You haven’t missed anything! I leave Saturday! Honestly I’ve been so busy with work and life I’ve been pretty MIA on here!! I can’t believe I leave so soon! Normally a week out I’m already packed and ready to go but this season of life has been a doozy!
My trip report will be semi-live hopefully! I’m going to try and update throughout the day but that could be a lofty goal with my toddler in tow. I’ll for sure be posting recaps at the end of each day.
I knew it had to be around now! I’m so thrilled for you!!!
No worries! You just have fun & make sure the little one does too!!
I will be looking forward to these…especially your HHN thoughts. I know you’ve been excited about it!
Oh! Please let me know if they ever got the FEDRA cans back in stock! A TM I talk to said they were getting more, but they were running late. I haven’t seen anyone complaining about them being gone for a few days. I’m hoping that means they came back!
In some ways it’s actually good they ran out. It shows the demand for themed food containers / wrappers. I love my “Krusty Dog” paper wrapper, Gilly Water Bottle, Who-Hash container and Orange Death HHN drink can!
Japan is the best at these things! I wish U.S. parks understood that these “little things” can drive sales!!
I’m not ready to start my Grinchmas TR yet… I can’t believe it’s going to be here in 36 days! I’ve taken the last week or so off from working out. Plus, I’ve eaten all my Halloween candy already! (I’m not buying more until next Sunday!)
However, I have made my TPs for this next trip. I decided to leave on Thursday straight from my office to get on a late flight to Orlando. This means I won’t have to stress about arriving “on time” for MVMCP the next day.
I, once again, forgot my AP is blocked out for Mannheim Steamroller concerts. If I want to upgrade my AP it’ll be about $75 w/ tax included. I managed to rearrange all my USF plans - mostly thanks to arriving the night earlier than originally planned.
However, in order to accommodate all my Christmas show “must-see” programs I don’t get to see as much of USF as I’d like… What’s an addict to do??? He checks AP hotel rates to find a $71 night room at the same hotel he’s already at… I booked the room - as it’s refundable. However, I haven’t changed my flight / submitted a PTO request. I just wanted the option available before the price increases.
So I can upgrade my pass for flexibility for the dates I planned OR I could just add another night at Dockside for the same price + food
I’m really trying to remind myself that Dockside is my “home”. I’ll miss staying at Aventura. However, one of the biggest reasons I can do so many trips is because of the under $80 / night rates I can find there.
At the end of the last trip I like I was there two days too many. This time with 2 days at WDW and blocked out of one park for half my time fills like an extra day might not be “too long”. Also, I’m not coming back for at least 275 days for next HHN… That’s almost a certainty. I feel like I “owe” it to the version of me stuck at my desk in April to go that one more day…
Plus, it will give me a “back-up” day should anything get rained out. With being blocked out of USF I only get one chance, as is, to see the Macy’s parade with out the extra day (a must-do for me!!) I also, get a second chance for to see Hogwarts lights & ride Hagrid’s at night… I can also find time to eat at a restaurant I missed on this trip.
I’ve already made a plan that me going, basically, EPA to close (7pm) I figure if I stay I’d better “make it worth it” 
Please enable me!! It’s going to mean I’ll only have one PTO day to carry into 2024. I’ll accrue more and have a handful of days by March though! (I am allowed to go negative, but not too much if possible!)
Okay…
Upgrade your AP AND book an additional night. Do it. You know you want to.
I’m glad you mentioned block out dates related to concerts (in another thread I think it was), because I forgot to take this into consideration for our upcoming “add on” days to Universal for our Disney & Cruise trip in March. We planned to hit up UOR on the Saturday after our cruise…but the Seasonal Pass is blocked out for that date at USF, presumably due to a party. Fortunately, we mostly want to do Velocicoaster and Hagrid’s, so it isn’t a huge deal. But it does mean no Diagon Alley.
I confess that I was already planning on going to Volcano Bay one of the blocked out dates anyway. The upgrade would only make one evening of planning easier. I’ve already managed to rearrange everything that I’m blocked out for.
To stay the day is about $175 total. There’s a lot of USF that, without another day, I get a single ride on. I really want to ride Mummy, MIB and more a few times.
