Our Celebration of a Sad Occasion...Oct 2016 PTR

[oopsiDAISY]

I promise I won't hold not being a HP against you and leave.

I like Brian's request about not eating someplace you can get at home...that is how I flow to! I try to stay away from chain/theme places too like Bubba and Hard Rock...but sometimes I cave because each place is a little different. I have only eaten at Three Broomsticks...it is okay, but really why you are going there is because it THREE BROOMSTICKS...they have pretty good fish and chips...but the best thing of all is BUTTERBEER...I prefer frozen.

Well, Charity and I have made a pact with each other that we will watch the HP movies before we go. We definitely want to have an understanding of the theming and stuff.

Oh, Butterbeer is for sure on my must try list for Universal! I have seen recipes for the stuff, and it looks DELICIOUS!! So, it seems that the frozen gets the most recommendations, will have to remember that for sure! I am fairly certain we will be visiting the HP themed restaurants for sure, and I LOVE fish and chips!

Can't wait to read all about our your plans.

So glad to have you following along!

There is NOTHING wrong with a thrift shop! Those places are AWESOME! find some really cool stuff!!! and see that more people should dress as FANCY as you to get the promotion! LOL great story!
i wish i had them closer to me.

Jillian wants to go to Junior Prom this year, and I refuse to spend much $$$ on it, since it is her JUNIOR year. We have already scoped out a thrift store in the affluent part of Nashville (where the country stars, etc live) to get a dress for her. Thrift stores are awesome...and yes, so many folks wish they were FANCY like me.

Wow, lots of changes in your lives! Congrats on your hubby's degree and good luck with starting your journey!

If you are a AAA member, you can show your card to get 10% off most places in Universal. You really should read the HP books before you go...all the wonderful details will have more meaning and the books are really, really good!

Jill in CO

for the kind comments!

Unfortunately, we are not AAA members. We have looked into it, but just never did get it. We have wonderful insurance already, and just could not see where the other discounts offered would benefit us enough to justify the fee for membership.

Oh goodness, not sure if I could get through all of the books before we go. I love to read, but not sure if I could immerse myself into those. I have promised my family that I will watch the movies. That is all I can promise at this point.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

There will be lots of fun to be had in this planning process. Those of you who have folllowed my reports in the past are well aware of this. I have already started working on my weekly countdown activity/ movie night list:



I have also printed out monthly countdown calendars for my desk at work.



This was an idea I got from one of my cruise friends, who happens to now be an IRL friend. Have I mentioned how great our cruise group was? We had a FB page...and it is still going and VERY active. On top of that, many of us live within a 2 horu radius of each other, so we actually have quarterly meet events now. We have had lunch together, we have met at a state park to picnic and swim together, and after the first of the year, we will be scheduling a time to go see a hockey game and have dinner together. Disney friends are simply the BEST.

I also have a countdown app on my phone. It looks like this:



To say I am a bit obsessed with countdowns is an understatement, LOL!!! Anywho, our actual activities and movie nights will not commence until after Christmas and New Years. Our calendars are so crammed full of Christmas parties and programs that I am not even going to TRY to do this. Nope, I want to get through the holidays, then we can focus on some Disney fun! As you can see from my calendar and countdown app...we are close to rollling into our 200's!

It is going to be a long wait to make it to the anticipated 180 day mark! It has been so long since I have done a PTR, so what sort of planning can I do NOW???

Another question for the seasoned Dis'ers: I am finally going to break down and get a paid Photobucket account. Which plan do you all get? Would 20 gb be enough? We are not ones who take thousands of photos at the parks. I just want this account for my Dis'ing. I will not use it for anything else. What do you all think?

 

[Chicago Mo]

GOOD MORNING!!!

It is going to be a long wait to make it to the anticipated 180 day mark! It has been so long since I have done a PTR, so what sort of planning can I do NOW???

you can start your packing list. that is ever growing. start thinking of the restaurants, your park days your must do list!!!
your now and then pictures! It's endless!

What do you all think?

I think you should get something your comfy with!! get the least amount first if you need to go higher you can at a later time..

Disney friends are simply the BEST.

YOUR SO RIGHT!!!

 

[Pluto0809]

I love your Disney activity list!!

I agree with Mo, just do the lowest one for now and upgrade if necessary. I have the lowest and even with all of my trips and thousands of pictures, I am only at 40% full.

 

[cajunfan]

I agree with Mo on all your questions...I think that scares me a little bit! LOL! Love Ya! Mean It! Mo!

