Monday, October 14, 2019

Disney 2019 Planning Part 3


April 14, 2018
N minus 491
Disney playlist added to car iTunes. We also start watching Disney movies instead of the pile of new ones we have.  Coincidence???


April 15, 2018
N minus 490
Asked my nieces and nephew what they’re favorite Disney restaurants were. Morgan growled, “ALL OF THEM!” while Aurora (creator of “Filmore’s Magic” and “Front Tire Land”) answered, “The Grand Meridian!”


April 18, 2018
N minus 487
Grandma calls, she’s crazy serious about this, and already has staked out days for a trip longer than the last one.  Naturally by the time we get off the phone, the pre-grid is in progress. Please help me.


April 20, 2018
N minus 485
Gods of the Vikings exhibit in the Stave Church in Norway. Dang, now I am going to be upset when we forget to go in there.


April 22, 2018
N minus 483
Animal Kingdom, the new park, celebrates its twentieth anniversary. For perspective, that means its the same age as the Magic Kingdom was when I went in college…before Animal Kingdom opened.  Crusty old Disney man coming through. Russel and Dug take over the live bird show in hopes of getting anyone to see it.


April 24, 2018
N minus 481
Next year’s “free dining plan” days announced starting Monday August 20. They’re not stating it has to be with a park hopper this time.  That Monday lines up with our first full day, but who knows what else will change?


April 26, 2018
N minus 479
This is possibly troubling. The Halloween parties start all the way in the end of August, lining up with when we go if it's the same next year. But they’ve changed park closing from 7pm, right before it starts, to 6pm.  Is it worth the extra magic hour in the morning if the park closes an hour earlier. Although last time we couldn't get a later Floridian reservation and had to leave at 6 anyway.  I think they enjoy making Gridding harder.  MGM also has crazy long hours for the new Toy Story Land.  I wonder if Star Wars Land will mean it’s open twenty four hours?


May 1, 2018
N minus 474
Twenty Ninth Anniversary of MGM, or whatever they think it’s called.  Trivia list points out that the Beauty and the Beast show opened on Nov. 22, 1991, the same day as the movie, and is the longest running stage show in any Disney Park.  This is odd, as the Indiana Jones Stunt spectacular started on August 25, three months after the park opened and is the oldest attraction there.  I guess the explosions and fire coming out of it means it isn’t a “stage.”  Hey!!!!! We’re going to be there for the Thirtieth anniversary of Indy show!  YAAAAAY!

Grandma’s response “So we will definitely be at MGM on August 25.   YAYYYY!”
(Later edit…no we are not. Awwwww.  We’ll be eating in the Castle on a day the Magic Kingdom closes late. Not much Awww after all.  Plus Disney tends to extend anniversary celebrations.)


May 5 2018
N minus 470
I attempt to get some “pre-gridding” done by creating a three point review scale.

Last time we all went I gave everyone a 5 point scale to rate what I should use FastPass on, and everyone rated it based on what they thought other people wanted.
This time I gave them a list that I explained was basically "Yes" "I don't care" and "no."
Everyone marked it with X's between the 3 boxes making it a five point scale.
I give up.


Draft Target dates:  2019 - Leave Sunday Aug 18- Return Wed Aug 28, Holy crap that's a long time! WOOOOOOO!!!! Thanx Grandma!!!!!
For Fast passes the question is "use a fast pass?" not "do or do not"
Name:
Where
What
Disney Thing
Notes




