Celebrating Christmas with the Urchins -- UPDATE -- SURPRISE

[mommy2mrb]

yay for getting your MB's! don't stress about the FP+ Kathy, it will be good! we can't wait to experience Epcot and see all the Storytellers, Candlelight Processional and the holiday Illuminations! Epcot is our 2nd favorite park and have 3 full days planned for it!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Magic Bands!!! I will wear one someday! I do hope it is not an aggravation for you to get everything from your AP's put onto the magic bands.

You get to go on Figment!!! WE didn't get to go on it this last time. I am hearing from multiple sources that the ride if going away for good in the near future. Figment is a part of my childhood...I don't want him to go away!!!

 

[afwdwfan]

I'm still not sold on this whole system. And because we don't have actual tickets, I had to input my certificate number for the renewal of our AP's to order our fastpasses. After numerous not very pleasant emails with Disney and phone calls, I am told I shouldn't have any problem with transferring them to the MB's. I don't believe it. We will see what happens.

This whole FP+ thing seems like it is best described by a 2 word phrase that starts with cluster. I just don't have much faith in Disney technology having dealt with ADR's on their website in the past. I'm sure this is no better or more user friendly... and that's before it even comes down to the nuts and bolts of whether everything will even work once you get there.

Mark and I will start with an early morning. After reading Brenda's (emmysmommy) reviews of Whispering Canyon Cafe's breakfast on two trips, we decided to give it a try. Now, you have to understand we ate at WCC back in 2008 for dinner and it was by far one of the worse meals we have ever ahd at Disney (it came close to being a tie with Hollywood & Vine for pathetic food).

You had to have been there on the worst night ever. I mean there is absolutely no comparison to H&V. That is just wrong and disturbing.

I know I for sure will be riding this

We have three Fastpass+ attractions picked out

3 excellent choices. I hope everything works out...

I'm sure we will more than likely stay in the Future World area since our lunch ADR is there. We will be dining at the Garden Grill. This is the first time that we will be eating here in probably 15 years.

Good choice. I want to eat here next year, but at the same time, there are so many other places we want to eat in EPCOT that it will be a hard decision.

After lunch, I'm sure we will hit World Showcase. And, now that Mary is doing homeschooling, I'm sure she can incorporate some lessons here.

Absolutely! With all the storytellers in each of the country, she should have plenty of good material to use!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Yay for the magic bands arriving! I hope that things go more smoothly than you are expecting.

We have had breakfast at Whispering Canyon and it was delicious! I wouldn't hesitate to go back again.

 

[Pluto0809]

Jim and I found the MBs very easy to use and really liked them. The only hard part is remembering your times so I put each day on a small card and laminated them. I didn't want to rely on the MDE App in case it didn't work. I was glad I did that too because MDE was very spotty.

Good luck with WCC. Hopefully it was just a off night when you were there. Mom and I loved it when we went last November.

I love your plans for Epcot. You probably saw this already but make sure you don't change any of your FP+ selections now because they are starting to limit people to 1 headliner a day at Epcot. If you try to change them now you may lose one.

Garden Grill is now open for lunch?!?! That's good to know. I haven't eaten there in years because I'm ususally somewhere in World Showcase at dinner time and don't want to trek all the way back to the front of the park.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Looks like a great day!!! We do have some of the same FP+ for this day... wondering if they are at the same time???

 

[Poolrat]

Jim and I found the MBs very easy to use and really liked them. The only hard part is remembering your times so I put each day on a small card and laminated them. I didn't want to rely on the MDE App in case it didn't work. I was glad I did that too because MDE was very spotty.

I totally agree with that. I loved having them and with Food and Wine is was really easy ( almost too easy ) to tap and go to pay for food. I found myself just putting everything to the room because it was so easy.

I need to see if I can email the FP+ to myself somehow from the MDE. I did check out the kiosk in EPCOT once ( and it was faster) and I thought I had the option there. I ended up writing them down too since I could not pull up MDE fast enough.

I love your plans for Epcot. You probably saw this already but make sure you don't change any of your FP+ selections now because they are starting to limit people to 1 headliner a day at Epcot. If you try to change them now you may lose one.

Yup you can only pick either Soarin or test track not both now. Or at least for New years time frame.

 

[that's nice]

i heard there was a PTR going on here... so what have I missed?

 

[pas130]

MaryAZ Sorry for the loss of your furbaby And kudos to you for homeschooling!

Kathy Our AK and Epcot days are flip-flopped We are Dec.4th at Epcot and the 5th at AK (MVMCP that night) The 6th is our last day, and we are just going to resort hop I think I am sorry I am so late for your PTR Our MB came in today !!!!!

