Trick-Or-Treat & Birthday Sweets! Oct 2013 PTR *NEW* 11/4 TR Link Posted!

[DisneyKid4Life]

Staying at the Universal resort for the night is a great idea.

Even though it's October and the daytime crowds are pretty low, you just can't beat unlimited express. You'll basically walk on everything.

Plus over at Uni, Despicable Me (this ride is adorable) will probably still have some longish regular waits as will Transformers, so this will work really well I think.

 

[khertz]

Staying at the Universal resort for the night is a great idea.

Even though it's October and the daytime crowds are pretty low, you just can't beat unlimited express. You'll basically walk on everything.

Plus over at Uni, Despicable Me (this ride is adorable) will probably still have some longish regular waits as will Transformers, so this will work really well I think.

My parents went for a day last year and told us everything had short waits for the day, but we definitely don't want to count on that and find ourselves in a situation where we either have long waits or have to purchase Express Pass. Better to just stay in a nice hotel and have it guaranteed! Despicable Me is new for us too, and I'm REALLY excited about Transformers!! I'm curious if we will be able to use EP there because usually when those new, big attractions first open, not even the onsite guests are able to use EP. At least, that's how I think it goes. Here's hoping for a Single Rider line!

 

[eandesmom]

I think staying at RPH is a great idea and the unlimited pass is wonderful!!! I do wish we were going to be there on our next trip as it really does make a difference but oh well, we will deal with it but I am expecting it may cost us in the form of a purchased express pass, though they aren't unlimited and with holiday pricing I'm not sure it's really worth it. UGH.

You will LOVE WWOHP.

Margaritaville is one of our fav's so I definitely recommend it for dinner and you might want to consider breakfast at The Three Broomsticks, the theming is just wonderful! It's not exceptional food wise but it's not bad either and so worth it just to soak it all in.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Your first day plans sound great! Going to the WWOHP is going to be awesome! I can't wait to go back there. You will love it!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Totally agree with you that staying onsite at Universal is worth it for all of the perks you mentioned! Don't know if you or your DH are Simpsons fans but Universal just opened an expansion of Downtown Springfield!

Love love love flying on Southwest! Bags fly free!!

 

[khertz]

I think staying at RPH is a great idea and the unlimited pass is wonderful!!! I do wish we were going to be there on our next trip as it really does make a difference but oh well, we will deal with it but I am expecting it may cost us in the form of a purchased express pass, though they aren't unlimited and with holiday pricing I'm not sure it's really worth it. UGH.

You will LOVE WWOHP.

Margaritaville is one of our fav's so I definitely recommend it for dinner and you might want to consider breakfast at The Three Broomsticks, the theming is just wonderful! It's not exceptional food wise but it's not bad either and so worth it just to soak it all in.

We haven't been to Universal/IoA since 2009 and haven't stayed onsite there since 2007, so I'm REALLY excited to be going back finally! When is your next trip?

I can't WAIT for WWoHP!

I love Margaritaville, and Three Broomsticks for breakfast sounds like a great idea! I did want to eat there for at least one meal. Thanks for the suggestion.

Your first day plans sound great! Going to the WWOHP is going to be awesome! I can't wait to go back there. You will love it!

Oh my gosh, I get so excited every time I think about it!

Totally agree with you that staying onsite at Universal is worth it for all of the perks you mentioned! Don't know if you or your DH are Simpsons fans but Universal just opened an expansion of Downtown Springfield!

Love love love flying on Southwest! Bags fly free!!

DH is a big Simpsons fan, so he is already pretty excited about eating a Krustyburger and getting a Duff beer.

Gotta love free bags on Southwest. We always fly SWA when we can!

 

[afwdwfan]

DH's stepdad fell out of a tree Wednesday and broke several ribs

That would not be fun at all. Everything ok aside from a sore ribcage?

Then we will be heading to the "dark side" so to speak to check in at our resort for the night, the Universal Orlando Royal Pacific Resort!

I'm strongly considering doing this before we check in at Disney when we take our trip next year. Of all the times I've been to US/IoA, I've never stayed on property, but I think it will be worthwhile for the Express pass to knock everything out quickly. I'd have been satisfied to just skip US/IoA next year, but I have to go back for the Transformers ride.

I know it's a chain, but we have always had a good experience at Jimmy Buffet restaurants. DH got a really delicious swordfish dish at the JB restaurant in Hawaii.

I can't argue with this choice either. I've never been disappointed there. We're planning to visit the one in Panama City next week.

 

[khertz]

That would not be fun at all. Everything ok aside from a sore ribcage?

