Ready, Set, Let the Games Begin! - Link to new PTR/TR!

[franandaj]

Well, I think I have everything taken care of now except for the packing. Last night I reconfirmed my grocery delivery and added a couple items that I need for the room of a non food natured. I also scheduled my Owner's Locker to be delivered and picked up (minor detail).

I now have to start figuring out what I want to wear when. I need an outfit that is semi formal for our night at V&A's, but I want it to do double duty for our night at CA Grill. Since we're doing the Wishes Cruise after CA Grill, I'll need a pants suit as opposed to a dress. I just checked the weather forecast and highs will be in the 80s (86 or 87 when we arrive) and lows are projected in the high 60s. Last night it was 68 degrees here at 7PM and it was a little bit chilly in a tank top and capris. Out on Bay Lake, I'm sure it will get chilly at 9PM.

I also need to get Fran to choose her clothing so that I can make sure that it is clean! Our laundry boy took on a career as a medical guinea pig, so I'm back to doing my own laundry. Not a bad thing, in fact it's not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I just have to keep on top of it before it gets out of hand. So the focus for the next week will be packing!

 

[Pinkocto]

That's a big time jump in the flights. At least you'll have a more leisurely last day. Will you be renting scooters? Do they deliver and pick up at the resorts?

 

[rentayenta]

Glad it's all coming along smoothly. Your trip is so close. The weather looks perfect too.

Bummer about the later flight. What time does that put you back in town?

The magic bands sound confusing and scary and I can't even think about them. Do they have anything to do with FP?

Doing your own laundry? Welcome to my world.

 

[kmedina]

We are starting our trip off with a meal at Beaches and Cream. It is our first time as well, so I cannot wait to hear what you think. Our flight leaves early on departure day, so we get no time to relax. Glad you'll have a slow paced morning.

CG, V and A's and a Wishes Celebration cruise all sound fantastic. You are in for a great time.

 

[franandaj]

That's a big time jump in the flights. At least you'll have a more leisurely last day. Will you be renting scooters? Do they deliver and pick up at the resorts?

Heck no! We can buy new batteries three times over for the price that they charge for half our stay! We bring our own on the plane, much more cost effective! It just makes a lot of luggage getting to LAX and back. Disney transports our stuff very well back and forth.

They do pick up and deliver at the resorts, but you never know what you are getting with a rental scooter, how old the battery is, who has been sitting on it... We plan to buy new batteries this week for both scooters.

Glad it's all coming along smoothly. Your trip is so close. The weather looks perfect too.

Bummer about the later flight. What time does that put you back in town?

The magic bands sound confusing and scary and I can't even think about them. Do they have anything to do with FP?

Doing your own laundry? Welcome to my world.

The weather does sound great. Maybe a little warm, but since I'm not going to be moving boxes, it should be OK!

I like the later flight. I don't like to have to get out of townright as soon as we get up. We get back in about 8 or 9PM, not a big deal, except that we fly to Atlanta 36 hours later!

We are starting our trip off with a meal at Beaches and Cream. It is our first time as well, so I cannot wait to hear what you think. Our flight leaves early on departure day, so we get no time to relax. Glad you'll have a slow paced morning.

CG, V and A's and a Wishes Celebration cruise all sound fantastic. You are in for a great time.

I was going to say that I won't be that far along in the TR to let you know about B&C, but I forgot that we are meeting up before you take off for WDW, so I can tell our impressions in person!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Catching up from Page. Yay! You're coming to MNSSHP. Glad to see you got tix.

I'm so full just reading all your plans for food and then I realised that we're doing more than half of those with you.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Catching up from Page. Yay! You're coming to MNSSHP. Glad to see you got tix.

I'm so full just reading all your plans for food and then I realised that we're doing more than half of those with you.

Been working a ton of hours and just popped in to try to catch up and who do I finally see and YEAH that Alison and Fran decided to come to MNSSHP with us we're going to have so much fun I was truly hoping you would decide to go

 

[franandaj]

Catching up from Page. Yay! You're coming to MNSSHP. Glad to see you got tix.

I'm so full just reading all your plans for food and then I realised that we're doing more than half of those with you.

We're getting really close now! I'm glad you "worked on" Fran to get her to want to go. I think it will be a lot of fun with group, and a fun group at that!

Been working a ton of hours and just popped in to try to catch up and who do I finally see and YEAH that Alison and Fran decided to come to MNSSHP with us we're going to have so much fun I was truly hoping you would decide to go

You can thank PIO for that. She put the seed in Fran's head and after that it was pretty easy!