I’m just nervous about having “buyers remorse” once I’m there. I don’t want to be in CityWalk, that night of my additional day, being homesick or sooo tired. It’s happened, but typically not until at least a week just at UOR solo.
I know the responsible thing to do is to stick to my plan. Keep the PTO and stay excited for next HHN. However, how many days in my life will I ever get to go to UOR? I’m there I want to really seize moment…
I’m gonna stare at my plans and really think about if a NEED that day or just WANT that day… 
EDIT
I was making myself get up kinda early after Jollywood, on my birthday, to do all WWOHP stuff. I may be shifting my WWOHP day to my “extra” day to have a more relaxed HP day later and relaxed birthday…
Do the extra day. You’ll regret it if you don’t.
Do it. Do both. Upgrade the AP and stay the extra day.
(how’s that for enabling? )
That’s too much!!! I’m working on new plans now. The flight change won’t cost anything. As long as I have the room rate locked in I can take a couple days to see if it really helps
I almost felt sorry for you, phew!
It’s not a trip to UOR unless you go to VB! I’m staying out late for MVMCP. I’ll wake up the next day whenever I feel like it and go to VB for the day… Still my favorite park!
All addiction aside, after redoing / adding plans if I stay one more day -
I get to sleep in after Jollywood and still see the Macy’s parade while not rushing through a WWOHP day. (on my birthday!)
My WWOHP day got cut short at HHN. I love doing ALL the things in WWOHP as a special day. I get to have that by doing it as my last day. Also, I get a “back-up” Macy’s parade viewing date. As originally planned, if it rains or whatever on my Macy’s night then I don’t get another chance. I really love this parade. The balloons are amazing & I love waving to Santa at the tree lighting by Mummy.
Overall, I get extra rides on the following
MIB = 3 extra rides
Mummy = 2 extra rides
RRR = one ride not originally planned
Simpsons = one ride not originally planned
Kang & Kudos = one ride not originally planned
VelociCoaster = 1 extra ride
Tri-Wizard Spirit Rally - not originally in plans
Flight of the Hippogryph - not originally in plans
Hagrid’s = 3 extra rides (one is a night ride!)
Extra Viewings of Hogwarts Lights or Macy’s if needed
I haven’t submitted the PTO request as it’s time to go home. I’m gonna sleep on it. However, this is looking like a nice way to not have to “cram” everything in on Tuesday - as originally planned. Plus, getting back-ups for shows and 100% completing my WWOHP day is super nice!
I’m still holding out hope that Saturday and Sunday aren’t blocked. I know what it says… BUT I’ve read another report that it was not blocked out last year. And conflicting answers from Uni about this year. Also, why do they have February weekends already blocked in the app but not these dates in December?
Either way, I will probably still wait to do the parade during the week to avoid crowds. What I’d really miss is going into the studios for two days right after my arrival if I’m blocked. I’d upgrade because there is the chance that I could hit one of the Mardi Gras concerts but my friend’s pass expires in January and this will be her last trip for a while so just not worth it for her.
Oh. I guess I have never been to UOR. All these times I thought I had! 
Admittedly, water parks are only somewhat interesting to me. Mostly, I would be happy with a lazy river and a few slides that are NOT body slides (which are just waterboarding devices in disguise).
I’m going through my TR for last DEcember. I swear it was blocked out, but I’m still reading it…
Well dang 
I edited my post… I know I went to OIM… I can’t remember if USF was blocked out. I’m rereading the response from GS I got & it could be interpreted as if there are zero block out dates or upgrading will remove block out dates
I went through my entire December TR. I did go into USF on concert days! We saw the Blues Brothers and went to the Tribute store on that Saturday.
This is so confusing! I’m sorry I’ve added to it!
I’ve rearranged so many things that I don’t want to go back & fix it! Although being able to do a full Grinchmas / Christmas day is so appealing!!
I’m going to get 100% clarification from Universal!!
I think I’m the one who started all the confusion to begin with! I assumed that they would be blocked since it’s a “concert” but then read more recently that it wasn’t blocked last year. Pretty sure it was years ago. Anyway, Universal doesn’t exactly answer the question right now in that picture I posted …what the heck with “subject to change.” That wasn’t even my post so I know I’m not the only one wondering!
