Our Thanksgiving Fantasy - Nov 22-Dec 1 - COMPLETE!!

[tazdev3225]

As I told you on FB you have inspired me to take a cruise. And even better my DH is "on board". I will now be reading everything I can to prepare but I am excited.

I a staying at AKL in May with a friend and I am so excited. We ate at Boma a couple of years ago and what little I saw was beautiful.

Prayers sent on the surgery.

 

[afwdwfan]

The whole check in process seems like it was a PITA. At least you eventually ended up with a clean room.

I hope the magic band problems didn't continue... but I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[jecskc]

Good luck with your surgery!

Thanks Annie!! I am home and resting now. NOT looking forward to the nerve block wearing off. Not at all.



Sorry you had so much trouble checking in. It's annoying when something that should be so simple takes forever and eats up part of your vacation time.

It took entirely too long to check in.

As I told you on FB you have inspired me to take a cruise. And even better my DH is "on board". I will now be reading everything I can to prepare but I am excited.

That is so exciting Lorrie. You know I am here if you have any questions. And the cruise thread is amazing as well.

I a staying at AKL in May with a friend and I am so excited. We ate at Boma a couple of years ago and what little I saw was beautiful.

You will love staying there. We always enjoy it. I can't wait to see your photos. I know you will get some good ones especially with your new lens.


Prayers sent on the surgery.

At home now. Just looking forward to getting back on my feet again. With better success this time!!

The whole check in process seems like it was a PITA. At least you eventually ended up with a clean room.

It was a ROYAL PITA. I was very peeved!!


I hope the magic band problems didn't continue... but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Yeah - I wouldn't do that if I were you. LOL

 

[annie170]

I hope you feel better soon and have a speedy recovery! Cute Mickey pajama pants (blanket?)!

 

[jecskc]

I hope you feel better soon and have a speedy recovery! Cute Mickey pajama pants (blanket?)!

Thanks Annie!! They are pajama pants. We had to split the seam just get them over the splint. Elephant foot !!!

 

[jecskc]

Day 9 – Part 2

When I last left you, we had just checked into Animal Kingdom Lodge. Everyone was hungry and we were not on the dining plan, so we went just outside of Disney property to have some lunch at Chik-fil-A.

After our yummy lunch, we headed over to Epcot.



Prior to our trip, I had set up Fast Pass + for this day. I was VERY disappointed with Fast Pass+. Especially the tier system they have. We could only pick one “good” ride and then two “lower tier” rides. I chose Soarin’, Figment and Spaceship Earth.

We entered the park and it was packed. We expected this, so it wasn’t a big deal for us. I took photos of all of the cute Christmas topiaries at the entrance.













DD pin traded with a CM and got a Duchess pin from Aristocats.



Our first ride was Figment.





Learn from my experience. This was a complete waste of a fast pass. Even though the park was packed, this ride was a walk on.



As we exited the ride, I tried to jump onto MDE and get another FP+ for Mission Space and the app kept crashing. It was super slow as well, so I was really frustrated with it.

Next was my favorite …Soarin’





Now, this is where FP+ is amazing. We already had the FP set up, so we just walked right on. We got to the park after lunch time and it was packed. Because we planned ahead, we got to ride my favorite ride on a busy day.

What is BAD about it is the fact at that we were unable to get another FP for Soarin’ or even one for Test Track because we had used up our tier 1 FP for that day. So that really sucked.

Anyhoodle, after enjoying our ride, the kids wanted to hit up Club Cool and check out the new sodas.







DD was disappointed that they had taken away her favorite which was the watermelon soda from China. They changed all of them out ----- except --- Beverly. DD was like – what?? Anyway, it was fun to try the new ones.

 

[annie170]

How are you feeling?

Good choice with Chik-fil-A! We got them here in Northwest Indiana just a few years ago and I'm addicted to those chicken sandwiches. Sadly, I tend to crave them on Sundays!

I haven't used the Fast Pass + yet, but I'm not sure what I think about it. Why you can't you get two higher tiered rides? Shouldn't that be one of the benefits of staying on Disney property?

When isn't Figment a walk-on?! Coming from someone who hasn't ridden it in at least twelve years!

 

[jecskc]

Life Update

Most of you know I had ankle surgery this past Thursday. This was my second surgery on the left ankle. Originally, I fell down the stairs in my house and damaged some tendons. This time around, they had to go in eradicate scar tissue and repair some bone calcification. So updates will be coming almost daily again. Here is my view for the next two weeks.

 

[jecskc]

How are you feeling?

The past couple of days have been pretty rough, but it will get better. At least I knew what to expect and therefore I was able to handle it better.

Good choice with Chik-fil-A! We got them here in Northwest Indiana just a few years ago and I'm addicted to those chicken sandwiches. Sadly, I tend to crave them on Sundays!

It is so good. We have them around here as well. Yummy.

I haven't used the Fast Pass + yet, but I'm not sure what I think about it. Why you can't you get two higher tiered rides? Shouldn't that be one of the benefits of staying on Disney property?

