The Nightmare Before Christmas - Move over Jack, WALDO'S BACK!~A Dec PTR~ NEW 12/10!!

[momabaarjo]

Are you staying Onsite at Universal? I can't remember... I think your plan of attack looks good...but if you are not doing early entry for staying on site you might want to check the wait time for Olivanders before going there first.

Forbidden Journey is very intense, if you are not a thrill rider. But the ride is so amazing, and if you are a HP fan you are trying to take it all in and the motion really was not an issue (for me at least). NOTHING LIKE SOARIN, other than your feet dangle....

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Your plan of attack for Harry Potter looks good. If any of you are at all prone to motion sickness you may want to take something before riding Forbidden Journey.

Really? Good to know! Maddie and Andy are both prone to motion sickness. I don't know if you recall the great barfing incident of '08.

Don't discount the rest of Islands of Adventure, we were really impressed with the park.

I figure we'll see how it all unfolds. HP is definitely our priority, though.

The theming in the Lost Continent was great and I highly recommend Mythos for lunch. The theme is wonderful and the prices aren't bad. Only a dollar or two more than what you would pay at counter service and Universal has a bad rep for its counter service. Also you can typically walk in and get a table with no reservation but if you want the reassurance of a reservation you should be able to do that at your hotel or at guest services at the front of the park.

I managed to snag a ressie using OpenTable.com.

No matter what you do I am sure you will have a blast!

If you want more info/pictures I should be starting our Islands of Adventure day sometime next week in my trip report.

Wow, Lessa! Thanks for all the info. I really needed it! I've been patiently waiting for that portion of you TR!

NO!

Yep. The jacked up the prices and so much of DCA is boarded up because of CarsLand. We'll wait to renew in the Spring when everything is opened.

TR Title

Definitely a contender!

Have you thought about heading to City Walk? We really like Margaritaville and Jim and Jimmy loved Pastamore when they were there (when I got sick).

No, I hadn't planned on any City Walk action. We have City Walk here and it's not big on our to-do list, KWIM?

Suess trivia - Green Eggs and Ham was written on a bet. Someone bet him he could not write book using only 50 or less words.

I'll bet they were playing frisbee at the time.

Oh right, itmight be 70 degrees

You made those? I'm very impressed

With my bleeding fingers.

That's the DLR version of Via Napoli, right?

Yes, but we've still got an ADR at Via, just for comparision sakes.

That's it, I'm putting my foot down here - Spiderman is NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

Yeah, ok.... we'll try Spiderman.

Since I know nothing about HP, I just wanted to let you know I love Mads' skirt in the first day of school picture. Where'd you find it? Purple's C's favorite color and she loves the sassy skirt...

Posted on your FB wall, but if anyone else wants to know, we got it at Justice.

Loved the installment, the kids looked fantastic on their first day. The family pictures were wonderful. I can't wait to read more .

Thanks, Tracy. Tell Bill, Sytherin house has extraordinary wizards who have done extraordinary things. Perhaps just a few evil ones.

Are you staying Onsite at Universal? I can't remember... I think your plan of attack looks good...but if you are not doing early entry for staying on site you might want to check the wait time for Olivanders before going there first.

We're staying at the Double Tree with a package deal, so we get the Early Entry passes, but not the Express passes.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Really? Good to know! Maddie and Andy are both prone to motion sickness. I don't know if you recall the great barfing incident of '08.

Nope, I am drawing a blank, I will have to go back and find it.

I figure we'll see how it all unfolds. HP is definitely our priority, though.

I think you will be surprised with how much time you have left in teh day after getting everything done with Harry but then again you are going at Christmas so it will be much busier than when I was there!

I managed to snag a ressie using OpenTable.com.

Wow, Lessa! Thanks for all the info. I really needed it! I've been patiently waiting for that portion of you TR!

I have been anxious to write about it!

 

[PrincessV]

Lessa and V - Too much for Jimmy?

Maybe...

Depends, does he get easily motion sick and does he scare/startle easily? I don't want to give the ride away but there are some "scary" parts.

ITA with Lessa - it's really, really neat, but very startling, VERY loud and sort of mentally confusing. Let's put it this way, Leo doesn't want to ride it anyway, but I'm not pushing him to AT ALL, which you know is an oddity for me, lol!

Really? Good to know! Maddie and Andy are both prone to motion sickness.

It seems to depend on what kind of motion gets you, too - like I'm fine on roller coasters but anything that whizzes around gets me, as does looking out a side window in a moving car. FJ hit me like that.

I'll bet they were playing frisbee at the time.

