Trip Report Change of Plans for Thanksgiving...Let's Just Spend the Entire Time in Disney!

Good afternoon everyone, and thank you in advance for checking in and following along with our next Disney adventure. During the summer, Crystal and I starting planning with Maddy and Brayden to visit both of them at their schools (Maddy at the University of South Carolina, Brayden at Florida State) during Thanksgiving with a few days at Disney between stops. Crystal and I had planned to drive from the Lehigh Valley starting after school today and make our way to Columbia by 2 am tomorrow. We would then stay for the Wofford- South Carolina football game then drive to Disney on Sunday since USC is off for Thanksgiving after today. Brayden has classes Monday through Friday next week, so he would bus it Wednesday afternoon to meet us. We would then leave Disney on Friday and drive to Tallahassee for the FSU-UF game on Saturday.

Well, as the season went on, USC football tickets went up as the team is having a great season. For some reason, FSU tickets started high (they were preseason top 10, so that I get) and have stayed high even though they are awful! We had a great hotel in Columbia at a very reasonable rate, but we had no luck in Tallahassee even though they are 1-9. Plus, I wasn't really looking forward to driving so much when we only had about 10 days.

Crystal and I started talking and we decided to talk to the kids about flying down and just meeting at Disney. We had to work a few things out, like Brayden's classes and not going to the games (which has all been worked out), but we are now set to leave tomorrow and all meet up in Disney!

Crystal and I leave from Philly at 5:40 am, Maddy leaves Columbia at 5:10, and Brayden leaves Tallahassee at 9. We are staying at Riverside for only the second time. We have all of our park and dining reservations and LL's selected. The plan is to start at Epcot for the final day of Food and Wine.

The trip just happens to coincide with our 25th Anniversary which was November 20.

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We have a few new things planned this trip that we are excited for, but we are just looking forward to being together for the next week.
 
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coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
After the fireworks, which were fantastic, we made our way to Space Mountain. The posted time was 35, but we were on and off in under 20. We then walked to meet the Tweedles before the parade. That was a request by Maddy. Had a great interaction there. In fact, the characters have been amazing this trip. I remember our first trip to Disneyland and saying how the characters were more unscripted (not sure thats the correct word), but they seemed much more animated and free during the meet and greets. Thats what this trip has felt like and I love it.

After that meet up, we hustled over to meet Mary Poppins. There was NO wait! Crystal instantly said its the same Mary from HS the other night. As soon as she walked over to meet us, she said, "Oh, I do believe we have meet before." After meeting thousands of people since Monday night at the party there and now here, we were amazed. She was fantastic during both meet and greets.

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We then got into our spot for the 11 PM parade. We stood in front of the Hall of Presidents.

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coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
Another side note from yesterday afternoon. We took an Uber from Riverside to the Polynesian. As I sat in the car, I set down my glasses to buckle the belt, and never picked them back up! As we sat to order our drinks at O'Hana I realized what I did. Maddy was able to reach out to Uber, and the driver returned them to the front desk at resort later that night. I wasn't able to read all night, but I had the glasses back. This is not the first time I had done this in Disney. A few years back I left them on a bus after getting dropped off at the Magic Kingdom. Somehow, Uber riders turned them into the driver, but other Disney guests did not. Ultimately, I only have my own stupidity to blame.

I did take a few pictures of a very dead resort while walking to the lobby once I returned from the party. In fact, I only saw two people on the trails and they were both CMs.


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ajrwdwgirl

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
coachwnh said:
Another side note from yesterday afternoon. We took an Uber from Riverside to the Polynesian. As I sat in the car, I set down my glasses to buckle the belt, and never picked them back up! As we sat to order our drinks at O'Hana I realized what I did. Maddy was able to reach out to Uber, and the driver returned them to the front desk at resort later that night. I wasn't able to read all night, but I had the glasses back. This is not the first time I had done this in Disney. A few years back I left them on a bus after getting dropped off at the Magic Kingdom. Somehow, Uber riders turned them into the driver, but other Disney guests did not. Ultimately, I only have my own stupidity to blame.
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It sounds like you need some "old people" glasses straps to wear around your neck! 😁🥸

That's really cool that Mary Poppins remembered you, very magical. Although it is surprising what the cast members remember. We had a year break from going to the California Grill and we were surprised that the waiter remembered us. He even remembered that I liked to start my "after dinner pressed pot coffee" with my entree.

Hope you all have a good Thanksgiving!
 
pkkurz

pkkurz

Well-Known Member
coachwnh said:
Just a few more. I really just watched the parade more than taking photos. In fact, I took none during the fireworks. It was nice to just enjoy things and take it all in.

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After the parade, we walked back to Space Mountain to finish our night.
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Thanks for the parade pictures. we were in that exact same spot for the parade during MNSSHP. Great angle as the floats make the turn.
 
erstwo

erstwo

Well-Known Member
If they are reading glasses only - You might like ThinOptics! You can Google them.
I bought my husband the keychain pair and that’s what he uses for ‘on the go’ - he can keep them in his pocket without them breaking due to the fact that they bend back into the tiny, protective case.
They probably have a good Black Friday sale.
 
coachwnh

coachwnh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
No
erstwo said:
If they are reading glasses only - You might like ThinOptics! You can Google them.
I bought my husband the keychain pair and that’s what he uses for ‘on the go’ - he can keep them in his pocket without them breaking due to the fact that they bend back into the tiny, protective case.
They probably have a good Black Friday sale.
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Thanks for the tip 👍
 

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