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

[rteetz]

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.

So many vacations for you this year it seems! That's exciting! I need to do a Disney cruise eventually.

 

[soniam]

So many vacations for you this year it seems! That's exciting! I need to do a Disney cruise eventually.

It does, but it's really only 2 WDW trips in 2016. Our previous one was in March 2015. However, in the last 365 days, I think @OhioStateBuckeye has been to WDW 4 or 5 times, including a trip to DLR. I am so jealous

 

[soniam]

Man, planning days has been really tough. No one, ie Disney, Touring Plans, Easy WDW, has the updated July schedules. The EMH days are off compared to May, so I think Disney still needs to update the schedules. This makes the crowd calendars worthless too. I decided I would use the May EMH schedule to determine which parks would have this during our trip. Plus, since we didn't get to see any of the night shows in March, except for the Star Wars fireworks, I want to see all of the night shows, including the new Star Wars one and the new AK one On a happier note, I noticed that without DS going, we seem to have a lot more time to just do anything. I guess because we won't be doing some of the attractions that we would do with him. This will definitely be an interesting trip and a different kind of trip for us.

 

[soniam]

Well, the last two mornings have been exciting Jungle Book dining packages opened up yesterday morning, and our FP+ day was this morning. At least that was a day later than the madness on Saturday. I didn't have any problems with MDE when booking FP+ this morning. Here's what I got and what we have planned. It took me about an hour to get the Tiffins dining package. I started before 6am EST, but stuff was just slowly showing up. Finally about 7:45am EST my date and time showed up. I actually booked a regular ADR, since that was available. Then I got a dining package for a time that I didn't want. It was chaos, and I was really worried. I have never had issues getting FP+ or ADRs right when they become available, so that was new to me.

Friday DHS:
I was pretty hard pressed to find stuff at DHS. I won't do TOT, and DH didn't want to do either. We are also not big on most of the shows.
FP+ - TSMM 9:55am, Indy noon show, Star Tours 6:50pm
Lunch - Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
Might head over to the Boardwalk in the afternoon and Trader Sam's. Then back to DHS at night for fireworks.
Dinner - QS, maybe one of the new food kiosks

Saturday AK: AM EMH
We will do rides at rope drop without FP+ and then head back do FP+ at night. Still couldn't get an EE FP+ after 7:30pm.
Lunch - Sanaa
Dinner - QS, maybe Harambe Market
FP+ - EE 7:30pm, Safari 8:55pm, Jungle Book 10:30pm show

Sunday MK:
Breakfast - Prepark open at BOG
FP+ - SM 10:35am, 7DMT 11:35am, BTMRR 1:05pm
Lunch - QS
Dinner - Boma
We will head back to the park for MSEP and Wishes.

Monday AM Epcot:
We will save our FP+ for AK at night. We will do Soarin' at rope drop.

Monday Disney Springs:
We will do lunch here and then head to the Podcast show at Cirque du Soleil. Afterward, we might get some drinks and shop a little.

Monday PM AK:
Dinner - Tiffins Jungle Book dining package for the 9pm show
FP+ - EE 6:25pm, Safari 7:25pm

Tuesday Epcot:
We will do Frozen Ever After at rope drop. I really want to do Soarin' this trip, since it was closed in March. If Frozen is too long, then I am fine skipping it. We will skip the meet & greet.
FP+ - Soarin' 10:10am, MS Orange 11:30am, Spaceship Earth 12:45pm
Lunch - QS
Dinner - Spice Road Table (This is a late dinner, so that we can watch Illuminations during dinner.)

 

[soniam]

Wow! Less than a week away until we fly to Orlando. Th DIS team through us some curve balls by adding some awesome events. We signed up for a tour on Main Street with the Connecting with Walt team, Vlogging in Epcot with Ryno from DIS Pop, and a special dessert party at Epcot.

Wednesday and Thursday are Universal for us.

Friday: DHS, Boardwalk, Trader Sam's
We are still doing DHS in the morning and evening, with lunch at Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge. We added the Star Wars dessert party that night. DH and I will hit the Boardwalk to register for the events and get ice cream and then head to Trader Sam's.

Saturday: AK, Tiffins
We will be doing AK pretty much all day. We will eat lunch at Tiffins, instead of dinner, and see the Jungle Book show late. We will be meeting the lovely and fabulous @yulilin3 there.

