estherhead
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 3,394
We're BAAAAACCCCCKKKKKK!!!!
In truth, I've never really been gone. It's just last year I was focused on our amazing Disneyland adventure!!! So I was over on those trip report boards.
We did go to Disney World in August of last year too, but I had spent so much time do the Disneyland thing, and getting behind on it, that I only did a video for that Disney World trip.
The other thing that has changed is I started a blog in May of this year. This has changed and complicated my trip reporting as blogging is TOTALLY different and I hate to re-write things. So I tried to merge them a bit at the end of the DIsneyland report. It had mixed results but I didn't think it was too shabby.
Hopefully, I've gotten better at the blogging thing the past three months and you will all still enjoy Suzy and I and our crazy Disney antics.
Here is the blog I just wrote today with our intros for this trip, you can find it in it's original form here.
Here is the copy:
We are super users.
We admit our addiction to Fastpasses. And with the new Fastpass+ system looming when we were first booking this trip we were quite concerned that our way of touring would be banished and we would have to re-learn new ways.
Fortunately, the Fastpass+ system sounds like the kinks are being worked out of it and it might be something really cool.
But even MORE fortunately is the fact that the current fastpass system is still in place for this August 2013 Disney World vacation.
What is a Fastpass? It is a FREE, yes Universal Studios goers, it costs no money to anyone, system where you take the ticket that got you into the park that morning and get a secondary ticket with a reservation time for a ride. So if you want to ride Space Mountain you would put your park ticket in the fastpass machine outside of Space Mountain and it will give you another ticket that says a future time window, like 9:00 am-10:00 am. You then walk away and ride other rides in Disney World, like AstroOrbiter or Buzz Lightyear. And come back between 9-10:00 am and ride Space Mountain with very little wait.
Fastpass+ is set to roll out later this year, possibly. It is currently in the testing phase. It is similar to the current system where you have reservations for rides with minimal waiting. Where it differs is you can make those reservations via your smart phone. It will differ in MANY other ways as well, but since it's just in testing, those differences are mainly speculation. It is an all encompassing system.
But for right now?
We, the super users of Fastpasses, will be up to our old tricks of riding like MANIACS without standing in lines!
Oh yeah.
Wanna know the experienced Fastpass abusers, er, users on this trip?
There are 13 of us.
Milo: By brother in law, Matthew, is a polished professor best known for knowing pretty much everything about English literature. He specializes in certain time periods of literature, but trust me, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference as he knows more than just about everyone from any era of literature. His favorite thing to do at Disney World is watch his kids have fun. His second favorite thing is World Showcase in Epcot.
Suzy: My sister Cara is my partner in crime. We are like twins despite a 2 1/2 year age difference. It's as if we were one. She's Mickey, I'm Minnie. She's Timon, I'm Pumba. She's Suzy, I'm Perla.
Charming: There eldest son Gavin is 16 years old. He will be trying out for American Idol Experience again this year. He did great before but we have even higher expectations this year, of course. He may be a 16 year old, super cool guy. But he'll never be too old for Disney. We trained him well.
Buzz: My nephew Brody is the sweetest autistic kid you'll ever meet. He's on the spectrum and we used to say he has Asperger's. But I guess this year we aren't allowed. No matter how you say it, he is totally adorable and charms everyone around him with his sweet disposition and amazing depth of Disney World trivia knowledge.
McQueen: Just like his name sake, Lightening, Grant struggles with the daily monotony of life and being flexible to things outside of his control. But also like the ultra cool car, he is strikingly charming and talented. The ultimate performer he can turn the charm on and off and is fascinated by drama and movie making. He may very well be the next George Lucas.
Jack: My nephew Liam was originally named after Jack-Jack from the incredibles. He still is a shape shifter despite no longer being a baby. Quick as a lick he can be anything you imagine. Lost in his own world and yet observant somehow, Jack is adorable.
Donald: My Disney loving maniac husband, Tim. I had no idea when we married that I would love Disney World the way that I do. I'm so glad to be married to a man that loves it even more than me. No antic or crazy idea that I come up with is too big or wild for him. He is READY! Maybe too ready as he's often miles ahead of the rest of us.