 

[momabaarjo]

Your Disney activity list and count downs!

 

[Chicago Mo]

I agree with Mo on all your questions...I think that scares me a little bit! LOL! Love Ya! Mean It! Mo!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

GOOD MORNING!!!

you can start your packing list. that is ever growing. start thinking of the restaurants, your park days your must do list!!!
your now and then pictures! It's endless!

I think you should get something your comfy with!! get the least amount first if you need to go higher you can at a later time..

YOUR SO RIGHT!!!

Good Morning, friend!!! Okay, thanks for the reminder of things I can do to plan for this trip. I feel like such a newbie this time around for real! I have so many questions, it is now time to just start asking!

Thanks or the PB input...see below for what I did.

I love your Disney activity list!!

I agree with Mo, just do the lowest one for now and upgrade if necessary. I have the lowest and even with all of my trips and thousands of pictures, I am only at 40% full.

I am so ready to start that list, but we are just so busy with Christmas stuff, I fear my family would just get frustrated with me trying to fit MORE into our already busy schedule this month. But come January..IT's ON!!!

I agree with Mo on all your questions...I think that scares me a little bit! LOL! Love Ya! Mean It! Mo!

Yes, Lynn, that is indeed frightening, my friend. Kudos to owning up to it. LOL!!! Now, go and finish that TR!!!

Your Disney activity list and count downs!

I did this when we had over a year to wait for our cruise. We really did enjoy it. Some of our activities will be repeats, but I have tried to throw in a few new ones, too.

Okay everyone, thanks for your input on the Photobucket account. I asked Brian and he said the same thing. So, I finally got a real Photobucket subscription!!!! This is a big deal for me. You see, over the course of the last four years, I have openend about four free accounts under different email addresses. After opening one under Brian's email address, he was more than willing to help pay for a subscription for me.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Hello friends! Did everyone have a great weekend? We did our heavy cleaning and sprucing up around the house to get ready for Christmas! The next two weeks are crammed full of basketball games, Christmas parties, Christmas chorus and choir programs, and family coming in. We travel for Thankgiving, but at Christmas everyone comes to us. It's a blessing and a curse, but we love it.

Last week we finally got to decorate for Christmas. Here is our tree:


Our Natvity got a new place to live this Christmas:


That is what used to be our Lego table. We have moved all the legos to Gabe's room now. So, it left a place to display our nativity. Those who have followed our reports for a while know that our mantle is where our Nativity is usually displayed. Weeeeellll, our mantle has a new year round tenant now:



We got a real steal on a flat screen TV on Black Friday. I love they way it looks up there. I need to note, that all the wires and cords WILL be gone soon. Brian has not yet had a chance to install an electrical outtlet up there, but he will very soon. Until then, please ignore all that mess. We have really enjoyed the new TV. You see. we are relatively cheap people on the whole. Our extra money goes to Mickey. Anyhow, we still had a tube TV. Yep, we finally made it into the 21st century. Yay us.

And one last Christmas photo, because it is too funny not to share. Today was ugly Christmas sweater day at Brian's company. Brian is notoroious for being a Scrooge (in realty he is far from it). BUT, he is totally NOT into being seen acting or looking foolish...in public. But, in the spirit of loving his company and the people he works for, he had me get a sweater for him to wear. I took full advantage of this opportunity, and purchased a real winner for him. He only posed for this photo after I promised I would not post it on FB. But, I did get permission to share it with my Dis-friends. Aren't you special?



Now, let's move on to some trip planning questions I have, shall we?

Do you all still wait for EMH to be announced before deciding park days and making ADR's? We do not have park hoppers, so this an important element in planning for us. How soon does Disney post the EMH's on their web site? Will it be before the 180 day mark?

Fast passes... I know you get to make reservations for like three rides before you go, right? I have seen on other reports people mention being able to book other fastpasses AFTER they have already used up the scheduled ones. How does this work???

One last trip related thing to share. Disney just gave us $20!! Look what I got through email today:

 

[momabaarjo]

I am so glad that I am not the last one to get Christmas things up this weekend! Although I held off because DD came home from college this week and I just could not put things up without her. Actually, I did some deep cleaning and then I let the kids have at it. What a great concept...I was feeling really bah humbug and letting them do it put me in a much better mood!

