If there's a bright center to the universe, we're about to be there! Podcast celebration July trip!

[OhioStateBuckeye]

There has been an awakening.




Have you felt it?



The dark side...



And the light.




Welcome to a brand new pre-trip report!

Let's get this party started:




Genie: So, what'll it be, Master?

Aladdin: You're gonna grant me any three wishes I want, right?

Genie: Uh, almost. There are a few, uh, provisos, a, a couple of quid pro quos.

Aladdin: Like?

Genie: Uh, rule #1: I can't kill anybody.

Genie: So don't ask.

Genie: Uh, rule #2: I can't make anybody fall in love with anybody else.

Genie: You little punim there.

Genie: Rule #3: I can't bring people back from the dead. It's not a pretty picture. I don't like doing it!

Genie: Other than that, you got it.


Really?? Hmm...Genie, for my first wish, I wish to go back to Disney World!

More specifically, at the end of July!

For my second wish, I want there to be spectacular, special events taking place!

Hmm, the end of July...wait, isn't that when the DIS Podcast is holding it's special anniversary spectacular?!

And for my third, and final, wish, I want to attend with one of my best DISboards friends!

@soniam is going at the same time!?



So that is about it The PODcast's anniversary is coming up this year, the team announced that they are going to do a week of special events in honor of that anniversary. I had so much fun at DISapalooza this last December that I knew I had to go this July!

That is about as far as I've got with my plans. I don't have a hotel yet, or any ADRs or anything!

I was also super happy to discover that @soniam also wanted to attend the special podcast events! We both live in the Austin, Texas area and have met up several times. It doesn't hurt that we're both obsessed with Star Wars (and yes, we definitely watched Star Wars together along with our significant others). Hopefully she'll join in and write where she is with her plans!

 

[soniam]

Awesome title and start! I knew you would come through This will probably be a solo trip for me, in the sense that I think my family won't be going. Okay, I hope they won't be going I really want to do a trip on my own. Mine, Mine, Mine! However, I definitely won't be alone, since I will be joining, not at the hip, @OhioStateBuckeye and SO. Being the obsessed planner that I am, I have already booked a hotel and some ADRs. I know once the Podcast Anniversary schedule comes out, I will have to change everything. But then that's like getting to plan even more trips, right This is going to be an excellent adventure (I don't think either of us is Bill or Ted though) A lot of cool, new stuff will probably be open in July, like River of Lights, AK Night Safari, Froway (Epcot Frozen boat ride, or OROT - Olaf's River of Tears), Tiffens (new restaurant in AK), and Soarin' around the World.

I also want to do a day or two at Universal. I got a brand new AP burning a whole in my pocket I got it for the hotel discount, but face it, it's an excuse to go more often I might stay a night at Universal, maybe Royal Pacific, to get Express Pass. I didn't get the AP that has that. Maybe I could do an upgrade instead.

Speaking of annual passes, I am already strategizing a plan to upgrade my WDW hoppers in March to an annual pass. Woohoo! Even more excuses to go to Disney I want to do it before our first day, so that I can get the included PP. I think after my massage at GF, I will enter MK and get my upgrade there. That way the next day, our first real WDW day, we will have PP ready to go.

My dates are not really set in stone, but I have booked a Little Mermaid room at AOA. It looked pretty cool, and I have never stayed at any of the values. However, once the other half of this daring duo decides where she is going to stay, I might move over there. I am not really tied to AOA LM. Plus, it doesn't seem to get many discounts

I mainly booked something so that I could get some ADRs. I don't know if we will do a ton, but there were a few that I really wanted to do. Hopefully, Tiffens at AK will be open. I hope they do River of Lights packages like the Fantasmic ones. Here's the convoluted list so far. Some of these I just doubled up, knowing that I will be canceling one. I have never done brunch (the breakfast to lunch transition) at a buffet, and @OhioStateBuckeye convinced me. I have also never eaten at Boma. I want to do dinner, because those zebra domes look really good I also want to get some good, fairly empty park pics at MK with our new camera. I picked some days that I don't think will have AM EMH and will do a pre-park opening breakfast at BOG. Plus, that's the only meal that I haven't eaten there.

