The ABCs of a Very Merry Christmastime Land and Sea Adventure- M is for: Making the Most of a Morning Safari!

[Steppesister]

I made our reservations for Strong Water Tavern and Big Fire
It will be nice to see you and spend time visiting!
I will be excited to hear about Jollywood. It sounds like it is much improved this year!
I’m very excited for the trip. I leave on 12/1, yay!

Looking forward to both of those places for our Uni part. The menus look so yummy!

It really will. I was hoping to chat with you before the trip again and will text tomorrow.

The Food..... Blog website was pretty thorough and there seems to be a TON of shows. Like, I'm not even sure how to fit them all in. I wish I'd known about the Tip Tip Club Soiree sooner or the Brown Derby extra dinner thing. So posh sounding.

Your leave date is coming up so fast! Yippee!!!

 

[Paulaparm]

Congratulations!! That is fantastic news! Best of luck on the job hunt.

Your plans sound fun!

 

[Steppesister]

D is for: Did the Plan Just Change?!
​

Okay, so you know how that Disney Math Thing always seems to... well, happen? It kinda did. Not completely intentionally, but it happened. Of course, it all started happening only about 30 minutes after I posted that last chapter. So here's a bonus read just for fun!

Kari texted telling me she had to postpone her arrival from the 6th to the 8th due to unforeseen circumstances. This triggered some necessary changes. Changes aren't always a bad thing. In this case, it netted an extra night. Let's explore how exactly this unfolded...

Nothing at all changed on the 6th or 7th and I'll be left to my own devices. Except for our fabulous Skyliner Crawl planned with Caroline and Susan (who are staying at the Gran Destino).

Remember we had Jollywood nights planned for the 7th? Yeah, with Kari not arriving now until the 8th and, that being her one must-do deal, it became imperative to find another opportunity. She got a "niggling" and things fell into place from there. The next party date was the 11th. If you'll also remember that was the night we would be sleeping in Ft. Lauderdale. Dilemma #1: Could the tickets be transferred to another date?

Why yes! Yes, they could! Kari took care of business, because when a party scorns a girl, the girl fights back!

Dilemma #2: My order of business was to deal with the already rented car. I'd scheduled a 1:00 pick up near The Springs after our lunch at Summerhouse on the Lake and a return at Ft. Lauderdale Airport around 5:00. Hmmm... if we were going to be at party that night how could I return the car that day? You guessed it! We couldn't! See how this morphed into another Disney night? The price of an extra night at All Stars was the same as the room she'd gotten us near the Port. Ta-daaaa! The only extra charge is one night of resort parking. Which approximates Phase 1 of a Starlink launch. Whatever. It bought us some extra time to check out some resorts, enjoy our lunch, and do whatever else diddling around we can muster up. Neither of us felt the need for another park day ticket; there's plenty to do without that. I mean we'll be at Jollywood nights by 6:00 anyway.

This also means a super early start to our Embarkation Day. I think we need to leave by 6:00AM, get the car turned in by 9:30, and get ourselves over to the Port for boarding. This allows for an extra couple of hours of wiggle room for extra traffic.

And that my friends is how trips are morphed.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Nothing at all changed on the 6th or 7th and I'll be left to my own devices. Except for our fabulous Skyliner Crawl planned with Caroline and Susan (who are staying at the Gran Destino).

I'm a little confused over your change of plans on the 6th. I'm open to the idea of joining you for the Skyliner Crawl after our dinner at Boathouse, if the crawl is still on. You can also join us for dinner at the Boathouse. That would be nice, too.

 

[Steppesister]

I'm a little confused over your change of plans on the 6th. I'm open to the idea of joining you for the Skyliner Crawl after our dinner at Boathouse, if the crawl is still on. You can also join us for dinner at the Boathouse. That would be nice, too.

No changes to the 6th. I think I worded that awkwardly, and meant other than hanging out with others for the Crawl, I'll be on my own, not that any plans had changed. The Skyliner Crawl is still on and we'd love to have you ladies join us. I'm going to stick with my DHS afternoon and try to get onto some rides and do some photography.

 

[Steppesister]

Congratulations!! That is fantastic news! Best of luck on the job hunt.

Your plans sound fun!

Thank you so much!! It's definitely a huge weight off of my shoulders.

Lots of good plans cooked up, I think!

 

[Wood Nymph]

The Skyliner Crawl is still on and we'd love to have you ladies join us.

It sounds like fun. I can't guarantee that I will join you, but I'm going to try.

 

[suse66]

Nothing at all changed on the 6th or 7th and I'll be left to my own devices. Except for our fabulous Skyliner Crawl planned with Caroline and Susan (who are staying at the Gran Destino).

