Compromise is a Disney word: Taking one for the team over Thanksgiving 2016* August PTR link! 5/28

[ArielSRL]

Enjoy! I'll be watching on FB!

 

[Raeven]

Cabana Bay is awesome you'll love it!

 

[buzzrelly]

Ahhhhh….sooo jealous! As I am sitting reading this you are in the air flying to Universal! Have a great time! Cabana Bay looks awesome! I would definitely stay here if they offered the EP.

Sorry about your finger and Ricky's knee. Hopefully some rest and ice will do the trick!

Have a great trip!

 

[iheartbelle87]

Safe travels!

 

[pepperandchips]

Have a great time at Universal!!!

 

[ArielSRL]

Omg, I forgot to mention the finger (details???) and Ricky's knee. Did you get any answers about the knee today? Hopefully it's nothing serious.

 

[xlsm]

Um, I'm not sure if this will make you laugh or cry, but every time AK samosas come up, whether in a TR I'm reading or when I'm there and walk by the cart that sells them........
I think of your little 2014 issue We all have our issues!!!!!

The samosa freak out has scarred us all...

 

[xlsm]

And Away We Go!!!!!​

Well away I go- Monday I leave way too early for my TA training at Universal! I'm excited yet stressed because today I managed to fracture my finger and Ricky hurt his knee pretty bad in his basketball game. We're taking him to the orthopedic walk in tomorrow because as the day wore on he started having more and more trouble walking. He hurt it in the middle of the 1st quarter and the trainers worked on it, then he came back in for the 2nd half and played great, but by the time the game was over he was in immense pain. He was STILL saying he was going to his rec league game like 2 hours later but his coach put an end to that! Now besides keeping the house clean and the kids fed I have to worry about Steve keeping an eye on whatever is wrong with Ricky's knee........
I hope you all are enjoying the weekend! Back to Universal, my flight leaves at the ungodly hour of 5:45am out of Newark airport which is almost 2 hours away. I'm actually going to meet another agent who lives about an hour away and then drive with her b/c she's on the same flight so that's pretty cool, this will be the first time I'm meeting a co-worker. Once we get down there we'll be taking a shuttle to our home for the next 3 nights:



Even though this is technically their "value" resort, I'm excited to stay here because I love the retro vibe of the resort. The thing I don't love is sharing a room with someone I don't know, but I figure there's a 50-50 chance it'll be ok and if it's not, I can pay for my own room. And possibly piss of whomever I'm rooming with but if it's bad enough for me to change rooms I probably won't care!

In addition to various trainings and other cool things they have planned for us, we get 1.5 days of park time! I know what I'll be riding over and over and over:



Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit! This was my favorite ride when we were there in 2015 but we only got to ride once. I'm hoping to find someone who will ride with me but if I have to go it alone, so be it!
Something else I'm looking forward to is going to see Blue Man Group. I've never seen them but Steve and I have discussed taking the boys. If I like it we may decide to take them in August since we want to do Universal then anyway.
Thanks for putting up with my quick off-topic post! I think I'll end up doing some type of TR combining this training with mine and Steve's March and May trips. I'll be posting some pictures on FB for sure so feel free to friend me if we aren't already friends, Ariane DeVizio. Once I return I'll continue on with our Thanksgiving trip

Ooh, that's an early flight, but I'm excited for you! I'm such a nerd about combining fun and learning, so this trip sounds super fun. Be safe!! Can't wait to hear how it goes!!

 

[ariane37]

Safe travels I'm glad you can share your flight with a co worker. Sharing a room with someone I didn't know would be difficult for me too but you have a good back up plan if necessary.

It's seriously the only thing I'm worried about! Plus, there's 3 of us from my agency going, and since it's 2 to a room one of us will be with someone from another agency. I don't know the agents from my agency any better than other agents but at least I've chatted with them, so hoping I'm not the odd man out!

Cabana Bay does look nice and seeing Blue Man group sounds really fun. That's great they are giving you a day and a half on your own in the parks

Definitely getting lots of good perks with this training!

