We're Staying OFFSITE! An October '14 PTR!

[stacy~**]

So...I haven't gotten past the first page but wanted to subscribe to your PTR. Although I fear doing so will make me NOT cancel my October trip. I will be back with comments soon.

 

[ZehnJahren]

So...I haven't gotten past the first page but wanted to subscribe to your PTR. Although I fear doing so will make me NOT cancel my October trip. I will be back with comments soon.

Like I said, nothing wrong with an October trip...

 

[Angeejoe]

YC and CR are my two absolute favorites but I would stay BC too. I will definitely keep my mind open when we go to WL for lunch. Part of what I loved about AKL was that beautiful lobby, so maybe WL will pull me in!

I was thinking orange and pink, but maybe just orange if we're going to wear them to the MNSSHP! I think any colors would be nice - blue and green maybe? Mickey head would be black of course.

I saw that blog about the DL tour. That would be a madhouse at WDW; there would be so many people doing it that everyone would be doing it!! I would do it! A nice, short, informative tour plus five fastpasses, plus a lanyard and pin? SIGN ME UP.

So you will think I'm crazy, but the AKL lobby did nothing for me! I felt it was too dark except by back windows. I was honestly expecting to be wowed at AKL & wasn't. Granted we only had 1 night there & had a king size bed room with what was supposed to be a pool view, but was just view of trees. I did like like the lookout area & Boma, but it just did not do it for me.

Maybe orange & green for Halloween for tshirts?

That tour sounds awesome at DL, but it would be a ad house at WDW.

 

[ZehnJahren]

So you will think I'm crazy, but the AKL lobby did nothing for me! I felt it was too dark except by back windows. I was honestly expecting to be wowed at AKL & wasn't. Granted we only had 1 night there & had a king size bed room with what was supposed to be a pool view, but was just view of trees. I did like like the lookout area & Boma, but it just did not do it for me.

Maybe orange & green for Halloween for tshirts?

That tour sounds awesome at DL, but it would be a ad house at WDW.

I liked it dark, honestly! It added to the ambiance; it was so cool, and invited you to have a seat and relax! I also got upgraded from just a regular room to a Savanna room (I had rented DVC points) and so I was a little partial to the resort. Every morning I looked out on the zebras!

I don't know if orange and green would end up looking good together. I don't know!! We will probably just buy a tie dye kit from Michaels or some other crafty store and do whatever colors come with it!

Yes, the tour at WDW would be crazy, and what two rides would you ride while on it? People would book the tour just to get the 7DMT FP+s!

 

[ZehnJahren]

My mom approached me this morning with this text:

"[A colleague at work] asked if we were going to see the Harry Potter stuff. Didn't we talk about that?"

And so begins a new chapter in our trip; we had Wednesday open to "relax" but it looks like we might be going to Universal Studios instead! Mom really wants to see the Harry Potter rides and theming - and if I am honest, I do too!

I haven't been to those parks since I was a teenager (Mom and I went on a trip to Ft. Lauderdale and drove to Orlando when we got bored; she vetoed Disney since we'd just been, so it was off to US for us). I did some preliminary research on tickets and rides, and boy there are a lot of options. Plus, WHICH Harry Potter stuff to see? Hogwarts, or Diagon Alley? Or both? Is there time for both? Do we need an express pass? I don't know, but I have now been relegated to figure it out.

So now once I'm off work today I will be researching a possible NEW part of our trip. Goodbye indoor skydiving, hello Harry!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

A visit to Universal with a focus on Harry Potter sounds like more fun than indoor skydiving! I've been looking at the pictures of Diagon Alley and can't wait to visit all of it next year!

We're doing something similar with FPs on our MNSSHP nights where I will try to get some FP+ scheduled during the pre-party hours of 4-7pm!

 

[ZehnJahren]

A visit to Universal with a focus on Harry Potter sounds like more fun than indoor skydiving! I've been looking at the pictures of Diagon Alley and can't wait to visit all of it next year!

We're doing something similar with FPs on our MNSSHP nights where I will try to get some FP+ scheduled during the pre-party hours of 4-7pm!

