We're off to see the World! A Wish TR w/ pics from BigGive, Days 1-7, and PhotoPass!

[Bill_Lin]

Amy,

You are so welcome to the help. Like I said, I really enjoy this.

It would be a good idea to split up for shows at DHS, but be sure to check on show times when you get to the park.

I was surprised to see how early some of the shows ended.


Bill

 

[Bill_Lin]

Amy,

If you decide to divide forces part of the time at DHS, you might want to consider a few things.

When we split up, we ended up with one group waiting for a long time for the others since it is hard to tell how long an attraction will take. This should not be a problem with shows, since they have a specified start and stop time (as long as each group is able to get in the show they are planning to see and don't have to wait until the next one). Cell phones are pretty crucial at this point.

Sometimes we were able to use the GAC to get one group in one attraction, then pass it off to the other group so they could do something different. We had a bit of trouble about his with our GAP at IOA. Lysi did not want to do a specific ride. Kyle and I got in by Lin showing the GAP then leaving with it. When we got to the boarding area we were turned back. A senior Team Member helped us go back in and get on the ride, but this wasted time.

We also ended up enjoying doing the attractions together even if someone would not have chosen that ride. It was fun to watch Lysi enjoy things so much.

If you do split up, it might be better to plan to meet in a playground area or store where there is at least something to do while waiting.

Bill

 

[GoofyDoo]

Amy,

If you decide to divide forces part of the time at DHS, you might want to consider a few things.

When we split up, we ended up with one group waiting for a long time for the others since it is hard to tell how long an attraction will take. This should not be a problem with shows, since they have a specified start and stop time (as long as each group is able to get in the show they are planning to see and don't have to wait until the next one). Cell phones are pretty crucial at this point.

Sometimes we were able to use the GAC to get one group in one attraction, then pass it off to the other group so they could do something different. We had a bit of trouble about his with our GAP at IOA. Lysi did not want to do a specific ride. Kyle and I got in by Lin showing the GAP then leaving with it. When we got to the boarding area we were turned back. A senior Team Member helped us go back in and get on the ride, but this wasted time.

We also ended up enjoying doing the attractions together even if someone would not have chosen that ride. It was fun to watch Lysi enjoy things so much.

If you do split up, it might be better to plan to meet in a playground area or store where there is at least something to do while waiting.

Bill

Hmmm...I hadn't thought about having only one GAC, but I see what you're saying. Honestly, for the most part I hope to stay together no matter what...unless it comes down to someone missing something they truly want to do. It sounds like we need to cut the list down some more!! My husband is bad about not bringing his cell phone to places when he knows I have mine, but I'll have to make sure we both have our phones for the reasons you mentioned. I think I would just be beside myself if I had to stand around and wait for the others, just wasting time. Of course, if I were shopping in a store, that would not be time wasted. However, it's a curiosity how much more quickly my husband appears if he knows I'm shopping while I'm waiting on him--LOL!! Thank you for the great tips!!

 

[Bill_Lin]

Hmmm...I hadn't thought about having only one GAC, but I see what you're saying. Honestly, for the most part I hope to stay together no matter what...unless it comes down to someone missing something they truly want to do. It sounds like we need to cut the list down some more!! My husband is bad about not bringing his cell phone to places when he knows I have mine, but I'll have to make sure we both have our phones for the reasons you mentioned. I think I would just be beside myself if I had to stand around and wait for the others, just wasting time. Of course, if I were shopping in a store, that would not be time wasted. However, it's a curiosity how much more quickly my husband appears if he knows I'm shopping while I'm waiting on him--LOL!! Thank you for the great tips!!

That is so hilarious! I am the same way about shopping. Tell him that he NEEDS the cell phone though, just to check and see if you are shopping.