You get ONE tier one ride and two lower tier rides. That is it. For the whole day. I don't like it all. And you can only use FP+ at ONE park. So park hopping isn't worth it all. I hope they change it because I don't like the new system AT ALL.

When isn't Figment a walk-on?! Coming from someone who hasn't ridden it in at least twelve years!

It is. I will never waste a FP on it again. Ever.

 

[MissPrice]

Yay for 2 more Disney days!! That sucks that you had all that trouble with the MB's. After reading other TR's seems you were not the only one. I really enjoyed using FPP in October. It was sooo nice to walk on the rides and not have to worry about running around for paper fast passes. SO was the surgery a success? How is your pain level (sorry I'm a nurse I can't help it lol). Looking forward to next update. -Amanda

 

[jecskc]

Yay for 2 more Disney days!! That sucks that you had all that trouble with the MB's. After reading other TR's seems you were not the only one. I really enjoyed using FPP in October. It was sooo nice to walk on the rides and not have to worry about running around for paper fast passes. SO was the surgery a success? How is your pain level (sorry I'm a nurse I can't help it lol). Looking forward to next update. -Amanda

I think FP+ would be great if they didn't limit your FP's to one park or even if they didn't have the tier system. It just sucks only having three FP's and that one of them is for the better rides while the others are basically rides you don't really need a FP for anyway.

I don't know if the surgery was a success yet. Pain management has been better this time around but yesterday and today have been pretty rough. I hate it when the nurses ask me to rate my pain. I understand WHY they ask that question, but it makes me mad for some reason. Thanks for asking about me, though. I am just trying to get through the next two weeks the best that I can. It is a very painful surgery.

How is that baby doing? Did you or are you finding out what it is? How exciting for you!!

 

[jecskc]

Day 9 – Part 3

After trying all of the new sodas at Club Cool, we headed over to Spaceship Earth to ride that. This was our last FP+ for the day and on this day – we needed it. The line for this ride was very long on this day.





Then, we decided to head over to World Showcase and check things out over there.











DS met up with some friends in Norway. Friends from the cruise. So we let him hang out with them while we explored the PACKED World Showcase.

While in Norway, DD wanted to see Elsa and Anna from Frozen, but the line was crazy. Something like 3 hours long, so I vetoed that. DD would have waited though. We saw that there was FP available for Maelstrom so we tried to get one. And this where we learned that we only got THREE FP’s per day. When we put our ticket in, it said we had used all of our FP’s for the day. Well I wasn’t very happy about that and I bullied the CM into giving us some anyway. He ended up handing me something like 5 of them.

And this is the time when we realized that the FP+ system was something that we weren’t going to like – at all. We saw some Dis Friends and I started moaning about the new FP system and they said they thought it was awful as well. DH was especially angry since we had just renewed our AP’s. And even now after we got home, I am not sure I would have renewed my AP if I had known the new FP+ system would only allow us to get just 3 per day and only for one park. I am still peeved about it. We have a trip planned during Spring Break so we will see if things have changed by then. I don’t see Disney selling many park hoppers if they don’t change things.

OK – rant over.

Anyway, we had about 20 minutes before our Maelstrom FP’s so we explored the gift shop in China. DD loves playing with the puppets.



Then it was time for our last ride of the day.





I love this ride, I really do. And I was excited to hear a rumor that they were going to change it up and make it more of a Frozen themed ride. DD would love that and so would I !!

After that, we headed over to Germany where DH got a nice cold beer for us to share.



Did I say World Showcase was packed that day?? Well it was.





DD and I entertained the idea of going into the caramel shop and getting something, but the line was super long and it wasn’t moving at all so we decided against it.





Then we went to Mouse Gear and looked around in there. DD couldn’t resist this Elsa doll.







So I got it for her. And I couldn’t resist this puzzle.



Now that I have had my surgery and will be laid up for a couple of weeks, I will get this out and put it together. I just love the Thomas Kinkade puzzles and the fact that there are Disney ones is just a double winner for me.

After that, we were pretty tired so we decided to head out. We called DS and asked him to meet us at the front of the park.





Once we got to the car, the kids said they wanted to eat at Outback. They LOVE Outback and there was one off property right around the corner from Animal Kingdom Lodge so we went there for supper. It was very good. Then we went back to AKL, watched some football and did a load of laundry and went to sleep.

 

[scottny]

Great updates and pics.

I agree about people not getting park hoppers due to the 3 limit. I think once it is all worked out and the system is good to go then they will up the limit and park hop with them. I hope.

Hope the healing isn't too bad.

 

[jecskc]

Great updates and pics.

Thanks Scott!!

I agree about people not getting park hoppers due to the 3 limit. I think once it is all worked out and the system is good to go then they will up the limit and park hop with them. I hope.

I hope so, too. Because I need more than three and the tier things they have going on just really sucks!!

Hope the healing isn't too bad.

I have some ups and downs. I'm dealing.

 

[afwdwfan]

I feel the same way you do about the FP+ thing, and I've never even had to use it yet.

