Trip Report **Completed** The Wine and Dine Half Marathon and we are never changing hotels again!

Hello everyone! I have been (sadly) back for over a week now so I suppose its time to start my TR. I have been in a moderate Disney depression since I have been back, so hopefully this cheers me up. Its probably the freezing cold weather here in Buffalo, but I am longing for Disney and sunny weather (I know its only like 55 there right now, but its 25 here :)). I suppose this is the true sign of a Disney addict! Anyway, on with the TR!

Who?:

From left to right:
My Dad (Jeff), Me (Megan), Mickey :p, My sister Betta (her name is Elizabeth, we call her Betta), my nephew Max, my Mom (Mary) my sister Jill and Betta's friend Deanna
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Deanna came with my sister to help with Max :) She has been to Disney before, but not for several years. This is Max's first trip! The rest of us have been to Disney (several times...;))

When?
My Mom and I: November 3 - 12
My Dad and Jill: Nov 5 -12
Betta, Deanna and Max Nov 7 - 12

Where?
We moved hotels 3 times, I will introduce them as we go :)

Why?
Jill and I really wanted to run the Wine and Dine Half Marathon so we planned a trip around it! Plus, Betta wanted to bring Max to Disney the first time!

The Title?
Well, its pretty obvious! We ran the Wine and Dine Half Marathon :) Also, we were not keen on moving hotels during the trip. It is incredibly disruptive and takes up a decent amount of free time. I will comment more as we go.

T-5 days
As my Mom and I were driving to help my sister and Max pack for the trip we were getting a little bit Disney crazy and really did not want to stay at All Star Sports. We have nothing against people who like the values (or can only afford them), but we really don't enjoy them. When I was a kid we only stayed at values and we loved them, but we definitely have gotten spoiled lately. Knowing we booked All Stars to save us money I did not think a hotel move would be possible. However, the huge AP discount was still a thing so we started looking into other hotels. While at my sister's house I kept trying to change the hotel, but it was not working. Eventually I gave up and finally called Disney. I had the sweetest CM ever on the phone and we chatted for quite a bit about all sorts of things. In the end I decided on moving to the Wilderness Lodge because we love it so much! The CM also added a bit of magic and upgraded us to Concierge level for free. :):p:joyfull::inlove: Woohoo!!! The only downside is this would mean we would have to pick up our luggage in the airport for Magical Express. Annoying, but no big deal overall :)

November 3, 2016
We got up around 5 am and got ready to go to the airport. It was a gross and rainy day in Buffalo so we were happy to be heading to sunny Florida! While my Mom and I were finishing up last minute things and taking pictures my Dad started grabbing our suitcases and bringing them to the car. Only, we weren't done with them yet so he had to bring them back in. Because it was rainy he really looked the part of a grumpy airport worker :joyfull:
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We had a quick ride to the airport and we got there by 6 am. We had the same Southwest worker check us in that we had in October. Thats when you know you travel too much? haha
We both had TSA pre-check and for once I did not set off the metal detector! We were through security by 6:08 am. You have got to love TSA pre-check :)
For breakfast we had some bagels and water
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Petey and Drake were ready :)
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Since we had a crazy amount of time to kill we sat down at our gate and I already started working on my notes haha
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Then we took some selfies...
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Finally it was time to get on the plane. We ended up in row 4! I love sitting in the front, takes less time to get off the plane!
Magic Bands ready :)
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Purple Magic Bands for the win! The woman sitting next to me also had a purple Magic Band :)
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Next up: Arriving in MCO!
 
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sheriffwoody

Well-Known Member
I ended up with the Nikon D3400 with 2 lenses (one big one small). Hope thats a good one because it sure cost me a ton of money ;)
It is the time of year for engagements thats for sure. I too have been seeing a ton of them! I am excited for Jills wedding though. I think she secretly wants to get married in Disney but knows thats my thing :joyfull:
That's a good one from what I've heard! I don't want to bore or confuse you with tech talk, but try this lens sometimes for those lower light situations: link. I know it's just more money to spend, but trust me, it's worth it! And don't be afraid to buy lenses used to save a little money. I almost always buy used lenses.
 

