WDW Commando Club

[Disney Commando]

You should see me when I go to a commercial wine tasting event with an entire ballroom of tasting tables. I've got my map, my spread sheets, my plan of attack, the whole nine yards. Every strategy I ever learned at WDW is employed. The folks I go with always laugh at my planning skills and obsessions, but 30 minutes in, they thank me profusely for having a plan that beats the crowds, gets us the best wines, and maximizes our enjoyment. It warms my heart. Or maybe that's just the wine!

P.S. Please add me to the Commando Roll Call. At one time or another, I have been the very first person on Space Mountain as well as the last person off it at night. That has to count for something, right? Pretty cool exiting the ride as the cars are being sidetracked and the floors are being swept.

You are member #212, Wow now were talking Commando planning at a wine tasting event, I like it, plus you get a taste of the GOOD stuff before it's gone

That is quite impressive being the very 1st person as well as the last, I can say i've never been either

 

[Disney Commando]

Commando Law!

Can I get a seconded?

Seconded

All in favor say ARR!

ARRRR!!!

Trish

ARRR! .

Motion recognized and the ARR"s have it, thus is hereby officially our 1st Commando Law and will be added to the 1st post after Role Call

Reading everyone's stories it seems that we practice the Commando way in everyday life, I guess Once A Commando Always A Commando

 

[Disney Commando]

ARRR! I've spend the entire day (today) planning my trip for the end of the this month. Of course all ADR were made within 3 days of booking, but now the rest of "touring plan" completed.

I downloaded apps from Disney (official one), UndercoverTourist, and full version of Touringplans.com

General outline of plans below, feel free to add any suggestions (e.g.; best places for snack credit & CS in parks)

2 Adults: Me (Disney Freak, 13th trip) Dh- only goes to WDW cuz I drag him with me (6th trip)
7 days/5dayPH/DDP-AKL

Arrive Sat. Sept 29- Travel day, so ME to AKL and the rest of the day enjoying hotel. Dinner at Boma 5:30pm
Sun: MK ( 2 CS meals today somewhere around MK)
Mon: EP (Wine & Food festival) ADR's Narcoossee's 6pm (watch Fireworks & Water Parade from GF)
Tues: Car Rental-shopping DTD- Blue Man Group at 7pm
Wed: DS
Thrus. AK, ADR -Artist Pointe (WL) 7pm
Fri: whatever still hasn't been done: ADR @ Tutto Italia 5pm
Sat: enjoying the last day around the hotel until 3pm- fight out at 5

1TS each still to use "spur of the moment"

this will be more enjoying AKL than heavy duty park touring.

Plan looks good, I've never been to Artist Point, would never be able to get my son in there with Whispering Canyon close bye (he loves that place) although I do know what I myself would order, being a steak guy I would try the buffalo, from what I hear it tastes like really good beef

I do have a question about the Blue Man Group, where are you going to see the show, is it in a Universal park or somewhere on Universal property

 

[Disney Commando]

ARRRR!!! I will admit there are times, when going to a major day event that's impossible to go Commando. Case in point next month. The family is headed to the biggest vintage car parts swapmeet in the Pacific Northwest, in Monroe, Washington in Oct. It's a 3 hr drive from here,(we have to cross over the border, as we're Canadians EH!). It is massive, as it's held at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds (takes it completely over in fact). So we intend to divide and conquer, DH with DS9 and me with DS8. Have to find the walkie talkies to keep in touch. Caught the second day of it last year, when we went to adopt Muttley, our singing Greyhound (howls at the emergency vehicle sirens if they get loud enough), and were hooked. Have a greyt day everyone!

Trish

I've done many and will agree this is a event that you can't really plan for, since you never know what you will come across, I usually start from the furthest area from the entrance, only because less people are there and further back you go it seems like there are more regular Joe's who are just cleaning out the garage and are not looking for top dollar, don't know what they have, or just want to get rid of it, seems like the closer to the entrance you are the more pro vender's you run across

 

[MaMudduck]

Plan looks good, I've never been to Artist Point, would never be able to get my son in there with Whispering Canyon close bye (he loves that place) although I do know what I myself would order, being a steak guy I would try the buffalo, from what I hear it tastes like really good beef
I do have a question about the Blue Man Group, where are you going to see the show, is it in a Universal park or somewhere on Universal property

Buffalo is even better than beef...lean & extremely tender. I haven't eaten at Artist Pointe either but I know DH will love WL, and usually I've never schedule "resort" dinners because I'm usually with teens, and the parks take priority.

