We Tried Child Swap but Ended up with the Same Child (March 2016) Updated 9/11 JTT

[soniam]

Super late here but joining in now! Love the title and can't wait to read more!!

We were also in Disney at the same time this year... Texas spring break! We live right outside of San Antonio, DH works in Austin, and we ALWAYS fly out of Austin- we find it so much easier (and usually cheaper) than the San Antonio airport.

Glad to have a fellow Central Texan along

 

[soniam]

I have completed the Universal part of the report. I will start the WDW part soon. I have a goal to complete it before we start our next trip on 7/20. So, I had better get a move on

 

[soniam]

We had some delays. Work got busy. We also had to attend an out of town funeral for my aunt, who had ALS/Lou Gherig's disease. We leave for WDW tomorrow, so I don't know how much I will get done until I get back. However, here's a start.

 

[rteetz]

We had some delays. Work got busy. We also had to attend an out of town funeral for my aunt, who had ALS/Lou Gherig's disease. We leave for WDW tomorrow, so I don't know how much I will get done until I get back. However, here's a start.

Sorry for your loss. Such terrible diseases that exist that we can do little about other than raise money for more research.

Yay for Disney tomorrow!

 

[soniam]

Day 1 - Disney Springs - The Disney Addiction Worsens

We left Universal and headed to WDW. DH dropped me off at the Grand Floridian for my massage, which was desperately needed. I like the spa, but their sauna room has some mildew. It was remodeled not long ago, but I guess it’s almost impossible to not have mildew in a hot, humid room in Florida. High on massage bliss, I took the monorail to MK to get my … wait for it … ANNUAL PASS!!! It felt very dreamy heading over. I used my ticket to enter and then immediately exited and headed to Guest Services. There was a bit of line, and I hadn’t brought any sunscreen Finally, my turn. It went perfectly I was credited the amount and got the correct expiration date. The CM was very friendly and seemed genuinely excited about my getting an AP. I really wanted to share this moment with someone or even go get a Dole Whip, but I really needed to get to the Contemporary to meet DH and DS. They had already checked into CBR and went swimming, while I spoiled myself. I hopped back on the monorail. Weee! They picked me up at the port cachere, and we headed to Disney Springs.

We loved the new parking garage. Every parking garage should be that nice. I didn’t even know such a nice parking garage existed anywhere We headed to Jock Lindsey’s. This place is really cool but really tiny. I got a ton of pictures. We sat inside, out of the sun. We ordered the Brodie's Brats and the Air Pirate's Pretzels. DH got the Hovito Mojito, and it came with a weird dart drink stirrer. They were out of the monkey mugs, so no Cool Headed Monkey. I got the Anything Goes, and the server gave me an Obi Wan Club coaster to match. He even tried to sing like Spielberg’s wife I have blocked her character and real names from my mind to maintain my sanity. DS got the Diving Bell, watermelon lemonade. The pretzels were pretty good. I liked the mustard a lot better than the cheese. The cheese was less flavorful than I like. The sausages were really good and came with nice accompaniments, like sauerkraut and pickles. The drinks were good too and had a nice amount of alcoholI might have had another drink, but I can't remember.




















We had some places to get to, so we didn’t stay too long. DH took some pics of the amphicars. I literally had to start walking away to get him to leave














Next was Goofy’s candy store. We discovered this last trip, and I must go every time now We love the custom Mickey head rice krispy treats. After Dole Whip, the rice krispy treats are my favorite WDW snack. Last time, we got the marshmallows and cookies too This time, we each got our own treat and grabbed some malt balls and tiny jaw breakers too. We looked for the chocolate covered Mickey pretzels but couldn’t find them We needed to eat dinner still, so we headed to Earl of Sandwich. This was our first time there. The line was long but moved really quickly. I got the Berry Chicken Almond Salad. DH got . DS got the grilled cheese. The salad was nice, fresh, and light after having eaten theme park food for a few days. However, I don’t know if I would go out of my way to eat here. It was pretty good but not fabulous. I mean, it’s just a sandwich shop.

DS had been really grumpy and complaining. It was also starting to get a little late. He sounded stuffy, and that’s when we realized that we hadn’t brought his allergy medicine. So, there went the evening. No World of Disney, Star Wars store, pressed pennies, gourmet chocolate, or ice cream We decided to go find a pharmacy, get his medicine, and head back to the hotel for bed. Unfortunately, this meant that we were going to have buy BB8 and R2D2 earhats and build droids and lightsabers at DHS the next day with the hordes

We had been to Disney Springs, i.e. Downtown Disney before. However, it’s so much nicer after the redo. It felt like a ghost town on previous trips. It was packed with people and activity and full of live bands this time. It was great. I would definitely go back as often as possible. We aren’t big shoppers, but some of the stores are pretty unique. The food choices are really great too. I am looking forward to hanging out there again next week.