Yes, I know you're right! I just had a wrench thrown into my planning, since I wasn't planning on US/IOA at all and now we're doing it for sure. I don't know anything about the place! Time to research!

Now that we're going to see Harry on day 4, day 5's morning will be a relaxation morning and day 5 at night is MNSSHP. I am really hoping those FP+ work out for us between 4 and 7, since we'll be coming to the park late. I was expecting to open MK that day, really!

 

[Angeejoe]

I liked it dark, honestly! It added to the ambiance; it was so cool, and invited you to have a seat and relax! I also got upgraded from just a regular room to a Savanna room (I had rented DVC points) and so I was a little partial to the resort. Every morning I looked out on the zebras!

I don't know if orange and green would end up looking good together. I don't know!! We will probably just buy a tie dye kit from Michaels or some other crafty store and do whatever colors come with it!

Yes, the tour at WDW would be crazy, and what two rides would you ride while on it? People would book the tour just to get the 7DMT FP+s!

I think I needed more than 1 night at AKL to really investigate it & see if I'd like it. I'm always open to trying again.

I'm thinking more light neon orange & lime green! I personally love orange & blue together, then I met DH who is a big Bears fan. Go figure!

My mom approached me this morning with this text:

"[A colleague at work] asked if we were going to see the Harry Potter stuff. Didn't we talk about that?"

And so begins a new chapter in our trip; we had Wednesday open to "relax" but it looks like we might be going to Universal Studios instead! Mom really wants to see the Harry Potter rides and theming - and if I am honest, I do too!

I haven't been to those parks since I was a teenager (Mom and I went on a trip to Ft. Lauderdale and drove to Orlando when we got bored; she vetoed Disney since we'd just been, so it was off to US for us). I did some preliminary research on tickets and rides, and boy there are a lot of options. Plus, WHICH Harry Potter stuff to see? Hogwarts, or Diagon Alley? Or both? Is there time for both? Do we need an express pass? I don't know, but I have now been relegated to figure it out.

So now once I'm off work today I will be researching a possible NEW part of our trip. Goodbye indoor skydiving, hello Harry!

Well this is an exciting turn of events, though I was so interested in hearing about sky diving. I'd totally say that this is the time to try universal since your staying offsite!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I think I needed more than 1 night at AKL to really investigate it & see if I'd like it. I'm always open to trying again.

I'm thinking more light neon orange & lime green! I personally love orange & blue together, then I met DH who is a big Bears fan. Go figure!

Well this is an exciting turn of events, though I was so interested in hearing about sky diving. I'd totally say that this is the time to try universal since your staying offsite!

I really enjoyed AKL a LOT, but if I could get into BLT or BCV or even BWV I would pass up AKL. It was great for the one visit, I just don't know if I'd go back anytime soon.

Orange and blue go well together! Go Bears!!

Yes, everything happened very fast for our US/IOA visit, and we are now going on Wednesday! Those three days will be a blur - VIP tour with Illuminations at night, then US/IOA the next day, then MNSSHP the NEXT day. Whew, hope we're in great shape, as we'll need it.

 

[khaleesi]

I'm so excited waiting for my next trip that I've been thinking about doing a TR for my May trip! Yes I know it's late, but better late than never, right?

That is absolutely correct! Do it do it do it!

Your plans sound great so far!!! Very excited for you!!! Crossing my fingers for the Mine Train! I generally hate crazy coasters, but I enjoy BTMRR so I think that the SDMT would be right up my alley especially when you consider what I expect to be pretty amazing theming!

 

[MidnightParade]

Yay Harry Potter! I think you will be happy you went cause I hear the theming and detail is spectacular!

So you might already know from your research but as of right now none of the Harry Potter stuff accepts the Express pass. If you are okay with just doing the Harry Potter stuff I think you will be okay fitting both Hoqsmeade and Diagon Alley in one day. Especially as you're doing it on a wednesday it won't be as crowded as a weekend....lol I'm not a US expert have just been doing my own research for our trip!

Can't wait to hear what your research yields and what your plans are for it!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Ok, so my plans have changed as stated earlier!

Day 4: US/IOA!

First off, I found this link that goes over what you should ride at US/IOA if you like a similar ride at WDW. I thought that was pretty interesting!

