'Twas the Week Before Christmas... Done & where to find us next!

[Sooze]

I must admit, I have a soft spot in my soul for dramatic children! After Leo's Space Mountain performance, I may have just stood up and applauded, yelling, "Bravo! Bravo!" Then I may have gone over to DHS and gotten him one of those fake Oscar award trophies for best acting!

Love it!

The necklace is fabulous. So many of my Dis Friends have something like that, I think it's high time I get my own, don't you think?

Or maybe I should stop salivating over it, and go update my own trip report...







..... NAH.....

Have a good week, V!

 

[PrincessV]

I thought you were going to look like the Michelin Man after that description, but no, you still look good.

LOL, thanks! I felt a lot like the Michelin Man, though!

I think you put this in just because last time I said that Leo looks "as cute as he can be" in every picture. Well, he still looks cute even though he could be working on the "Monsters Inc" Scare Floor.

Nope, a good 80% of Leo pics look like this, I'm afraid. That's why I shoot 200+ frames of him on any given trip!

If they knew what was good for 'em, they'd look here for advice.

Right?!

Great update V! Thanks for the chuckle on an otherwise humorless Friday!

You're welcome - hope it got better!

I'm a Florida native and I LOVE the cold weather.

Ugh - I loved it for the first 3 weeks... now, I've had ENOUGH!

I bought a real pair of Ugg slippers last year for at home use. And fell in love. And so did my dog, who promptly made them his favorite toy and pulled every bit of $90 wool out of them. I've since bought a pair of $12 Target Ugg slippers that he hasn't touched. Go figure.

Noooooo! Your dog knows a fine wool product when he sees one.

Because of you, I have tried the Tuna sandwich and it is YUM! Haven't had one in awhile actually...

Yay! I could really go for one today...

So, I was in the very early planning stages of doing a disney long weekend during my school's spring break. Then I just decided that I wasn't sure if I really wanted to Disney or if I just wanted to go to some hotel on the beach and chill out for a couple days. And then I just read this update and I am reminded why I wanted to go to Disney (not including the lunch crowd control part) so I am now back to square one.

Ain't that always the way?! I keep finding myself considering a weekend during Leo's spring break... but I'm supposed to be saving for our giant road trip this summer!

Another question for you! Have you done Tour Guide Mike? How did it compare with RideMax? If you just did RM, would you recommend it for shorter trips that include a Sunday (I've read they don't give a "plan" for Sundays).

Yep, and I'm not a fan of TGM at all. I still use Touringplans for suggested days and crowd level predictions - it hasn't steered me wrong in years. But Ridemax provides a great product for actual plans - you can tweak the heck out of it, adding and removing attractions, changing arrival and departure times, scheduling breaks and meals, and it spits out plans detailing how long you'll wait in lines, walk between things, etc. It's been so accurate, it's a little scary!

Thanks for your insightful report...love the HP segment...and the US segment. Very insightful.

Good, I'm glad! I do try to offer some legit information that might be helpful to folks as I write this stuff.

Iowan here...traveling to Florida in a week. I am freaked over what to pack but rest assured...I will NOT be one of those people buying sweats in the Disney store, looking for the last pair of black stretchy gloves in the World. No sir...

If it makes you feel better, I've been one of those people... more than once! At last count, we own 3 pairs of stretchy WDW mittens/gloves.

After Leo's Space Mountain performance, I may have just stood up and applauded, yelling, "Bravo! Bravo!" Then I may have gone over to DHS and gotten him one of those fake Oscar award trophies for best acting!

OMG, just wait - we really do think alike my friend!

The necklace is fabulous. So many of my Dis Friends have something like that, I think it's high time I get my own, don't you think?

I do, I do!

Or maybe I should stop salivating over it, and go update my own trip report...

That too.

Have a good week, V!

Thanks Susie - you too!

 

[DisneyJo]

And so it was that I donned that morning: cotton tights; wool socks; jeans; a long-sleeve T-shirt; wool sweater; down jacket; scarf; wool beret; leather gloves; and cheap, but oh-so-warm-and-comfy, fake Uggs. I felt silly for all of 5 minutes… until I stepped outside and felt the first stiff breeze go right through every layer on my bottom half as if Mr. Freeze himself had laid into me with his cryogenic gun.

Oh V I can't believe you needed all those clothes, too funny

The new Pooh queue is FABULOUS! Remember the big honey tree that used to reside in Pooh’s playground across the way? Well, they dug it up and moved it over to the Pooh ride.

Sounds cute but I can definitely see the faults!!!

Also, “I. Almost. DIED!”

