Disney Flip Side Contest Winner--September 2015 Pre-Trip Report

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Thank you! Congratulations on your 27th Anniversary!

Thanks. I can't wait for another anniversary in my favorite vacation spot. I didn't think we would make it down this year but wahoo it's happening.
I don't want to rush the next couple months but I'm really excited. To some it sounds silly that two adults enjoy but those that have experienced it as we have understand. I was one of the "waiting for Betty's email" people. I really miss that January/February thread. It was fun to have a support group while waiting to hear who got emails. Nice to know DISers won. ;-)

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Your Itinerary sounds amazing! Dinner at Beast's castle, and spend the night in Cinderella's castle and then breakfast with all the princesses!

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

I'm here. I can't wait to hear about the castle! Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[ariane37]

Hello and congratulations I faithfully entered that contest every day......but my luck wasn't as good as yours! Can't wait to hear more about your trip, your plans sound great and of course staying in the castle, can't beat that

 

[jlmlodzik]

Thanks. I can't wait for another anniversary in my favorite vacation spot. I didn't think we would make it down this year but wahoo it's happening.
I don't want to rush the next couple months but I'm really excited. To some it sounds silly that two adults enjoy but those that have experienced it as we have understand. I was one of the "waiting for Betty's email" people. I really miss that January/February thread. It was fun to have a support group while waiting to hear who got emails. Nice to know DISers won. ;-)

I have gone to the parks before as girls only trips with my best friends and we have had a BLAST so I totally understand! You'll have so much fun and you can do some romantic stuff, too.

Your Itinerary sounds amazing! Dinner at Beast's castle, and spend the night in Cinderella's castle and then breakfast with all the princesses!

Thank you! The dinner at Beast's Castle is something I am hoping we can work out. Right now, we have lunch scheduled there the next day but I was unable to book for dinner. I have been told by some of the other contest winners that already travelled that their Castle Suite Guide was able to snag them a reservation that evening but nothing is for certain. *fingers crossed*

I'm here. I can't wait to hear about the castle! Thanks for sharing with us!

Yay! Glad to have you! Thank you for joining us!

Hello and congratulations I faithfully entered that contest every day......but my luck wasn't as good as yours! Can't wait to hear more about your trip, your plans sound great and of course staying in the castle, can't beat that

Thank you! We are so excited! If there is a downside, it's only that I will be spoiled for any future trips . . . unless we are lucky enough to win again, that is. LOL I DO feel like the luckiest lady in the world and have to continuously pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

 

[DEDisneylover]

WOW!! What a dream! Following along too- if you need a nanny, I may be available!

 

[deedee2177]

Your plans look great!! I can't wait to read all about the details once you return!!

 

[jlmlodzik]

WOW!! What a dream! Following along too- if you need a nanny, I may be available!

Thank you! LOL . . . I will keep that in mind!

Your plans look great!! I can't wait to read all about the details once you return!!

Thank you!

 

[jlmlodzik]

Previously, on this thread:
INTRODUCTION
DETAILED ITINERARY
OFFICIAL WINNER'S LIST

ANOTHER BIT OF UNEXPECTED MAGIC:
I had a spot of bad luck in the FP+ department. We don't have park tickets for the first day of our trip--just MNSSHP tickets as our flight doesn't arrive until 12:45 p.m. at MCO and by the time we take Magical Express, check in to the hotel, etc., we wouldn't be able to get into the park anyway before 4 p.m. Since FP+ can't be booked for the party and cannot be overlapped, we only had slots for 4-5 p.m., 5-6 p.m., and 6-7 p.m. available to us. We booked all three. Originally, we booked Space Mountain from 6-7 p.m. After a couple of days, this reservation was automatically cancelled and rescheduled for a split party Splash Mountain around 2:45 p.m. Then, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened up and we snagged those instead. A couple of days later, they too, were automatically cancelled and we were given another split party 2:45 p.m.-ish Splash Mountain. Since I couldn't arrive by then, I set out to find ANYTHING that was open from 6-7 p.m. and all that was open was It's a Small World . . . I know . . . probably doesn't need a FP+ EVER; however, I felt it was better to use my additional FP+ for SOMETHING rather than for a time when I am not even able to get into the park. Again, a couple of days later, that FP+ was also cancelled and we were rescheduled to Pirates of the Caribbean for 2:55-3:55 p.m.--also at a time we won't be allowed into the park yet.

