We're here!

[starrysky]

After an early start in Glasgow yesterday we checked in for the 8:20 flight to Dublin. Checking in we were first in the que and the checking in agent was lovely and friendly. Security was quick and easy as well.
Killed time in Dublin by getting through pre clearance and then having a snack once we got through that.
Flight to Orlando left 2 mins ahead if schedule and landed an 1hour 20mins ahead of schedule thanks to a strong tail wind. Great flight. Food was good and staff friendly. Think we will keep sticking with Aer Lingus.
Quick exit from plane but a bit of a wait for the bags. Checked in for ME and we were at the check in desk at PORFQ by 5:30pm ish.
We got our magic bands when we checked in customised exactly as we wanted them and we were also given standard KTTW cards.
Room is in building 6 the location that we wanted. Once we got our bags to the room we went to get some food at the float works. Collected our new refillable mugs (purple for me and orange for DH, they also had a green as well)
Once we had eaten it was through to bell services to collect our garden grocer order (really love that service) then back to the room to chill out.
It's now just about to be 3am and I'm wide awake but very happy to be here.
So far all the CMs we have met have been as helpful and friendly as I would expect.
Room clean and love the new toiletries with the Mickey grad bottles.
Off to MK today with a couple of FP+ selections so will see how we get on with those.
Any questions ask away....
Off yo try and go back to sleep but I'm like a kid at Christmas so think its going to be tough.

 

[wayneg]

Have a great holiday
We are just leaving for Seaworld in a few minutes.

 

[edinburghlass]

I just walked the paths of POFQ with you and stopped in for some virtual beinets for breakfast

Looking forward to hearing how the magic bands work with your FP+

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[jen_uk]

Hope you are having a great day

 

[Lannin]

After an early start in Glasgow yesterday we checked in for the 8:20 flight to Dublin. Checking in we were first in the que and the checking in agent was lovely and friendly. Security was quick and easy as well.
Killed time in Dublin by getting through pre clearance and then having a snack once we got through that.
Flight to Orlando left 2 mins ahead if schedule and landed an 1hour 20mins ahead of schedule thanks to a strong tail wind. Great flight. Food was good and staff friendly. Think we will keep sticking with Aer Lingus.
Quick exit from plane but a bit of a wait for the bags. Checked in for ME and we were at the check in desk at PORFQ by 5:30pm ish.
We got our magic bands when we checked in customised exactly as we wanted them and we were also given standard KTTW cards.
Room is in building 6 the location that we wanted. Once we got our bags to the room we went to get some food at the float works. Collected our new refillable mugs (purple for me and orange for DH, they also had a green as well)
Once we had eaten it was through to bell services to collect our garden grocer order (really love that service) then back to the room to chill out.
It's now just about to be 3am and I'm wide awake but very happy to be here.
So far all the CMs we have met have been as helpful and friendly as I would expect.
Room clean and love the new toiletries with the Mickey grad bottles.
Off to MK today with a couple of FP+ selections so will see how we get on with those.
Any questions ask away....
Off yo try and go back to sleep but I'm like a kid at Christmas so think its going to be tough.

Sounds great, we fly with Aer Lingus in a few weeks and hoping for a similar flight time. Was you flight full? And did you have wifi??

 

[starrysky]

Thanks all so far so good bad the magic bands are working so far.
Busy day in MK we have done the haunted mansion, little mermaid and are away to do buzz.
Flight was full on the way here but it didn't feel like it plenty of staff and very relaxed. There was wifi but we didn't use it.
Just had lunch at CHH very nice and the peach cobbler was amazing.
Away to the TTA to rest after lunch.

 

[MrRomance]

Sounds like you're off to an awesome start! Have a great time!!!

 

[starrysky]

Day 2 we were off to animal kingdom at Tusker House and it was excellent. Staff and characters really good.food was as usual plentyful and sane really good selection.
Park very crowded but I must admit the pre booked FP+ have been really helpful. I think this was due to Columbus Day and MK has a MNSSHP on tonight which is making the other parks more crowded.
We did the safari, bugs life and Nemo musical. The fast pass access for the Nemo show was great we got to sit in the middle 5 rows from the front and it was fantastic having sat at the back before (which was ok) the ones down the front made you feel much more involved in the show.

