My Fork and I Are Friends - Nov. 14 TR RL UPDATE 7/12 Pg. 22

[amazingact21]

Too many MagicBands? Huh, I didn't know that could be a problem. I wander how many is too many? I'm checking into Pop on Thursday, and now I'm thinking I might have to boot a band. (I'm on number 5).



Oh man, you all woke up so early after getting to bed so late just to be stuck in massive crowds. That's terrible. I knew Veteran's Day weekend was a busy time, but wow...and to miss your FP windows.


I'm pretty sure I heard my stomach growl when I saw your F&W pictures. Your choices look delicious, and I wish more people held your fork philosophy. Talk about a lot less trash.


I'm glad you guys got to enjoy some food finally. You all deserved some tasty treats after such a long morning.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I mean, the shower in the master bathroom of the 1 bedroom is much better than the other one in the front anyway!

Do the villas at AKL have a different bathroom configuration than the ones at the older villas like BCV?

I headed out on the balcony and took some pictures of the beautiful savannah. I mean, that's one of the reasons that you stay at AKL, right?

Were there any animals out on the savanna? It is too bad that you didn't have more time to enjoy the resort.

And by 9:30am, we were in the lobby of the beautiful Wilderness Lodge.
Julia and I were pretty happy to be there.

So apparently, your account can only have so many Magic Bands at one time, which I didn't realize. Well since the few trips we've taken, apparently I had too many MB's on my account, and needed to have one deactivated. That didn't make sense to me, because Mom and Pop have the same amount as I do, but I needed to have one deactivated. I told her to just deactivate the oldest one, and that's what she did.

We really like the WL and it is a great location if you want to spend a lot of time at MK.

I've never heard that about having too many MB's. How many is too many?

The rest of us had new AP's that I had tied to the account, but we needed to actually pick them up and activate them before heading in to the park.
There was a CM that directed us all the way to the other end of all the booths. They wanted people to go to Willcall that just had vouchers to exchange. According to them, because there was no money being exchanged, it would take less time to get through the line.

2 hours later, my hope was gone. I just wanted it to be over. Soarin' FP window? Gone. Character Spot FP window? Closing soon.
Finally, we were at the window and getting our stuff exchanged. Funny thing, she didn't give us our actual tickets, she simply activated the bands.

Wow, two hours to get through the line to activate your AP's. We have to do that in January and I dread waiting in a long line to do it. Is the Will call line a normal place to activate your AP's or was it just kind of an emergency option? This is the first time we've ever had AP's and hadn't planned to renew them until this "extra" January trip happened. It is funny the way extra trips just seem to happen when you have an AP.

That is too bad about Soarin'. I hope you got to ride it later.

Oh, I won't have PP pictures yet, because I'm trying to get two trips out of my Memory Maker, so I won't be downloading pictures for a little while, so I can get in the window once I activate the download. 2 for the price of 1 y'all!

How long is the window?

This whole booth was yummy, but the duck was the winner. If you go during F&W and they offer this again, by all means you need to go and get it. So good. Julia had never had duck before, but she absolutely loved it.

The Mahi Mahi was so good. Tender, perfectly cooked, and the rice was absolutely lovely.

I really wanted to try those dishes but we never got around to it. Hopefully they bring them back for Flower and Garden.

My Trip Report title was born during the Food and Wine Festival. We save our forks and carry them with us, because otherwise you're throwing them out all of the time and getting new ones, which is absolutely so wasteful. I was sooooo hungry at that point, that at the booth in Singapore, I was eating one of the dishes, and said:

MY FORK AND I ARE FRIENDS!

I love the title. I kept my fork, too. It just seemed like the right thing to do. It made it easier to share food, too.

Up next: A garbage can is a perfectly acceptable table!

We found that out, too.

 

[kroseycorn]

Ugh, the wall-o-people. I have experienced this a few times... And I always pick the WORST line where every kid has to try every finger and every 3rd person is a blue Mickey of Death.

We're staying at the Wilderness Lodge villas for our next trip (in DECEMBER 2015. So.far.away. Melt me!). I've never stayed there, but really looking forward to it... Live the totems!

And Popadon horizontal on the bus totally made my week!!

 

[sunnysideup3]

That many people in one space scares me. I am pretty outgoing, but that would be one of those situations where I would be all "get me OUT of here!".

Ahhhh...the Wilderness is my dream resort, especially at the holidays! Whee are you staying for your New Years trip? We just can't escape POR, we love it and it's conveniences.

