight will be a lot quicker!

 

[disneywlf]

On My Way to the Magic (1/10/2016)
After a smooth arrival at MCO despite the departure delay, Masud left the airport to go northbound in his clean and well maintained Towncar in order to access the Beachline Expressway (FL-528) westbound towards Orlando. While we were driving, we talked about our travels, like where we have been and what airlines we liked/disliked. Masud told me he had traveled with his family to much of the Middle East and India, which sounded cool, even though it can be uneasy at times. This was also fitting as Masud mentioned he was of Indian and Pakistani heritage and immigrated to the U.S., first to Chicago and then to Orlando, where he began working for Tiffany since they started in 1998, which was pretty cool! When he said this, I told him that I wanted to travel there, plus Israel, as I want to discover my roots. Masud said that while he had not been to Israel yet, he wanted to go there as he heard it was a beautiful country! We also talked airlines and I mentioned I liked Delta and JetBlue best, as I feel they have the best operations of the U.S. carriers. Masud agreed, especially on Delta, as he flew them many times and felt the same way . He also said that he liked Emirates, as he felt they had an amazing hard product with luxurious seats and impeccable service! I mentioned that since I have never flown outside of the U.S., I have never used them, but would like to fly them as I had heard amazing things about them. As we were making good time along the Beachline, we reached Exit 2: Universal Blvd, Orangewood Blvd, where we would detour for a bit to go to the Lake Cay Commons Publix, which had a very convenient location and a rather palatial-looking exterior.

Since I only had 20 minutes, I made a list of what I needed about four days before my trip using Publix's handy iPhone application, as it helped keep tabs on what I needed and provided the aisles for the items based on the store I was visiting. I was excited to go into Publix, as I have always enjoyed shopping at their stores in the Orlando area and in South Florida, as their stores are immaculate with a very nice atmosphere, have excellent customer service, have great produce, an excellent deli, and fair prices in my book (as their regular prices are comparable (sometimes slightly cheaper) than what I pay for groceries at home and competitive sale prices). While I had never been to this Publix before as I usually used the Regency Village Publix (near the Premium Outlets) or the Publix at FL-535/US-192 across from the Target in Kissimmee, this average-sized Publix made an excellent first impression, as it had a very welcoming and bright atmosphere and impeccable cleanliness! I first visited the deli, where Charlotte, a warm and enthusiastic middle-aged lady, sliced me 1/2 a pound of Boar's Head Three Pepper Colby Jack Cheese, which salty, creamy, and very piquant. She loved that I love the spice of the cheese, as she said that not everyone likes it as it is too hot for their tastes. She got a fresh block of cheese and gave a sample slice, which was wonderful. After Charlotte gave me my cheese, I was on my way to continue shopping, where I picked up very nice strawberries from Florida, blueberries, bananas, Publix Orange Juice with Calcium (it's delicious and cheaper than national brands in my book and Consumer Reports's too!), a 12-pack of Diet A&W on sale, two more large dog leashes for my dogs (I first discovered their dog leashes in a Deerfield Beach Publix when I was visiting the area in August and when I bought the first two, mom found that they were very high quality and durable for the reasonable $5.29 price when she used them on our dogs), and two insulated Publix bags, which Joseph, an enthusiastic young associate led me to find. With all of my groceries gathered, I went to check out with Eddie, who was very friendly, patient, and efficient along with Johann, his bagger who bagged my groceries to perfection. After a pleasurable experience at Publix, I was in the car again fifteen minutes after I arrived and Masud loved it, as most clients take a little longer, which he understands. Masud was impressed that I mentioned the list helped me expedite my shopping. After leaving Publix, we immediately reentered the Beachline Expressway westbound and exited about two miles west at Interstate 4 west towards Tampa. Traffic on I-4 was light and soon enough, we were at Exit 68: FL-535: Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista. We exited I-4 and turned right to head to the Hotel Plaza Boulevard entrance to Walt Disney World! Finally, we had entered Disney property and we were on approach to the Buena Vista Palace!

