You can spit on Space Mountain from here! An April '13 TR UPDATED 10/19 p. 28

[wdwgirl03]

Hi everyone! Well, I am already back from Disney World. Time goes WAY too fast in Disney. We had a great time and it was nice getting to see Emma again (and I'll get to see her next month when she comes home for a few days! She is ready to get away from the Florida heat and humidity, haha). Since I start new teacher training tomorrow and school starts in a couple weeks (and I still need to finish my April TR!) I don't know if I'll do a full-blown report for this trip. I'm thinking I might just do a photo trip report (possibly in this thread? We'll see...) You might remember me mentioning how we got to try out the Magic Bands/Fastpass+ so I am definitely planning on doing a review on that at some point. So stay tuned for that (I have to say after experiencing the Magic Bands my opinion on them might have changed for the better!) as well as the completion of our April trip!

 

[Miss Potts]

Welcome back! Disney trips always go way too fast!

Can't wait to read the rest of this report and I really hope you do a review of this last trip! I want to hear all about your experience with the magic bands!! (I'm going in Sept and am part of a test hotel, not sure what to expect)

 

[wdwgirl03]

Welcome back! Disney trips always go way too fast!

Can't wait to read the rest of this report and I really hope you do a review of this last trip! I want to hear all about your experience with the magic bands!! (I'm going in Sept and am part of a test hotel, not sure what to expect)

Yes they do. Can't believe I've been home for a week already!

Things have been super busy lately with the school year about to start but I really want to do a review of the magic bands and everything. Oh yeah, and it might be nice if I could actually finish this report too. Stay tuned!

 

[OhMari]

Yes they do. Can't believe I've been home for a week already!

Things have been super busy lately with the school year about to start but I really want to do a review of the magic bands and everything. Oh yeah, and it might be nice if I could actually finish this report too. Stay tuned!

I didn't like the idea of the bands, but I only use about 3 fastpasses, so I wouldn't be so worried, like others are on this board.

So glad for you Sarah that you got your first class. Be ready for those first day of school tears. But then again, kids now go to daycare and pre-school, so I heard it isn't so bad.

 

[wdwgirl03]

I didn't like the idea of the bands, but I only use about 3 fastpasses, so I wouldn't be so worried, like others are on this board.

So glad for you Sarah that you got your first class. Be ready for those first day of school tears. But then again, kids now go to daycare and pre-school, so I heard it isn't so bad.

Yeah, we hardly ever use fastpasses either since we take advantage of EMH. We do think that the fastpass+ would come in handy in December (if it is rolled out by then) when it is so busy that you can't really do any of the major attractions in the afternoon because all the fastpasses are gone. We'll see what happens.

Thank you! I am really excited to finally have my own classroom. I am not too worried about first day tears-most of the kids were in all day kindergarten last year so they're used to being in school.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Hi Sarah! I'm getting caught up.

The whole different turnstile thing is definitely something to get used to with the RFID passes. In July, they had signs out everywhere, and CM's directing you where you needed to go.

I find the new Test Track queue to be so boring. I think it's because in July we spent a combined total of four hours in that queue. I don't need to wait in it again for quite some time.

Your pictures of the F&G Festival are getting me excited for next year. We are going in May, so we should be seeing it. I haven't been there during F&G in 8 years.

I had no idea that Skylar and Devin won dream tickets!

Ha! Your Buzz picture cracks me up! We should start a trend on the DIS, because your pic is identical to my mom's and mine. When she got galactic hero, she was putzing with her phone in the picture. When I did.....same thing.

Girl, I totally took a picture of the bathroom walls too!

Woo hoo lions!!!!! Nice pictures.

I'm glad you had a great trip! I can't wait to hear about it.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Hi Sarah! I'm getting caught up.

Hi! Glad you are still here.

The whole different turnstile thing is definitely something to get used to with the RFID passes. In July, they had signs out everywhere, and CM's directing you where you needed to go.

Yeah, there were still some signs in August too. It also looked like they were working on adding some more of the RFID turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom.

I find the new Test Track queue to be so boring. I think it's because in July we spent a combined total of four hours in that queue. I don't need to wait in it again for quite some time.

WOW, 4 hours?! That is crazy. I agree, it is kind of boring. The design your own car is kind of cool but also pretty pointless.

Your pictures of the F&G Festival are getting me excited for next year. We are going in May, so we should be seeing it. I haven't been there during F&G in 8 years.

Glad you are enjoying the F&GF pictures! Since I've already been twice this year and am going in December I have a feeling I am going to miss the Flower and Garden Festival next year, which will be kind of depressing. I've been there the last 4 years (I think...) and I just love it.

I had no idea that Skylar and Devin won dream tickets!

Yup! It is pretty neat how so many top 12 contestants won the dream tickets.

Ha! Your Buzz picture cracks me up! We should start a trend on the DIS, because your pic is identical to my mom's and mine. When she got galactic hero, she was putzing with her phone in the picture. When I did.....same thing.

haha, nice! Well it is quite an accomplishment to become a Galactic Hero!

Girl, I totally took a picture of the bathroom walls too!

It's hard not too! They're so pretty.

Woo hoo lions!!!!! Nice pictures.

Thanks! Gotta love seeing the lions.

I'm glad you had a great trip! I can't wait to hear about it.

Thank you! Hopefully I can do a quick trip report for August...we'll see!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I last updated. I'm so sorry it's taking so long to get this trip report done but it's been crazy getting ready for school and my first graders (first day in Tuesday...AHHH!). Hopefully I still have some readers out there. Thanks for sticking with me if you are still reading. I also hope I can try to get caught up on everyone else's TRs. I feel like I've barely had any DIS time lately!


