Going Wild Disney Style PTR - April 6-16, 2013 - Page 9 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I'm a little behind as always, just life getting in the way of my Disney planning.
Today's Update:Monday April 8th - Islands of Adventure OR Legoland!
April 8th is the day we are doing something we have not done in a very long time. We are leaving the Disney Bubble! We are also splitting up. Pat and Hunter will be spending some much needed quality time together at Legoland. While Me, Shana and Maya will be spending some much needed wizarding time at Islands of Adventure. Grandma will be spending the day on her own after dropping the girls and I off at Islands of Adventure. Once I find out what she has planned I will let you know. I know she is planning one afternoon at a spa and some time at Epcot and whichever park she will miss with us (I think Animal Kingdom).
Islands of Adventure
Islands of Adventure is new for me and I really don't know what to expect. The girls and I have agreed that our prime focus is WWoHP. If we see everything there we will leave happy, even if we see nothing else in the park. However, I think we will have some time to visit a few other things. Here is our plan:
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey - This is an absolute must-do for us all. I am so excited about this ride and really could probably ride this alone and feel like my day was complete. 2. Dragon Challenge (Chinese Fireball) - I have also wanted to ride these coasters before they were converted for WWoHP, so I will be excited to ride them. I'm sure the girls will be too! 3. Dragon Challenge (Hungarian Horntail) - We all want to try both of them. I have heard the Chinese Fireball is slightly a better ride, but we want to judge for ourselves. 4. Ollivanders - Shana and Maya both desperately want to get a wand at Ollivander's. 5. Frog Choir - Shana loves frogs and singing so this was something she is hoping to catch. It is not a must-do, but we will try to make sure we find time for it. 6. Three Broomsticks for Lunch - We, of course, have to try some butter beer. I think the food looks yummy too! We really just want the whole Harry Potter experience. 7. Poseidon's Fury - We aren't too excited about the shows, but the girls thought this one looked interesting, so we thought we would give it a try. 8. The Incredible Hulk Coaster - Have you figured out that we are coaster junkies? 9. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - This ride looks amazing to me, even though I'm not a huge Spider-Man fan. 10. Jurassic Park River Adventure 11. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls 12. Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges - Okay, so the girls decided we have to go on all the water rides. I have a love/hate relationship with water rides. I am the person that no matter where I sit I always get drenched. Couple examples: Shana wanted to ride Kali River Rapids and get soaked, but she decided to sit next to Pat. They were in the section of two seats just next to me. I went down every hill backwards and walked off soaked from head-to-toe. Pat and Shana were barely wet. Shana wanted to ride again because she didn't get wet, she went to sit next to Pat again, and he made her sit with me. Yet again, every hill backwards drenched head-to-toe. Shana was thrilled. Me not so much. Then Shana wanted to ride Splash Mountain and every day of our trip it was down. On the last day Pat and my mom dropped us at MK and they went to Epcot. Shana and I hurried to Splash and it was up. Our row of course got hit with the water cannons. We were drenched. We even had to buy new clothes for the flight home. So, of course, the girls wanted to get me drenched. This is why all three water rides are right before we plan to leave!!
Legoland
We have never been to Legoland in Florida, but we did visit Legoland in CA last February. They look similar so I made plans for Pat and Hunter based on what Hunter liked there. Pat has said that the sole purpose of the trip to Legoland is to make Hunter happy and spend some time with him. So Pat had no choice in any of the ride selections, I only went with Hunter's choices.
