smellyia
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2012
- Messages
- 565
I can't even convince myself into a realistic enough delusion that WWOHP is for the whole family. So Im just going to be honest, and I am serious here; WWOHP is all about me. Actually, most of this trip is, but I can at least pawn off some of the motivation to visit WDW on DD.
As I alluded to previously, I am a bit of a Harry Potter nerd-as many are-but I'm also all about the fandom. I loved dressing up for midnight showings and read Melissa Anelli's book repeatedly (for some very odd reason I have yet to fathom). I've read the fanfiction an swear Hermione is meant for greater things than she ended up with. I've got a lot more concerning nuances when it comes to my love of HP, but I'd like y'all to read - not call the local loony bin on me.
Now saying all that, I have sincere reservations about this day-which is the main reason its taken me almost a week to update this PTR. I've got it all planned out and feel like the family will have a successful trip to WWOHP, but I just can't put my finger on my worries. I wonder if it has to do with disappointment; after being so immersed in the World, will this world be hopelessly incapable of measuring up to the standards? I dunno.
However, I do know where to lay blame: Friggin' YouTube.
All of my doubts started on a blog post that suggested visitors check out video of Ollivanders before committing to its atrociously long lines (seems like that's the word on the street at IoA no matter where you go). So checkout I did and after fifteen agonizing minutes of tear inducing boredom, I decided to check out of Ollivanders... Im sure Im being a total poop about this, but Ive got one day (maybe only a half really with DD) to tour USO and Im not keen on twiddling thumbs.
Not quite the impression I got from YOUTUBE
But seeing that video got me thinking...
It planted a seed....
And like any good revolution, discontent (actually, fear of) has settled in this Potterphile.
I feel like a traitor almost right now, but this confession is cathartic like giving into a slice of Red Velvet cheesecake after a 90 day fad diet. What it comes down to is a loss of interest almost in WWOHOP after watching videos and reading up. Its almost like the Hogwarts of my imagination is being *******ized into this sub par version imagined. Even the castle seems minimal to me...but this could all be poor video and a hefty price tag for a couple of hours of living the pared down version of my dream.
Regardless of this new found hesitancy, I will not be sharing it with DH. He advocated so hard for me here and I just cant disappoint so no matter what I find at IoA; I am lunatic enough to delude myself into the perfect picture of satisfaction.
So here goes...the plan for the day that may or may not be all my dreams come true...
I will beat those dang chickens this wake up and toss the crumbs left over from my croissant at them viciously before they even think about stirring. Same routine follows, except a bit earlier because we have to drive to IoA and this journey will most likely include some sniping and perhaps annoyed silences...this always happens when we go somewhere new with the pressure of a timely arrival...its like the perfect storm.
Will arrive by 0830 in time for rope drop with about a thousand other close personal friends all waiting to ride FJ.
yay.
With DDs stroller, granted it is a a mother of an umbrella (Chicco makes good stuff), I have no hopes of competing with the horde so my plan is NOT TO. Actually, thats my plan for every RD - get there, get in, WALK. We may not be uber commandos, but we will make up for it with coffee-laced enthusiasm.
-IoA RD at 0900
-Forbidden Journey
-Castle Tour if we opt for single riders line
-Peruse the shops and obtain a Butterbeer
-Spiderman
-Seuss Landing: Cat in the Hat, The High in the Sky Trolley Train, Caro-Seuss-el, If I ran the Zoo (can skip Zoo if we are hungry) (Not the fish ride because I hate getting wet at parks and more accurately the later smell)
-Lunch - maybe Mythos, but I havent had a chance to research possibility of a reservation here. Any suggestions on where to eat? Gosh, I wish they had a handy Ressie system like WDW (score 1 for the Mothership)
This is where we start to play it by mouse ears...
If DD naps this would be ideal that way we could stay and either explore more of IoA (not really anything else there were interested in) or hop on over to US and try out some rides...
-Despicable Me (highly doubt this will be open *sigh*)
-Shrek 4-D
-Revenge of the Mummy
-Beetlejuices Graveyard Revue
-Men in Black Alien Attack
-ET Adventure
-Fievels Playland
-End the day exploring Woody Woodpeckers Nuthouse and Curious George
**Now this second part at US can be scrapped and if it is, we will just go back to BC and swim at SAB and grab dinner at one of the plethora of options.
Since I have very minimal idea of what waits at IoA & US will be - I am guessing long, drawn out and painful - I have a feeling much of this plan will be inconsequential...If you noticed, I tried to make it so backtracking would be kept at a minimum.
Before I get called out for being overly ambitious....I know. The only reasoning is that I feel like we have a few things playing to our favor....
-We dont have to get lockers since we will be child swapping
-We can use the singles line AND child swap for all the major attractions
-Express Pass (or whatever the FP version is called) may help for some of the lesser items like shows and Seuss and we may still utilize this benefit if the parks seem super crowded.
If I can get just the IoA portion done, everything else is bonus (sort of like the one I didnt get last year at work)
We will eventually fall into bed after what I imagine is a crazy touring day (probably our busiest and labor intensive) and fall asleep to Madagascar on iPad - hopefully DD will dream of safaris and lions.
Fine, you can have one of DD's fruit snacks, but that's it!
1. Nightmare Before Christmas
Someone explain to me why this isnt an awesome dark ride Disney is known for? I think it has such fun potential and would be a tremendous addition to the MNSSHP season. I almost thought they would come up with something as they were so merch heavy for the last few years.
So Emo Jack, I love it.
2. Hiyao Miyazaki
Anime is huge and it gets no spectacular than this guy here. He could be an addition to DHS and a fantastic opportunity to expand DHS child friendliness...Maybe even just an inspired playground??
Can't figure out is Howl or Ponyo is DD's fave - she seems to go ape**** when either one is on.
**shameless begging**
love to know if anyone is out there reading...

