From 1971

From 1500 employees to over 60,000 today.  Pretty cool Disney World.

Year Round Entertainment

Even though I have been back from Disney World a couple of weeks I'm ready to go back.

Usually, when I come home I'm good for about 6 months before the urge to head south gets me.  Not now.  Maybe it's the 35 degree weather I woke up to this morning.  But, I could easily hop in my car head 75 south for about 7-8 hours and be in sunshine magic land.

It's hard when you have all the Disney apps, Orlando Sentinel app, and all the fun updates that are going on in and around Disney World.

It's surprising to me all the great events that go on year round there.

There are local festivals in the communities and surrounding areas throughout the Orlando area.

It makes me want to explore outside the parks just a little.  Gasp.  I know.  

Plus, even Disney World has things going on all year.  The Christmas parades, parties and events are already getting in the swing.  Then before you know it there are all of the marathons, 5k's etc starting in Jan and Feb. Those book up very early!!   Baseball Spring Training is a personal favorite at The ESPN Wide World of Sports. 

Downtown Disney has a variety of entertainment all year.  You can find some great musical delights at almost anytime just walking around. Plus, we actually bowled at the phenomenal bowling alley at Downtown Disney and had a blast.

So,  maybe think outside of Space Mountain once and a while.  You might catch something you would have missed!

Crowded? Stop and Smell Roses

Oh to be back.  Back to my private non-reality laden beloved Disney World.   Being back is well,  being back.   School, early morning alarms, (which I don't mind early morning alarms, it's the getting up and having to go somewhere that's annoying...)

It's ok.  I have my warm memories.   Like I said even though this past Fall Break was crowded if you knew what you were doing it was doable.  

We didn't miss not one attraction that was on our "list".   In fact, we took so many back ways and short cuts that we found some great out of the way stop and smell the roses kind of places.


For instance,  at Epcot beyond the France pavilion are the boats that will take you to other resorts and Hollywood Studios which was our destination.  A lovely uncrowded boat ride down canals was quite relaxing.  Not sure if the masses know that the boats are there but there was certainly no crowd.
It's also a great way to get a glimpse of other resorts such as Boardwalk Villas and Beach Club Resort.

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......