But seriously, Amy, the phone is really important. You would be amazed how quickly you can lose each other, just from a bathroom break or something. OH OH, I just remembered. Zip lock bags for cell phones are a must!!!!!!!! This from a guy who once dropped his cell phone in a toilet.
I doused in in alchohol, took it all apart, doused it again, let it dry for a few days and hoped for the best. It was okay, except that the vibrate funtion would turn itself on and off at random, each time vibrating to let me know it was changing. You have no idea how annoying that can be. I took it to the Verizon place. The guy opened it and said, did this get wet... I said... well... actually YES. I did not elaborate. I have a new phone now... HURRAY

On your trip, don't be afraid to try to use the GAC for 2 rides at once.. So one group gets past the entrance and the other takes the GAC to go somewhere else, but there are no guarantees it will work every time. In fact, don't be afraid to ask for WHATEVER you can think of. You will be amazed at the magic CMs can work.

Bill

 

[Iluvmickeymouse!]

Oh, and Iluvmickeymouse, I meant to say THANK YOU for the awesome advice!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I am hanging on every word that each of you says!!! You are all wonderful!!! xoxo

Your welcome!! Like Bill said...I like doing it. As far as going back post-MAW......don't know yet....wish I did. But, I do think we have gotten spoiled by the GAC and MAW. I can just see us there the next time and DD going, why can't we just go to the front of the line, we did before!

 

[GoofyDoo]

In the toilet, huh, Bill? Every time I hear of that happening, I always want to ask more questions...but something always stops me.

Ziplock baggies!!! That's what I needed to add to my packing list!! But I was thinking for cameras, too. What do people do with their cameras on rides? I wouldn't want to just leave them unattended or anything!! I have a great camera that takes pics and excellent video, but I still am thinking I might want to borrow one of the camcorders from GKTW. Are those the really small ones? We have a camcorder, but the big, clunky thing is from the stone ages (not really, but it feels like it since they've gotten so much smaller in past years.)

 

[Bill_Lin]

Keeping things safe and dry on rides is why God invented husbands. Have him wear cargo shorts with lots of big pockets. Put the phones and camera in zip lock bags that he can button down safe in pockets on rides. I am still trying to figure out how Heather is going to keep her clipboard from flying away on rides. They don't make shorts with pockets that big, so the husband thing won't work there.

As far as my phone mishap..... make sure you have a really good belt case for your phone that won't pop open at an BAD time. Murphy's law also came into play. If the phone is going to fall it WILL land in water. If a toilet is near by, that is the water it will land in... etc.

Bill

 

[Robin+5]

Amy,

I got your post on a different tread about sending my kids postcards. That would be great. If you still can, PM me and I will give you all the details. Thanks sooo much.

I have enjoyed reading you TR

I am starting to pack now. Just little things that I remember like a small bottle of laungry soap and dryer sheets. I am not paying a fortune for that stuff and I know we will probably do 1-2 loads of laundry.

I got a small purse with a long handle that I put the cards, ID, money and my camera in and put it around my neck and I was hands free. We all took turns carrying a small backpack that had other things in it. Usually my husband carried that

Robin

 

[GoofyDoo]

Clay received his postcard in the mail from Disney World!! That Tara Laine/"smatterchu"--she is just wonderful. I am going to "pay it forward" to Robin's kids when we're there by sending them a postcard. It was so exciting to receive mail from Mickey and his friends!!! He was rocking up a storm in that chair from all the excitement as he was reading...so it was hard to get a pic that wasn't blurry. But how fun--mail from DISNEY WORLD!!! THANK YOU, Tara Laine!!!

 

[bigdisgrandma]

Amy,
Sorry, I told you I would send you a list of my favorite parts of WDW and then I had a crazy weekend. My husband had a slight medical emergency on 7/3, we had a party at our house for 25 people (kids and grandkids) on 7/4, my husband and grandson share their birthdays 7/6 so another party and all the while we were still waiting for the result of Mike's tests on the 3rd which didn't come until yesterday afternoon. (Good news, nothing too serious but will require some follow-up)

Anyway, I read through your plans and WOW! you have them all listed. If I had to list only three things in each park this is what they would be: (not counting eating)

MK
Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear

Epcot
Test Track, The Living Seas building, The drummers in Japan
(I can't do soaring--I am not a free-floater!)