OMG it's Jess on RnR all over again

That’s how we roll. And I’m happy to report that it was a success –

Awww glad you got what you wanted

 

[Wonders10]

I've been convinced - I've subscribed to RideMax. I'm giving it the full 30 days before I decide if I'm "satisfied", because right now I'm having some trust issues with the program.

For our Epcot day, I've selected a few future world rides, nemo, SE, Land, Soarin. Typically we have always gone straight to Soarin' and either rode it or gotten a FP or both. Then we do the others, leaving Spaceship Earth for when we are leaving for the day. RM is telling me to go totally against it! SE first thing? Ride Nemo and do The Seas, and then go get a Soarin' FP It just seems so backwards! Plus they have me going from lunch in Italy to Mexico to Norway and then back to Soarin'. Should I just go with it?

 

[Practically_Perfect]

For our Epcot day, I've selected a few future world rides, nemo, SE, Land, Soarin. Typically we have always gone straight to Soarin' and either rode it or gotten a FP or both. Then we do the others, leaving Spaceship Earth for when we are leaving for the day. RM is telling me to go totally against it! SE first thing? Ride Nemo and do The Seas, and then go get a Soarin' FP It just seems so backwards! Plus they have me going from lunch in Italy to Mexico to Norway and then back to Soarin'. Should I just go with it?

You do have to massage it a bit, play with your arrival and departure times, breaks, etc. but eventually you'll get a plan you can live with. I found a lot of back and forth too when I first started using it. Also, if you plan on riding something twice, put it in twice. RM will then adjust where is sends you. Definitely play around with it - you'll find something you want. You can also toggle what pace of walking you prefer, and if you're going to use a Fastpass runner or not. All of these will affect the plan it spits out.

 

[annmarieda]

I've been convinced - I've subscribed to RideMax. I'm giving it the full 30 days before I decide if I'm "satisfied", because right now I'm having some trust issues with the program.

For our Epcot day, I've selected a few future world rides, nemo, SE, Land, Soarin. Typically we have always gone straight to Soarin' and either rode it or gotten a FP or both. Then we do the others, leaving Spaceship Earth for when we are leaving for the day. RM is telling me to go totally against it! SE first thing? Ride Nemo and do The Seas, and then go get a Soarin' FP It just seems so backwards! Plus they have me going from lunch in Italy to Mexico to Norway and then back to Soarin'. Should I just go with it?

We have used ridemax for 7 trips. It has been nothing but helpful. As the pp said..you do have to tinker a bit to get a schedule you can live with...but if it tells you the order to ride things..go with it. It has not steered me wrong yet. I NEVER wait in lines longer than 15 minutes and that is LONG by ridemax standards. If you do choose to incorporate "will send a runner to get fp's" and also "will move at a fast pace" do know..you WILL be moving quick. I have learned to set it at a slower pace... and not put in break times (other than ADR's) I found it is better to plan a break for when ridemax tells you is the best time rather than try and do it yourself. Basically, if you say you want to ride..x y an z rides along with the break...it might have a hard time scheduling it. Good luck..

 

[GreatBiscuit]

Hey V!

Catching up on some TR’s today. Universal sounds like they’ve got their act together when it comes to crowd control. Given the insane popularity of WWOHP, they pretty well had to. I don’t know why, but the thought of two CM’s guarding the forbidden stairway just cracked me up. Then it made me sad. Then I wanted cheese…and a Zebra Cake. I’m afraid to analyze why.


Great photos as always. Love the shots from IOA. Very nice composition!

 

[princessjv]

aaahhhhummmm...


Is this thing on?


How on earth did you get those "Old Schoolers" to come read this here TR?

Next thing we know... we'll have the likes of Zubb or Mrs. Happy Haunts joining in.


BTW, under no uncertain cercumstances am I callin anyone old.


Just sayin.

 

[PrincessV]

Oh V I can't believe you needed all those clothes, too funny

Just wait till I visit you someday - does it ever get warm there?!

OMG it's Jess on RnR all over again

I forgot about that episode!

I've been convinced - I've subscribed to RideMax. I'm giving it the full 30 days before I decide if I'm "satisfied", because right now I'm having some trust issues with the program.

For our Epcot day, I've selected a few future world rides, nemo, SE, Land, Soarin. Typically we have always gone straight to Soarin' and either rode it or gotten a FP or both. Then we do the others, leaving Spaceship Earth for when we are leaving for the day. RM is telling me to go totally against it! SE first thing? Ride Nemo and do The Seas, and then go get a Soarin' FP It just seems so backwards! Plus they have me going from lunch in Italy to Mexico to Norway and then back to Soarin'. Should I just go with it?

Maybe...

You do have to massage it a bit, play with your arrival and departure times, breaks, etc. but eventually you'll get a plan you can live with.

This, exactly. Also...

