It was a Horror-ible, and then Not-So-Scary (but exhausting!), October/NovTrip!! Completed 3/13!!!

[wdwnut61]

ToT is my favorite love that ride and the que is some well themed
I wish they hadn’t changed the fireworks
Beautiful picture of the Christmas tree by the water

 

[jbhodj]

I sad to hear about the desert party’s not being as good. In 2016 we went to Epcot’s and had a great time. We want to do that again but if they escort to other area we won’t

Thanks for the great TR

 

[buzzrelly]

I'm not sure why that's comforting, but it kind of is! I think I'd heard of that before. But you're still very brave! How scary was it when you did it with the kids? Nathan's done it a few times. Maybe someday I'll work up the courage!

It is still scary and you get the drop feeling, which I don't love, but the rest of the ride is so great and the dropping goes quickly. If you can handle it with your brain condition, you should definitely try it once! Or just walk up with Nate and you can chicken-out at the end and they put you on a normal elevator down. I used to do this when the kids were little (before I went on) so they didn't have to wait in line by themselves

Wow, this trip report is outstanding! So many terrific things. Universal, BLT, MNSSHP, EPCOT, F&W, Trader Sam's which I'm so excited to go to. I had no idea you could collect or buy the tiki mugs til now. I just went to the Disney Store online to see if they have them for sale, and there are none on their other than Marvel tiki mugs. Oh well. But you really got me so excited. You've definitely pulled me in and that sequence of Beverly shots was hilarious! You captured every moment perfectly! Also, your Christmas tree is beautiful! Jeez there's just so much to say. Great job!

Wow, I guess you kind of like my report

And thanks for the kind words!

Trader Sam's is amazing…so much better than I expected! And if you really like those mugs, there is a Facebook page called Trader Sam's Mug Trading…those people are OBSESSED! But they have some really cool mugs

We did the Jingle Bell, Jingle Bam dessert party in December 2016 and had the same experience. The dessert tables and everything were set up in front of the Chinese Theater which was great UNTIL it was almost time for the fireworks. They hadn't made any type of announcement or anything to head over to the reserved viewing area, and by the time we realized it was time to head in that direction the whole area was swarmed with people!! It really soured me on paying extra for the dessert party when there isn't really another perk to it, like being able to actually SEE the show!

Maybe they figure they've already got your money and you had your desserts so what are you complaining for? But I agree, it stinks. You shouldn't have to be crammed in and rushing to get a spot when you've shelled out a bunch of money for reserved viewing. If I wanted to do that, I'd save my money and get a better spot on my own.

ToT is my favorite love that ride and the que is some well themed

The que is the best! So much to look at while you wait!

I sad to hear about the desert party’s not being as good. In 2016 we went to Epcot’s and had a great time. We want to do that again but if they escort to other area we won’t

Thanks for the great TR

I've never done an EPCOT dessert party since I don't love Illuminations. I used to get a table with a late ADR at Rose & Crown and that was a really nice way to watch it.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Raeven]

As you can see, there were PLENTY of people in front of us who didn't just shell out a ton of money for desserts and a special reserved area. Plus, in our reserved area people were being super rude and annoying and jumping up into the front section reserved specifically for handicapped people.

Yes! This happened to us during the JBJB dessert party and it was the most frustrating part. I'll talk about it more when I get there in my DTR, but we got seats in the front of the section, and then people walked to the front and the handicapped section. To be fair most of those people sat during the fireworks which was the least they could do, but some people remained standing which I thought was very rude.

Sadly, they changed the fireworks since then and even though I knew this, I was not fully prepared for just how underwhelming these would be.

I was very disappointed in the fireworks too. I never got to see the good ones. I probably wouldn't book soon because I didn't like the night show and Star Wars isn't my favorite, but I actually loved the dessert party itself.

 

[buzzrelly]

Yes! This happened to us during the JBJB dessert party and it was the most frustrating part. I'll talk about it more when I get there in my DTR, but we got seats in the front of the section, and then people walked to the front and the handicapped section. To be fair most of those people sat during the fireworks which was the least they could do, but some people remained standing which I thought was very rude.

Yea, I'm done with DHS Dessert parties for now. We also did HEA at the MK and those CMs did a WAY better job at making sure nobody was stopping in front of the viewing area.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I just found your report last night and binge read it. I was also so afraid at HHN but I actually enjoyed the time there. We spent one evening in 2016. We stayed at RPR and loved it.

I love trick or treating at the MNSSHP so fun, makes me feel like a kid. Thanks for your BLT pictures, we are staying in a lake view studio in February and I requested high floor, even numbered room, so here’s to hoping.

I also am a RN and spent many years in the ICU, I now work in the Home care dept. at our hospital and love it.

