What's the Big Deal With Staying On Property Anyway? *Goodbyes* 12/17 p.114

[Jensspark]

Carissa,

I am loving your TR! I have been reading all week, but just finally came out of lurkdom to comment. It is thoroughly entertaining and is really getting me excited about my trip. Your boys are so cute and look like a lot of fun. Boys are great!

Thanks for the reassurance on TSM. I know it has to be good for everyone to talk about it so much, but you still have that little part of you that really wants to know "for sure"...is it worth it? I'm feeling much better. I can't wait to see it for myself. I will definitely do SB first and then FP if we can. I want to get a good chance to check out that queue!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I have to say that I've become spoiled by your morning updates too.

Glad you found time to do one this afternoon.

I can't wait for TSM - I really want to go through the regular line too to see all of the theming. We'll be going straight there at RD.

Sorry about the rain! It put a damper on my weekend getaway last April. Hope the weather improves for the rest of the trip!

 

[carissanboys]

Toy Story Mania is awesome. I really can't wait to ride it. I think it's much better than Buzz as well.

Too bad on the rain. I hate the whole poncho debate. Off, On, Off, On. We had an afternoon like that at Epcot.

I guess it could have been worse and been pouring the entire time.

Bad CM, he needs to watch himself some Disney Channel!!!

That's what I said!

Carissa,

I am loving your TR! I have been reading all week, but just finally came out of lurkdom to comment. It is thoroughly entertaining and is really getting me excited about my trip. Your boys are so cute and look like a lot of fun. Boys are great!

Thanks for the reassurance on TSM. I know it has to be good for everyone to talk about it so much, but you still have that little part of you that really wants to know "for sure"...is it worth it? I'm feeling much better. I can't wait to see it for myself. I will definitely do SB first and then FP if we can. I want to get a good chance to check out that queue!

I'm so glad you came out of lurkdom to post! Thank you so much for the compliments. I hope my suggestions for TSM help.

 

[carissanboys]

I have to say that I've become spoiled by your morning updates too.

Glad you found time to do one this afternoon.

I can't wait for TSM - I really want to go through the regular line too to see all of the theming. We'll be going straight there at RD.

Sorry about the rain! It put a damper on my weekend getaway last April. Hope the weather improves for the rest of the trip!

Thanks Amy! You guys will love TSM.

 

[cjackearl]

TSM looks great! How were the crowds on the way to the ride? In my mind, I've built up a mass stampede of people when the rope drops, complete with body checks. It makes me a wee bit nervous.

 

[carissanboys]

TSM looks great! How were the crowds on the way to the ride? In my mind, I've built up a mass stampede of people when the rope drops, complete with body checks. It makes me a wee bit nervous.

It wasn't that bad at all. We were towards the back of the crowd and we just took our time getting there. I really think the rain helped keep the crowds lower, but getting over there was pretty calm.

 

[dismagiclover]

I think we'll try your trick of riding TSM first and then getting the fast pass on our upcoming trick. No point in standing in 2 different lines if we don't have to. And I promise I won't yell if it doesn't work out for us

Look, I've finally reached 100 posts!

 

[carissanboys]

I think we'll try your trick of riding TSM first and then getting the fast pass on our upcoming trick. No point in standing in 2 different lines if we don't have to. And I promise I won't yell if it doesn't work out for us

Look, I've finally reached 100 posts!

That was how we felt. The FP line was almost as long as the Standby line! I wasn't going to stand in it twice! (I would have if the line would have still been long when we got out.)

Yay for 100 posts!!!

 

[Goofy442]

When we were there last year people were pushing and knocking kids down to get to TSM . It was bad when we got in line it said a 90 minute wait well I'm one to time it and it took us close to 2 hours. I told the CM they needed to update the time. My DH got FP and they were for 2:00 that day . My DS who works at DHS rides TSM every chance he gets.

 

[momrek06]

Carissa!!! Great Update!!!

TSM, omg, is that not the BESTEST (is that even a word) ride of all!!!

We actually just did TSM for the first time in March on my birthday.

We have been going to the LAND since September but never wanted to wait in the lines. At DL there is NO FASTPASS for TSM! The waits can be up to 90 minutes.

We have headed over to TSM many many times but when we got there the wait was always so long.

Well on my birthday, we decided we would wait it out.

