Now Approaching... Sleepingbooty's Sept. PTR (We're BAAACK! 9/26)

[All7OfUs]

OK, THAT'S a pretty cool surprise!! VERY cool! Your dilemma is a valid one, I hope you can find something affordable to get you there and back!

 

[klacey1]

We're going to IOA/US in August!! I'll make sure to take lots of pictures and let you know about crowds/etc. We're praying for as short of lines as possible-- we're probably going to get to IOA 45 minutes before opening, run straight to the Enchanted Forrest, wander around some stores, and then hightail it out of the area. We love HP, but are NOT crazy about really long lines.
We really love IOA, but it is thrill-ride heavy. If your girls like water rides, there is a great flume and raft ride. The Seuss area of the park is fun, but the Cat-in-the-Hat ride pales in comparison to the Disney dark rides.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Hey All, Just wanted to let you all know I'm back from our lake vacation. Tons of stuff to catch up on, especially with the girls going back to school on Thursday. I'll try to get an update in this week, and I'm looking forward to catching up on everyone's TR's, too.

Next Update

 

[glennbo123]

Wait a minute....did you say "this week"? That could be days from now!

 

[Charlefours]

The surprise will be amazing!! I would love to read about the reaction your girls have when they find out. Welcome back from vacation! I hope you had a relaxing time.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

I love your surprise! My oldest daughter is not much on thrill rides, either. She would take one look at that dragon coaster and say no way.

I won't even ask about that one. There's just no way. But I'm fine with it - I just want to make sure they'll go on the other two rides.

Oooh--I just LOVE surprises!!! How exciting!! Your girls are going to be thrilled!!

I know! I'm bursting at the seams. Its going to be a hard secret to keep!

 

[All7OfUs]

Welcome back, Rebecca!! We all sure missed you! Can't wait to hear all about your vacation- hope it was super fun!

 

[eandesmom]

Yes! I've been counting on learning a lot from your trip down in August. I'll definitely be picking your brain!

FOLP?

Can't wait for butterbeer!

Front of the Line Passes/Express Passes. Basically they are like a fast pass for resort guests only. You can buy them with an off-site HP package but there seems to be some question about whether the benefits are the same.

Not sure how they will work in WWOHP yet (need to go check, I'm sure the info is out by now) but basically all the really popular rides have this as an option and you can use it as many times as you want. Last I heard FJ would have a 1x per day limit with the FOLP but I have no idea if that's actually true. I have heard that that hour early makes a huge difference though, not only for the rides but the shops!

The Butterbeer sounds intriguing, kind of like a cream soda. We will let you know!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

OK, THAT'S a pretty cool surprise!! VERY cool! Your dilemma is a valid one, I hope you can find something affordable to get you there and back!

Well, "affordable" is relative, isn't it!

We're going to IOA/US in August!! I'll make sure to take lots of pictures and let you know about crowds/etc. We're praying for as short of lines as possible-- we're probably going to get to IOA 45 minutes before opening, run straight to the Enchanted Forrest, wander around some stores, and then hightail it out of the area. We love HP, but are NOT crazy about really long lines.
We really love IOA, but it is thrill-ride heavy. If your girls like water rides, there is a great flume and raft ride. The Seuss area of the park is fun, but the Cat-in-the-Hat ride pales in comparison to the Disney dark rides.

Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Wait a minute....did you say "this week"? That could be days from now!

And it probably will be!

The surprise will be amazing!! I would love to read about the reaction your girls have when they find out. Welcome back from vacation! I hope you had a relaxing time.

Thanks, we did! I know, the reaction is going to be the best part!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Welcome back, Rebecca!! We all sure missed you! Can't wait to hear all about your vacation- hope it was super fun!

Aww, thank you! Missed you guys, too. It was fun - but very different from a WDW vacation. I think I'll try to do an update or two on it. Got to get the pics uploaded first.

Front of the Line Passes/Express Passes. Basically they are like a fast pass for resort guests only. You can buy them with an off-site HP package but there seems to be some question about whether the benefits are the same.

Ah! I'm not up to speed on my non-Disney abbreviations. Remember, I thought when you first mentioned the "US portion of your trip, that you meant United States. I think I asked you what other countries you were visiting!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Another quick update:

Just put the girls on the bus. Jenna's starting 4th grade and Lucy's starting 1st. I can't believe summer is over. Which means, 9 weeks of school until cycle break - thus, 9 weeks until our WDW trip! Yeah! Let the official countdown begin!

