Tag Archives: Magic Bands

Disney World Stuff I’m Never Going to Like

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Being a serious Disney fan does not mean you have to automatically love each and every aspect of all things Disney.  I can (and often do) wax poetic about Walt Disney World and why it’s my favorite vacation destination, but that doesn’t mean I’m unaware of the existence of some things I don’t care for.  There aren’t many, really, only a handful.  Some of you will be huge fans of some of the items on this list and most likely will find fault with some of my favorite things in return.  For the sake of discussion, though, I invite you to consider what tops your own list of…

Disney World Stuff I’m Never Going to Like

Remember when I made this list of attractions I could live without?  Well, consider this sort of an addendum to that first look at this other side of Disney World fandom.Scan-Magic-Band-to-Board-Disney's-Magical-Express

Magic Bands should know more – I’m not going to lie here – I am crazy about the ease and convenience of Magic Bands when they work properly.  Hello!  Room key, park ticket, FastPass, charging feature – all are fabulous to me.  Now I want them to know I’m all of the following:  Annual Passholder, DVC member, and Tables in Wonderland user.  How can this not be working already?  I hate to think that Disney wouldn’t automatically want to apply appropriate discounts by maybe hoping we’ll forget we’re eligible? If attractions like It’s a Small World can know my name by my Magic Band, when I scan my band at a checkout counter, it should know I’m due a discount.Winnie-the-Pooh-attraction-sign

Mr. Toad is living on the West Coast – I finally forgave poor Winnie the Pooh for taking over the real estate and I refuse to be a perpetual whiner about this, but I will freely admit I miss Toad and his darkest of dark rides.  I’m seriously working out a plan to visit him in California in the not too distant future.Pineapple Dole Whip

I wanted to like Dole Whips but I don’t – Again, no secret here.  Bazillions of people adore these pineappley (made that up) frozen treats.  I wanted to belong…I wanted to be one of those uber-fans.  Alas (if ever there were an opportunity to say “alas” this is it!), it was not meant to be.  On the bright side, turns out I’m a Citrus Swirl Girl!!!!  And that makes me happy.Epcot in Summer

Future World in 2016 – If you never knew what it once was, you could kinda overlook what it is today…but I do remember and I long for a much more meaningful, interactive, edutainment-filled Future World.  WHY can we not have this again?  Oh, I know…Disney’s spread thin right now with so many projects over in Animal Kingdom and the Studios.  Which brings me to the next item on the list…RM-Animal-Kingdom-Construction-Walls

The Castle Crane and Construction Walls – The crane (affectionately referred to by many, including myself, as Frasier) is a necessary evil when the Christmas lights go on and come back off of Cinderella Castle.  I’m always a little heartbroken for first-timers who cannot get a crane-free Castle photo.  I know the why, but I don’t have to like it.  Likewise with construction walls.  They’re inevitable for progress to take place and sometimes, those clever Imagineers make the walls a bit entertaining…but they obstruct, impede, and diminish.  I’m never going to like them, but accept their necessity and am excited by all the new attractions I’ll get to enjoy.RM-Magic-Kingdom-Autumn

Reduction of Extra Magic Hours – If you haven’t noticed, there are fewer Extra Magic Hours than there used to be.  We’ve always been fans of the morning variety (our kids love late night EMHs) and can’t help feeling a little bit gypped by this once so useful perk being reduced.  Having been touted for many years as a real advantage of staying on property at Walt Disney World, the reduction in quantity of Extra Magic Hours strikes me as Extra Unfortunate for those of us who purchased our Disney Vacation Club memberships, in part, based on this early entry (or late night) advantage.

I know I’ve told readers not to whine at Walt Disney World, but I will be the first to give you permission to NOT love absolutely everything.  What tops your list of things you’re never going to like?