I called and spoke to a Cast Member at the number listed on the e-mail. He said that I shouldn't have been able to book any FP+ on a party ticket at all and implied that I was just lucky it allowed me to book anything. He said that I could attempt to book something else from 6-7 if it opened up; however, it would probably continue to kick it back since I was booking on a party ticket instead of a park ticket. At any rate, he said that there wasn't anything that they could do for me since I was only attending the party. I have the Mine Train scheduled for another day later in our trip so I was just going to be glad I got anything. A couple of days later, I received another bit of unexpected magic surrounding this trip. I signed in to My Disney Experience on my phone and found this:



An open Fastpass+ to use on our first park day for Space Mountain between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.! Thank you, amazing Walt Disney World Cast Members! Yesterday was indeed, "a magical day" and further proof that "the dream that you wish will come true."

NEXT POST:
ONE WEEK HAPPY DANCE

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Previously, on this thread:
INTRODUCTION
DETAILED ITINERARY
OFFICIAL WINNER'S LIST

ANOTHER BIT OF UNEXPECTED MAGIC:
I had a spot of bad luck in the FP+ department. We don't have park tickets for the first day of our trip--just MNSSHP tickets as our flight doesn't arrive until 12:45 p.m. at MCO and by the time we take Magical Express, check in to the hotel, etc., we wouldn't be able to get into the park anyway before 4 p.m. Since FP+ can't be booked for the party and cannot be overlapped, we only had slots for 4-5 p.m., 5-6 p.m., and 6-7 p.m. available to us. We booked all three. Originally, we booked Space Mountain from 6-7 p.m. After a couple of days, this reservation was automatically cancelled and rescheduled for a split party Splash Mountain around 2:45 p.m. Then, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened up and we snagged those instead. A couple of days later, they too, were automatically cancelled and we were given another split party 2:45 p.m.-ish Splash Mountain. Since I couldn't arrive by then, I set out to find ANYTHING that was open from 6-7 p.m. and all that was open was It's a Small World . . . I know . . . probably doesn't need a FP+ EVER; however, I felt it was better to use my additional FP+ for SOMETHING rather than for a time when I am not even able to get into the park. Again, a couple of days later, that FP+ was also cancelled and we were rescheduled to Pirates of the Caribbean for 2:55-3:55 p.m.--also at a time we won't be allowed into the park yet.

I called and spoke to a Cast Member at the number listed on the e-mail. He said that I shouldn't have been able to book any FP+ on a party ticket at all and implied that I was just lucky it allowed me to book anything. He said that I could attempt to book something else from 6-7 if it opened up; however, it would probably continue to kick it back since I was booking on a party ticket instead of a park ticket. At any rate, he said that there wasn't anything that they could do for me since I was only attending the party. I have the Mine Train scheduled for another day later in our trip so I was just going to be glad I got anything. A couple of days later, I received another bit of unexpected magic surrounding this trip. I signed in to My Disney Experience on my phone and found this:

View attachment 116145
View attachment 116146

Thank you, amazing Walt Disney World Cast Members! Yesterday was indeed, "a magical day" and further proof that "the dream that you wish will come true."

i'm a little confused......I take it that is a special FP+ of some sort that you don't need to have it attached to the regular FP and just have to show your phone or something. Anyway you said magic so it must be something like that and way cool.

 

[jlmlodzik]

i'm a little confused......I take it that is a special FP+ of some sort that you don't need to have it attached to the regular FP and just have to show your phone or something. Anyway you said magic so it must be something like that and way cool.

Yes! It looks like an open Fastpass+ for anytime between 9am-7pm for Space Mountain on our MNSSHP day!

