3rd Annual We are "NEVER" going to Disney in the summer again"

[natebenma]

Oddly enough, not really. we haven't been hit by all these nasty blizzards like you guys but it seems to snow a little bit (2-5 cm) every day so it adds up! I kind of hope for a big blizzard on the days I have to work but no such luck.

This weekend we are planning to go snow tubing just to be able to get out a bit so that should be fun.

After changing our minds a couple of times about our vacation this year (we went from Barcelos Mexico in February to Barcelos Cuba in April) but ended up agreeing on going to... guess where... that,s right: Disney again next May. I will write more about it in my TR soon.

Anyways, time to finish catching up with you.

Q

Yeah!!! Glad to hear you have another trip planned. I can't wait to read all about it!

Have fun snow tubing!!!

 

[natebenma]

The Beach & Yacht Club DISboard forum is a really active and friendly thread. A lot of you know that already, you followed me from that board over to my report here. We share a lot of information about the resort with one another, but we also share a lot about our lives! I loved Drmomof3’s description of us in her summer trip report “my imaginary internet friends”

We even have an official pin and an unofficial drink:

The Sunken Treasure:

The thread was extremely active over the summer. In early August, a couple of weeks after I had returned from my trip, we exceeded 250 pages. The moderator shut down the thread and did not start up another one for us. I decided I would take on this project. Through my continuing involvement in the FAQ thread, I have made and maintained many friendships.

I’ve mentioned Teena several times- she works part-time as a greeter at the Beach Club and has made many many friends throughout the years at work and through the boards. She is able to answer questions and offer insights that would only be possible from a CM. She shares tidbits from her life too: visits to her daughter Jeanne, who is a school teacher in Las Vegas, frequent Disney cruises to her Happy Place: Castaway Cay. Struggles with her car and the purchase of a new one. The upcoming arrival of her first grandchild. Some health concerns.

Disneymomof7 (Robyn) is another frequent contributor to the site- we all lived through the drama of her daughter’s broken leg at her last day of school celebration, resulting in a change in her vacation schedule, evil air carrier Airtran who ended up charging them huge amount of money to switch their flights. And then totally mistreated them during the trip! Robyn and I were originally scheduled to cross paths on my last day and her first day until she changed her trip to August.

There is also another longtime Beach Club poster, HockeyMomR who had a summer trip in July- She and Robyn were finally scheduled to be at the Beach Club at the same time for the first time ever, but when she had to change her trip to August, that meet did not happen, either.

A bunch of the “Beachers” had trips at the same time as Robyn in early August, so they decided they would have a quick meet one night after Teena finished at work. JJohnson helped coordinate the time and place (August 8, 5:30 PM, Beach Club Solarium), but unfortunately due to a last minute snafu at the Boardwalk, she was unable to attend the meet.

I was jealous of all of the lucky people who were planning on meeting up. I didn’t want to miss out on the fun. So I decided to join them a la Flat Stanley. I decided I would make a poster sized picture of myself and send it to Teena to bring to the meet.

Here was the flaw in the plan. There were no solo pictures of me!!! As those of you who spend lots of time behind the camera know, nobody ever offers to take a picture of you! I have tens of thousands pictures of my kids. Hundreds of pictures of my meals at Disney. A few photos of my husband (he doesn’t love having his picture taken).

NO pictures of me!

I did have some on my photopass account, but I hadn’t ordered the CD yet, so I didn’t have access to them. We were on a weekend visit to the York (Maine) Zoo and beach, and I had to ask my son to take a picture of me. Sam’s Club had a reasonable price to make a poster of the photo, I printed out a copy of my avatar and screen name and I sent it along to Teena.

She brought “Flat Dee” along to the meet, and I made it into the group picture!

The ones in the photo were the actual DISers, but Teena said there was probably a total of about 50 people at the meet with all of the children and other family members. She said it was great, laughing and sharing stories. Some of the young adults even made some friends and hung around at the pool and resort during the rest of their trips.

Here is a closeup of Teena holding Flat Dee- recently provided by Lovinthelodge (Kerry). It is difficult to see, but I attached a copy of my screen name and avatar

Next up: Natebenma's Excellent Adventures in Mexico (I hope)

 

[mickeystoontown]

I hate that you missed the Dis meet in person but at least you were able to attend via the mini-poster. I am right there with you on having no pictures of myself as I am always the one behind the camera.

 

[natebenma]

I hate that you missed the Dis meet in person but at least you were able to attend via the mini-poster. I am right there with you on having no pictures of myself as I am always the one behind the camera.

Yes, I really would have loved to be there in person! I'm not sure if my family would have come with me though. I am definitely the social butterfly in the clan.

I have the picture from the meet on one of the FAQ pages. I call it a "Hidden Dee"

 

[LovintheLodge]

Hey I haven't posted in awhile! I feel famous...haha. That's the picture (DIS Meet) I posted after returning from our fabulous trip. I'm the person in the light blue shirt (2nd from the right). It brings back wonderful memories. Through that meet, we met a wonderful family. Our kids hung out several times and we spent an evening with them as well (a fun walk around the countries in Epcot with a couple of drink stops ending at the Tequila bar in Mexico!).

I have a lot of catching up to do. I started to read the new Yacht & BC thread you started (GREAT JOB on that!), but have to catch up and get back to posting! Take care,

Kerry

 

[aprilisis]

I'm SO late to this party, but I wanted to say thanks for a great TR. I read the whole thing this morning- I am home sick from work. I really am enjoying your photos & reliving such a fun trip!

