A Magical Place at a Magical Time of Year

[swwake]

Sorry about decorating the tree by yourself...I dread the year that this happens...I guess that is the one good think about Goo...I have 12 years still before I decorate it alone!

I might have to tape a picture of Katie to a popsicle stick and "make" her help me.

Personally...I don't think there is anyway to be Harry Pottered out! Are you guys planning on being there at 7 am! I know that means we have to be in line by 6:30 am which means out of the hotel by 6:00 am. YIKES! But trust me, the crowd pattern is awful and it is so important to get there early...mainly just to be able to enjoy Hogsmeade and the shops!

Well, I need to check the hours. Where are you staying, again? We are at HRH, so we get early entry for an hour (I think). I really wonder how bad the crowds will be? Chris and I were there last year in September, and the wait for FJ was 20 minutes at one point (not long enough to see the full queue!). And there were no waits for the big ones like Hulk, etc. Plus we have Expresspass with our hotel keys, so that will help. I am hoping to make this day our single rope drop day and get the family to bed early Friday, after a day of travel. Then up super early Saturday, and at WWOHP as soon as IOA will let us. We will have a breakfast snack at some walk-up along the way. I am also hoping that we can get as much done as possible, as many times as we want to, before lunch. I want to get to Disney ASAP!

I heard yesterday that after Jan. 2nd, there is no more Jaws. Frankly, I think the time has come. Bruce was looking bad a year and half ago...plus how many of this new generation really know about Bruce...and no we did not do a Jaws movie night!

Hadn't heard that. Last year, we did Jaws and thought it was grossly overrated. And you're right, nobody remembers that movie. But, ironically, this is the one thing Haley wants to do at USO. I figure she can go do that while we ride RRR (which was closed for maintenance when we were there last year), since she claims roller coasters give her migraines.

 

[momabaarjo]

We are staying on site at the Royal Pacific...WWofHP opens for on site guests and hour earlier...for us that will be 7 am...I am hoping that the excitement of Harry will draw mine out of bed. Of course I am going Christmas week so I am expecting crowds. You will probably be a lot better before Christmas with the crowds. I plan to do WWofHP over 3 days because there is so much detail to take in!

 

[swwake]

We are staying on site at the Royal Pacific...WWofHP opens for on site guests and hour earlier...for us that will be 7 am...I am hoping that the excitement of Harry will draw mine out of bed. Of course I am going Christmas week so I am expecting crowds. You will probably be a lot better before Christmas with the crowds. I plan to do WWofHP over 3 days because there is so much detail to take in!

Ok I just checked and our hours are 9am-9pm the day we're there. That means 8am entrance, and they recommend getting there 45 minutes early for the mad dash. I think we'll skip that and leave our hotel around 7:30-7:45 to stroll over. My plan is to do Olivander's first, if the line is shorter than 20 minutes. Then FJ (maybe twice), then DD. Not sure if they'll want to do Flight of the Hippogriff. Then we will explore Hogwarts and take lots of pics. We have lunch at 11:30 at Mythos, then I bet we'll hit FJ/Hogwarts one more time before we decide to head over to USO. We have hoppers, so we might even come back for another visit to Hogwarts/FJ after USO and before we go to WDW.

Have you already been to WWOHP before?

I think those Expresspasses will come in VERY handy for your group Christmas week!

 

[annmarieda]

Isn't it funny (not ha ha..) how busy we are getting. It is a bit frustrating. Time for dis... time to get normal stuff done... time to get trip stuff done. I feel like I am really getting short on time. Just yesterday... I realized I had not planned any time to wrap gifts. I somehow overlooked it.

 

[Moodyzblu]

Mind if I join in ?? Your trip is SO close .. you must be excited.

My son is being given a Wish through Make a Wish and his wish is to go to WWoHP and so I am looking forward to reading a TR about it.

 

[swwake]

Isn't it funny (not ha ha..) how busy we are getting. It is a bit frustrating. Time for dis... time to get normal stuff done... time to get trip stuff done. I feel like I am really getting short on time. Just yesterday... I realized I had not planned any time to wrap gifts. I somehow overlooked it.

You're right. I knew it would be hectic to travel during the holidays. I'm trying to breathe and stay sane. I got less than halfway on today's list.

Mind if I join in ?? Your trip is SO close .. you must be excited.

My son is being given a Wish through Make a Wish and his wish is to go to WWoHP and so I am looking forward to reading a TR about it.

Sure! Glad to have you!

I lived in Memphis for most of my life, and in the 90's I was a wishgrantor for Make-A-Wish. I still choose to give a portion of my annual charitable contributions to that wonderful organization. I'll go check out your PTR. Are you staying at GTTW? Lots of thoughts and prayers to Jayden and your family. I know it can be rough going, but hopefully the Wish Trip will add a little light and a lot of great memories to your family!

Sometime, I'll have to run down a list of the wishes I've granted. I've had some awesome ones, and each one was incredibly touching and special in its own way.


I also visited WWOHP last September, so I can tell you lots about it. Ask me questions!