Once we got back to the room, I was really pleased with the location and room. We got an upper floor, with a water view, on the corner. It was a bit of a walk from the parking lot, but you can’t have everything

Next, DHS!!!

 

[soniam]

Sorry for your loss. Such terrible diseases that exist that we can do little about other than raise money for more research.

Yay for Disney tomorrow!

Thank you. It was really a blessing. She had just gotten to where she couldn't talk or move. She was always taking care of everyone else and was always very active. I don't think she liked that her daughter was having to take care of her. She didn't suffer very long and was in amazing spirits until the end. I also got to see a lot of family that I don't see often. Since we drove to Oklahoma, it gave me time to do some writing for this report too. Always looking for the silver lining, I guess

 

[rteetz]

The parking garages do seem really nice. New parking garages should be built like those from now on.

I have yet to go inside Jocks but it looks like a really cool place to hang out.

The boathouse is really cool. I love looking at the boats and amphicars. I can't wait to eat there in January.

Goofy's candy store is a must. I love the caramel apples those are my favorite.

I have yet to try earl of sandwich.

I really like what they have done with Disney springs. We are staying at Saratoga springs in January so I can't wait to be so close to experience everything.

 

[soniam]

The parking garages do seem really nice. New parking garages should be built like those from now on.

I have yet to go inside Jocks but it looks like a really cool place to hang out.

The boathouse is really cool. I love looking at the boats and amphicars. I can't wait to eat there in January.

Goofy's candy store is a must. I love the caramel apples those are my favorite.

I have yet to try earl of sandwich.

I really like what they have done with Disney springs. We are staying at Saratoga springs in January so I can't wait to be so close to experience everything.

That will be nice to be so close to Disney Springs. We are staying at POFQ, but I don't think we will take the boat. I think we will only have 1 day to go there. Maybe we will get to go more New Years. Did I mention that we are going to WDW for New Years Eve? I have an illness

 

[rteetz]

That will be nice to be so close to Disney Springs. We are staying at POFQ, but I don't think we will take the boat. I think we will only have 1 day to go there. Maybe we will get to go more New Years. Did I mention that we are going to WDW for New Years Eve? I have an illness

Yes you did mention that. We must share the same illness

 

[chunkymonkey]

Have a great trip!!!

 

[ArielSRL]

We had some delays. Work got busy. We also had to attend an out of town funeral for my aunt, who had ALS/Lou Gherig's disease. We leave for WDW tomorrow, so I don't know how much I will get done until I get back. However, here's a start.

So sorry for your loss. Hugs!

 

[ArielSRL]

All caught up now! Yay to massage!! Double yay to the AP!!!

DS is so full of cool places it would take a couple days to really check it out, I think. Unfortunately we only had a very short time this past trip and only arrival day this next trip. It's just hard to take time away from the parks if you don't go very often, and we don't really.

Ugh on forgetting the medicine and that throwing a wrench into your plans. Glad you got a (mostly) good room location.

Looking forward to more! Oh and have a wonderful trip!

 

[soniam]

Day 2 - DHS - The Force Was with Us

We got ready, and if you read my Universal TR this will sound familiar, I checked for ROL again. We got to DHS for rope drop. The park hadn’t opened yet, and there were already a lot of people there. I thought we had blown our Jedi Training chances. This would be DS first time. Luckily, they were letting JTT sign ups go ahead inside on the left side turnstiles. We had to wait in a bit of a line but got our pick of shows. Since TSMM was down for refurb for one day only. Our full DHS day Our FP+ got replaced with RNRC. So, we really didn’t have anything else to rush to. We stood near the rope by GMR to ride it first. We had a lot of time to look at the courtyard. The ride didn’t start quite at park opening. We hadn’t seen it since the recent changes. I liked it, but I still think there is a bit more they could do with it to liven up some areas.







DH & DS First in Line for GMR












Beautiful Photopass Stock Photo on Inside of Theater



Another Great Photopass Stock Photo



Star Tours - This was our first time with the new scenes from TFA. It was pretty cool. I still really like this ride and hope that they don’t get rid of it once Star Wars Experience is complete.






Next UP, Jedi Trials of the Temple...

 

[Jfsag123]

Hooray for updates! I think I missed your last one. You get some great pics! We went to Goofy's Candy Co for the first time on our trip in June and I think it will be a tradition for us now as well. I need one of those rice krispie Mickeys in my life.

How frustrating that they closed TSMM for your one full day in DHS! That was for the 3rd track connection right? It sounds like you made the best of it, though, and it's always cool to be first in line for something. Love your DH's shirt!

Looking forward to your JTA experience!

