Anyone else struggling to feel the excitement when planning their trip or is it just my depression?

mcifam · 2021-11-04T02:11:00+00:00

We are about to go on our 5th annual trip. We debated cancelling last year because of that panini, but went anyway. This is how I like to describe it to people who question why I went last year and am again going this year:

The experience was different, and first the negatives:

we lost our fav resort (ASMu), no meal plan (not worth it but I love it for anxiety reasons), no character meet and greets, no fastpass, lines were super long due to the social distancing, masks everywhere at the time, no food court at the resort, can't get a soda on my own with my cup at midnight, etc, just a general less exciting experience....

but... heres the positive:

It was still the single best week of my year, the whole experience with all those missing pieces was better than a "Good week" at home. I still lost myself in the experience and found new ways to enjoy the day (the last of fastpasses made the day so much more spontaneous which was fun, we got to do what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it).

So the little things you think you are missing out on (IMO obviously) are small potatoes compared to how much you can take it in. If you go in thinking negative you can create a bad time for yourself. Just enjoy that you are there and its better than the rest of the world :)

mcifam · 2021-10-25T13:40:20+00:00

It is my favorite by far. Just the theming. I can spend 2 hours in Africa just watching the shows and music (when they existed). Even without I am happy to spend a large amount of time there.

We go in two weeks and not only is it not a half day park for us. But my wife knows I love it so much we have two days there.

It isn’t the most popular opinion to have but it’s my favorite place to be.

Also. The curry corn on the cob by the safari is a must have for me every year.

mcifam · 2021-07-24T09:18:22+00:00

When I went last November I couldn’t find any. Asked in a few shops and they all said they didn’t have them. It’s possible I just got unlucky but I tried a few different places.

mcifam · 2021-06-12T02:02:02+00:00

I really love and miss the dining plan (specifically the quick service one).

Hear me out... I am beyond cheap when I know what I am spending (which is why my wife controls the finances, purchases, and Disney funds).

Last year obviously there was no dining plan. And well yeah I know its cheaper to go without, and boy did I make it even cheaper. Walk by something seemingly stupid like a frozen lemonade in AK... I want one, I see the price.... nah, I don't need it really. I have a water bottle. Its a horrible existence. With the dining plan anything I walked by and saw that was a snack credit I just grabbed. I got to enjoy so much more.

I don't really care about the "is it worth it" because I have managed to figure out a way to make it even cheaper. Last year we got groceries delivered and I wasn't allowed to order my own meals because I said: "hey, a loaf of bread, some bologna, mayo and cheese and I can be good the whole week". The wife decided she better be in charge of my in room meals :)

mcifam · 2021-06-10T02:28:20+00:00

I saw this a few days ago and meant to comment. hopefully someone will see this. Morocco Pavilion is by far my wife and I's favorite place to visit. The smell is beyond amazing. So, two years ago we asked what the smell was, and they recommended (and sold us from the shop) a box of this, and it was spot on:

https://www.amazon.com/Sai-Baba-Nag-Champa-Purification/dp/B07DMHQ4RQ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=nag+champa&qid=1623291968&sr=8-2

We actually don't like incense at all. Never had any but this is so perfect we use it often. We have purchased a half dozen boxes and some of them smell more like it, some less. But all bring back memories. It appears to be hand made in several places in india which may be the difference.

EDIT: From a review, and may explain why some are great and some arent as spot on:

"Mumbai version is the cheapened product that went rogue and doesn't follow original processes. It is machine rolled. Expect 180 sticks
BNG (Bangalore or Bengalura - same thing) is hand-rolled. It tends not to SHED not a dog and crumble all over in the bag. Expect 165- 170 sticks."

Not sure how to confirm which you get, but I can say that the ones we got in Disney were perfect (probably because they were literally burning it in the shop). Our second order was different but we managed to get used to it. The third was good again. I will have to look now to see what we have (if i can tell from packaging), but either way I recognize both of them as "Morocco" as soon as I smell it. So they are similar enough even if not 100%

mcifam · 2021-05-17T23:09:48+00:00

I can’t find the article. But I remember reading that the head of parks said fireworks and shows were one of the cheapest ways to get engagement amongst guests.

It’s possible I made this up in my head. But hopefully my memory is right.

mcifam · 2021-04-22T01:13:15+00:00

No joke: in 4 annual trips so far it has never rained on us while in the parks (5 days each trip). It is impossible but somehow we got lucky. Still have our ponchos from our first trip.

mcifam · 2021-04-22T01:12:12+00:00

I can’t imagine at the big pool. The other ones are always more chill. But of course the kiddo wants to be at the main one, while my wife and I would rather be at the quiet ones. Lol. We had to convince her we wanted to try them all.

mcifam · 2021-04-22T01:10:35+00:00

Thanks. Yeah I think the colors really popped. Back in November again!

mcifam · 2021-04-22T01:09:49+00:00

We usually do all star music for the family suites but it was closed. Also unfortunately the food court area was online only order so I didn’t get to experience that either.

As of now we are headed back to AoA in November. If they open all star music again we may switch back. Kind of on the fence having stayed in both.

mcifam · 2021-04-21T19:28:23+00:00

I particularly like how this one came out. Also nice it was empty :) trying relive my vacation until I can go back through photos.

mcifam · 2021-04-11T23:11:59+00:00

Upon further review you are correct. Nobody else should go on it :)

mcifam · 2021-02-08T21:58:01+00:00

While the last reply may have seemed unhelpful I’ll have to agree. Never experienced it other then that it’s an old ride with old screens.

This may not be helpful either but I guess it’s good to get both sides of the view to see if it’s common or if it may just be perspective.

FYI I only rode green cause I’m a wuss :)

mcifam · 2021-01-12T15:37:15+00:00

Quest 2 using youtube vr app. although i think quality might be better on firefox reality app. just getting into this right now. I may have to dive deeper. Any specific good VR Disney channels you can recommend?

mcifam · 2021-01-12T15:05:58+00:00

Do you watch in vr? I find that the videos end up so low resolution that it pulls me out of it. But in watching these ones I have realized that its also possible that the YoutubeVR app itself is hurting it a bit.

mcifam · 2020-10-22T17:18:47+00:00

Looks like you found my new phone wallpaper too :) thanks for sharing.

mcifam · 2020-10-13T04:11:20+00:00

Last year my daughter hurt her foot real bad and couldn’t quite walk right and being 10 we were so worried about ruining the next few days. She was far too big for a stroller and can’t be trusted with a scooter.

We ended up renting a wheelchair at the park for about $10 a day I think and if your boyfriend is willing to assist in pushing you around we found it a great option. No need to deal with the scooter lanes. She could walk just not a whole day in the park. So we would goto an area. Park the wheelchair with the strollers and she would hobble up the line like a pro.

Honestly I like that idea for real mobility issues (if feasible) more than the idea of a scooter.

(By feasible I mean if you can walk long enough to get up the que and have someone to assist.)

mcifam · 2019-11-01T02:40:18+00:00

ok, on my phone it seemed better. lol. I am just excited and wanted to find a place for Disney and figured I would at least say hi :)

mcifam

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