The LUCKY Muffin Spoke to Me - Halloween at WDW & Summer 2011 at DLR - 01/09/11

[MadilynnsMomma]

What night are you doing the Carriage ride?

 

[panbeast614]

What night are you doing the Carriage ride?

We will be doing the carriage ride Monday night at 9.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

What night are you doing the Carriage ride?

I sent you a PM! And, look at DH (above) answering for me. Haha.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I definitely think a Park Hopper comes in handy for F&W. It allows you to hop over for meals and spread out the food you'll be consuming! The booths open at 11 when the World Showcase opens, so I think this year we'll be doing lunch a little more!

And not to throw a wrench in your plans, but we're still waiting on the F&W schedule. Who knows? Maybe something in there will catch your eye!

So yes, I'd definitely do 1 MNSSHP and then a park hopper!

This will be our first year not doing a park hopper; I completely forgot that I haven't explained why and will be doing so in my next post!

I'm waiting on that schedule!!

I personally think you should go with the current option! I know how much you wanted to go to WWoHP and I think going in the fall and around Halloween will really add to the experience! I bet you'll be satisfied with just walking through Diagon Alley, seeing Hogwarts, going to Hogsmead and ordering a butter beer, and at least walking through the line for the main ride. You're also paying for other non HP rides and experiences so it wouldn't be a total waste if you didn't make it to the main HP ride. You would think though that considering how many young kids are going to be going to this they wouldn't make the ride that bad for motion sickness. You got to hear my experience with Mission Space and I bet it would be hard to find anyone who didn't have motion sickness after that ride! I had some motion sickness from the Simpson's ride too and it also hurt my back. Maybe you could ask a few people exiting the ride if they experienced motion sickness? Would it also help if you brought a scarf or something to lightly cover your mouth and nose so that you don't breath in too much dry ice?

I wanted to double check...did you already purchase 1-day WDW tickets? Just asking cause it says you still need 3-day WDW tickets but you have 4 days of WDW parks listed in your schedule (not including MNSSHP).

I know you really want to take advantage of the extra magic hours and the way you have everything planned right now takes full advantage of that! I'm wondering though if sacrificing some of the extra magic hours and switching what days you go to what parks a little bit may help ease some stress and in the end make for a more enjoyable experience. Although you won't get as many hours in the parks you will get more time to explore your resorts so it's a win win situation! Is there any way you can reschedule the carriage ride to Wednesday, the day you check-in at SSR? That way you can have your day off to explore that resort, as you'll already have time on Sunday before the party to explore AKV. Wednesday can then be your day at Epcot, and although you won't get the extra magic hours you can still relax and have fun there, not feeling the urge to go back and explore SSR because you won't be there yet! I also just realised this would give you time to go to DTD in the late evening!

Thank you for all of the suggestions!! It took a bit to sit down with DH and figure things out; I'm happy with what we've decided and am going to update today.

BTW, I haven't seen you on chat lately! I'll be around on and off this weekend if you have some free time!

Okay - I feel bad for reading but not actually posting.

SO - here goes.

I would actually head over to the USO board and ask your question. There will be people who have ridden it, and may have the same issues who can answer more specific questions for you.

Wife has INSANE asthma, and I wouldn't dare try and answer a question about something that triggers it.

But in all honesty - I'd be REALLY bummed about not being able to ride FJHP - but I would still go to Universal, even if just for a day. Those rides call my name EVERY bit as much as the Disney rides do. Spiderman, the Hulk, Revenge of the Mummy, and even some of the classic stuff like Jaws - LOVE all those rides!!!!!!

You should feel bad. Just kidding!

We had a great time at US last December; the Mummy is one of my all-time favorite rides, ever. My ponytail always looked like I'd gotten in a fight with a bear and lost every time I got off of the ride, though.

My biggest triggers are anything that smells like bleach (thankfully DH cleans the bathrooms), and any sort of smoke (whether it is dry ice or not.) I would be really disappointed if we went over there and wasn't able to ride!

hummmm I think I'd go with Option 2. Epcot is def. a 2 day park.

Great minds thing alike!

BTW, where have you been?? How's Timon? Come fill me in!

Could you possibly do HP the last day of your trip? That way if you decide to ride everything and it does make you sick, you'll be leaving the next day anyway. Also, does it help with your motion sickness if you take Dramamine beforehand? That helps with all of my motion sickness except extreme spinning (Teacups ).