prfctlyximprct

Well-Known Member
Day 6:
This morning we got up around 7 am and hoped for a Bills win. Unfortunately that didn't happen...as usual :oops:. We did spend some time watching ESPN to see the highlights since there was a big controversy about some of missed penalty calls which lost us the game. Oh well, whats another year without the playoffs when it has already been 16 years :(
My Mom and I ran down to the cafe and waited in a super long line to grab some croissants, water and coffee for my Dad. We did run into Betta, Max and Deanna down there!
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I wasn't super pleased with how inefficient the makeshift cafe was in the mornings, but there was nothing we could do about it.
Back in the room we took some pictures of everyone in their matching shifts. Only, no one was cooperating so what I have is what they got :)
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When we all got our stuff together we headed down to the buses. Unfortunately we just missed a MK and had to wait 20 minutes for a new one. This would be our first encounter with trying to entertain a 14 month old while waiting for the bus....here is how it went:
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:inlove::joyfull:
Anyway a bus finally came and soon enough we were at the MK. We just missed the opening show again :banghead:. Our plan was to rope drop for Mickey so thats what we did. We got in a fairly long line, but entertained ourselves with Heads Up. We even had an amazing CM named Steven play with us! He was so funny and got super into it :) Overall we waited about 25 minutes which wasn't bad and it was definitely worth the wait when Max met Mickey!
Max wasn't quite sure how he felt about Mickey! He did cry briefly and Mickey said "I guess thats enough giant talking Mouse for one day." :joyfull:
In the end he really warmed up to him, though!
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After this we headed over to our first FP for the day: Dumbo!
Along the way we snapped some pictures
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Next up: Dumbo!


In that last picture I could of sworn you had special ears because the way the tower is right in the middle! I was thinking oh my goodness I need them!! :)

Finally catching up! The frozen photo is priceless! He will love that as he grows older and looks back at it! Haha!! And you always make me want to try Via Napoli! You are my very own food blog!! :p
 

LisaBelle

Well-Known Member
Day 7 continued
More lights
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Who knew Mama Melroses had so many lights!
To drink Jill and I ordered Bellinis
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My Dad ordered a beer
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Bread!
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For dinner it should come as no surprise as to what I ordered :) @Tuvalu @prfctlyximprct and @LisaBelle know what!
Jill ordered it as well. I was paying for dinner so I told her to treat herself since I knew she was hesitant about spending the money on it :)
Charred Strip Steak with 4 cheese macaroni
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SO GOOOOOOODDDDD!!! I want some now!!! :geek::inlove::hungry:
My dad ordered pork shank...it was a special I think. Sounds gross but he really liked it
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Next up: Mama Melroses
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Yummmmmmm! My sister and I also enjoyed the Bellinis at Mama Melrose's. You & @prfctlyximprct are killing me with photos of the strip steak at Mama Melrose's and a variety of creme brûlée!!
 

Longers

Well-Known Member
I know what you mean about the kicking ladies ornament :) and every time we went to HS there was water in the muppet fountain? So not sure why you had plants.... Keep this coming it's all I have left of our Nov trip memories especially now Nicole's report is over :(
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That's a good one from what I've heard! I don't want to bore or confuse you with tech talk, but try this lens sometimes for those lower light situations: link. I know it's just more money to spend, but trust me, it's worth it! And don't be afraid to buy lenses used to save a little money. I almost always buy used lenses.

Thank you!!!! I will definitely keep this in my back pocket. Need to curb my spending for a little bit haha
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In that last picture I could of sworn you had special ears because the way the tower is right in the middle! I was thinking oh my goodness I need them!! :)
Finally catching up! The frozen photo is priceless! He will love that as he grows older and looks back at it! Haha!! And you always make me want to try Via Napoli! You are my very own food blog!! :p

Haha oh yea it does look like special ears!!! I totally can't wait for Max to get older to look at all of these pictures. I swear he is a super smiley in real life but like refuses to smile for the camera :) You have never been to Via Napoli?! Its so good!!!

:hungry:
Yummmmmmm! My sister and I also enjoyed the Bellinis at Mama Melrose's. You & @prfctlyximprct are killing me with photos of the strip steak at Mama Melrose's and a variety of creme brûlée!!

So good :) I usually don't like Bellinis that much but I do like those :)

I know what you mean about the kicking ladies ornament :) and every time we went to HS there was water in the muppet fountain? So not sure why you had plants.... Keep this coming it's all I have left of our Nov trip memories especially now Nicole's report is over :(