Blue Man Group is at Universal but it on the City Walk so you don't need park pass to US. I'm going to get the VIP upgrades, so we can do the pre show lounge and meet-a-blueman after show event. Again first time seeing them too, but this is the "adult" only trip so I'm doing the stuff that Dh & I always wanted to do.

 

[AirGoofy]

You should see me when I go to a commercial wine tasting event with an entire ballroom of tasting tables. I've got my map, my spread sheets, my plan of attack, the whole nine yards. Every strategy I ever learned at WDW is employed. The folks I go with always laugh at my planning skills and obsessions, but 30 minutes in, they thank me profusely for having a plan that beats the crowds, gets us the best wines, and maximizes our enjoyment. It warms my heart. Or maybe that's just the wine!

P.S. Please add me to the Commando Roll Call. At one time or another, I have been the very first person on Space Mountain as well as the last person off it at night. That has to count for something, right? Pretty cool exiting the ride as the cars are being sidetracked and the floors are being swept.

Welcome.

General outline of plans below, feel free to add any suggestions (e.g.; best places for snack credit & CS in parks)

2 Adults: Me (Disney Freak, 13th trip) Dh- only goes to WDW cuz I drag him with me (6th trip)
7 days/5dayPH/DDP-AKL

Arrive Sat. Sept 29- Travel day, so ME to AKL and the rest of the day enjoying hotel. Dinner at Boma 5:30pm
Sun: MK ( 2 CS meals today somewhere around MK)
Mon: EP (Wine & Food festival) ADR's Narcoossee's 6pm (watch Fireworks & Water Parade from GF)
Tues: Car Rental-shopping DTD- Blue Man Group at 7pm
Wed: DS
Thrus. AK, ADR -Artist Pointe (WL) 7pm
Fri: whatever still hasn't been done: ADR @ Tutto Italia 5pm
Sat: enjoying the last day around the hotel until 3pm- fight out at 5

1TS each still to use "spur of the moment"

this will be more enjoying AKL than heavy duty park touring.

Some good choices. The time we stayed at AKV, we only did AK park and DTD, to minimize transportation time and maximize animal time.

As for QS for snacks, we enjoy a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle in MK and a pretzel over in tomorrow land (Turkey leg place). As for QS meals in MK, we like Columbia Harbour House and are going to try sleepy hollow for their sandwiches this year.

For your Narcoossee's meal, are you timing it right for freworks and EWP? I was thinking Wishes are usually 9 or HalloWishes are 9:30 and EWP was after that, or was that the second show?

Artist Point is nice, and the journey to get there is really nice, especially if you go to MK and take th boat over th water bridge. I would pick Jiko over AP for signature dining, and less transport time. But, then you miss the WL and its theming.

 

[AirGoofy]

Thank you very much, Ron.

 

[Maxim]

Count me as a commando-to-be.
With kids, who isn't??

I have planned the whole 9days, with which park we Go to, and which TS we eat and what QS too( we are on the FDP).

I've also made a Top 5 must do in each park.

Do you guys plan which attraction you do when also??

 

[AirGoofy]

Count me as a commando-to-be.
With kids, who isn't??

I have planned the whole 9days, with which park we Go to, and which TS we eat and what QS too( we are on the FDP).

I've also made a Top 5 must do in each park.

Do you guys plan which attraction you do when also??

Welcome. Our leader will be around and give you a number. And yes, must of us have our attractions/battle plan as well. Ours will vary a bit at DHS, depending on show times. What is your ADR(s)/ attraction plans?

 

[Disney Commando]

Count me as a commando-to-be.
With kids, who isn't??

I have planned the whole 9days, with which park we Go to, and which TS we eat and what QS too( we are on the FDP).

I've also made a Top 5 must do in each park.

Do you guys plan which attraction you do when also??

You are member #213 Top 5 list is good, as far as planning what attraction when, is almost impossible, you can't real;ly say at 11:14 i'll get on TSM & 11:46 do TOT, you can only estimate things to do in a certain time frame, you never know what you will encounter, sometimes you will gain time, sometimes you will lose time. Making a general list of things to get done during the day is more realistic and flexible giving you a better chance of getting everything done without pressure

 

[Disney Commando]

Thank you very much, Ron.

