Footloose and Fancy Free-Dec 2018, Feb 2019 PTR-12/31-TR Link!

[Lesley Wake]

Yay!

In NY today was 75 degrees, tomorrow 30 and snowing

I'd definitely pick poutine over pizza too

I do not miss the east coast weather! It's been mid/low 60s and people are freaking out!

Your plans sound great! Hope this week flies by for you!

So do I!

OOOOOH, you are going to love this!!! We did it in December 2016 and it was just incredible!! Loved all the pictures they took while we were on the tour, and all of them were included free, which was so nice. I haven't heard of the backstage vet tour--details!?!

I know! I can't wait!
Here is info on the new tour: https://wdwnt.com/2018/02/free-30-minute-tour-offered-rafikis-planet-watch-disneys-animal-kingdom/
It just started and is in the trial period, so it's free! You can't sign up in advance, but can sign up the day-of. And you get to go to 2/4 possible places (depends on who is leading the tour)-I'm really hoping for the vet hospital and the nutrition center; I really don't want the snake house! Some dissers reported they were in the vet hospital when they had to bring in that crocodile who had his leg amputated last week!

 

[missjackiemcg]

It just started and is in the trial period, so it's free! You can't sign up in advance, but can sign up the day-of. And you get to go to 2/4 possible places (depends on who is leading the tour)-I'm really hoping for the vet hospital and the nutrition center; I really don't want the snake house! Some dissers reported they were in the vet hospital when they had to bring in that crocodile who had his leg amputated last week!

Awesome! Not sure how I missed this! I'm excited to hear what you get to see!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Update 2/27 - I need your help!

So, rumors broke this morning that Illuminations is getting replaced sooner rather than later, and could be changed as early as this summer! I originally hadn't planned on seeing it in March, instead leaving that until December, but now I'm rethinking things. So, I need your help, and I added a poll to the PTR!

Original plans for Epcot day:
FPs: Spaceship earth, 10am; Mission Space, 11am, Frozen, 12pm.
ADR: Via Napoli 5:30 (hoping to make that slightly later)
Enjoy Flower and Garden at a relaxed pace. After dinner, head back to AKL before crowds. The next morning it's AK EMH starting at 7am, which I am still planning on doing!

Reasons for seeing Illuminations:
-Probable last chance to see it; I only have seen it once and then the globe didn't open.

Reasons against seeing Illuminations:
-It wasn't my favorite nighttime show, but I guess that could change, since I didn't know what to expect.
-Early morning the next day, and have to deal with crowds leaving Epcot.

Help!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Hello! I am glad I caught up before you leave tomorrow!!!

I am so jealous!

I think you should wing it for staying to see Illuminations! It is probably not a bad idea to stay and watch it. But if it isn't your favorite don't kill yourself over it.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[MiracleCream]

Update 2/27 - I need your help!

Reasons for seeing Illuminations:
-Probable last chance to see it; I only have seen it once and then the globe didn't open.

Reasons against seeing Illuminations:
-It wasn't my favorite nighttime show, but I guess that could change, since I didn't know what to expect.
-Early morning the next day, and have to deal with crowds leaving Epcot.

Help!

I would hate for you to have regrets against a chance to see it one more time if it does change. Maybe you can have a back up plan in case rumors are confirmed or not confirmed? I always hear reports of people regretting not getting to see wishes one more time before the change to happily ever after.

 

[Raeven]

I would probably skip it because you’re so close to leaving and it wasn’t part of the plan already, but it’s not our favorite either. However we do want to see it on more time in May so if you really want to I’d say go!

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Personally I say skip it, but I have a bitterness towards IllumiNations since I think it should've left before Wishes (even if it has a special place in my heart as the first Disney fireworks I ever saw) so my judgement might be biased, but also you already didn't care for it and you have a morning EMH. So yeah, skip it (vote has been cast for me in the poll too).

 

[missjackiemcg]

I'm thinking you should just wing it on that night and see how you feel. Illuminations isn't really a must-do for us either, but if I knew I'd be there before it was leaving for good I might try to stick around.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Mini Update 3/5 - I'm Back!

Just got back last night from Disney. It was a fun trip, lots of new things experienced, and some returning favs. Also got to have some fun with a disfriend, so it wasn't completely solo!

I definitely learned some lessons, which I will be including in future trips. But it was good to be alone and do things on my own schedule!

• 4 nights is not enough! By the time I arrived I was already feeling sad about leaving so soon!
• Definitely need more break time. I thought I had included some, but my feet were aching at the end of every day!
• Hot tubs are the best!
• I think I'm more of a moderate resort person. I'll have to see how it goes in December when I'm staying DVC, but for me, it feels like I end up wanting to get to the parks that I don't get to enjoy the resort enough for a Deluxe to be worth it.
• I need to better figure out a food schedule; I was waaayy too stuffed too often! That can definitely be a good thing, but other times, can be painful!
• Also need to figure out a touring schedule that works better for my sleep schedule (which is hard with limited park hours). Definitely was painful to wake up so early the last 2 days.
• Uber is my lifeline. Resort buses are so frustrating!