As I alluded to previously, I am a bit of a Harry Potter nerd-as many are-but I'm also all about the fandom. I loved dressing up for midnight showings and read Melissa Anelli's book repeatedly (for some very odd reason I have yet to fathom). I've read the fanfiction an swear Hermione is meant for greater things than she ended up with. I've got a lot more concerning nuances when it comes to my love of HP, but I'd like y'all to read - not call the local loony bin on me.
Now saying all that, I have sincere reservations about this day-which is the main reason its taken me almost a week to update this PTR. I've got it all planned out and feel like the family will have a successful trip to WWOHP, but I just can't put my finger on my worries. I wonder if it has to do with disappointment; after being so immersed in the World, will this world be hopelessly incapable of measuring up to the standards? I dunno.
However, I do know where to lay blame: Friggin' YouTube.

All of my doubts started on a blog post that suggested visitors check out video of Ollivanders before committing to its atrociously long lines (seems like that's the word on the street at IoA no matter where you go). So checkout I did and after fifteen agonizing minutes of tear inducing boredom, I decided to check out of Ollivanders... Im sure Im being a total poop about this, but Ive got one day (maybe only a half really with DD) to tour USO and Im not keen on twiddling thumbs.

Not quite the impression I got from YOUTUBE
But seeing that video got me thinking...
It planted a seed....
And like any good revolution, discontent (actually, fear of) has settled in this Potterphile.
I feel like a traitor almost right now, but this confession is cathartic like giving into a slice of Red Velvet cheesecake after a 90 day fad diet. What it comes down to is a loss of interest almost in WWOHOP after watching videos and reading up. Its almost like the Hogwarts of my imagination is being *******ized into this sub par version imagined. Even the castle seems minimal to me...but this could all be poor video and a hefty price tag for a couple of hours of living the pared down version of my dream.