HS
Lights, Motors, Action;Beauty and the Beast; Indiana Jones (our oldest son got to be in the show when we went 10 years ago!)
(I don't do TOT or RnR)

Animal Kingdom
Festival of the Lion King; Kali River Rapids, Safari Ride

I had to limit myself to 3 or I would have listed almost everything! I truly love WDW. Your plans will turn out perfect.

Also, I swear by Ziploc Bags. I never travel without them. My MIL who is 88 always has a couple in her purse just in case! In fact, my kids call them Grandma Kelly bags! I usually carry a messenger type bag that goes over one shoulder when Mike and I travel. It works much better for me than a backpack. When we are at WDW, I don't have to take it off to ride the rides because I can just slide it around my lap and be all set. It has a zipper pocket where I keep my Ziplocs!

Oh my goodness, your trip is so close!

Denise

 

[Bill_Lin]

We, too, used small nylon shoulder bags that we bought at the Dollar Tree. For one thing, I have this idea that fanny packs are not very macho. Perhaps it is the name. It was very convenient to be able to swing the bag around front and access things. On really extreme rides I could put it around my waste.

One warning about this: Kyle took his off in shows for some reason. He left it at Stitch's Great Escape and walked out. He IMMEDIATELY turned around to go back in, but could not as the next show had already been loaded. It had a tiny digital camera in it, so he felt pretty bad and hung around to have a CM check for it when the next show emptied out (a lot of time wasted). It was finally turned in to lost and found the next day. They were very good about mailing it to us at home.

Soarin' was kind of like sitting up high on a couch, although there was an illusion of being way up in the air and sailing.

Bill

 

[GoofyDoo]

Denise, I am saying prayers for your husband! It sounds like everything is going to be OK, and I'm glad. I sure hope so, anyway. Please keep us posted. Thank you for giving me your top ride choices. I love it!! It has stuck in my mind how you said you always call your friend when you get off of Splash Mountain--that is so funny. I giggle every time I think about it!!

I have to confess that I am going to be one of those geeks with the fanny packs on, but mine says "Disney" in cute letters, at least! That still won't carry everything, I don't think, so I think I'll carry one of my shoulder bags, too, with plenty of ziplocks. My older daughter has robbed me of all my shoulder bags, so I'll have to go hunting for one of them in her room. Hope you hear from me again after that.

Well, Denise, you've inspired me to pick my top three at each WDW park. I don't know how I could possibly do that, but I'm going to try. I'll be interested to see what I say my top three picks at each park are after the trip. But for now, here is what I think they will be:

MK
The Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain

EPCOT
Soarin'
Test Track
World Showcase (just a quick walk-through, just to see it)

HS
Beauty and the Beast
Aerosmith Rock-n-Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror (but I'm scared!!)

AK
Everest
Festival of the Lion King
Kilimanjaro Safari

OK, that was hard!! Esp. MK!!!!!

 

[bigdisgrandma]

Denise, I am saying prayers for your husband! It sounds like everything is going to be OK, and I'm glad. I sure hope so, anyway. Please keep us posted. Thank you for giving me your top ride choices. I love it!! It has stuck in my mind how you said you always call your friend when you get off of Splash Mountain--that is so funny. I giggle every time I think about it!!

I have to confess that I am going to be one of those geeks with the fanny packs on, but mine says "Disney" in cute letters, at least! That still won't carry everything, I don't think, so I think I'll carry one of my shoulder bags, too, with plenty of ziplocks. My older daughter has robbed me of all my shoulder bags, so I'll have to go hunting for one of them in her room. Hope you hear from me again after that.

Well, Denise, you've inspired me to pick my top three at each WDW park. I don't know how I could possibly do that, but I'm going to try. I'll be interested to see what I say my top three picks at each park are after the trip. But for now, here is what I think they will be:

MK
The Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain

EPCOT
Soarin'
Test Track
World Showcase (just a quick walk-through, just to see it)

HS
Beauty and the Beast
Aerosmith Rock-n-Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror (but I'm scared!!)