Are you going to meet Caroline and I at MK in the morning on the 6th? We'll be there until about 1:00.

I'm a little confused over your change of plans on the 6th. I'm open to the idea of joining you for the Skyliner Crawl after our dinner at Boathouse, if the crawl is still on. You can also join us for dinner at the Boathouse. That would be nice, too.

Yay! The crawl is definitely on! We will start at HBD then go to Banaan Cabana. Next up is Bar Riva and we are planning on finishing up at Crew Cup. I think we are looking at trying to be at HBD lounge by 7pm.

 

[Malia78]

The only extra charge is one night of resort parking. Which approximates Phase 1 of a Starlink launch.

And from what I read, overnight parking at resort is free again...so another mark in the Disney math win column

 

[Steppesister]

And from what I read, overnight parking at resort is free again...so another mark in the Disney math win column

Yes!!!! That makes extra cash for more party treats. (That’s how Disney math works, right…?)

 

[Malia78]

That makes extra cash for more party treats. (That’s how Disney math works, right…?)

Precisely!

 

[Steppesister]

It sounds like fun. I can't guarantee that I will join you, but I'm going to try.

Wonderful!

 

[Steppesister]

Are you going to meet Caroline and I at MK in the morning on the 6th? We'll be there until about 1:00.

I'd love to! I'd like to hit RD hard and try to get some of the headliners done (since I won't have LL or whatever the pay4play is right now) and was planning to hop to EPCOT around 2 or 3. Other than that I don't have much planned other than to soak up the sights and sounds.

Yay! The crawl is definitely on! We will start at HBD then go to Banaan Cabana. Next up is Bar Riva and we are planning on finishing up at Crew Cup. I think we are looking at trying to be at HBD lounge by 7pm.

7:00 is perfect. Gives me a few hours to have a good walk around the park and catch a ride or two.

 

[missjackiemcg]

I sure miss you too; you're still welcome to join me and Kari on this trip.

I certainly wish I could!!! My new principal gave us the entire week of Thanksgiving off, which means I would have a really hard time asking for days off in the near future. But I look forward to following along and living vicariously through all of you!

I'm now... Steppesister, MSN, APRN, FNP-C!

YAY!!! So proud of all of your hard work and those very well earned alphabet letters that now follow your name!

In planning my park days, I tried to find a way to have BOTH a park opening/RD AND a park closing at each of the 4. Shockingly, it worked so I can hit up the headliners and see the Christmas stuff all lit up for an evening at each park at least once.

That is my absolute favorite way to plan my days, too! In a perfect trip, I love to start and finish a day at each park!

I absolutely love it when a little Disney math comes into play and works out to my advantage!

 

[pkondz]

I know I haven't been on for quite some time. Miss me?!

I believe this is where I'm supposed to say "Yes, but I'm sure my aim will improve."

I am pleased to announce that my absence was filled with lots of review and study which was rewarded with PASSING MY BOARD EXAMS!! I'm now... Steppesister, MSN, APRN, FNP-C! WOOT!

Wonderful news! Congratulations!

So, going "on the cheap" (as if there was truly was such a thing at Disney )

Definitely is not.

I've chosen to stay at All Stars Music. I've not done that one yet, so will knock another resort off the list.

Do yourself a favour and do not... repeat NOT let them stick you in Country Fair. After a day at the park, walking that extra 17 miles to the back of the resort is... looooong. (If possible, avoid Rock Inn building 4 and Broadway 7, too.)

In planning my park days, I tried to find a way to have BOTH a park opening/RD AND a park closing at each of the 4.

Read that at first as staying 8 days... close, though.

8 Spoons (although I'll never forgive them for discontinuing the shrimp and sweet chili version)

A travesty.

The plan is to hop to DHS around 3 or 4:00 for my one splurge of the trip- Jollywood Nights!

Nice! Interested to hear all about it.

Woody's. I've never tried the grilled cheese and tomato soup, which I've heard rave reviews of, so probably that.

I'll rave.

I may or may not hop back to MK depending on my mood. It's not my favorite park and I may have gotten my fill by now.

Surprised by that, considering it's not your fave park.

My line-standing limit is about 30 minutes and only for a few rides. WHAT'S YOURS??

About the same, depending on the ride. ASSaucers? 2 minutes. Rise? Maybe an hour.
But... I'm much more likely to pay to avoid that.

I will probably end up with a Ronto Dog or the pretzel from the Baseline for an early lunch.

Both excellent choices.

Glimmering Greenhouses Tour

What is this?