We're getting close. Yesterday we spent a fortune at the Pet store stocking up on food and litter for when we are gone. Now we just need to buy new scooter batteries and pack our suitcases and I think we're ready!

 

[jedijill]

You will love MNSSHP! The parade is fantastic...love the gravediggers! and the fireworks are fabulous!

Jill in CO

 

[Luvchefmic]

so I worked 51 hrs this past week and I get confused easily due to the recent birthday I remembered reading your answer about Theme Park Connection and wine, should have answered when I did because then I forgot where I read it

Loved that you called yourself a wine snob I didn't think that, but another fact I forgot was your aged bottles of wine collection So disregard any suggestions about where to get any ..I have been known to pick up a $ 6. bottle of white zinfandel at the Hess gas station on my way home from work and am completely satisfied with a glass of that ..so what do I know ?

Re- plans that Tues to go to TPC I can understand totally that you & Fran have to determine how you feel when you get up, especially with the time difference adjustment Since my accident, although thank God I have improved 1000 %, I don't exactly jump out of bed evey day either

So we will leave it like this, if you text me by 7 am that day I know you can both go early If not, I understand and will just go home after work and will meet you both at breakfast 2 days later Sound good ? PM if you need my cell number again

 

[Leshaface]

Just got caught up!

I'm hoping to bring a bottle of red wine with us (will probably not taste NEARLY as good as yours though ) and pop in for a glass. I went back to re-read but don't think I saw it, what time is everyone meeting up again? I think what we're doing is: Pick up rental car, drop off DM and DS at SSR, pick up a few items (water, snacks) somewhere and then drive over to you guys. We plan on grabbing a late dinner afterwards with DM at DTD.

Wow i'm surprised you're going to MNSSHP! That's great though! Please get pics of the Headless Horseman. That would be one of the reasons I would want to go, and all the candy too

 

[franandaj]

You will love MNSSHP! The parade is fantastic...love the gravediggers! and the fireworks are fabulous!

Jill in CO

I'm really glad we're going, I've heard so much about the Headless Horseman and the Gravediggers, I can't wait ot see them!

so I worked 51 hrs this past week and I get confused easily due to the recent birthday I remembered reading your answer about Theme Park Connection and wine, should have answered when I did because then I forgot where I read it

Loved that you called yourself a wine snob I didn't think that, but another fact I forgot was your aged bottles of wine collection So disregard any suggestions about where to get any ..I have been known to pick up a $ 6. bottle of white zinfandel at the Hess gas station on my way home from work and am completely satisfied with a glass of that ..so what do I know ?

Re- plans that Tues to go to TPC I can understand totally that you & Fran have to determine how you feel when you get up, especially with the time difference adjustment Since my accident, although thank God I have improved 1000 %, I don't exactly jump out of bed evey day either

So we will leave it like this, if you text me by 7 am that day I know you can both go early If not, I understand and will just go home after work and will meet you both at breakfast 2 days later Sound good ? PM if you need my cell number again

You know, I am plenty happy with $4 wines for my daily stuff, but for special occasions, I pull out the big guns.

I will check my email, and make sure I have your phone number. If I don't have it I will PM you, we'll see how things go and I will text you if I know we are up for going for it that morning. We'll keep things optimistic!

Just got caught up!

I'm hoping to bring a bottle of red wine with us (will probably not taste NEARLY as good as yours though ) and pop in for a glass. I went back to re-read but don't think I saw it, what time is everyone meeting up again? I think what we're doing is: Pick up rental car, drop off DM and DS at SSR, pick up a few items (water, snacks) somewhere and then drive over to you guys. We plan on grabbing a late dinner afterwards with DM at DTD.

Wow i'm surprised you're going to MNSSHP! That's great though! Please get pics of the Headless Horseman. That would be one of the reasons I would want to go, and all the candy too

We are going to gather around the BBQ starting around 5PM although Bobbi is going to try and commandeer the grills starting around 4-4:30PM, It will take a while for the meat to cook, so we'll probably be eating from around 5:30-7:30 in phases, who knows how long after that we'll hang out, I guess it depends on the company and the drink!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I hope we have a great time with PIO and meet up with Kim once we get back from everything!

I know that you will have a great time with PiO and her family during the trip. When I attended MNSSHP last year, it was nice to see the fireworks and parade but I would have like to go around the park to all the different treat stations and character meet & greets. I also can't wait to see your pictures and PiO of the different food at EPCOT during the Food and Wine Festival. Seeing the Headless Horseman during Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade is very neat.

