A Big Ol' Gay Bear & His Disney Trip

[grarsh]

A Big Ol' Gay Bear & His Disney Trip - PRT
Section 1: Hi Y'all!
Section 2: The Logistics
Section 3: My Disney Experience
Section 4: Fastpasses+++++++++
Section 5: Plane Tickets
Section 6: Almost Time

TRIP REPORT!!!
Day 1 (sort of): Arrival


Section 1: Hi Y'all!

It's nice when things just sort of line up or fall into place. In the final days of 2014 (which all in all was a pretty dumpy year) with no Disney trip on the horizon, the stars aligned/fates decreed/god smiled and all of a sudden a full blown Disney adventure is a reality.

Hi. I'm Grarsh and I'm going to Disney. I'm a 33 year old higher education administrator and adjunct faculty member. I'm originally from Maine, live in New Hampshire, and work in Massachusetts. I'm also in the final year of a doctoral program, which means I should really just stay home and work on school stuff, but life is about difficult choices. And I need Disney.

I feel like I should give you all the traditional/obligatory list of favorites:
Favorite Park: Hollywood Studios (Epcot a very close second)
Favorite Ride: Haunted Mansion
Favorite Restaurant: Boma
Favorite Character: Mary Poppins

And now that we're all BFFs, I hope y'all follow along with my Trip Planning Report!

 

[grarsh]

Section 2: The Logistics

I would first like to give a huge shout out to Disney's marketing department. Your stuff works! There was a supposed deal where you could buy a trip package (tickets, hotel, dining) during a specific time frame and SAVE UP TO $600!!! WHAT WHAT?!?!?!?! That's like Disney paying ME to go have fun at the parks! Only not really, but it gave me the justification to drop some serious cash on a vacation package. How could I not when the savings were just so high??? I know, Disney totally played me, but the end result is getting to go to Disney, so it's all good.

The sticky widget is that the best time to go (factoring in work, crowd levels, cost, and the dreaded school vacation schedule) is JANUARY. This means the trip was a mere three weeks away from when we decided to go. Crazy, I know, but also super exciting. I do miss the methodical planning of the trip, and the Type A part of me hates not doing reservations exactly on the day they open...but again, I'm going to Disney and all will be fabulous.

The trip logistics (fast and dirty style) are:

Trip Date: January 26th to January 31st
Resort Hotel: Coronado Springs
Dining Plan & Reservations:
Monday - Nine Dragons at Epcot
Tuesday - Mamma Melrose at Hollywood Studios
Wednesday - Teppan Edo at Epcot
Thursday - Rose and Crown Pub at Epcot
Friday - Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom
Trip Participants
Me (Clearly the 3rd...or 7th...wheel of the party)
Brother
Brother's Girlfriend
Mother
Father
Aunt
Uncle

Fast passes are still being worked out, but at this point all of the basics are covered! Sadly though, with only three weeks to plan, Be Our Guest and Ohana were not dining possibilities. I know these are much adored restaurants, and reservations for a large party could only ever be a dream...but somebody out there wants to throw some reservations my way, right?

 

[grarsh]

Section 3: My Disney Experience

Ok, so overall I absolutely LOVE that everything can be done online now. This will be my first trip using the magic bands, fast pass+, and the online dining reservations. I have been dubbed the primary planner for our trip, so I was tasked with the job of linking everyone in the "My Disney Experience" system and making all the reservations for dining and fast pass.

I feel like I'm a pretty computer savvy guy, but the system is a little wonky and I would really recommend giving yourself some time for an online learning curve. I will also say that the Disney website can be pretty slow. I demand immediate gratification, and waiting several seconds for a web page to load is nothing short of offensive. I did enjoy choosing a graphic for my profile (spoiler alert I'm the green martian from Toy Story) and I really like the ease of searching and modifying reservations.

What I would recommend for anyone out there is to not let any computer challenged people mess with your reservations! Or sometimes even their own profiles. I'm not sure how it happened, but my parents created a double profile for my mom and my dad ended up being erased from the system. It took a 20 minute call to Disney IT support to get it all figured out. Whoops.

They are now only allowed to view things. NO CLICKING!

 

[xlsm]

Hey! Joining in!! I am in desperate need of trip reports and ptrs to get me through while waiting for my "important dates" to roll around. (ADRs two weeks from today!)

Oh, and if you really want 'ohana or BOG, keep checking. You never know what might pop open.

Laughing that you banned others from messing with MDE. The only thing my husband does on there is make payments. NO clicking of any other sort allowed.

 

[grarsh]

Hey there! Thanks for joining in!