Regardless of this new found hesitancy, I will not be sharing it with DH. He advocated so hard for me here and I just cant disappoint so no matter what I find at IoA; I am lunatic enough to delude myself into the perfect picture of satisfaction.
So here goes...the plan for the day that may or may not be all my dreams come true...
Thursday 5/31
I will beat those dang chickens this wake up and toss the crumbs left over from my croissant at them viciously before they even think about stirring. Same routine follows, except a bit earlier because we have to drive to IoA and this journey will most likely include some sniping and perhaps annoyed silences...this always happens when we go somewhere new with the pressure of a timely arrival...its like the perfect storm.

Will arrive by 0830 in time for rope drop with about a thousand other close personal friends all waiting to ride FJ.
yay.
With DDs stroller, granted it is a a mother of an umbrella (Chicco makes good stuff), I have no hopes of competing with the horde so my plan is NOT TO. Actually, thats my plan for every RD - get there, get in, WALK. We may not be uber commandos, but we will make up for it with coffee-laced enthusiasm.
-IoA RD at 0900
-Forbidden Journey
-Castle Tour if we opt for single riders line
-Peruse the shops and obtain a Butterbeer
-Spiderman
-Seuss Landing: Cat in the Hat, The High in the Sky Trolley Train, Caro-Seuss-el, If I ran the Zoo (can skip Zoo if we are hungry) (Not the fish ride because I hate getting wet at parks and more accurately the later smell)
-Lunch - maybe Mythos, but I havent had a chance to research possibility of a reservation here. Any suggestions on where to eat? Gosh, I wish they had a handy Ressie system like WDW (score 1 for the Mothership)
This is where we start to play it by mouse ears...
If DD naps this would be ideal that way we could stay and either explore more of IoA (not really anything else there were interested in) or hop on over to US and try out some rides...
-Despicable Me (highly doubt this will be open *sigh*)
-Shrek 4-D
-Revenge of the Mummy
-Beetlejuices Graveyard Revue
-Men in Black Alien Attack
-ET Adventure
-Fievels Playland
-End the day exploring Woody Woodpeckers Nuthouse and Curious George
**Now this second part at US can be scrapped and if it is, we will just go back to BC and swim at SAB and grab dinner at one of the plethora of options.
Since I have very minimal idea of what waits at IoA & US will be - I am guessing long, drawn out and painful - I have a feeling much of this plan will be inconsequential...If you noticed, I tried to make it so backtracking would be kept at a minimum.
Before I get called out for being overly ambitious....I know. The only reasoning is that I feel like we have a few things playing to our favor....
-We dont have to get lockers since we will be child swapping
-We can use the singles line AND child swap for all the major attractions
-Express Pass (or whatever the FP version is called) may help for some of the lesser items like shows and Seuss and we may still utilize this benefit if the parks seem super crowded.
If I can get just the IoA portion done, everything else is bonus (sort of like the one I didnt get last year at work)
We will eventually fall into bed after what I imagine is a crazy touring day (probably our busiest and labor intensive) and fall asleep to Madagascar on iPad - hopefully DD will dream of safaris and lions.

Fine, you can have one of DD's fruit snacks, but that's it!
Since this is predominantly a darkside post, I wanted to throw some WDW into the mix....What would you love to see at WDW or What themed attractions are your surprised about being missing all these years?
1. Nightmare Before Christmas
Someone explain to me why this isnt an awesome dark ride Disney is known for? I think it has such fun potential and would be a tremendous addition to the MNSSHP season. I almost thought they would come up with something as they were so merch heavy for the last few years.

So Emo Jack, I love it.
2. Hiyao Miyazaki
Anime is huge and it gets no spectacular than this guy here. He could be an addition to DHS and a fantastic opportunity to expand DHS child friendliness...Maybe even just an inspired playground??
Can't figure out is Howl or Ponyo is DD's fave - she seems to go ape**** when either one is on.


**shameless begging**
love to know if anyone is out there reading...