Fall Break??

I'm back!!  And let me tell you friends out of my many trips to Disney World this was the BUSIEST I have seen.

Fall Break used to mean relaxing sunshine, meandering through parks, no wait times........   Well, welcome to 2013.  This Fall Break mean record crowds (for this time of year)  Pop Century Resort was over-booked and the over flow were upgraded to other resorts and all other property resorts were booked as well.   The main computer went down when we tried to check in and we spent 45 minutes at the check in counter.  Then we were given 1 room key for our family of 4 for the entire day. And let me tell you our family of 4 didn't really want to hang all together after being cooped in the car for 8 hours.  

So someone had to be available that day to get everyone in the room.  Yup, that would be me.  Mom.   

I had friends who were there at the same time and we kept texting back and forth "Is it busy at the park your at"???  Yes it is.  

Numerous cast members that I spoke with chalked up the crowds to the new Magic Bands being out.  I think the free dining plan offered didn't help either.

We did not load our Magic Bands with Fast Passes until we got there and some of our favs were already full for certain days in advance. 

But, we still managed to have a good time.  The weather was fabulous.  Thank you Florida sunshine!!   And when we did get our fast passes loaded they worked like a charm.  The water parks were our saving grace last week.  Although they were fairly crowded the wait times there were usually only 5-10 minutes.  Sure beat having our feet run over by the millions of strollers that were in the theme parks :)  And I mean a million........

Countdown

Yay!   Only 6 more days until our Disney vacation!   While I haven't been blogging much I have been online devouring every little morsel and tidbit about Disney World the week we will be there.   Weather, ride refurbishment schedule, refrigerator saga, crowd speculation..... You name it I've googled it.

The weather looks fantastic for our week.  Having trouble getting an extra room.  Disney reservations say that Pop Century is booked.   That always sends panic through me.  Envisioning crowds out of control, crying toddlers, park Nazi's plowing everyone down.....

Last year Pop was "booked" and I swear there wasn't another family on our whole floor.   I'm hoping Disney booked and my booked are two different things.

My teens and I have been playing around with the My Disney Experience app and have had fun speculating how well our magic bands will work.   Still not ready to commit to setting up our daily FP's.   We don't decide which park to go to until the night before.

If you are going to be in Disney World over fall break or anytime really, take the time to check out some of the resort room windows.   I love decorating our window with Disney memorabilia from past visits.   Some families go way out and it is so much fun seeing their Disney love displayed for all to see!!

Disney World Flip Out Mode

I broke down and called Pop Century Resort (or Disney's Ghetto as my teen boys call it) at  Disney World this morning.  My burning question is about those gosh darn refrigerators that are being replaced.   I was told (just like I was told when I went in July)  that they are being replaced as we speak.....

I was told that a note would be attached to my reservation that will make sure I have one.  

I certainly don't want to take one from someone who has medical need for one.  I actually just want one to supplement our cooler with all of our drinks, snacks etc....  Plus,  someone in our family always has some left overs from a fabulous Disney restaurant that I won't let them throw away.   Is that so wrong???   

Then I requested a connecting room and was told there weren't anymore available.  Bummer and crap crap crap.   We have discovered that our family of 4 is a large family of 4 and no amount of bribing or flipping of coins will get anyone to share a bed.  That includes my husband and myself.......

So now for the next 13 days I will be in flip out mode trying to decide if we should change resorts. (Pop is our fave and is one of few with dedicated buses)  or should I try calling every  morning to see if there is a connecting room that has come open.  

My Disney vacation would not be complete if I didn't flip out on something.  My teenagers pointed this out just a few minutes ago....

So I guess this makes it about my 22nd Disney flip out.

Refrigerator Saga Continues

Received our new Magic Wrist bands last week!!   Some of my fam (myself included) are such  Disney dorks we have been wearing them already.  You get to have your name engraved on the bands as well.  We always have vacation nicknames.  The names that are engraved are on the inside of the band.  Disappointed a little that they weren't on outside of band.  Oh well.  

 Now, this week we got a letter from Disney World asking us to order wrist bands and be test subjects for them.   Um, already have done that.   I'm not sure Disney is on the ball with their wrist band promotion.  

Regardless, we are super stoked and can't wait the 4 weeks til Vacay time!!