I will definitely keep checking for the BOG and Ohana! If nothing else I figure we can get quick service for BOG, but totally not the same!

Yay for your ADR count down!

 

[clayfolks]

Joining for this ride, too. Love your writing style!

 

[grarsh]

Thanks! And thanks for following along!

 

[Elevationist]

Hi, Marshall! I'm here, I'm here!

Great plans so far! And I'm kinda jealous that you only have a few weeks to wait! I've got an entire 11 months to dwindle away yet...

Looking forward to sharing in your excitement during the coming weeks!

 

[3inthefamily]

Joining in...I usually lurk but saw your link over on Elevationist's PTR and had to comment. You're both just too cute!

Reading trip reports to get psyched up for my trip in less than 2 months! 2014 was the first time since 2006 that we didn't get to WDW so we are sneaking in a fast weekend trip to celebrate my kiddo's 12th birthday.

Keep it up, I'll be reading!

 

[ach222]

Joining in! We are going the week before but looking at crowd calendars, I think you might have picked a better week - looking forward to reading about it!

 

[grarsh]

Hi, Marshall! I'm here, I'm here!

Great plans so far! And I'm kinda jealous that you only have a few weeks to wait! I've got an entire 11 months to dwindle away yet...

Looking forward to sharing in your excitement during the coming weeks!

Billie! Thanks for following my PTR!!! Your trip will be here before you know it and I am loving your PTR! And you get to do all that delicious Disney planning!!!

 

[grarsh]

Joining in...I usually lurk but saw your link over on Elevationist's PTR and had to comment. You're both just too cute!

Reading trip reports to get psyched up for my trip in less than 2 months! 2014 was the first time since 2006 that we didn't get to WDW so we are sneaking in a fast weekend trip to celebrate my kiddo's 12th birthday.

Keep it up, I'll be reading!

Awwww, thanks!

And yay for a quick trip in 2 months!!! What better place to celebrate a birthday!!!

 

[grarsh]

Section 4: Fastpasses+++++++++

Hi fabulous people, let's talk about Fastpasses! I know I've said it before, but I love love love being able to do fastpasses online! I was never one for doing the mad fast pass dash at the beginning of a park day, and it totally helps lower my anxiety about getting what I want! After much debate with the rest of my party, it looks like our park and fast pass schedule is:

Monday, January 26: Arrival Day & Epcot
Epcot Character Spot
Spaceship Earth
Soarin'

We arrive in Orlando at Noon, so these fast passes are for the evening. I usually wouldn't use a fastpass for character meets, but my brother's girlfriend has never been to Disney, so I thought getting to meet some characters would be a good kick off for the trip! My family is also BANANAS for Soarin' so it was a definite must have. My parents only asked about a BILLION times if I got the Soarin' fast pass. They're too cute. And this brings me back to my "DON'T TOUCH THE RESERVATIONS" rule for them on MDE.


Tuesday, January 27: Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris
It's Tough to Be a Bug
Dinosaur

If we could just pause for the cause here for a minute...Kali River Rapids is closed for renovations!!!! This was totally heart braking news because I hard core love me some Kali River Rapids! The last two times I went to Disney there was no line for the ride so we got to stay on it for three or four times. It was awesome! What was not awesome, however, is that I didn't have a poncho and should have bought one. Walking around in wet underpants gets annoying really fast.

Wednesday, January 28: Hollywood Studios
Muppet Vision 3D
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Toy Story Midway Mania

The big question is...will this park be the same without the Sorcerer Hat??? I read today that they will start removing it on January 7th. Personally, I love the Great Movie Ride more and I just love the classic movie feel of the park. I'm scared it's going to go too far into the Star Wars and less classic Hollywood. This gay man wants his Hollywood Divas. While we're loosely on that topic, I am also in mourning for the Back Lot Tour. I still feel the hurt when they removed the Golden Girl's house to make room for the auto stunt show. The Golden Girls will always be my number one favorite tv show. Picture it...a young Marshall with his camera all ready for a Golden Girl House selfie...and it's gone. GONE. Let's all just think about that for a minute. Hugs. I always thought the tour was fun and am sad to see it go.

Thursday, January 29: Epcot
Soarin'
Spaceship Earth
Mission: Space

Back to Epcot for some serious Mission: Space spinning! This is the only ride that have ever made me have to go lie down on a bench, but it's totally worth it. And of course back to Soarin'.

Friday, January 30: Magic Kingdom
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Peter Pan's Flight

My fantasy career is being a Jungle Cruise operator. I feel like it would be SUPER fun! I always laugh so hard on this ride and absolutely must go on it as a MK priority.

