Does this mean that we are watching live action Cinderella when I get back from vacation and see you on Sunday?
Congratulations on meeting a special someone! It always happens when you least expect it! I met my significant other two months after I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease - so I was more focused on trying to figure out my new life with an auto-immune disease, not work on a relationship - but, it all worked out, here we are almost 5 years later, and I'm marrying him in 33 days! I wish you both nothing but happiness - and I'd love to see a trip report after your February trip!
I love that you've made a schedule of Disney movies to watch every night before your trip! We haven't been watching one every night (two-thirds of the hockey teams we cheer for have been playing great, so there's a game to watch almost every night haha) - but we have been working our way through quite a few Disney movies. We didn't set a schedule or anything, it's just whatever we feel like that day - which was Tangled and Captain America so far this week.
Also - congratulations on your weight loss thus far! 28 pounds is something to be very proud of!
I can't wait to see a picture of your finished tattoo! It sounds amazing!
I found this thread this morning and have been reading it off and on today. I am finally caught up. Great report so far. Love your plans, your tattoo (and I have to say this is the first time I have ever truly loved a tattoo), your enthusiasm, and the fact that you've met someone special. Teepublic does have great designs. We used to be a Redbubble family, but Teepublic's designs have won us over. Congrats on your weight loss success, too. I'll be following along from here on out and hope to catch some of your live stream drive on your trek down.
Trip Report, Episode X: Kessel Run 2 - Run Harder (a.k.a. "The Too-Far In Advance Minute-By-Minute Plan")
Friday, December 29th
- 9 a.m.: Leave Orange Lake
- 9:35 a.m.: Breakfast at Cape May Cafe
- 11:00 a.m.: Enter Epcot via International Gateway, Meet Mary Poppins in the U.K.
- 11:30 a.m.: Meet Alice in the U.K.
- Noon: Meet Mulan in China
- 1 p.m.: Take Friendship boat from Epcot to DHS
- 1:30 p.m.: Arrive at DHS
- 1:45 p.m.: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (FP window 1:20-2:20)
- 2:25 p.m.: Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (FP window 2:25-3:25)
- 3:30 p.m.: For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- 4:15 p.m.: Star Tours – The Adventures Continue (FP window 3:55-4:55)
- 5:00 p.m.: Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Dessert Party at Disney's Hollywood Studios
- 6:00 p.m. (I think): Disney Movie Magic
- 6:30 p.m. (I know): Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!
- 7:05 p.m.: Voyage of The Little Mermaid
- 7:25 p.m.: Leave DHS
- 7:45 p.m.: Finally arrive at Port Orleans - Riverisde
- 8:00 p.m.: Pool time maybe?
Saturday, December 30th
- 8:45 a.m.: Leave Port Orleans, probably via Uber/Lyft
- 9:10 a.m.: Breakfast at Boma
- 10:10 a.m.: Finish breakfast, take bus to MK
- 10:30 a.m.: Arrive at MK
- 10:45 a.m.: Splash Mountain (FP window 10:15-11:15)
- 11:15 a.m.: Haunted Mansion (FP window 11:15-12:15)
- 11:30 a.m.: It's a Small World (depending on wait time)
- 12:20 p.m.: Peter Pan's Flight (FP window 12:20-1:20)
- 12:55 p.m.: Lunch at Be Our Guest
- 2:20 p.m.: Post-lunch milkshake at The Plaza
- 3:30 p.m.: Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
- 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: TBD pending what I can get for same-day FP selections
(I'll pretty much take the "next available attraction" any time I can get it, but my priority order, would be something like Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea, Enchanted Tales, Winnie the Pooh, PhilharMagic and so on...)
- 8:05 p.m.: Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen Dinner
- 9:15 p.m.: Probably one last stand-by ride
- 10:40 p.m.: Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing
- Midnight: Fireworks!