 

[soniam]

Hooray for updates! I think I missed your last one. You get some great pics! We went to Goofy's Candy Co for the first time on our trip in June and I think it will be a tradition for us now as well. I need one of those rice krispie Mickeys in my life.

How frustrating that they closed TSMM for your one full day in DHS! That was for the 3rd track connection right? It sounds like you made the best of it, though, and it's always cool to be first in line for something. Love your DH's shirt!

Looking forward to your JTA experience!

Man, I could use one of those rice krispy treats right now. I am back on my no sugar/no grains/no alcohol diet I will feel better once I get reacclimated. I think they were doing work to connect up the 3rd track. It was only shut down for a day Don't fear. We have another DHS day, but we really wanted to ride it more than once this trip. We had never gotten to do that before.

 

[ArielSRL]

I can relate to the JTA sign up experience. We actually got to DHS at 8:20 or so, through the gates around 8:30 and we still waited 40 minutes to sign up. We had our choice of times but that line was brutal! So I'm doing a PPO next trip, hoping to sign up before the ADR.

That stinks about TSMM, but how neat to be first in line for GMR. Mom saw it this past June while the rest of us did TSMM, but the rest of us never made it back over to ride.

Looking forward to more!

 

[soniam]

I can relate to the JTA sign up experience. We actually got to DHS at 8:20 or so, through the gates around 8:30 and we still waited 40 minutes to sign up. We had our choice of times but that line was brutal! So I'm doing a PPO next trip, hoping to sign up before the ADR.

That stinks about TSMM, but how neat to be first in line for GMR. Mom saw it this past June while the rest of us did TSMM, but the rest of us never made it back over to ride.

Looking forward to more!

I think this was the last and only time for DS to do JTT. I don't how much he enjoyed it. I think he was glad to do it once, but I think he's done with it. He will be 11 next trip and won't have too much longer where he meets the age requirement. Plus, the robes were a little brutal in the sun, and we were there during March. We didn't actually wait terribly long, luckily. I think we only waited 15-20 minutes though.

 

[Jfsag123]

Man, I could use one of those rice krispy treats right now. I am back on my no sugar/no grains/no alcohol diet I will feel better once I get reacclimated. I think they were doing work to connect up the 3rd track. It was only shut down for a day Don't fear. We have another DHS day, but we really wanted to ride it more than once this trip. We had never gotten to do that before.

You have way more willpower than me! I am currently sitting here eating raisins and granola with vanilla yogurt as I type. I'm glad you at least got a chance to ride TSMM at some point in your trip, but I understand the desire to ride more than once, as we shoot for that every time too.

I think this was the last and only time for DS to do JTT. I don't how much he enjoyed it. I think he was glad to do it once, but I think he's done with it. He will be 11 next trip and won't have too much longer where he meets the age requirement. Plus, the robes were a little brutal in the sun, and we were there during March. We didn't actually wait terribly long, luckily. I think we only waited 15-20 minutes though.

I'm actually kind of jealous of you potentially not doing JTA again. While the kids always love it, the show is cute, and we get some great photos, we have now done it 3 times. It's a huge time suck and is always incredibly hot. I've been trying to convince my kids to give it up for our next trip, as we will probably only do one day at DHS and cutting JTA would simplify planning so much

 

[soniam]

Day 2 - DHS - Jedi Trials of the Cellphones

After running from doing Star Tours twice, the kids were restless and hot as we waited in the sun outside 50s Prime Time. It looked like we were going to head over soon, so DH went over to the stage early to grab a good spot. He had a really great spot right in front with no one blocking him. Once we got the robes, DS and I walked in the procession to the stage. He ended up on the bottom stage. It was even hotter in the robes in the full blazing sun at the stage. Luckily, the robe covered him, and he didn't need sunscreen. As parents and spectators showed up, DH slowly lost his good view. I still can't believe how much people could block him, especially since he's 6ft tall. He's not very aggressive though. I would have been using my wide pointy elbow technic to keep my spot. Plus, I would just tell people that they blocked me and wedge my way back if necessary. Being a short female, I have to stand my ground though. Here are the shots that DS took.




DS is in the center with glasses and a white BB8 shirt.









As you can see, DH didn't get too many good, unblocked shots. Here are some of the blocked shots.

I don't remember these people in front of me when I got here



It just keeps getting better



That's the tallest little girl I have ever seen.



Wow! Even better



Kylo's not the problem. All the cellphones are driving her to the dark side



Next - More Jedi Trials

 

[soniam]

Day 2 - DHS - Jedi Trials of the Photopass Photographer

These are the shots that the photopass photographer got. All I can say, is if you can afford it and are doing JTT, buy Memory Maker. These are out of order. They downloaded weird. Sorry.