Your Welcome Norm, Hope you like it

 

[MaMudduck]

Some good choices. The time we stayed at AKV, we only did AK park and DTD, to minimize transportation time and maximize animal time.

For your Narcoossee's meal, are you timing it right for freworks and EWP? I was thinking Wishes are usually 9 or HalloWishes are 9:30 and EWP was after that, or was that the second show?

Artist Point is nice, and the journey to get there is really nice, especially if you go to MK and take th boat over th water bridge. I would pick Jiko over AP for signature dining, and less transport time. But, then you miss the WL and its theming.

For Narcoossee's that was the only time slot open, I figure 1 1/2hr for dinner - then it's EMH at MK so either will go to the beach @GF and watch the fire works or back into MK for the second showing everything. I'm really going to have to see where DH is at after 2 days of Commando Wendy and the parks.
Artist Point vs. Jiko is really for going to WL & food choices (and fireworks), we go to some great Indian/African food places here at home but we don't have anything like WL (imagine that in Canada, nothing like WL )

I am a little concerned with the transportation issue, I know AKL is out there, but I'm hoping that I have planned it so it won't be a huge hassle. I'm use having a car at WDW.

 

[AirGoofy]

For Narcoossee's that was the only time slot open, I figure 1 1/2hr for dinner - then it's EMH at MK so either will go to the beach @GF and watch the fire works or back into MK for the second showing everything. I'm really going to have to see where DH is at after 2 days of Commando Wendy and the parks.
Artist Point vs. Jiko is really for going to WL & food choices (and fireworks), we go to some great Indian/African food places here at home but we don't have anything like WL (imagine that in Canada, nothing like WL )

I am a little concerned with the transportation issue, I know AKL is out there, but I'm hoping that I have planned it so it won't be a huge hassle. I'm use having a car at WDW.

We always do Disney transportation. Plus, part of the appeal of WL for me is how to get there. Boating over the water bridge is so cool. I've never been one one of those anywhere else. Then, when we return, i like th FW to CR loop just because Bay Lake is so much fun to be on (& I enjoy being in the water). Have a great trip.

 

[Disney Commando]

From Ron and Brian:

Again from Ron:

"This was one the meets Brian, Myself & Barry"

Pic time, These are pics of our Commando Club/ Dis Dads Club meet
All 3 of us are Dis Dads, Brian also a Commando Club member(twokids0204 is in Red), Barry is in blue, and I'm in camo shorts and identifiable shirt.
In the 2nd pic that is Brian's wife Sheri taking a pic of us.

A little note these pics were taken maybe 7 mins after each other, we were able to get Phineas & Ferb, Cars, & Sully & Mike all within 15mins, talk about getting things done

 

[twokids0204]

Pic time, These are pics of our Commando Club/ Dis Dads Club meet
All 3 of us are Dis Dads, Brian also a Commando Club member(twokids0204 is in Red), Barry is in blue, and I'm in camo shorts and identifiable shirt.
In the 2nd pic that is Brian's wife Sheri taking a pic of us.

A little note these pics were taken maybe 7 mins after each other, we were able to get Phineas & Ferb, Cars, & Sully & Mike all within 15mins, talk about getting things done

And signed up for JTA and grabbed FP's for TSM - all within the first 45 minutes of park opening.

 

[stitchywoman]

OOOOHHHHHH BLASSSSTTTTT! I wrote an entire thing answering all of these quotes and it ate my post so now I have to rewrite the entire thing...yuck. Sorry about dissapearing for a bit. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. DH was out of town on business. I had to clean the entire house because we had people staying with us. School started and it is not gonna be good because I haven't taken math in 10 years. Recovering from surgery and all the doctors appointments has been insane. On that note, here goes again.

We Disneymooned there 12 years ago. I had been once as a tween with my parents to Epcot (one day) & she had never been. We commando toured all 4 parks clueless with no backpacks. I've have yearned for those days - other than not having my phone, touring plans,and ADRs. Well, those and clothes. Otherwise, I would be the commando commando.

This makes me laugh, thank you! We have a rule at the Renaissance faire. Shoes and id badge necessary at all times. We had one drunk guy take that a little to seriously one night. He literally started walking around wearing nothing but his badge and id. Creepy. But this made me think of that and laugh.