- 12:30 p.m.: Take bus back to hotel
Sunday, December 31st
- 7:45 a.m.: Leave Port Orleans via car
- 8:00 a.m.: Arrive at Epcot
- 8:25 a.m.: Princess Storybook Dining Breakfast at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
- 9:45 a.m.: Standby on Frozen Ever After (if less than 90 minutes)
- 11:15 a.m.: Mission: SPACE (FP window 10:35-11:35)
- 11:30 a.m.: Single rider Test Track
- Noon: Spaceship Earth (FP window 11:35-12:35)
- 12:25 p.m.: Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival
- 1:00 p.m.: Soarin' (FP window 12:40-1:40)
- 2:00 p.m.: Chefs de France Lunch
- 3:15 p.m.: Impressions de France
- 3:40 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: TBD pending what I can get for same-day FP selections
(Again, I'll most certainly settle for "next available attraction", but my priority order would be: Mission SPACE again, Figment, Nemo, and the Film Festival again - still not crazy enough to think I could get a same day FP for FEA, Soarin or Test Track)
- Also sometime between 3:40 and 6:30: Take a break in the DVC Members Lounge
- 6:40 p.m.: IllumiNations early show
- 7:15 p.m.: Enjoy some of the New Year's Parties around World Showcase
- 8:15 p.m.: San Angel Inn Dinner
- 9:30 p.m.: Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
- 10:00 p.m.: Grab an adult beverage or two, find a good spot for the midnight fireworks show and sit back, relax and watch a movie on my phone
- 11:40 p.m.: Fireworks!
- 12:30 a.m.: Leave the park
- Much, much later, thanks to traffic: Arrive back at Port Orleans
Monday, January 1st
- 8:10 a.m.: Leave Port Orleans via car
- 8:25 a.m.: Arrive at T&T
- 8:50 a.m.: Arrive inside MK
- 8:55 a.m.: Let the Magic Begin Welcome Show
- 9:00 a.m.: Fairytale Dining Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table
- 10:15 a.m.: Do the attraction with the shortest wait time in the area of CRT (looking at you Prince Charming Regal Carrousel)
- 11:00 a.m.: Leave MK, drive to AK
- 11:30 a.m.: Arrive at AK, do a character meet (there's usually one going on right near the entrance with a short wait time)
- Noon: Na'vi River Journey (FP window 11:50-12:50)
- 12:15 p.m.: Grab some of those ridiculously good hamburger pods in Pandora, plus one of those weird adult beverages with the bubbles in them
- 1:00 p.m.: Festival of the Lion King (if the standby wait isn't terrible)
- 1:45 p.m.: Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain (FP window 12:50-1:50)
- 2:00 p.m.: DINOSAUR (FP window 1:50-2:50)
- 2:15 p.m.: Leave AK, drive to DHS
- 2:45 p.m.: Disney VISA Cardmember Character Experience
- 3:45 p.m.: The Hollywood Brown Derby Dinner Fantasmic 1st Show
- 5:00 p.m.: Some attraction at DHS that I get on a same day FP after getting in the DINOSAUR line (Star Tours on standby is the backup plan)
- 5:40 p.m.: Voyage of The Little Mermaid (if I get that same day FP and don't have a long wait)
- 6:15 p.m.: Head over to the Fantasmic theater
- 7:00 p.m.: Fantasmic!
- 7:30 p.m.: Grab an adult beverage and a snack and find a good spot for Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
- 8:00 p.m.: Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular
- 8:30 p.m.: Leave DHS head to Epcot for EHM
- 9:00 p.m.: Arrive at Epcot
- 9:15 p.m.: Single rider Test Track? Or do some other attraction? No same day FP option during EMH so that's out
- 9:45 p.m.: Character meet (probably Mickey and Pals, since that's definitely open late, but I'll flip to Baymax if he's still meeting this late)
- 10:30 p.m.: Leave Epcot
- 11:00 p.m.: Arrive back at Port Orleans, get some much-needed sleep
Great plans!
(Although you mentioned you mainly write about the NBA, and we're more into NHL - we gotta fulfill those Canadian stereotypes!).
