TR on the go

[Minniemum]

Day 4 - September 14

For this trip, this was the No.1 day I was looking forward to.

DD and I headed to HS for our Dine With An Imagineer lunch at HBD. The lunch begins at 11.30am. We turned up early only to be told we didn't have a booking. Aaargh! The CM looked at the regular restaurant bookings and said "You have a cancelled booking for 11.30am, oh! and 11.40am and 11.50am but I do have a reservation showing for 12pm". Noooooo! After pleading our case, the CM said they never see cancellations on their reservation printouts especially ones that contain notations including our full names. The CM agreed the mistake was likely from their end and that they would organise seats for us. Hallelujah! (I'm still going to count this as a drama though!)

Our Imagineer was Cindy. DD thought she was just ok whereas I thoroughly enjoyed the stories. We learnt about some upcoming enhancements to the parks and some great ideas that were trialled in the park but that didn't quite make it because the intended experience was too cryptic for guests to interpret. Learning about the process from the conception of an idea to it's fruition was fascinating.

I know I'm not giving much away but I feel like a trusted member of the secret service! I will let out one secret, though I haven't been back to try it out yet! In the line to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at MK there is a wall or mirror with what looks like honey. If you put your hands on it, the honey will drip around your hands. If you move your hands really quickly as though to scrub it clean you will see something else underneath. I can't wait to try this out in a few days!

The meal was spectacular, probably the best I've had over the last 3 years. We were all given a special name tag, a signed commemorative plate, a copy of the menu and a photo of Cindy with the group of guests. Overall Cindy was very giving of her time, finishing up around 2.30pm. Would I do it again? Absolutely.

After our DWAI lunch, we met up with DH, DS and Robynrainer's family. Our two family's ended up going their own ways in the park today. This was in part due to our different ADR times for Sci-Fi (The burgers were very good with the highlight of dinner the Red Velvet Cheesecake). In terms of attractions, we rode everything we wanted to including TSM which was experiencing technical difficulties for a large part of the day. Our only real disappointment was IJ being stopped halfway through the show due to leaking hydraulic fluid from the moving the sets. I'm beginning to think we jinx every park we walk into.

So we finish the day with:

Dramas 3
Lost Property 2

Plus the unveiling of the attraction tally. Drumroll please......

TL 9/12
missed Ketchakiddee Creek (kids too big), Bay Slides and the Mountain Trail.

MK 8/33 but to be continued

HS 8.5/18

 

[Melbourne5]

Wow you certainly crammed a lot in the day! What are the crowds like?

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Your lunch sounds absolutely wonderful. I'm not sure whether this is something I had ever considered to do but its now on my list.

 

[hjd0411]

A big thank you to everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I'd better get a wriggle on as I'm a few days behind. We've been enjoying the parks too much.

Enjoy the parks first, then you can update when you have time!!!
Enjoyment first..!!!

Sounds like a fun lunch - I've never thought of doing it either, but could consider for a future visit!

Hope you have no more dramas - you have had your fair share!!

 

[Mum from oz]

I would've called that a drama too. I'd freak out if I walked up and they had cancelled my ressie.

Sounds like a very interesting lunch. I think being an imagineer would be a fascinating job.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Excellent way to have lunch....despite the drama. Glad it got sorted out for "us" to vicariously enjoy it.

LOVE the attraction tally.

 

[Minniemum]

Wow you certainly crammed a lot in the day! What are the crowds like?

The longest wait I've seen across all parks is 45min for Pteranodon Flyers at IOA, even HP FJ was only 20 mins. All other parks have had light crowds although it felt like they'd picked up at Epcot yesterday.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Lunch sounded fascinating-I also hadn't really thought about it before but might have to add to a futures list though I am not sure DH would agree so needs to be when I have DD with me. Love the rides tally too. Good to know you are having lots of fun and not enough time to post!

 

[Minniemum]

Your lunch sounds absolutely wonderful. I'm not sure whether this is something I had ever considered to do but its now on my list.

DWAI was something my DD insisted on and it was hard to gauge whether it would be a worthwhile experience based on reviews. Each persons experience sounded different and this was purely and simply because of the uniqueness of the Imagineer and their area of expertise. But don't let that put you off! Our group, ok mainly me, had the opportunity to ask many questions on our areas of interest. As I said, I'd go again in a heartbeat.

