~Snowbird Chat 2~

[Mndisneygirl]

Becca - glad your trip is looking so promising! Lots of nice military deals! Are you staying at Shades of Green? Sorry, I'm no help with the safari question. I know they have like 3 different ones now. Some only to Club level AKL guests, some open to AKL guests, some may be for anyone.

Jenny - POR is so nice - I also think the food options are great there! Glad you're having fun - YES book bounce back!! You can always change it later, but you can't get it if you don't do it now!

Hope you all enjoy the weekend! I've got 3 days off!! Going to mostly stay in - it may not get above zero for a couple days! Brrr!!

 

[snykymom]

I got back a week ago; sorry I didn't get back on to report!

We were at POR in a Royal Room for 3 nights, and had a great time. Eighty degrees most of the days, but humid - more like June than January! The rooms were really nice and comfortable, and cute. I got a really good deal on the room (standard view, but right next to a garden view one), and I don't really like the Bayou portion, so I'll probably stick with the Royal Rooms to guarantee the Manor section if we go back to POR.

I liked the new Test Track - it was fun. I didn't really care for Fantasyland. Enchanted Tales with Belle was a disappointment. The queue was way too long and boring - no interactivity, lots of just standing. They used to have multiple lines snaking through each other (think Thunder Mountain), so you could never tell exactly how long the line was. No more. The effects were OK but not enough for the wait. If you have kids who want to be part of the story, or get a special photo with Belle, it's OK. But for grown ups - not so much.

And I'm really disappointed that you can see all the construction vehicles and all the tracks under construction for the Seven Dwarfs Mine ride. They could have made the walls taller and hidden it, but you can see it from everywhere in MK. Totally destroys the magic.

Lunch at Be Our Guest was good.

We did have a bounce-back in the middle of the booklet that we got at check-in. Even if you know all the info in the books, don't forget to check inside all the info for a bounce-back!

I booked POFQ for the first week of Food & Wine with the 30% bounce-back!

Hope all is well with everyone!

 

[snykymom]

Oh, and I'm now planning for my cruise in 2 weeks! Yay!!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Oh, and I'm now planning for my cruise in 2 weeks! Yay!!

You just got back from Disney AND you're going on a cruise?? Awesome!

We just got back last night, or I should say THIS MORNING! Our 620pm flight was delayed to 935, so by the time we got home, it was well after 1am FL time, midnight here. Southwest did give everyone a $100 flight voucher, so I was pleased with that. We tried to get Magical Express to delay our pickup so we could at least wait at the resort, but they wouldn't, so we spent a fabulous 5 hours at MCO. We did find some of the comfy Southwest seats that have the outlets and iPod jacks so everyone could stay charged up. I'm gals our friends who have two little girls took an earlier flight home! They ALL would've been miserable. My kids and nieces all did really well with they delay. Thank God the McDonald's stayed open.

We decided not to book bounce back since they didn't have any dates for 2014. We have a beach trip planned this summer, so if we go back to Disney right away, well want to wait until next marathon weekend or maybe the Princess.

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Lucky, snykymom! I'm sorry New Fantasyland was such a disappointment.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

when we were there in Nov we made a few of the 'rehearsal' times for the new Fantasyland...we got to see inside Be Our Guest and it was soooo Beautiful!! We did Ariels ride, even though it's geared for smaller kids, it was cute and tons to look at in the queue....I think it's going to be a really long line for small kids though...this would def be a ride to bring them a game to do quietly while waiting. we thought Gaston's Tavern was themed so perfectly!!!!Kids loved it!!! We had an appt after that and didn't get to see Belles cottage up close...Dumbo area was really neat too!!It was so strange walking where Dumbo used to be!!! As far as the Mine Cart ride, it was pretty concealed when we were there, so they apparently have moved/changed some of the walls, but for us it was exciting to see the progress...Snykymom, sorry that it was open enough for you to see and be disappointed~ I hate for anyone to go and feel the magic was lost...We were just so thrilled be there when they were doing dress rehearsal! We didn't think we would get to see anything this trip....
I know that it's causing the #s for the crowd calendar to be higher for MK than normally, but I don't think it's going to feel any more crowded than it would otherwise~just another draw for people to wander over to...And even if you can't get ressies for BOG, you should all go in and have a look see!!!
Hope all of you that get a holiday tomorrow get to enjoy it! I am looking forward to a slow Monday...