No, thank goodness. Not sure how well that will bode for our Disney trip in October...hopefully it will not make riding attractions too uncomfortable! The doctor told him 6-8 weeks for recovery, so that will give him plenty of time to be healed before the trip, thankfully.

I'm strongly considering doing this before we check in at Disney when we take our trip next year. Of all the times I've been to US/IoA, I've never stayed on property, but I think it will be worthwhile for the Express pass to knock everything out quickly. I'd have been satisfied to just skip US/IoA next year, but I have to go back for the Transformers ride.

Having used the unlimited Express Pass in the past, I just have to tell you, it's AMAZING. Of course, a lot has been added to the parks since we were last onsite there in 2007, but I still think it will be a great benefit to us and will help us get through a lot of the attractions since we only have one day for both parks. I keep raving about how excited I am for WWoHP, but I have to say I am pretty psyched about the Transformers ride too! One of my co-workers could not believe it when I expressed how much I LOVE the Transformers movies, especially the first one!

I can't argue with this choice either. I've never been disappointed there. We're planning to visit the one in Panama City next week.

We ate at that one too! I think I had the steak. Delicious! Have fun in PCB!

 

[khertz]

Caught a great sale at Kohl's a couple weeks ago, and finally got around to posting photos of our great purchases. DS really got the most stuff, several t-shirts that I hope will still fit by October for our trip, but they run a little on the small side for 3T.

He got a Lightning McQueen t-shirt, Nemo t-shirt, Mickey polo with matching shorts, a bathing suit (a size up for next summer since he already has one for this summer), and also not pictures a Squirt t-shirt that says "Duuuuuude!" and some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse underwear in a size up for when he outgrows his 2T/3T pairs.

I got a few shirts, a Little Mermaid and Minnie one, and also a Mickey patriotic shirt for 4th of July that I didn't get a picture of.

And some Mickey earrings!

I don't normally wear earrings that often, usually only for weddings or special events, but they were on sale and cute, so I got them. I picked red just because it's my favorite color, but I saw on the invoice they are actually January birthstone. Oh well!

I love finding cute Disney clothes on sale! Of course, then it makes it difficult to choose which ones to bring with me on vacation since I now have SO many! Do you wear Disney clothes on vacation?

 

[afwdwfan]

One of my co-workers could not believe it when I expressed how much I LOVE the Transformers movies, especially the first one!

You're right about the first one... It was by far the best, although the third was much better than the second. I loved them all though.

We ate at that one too! I think I had the steak. Delicious! Have fun in PCB!

The last time we were there was on our honeymoon. We saw it when we drove past one day and decided we'd come back and eat there later. Turns out even though it looked like it was operational, it had just been built and wasn't even open yet. That will probably be our lunch when we roll into town before we can check in.



Nice find on the clothes. I think it seems to be a "Disney clothes" thing that they seem to run a little bit on the small side. DS wears 3T and everything seems to fit him ok, but the Disney clothes are definitely a little bit tighter and the shirts are a bit shorter.

 

[eandesmom]

fun purchases! I have a few Disney tees but I don't typically take them on vacation, or at least not all of them (usually it's too hot for tees and I'm in tanks so that has a lot to do with it) but I sure wear them a lot at home! The boys do both, wear there and at home.

Although If I did bring them all I would have enough for more than a week.... I think I brought 2-3 on the last trip and only wore one of them.

 

[dtr_angel]

I'm sorry to hear about your FIL, I hope he is feeling better!

I love all the clothes you bought for Paxton. Gavin had that same Nemo shirt from Kohls, I love it! I also bought that same Minnie shirt for me but ended up returning it, it's really cute I just didn't like how it fit. For some reason since Gavin has been born, everything fits too tight in my arms (maybe it's the chest but I feel like its in the arms) I had to get that shirt in either a L or XL (I normally wear an XS or S in shirts) to get it to fit in the arms right but then it was too long.

DH and I have a ton of Disney shirts. They pretty much only get worn when we go to Disney World. On this past trip I made a few thanks to RustManFans designs. We actually have a bin or two in my closet of "Disney Clothes" With a few exceptions, most of our Disney shirts I've gotten REALLY good deals on. Of course DS has a lot of Disney clothes and he wears them all the time

 

[Alysa]

Love all the goodies you found! The earrings are darling! And the nemo and mickey shirts are sooo cute!

 

[missangelalexis]

So sorry things have been so hectic for you, I hope everyone is doing ok!

