Planning my April 2023 trip
Its been a rough couple of
months. It started with a late night
call from my mother, she was having stomach pains. A month and a half later, she passed away. I rather not go into too many details.
On Sept 16th, I
was rear ended pretty hard. I am
ok, my car, not so much. As I am writing this, the car should be
repaired.
My next birthday is April,
2023, my 60th birthday. I
don’t think it’s a big deal, but some people do, so I am going to treat myself
to a nice Disney vacation. Going to
splurge a little, no value resort this time.
Not even thinking deluxe level, but club level at a deluxe resort.
I am thinking the Polynesian Resort for its location, next to the Ticket &
Transportation Center, but I want club level.
Even calling Disney Travel Agency, nothing available. But they did give me the option of the
Wilderness Lodge, club level. Ok, not
the ideal location I wanted. But I
looked at the rooms and such, psyched myself up, going for it.
Now rack rate for the Wilderness Lodge club level, for one night is $1k. Will explain how I know about this
later. But I am a Disney Travel
Agent. One of the perks is about 40% off
rooms. Problem is, the rate is only good
for 7 nights. I like to go 8
nights. Ok… my math is a little
foggy. 8 nights full rate is $8.8
k. I am not that rich. So I do 7 nights with TA discount, 1 night
without to get me a total of about $5k.
Hey… you only turn 60 once.
Now for transportation, I am going Amtrak.
Heading south, I will be on the Silver Star. I am using points on a Amtrak credit
card. Heading back to New York, Silver
Meteor. Roomettes in both directions. I was thinking a bedroom, but the points and
the price for a bedroom, just too much.
I am going solo, so a roomette will be fine. The only issue I tried to find out, and I
couldn’t as of yet, will I have the older car with a toilet bowl in the room,
or a newer one without one. I tried to
call Amtrak, they don’t know yet, too early to tell how they make the train.
So this is my plans so far, On April 7th, leave New York for
Orlando, arrive Orlando April 8th, check into Wilderness Lodge till
the 16th, depart back to New York to arrive on the 17th.
October 5, 2022
I did two things today. First I ordered
a Magicband+ ….. Fireworks. Should I have? I don’t know.
The other thing I did was this. I have a
Chase Visa card with gives me back money.
I need to have a Redemptation card. The website says I have two, I cant find
either. So I called Chase, had them cancel
both cards and ship me a new one.
Still waiting on Disney approving my trip.
After not hearing back from
Disney verifying my TA travel rate, I emailed them, today I got my
confirmation.
I received my Magicband+ charging
it up
Last night I noticed that the
Disney Travel assessments are online for 2023.
So today I spent about 2 hrs doing it.
The ones for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, I skipped the videos and
went right to the quiz, like where is the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. The Star Wars Galactic cruise portion took
most of the time. The final assessment
also took a good portion of time, like where to tweens
go to get away from adults and small children.
Lucky no naming of vessel names because I always confuse Jungle cruise
names with Disney Cruise Line. Oh, BTW..
lets see, you find the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square and Vibe and Edge
are where tweens go on the Disney Cruise Line. One step closer.
I submitted my paperwork for the reduced price theme park admission
tickets. Now I wait to get approved.
I didn’t have long to wait, I
was denied. You see, I need to submit a
membership card that Disney recognizes, such as Cruise Line Industry Association,
CLIA for short. I used my current
membership card, which is dated 2022.
They wanted one for 2023. So I
paid my yearly membership to CLIA for 2023.
I need to wait to get the card to re-request the discounted ticket L
My friend Trisha, helped me
print out my 2023 CLIA membership card, scanned it. I redid my request. Hope to get a answer quickly.
My request for a theme park
discounted ticket approved…. Yea J
Trying to purchase it…… booooo L
I was able to log into the website, but it only showed me a full cost one day
ticket??? I backed out, maybe pressed
something wrong, still showed just one day, then I was getting a error,
wouldn’t let me do anything.
I kept trying, got back to the single ticket purchase, clicked continue, and
yes.. it showed me to purchase multiple day tickets, yea J I figured I
need 8 days. Boo… it showed 1 through 7,
then 10. Buy the 7 days? Do a non theme park day?? Water Park??
