Seals

Seems he's a consultant now so maybe they don't want to advertise his business? 

http://joelanzisero.com/2/

"I'm a full-time consultant working for visionary clients all over the world."

"If you're going to drive design at theme parks, you might consider yourself blessed to have had that experience at Disney Imagineering.  I do." [I added underline]

Also, I'm worrying just thinking about getting back to that ship in time. I'm one of those "but what if this happens kind of people" -- twist my ankle, realize I don't have my phone, etc.  Although if the penalty is another night on CC, that might not be too bad.

Gotta love a TR with a reference to Lucy the Margate Elephant !  Also I appreciate your descriptions of all you have to do to protect your son due to his peanut allergy.  I think most people, like me, have no idea. The sheets on the plane seats are a great idea.   I've taken pictures of those creepy chairs too, but I don't know the story. 

Awwww. They all look like they're having a great time.  Love the one where Shack is looking at the wookie's feet. 

17 hours ago, GaDawgFan.....Kelly said:

 

I would definitely have passes if I were local. If we weren’t getting Disney passes in June, we might have gotten them while we were there. I’ve heard you get discounts on pretty much everything food/hotel/merchandise.


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I ordered one annual pass ahead of time and used it to make the discounted hotel reservation. Then when we got there I used it to buy 4 other discounted 2-day tickets. Also used it to get food discount for the whole family. 

It was 7 years ago, but I didn't think the quick service food was too bad. We also went fairly leisurely. The Jimmy Fallon ride wasn't there then. The space was Twister (I just looked that up) and I didn't go on that although the rest of my family did.  Minions had just opened and I thought it was way too frantic and fast. I liked the Simpsons but overall thought there were too many simulators. Men In Black, Forbidden Journey and Spiderman were my favorites that I remember. 

1 hour ago, Grumpy and Grandma said:

While sitting at the same table...

They already do that from the bedroom to the living room.  On the flip side, though, my older son is away at college and I don't think he'd keep up with his younger brothers except for snapchat/Instagram. Often when I mention what they're doing he says he knows because he already saw it on social media.  I doubt they'd keep in touch any other way.   But I also work on a college campus and I see  students standing around waiting for the bus all staring at their phones and not interacting like we would have done in the old days.  I keep thinking -- you could be standing beside your future spouse -- say hi, comment on how slow the bus is, mention how you're dreading finals, say something to make a connection because you don't know where it will lead.   But I guess that's why they have dating apps now. 

What's the Universal equivalent of pixie dust?  I'm sure he'll remember that for a long time. 

One year when my 3 boys were in the 9 - 11 ish range and didn't have smartphones yet, we went during Spring Break. Life had been hectic before our trip and while we were standing in lines I found out all sorts of things that had been going on at school and their other activities. Funny stories about teachers and classmates, what they were learning, they talked to each other about mutual friends, etc. etc. It was such a nice added bonus to spend that time together that I still remember it most about the trip. 

I got an email about Disney Visa offer with earlier dates:

I thought that too. Put your feet up on Micky and enjoy your Universal resort. 

Both times we went Royal Pacific was the least expensive resort with the Express Pass. And with it being by room and 5 of us in the room was relatively reasonable for the amount of time we saved. The room was nothing special but I really liked the resort.  If money weren't an object, I would have wanted to stay at Portofino though.

I guess you didn't have Natalie as your cruise director?   When I was on the Wonder she would announce each morning in her English accent "This is Natalie your cruise director and today is going to be a b-e-a utiful day!"   I still say that on particularly gorgeous days like the ones in your pictures.

I'm also predicting you spent the day at Serenity Bay and realized how nice and peaceful it is. 

13 hours ago, LONE-STAR said:

The little bit I read above was enough to tell me I didn't care to read a negative report. 

59 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

I read the whole article. For someone who feels so superior, this guy did some really dumb things. Like scheduling his daughter's BBB appointment for late morning on Castaway Cay day, and Palo for that evening. And he must have had too many of those cloying margaritas as he definitely got things out of sequence- like saying he took his daughter to see a magic show after watching the fireworks on pirate night. I don't think so Dan. They don't have shows that late. 

TCD 

Yes. Reading the whole article lets you discover all the dumb things this guy did that didn't make his cruise the special experience he would never admit it could be. And cluelessly scheduling the daughter's BBB appointment for CC day and then making her take off the dress and wipe off the makeup (and I assume ruin  the hairstyle) that they spent $200 on is the best part.  The other is how a travel writer randomly picked a restaurant off ship and then was disappointed. Twice.

19 hours ago, DaveInTN said:

But he knows how to use "cloying" in a sentence.  Doesn't that prove his superiority?  I had to look it up.  