But anywho, that's it for the tentative schedule of parks and fast pass reservations! I'll do an additional post on my list of "must try" snacks, but let's just say the Nutella Waffle at Sleepy Hollow had better watch itself! Any recommendations would be much appreciated!

 

[3inthefamily]

Ok, WHAT?

They used to have a GOLDEN GIRLS HOUSE???

I was deprived as a child and never got to WDW until the ripe old age of 33 back in 2006. I missed Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia's house?

That is just depressing.

 

[ursalita]

Hi Marshall! I'm excited to join in on your PTR, sounds like fun. I'm with you, nothing good can come of the 'rents messing around in MDE.

You got some great FP selections. BOO! to the KRR being closed for your trip. I think the Jungle Cruise will be closed for our trip in April. So sad I won't have the experience of being the only one laughing in my little boat.

We never got to see the back lot tour and I'm even more bummed knowing I missed seeing the Golden Girls house. Have fond memories watching that show with my Nana.

Looking forward to hearing more about your upcoming trip.

 

[grarsh]

Ok, WHAT?

They used to have a GOLDEN GIRLS HOUSE???

I was deprived as a child and never got to WDW until the ripe old age of 33 back in 2006. I missed Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia's house?

That is just depressing.

I KNOW!!!!! It was just the outside shell that they used for the exterior shots. I feel like the show is timeless, and they could have at least moved it somewhere where it was still visible! It went away as soon as they started construction on the motor stunt show. Whomp whomp.

Hi Marshall! I'm excited to join in on your PTR, sounds like fun. I'm with you, nothing good can come of the 'rents messing around in MDE.

You got some great FP selections. BOO! to the KRR being closed for your trip. I think the Jungle Cruise will be closed for our trip in April. So sad I won't have the experience of being the only one laughing in my little boat.

We never got to see the back lot tour and I'm even more bummed knowing I missed seeing the Golden Girls house. Have fond memories watching that show with my Nana.

Looking forward to hearing more about your upcoming trip.

Thanks for joining in! I am so sorry Jungle Cruise will be closed while you're there! You were the only one laughing on your boat??? I would have pushed the other people overboard. NOBODY DISRESPECTS JUNGLE CRUISE!

 

[grarsh]

A moment of silence. And then some cheesecake.

 

[3inthefamily]

I have both the funniest and saddest Jungle Cruise story.

A few years back we had a skipper named Joe. He was a big, sweaty guy who kept hitching up his shorts during the ride. Despite all of that he was hysterical.

Until his shorts fell down.

And we all saw his loosey-whities.

Poor Joe hiked them up as fast as he could and arranged himself in the darkness of the tunnel without a mention of what had happened.

We went back the following year and saw him from afar.

The year after we were disappointed that he wasn't around but we were sure to ask for him.

The next year we went back and asked for Skipper Joe who lost his shorts and found out that he had passed away.

So sad! Apparently he was really loved around there and even has a Facebook page dedicated to his memory!

And that's my funny/sad tale. I'm probably one of the only ones who got an unwanted peep show on the Jungle Cruise!

Take it as some advice if you ever work there. Keep your belt TIGHT!

 

[grarsh]

I have both the funniest and saddest Jungle Cruise story.

A few years back we had a skipper named Joe. He was a big, sweaty guy who kept hitching up his shorts during the ride. Despite all of that he was hysterical.

Until his shorts fell down.

And we all saw his loosey-whities.

Poor Joe hiked them up as fast as he could and arranged himself in the darkness of the tunnel without a mention of what had happened.

We went back the following year and saw him from afar.

The year after we were disappointed that he wasn't around but we were sure to ask for him.

The next year we went back and asked for Skipper Joe who lost his shorts and found out that he had passed away.

So sad! Apparently he was really loved around there and even has a Facebook page dedicated to his memory!

And that's my funny/sad tale. I'm probably one of the only ones who got an unwanted peep show on the Jungle Cruise!

Take it as some advice if you ever work there. Keep your belt TIGHT!

OMG that is so sad and also hilarious! I would have had a seriously hard time not loosing it with giggling if I saw that. That's sad that he passed away, but it's great he was able to have an impact on people and that he is honored/remembered.

 

[grarsh]

Section 5: Arts & Crafts

Quick, random, side post alert!!!! My 8 year old cousin is going to Disney in March, so as a fun arts and craft project, we made envelopes for leaving tips for housekeeping...or MOUSEKEEPING! I'm not a very crafty/artistic person, so I just bought a bunch of Disney themed scrapbooking materials and BAM, instant mousekeeping envelopes!