Since the Buena Vista Palace's regular lobby was being renovated, a makeshift check-in area had been moved to an unused conference room (I knew about this from JetBlue Getaways, as they warned me beforehand.). Masud dropped me off at that entrance and I thanked him for a wonderful ride, as a cheerful bellhop took all of my bags except my Dakine backpack inside. Once again, I thought Tiffany Towncar was excellent, as Masud proved to be an excellent driver, the car was in excellent condition, and the value for the price at $117 roundtrip with a free grocery stop was great! It was now 2:39PM and while the line at check-in looked lengthy due to many conventioneers from KPMG, an accounting company staying at the hotel, I only waited about ten minutes as many representatives were on hand to check guests in. Also, the front-desk manager checked the line and talked to guests, reminding them politely to have IDs and credit cards ready beforehand to help expedite the check-in process. I was helped by Daisy, a personable and polite lady from Northern New Jersey and New Hyde Park, NY. While she said I would have to wait a bit as she wanted to fulfill my request for a room with a king bed, she asked for my phone number so she could text me when my room was ready. I was happy to give her my phone number and when I did, she immediately recognized the (516) area code, as she revealed to me that she used to live in New Hyde Park, which is about fifteen minutes west of where I lived and we had a pleasant conversation about Long Island. Now checked in, I waited in the lobby and about twenty minutes after I checked in, I was assigned Room 356, which was on the same floor as the Lobby, but well away from it as it was on a separate hallway separated by a door from the lobby and the last room in that hallway, which turned out to be nice, as it was very private! While I was a bit disappointed that I was not able to be on a higher floor as I had requested that, I was still glad as the location of my room was very private and I could see that it was very clean and in excellent condition.

After settling in a little bit, I called my mother and let her know all was well before I got ready to head to the pool, as this day had the best temperatures and sunny skies, making for perfect swimming conditions. Since the Main Pool was closed for renovations as they are enhancing it and even adding a lazy river, I was directed to the Spa Pool, which while smaller, was very nice, as it was well maintained and had pleasantly warm water. While I could have also had the bellboy drive me to the Hilton DTD to use their pool according to Daisy, this pool worked fine for my purposes. I ended up swimming close to 40 laps and after that, I relaxed by the pool for a little bit .

After an invigorating swim, I went back to my room to take a relaxing shower and to get ready for dinner at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort. After getting ready, I decided to think about heading over to the Magic Kingdom before dinner, as I would have time until my 8:45PM ADR at Chef Mickey's and had to stop by The Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) anyway, as the ticket on my package was a will-call ticket. I checked for FP+ reservations before I went, but there were none .At about ten to six, I headed to the bus stop, where I caught a bus for the Magic Kingdom. I was the only passenger onboard and I chatted with my driver, who was very bubbly and soon enough, we had arrived at the TTC. There, I headed to a ticket window, where there was no line and I was assisted by CM Patrick from North Carolina, who was very friendly and efficient. He had no issues using the information from the printed itinerary and in no time, he had my admission linked to my MagicBand as well as a backup admission ticket. He wished me a magical evening and with my admission ready, I boarded the Express Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. After disembarking the monorail, I went through security and scanned my MagicBand, which were quick and easy! After I passed the turnstiles, I was overjoyed to be hearing Disney music and seeing this magical sight in the distance!

After reveling in the atmosphere, I made my way to Adventureland, where I first decided to ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, which had a five minute wait.

While the posted wait time was five minutes, in less than five minutes, I was high in the sky and soaring on a magic carpet to Agrabah! I even got a pleasant spritz of water from a camel, which felt delightful. After soaring on a magic carpet, I decided to ride The Jungle Cruise, which I had never been on before and while the posted wait was 25 minutes, I was on in about fifteen minutes. While I was waiting, one of the lovely female skippers complimented me on my Billy Joel 8.4.2015 Nassau Coliseum Closing Concert t-shirt, which made me feel awesome. After boarding my boat for the Jungle Cruise, I was laughing at Skipper Ashton's funny if not corny humor and enjoying the animals and civilians along our journey. Here are some pictures:


After sighting many different animals and enjoying funny jokes aboard the Jungle Cruise, I needed to use the restroom, so I went to the nearby restrooms along the passageway linking Adventureland and Frontierland. Once I finished, I could hear that the Main Street Electrical Parade was passing through, so I decided to see if I could get a spot. Did I make it? Find out in the next installment .