I hope Ricky's knee is ok I know you'll feel better once he's checked by the doctor. Keep us posted

Thank you, unfortunately not much better today He did get an x-ray and nothing is broken; Dr. thinks ACL is ok too. thinks it's a severe sprain and possibly ligaments near his ankle moved?? So Steve is calling an orthopedist tomorrow and for now he's out of gym for the week. Luckily no school games until the 14th because he's insisting he won't miss any of them

Enjoy! I'll be watching on FB!

Thank you!

Cabana Bay is awesome you'll love it!

It looks so cool! I think other than Hard Rock it's my favorite theming of all their resorts.

Have a great time! Cabana Bay looks awesome! I would definitely stay here if they offered the EP.

Yeah, that seems like the one negative. We've never stayed on site there and luckily when we went in Aug. the crowds were so low we didn't even need the EP, but I can see it being very important other times of the year.

Safe travels!

Have a great time at Universal!!!

Thanks Melinda!

Omg, I forgot to mention the finger (details???) and Ricky's knee. Did you get any answers about the knee today? Hopefully it's nothing serious.

Well, believe it or not I fractured my finger CLAPPING at Ricky's game yesterday At one point I started clapping the bleacher next to me; a few minutes later I said, "Hmm, my finger feels weird". Looked down and part of it was swelling. Thought nothing of it again until I clapped real hard and it HURT; looked down and it was turning a pretty color. By the time I got home it was completely green and purple Went to urgent care quick while Ricky was still watching games b/c even though he was in pain he couldn't leave while varsity was playing and somehow I managed to fracture a bone. Only Me!

Ricky fell face down from in the air, flat on his front and you heard his knee crack; it was horrible. He hobbled off and told the coach he need to come out, which he NEVER does. That kid has played with sprained ankles and with blood pouring down his face from cut eyes. Next thing I know the trainers have him laying on the ground, maneuvering his knee and he's covering his mouth like he's trying not to scream and I'm trying not to run over lol. Anyway, x-ray shows no breaks so we're hoping a bad sprain but could be messed up ligaments too. He's out of gym for the week and Steve has to call the orthopedist tomorrow. I hate not being here for this......and I hate that he can barely walk!

 

[ariane37]

Ooh, that's an early flight, but I'm excited for you! I'm such a nerd about combining fun and learning, so this trip sounds super fun. Be safe!! Can't wait to hear how it goes!!

I have to get up in approx. 5 hours to shower I'm going to be exhausted but hopefully I'll sleep on the plane.
Steve keeps saying it's not fair I get to go "play" in Universal and I keep telling him I'm going to "learn" lol!

 

[wdwnut61]

It's seriously the only thing I'm worried about! Plus, there's 3 of us from my agency going, and since it's 2 to a room one of us will be with someone from another agency. I don't know the agents from my agency any better than other agents but at least I've chatted with them, so hoping I'm not the odd man out!


Definitely getting lots of good perks with this training!


Thank you, unfortunately not much better today He did get an x-ray and nothing is broken; Dr. thinks ACL is ok too. thinks it's a severe sprain and possibly ligaments near his ankle moved?? So Steve is calling an orthopedist tomorrow and for now he's out of gym for the week. Luckily no school games until the 14th because he's insisting he won't miss any of them

Safe travels and enjoy!
I'm glad the X-rays did not show a fracture but it's good Steve is following up with an orthopedic doctor.

 

[cinderkelly]

Safe travels tomorrow, well, it's technically today since you are 2 hours ahead of me.. Dang that's an early flight! But the good thing is that you'll be there with a whole day ahead of you!

I'd be stressed about sharing a room with someone I didn't know either, but like you said, you can always get your own room if it's awful!

Sorry to hear about your finger and Ricky's knee hope everything turns out to be ok.

Have a great trip!!

 

[Raeven]

Hope you got some rest and you enjoy your trip! I never get enough sleep before a trip there's either too much to do or I'm too excited. I hope your roommates are nice too!

Sorry about Ricky, I hope he's feeling better soon. And sorry about your finger too, if it makes you feel better I could totally see myself also getting injured from clapping.

