Bring on the MAGIC- May 2016 solo PTR, Final update 5/6

[DonnaBeeGood]

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[Saphire5742]

I saw the sneak peek of RoL that was posted the other day. It looks like it is going to be an amazing show and I bet it'll be a tear jerker too!

Hard as it was I resisted looking at the sneak peak video. I want it all to be a surprise. But everything I read tells me it is going to be spectacular. And I probably will cry.

I love the throwback pictures!

Thanks!

I'll be there before the show starts - maybe we'll get lucky and they'll be practicing some of the other entertainment. Or, maybe it will be less crowded. Oh well, a reason to go back again!

I hope for you that there will be some practicing out and about. Always good to have a reason to go back though

 

[Saphire5742]

Quickie update:
FP+ accomplished. No problems whatsoever. One change I made though was to add Anna and Elsa M&G. And that got added after I got home from my evening shift, practically 17 hours after I originally made my selections. I was surprised that there was still a decent time available and on my first MK day right at the beginning of my vacation.

Also my big exam is coming up very soon, 3 weeks from yesterday, so I will be taking a break from the DIS until afterwards (except for updating exercise challenge that is). It is down to the wire now and I must give it my all.

 

[DonnaBeeGood]

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[andiepie]

Good luck with your exam!

 

[Dentam]

Glad the fast passes worked out and good luck with your exam!

 

[Sarahh1027]

Gonna miss you, but good luck girl!!!! Congrats on the fastpasses!

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm glad to hear that FP+ selection went well. Good luck on the exam - I can't wait to hear that it went awesome!

 

[Elevationist]

One change I made though was to add Anna and Elsa M&G. And that got added after I got home from my evening shift, practically 17 hours after I originally made my selections. I was surprised that there was still a decent time available and on my first MK day right at the beginning of my vacation.

And these are the benefits of being a solo traveler. Sometimes it's much easier to find FP+ for 1 than for a group!

Also my big exam is coming up very soon, 3 weeks from yesterday, so I will be taking a break from the DIS until afterwards (except for updating exercise challenge that is). It is down to the wire now and I must give it my all.

Good luck, girl! Can't wait for you to get back!

 

[Saphire5742]

In a little less than 24 hours I will be done with my exam. Right now I am alternating between being completely calm and confident / being on the verge of a panic attack.
I'm pretty sure I know enough to pass. Just need to control my nerves and everything will be fine (fingers crossed).
I just need this to be over with already!!!!!
Thanks again for all the well wishes.
I'll be back tomorrow to report.

Edited to add- Just noticed that my ticker is reporting 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day.
Eeeeeeeeek!

 

[Dentam]

Good luck on your test - you've got this!!

 

[SarahDisney]

Good luck on your exam!

 

[Saphire5742]

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!

I finished my exam approximately 4 hours ago. What can I say? It was what it was. Some things I knew and some things I didn't. So basically it went like this- first stop was a 50 question multiple choice test for 75 minutes, after a 10 min break or so it was time to head to the part that I was particularly dreading- Simulations. There were a total of 6 such stations, 2 on a computer with an ongoing scenario and open questions, 2 with a mannequin, and 2 with an actor. Did I mention that each station had an allotment of 15 minutes? Yep. And they went by way to fast. Multiple choice was ok, didn't do so well on the computer stations (here in particular 15 minutes was way too short). For the other ones there is a scenario written on the door. You have 2 min to read and gather some thoughts, and then you're told to go in. There are some tasks you have to accomplish and you have to go through everything as if they were actual patients and you are their nurse. For the mannequin ones there is a tester in the room with you and one behind a one way screen. With the actor ones, both testers are behind a one way screen. And they have clipboards against which they check if you accomplished every little thing. It is a cruel thing to put test takers through that timed ****. It is so easy to forget things in that situation. So really I have no idea how I did. There won't be any grades posted for about 6 weeks. All I can say is I hope I pass because there is NO WAY IN HELL I'm going through that again.
But enough of that-
I have a magical trip to continue planning. A trip that is a little over a month away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't really have anything right now to share about the trip per say. One thing I did today was to change my desktop wallpaper in anticipation. Found a cute one with the classics- Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy along with Tinkerbell and Chip and Dale. And in the background the icons of each of the parks over at Disney World: Tree of Life, Spaceship Earth, Cinderella's Castle, and the no longer there Sorcerer's Hat.

Also in my inbox today was an e-mail about a 2 day nursing symposium at guess where? Coronado Springs. During my vacation. I find that amusing. Of course I will be no where near there. I'll be too busy funning it up at the parks.

There is something else I want to share. A post I saw this week over at www.EasyWDW.com . So the headline of the post was _______ (an evil man in history whose name shall not tarnish this thread) wants to know when Disney will update Animal Kingdom hours (or something to that effect). I admit I had some reservations about clicking through and I questioned its appropriateness, but curiosity got the better of me. Let me tell you, it is so funny. Perfectly captures the frustrations that go along with planning a Disney World vacation. I've since learned that many parodies have been done with this particular scene. Plus the scene deals with his defeat, actually the whole movie does, so I'm more than ok with it. You can go to the site to watch it or find it on Facebook (March 24th post)

I'm off now to start getting updated on all the threads I'm currently watching. A lot of reading awaits me.
Toodles!

 

[missangelalexis]

Good luck on your exam

Edited: Woops! You posted at the same time I made that comment! Glad the exam is over with! Now you can focus on Disney!

 

[cajunfan]

Glad your exam is over!