Cute purchases! I almost bought that Little Mermaid one! Last trip I only wore a Disney shirt on one of the days. For my upcoming trip I already bought 2 new Disney shirts to wear which I'm pretty excited about!

 

[Leger13]

Well I haven't been on the dis in quite a while so trying to at least see the newest updates on your upcoming trip. One of these days I'll keep up with one of your reports.....

That's great that you are staying on site at a UA resort for one night. IDK if I could betray Disney like that though We are doing IoA this trip too though for WWoHP. I cannot wait and the roller coasters will be so much fun too!

Love the new Disney purchases. I've been buying new Disney clothes for Alex left and right too. There's just so many cute t-shirts out there for little boys that it's hard to resist. I really want to get some of the new Disney shirts that just came out at Old Navy. Have you seen those?

Anyways, it's getting close now!! 3 months for you and 2 for me! I'm still sad every time I think that I'm not going to get to meet you like we would have been able to if we had gone in October. I have no DIS meets scheduled for this trip and that really bums me out!

 

[Imagineer5]

Hi!!! excited to look through your PTR. I mentioned before but your scrapbook is amazing. Your first day sounds AWESOME and i had forgotten you haven't been to WWoHP! It's SO SO fun, I can't wait to go back. Is paxton tall enough to ride that pteradon flyers or whatever it's called. IDK why but seriously that's what I am waiting for to go back to IoA! If Aria is not tall enough by the time the WWoHP expansion is through, though, we will haev to make a trek there. It's amazing, and would def stay onsite for a night or two like you're doing!

 

[khertz]

You're right about the first one... It was by far the best, although the third was much better than the second. I loved them all though.

Good, action packed, popcorn flicks.

The last time we were there was on our honeymoon. We saw it when we drove past one day and decided we'd come back and eat there later. Turns out even though it looked like it was operational, it had just been built and wasn't even open yet. That will probably be our lunch when we roll into town before we can check in.

Sounds like a good plan! There are so many great places to eat there. We had lunch at Red Brick Pizza one day, and it was really good if you have a hankering for some good pizza while you're there.

Nice find on the clothes. I think it seems to be a "Disney clothes" thing that they seem to run a little bit on the small side. DS wears 3T and everything seems to fit him ok, but the Disney clothes are definitely a little bit tighter and the shirts are a bit shorter.

I have noticed that about the Disney brand clothes. They are a lot shorter than other brands! They still fit pretty well for now...And while on the one hand I'm hoping he doesn't have a growth spurt and grow out of them before the trip, on the other hand I'd love him to hit 40" before we leave!

fun purchases! I have a few Disney tees but I don't typically take them on vacation, or at least not all of them (usually it's too hot for tees and I'm in tanks so that has a lot to do with it) but I sure wear them a lot at home! The boys do both, wear there and at home.

Although If I did bring them all I would have enough for more than a week.... I think I brought 2-3 on the last trip and only wore one of them.

DH wears his tees at home a lot, and I wear my tees at home more often than my Disney fitted shirts. Those are the ones I tend to wear more in the parks. I don't wear tees that often in Disney either, which is a little strange because that's typically what I LIVE in at home!

I think I have enough fitted shirts + tees to last me a month in Disney.

I'm sorry to hear about your FIL, I hope he is feeling better!

I love all the clothes you bought for Paxton. Gavin had that same Nemo shirt from Kohls, I love it! I also bought that same Minnie shirt for me but ended up returning it, it's really cute I just didn't like how it fit. For some reason since Gavin has been born, everything fits too tight in my arms (maybe it's the chest but I feel like its in the arms) I had to get that shirt in either a L or XL (I normally wear an XS or S in shirts) to get it to fit in the arms right but then it was too long.

DH and I have a ton of Disney shirts. They pretty much only get worn when we go to Disney World. On this past trip I made a few thanks to RustManFans designs. We actually have a bin or two in my closet of "Disney Clothes" With a few exceptions, most of our Disney shirts I've gotten REALLY good deals on. Of course DS has a lot of Disney clothes and he wears them all the time

Thanks, he seems to be doing better, but I know that is just really painful!

I had that same problem with shirts after I had Paxton. It must be the chest! I haven't taken the tags off yet, so I'll have to make sure I try them on before I do though in case it is something with the sleeves. Paxton was sooooo excited to wear his Squirt shirt to daycare yesterday. When I dropped him off, he was busy showing it off to everyone and telling them "Noggins!"

That's a good idea to make shirts! I never really thought about that, but it could be fun for Paxton. Almost all of his shirts have some kind of character on them, whether it's Disney, Thomas, Elmo, etc. Every morning while picking clothes, it's "Who do you want to wear today?"