Unfortunately, too many people seem to think it is a good thing. I've debated it ad nauseam ... Every time I mention that I hate the lack of flexibility, there are 20 people to tell me how much more flexible it will be because I can change them on the fly with the app.

Just like I can always change an ADR on the app to get a seating for any restaurant I want, any time I want if the time doesn't work for me or I decide to go to a different park tomorrow... Ok, I'm sorry, I'll try to stop my sarcastic rant.

I do plan to try to use it in our favor in December though... at least as best I can with a limit of 3 of them and the tier system. We'll probably use Park Hoppers to do this. My thought is that we'd go to a park at rope drop in the morning without FP+ to do what we can before lines get long, then eat lunch and take a break, then go to another park in the afternoon to use our FP+. And if this type of strategy doesn't work because too many people try to do it and you can't get afternoon FP+, then I agree, there is absolutely no reason to have a Park Hopper going forward.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

first, hope you are feeling ok and that this 2nd surgery fixes everything and there are no complications or anything

I think there are a lot of positives and negatives to FP+ ... I think how you got to experience Soarin' is an absolute plus and it is good that it enables you to ensure you will get on at least your #1 must do attraction, but obviously the other limitations you cited are a real negative

I hope they adjust things as they go - they definitely need to allow people to book FP+ at more than one park or they will definitely see sales of park-hopping (which I believe is a big $ maker for them) to go down

That Elsa doll is really cute and I too love that puzzle - good luck getting it done!

 

[Tricia's mom]

No good can become of the new FP system..... I work that Old FP system like a darn pro !!!!

It's like your penalized for knowing how to work it...

 

[jecskc]

I feel the same way you do about the FP+ thing, and I've never even had to use it yet.

I hate it.

Unfortunately, too many people seem to think it is a good thing. I've debated it ad nauseam ... Every time I mention that I hate the lack of flexibility, there are 20 people to tell me how much more flexible it will be because I can change them on the fly with the app.

And that is a great theory - if the app actually works. But it wasn't when we were there. It was a hot mess.

Just like I can always change an ADR on the app to get a seating for any restaurant I want, any time I want if the time doesn't work for me or I decide to go to a different park tomorrow... Ok, I'm sorry, I'll try to stop my sarcastic rant.

It is OK, Andy - I am fluent in sarcasm. And ranting.

I do plan to try to use it in our favor in December though... at least as best I can with a limit of 3 of them and the tier system. We'll probably use Park Hoppers to do this. My thought is that we'd go to a park at rope drop in the morning without FP+ to do what we can before lines get long, then eat lunch and take a break, then go to another park in the afternoon to use our FP+. And if this type of strategy doesn't work because too many people try to do it and you can't get afternoon FP+, then I agree, there is absolutely no reason to have a Park Hopper going forward.

The tier system is the worst part. I think I could deal with only three FP's if the tier system wasn't thrown in there as well.

first, hope you are feeling ok and that this 2nd surgery fixes everything and there are no complications or anything

Thank you. I hope so, too. It has been a difficult year.

I think there are a lot of positives and negatives to FP+ ... I think how you got to experience Soarin' is an absolute plus and it is good that it enables you to ensure you will get on at least your #1 must do attraction, but obviously the other limitations you cited are a real negative

The only REAL plus that I can see to the new FP+ system is the fact that you can arrive late to a park and still have a fast pass. And the fact that you don't have to make the mad dash for the paper FP's at rope drop.

I hope they adjust things as they go - they definitely need to allow people to book FP+ at more than one park or they will definitely see sales of park-hopping (which I believe is a big $ maker for them) to go down

I agree. And they need to allow more than three per day.

That Elsa doll is really cute and I too love that puzzle - good luck getting it done!

I will get it done. I love a good puzzle !!

No good can become of the new FP system..... I work that Old FP system like a darn pro !!!!

I know, right. We were absolute EXPERTS at the FP game.

It's like your penalized for knowing how to work it...

True. Maybe it will make rope drop even better. Some people will not hit rope drop if they can just schedule a FP instead of running to get one at rope drop. Maybe then you can get a bunch of stuff done in the morning - even more so.

 

[MEK]

Hope your recovery from your surgery is going well.

We used the FP plus before the tier system was implemented, so it worked well for us. I like it less with the tier system and that you can only get three for the entire day. That stinks. The upside it, at least you can pick your time. But I agree with you on the park hoppers. Why bother?

Nice pictures. The weather and the decorations look lovely.

 

[jecskc]

Hope your recovery from your surgery is going well.

It is going. Pain management has been better this time. Still a painful recovery. I just hope they fixed it for good.

We used the FP plus before the tier system was implemented, so it worked well for us. I like it less with the tier system and that you can only get three for the entire day. That stinks. The upside it, at least you can pick your time. But I agree with you on the park hoppers. Why bother?

I think I coud tolerate only 3 a day if they didn't have the tier system. The other downside to not having park hoppers is that it limits dining possibilities as well.

Nice pictures. The weather and the decorations look lovely.

Thanks. We had decent weather.