 

[Imagineer5]

Aw have an amazing time!! I enjoyed Cabana Bay although wish it was a bit closer to the parks (since I had the stroller and didn't take transportation). Looking forward to hearing about your time in training!!

 

[ArielSRL]

I have to get up in approx. 5 hours to shower I'm going to be exhausted but hopefully I'll sleep on the plane.

I hope you got some rest or, if not, adrenaline is keeping you going.

I'm already worried about this for our trip! Since I want us to leave at 6, I'm thinking I might get up at like 4:30 (eek)! But, I doubt I even sleep much anyway the night before. And bc I have to get up and drive (Chad will work late the night before so I'll take first shift) I can't take melatonin the night before. Wondering how long I'll survive on my own adrenaline before I crash out!

Anyway, back to you....looks like fun times on FB![/QUOTE]

 

[MeghanEmily]

Hope you're having an amazing time and learning lots! You're braver than we are if you love RRR! I couldn't ever bring myself to try it pre-neurosurgery, and now I couldn't even if I wanted to. Nathan did it, but I don't know that he'd do it again. I'd love to hear how you like Cabana Bay. Good luck with your stranger-roommate! Looking forward to more of your Thanksgiving TR when you get home.

 

[ariane37]

Sorry about Ricky, I hope he's feeling better soon. And sorry about your finger too, if it makes you feel better I could totally see myself also getting injured from clapping.

I felt like such a dork telling people how it happened lol! Ricky is feeling better, thank you. Just bummed he's out for the rest of the season

I enjoyed Cabana Bay although wish it was a bit closer to the parks (since I had the stroller and didn't take transportation). Looking forward to hearing about your time in training!!

I understand what you mean about CB being closer to the parks; small spoiler alert although you may know this already, but Cabana Bay is VERY close to their newest park, Volcano Bay, opening in May

I'm already worried about this for our trip! Since I want us to leave at 6, I'm thinking I might get up at like 4:30 (eek)! But, I doubt I even sleep much anyway the night before. And bc I have to get up and drive (Chad will work late the night before so I'll take first shift) I can't take melatonin the night before. Wondering how long I'll survive on my own adrenaline before I crash out!

You know surprisingly, on both this trip and in Nov. when I was up at 3:15 for our flight, I didn't start feeling run down until diner time! It's the next day when I feel it lol. Steve and I have an early flight in May and while I'm glad we'll be down by 9:15 am I'm not looking forward to getting up early, AGAIN. But you'll be fine for almost that whole day I bet, because you'll be so excited

Hope you're having an amazing time and learning lots! You're braver than we are if you love RRR! I couldn't ever bring myself to try it pre-neurosurgery, and now I couldn't even if I wanted to.

I feel so bad that you have to miss so many rides I rode it again this trip and for some reason it made me feel........not so good lol. Hope it's not my age

I'd love to hear how you like Cabana Bay

I won't give it all away here but for a value resort, I did like it pretty well!

Good luck with your stranger-roommate!

This actually turned out much better than I thought, too!

Looking forward to more of your Thanksgiving TR when you get home.

I'm hoping to get another post up tomorrow, or definitely over the weekend. I was supposed to come home Thursday but we got a huge snowstorm Thurs. so all flights into and out of NY were cancelled, and I ended up not coming home until 5:00 tonight (Fri). So I'm a day behind in "stuff", but anxious to get back to my report

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I love the fact that the shirts were being worn by GIRLS!!! Yuck! Too funny. I am sure there will be a day that my girls won't want to match me.

I tried finding you on Facebook with no success! I hope you had a good trip. Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[ariane37]

I tried finding you on Facebook with no success!

Oh no! If you want, send me a PM with your name and I'll try to find you

I hope you had a good trip. Can't wait to hear all about it.

Overall I did, but Universal is just no Disney!