YIPPEE SKIPPEE, it is by far one of my TOP favorites!!!

 

[LaurenMic]

Hey Carissa! Loved the update...TSM is the greatest Too bad about the raining, that on again of again stuff is so annoying! Can't wait for more!

 

[jmskinner]

Great update Carissa! I remember that day it rained and thinking of you on your trip. We had one of those days, ponchos on, ponchos off, over and over again.

I knew you would love TSMM, it is the best. I'll have to try your idea of riding first and then getting FP's. I love the standby line, Mr. Potato Head is so cool! You miss everything in the FP line.

Did you see toy soldiers inside the que? I remember them being there before, but it seems like the last time we rode they weren't there.

I wish I had that alarm clock. I woke up yesterday and my alarm(radio) had been going off for 30 minutes. I just made it part of my dream.

OK, trying to be patient, waiting to hear the rest of your trip. Can't wait until you get to Epcot. We went today and the F&G Festival is ...well, I'll let you explain it.

 

[KathyRN137]

1) You don't have to bother with spinning yourself around and looking for targets. It's all right there in front of you.

Oh good. I'm usually paired with Tricia and she spins Buzz like it was the Mad Tea Party!!

2) The "shooter" or whatever you want to call that thing is much easier to operate than the "gun" on BLSRS. You just pull the string and there ya go.

Ha! Finally, I may get an advantage over Ed. (He's used to shooting with a trigger... for practice and qualifications, not in the line of duty lately, thank heavens!!)

You will LOVE this ride AND you will definitely want to do it again.

Can't wait!!

So glad it lived up to the hype!! DS really did need a ride like this!


Kathy

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

I'm so glad you enjoyed Toy Story. It is my favorite ride for sure!

 

[mousescrapper]

we LOVE TSM too!!!!!!!


and we'll have some rain stories to compare this day. Yes we were standing in that crowd waiting to "pour" in w/ the rest of the people in the rain!

This is our Day 3) (day 2 in the parks) but I'll catch up eventually.

I keep wondering did I see you guys at Sci-Fi...I am so bummed we didn't have each others numbers. I was actually tempted to shout out "Carissanboys"


but I restrained myself.

looking forward to more....

 

[blue_river]

I don't want to comment too much about TSM without spoiling my own installments I have an awful habit of doing that!


BUT I'm glad you all had a blast!!!!


Too bad about the rain and chill factor. I hope that was your only day of poor weather.

 

[wvdislover]

We LOVE TSM! Can't wait to ride it again in September!

I agree, that internal alarm clock can be a good or a bad thing. Good when I need to wake up to get DD7 ready for school. Bad when there is no school and I can finally sleep in (NOT!)

 

[ckdsnynt]

Before the title of my trip report starts a huge debate, let me explain.

This was our third trip to Disney World in three years. On our first trip, we stayed at Shades of Green. While technically ON property, it is not a Disney resort and didn't really have the Disney feeling (at least to me). Basically, there were no towel animals. But, the rooms were large and you couldn't beat the price.

Our second trip took us completely off property to Windsor Hills. We LOVED staying there! So much space to move around, a splash pool all our own, and a quick and easy drive to the parks. (Here's the link to my first PTR/TR - "Our 2nd Trip to Disney! Did It Measure Up?")

So - I asked myself - what was the big deal about staying on Disney property???

This last trip was spur of the moment thanks to some great deals offered to military families by Disney. We were able to purchase our tickets at a great price and they gave us 40% off our room. That pretty much settled it for me - it was time to try staying on property and find out what all of the hoopla was about for ourselves!

The cast:

I'm going to keep the introductions simple. Most of you already know us, but if you don't and would like to find out more, feel free to read my PTR (do not be thrown by the word "camping" in the title ).

Me - Carissa - turned 35 on the trip

DH - Chuck - already 35 (he he he) and getting ready to do his first tour on board a ship

Sullivan - 8 - my thrill rider

Owen - 6 - the one I can always count on to pose with characters

Connor - 4 - my shy one

Stitch - our visitor for this trip (you can find out more about why he's with us in my PTR)

The details:

We left Maryland on Friday, March 27th and returned home on Sunday, April 5th. Our plan was to stay at Port Orleans Riverside for seven nights. We were getting the five day basic park tickets and also taking advantage of the free entry to Sea World.