 

[Minniemum]

Hope you have no more dramas - you have had your fair share!!

If only!

 

[Minniemum]

Sounds like a very interesting lunch. I think being an imagineer would be a fascinating job.

Listening to Cindy and the opportunities she's had over the years it certainly sounded like the dream job to me.

 

[robynrainer]

Looking forward to the next update........

Without hijacking your holiday the story from this side of the French quarter/riverside bridge is looking good.

We are staying in alligator bayou and have scored a preferred room 1418 Near the lobby and have a two minute walk into riverside mill and the reception area. Kids are loving the freedom to walk over to the shop and the proximity of the pool. They feel secure here and DD11 and DD9 love wandering over to Fulton's to check out the pins and being able to head over to the pool without us.

Resort Highlights have been the little lizard on the key card entry to the room the other morning, the cocktails round the pool, toasting marshmallows at the campfire and for the first two days the refillable cups. Kids spent half hour running round at ten thirty the other night doing the pressed penny machines. They headed over to the laundry and used the change machine there to get their quarters. had a great towel artist in mousekeeping the other day who left us a little elephant with DS6's "pimping hat" we picked up in NYC.

Resort lowlights. Breakfast time at the riverside mill feels like an army camp style feed And DH can't stand it. As a result we are sending kids over for chocolate croissants and cinnamon scrolls most mornings using our snack credits for brekky. We've been here 10 days now and I'm craving a decent cafe breakfast. Melbourne food has me truly spoilt!

After hours first aid training once the lifeguards have ditched for the day coul use some work but all staff have well stocked first aid boxes at the pool bar and in the lobby. Just don't know much past what to o with a band aid.

Now I think u can add to the TR from ur end.

 

[Travel Mum]

Looking forward to the next update........

Without hijacking your holiday the story from this side of the French quarter/riverside bridge is looking good.

We are staying in alligator bayou and have scored a preferred room 1418 Near the lobby and have a two minute walk into riverside mill and the reception area. Kids are loving the freedom to walk over to the shop and the proximity of the pool. They feel secure here and DD11 and DD9 love wandering over to Fulton's to check out the pins and being able to head over to the pool without us.

Resort Highlights have been the little lizard on the key card entry to the room the other morning, the cocktails round the pool, toasting marshmallows at the campfire and for the first two days the refillable cups. Kids spent half hour running round at ten thirty the other night doing the pressed penny machines. They headed over to the laundry and used the change machine there to get their quarters. had a great towel artist in mousekeeping the other day who left us a little elephant with DS6's "pimping hat" we picked up in NYC.

Resort lowlights. Breakfast time at the riverside mill feels like an army camp style feed And DH can't stand it. As a result we are sending kids over for chocolate croissants and cinnamon scrolls most mornings using our snack credits for brekky. We've been here 10 days now and I'm craving a decent cafe breakfast. Melbourne food has me truly spoilt!

After hours first aid training once the lifeguards have ditched for the day coul use some work but all staff have well stocked first aid boxes at the pool bar and in the lobby. Just don't know much past what to o with a band aid.

Now I think u can add to the TR from ur end.

That is a great room location you have. Last year, we were in building 18, which is adjacent to your building 14 and which is also a preferred location. We looked out towards the river, were a very quick and easy walk to the the main area and had a lovely, quiet pool at the back of our building. Was such an ideal location Robyn how old is your youngest or whoever is sleeping on the murphy bed? We had the trundle bed in our room last year which, because it was on the floor, meant that any of us could sleep on it if necessary!

 

[robynrainer]

DS6 fits comfortably on the murphy bed but complains constantly that we have the best spot for watching the TV. Last night DD11 caved and slept on it. She is happily snoring and her Neanderthal 5ft7ish frame hasn't moved much all night. Her feet hang over the end but she sleeps on her stomach or in a spoon position so she hasn't complained at all. May have been the late night from MNSSHP.

The only comment I need to make to mouse keeping is the tacks that were used around the cute picture are all loose. We covered them with bandaids for safety reasons as DS6 likes to throw his legs around and was leaning on it when we discovered it.