 

[ariane37]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (part 1)
Or, The Day the Transportation Died
​

Hi all! I'm back from my Universal training. Some of you may know this from FB but I ended up having to stay an extra night due to a huge snowstorm we had here in NY last Thursday. I was supposed to fly out Thurs. afternoon, and the training ended Thurs. at 12, but b/c it began snowing early in the morning all flights into and out of NY were cancelled by Wed. afternoon. So instead I flew home Friday night. Luckily another co worker was from NY about an hour away from me, and we totally hit it off. Since she had to stay too we made the most of our extra day and went to Disney Springs for some good food and drink! Anyway I learned lots of cool info on Universal and I'm glad I went; I want to share the trip with you guys but since I still have 3 days to go on this trip, I'm going to start a separate report. It's just a matter of whether I can hold out until I finish up Nov. or if I start in the next couple days!
This will be a fairly quick update since I'm still catching up on things here at home, but I don't want to let it sit any longer

Thanksgiving in Disney, take 2
If you read my TR from Nov. 2015 you know our Thanksgiving wasn't the best due to me getting a stupid stomach bug. I'm happy to report last years' holiday was MUCH better, minus some transportation glitches which now we can laugh about
Our plans changed a couple times due to basketball-by now this shouldn't surprise you guys. Here's how it went down:
Original plan:
Splitsville at opening (10)
eat there or DS QS
Trails End dinner 4:45
HS for Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM dessert party
For a short period of time this changed to MK during the day when Ricky and Steve's park days got cut down, followed by our TE dinner and then HS. I had asked Ricky what park he wanted to go to and he picked MK. However since they got down earlier on Tues. than planned and we did MK, he now wanted to do HS on Thanksgiving I made this change on Tues. night and was able to get a couple good FP's so here's what we did:
Actual plan:
HS at RD
DS (since Ricky and Steve hadn't been yet)
Trail's End dinner 4:45
HS for Jingle Bell, Jingle Jam dessert party

Luckily for us HS wasn't opening until 9 that morning, so we had a quick breakfast from the Marketplace in our room. We were lazy this morning and took the boat to HS making it there by 8:25. Just as we approached the tapstiles they began letting guests in, but then we were held by the Trolley Car Cafe, aka Starbucks. Once 8:45 hit Steve and Chris took off for TSMM while Ricky and I booked it over to RnRC and managed to ride twice with no wait! Considering the crowd that was waiting with us by Starbucks I was pretty surprised by this.



Notice once again Ricky looks a little weird? But I look kinda good, so the picture gets posted lol.
When we got out the 2nd time the wait had jumped to 50 minutes so we went next door to my favorite ride where I was happy to see it still had a 10 minutes wait:





This kid needs to work on his ride photo-faces!
TOT and RnRC are Ricky's favorite rides through all 4 parks so I was glad he was getting them both in. On the other side of the park Chris and Steve were still in line for their first ride on TSMM; 3rd track wasn't helping much today! Since we were delivered safely from the maintenance elevator I figured I was good to go again, but the other 2 were finally done and were heading for GMR which Ricky wanted to do so he left me to ride alone. Wait time after my 2nd ride was only up to 20 minutes and the rest of the family were just getting in their car for their cinematic tour through the movies, but I decided to go wait for them rather than risk another turn in the Hollywood Tower Hotel-bad things happen in 3's guys......
As I was waiting for them I noticed this cute backdrop (is it new? Or have I just been blind??) so when I saw them exit I smiled big, and told them it was time for some photos:





We had done pretty good! It was only 10 and we'd done a total of 6 rides between us. I knew we would be going to DS as soon as we left HS and breakfast was wearing off, so I suggested getting a small snack first. Nobody was interested but did I care? Nope. I made my way over to Sweet Spells and grabbed an old famous favorite, the carrot cake cookie. If you've never tried one, do yourself a favor next time you go and get one before they do to Sweet Spells what they've done to Starring Rolls. RIP
We were going to leave since we'd done all of our favorites and were also coming back tonight, but stopped quickly to take some pictures of the.....March of the First Order? Help me out here friends, as you know I'm not, um, much of a SW fan at all.........





For not being SW fans we all thought this was pretty cool-and LOUD. But seriously it was neat watching the march and seeing how excited so many kids got! I can understand how great it must be for all you weird fans out there......
As we made our way out of the park we stopped for a couple PP pics:



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I don't love the poses but I like the idea. Next up, Disney Springs! If a bus ever comes!