(UPDT: 2/21) Losing The Glass Slippers to RUN like a Princess! Serial-PTRer report!

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hooray for customizing Magic Bands!!!
We just did that and made fastpass + reservations for January...

Amanda

Amanda, that's so awesome that you made your FP+ reservations. I haven't heard anyone from Jan posting about that yet. I check every couple days to see if I can, but nothing yet!

 

[DrMomof3]

Amanda, that's so awesome that you made your FP+ reservations. I haven't heard anyone from Jan posting about that yet. I check every couple days to see if I can, but nothing yet!

I was able to make FP+ at 60 days out.

Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I was able to make FP+ at 60 days out.

Amanda

Is it 60 days out from January already?!?!?

 

[DrMomof3]

Is it 60 days out from January already?!?!?

Right???

Amanda

 

[-Hope-]

Ahem, one eensy little pic on FB isn't going to cut it. I want details of this DD!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ahem, one eensy little pic on FB isn't going to cut it. I want details of this DD!!

DUDE. Savannah's not up yet, VOLCANO isn't made, not all the pics I can take are taken...breathe with me here...you can make it a few more hours!

 

[-Hope-]

Pffft, patience isn't really my thing.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

99 DAYS!!!!!!

Big update, hopefully I can fit all my images in one post. I'll have to cut down on the smileys I think.

So, first, we customized our Magicbands earlier this week!

I have been watching everything unfold and truth be told, I don't love all the changes with FP+ and Magicbands, but there's really nothing to be done. I was planning on ONLY being able to pull 3 FP+ a day and not use the old FP system, and I was right to think that, it looks like coming in just days they are cutting off KTTW cards to those at Pop (first resort to do it) and will only allow people to use their magicbands. This means no more double-dipping.

I figured this was an eventuality and let's face it, this is a first world problem, I'm going to Disney World. So! We were excited to pick our colors and nicknames for our bands. Yes, BANDS. Since we have a split stay, we got to customize two bands each, which made it double-the fun!

Yesterday we celebrated 100 days! I wanted to do something big and Hope suggested that I do 100 Magical things to decorate. Perfect! Well, it was harder than I thought to come up with that many things, especially when I didn't want to spend any money. I did it though!

So every item on the table represents something Disney. Oranges for Soarin', feather for Dumbo, FP's, beach towel, rubber bracelets for magicbands, etc. I had a list so the girls could do a "table scavenger hunt" and see what everything was.

There were a couple items on the table that were actual gifts for the girls, (but also fit into the 100) I got matching shirts:

and glowing kitty headbands (MSEP):

There was also themed food, naturally! Some of it was easy stuff. Goldfish for Nemo, animal crackers for the safari, pizza for Pizza Planet. I also bought a few different soda's and took the labels off. This was our Club Cool!

The biggest fun food was the VOLCANO! When we first went to WDW with friends, we headed to DTD our first night and ate at Rainforest Cafe. Savannah was just shy of 8 and had never been to a RFC. To her this signified this amazing trip, and she was blown away. When my friend ordered a VOLCANO for dessert, I think she nearly died of excitement. Ever since then she has required that we go to RFC on our first night and get one. This was the perfect treat for our 100 day celebration and I even had the VOLCANO topper I saved from a trip.

I apparently didn't add the right sauce, Savannah pulled out the chocolate sauce and added it herself. I probably should have looked it up instead of going by memory, but I thought it just had caramel. No matter, they would just add it!

These are the faces of very full girls. They couldn't eat another bite.

After they ate, they looked over all the things on the table, and pulled out the customized maps I had to look over the parks. Eleanor was a little shocked at how big they were, I just loved seeing Savannah show her where her favorite rides were and talk about Disney. I'm such a sap!

After our Disney day, we headed to the park so I could do a little mini photoshoot with Eleanor. She has never really had her picture taken professionally and when Savannah told me she was wanting to have some pictures taken, I told her I would be happy to do it. She loved them and they came out really pretty. Just a couple of my favorites:

That was our 100 days! I think it was a hit, the girls must have been hopped up on all that sugar, they were just going to sleep at 5am when I got up.