 

[Moodyzblu]

Make a Wish is amazing ! I was never really familiar with it all until now. I'm so honored that they are giving a wish to Jayden. I hope to some day be able to give back to them for granting this wish to him and to all the other kids out there fighting life threatening illnesses. It's been a tough road but he's my little hero and has come through like a champ. He knows he has some challenges ahead of him but takes it one day at a time .. like all these other hero's I've read about on here and the Make a Wish site.

Jayden is a HUGE HP fan and has wanted to go to WWoHP since he first heard about it being built. We are at the very beginning stages of MAW and haven't met with the Wish granters yet .. they called and said it would be sometime this month .. and she asked what he was wishing for and I told her and she said he was a great age for it and we chatted a bit but that's been it so far. I would LOVE to be able to stay at GKTW .. it looks wonderful .. I've gotten to see lots of pics and read many TR about it and think it would be an honor to stay there.

I guess my only questions about WWoHP is what are the "do not miss" attractions ??

 

[swwake]

Make a Wish is amazing ! I was never really familiar with it all until now. I'm so honored that they are giving a wish to Jayden. I hope to some day be able to give back to them for granting this wish to him and to all the other kids out there fighting life threatening illnesses. It's been a tough road but he's my little hero and has come through like a champ. He knows he has some challenges ahead of him but takes it one day at a time .. like all these other hero's I've read about on here and the Make a Wish site.

Jayden is a HUGE HP fan and has wanted to go to WWoHP since he first heard about it being built. We are at the very beginning stages of MAW and haven't met with the Wish granters yet .. they called and said it would be sometime this month .. and she asked what he was wishing for and I told her and she said he was a great age for it and we chatted a bit but that's been it so far. I would LOVE to be able to stay at GKTW .. it looks wonderful .. I've gotten to see lots of pics and read many TR about it and think it would be an honor to stay there.

I guess my only questions about WWoHP is what are the "do not miss" attractions ??

Well it sounds like you have a couple of interviews and the approval to go before it's 100% official. But from the sounds of things, it's a go! You'll probably have a little going away party too, where he'll get some HP gifts (if it works like it does in Memphis and Central Texas).

Unfortunately (or fortunately?), the DO NOT MISS attractions for WWoHP are ALL of them! If Jayden and/or the rest of your family have read the books or seen the movies, you will be shocked at how you'll be immersed in the experience. Plan to spend at least half a day in the WWoHP part of the park. We were there for 1.5 days and just went back and forth. I think we went to that section of IOA 3-4 times in that span.

In order of importance:
- Forbidden Journey - and even if they express pass you through, make sure they give you a chance to walk through and spend time in the queue. It is really a huge part of the experience. Takes 25-40 minutes just to get through the queue.
- Ollivander's - hopefully they'll let a wish child go right in without waiting in the lines, which are usually long. We haven't done this yet, but I've read reviews and seen videos, and we are going to try to make it our first stop on this trip.
- Duelling dragons - do both sides of this (there are two trains/two tracks, and each is different)
- Three Broomsticks and Hogsbreath Saloon (I think that's what it's called). Make sure you wait in the bar area long enough to see the warthog (or whatever it is) snort and move
- Shops - particularly the one with the monster book at/near the Owl Post.
- Street actors - the frog choir is amazing
- Hogwarts Express - the mandatory photo op
- Flight of the Hippogriff - this is a fun little ride. It's more of a kids coaster, but we did it because we didn't want to miss it. It is fun, but probably more fun for younger kids.

 

[FosterA]

It's crazy how soon your trip is from now!!
You look like you have quite the "to do" list also. whew!

Just think....tiki torches and Poly right around the corner

 

[swwake]

It's crazy how soon your trip is from now!!
You look like you have quite the "to do" list also. whew!

Just think....tiki torches and Poly right around the corner

I keep staring at my ticker in disbelief. I am hoping to run into that dude from your luau on his way to (or better yet, FROM) the SOA show one night. Maybe he'll buy me a Lapu Lapu in a pineapple.

 

[Moodyzblu]

Great advice and tips .. thanks ! I'm going through your previous TR now and was showing Jayden the pics and he's SO excited. It just looks so amazing. He has seen every movie and has dressed as Harry for Halloween the past 2 years. I'm hoping to find him a realistic looking robe and wand (his sister made him a rough looking robe, but she tried .. lol). A Gryffindor scarf would be cool too.
I keep telling him he has to be patient .. but it's hard !

 

[swwake]

Great advice and tips .. thanks ! I'm going through your previous TR now and was showing Jayden the pics and he's SO excited. It just looks so amazing. He has seen every movie and has dressed as Harry for Halloween the past 2 years. I'm hoping to find him a realistic looking robe and wand (his sister made him a rough looking robe, but she tried .. lol). A Gryffindor scarf would be cool too.
I keep telling him he has to be patient .. but it's hard !

They have robes, wands and scarves in the shops as well as in kiosks around WWoHP. I know you'll find them!