I wasn't familiar with using cloying to describe a drink. I think more of a person's behavior or personality. However, I just found this on the Miriam Webster site. So apparently using it to describe a drink is trendy and hip, like the cruise guy:

Recent Examples of cloying from the Web

A not very informative trip report by a New York Times travel writer who makes sure you know he far superior to the people who actually want to go on a DIsney cruise and the only reason he set foot on the ship, instead of traveling to some wonderful, secluded, exotic location,  is because of his young daughter.  And isn't he clever not to learn anything about the cruise ahead of time. 

A preview:

On a Disney Cruise, It’s a Stressful World (After All)

Can a cruise skeptic enjoy four days on the high seas with his family, Mickey and a bunch of princesses?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/travel/disney-cruise-magic-bahamas.html

In and I love the cake!  We went to US in 2011 and 2012 when my kids were the right ages and into Harry Potter. I actually read the whole series between those two visits, motivated in part by going there.  Haven't been to the "new" part though. Interested to read your comparison. I found a lot to like at US, even though it's not Disney. 

On 4/5/2018 at 3:18 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

Your daughters are so cute.  I love the coordinated outfits. Love the Wonder too. And count me in on the priced out of Disney cruises but don't really want to try another cruise line because it might not compare category. 

I don't pay much attention to "starting at" prices. That could just mean a couple of Wednesdays and Thursdays in January and the rest of the year much higher. 

Growing up in the 1960s / very early 1970s the one night a year that the Wizard of Oz was on tv was like a holiday.  We'd get in our pjs early and sit together as a family and watch.

And then I'd have nightmares about those flying monkeys.

The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad in NC does theme train rides like these also. I've heard mixed reviews.  Years ago we did the Thomas one and all I can remember is screaming kids, including my own who had a leg cast and couldn't stand up on the seat like the other kids.   And the $$$ we spent. 

On 3/16/2018 at 10:01 PM, Tri-Circle-D said:

Good to hear. I think the location looks good too. Did you use the secret staircase from Deck 5?

I think so but I'm not 100% sure. I wandered all over the ship on that trip and it was 3 years ago. I do remember popping out in the buffet also, and I doubt I went up to 6 and then back up the hallway so it was probably from 5.

My boys loved those books. Too old now but maybe they'll see the movie anyway.

28 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said:

My reservation for the upcoming Wonder cruise was a "Guarantee" reservation, and we just found out that we will be on Deck 5, aft. I like the location. I know that I once took those secret stars all the way down to Animator's Palate on Deck 4, but I may have gone past a crew member only sign on the way down the stairs. Since the twins work for Disney, I am on strict orders to follow the rules. So, do you know how far guests are allowed to go on the secret staircase?

 TCD 

We were on 5 aft, I just looked back and our room numbers were 5633 and 5635. I really liked it. Few rooms on the hallway so not a lot of traffic, and I liked being near the theater.  And near the theater bathrooms when the stateroom bathroom was occupied. I remember using the secret stairs but sorry can't remember how far I went on it.  Plus that was 3 years ago. 

I'm assuming they ask at check in if you have a vehicle. Then they give you a pass to put on the dashboard with the checkout date written in red marker.  And add the charge to your bill.  And then patrol the lots looking for cars without passes on the dashboard.  

I love the Wonder. I just liked the size and feel of the ship better than the Dream (my only other Disney cruise).

In December 2014, my husband and 2 sons  left to meet up with the 5K group. I did a couple of things and then left the ship to watch them finish. I left a little later than I'd planned and was worried I'd miss them so I power walked to the start/finish line instead of taking the tram. They weren't there yet and there was only a small crowd so I stood around for 5 minutes or so when  the race group walked up to start the race!   So, they definitely were letting non-runners off the ship before the 5K group that day. 

I also think it's a difficult story to adapt to the screen.  And I have to say that I have no problem with Oprah, but she is one of those people who I have a hard time seeing as a character rather than herself playing a character.  Some actors can be absorbed into their roles and some you always see the actor in the role and it's distracting. I don't know if this is result of talent/lack of talent or what.   But that was my thought when I saw her in the previews. 

LOL, you know what they're thinking (if it turns out to be true): $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Since this is the type of thing that fascinates me, I read the website and the manual. Love the number of times the words  accessories  and  elite   are used. Those must be proven parent buzzwords. Teal costs $50 more than gray, black or purple. That's obviously a mistake since purple is definitely the premium color of those four. What I was looking for was a picture of a child actually seated in it shown from overhead. I'm guessing the child has to sit, in the harness, with his legs stretched out in front of him. Not hanging like in a stroller. I'm guessing few children want to sit like that for very long.  But the instructions say a child should be harnessed when in the "stroller" and should not stand up -- so ignore the photo on the web page of a child obviously standing in the wagon. The instructions also say maximum of 45 pounds per child and 110 overall, no more than 2 children. Then the video shows a girl who I'm pretty certain is more than 45 pounds climbing in and strapping herself in as her mother tells us how wonderful the product is.  

The only time I took a stroller to WDW it was a double umbrella stroller for my almost 3 yr old twins and 5 year old. They rotated sitting in it. That was an awesome stroller and easy to fold.