Our last day is the day that we had scheduled for AK, and I'm planning on meeting up with another DIS'er that we met randomly at Epcot last December, too.

I actually have a prescription for the motion sickness because I have other stomach issues, but it never really helps with the rides. (I don't fill it anymore, either.)

 

[arbolita]

Personally, I feel like there will be so much to see and do at HP that it will still be worth it to go to that park even if you can't go on the main ride. You can also still walk through Hogwarts without going on the ride.

I did MNSSHP for the first time last year, and I think that doing it twice in one trip would be overkill.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Personally, I feel like there will be so much to see and do at HP that it will still be worth it to go to that park even if you can't go on the main ride. You can also still walk through Hogwarts without going on the ride.

I did MNSSHP for the first time last year, and I think that doing it twice in one trip would be overkill.

I've definitely done a lot of read and looking at costs, too.

Thanks for the opinion!!

 

[Gelfling_Jen]

Thank you for all of the suggestions!! It took a bit to sit down with DH and figure things out; I'm happy with what we've decided and am going to update today.

BTW, I haven't seen you on chat lately! I'll be around on and off this weekend if you have some free time!

Can't wait to hear what you guys have decided on! I'm still hoping I can plan a late October trip but it's looking as though it may not happen. If I end up getting a pin code maybe it will change my mind! I was at a two day conference this week and went to the gym a couple times after work so I haven't been on much. I'll definitely be off and on this weekend though so looking forward to saying hi!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

We will be doing the carriage ride Monday night at 9.

I sent you a PM! And, look at DH (above) answering for me. Haha.

Nuts - we get in on Wednesday... I was thinking about the carriage ride, but it might be a little scary for Madi anyways... Heather, I like to see you got the DH hooked on DIS

 

[Nermel9]

Yay you guys made a decision? Can't wait to hear what it is!!!!

Did you see over on the Theme Park and Attractions section someone said there was a 7 hour wait for the Harry Potter stuff at Universal? I didn't read the whole thread so I don't know if it's true, but if it is, that's just crazy!

BTW, I finally started my PTR, the link is in my signature...I have to do an update soon, it's just hard to get enough time right now with my DH around, he keeps bothering me whenever I get near the computer!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I know I still owe pictures of what I have purchased for the trip, but I need help first!

I am in desperate need of opinions! I've been doing a lot of reading about the WWoHP, and to be honest, that was the main reason this trip was booked. DH and I are HUGE HP fans and have been looking forward to that part of US opening as soon as they announced it.

But, like I said, I've been doing some reading about the main ride, and I'm not sure if it would be worth the expenses for us to go to the park. I have asthma with my major flare-up cause being things like dry-ice/C02. I also am cautious about motion-sickness because it can sometimes make me feel anxious, which can bother my asthma. (I can run, dance, do whatever and be fine, but those two things definitely are triggers.) Everything I've been reading about the ride says that there is quite a bit of C02 (there's even a warning on the sign outside) and I've seen some people (who got in through soft-openings and a special HP package) complaining about motion sickness for a bit once they leave the ride.

So, I'm a bit nervous and I'm really disappointed. (I can ride Soarin' but Mission Space and the Star Wars rides both make me sick, as does the Simpsons at US.) I'm questioning even going over there now. I typed up these three options for DH, and would like opinions from all of you, too! Of course, I know in the long-run, I have to decide if I feel like I can ride that ride or not, but I'd like to hear what everyone thinks.

Current:
EXPENSES NOT YET PAID FOR: around $300.00 for HP, plus $467.00 for 3-day WDW tickets = $770.00
Pros: HP (DH can ride the ride and check it out for me even though he says he wouldn't want to ride without me, explore the shops and the area even if I can't ride)
Cons: ....HP, no-time to explore SSR/DTD, one day at Epcot and one MNSSHP
-Saturday: Land, check-in, Magic Kingdom until 2am
-Sunday: Breakfast at Boma at 10:50am, Magic Kingdom at 4pm for party
-Monday: Day off/Carriage Ride at 9pm
-Tuesday: HP
-Wednesday: Check-out of AKV/Check-in to SSR, Epcot F&W Festival until midnight (possibly try to go back to SSR in the afternoon to explore)
-Thursday: DHS/Fantasmic
-Friday: Animal Kingdom

