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]

I’m gonna try really hard not to think of this when we check into Caribbean Beach on Tuesday

My best advice?
If it smells musty from the get go, move!!!
Our room was low lying and must have flooded at some point. I cant believe we pulled a Sam...did nothing

 

[Darstarr]

No food item of any sort is allowed to be sent back to your resort ~ it’s a blanket rule.

Blanket rule becuse of climate or vermin???? (Or other?)
Thanks True Value

 

[Darstarr]

And here I thought it was payback for E since she was making it feel unwanted!!

Maybe it was....
Try naming the bucket next time. That might help

 

[Darstarr]

“The evolution of the selfie “

it was first discussed here ..
View attachment 434169
but I extrapolated the theory over the past few years

Max

Aaahhhh, Darwinism at it’s finest. Thank you Max.

 

[Darstarr]

I prefer the Chimay Blanche but then I prefer "blonde" beers.

I’ve tried them all, and they’re all great, but, I tend to gravitate taste-wise towards darker beers and ales, so the Grande Reserve is more my “cup o’ tea”...!!!

This is what I am hearing:
@Lily5170 prefers blondes and
@donaldtoo prefers brunettes.

 

[Darstarr]

Great tip on the pop-corn bucket!

^^^ This is a great idea!
I'm thinking of getting one, if I convince JC to to take a Disney trip with me next June. He gets grumpy and whiny when hungry. (He's always HUNGRY, btw!).

And, I have bad news for you, JC is already 33 (!) and the "hangry" phase, is still there!

Food soothes the hungry savage beasts!
And Nunu...really??? 33?
I was with my friend K (you all met her back in April at the Poly) at her parents for a pool party one time. She was there with hubby #2 and his brother was there. These were two grown men and they were fighing and wrestling and throwing each other in the pool. I knew right then it would never end, my boys would always be, well, boys.

 

[Darstarr]

Hey, look ma...the guy that plays lacrosse at Lynn...Remember him?

Ma.....ma???

I think I heard him talking in his sleep last night. “Mom, he knows my name. Stalker! Stalker!”

 

[Darstarr]

I laugh every time you give the eating times for the boys (ie, 2 hours ago)! One of my younger grandsons, age 13, is getting to that stage and he eats constantly! It is amazing the amount of food they consume!
I love all the retro decorations at HS, especially the silver tinsel. I remember it from when I was little. Great trip report!

I always know when they are getting ready to grow. The youngest has been eating sooo much. Growth spurt on its way!
Hollywood decorations are the best! Last year I purchased a few new simple Christmas decorations. We were in WDW last year so decorations at the house were kept to a minimum. This year as I put things out I see I was inspired, subconsciously, by HWS. Lots of hollywood blue.

 

[Darstarr]

Not an exaggeration!

 

[Lily5170]

This is what I am hearing:
@Lily5170 prefers blondes and
@donaldtoo prefers brunettes.

Only blonde beers. I like my men dark and mysterious

 

[MississippiBelle]

We just got back from our trip! We went December 4 - 8. I saw a lady that I thought looked like you. It wasn't you. Ask me how I know...for the record she also had no idea what this website was or that Disney internet forums were a thing.

 

[donaldtoo]

This is what I am hearing:
@Lily5170 prefers blondes and
@donaldtoo prefers brunettes.

Well, I’ve been married to a brunette for 31+ years, sooo...!!!!!

 

[Darstarr]

We just got back from our trip! We went December 4 - 8. I saw a lady that I thought looked like you. It wasn't you. Ask me how I know...for the record she also had no idea what this website was or that Disney internet forums were a thing.

Ha ha ha!!
Did you talk to her???
We need to hear that story!!!

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont


We entered HWS and went directly to SW:GE. I had been watching the wait time for Smugglers Run and it had been over an hour all day. I had also been watching the wait time all week and saw it took a bit of a dip in the late afternoon/early evening. Fingers crossed.

First some photos

Then a drink.

Then no idea.

The fork in the road?

Then we saw some cute, furry creatures.

I thought this would make a cool BBQ.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

Next was food. I know what you are thinking, this time it was Ant who was hungry!
We wandered through the marketplace in search of food. We ended up at, ummm, docking bay 7? (Yes that is a question.)

Yes, the receipt proves it. Docking Bay 7. Ant had the shrimp dish. Plus we ordered two beers. Yes Disney food is expensive but $45 for a small shrimp dish and two beers??

AJ and Dre were looking around a little on their own. They had money burning a hole in their pocket I suspect. Dre met up with us when he heard we were eating.

Dre bought some crystal thingy.

And Dre bought some food.

On our way out I saw this stool and thought it was cool.

Dre is a big Star Wars fan. AJ is a fan of all things dronelike or remote control activated. I asked them if they wanted to make a droid and they both, of course, said yes. The droid maker is allowed one guest. 2 plus 2 is 4 and we were a party of 5. It was ok because X was sleepy so I sent him to muppets to nap and the rest of us went to our droid depot reservation.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

We had a 3:45 Droid Depot reservation. I was keeping an eye in the MF wait. When we first arrived at HWS it was 110 min but it had been going down. Today was the day I had built in time to do MF but only if the wait was 60 minutes or less. Lets see how this plays out.

I forgot this picture from before. (AJ doing gang signs he learned at school. You have to love public school on Long Island)

We entered the Droid Depot a couple, as in 2, minutes early.
Taking it all in.

We paid. Something was going on here. She wasnt saying “thats $200, cash or credit” she was very in character and it was interesting (albeit forgettable, sorry).

It was really cool in there.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

The boys went to the conveyer belt to chose their parts. There were thousands of parts but they fought over them. They would decide, then change their mind, then fight some more and so on and so forth.

 

[Darstarr]

Wednesday November 27 cont

This face was creeping me out.

They have CM’s there to help bring them to life

Then they box them up. (After a quick lesson on how to use the remote)

(Another gang sign. Really???)

It was fun but fast. I had budgeted about an hour but we were in and out in 20 minutes, even with all the fighting. My only complaint, the boys want to play with their new toys and they are not allowed.
What Disney should do is make a play area near the Droid Depot. Think the play areas in Epcot but this would be for droids only. The People remain outside the fence controlling their droids in an obstacle coarse type setting. Of course they would need a CM “wrangler” in there for when the Droids run into problems. Put some benches with shade and a beer cart nearby for the parents. Cha ching$$$. I may send an email.

 

[Nunu]

What Disney should do is make a play area near the Droid Depot.

There's one across from the Droid Depot. We saw it and thought it was very cool! People were testing and playing with their new droids.

I can't remember if there were benches or a beer cart nearby, though. It was dark and I'd just had a very strong drink at Oga's.

 

[Billy6]

This is just outside the depot to test them out...