 

[wayneg]

Sounds great, we fly with Aer Lingus in a few weeks and hoping for a similar flight time. Was you flight full? And did you have wifi??

We had WiFi on the Dublin to Boston route but cost is crazy, lady in front of us paid for it.

- Business class passengers surf for free.
- Aer Lingus Wi-Fi Pass 1 hour: €10.95/$14.95
- Aer Lingus Wi-Fi Pass 24 hours: €19.95/$24.95

 

[crabbie1]

Hope you have a great time looking forward to ur TR. What design are the new mugs? Is the FP+ line had any any impact on the regular line?

 

[starrysky]

Hope you have a great time looking forward to ur TR. What design are the new mugs? Is the FP+ line had any any impact on the regular line?

The new mugs are kind of similar to the old ones they are now rapid fill as well and the colour options appear to be just the orange, purple and green.
The fast pass plus line is the same as the normal fast pass line so the combination is making the lines a bit longer than I'm used to. However it is a holiday weekend so overall the parks have been busier than I am used to.
We were in Epcot for a bit tonight and soarin was an hour wait at 7:45 and test track was 70mins.
The WS was really busy as well. Caught a couple of the songs from Wilson Phillips but it was packed so we made sure we moved on before that was over.
At 7pm there was already a big line for the 8pm show.
We went to sunshine seasons for food at it was good and quiet. Food all fresh and we had the Mongolian beef and for desert strawberry shortcake. Both really good and we enjoyed it.
Made sure we were well out of the park before the fireworks as it was so busy it would have taken forever to get back if we stayed to watch.

 

[starrysky]

We had WiFi on the Dublin to Boston route but cost is crazy, lady in front of us paid for it. - Business class passengers surf for free. - Aer Lingus Wi-Fi Pass 1 hour: €10.95/$14.95 - Aer Lingus Wi-Fi Pass 24 hours: €19.95/$24.95

Yeah the cost really put us off bothering with it.
The wifi at the resort and in the parks has been working really well though there are a couple of blank spots. Some in animal kingdom but not so bad that if you moved a bit you got a signal.

 

[crabbie1]

The new mugs are kind of similar to the old ones they are now rapid fill as well and the colour options appear to be just the orange, purple and green.
The fast pass plus line is the same as the normal fast pass line so the combination is making the lines a bit longer than I'm used to. However it is a holiday weekend so overall the parks have been busier than I am used to.
We were in Epcot for a bit tonight and soarin was an hour wait at 7:45 and test track was 70mins.
The WS was really busy as well. Caught a couple of the songs from Wilson Phillips but it was packed so we made sure we moved on before that was over.
At 7pm there was already a big line for the 8pm show.
We went to sunshine seasons for food at it was good and quiet. Food all fresh and we had the Mongolian beef and for desert strawberry shortcake. Both really good and we enjoyed it.
Made sure we were well out of the park before the fireworks as it was so busy it would have taken forever to get back if we stayed to watch.

Great thanks for the info. I havent read much on the FP+ or magicbands as not going till next november but its good to read a TR especially with this horrid rain and dark nights. We really liked sunshine seasons as well. Wilson philips wow. I had one of there songs at my wedding in florida. I love them. You know in all my 10 or so trips I have never looked at the theatre in world showcase. Do they do anything special for the build up to christmas does anyone know? Will be just the two of us.
Looking forward to reading more have a fab time

 

[starrysky]