I so can relate to things being so busy...last week it seemed like we did not have a night at home and this week is shaping up the same way!
YTD Team RunDMC (Kafi, Tammie, Buffy & Amy H): 1772.51 miles in 2015 (242.49 miles left)

ADRS

I use touringplans and easywdw to help me decide my ADRS usually the projections they have are pretty accurate on dates and times to get me started...then when Disney actually releases information I adjust anything in prep of my ADR day. This is always before 180 day mark...or it has been in the past.

Fast passes

As soon as you use up your FP you go to a kiosk in the park and make news ones...or if you have a smartphone you can do it from your Disney account (I have not done this personally because I never can get it to work on my phone on a regular basis). There is always a CM there to help you! Many people schedule FP early in the day and then make new ones early afternoon. For me personally I book my FP at peak times that I know I will be in the park because I am a rope drop kind of girl and I think FP before noon are really a waste...but everyone has their own system. I personally hate the ride TIER system as I cant get my favorites because they are on the same tier and I hate wasting a fast pass on an attraction I don't really care for just to get my 3 in.

 

[Pluto0809]

I love your Christmas tree and Brian's sweater is definitely "ugly". We are having ugly sweater day this coming Friday.

Do you all still wait for EMH to be announced before deciding park days and making ADR's? We do not have park hoppers, so this an important element in planning for us. How soon does Disney post the EMH's on their web site? Will it be before the 180 day mark?

It depends on when the park hours come out. If they are out before the 180 day mark then yes, I plan around EMHs. I have had instances though where the hours were released well past the 180 day mark and there was nothing I could do but guess based on the previous years hours. This thread which is a sticky at the top of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board is the best one to find the hours when they are released.

When Will Park Hours For _______ Be Posted?

Fast passes... I know you get to make reservations for like three rides before you go, right? I have seen on other reports people mention being able to book other fastpasses AFTER they have already used up the scheduled ones. How does this work???

It's pretty simple. Once you use your third FP then you just need to find a FP Kiosk inside the park to get a 4th one. The Kiosks are marked on the maps and they tend to move around a bit so I won't try to tell you where they are. I do wish they would allow you to add the 4th through the App but that's not available as of now. I found this thread to be amazingly helpful when I was learning about the new system for the first time.

FastPass+ Basic Info, Suggested Priorities and Strategies

 

[cajunfan]

Oh, that is a really awesome sweater... was there a contest? Did he win? I actually one the tacky shirt contest for my office. Mine was truly bad. I will have to see if they have pictures I can post.
I will continue to live through your pre-trip report.

I see your FP+ questions was answered by Ariana (I probably spelled that wrong...).

The EMH are usually released at least 6 months in advance...they should be released when we have to make selections. But they do tend to change some if attendance is not as expected or predicted. Don't stress over it. It will all work out.

 

[disny_luvr]

Hi, Connie! I just stumbled upon your pre-trip report today and I'm so glad I did! I'm excited that you're going back to the World and I bet you are, too. I can't wait to read all about your trip.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Yes, Lynn, that is indeed frightening, my friend. Kudos to owning up to it. LOL!!! Now, go and finish that TR!!!

I am late and i see you already received awesome information... you KNOW i have to stick my two cents in

Do you all still wait for EMH to be announced before deciding park days and making ADR's?

Nope!
We have our Disney meetings watch you tube and read menu's Once we have WHERE we want to go i put them in order of HOW to get them. Like BOG know for a fact i won't get it in the beginning of the trip so i try for the later part.
Then go down the list of what we want in order of popularity! Once we have the ADR's done and out of the way this will be our park days and HOPE for the best of EMH. If it doesn't happen well no big deal.

I know you get to make reservations for like three rides before you go, right? I have seen on other reports people mention being able to book other fastpasses AFTER they have already used up the scheduled ones. How does this work???

I believe this was answered!

 

[DMGeurts]

Alrighty...

Yes - I am late...

Really late...

So late, that I never really even started.

But I am here...

So sad seeing your kids growing up... We've been friends here for years now, since our girls were young teens - and seeing your kids growing up is almost as hard as seeing my girls growing up... BUt here we both are, planning graduation trips for our oldest... And one year from now - well, I will have one less person at my table - even though I hardly see her anymore as it is... But I know how hard it is, it's not easy.

So proud of you and your family - and Brian for all you've accomplished over these last years... Brian's schooling and graduation... Jillian's drivers license and first car... You going back to college... Being grown ups and paying off debt... All amazing things!!! I am so happy for you all! All things to be super proud of!

I am very excited to be here and to follow along as you plan out this trip - even if we do miss each other by just a day...

Love you -and love your family!!!