Magic Kingdom
Table Food
Plaza Restaurant
1st lunch, saw parade through windows
Magic Kingdom
Table Food
Crystal Palace
Big ole easy to get buffet, with Pooh and friends
Magic Kingdom
Table Food
Cinderella’s Castle
We'll get whatever meal we can
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Magic Mickey
Talking magic show Mickey Mouse Meet
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Jungle Cruise
Long boring line (without pass) for fun, pun and animatronic filled boat ride
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Peter Pan
Usually can make in extra magic, but why chance it?
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Seven Dwarves Mine Train
medium speed coaster with pretty middle, still longest line in park
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Meet Cinderella and Elena of Avalor
One of several Cinderella meets. Only Elena meet, but who cares?
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Meet Rapunzel and Tiana
Only Tiana meet, only Rapunzel meet except breakfast on boardwalk. I think…maybe
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Tales With Belle
Belle story time. Fixed length show means line is always more than 20 minutes, even in empty park
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Pirates of the Carribean
Used for an extra ride.  We still wants the redhead.
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Ariel's Grotto
Booked FP last time and then transferred, able to see her in extra magic and late at night
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Splash Mountain
20 minutes of animatronic singing and a drop o soggy death.  Has no line sometimes but hard to predict.
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Buzz Lightyear Spin
We got in several without the fast pass and ended up not using the last day one.
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Haunted Mansion
Rode a bunch of times without FP, but needed it for the last day one
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Small World
Didn't need, but nice to see everyone's names.
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Space Mountain
Still long lines after all these years. We got on a couple early and late without FP
Magic Kingdom
Fast Pass
Big Thunder Mountain
Closed last time. Line usually has lulls.
Magic Kingdom
Counter Food
Cosmic Rays
Burger, sandwich and chicken food court with the ever awesome (and possibly poop colored) animatronic alien  Sonny Eclipse.
Magic Kingdom
Counter Food
Be our Guest restaurant
Really hard to get, really good food. Kind of chaotic going in.  May be better to order our own food individually and square up later
MGM
Table Food
Brown Derby
Fancy schmancy, Counts as 2 meals. 
MGM
Table Food
Sci Fi Dine in theater
Didn't go last time. Cool bad movie fake drive in.  Really tough to get.
MGM
Table Food
Hollywood and Vine
Dinner with Minnie Mickey Daisy Donald, (Goofy at exit)They were in fancy Christmas outfits last time we'll be there for beach party theme.  Breakfast & Lunch is still Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake, Handy Manny
MGM
Fast Pass
Toy Story Mania
Three tracks now, still has lines. Could run on over and over end of day.  Based on Toy story land and star wars, may reduce, who knows. Really, why do I bother?
MGM
Fast Pass
Rock n Roller Coaster
Remarkably smooth looping corkscrews.  Not open last time, lines high now, but who knows what's to come.
MGM
Fast Pass
Star Tours
Lines longer now that its updated more often and themed more to the park
MGM
Fast Pass
Indiana Jones
FP gives great seats, but we may need them for the new stuff
MGM
Fast Pass
Mickey kids coaster
 in the Chinese Theater
Great movie ride is gone. Boy that sucks. I don't know if I care how good this is.
MGM
Fast Pass
Terror o' Tower
Used to have short lines a lot…then it didn't Maybe it will with the new stuff. Really, why do I bother?
MGM
Fast Pass
Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land
Anyone want to see Jeff go nuts when everything he knows about MGM goes down the toilet?
MGM
Counter Food
Um… everywhere
We scattered around, the counter service is kind of all over.  I sense my image is tarnished now. Ribs still at commissary.
EPCOT
Table Food
Akershus
Norway Princess Meal (we're going, duh)
EPCOT
Table Food
Garden Grill
Rotating Chip Dale Mickey Pluto and giant piles of food brought to table. YAY!
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Soarin Around the World
FP Pretty much a given- even with second ride area
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Spaceship Earth
The Big Ball, probably could catch another time, but not many other tier 2's in EPCOT anyway
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Mission Space
Didn't need, switched to Living Seas (didn't need that either)
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Turtle Talk
Meeting show with Crush, booked it but don't think we needed or used it.
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Frozen Ride
Backward in a boat with Let it Go added, still longest line in park
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Test Track
Car simulation thing. Did it in extra magic, not on FP last time, Still no match for Magnetic Levitation Man
EPCOT
Fast Pass
Character Spot
Meet Mickey, Goofy, Minnie in a row. Booked but skipped it last time. Really not much to use fast passes for at EPCOT
EPCOT
Counter Food
Four Seasons
Land Pavilion crazy good food court (or maybe we're always starving?)
EPCOT
Counter Food
Split up and randomly forage in world showcase
Hey, it worked last time!!
Animal Kingdom
Table Food
Tusker House
Buffet with Donald, Mickey Goofy Daisy, Kid threw up at us when we left, but otherwise really good.
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Festival of the Lion King
I think it gets us better seats. 
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Mickey and Minnie at Outpost
Only place to see First Mice together at the same time
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Kilimanjaro Safari
Bumpy Bus, still  long line just shy of Avatar stuff most days
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Primeval Whirl
Tilt a whirl on mouse coaster. Didn't use. Need FP during day, end of night could keep running on.
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Expedition Everest
Yeti mountain backwards coaster. Didn't use. Need FP during day, end of night could keep running on. crazy lines sometimes
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Avatar Flight of Passage
Soarin like thrill ride Avatar, wasn't there last time still crazy lines
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Avatar Na'vi River Journey
Animatronic pretty Avatar slow river ride, wasn't there last time, still crazy lines
Animal Kingdom
Fast Pass
Kali River Rapids
Didn't use. Need FP during day, end of night could get on
Animal Kingdom
Counter Food
Flame Tree Berbecue
I miss this place.  Really good chicken and ribs.
Not Park
Table Food
1900 Park Faire Cinderella dinner
Grand Floridian with awesome food, Cinderella and her much more fun family.
Not Park
Table Food
Chef Mickeys
Contemporary, Haven’t gone in forever, really good buffet, Mickey Minnie and friends. Crowded, and set Anabelle on fire twice.
Not Park
Table Food
1900 Park Faire Supercalfragi-breakfast
Grand Floridian with awesome food, Poppins, Alice, Pooh (hee hee) Tigger and the insane shenanigans of the Mad Hatter
Not Park
Counter Food
Animation Resort Food Court
Fancier than Pop, Made Anabelle a little sick last time
Not Park
Counter Food
Downtown after shorter 2nd day?
Since we have 2 days in Animal Kingdom. We could leave early the second day for scheduled Downtown shopping time. Although with the new Avatar and other stuff, we may need the full two days. Or are we doing dinner in another hotel?  I believe this has gone well beyond addiction with me. Please help.




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2 comments:

Dina Roberts said...

I might actually like your blog even more than the Disney Food Blog.

Jeff McGinley said...

Many thanx. I've been reading some of your Disney exploits as well. It's always great to get another regular visitor who really enjoys it's perspectives.