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We weren't overly impressed with the new Fantasyland, but we did love the Little Mermaid ride. We had one FP+ for it and were able to get a regular FP for it later, so we never had a long wait. I didn't mind being able to see into the Seven Dwarfs mine train construction. I just wish they would get it done!! I don't like how you have to walk the whole way back to the LM ride and then it's not connected to the Dumbo/circus themed area. Seems like that should flow into there, you can see it plain as day, you just can't get to it from there. You have to walk the whole way back around to get over there. Maybe that will change when the mine train ride it done, but it doesn't look like it from the maps.


We are off school tomorrow! Looking forward to sleeping in and not doing a whole lot with the day.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

They will have the New FL opening up from the LM ride to storybook circus when the mine train is done.
I really thought the new stuff was great - the theming was spot on! So many details! It was still "dress rehearsal" while we were there, and not a lot of people knew you could go in to that area. We went on a MNSSHP night too so it wasn't as busy. We got to do Enchanted Tales with Belle with hardly a wait, just one group ahead of us - gave me time to inspect the cottage. We enjoyed it and I think Lumiere is probably the best audio animatronic ever. We only got a peek inside BOG as it wasn't opened for service yet. But I understand that for now, you can only go in for lunch or if you have a dinner ADR. Can't just go in for a peek - crowd control. At dinner they won't let you cross the little bridge unless you have an ADR.

I think once the mine train ride is open it will flow better and blend in more. Right now it seems sort of choppy.

So glad it's a long weekend - although we have no big plans (it's frigid here), I kind of wish the kids had something to do. They're getting a little antsy and pesky.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

It is freezing here too!

Well that's good news that those areas will flow into each other when all is said and done. I didn't think it was going to.

When we were there last month the line to get into BOG for lunch was nearly to the LM area. We didn't even get to see in there. Thinking of making a dinner ADR there in August.

 

[snykymom]

You just got back from Disney AND you're going on a cruise?? Awesome!

We booked the cruise a long time ago. The Disney trip was a last-minute type thing, as two friends of ours in Orlando decided to get married that week. So we had to go to Disney.

But I understand that for now, you can only go in for lunch or if you have a dinner ADR. Can't just go in for a peek - crowd control. At dinner they won't let you cross the little bridge unless you have an ADR.

I asked about going in just to see it. They said that you could go in for a peek between 9 and 10:30 AM. I came back the next day and had lunch anyway.

 

[sarbah77]

Well, our Disney cruise is this week! I'm super-excited and getting moreso, the colder it gets. And it snowed while I was driving to work! I spent the ride thinking "In 72 hours, I'll be on my way to the airport. I can get through this!" (because, 19 with a wind AND snow is just icky!)

We're not sure - gasp! - we're going to have a chance to get to a Disney Park. We're hoping to do so, post-cruise, but we need to nail down the details. Which means "Sarah tells Jeremy how we're going to make it happen." I'm thinking Express walk-off, so we carry our own bags, catch the shuttle to the car rental, and then book it to Epcot. We have a 6:15pm flight, so we should get enough time in, if we go commando!

We're going to Universal Studios for the first and last time. We've been meaning to, but the allure of WDW is far greater. We finally decided this was the time to make it happen, so we're gritting our teeth. (We like thrill rides, so it'll be okay. It's just SO expensive and we're SO close to Cedar Point that UO feels like a rip-off!)

 

[Lil'Mermaid75]

Hey all! Checking in from Disney since I can't go to bed! We found a urging stain on our bedspread (still smelly so obviously not washed, and NOT OURS)! I've already spent two nights in this bed. Ick! Three phone calls later we have fresh sheets, not spread, and we were told someone would be coming to fix up the bed, and we haven't seen anyone. It's almost midnight and I'm freaking exhausted.

Anyway....I finished the 1/2 marathon!! It wasn't pretty, and I had to walk the last half because my knee was killing me, but Andy and I crosses the finish together! Running thru MK and Epcot was AMAZING!!

Andy just marched his butt to the front desk to hopefully get the bed issue resolved, so well see. Other than that, I love POR, and think I'm hooked on this over Pop.

I'm a little late to the game, but YUCK on the bed and congrats on the 1/2!