 

[THiiNKTiiNKx0]

Ugh that many people in one place...not moving...for over two hours? I would have had a total meltdown. I get people phobic when it gets like that for way too long. With as long as you waited I surely hope the passes were made of gold...or at least gold plated. Sheesh.

I always love your makeup. I follow you on Instagram (manduhhhhxo) and I'm always amazed at what you can do with an eye pallette. If I were to try to do that I would look like I had a fight with eye shadow and it won.

I've always dreamed at staying at AKL and your pictures remind me why. Maybe one day. *sigh*

All your food tastings look delishhh. Like I'm sitting at work drooling over your pictures and suddenly this banana I'm eating tastes like cardboard.

 

[missangelalexis]

LOL!! Pop sure was snuggled in there!

YES, good job documenting what Pop said, you will for sure want to use that in the future!!

I love all the funky pedicure colors!

OMG I'm sorry it took so long! Ugh missing those FPs must have been disappointing.

Haha love the story behind the TR title!! And so smart to keep your forks!

Loved the Mahi Mahi as well!

 

[ddstratton]

Oh. My. Gosh. So many people! A two-hour wait to get your AP's? Sort-of, apparently. Not liking the sound of you not getting your actual AP tickets... Or is that how it works now, with Magic Bands? I'm all confused!!

 

[JKSWonder]

Dear lord. You are definitely a stronger woman than me. No way could I have waited in a two hour line just to get my freaking band activated. I would have lost my ever lovin' mind!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I'll be honest. I do know exactly what your talking about, waking up 30 minutes before the alarm. However... I actually get pretty excited that I still have time. I look at the clock "Please please, don't be time". And when it's not... WINNING! Happened just this morning, lol.

poor Pop. He may have a career in espionage though.

" after the long travel day the day before, you just have this overall grody feeling."

Oh God!!! I just got a flash that I get to go in through the Magic Kingdom gates to go to Wilderness Lodge!!! I mean, I know that, but seeing that here somehow slammed me in the head with it. And it felt glorious.

Speaking of Magic Bands, do you know if it matters what Magic Band you use as long as it's active?

Oh Good Lord what is up with those Ticket Window lines????? That is insane!!! At 10:30!!! I can't believe that many people were buying tickets day of. That's INSANE!!!

"MY FORK AND I ARE FRIENDS!" certainly does fit in with Food and Wine, but I also need to add GOOD ON YOU for not wasting.

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

It was so funny! She has to go through that line, because that's how they direct you when they check your ticket at Milwaukee, but then she was rubbing it in. Which is why I had to bring her down to earth a little.

Haha funny daughter

The time was late, but we were all really excited about the trip, so us having to get up the next day wasn't too bad.



Awww, thanks so much! I'm glad that they make you laugh.



I'm glad you're here!

I wasn't aware that the lights were turned off either, but I guess, you know, saving on electricity might be a good idea. LOL.

We were only there for one night, but AKL is one of my favorite resorts.

I am excited we will be staying at AKL in February. I love the resort too.

 

[FloridaNative8]

Awwww, your photo of Popadon reminds me of my boys when they're sleeping - so sweet and innocent when they're asleep, but the fun starts when they wake up!

Your eye makeup looks amazing! Reminds me of Cinna in the Hunger Games, understated yet perfectly done!

We had quite a wait at Guest Services at Epcot during F&W this year - our friends were activating their passes, and I was about to die from hunger/thirst. Of course I could have just grabbed something at the gift shop there, but I was saving all my room for Drunken Cucumbers and yummy food! Sorry the wait was so long. I get so anxious when things start unraveling like that, so major kudos to you for keeping it together, it looks like the payoff was worth it!

Can't wait to hear the stories behind the rest of the IG photos!!!

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

Speaking of Magic Bands, do you know if it matters what Magic Band you use as long as it's active?

Oh Good Lord what is up with those Ticket Window lines????? That is insane!!! At 10:30!!! I can't believe that many people were buying tickets day of. That's INSANE!!!

"MY FORK AND I ARE FRIENDS!" certainly does fit in with Food and Wine, but I also need to add GOOD ON YOU for not wasting.

If I remember correctly we had nine active bands so she deactivated 2 from each of us.