Sunday: MK, BOG, Boma
We will still do the PPO BOG breakfast, Connecting with Walt Tour on Main Street, dinner at Boma, and then the nighttime shows.

Monday: Epcot, Podcast, Disney Springs
We are doing Epcot int he early morning and evening for the dessert party. I even switched my FP+ from AK to Epcot just yesterday. I was able to get Test Track exactly when I wanted it, and there were several times for Soarin' all day No Frozen though We will head to Disney Springs for eats, the Podcast, and more eats and shopping. Back to Epcot for some FP+ and the special dessert party near France.

Tuesday: Epcot all day
We will try Frozen at rope drop using standby. Luckily, Kringla is open early now, so I can get a school bread to appease me in line. We will snack around the world and then do a late dinner at Spice Road Table to see Illuminations.

We fly out really early Wednesday

I just let DH know that we are going to WDW for New Years Actually, I secretly booked the hotel and some ADRs and then asked him if he wanted to do it. There has only been one thing released for New Years Eve, the countdown in the ballroom at Contempo. I booked it, but we might switch, depending upon what else is released later.

 

[rteetz]

So jealous!

The connecting with Walt meet on Main Street sounds like the best event to me. That's one I would've signed up for in a heart beat. Vlogging with Ryno should be fun as well.

How long are you at Disney for New Years? I arrive the 2nd.

 

[soniam]

So jealous!

The connecting with Walt meet on Main Street sounds like the best event to me. That's one I would've signed up for in a heart beat. Vlogging with Ryno should be fun as well.

How long are you at Disney for New Years? I arrive the 2nd.

All of us are doing the Main Street tour, but only @OhioStateBuckeye and DBF are doing the vlogging. We were stalking for the tour like it was an ADR. I was so happy that we got it.

We will either leave on New Years Day or the 2nd I want to stay through the 2nd. We can't stay any longer, because DS has to be back at school on the 4th.

 

[rteetz]

All of us are doing the Main Street tour, but only @OhioStateBuckeye and DBF are doing the vlogging. We were stalking for the tour like it was an ADR. I was so happy that we got it.

We will either leave on New Years Day or the 2nd I want to stay through the 2nd. We can't stay any longer, because DS has to be back at school on the 4th.

Understandable. With now going into college I don't go back to school until the 17th so a trip in early January works out really nice for me.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

It's almost here!!

I keep going back over hours and fastpasses but I think everything is set.

What are you most excited about? My list is super long...

New Soarin! I have so far avoided spoiling myself, all I know is that the Great Wall of China is there because it is on all the advertisements for the ride.

Star Wars fireworks!! And dessert party. I'm so bringing tupper ware. I'll be one of those people.

AK at night. We've been to AK several times at night and i love it. I'm sure it will be even better with the night safari and the tree projection show.

The Frozen ride...I guess. Long live Maelstrom, but it has been so long since I've been on a new Disney ride.

Booking my 4th FP from my phone. That will make it so much easier.

I don't know why but lately I have not been able to get the Great Movie ride out of my head. Love me some Hollywood that never was and always will be.

Connecting with Walt and Vlogging with Ryno! I think Craig, Michael and Ryno are my favorite podcasters, though Craig and I are probably a little too much alike...

I was very excited to see the extra pop up characters at DHS, Lilo Stitch Bolt and Max, but those guys were just cut today

 

[soniam]

I was going to ask if you wanted me to bring a container for you, because I am definitely bringing one for us for the ) If nothing else, it will allow me to munch while watching the show. I was picking out my clothes for the trip last night. We have a funeral to attend Monday in Oklahoma, and I have to work on Tuesday. So, I was worried that I wouldn't have time to pack. It was a hard choice. Which t-shirt do I wear to Connecting with Walt and the Podcast? DHS is definitely Chuybacca I have 3 other shirts that I really want to wear, and I have to determine the best day. Third World Problems

I have been avoiding videos too. I really like to be surprised. See you soon

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Yeah my packing was definitely the most lackluster Disney packing I've ever done. It was grab the first few Disney and/or Pokemon shirts I could find and toss them in the bag. I had to pack for this work week in NYC, then pack another bag for Orlando for Brian to take with him, then pack a third bag with work stuff for NYC for the week after since I won't be going home.

Choosing Disney shirts is hard though, I have so many Disney and SW and I always like to wear them. What did you pick out for Connecting with Walt?

Did you see that Living with the Land is now a tier 2 FP? That is Brian's fav ride so I had to be on top of it.