1. Lego Mindstorms Registration - This was Hunter's absolute favorite thing the whole time in Legoland CA. It was actually showing as closed for the entire week of our trip and we didn't think he would get to do it. But as we walked in the park I saw a lady with a clipboard outside the Mindstorms building and ran over and signed him up. This is the one thing he wants most, so they will head straight to the registration. 2. Lego Technic Coaster - Hunter may change his mind on this one, it wasn't his favorite in CA, but he is getting a little more adventurous with coasters now. 3. Ford Driving School - He really liked being able to actually drive a car not on a track. He followed all the safety rules and enjoyed this a lot. 4. Flying School - This is an under the track roller coaster, and I am not sure Hunter will actually ride when he sees it, but he likes the youtube videos. Those don't show height and depth perception well. I'll be curious to see if he does this. 5. Coastersaurus - I think he will be okay on this one. He likes Big Thunder Mountain and this looks much more "kiddie" than that. 6. Lost Kingdom Adventure - Anything you get to shoot pretend lasers is alright in his book! 7. Pharaoh's Revenge - I am going to tell Pat to spend a little time playing in here. It may be hard to get Hunter out. 8. The Dragon - Again, a coaster I think Hunter can handle. 9. Merlin's Challenge - Hunter thought this looked fun on youtube. 10. The Forestmen's Hideout - Another play area, that may be tough to get Hunter out of. Pat will know how Hunter' mood is during the day, if he is having a difficult time moving from place to place, he will skip these to avoid a meltdown. Hunter doesn't always handle play areas well, where lots of kids are running around willy-nilly. 11. All the Miniland areas. 12. Lunch - This will be before or after Miniland depending on the time and their hunger. 13. Lego Mindstorms - This will obviously be at whatever time they manage to get signed up for.
The rest of the time they can visit other attractions that Hunter may have seen that he wants to do and then on the way out they will hit the Factory Tour.
All of us will plan to leave IoA or Legoland between 5-6pm. We will meet back at AKV and we have ADR's at Boma at 7:45pm. After dinner we will plan to head to bed as early as possible for an early start for my Birthday celebration day tomorrow!!
Weight Loss Update: I am not doing an official update. I gained an unusual amount of weight in the week (think around 6 lbs!!!), I think I was retaining water and was very bloated on my weigh in day. I didn't even track the weight because I knew it could throw me in the wrong direction. I have lost a good amount of it and seem to be back on track and will weigh in again on Tuesday.
Next Update: Tuesday April 9th - Magic Kingdom and My 40th Birthday!!
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Your plans look great! It will be nice to get together for dinner and share the days adventures!
I agree! I had originally planned to do Boma the day we arrived as we always eat at our resort that night. But since it was cheaper to take DME and then get a car at the car care center I decided we would do Whispering Canyon on arrival day. That way after returning from the other places we don't have to rush out to another place to eat. It will be fun to hear about everyone's adventures since in all we are doing 3 different things.
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Originally Posted by MikeL
Plans all look good You'll love Hogsmead section of US we were very disappointed by the rest
I'm sure. I think we will do our best to enjoy it, and we are coaster junkies so that will help, but I'm certain I won't enjoy it as much as Disney (which is why we are doing it so early in the trip)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great plans for the non-Disney day!
It will be weird to leave the bubble. We haven't done that since we stayed off property in 2003. Even on that trip we had planned to visit Sea World, but we were having such a great time at the Disney parks we decided not to.
First of all, I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! Pat is still gone and I figured I'd keep busy tonight by adding to my PTR. I did get a lovely Valentine's present on Monday, Pat got me a new Disney Dooney and matching iPhone cover. I love them very much.
On with the report!
Tuesday April 9, 2013: Magic Kingdom and My 40th Birthday
I may sound a lot more excited for my 40th birthday than a lot of people would be. But I never celebrated my 30th birthday and therefore have been 29 for a long time. I thought if I have to turn 40 than I'm doing it Disney Style!!
I am planning to try to get us to the park really early on this day. I would love to be selected as family of the day on my birthday, I know it's a long shot, but it would be so awesome. We have never actually seen the park opening, we are just not morning people, so even if we don't get selected we will enjoy something new.
Once the park is open we will get moving!
