The "Aren't you glad I booked the room?" TR - Page 29 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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This is in no particular order and it was something I wrote months ago but never actually typed up until today. Hopefully it makes sense.
Hard boiled eggs - I don't regret making or taking them but only a few got eaten and the rest got thrown away. They ended up freezing in the fridge at the resort and just did not look right. When in doubt throw it out is a motto I tend to live by. I would make a few to take to snack on for our arrival day but I wouldn't make anymore than that.
The wheelchair. Well worth it! For the MK, there are so many attractions that Lenny has to transfer at that having it with us made it very easy. It was easy having it for our TS ADR's in the parks too - Lenny could park the scooter which they really don't want in the restaurants and then I could push him right to the table. I had the wheelchair for me too. I had it for any lines that were long and I used it for the 3 PM parade instead of sitting on the ground. Some of the shows one of us would use the chair instead of the theater seats. My feet and legs were not painful like in the past but I was tired by the end of the vacation so the wheelchair helped keep me upright for all the times I started to stumble. During our last day in the parks I would have taken a bad fall if I didn't have the chair with us. As it is, I still almost went down even with the chair but somehow I managed not to. I was even able to enjoy the Circlevisions more because I could sit and watch them instead of stare at the floors or walls and just listen to them. The wheelchair also served to carry the backpack at times so I didn't have to wear it all of the time. We are definitely getting a wheelchair again.
Down days. My gut was telling me before we left these days would forever change our trips. They have. The down day in the middle was nice and even though at one point in time my head said "we should be going to a park" I was able to ignore it and enjoy the day at the resort. The second one I really appreciated because it was nice to have all day to pack and get ready to come home instead of having to rush to get everything done.
This was the first trip that I didn't come home totally exhausted. Tired, yes, exhausted, no.
Length of trip. With 2 down days, it was just right for us. We can't go back to a shorter trip now.
Jungle Book show. I wanted to like it but the seats totally sucked. We couldn't see the dancers and a lot of the projections were blurry. It was too congested at the end with no CM help. One guy kept accusing Lenny of hitting his kid with the scooter or trying to separate them with it. This never happened and the guy kept verbally attacking Lenny until we were able to get away from him on our own which was not soon enough.
One QS meal per day plan. I didn't think at first this would work for us, the free quick service meal deal we got, but it did work out well It was still a little too much food for us as we don't need the desserts but it was a savings for us - at close to $800 in food. I even got a survey from Disney asking if it was something I would buy and depending upon the cost, I told them yes I would pay for it.
Trying for ADR's while on vacation. I always tell people if you want something keep trying. Lenny wanted a BoG ADR on his birthday for breakfast and I kept trying and finally got one for him two days before. It certainly pays to try. Just like at GG - I got one by walking up to the podium the day of - I had nothing to lose by trying.
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Now for this next section, I have to let it be known these were Lenny's ideas before or during our trip. They worked out really well so that not only does Lenny want it known they came from him, he wants me to actually remember them so we can possibly do some of it again . For many of the past vacations he's either had lousy ideas or none at all so I do have to give him credit where credit is due. Putting it in writing is how I'll remember it
Get a wheelchair. Yes, this was his idea which he actually suggested right after we got home in 2015. It was a great idea and worked so much better than I expected that we will do this from now on.
Down days. This was another post 2015 trip suggestion from Lenny. He really wanted one so I worked it into this trip and as I suspected, having one has forever changed our trips.
Booking the room. He booked the room literally the day after we got home in 2015. He wanted to have it "just in case" and when it became clear we were going to make a trip work, I heard "aren't you glad I booked the room?"
Leaving Small World for "our" parade spots. Whatever day it was that we got out of line at Small World was due to Lenny's insistence that we should. We would not have gotten our spots if we didn't so Lenny likes to point out it's because of his taking charge and making a decision that we could watch from where we wanted.
Giving Sadness a smile. This was a good idea and he thought of it because he hated to see her frown. Everyone else in the room was all smiles except for her and he wanted to see her smile too. I think it made everyone's day that we did that.
Iced coffee. This was an idea he had from 2015 that worked so well that we just did it again. Lenny got his own coffee at night to put in the fridge and it allowed me to sleep a little later each morning and save me from running as soon as I woke up.