 

[swwake]

In The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, you can find a picture of Mr. Toad giving a deed to the property to:
a.) Winnie the Pooh
b.) Owl
c.) Eeyore
d.) Piglet

Answer: b. Owl. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions, was removed and replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in the late 1990s. When it was announced in 1997 that Mr. Toad was to be closed in 1998, the announcement met with not just silent objections but actual protests. "Toad-Ins" became commonplace in Fantasyland, as fans rallied to try and save Mr. Toad from Winnie. Toad supporters were often sighted wearing T-shirts with slogans like "Ask me why Mickey is killing Mr. Toad." Fans could not understand the removal of this classic attraction in favor of one that was simply more marketable (Disney knew it would sell a lot more Pooh merchandise than it could ever sell in Toads! Not only that, but Toad's final scene, one in which you are hit by a train and sent to Hell, was fodder for criticism over the years.) Perhaps to prevent a major demonstration, Disney gave just one week's notice of the ride's last day of operation. Fans of Mr. Toad can still see their lovable green friend hidden away in the cheerful Pooh attraction. Toad can be seen handing over the deed to the property to Owl on the left wall of the scene in Owl's house (one of the first scenes in the ride). And, in a final gesture of remembrance, Cast Members in the Magic Kingdom have named one of their break rooms the "J. Thaddeus Toad Memorial Room."

Points: None

This is Katie and Caitlin before the show at a 3D show. And I think it's Mickey's Philharmagic in Fantasyland at the MK. (Those aren't the It's Tough To Be a Bug goggles, and we didn't see Honey I Shrunk the Audience - as far as I recall. Those are the only places I can think of other than Mickey's Philharmagic)

Points to Tammie for Katie, MK and Mickey's Phil - total 3

Point tally:
Tammie - 64
Ann - 49
Betsy - 37
Amy - 21
Ashley - 16
brandanobash - 1

 

[swwake]

13 days until Disney (12) What happens to all the change collected in the fountains at WDW?
a.) It is collected and shared among Cast Members as "tips"
b.) It is used for park rehabilitation
c.) It is awarded to needy families in the Orlando area
d.) It is given to Disney executives as a bonus

 

[tankgirl427]

13 days until Disney (12) What happens to all the change collected in the fountains at WDW?
a.) It is collected and shared among Cast Members as "tips"
b.) It is used for park rehabilitation
c.) It is awarded to needy families in the Orlando area
d.) It is given to Disney executives as a bonus

C, seems like the most Disney like thing to me.

Katie and Catilin in the clam mobile visiting Nemo and Friends in the Living Seas in Epcot.

Grr.... if I had time last night I was going to say it was Owl since I finally found where the painting is on my last trip. I haven't gotten anything done I need to today!

 

[swwake]

Am I really at single digits?

Sorry for the drive-by. I'm in a hotel room in Vegas for 2 days of HUD training. Most interesting topic on the planet.

10 days til Disney (9 days til vacation!) Where can you find an unattended, parked armored car bearing the company name "Lacks Security"?
a.) Mickey's Toontown Fair
b.) Main Street, U.S.A.
c.) New York Street in Disney's Hollywood Studios
d.) Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney

Guess at this photo.

 

[FosterA]

wow wow wow!!! You are getting close! The Poly is so amazing and I wish I was sitting out there now at night with all those tiki torches lit
You guys are going to have a blast! Duz anybody caught on about the big surprise yet? You know.....the Poly thing

 

[jenneth79]

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe you are at single digits! The year has really flown by, hasn't it?

 

[swwake]

wow wow wow!!! You are getting close! The Poly is so amazing and I wish I was sitting out there now at night with all those tiki torches lit
You guys are going to have a blast! Duz anybody caught on about the big surprise yet? You know.....the Poly thing

It is really hard to believe. I am so busy right now that I rarely have time to check the DIS or even think about the trip. The girls still don't know about the big surprise or the smaller surprise. I am thinking of making sure they have their sunglasses in their handbags so they can put them on when we get out at the HRH (if you know what I'm talking about.) Arriving rock star style!

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe you are at single digits! The year has really flown by, hasn't it?

It is unbelievable. And yes, it's flown. I'm kinda glad. I am the impatient kind.

 

[swwake]

Are we at 8 days now? I just can't keep everything straight.

I just read a thread here on the DIS that someone at the Poly right now has BED BUGS! How awful! But at the same time, I've read (particularly in NYC) that when you visit a hotel that has recently had bed bugs, it's actually the best time to go, because they've decontaminated and you can be almost positive there will be no bed bugs. I sure hope that's the case.

I don't have any real updates. On the flight on the way back from Vegas. Having WiFi is nice. It's actually an excuse NOT to work on the flight

Hijacking my own PTR to send good vibes and prayers over to Ann and little Zoe. I sure hope Zoe's getting better.

Oh, and today is Sandy's first birthday. Chris calls her "Sandy Pearl" because she was born on Pearl Harbor day. He's been texting me pics of her. First "Mommy, look at me! I went swimming on my birthday!" then "I have had a busy birthday and I'm so SWEEPY." Sweet Sandy. Can't wait to see her.

Here's a pic for y'all for today. I will have to find some time for scoring and storytelling this weekend.