Today we're in the double-digits! Whooohooo!!!!!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I couldn't wait for this update!! Whoo Hooooooo . I loved it!! Especially the volcano. It's funny because I've never had one, but I've seen it. Maybe this year when we go, we'll have to share one between Victoria, Kali and I. You are just so darned creative, but I've said that before! I wish I could have Disney Days with Victoria, but she's just not into it like Savannah is. Oh well. I have Disney Days in my brain!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I couldn't wait for this update!! Whoo Hooooooo . I loved it!! Especially the volcano. It's funny because I've never had one, but I've seen it. Maybe this year when we go, we'll have to share one between Victoria, Kali and I. You are just so darned creative, but I've said that before! I wish I could have Disney Days with Victoria, but she's just not into it like Savannah is. Oh well. I have Disney Days in my brain!

Two things: Just so you know, I have never really been impressed by the TASTE of the Volcano...or the price...but I indulge my daughter b/c she has a memory attached to it and thinks it's magical. Honestly, it's just brownies and ice cream, so I wouldn't want you to think it's some amazeballs tasting thing!

Secondly, Savannah is really only into the Disney Days when they involve her friends. If I were doing it just for her, I think she would be lukewarm, at best. She gets excited to show Eleanor things (and in the past, previous friends we took with us) because it's all new to them. I think that's the key. Maybe Victoria would enjoy it if Kali were involved? You should do a Playlist Live day! I know we will be doing one!

Oh and speaking of that, since we are getting our own room, Savannah invited one of her other friends as well that loves Youtubers. We aren't sure if she can go, but I figure the more the merrier! Well...unless I have to sleep on the floor. Then it's too merry.

 

[annmarieda]

You are definitely a creative person!!! I LOVE the table scavenger hunt!! So cool!

And the pictures of Eleanor are amazing. She is also a stunning young lady.

 

[Imbri]

Your party looks so awesome! We're mostly just watching Disney movies each day in prep (not too much more to do with an 18 month old, lol!) and we're already behind! I bought some stuff to make a countdown calender today, though. Excited for that. =D

What kind of shoes do you wear for running? I had some Nike Freerun 3s, but I was starting to kill my foot in it (old injury. boo), and then they were apparently too small and a toenail came off (it's back now, heh...), so I got sized at a local running shop, and got recommended the Brooks Ravenna 4s. My injured foot has never felt better, I love them...except my other foot goes numb. The shop swapped my shoes, hoping it was just a defect in the first pair. Ran again tonight and...It's not. They said I could bring them back and get a whole different shoe, so now I'm looking for suggestions before going in tomorrow. Do you have any arch support ones you use? I loved these ones so much because the toe part curled up slightly, and I bounced off my foot when running, it felt so natural to my stride, I'm so sad to give them up.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

You are definitely a creative person!!! I LOVE the table scavenger hunt!! So cool!

And the pictures of Eleanor are amazing. She is also a stunning young lady.

Thanks Ann, we try to have a lot of fun with it! I cannot take all the credit though, when I started doing Disney Days, it was with my BFF who was going as well. She's the really creative one, whenever I have an idea that I need help with or don't have an idea at all...she comes up with one!

Your party looks so awesome! We're mostly just watching Disney movies each day in prep (not too much more to do with an 18 month old, lol!) and we're already behind! I bought some stuff to make a countdown calender today, though. Excited for that. =D

What kind of shoes do you wear for running? I had some Nike Freerun 3s, but I was starting to kill my foot in it (old injury. boo), and then they were apparently too small and a toenail came off (it's back now, heh...), so I got sized at a local running shop, and got recommended the Brooks Ravenna 4s. My injured foot has never felt better, I love them...except my other foot goes numb. The shop swapped my shoes, hoping it was just a defect in the first pair. Ran again tonight and...It's not. They said I could bring them back and get a whole different shoe, so now I'm looking for suggestions before going in tomorrow. Do you have any arch support ones you use? I loved these ones so much because the toe part curled up slightly, and I bounced off my foot when running, it felt so natural to my stride, I'm so sad to give them up.

Oh shoe-woes. I know them well.

