Hitting the Disney trifecta! a Nov 2013 PTR-and then some!(2/21-Trip #3 return!)

[skier_pete]

Oh, I forgot to say that I'm extremely nervous about the MB as well...

My problem is I have THREE reservations under my name (the race one with my cousin/sister-in-law, then two rooms at AKL for the family trip). So that means THREE set of MB. I have one set of tickets bought for 7 day passes. I was buying seperate pass for the day we go to a park pre-race (not in system). The 7 day pass was for the family vacation.

Well Disney linked 3 of my 7 days to my race trip. And 4 of my days to the family trip. Leaving me unable to book ANY FP+ for anyone except my mother on those other days of the family tirp. My mother's ticket is fully booked during her stay (correctly).

I was told that it shouldn't do that, but it's yet ot be fixed (i'm in the que apparently) but to just make FP+ for my mother and they can move it over at Disney.

I'm still very nervous wiht that happening.

ALso- likeyou- I've already RECIEVED my MB (all three sets) and yet just got mails yesterday telling me to customize before Nov 1st. What? Really DIsney? Get your act together.... this MB thing is a mess still!!!

Right - and to really think it'll be better when we are there??? I am bringing all the MB with me just in case.

In other (disappointing) news, I don't think I am going to be able to come out to cheer your race. I looked over the map and realized I misread it. The corner you will be passing I thought was near CBR is actually near Pop Century/Art of Animation. I am not sure I can walk out that far. It's too bad, as I had my sign already packed!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I was equally as nervous about the MB before I left. I had two sets; and both sets worked for the entire duration. We ended up using the set associated with the second (and later) reservation for the entire trip and left the first set associated with the first reservation in the box.

I classified myself as in the "vanilla customer" demographics; i.e., a user with needs considered part of the standard customer experience.

• I bought tickets from Undercover Tourist that covered the entire duration of my stay. So, there was only the need to link one set of tickets once. I didn't get to experience how the system would cope with having split tickets to cover the entire trip. I'll be interested to follow along to find out how this went.
• I had a bunch of ADRs that I had booked pre-MB. Once I linked them to the MB, I made NO changes to them.
• We were doing a split stay. If the IT department hadn't included this scenario as part of vanilla/standard experience, then they all needed to have their head examined. The split stay wasn't a problem with my bands. The only "issue" was that the second part of the stay was booked with 2 others on the same reservation. The CM at the front desk were nervous about checking us in (our room was ready) whilst the other two were still checked in at another resort. They asked if we minded waiting....as they didn't want to stuff up our MBs.
• We bought tickets for MNSSHP. I deliberately asked for Will Call because I knew they wouldn't ship them to Australia and because I didn't want them associated with the MB. I'd also read about the issues people were having. Well.....you can imagine how I felt when I found out that Disney IT had linked them to my band. That's the only real negative experience I had with the bands. So, your decision to keep them separate is a great one.
• Snail mail and email was almost non-existent for me. I suspect that Disney isn't sending out anything to international guests at all. So, I was reading your posts about all the mail you received with a chuckle. I had one email to advise that I had been selected for the MB trial.
  I will say that I did go on MDE constantly and found that I could customise my bands and book FP+ BEFORE I was contacted by Disney. That email arrived about 2 weeks before I left Australia. By that stage, all my plans and FP+ were completed online already.

I suspect that for customers with tickets and room reservations and ADRs like me, the system copes reasonably well. For anything outside the norm.....I think Disney needs to head back to include them in the drawing board. As for the emails and letters - I'm pretty sure that they'll get round to fixing the multiple duplicates at some stage. I'm guessing 2015.


When I checked into my resort (both times), I was given a set of KTTW. They worked as normal. I know that there is a bit of debate about double dipping on FP+ and FP on the boards; but I had no moral issues in the double dipping. I only did this twice. Once at Epcot on a day where we went on Test Track with our FP+. I claimed a standard FP for the ride early in the morning because I knew DH and DS would love this ride. In the end, we got on it 3 times in a row...FP+, FP and single rider. The other time was at AK with Kali. We did it twice. FP and then FP+ when our windows opened up. Afterall, once you're wet, you might as well go on it again.