I started up a Trip Report: "Hippos and Tigers and Flowers, Oh My!", but will probably just post F&G food items until after I finish my September TR in full!

Oh, and a spoiler, I ended up skipping Illuminations! I think it was worth it too since I ending up having an awesome, busy, and tiring day at AK the next day!

 

[ariane37]

Welp, I totally fell off of your Sept. TR so I'm going to start fresh with your new TR! And I promise to do better

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Definitely need more break time. I thought I had included some, but my feet were aching at the end of every day!

I have a hard time with this. And I can only imagine that if I was in Disney by myself I would not stop!

I think I'm more of a moderate resort person. I'll have to see how it goes in December when I'm staying DVC, but for me, it feels like I end up wanting to get to the parks that I don't get to enjoy the resort enough for a Deluxe to be worth it.

This is what Andy and I were just talking about!

Uber is my lifeline. Resort buses are so frustrating!

This is why I like some of the deluxe. And why I haven't stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge yet.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Me seeing you skipped IllumiNations when I was the only person who voted that you should skip it...

 

[missjackiemcg]

Welcome back I totally agree 4 nights doesn't even SOUND like enough time!!!! We were trying to figure out if we could add on some Disney days to a trip we already have planned to Hilton Head this summer. I already ditched the whole thing because I won't be able to stay as many days as I like to and I'll be too sad that it's not the kind of trip we're used to.

Heading over to the TR!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Update 3/26

So, first off, I made a big, and probably extremely irresponsible, financial decision a few weeks ago. As I've mentioned in the past, I'm a big LA Rams fan, with season tickets. They are building the new stadium (which looks super awesome), and nowadays NFL teams sell Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs) to help raise money for the stadium; PSLs basically give you the right to purchase season tickets for that particular seat every year for the length of the contract. You also get priority presale access when they have other events at the stadium (so concerts, etc, but not huge events like Olympics, World Cup, or Superbowl). Anyways, the Rams just started rolling out the PSLs and because I was quick with my fingers and checked my email at the right time, I got one of the very first appointments to go down to the Stadium offices and check out all they have to offer. I knew they were only selling Premium PSLs (so Club Level) at the time, so expected I would go down, get some information, then wait until they opened up sales to all stadium seats. Well... if that went according to plan, why would I even bother telling you guys?

So yeah, I ended up purchasing 2 Premium PSLs for a ton of money. It is payable over 10 years, but it is still a s***load of money! I do have a plan to pay it down via resale but I know I need to be careful with finances coming up. I will still be doing my upcoming trips, but probably not many beyond that for a little while, and I also need to watch how much I spend while I'm traveling. So, yeah, anyways... on to how I will actually be spending more money!

December Trip:

Not a whole lot to update here lately since I'm still a ways out from ADR day (which, of course, will happen while I'm in France! At least I will have wifi (I'm planning on renting a mobile hotspot unit, as well as all our Airbnbs have wifi).

I did go ahead and book my airfare though. I know I may have been able to save a bit of money if I waited a little longer, but I also would have risked prices going up, and it's just one more thing I no longer need to think about!

I originally was hoping to use some Alaska airmiles to fly to/from Orlando, as I had enough saved up (that's what I did for my September trip). Only when I went to search-they no longer had direct LAX-MCO flights! I hate changing planes, and besides, the ones they had available with miles were sooo inconvenient. As in, a red-eye with an 8-hour layover in Seattle before arriving at MCO the following afternoon, and departing flight leaving MCO at 7am - nope, nope, nope! Plus they upped the number of miles required (in September I found flights for 12.5k miles each way, now they are 20k, which would be over my saved amount of miles!

So...I checked on some other airlines. It seems American had the cheapest and most convenient flights. Alaska and American do have a partnership so I could have earned Alaska miles on the flight, but then when would I have used them? So, instead I ended up getting a American credit card, which will give me enough bonus miles to also cover my flights in February!

Anyways, here is my current flight schedule:
Arrival November 29, land 4:20pm
Depart December 9, leave 8:15pm

Assuming those times don't change (which I'm not expecting because it seems my luck sucks with them changing flight times on me), that should give me a full relaxing evening on arrival, and an almost full park day on departure!

I also went ahead and splurged on Main Cabin Extra, to get an exit row seat - the extra legroom and lack of someone reclining a seat in my face just helps start and end the vacation on the right note!