In April?? I don’t know. And I want the choice of eating in a theme
park. Since it’s a reduced priced
ticket, I got the 10 day park hopping plus ticket which includes water
parks. Just to give myself that option,
in case it is warm to spend to spend a morning at a water park.
So I bought the ticket, got
the ticket number to add into My Disney Experience account, so I can make the
hated Park Reservation system. I go on
my smartphone, open the MDE app, and after much
looking, I find where I add the ticket number.
I get a error, try again, same error, they cant look up the ticket
number at this time. So I go on my
laptop, My Disney Experience, enter my ticket number there, and success J
Now the dreaded park
reservation system. Past vacations at 6
months out, I would look for Advanced Dining Reservations… ADR, Disneyspeak for making dining reservations. Its different this year. Previous years I get the Deluxe dining plan,
3 meals a day, even sit down dining.
Different this year, I am staying club level, which includes a lounge
with snacks. And you can only make
dining reservations at 60 days out. But
I want to be able to get into a park. So
I looked at my last visit, and just did what I did on that trip, started out in
a park. I figure (hope) I can modify it
if I find I need to change. So here goes
my list.
April 8th,
Epcot. I hope to get Coral Reef.
April 9th,
Hollywood Studios. Fantasmic
Dinner Package at Hollywood and Vine
April 10th, Magic
Kingdom. ‘Ohana
April 11th, Magic
Kingdom. Grand Floridian Café.
April 12th, Epcot.
Le Cellier
April 13th, Animal
Kingdom. Boma for dinner. I usually do this for breakfast too… maybe
April 14th, Magic
Kingdom. to be determined.
April 15th,
Epcot. To be determined.
With the all important ADR
day coming up, spent a little time looking at menus. I usually do deluxe dining, gets me 3 meals a
day, table service or quick service.
Staying Club Level this time, figure to knock it down to 1 ADR a day. But to eat where??
For breakfast, I enjoy places
that do made to order omelets. It seems
only Cape May Café at the Beach/Yacht club still does it. Not thrilled, but it’s a option. Boma used to, but
now you need to order through your server, not good. Crystal Palace, don’t see it listed. Breakfast not really a option.
Spice Road Table which I enjoyed a couple of times, had a revamp, no more
entrees, more like little plates to try, Off my list.
‘Ohana,
I used to enjoy the BBQ shrimps. The
only reason I went there. Not BBQ
anymore, boiled in water. I haven’t seen
too many good opinions. But still like
to see for myself.
Coral Reef, traditional first sit down meal on property. Scanning the appetizers, cant find any I
would like. They don’t have the NY strip
steak. The only reason I come back here,
for the Chocolate Lava cake.
I would still do Boma for dinner. Also Le Cellier. I see Le Cellier
now offers Onion Soup, probably still get the Cheese soup, but where to get
Onion Soup?? Chefs De France?? Have time to think of it.
Fantasmic Dinner Package at Hollywood and Vine, a no brainer.
Where to eat at or around
Magic Kingdom? Give Steakhouse 71 a try
I guess. And while talking about Magic
Kingdom, going for the dessert party there, have to figure out which I want to
do? Most likely after the
fireworks. ‘Ohana
another night. I used to enjoy Grand
Floridian Café. I don’t think so this
trip. Well, I am staying at the
Wilderness Lodge this trip, can poison myself with too much food at Whispering
Canyon Café, go up to my room to pass out, sounds like a plan. Can make a late evening ADR there.
Where to eat while at Animal Kingdom, Boma or Yak n
Yeti? Probably Boma. Then take transportation back to Magic
Kingdom and resort.
Last night I went to bed
knowing today is my ADR day. A day that can
make or break my trip. So my alarm went
off at 5:30. I kept hitting snooze till
6:50 when I got out of bed… thinking about breakfast… to remember its ADR day L
So I powered up my laptop, got into my My Disney
Experience and started to lock up my ADR’s (Advanced
Dining Reservation) See above, already
had a plan, just had to snag them.
April 8th, Coral
Reef. I had two times showing 3:45 pm or
7:35 pm. I chose 3:45 pm, the next
screen showed me adding optional things like cakes, but I see no way of skipping
it. At the bottom, I see gibberish, I go
back a screen, and now I just see 7:35 pm and at the bottom, skip. Oh well, I know I can adjust it later. Just need my food in the door so to speak.