 

[skier_pete]

I know that there is a bit of debate about double dipping on FP+ and FP on the boards; but I had no moral issues in the double dipping.

Geez, what's wrong with people. They are allowing you to do this on purpose. It's not CHEATING. Anyone who has a MORAL dilemma does not seem to understand the definition of the move. Deciding whether to kill a criminal on death row is a moral dillemma. Deciding to use FP or FP+ is not.

OK - rant over. (Not directed at you.)

 

[Tinker326]

I am worried about my multiple tickets because the 7 day tickets are park hoppers, the other 2 days I bought seperatly are not. So if you combine them all one one, how do they know which ticket is for which day? I'll be super ticked if my park hopper ticket is applied a day I'm not park hopping and then I can't park hop the day I need to.

From a software prespective (I work in software developing programs)- it should not be that difficult to come up with a system that allows the user to assign everything to a person on a certain day. It should be as easy as checking a button..... it is not that difficult of code to implement... so I really don't understand why such a big company like Disney (who should have a decent and good software programing department or pay money to outsource) should have issues like this?!

I don't think it's 'double dipping' either. I've spent hours already on the phone with tech support for my magic band issues & I suspect I'll be spending my time on vacation dealing with it too. Testing it for them...so they can make up for it by allowing me to still take regular fast passes as well.

And don't worry about cheering me on at the race. It's late. And honest truth, my ankle still isn't healed...and so I am left wondering if there will even be a race for me at this point............

 

[PrincessInOz]

From a software prespective (I work in software developing programs)- it should not be that difficult to come up with a system that allows the user to assign everything to a person on a certain day. It should be as easy as checking a button..... it is not that difficult of code to implement... so I really don't understand why such a big company like Disney (who should have a decent and good software programing department or pay money to outsource) should have issues like this?!

Would you believe that the system that the CM in the resort used to view my MB/FP+ details are different to the system that the CM in the MK park used to view my MB/FP+ details? The CM in the MK told me that the reason the resort CM couldn't see my "stacked" MNSSHP ticket was because they were on a completely different system. Go. Disney.

 

[skier_pete]

From a software prespective (I work in software developing programs)- it should not be that difficult to come up with a system that allows the user to assign everything to a person on a certain day. It should be as easy as checking a button..... it is not that difficult of code to implement... so I really don't understand why such a big company like Disney (who should have a decent and good software programing department or pay money to outsource) should have issues like this?!

Would you believe that the system that the CM in the resort used to view my MB/FP+ details are different to the system that the CM in the MK park used to view my MB/FP+ details? The CM in the MK told me that the reason the resort CM couldn't see my "stacked" MNSSHP ticket was because they were on a completely different system. Go. Disney.

Disney's software has always been buggy,as has their website. Why should we think they will be able to change their ways?

 

[skier_pete]

So, after a day on the sidelines, we are back at out in the parks. Our least favorite park, its the only park that we never consider needing more than a day there, and in fact we probably hit some things we would just as well skip.

In fact, this park has probably the highest ratio of "stuff we skip every time" of any Disney park - I'm thinking American Idol, Lights Motor Action, Backlot Tour and even Fantasmic! (not that we don't like it, but DD is afraid of it, and we really don't care that much).

In addition, one of DDs favorite parts - the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground, is scheduled in refurb. She's probably pretty close to outgrowing it, and certainly by the next time we come (when she's 12) she won't, so that's too bad.



This park we probably have the most formed plan of any of the parks, between FP+ and shows. Of course plans are subject to change, but here it goes:

Rope Drop will see us heading for our first TSMM ride. We may also pull a FP after we're done riding for later in the day. (We have a 3 PM FP+ already scheduled, but we like this ride enough to ride 3 times!)

I was thinking I might have DD and DW do the 9:40 AM Playhouse Disney show, depending on when we get done with TSMM. DD still wants to see this show for some reason (she's well outgrown the shows on TV) so I was thinking I could hit ToT and RnRC while they did this, since the lines should still be pretty short this early. (Hopefully I won't nod off like last time! That's me on the right...)



After that, we would hit Star Tours and maybe as time allows the Muppets 3D - since we have a FP+ for the first Indiana Jones show @ 10:45 to 11:15. (I assume the show starts @ 11:20.) This is all of our favorites, and DW and I have both been in the show.