1. Enchanted Tales with Belle - I really didn't think I was going to find a way to fit this in and I know it is not the top of the kids list. But I would like to see it and this seemed like a good day. 2. Space Mountain - I'm not sure Hunter will ride this, and I know Grandma won't so they will probably take a spin on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin while waiting for the rest of us. 3. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - The rest of us will ride and Hunter and Grandma will ride a 2nd (or 3rd time). 4. Peter Pan's Flight - This is a favorite of mine and the kids always enjoy it too. It reminds me of the trip I took with my aunt in 1992, she got on the ride and set her camera on the seat and said "don't let me forget my camera". When we got out I looked back and there was her camera on the seat. I managed to grab it, before it went for another flight. 5. The Haunted Mansion - This is a favorite of all of ours, although I have heard it's not Maya's favorite but that she should be okay. 6. Big Thunder Mountain - We will probably grab FP's unless the line isn't bad, Grandma won't ride this one either, but Hunter loves this ride. 7. Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch - We have never been to Liberty Tree for lunch, and Pat loves the dinner, but we just couldn't fit it in for dinner and he was okay as long as he could get the turkey dinner. 8. Frontierland Shootin' Arcade - This is a favorite spot for us. We spend a little money here. It is just such a fun classic, and we like to try to hit all the targets to watch what they all do. 9. Pirates of the Caribbean - Always a must-do. 10. Big Thunder Mountain - We will ride when our FP's are ready 11. Jungle Cruise FP's - We will either ride or grab FP's - This is a favorite and we have some of our best memories on this attraction. 12. Enchanted Tiki Room - I am so excited that the "under new management" is back to the old management. This is my favorite (although I like it a little more in DL since I can eat a Dole Whip while enjoying the show). This is even the ringtone on my phone. 13. Country Bear Jamboree - I'm not a huge fan of this show, but we haven't seen it in a long time. We tried to see it in 2003, but Shana started crying and didn't want to stay. The last time I saw it was in 1992 with my aunt. Shana is the one that really wants to see it this trip. 14. Jungle Cruise - if we got FP's earlier we will ride now 15. Aloha Isle - Must get Dole Whip!!!! 16. Splash Mountain - Again this is at the end of our day because I will get soaked from head to toe.
Hopefully we will be done at MK around 4-4:30, we may have to cut some things out if not. We will head back to the resort to rest maybe let the kids swim a bit and then we have an ADR at Narcoossee's at 7:45 for my birthday dinner . We will make sure to relax and eat slowly so we can enjoy Wishes from either the restaurant or patio. We are planning to dress nicely, I am looking at a new dress, that I'm planning to order soon in the size I'm hoping to be in before the trip.
We will go back to the resort and head to bed. Tomorrow is a later start date for us.
Weight Loss Update: Okay, I'm still up from my great loss a couple weeks ago, but I am back on track. I'm really not sure what happened as I haven't really been overdoing it. I weighed in today at 211.8. This is really not bad considering last week I was at 216+. I'm really sad to have gone up so much, but I also know that can happen. Hopefully, next week I will be back on track.
Next Update: Wednesday April 10, 2013: Typhoon Lagoon
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Birthday plans look great One day maybe I will spend mine in the BUBBLE
I'm excited we were in the bubble for both the kids 7th birthdays and it was such fun. Pat wants his to be next, but with a Dec. 21 birthday it will take some special planning.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great plans!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russi01
birthday plans sound awesome. Hope you have an fantastic day!!
I was really wanting to go to Blizzard Beach since we had visited Typhoon Lagoon in 2003. But I asked all 3 of the kiddos and they all voted for Typhoon Lagoon. To avoid any problems we will head to Typhoon Lagoon instead. Maybe we will visit Blizzard Beach next time.
1. 1900 Park Fare - Breakfast - We are starting this day a bit late with breakfast at 9:30am. 2. Typhoon Lagoon - I am not really making any plans for the water park. I may throw some rough plans together before we get there, but nothing fancy. I am planning to just let the girls go do whatever they would like and Pat and I will probably take turns doing things with Hunter. I plan to spend a good amount of time in the lazy river, love lazy rivers. This day is meant to be a "break", although I'm sure it's not the best idea of a break we have ever had. 3. Head to Resort - 3-4pm - We will plan to leave by about 3-4p to go get changed for dinner. 4. Ohana - Dinner 6pm - We love Ohana, it is one of our must-do's on every trip, the kids love the atmosphere and Shana loves any place that will bring her all the meat she can eat. 5. AKL Night Vision Safari - 9:45pm - I'm am so excited for this. I happened to call the itinerary planning to change some ADR's the day they started taking reservations for this. It sounded like something the kids would really love. 6. Bed - I'm hoping we can get a decent nights sleep. We have Hollywood Studios in the morning, and I'm hoping to make rope drop, but not sure if that will happen.