We have done the KTTKT, MTMST, the UnDiscovered Future World tour at Epcot, and caring for giants at AK. I loved them all! It is hard to pick a favorite. I say try any of those and you will be happy!

I agree about the fireworks at HS, much better in 2016. We have never done a dessert party, I do enjoy reading about them.

 

[buzzrelly]

Thanks for your BLT pictures, we are staying in a lake view studio in February and I requested high floor, even numbered room, so here’s to hoping.

Good luck! It was truly an amazing view for the amount of points!

I also am a RN and spent many years in the ICU, I now work in the Home care dept. at our hospital and love it.

Awesome! I'm always thinking about what else I would do if I didn't work in the NICU. Adults are out because, well, gross ! I do love my babies, but our unit is so busy and so stressful and the turnover is crazy and we are always short staffed. I have thought about home care for just newborns, like doing weight checks, feeding checks, etc, but I don't think I'd like going into people's homes. Anyway, let me know if you ever wanted to try the NICU because we are always hiring!

We have done the KTTKT, MTMST, the UnDiscovered Future World tour at Epcot, and caring for giants at AK. I loved them all! It is hard to pick a favorite. I say try any of those and you will be happy!

Oh my gosh! Lucky you! I'll have to start a check-off list!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I just got caught up! You both look like you were having so much fun! I really must do the KTTW tour. It's on my list!
Sorry your Ohana meal didn't live up to your expectations. Dessert is the best thing there anyways! But from what I can remember, I think we got chicken breast in our Dec meal. Maybe they use both white and dark meat? I honestly can't remember. We eat more of the shrimp than anything else (aside from dessert!)

I didn't know that Rosie's as a FGT sandwich! Now I just have to get down there to try it! You and your DH are so cute together. Love all the selfies and pictures!

 

[buzzrelly]

I really must do the KTTW tour. It's on my list!

Yes! I'm surprised you haven't already!

Sorry your Ohana meal didn't live up to your expectations. Dessert is the best thing there anyways!

True! And I just read that you can order it at Tambu Lounge now, so no need for me to ever go back! I don't blame 'Ohana for disappointing me, it really isn't my favorite kind of food anyway.

I didn't know that Rosie's as a FGT sandwich! Now I just have to get down there to try it!

I can't wait to get another

You and your DH are so cute together. Love all the selfies and pictures!

Ha! Thanks! I feel bad posting so many selfies, but with only the two of us, it's all we had!

 

[buzzrelly]

Sorry for the brief hiatus…work really gets in the way of what I really want to do some days!

I left off on Thursday, November 2nd which was a fabulous day doing the KTTK tour and ending at DHS and the Star Wars dessert party.

I forgot to add our total steps for this day were:

21,193 steps

9.47 miles


Friday, November 3, 2018-

Woot! I woke up so excited because today was our Animal Kingdom day! It used to be that AK was my least favorite park, but over the years it's definitely grown on me. But today I was super excited because this would be our first time in Pandora! I could NOT wait!

AK was scheduled to open at 9, so leaving the Poly at 7:10am seems a totally normal thing to do because everyone knows it takes 2 hours to get there

Obviously, not really, but I wanted to get a couple rides on FOP, so I thought we could do stand-by and then have our second ride with our Fastpass.


By 7:31 we were pulling in here...


There were very few people here at this point but they still directed us to park waaaayyyyyyyy across the parking lot. I'm not sure if this is normal because this is my first time driving here, but it seemed weird. Plus, it was so early that no trams were around yet so we hoofed it all the way from the Giraffes to the gate...



I was so excited that I was practically running towards the gate, but Mike was being EXTRA pokey this morning. It was like he was taking a leisurely stroll I kept stopping to kind of wait for him and trying to tell him to hurry because I wanted to get in quickly. He kept walking VERY slowly and taking sips of his coffee along the way…I was ready to kill him! It sounds kind of funny now but at the time I was super aggravated. Our AK day was not starting out on the right foot! I kept telling him that my mom (who is 74) can keep up better than him!

By 7:50 we were in and waiting in the AP holder line, and got our first glimpse of the floating mountains...




Me, being aggravated, but trying not to be...



I saw this and really started to relax.



I tried telling Mike how this was all going to go down…I had read a lot on the boards about how they would start letting us in before the park officially opened and I tried to make sure he was ready to go when the time came. Well, the time came and here is a picture of the crowd behind me at 8:25…Mike is somewhere in that crowd



This is the second holding area. Once I was stopped here, I texted Mike asking where he was. It was then that he informed me that he didn't really want to ride FOP. What??? I didn't even care that he didn't want to ride, but I was wishing he had told me that from the start and saved me from all the aggravation of slowing me down. Ugh! Now that I knew he didn't want to ride, I kept going, feeling less guilty about losing him


I ended up getting in line for FOP before there was any wait at all, and all was right in the world






Continued in next post...
​

 

[buzzrelly]

I guess I'll add a SPOILER ALERT here, although I believe most people have probably already gone on this ride. Just in case, skip past this update is you don't want to see anything in FOP.
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There weren't many people in front of me in line and I took this almost empty picture in the FOP queue…

I don't know how, but I totally missed the area with the Avatar guy floating in water. I don't know if it wasn't open because there really wasn't a line, or if I just walked right by it

Before long, I was watching the little movie just before getting on the ride. Don't flame me, but I thought this was kind of boring. Maybe it's because I'm not an Avatar fan, but the whole sequence and waving around seemed pointless to me. It's kind of like the beginning of Soarin', but less entertaining because Patrick Warburton is hysterical.