As the pp said..you do have to tinker a bit to get a schedule you can live with...but if it tells you the order to ride things..go with it. It has not steered me wrong yet. I NEVER wait in lines longer than 15 minutes and that is LONG by ridemax standards.

This, again! I've found the same things - I'll play with it a bunch until I have exactly the plan I want, but I trust it, even when it seems highly unorthodox. My only real issue is that it breaks the Nemo portion away from the aquariums - we'd never do it that way. Another trick I've found is to start with an extreme departure time - say I think we'll really leave at 2pm, I'll initially enter it as 4pm and see how much "free time" it gives me. Then I can add/remove attractions and reduce the time we'll be there until I have it just right.

Hey V!

Hi GB!

Universal sounds like they’ve got their act together when it comes to crowd control. Given the insane popularity of WWOHP, they pretty well had to.

And I kept thinking, somewhere along the way I'd read that the original US in Hollywood had perfected a lot of the crowd control techniques later used by Disney... why isn't Disney learning from US anymore?!

I don’t know why, but the thought of two CM’s guarding the forbidden stairway just cracked me up. Then it made me sad. Then I wanted cheese…and a Zebra Cake. I’m afraid to analyze why.

Great photos as always. Love the shots from IOA. Very nice composition!

Thank you! See what I meant about the flat skies, though? Don't know what to do about that.

Is this thing on?

What?! I just updated 5 days ago, lol! Sorry, I'm back in school, so that takes priority for a while.

 

[Disfan3]

aaahhhhummmm...


Is this thing on?


How on earth did you get those "Old Schoolers" to come read this here TR?

Next thing we know... we'll have the likes of Zubb or Mrs. Happy Haunts joining in.


BTW, under no uncertain cercumstances am I callin anyone old.


Just sayin.

Heh. we pop in and out from time to time looking for the "good stuff..." the tried and true trip reports that are new but from the old...well not in the age sense...in the Dis sense....

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Happyhaunt or ZZUB out and about one of these days

 

[princessjv]

What's a Happenin HOT STUFF?


Love you V! You're one of the BEST of the Best Ol' time TR writers!
{notice I left off the d?}




You'r rockin increasing in age!

{Notice I again didn't refer to the old word.}

​

ly/mi!

 

[PrincessV]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a Happyhaunt or ZZUB out and about one of these days

I look every once in a while, hoping to see Mel back for another unfinished trip report, lol! ZZUB has a blog going with his latest adventures, along with a bunch of other classic DISers - check Great Biscuit's signature for a link!

Love you V! You're one of the BEST of the Best Ol' time TR writers!
{notice I left off the d?}




You'r rockin increasing in age!

{Notice I again didn't refer to the old word.}
ly/mi!

Thanks Jen... but if I refuse to acknowledge the day that shall not be named, I don't age, right?

 

[scrap4u]

Did I miss your b-day V? I'm so sorry. Hope it was a good one! Now that I've hit the big 50 last year I think I'll just refuse to admit to getting older. DH can still get me presents but I'm just going to stick with saying I'm 49! LOL!

Hope y'all have warmed up a bit in sunny FLA. We had snow on the way to work this am. It's gone now but man I can't wait for summer warm weather!

 

[PrincessV]

Did I miss your b-day V? I'm so sorry.

Please, no worries at all... I DESPISE my birthday and don't celebrate it at all!

Hope it was a good one! Now that I've hit the big 50 last year I think I'll just refuse to admit to getting older. DH can still get me presents but I'm just going to stick with saying I'm 49! LOL!

I can support that 100%

Hope y'all have warmed up a bit in sunny FLA.

Nope. But I'm happy with being snow-less, lol!

 

[Stasieki]

I was WAY behind but so glad to be caught up. Your pictures are beautiful. With two little princesses and having not read any Harry Potter book, it will probably be a few years before I pay it a visit. But, seeing your pictures, makes it seem quite impressive. It looks at the very least, I need to watch the movies first to "get" it (I have seen the first one)? What do you think?

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I like your warm weather ensemble. I live in MN and don't think you look silly at all. You look smart! Who wants to walk around, freezing? That is no fun at all. Brrr.

Leo sounds a lot like my son Dimitri. He can be so dramatic and sometimes it is just frustrating. I'm glad he did give it a try and hopefully he'll do it again.

Love your Christmas gift! They did well!

 

[NMAmy]

Hey, V! I'm late to the party and rushing to catch up. You've now made me want to rent a condo and go to WWOHP. Disney representatives will be calling you soon to put the kibosh on your trip report. No luring us away from Disney resorts and parks, missy!

No. Leo did not “love” it. In fact, his exact reply, issued in a snarl that could strike fear into the bravest of men, and accompanied by much quivering, trembling and chattering of teeth, was, “That was the WORST, SCARIEST ride I’ve ever been on, and I’m NEVER going on it again!”