 

[disneywlf]

I Know I Finally Made it to the Magic (1/10/2016)
As if I was not already having a magical start to my vacation by already soaring on a magic carpet and cruising the jungle with hilarious skippers, I managed to get a spot on the porch along the path in Frontierland, thanks to Debbie, a very sweet lady from Indiana, who was visiting with her baby granddaughter, Minnie. We had a wonderful time chatting about Disney and I enjoyed watching MSEP, as I love the many characters, bright lights, floats, and retro synthesizers playing "Baroque Hoedown."


Since it was still only 7:40PM and my ADR was not for another hour, I decided to ride Pirates of the Caribbean, which is one of my favorite attractions and only had a five minute wait to boot.

However, as I was talking to a nice family from Kansas City, MO about the Marathon and Apple stuff (including how they should enable you to use your Apple Watch as a MagicBand), I was on the ride and marveled at the storyline as well as the amazing animatronics. Since there was no wait, I decided to ride once more and thankfully, neither time, I did not get wet as some others have reported, as I sat in the back of the boat . After riding Pirates twice, I decided to make my way towards the exit, but not without stopping for Wishes. This was my first time watching it in the enlarged hub area and I must admit, I love it as it holds a greater number of guests and has very good views of the fireworks. I always enjoy the story of the importance of wishes, the incorporation of Disney characters good and bad, and of course, the amazing pyrotechnics used!


After being enthralled by Wishes, it was now 8:15PM, so I made my way down Main Street to the exit, as my ADR at Chef Mickey's was looming closer and closer. If I was not already having a magical time by getting a start visiting some amazing Magic Kingdom attractions in not that much time, the night was already going to become more magical at Chef Mickey's .

I exited the Magic Kingdom, looking forward to my return there the next day and then turned left to walk to Disney's Contemporary Resort, excited for my dinner at Chef Mickey's .

 

[SarahDisney]

Despite the plane delays, it sounds like your trip started off AWESOME! It sounds like you got a good amount of stuff done in the time you had, and I'm excited to read about your dinner at Chef Mickey's!

Also, you went to Billy Joel's concert closing Nassau Coliseum? That is awesome!!

 

[disneywlf]

Despite the plane delays, it sounds like your trip started off AWESOME! It sounds like you got a good amount of stuff done in the time you had, and I'm excited to read about your dinner at Chef Mickey's!

Also, you went to Billy Joel's concert closing Nassau Coliseum? That is awesome!!

Thank you Sarah! Plane delays aren't the best case scenario, but I think flying out of JFK versus LGA (I live 30-minutes from both airports) helped my luck a lot, as JFK is less affected by delays than LGA, as they are more efficient overall and have more runways, which is why I like to fly Delta or JetBlue out of JFK most of the time! My trip really did start off AWESOME and in the amount of time I had, I absolutely could not agree more and I really did get a lot done! Don't worry, I'll be posting about Chef Mickey's later, so you will have the pleasure of reading about my wonderful dinner .

You bet! I went to Billy Joel's concert closing Nassau Coliseum with my mom and we both loved it! He was amazing and he also had special guests Paul Simon and The King of Queens. We got pre-sale tickets for a good price through American Express and while we had to sit separately, the seats were amazing for the price as we had an unobstructed view. I would love to see him again and I hope we have the chance! Have you and Beth ever seen him? I will be reading your TR now and I can't wait! Thank you again for subscribing and stay tuned, more will be coming later!

 

[danesporty]

I've been looking forward to your report. Loved the last one!

Did you say you are moving down to Florida?

 

[SarahDisney]

Have you and Beth ever seen him?

I have not seen him, unfortunately (I really want to!), but Beth went with my brother to see one of his concerts at MSG last year. I really hope I can get to see him sometimes soon ... Billy Joel is really one of my all-time favorite artists.

 

[disneywlf]

I've been looking forward to your report. Loved the last one!

Did you say you are moving down to Florida?

