We Made It!

[Beckers 1,136]

Good tip on AKL quick service, but you left out that Zebra Domes are disgusting. :smug:

They were such a let down.

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

I think your son is right about Bethanie. I met her briefly (like under 5 minutes) the first time I saw you at MK. The next time she saw me she came running to me like she had known me her entire life.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

She is such a sweetheart. 

 

Sounds like you had a great morning!

We did but secretly I think they would have rather been swimming, at least one of them.

 

Nice job on the Shoe Tree photo!  And, good choice visiting AKL.  The quick serve place there is one of my favorites, and the hotel is fun to explore.

 

TCD

Thanks!

 

Good tip on the quick service at the AKL; we've never eaten there... we'll add that to our list this trip.

 

Very nice family photo and, I LOVE all the brown :)

 

 

I think you will enjoy it. They have a TV set up playing Disney cartoons. I likes it because it gave my husband and I a little quiet time to ourselves while the children were distracted. Thanks! finding brown for eveyone was a bit difficult. 

 

 Good tip on AKL quick service, but you left out that Zebra Domes are disgusting.  :smug:

 

Okay so I totally agree. Planning this trip however, I read blog after blog about how great these zeeba domes were. I thought since I was there I would try one, but they came in a four pack. After the first one slid around in my mouth and then down my throat I was over it quick. My kids liked them. 

 

4000 over! Yikes, what are you doing about, or did you do about that Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Exactly!! Not sure what the Ford dealership and the rv sales guy were smoking that day. We actually have to get a totally different van. 

 

They were such a let down.

Agreed!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Zebra Domes SMB.

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

Tuesday September 29. Ponchos and The MK
 
Today is brought to you by the color BLUE. Up early we feasted on pancakes and ran out the door. Waiting for the bus
 

 
The plan was to take the boat to the Contemporary and then walk to the MK, but not before a little motion sickness meds. We had a short wait on the dock where we met a very nice couple doing an adults only trip. We discussed the joys of such a trip and then it began to drizzle. Not wanting to break out the ponchos just yet we toughed it out. The boat arrived and before we knew it we were docked at the Contemporary. Here is where we made a fatal mistake. As we set out on our trek to the MK the drizzle picked up a bit. My husband noticed a bus labeled the Magic Kingdom and not relishing a walk in the rain we jumped on. Red flags were going up in my head but I followed along. Sure enough as the bus pulled out of the station the bus driver said, “Good morning folks. After a quick stop at the Wilderness Lodge we will be heading to Magic Kingdom.” What!?! Major fail and my husband apologized profusely.
 
Once we finally arrived we noticed that the place was dead. Thankfully that little 10 minutes screw up didn't cost us too much. The rain began to come down pretty steadily and it was time to break our the ponchos.
 

 
There would be no opening show this morning.
 

 
With a quick announcement and count down the ropes were dropped. We had been debating as to how we would go about the day. Would we stick to the suggested touring plan or proceed as we always have? We decided on the later. First stop the jungle cruse. Remember when this ride opened later then all the rest? That kind of threw me for a moment. Then it was off to the Magic Carpets and Pirates. Pirates was temporarily closed so we moved on to Splash Mountain.
 
The ride was a walk on so no need for the child swap pass. I went with the first crew. None of them had ever been on this ride. I had showed them youtube videos back home but nothing is like the real thing. Every drop they thought was the big one. I of course, being such a great mom, didn't tell them otherwise. At the end however it was mom who screamed the loudest.
 

 
While dad took the second crew.
 

 
I stayed back with the littles and a volunteer helper. I have never known a boy who could resist puddles.
 

 
Next up Big Thunder and man did it kick my tail. I would pay for it later. On to our first FP with Peter Pan.
 
This was the first time we have ever used the FP system. I remember when it first came out back in the day. I would compare it to how the FP system looks at Disneyland now. No one really used it. Now it seems like it is a must, especially for certain rides. So here are my thoughts on the matter based on our experience.
 
The Show
Walt designed the lands at the MK to be separate worlds, or stages if you will. He built this elaborate tunnel system under the MK so that a Tomorrowland CM would not be walking through Frontierland and distracting guests from the “show”. As you walk through these lands, one area slowly fades into another. From the landscaping to the architecture to even the sounds, all slowly change. Look at the Chrystal Palace for example. Have you ever noticed the architecture on this building? When moving from the Hub into Adventureland, the front of the Palace changes from Victorian to more colonial in style. I grabbed this picture from the web as an example.
 

 
I fully believe he intended guest to meander through these worlds, to feel apart of it. With the FP system guests are jostled from one land to the next in the course of a few hours. You miss so much of the magic and staging. One minute you are fighting pirates the next you are fighting aliens, it's a bit jarring on the senses.
 