I was in shoes that I LOVED LOVED LOVED, Brooks PureFlows. They were minimalist but cushiony and I ran in them for about 4 months (I had 5 pair!!) when I got injured. It was heel bursitis and I believe there was a little achilles strain involved as well. When I started researching my injury I realized that the shoe was likely what caused it. Too low of a drop for me...and here I was spouting off all this stuff about how minimal shoes were best and natural. Well, true, but when you wear regular shoes for 40 years, your foot may have changed and not be able to handle that!

Sorry, I ramble, anyway... I ended up getting a regular Brooks neutral shoe, the Ghost 6. I like them, not really the full-on love affair I had with my other shoes, but they allowed me to heal and no more injury! It's hard b/c people will just sent you to get fitted, but I don't believe all fittings are created equal. I went to my local store and they didn't know what they were doing and didn't even know some of the shoes I was asking for. I asked if something was a stability or neutral shoe and they had no clue.

So anyway, I would maybe go back and tell them the thing you like about the Ravenas and maybe they will be able to find a shoe that does the same? I wish you luck!

 

[-Hope-]

So, after being impatient I had to work and didn't reply right away.

The table looks Ahhh-mazing!!! Seriously cool and perfect for Savannah to share the Disney Magic with Eleanor!! Eleanor's pics are awesome too- I saw them on FB as well but only from my phone during a stolen moment at work so I didn't like or comment. Off to work again today and tonight so hopefully tomorrow I can look at them properly.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Tiered FP+

This is going to just be a rambly update of sorts. I have to put my thoughts and ideas somewhere that I can come back to at 60 days when I make my FP+ selections. I have them scribbled all over my park plans, but thought it could possibly help someone else with their choices and understand how this will work by putting it here.

Soooooooo, let me say that I have been watching the Magicband/FP+ ordeal unfold and have tried to mentally roll with the punches as Disney has released more and more info. First I had to let go of the idea that I could pull paper fastpasses, which was correct to think as they are not going to allow double dipping of FP's anymore. Ok, I can find a way to make 3 FP's a day work, I got this. BUT THEN I had to get over the Epcot tiered issue, this is what they are doing now:
Level one: Headliners as listed in the test (Choose ONE):

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth (Only select dates available)
Maelstrom
Meet the Disney Pals at the Epcot Character Spot
Soarin
Test Track presented by Chevrolet

Level two: Other attractions listed in the test (Choose TWO):

Captain EO
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission Space
Spaceship Earth
The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush


OKAY. So I have to get to rope drop after all and hit Test Track standby and then only get a FP for Soarin'. I got over that disappointment. THEN this morning I read this:

Group 1 (One selection can be made)

Toy Story Mania
Rock 'n' RollerCoaster
Fantasmic!
Beauty and the Beast


Group 2 (Two selections can be made)

Great Movie Ride
Tower of Terror
Star Tours
Indiana Jones
Lights, Motors, Action!
MuppetVision 3D
Disney Jr Live on Stage

REALLY???

So if we want a FP to TSM, we have to do RnRc standby. Again, I can deal, we'll do RD. BUT...for all intensive purposes, I'm getting ONE FASTPASS a day. Sure, I get two others, but they are mostly for rides that don't even need FP!

Now, it's a firstworld problem, for sure, but I can tell you that I can go ride one ride at Six Flags for thousands of dollars less. No, it's not Disney magical, but there is a point when all this cutting back and restricting becomes less like a vacation and more like a chore...and I'm a planner normally! I cannot imagine what this is like for people that don't plan.

I'm not canceling anything, but I will say that even though it makes me sad, I don't see as many Disney trips in our future and certainly no big family trips. I might come back for a race or something but I'm not going to pay thousands of dollars to ride one headliner, once and then stand in hour long lines.

Enough complaining, I have to make sense of my choices and I suspect they will be tiering AK and MK as well, and soon. I went for a 5 mile run this morning and it flew by since the whole time I was figuring out my plan of attack. So here it is:

Saturday, Day 1: MK morning/rest afternoon before race-
(we will have breakfast at CP and then stay at the park half a day, I need to rest and go to bed early for the Princess Half)
Rope Drop-head to Dumbo (it's a tradition)
I'm not quite sure what the tiers would be in MK, so this is pure speculation.
FP+ #1-Peter Pan (10-11am)
FP+ #2-Little Mermaid (11-12)
FP+ #3-Buzz Lightyear (12-1pm)

Again, not quite sure what the tiers will be but thought we could stay in the Fantasyland/Tomorrowland area, we have other days at MK.