 

[sara1215]

A night in the castle! How awesome! Can't wait to see it!

 

[ariane37]

I heard about lots of peoples' FP's set for 6-7 on party nights being cancelled twice. Sorry you were a part of that It appears to be something new they've decided to implement this year, possibly to get non-party goers out of the park quicker? We were able to make and keep a FP on our party day last year from 6-7 with no problem as were other people from reports I've read on here, which is why I say it must be new for this year. I get why they want to not allow FP's to be made during that hour but it would have been nice if they just didn't let anyone make them in the first place instead of messing with plans after they were made
That all day FP is nice compensation though!!

 

[allysetraskos]

The guy you spoke to must be misinformed...
Anytime I have booked a special party ticket it has always come with the FP+ for that day, even though you can only use the 4-5 5-6 and 6-7 time slot..

 

[jlmlodzik]

A night in the castle! How awesome! Can't wait to see it!

Thank you! Be looking for a trip report very soon!

I heard about lots of peoples' FP's set for 6-7 on party nights being cancelled twice. Sorry you were a part of that It appears to be something new they've decided to implement this year, possibly to get non-party goers out of the park quicker? We were able to make and keep a FP on our party day last year from 6-7 with no problem as were other people from reports I've read on here, which is why I say it must be new for this year. I get why they want to not allow FP's to be made during that hour but it would have been nice if they just didn't let anyone make them in the first place instead of messing with plans after they were made
That all day FP is nice compensation though!!

Agreed. The MNSSHPs didn't sneak up on Disney World. They knew they were coming and settling those issues ahead of time would definitely have been ideal. However, you are also absolutely correct about the all day FP--I'll take it with many thanks!

The guy you spoke to must be misinformed...
Anytime I have booked a special party ticket it has always come with the FP+ for that day, even though you can only use the 4-5 5-6 and 6-7 time slot..

You may be correct. From reading on the boards, it looks like just about every person that called was given a different answer. My thought is that they maybe didn't know the reason but attempted to interpret what happened. It all turned out alright for me, though, in the end.

 

[jlmlodzik]

Previously, on this thread:
INTRODUCTION
DETAILED ITINERARY
OFFICIAL WINNER'S LIST
ANOTHER BIT OF UNEXPECTED MAGIC

ONE WEEK HAPPY DANCE:
Yes, that's correct! We are doing our one week happy dance over here! I've been reading the trip reports from my fellow winners on our Facebook group and getting giddy with excitement . . . especially for our castle stay evening. Stay tuned because a trip report is coming soon, friends!



Oh . . . and our Magic Bands came a couple of weeks ago, too!



#MommysFirstMagicBand

Yes . . . we are an all 'J' family. This will be our first trip to the parks using Magic Bands. The last time we went, Key to the World cards and legacy Fastpasses were all the rage. LOL

M-I-C . . . see 'ya real soon!

NEXT POST:
ONE SLEEP

 

[tcherjen]

Congratulations!!

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Congratulation's!! Have a wonderful & magical trip!

Will be following along with your tip report... thank you for sharing your win with us

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Only 1 week! Are you excited?? We just got our Magic Bands, and we love them so far. Hope they work great when we get to the resort.

Did you do online check in for your resort?

Hope you have a great time and I can't wait to read all about it.

 

[jlmlodzik]

Congratulations!!

Thank you so much!

Congratulation's!! Have a wonderful & magical trip!

Will be following along with your tip report... thank you for sharing your win with us

Thank you! Of course! I will be reporting very soon now!

Only 1 week! Are you excited?? We just got our Magic Bands, and we love them so far. Hope they work great when we get to the resort.

Did you do online check in for your resort?

Hope you have a great time and I can't wait to read all about it.

Yes!!! We are beyond excited--we leave TOMORROW! Yay! We love the Magic Bands. I ordered some decals from etsy.com for some of them, too.

We did do online check in for our resorts. We added a day on to the beginning of our trip at a different resort so we have two check-ins.

Thank you! Can't wait to read about your trip as well!