DD REALLY wants to be in it, but I believe you have to be 18. Hopefully it will still be around by then!)

Shortly after this, we will need to get to our lunch ADRs, a 12:40 PM lunch at the Sci-Fi.

This leaves the afternoon for a few things. I am hoping to get DD on the GMR. Not that I think the ride is very good, but I think she will mostly like it. (Except the "Alien" section.) I am hoping this ride is more entertaining with kids along.

I also want to check out the new Jack Sparrow walk-through. DD likes the Pirates stuff (though still afraid to watch the movies) but hopefully this will work.

Also need to hit the Art of Animation so DW can do a drawing.

But MOST important of ALL....





Osborne Lights! This is my favorite part of Christmas at WDW, and I REALLY want to see them light it this time. There are so many rumors floating around about what's planned for this park, and one of them mentions the removal of the Osborne Lights - an unlikely event I believe - so to me it is very important to see this.

Our final FP+ of the day is another ride on Star Tours - set for 6 PM - 7 PM, right after the lights. The park is open until 8 PM, but I could see leaving earlier than that in order to beat the rush. Even as our least favorite park, it still makes for a busy day, and we might be ready for an early night with perhaps dinner back at the resort.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm so envious. They were starting to string up the Osbourne lights when I was at DHS. I wish I could see them.

guess I'll have to see them through your TR.

 

[Tinker326]

I'm right with you- I don't like HS much! Although I LOVE ToT. I am working hard on trying to convince both older DD's they HAVE to ride it. I will resort to bribery.... so far I'm only getting NO WAY'S out of them both! That picture of you is priceless..... too funny!

I am quite excited about seeing the Osbourne Lights on my run. I think that is what may motivate me to get that far! As that is mile 9-11 of the run!

 

[skier_pete]

I'm so envious. They were starting to string up the Osbourne lights when I was at DHS. I wish I could see them.

guess I'll have to see them through your TR.

They are amazing!

I'm right with you- I don't like HS much! Although I LOVE ToT. I am working hard on trying to convince both older DD's they HAVE to ride it. I will resort to bribery.... so far I'm only getting NO WAY'S out of them both! That picture of you is priceless..... too funny!

I am quite excited about seeing the Osbourne Lights on my run. I think that is what may motivate me to get that far! As that is mile 9-11 of the run!

That'll be very cool. Hope your ankle heels up so that you can make it!

 

[skier_pete]

So, I just saw this announcement in another thread:

We just got word from our friends in Walt Disney Imagineering that an Adventureland attraction will receive its first-ever holiday makeover this year. Beginning in early November, Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park will temporarily transform into “Jingle Cruise” for the holiday season!

In this new seasonal storyline of the attraction, the Skippers have grown homesick for the holidays, so they’ve added holiday cheer to the Jungle Cruise queue and boathouse with decorations that have been mailed to them from home (plus a few they’ve created themselves). The Skippers have also added a slew of new jokes to their tours that are the perfect way to get guests in the holiday spirit. Additionally, Jungle Cruise boats have been renamed with the holidays in mind, and if guests listen carefully, they may hear a holiday-themed radio broadcast playing in the background.

Jingle Cruise will begin launches in early November at both parks. Be sure to keep your eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more updates!

This seems really awesome to me. I wish they'd do a few more overlays in WDW, not necesarily the Nightmare before Christmas one, but I like the concept. I love JJJ parade at AK - for instance.

Anyways, on to Day 6.

I have no real pictures for today - because we are heading into relatively new territory. Yes, today we are heading to Blizzard Beach!

DW and I went to Blizzard Beach once, in 1997, which is now 16 1/2 years ago. (Holy crap!) DD has never gone. It has just fallen that way, we've been to Typhoon Lagoon 4 times in a row now, but not to BB.

This gives us a little bit of a sleep in day (the park doesn't open until 10 AM). There's plenty of time to check out all the slides!

[Because this is the one day that really bad weather COULD affect us (particularly if it was cold more than rainy). Because of what's coming up this evening - see below - if the weather turned out really bad, we would swap our last Epcot day (the 17th) with this one, and we would spend today at Epcot instead.]