Sunday, Day 2: Epcot lunch after race/MK evening-
I will be doing FP's for the MK evening. Epcot we'll have to just stand in line for anything we want to ride after the race. Probably just Spaceship Earth, Malstrom, and possibly Test Track (Savannah will want to do this) Again, no idea on the tiering, just a guess:
evening FP's-
FP+ #1-Jungle Cruise or Pirates (5-6p)
FP+ #2-Big Thunder (6-7p)
Dinner in the castle (6:40)
FP+ #3-Haunted Mansion? (8-9p) not even sure they will have FP+ this late

Monday, Day 3: Animal Kingdom-
Assuming Safari and EE will NOT be on the same tier.
Sleeping in b/c we will be in MK until 1am.
Arrive around 11am-Standby Safari
lunch ADR Tusker House 11:45
FP+ #1-Flights of Wonder (1-2p) This is what is so dumb...you don't even need a FP for it, but I know they will require me to make three FPs
FP+ #2-Expedition Everest (2-3p)
FP+ #3-Dinosaur (3-4p)
The ONLY good thing I see about this is that usually AK we are all over back and forth and we will be able to just go in a circle.

Tuesday, Day 4: DHS/EP-
We are checking into Beach Club this day.
Rope drop DHS, standby RnRc. This so annoys me.
then probably do Animation class while heading to TSM
FP+ #1-TSM (10-11am)
FP+ #2-Star Tours (11-12p)
FP+ #3-Great Movie Ride (12-1p)
See, this is just stupid. I refuse to do a FP for muppets, it's totally not needed and Star Tours rarely needs one either. Great Movie ride is just to fill the FP requirements, we MAY do it on the way out of the park. The plan was just half a day at DHS b/c we are checking into Beach Club and want to spend the afternoon at Stormalong Bay.
Evening we will walk over to Epcot and stand in lines.

Wednesday, Day 5: Epcot/MK-
Rope drop at Epcot, we'll do standby for Test Track. Again. Grph.
FP+ #1-Soarin' (10-11am)
FP+ #2-Living with the Land (11-12p) completely unnecessary btw.
FP+ #3-Figment. Truely.not.even.a.point.
back to the resort, more Stormalong Bay
Evening we have the Wishes Dessert Party, we'll have to stand in lines, probably will do some of the things we have missed or whatever looks like the shortest lines.

Thursday, Day 6: We leave this day. This is a whirlwind. We plan to walk to Epcot, ride Test Track standby at rope drop, jump on the monorail and get to our breakfast ADR at Park Fare by 10:15. Then when we are finished, we will pop over to MK for MAYBE two rides. Our flight leaves at 4:20, so I think they will want us back at Beach Club to catch the ME by 1:20. Again, I'll HAVE TO make three FP+ choices, but we won't be able to use them.
FP+ #1-Dumbo? Peter Pan? (11-12p) I have to ask Savannah
FP+ #2-Big Thunder (12-1p)
FP+ #3-throwaway. (1p-2p)


I would like to say that typing all this out made me feel better, but looking at it, it really bums me out. I'm not happy with the limited choices I have in a tiered system and I worry that we will be standing in many more lines than we usually do. I love Disneyworld, but it's expensive and I don't go to stand in lines for hours. In any case, these are my plans. Any suggestions would be great, although I doubt you got through that without seeing double and going cross-eyed!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I'm really hoping it won't be as bad as I'm imagining, but according to crowd calendars I'm looking at 9's the week we are there, so I may be in trouble. I'm used to 6's or 7's so I'm wondering how 9's are. Ick! . Like you said, Rope Drop will be a MUST (or very close to rope drop!) I'm bringing my old cards just in case the FP machines are still up and the cards would work. (There are benefits to being a scrapbooker!) I don't care if I'm cheating the system. I will if I can. Chances are my old cards won't work as they all had tickets associated with them, but it won't hurt anything to try. Again, that is if the machines are still there in March. We aren't doing AK, so that one is not a concern. HS for me is easy: RnR for the tier #1, ToT for tier #2 and maybe another ToT if it is possible. I'm sorry, but I've never needed FP for any of the other attractions listed. I don't know if the FP+ will change the need, but for now, that's what I'm planning.

