My tenth trip and still so many new things! A February 2016 Disneymoon PTR *Last Updates 2/10*

[PhoenixStrength]

Wednesday February 17th, 2016

George and I will be getting up early again this day, probably around 6am since we will want to be at the bus stop around 7:15ish. We have two ADRs scheduled for this day, and both of the restaurants are ones neither of us have eaten at before! Our first ADR is a pre-park opening breakfast here:





That's right, our second park day will be at Epcot! The park opens at 9am, but our breakfast ADR will be at 8:15am. While I'm looking forward to this meal, I have to be honest and say if I were ranking our ADRs by my level of excitement this would be at the bottom. But I do want to try it at least once, and I don't think it will be bad at all, and at least I'll get to see some princesses too

They just recently announced that Soarin will be closed from January until the summer, which does bum us out since we both love that attraction. We are looking forward to seeing the new Soarin on a future trip though! Since Soarin will be closed that means our Tier 1 Fastpass will be Test Track for this day.





Also on our must-do list for the day will be these attractions:













The last one is mostly just because George loves Donald Duck so much!

We will also try to get in the movies in France and Canada, and the American Adventure, as we missed all of them our last trip. Lunch will be QS, wherever we feel like eating that day. We will probably avoid the QS in Mexico, only because we ate there last trip and want to try somewhere different this trip. Dinner, however, we do know and that is an ADR that George especially is looking forward to:





Don't get me wrong, I'm very much looking forward to eating at Rose & Crown too, but George absolutely loves British food. Fish and Chips, Shepherds Pie, etc. I tried to get a later ADR in the hopes of getting a good view of Illuminations, but the latest I could get was 7:15pm. I am still checking though, so maybe I'll get lucky between now and then!

After dinner we will do an attraction or two if we have time, then Illuminations at 9pm before we head back to ASMu for some shut eye.

I'll be back soon for our exciting Thursday plans!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Happy Halloween everyone! ​

 

[afwdwfan]

Our first ADR is a pre-park opening breakfast here:

Cool! I'll be visiting there for the first time ever in January. I can see why it might not be the most exciting new place to try, but always nice to try something new.

They just recently announced that Soarin will be closed from January until the summer, which does bum us out since we both love that attraction. We are looking forward to seeing the new Soarin on a future trip though! Since Soarin will be closed that means our Tier 1 Fastpass will be Test Track for this day.

FP+ for Test Track are going to be like gold while Soarin' is down...

I really thought they might keep Soarin open through the refurb. I mean build the new theater, get it ready to open and then close each of the old ones one at a time to update them!

Fish and Chips, Shepherds Pie, etc. I tried to get a later ADR in the hopes of getting a good view of Illuminations, but the latest I could get was 7:15pm. I am still checking though, so maybe I'll get lucky between now and then!

Just eat really slow. Have an app... have a drink... eat an entrée... have a drink... eat dessert... have more drinks.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Cool! I'll be visiting there for the first time ever in January. I can see why it might not be the most exciting new place to try, but always nice to try something new.

FP+ for Test Track are going to be like gold while Soarin' is down...

I really thought they might keep Soarin open through the refurb. I mean build the new theater, get it ready to open and then close each of the old ones one at a time to update them!

Just eat really slow. Have an app... have a drink... eat an entrée... have a drink... eat dessert... have more drinks.

I agree, I am excited to try Akershus it's just not the one I'm most excited for. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on eating there!

The Test Track FP+ will definitely be going fast!

I thought they would keep it open too! I don't see why they are closing it.

We will definitely eat super slowly if we cannot get a later ADR.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

This morning we had to say goodbye to our sweet, wonderful Phoenix. It was exactly 14 months ago today that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and we were told he had 2-3 months to live. He made it over 4 times the longest part of their estimate and was doing great last night even. But this morning it all caught up to him, he was in obvious pain, shaking and barely wanting to move even after Tramadol, and for only the second time in his almost 12 year life he refused to eat his breakfast. The first time that happened was the day he went to the vet and was diagnosed with cancer. We knew he was telling us it was time. We are heartbroken right now, though we know we made the right choice for him as he is no longer in pain.