 

 

Walt Disney World – Vacation Day Checklist

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Wristlet for WDWWhen I’m packing for a Disney vacation, I never worry about forgetting clothes, shoes, or shampoo and the like.  If I forget hairspray or sunscreen – I’m okay with just buying a replacement at Disney World (I’m going to do the resort loop shop tour anyway, right?).  I’m a big picture kind of person and for me, the devil really IS in the details.  It’s the little, but super important things I’m most likely to forget.  Now that a Disney vacation has become a little bit more complex than it used to be, I rely heavily on what I call a Vacation Day Checklist.  This is the list I use at the very last minute before I leave home to make sure that when the plane lands and my sandals hit the ground, I am completely ready to get right down to vacationing.

Since I’m going to use this list tomorrow (woohoo!!!), I’ve been tweaking it here and there.  I thought maybe if I shared it with you, you might find it useful for your own future Disney vacation or (let’s make this all about me for a sec, okay?) YOU might offer me some suggestions on how you organize all the listed items.  If you think I’ve forgotten anything, shout it out immediately!  Time is of the essence!

THE Vacation Day Checklist:Printed Reservations

1. Printed proof of all resort reservation numbers, Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs), and FastPass+ selections.  I’ve heard horror stories about relying solely on the MyDisneyExperience app for this.  I’m not willing to chance it….are you?

2. Airline boarding passes (if flying) – Raymond is really great about remembering to do online check-in at the earliest available moment.  And he keeps up with the boarding passes.  I’m in charge of worrying about it.

3. Magical Express Luggage Tags in PLACE – I wait until I’m completely packed (in theory) before placing the Magical Express tag on my suitcase…I also then weigh my bag to make sure I’m not over the weight limit.  I don’t mean to brag, but on more than one occasion I’ve been complimented by the airline’s skycaps at curbside check-in for my packing skills when my bag weighed in with a full one-half-pound to spare.

4. Magic Bands in carryon.  At least one band will need to be scanned for boarding the Magical Express motor coach.  ALL Magic Bands will need to be available for resort check-in if adding charging privileges to each band (and selecting a PIN for charging).

Walt Disney World Annual Pass5. CARDS!  This may include any/all of the following:  Drivers’ License, Credit card for resort charges, Annual Pass (or voucher) to be linked to Magic Bands at the first park after arrival, Tables in Wonderland (dining discount card), DVC membership.  NOTE:  If you purchased a special event ticket you will be picking up at the will-call window, you will need to have the credit card with you that was used to purchase the tickets.

6. Chargers, cords, batteries.  I take three digital cameras, a GoPro video camera, my cell phone, and my laptop with me.  I’d be pretty sad if I forgot their associated charging cords and extra batteries.

7. Rain Prep – I check that 10 day forecast up until the last minute.  If there’s a significant chanceDisney Parks Poncho of rain on arrival day, I’m wearing my rain-friendly shoes and carrying my rain ponchos with me.  Rain will not keep me from enjoying my arrival day!

8. Park Bag – We always head straight to a park!  It may not always be the same park every time, but once we’ve checked in at the resort, we are off!  I make sure I have my cameras, charger, small medical kit, rain gear, pins to trade…whatever we’ll need.  In a bag, ready to go.  Need suggestions for bags?  Check here.

9. Empty Zip Lock Bags – Part rain gear, part miscellaneous supplies.  If it rains, I can quickly stow electronics in a bag for protection.  Gallon-sized bags are always good for separating dirty socks and underwear from everything else in the suitcases.  Toiletries that might potentially leak can be sealed up tight inside their own bags.  Wet rain ponchos can be stored in a zip lock, inside a park bag without shedding water on everything.

10.  Snacks.  I tend to think of food only when I’m hungry.  Traveling is dicey – might not get to eat at regular times.  After one horrible food-poisoning incident on our way to Walt Disney World in 2012, I’m not inclined to trust airport food all that much anymore.  Trouble is, when I’m TOO hungry, I tend to get pretty cranky.  I actually have to remind myself on this list to bring along some nibbles – just in case.

Okay – My Earhat-wearing friends – what did I miss????  This is my last minute checklist….what’s on yours?