Time
Having to constantly keep track of the time for fear you miss your FP, you never really loose yourself to the magic. I felt this in a big way. Everything was such a blur and felt rushed. I wanted to savor more.
 
Leaving the world behind
One of the benefits of staying in the bubble is that you get to forget the world while you are there. Unlike Disneyland you are truly escorted into a different world. You no longer have to keep track of your car keys, you can use Disney transportation. And the Magic Bands replaced the need for you to carry your credit cards. However with the My Disney Experience you had better not forget your phone. I was constantly having to glace at my phone to see what FP was next. Every time I did this I would see a missed call or that I got a new email or text. For my husband, this was a constant reminder of the work piling up on his desk at home. The temptation to take a quick peek was great. In an effort to avoid this I printed out my FP times but the first water ride ruined that paper, fail.
 
As with anything there are pros and cons. I have listed a few cons that I struggled with. Not to be a downer I did enjoy not having to wait in long lines, so there ya go.
 
Due to the steady stream of rain I was not able to take lots of pictures. We left the park early and headed back to the camper. The plan was to eat a late lunch/early dinner and head back into the park after our feet dried out a bit. At this point I was feeling that Big Thunder train ride, I could barely move. I think that wild train ride was a bit much, five weeks post c-section, plus all the walking. I sent my husband back with the older crew and the little guys and I snuggled on the couch with some Disney Jr.
 
I was really disappointed in our day. The rain is usually not a problem but trying to keep little guys somewhat dry along with a newborn proved to be a bit much. I felt very distracted by it all and missed so much of the scenery. The children however had a great time, which is what matters. We will have another go at the MK the following week so all is not lost. Coming up next, a Fort Date and then Epcot.

[sherryberry 35]

Sorry to hear about all of the troubles y'all had (van issues and motion sickness). I love Bethanie's expression when you are lighting the candles on the cake. She looks ecstatic!

[twiceblessed....nacole 433]

It's never magical, when you have bad weather at Disney  Boo on Tinker Bell... where was her Pixie Dust??   Glad to hear that the kids still had fun though; that always helps me, when I know my kiddos have still enjoyed themselves.  Sorry for the motion sickness, that does not sound fun.

[parrothead7368 aka Norm 101]

Your explanation of being in the bubble and now with the My Disney Experience interupting everything is absoulutely spot on. In a world where everyone is constantly on their smart phones, you want a break and its obvious that you don't get that with the new system. I will experience it next week and I'll have to remember to try and go with the flow more and don't worry about anything else on the phone. Thanks. Oh and 5 weeks post c-section, yes, you are still healing. Hopefully a little rest helped.

 

Best Regards,

Norm

[DaveInTN 3,247]

MDE SMB.

 

I hate carrying a phone.  It's a necessity to stay in touch with older kids if they go off on their own for a bit.  But I love leaving the technology behind (or in my pocket) and slowing down my pace.  MDE doesn't allow that, unless you truly don't care to ride the "big rides" and are content wandering around and hitting smaller attractions and shows.  Which is actually fine with me.  But the problem is....MDE has made it so even the "lesser" attractions, like small world, People Mover, etc, have big lines at times.  The moment I saw the line for the people mover wrapped around all the way to COP I knew that the new system had truly mucked up the place.  

 

Somewhere, Walt is shaking his frozen little noggin.  

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Bummer about the rain.

 

For those of you kvetching about MDE and having to constantly look at your phones in the parks- it's absolutely not necessary or even helpful.  Once you've made your three FP+ selections, get an old fashioned pen and paper, and write them down.  There's no point using the MDE app once you're in the park, as it's a total lie that you will be able to easily change your FP+ selections to another time.  On busy days (which are most days now), the change options are slim to none.  If you want a 4th FP, you can't get that on your phone anyway.  And don't even get me started on how poorly the app functions.  It's a never ending source of frustration. So put the phones away.  If you need something, go to one of the kiosks and have a CM help you if necessary.

 

TCD

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Bummer about the rain.

 

For those of you kvetching about MDE and having to constantly look at your phones in the parks- it's absolutely not necessary or even helpful.  Once you've made your three FP+ selections, get an old fashioned pen and paper, and write them down.  There's no point using the MDE app once you're in the park, as it's a total lie that you will be able to easily change your FP+ selections to another time.  On busy days (which are most days now), the change options are slim to none.  If you want a 4th FP, you can't get that on your phone anyway.  And don't even get me started on how poorly the app functions.  It's a never ending source of frustration. So put the phones away.  If you need something, go to one of the kiosks and have a CM help you if necessary.