Yeah, ok.... we'll try Spiderman.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Nope, I am drawing a blank, I will have to go back and find it.

It was the year of Hurricane Fay and the turbulence home was a killer...Maddie didn't do so well on that flight.

I think you will be surprised with how much time you have left in teh day after getting everything done with Harry but then again you are going at Christmas so it will be much busier than when I was there!

I'm hoping I timed it just right so we miss the major crowds. I checked US's website and they close at 7pm that week.

ITA with Lessa - it's really, really neat, but very startling, VERY loud and sort of mentally confusing. Let's put it this way, Leo doesn't want to ride it anyway, but I'm not pushing him to AT ALL, which you know is an oddity for me, lol!

I would let him watch it on youtube, Janet. Evan and Maddie have a good idea of what to expect now.

It seems to depend on what kind of motion gets you, too - like I'm fine on roller coasters but anything that whizzes around gets me, as does looking out a side window in a moving car. FJ hit me like that.

Yeah, I think I'm still going to dole out the Bonine.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Oh, another thing concerning Hogwarts/Forbidden Journey. If for whatever reason you/some of the party choose to sit out the ride you can still experience Hogwarts. There is a self-guided castle tour. It doesn't take you to all of the places that the regular queue will take you but you still get to go into the castle and see some of the neat stuff they have recreated for the park. You can also spend as much time as you want on the tour, no need to rush through due to the line pushing you forward.

To get to the castle tour you need to veer right when you enter Hogwarts, the entrance to the tour is right near the lockers. If you are unsure just ask a cast member or whatever they are called at Universal.

 

[DisneyJo]

I was led to believe there was ADR talk here but nope, just a teaser

I'm finally up to date T and I can't wait to read about HP, Ellie is desperate to go but will have to wait

And I agree with Janet wow Evan and Maddie have gotten big!!!!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I was led to believe there was ADR talk here but nope, just a teaser

I'm finally up to date T and I can't wait to read about HP, Ellie is desperate to go but will have to wait

And I agree with Janet wow Evan and Maddie have gotten big!!!!

Sorry, Jo!


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OMG, I have so much to update but I don't know where to even start! No joke, I've typed it like 3 times but it's just so much it's kind of all over the place.

 

[KatGarcia]

I'm late but caught up, i barely get on the dis much anymore but how can I not follow a Waldo report!? Nice to see everyone else around too!

 

[jcc0621]

Are you working onversion number 4

Hi Kat!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

I'm late but caught up, i barely get on the dis much anymore but how can I not follow a Waldo report!? Nice to see everyone else around too!

Hi Kat. Congrats on your little Princess!

Are you working onversion number 4

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

So you all remember this:

Here’s my final list - in no particular order.

Flying Fish or Artist Point - haven’t decided which to shave
‘Ohana - dinner
Rose and Crown - dinner
Le Cellier - lunch
Boma - dinner
Tutto Italia - dinner
Sci Fi - lunch OR La Hacienda - dinner - haven’t decided which we’re doing
50’s Prime Time - dinner
Tusker House - breakfast
Chefs de France - Xmas Eve dinner
‘Ohana - Xmas breakfast
Captains Grill or LTT - Xmas dinner - haven’t decided yet either.
Well, you can forget it. So many changes... so little time!

Change #1: I opted out of Flying Fish (Sorry G-Luv!) in favor of AP, just because the menu is seasonal and I simply must try the Halibut.

Change #2: Captain's Grill AND LTT. Both didn't really sit right with me from the get-go and when my friend said CG was "Just OK" - I dumped it.

I ended up adding Crystal Palace for dinner on 12/23 and then canceled it to add Tony's and then added Via Napoli for lunch on 12/24 and changing Christmas dinner to GF Cafe from Sanaa. That's a lot of eats for 3 days, but what else are we going to do? I'm not fighting the crowds to ride rides or shop, so we might as well have some good places to eat, if we choose to do so. Yes, I'm leaving that open ended.

And here's my final cut: (Well, you know )

3 Broomsticks
Artist Point
Ohana
LeClarice
Rose & Crown
Tutto Italia
Boma
Sci-Fi
50's Prime Time
Tusker House - breakfast
Crystal Palace
Via Napoli
Chefs de France
Ohana - breakfast
Grand Floridian Cafe


I've been itching to make more changes. Don't ask, sometimes I don't even know why.