Thank you danesporty! Glad you to have you onboard for this TR and I look forward to adding more either later or tomorrow depending on how much I get done today. Don't worry, I will make sure this TR is just as good, if not better . I do have to split installments more, as only 10 photos are allowed, but hey, whatever works. You got yes I am! My mother is tired of the very high property taxes on Long Island and finds that our current house, which served us well for many years, has become too large and high maintenance for us. Since my maternal grandparents lived in South Florida for many years and we have visited many times, South Florida has become like a second home for us and it is by far less expensive than NY, even if we got a nice condo (don't worry, we crunched all of the numbers). Also, I have been to South Florida a couple of times the past year to house hunt and found a couple of places we would both like. Mom will be going soon . I will keep you posted on everything danesporty .

I have not seen him, unfortunately (I really want to!), but Beth went with my brother to see one of his concerts at MSG last year. I really hope I can get to see him sometimes soon ... Billy Joel is really one of my all-time favorite artists.

That's a shame Sarah! He is a must-see in my book (along with The Who, I want to see Paul McCartney or Ringo (huge Beatles fan) and Elton John sometime too ) and puts on a fantastic show! Since he plays MSG regularly, I think someday your chance will come (get the Disney reference haha) and you will be rocking out just like I was. I remember singing along to "Piano Man," dancing to "Its Still Rock and Roll to Me," and being brought to tears and moved when he performed "Goodnight Saigon" with U.S. Veterans and chanting "U.S.A., U.S.A." with everyone. He is really one of the greats and I hope you get to see him soon Sarah!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Joining along for this one! I'm loving all of the details!

 

[disneywlf]

Joining along for this one! I'm loving all of the details!

Thank you lauren_elizabeth! Honored to have you onboard and I am glad you love all of the details, as they make for a wonderful trip report!

 

[heaven2dc]

Enjoying your TR! Love the detail and your knowledge of airplanes - I also love Delta to fly with. Sounds like your first evening started off wonderfully!

 

[disneywlf]

Enjoying your TR! Love the detail and your knowledge of airplanes - I also love Delta to fly with. Sounds like your first evening started off wonderfully!

Hi there heaven2dc! Welcome aboard and thank you! I love adding all of the details too and while I do not know everything about airplanes and still want to learn more, I am amazed at what I do know and I guess flying a lot (and loving it) and spending time over at Flyertalk (an air travel forum) does that to you . I'm with you and I love Delta too as they have a pretty solid operation, but JetBlue is my other favorite airline as they have the best legroom in standard economy of any U.S. carrier (though Delta's MD-88's come close on the two seat side of the plane), TV, and a good selection of free snacks. I used Delta to go to Disney JFK-MCO roundtrip in 2014 on a 757 going out and a 737-800 going back and that was awesome too! In the end, I am lucky to have both carriers flying out of NYC as they both do an excellent job in my view. I cannot agree more the first evening was wonderful and it set the tone for the rest of my trip, which was awesome!

 

[disneywlf]

Dinner at Mickey's Part 1
After leaving the Magic Kingdom, I walked along the pathway connecting the exit Magic Kingdom to Disney's Contemporary Resort. While it cooled down a bit from the 70 degree temperatures during the day into the mid-60s, it was still a beautiful night to be outside! I walked along the well-lit path, excited for dinner at Chef Mickey's and a little over five minutes later, I was at the only crosswalk along this route to go over to Disney's Contemporary Resort. After the walk signal indicated that it was safe to cross, I joined the other people who were walking back from the Magic Kingdom and entered the Contemporary, where I got an elevator straight to the fourth floor. After I made it to the fourth floor, it was 8:30PM and I made my way to the podium of Chef Mickey's, where an enthusiastic hostess checked me in. I then took some pictures with the Mickey statue thanks to a bubbly photographer and then waited with other families who were as excited as I was.