 

[itsthatdisneygirl]

You are of much stronger reserve than I..the last time I went that long without eating at WDW I threatened to catch a seagull and BBQ it (nothing stops me when I'm hangry)
And I now fully blame you for the pool of drool on my desk because you had to go and remind me of the deliciousness of the duck steam bun
Seeing your outfit for the day I am now 100% sure that was you I saw ohh well maybe next time I won't be sooooo delirious

 

[amberg93]

I'm impressed at how early you managed to get up and given your lack of sleep, it's understandable that you confused your poor Pop for a pile of blankets

Ooh Wilderness Lodge is so pretty. I have to go and look at it sometime.

I did know about the limit on magic bands but it does seem strange that your parents didn't need to deactive any and you did?

Your Pop is such a goof. I love it.

2 hours? Dear sweet goodness that is a heck of a long time. I can see why you just went straight for food. At that point I'd have been dying.

I'm amused about your China selections because Marie and I only got the potstickers and it's the only thing you didn't get.

I'm glad you made friends with your fork and it was there for you during the difficult and very hungry times. What a true friend.

 

[Leshaface]

Too funny about him being all up in the sheets!

I felt like we had some minor issues with our MB's on this last trip, due to staying at 3 different resorts in one trip and then less than a year before that, staying at 3 resorts too. Thank goodness i'll have no issues this time!...at least I hope.

I was slightly hoping you were going to say, "His foot is the purple polish!"

Ugh, what a nightmare! Can't believe it took so long. That's actually pretty ridiculous. Were there a lot of mad people in front of you?

I didn't try the duck, but the noodles were AMAZING!

That's actually a great idea about carrying your fork around. Hmm, I think if I ever go again, i'll just have a custom made F&W fork to carry around! That would be awesome!

ETA: wasn't the 49er and Raider game glorious yesterday?! I hate both teams, but my hate for the niners is so much stronger. The fact that they lost against a 1-11 team, is pure awesome!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

very much hoping that Popadon had the purple nail polish

those lines were nuts! They really do need a system that if it is something out of you control and you miss a FP+ window they can rectify the system ... and that should be something other than getting on another 2 hour line.

"It's okay though, none of us were crabby and we just went with the flow" not sure if I would have held as strong as you did. I mean, fully agree, getting super upset and lashing out at people or similar solves nothing, but still probably would have been a bit down.

Your food looks awesome! I recall at F&WF 2013 my favorite was the steamed bun as well (had different filling though)

 

[MonksMom]

Hi Danielle! I'm late joining in, but I can't wait to follow your adventures. Your TRs always make me giggle. I'm normally a lurker but after reading your previous TRs and following you on instagram, I'm jumping in! Enough jibber jabber, I've got reading to do!!

 

[kastoney]

Wow to go from checkin bliss to ridiculous waits in such a short period of time is absurd. How ever did disney control ticket lines before the advent of the electronic ticket. I can't even fathom.

Good to see Popadon back in true form. Love his purple toenail polish by the way.

So glad you and your fork became such good friends so quickly. You'd waited a long time to meet that fork and it looks like it was worth the wait. Hope the garbage can isn't foreshadowing for his fate ; )

 

[englishrose47]

All caught up thanks to our links !!!I love the pix of Pops on the bus cutting up and your Mom busy on her phone oblivious to his antics .... I LOVE it !!!

 

[natebenma]

Hi! Remember me?

Did I solemnly swear that I would keep up with your report? I didn't put that down in writing, did I?

I am slowly digging myself out of my DIS hole, and I am now caught up with the help of your links.

I loved your little description "Evolution of a Trip Report title". That is such an important, pressure-filled decision- you want to convey the correct feeling that sums up the trip. Sometimes you have the title before you leave (that has happened to me a couple of times), sometimes inspiration strikes during the trip and too often you agonize over a title after your return.

I'm glad that your fork and you are friends, and now I understand why. I think I praised you holding on to your fork when you wrote about it in your previous report.

Your story at the SW checkin desk with the agent who shares your love for the Pack was great! Your airport meal also sounded fantastic. Almost makes me want to visit the Milwaukee airport. Almost.

I'm glad the flight, though delayed, was uneventful, but getting to sleep at 3 am? OUCH!!!

And no lights in the welcome arch? Is Disney economizing? Double OUCH!

Rough start getting into EPCOT. Triple OUCH!!!

Sorry you missed two of your Fast passes, but seriously, don't a lot of CMs still have "anytime" FP they can hand out if the situation warrants? They should!

Glad you finally found some food (and drinks) and I have to say it all looks amazing. YUM!