I figure we will be there to around 3:30 PM, at which point we have an appointment for our big DISmeet of the night. We are going to have dinner at the Garden Grill with Tinker326 and her family. Her two older daughters are roughly the same age as our DD and we've become friends here on the DIS. As Tinker326 knows, DD is REALLY looking forward to spending time at Disney with some other kids - so hopefully we get along really well tonight. If we do, we'll probably be spending some time together over the next 2 days.

I actually set up three FP+ for this night.
One is the Character Spot @ 5:15 PM, which if we wanted to we could do on the way into the park. DD likes this Meet and Greet, but would we really do this right before meeting some of the same characters at dinner? I also don't know if we will get to the park early enough.

The second one is Soarin' from 6:15 to 7:15 PM. Our ADR is at 7:15 PM, so I figure if we can get there by 6:15 PM we'll have enough time for a quick ride above the California scenery.

And then, dinner @ 7:15 PM! Yay!




After dinner, I am not sure of the plan - will we spend more time with Tinker326 and her family? Possibly head over to watch Illuminations? Well, if not I have an 8 PM FP+ reservation for Spaceship Earth - like we would remotely need it! I couldn't get a FP+ for Illuminations, they are so far only running those on Sundays. Honestly while I like Illuminations, I don't LOVE it, mostly because most views of it seem to be kind of restricted. Last time out we got to see it from a cruise, and any view other than that will be sort of BLAH.

Either way, by the time we get out of dinner, it will be pretty close to park closing, so there's a good chance we won't be doing very much! We might be a little tired from our day at the water park, so I'm sure we'll be ready to head to bed.

I'm just going to point out at this point that the remaining days of the trip are our 2nd days in these parks - the 2nd day plans become more nebulous, so I will probably be couching things with a lot more maybes and might bes.

All that - but there's SEVENTEEN days left! Yippee!

 

[Tinker326]

Well shoot, I was expecting a giant picture of me.....

Kidding!!!

We are coming from HS, so we can't line up any FP+ with you at Epcot... but we are planning on sticking around for Illuminations. It's been years since I've seen it. Although this may change if I have overly crabby children (and/or husband). Then perhaps I'll send them back & wander to a nearby country and have a drink and enjoy Illuminations by myself!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like a great plan for the day. And YAY to a DisMeet. Hope the kids like each other.

 

[skier_pete]

Well shoot, I was expecting a giant picture of me.....

Kidding!!!

We are coming from HS, so we can't line up any FP+ with you at Epcot... but we are planning on sticking around for Illuminations. It's been years since I've seen it. Although this may change if I have overly crabby children (and/or husband). Then perhaps I'll send them back & wander to a nearby country and have a drink and enjoy Illuminations by myself!

Haha. I was thinking it was too bad I couldn't use all my FP+ for Illuminations, but no loophole there. Like most of our plans together, we'll see how it goes...I'd actually rather do Illuminations tonight than on our last night, which is when I have the FP+ booked.

Sounds like a great plan for the day. And YAY to a DisMeet. Hope the kids like each other.

The kids already like each other - now let's just hope the parents like each other!

 

[PrincessInOz]

The kids already like each other - now let's just hope the parents like each other!

(But there will be no issue here. If you're DisMeet goes the way mine do, you'll just pick up the conversation from where you left off on the Dis.)

 

[skier_pete]

I feel like a giggly teenage girl! I got a dinner ADR at Be Our Guest!! SQUEEEEE!!! OMG!!! LOL!!!

I have been trying since our 180 window opened to either get a dinner ADR or a lunch FP+ for Be Our Guest. Pretty miuch every day for the last 169 days...no luck. I had pretty much given up hope.

I've been follwoing the "November ADR cancelation thread" checking it multiple times a day on the off chance someone would give one up. Well, this morning someone post that a bunch of additional BOG ADRs opened up. I was hoping to get an early Dinner ADR for 11/11 before the start of MVCMP. Well, I was able to not only get it, but get EXACTLY the time I wanted (4:50 PM, early enough to be sure we are finished with dinner before the party starts.)


Weeee HOOOOO!!! I called DW and was jumping around inside. I am not someone that expects things to always go perfect, but had honestly never been in a situation where I wasn't able to get what I wanted regarding Disney bookings. I was pretty much figuring we weren't going to get to see the restaurant. (I actually could care less about eating there - I just wanted to SEE inside!) But I was never gonna wait an hour in line for counter service.