 

[afwdwfan]

I'm sorry to hear this. I agree though, that it is for the best, no matter how difficult it was. At least you got to spend more time than expected with him!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

I'm sorry to hear this. I agree though, that it is for the best, no matter how difficult it was. At least you got to spend more time than expected with him!

Thank you very much. It was an easy decision to know I was relieving him of the constant pain he would otherwise be in, but a hard decision knowing I was losing him. We definitely got tons of extra time with him though!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Life/Wedding Update!

So, it happened. We changed our wedding plans again, and once again it was due to Claire. This time though we can't really be all that upset with her, because it's not really her fault or something she can change!

It all started last Sunday when we got a text from her saying she needed to talk to us and was this a good time to call? It was so we called her and she told us the exciting news that she and her husband Zack are expecting a baby! We were very excited for them as Claire had to have a surgery over a year and a half ago to have her thyroid glands removed and was told then it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for her to conceive because of it.

Then it was on to the bad news. She was a high risk pregnancy, especially for blood clots, so her doctor was forbidding her from flying (or diving) so she wouldn't be able to come out to our wedding once again. Even driving would be dangerous due to the elevation difference (we are about a mile above sea level). She was very upset and concerned we would be mad at her, but this was the one time we really weren't as she didn't know if she could get pregnant, let alone that she was high risk once she did get pregnant.

George and I talked about it and we really did want her, and Zack, to be involved, but we were also tired of the changing around and how stressful this wedding was becoming. All we really wanted was to be able to see everyone. So, with help from talking to both sets of our parents, we have come up with a new plan. Sometime between now and February 12th we are just going to go to Vegas and elope. Then, on Friday February 12th we will be flying out to Maryland. On Saturday the 13th we will be having a lunchtime reception with all our family and friends at George's parents house (they offered!).

It will be a hectic few days, we will be doing 3 flights in 3 days as we will need to fly back home Saturday night with my sister Lisa to show her our house and where all the cats supplies are since she will stay here while we are gone. Then we will fly out as planned still on Sunday night to start our honeymoon!

So, lots of changes on the wedding front, but we are actually really happy with them. I was never the type of girl who dreamed of a big, fancy wedding, so eloping is perfect for me and George agrees! And this way we can still see our families and even more people since most are in the that area anyway.

I'll be posting another honeymoon plan day in just a bit!

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow! Those are some big changes! But it looks like things should work out well. I'm glad that it ended up being something that would work out ok for everyone, despite some extra time in the air.

Congrats to Claire and I hope all goes well with her pregnancy.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Well, at first I was like "oh no, not again" but then read the reason, I can certainly see the reason for the changes. Give congrats to Claire and Zack on the pregnancy. That's such great news! It sounds like the elopment may very well be the best thing for you two anyway. Like you said, you aren't all about a big fancy wedding anyway.

I'm excited for y'all!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Wow! Those are some big changes! But it looks like things should work out well. I'm glad that it ended up being something that would work out ok for everyone, despite some extra time in the air.

Congrats to Claire and I hope all goes well with her pregnancy.

Thanks, we are happy with the new plan!

Well, at first I was like "oh no, not again" but then read the reason, I can certainly see the reason for the changes. Give congrats to Claire and Zack on the pregnancy. That's such great news! It sounds like the elopment may very well be the best thing for you two anyway. Like you said, you aren't all about a big fancy wedding anyway.

I'm excited for y'all!

Thanks Lisa, we are so excited too!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Sorry I haven't been around much, there's a ton going on. I'm going to get one day's activities in now, and maybe I'll get another in this evening!

Thursday February 18th

We will be getting up around 7am so we can shower and get cab, because we will be heading to Universal! The parks open at 9am so we want to be in a cab by 8am. George has never been to Univeral at all, and the last time I was there was November 2010! We are, of course, most looking forward to visiting both parts of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but we will definitely do all we can in both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. I did get to see Hogsmeade Village when I was last there, but Diagon Alley will be new to both of us.

George is also very excited for the food in both Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, as he LOVES English food. So our plan is to grab breakfast right away in either The Three Broomsticks or Leaky Cauldron, then start on the attractions! The ones we are most looking forward to are:


Forbidden Journey:




Dragon Challenge:




Escape From Gringotts:




Jurassic Park River Adventure:




Rip Ride Rockit




Revenge of the Mummy




Amazing Adventures of Spider Man:




Transformers 3D:




And whatever else we can fit in! We will probably have lunch and dinner in Three Broomsticks and Leaky Cauldron as well, but we will play it by ear.