But, aside from the boring movie, this ride is absolutely phenomenal! I LOVED it! And I was also kind of happy that Mike didn't go on because I don't think he would have liked it at all. All we kept hearing was that it was like Soarin', and it kind of is, but it's way better and way more intense. Mike can barely handle Soarin', so this ride would have sent him over the edge.


I met Mike outside and took a couple pictures of the floating mountains..



It was only 9:05 when I got off FOP but the NRJ already had a 30 minute wait. We got in line because we had a little time to kill before our (my) FOP FP anyway.




I had my camera out the whole time ready to take some interesting pictures on this ride, and these are the only two I took. I thought the whole ride was kind of boring. Like I said, maybe my judgement is clouded by the fact that I am not a fan of Avatar, but I don't feel the need to go back on this, like, ever. I have tried watching Avatar 3-4 times and have made it through about an hour at the most. I just don't find it interesting. Obviously, if you love the movie you will probably appreciate NRJ more.


The outside area is very well done, however. Here's my panoramic shot...



Our FOP FP window had opened and I had fully intended to use my FP, get off and switch bands with Mike and use his. But by the time I went in and on with mine, it was getting close to our 10:30 ADR time for Tusker House, so I had to settle for my two rides on FOP. It was totally fine, though. I felt like I had had my fill and I was getting kind of hungry anyway.


We headed out of Pandora and walked over to Tusker House to check-in for our ADR…


We were seated fairly quickly and before long had hit the buffet for our first plates…

Mine...



Mike's...



Some shared fruit...


Tusker House continued in next post...​

​

 

[buzzrelly]

Before long, our host came along to say hello…






He was a hoot! Mickey and Goofy came around, but Daisy skipped us for some reason. We didn't really care though. I'm sure if we had asked our waitress they could have sent her over.

By 11:15 they had changed most of the breakfast offerings over to lunch. We both went up to see what was available, but I was really too full to enjoy much of it.


Mike's plate...



Mine, because obviously, I needed more carbs...


Tusker House was delicious, as usual, and we left feeling very (overly) full


We headed over to the FOTLK next...



Mike and I had gone together to see this in August 2013. We were seated, the show started, the tumble monkeys came out, but then something glitched and they couldn't open up the stage or something. All the performers left the stage and the lights came on with an announcement stating that particular performance was cancelled due to technical difficulties. Has that ever happened to anyone besides us? I was really disappointed because I had seen it many times, but I really wanted Mike to see it.


I am happy to report that there were no glitches this time and the show was wonderful, as usual. Mike really enjoyed it too.

I think we just kind of walked around for a bit after, still trying to walk off some of our breakfast/lunch. We found ourselves back in Pandora...







We poked around taking more pictures in the area…


Continued in next post…​

 

[wdwnut61]

OMG your annoyed expression is priceless
I'm glad you got 2 rides of FOP in it truly is an amazing experience
Love TH breakfast yum and FOTLK
Your AK shirt is really cute

I had to go back and reread your TR on Universal because we decided to split our March trip with Universal
We haven't been in many years and DD has been begging me because of her love of HP
I finally caved even though I hate to part with my Disney time
We are booked at RPH for two nights and I purchased the 3 day park to park tickets
Hopefully that will give us enough time with the spring break crowds.

 

[buzzrelly]

Our second fastpass was for Expedition Everest. I have only recently started riding this (in 2016), and I wasn't sure I would have the courage to go on without the kids. We walked over there anyway and...





I am happy to say that I did go on and it was a blast! Mike poked in the gift shop and then he even got a pic of me coming down the mountain. Can you find me?


After EE we went over to see Flights of Wonder. Mike and I both love this show. I heard they are changing it and I am hoping it is just as good.









We stumbled upon Russell as we were walking to our final fastpass. We had enough time that we were able to stop and say hi UP is one of my absolute favorite movies ever, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity! He's so cute




Our last FP for the day was for Kilimanjaro Safari. As you might expect, we saw some animals



Safari continued in next post...​

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[buzzrelly]

For the Giraffe lovers, you know who you are




We got some great shots of the animals and they were all pretty active and out and about...