Now that all of that business is out of the way, we can get on to the trip! But, I'm afraid that will have to wait a bit longer. We just got home yesterday and I have lots to do to get caught up on life. I'm sure y'all understand.

By the way, for those who may be new (please say "hi" as I love to hear from everyone!), my husband just received orders on board his first ship. He'll be leaving us at the end of next month for four months of school in Florida. The boys and I will most likely be moving to the Virginia Beach area sometime in June. And then Chuck will begin his tour on an aircraft carrier in September. I am sure this TR (if I can drag it out long enough ) will have mini-TRs about all of that. If you care to skip over non-Disney stuff, I always have links to installments right here on the main page.

Now, let's get this trip report started...

*Links*

1) Day 1 - Part 1 - Let the Driving Begin!
2) Moving Update
3) Part 2 - Are We a Magnet for Tornadoes or What???
4) Part 3 - What Did Pedro Call Me???
5) Day 2 - Part 1 - It Cost $1.00 to Pee??
6) So Long, Stitch!
7) Part 2 - "I Swear I Wasn't Running Off Without Paying!"
8) Part 3 - Renovations Anyone?
9) Day 3 - Part 1 - Will Toy Story Mania Live Up to the Hype?

Just found your trip report. Love it so far! Had to skip ahead and read some! You are the same age as my DS so that makes it even more interesting - he has 2 DDs!
Can't wait to read more.
P.S. We are staying at POFQ May 16-23.

 

[carissanboys]

When we were there last year people were pushing and knocking kids down to get to TSM . It was bad when we got in line it said a 90 minute wait well I'm one to time it and it took us close to 2 hours. I told the CM they needed to update the time. My DH got FP and they were for 2:00 that day . My DS who works at DHS rides TSM every chance he gets.

There was that much of a wait right at opening???

Well on my birthday, we decided we would wait it out.

YIPPEE SKIPPEE, it is by far one of my TOP favorites!!!

I guess I missed your birthday Karen!! Happy belated Birthday!
And glad you finally got to go on TSM!

Hey Carissa! Loved the update...TSM is the greatest Too bad about the raining, that on again of again stuff is so annoying! Can't wait for more!

Thanks Lauren

Did you see toy soldiers inside the que? I remember them being there before, but it seems like the last time we rode they weren't there.

I wish I had that alarm clock. I woke up yesterday and my alarm(radio) had been going off for 30 minutes. I just made it part of my dream.

OK, trying to be patient, waiting to hear the rest of your trip. Can't wait until you get to Epcot. We went today and the F&G Festival is ...well, I'll let you explain it.

Do you mean real soldiers?? Don't think so, but I miss a lot.

Tell me what time you want to wake up and I'll call you.

Yes - the F & G Festival is..............

So glad it lived up to the hype!! DS really did need a ride like this!


Kathy

Definitely!

I'm so glad you enjoyed Toy Story. It is my favorite ride for sure!

I don't think I've heard from anyone who hasn't loved this ride.

I keep wondering did I see you guys at Sci-Fi...I am so bummed we didn't have each others numbers. I was actually tempted to shout out "Carissanboys"


but I restrained myself.

looking forward to more....

You should have!!

I don't want to comment too much about TSM without spoiling my own installments I have an awful habit of doing that!


BUT I'm glad you all had a blast!!!!


Too bad about the rain and chill factor. I hope that was your only day of poor weather.

Let's just say we had a day of much worse weather.

We LOVE TSM! Can't wait to ride it again in September!

I agree, that internal alarm clock can be a good or a bad thing. Good when I need to wake up to get DD7 ready for school. Bad when there is no school and I can finally sleep in (NOT!)

Sleeping in?? I don't understand??



My body never lets me do that.

Just found your trip report. Love it so far! Had to skip ahead and read some! You are the same age as my DS so that makes it even more interesting - he has 2 DDs!
Can't wait to read more.
P.S. We are staying at POFQ May 16-23.

Thanks for reading! You'll love your stay at Port Orleans!

 

[gogo65]

Hi Carissa,

I want to ride TSM. It seems so much fun.

Now I will be back in the US in Dec/Jan, do you think my DH and kids will me miss me if I do a quick side trip to WDW

Well DH probably wouldn't even notice I was gone, but the kids might