As for ADRs, I'm still figuring out which ones and what days. Things I know I will do are:
-Boma dinner (probably arrival day)
-Tusker House brunch
-Ohana dinner

I will also probably add in these guys, but it's not as high of a priority:
-Yak and Yeti dinner
-Nomad Lounge lunch
-D Luxe
-Chefs de France
-Geyser Point
-Whispering Canyon Cafe (probably lunch or dinner)
-Toothsome (on my Universal day)

And some special things:
-Wild Africa Trek (loved loved it in March so it's a definite repeat for me)
-Jingle Bam Jingle Jam dessert party
-Candlelight Processional dining package (debating between Chefs de France, Tokyo Dining, or Trattoria al Forno)


February Trip:

I considered cancelling this one (after the irresponsible financial decision I made above), but ultimately decided to keep it. I don't think I will be able to find a cruise for as cheap as I purchased, since I got the cheapest room on the cheapest 4-night cruise on opening day. DCL is constantly increasing prices, and I just really want to experience it finally! Besides the actual cruise cost, I don't think there will be many extras-I'm not planning any tours or fancy add-ons.

But of course I can't travel to Orlando without hitting up WDW. And as I discovered, 3 park days just isn't enough for me. So I think this is the schedule:



If I travel to Florida one more time without visiting Cape Canaveral, especially going to Port Canaveral, my family will never let me live it down, so I will add that in.

I'll do a Value resort for first 4 nights (probably an All-Star), and a moderate for the last 3 nights. I'd prefer to do Mod/Mod, but I think the costs savings will let me get that extra 5th park day, and more relaxed! And I don't think I could stand a Value/Value split! I haven't booked anything yet (the 2019 haven't shown up online), but I think anything I book would possibly get changed once room/AP discounts come out, as I'd be going with whatever is cheapest. I'm leaning All Star Sports/Music and Colorado Springs, but am considering Caribbean Beach if the construction situation is better.

So yeah, that is all for now!​

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Congrats on the Football seats! Super Exciting! It's only money...

 

[Lesley Wake]

Congrats on the Football seats! Super Exciting! It's only money...

Yup... that's also why my mom has no idea (and because she doesn't go to games she never will)!

They are honestly pretty awesome seats. Premium, means extra wide and padded with more leg room. And they are 5th row, aisle seats, next to the player tunnel and right behind all the friends and families (I realized that later). And access to the Premium Lounge, which looks like so much fun (it will go all the way around the stadium on Level 1, and includes 4 different food "neighborhoods", so an Asian area, Mexican area, BBQ area, etc, plus 2 end zone hangouts. And VIP entrance and access to VIP parking lot. Also, when they have special events I'll get priority pre-sale, so I can get better seats and resell those to help pay it off. The Rams are also doing something interesting, with the contract being 50 years (as opposed to 20-30 years for the other recent PSL programs), and at the end of the 50 years they will pay back the full amount, plus financing (but not inflation). Anyways, that's what I'm using to justify it!

 

[missangelalexis]

Congrats on the PSLs! Considering your a big fan, I'm sure it's a justifiable purchase

Glad you got your flights for December!

I think it's a good idea to keep your February trip, especially if you got a good deal on the cruise!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Yay for football!! I just read your comment with all the perks listed. If I was able to find a way to swing it for my team, I'd do it in a minute!

 

[Lesley Wake]

RL Update 4/2 - Disneyland day!

No updates on the Disneyworld trips, but some quick real-life Disneyland update.

Got to have a great Disneyland day on Saturday, meeting up with @StarWarsMomofGirls! and her awesome family! I'll leave most things for her eventual TR, but the girls did get me on Grizzly River Rapids (basically Kali River Rapids, just different theming). And did you know that there's a geyser in the middle of the river near the end. And it goes off occasionally, with no shutoff for a raft approaching? Because I didn't!

Yeah, I don't think I've EVER gotten wetter on a ride at any amusement park ANYWHERE! When the CMs working the ride say, wow you got soaked, you know you got soaked! I was still a bit damp about 6 hrs later when I got home!

While Ariella and her family headed back to the hotel for a short break, I checked out AP corner at the Food & Wine Festival. They had a Chef Pluto meet & greet, and PLUTO WAS WORKING IT! Macarena (video below), twerking, moonwalking, the works! Even the CMs were like: What happens in AP corner, stays in AP corner!

Got to watch Black Panther being escorted away from his last M&G set (but I didn't actualy meet him because for every set they end up closing the line about 30 minutes before he even comes out)!

Then I did some merchandise shopping, picking up a new Iphone case which I've been eyeing for a while:

And a new lanyard + ticket pouch for Paris (since they use paper FPs/hotel cards, etc). And yes, I did end up with a Tsum Tsum lanyard plus Star Wars pouch, but whatever! I like them both!

An easter present for my mom (she loves Dumbo, and even though we said no Easter presents this year, I couldn't resist). I also got some Ghiradelli chocolates (plus a hot cocoa late at night) to go in it!

That's it for now! ​

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Omg looking at bb Pluto hitting that Macarena so hard, yas puppy! And I love that phone case and the mug. Probably gonna snag the phone case once I got my cast discount back.