20th Anniversary Trips - A PTR for a first ever Disney Cruise and a trip to California!

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

How clever and a great use of them! Especially the oldest ones that are probably defunct now! I just got my DS his first magic band. How is my baby going to be 3 on Saturday?!

Sadly even some of the newer ones have died. It's kind of luck of the draw on whether they will work when we get to the parks.

Happy Birthday! I hope it was a good 3rd birthday! I always say it goes by fast and slow all at the same time!

That's hilarious! They sure do add up though, and just think how many were FREE!!!! (I don't recommend thinking about the ones you had to pay for, LOL!)

We did one trip where we switched hotels 3 times and magic bands will still free and I got bands for all 3 hotels!!! ha I really worked the system! The new ones are so pricey but I am looking forward to using my band in Disneyland!

Love the tickets you made for the girls. I've been trying to figure out how to possibly get down there to ride Rock'n Rollercoaster and Muppetvision 3D one last time, too, but I just don't see it working out. I'll live vicariously through you

I didn't think we would. Gwen is SUPER excitied to get to see Muppets again. And Morgan is "mad" that muppets are taking over rock n rollercoaster. So she is also happy that we are going. We do plan to do all the things closing... Tom Sawyer Island, the Ferry Boat as well.

Joining in here, hi! I’m Maddie. I’ll be staying at CBR in June for the first time, let me know how you like it in April! I’m so jealous you get to see MuppetVision before it closes, I love the Muppets

Welcome!!! We have stayed at CBR a few times. We love it. It is big but with the Skyliner it's doesn't feel as big as it used to. Let me know what you want to know about the resort!

 

[Stacybaeasm]

Well, I don't know how I have missed this until today. BUT - first, I want to hear all about the cruise. I keep toying with taking one but...I just don't know if I am a cruise person.

Second, as someone who drives that way all the time now to Disney - there is a Buc-ees right before you get on I-4. I somehow always miss it. But I THINK you actually pass 2 between Savannah and Disney.

I hope Morgan's trip to SCAD is wonderful. Have you reached out to admissions or anyone from the department to get a tour? If there is a particular major or department that Morgan is interested, I strongly recommend letting them know you are coming. Often, they can get you a special tour of their spaces, meet some current students, sit in on a class or something. I know we do that for anyone we know is coming.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I love the surprise and LOVE your fancy tickets! Well done! I’m so glad the girls are excited.

Renting cars, especially one-way rentals, is such a pain in the rear. We had a similar headache on a trip to California a few years ago and ended up switching plans to avoid a one-way rentals situation. Similar to you, it showed no cars available for a one-way rental (!) for the rental company we needed. I’m glad you found something that works for you. It’s too bad you have to haul everything all the way from the MCO airport - would it be better to keep the car for the few extra days and avoid the Uber fees? You’d be able to park for free at your Disney resort.

Your plans sound good. I’d also love to try the Wailulu Bar & Grill (the menu sounds so good!) and can’t wait to try the F&G food booths. Those menus should be released in a few days and I’m excited to see the offerings!

I hear what you’re saying regarding Hollywood Studios - there are so many headliners there. Honestly, I have zero doubt (even on a very busy day) that you could get a fourth lightning lane for Muppets 3-D - they have availability long after half the attraction options have disappeared. If you do use two days of HS, I’d even pick Star Tours or Swirling Saucers over Muppet 3-D for my preselection if you don’t want to use the usual Tower of Terror/TSM combination.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

tal (!) for the rental company we needed. I’m glad you found something that works for you. It’s too bad you have to haul everything all the way from the MCO airport - would it be better to keep the car for the few extra days and avoid the Uber fees? You’d be able to park for free at your Disney resort.

So, I had the exact same thought this weekend. And since it's still not round trip the car rental is alot to keep it. I was kind of bummed that it was so much more. I would have liked to not have to take an uber back to the airport...

Honestly, I have zero doubt (even on a very busy day) that you could get a fourth lightning lane for Muppets 3-D - they have availability long after half the attraction options have disappeared. If you do use two days of HS, I’d even pick Star Tours or Swirling Saucers over Muppet 3-D for my preselection if you don’t want to use the usual Tower of Terror/TSM combination.