 

TCD

 

 

I agree.  I write our FP+s on a piece of paper along with any meal confirmation numbers. 

 

Kristie, I'm amazed you were able to ride BTMRR five weeks after a C-section and also with motion sickness.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I don't try and use MDE while in the parks, but I do put my FP+ and meal reservations into my Outlook Calendar, so then I get a notification as to my times. No checking MDE. Just a beep from my phone that it is time. That beep is different than my email beep, so I know what I need to ignore :)

[DaveInTN 3,247]

My primary issue isn't so much the phone stuff, as it is how MDE has messed up the stand by lines and made it much more difficult than it used to be to just do the parks without a plan, at least if you want to ride much of anything.  But that horse has been beaten into a vat of Elmer's, so I won't continue.  

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

My primary issue isn't so much the phone stuff, as it is how MDE has messed up the stand by lines and made it much more difficult than it used to be to just do the parks without a plan, at least if you want to ride much of anything.  But that horse has been beaten into a vat of Elmer's, so I won't continue.  

I agree Dave, if you have plans to spend a large amount of a day in the parks, then FP+ and MDE is a nightmare, but for us, it exactly fits our needs, especially for when we have our longer trip.

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

Sorry to hear about all of the troubles y'all had (van issues and motion sickness). I love Bethanie's expression when you are lighting the candles on the cake. She looks ecstatic!

She is such a light. even if you are having an off day she just brightens up everything around her. 

 

It's never magical, when you have bad weather at Disney  Boo on Tinker Bell... where was her Pixie Dust??   Glad to hear that the kids still had fun though; that always helps me, when I know my kiddos have still enjoyed themselves.  Sorry for the motion sickness, that does not sound fun.

I agree. I worked so hard to not spoil their time with my stress. Out of my entire family 5 of us are prone to motion sickness.

 

Your explanation of being in the bubble and now with the My Disney Experience interupting everything is absoulutely spot on. In a world where everyone is constantly on their smart phones, you want a break and its obvious that you don't get that with the new system. I will experience it next week and I'll have to remember to try and go with the flow more and don't worry about anything else on the phone. Thanks. Oh and 5 weeks post c-section, yes, you are still healing. Hopefully a little rest helped.

 

Best Regards,

Norm

Carol has a great idea. I think I will try that next time. Rest and pain meds helped a lot.

 

MDE SMB.

 

I hate carrying a phone.  It's a necessity to stay in touch with older kids if they go off on their own for a bit.  But I love leaving the technology behind (or in my pocket) and slowing down my pace.  MDE doesn't allow that, unless you truly don't care to ride the "big rides" and are content wandering around and hitting smaller attractions and shows.  Which is actually fine with me.  But the problem is....MDE has made it so even the "lesser" attractions, like small world, People Mover, etc, have big lines at times.  The moment I saw the line for the people mover wrapped around all the way to COP I knew that the new system had truly mucked up the place.  

 

Somewhere, Walt is shaking his frozen little noggin.  

 

MDE SMB.

 

I hate carrying a phone.  It's a necessity to stay in touch with older kids if they go off on their own for a bit.  But I love leaving the technology behind (or in my pocket) and slowing down my pace.  MDE doesn't allow that, unless you truly don't care to ride the "big rides" and are content wandering around and hitting smaller attractions and shows.  Which is actually fine with me.  But the problem is....MDE has made it so even the "lesser" attractions, like small world, People Mover, etc, have big lines at times.  The moment I saw the line for the people mover wrapped around all the way to COP I knew that the new system had truly mucked up the place.  

 

Somewhere, Walt is shaking his frozen little noggin.  

Agreed!

 

Bummer about the rain.

 

For those of you kvetching about MDE and having to constantly look at your phones in the parks- it's absolutely not necessary or even helpful.  Once you've made your three FP+ selections, get an old fashioned pen and paper, and write them down.  There's no point using the MDE app once you're in the park, as it's a total lie that you will be able to easily change your FP+ selections to another time.  On busy days (which are most days now), the change options are slim to none.  If you want a 4th FP, you can't get that on your phone anyway.  And don't even get me started on how poorly the app functions.  It's a never ending source of frustration. So put the phones away.  If you need something, go to one of the kiosks and have a CM help you if necessary.

 

TCD

Like I said rain happens. Actually some of our best visits we have been in the rain. Rain and little guys is not so magical. I thought of the pen and paper idea to avoid the constant phone use. It would have worked too had we not got soaked on Pirates. Yes I said soaked. There was nothing left to the paper after that. Next time paper and a ziplock bag ;0)

 

I agree.  I write our FP+s on a piece of paper along with any meal confirmation numbers. 

 

Kristie, I'm amazed you were able to ride BTMRR five weeks after a C-section and also with motion sickness.