Day 1 - Tusker House lunch, Boma dinner
Day 2 - BOG pre-park opening breakfast, Tusker House brunch (literally between the breakfast and lunch services) or lunch
Day 3 - BOG breakfast (again), Boma dinner
Day 4 - This is supposed to be the actual 10th anniversary day of the DIS Podcast. I have left it completely open in anticipation of what they have planned.
Day 5 - Tusker House brunch or lunch
Day 6 - 1900 Park Fare breakfast (because we eat there every trip, and usually on our last day)
Day 7 - 1900 Park Fare breakfast (not sure yet which day will be my last day)

Hopefully, we will hear something about the party soon. Let the games begin

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

According to pete on the last podcast, we have our dates!!

Looks like any and all celebrations will occur from Friday July 22- Tuesday July 26. With the special live taping of the podcast show on Monday. Can't wait to hear the location! Maybe they'll broadcast live from the living seas fish tank like Jesse and Joey on full house did!

Pretty sure the dates I'm looking at for my trip are now Thursday 21-26. Time to see if I can find some cheap svc points to rent!

 

[soniam]

Those are about the dates I was shooting for too. I might show up a day early to do Universal. Got to get my butterbeer fix

 

[soniam]

Did you read the latest "Best Week Ever" article on the Touring Plans blog? Universal has a new candy shop in Diagon Alley, and they sell butterbeer fudge

http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/0...ando-early-park-admission-update/#more-104375

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Did you read the latest "Best Week Ever" article on the Touring Plans blog? Universal has a new candy shop in Diagon Alley, and they sell butterbeer fudge

http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/0...ando-early-park-admission-update/#more-104375

OK, here is what's going to happen. You'll do your universal days first. You will purchase a brick of this fudge and have it waiting for me.

 

[soniam]

OK, here is what's going to happen. You'll do your universal days first. You will purchase a brick of this fudge and have it waiting for me.

I would save you butterbeer too, but I don't how that would work I think I can manage to save you some fudge It will take some will power though. I can also pick up any candy that you want, because I will definitely be hitting either the new place or Honeydukes. I am pretty embarrassed by how much we spent in there last year I will show some restraint this time, especially since we will pick up candy in March. We still haven't tried the cauldron cakes. I got confused about what it was and bought the wrong thing. I also want to try some of the tasty adult beverages, maybe add some fire whiskey to my butterbeer

 

[Skip3key]

Hmmm...you guys are getting us thinking about a quick trip in July! We are out of DVC points this year and going with the family on Mid October now... so we might rent points or do a Value for the first time if we pull the trigger! Exciting!

 

[soniam]

Hmmm...you guys are getting us thinking about a quick trip in July! We are out of DVC points this year and going with the family on Mid October now... so we might rent points or do a Value for the first time if we pull the trigger! Exciting!

It doesn't take much for me to think about doing a trip However, until the PODcast anniversary came up, I really never had pulled the multi-trip year/AP trigger. I already feel like others think we go there too much. My family and I enjoy it a lot though, so boo to them I think the anniversary will be a great excuse and great fun.

 

[soniam]

So, the last few days we have been stalking Rivers of Light dining packages I also have booked another reservation for a king at POFQ. Just can't decide where to stay this time. Looks like DH will be going with me. I am arranging DS summer schedule so that he's at grammies then. DH seems excited to go. I don't mind going with him. He's an adult and doesn't mind doing his own thing if we want to do different things. So, it might be a couples trip. Woohoo!

 

[soniam]

Since DH is coming, I asked him if he wanted to do anything/eat anywhere that we normally wouldn't do with DS. We normally do a date night, where DS goes to the kids club and we go eat somewhere nice. However, there are other things that don't seem like a full date night. I read him off the list of restaurants in the parks and hotels that we haven't been too. That was long He decided he wanted to try Spice Road and watch Illuminations from there. So, now we have a couple of ressies for the last SR seating. We will cancel one once the anniversary schedule is out I have been wanting to try it, but DS is a really picky eater. I have read that there is a kids menu, but I can't find it on MDE or anywhere else, so I don't feel confident wasting an ADR with DS. I think this will be really cool, especially since we love tapas and small plates.

 

[soniam]

We are still stalking ROL dining packages Now we are also on the lookout for the Podcast anniversary event registration.

Someone posted asking what people are looking forward to in 2016. Here's my list for our July trip:
- Podcast anniversary events
- First adults only trip & first trip with new DIS friends
- Staying at POFQ for the first time
- ROL, new Soarin', TSMM third track, new Star Wars fireworks and show, Froway, and Reign of Kong at Universal
- First time for Tiffins, Boma, BOG pre-park opening breakfast, and Spice Road Table
- More Disney Springs stuff

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We are still stalking ROL dining packages Now we are also on the lookout for the Podcast anniversary event registration.