We talked about this, this weekend as well. And really it's just that I want to get a LL for Slinky Dog Dash as well. my CHILDREN are less interested in that... It's really that all the good stuff is in the top tier... I get why they do it, but I wish they would stop with Fancy rides so there is more in the main groupings. Or something.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I started my trip report for the Cruise. You can hop over here if you want to follow along: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...ise-edition-a-feb-wish-cruise-report.3963309/

In other news. I booked a package for the Disneyland portion of our trip! I wanted to get something booked. With it being the 70th, I didn't want to wait and be stuck with only a few hotel options. We are going to be staying at the The Anheim Hotel.
https://flic.kr/p/2qNHAvv]Screenshot 2025-02-25 at 7.50.24 AM[/url]

It has a retro feel to it and google maps says it's an 11 minute walk to the park. I really wanted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel BUT it was going to be a $1,000 more and we still have to book a hotel for the San Diego part of the trip. Booking the package, made me super excited for this trip as well.

I booked a package, so we have 5 day park tickets which I am excited about. Having 5 days will allow us to enjoy the park at a more casual pace. And not feel like we need to cram everything in each day.



We went to see another school this weekend for Morgan. We went to Fairleigh Dickson University. it's a school here in New Jersey. It was a beautiful campus and Morgan liked it but I don't think it will be the best option for her, for animation. ANYWAY, we had an hour and half drive to get there, and we talked about the April trip a little bit in the car.

And this is kind of what we decided on..

Wedneday
Andy really wants to try and get to Disney Springs to have a birthday dinner at Eet. (Wednesday is Andy's actual birthday) The good thing is, it's counter service so we can play it by ear.

Thursday - We all agreed that this makes sense for the first day.
Rope Drop: Magic Kingdom
Evening: EPCOT

• Tiana's
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates

Dining: Flower and Garden Booths / Counter Service

We always like to start in Magic Kingdom if we can. It just feels right. I would also like to do EPCOT before the weekend crowds at least once. It will be Flower and Garden, so we can snack in EPCOT and of course EPCOT has some good counter service options, so no set dinning this day.

Friday - We did agree that these would be the LL we would want. I am hoping we can get a Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway for that day. And I am hoping we can maybe rope drop Slinky. My children aren't dyeing to ride it for some reason. sigh...
Rope Drop: Hollywood Studios
Evening: Magic Kingdom

• Rock n' Rollercoaster
• Tower of Terror
• Toy Story Mania

Dining: Beaches and Cream - I booked a few reservations on Saturday. I have a lunch and dinner reservation for here both Friday and Saturday. I will cancel 3 of them once we decide on a full plan. But I figure we will go for lunch after being at HS in the morning one of these days, or dinner before heading in.

After looking at what is considered Tier 1 rides for Hollywood Studios, I am toying with rope dropping HS twice? But I am kind of hoping we can do all the things we want in one day? Not sure about that.... Gwen requested Beaches and Cream. I can take it or leave it. But she just loves it and honestly it's a cheap meal... I was thinking Lunch time so we can go once we ware done with HS for the day. Then we can hop on the skyliner back to the room for a short rest and then head back out fo the evening.

Saturday - We talked about rope dropping EPCOT with the solo goal of riding Guardians. We could book our LLs at either HS or MK for after that. Not sure which one we will do, we didn't really make a decision on that.
Rope Drop: Hollywood Studios EPCOT
Park Hop: Hollywood Studios or head to MK
Evening: Magic Kingdom

• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Storia Mania

Dining: Dining: Wailulu Bar & Grill - Everyone agree that the menu here sounded good and worth a try.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

So, I had the exact same thought this weekend. And since it's still not round trip the car rental is alot to keep it. I was kind of bummed that it was so much more. I would have liked to not have to take an uber back to the airport...

I was curious so I did a little searching…

I found the same thing you did that instead of a more reasonable rate for multiple days it multiplied an insane one-day rate for all rental days. I also see the “no inventory” issue you were running into, as I got pop-up messages for both Alamo (my preferred rental car company) and Enterprise.

However!

Depending on your flexibility with rental car companies, I found a one-day rental with Avis that allows you to pick it up from the Savannah Airport and drop it off at the Disney Springs Hilton - a heck of a lot closer than MCO! It would be a much cheaper Uber ride (you could even get a Minnie Van!) and would save you quite a bit of time. I think I picked the right dates for you, but it may be worth playing around with if that would be a better option. I also did it as a true one-day rental (returning the next day), but based on my experience with rental cars you can always return it early.

Here’s a screenshot of the rental information:



I hope this helps!

*Edited to add: I now read your post above - perhaps my idea of returning your rental car in the Disney Springs area will work out well! I know you loved Eet and hope Andy gets his chance to eat there.

 

[vamassey1]

I'm finally caught up and ready to read about your Anniversary Cruise.