Friday, April 5, 2013 cont'd (part 6)

So after our safari we decided we wanted to go see the tigers so we headed over to the Maharajah Jungle Trek. There were some interesting birds right at the beginning of the trail.



I think we might've skipped some of the other stops along the way so we could get to the tigers. There were a couple tigers out, and surprisingly they were moving around! Usually when we see them they're napping or just laying around. It was nice to see them active for a change.







Pretty, aren't they?

I guess there was one lazy cat...


As Dad and I continued on our trek we spotted these guys.





Random shot of the prayer flags...


Then we got to the aviary were you can always find some unique birds. Some of them are so colorful. I thought this one was kind of cool. See him next to that golden birdhouse (maybe it's a birdhouse...or just some decoration)? He was pretty big compared to a lot of the other birds in the aviary.







Once we were done exploring the Maharajah Jungle Trek we stayed in Asia so we could ride Expedition Everest, single riders of course. We hardly ever have to wait when we do that.



I posted this picture on Instagram (sidenote: this was the first trip where I used Instagram and it sure became addicting. If you follow me you probably saw a bunch of my pictures from this past August too. Not only is it fun to share those picture but it's fun looking back at my profile then and remembering those trips):

It's yeti time!


As usual the ride was awesome. Here's our ride photos. Dad is in the back row in the photo on the left and I'm in the back row in the photo on the right.



Since it had been a pretty long day we decided to go back to Bay Lake Tower for the rest of the evening and just hang out.



The lovely BLT lobby.


Like every other night we got to enjoy Wishes and the castle show.



I think this is the Wreck-it Ralph part!


Boy do I miss that room. I think after our December trip I might need to start thinking about beginning my second round of visiting all the DVC resorts. haha We'll see...

up next: our final Disney day

 

[WDWaddictt]

I am still here...lol

Great update! It sure would be nice to be able to sit in your room and watch the fireworks...

 

[IheartDDuck]

We have always had super lazy tigers, so it is nice to see them out and about when you were there.

I love using Instagram on trips now. I don't use it as much as maybe I should, but I still find it fun.

Oooohhh, that's a good idea! Start going around the circle again on the DVC resorts!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Oh I so love the tigers. Right behind the giraffes on the "must see" list.

I still can't get over that view and being able to see the nighttime shows from the comfort of "home".

 

[MEK]

I think after our December trip I might need to start thinking about beginning my second round of visiting all the DVC resorts. haha We'll see...

You're up to your second round? Right on! I am too, but I have to say I love the BWV's so much its hard not to want to book there every time. I am definitely do for a stay at BLT. That's one DVC resort my DH missed, so perhaps soon. Absolutely love your view.

You got some great shots of the tigers.

Hope you school year goes well.

 

[marDgreen88]

Tigers! So so pretty. Gotta love that single rider line at EE! Hahhaha I don't blame you for wanting to stay at all the DVC resorts again! It's good to have variety! Good luck starting school!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[OhMari]

I had no idea they changed the Castle Show. I thought they were projecting people on the castle that attended the park that day. It was a nice surprise.

 

[peachmermaid]

The animals & prayer flags look amazing on that trek. I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't take advantage of ak for all it's worth. That will change with the upcoming trip though!

Seriously, your view is everything! Bay lake looks like a beautiful hotel.

Oh no...last day!

Good luck on Tuesday! Enjoy your first graders all you can. They can be pretty cute.

 

[jwwi]

Still reading along. When I read that you were going to watch wishes and the castle show I thought of the balcony on the top floor. Forgot that you had that awesome view right from your own balcony. That is a great instagram pic of EE.

Good Luck on your first day!

 

[Caretames1]

The start of a new school gets me so busy I have a hard time being here to, I've been back to school in varying degrees for 2 weeks now, and I feel sad summers over.

Nice pictures of the animals, we had some lazy ones on our walk through.

I don't know enough about the magic bands yet to know anything, but I'd be interested in you r experience!

 

[FancyNancy]

Good luck with your new class tomorrow! I'm so excited for you and wish you lots of luck for the school year I hope you have a class full of little

 

[khertz]

I posted this picture on Instagram (sidenote: this was the first trip where I used Instagram and it sure became addicting. If you follow me you probably saw a bunch of my pictures from this past August too. Not only is it fun to share those picture but it's fun looking back at my profile then and remembering those trips):

I loved following yours and other IG users trips on IG! October will be my first trip since using IG so I can't wait to post a lot of pics from our trip while we are there. That's actually one of the things that pushed me in the direction of the Vera Bradley Clare bag because it has that slip in pocket to give me quick access to my phone to take pictures. Usually I hardly take any on my phone because it's too cumbersome to get to while it's in the backpack I've taken on our previous trips.

Anyway, on to your update...

Love the tiger pics! Those have always been one of my favorite animals. They are just so gorgeous! We usually just see them laying around too, so it's cool that you got to see them moving around and being more active.

The single rider line at EE is such a blessing. DH and I can still trade off quickly without having to use up a FP.

I can't wait to see Celebrate the Magic! I can't even imagine how cool it must have been to be able to watch from your balcony. Incredible view!!

 

[wisblue]

Just to recap: EMH at the MK at 7 AM, then DTD for lunch, pick up rental car at Dolphin, tour Art of Animation, then a couple hours at DAK. No wonder I was ready to go back to the room for a rest by 8:30 PM (after a quick stop at the McD's near Blizzard Beach).

I remember that once the morning clouds moved away it got pretty warm in the sun that day too. 13-14 hours of touring pretty much does it for me for one day.