My Epcot day will be definitely Soarin for tier #1. No one in my family thinks too highly of TT now that it's changed, so trying to decide between the 2 is a no brainer. As for tier #2, MAYBE Mission Space, but again, I've never needed FP for any of the other attractions, so I really don't know. I've never been in March, so this will all be new to me. I'll just have to make a choice closer to my time. I should be able to change tier #2's on the fly if needed in the parks themselves.

Magic Kingdom is going to be the difficult one with BTMR, Splash, and Space Mountain all being priorites for us. I'm sure they'll be announcing that system soon. I'm hoping we can just go with the flow and it won't be too bad, but again, I've never been in March and the crowd predictions have me a bit scared!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'm really hoping it won't be as bad as I'm imagining, but according to crowd calendars I'm looking at 9's the week we are there, so I may be in trouble. I'm used to 6's or 7's so I'm wondering how 9's are. Ick! . Like you said, Rope Drop will be a MUST (or very close to rope drop!) I'm bringing my old cards just in case the FP machines are still up and the cards would work. (There are benefits to being a scrapbooker!) I don't care if I'm cheating the system. I will if I can. Chances are my old cards won't work as they all had tickets associated with them, but it won't hurt anything to try. Again, that is if the machines are still there in March. We aren't doing AK, so that one is not a concern. HS for me is easy: RnR for the tier #1, ToT for tier #2 and maybe another ToT if it is possible. I'm sorry, but I've never needed FP for any of the other attractions listed. I don't know if the FP+ will change the need, but for now, that's what I'm planning.

My Epcot day will be definitely Soarin for tier #1. No one in my family thinks too highly of TT now that it's changed, so trying to decide between the 2 is a no brainer. As for tier #2, MAYBE Mission Space, but again, I've never needed FP for any of the other attractions, so I really don't know. I've never been in March, so this will all be new to me. I'll just have to make a choice closer to my time. I should be able to change tier #2's on the fly if needed in the parks themselves.

Magic Kingdom is going to be the difficult one with BTMR, Splash, and Space Mountain all being priorites for us. I'm sure they'll be announcing that system soon. I'm hoping we can just go with the flow and it won't be too bad, but again, I've never been in March and the crowd predictions have me a bit scared!!

What about Toy Story Mania, Ann??? Will you just do standby rope drop? I figured RnRc standby would be shorter, that's why I chose to do a FP for TSM.

As for Soarin'/Test Track, I don't really love the new theme either, but Savannah LOVES the fast part in the car and we will only want to do Soarin' once and can do it at rope drop.

I can see MK will be difficult, but there are so many rides that I cannot even figure out HOW they will tier them so it makes figuring that out early difficult!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Are you sitting down for this one??? None of my family likes TSMM!!! I hate the little pull string thingy and getting turned around without my control. It's very jerky. Same thing about Primevil Whirl. I don't like that one either!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Are you sitting down for this one??? None of my family likes TSMM!!! I hate the little pull string thingy and getting turned around without my control. It's very jerky. Same thing about Primevil Whirl. I don't like that one either!!!

OMG!! Well, the good news Ann is that tiered FP's at DHS won't have as big of an impact on you as most people!

It's still sinking in here that for all intensive purposes, I'm being limited to ONE RIDE a day (at least headliner) and it has to be scheduled 2 months out. Rey & I are already talking about "other" vacations in the future.

 

[-Hope-]

Good grief. For the first time in a while I'm actually glad that we don't have WDW trip in the works for at least a few more years. This is INSANE.

I do think you're plans look pretty great but in the back of my mind I'm wondering about all the rides you don't have listed since you only get three... I'm also wondering about being able to actually enjoy an unexpected moment. On our trip to the darkside two of my favorite moments (Jace hugging Spongebob in the parade and our interaction with the MIB) were complete surprises and spontaneous. Would we have missed those moments if we'd been tied to FP times? Different parks, I know, but you understand what I mean.

I think once you're actually in the park some of these things won't be so bad... things we worry about on paper are often okay when we actually encounter them... (That was my super lame attempt at a pep talk, did it work??)