This day is fairly relaxed for us, I'm hoping it's not too much. This is usually the point in the trip where our plans start changing based on how we are doing, and if anyone has become sick and/or injured. We have never been on a trip that we haven't made a trip to the ER, I'm hoping we can change that.
Thursday April 11, 2013 - Hollywood Studios
I decided since the Typhoon Lagoon plans were pretty simple and I am getting closer to our trip everyday, I would add a second day here.
1. Toy Story Mania (Grandma & Hunter) - Grandma and Hunter will head to Toy Story Mania and get FP's for all of us later. Then they will ride once while waiting for us. 1. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster & Tower of Terror (Stef, Pat, Shana & Maya) - I'm hoping that we can just get on these quickly back-to-back and then head over to Toy Story Mania. 2. Toy Story Mania - All of us will ride, either using FP's or the kids GAC's. On past trips we have never been required to get FP's when using the GAC, in fact we were told to use the GAC and allow other people to utilize the FP's (I know this is not what it says on the GAC, but it has been our experience every time). I don't know with the new FP rules if they are still allowing GAC's to enter without a FP, so I'm planning on getting FP's just in case. If we don't need them we will give them to another family as a magical surprise. 3. Muppet Vision 3D - Hunter is not a huge fan of the 3D shows, but he seems to like this one. 4. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! - We have only seen this once before, and we all really enjoyed it. Shows are very difficult for us to see because we have to plan around a show time which can be difficult. I hope we are able to squeeze this in. 5. Back to the Resort - Lunch Probably at the Mara and/or the Club Lounge - We are planning a break back at the resort until about 4pm. We will eat lunch and the kids will have some time to spend at the pool for a bit. 6. Back to Hollywood Studios - We plan to be back at the park at 4pm. 7. Star Tours: The Adventure Continues - We rode the new Star Tours in DLR a ton of times and the kids both loved it. I don't know that we will get this in more than once this trip, but we might try. 8. Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano - Dinner 5pm - We are probably cutting it close with trying to see Star Tours first, if the wait is too long we will just plan to ride after dinner. We are doing the Fantasmic! package. We don't see Fantasmic! every trip because it is very difficult with Hunter, he cannot sit and wait for hours. I know we still have to arrive about 30-40 minutes early, but we may have some of us head in early and take him for a dessert or something bringing him in closer to the show time. 9. Magic of Disney Animation - This is a favorite of Shana's, she loves drawing and the last time we went you didn't actually draw. I've heard that now you draw. She will love that. 10. Fantasmic! - 8:30pm - The kids really like this show, we do bring their military grade ear protection as it is a bit too loud for them. 11. Anything we missed or want to ride again - If there is anything we missed and we have a little time we will try to do that before we leave. 12. Bed!
Weight Loss Update: I went to CO for a week and I tend to overdo it there on eating out. Bad me. I am right now at about 212-213 which isn't too bad. I'm really planning to work hard and try to get to just under 200 before the trip. I'm still happy with the slow progress, as long as I am not going back up too much and am gradually heading down that is working for me. I would love to lose it all really fast, but I just know I would probably gain it all back quickly if I deprive myself too much. Slow and steady wins the race.
Next Update: Friday April 12, 2013 - Animal Kingdom
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It will be weird to leave the bubble. We haven't done that since we stayed off property in 2003. Even on that trip we had planned to visit Sea World, but we were having such a great time at the Disney parks we decided not to. 
Deb
I am right now at about 212-213 which isn't too bad. I'm really planning to work hard and try to get to just under 200 before the trip. I'm still happy with the slow progress, as long as I am not going back up too much and am gradually heading down that is working for me. I would love to lose it all really fast, but I just know I would probably gain it all back quickly if I deprive myself too much. Slow and steady wins the race. 
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