Kari took care of business, because when a party scorns a girl, the girl fights back!

The only extra charge is one night of resort parking. Which approximates Phase 1 of a Starlink launch.

Kari already mentioned this, but...

(From Disney dot com faq)
Do I need to pay for parking at Disney Resort hotels?
Overnight self-parking is complimentary for Guests staying at our Disney Resort hotels.

It bought us some extra time to check out some resorts, enjoy our lunch, and do whatever else diddling around we can muster up. Neither of us felt the need for another park day ticket; there's plenty to do without that. I mean we'll be at Jollywood nights by 6:00 anyway.

Solid reasoning.

I think we need to leave by 6:00AM, get the car turned in by 9:30, and get ourselves over to the Port for boarding. This allows for an extra couple of hours of wiggle room for extra traffic.

Early, but given the circumstances, a sound decision.

 

[Steppesister]

certainly wish I could!!! My new principal gave us the entire week of Thanksgiving off, which means I would have a really hard time asking for days off in the near future. But I look forward to following along and living vicariously through all of you!

Oh nice though! A whole week off is great!

YAY!!! So proud of all of your hard work and those very well earned alphabet letters that now follow your name!

It's been a long and very difficult almost 3 years! I'm betting the first year of work will be challenging as well!

That is my absolute favorite way to plan my days, too! In a perfect trip, I love to start and finish a day at each park!

That way you can RD a few rides AND see the parks at night! They are so pretty after dark each in their own way!

I absolutely love it when a little Disney math comes into play and works out to my advantage!

It's the Warmest and Fuzziest Kind of Math!!

 

[Steppesister]

I believe this is where I'm supposed to say "Yes, but I'm sure my aim will improve."

BOO!

Wonderful news! Congratulations!

Thank you! It was a long haul and I suspect the first year of practice will be no piece of cake either! "I'm done learning." is just not a concept in healthcare.

Definitely is not.

But there ARE a few tricks to cut them down at least a little.

Do yourself a favour and do not... repeat NOT let them stick you in Country Fair. After a day at the park, walking that extra 17 miles to the back of the resort is... looooong. (If possible, avoid Rock Inn building 4 and Broadway 7, too.)

I haven't looked at a map yet even. Should as I'll probably ask MEK to fax or call in a request for me soon.

Read that at first as staying 8 days... close, though.

Close. But even if I was staying 8 days, working it out to have an open and a close can be tricky!

A travesty.

I guess too expensive? Fish was a safety issue for them? I just don't know.

Nice! Interested to hear all about it.

I'll be sure to get lots of photos!

Surprised by that, considering it's not your fave park.

I still want to see the decorations though- haven't been for Christmas time in a VERY long time!

About the same, depending on the ride. ASSaucers? 2 minutes. Rise? Maybe an hour.
But... I'm much more likely to pay to avoid that.

If I had a real job... I'd swing for it too, but.... well, not quite yet.... hopeful, but not quite.

What is this?

A little tour through the LwtL greenhouse in The Land. I've done it before not during Christmas and it was a FANTASTIC tour.

Kari already mentioned this, but...

(From Disney dot com faq)
Do I need to pay for parking at Disney Resort hotels?
Overnight self-parking is complimentary for Guests staying at our Disney Resort hotels.

I think I vaguely remember a time when they did indeed charge and there was quite the ruckus! Glad they figured out the rage machine there.

Early, but given the circumstances, a sound decision.

Certainly reduces the stress a bit! Or should anyway.

 

[pkondz]

Thank you! It was a long haul and I suspect the first year of practice will be no piece of cake either! "I'm done learning." is just not a concept in healthcare.

No, I suppose it’s not.

I haven't looked at a map yet even. Should as I'll probably ask MEK to fax or call in a request for me soon.

Close. But even if I was staying 8 days, working it out to have an open and a close can be tricky!

I would think so.

I guess too expensive? Fish was a safety issue for them? I just don't know.

I'll be sure to get lots of photos!

Great!

A little tour through the LwtL greenhouse in The Land. I've done it before not during Christmas and it was a FANTASTIC tour.

Ah!

I think I vaguely remember a time when they did indeed charge and there was quite the ruckus! Glad they figured out the rage machine there.

I think it was one of the first things the new CEO did.

 

[David G Farr]

No other feeling like when you pass your boards. Don't forget to message me if you are interested in a telemedicine job.

 

[Mollydolly334]

Liesa!! I love that you shared that throwback picture One of my favorite nights and photos from that amazing trip. I hope our paths cross again soon!!!! I’m so excited to hear all about your trip- especially the cruise!

Also, I’m obsessed with your super-official NP pic.