So, YAY for the DIS, and YAY for me. I am now even more pumped up for this trip, if that was even possible, now just 11 days away!

 

[PrincessInOz]

YAY for BoG! Looking forward to seeing the pics on your TR.

 

[Tinker326]

Yhea, congrats on getting the EXACT time you wanted for the resturant- that's AWESOME! Woo for Disney Pixie Dust.

I, on the other hand, called AGAIN this morning (time #4) to attempt to fix my magic band issue. I actaully got a good agent and she was helping me..when the darn system crashed (for everyone). Are you kidding me Disney? REALLY????

The upside is she documented every little detail, gave me her name & gave me an expected turn around within 24 hours and told me to ask for her if it wasn't resolved tomorrow... that's 'less of a blow off' than previously recieved... so we'll see.........

She also told me ONLY the resort can priortize my tickets (to use the non-park hopper first THEN the park hopper). Why in the world can that not be a standard option? Good grief.

B had fun talking to A last night- SO sorry about forgetting AGAIN. Least I remembered the same day... and only slightly late....

Listening to them last night while making a cake, I am pretty sure that B & A have planned the ENTIRE MK and AK day together. And hopefully A will not want vinyls. Sorry about that....

They were so funny talking about the big rides.. 'yhea, we can ride this scary ride...' then like 1/2 hour later.. "you know, I don't really like that ride" " Me either".

9 days. NINE DAYS. Holy cow.

 

[skier_pete]

YAY for BoG! Looking forward to seeing the pics on your TR.

Can't wait to try the "grey stuff". I've heard good things!

Yhea, congrats on getting the EXACT time you wanted for the resturant- that's AWESOME! Woo for Disney Pixie Dust.

I, on the other hand, called AGAIN this morning (time #4) to attempt to fix my magic band issue. I actaully got a good agent and she was helping me..when the darn system crashed (for everyone). Are you kidding me Disney? REALLY????

The upside is she documented every little detail, gave me her name & gave me an expected turn around within 24 hours and told me to ask for her if it wasn't resolved tomorrow... that's 'less of a blow off' than previously recieved... so we'll see.........

She also told me ONLY the resort can priortize my tickets (to use the non-park hopper first THEN the park hopper). Why in the world can that not be a standard option? Good grief.

B had fun talking to A last night- SO sorry about forgetting AGAIN. Least I remembered the same day... and only slightly late....

Listening to them last night while making a cake, I am pretty sure that B & A have planned the ENTIRE MK and AK day together. And hopefully A will not want vinyls. Sorry about that....

They were so funny talking about the big rides.. 'yhea, we can ride this scary ride...' then like 1/2 hour later.. "you know, I don't really like that ride" " Me either".

9 days. NINE DAYS. Holy cow.

Yeah, well you just made me feel less bad for forgetting on Sunday! I wasn't really listening too closely (we have the computer up in the loft, and I was down in the living room) but it sure sounded like they were having a good time talking. (I saw the other girls in there for a few minutes too).

It's good they seem to really be hitting it off, I think the Skype will make it much easier when they meet in person. The only problem might be getting them apart. (Our DD did not specifically ask about Vinylmation afterwards - if she ends up wanting some, she has her own spending money. I won't spend money on that kind of stuff - pins, vinylmation - but I am not a souvenir guy either. I really plan on spending very little for myself on this trip, as I "broke the bank" at DL earlier this year.

As I said, we will already have a pretty full day at MK on Monday between the afternoon and MVMCP I intend to hit a good portion of the prime rides, so if you don't mind hanging out on Friday @ MK we can pretty much do whatever your girls (and DD I guess) prefer. My only caveat is Peter Pan will be opening off a one-month refurb (on 11/14?), so my inclination is to hit it at rope drop and then again later in the day with our FP+s, though I could be convinced to grab regular FP instead. Our other thing that day is Adriana's BBB appointment @ 1 PM, but I think that's real close to your BOG lunch time. I guess I should be posting a Day 7 summary soon.

And 9 more days means


SINGLE DIGIT DANCE PARTY!!!!

 

[khertz]

Yay for BOG and



YAY FOR SINGLE DIGITS!!!!