D~ <--- Sorry I am really late.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

I am so glad that I am not the last one to get Christmas things up this weekend! Although I held off because DD came home from college this week and I just could not put things up without her. Actually, I did some deep cleaning and then I let the kids have at it. What a great concept...I was feeling really bah humbug and letting them do it put me in a much better mood!

I so can relate to things being so busy...last week it seemed like we did not have a night at home and this week is shaping up the same way!
YTD Team RunDMC (Kafi, Tammie, Buffy & Amy H): 1772.51 miles in 2015 (242.49 miles left)

ADRS

I use touringplans and easywdw to help me decide my ADRS usually the projections they have are pretty accurate on dates and times to get me started...then when Disney actually releases information I adjust anything in prep of my ADR day. This is always before 180 day mark...or it has been in the past.

Fast passes

As soon as you use up your FP you go to a kiosk in the park and make news ones...or if you have a smartphone you can do it from your Disney account (I have not done this personally because I never can get it to work on my phone on a regular basis). There is always a CM there to help you! Many people schedule FP early in the day and then make new ones early afternoon. For me personally I book my FP at peak times that I know I will be in the park because I am a rope drop kind of girl and I think FP before noon are really a waste...but everyone has their own system. I personally hate the ride TIER system as I cant get my favorites because they are on the same tier and I hate wasting a fast pass on an attraction I don't really care for just to get my 3 in.

I let our kids do the tree decorating, too! My job is to unbox and pass out the ornaments to be hung... and I may or may not tell nostatgic stories about each and every ornament hung.

Holy cow...you runners don't mess around!!! Go you! I do good to make it to my Zumba class twice a week.

Thanks so much for sharing the web sites for park planning! I will definitely check those out. I am certain Brian will want to use the app. I do hope it works welll for us. He has enjoyed using the app on our previous trips. I LOVE your advice about booking peak time FP's, that is brilliant! I am sure we will be following that model of planning, too! Thanks for such great input!!!

I love your Christmas tree and Brian's sweater is definitely "ugly". We are having ugly sweater day this coming Friday.

It depends on when the park hours come out. If they are out before the 180 day mark then yes, I plan around EMHs. I have had instances though where the hours were released well past the 180 day mark and there was nothing I could do but guess based on the previous years hours. This thread which is a sticky at the top of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board is the best one to find the hours when they are released.

When Will Park Hours For _______ Be Posted?

It's pretty simple. Once you use your third FP then you just need to find a FP Kiosk inside the park to get a 4th one. The Kiosks are marked on the maps and they tend to move around a bit so I won't try to tell you where they are. I do wish they would allow you to add the 4th through the App but that's not available as of now. I found this thread to be amazingly helpful when I was learning about the new system for the first time.

FastPass+ Basic Info, Suggested Priorities and Strategies

Okay, I will definitely follow that thread, good to know. This is going to drive me nuts, I can already tell. EMH's are very important to us. Some of our best memories were made during those slap happy 3 am closing time visits to a park. Since we don't park hop, it makes it more difficult to plan, for sure.

Does anyone ever buy the Unofficial Guide books any more? Do you think that would be helpful in planning? I got one in 2013....then we ended up with the off-site stay with just one park day.

Oh, that is a really awesome sweater... was there a contest? Did he win? I actually one the tacky shirt contest for my office. Mine was truly bad. I will have to see if they have pictures I can post.
I will continue to live through your pre-trip report.

I see your FP+ questions was answered by Ariana (I probably spelled that wrong...).

The EMH are usually released at least 6 months in advance...they should be released when we have to make selections. But they do tend to change some if attendance is not as expected or predicted. Don't stress over it. It will all work out.

That was actually a women's sweater, and he noticed right away. In my defense, the men's sweaters were more expensive, and had none in his size. Sadly, there was no contest. He said he wore it for the party...then took it off and hid it in his desk for the rest of the day. Can't really say I blame him, though. LOL
Not stress about trip planning??? What is this you speak of???

Hi, Connie! I just stumbled upon your pre-trip report today and I'm so glad I did! I'm excited that you're going back to the World and I bet you are, too. I can't wait to read all about your trip.

Disny_luvr!!! So glad you found me! I just love that we are FB friends...I have lived vicariously through many of your family's trips! The photos you post on FB make me smile. Your family is so adorable (especially the boys)!