Someone posted asking what people are looking forward to in 2016. Here's my list for our July trip:
- Podcast anniversary events
- First adults only trip & first trip with new DIS friends
- Staying at POFQ for the first time
- ROL, new Soarin', TSMM third track, new Star Wars fireworks and show, Froway, and Reign of Kong at Universal
- First time for Tiffins, Boma, BOG pre-park opening breakfast, and Spice Road Table
- More Disney Springs stuff

Assuming my plans don't get destroyed by home issues, we'll be at PORS for the Podcast anniversary...so we may be neighbors...sort of...more nearby Waiting on ROL dining and Podcast event registration is also tops of my list.

 

[soniam]

Recently discovered that Tchoup Tchoup in Royal Pacific Resort at Universal has tiki drinks. DH and I love everything tiki, so I immediately made a late dinner reservation for our arrival day. We will be spending a night at Universal before heading to WDW. They also have a special mugCan you say sucker

 

[rteetz]

Some how missed this PTR. I must say I'm very jealous of anyone going to the July event. My convincing to go to my mother hasn't worked out quite well but then I also have been thinking about a solo trip. That would possibly affect my January trip though. Anyways I'm following along now!

 

[soniam]

Some how missed this PTR. I must say I'm very jealous of anyone going to the July event. My convincing to go to my mother hasn't worked out quite well but then I also have been thinking about a solo trip. That would possibly affect my January trip though. Anyways I'm following along now!

It's harder when you don't necessarily control all of your own funds. Someday, you will be able to go when you want, at least until you have kids in school

 

[rteetz]

It's harder when you don't necessarily control all of your own funds. Someday, you will be able to go when you want, at least until you have kids in school

That is true. I do think I would be able to afford a solo trip with all of the working I've been doing. Then with college coming up for the next few years I don't know how often I'll be able to go to WDW. I'll probably just have to live vicariously through you guys

 

[soniam]

So, the trip is definitely becoming more certain. DH is definitely coming with me, so adults only vaca. Woohoo! We just booked airfare. Arriving Wednesday afternoon, and leaving Wednesday morning. I canceled my ressie at AOA LM, so we will be staying at POFQ. Now, if I can just figure out what's actually happening with the anniversary events, so I can get more concrete ADRs, do my Touring Plans, and determine our FP+.

 

[rteetz]

So, the trip is definitely becoming more certain. DH is definitely coming with me, so adults only vaca. Woohoo! We just booked airfare. Arriving Wednesday afternoon, and leaving Wednesday morning. I canceled my ressie at AOA LM, so we will be staying at POFQ. Now, if I can just figure out what's actually happening with the anniversary events, so I can get more concrete ADRs, do my Touring Plans, and determine our FP+.

Woohoo! So jealous. Love both POFQ and POR. There will be a show on the 25th for sure but no other events are official yet and the location of the show isn't determined yet either. I guess that can be frustrated but that seems to happen when working with Disney.

 

[soniam]

31 Days until We Make FP+
90 Days until Universal
92 Days until WDW

Sorry things are not progressing much. We have been stalking ROL and other new possible things. Also, we were on vacation in March, and @OhioStateBuckeye is on vacation right now. Things will be kicking into high gear soon. Our FP+ day is 5/22.

It's sounding like we might not see the full Rivers of Light show for the trip. It sounds like they are going to have a shorter version with Jungle Book scenes. I don't mind too much, the Jungle Book was pretty awesome. However, lots of other stuff at AK and other places will be open. It looks Frozen Ever After, Tiffins, AK night time stuff, Soarin' (maybe with the new movie), Finding Dory characters added to Turtle Talk, new Star Wars fireworks/projection show, and the third track of TSMM. Lots of exciting stuff.

DH and I booked our flights. We will be getting in at 2pm on Wednesday, 6/20, and leaving early on Wednesday, 6/27. That will give us a good amount of time at Universal on Wednesday and then most of Thursday. Wednesday night we are going to eat at Tchoup Tchoup. I think we have finally settled on POFQ at WDW. We have never stayed there.

EDIT: I also booked a Disney cruise in the caribbean for August 2017. We will do Universal and WDW beforehand. This will be our second DCL cruise.