I'm always checking my flights to make sure no major changes have occured and one afternoon, I decided to check rental car prices as well, to see what's gone up or down. Sometimes I just do this to reassure myself I got a great deal. Well, low and behold! Whatya know, the rental prices went down and I saved myself a whopping $40 and Waldo $15! $55 bucks! That's easily 2 Margaritas in Mexico, 1 Grey Goose Slushie in France and 1 Guiness in England and pastry in France! Oh, yeah.

In other news that fall under the "Changes" catagory. Guess what else is changing? My big butt!!! I lost about 12 pounds already doing the 17 Day Diet and amping up my workouts! I'm hoping to lose another 15 before we head to WDW. Haven't told Andy, but we're going to have add new jeans to the budget.

Oh, and we're heading to Mickey's Trick or Treat Party in 12 days, so I wanted to show you the shirts we'll be wearing.

Here's Andy's:

Here's mine: (And my Mom is wearing the same one!)

Maddie's:

Evan's:

UP NEXT:
Christmas Around the World? That's easy!

 

[jcc0621]

How did you do this?

Change #1: I opted out of Flying Fish (Sorry G-Luv!) in favor of AP, just because the menu is seasonal and I simply must try the Halibut.

Well you know that AP has sentimental value for me . If the men are steak eater the MUST try the buffalo. TO. DIE. FOR. And the mushroom soup is a MUST!

I've been itching to make more changes. Don't ask, sometimes I don't even know why.

It's just what we do

the rental prices went down and I saved myself a whopping $40 and Waldo $15! $55 bucks!

Awesome

I lost about 12 pounds

Double awsome!

The shirts are all very cute. No shirt for Waldo?????

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

How did you do this?

It's an app on my iPhone.

Well you know that AP has sentimental value for me . If the men are steak eater the MUST try the buffalo. TO. DIE. FOR. And the mushroom soup is a MUST!

That was part of the reason, especially since TE & Waldo will be with us and they do remember your folks from FF '08.

Awesome

And guess WHAT??!! I just saved another $40 for me and $20 for Waldo by checking rates again tonight! At this rate, it'll be free come December.

The shirts are all very cute. No shirt for Waldo?????

No. He's being a buzzkill!

 

[PrincessV]

I ended up adding Crystal Palace for dinner on 12/23 and then canceled it to add Tony's and then added Via Napoli for lunch on 12/24 and changing Christmas dinner to GF Cafe from Sanaa. That's a lot of eats for 3 days, but what else are we going to do? I'm not fighting the crowds to ride rides or shop, so we might as well have some good places to eat, if we choose to do so. Yes, I'm leaving that open ended.

Love all of this!

Whatya know, the rental prices went down and I saved myself a whopping $40 and Waldo $15! $55 bucks! That's easily 2 Margaritas in Mexico, 1 Grey Goose Slushie in France and 1 Guiness in England and pastry in France!

Nice! But I think your math is all sorts of Fuzzy... in the WDW with which I'm familiar, $55 should buy you 2 margaritas. Period.

Guess what else is changing? My big butt!!! I lost about 12 pounds already doing the 17 Day Diet and amping up my workouts!

T, that's AWESOME!!! I'm pretty sure those 12 pounds made a cross-country relocation to my thighs, however, so you're fired.

 

[HomeschoolMama]

WTHeck is Three Broomsticks?

Who's the car rental through, T?


I love MNSSHP! It is without a doubt my favorite things we've ever done at WDW. Since it was just us adults, we planned our next trip for October so the kids can go too.


I also have an app on my android (also available for the iphone) that's a little Mickeyhead with the # of days until our next trip. It makes me happy everytime I see it. Only 364 days now!



Hi, Kat!

 

[shocky5]

What's the 17 day diet? I figure I can do it at least 3 times before we leave!!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

WTHeck is Three Broomsticks?

I guess you don't read Harry Potter?

 

[HomeschoolMama]

I guess you don't read Harry Potter?

D'oh! Nope.

 

[DisneyJo]

I ended up adding Crystal Palace for dinner on 12/23 and then canceled it to add Tony's and then added Via Napoli for lunch on 12/24 and changing Christmas dinner to GF Cafe from Sanaa. That's a lot of eats for 3 days, but what else are we going to do? I'm not fighting the crowds to ride rides or shop, so we might as well have some good places to eat, if we choose to do so. Yes, I'm leaving that open ended.

And we're meant to keep up with that?

In other news that fall under the "Changes" catagory. Guess what else is changing? My big butt!!! I lost about 12 pounds already doing the 17 Day Diet and amping up my workouts! I'm hoping to lose another 15 before we head to WDW. Haven't told Andy, but we're going to have add new jeans to the budget.

Well done T that's amazing