April 9th I tried
to book Hollywood and Vine for Fantasmic Dinner
Package, I couldn’t get it yet, will keep trying
April 10th ‘Ohana for dinner. I
couldn’t book for 1, but got a time for 2.
I entered my mothers name. When
checking in at the podium, they go 2, I go 1, they go ok. Not a problem.
April 11th Grand
Floridian Café for dinner, again for 2, see above.
April 12th Le Cellier for dinner, again for 2, see above.
April 13th Boma for dinner
April 14th
Whispering Canyon Café, late, 9 pm.
Oops, made it for April 13th by accident, will cancel later,
find it again on the 14th.
April 15th nothing
planned yet for Epcot.
I also want to do a Magic Kingdom dessert party. I looked, nothing listed yet for that
week. This is just to get my foot in the
door. I will make lots of changes. Hey you need to do something for the next two
months J
I was able to change my ADR
for Coral Reef from 7:25 to 3:45 J
February 8, 2023
Booked Steakhouse 71 for 6:40
pm in place of Grand Floridian Café on April 11th. We are having fun. Still cant book a dessert package yet, no
availability for Fantasmic Dinner Package yet either.
I spoke to my friend
Samantha, who after all these years, I will be meeting in person with her child
and husband. We are going to see Fantasmic and eat at Hollywood and Vine, Fantasmic Dinner Package.
Take 1, we have a ADR for 4 at 4:30, no dinner package.
Take 2, we changed the time
to 11:30, still no dinner package.
Take 3, they released the Fantasmic Dinner packages, same time, but now reserved seatings for Fantasmic.
Still trying for the dessert party.
March 16, 2023
some ups and downs on my vacation planning.
First the down.
I wanted a cheap non plan hot spot, so I investigated and purchased a Straight
Talk Hot spot. Big mistake. Right now I disputed the charge to return
it. I spent the last week calling and
trying to get it working. They cant make
it work. I asked for a shipping label to
return it, I never got it. When I tried to get emails about my order, I
wasn’t getting them. I should have known
what I was in for.
Now for the ups. I ordered a new pair of
sneakers. When I looked last week, they were out of stock. I want to break in the new pair, use my
current pair as a back up pair.
I ordered my scooter from Scooterbug. They will deliver it to my resort. I also ordered a sunshade. They had a rain cover for purchase for $20. So far I didn’t buy that. I posted and asked for some info before
buying it.
They announced Magic Kingdom fireworks dessert party to go on sale March 23rd.
Going over my electronics, I realized some devices, I don’t have functional
water proof cases for them. On my
previous trip, I had a Samsung Galaxy S9+.
The rear camera lens broke, so I was able to exchange it for money to a
GS10. I don’t have a case for it, but
now I do. Havent
tried it out yet. Was too busy dealing
with the tech support on my hot spot.
One of the cameras I plan on taking is a camera that takes images in 360. I had a plastic case for it. I never really used it. When I tried two things happened. I realized the button for the on/off switch
didn’t work, the stub was too short to press in the button on the camera. Well.. it didn’t matter cause the clasp broke
on it anyway. Will order a different
brand case next week.
March 19, 2023
I looked at the Nike website,
they had my size available, ordered it early Thursday morning. They were by my door Friday afternoon J
Another thing I looked at was a service in Orlando called Owners Locker. It’s a storage service that will deliver and
pick up a storage bin of things at your resort.
Being a DVC owner, the first 6 months are free, the next 6 are half
price. And the initial fee is waved. Since I am going again in September, I figure
to try it out. When at Disney, I keep
clothes I only wear while at Disney. I
will be staying in a 1 bedroom suite, which includes a washer/dryer. So I figure when I arrive back in Florida, I
will have my storage bin delivered, wash the clothes, then decide if I want to
keep the service or not.
I also ordered a new case for the Gopro Fusion.
March 23, 2023
Disney website said they will open up booking for the dessert party today. I tried to before work, still couldn’t. While sitting on the throne at a Garden State
Parkway rest area, it finally showed availability for April 10th. I already had a ressie
for ‘Ohana, so that means I plan to be in and around Magic Kingdom that day.