Well I must admit I was a one of those that was on the fence about the magic bands but they are very handy and easy to use. I forgot to say you have to pick a PIN number to use them when paying for things and have one for each card. DH was much more comfortable with using them for payments when he found that out.
At the risk of rubbing it in the temps are about to go up here which is unusual for this time of year. Looking at a high in a couple of days of 88 but they think it might nudge up to 90.
Today it's off to DHS and looking forward to going on toy story for the first time in a couple of years as we refused to get up for rope drop to get in the fast pass stampede.
It's gong to be Indy first, star tours (going to be a big brave girl for that as it's DH favourite ride and I'm not a fan but will close my eyes if it gets too much) then toy story.
Planning to fit in some of the other shows as well but are just enjoying spending time in the parks with out having to run around grabbing passes all the time.
Wilson Phillips was playing as part of the eat to the beat concerts. Heard them sing hold on which is one of my favourite songs so that was very cool. Not sure how it works in the run up to Christmas I believe they have various celebrities telling the Christmas story but I'm not sure when that runs from. It's called the candle light processional.
Also I'm not sure that it's a good idea to be eating caramel popcorn for breakfast but OMG it's so good picked it up from Germany last night.
Couple of other observations I was disappointed in the selection of perfume in the store in France they normally have a big selection but this year it looks a bit light and it's all very spread out. Also there seems to be far less ECVs than I am used to which is interesting I wonder if the crack down on the access has made an impact on this. It's not that I have not seen any but it does seen down in comparison to last year.
Food wise some of the portions have gone down in size. Quality is still good but a formally large snack credit caramel popcorn is now a small.
The purchase with purchase is just a tote bag and a beach towel and I have been in various stores and that's all they seem to have.

 

[wayneg]

Well I must admit I was a one of those that was on the fence about the magic bands but they are very handy and easy to use.

As a none user staying offsite I am a little irritated by them.
I am still not happy with the speed they go thru going onto a ride, like yesterday at ToT, a family of 5 in front of us, 4 tapped but 1 didn't, the CM had to look at the screen to determine who had not then get them back to tap, far longer than giving 5 fastpasses.
Then at 9:30am there were no FP's available for TSM until 7pm, the ability to do them online must be having an affect on availabilty inpark.
Saying that they seem a great perk for onsite guests for now. Once the system is fully working I am sure it will be better for all.

 

[starrysky]

As a none user staying offsite I am a little irritated by them. I am still not happy with the speed they go thru going onto a ride, like yesterday at ToT, a family of 5 in front of us, 4 tapped but 1 didn't, the CM had to look at the screen to determine who had not then get them back to tap, far longer than giving 5 fastpasses. Then at 9:30am there were no FP's available for TSM until 7pm, the ability to do them online must be having an affect on availabilty inpark. Saying that they seem a great perk for onsite guests for now. Once the system is fully working I am sure it will be better for all.

Must admit I did not look at it that way. Once they get the bugs sorted out I'm sure they will be much more smooth in operation. I have seen CMs at the entrance to all the rides checking each person has tapped the bands.

 

[edinburghlass]

I confess to not having got any fast pass when we were there in May, if a ride was busy we didn't bother waiting but I am looking forward to picking FP+ next May for at least some days. We tend to decide in the morning where to go and sometimes even depend on which bus comes first which park we visit.

 

[starrysky]

I confess to not having got any fast pass when we were there in May, if a ride was busy we didn't bother waiting but I am looking forward to picking FP+ next May for at least some days. We tend to decide in the morning where to go and sometimes even depend on which bus comes first which park we visit.

Well the good thing with the bands is you can make the reservations but you can change them if you need to. We did that with ours yesterday and it worked great.

 

[starrysky]

So yesterday was DHS it was off to Indy first which we had not seen in a couple of trips and it was good.
After Indy it was time for our star tours fast pass so off we went line moved nice and fast. I really wanted to ride this as the last time I did it was the old version. Well let's just say I am still not a fan I had my eyes closed almost the whole time and I felt really sick after.
Managed some food at pizza planet which was good. I had the seasonal cupcake for desert OMG it was amazing.
After lunch it was toy story time but I was not keen on going on as I still did not feel right after star tours. We went to wonder past only to find it was closed anyway. No idea why and no idea when it reopened.
Headed through to Epcot to go to the festival centre to get a couple of bottles of wine. WS seemed much quieter than the other night but still busy. Didn't look at the wait times.
Headed to paradiso 37 for dinner. We like to get a selection of the starters rather than mains. So we had the fish fritters, chorizo and argentine beef skewers, quesadillas and the mac and cheese bites. All really tasty but I think the mac and cheese might have been overkill. The starters are rather large. One beer for DH and a strawberry margarita which was delicious.
Wondered over to the west side to get my tshirts from house of blues. They have a two for $42 but they DONT take the 10% voucher as well.
Got the bus from the pleasure island stop back to the resort.
Today is lazy day and DH wants to go to kona for lunch so it's just a day to chill might hit the pool later on. We have dinner at the wave tonight so looking forward to that.