Happy New Year all!!!
I'm sorry that I've been neglecting my Dec Roll Call thread duties (trying to type anything more than a couple of sentences on a Kindle is murder) . But I'm back to work now, and typing shouldn't be an issue. Just don't tell my boss.
DH fell in love with the Contemporary when we were resort hopping, but if we stay there I want to be in the Tower with TPV and that is $$$$$. He didnt like AKL much for some reason. We both like WL and it is a contender. I like YC a lot, but we need a good CS for breakfast. Loved Pop's food court. I think the goal will be CR and we will see how the saving goes. We might do a split stay too.
I talked to my friend when we got back and she said they arent posting the job--it is mine. I will interview as a formality with the manager in mid January and start in early Feb. She was able to hire someone else from our old work too, so that was good news.
Congrats on the new job.
I would like to hear some 1st hand opinions about the Contemporary, AKL and WL. We prob won't have the money to stay in them for a whole trip. But they could be a nice option for a 1 or 2 night/travel day.
Hi everyone!
I haven't had much time to check in with you all since I went on my trip, but I wanted to say hi!
Our trip was really great. We didn't have ANY rain, which is a miracle. My feet were KILLING me, so I definitely need to get in better shape and walk a lot more before my next trip. I guess walking for 8-12 hours a day is a big deal.
I'm so glad that I got to hang out with you all and get to know you through this thread!
I think we had rain on each of our middle 3 days that we were there. But as luck would have it, we missed it every time. Either we were in a ride, at a meal or on the bus. The wettest we got was on Splash Mtn.
With each phase here is who is allowed in, and not, per WDW Magic:
Phase 1
Guests with 'Magic Your Way' base tickets, or a '1-Day 1-Park Ticket', Guests without an admission ticket, and Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes will be turned around at the parking lot booths.
Phase 2
Admission is limited to:
Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park
Guests re-entering the park
Guests with dining reservations
Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League
Guests using Walt Disney World Resort Transportation will be admitted.
Phase 3
Admission is limited to:
Disney Resort Guests (including the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, and guests arriving by bus from the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels)
Annual and Premium Annual Passholders
Guests with dining reservations
Magic Kingdom Guests with reservations for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirates League
Phase 4
Closed to all guests.
Thank you for posting this. I've tried to explain to people over the holidays, why we didn't go over Christmas week, and how crowded it would get. They would say "How crowded could it really get?" I'd reply, "Crowded enough that they shut the doors." But I couldn't go into more detail. Thanks.
We were in Disney from December 22-29. I was dreading the crowds most of all. I was pleasantly surprised by how well we navigated everything! I would go here every week of Christmas, for sure! What helped us was getting up early and arriving within the first hour of rope drop. The only park we went to later was AK on our first day. We met up with long time friends. We took them to FOTLK and EE. We missed the safari since they already rode it once, but we have riden it many times, so we weren't disappointed. The only time we felt the pressure of the crowd was on December 27 at DHS. It was pretty crowded mid day. We had rider swap passes for RNRC and the line went past the fastpass entrance. We decided not to wait and eventually gave away our pass. We left the park for about 90 minutes to visit GF for the gingerbread house. We were able to get 2 sets of fastpasses for TSM, but we gave our 2nd set away to a wonderful family that we met at Osbourne Lights. They arrived too late to get passes because they had planned to go to MK that day but got turned away. We had already ridden it once...they deserved a turn as well
It seemed as if many people did not know about fastpasses at all...I will never understand not doing your homework when you spend good time and money on a trip like this.
Our only big disappointment was the luau at the Poly. We had category 3 seating and felt out of the loop. The food was also just okay.
The highlights were CP with Gary Sinese on Christmas Day, the Osbourne lights and the ice castle.
That sounds like a great Christmas day. I've always heard that Sinese does a great job with the CP (still wouldn't trade the show we got with Blair Underwood though). And that was a thoughtful thing you did with that family and the FP for TSMM. We had a similar instance our last trip. A family had given us FP for Mission:Space (speaking of Sinese
), because they couldn't use them. They had gotten them because the ride was down and they were in line, so they were any time FP's. As the day went on, we realized that we couldn't use them either. We saw a family in line, so we gave them to the family. The kids were happy.
I have the first three days of my trip report up! Come take a look!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3038743
Can't wait to start reading. I need to get off my duff and start our's.
Having a bit of Disney withdrawl right now. really wanting to plan another trip for next xmas, but we usually go everyother year., I think it was in part to a few issues we had at our resort(still waiting to find out how to get a hold of them to voice what went on)....First time on QS dining(or any dining for that matter)-felt like we waisted a lot of food, but was nice to not have a ton of OPP meals.
This was our 1st trip using the deluxe dining plan. And we BEAT IT
. It took some effort and a couple of dining/show combos, but we beat it. I keep the final receipt in my wallet as a trophy.
Finally finished going through all of our photos (added borders to some) and have ordered our completed PhotoPass CD! It will arrive in 7-10 days
I received an email stating that it will expire on the 8th so we had to get our butts moving and edit them so we could order the CD. I can't wait to get it!
I still have to call Disney, and try to straighten out our PP+ issues. Been playing email tag with Disney, with my AAA
travel agent stuck in the middle.
Its not that cold here - although it got to 32 last night and I was whining HA! but it has not stopped raining ALL day, lots and lots of rain - bleh!
Not FOREVER
This year we have to concentrate on getting a ranch built for my parents, my Mum can't really do any form of stairs now so that is No.1 on the agenda.
Sooooo, although it pains us, no trip this year. We have decided on 2014 BUT BUT BUT to make up for it, we're going for 12 days
Seriously, thats how I like it. I am so much more productive under pressure ... don't give me time cuz I will do absolutely nothing with it
You're such a good doobie helping your folks build a house to accomodate them. That means that fate will give you all the ADR's you are hoping for when you go back in 2014.
While we're on the topic... (see below Tofubeast's quotes)
Happy New Year!! Our month is over (wah wah), but the spirit lives on!!
Hoping 2013 is magical, fun, healthy, and rewarding!
Group TR Thread
So it's January. Sigh.
I am not trying to kill this thread, but would love if we could move on over to the Trip Report thread. That way we can make it more active, start doing some phone photo contests etc.
I am in that post Disney funk, and need some fun ways to keep the memories alive!! So if we could move on over to there, that would ROCK.
Again, the link is in post #2. But here it is as well.
GROUP TR!
Tofubeast... I just want to thank you for all the work you did on this thread. It wouldn't have been as much fun, as warm or as close without you taking the reigns.
Thank you very much.
That being said, any chance that you might be starting a December 2014 Roll Call thread? I'm not saying that BDLsgal and I are a definite for that time frame, BUT, it has been discussed. I already miss the EPCOT food, and she is already jones-ing for the Castle lights.
I will be updating the post-trip thread as I start writing our post-TR. I also want to thank you all for sharing the goods, the bads, the ups and downs over the past year. It's been a pleasure getting to know (and occassionally banter with
) all of you.
Hope to see you on the post-trip thread. And I'll try to keep an eye out for you around the boards.
I used to love getting coupons from Kodakgallery and making books over there a few times per year.
brr. 
You know that I'd be on board with that.