I am late and i see you already received awesome information... you KNOW i have to stick my two cents in

Nope!
We have our Disney meetings watch you tube and read menu's Once we have WHERE we want to go i put them in order of HOW to get them. Like BOG know for a fact i won't get it in the beginning of the trip so i try for the later part.
Then go down the list of what we want in order of popularity! Once we have the ADR's done and out of the way this will be our park days and HOPE for the best of EMH. If it doesn't happen well no big deal.

I believe this was answered!

But, but, but we LOVE EMH's!!! As I said to Ariana, some of our best memories happened when we were all slap happy and hyped up on sugar so we could hang out at MK until 3 am! I will have to do the best I can and hope for the best. I am thinking some of our fave restuarants are not necessarily the most popular ones. I would, however, like to snag a lunch ressie for BOG... I think that may be the only high profile restaurant of choice?

Alrighty...
Yes - I am late...
Really late...
So late, that I never really even started.

But I am here...

So sad seeing your kids growing up... We've been friends here for years now, since our girls were young teens - and seeing your kids growing up is almost as hard as seeing my girls growing up... BUt here we both are, planning graduation trips for our oldest... And one year from now - well, I will have one less person at my table - even though I hardly see her anymore as it is... But I know how hard it is, it's not easy.

So proud of you and your family - and Brian for all you've accomplished over these last years... Brian's schooling and graduation... Jillian's drivers license and first car... You going back to college... Being grown ups and paying off debt... All amazing things!!! I am so happy for you all! All things to be super proud of!

I am very excited to be here and to follow along as you plan out this trip - even if we do miss each other by just a day...

Love you -and love your family!!!

D~ <--- Sorry I am really late.

D~, you are here!!!! I am so happy to see you! I know that you have many Dis-friends who are all special to you, and you try to follow all of their threads. I really did not expect to see you much, if any at all. But I also knew that would not affect our friendship. So, this is a pleasant surprise!

Thank you for your kind words, friend! Life just moves at such a rapid pace. When they are little, you think they will be that way forever....then, poof!

So glad you are going to help us plan here. I promise, I won't be posting that often, school is about to take priroty. This should be an easy one to keep up with.

 

[cajunfan]

I wish they still have "E-Nights"...instead of EMH. THOSE WERE AWESOME!!!! I would gladly fork over that extra $25 or so a night to stay in the park longer (it was limited to like 3K-5K people, only at MK).

I actually use the EMH to determine which park to avoid...especially morning ones.

 

[oopsiDAISY]

I wish they still have "E-Nights"...instead of EMH. THOSE WERE AWESOME!!!! I would gladly fork over that extra $25 or so a night to stay in the park longer (it was limited to like 3K-5K people, only at MK).

I actually use the EMH to determine which park to avoid...especially morning ones.

You know...that could be a good idea, too... avoiding EMH. Something to consider.

 

[Pluto0809]

Does anyone ever buy the Unofficial Guide books any more? Do you think that would be helpful in planning? I got one in 2013....then we ended up with the off-site stay with just one park day.

I haven't bought one in years, things just change so fast anymore it doesn't seem worth it. And I only got the unofficial guide once because I didn't like the snarkyness (is that even a word?) of the book. I prefer the Birnbaum version's if I do get one. I just bought the Disneyland one so I have somewhere to start. Once I read it though, I'll head here to the DIS to fill in the gaps.

some of our best memories happened when we were all slap happy and hyped up on sugar so we could hang out at MK until 3 am!

Me too! There is nothing better than MK at night to me. I was bummed this last trip because the latest night was only 12 am. I've done morning EMHs at MK, HS and AK. AK seemed to work the best without a huge increase in crowds. HS always seems crowded to me no matter when I go so morning EMH day didn't seem too much worse. Now MK was a different story this last trip. The afternoon was crazy crowded, we waited an hour for HM! But that could be somewhat to do with MVMCP. The days that doesn't run is always more crowded. So our day was morning EMH plus one of the few days without MVMCP.

 

[ljcrochet]

Does anyone ever buy the Unofficial Guide books any more? Do you think that would be helpful in planning? I got one in 2013....then we ended up with the off-site stay with just one park day.

I have been know to take the different ones out of the library. It is hard planning when you don't know the EMH . Either to avoid them or to take advantage of them. I love the EMH at EPCOT- not sure why but we do that one more than the other parks.

I just bought the Disneyland one so I have somewhere to start. Once I read it though, I'll head here to the DIS to fill in the gaps.

Let me know if that is worth taking a look at. I'm so clueless about Disneyland- I'm going to have to learn before we go in the spring.