Oooooohhh.

Also, “I. Almost. DIED!”

I did the same thing with my own personal child on Splash Mountain at Disneyland. On their logs at the time, you rode one in front of another so I had my arms and legs around the 8 yo kid. The same kid who would not go near Splash Mountain again until she was about 14 years old at WDW and since we'd brought a friend along, she was peer pressured into riding again. She will swear to this day that "I almost fell out and my mom didn't even care. She was LAUGHING." Well, sure, it's a laughing place, you're supposed to laugh, weirdo.

Okay, I'm scooting back now to finish up but I just had to comment on that.

BTW, Leo is ADORABLE! Overdramatic perhaps but he makes up for that in all round adorableness.

 

[Lauralee131]

Hey - whaddya know - my user name and password still work after all this time!!

So it's (now) 2am - couldn't sleep and had been thinking I needed some WDW "stuff"...and then I remembered that you'd said that you did a TR.

Reunion is awesome, isn't it? Even the furniture looks the same as our condo...May of 2012 can't come soon enough for me...I'm going thru withdrawls!!!

I think the WWOHP (is that right? I don't recall - I'm tired) looked pretty cool - for some reason though - we just never go there, although we did consider it last year when we were staying at the condo. Bagged it in the end though..I think that despite having AP's to WDW I just have a hard time spending all that extra money to go to IOA/US...

One of these days...especially now that M is tall enough - that's a big plus too - there wasn't a whole lot he could ride before...

Anyway - glad I got caught up...now I'm going to try and get caught up on some sleep.

I'm sure I'll "talk" to you tomorrow...or....uhhhh....later on today...

LY/MI

 

[scrap4u]

Came by looking for an update but there wasn't one. Hope all is well with you an yours and that it's just school work keeping you too busy from posting.

Hopefully you'll find some time soon to post some more of your wonderful report. These wonderful stories are some of the best things to get me through the long ugly work days V! Don't forget your peeps Woman! LYMI!

 

[PrincessV]

With two little princesses and having not read any Harry Potter book, it will probably be a few years before I pay it a visit. But, seeing your pictures, makes it seem quite impressive. It looks at the very least, I need to watch the movies first to "get" it (I have seen the first one)? What do you think?

Yes, I definitely think seeing the movies first would enhance the experience... that said, Gramma and I both mentioned that we felt someone with no HP knowledge would still enjoy the area - it's THAT well-themed!

I like your warm weather ensemble. I live in MN and don't think you look silly at all. You look smart! Who wants to walk around, freezing? That is no fun at all. Brrr.

Thank you, and exactly! Whenever I'm starting to feel silly about bundling up for a cold WDW day, I think of the time I was at EP on Christmas, totally under-dressed for the record-setting low temps that day. It was awful!

Leo sounds a lot like my son Dimitri. He can be so dramatic and sometimes it is just frustrating.

Aaaah, you understand!

Hey, V! I'm late to the party and rushing to catch up. You've now made me want to rent a condo and go to WWOHP. Disney representatives will be calling you soon to put the kibosh on your trip report. No luring us away from Disney resorts and parks, missy!

Hi Amy! I know, The Mouse is going to fire me... except that then he wouldn't get my DVC dues anymore!

She will swear to this day that "I almost fell out and my mom didn't even care. She was LAUGHING." Well, sure, it's a laughing place, you're supposed to laugh, weirdo.

I think we'd get along beautifully!

BTW, Leo is ADORABLE! Overdramatic perhaps but he makes up for that in all round adorableness.

Thank you! We've had a very rough couple weeks - thank you for that much-needed reminder!

Hey - whaddya know - my user name and password still work after all this time!!

I'm sorry - who are you?

Reunion is awesome, isn't it? Even the furniture looks the same as our condo...May of 2012 can't come soon enough for me...I'm going thru withdrawls!!!

I'll definitely go back!

I think that despite having AP's to WDW I just have a hard time spending all that extra money to go to IOA/US...

I've had the same problem. The only reason I got APs was that they had a nice deal for FL residents - the APs were less than 2 1-day tickets over the course of a year, so it made sense.

Come back again soon LL - I've missed seeing you over here!

Hopefully you'll find some time soon to post some more of your wonderful report. These wonderful stories are some of the best things to get me through the long ugly work days V! Don't forget your peeps Woman! LYMI!

Things have hit the peak of insanity around here, I'm afraid - I haven't had time to breathe, let alone write! Well, that's not quite true; I have been writing... about the Parthenon, about the Sleeping Satyr, about the Coliseum... yeah, I'm knee-deep in Ancient Art these days. But I'll be back soon-ish, I promise!