 

[khertz]

Love all the goodies you found! The earrings are darling! And the nemo and mickey shirts are sooo cute!

Thanks! I love a good Disney shopping spree! I almost got a shirt at Hot Topic that said "Keep Calm and Kiss the Girl" with a picture of Ariel & Eric, but then I decided it wasn't worth it for something that is SO trendy right now and will probably be gone soon. But it was the first thing I have ever seen with "Keep Calm" that I actually liked!

So sorry things have been so hectic for you, I hope everyone is doing ok!

Cute purchases! I almost bought that Little Mermaid one! Last trip I only wore a Disney shirt on one of the days. For my upcoming trip I already bought 2 new Disney shirts to wear which I'm pretty excited about!

Thanks! Things have finally started to settle down around here, thank goodness!!

I love wearing Disney tops in Disney World, but like I said, sometimes it's really hard to decide which ones to pack and which ones to leave behind now that I have so many! Yay for adding to your collection though! You might be like me, once you start buying that Disney wardrobe, it's hard to stop.

Well I haven't been on the dis in quite a while so trying to at least see the newest updates on your upcoming trip. One of these days I'll keep up with one of your reports.....

I know from FB how busy you are, so no worries!!

That's great that you are staying on site at a UA resort for one night. IDK if I could betray Disney like that though We are doing IoA this trip too though for WWoHP. I cannot wait and the roller coasters will be so much fun too!

Once you try it, you just might love it! In all seriousness though, the unlimited Express Pass is TOTALLY worth a trip to the dark side. I'm so excited about all the new stuff they will have when we go!! It definitely makes up for all the trips we have skipped US/IoA recently. And I'm freaking ECSTATIC about WWoHP! Hope y'all love it too!

Love the new Disney purchases. I've been buying new Disney clothes for Alex left and right too. There's just so many cute t-shirts out there for little boys that it's hard to resist. I really want to get some of the new Disney shirts that just came out at Old Navy. Have you seen those?

I haven't been to Old Navy in awhile, but I'll have to go look. I know we have gotten cute stuff for Paxton there in the past. We got him a Mickey skeleton onesie for Halloween a couple years ago, and I think we got the Mickey face that looked like an American flag from there for 4th of July last year.

Anyways, it's getting close now!! 3 months for you and 2 for me! I'm still sad every time I think that I'm not going to get to meet you like we would have been able to if we had gone in October. I have no DIS meets scheduled for this trip and that really bums me out!

I know, I'm sad about it too. BUT I'm more happy for you that you didn't have to cancel your trip completely!!! Maybe next time.

Hi!!! excited to look through your PTR. I mentioned before but your scrapbook is amazing. Your first day sounds AWESOME and i had forgotten you haven't been to WWoHP! It's SO SO fun, I can't wait to go back. Is paxton tall enough to ride that pteradon flyers or whatever it's called. IDK why but seriously that's what I am waiting for to go back to IoA! If Aria is not tall enough by the time the WWoHP expansion is through, though, we will haev to make a trek there. It's amazing, and would def stay onsite for a night or two like you're doing!

Every time I think about WWoHP I get even more excited about our trip, if that was possible! It's funny you mention the Pteranodon Flyers, because we were talking about what stuff he'd be able to ride at US/IoA last night with the height requirements, and that one is on our list! We rode it on our honeymoon trip and it was fun! I think Paxton will enjoy it, especially because he likes Dinosaur Train and the main family on there are pteranodons. Since we will be taking next year off from the parks to go on our ABD trip, I hope hope hope that the US WWoHP expansion is done by the time we go in 2014!

 

[amazingact21]

Love the Mickey polo and shorts! Landon has a similar outfit that I'm hoping and praying fit him on our next trip. They just look so handsome when they're dressed in nice clothes.

The Little Mermaid shirt is really cute, as well!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has the whole, which-Disney-shirts-to-pack issue. The joys of being a Disney nut...

 

[khertz]

Love the Mickey polo and shorts! Landon has a similar outfit that I'm hoping and praying fit him on our next trip. They just look so handsome when they're dressed in nice clothes.

The Little Mermaid shirt is really cute, as well!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has the whole, which-Disney-shirts-to-pack issue. The joys of being a Disney nut...

It's hard to get him into nicer clothes sometimes, so it's definitely easier with Mickey on them. By the way, when is your next trip? I'd love to see how it goes on Landon's first trip if you do a TR.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one either!! I struggle with it every trip. And not just for me, for Paxton too!