I can't seem to find any photos of US/IOA to stick in here, so how about this:

It's about how I feel trying to plan a trip to US/IOA for ONE day and TWO parks, when I haven't really ever researched it before. But it's exciting too; we love Harry Potter so it will be nice to get to see all the amazing scenery and rides! Hopefully most of the kinks are worked out of the Gringott's ride by the time we go; it's still a couple of months away, so I can hope right?

The park should close at 7 that night, so we will head to DTD! We weren't planning on going at all due to construction, but I think we're going to go back and call a cab to take us the 2 or 3 miles and drop us off so we can sit and have a drink and relax. We can sit in the room at home; we want to be out and about! Mom wants a body scrub from Basin, and I want to look at the Dooney and Bourke selection. I have a couple of DDBs, so I'm hoping to add one more this trip - but I have to LOVE my purses and lately there's been nothing I LOVED so I haven't bought any. I have the Princess bucket, a sketch wristlet, a sketch satchel (with FOUR castles!!), and a Charms barrel.

Day 5:

Has now also changed. We will be SLEEPING IN after a long couple of days.

Then, that night, the Halloween Party!



You can see some of the decorations in that picture, right?

Here's where I wish I had DaveInFallsChurch's ability; I should go steal some of his MNSSHP pictures to put in MY TR. No, just kidding, I wouldn't take from someone else's report - but I wish I could!

For some reason, I just can't get good pictures at night no matter what camera I'm using. This is probably MY best picture from MNSSHP:



Sad, huh? How about this one:



Well we definitely want to ride rides, eat one of those party waffles with the cinnamon sugar (zomgnomnom), and watch Hallowishes and the late parade! We aren't leaving until the place shuts down, so we'll be arriving back at the condo offsite to SLEEP.

Here's a picture of the CR just because I love it so much. Can't wait to stay here again; hopefully next year?:



Day 6:

SLEEP IN AGAIN. Probably Epcot and HS this day, since we won't be going to Epcot on the weekend due to the crazy crowds for the FW festival. This is the one thing I like about FP+ - before, I felt like I HAD to be at rope drop to ride what I wanted, but FP+ means I can sleep in a little on vacation, which is awesome!

Day 7:

Rope drop, probably at MK so we can ride this again:



Then, a jaunt over to HS.

We love ToT!:



Then we will probably call it an early night. We have to leave the next day!

 

[ZehnJahren]

That is absolutely correct! Do it do it do it!

Your plans sound great so far!!! Very excited for you!!! Crossing my fingers for the Mine Train! I generally hate crazy coasters, but I enjoy BTMRR so I think that the SDMT would be right up my alley especially when you consider what I expect to be pretty amazing theming!

I know we'll get to ride it at least once (on the tour) but I want a FP in the hole so we can try it again if we like it. We like the thrill rides, so I think this ride will be more about theming for us!

Yay Harry Potter! I think you will be happy you went cause I hear the theming and detail is spectacular!

So you might already know from your research but as of right now none of the Harry Potter stuff accepts the Express pass. If you are okay with just doing the Harry Potter stuff I think you will be okay fitting both Hoqsmeade and Diagon Alley in one day. Especially as you're doing it on a wednesday it won't be as crowded as a weekend....lol I'm not a US expert have just been doing my own research for our trip!

Can't wait to hear what your research yields and what your plans are for it!

So. Much. Research.

I knew about not getting to go on the Harry Potter stuff without the express pass, but I also knew about single rider lines - which we will absolutely take advantage of on this trip!! I'm just going to make a list of rides we want to do at each park and then compile an order based off of that. We'll do one park in the morning (probably at Diagon Alley in US first), then move over to the other (probably IOA second).

It's nice that my Mom is so excited. It's so different to go on a trip WITH someone as opposed to solo. I have done three solo trips in the past three years (three and a half solo trips, really; two of them were in the last 10 months!) so having someone to call and get excited with is so great. I'm so glad we get to do this together!

But boy is it going to be busy! I'm walking twice a day when I can, and am transitioning to jogging more (I was on a no-running diet per doctor's orders for a while after my car accident, but I'm supposed to be good to go now!). I just want to make it through US/IOA pretty strong, and we can relax after that!