Yes I did, we scored 21 cards total, no boat cards (everyone was out of them, but a nice Captain said he would get us all the boat cards if we looked him up when we go back in Nov) We got 7 bus cards 1 complete set with 4 extra Nova cards and 14 monorail cards with 10 different monorails (missing 2) On this pic I purposely put the #25 card on top to show you I got it

After the Nov trip I'll see what double's I have and if you need them I'll send them to you to give your Husband for a Christmas Stocking Stuffer, since I know he really enjoys them.

I told my wife after dinner at Shula's that there would be a lot of Commando's who will most likely want to bring their husbands there after my review, and I will say it now you will be the wife of the century, they will LOVE it and talk about it for a long time, I'll try to get to that 1st this week

If there are any of my fellow commandos that have extra transportation cards that would be willing to send them to me I would greatly appreciate it. Every time we go there everyone is out and so we haven't gotten any and it makes us seriously sad....Four years....yikes. I buy DH surprise teeshirts every trip and give him a new one every day and he loves it. The first time he had no idea I was doing it and since then he requests them, but doesn't know what they are gonna be! I think it would be amazing to be able to surprise him with some cards. Either during our trip or as holiday stocking stuffers from mickey. Yes, in our household Mickey does give presents! Also while I am there I will try to get as many as possible ( may not be many since my friend's family wants to use their own car for transportation) but I will try to get us on a boat atleast once to ask for cards....I will also try to get as many of the Sorcerer cards as possible and will list doubles in case you guys want them.


If you are ever in Los Angeles let me know and if you want to go out to a nice place we can go to Lawry's. It has these huge vaulted ceilings with paintings on them and the servers wear awesome uniforms. They bring the meat to you in carts and cut it right there. They also do the sides seperately and it is so yummy. It is a nice place with a dress code but its AWESOME! Amazing prime rib. If you guys like garlic, there is a place across the street called the stinking rose. Great food and the theming is beautiful and slightly dark and different. They have a vampire themed room...hahahaha...one of my favorites for special occasions. They even have a garlic ice cream that is actually really good.

I think pretty much everyone knows what happens when you ask for ketchup, If you order a large soda they bring it to you in a monster mason jar, it must be meant for someone who just came back from the surface of the sun

My buddy Corey always asks for them to bring him a pitcher of Mountain Dew because he hates waiting for them to refill his cup. This would be so perfect for him!

I took my munchkins to the State Fair with my parents sister and niece this week. My parents were running the show since they paid for all the tickets. Other than getting there at 8:30 to have mini doughnuts before the Grandstand opened at 9 there was no plan. Once we finished the grandstand it was just meandering up and down the streets. We missed at least half a dozen things that people wanted to do and wound up at the kidway during the heat of the day. We did a great job of eating our way through the fair but missed out on a lot of attractions. Next year I'll be pushing for more of a plan of attack right away.

On the other hand I'll be going to the Renaissance Festival with some coworkers this weekend. I already have a rough plan of attack based on the show schedule and to make sure they see as many booths as possible. If you're gonna pay to get into a place why not plan your work and work your plan to get the most bang for your buck?

I feel the same way about my upcoming trip. Since my friend's family is paying for my plane flight and they are letting me stay in their hotel in exchange for using my military discount for the disney tickets. But they don't like to plan so I am going with their flow cause I feel like its my duty. Also, I have never been to the Ren Faire out there, but I work the ones closer to the west coast. If you ever get out here stop and say hi. I work at one of the pewter booths. If we have one out there I think my boss's brother Lance runs most of the ones out East. Great family!

Motion recognized and the ARR"s have it, thus is hereby officially our 1st Commando Law and will be added to the 1st post after Role Call

Reading everyone's stories it seems that we practice the Commando way in everyday life, I guess Once A Commando Always A Commando

I know it's a little bit late but I would like to add my ARRRRRR to the vote. It is so true that we are commandos in every thing we do. I am right now also planning a touring plan for Universal for when we are in Florida and also for Halloween Horror Nights.

Plan looks good, I've never been to Artist Point, would never be able to get my son in there with Whispering Canyon close bye (he loves that place) although I do know what I myself would order, being a steak guy I would try the buffalo, from what I hear it tastes like really good beef

I do have a question about the Blue Man Group, where are you going to see the show, is it in a Universal park or somewhere on Universal property

I always feel against eating buffalo (my aunt had one as a pet so I get panicky, ahhahahahaha...but whenever DH orders it I always try it and end up loving it. It is so rich and yummy and much less fatty than beef. And its usually really tender.