I know! Like where the heck did the plants come from!?! I know...I almost don't want to finish because then its officially over
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 7 continued
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Try as we might we did not end up as the rebel spy :) We visited Jaku I think on our ride. Lately I have been getting a headache from this ride, I fear I am going to have to skip it from now on.
After this we were wandering around we noticed that Olaf had a short wait so we hopped in line.
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Our final destination was the Chinese Theatre so we could find a spot for the Star Wars fireworks. The park wasn't super crowded so we found a nice spot and sat and played some Heads Up while we waited. My Mom and I were the only ones who had ever seen the Star Wars fireworks and it was the old version so we were all in for a new treat!
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Everyone really enjoyed the fireworks so I am glad that I made them stay and watch them! They really are so neat in terms of how they involve all the buildings and the trees around them :)
After the show it started rainy lightly so we quickly made our way out of the park
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It was still early when we made it back to the hotel and it stopped raining so my Dad and I walked down to the water to watch the boats go by. We met an older gentleman down there who was talking about how he has been coming to Disney for many years staying at POFQ and going on cruises. We somehow got on the subject of chips in cups and how we didn't like it and for some reason that made the guy think we were frustrated with all the same things he was. This included "fast tracks" (aka Fast Passes) and planning vacations "three weeks in advance for dining reservations." :):p I had a nice little laugh to myself about making reservations only 3 weeks in advance. Try 6 months sir :joyfull: My Dad and I just let him rant and then eventually watched him get yelled at by the boats for walking onto the deck without permission before we headed back to the room. At this point Deanna, Max and Betta made it back from their night in Epcot and we ran into them on their way to the room!
After this we went off to bed :)

Next up: AK!
 
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Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8
This morning we got up around 7 am again. My Mom and I were always ready first so we headed down to grab us some croissants to eat. We had still been using old cups to get water and coffee for my Dad and we totally got caught :) No one cared really but the CM was suspiciously looking at our old cups :)
Max was all ready for AK with his AK themed shirt. I used to also own this shirt when I was younger. Wish I still had it! It is one of my favorites
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We were all ready early so we headed to the bus stop
We made it to AK well before it opened so had the opportunity to take some pictures!
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The park wasn't open yet but they let us in for rope drop
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I was excited to show everyone the birds flying over during the opening. When the park officially opened we split up and my Mom, Dad, Jill and I went to Everest. Betta and Deanna took Max to the safari in case he fell asleep in time for our FP
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In line Jill and I discovered another light fixture to photograph :)
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Next up: More Everest!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8 continued
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After our photoshoot Jill and my Dad wanted some coffee so while they got some I looked around and took some pictures
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I was listening to a podcast where they said they tested Rivers of Light recently but there was no great concept now that a bunch of the floats are gone so they still have a lot of work to do :(
I was holding onto my Dad's coffee for some reason in this picture !
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We headed over to Africa after this to meet up with Betta, Max and Deanna
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We had some time before our FP started so we did some shopping and relaxed in the sun
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Max loved the music!
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Next up: AK continued
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8 continued
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Everyone dance!
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Who knows why Jill was making this face :)
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I knew Max didn't need another plush so I got him a noise maker!
He liked to chew on it...and put it in his cup holder :)
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Finally it was time for our FP so we headed towards the safari !
Jill had the camera so watch out :)
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Max loved seeing the animals but he was really fighting sleep!
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Next up: AK continued
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8 continued
Jill took a total of two safari pictures, and only one had animals in it :)
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After our safari we decided to head over to Rafiki's Planet Watch because we knew Max would love it if he woke up!
Jill found some more lights :oops:
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The train was broken so we had to wait for another one but eventually we made it :)
Hello light!
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Max woke up just in time for us to pet some goats :)
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I literally can not believe my Mom got this close to an animal :)
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Next up: Rafiki's planet watch continued
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8 continued
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Some of the goats were butting heads and Max was super interested in that so he watched that for awhile. He also almost got run over by a sheep who was running for food. Luckily I was over there taking a picture of a donkey so was able to scoop him up fast :)
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We love Zootopia so I took this picture of my Mom
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Last time my Mom and I visited here we did not go inside so this time we did
Just in case anyone would like to know whats in the bathroom stalls its this :joyfull:
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There was no surgery going on, they were just doing some physicals on some animals. Jill made us go in one of those sound booths they have there but we only lasted like a minute because she kept pinching us like she was bugs :happy:. Sometimes I wonder who is the older sister :)
We were all getting hungry after this so we left Rafiki's
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Betta, Max and Deanna stayed behind to do our final FP which was meet Mickey and Minnie. Had I know they were in their Christmas outfits I would have stayed too :) Unfortunately Betta said they waited 45 minutes in the Fast Pass line :eek:
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Look a smile!
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Betta said the wait was totally worth it though!

Next up: back at POFQ!
 

Doc Disney

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Day 8
Meanwhile the rest of us were on the bus home
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It seemed like the half marathon was so long ago! When we passed Wide World of Sports I realized it was only like 4 days ago
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LOL my parents
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Back at the hotel we went to the Food Court to grab some food
This is what happens when I let my family take pictures
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For lunch everyone got pizza, except for me who got Mac and cheese!
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We also got some cookies. Jills on the left and mine on the right. Funny enough we liked each others better
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And a cupcake for my Mom!
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When we got back to the room we noticed Petey got some snacks
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Next up: pool time!
 

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