One of the key features is loading your Magic Band with your Fast Pass.  You can program them before you even leave home.  I'm not sure that works for us.  We have no idea what park we will be in on which day.   I guess when we arrive we might use that feature.   The plus side is being able to load 3 Fast Passes a day.  Very cool!!

On another note, I got a letter from Disney World explaining about their room frig problems and that we wouldn't have refrigerators in our rooms during our stay.   Are you kidding????  We were there last week of July with same problem.  Now we are going in October and the frig issue is still going on????
WTH Disney????   We are already staying in Disney World's version of the  ghetto value resort (Pop Century) with twin beds (double they say but I have a hard time believing it)  no coffee pot and now no frig.   

Looks like The Hermann Family will be roughing it with 2 coolers in a 200 sq ft room.  Oh well,  I'm going for the magic not the "resort" room......

I'm With The Band

So In my little Disney mind I'm planning out our Food and Wine Festivities!!!
Our boys are now gigantic teens and can wander from Mom & Dad if we embarrass  them too much with our random break out dancing along World Showcase.


Every year we usually just blow through the Food & Wine Festival just to say we went.  The boys were bored (duh) and we didn't want to look like we were the bad parents knocking back beverages at every kiosk.....

But, this year looks like The Hubs and I will get to have a "date night" after oh about 317 years........   The boys want to go to Disney Quest with their new annual pass so it's a win win no guilt plan.

So, I was giddily looking at the line-up for Eat to the Beat series.   I was going to see a band for the first time since 1987!!!  

The Go-Go's!!!  Smash Mouth!!!   Spin Doctors!!!  Manhattan Transfer!!! Big Bad Voodoo Daddy!!!!

Oh, yeah.  But let me tell you who is going to be there the week we are there.

Night Ranger, Survivor, .38 Special and I think Christopher Cross.   WTH.

My first party night in years and I get the bands who play in or around our hometown every freakin year.    I think their on the carnival circuit as well.
.38 Special I think even plays at gas station openings around us.......

Ok, I think I'm kidding about the gas stations but C'MON DISNEY!!!!!   I buy your merchandise, we worship the Mouse,  We are eating hot dogs so we could splurge for the holy grail annual pass.  The least you can do is throw some good entertainment the week that I AM THERE..........

Disney Bridesmaids

I always wanted a fairy tale Cinderella wedding.  What gal doesn't? 

I didn't have one and that's ok. Mine was pretty fun.  

For a number of years when Disney started promoting dreamy themed weddings at Disney World I would tell my husband If we ever re-newed our vows that's what I wanted.

Well, the years went by and the kiddies came and so did life.  By now, this Cinderella would look a little   um what's the nicest word?? mature.  Yeah, mature.  I would look more like Cinderella's Godmother riding around in that carriage.    

And the cost?   Holy wicked stepmother!!    The cost of a Disney wedding is more than a mortgage, braces, Hollister shirts and feeding 2 teen boys.

But,  I came across this picture.  And I would so do it all over again if I could get all my favorite friends to be my bridesmaids.  Problem being I would be laughing so hard that I would miss my own wedding........

Disney for Newbies

I just was informed that my brother and his family have committed to a Disney vacation in 2014!! Being the Disney fanatic that i am I was asked to help with questions they might have. Ahhhhh. Newbies.Where to begin??

Well, I suggest planning ahead for for first trip (and probably your first 5-10 trips!)   Disney World vacations are best savored and explored trip after trip. After my family going so many times we still find plenty that we haven't experienced or enjoyed before.  If you hit the parks too hard too fast and too driven you will fast become a hater.




Start with your time of year you want to go.  Then research and pick your resort.   Do you want to stay inside or outside property??   We stay inside property because it is so convenient and you feel the Disney magic as soon as you arrive.  It's like your in your own non-reality Disney bubble for a week!

My boys who are teenagers now have had a hard and fast rule for years of no driving our car once we arrive on property.  Seriously.  And they mean it.  Disney transportation only.  (of course, my husband and I have snuck out on occasion to hit the local grocery for drinks and snacks)

This Disney newbie website has great information on crowd levels at certain times of year and resort info and is a great start to first time visitors.

http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/best-and-worst-times-to-visit/