AK
Everest
Festival of the Lion King
Kilimanjaro Safari

OK, that was hard!! Esp. MK!!!!!

Thanks so much for your prayers. We were quite worried but all the really bad things have been ruled out for the most part and so we will follow up with a specialist about the time you will be riding Splash Mountain or some other wonderful ride on your trip. My friend that I call from Splash Mountain always calls me when she comes off the ride too. She is usually calling from Disneyland because she and her husband hate to fly so they have only been to Florida once and that was with Mike and me two years ago!

I love your list of threes. It is really hard to eliminate it down to only three. There are things on your list that I could easily put on mine. Good thing we don't have to be so strict about what we choose!

Denise

 

[Bill_Lin]

Amy,

Great choices there. It is hard to narrow it down to three, since you end up leaving out things like Mission Space, Monsters' Inc., Turtle Talk and Star Tours.

Keep up the Great planning.

Bill

 

[GoofyDoo]

I am speechless!! This morning a member of the DISboutiquers contacted me to tell me they wanted to spread some pixie dust!! They chose our family to be recipients of their BIG GIVE!!! I am just overcome, and as I have said to several today so far, words simply fail me. These girls are angels to do what they do. I am honored and humbled. WOW. I will definitely be posting pics and giving credit to all the amazing people who have chosen to do this for us!! THANK YOU, DISBOUTIQUERS!! I am truly overwhelmed.

 

[bigdisgrandma]

I am speechless!! This morning a member of the DISboutiquers contacted me to tell me they wanted to spread some pixie dust!! They chose our family to be recipients of their BIG GIVE!!! I am just overcome, and as I have said to several today so far, words simply fail me. These girls are angels to do what they do. I am honored and humbled. WOW. I will definitely be posting pics and giving credit to all the amazing people who have chosen to do this for us!! THANK YOU, DISBOUTIQUERS!! I am truly overwhelmed.

Is that not the coolest thing ever? Karlyn was chosen as well! Those folks are really stacking up the blessings for what they are doing!

Denise

 

[HeatherSue]

I am speechless!! This morning a member of the DISboutiquers contacted me to tell me they wanted to spread some pixie dust!! They chose our family to be recipients of their BIG GIVE!!! I am just overcome, and as I have said to several today so far, words simply fail me. These girls are angels to do what they do. I am honored and humbled. WOW. I will definitely be posting pics and giving credit to all the amazing people who have chosen to do this for us!! THANK YOU, DISBOUTIQUERS!! I am truly overwhelmed.

I'm subscribing so I don't miss any of the outfits you receive! Thanks for the PM about my grandma. You are so sweet.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I am really enjoying your pre=trip report! I am so excited for your son and your whole family! You look like a planner! Look at all the things you have planned our already! WOW! Subscribing so I don't miss anything!

Oh, and I wanted to add that I think it is wonderful that MAW has expanded to children with life threatening illness too!

 

[Bill_Lin]

I am convinced that the Wish Trippers and DISboutiquers are becoming the best of friends (hey isn't that a Disney song?). That is so wonderful.

Pixie Dust all Around.

Bill

 

[GoofyDoo]

Is that not the coolest thing ever? Karlyn was chosen as well! Those folks are really stacking up the blessings for what they are doing!

Denise

That brings tears to my eyes!! YAY!! They are so wonderful, and you are all so deserving!!

I'm subscribing so I don't miss any of the outfits you receive! Thanks for the PM about my grandma. You are so sweet.

I hope your Grandma is doing better!!! I'm still praying for HeatherSue's Grandma!!!

I am really enjoying your pre=trip report! I am so excited for your son and your whole family! You look like a planner! Look at all the things you have planned our already! WOW! Subscribing so I don't miss anything!

Oh, and I wanted to add that I think it is wonderful that MAW has expanded to children with life threatening illness too!

Glad to have you along for the ride. Several people are laughing at me for all I have planned out, but I can't help it--there's just too much fun stuff to do!! Thank you for being excited for us and for making our trip even more special!!