Trip Report THE ONE FOR THE SALTY 16 (and Thanksgiving🍕)*COMPLETE*

Hello again.
It’s me, Darstarr
This latest episode stars the family!
My husband-Ant
Oldest son-X
Middle son and bday boy-AJ
And the youngest son-Dre

November 26-December 1
At.....wait for it...
All Star Sports!

Collective gasp
“But Darstarr, you’re DVC.”
Yes I am DVC and we (I) have made good use out of it this year. However, when I went to book this trip there was nothing available. Nothing!!! OK, nothing in my point range. My boys are big and they hate sharing beds and someone always ends up on the floor. One time my youngest slept on the dining table banquet rather than share the pullout with his brother. It’s vacation, no one should have to sleep on the floor. We didn’t have enough points left for a two bedroom so I began looking around for a room. I found a room at Riverside that slept 5 for about $250/night. We have done the 5 in a room thing there when the kids were smaller and it was cramped. I was not looking forward to that. Then passholder discounts came out and I got two rooms (TWO) at the original A.S.S. for less than the one room at Riverside. 4 beds and 2 bathrooms!!! SOLD!!!


Lets get to it!

Day one- November 26th
The day started like every other school day except it was AJ’s 16th birthday so he opened presents before leaving for school.

“Mom will you pack my new shirt?”

I was suppose to work this day but I had worked the previous Friday, which is usually my day off, so my boss told me to take the day off. Yay! More time to clean the house.

The five of us were flying down on jet blue from JFK. Four of us were returning to ISP on Southwest. Ant took the dog to his father’s then took his car to ISP so it would be there when we landed on the 2nd. (we have a free resident parking sticker).

We debated taking the train to JFK but it was way cheaper to hire a car. The kids got gome from school about 2:15, “the car is here!”
What???
The car wasn't suppose to come until 3:00. Ant was like “lets go”. I was like “dont rush me because if you rush me and I forget something you will be sorry besides he is 45 minutes early so he can wait”. And yes, I said it just like that, as one long run on sentence.
We left at 2:30. I didnt forget a thing.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

I had seen some pictures and read some TR’s but I did not fully know what to expect (on purpose).
Dre and I were pilots. Perfect for Dre as he loves Star Wars.

AJ and Ant were gunners. Perfect for AJ because he loves all things gun and gun related.

X was an engineer. I asked him if he wanted to pilot and he said no. I would have asked Ant but he doesnt ride star tours and I had read this is similar.

I tried to get a few photos before take off, lift off?

This was the pilot console. Look away if you dont want a spoiler.

This was our score which I am going to assume is bad since it is negative. To be honest, I didnt know we were playing for a score or....well, we are a competitive family.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

After MF we had an Oga’s reservation. I must say the timing was perfect. I know most of us make plans and time things out but stuff happens and the schedule gets off. Not today. It was like I knew what I was doing or something!!!

Oga’s is very expensive. But the drinks are good and strong. I wish they would get some food on the menu. They have something called Batuu bits, another group at our table had them. It looked like that Asian trailmix stuff with hummus. But not as delicious. Pass.

I had the drink that has the numbing fizz, fuzzy tauntaun. The numbing action was weird. The drink was good. I got a straw eventually so I could more fully enjoy it.
X told me I was killing a turtle.

Like I said. Expensive. But these drinks are strong. And yummy.

AJ and Dre were bored so they got their drinks to go and went in search of a place to play with their Droids. Mother of the year reminded them not to do anything to get them kicked out of Disney World.

Our server, Tyler. He was good!

On our way out of Galaxies Edge I took a few pictures.

This one reminds me of the scene in A Sound of Music when the Captain and Maria return from their honeymoon to find a certain flag flying from their home. I wonder if that is what Disney is going for.

I think this was the milk stand? I could be wrong but whatever it was it was empty.

Then we left Batuu. First stop...

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont


Yes, the ladies room was our, er, my first stop. While in Toy Story Land I had to get a picture of Ant with his pixar twin.

Photo bomb by X.

Uncanny! Can you tell who is who???

We were all hungry. It had been a few hours since anything but popcorn sooooo
Off to sunset to get some food.
Pictures on the way...

Palm trees

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont


Heading to dinner and Sunset Blvd was alive with Christmas Magic. I kid you not. This is exactly what my notes say (I told you Oga’s drinks were strong).
I stopped to watch. AJ volunteered to get a table. Hmmmm. Why so helpful???

Let is snow indeed. But I am snow intolerant

Hmmm lets see. White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life and Prep n Landing=my favorite Christmas movies/shows.

I sent this to a couple of my friends. @Nunu did I send this to you????

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont


AJ and Dre wanted chix nuggets, of course. Ant had a fried green tomato sandwich last time he was here and had been craving it. I decided to try it too.

Wow!!! Amazing!!!! I could devour one right now!!!

AJ secured us a table, as I mentioned, but it was all the way in the corner as far away as possible. .......

They were playing with their droids.
A bunch of curious kids were close by watching and AJ let one of them try his droid out. I know I complain about gray hairs and the possibility of AJ taking on @Loco_driver but AJ is good deep down. Let me put it this way; kids and dogs love him! And you can not fool kids and dogs!!!