Mulan: Siena is my 12 year old daughter. Pretty much like having another mother around, her loyalty to her family comes before all else. Focused, intense, and ever happy she is a great companion on vacation. Her motto: "every day is a super, sparkly day!"
Ariel: Musical and lost in her own dream world of treasures, Lexy is determined to find her own way in this world. Fortunately, she is more than willing to follow my example of enjoying the dream world Walt dreamed up.
Boo: Just like the adorable girl in Monsters, Eden isn't afraid of breaking all the rules. Also like Boo, most of the time she doesn't even know the rules exist. She marches to her own drummer, is full of energy, and has an absolute fascination of Donald Duck.
And ME! Perla. Your host for this live journey of FUN!
Thanks for joining us.
Also on this trip are my parents!!! My mom and dad are coming along for all the fun and for their first ON SITE Disney vacation. I'm hoping they enjoy a week of pampering and happy grandkids. My mom is going snorkeling in the Living Seas! And my dad is going to enjoy a ridiculous amount of people watching from the balcony of our Boardwalk Villa.
Coming up next? How I packed for our 10 day journey to Disney World!
So that is it for that post. If you want to know all the details you can go here.
I will be writing all kinds of stuff after we get home, like how to make all our matching t-shirts. How we keep our rooms organized. How we tour. Our reviews of the Art of Animation and Boardwalk Resorts. And all the other tips that you all are used to from Suzy and I.
But these first few chapters will be LIVE reports of just FUN!!! Just what we're doing and how it's going in no particular order but whatever I feel like telling you about that day.
Wanna come along for the ride? Give me a shout out on here (I know I haven't seen some of you in TWO years!) and tell me how you are doing.
Alright, gotta go to bed. I have a BIG day at work tomorrow tying up all the loose ends so no one calls me with boring, practical stuff while I'm at DISNEY WORLD!!!! Can you tell I'm a little excited???
In truth, I've never really been gone. It's just last year I was focused on our amazing Disneyland adventure!!! So I was over on those trip report boards.
We did go to Disney World in August of last year too, but I had spent so much time do the Disneyland thing, and getting behind on it, that I only did a video for that Disney World trip.
The other thing that has changed is I started a blog in May of this year. This has changed and complicated my trip reporting as blogging is TOTALLY different and I hate to re-write things. So I tried to merge them a bit at the end of the DIsneyland report. It had mixed results but I didn't think it was too shabby.
Hopefully, I've gotten better at the blogging thing the past three months and you will all still enjoy Suzy and I and our crazy Disney antics.
Here is the blog I just wrote today with our intros for this trip, you can find it in it's original form here.
Here is the copy:
We are super users.
We admit our addiction to Fastpasses. And with the new Fastpass+ system looming when we were first booking this trip we were quite concerned that our way of touring would be banished and we would have to re-learn new ways.
Fortunately, the Fastpass+ system sounds like the kinks are being worked out of it and it might be something really cool.
But even MORE fortunately is the fact that the current fastpass system is still in place for this August 2013 Disney World vacation.
What is a Fastpass? It is a FREE, yes Universal Studios goers, it costs no money to anyone, system where you take the ticket that got you into the park that morning and get a secondary ticket with a reservation time for a ride. So if you want to ride Space Mountain you would put your park ticket in the fastpass machine outside of Space Mountain and it will give you another ticket that says a future time window, like 9:00 am-10:00 am. You then walk away and ride other rides in Disney World, like AstroOrbiter or Buzz Lightyear. And come back between 9-10:00 am and ride Space Mountain with very little wait.
Fastpass+ is set to roll out later this year, possibly. It is currently in the testing phase. It is similar to the current system where you have reservations for rides with minimal waiting. Where it differs is you can make those reservations via your smart phone. It will differ in MANY other ways as well, but since it's just in testing, those differences are mainly speculation. It is an all encompassing system.
But for right now?
We, the super users of Fastpasses, will be up to our old tricks of riding like MANIACS without standing in lines!