We weren't overly impressed with the new Fantasyland, but we did love the Little Mermaid ride. We had one FP+ for it and were able to get a regular FP for it later, so we never had a long wait. I didn't mind being able to see into the Seven Dwarfs mine train construction. I just wish they would get it done!! I don't like how you have to walk the whole way back to the LM ride and then it's not connected to the Dumbo/circus themed area. Seems like that should flow into there, you can see it plain as day, you just can't get to it from there. You have to walk the whole way back around to get over there. Maybe that will change when the mine train ride it done, but it doesn't look like it from the maps.


We are off school tomorrow! Looking forward to sleeping in and not doing a whole lot with the day.

They will have the New FL opening up from the LM ride to storybook circus when the mine train is done.
I really thought the new stuff was great - the theming was spot on! So many details! It was still "dress rehearsal" while we were there, and not a lot of people knew you could go in to that area. We went on a MNSSHP night too so it wasn't as busy. We got to do Enchanted Tales with Belle with hardly a wait, just one group ahead of us - gave me time to inspect the cottage. We enjoyed it and I think Lumiere is probably the best audio animatronic ever. We only got a peek inside BOG as it wasn't opened for service yet. But I understand that for now, you can only go in for lunch or if you have a dinner ADR. Can't just go in for a peek - crowd control. At dinner they won't let you cross the little bridge unless you have an ADR.

I think once the mine train ride is open it will flow better and blend in more. Right now it seems sort of choppy.

So glad it's a long weekend - although we have no big plans (it's frigid here), I kind of wish the kids had something to do. They're getting a little antsy and pesky.

We, too, got to experience the new FL when we were there in October. I loved the LM area - the meet and great area is fantastic! Of course, there weren't any lines back there when we saw the preview, so we had zero wait for the visit with the LM - what makes it so awesome is it's a private area and you have her full attention. She had fun with my boys, who refused to visit with her. I loved it. The M&G with Gaston is nice, too. The CM we had was perfectly in character. I'll be glad when the LM area connects with the Circus area - just seems kind of odd right now to have to back track to get out. I'm anxious to see it all again when the mine ride is open.

 

[Monny2AE]

Happy Friday Snowbirds! I'm watching the snow coming down and wishing I was warm in Disney!!!!!

Nothing is booked yet for June but it's looking really hopeful! Emily is excited for the new FL. It looks really geared towards her interests so even if I find it not so appealing I will love it just because I will love seeing her little face light up!

 

[snykymom]

Emily is excited for the new FL. It looks really geared towards her interests so even if I find it not so appealing I will love it just because I will love seeing her little face light up!

Oh, absolutely! There's no question that kids will love the new FL. I didn't at any time mean to imply otherwise. It's just that, IMO, there's not much except BOG for adults. (Little Mermaid wasn't bad, either.)

I hope you get to go in June!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Yes, she will love it!! and hopefully you will make it over to Belle's cottage! I didn't get a chance to do that part and I wish I would have...

 

[Monny2AE]

Oh, absolutely! There's no question that kids will love the new FL. I didn't at any time mean to imply otherwise. It's just that, IMO, there's not much except BOG for adults. (Little Mermaid wasn't bad, either.)

I hope you get to go in June!

Oh gosh! I didn't take it that way at all! It's definitely geared towards the little ones and mainly girls. I'm preparing for DS to not be so interested in the new FL but then again DD isn't too interested in Star Wars and she gets through it

So far our June trip is a GO!!! We just need to decide which week. It's either June 8-15 or June 15-22. I'd really like to take advantage of the discount and go June 8-15. It would save us $505. Their last day of school is June 7th so they would only miss that last day while we drive. (Yes we are driving again. ) School could go as late as June 14th if they have to add inclement weather makeup days. Today is a snow day and it will be made up next month. They have two more makeup days built into the calendar. Any more than two snow days and the makeup days get tacked onto the end of the year.

 

[Monny2AE]

I couldn't take it anymore. I booked for June 8-14th. If we end up having to bump it a week later so be it. Nothing eases the winter blahs like booking a trip to Disney! We are staying at CBR again and I added the Water Parks to our tickets. The kids are so excited. We've never gone when it's warm enough for the water parks!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I couldn't take it anymore. I booked for June 8-14th. If we end up having to bump it a week later so be it. Nothing eases the winter blahs like booking a trip to Disney!

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!
I am sooooo excited for you!!!! Y'all are going to have sooooo much fun!!!!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

I'm so excited. Isn't my ticker PURDY!!!!! I'm so excited to finally have a ticker!!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I'm so excited. Isn't my ticker PURDY!!!!! I'm so excited to finally have a ticker!!!!

YES!!! And it will move quickly!!!