Once I get a good order of how we're going to do US/IOA, I'll be sure to pass it along! I love research!

 

[Angeejoe]

Have you ever been to the Universal City Walk? I've always wondered if it's as crazy as DTD?

I'm a Dooney girl myself, but I have no Disney dooneys. I haven't found one that I really love. The only one that I really like is the embossed leather one.

 

[stacy~**]

Ok! All caught up and following along....and thinking I won't cancel my October trip already (especially since I have decided NOT to do the princess half this year but will run the TOT 10m NEXT October).

Your plan sound great! The Ultimate Day of Thrills tour is going to be sooo cool. I can't wait to hear your review of it. Since only 2 out of 4 of us are thrill seekers I can't imagine we will be doing that anytime soon.

Ah...MNSSHP. Pretty much number one on my Disney bucket list. Are you dressing up? Do you have costume ideas?

Love that an innocent comment from a co-worker changed everything. I really would love to visit US/IOA someday but just can't seem to leave the bubble. I guess it helps that I am (gasp) not a Harry Potter fan. I could only make it about 100 pages in to the second book. I still think it looks like a great park and the theming of the HP stuff is impressive. I hope you are able to see it all!!

 

[ZehnJahren]

Have you ever been to the Universal City Walk? I've always wondered if it's as crazy as DTD?

I'm a Dooney girl myself, but I have no Disney dooneys. I haven't found one that I really love. The only one that I really like is the embossed leather one.

I haven't been yet! I think when we went back in the 90s it wasn't there. If it WAS there, I don't remember it.

I do love the Disney Dooneys. The ones I own seem to be the right size for me, as I'm a small purse girl. I definitely would like to get another this trip, but if I don't love it, I'm not going to buy it. Not for those prices. I do like the leather one as well; but I don't like that you can't really tell at a distance what the embossing is.

Ok! All caught up and following along....and thinking I won't cancel my October trip already (especially since I have decided NOT to do the princess half this year but will run the TOT 10m NEXT October).

Your plan sound great! The Ultimate Day of Thrills tour is going to be sooo cool. I can't wait to hear your review of it. Since only 2 out of 4 of us are thrill seekers I can't imagine we will be doing that anytime soon.

I wanted to run the TOT 10m this year pretty badly, but alas it is not to be. I've also decided "maybe next year" on that one!

We're really looking forward to the tour; my mom and I like the "big" rides. I am especially looking forward to hearing Disney and WDW trivia, and being escorted around in our own transportation from park to park. Plus, we aren't going to AK since we're going to US/IOA instead - this will give us the chance to ride EE and D!

Ah...MNSSHP. Pretty much number one on my Disney bucket list. Are you dressing up? Do you have costume ideas?

We are just going to wear some Mickey tie dye shirts, if we can get them to come out. I'm sure we'll take a weekend and give em a try! Still deciding on colors, I just know I want Mickey to be black!

Love that an innocent comment from a co-worker changed everything. I really would love to visit US/IOA someday but just can't seem to leave the bubble. I guess it helps that I am (gasp) not a Harry Potter fan. I could only make it about 100 pages in to the second book. I still think it looks like a great park and the theming of the HP stuff is impressive. I hope you are able to see it all!!

I know, it cracks me up that it just took someone MENTIONING HP and my mom folded. She is far more excited than me to go see the HP expansion, but I'm pretty excited too. I have trouble leaving the bubble as well but since we're already offsite it just seems to be easier - I haven't stayed offsite in like, 14 years? Did you try to watch the movies or just read the books? I thought the movies were very well done, but they're not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[ZehnJahren]

So now today I have decided that I want to try to do "something special" on this trip for my mom. She already knows everything we're doing (tour, MNSSHP, , so I'm trying to think of something she DOESN'T know to plan so I have something to surprise her with.

I thought of the Wishes Dessert Party again, but it seems to be filled up. I also thought about doing tea at the GF. I'm trying to get us an ADR for BOG, but that is an exercise in futility. Any other ideas?

I thought about the Characters in Flight balloon too, but I don't think I'd like that balloon. I thought about parasailing but I didn't think that would be a good idea either. I just want a small something special to surprise her with. Maybe a dinner at 1900 Park Fare?