So many exciting trips coming up.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

I hope Morgan's trip to SCAD is wonderful. Have you reached out to admissions or anyone from the department to get a tour? If there is a particular major or department that Morgan is interested, I strongly recommend letting them know you are coming. Often, they can get you a special tour of their spaces, meet some current students, sit in on a class or something. I know we do that for anyone we know is coming.

We did an informational session here in new Jersey this past weekend actually! I signed up for more info and they sent. me an invite. That was great, we got to ask alot of questions and they did a mini workshop session with the kids and one of the deams. We were impressed.

We do have a tour scheduled. And they said they will take us to the Animation building.

Morgan was super excited about it. So I have a feeling, when we go to SCAD, if she likes the feel of the campus it's going to be her number 1. So we will see!

Second, as someone who drives that way all the time now to Disney - there is a Buc-ees right before you get on I-4. I somehow always miss it. But I THINK you actually pass 2 between Savannah and Disney.

I mentioned stopping at Buc-ees on the drive down. And Andy was all for it. And Gwen knew what I was talking about but Morgan had no idea. I said she is going to walk in and have no idea what hit her.... ha

Depending on your flexibility with rental car companies, I found a one-day rental with Avis that allows you to pick it up from the Savannah Airport and drop it off at the Disney Springs Hilton - a heck of a lot closer than MCO! It would be a much cheaper Uber ride (you could even get a Minnie Van!) and would save you quite a bit of time. I think I picked the right dates for you, but it may be worth playing around with if that would be a better option. I also did it as a true one-day rental (returning the next day), but based on my experience with rental cars you can always return it early.

This cracked me up! We are all the same! This is totally something I would do. I meant to look into this and then life got a little crazy. I will have to look again! I am not sure if I can cancel our rental from Budget..... I will have to look.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

Hi Everyone!!!

I wanted to check in. I don't have any updates. We have been busy with every day stuff and I haven't even thought about the trips! We went to see Farliegh Dickson University for Morgan and went to an informational session for Savannah College of Art and Design. The info session made us all excited to go see the campus next month. My sisters came down and we started to go through all of my mothers craft supplies. And it is just so so much!!! We have been busy!

April Savannah / Disney Trip:
Nothing new to report here. I feel like we are in that weird time where it is getting close but there is nothing to do.

I do need to solidify our general plans and make a target list for LLs. And probably look for some shirts for us. I wasn't going to do Tinkerbell Gifts but I just can't help myself.....

I am debating to getting rid of the Beaches and Cream reservation all together. I have seen some pics of the pool all ripped up. But maybe we will find it intersting to see that way? I am flip flopping on it...

Does anyone know what the rope drop is like for Guardians from the World Showcase entrance? Do we have any chance of getting in line if we come from the back of the park?

Maine Trip:
We booked a hotel for the Maine portion of the trip. We have to decide where were are staying on our way back home, Portland, ME, Boston, MA or Newport, RI. I am lobbing for Newport to see a mansion or two but it is kind of out of the way to get home. So we will see.

California July Trip:
I still need to book a hotel for the first part of our trip. I might just book the place we were going to stay 2 years ago. I just haven't gotten back to looking into it.

The announcement on some of the 70th anniversary stuff has gotten me excited for this trip again. I need to start a list of what we want to do. I know we want to see World of Color and the Paint the Night Parade. I assume we would want to do them on different nights?

When can I make dinning reservations for Disneyland? 30 days? We really haven't done alot of sit down meals at Disneyland and I do want to sprinkle a few in this time. I want to get into Trader Sams and I think I want to do Blue Bayou. It's like Cinderella's Royal Table, you have to do it once, right?

 

[CaptainMarvel]

California July Trip:
I still need to book a hotel for the first part of our trip. I might just book the place we were going to stay 2 years ago. I just haven't gotten back to looking into it.

Hi, I just stumbled on your pre-trip report and everything you've done and have planned for this year sounds really great! I do have to say that I recommend taking a look at San Diego hotels sooner rather than later, as your arrival day is also the first day of Comic Con, which massively impacts hotel inventory and rates across the San Diego area. This is most pronounced in the Gaslamp District and other areas close to the convention center, but even hotels further out will probably have at least somewhat higher rates.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

do have to say that I recommend taking a look at San Diego hotels sooner rather than later, as your arrival day is also the first day of Comic Con, which massively impacts hotel inventory and rates across the San Diego area. This is most pronounced in the Gaslamp District and other areas close to the convention center, but even hotels further out will probably have at least somewhat higher rates.

OMG! I had no idea!!! I know what I will be doing this weekend!

My husband was kind of excited to here that it was happening then... I guess that means the museum will be really busy while we are there as well..... Oh boy!