The parks close around 8pm that night and we will stay until close, then get a cab back to All Star Music and get a good nights sleep to prepare for the next day's adventure!

 

[afwdwfan]

Awesome! Looks like you're planning to hit all the highlights at Universal. That is pretty much the exact same gameplan I have for the park, with the exception of planning to eat in Springfield.

Too bad Hulk will still be down for its refurb this winter.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oooh a trip to the dark side! I so want to get back over to Universal so I'm looking forward to seeing it through your eyes and pictures again.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Awesome! Looks like you're planning to hit all the highlights at Universal. That is pretty much the exact same gameplan I have for the park, with the exception of planning to eat in Springfield.

Too bad Hulk will still be down for its refurb this winter.

We are sad to be missing Hulk, but will definitely enjoy the rest of the attractions!

Oooh a trip to the dark side! I so want to get back over to Universal so I'm looking forward to seeing it through your eyes and pictures again.

We are definitely looking forward to visiting the dark side!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

No, not our wedding plans, no worries there! We had a few changes to the days I already posted, so I'll do a quick update on each of those days, and then later I'll come back with the plans for more days!

Monday 2/15/16: Instead of eating at the resort we are going to get breakfast in Disney Springs, but likely Wolfgang Express! And after breakfast we are walking next door to Saratoga Springs resort for a couples massage!! I actually just got off the phone from booking that! We are super excited for that for sure, we get to start our honeymoon nice and relaxed!

Tuesday 2/16/16: The change started with an email this past Wednesday from Wild Africa Trek. We had this booked for our second Animal Kingdom day, but the email was from Julie with Wild Africa Trek saying there was a problem with our booking and to call her ASAP. I called her during my lunch break and she said that they accidentally overbooked all of the Wild Africa Trek tours that day and they needed to reschedule us. So, we asked about the 16th since we were already scheduled to be in Animal Kingdom that day as well and she was able to get us in. So we are now doing the Wild Africa Trek tour on 2/16 at 12:30pm. I had to switch our Fastpasses around since some were scheduled during the same time, but all worked out. Our Fastpasses for this day are Kilimanjaro Safari 9:50-10:50am, Dinosaur 3:20-4:20pm and Expedition Everest 5:30-6:30pm. Oh, and because it was a mistake on their part, Disney refunded us $60 of the price of the Wild Africa Trek for us having to reschedule!

Wednesday 2/17/16: Only changes this day are the addition of our Fastpasses. We have Test Track 9:40-10:40am, Spaceship Earth 11:15-12:15pm, and The Seas with Nemo and Friends 12:50-1:50pm.

That's it for the changes, and they are good ones this time!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Friday February 19th

We will get up around 6:30am and after showering we will grab some breakfast at the food court at All Stars Music. We are hoping to get on a bus around 8:15ish to head to our next park destination, Hollywood Studios!

Our Fastpasses this day are Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania and Star Tour: The Adventures Continues. In addition we will also want to ride....











Lunch will be CS, either in the new Star Wars food area or at Min and Bills Dockside Diner, since George has his eye on their Pulled Pork Mac n Cheese.

Dinner, however, is somewhere I have eaten before and George is looking forward to, Sci-Fi Drive-In!






It's a EMH hours evening and there is a second showing of Fantasmic at 8:30pm we are hoping to catch, since we missed it our last trip and George has never seen it!

I have a long workday tomorrow, but should be back on Tuesday with the plans for the next day! Have to hurry this along since we leave in 6 weeks!!

 

[afwdwfan]

Studio plans look good. You know... considering that there isn't really much to plan there anymore.

I just realized how quickly it is all coming up!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Studio plans look good. You know... considering that there isn't really much to plan there anymore.

I just realized how quickly it is all coming up!

Very true, not much left there at all, but at least we do very much like everything that is there.

Just 5 weeks left now!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

When I saw changes, I got worried that there were more wedding changes. Thank gosh, they were just rescheduling changes. How nice of Disney to refund $60 because of their error. I like your Hollywood Studios plans. We missed The Great Movie Ride and Fantasmic last trip.