So I booked it for 8 pm. My ‘Ohana ressie is for 5:05 pm. Doable, but I rather have more time. So I tied to modify it for a earlier
time. My friend Virginia and her husband
will be joining me, so I will also change the amount from 2 to 3 people. I tried to modify it, adding a third person
not a problem, but it still showed 5:05 pm as the only available time.
So I tried to book a total new ADR from scratch. They gave me a 3:35 pm ressie
for 3, so I booked that too. After
chatting with Virginia, I canceled the 5:05 pm ressie.
There are some other ADR’s I like to change to
different times, will try to create a new one over modifying.
I changed my ADR time for
Whispering Canyon Café to
On April 15th, I
made a ADR for Cape May Café for
After seeing what is being
offered at Cape May Café, I decided to look at other places. Since I am staying at Wilderness Lodge, I
figure to Crystal Palace, snagged a ADR for 8:20 pm on April 15th. While I usually end my trips at Epcot, it
looks like I will be ending my night at Magic Kingdom.
So for the time being…. This
is my dining for my trip.
April 6, 2023
Was the day before I
leave. The new Gopro
Fusion case is garbage. I tried it last
night, it broke. When I get back, will
worry about it.
One thing I don’t know if I mentioned, I bought a new 5G hotspot from Straight
talk. Worst decision I ever made. Spent many hours on many phone calls to their
off shore tech support. It never turned
on service. Getting frustrated, I used a
credit card to purchase it. I made a
dispute with them, bought a product with service they couldn’t make work I tried to arrange to return it. They never sent me return shipping
labels. As of writing this, the charge
is in dispute.
Today I was near a T Mobile store, I went in.
They had a 5G hot spot, but its like a large coffee can, not small at all. They also have a 4G mobile one, got
that. The unit was free, $20 a month for
the second month. First month is free. If I cancel, just return the unit. So I went for that.
I packed all my non electronics, plus things I am bringing for gifts for friends. One is some knickknacks I bought for Virginia
who is picking me up and dropping me off at the train station. Another is for my friend Sam(antha). Meeting me
there with her husband and child. I have
known her for decades at least. I am
bringing her a book from my fathers collection.
A book about Ted Williams and his war years. I am not interested in him, she likes him, so
I feel better then just throwing the book out.
Got t-shirts for her husband and son.
I am also giving Sam a retro Epcot short. I bought it on a lark, little too small for
me. Tried to give it to my mother, she
didn’t want it. So Sam gets it. Got her husband a Nathans
Hot dog eating contest t-shirt. Will
tell him.. tell people he came in third.
No one remembers who came in third.
To make things go easier tomorrow, I am taking the subway from home to mid town
manhattan, I put money on my Metrocard. After putting money on it, started to feel a
bit excited. I should try to take a
nap. It probably be hard to sleep
tonight. More nervous then excited. Allot to do in the AM to worry about.
Getting into Manhattan, at first I thought maybe taking a Uber
or something into NY Penn station. But
that means the traffic on the Gowanus, which just
drives me crazy. So I will take the
subway. This year the lounge I will be
going to is in the new (for me at least) Moynihan Station. I am sure I will have no problem finding it,
just little concerned. And finally, the
sleeper car I will have. Many years ago,
Amtrak ordered new sleeper cars. Big
difference, they wont have toilet bowls like the old equipment has. Going solo, having a bowl in the room never
bothered me. Some people it did.
Trying to figure out if I
have a new sleeper or a old one, wont know till I board the train. Just will deal with it.
On the good side, Amtrak did away with
their frozen dinner dining service they called flex dining, to traditional
dining again, at least on the Silver Star, which I am taking to Orlando. The return trip is on the Silver Meteor,
which will have flex dining. But I
figure I will be full anyway.
Today, Disney announced the
return of their Annual Passes (AP). With
being a DVC owner, and most likely still doing a TA discounted trip, it will
make sense to get a AP, as it would be cheaper.
I believe if you go longer then 10 days it pays. This trip, starting for sale on April 13, I
have tickets for the 15th.
Plus 8 days in September, but a trip next year, it will make sense to
get a AP. But will worry about that
later. Too many other things to worry at
this point.
At this point, my trip is like a countdown of a Nasa
launch. Everything is programmed into a
computer control, and the astronauts just along for the ride. From the time I wake up tomorrow, no more
decisions to be made. Everything is
programmed to happen, I am just along for the ride.