 

[Iamthequeen]

Hi Kathy (and Mary) subbing in - better late than never. Now to go back and catch up on everything!

 

[LB1122]

Your Epcot photos are making me so so so excited about our trip Thanks for sharing those

Sorry about the loss for you.

 

[englishrose47]

Just keepin' up!!!

 

[emmysmommy]

Love the MB for Fuzz! Better than 'Trouble' I suppose (that's what Michael wanted on my MB) I'm still awaiting my MB to show up on my doorstep.

The pressure is on... I truly hope you enjoy your WCC breakfast. Ask for Jeffro (Jeff) if you want to guarantee a great experience.

I'm going to be asking you about your Garden Grill lunch. I really want to try that but Em not so much. Are there characters at lunch?

I'm looking forward to all the special holiday touches at Epcot. We'll just be arriving that day.

 

[TMGosizk]

Okay, caught up here, too!

Jeepers, I missed a lot!

Kathy, your plans all sound great so far!! Seeing your past pictures of Disney at Christmas, just makes me want to go even more during the Holidays! Though I've never been, I'm sure you'll have a blast at the Christmas party!!!

Hooray for getting your Magic Bands!!! I was not all that optimistic about them before going either, and since I'm not even close to where I'll detail our full experiences with them in my TR, I will tell you, in short, that we loved using them in September! They were SO convenient and while I do think Disney may have some things to iron out overall and with the FP+ system, from hearing other's reports, we had very few problems using them during the trip! We never had any issues with using or changing FP+ times on the fly, and actually didn't need to pick up a single paper FP the whole trip! They were fantastic! I hope you have a positive experience with them, as well!!

Also, I want to say "hi" to Mary! I haven't "met" you here on the DIS yet, I don't think, but wanted to say I loved your intros and your girls are just beautiful! I'm so sorry to read about the loss of your Lab, Faith! It really is one of the most difficult things to have to experience. I am glad you all got to say good bye and I hope things are getting a little easier for you all!

Looking forward to reading even more about this trip!!

 

[tazdev3225]

I got a new computer after the great crash last week and have fallen behind again. So far our plans overlap a bit. We are doing MK and MVMCP the same day as you are and that Thursday is also an EPCOT day for us. We will have to try and run into each other. I will be very easy to spot. I need an ECV and it will be decorated for the holidays with Mickey lights and garland.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

The plans sound wonderful! We thought WCC was great for lunch. Never did breakfast or dinner there, though.

The Storytellers are great! Even loved to just read the stories behind each country's Christmas traditions. But I will say, having done both MNSSHP and MVMCP, I prefer Halloween.

Can't wait to hear more.

 

[annmarieda]

Had to bump us from Page 2

Today is our first day of home schooling-it has gone well so far.

Girls both have a gymnastics meet this weekend, Avery Sat am and Cayley Sun pm-way to take up my WHOLE weekend!!

More plans coming soon

Yay for the first day going well!!!

Look what was on our doorstep when we got home from work today:



I'm still not sold on this whole system. And because we don't have actual tickets, I had to input my certificate number for the renewal of our AP's to order our fastpasses. After numerous not very pleasant emails with Disney and phone calls, I am told I shouldn't have any problem with transferring them to the MB's. I don't believe it. We will see what happens.

Okay, responses coming up and then an update FINALLY. Since I'm now done with my TR,I should be able to update here a little bit more regularly and answer posts (although we are going to Dubuque this weekend to see Mark coach as a college coach for the first wrestling tournament of the season.

How exciting that your bands arrived!!! I am with you in just not being a total fan yet. However, I did use my band last month and it wasn't horrible.... but it was only for part of the trip.

Still attempting to get caught up on your TR... It is a battle you are an updating machine!!!... but if you are nearing being done, maybe I can finally accomplish the task!!

 

[annmarieda]

Oh... forgot to say. I LOVE the christmas decorations. It is making me want to return for the holidays. Maybe in a few more years... maybe. Until then I will just have to ooh and ahh over your pictures

 

[englishrose47]

Oh... forgot to say. I LOVE the christmas decorations. It is making me want to return for the holidays. Maybe in a few more years... maybe. Until then I will just have to ooh and ahh over your pictures

That is why I am sooo excited about my trip next month!!I too have ooohed and ahhhed for way to long !!!

 

[englishrose47]

Kathy any chance of meeting us for Piano Bob's on Friday 12/6 !! I promise to behave