 

[soniam]

Yeah my packing was definitely the most lackluster Disney packing I've ever done. It was grab the first few Disney and/or Pokemon shirts I could find and toss them in the bag. I had to pack for this work week in NYC, then pack another bag for Orlando for Brian to take with him, then pack a third bag with work stuff for NYC for the week after since I won't be going home.

Choosing Disney shirts is hard though, I have so many Disney and SW and I always like to wear them. What did you pick out for Connecting with Walt?

Did you see that Living with the Land is now a tier 2 FP? That is Brian's fav ride so I had to be on top of it.

Ugh! with the packing. I had to pack Alex's bag, since we dropped him off last night with my dad for a week and then my mom for a week. We just finished unpacking from the funeral and packing for Orlando, mostly. I bought one of the Connecting with Walt t-shirts, so I am going to wear that. Unfortunately, it's navy blue and will probably be hot Paul is wearing a grey Carousel of Progress t-shirt.

I ended up with an extra white Megameet shirt in men's XL. They didn't charge me but did send 2 instead of one. Do you or Brian want it? It's probably too big. I will bring it to DHS if you want to try it.

I didn't see that it was Tier 2 now. Finally. They have way too many tier 1 at Epcot. I think we will ride it SB on Tuesday when we do our Soarin' FP+. I have been looking to switch out for FEA, and Mission Space and Spaceship Earth are showing completely gone, but I could get Soarin' or TT

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Hey @soniam are you guys there??

I'm taking tonight easy and just staying around my hotel. I did forget to pack a brush, so I'll be going to buy one tonight. I'll catch an uber to the airport around 1130 tomorrow

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Ugh. I'm not used to sitting in the hotel room in NYC, I'm getting antsy because I feel like I should be out and about. At least yesterday I won my Broadway lottery and saw my show for the week, An American in Paris. Not that anyone is probably too concerned, but most broadway shows have online lotteries. You can enter each day to win a significantly discounted ticket. Like last night I paid $40 for my ticket and was in the second row. I looked up the seat prices around me (yes, I'm like that) and the couples on either side of me paid $139. Which was a waste since the guy next to me checked his watch about 20 times, hope his girlfriend enjoyed it for the both of them. This is week 5 in NYC and I've managed to see The Crucible, Les Mis, Kinky Boots, American in Paris, Something Rotten and School of Rock.

I'm not sure if I ever gave my exact plans, so here they are:

Thursday July 21: surprise arrival. If I had flown out of Austin my flight would have got in at 11 pm. Instead, I'll be at the MK hopefully around 7. Brian will just have to join me later that night

Friday July 22: Epcot at opening for Soarin!! then DHS for the dessert party and SW fireworks and EMH, cannot wait.

Saturday July 23: AK day. Leaving around 1 to go to Vlogging with Ryno at Epcot I'm wearing my nerdiest mash up tshirt to try to impress Ryno with my nerdiness.

Sunday July 24: MK day. BOG 8 am breakfast. Connecting with Walt. Boma dinner.

Monday July 25: Epcot rope drop. Podcast at Disney Springs (still want to call it Downton Disney). I think we might go to DHS for a little bit to catch characterpalooza after the podcast, then to Epcot to finish out the night with the Podcast dessert party.

Bleh. I appreciate this short trip, but I feel like I don't have time for lots of stuff, like Trader Sam's.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Well that was scary. Yesterday Southwest's computers were having issues. Our original flight we were booked on had been last night out of Austin, that flight ended up being delayed so that they got into Orlando at 3 am That would have been a tough rope drop to make the next day.

I'd been able to check into my flight at 150 before the computers went down. Brian couldn't check into his 6, but I guess no one else could either. I was very scared they'd still be having computer problems today and my flight would be delayed Luckily the computers seemed to come up late last night and Brian got checked in. Let's hope for no more issues today, I need to get to the MK

 

[rteetz]

Well that was scary. Yesterday Southwest's computers were having issues. Our original flight we were booked on had been last night out of Austin, that flight ended up being delayed so that they got into Orlando at 3 am That would have been a tough rope drop to make the next day.

I'd been able to check into my flight at 150 before the computers went down. Brian couldn't check into his 6, but I guess no one else could either. I was very scared they'd still be having computer problems today and my flight would be delayed Luckily the computers seemed to come up late last night and Brian got checked in. Let's hope for no more issues today, I need to get to the MK

Yes I heard about the issues. Glad your flights weren't delayed more.