OR

New Option One:
EXPENSES NOT YET PAID FOR: MNSSHP Tickets for 2nd party for $125.00, plus $467.00 for 3-day WDW tickets = $590.00
Pros: Cheapest option, two MNSSHP
Cons: No time to explore the new resort, only one day at Epcot, and no HP
-Saturday: Land, check-in, Magic Kingdom until 2am
-Sunday: Breakfast at Boma at 10:50am, Magic Kingdom at 4pm for party
-Monday: Day off/Carriage Ride at 9pm
-Tuesday: Morning off, MNSSHP at 7pm
-Wenesday: Check-out of AKV/Check-in to SSR, Epcot F&W Festival until midnight (possibly try to fit in some time to go back to SSR in the afternoon to explore)
-Thursday: DHS/Fantasmic
-Friday: Animal Kingdom

OR

New Option Two:
EXPENSES NOT YET PAID FOR: MNHSSP Tickets for 2nd party for $125.00, plus $480.00 for 4-day WDW tickets = $605.00
Pros: two Days at Epcot, two MNHSSP, time to explore SSR/DTD
Cons: No HP, and $15.00 more than New Option One
-Saturday: Land, check-in, Magic Kingdom until 2am
-Sunday: Breakfast at Boma at 10:50am, Magic Kingdom at 4pm for party
-Monday: Day off/Carriage Ride at 9pm
-Tuesday: Epcot for F&W Festival (EMH morning, opens at 8am) until around 3pm, back to AKV to pack/clean-up, dinner somewhere, then MNSSHP at 7pm
-Wednesday: Check-out of AKV/Check-in to SSR, Epcot (to finish any rides and other F&W Festival booths we missed the day before), then back to SSR mid-afternoon to check out the resort (since that's the first day there) and the pool, either back to Epcot for more F&W Festival (open until midnight) or over to Downtown Disney for the night
-Thursday: DHS/Fantasmic
-Friday: Animal Kingdom

Thoughts? Feelings? Opinions! Let it all out, please!

I would still go to WWOHP just so you can get a feel of it, and see it you like it or not and if you don't then you won't have to always wonder if you should. Theink it would be nice to see it at least once and orm your own poinion from there. I think attractiona aren't the only thing, it's the emmersion into the environment, as so they say, llol
Let Us know which one you wil end up getting!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Anxious to hear what you decided to do.

 

[Simba22]

Current:
EXPENSES NOT YET PAID FOR: around $300.00 for HP, plus $467.00 for 3-day WDW tickets = $770.00
Pros: HP (DH can ride the ride and check it out for me even though he says he wouldn't want to ride without me, explore the shops and the area even if I can't ride)
Cons: ....HP, no-time to explore SSR/DTD, one day at Epcot and one MNSSHP
-Saturday: Land, check-in, Magic Kingdom until 2am
-Sunday: Breakfast at Boma at 10:50am, Magic Kingdom at 4pm for party
-Monday: Day off/Carriage Ride at 9pm
-Tuesday: HP
-Wednesday: Check-out of AKV/Check-in to SSR, Epcot F&W Festival until midnight (possibly try to go back to SSR in the afternoon to explore)
-Thursday: DHS/Fantasmic
-Friday: Animal Kingdom

OR

New Option One:
EXPENSES NOT YET PAID FOR: MNSSHP Tickets for 2nd party for $125.00, plus $467.00 for 3-day WDW tickets = $590.00
Pros: Cheapest option, two MNSSHP
Cons: No time to explore the new resort, only one day at Epcot, and no HP
-Saturday: Land, check-in, Magic Kingdom until 2am
-Sunday: Breakfast at Boma at 10:50am, Magic Kingdom at 4pm for party
-Monday: Day off/Carriage Ride at 9pm
-Tuesday: Morning off, MNSSHP at 7pm
-Wenesday: Check-out of AKV/Check-in to SSR, Epcot F&W Festival until midnight (possibly try to fit in some time to go back to SSR in the afternoon to explore)
-Thursday: DHS/Fantasmic
-Friday: Animal Kingdom

OR

New Option Two:
EXPENSES NOT YET PAID FOR: MNHSSP Tickets for 2nd party for $125.00, plus $480.00 for 4-day WDW tickets = $605.00
Pros: two Days at Epcot, two MNHSSP, time to explore SSR/DTD
Cons: No HP, and $15.00 more than New Option One
-Saturday: Land, check-in, Magic Kingdom until 2am
-Sunday: Breakfast at Boma at 10:50am, Magic Kingdom at 4pm for party
-Monday: Day off/Carriage Ride at 9pm
-Tuesday: Epcot for F&W Festival (EMH morning, opens at 8am) until around 3pm, back to AKV to pack/clean-up, dinner somewhere, then MNSSHP at 7pm
-Wednesday: Check-out of AKV/Check-in to SSR, Epcot (to finish any rides and other F&W Festival booths we missed the day before), then back to SSR mid-afternoon to check out the resort (since that's the first day there) and the pool, either back to Epcot for more F&W Festival (open until midnight) or over to Downtown Disney for the night
-Thursday: DHS/Fantasmic
-Friday: Animal Kingdom

Thoughts? Feelings? Opinions! Let it all out, please!