About twenty minutes after I checked in, I was escorted to my table by Taylor from New Zealand, another hostess, who was lovely and we chatted a bit about how much I loved Chef Mickey's and how I make sure to go there on all of my trips, as it is a wonderful way to start off my trip and has become a tradition of sorts for me. Taylor also confirmed that I had food allergies to eggs and wheat and made sure to get Chef Eric in addition to my waiter, Kenny from Nashville, TN. After I was seated at a table near the outer rim of the buffet, Kenny, my waiter, came to greet me. My first impressions were that he was excellent, as he was very welcoming and eager to please. He took my order for a Diet Coke as my beverage, offered to take pictures of me with the characters when he was able to, and got Chef Eric, who would help me with my food allergies. The timing of my arrival was perfect, as the characters were on the other side of the restaurant, so I would have time to scope my options and eat. In addition, I should also note that I knew of Chef Eric before, as I called Chef Mickey's earlier the previous week and spoke to Chef Joachim, who had helped me on previous trip in January 2014 and was excellent! At that time, not only did I have my food allergies to deal with, I also was combatting high triglycerides, so he also had to make sure that I avoided foods high in saturated fats, which was easier than I expected . While my high triglycerides are gone, I am still careful to avoid red meat and fried foods (they are OK once in a while though). Chef Joachim informed me that Chef Eric would help me and that I was in good hands, so I had nothing to worry about . When Chef Eric came, I found him to be personable and very knowledgeable, not unlike Chef Joachim on my previous trip. We walked the buffet and found that I was able to have most items, so I would not go hungry. One main difference between 2014 and 2016 was that while sushi was available both times, the Spicy Tuna Rolls and California Rolls they had did not have mayonnaise, so I was able to enjoy them. Chef Eric did warn me about the soy sauce in the sushi, but that was fine for me as despite my wheat allergies, soy sauce is OK for me as it is a trace amount of gluten. For dessert, most of the pastries and cakes were off-limits, but that was fine as the ice cream was egg-free and that is always a delicious option. If that was not enough, Chef Eric offered to bring me gluten free/egg free baked goods on request, which was an awesome touch! Overall, Chef Eric proved to be excellent at accommodating my needs and as always, there was plenty to eat. With my options sorted out, I started at the salad bar, where I chose crisp and leafy greens, sharp and salty cubes of cheddar, a light and filling mozzarella and tomato salad with balsamic vinegar, pleasantly spicy Spicy Tuna Rolls, and savory California Rolls . Not unlike my previous meals here, I thought that the food was high quality, fresh, and well prepared.

After I finished this first plate, I then put on my Goofy hat, which actually dates back to my first trip to Walt Disney World in January 2005, to get into the spirit of Chef Mickey's. While he was not ready for my section yet, Goofy walked by and gave me a thumbs up and Kenny, my waiter, loved how I got into the spirit. Soon after this, Donald stopped by and busted my chops a little, as I was not depicting his likeness. I told him not to worry and that he was still the #1 duck in my book . This made Donald very happy and we hugged each other and had a grand old time seeing each other. I know I said this in my previous TR, but I love Donald Duck and I must admit that he cracks me up...or should I say quacks me up .

Next, I had the pleasure of meeting Pluto. He could not get over my Goofy ears and he gave me a huge hug! He is such a good dog !

After meeting Pluto, I would soon have the pleasure of meeting The Big Cheese and Goofy but where was Minnie Mouse? Find out in the next part.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Chef Mickey's is always our first night tradition, too! I'm glad you were able to enjoy the sushi this year!

 

[xDisneyAngelx]

Hey,
Just tuning in to your TR. It looks like you are having a magical time so far. I miss Chef Mickey's :-( I am looking forward to reading more about your trip. Sorry I wasn't able to meet you. Hopefully we can make a time to meet one day. xoxo Have a magical night!

 

[disneywlf]

Chef Mickey's is always our first night tradition, too! I'm glad you were able to enjoy the sushi this year!

Welcome lauren_elizabeth! I love it and I can't believe that is your first night tradition too! Isn't it a wonderful way to start off your vacation? While there was more than enough to eat, I am glad I was able to enjoy the sushi this year too!

Hey,
Just tuning in to your TR. It looks like you are having a magical time so far. I miss Chef Mickey's :-( I am looking forward to reading more about your trip. Sorry I wasn't able to meet you. Hopefully we can make a time to meet one day. xoxo Have a magical night!