It would be nice to meet with Kim one day and maybe it will happen in the future.

Hope you and Fran have a great time during the trip.

 

[franandaj]

So the first part of this Gamers meet has already taken place. Last week PIO arrived from Australia. A very weary PIO family cleared customs around 7:00AM PST after a 14 hour flight. I’m going to let her tell most of the story of this part of our meet, so you’ll have to wait until she gets back and join in on her TR to get the whole story, I’ll just give the highlights.

We met at a local Asian restaurant in Long Beach and had a pleasant meet. Her poor DS was so exhausted that as soon as his entrée arrived, she had to frantically tell her DH, “Move the food!”, as her DS’s head dropped to the table! He pretty much slept through the entire rest of the afternoon.

We had a lovely lunch (PIO took all the food porn) and chatted like we were old friends from school.



Eventually the Real Estate agent was able to meet us at the new house and we took a tour of the place. Unfortunately my camera battery went dead and I didn’t get any pictures of the place, but PIO put on her good wide angle lens, so I’m sure she got some great shots. Her DS went straight for a comfy couch and was sacked out the entire time.

We said “goodbye” for now, and I went back home to move boxes, and she and her family checked into their home for the next four nights.

Next stop on the DISmeet…..

So Sunday rolled around and that was our next planned DISmeet. There was a bonus to this meet because Brett (mvf-m11c) was happening to make a spontaneous trip to DL, so we fit him into our plans as well. We had a couple events scheduled, but Fran and I had a lot to get done before we were able to drive out to DL. I wanted to leave no later than 2PM, and we were close, we were on the road at 3PM, but we still had a couple errands before we could leave town. We arrived right at 4PM check in and had a big line. It went pretty smoothly though and soon we had our room assignment. 1514. The handicapped room. Oh, well so much for a view, this was our first experience with “only being the room to sleep”, and I didn’t like it one bit!

Here are some pictures of the room.











Hall Bath



Master Bath









Master Bedroom













Since we were barely in the nick of time, we received our bags from Bell services. I put away the food items and we hightailed it out of there. Fran took some pics of the turnstiles all decorated for Halloween.









In fact the room pictures were from a previous stay, but since the place hadn’t changed a bit I just substituted to the pics from before.


[Continued in Next Post]

 

[franandaj]

[Continued from Previous Post]


Our first plan was for Mickey and the Magical Map at 5:40, we were supposed to be there at 5:10 for our priority seating. PIO and Brett met us there and we got great seats right up front! It was a cute show, and we were reintroduced to many of our favorite characters.



































We took a visit “under the sea”



These guys inside these “bubbles” were kind of freaky, I kept wondering if they were going to suffocate!



Then we went surfin’



And then Tiana came to the party.





And Mickey closed it all up.



All in all it was a cute show, and Fran and I really liked that there was a live trumpet player. Live musicians always steal the show!

Next up dinner and a lot of shutter clicks!

 

[kmedina]

Your DISmeets are off to an awesome start. I pictured PiO's son dropping his head from exhaustion. Poor kid. I cannot wait to see the pictures she got of your new place. I am assuming your room is a VGF. They really are stunning rooms.

Mickey and the Magical Map looks awesome. We love plays/musicals, so it is the thing I am most looking forward to on our trip next month. Excited to read more about your meet with PIO and Bret.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I did remember during the trip that PiO DS was exhausted from the flight.

Great pictures of your room at the GCV.

It was very nice to meet up with you, Fran, PiO and her family during the trip last weekend. I was fortunate to get to the Fantasyland Theatre on time and meetup with all of you at 5:10pm. We had great spots to watch Mickey and the Magical Map during the 5:40pm. The show is very nice to watch and it was great to see it up close that day. Nice pictures from the show.

I still have to write up my trip report with PiO and her family that Sunday morning to the afternoon until we met up with you and Fran that day.

Kim - You and your must see this show during your trip in which you will like it from Alison's pictures.

 

[dolphingirl47]

I think we were in the studio next door in May. This was also accessible. I loved to see the photos from the show. I definitely have to make sure to see this when I come back to Disneyland next year.

Corinna

 

[dgbg100106]

Wonderful meet up and cute picture of you two...

The show looks fabulous and maybe one of these days we will make it out there.

 

[jedijill]

What a great meet! Does anyone have the link to PiO's TR?

Jill in CO