Trip Report The Griswolds go to Orlando!! Live trip report...or something like it. Pictures on page 11 !!

Alright, I'm to give it a go at doing a live trip report. This way it will be easier for me to remember what we do. Hold fast folks, I might not be able to add photos until we get back but I'll try.

As some of you know, we had a 7 hour flight delay yesterday which nixed any chance of park time but we muddled through it. We ended up getting our APs via guest services at CityWalk which was convenient.

Day One: Universal.

Diagon Alley.......Holy crap. This place is amazing. The details are to top notch and there's no denying what they've done here. The ladies did Gringott's and they loved it. The train crossing into the other park was awesome. The only let down was Cat in the Hat. I must have missed the memo but it has almost no spinning now.

So, right now we're waiting on the girls to finish the Hulk and then it's chow time at Mel's. More to come!

 

[Disneygrl]

Let me get this rant out of the way first. Heat, Brazilians and the Haunted Mansion queue and merge room. Those are what got under my skin today. Seriously, the doombuggy room is terribly planned out. They should have taken the money from the crappy interactive queue, which you're forced to undertake, and used it to make a better merge point in there.

Anyhow, we managed a few rides and then we had lunch at BoG via FP. My wife, daughter and I had the kids grilled cheese while my son had the roast beef. Not too shabby but I'm interested in knowing how they find you given that we were only handed a receipt and not any kind of tracking device.

Justin and I just finished getting more high score buttons from Buzz and when the ladies get back from Splash we are headed to get our MNSSHP wristbands. If any of you are going to be here for the party please post what you're going to be and I'll try to keep an eye out. I didn't have time to make a quick jersey so I'm not dressing up as Polamalu this year, sorry guys.

Did they give you a "rose" at BOG? It's actually how they locate your table.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Did they give you a "rose" at BOG? It's actually how they locate your table.

They actually use your MagicBands if you have them. If you are an offsite guest and don't have a band, then they give you a rose.

 

[Disneygrl]

They actually use your MagicBands if you have them. If you are an offsite guest and don't have a band, then they give you a rose.

That's weird. We had our magic bands earlier this year and they still gave us a rose. The cast member told md that's how they'd find us.

 

[Dizdutch]

Nice touch giving the UE to the couple walking by, great feeling.

 

[TheMouseFan]

That's weird. We had our magic bands earlier this year and they still gave us a rose. The cast member told md that's how they'd find us.

That is weird! They used our MagicBands on our trip last November and again in June. In fact, I made my husband go ask about it in November when I realized they hadn't given us a rose! Who knows what is going on there! The whole place sounds like it is a mess right now!!

 

[draybook]

So far the MNSSHP has been great. Four full bags of candy and plenty of compliments about the kids' costumes (Attack on Titan).

The only issue I've noticed is the grounds keeper at the Haunted Mansion has his lamp out at the cemetery scene.

It feels busier than normal for this time of year. I will say that it's not just the foreigners that left their manners at home but I've managed to not run amok so far.

It rained lightly earlier but the Headless Horseman ran during the first parade and we're staked out for the second parade now. Hopefully he's running again but since it's lightly damp I'm not sure.

The ladies loved the Mine Train and they were able to ride twice by using our bands. The good thing about my son and I being sissies is that the ladies are able to double up on fastpasses.

My only other gripe tonight was the lack of crowd control in front of the castle leading up to Hallowishes. Usually they have a path carved out along the sidewalk but not tonight. I just had to use my outside voice to carve our own path. Possibly more to come tonight.

 

[Dizdutch]

Question....how come RPR over HRH? Asking because we're staying at UNI for a week in December and we're still deciding which one to stay at, so any input on the resort is welcomed.

I've stayed at both many times but prefer the HRH. The pool is the centerpiece of the hotel and the restaurants are close to the lobby.

 

[Dizdutch]

how about DA being air conditioned, nice isn't it?
knockturn alley is so wonderfully creepy and mysterious, specially at night..gonna be there thursday .

and
happy anniversary Draybooks

DA is air conditioned?