Oh yeah.
Wanna know the experienced Fastpass abusers, er, users on this trip?
There are 13 of us.
Milo: By brother in law, Matthew, is a polished professor best known for knowing pretty much everything about English literature. He specializes in certain time periods of literature, but trust me, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference as he knows more than just about everyone from any era of literature. His favorite thing to do at Disney World is watch his kids have fun. His second favorite thing is World Showcase in Epcot.
Suzy: My sister Cara is my partner in crime. We are like twins despite a 2 1/2 year age difference. It's as if we were one. She's Mickey, I'm Minnie. She's Timon, I'm Pumba. She's Suzy, I'm Perla.
Charming: There eldest son Gavin is 16 years old. He will be trying out for American Idol Experience again this year. He did great before but we have even higher expectations this year, of course. He may be a 16 year old, super cool guy. But he'll never be too old for Disney. We trained him well.
Buzz: My nephew Brody is the sweetest autistic kid you'll ever meet. He's on the spectrum and we used to say he has Asperger's. But I guess this year we aren't allowed. No matter how you say it, he is totally adorable and charms everyone around him with his sweet disposition and amazing depth of Disney World trivia knowledge.
McQueen: Just like his name sake, Lightening, Grant struggles with the daily monotony of life and being flexible to things outside of his control. But also like the ultra cool car, he is strikingly charming and talented. The ultimate performer he can turn the charm on and off and is fascinated by drama and movie making. He may very well be the next George Lucas.
Jack: My nephew Liam was originally named after Jack-Jack from the incredibles. He still is a shape shifter despite no longer being a baby. Quick as a lick he can be anything you imagine. Lost in his own world and yet observant somehow, Jack is adorable.
Donald: My Disney loving maniac husband, Tim. I had no idea when we married that I would love Disney World the way that I do. I'm so glad to be married to a man that loves it even more than me. No antic or crazy idea that I come up with is too big or wild for him. He is READY! Maybe too ready as he's often miles ahead of the rest of us.
Mulan: Siena is my 12 year old daughter. Pretty much like having another mother around, her loyalty to her family comes before all else. Focused, intense, and ever happy she is a great companion on vacation. Her motto: "every day is a super, sparkly day!"
Ariel: Musical and lost in her own dream world of treasures, Lexy is determined to find her own way in this world. Fortunately, she is more than willing to follow my example of enjoying the dream world Walt dreamed up.
Boo: Just like the adorable girl in Monsters, Eden isn't afraid of breaking all the rules. Also like Boo, most of the time she doesn't even know the rules exist. She marches to her own drummer, is full of energy, and has an absolute fascination of Donald Duck.
And ME! Perla. Your host for this live journey of FUN!
Thanks for joining us.
Also on this trip are my parents!!! My mom and dad are coming along for all the fun and for their first ON SITE Disney vacation. I'm hoping they enjoy a week of pampering and happy grandkids. My mom is going snorkeling in the Living Seas! And my dad is going to enjoy a ridiculous amount of people watching from the balcony of our Boardwalk Villa.
Coming up next? How I packed for our 10 day journey to Disney World!
So that is it for that post. If you want to know all the details you can go here.
I will be writing all kinds of stuff after we get home, like how to make all our matching t-shirts. How we keep our rooms organized. How we tour. Our reviews of the Art of Animation and Boardwalk Resorts. And all the other tips that you all are used to from Suzy and I.
But these first few chapters will be LIVE reports of just FUN!!! Just what we're doing and how it's going in no particular order but whatever I feel like telling you about that day.
Wanna come along for the ride? Give me a shout out on here (I know I haven't seen some of you in TWO years!) and tell me how you are doing.
Alright, gotta go to bed. I have a BIG day at work tomorrow tying up all the loose ends so no one calls me with boring, practical stuff while I'm at DISNEY WORLD!!!! Can you tell I'm a little excited???
Hopefully I'll be able to figure out the blogging on the go. Just posted my last blog post from my iphone. Took me like 10 minutes to figure out! It was easy but I think I'm a slow learner. 