Not my smartest move I will admit. As soon as I sat down on the ride and lowered the lap belt I knew I was in trouble. 

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

My primary issue isn't so much the phone stuff, as it is how MDE has messed up the stand by lines and made it much more difficult than it used to be to just do the parks without a plan, at least if you want to ride much of anything.  But that horse has been beaten into a vat of Elmer's, so I won't continue.  

 

Every now and then you say something very profound.  And true.  This is one of those times.  But, the topic has been beaten to death, and there doesn't seem to be much that can be done about it, other than to accept it, and make a plan.  With a good plan, you can still get a lot of things done, and it can still be fun.  But spontaneity is gone.

 

TCD

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

I don't try and use MDE while in the parks, but I do put my FP+ and meal reservations into my Outlook Calendar, so then I get a notification as to my times. No checking MDE. Just a beep from my phone that it is time. That beep is different than my email beep, so I know what I need to ignore :)

Great idea and one I will try on our next trip.

 

My primary issue isn't so much the phone stuff, as it is how MDE has messed up the stand by lines and made it much more difficult than it used to be to just do the parks without a plan, at least if you want to ride much of anything.  But that horse has been beaten into a vat of Elmer's, so I won't continue.  

I have followed along the path of the beaten horse. It's one thing to read about it and another to experience. After being away for so long it was an eye opener.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

 I thought of the pen and paper idea to avoid the constant phone use. It would have worked too had we not got soaked on Pirates. Yes I said soaked. There was nothing left to the paper after that. Next time paper and a ziplock bag ;0)

 

 

Wait.

 

I thought you were talking about getting soaked on Splash Mountain.

 

You got that soaked on Pirates?

 

Those dummies just had the ride shut down for six months, and people are still getting soaked?

 

Oy.

 

TCD

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

Sorry soaked on both. Yes if you are in the front soaked from the waist down, not a dry inch to be found.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Sorry soaked on both. Yes if you are in the front soaked from the waist down, not a dry inch to be found.

 

Wow.

 

That's unacceptable.  I thought one of the main reasons they shut the ride down for the whole entire summer was to fix that.

 

Before they got the new boats, I never got so much as a drop of water on me when riding Pirates.  The first time I rode in one of the new boats, I didn't know any better and sat in the first row.  A literal wave came over the side of the boat at the drop and landed right in my lap.  I had my phone, tickets, and paper money in my front short pocket, and all of it got wet.  I was ticked.  I've never sat in the front row since, and won't plan to the next time.

 

Dummies.

 

TCD

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

Avoid the front row. Thankfully the baby was not laying across my lap and was instead in the carrier.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Wow.

 

That's unacceptable.  I thought one of the main reasons they shut the ride down for the whole entire summer was to fix that.

 

Before they got the new boats, I never got so much as a drop of water on me when riding Pirates.  The first time I rode in one of the new boats, I didn't know any better and sat in the first row.  A literal wave came over the side of the boat at the drop and landed right in my lap.  I had my phone, tickets, and paper money in my front short pocket, and all of it got wet.  I was ticked.  I've never sat in the front row since, and won't plan to the next time.

 

Dummies.

 

TCD

 

Don't be naive.  

 

You actually thought they shut the ride down to improve the boat mechanics and enhance the guest experience??

 

Nope.  

 

The ride was shut down to remove all traces of Jack Sparrow.  There's a new pirate in town.  

 

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Don't be naive.  

 

You actually thought they shut the ride down to improve the boat mechanics and enhance the guest experience??

 

Nope.  

 

The ride was shut down to remove all traces of Jack Sparrow.  There's a new pirate in town.  

 

 

LOL!

 

Very good.

 

Scary.

 

But good.

 

TCD

[Littleolwoman.aka.Kristie 119]

We want's the red head! Well not me personally :0*

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

We want's the red head! Well not me personally :0*

 

:rofl:

[fladogfan aka Gretchen 259]

swimmarz, on 22 Oct 2015 - 8:28 PM, said:

4000 over! Yikes, what are you doing about, or did you do about that Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Exactly!! Not sure what the Ford dealership and the rv sales guy were smoking that day. We actually have to get a totally different van. 

 

 

We had a similar experience when we bought a, to me, huge trailer..  At that time we had a Dodge van and all we heard was 'of course your van can pull the trailer'.  Yeah right.  Those guys had liar, liar pants on fire syndrome. The van did manage to pull it home, on flat Florida roads with a curve or two.  But it let us know that was all it was capable of doing.  The next day we were at the Chevy dealer looking at Avalanches.  Still have that and it's pretty happy pulling our little hybrid.  Over kill for the hybrid though.