I will be at WDW May9th-May15th...staying in a Family Suite at All Star Music. I have not done a pre-trip report for this trip, as I booked it the day that FP+ decisions had to be made! I have never done that before. I only have one ADR currently...Tusker House - 8:10 am...hoping I can turn this into a ROL package if/when they come out. If not, we will probably eat there, as it is one of my favorites. Otherwise it will be mostly counter service. That is something I really have not done ever. So, I am kind of looking forward to this and scoping out some variety in the parks. I went about this time last year, and it was a great week to go weather wise. I really need to flesh out my plans, but need to get input from the others traveling with me.

Glad to see someone there for my dates...seems like everyone I know is either right before me or right after me!

I can't wait to read more!

Lynn

 

[SarahDisney]

That exam sounds like a lot of fun (not). I hope you passed!

I saw the headline of that easywdw post, but I didn't watch the video. That's something I just can't get past. Which I know is a little ridiculous to judge it by the title without watching the clip, but I guess I'm just weird about it.

Only a little over a month left ... so exciting!!

 

[Dentam]

Congrats on getting through your exam! Now it's time to breathe a sigh of relief and focus on your trip!!

 

[Saphire5742]

Glad the exam is over with! Now you can focus on Disney!

Now it's time to breathe a sigh of relief and focus on your trip!!

Absolutely!!!!

I will be at WDW May9th-May15th...staying in a Family Suite at All Star Music.

So we'll be there the same time! Who knows, maybe we'll bump into each other at some point.

I saw the headline of that easywdw post, but I didn't watch the video. That's something I just can't get past. Which I know is a little ridiculous to judge it by the title without watching the clip, but I guess I'm just weird about it.

It is neither ridiculous or weird. I suspect you're not alone in that regard.

 

[Elevationist]

I have a magical trip to continue planning. A trip that is a little over a month away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG OMG OMG!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR TRIP IS ALMOST HERE!!!

I don't really have anything right now to share about the trip per say. One thing I did today was to change my desktop wallpaper in anticipation. Found a cute one with the classics- Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy along with Tinkerbell and Chip and Dale. And in the background the icons of each of the parks over at Disney World: Tree of Life, Spaceship Earth, Cinderella's Castle, and the no longer there Sorcerer's Hat.

This sounds adorable!

I'm off now to start getting updated on all the threads I'm currently watching. A lot of reading awaits me.

Girl, I know that feeling. I can't stay caught up here, no matter how hard I try!

 

[Saphire5742]

Time for a real update.....
and guess what???????

Time to celebrate, it's the 30 DAY COUNTDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





Seems like only yesterday I was celebrating double digits.

And actually because I'm heading to NY first, my vacation officially begins in 3 weeks! Less than a month away!

So it only makes sense to start sharing some of my plans.

We'll start with arrival day and day 3. Why am I skipping day 2 you might ask? Because planning my MK days is proving to be a little more challenging than I anticipated, so I'll figure that out later on.

My flight from NY leaves on May 8 at 10:45 am, scheduled to land in Orlando at 1:30 pm.
Silly me though: when I booked I did not realize that it's Mother's Day. But in my defense I've lived abroad for 9 years and I don't remember dates like that anymore. It's ok though, my mom's cool with it. Or at least that's what she tells me. To be fair I did offer my mom to join me for a few days, but the timing does not work out for her.

Anyway I am so looking forward to see this:



I might just tear up when I actually see it in person on the way to:

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Hope to check in by 3pm. I already did online check in, right after I booked FP+s. And this week I sent an e-mail to my TA regarding my room requests. I thought about this and while I originally planned on the Ursula building, I realized that I'd rather see this when I look out my window:

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What's better than a glorious view of my favorite villain?

I realize this is a very specific request but I figure it doesn't hurt to try. We'll see what happens.

So after I check in and dump my stuff in my room, the plan is to walk around and explore the resort for 2 hours or so before it's time to get ready for dinner at the place that I still cannot believe I get to dine at in one month....
Victoria and Albert's!!!!!!!!!!! I mentioned this before, but the moment I found out about this place I just knew I had to eat there. I was hoping I could treat my mom as well which is one of the reasons I invited her along. It's too bad the timing does not work out for her. I do have to remember to take it slow and really savor every bite as I have a tendency to eat fast. Especially when I'm really loving the food. I should be receiving a phone call from them the day of my arrival in NY. Did I mention how excited I am about this??????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After dinner it will be time to head back to the resort where I will blissfully curl up in my clamshell and be up bright and early the next day.

Skipping to Day 3 which is EPCOT day!

Starting my day with Gardens of the World tour which goes from 9-12. I did have some reservations since while I enjoy flowers I am most definitely NOT a gardener, as evidenced by my mess of a yard. When I moved in to my apartment 2 years ago, I imagined creating a sort of oasis in the yard. But I had a hard time with all the uncontrollable and overgrown weeds. And after attempting to clean it all up, I just gave up. So now it is pretty much neglected. I guess I could have hired someone, but that costs money and I wasn't sure I could maintain it.

Anyway back to my trip. I was concerned that the tour might be a little too technical for me. I called Disney and was assured that since it is geared to ages 12 and up, that it would not be very technical at all. And so I signed up.
After the tour I'll wander World Showcase for a bit, probably get a quick bite at one of the booths before heading over to Future World for my FP's:

12:50-1:50 Spaceship Earth
2:20-3:20 Test Track
3:40-4:40 Character Spot

Then it'll be back to World Showcase for more touring. Dinner is booked for 7:30 at Via Napoli, followed by Illuminations and back to the resort.

Also I started catching up on some movies. Today I watched "Inside Out". I remember watching the trailer for this and thinking it looked like a fun movie. It was fun but also was not expecting just how poignant it is. Tomorrow I plan to watch "Brave".