Then we did Tower of Terror.

Then we had a little time before our next scheduled event so we went to see Lightning Mc Queen. Ka Chow!!!

 

[Nunu]

@Nunu did I send this to you????

No, but you did just now! Thanks friend.

AJ is good deep down. Let me put it this way; kids and dogs love him! And you can not fool kids and dogs!!!

Cannot fool Nunu either!, AJ was very friendly with us when we met.

 

[Loco_driver]

Like I said. Expensive. But these drinks are strong

Strong indeed. Am I right @Nunu?!

Our server, Tyler. He was good!

We had Tyler as well. He did a good job by us, but may have accidentally given us a free souvenir mug!

 

[Matt and Kelly]

OMG! So late but I’ve finally caught up! I can’t even imagine the cost of feeding those 3 boys lol! Loving every minute of it. We have a reservation for Oga’s is January I may have to try what you had!
kelly

 

[Darstarr]

OMG! So late but I’ve finally caught up! I can’t even imagine the cost of feeding those 3 boys lol! Loving every minute of it. We have a reservation for Oga’s is January I may have to try what you had!
kelly

I dont think you can go wrong with the drinks at Oga’s. Yes, they are expensive but well crafted and strong! Plus you are paying for the ambiance and the performance. Think of it as dinner theater without the food

Thanks for catching up.
And yes, our food bill is high!!! The best is when I get home from the grocery store, after spending $200 and they say there is nothing to eat

 

[Zipadeelady]

Wednesday November 27 cont

Then we had a little time before our next scheduled event so we went to see Lightning Mc Queen.

View attachment 435701

From the looks of this picture your boys must really love you if they went to see Lighting McQueen for you.

 

[Darstarr]

From the looks of this picture your boys must really love you if they went to see Lighting McQueen for you.

They all loved Cars when they were little and they had never see the new show...let’s just call it Thanksgiving/Christmas magic

 

[Back!Elbow!Shoulders!]

Color
View attachment 435600
Or black and white?
View attachment 435601

I vote black and white.

 

[Swissmiss]

I vote black and white.

I agree - Black and white photos are much nicer

 

[donaldtoo]

I dont think you can go wrong with the drinks at Oga’s. Yes, they are expensive but well crafted and strong! Plus you are paying for the ambiance and the performance. Think of it as dinner theater without the food

Thanks for catching up.
And yes, our food bill is high!!! The best is when I get home from the grocery store, after spending $200 and they say there is nothing to eat

Again, remindin’ me of myself and my 2 younger bro’s from back in the day...sooo funny ‘cause it is so true, and I remember the same scene playin’ out in our home time and time again...!!!!!

 

[Darstarr]

I vote black and white.

I agree - Black and white photos are much nicer

I was going to use it as our Christmas card but no one would have known what it was. I think I will get it enlarged and put in a frame. Thanks, you helped with the decision.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

Our next scheduled event was the Fantasmic dessert party. Fantasmic is my favorite but I usually end up going alone because everyone is too tired. (Light weights!) Back in February I was entering the theatre late and a CM gave me extra desserts from that evenings party. I knew what to expect, which is good because I am a planner and Disney’s marketing of most events is not very accurate.

We arrived about 8:30 for a 9:00 pm show. We were given special lanyards that you could turn on and light up. These were to identify us as we walked with the commoners up to the theatre. Then we stopped to get our beverages. Beer for me. Ant got some premixed alcoholic something. Soda for the youngsters.

The mugs also had light switches.

Then they handed us two bags with our desserts and pointed us to the next CM.
That CM showed us the section we could sit in. Can you believe no one was in the front row??? I told the fam, “I paid for the front row, we are sitting in the front row!”

You will see a bench in front of us. That is handicap seating but I still say we are in the front row. They are FR-1

Each one of us got one of these. And yes it was way too much dessert, even for my boys!!!

We passed the time by eating, drinking and playing with the droids. Good thing mom insisted on the front row!! Nearby kids passed the time by watching the boys play with their droids.
Your welcome parents!

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

Front row! I should have some amazing photos right???
Wrong! This is me people.

Oooooh!

Aaaaah!!!

This is one of my favorites!!! Disney has offered to buy it to use in their promotional brochures.

 

[Rista1313]

We sat in the back row for handicap when we were there, and got misted... how wet do you get in the front row?

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

How many of you have been to Sea World? You know the Shamu show? There is a splash zone. I feel like Fantasmic should have the splash zone warning like Shamu does. When they put the water screens up there can be significant, ummm, blow back. I know this but still chose to sit in the front row. There was no wind that night and I thought we would be safe from a major soaking.
We were. We got a couple of drops. Gamble paid off
Now, for your viewing pleasure:

It was a chilly night. The fire felt good and dried any of the mist right off us.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

My favorite touch is Steamboat Mickey driving the finale boat but he is in black and white while everyone else is in color.

We made our way out and back to the A.S.S.

This had been one of my very favorite Disney days EVER. Crowds were low. The boys werent fighting (too much). Plus, we did and saw alot but it felt very natural and relaxed.
We were off to a great start! And tomorow we would get to sleep in!