Breakfast at BoG. After having lunch here, Lenny wanted to try the breakfast and for his birthday. We were both surprised when I was able to get and early ADR for it two days in advance. We did enjoy the meal and would do it again. The price is a little steep for breakfast but we had the QS deal so it was a very good use of the credit so I guess that's a double win for Lenny.
An afternoon nap on our Pirates and Pals day. I'm giving him credit for this as it doesn't sound like something I would plan on my own. The nap was needed - we all slept - so it is something I would plan again.
Breakfast at H&V. I booked the meal and I told Lenny the name of it but it's only because he made the original comment "too bad there is no meal at DHS" to which I responded there was. After telling him about it and showing him pictures and videos I found online, he wanted me to cancel our 1900 PF breakfast for here. It was a great idea and we really enjoyed the meal and want to go back.
Playing golf first then go swimming. This was for our down day and they were the only two activities I had planned on. It was Lenny's idea to go play golf first even though it was the middle of the day and really hot out. I had planned on us going later when it was cooler so it would be more enjoyable for Lenny but since he didn't feel well to begin with, he wasn't going to play anyway so he suggested we start with it. Since the line was so long, it worked out much better for us to switch it around.
The clear backpack. This was another idea that he had that worked out well. A couple of security guards even mentioned how it made it easier for them. I had a waterproof cover with us so after security I put that on so no one could see what we had and we had the wheelchair so I didn't have to carry it either.
Eating elsewhere on our arrival day. This was another suggestion by Lenny. It was getting frustrating for me as he kept changing his mind where he wanted to go. First it was suppose to be the nearby Cracker Barrel, then he wanted a buffet, then he wanted a seafood buffet, then it was back to Cracker Barrel. We finally settled on Texas Roadhouse. Yes, I know, not one of the original suggestions but we have one here close to home that we like so we knew there would most definitely be something on the menu for each of us. It was a really good decision. It wasn't a Disney restaurant but the server gave us Disney like service so we left there very happy.
I'm sure there are more things I could mention for final thoughts or more things Lenny wants credit for :wink: but at this late time (four months later) there really is nothing I can think of as I'm typing this so I'll just leave it at what I have. No matter what I might not have included, all I know is this trip was just so magical and enjoyable. We had such a good time and things all seemed to work out. You always hope to have a magical time at Disney but there was so much this trip that it's almost unbelievable. It will definitely be a trip we remember for years to come.
Thank you so much for everyone that joined me on our trip and had the patience with me when I didn't post as quickly as I wanted to. I hope you've enjoyed everything and that maybe something we did - or didn't do - might help you in your trips.
Great wrap up!! I am glad that the trip home was uneventful.
I am also sorry that you are having such a hard time at work. Keep your chin up. I recently changed jobs to find something less stressful and it took over three months to find it. I hope you find something sooner than I did.
Thanks. I did add some final thoughts too right after you posted this.
As for the job hunting, it's going on two months now so if I do find something, it won't be much sooner than you did but I will keep everyone posted in that other thread.
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I LOVE Lenny's ideas..... I think Down Days are good especially when you are in Disney for more than 7 days. When I arrive I usually don't do a park, because traveling wears me out.. being anxious and excited and not being able to sleep the night prior, can wear me out! Plus I want to soak up the Disney Magic....
Great ending too! I hope it isn't a few years until you go back!
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Kate in PA All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them- Walt Disney
You're final down day to pack was such a great idea! Love the combinations of your final thoughts and Lenny's final thoughts! Thanks again for sharing your Disney adventures with us and all the joyful photos of Abby.
Super happy you got to finish this report. Having a day to pack before going home worked out well. Glad y'all had a good trip home. Sounds like this was the best trip yet!
I'm sorry I'm late responding to your final thoughts. I must have missed the email telling me you had posted. Glad you had such a great time and Lenny's suggestions are good ones!
Just finished reading your entire trip report! Sounds like y'all had a fantastically magical vacation! Are you planning a trip for 2017??
Heather
Sadly no, we are not. We'd all like to go and Lenny wants me to book a room just in case but I don't see it happening this year. I'm really okay with that though but when we do go again, you guys will know.
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Love the combinations of your final thoughts and Lenny's final thoughts! 
Thanks again for sharing your Disney adventures with us and all the joyful photos of Abby. 
Heather
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