This is a really tough decision! Here are my thoughts (and they are literally thoughts so I'm sorry if I confuse the heck outta you! LOL)

I am a big HP fan but I never had an interest in going to the new park. I don't know why...but I also never an interest to go to US. It's always Disney all the way for me. However...I think if I wanted to do HP, I would wait until next year when it's not brand-spankin' new anymore. I don't anticipate the crowd levels will diminish, but it will give them time to work out all the bugs. You will also be allowing more time for other people to go, so that when you ask people's opinions (like here on the DIS), you will get a lot more responses.

On the other hand, we went to MNSSHP once in 2007 and on flight home, we were talking about how much fun we had, and everyone said that they wished we went a second night. So in 2009, it was just me and my BF and we went to the party twice. It actually worked out perfectly! We didn't feel that we needed to rush to do and see everything the first night because we'd be coming back to the party later in the week. We used our 2nd night to dress up in costumes and meet characters (which have really long lines) and we spent the first night watching the parade and the fireworks and just enjoying the ambiance. We are doing two parties again this year because it worked out so well for us last year.

 

[Hallowishes]

On the other hand, we went to MNSSHP once in 2007 and on flight home, we were talking about how much fun we had, and everyone said that they wished we went a second night. So in 2009, it was just me and my BF and we went to the party twice. It actually worked out perfectly! We didn't feel that we needed to rush to do and see everything the first night because we'd be coming back to the party later in the week. We used our 2nd night to dress up in costumes and meet characters (which have really long lines) and we spent the first night watching the parade and the fireworks and just enjoying the ambiance. We are doing two parties again this year because it worked out so well for us last year.

i agree with you, i just LOVE MNSSHP! Ive done it twice a trip for the past three years now. i use the same plan as you and it works out really well

 

[Simba22]

i agree with you, i just LOVE MNSSHP! Ive done it twice a trip for the past three years now. i use the same plan as you and it works out really well

It really does make things more relaxed...and um FREE CANDY!! Hello?!

 

[Hallowishes]

It really does make things more relaxed...and um FREE CANDY!! Hello?!

i like the way you think!!!!

 

[BippityBoo]

I too am anxious to hear what you picked!! I am sure you have a clear head after thinking it over for a few days. My SIL is going with my BIL to see HP. I am not going just because my kids are not really old enough and I feel that our money will be better used at WDW. However, she seems really excited about it! Seems to be lots to do---BUT---I understand your concern about your allergies. It will all work out Let us know what you decide!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I wanted to start out by saying thank you to all of you for your opinions! DH and I did a lot of debating, and I've been reading a lot of reviews on the HP ride. I told DH that if we go over there and I decide not to ride, that he'd still have to ride it for me and let me know how it is. He said that he wouldn't ride it without me because I had been looking forward to it for so long. So, we continued the debate and reading reviews.

But then, I realized that my WDW calculations were pretty off. I forgot to mention that we did the GAD program, so we have the one-day ticket voucher. I went blank and completely forgot that the more days you buy at WDW, the less each day costs. I had just looked at the cost of 3 and 4 day tickets and assumed the 4th/5th (whatever we decided), would just be free.

I had a light bulb moment though (where I also smacked myself on the forehead) and remembered how the pricing works and how you get to apply the 1-day ticket cost to an upgrade once you get in to the park. I told DH that I flubbed and that we could actually do the 5 day WDW tickets (with 1 day free, so we pay for 4) and a second MNSSHP for the same price that I'd estimated on tickets alone.

I also told DH that I wanted him to decide what to do; I gave him a few days, and then asked again. He said he thought about it, and decided that HP would probably still be crowded in October (after seeing opening crowds, and considering a lot of people will be there the same week we are because of HHN at US). He said he wanted to wait to go to HP when we could do just a US trip (which won't be until after I'm done with school, but is something to look forward to doing later on because we love the US resorts!)