For Narcoossee's that was the only time slot open, I figure 1 1/2hr for dinner - then it's EMH at MK so either will go to the beach @GF and watch the fire works or back into MK for the second showing everything. I'm really going to have to see where DH is at after 2 days of Commando Wendy and the parks.
Artist Point vs. Jiko is really for going to WL & food choices (and fireworks), we go to some great Indian/African food places here at home but we don't have anything like WL (imagine that in Canada, nothing like WL )

I am a little concerned with the transportation issue, I know AKL is out there, but I'm hoping that I have planned it so it won't be a huge hassle. I'm use having a car at WDW.

Jiko's at AKL is so worth the trip. Beyond the beauty of AKL itself Jiko's is gorgeous and the food is amazing I have never had anything there I didn't love. The Mac and cheese and the steak with the wine sauce is soooo good. We go every time we visit and had to choose this time and actually decided to go to Flying Fish for our anniversary, but it was a REALLY hard choice. The bus lets right off in front of the hotel and Jiko's is to the right in the lobby. Gorgeous. Also walking around AKL at night is great. The fire pit and the animals walking around are great. There are chairs outside and it's beautiful. We stayed here for our Disneymoon and loved it so much. The travel back and forth really wasn't that bad. So I give it 3 thumbs up if that is possible!

 

[stitchywoman]

uggg...I forgot to re-add that I want to know if any of my commando people are gonna be in WDW any time from September 24 thru October 1. I would love to get to meet up with anyone. We have never managed to do it and it makes me sad. I have my lime green mickey heads attached to my backpack and everything. So if you see me stop and say hi please? hahahahaha. It would be great to get some faces to my wonderful friends.

 

[Disney Commando]

If there are any of my fellow commandos that have extra transportation cards that would be willing to send them to me I would greatly appreciate it. Every time we go there everyone is out and so we haven't gotten any and it makes us seriously sad....Four years....yikes. I buy DH surprise teeshirts every trip and give him a new one every day and he loves it. The first time he had no idea I was doing it and since then he requests them, but doesn't know what they are gonna be! I think it would be amazing to be able to surprise him with some cards. Either during our trip or as holiday stocking stuffers from mickey. Yes, in our household Mickey does give presents! Also while I am there I will try to get as many as possible ( may not be many since my friend's family wants to use their own car for transportation) but I will try to get us on a boat atleast once to ask for cards....I will also try to get as many of the Sorcerer cards as possible and will list doubles in case you guys want them.

I'd be happy to help you out, when you come back let me know if you scored any transportation cards, this way I can send ones you don't have, on my next trip in Nov I only really need 2 monorail cards & all the boat cards to make my 2nd set, so I'm hoping to have tons of extra cards, since it's all about the chase for me I already have a lot of triples + , so I'm willing to share

I do have some doubles of Sorcerer cards and I'm sure I'll have a lot more when we get back from the next trip in early Nov, that leaves plenty of time for a little Disney Magic to make the stocking

 

[AirGoofy]

uggg...I forgot to re-add that I want to know if any of my commando people are gonna be in WDW any time from September 24 thru October 1. I would love to get to meet up with anyone. We have never managed to do it and it makes me sad. I have my lime green mickey heads attached to my backpack and everything. So if you see me stop and say hi please? hahahahaha. It would be great to get some faces to my wonderful friends.

We will miss you by a week. Maybe another time.

 

[Disney Commando]

And signed up for JTA and grabbed FP's for TSM - all within the first 45 minutes of park opening.

And this is where my downfall for this trip comes in and why I always say you never know what you will encounter, sometimes it's in your favor and sometimes you get a burned butt, this is one that didn't turn out quite the way I planned

Got to Epcot at 8am to catch the bus to HS, was at the bus stop by 8:05 waited for 35 minutes for the bus to get there, and finally got to HS at 8:58 but since they don't do a rope drop anymore everyone was already signed up at JTA and the earliest I could get was at 1:20, that wasn't going to work since I had to be out of HS by 1, I wasn't in a panic since we will back in Nov, but I would have loved Hunter to do JTA with his new friends

I will have to say that the two days that I meet up with Brian that he is a FP King

I did on the way out of the park that day speared a little pixie dust to a Dad and his 2 son's when we were leaving I handed the father who was just entering the park 2 sets of 3 Star Tours FP's good for 1-4, and a set of Rock and roll roller coaster passes good for 12:45-1:45, this was at 12:40 told him by the time they get there they could just walk on I love spreading Disny Magic