Trip Report, Episode XI: The Rise of Emperor Jar-Jar (a.k.a. "Gearing Up With New Gear")
For a while now, New Balance has had a line of Disney-themed sneakers. I’d never considered buying a pair, because the designs didn’t appeal to me (mostly Cars and Toy Story themes), and I hadn’t actually worn a pair of New Balances in decades. But earlier this year, the company sent me a pair from their new Fresh Foam line (perk of the job). I wore them for my D23 trip, and they were easily the most comfortable shoe I’d ever worn at a Disney Park. I was all set to wear the same pair again in December when I got an email about their latest Disney collaboration: Beauty and the Beast themed sneakers!
Sadly, upon visiting the site, I discovered they were only available in women’s sizes (seriously, companies need to realize there are dudes like me that like Princess stuff too). But the line went up to size 12, which is a men’s 10.5. I normally wear an 11, but based on how the previous NB shoes fit me, I figured a 12/10.5 might work. So I bought the one design that used the Fresh Foam midsole:
View attachment 281120
They arrived today and they fit great, and I’m so excited to wear them at the parks. I’m going to give them a good breaking-in next week, just so I know there won’t be any trouble spots in them. Assuming they pass the test, I’ll finally be able to say I’m in the Disney spirit from head (with my Elsa Ears) to toe (with my Belle shoes).
Trip Report, Episode XIII: Vader vs. Jason (a.k.a. The Not-Quite-Final Countdown)Here's the schedule, which will start tonight once I get home from work:
11/28/2017: Pinocchio
11/29/2017: Big Hero 6
11/30/2017: Wreck-It Ralph
12/1/2017: Snow White
12/2/2017: Cinderella
12/3/2017: Cinderella (Live Action)
12/4/2017: Sleeping Beauty
12/5/2017: Maleficent
12/6/2017: The Little Mermaid
12/7/2017: Beauty and the Beast
12/8/2017: Beauty and the Beast (Live Action)
12/9/2017: Aladdin
12/10/2017: Saving Mr. Banks
12/11/2017: Mary Poppins
12/12/2017: Pocahontas
12/13/2017: Mulan
12/14/2017: The Princess and the Frog
12/15/2017: Tower of Terror
12/16/2017: The Country Bears
12/17/2017: Brave
12/18/2017: Tangled
12/19/2017: Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
12/20/2017: The Haunted Mansion
12/21/2017: Frozen
12/22/2017: Moana
12/23/2017: Tomorrowland
12/24/2017: Flight of the Navigator
12/25/2017: The Nightmare Before Christmas
12/26/2017: Lilo & Stitch
12/27/2017: Enchanted
Those sneakers are fab-u-lous! Don't be mad if we meet and I have the same pair! I'm loving the black and gold! Also love the white and gold pair as well! I'd have to get them shipped to Port Orleans, not sure about that./QUOTE]
So one of the writers I work with directly is our sneaker writer, and he was in town today and brought me these:
So now I have two pairs of Disney shoes to alternate when I'm in the parks!
And definitely come and say hi at the dessert party on the 30th. I'd love to have a board buddy to talk to.
That's an impressive line up! Were you able to keep up? I tried to get to get through all of the Harry Potters again (heading to Universal Jan 1-4 as well). We only got about 3 in so far.
So far I've been able to keep up with the movie plan, but it might get messed up tomorrow. I'm working late tonight (until 3 a.m. ET), then working mid-day tomorrow (1 p.m. ET), then seeing "The Last Jedi" after work, so I'm not sure when I'm going to squeeze in my daily Disney movie, unless I just have it playing on my phone at my desk at work. Even if I can't do that, "The Last Jedi" is technically a Disney movie, so I can always count that.
@adamreisinger
Hi Adam, these pictures are awesome. I'm going on the 31st with my GF to WDW & Universal and was extremely worried about fitting into rides and embarrassing her. For me it's fine, I've lived with it for 20 years. But it's her I'm afraid for. I don't want to put her through the shame of having to be thrown off rides.
I see you're ok with Disney. How about Universal? Are roller coasters out of the question? Hulk? Duelling Dragons? Harry Potter?
I'm 350 6'0...my waist is small 42-44. It's all in my belly and upper buddy.
I enjoyed your post and appreciate any help/advise!
Thank you
Merry Christmas everyone, from Selina and Felicia (and Marie and Pegasus too). See you from Disney World in three days!
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