 

[draybook]

Question....how come RPR over HRH? Asking because we're staying at UNI for a week in December and we're still deciding which one to stay at, so any input on the resort is welcomed.

I've stayed at both many times but prefer the HRH. The pool is the centerpiece of the hotel and the restaurants are close to the lobby.

Price was the motivation.

 

[draybook]

Luckily it quit raining and we got to see the Headless Horseman do his thing. Parade was good and we hit up some rides before leaving. However, we were quickly reminded of what we hate about the MK. The departure......seriously, herding 200 people onto two ferries after a long day is beyond an experiment in frustration.

So tired, and now I'm up here at the front desk seeing if they fixed our bands opening the door and I'm tired and extremely cranky. Good night folks.

 

[FlaggNL]

Thanks for the live TR!! Great to read it! Hopefully we can do a live update in October

 

[draybook]

They didn't have them fixed. As a matter of fact, we had to leave our bands with the front desk to have them fixed and the bellman had to give us a lift and open the door. To say that Amy was ed would be an understatement. I wasn't thrilled myself.

The manager just told me that maintenance would have to come work on the door and it was going to be a big hassle but right as I was typing this the manager caught up with me and told me they said it was fixed. Cross your fingers because if I get to the room and this isn't fixed and they have to come in the room with everyone sleeping this might become one of the first trip reports to include pictures of the Disney jail.....

Stay tuned kiddos!

 

[draybook]

So, I had the pleasure of waiting in the lobby
for 45 minutes. They said the bands were fixed. They even had a front desk guy walk back to the room with me. One band worked....whatever, that will have to do.

We slept in a little again so we didn't get to EPCOT until about 9:35. For the "trouble" we've been having, the front desk manager added 2 sets of fastpasses that didn't count against the fastpasses that we already had set. A nice gesture but hardly makes up for the headache we've had so far.

We have done all of Future World so far and
we're about to go to Cantina De San Angel for lunch.

It is so filthy humid....

 

[draybook]

It's been nasty hot but we have had a great time. Maelstrom was down a bit today but came back up after a relatively short time. We even watched one of the pavilion films, O'Canada to be exact. Nice little flick. Now we are just waiting for the girls to get back from Soarin' so we can check in at the San Angel Inn for dinner.

Did I mention that we watched EO and it's one of my favorite things to do?

 

[draybook]

Question....how come RPR over HRH? Asking because we're staying at UNI for a week in December and we're still deciding which one to stay at, so any input on the resort is welcomed.

I've stayed at both many times but prefer the HRH. The pool is the centerpiece of the hotel and the restaurants are close to the lobby.

I forgot to add my take on RPR. In a nutshell, we were blown away. For a lower price than what we pay for this Disney moderate, we get an awesome room at a resort with great facilities AND the Express passes. Seriously, we don't plan on staying off site at Universal anymore simply because of the EPs alone.

The only issues we had were parking (Saturday night) and no free fridge in the room. Other than that we plan on staying on site from now on.

 

[draybook]

Just got out of Toy Story for the second time. My gun didn't work half of the time so my son beat us all but it was still fun. Right before that was lunch at Sci Fi which was great except that they put us in a 6 seater after I requested a 4 seater but things could always be worse.

Right now we're waiting for the Animation class and then the ladies will be hitting Aerosmith. So far another good day without rain (knock on wood).

 

[ShookieJones]

How long is that animation class?

 

[draybook]

How long is that animation class?

Roughly 20 minutes. We drew Tigger today. Right now we're about to get on Toy Story. After that the ladies will be going to ToT and RnR while we get back in line at Toy Story.

 

[draybook]

Steelers/Ravens. can u get away for a couple beers?

I think we're going swimming after DHS closes.

 

[draybook]

Justin just scored 213k and almost had the top score of the hour. We're headed back in while the ladies do the thrill rides and then we're all meeting back up here for one last spin.

After that it's swimming time back at the resort.