I think we were both a little bummed, but then we started thinking more and more about MNSSHP.

It became tradition on our honeymoon to find as many characters as we can; we filled up an autograph book on each trip. (DH actually lost my honeymoon book somewhere between moves when he packed our first apartment up; I'm hoping it'll show up someday, but we searched everywhere and it seems to be gone. He promised that we'd work hard on this next trip to fill another one up and add characters we've never seen). We also like to do everything that we can at a party, and I have read that you can't do it all in one night. AND, MK is our favorite park. We have some great honeymoon memories from our time there.

We also LOVE Halloween; last October, we both had the flu (swin flu, yeah, bad) and were not allowed to leave our apartment for a week and a half per doctor's orders. No one could visit us either, obviously. During that time, I ended up with bronchitis which turned in to pneumonia because of my asthma, and then a kidney infection because of all of the medications I was on. DH got to go back to the real world/work a week earlier than I did, so I did a lot of sitting around, barely able to move, time by myself; I also spent a lot of time at the hospital and my doctor's office, so it was a horrible month. The week before Halloween, I was cleared to have company, so my mom would come over and stay with me every chance she had.

She knew how upset I was about everything that had gone on (I know some of you have noticed that I captain a Race for the Cure team, and how important that cause is to me), which included missing that year's Race for the Cure. (I sat in bed and cried the entire day knowing that my momma was there showing off her survivor gear without me there to support her.) I also used all of the PTO I'd saved for our December trip at work. (Luckily, I was only a few hours short of the time I needed by December, and my boss just worked with me because she knew it wasn't my fault.) And of course, it was just a terrifying experience all around.

So, Halloween came around and I was still on bed rest, but mom came over with some surprises.

She bought DH and me both pirate costumes, a plug-in Mickey head pumpkin light, and we each got a Mickey head trick-or-treat bucket stuffed full of goodies. I know she tried hard and I love what she did for me, but that month just brings back awful/scary memories.

So after that long story, DH decided that we needed to do Halloween up big time this year.

And the final decision is....

-No HP this year
-5 days at WDW (1 day at DHS, MK, & AK and 2 days at Epcot for F&W Festival)
-2 MNSSHP

I am SO excited! I have costumes planned out for both parties! (I want to keep the other costume a surprise until we come back with pictures, but we're using our pirate costumes that mom bought us last year for the other night.)

We're going to order our second party tickets this weekend (between a wedding reception tonight and seeing WICKED!!! tomorrow)!

I will post our finalized plans as soon as we get our tickets purchased! Thank you again for everyone's opinions!!

 

[dizneeat]

I think you made the right decision!
MNSSHP is just so much fun! We went to two of them last year and LOVED it!!!

Like you I had planned a UO/IOA day but we are really thinking of giving it a miss this year. Guess it will be much easier to do while we stay at the Royal Pacific next summer.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I think you made the right decision!
MNSSHP is just so much fun! We went to two of them last year and LOVED it!!!

Like you I had planned a UO/IOA day but we are really thinking of giving it a miss this year. Guess it will be much easier to do while we stay at the Royal Pacific next summer.

We ADORE Royal Pacific! We stayed there for the US part of our trip last December; it was FANTASTIC!! (I have to say, and I'll probably get in trouble for this, but I love that resort more than any of the WDW resorts that I've stayed at, and I've heard a lot of people say the same thing. It's just different; a lot more relaxed/adult-oriented, I guess.)

It's just such a high cost to go over there for one day if you aren't renting a car for the week. Plus, the hours are really short during October, so I just don't think we'd get our money worth.

Thank you for the support!! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed two parties in one trip!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

We ADORE Royal Pacific! We stayed there for the US part of our trip last December; it was FANTASTIC!! (I have to say, and I'll probably get in trouble for this, but I love that resort more than any of the WDW resorts that I've stayed at, and I've heard a lot of people say the same thing. It's just different; a lot more relaxed/adult-oriented, I guess.)

It's just such a high cost to go over there for one day if you aren't renting a car for the week. Plus, the hours are really short during October, so I just don't think we'd get our money worth.

Thank you for the support!! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed two parties in one trip!!!!

We LOVE Royal Pacific too! For the first few visits we stayed at the Portofino Bay, but then we had a real horrible experience there and skipped UO for 2 years! Ever since we stayed at RP for the first time we go back there, such a relaxed atmosphere!
And we love the Island Dining Room for breakfast!