Glad you could tune in xDisneyAngelx! Thank you it could not have been a better trip and to quote Aladdin while he is singing "A Whole New World," hold your breath, it gets better and there will be more to enjoy! Same here I wish we could have met too . One day though we will meet! . Have a magical day xDisneyAngelx!

 

[disneywlf]

Dinner at Mickey's Part 2
After enjoying some delicious food and having a wonderful time meeting Donald Duck and Pluto, The Big Cheese aka Mickey Mouse came to visit me! What a blast this was! Mickey Mouse welcomed me as if I were an old friend and made me feel like an honored guest! He admired my Goofy ears and we hugged each other, happy to be in each other's company . He truly is the leader of the club who is made for you and me!

After meeting Mickey Mouse, I then had some more food, which included some moist, juicy, and well spiced chicken, tender carved turkey, well cooked broccoli, and fluffy long grain rice.

When Kenny came by, we chatted for a bit about our lives and he wanted to know how old he thought I was since somehow, we got to the subject of age. I told him he looked 21, but he revealed that he was going to be 51 next month, which was pretty unbelievable. Since I did not see Minnie Mouse, I asked Kenny where she was. Unfortunately, he revealed that because she had to help take down Christmas decorations, she had to miss dinner tonight, which was a shame as I really wanted to meet her . Luckily, Kenny told me that the next morning, she wanted to meet me at Storybook Circus in the Magic Kingdom along with Daisy Duck, so I had a new stop on my touring agenda at the Magic Kingdom as I wanted to make sure to meet her . Kenny also reassured me that 99.9% of the time, Minnie Mouse is present at Chef Mickey's, so in case anyone is considering eating at Chef Mickey's, I do not want you to worry as your chances of meeting everyone at Chef Mickey's are very high and these things can happen. After chatting with Kenny, I decided to get some more food since Goofy was still on the other side of Chef Mickey's. I got some more moist and tender carved turkey, flakey and mild salmon in a sweet, fruity, and tangy mango sauce, more well cooked broccoli, and sweet and well cooked carrots.

Next up, I had the chance to meet Goofy, who was head over heels to see that I was in my Goofy hat. We had a wonderful time playing with ears, hugging each other, and fist bumping each other!

After having a wonderful time meeting Donald Duck, Pluto, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy, I decided to take a little break before dessert since I was very full from my dinner. While I was taking a break, I had the pleasure of saying hi to all the characters as they stopped by again, making for many wonderful interactions. Once I interacted with the characters, I decided to get some swirl soft-serve ice cream with chocolate sauce on top. This was delicious, with smooth and creamy ice cream with a sweet and bold chocolate sauce to complement it.

Since I was full, I decided to use the restroom and pay the check. While the service has always been excellent at Chef Mickey's and other WDW restaurants I have frequented, Kenny was no exception as he was very friendly, efficient, helpful, and always kept my Diet Coke refilled and when I left him a slightly over 20% tip to reflect his excellent service, he almost didn't want to take it as he seemed surprised. Nevertheless, I insisted and he was very thankful. I thanked him for a wonderful evening and that I hoped to see him again. Once again, Chef Mickey's did not disappoint as the character interaction was amazing, the service was friendly and accommodating, and the food was delicious!
With a wonderful start to my first day at WDW, I went downstairs to the lobby and caught a Disney Springs bus, which had just arrived. The driver was friendly and welcoming and while onboard, the magic continued as I enjoyed the electronica versions of "Hakuna Matata" and "For the First Time in Forever" played over the speakers while en-route. After I arrived at Disney Springs, I made my way to the newly built pedestrian bridge that crossed over Buena Vista Drive to the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels (formerly known as the Downtown Disney Resort Area). I loved using the new pedestrian bridge, as it was a lot less risky than worrying about crossing Buena Vista Drive and also improved automotive traffic flow since there is no longer a pedestrian crossing. After I arrived at the Buena Vista Palace, I got ready for bed, called my mom, and was in bed at about 11:30PM, overjoyed by my first day and excited to be back at the Magic Kingdom again in the morning!