As a side note, I was able to drive on the highway the other night! I drove on a major US highway for about 25 minutes - with the ride-through of PotC playing the whole time and repeated to keep me calm. I did freak out a bit when I had a semi get on the highway right next to me, and after I was done I was NOT excited to do it again, but it was a big step for me! I kept my speed really low and was really aware of everything going on around me - it was NERVEWRACKING but necessary according to my therapist. He's ready for me to do it again but I think I need a little more time! Maybe a short drive of about 10 minutes would be in order!

 

[stacy~**]

So now today I have decided that I want to try to do "something special" on this trip for my mom. She already knows everything we're doing (tour, MNSSHP, , so I'm trying to think of something she DOESN'T know to plan so I have something to surprise her with.

I thought of the Wishes Dessert Party again, but it seems to be filled up. I also thought about doing tea at the GF. I'm trying to get us an ADR for BOG, but that is an exercise in futility. Any other ideas?

I thought about the Characters in Flight balloon too, but I don't think I'd like that balloon. I thought about parasailing but I didn't think that would be a good idea either. I just want a small something special to surprise her with. Maybe a dinner at 1900 Park Fare?

As a side note, I was able to drive on the highway the other night! I drove on a major US highway for about 25 minutes - with the ride-through of PotC playing the whole time and repeated to keep me calm. I did freak out a bit when I had a semi get on the highway right next to me, and after I was done I was NOT excited to do it again, but it was a big step for me! I kept my speed really low and was really aware of everything going on around me - it was NERVEWRACKING but necessary according to my therapist. He's ready for me to do it again but I think I need a little more time! Maybe a short drive of about 10 minutes would be in order!

How funny....I am at the point in trip planning to start thinking I want to plan something special (but can't mention it on my PTR because my oldest reads it!). I narrowed it down to the Pirates and Pals cruise, but I just called and it is booked on our AK day which was the night I was thinking since it is an early night anyways..., Hoop Dee Do or La Nouba. Because we are staying at Saratoga and can walk to DTD I think La Nouba might win out. Plus tickets are $50 which is a great deal. I think the tea could be nice for the two of you.

Good job on the highway trip. DH was rear ended on the highway years ago and while it was a minor accident it took him awhile to get over it.

 

[ZehnJahren]

How funny....I am at the point in trip planning to start thinking I want to plan something special (but can't mention it on my PTR because my oldest reads it!). I narrowed it down to the Pirates and Pals cruise, but I just called and it is booked on our AK day which was the night I was thinking since it is an early night anyways..., Hoop Dee Do or La Nouba. Because we are staying at Saratoga and can walk to DTD I think La Nouba might win out. Plus tickets are $50 which is a great deal. I think the tea could be nice for the two of you.

Good job on the highway trip. DH was rear ended on the highway years ago and while it was a minor accident it took him awhile to get over it.

I'll make sure not to mention anything if I comment on your PTR!

I thought the tea might be nice too, but mom always complains that she can't sleep if she drinks tea after two in the afternoon, so I don't know if that would work unless we went EARLY. Since we have a car, we can go ANYWHERE, even offsite, so I'd really like to find something we could do maybe on Saturday that is relaxing. That will be the most crowded day for us regardless, so why not do something relaxing? The best part is that she does not care what we do - she doesn't get involved in the planning other than to say what she would like to do; she leaves it to me, so I can work a surprise in!

Hoop De Do always sounded like fun! Maybe I will try something like that, or O'Hana? We are just park commandos so we like to be in the parks when we're not sleeping.

Thanks for the words of encouragement regarding my car accident. I was hit really hard, going really fast, so I'm really gun-shy about it. I can't wait until I've worked this all out and can get past it and go back to normal.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I forgot to mention, I'm going to go ahead and order my AP MBs! Only problem is, what color? I had green first, then pink in May ... it's between red and blue!

Red is my favorite color, but I like the way the blue ones look much better. I don't want to get a color I already had, so I'm definitely going with one or the other. Favorite color, or looks? I want to decide soon so that the band arrive with plenty of time for me to stare at it wistfully while I finish planning this vacation!

I wish they had character ones!