After the safari, we walked through the Gorilla trail. They were so fun and playful. I could literally watch them all day…



Alas, we had had every intention of staying through the evening and seeing the Tree of Life light up and watch ROL. We had, in fact, purchased the ROL dining package at our TH breakfast, but by 4:30 we were beat and decided to call it a day. It's kind of unfortunate that we missed that but I think next year I would plan an evening and a different morning. We had stayed long enough to do everything we wanted and just really wanted to go and relax. Until next time, Animal Kingdom



Once back at the Poly, we went to our room to change into our bathing suit, stopping at the top of our staircase in Tokelau to admire this view...



After we changed, we walked over to the Oasis (quiet) pool...





Continued in next post...​

 

[buzzrelly]

The Oasis pool was so relaxing and there was hardly anyone there. We got a couple frozen drinks and drank them in the hot-tub...



And then we decided to split a little something to eat, since neither of us was very hungry still from breakfast. We also got a couple more drinks. I think mine was the Dole Whip with rum, and Mike got a Bloody Mary...



We split a chicken wrap with fries. It was okay, nothing I'd go out of my way for, but it wasn't heavy like our breakfast had been and that's just what we needed.



Walking over to Cap'n Cooks, we saw that Moana (another favorite of mine!) was playing outside.



I was tempted to stay and watch it, but it was getting late and we had to go get ready for our big race tomorrow!






Total Steps this day: 19,599
9.11 miles


Up next, 10K Day!​

​

 

[buzzrelly]

OMG your annoyed expression is priceless

Yes, I'm sure Mike thinks it's just adorable!

Your AK shirt is really cute

Thanks! I got it from Teepublic

I had to go back and reread your TR on Universal because we decided to split our March trip with Universal
We haven't been in many years and DD has been begging me because of her love of HP
I finally caved even though I hate to part with my Disney time
We are booked at RPH for two nights and I purchased the 3 day park to park tickets
Hopefully that will give us enough time with the spring break crowds.

The Harry Potter are is very well-done, dare I say that the area itself is even more immersive than Pandora…shhhhh…don't tell anyone I said that

I hop you got a decent rate at RPH. I was going to bring the kids back in April on our trip with my mom but we are going the week after Easter and there weren't any discounts. Even RPH was $500/night We ended up just last week booking a three night cruise on the Wonder, instead, for not that much more than the three nights at Universal would have cost (including tickets). I gave the kids the option since they have been to both Universal and DCL, but they close the cruise.

Three days gives you more than enough time, especially with the front of the line passes you get from RPH which now includes all the Harry Potter rides. Have a Butter Beer for me!

 

[emilyhuff]

I really love your AK shirt! Where did you get that at!!!!! *oh nevermind I see your response above!

When we went to do FoTLK last August, they performed the show and the tumble monkeys came out, but never performed their skit.... their skit is the only way I can talk my boyfriend into watching, he was so mad! I asked a cast member afterward and they said one tumble monkey was sick from eating too many bananas

Your evening at the oasis pool looked lovely! I loved that dole whip with the rum, what did you think of it?!?!

 

[buzzrelly]

I really love your AK shirt! Where did you get that at!!!!! *oh nevermind I see your response above!

Thanks! They have the best shirts!

When we went to do FoTLK last August, they performed the show and the tumble monkeys came out, but never performed their skit.... their skit is the only way I can talk my boyfriend into watching, he was so mad! I asked a cast member afterward and they said one tumble monkey was sick from eating too many bananas

OMG! How funny! They are my favorite part of the show, too!

Your evening at the oasis pool looked lovely! I loved that dole whip with the rum, what did you think of it?!?!

It was amazing! But I am a big fan of coconutty/pineappley frozen drinks

It was definitely the best way to spend the evening. I have zero regrets about missing ROL that night.

 

[wdwnut61]

Yes, I'm sure Mike thinks it's just adorable!



Thanks! I got it from Teepublic



The Harry Potter are is very well-done, dare I say that the area itself is even more immersive than Pandora…shhhhh…don't tell anyone I said that

I hop you got a decent rate at RPH. I was going to bring the kids back in April on our trip with my mom but we are going the week after Easter and there weren't any discounts. Even RPH was $500/night We ended up just last week booking a three night cruise on the Wonder, instead, for not that much more than the three nights at Universal would have cost (including tickets). I gave the kids the option since they have been to both Universal and DCL, but they close the cruise.

Three days gives you more than enough time, especially with the front of the line passes you get from RPH which now includes all the Harry Potter rides. Have a Butter Beer for me!

I know what you mean about price I booked the 2 nights through a 3rd party site where I had a room credit of 300.00. That helped take the sting out of it and I'm going to upgrade our park tickets to AP. I know after this trip we'll be back in November for another combo Disney/Universal trip.

Sounds great about the cruise enjoy