I know I promised an update, and that I would get caught up on everyone's TRs, I've just been super busy this week. Took the girls to 6 Flags yesterday for a last day of summer outing. Man was it hot! We stayed in the waterpark all day and had a good time. Although everytime we go there, I am reminded how Disney is superior in every way to other theme parks. I paid $28 for two 'counter-service' lunches and one bottle of water! Don't ever tell me Disney is expensive! And don't get me started on the cleanliness. But, the kids don't notice that stuff, and I just grin and bear it. Honestly, we probably wouldn't go there, but every year the girls earn free tickets from a reading program.

As soon as I get caught up around the house, I'll be back on the Dis - I promise!

Click here for Chapter 36. A Mini TR - Lake Trip pt1

 

[All7OfUs]

Another quick update:


thus, 9 weeks until our WDW trip! Yeah! Let the official countdown begin!

I paid $28 for two 'counter-service' lunches and one bottle of water! Don't ever tell me Disney is expensive! And don't get me started on the cleanliness.

CUTE picture!! But it STILL is summer- look at them, wearing SUN dresses!!

$28 That's even more than Disney!!

You're right Dollywood was a slum compared to Disney as far as clean goes. It just doesn't get any better in that dept. than at the KING of parks!

 

[glennbo123]

Bummer (for the kids anyway, you may be kicking-up your heels) that school has started.

I can't visit any other theme parks (Busch Gardens, Hersheypark) without constantly thinking "nice try, but you're no Disney".

 

[Sleepingbooty]

CUTE picture!! But it STILL is summer- look at them, wearing SUN dresses!!

$28 That's even more than Disney!!

You're right Dollywood was a slum compared to Disney as far as clean goes. It just doesn't get any better in that dept. than at the KING of parks!

$12.99 for a bacon cheeseburger with fries, 10.99 for a chicken strips meal, 3.50 for a bottled water. Highway robbery!

We were just at Silver Dollar City in Branson last week, and it was actually very clean - but Six Flags is just gross! I was barefoot, since we were at the water park, and anytime we walked anywhere, I had to watch my feet so I didn't step on a gum wrapper or discarded bandaid. I'm cringing right now just thinking about it.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Bummer (for the kids anyway, you may be kicking-up your heels) that school has started.

I can't visit any other theme parks (Busch Gardens, Hersheypark) without constantly thinking "nice try, but you're no Disney".

On the one hand, I'm ready for them to go back to school because they've been on my last nerve with all the bickering lately, but it is a bummer that there is so much summer left and they're stuck inside all day. I actually really like this first quarter though, because since it is still summer, we go to the pool when they get home, barbeque on weekends, go camping, etc. So it goes by really fast, and before you know it, the nine weeks are up and its time for Disney!

I agree with you - there is no comparison to Disney. Even nice parks like SeaWorld just don't live up to the magic.

 

[Dancegrl624]

I can't believe your girls went back to school today! Madison would roast inside her school on a day like today (it's not air conditioned). If they ever tried to go to year round school around here there would be an angry mob. Most people live for summer around here (not me) and our summers usually doesn't get into full swing until mid-June (it we're lucky). As much as I don't like summer weather (I'd rather be cold than hot), I adore having Madison home for 2 full months.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Oh, there is NO way we could have year round school here without air conditioning! Today they had to have inside recess because the heat index was over 105! This may be our last year of this schedule. The school board is voting soon on changing to a traditional schedule. Its really going to mess with my plans to do Disney over Christmas break!

 

[jenbear123]

True that on the Disney being superior to other theme parks. Around here we have Canada's Wonderland and it's DISGUSTING the way it is. Granted I haven't been there in a few years but all I can remember is garbage and cigarette smoke. Disney is really a premium brand. I would rather spend $1500 to spend a week in Disney versus someone giving me $1500 to spend a day in some of these theme parks!

There's a small (and I mean, very small) part of me that misses the first days of school. I would be a little annoyed having to go to school during nice sunny days though.

 

[YukiPhnx]

True that on the Disney being superior to other theme parks. Around here we have Canada's Wonderland and it's DISGUSTING the way it is. Granted I haven't been there in a few years but all I can remember is garbage and cigarette smoke. Disney is really a premium brand. I would rather spend $1500 to spend a week in Disney versus someone giving me $1500 to spend a day in some of these theme parks!

There's a small (and I mean, very small) part of me that misses the first days of school. I would be a little annoyed having to go to school during nice sunny days though.

AMEN to that! Wonderland isn't even a "theme" park. It's just a plain amusement park. After experiencing Disney with their awesome queues and great food, Wonderland just isn't the same. The queus are just steel bars that wind back and forth and often in the hot hot sun.

The food is way overpriced and not that great! In fact, they've stopped letting people carry their own food and even DRINKS into the parks! I've seen so many families having to take out the drinks and snacks they brought for their kids and put them back into their cars. It didn't use to be this way