 

[DrMomof3]

1st, I love that you have MY pin in your trip report!!! I was the FIRST ONE to wear it at Disney.
2nd, You are my imaginary internet friends. Just ask my husband!
3rd, Love the Flat Dee at the meet! Brilliant!!!!

I think the Y&BC group is one of the nicest around! Although my last trip and my next will not be at YC or BC, I still love it there.

Amanda

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hi Dee! Great TR - I wish your last day hadn't been so yucky. It's bad enough just to have to go home, but that airline mess just added insult to injury!

I missed out on the BC/YC dismeet too - we had left for home already. I would have come back from the beach for it too!

 

[natebenma]

Hey I haven't posted in awhile! I feel famous...haha. That's the picture (DIS Meet) I posted after returning from our fabulous trip. I'm the person in the light blue shirt (2nd from the right). It brings back wonderful memories. Through that meet, we met a wonderful family. Our kids hung out several times and we spent an evening with them as well (a fun walk around the countries in Epcot with a couple of drink stops ending at the Tequila bar in Mexico!).

I have a lot of catching up to do. I started to read the new Yacht & BC thread you started (GREAT JOB on that!), but have to catch up and get back to posting! Take care,

Kerry

Hi Kerry- hope you don't mind me using the picture. I think you were the only one who ever posted a picture of the meet! I didn't want to identify others in the picture here or on the BC site since I don't really have permission from anyone.

I would be more than happy to credit you with the photo here and on the FAQ thread. DIS meet photo courtesy of LovintheLodge

I know I missed out on a great time!

Thanks for the nice comments about the Y&B site. I'm really pretty happy with how it is coming along, and it is nice having friends (real or imagined) to take pictures for me and to keep the guest lists.

I think early on in the new thread there was a WL fan who posted and was concerned about booking over at the Y&B (can't remember which one) because they love the Lodge so much. I told them there are others who have come over and enjoyed the resort, with you in mind.

Have you reached the part of the new thread with the news about Teena, or have you been in touch with her?

I'm SO late to this party, but I wanted to say thanks for a great TR. I read the whole thing this morning- I am home sick from work. I really am enjoying your photos & reliving such a fun trip!

aprilisis
I'm sorry you're home sick today, but I am happy to hear that you enjoyed my report. I have enjoyed writing it! Thanks for sharing your comment!

1st, I love that you have MY pin in your trip report!!! I was the FIRST ONE to wear it at Disney.
2nd, You are my imaginary internet friends. Just ask my husband!
3rd, Love the Flat Dee at the meet! Brilliant!!!!

I think the Y&BC group is one of the nicest around! Although my last trip and my next will not be at YC or BC, I still love it there.

Amanda

You know your pin is on the Community Page of the Y&B thread, too, right?

I love the friends I have made on the TR board and on the Y&B thread!

I think the "Flat Dee" really cracked Teena up. She didn't know I was sending it to her. And I didn't know if it would make it in time. I mailed it on a Wednesday, I think the meet was on a Sunday, and I was too cheap to pay the $10 it would take to guarantee arrival by Friday.

 

[natebenma]

Hi Dee! Great TR - I wish your last day hadn't been so yucky. It's bad enough just to have to go home, but that airline mess just added insult to injury!

I missed out on the BC/YC dismeet too - we had left for home already. I would have come back from the beach for it too!

Missed your post while I writing my replies!

I thought we had found such a great solution to our last day. I loved the idea of taking it easy and just hanging out before we left for the airport. I even invited Teena to have breakfast with us at the Cape May before her shift.

Check out your tickers!!! Are the girls still clueless? Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[eandesmom]

I love that Flat Dee made the meet!



I'll look forward to your Mexican adventure, whatever that may be!

 

[natebenma]

I love that Flat Dee made the meet!



I'll look forward to your Mexican adventure, whatever that may be!

If I couldn't make it to the meet, at least I could amuse others (and myself)!

We are going to the Barcelo Maya Colonial for a week starting Monday. I had a ticker up for awhile but I took it down on a day when a bunch of tickers went kaput.

Sun, surf, snorkeling, touring ruins (Coba), ziplining and maybe a mojito- or dos!

 

[counselormom]

I missed the sunken treasure on our trip. I'll have to try it next time. Love the Flat Dee idea, too cute! Can't wait to read about your Mexico adventure!

 

[natebenma]

I missed the sunken treasure on our trip. I'll have to try it next time. Love the Flat Dee idea, too cute! Can't wait to read about your Mexico adventure!

I actually missed the Sunken Treasure too! The photo I posted was taken by Pixarmom last week- one of her secret agent missions assigned by folks on the Y&B board.

On my trip, I had promised to complete 4 missions-

1) Find out if outside floats were permitted at Stormalong Bay (noodles yes, floats no, unless you are under age 4 and within an adults reach)
2) Find out if blood orange sorbet was still on the menu at Tutto
3) Check out the flavors of prepackaged gelato at BC Marketplace (mango, cookies and cream and chocolate)
4) Have a Sunken Treasure for Robyn (Disneymomx7)

We never made it into Italy, so I failed on mission 2.

When Ben and I were out at the pool alone, I tried to get the Sunken Treasure. But Ben was being a real PITA in line- he wanted to be in the water. So I bagged it. So I still haven't tried one yet.

Thanks for the travel wishes! Last minute preparation today, 7:45 flight tomorrow morning!

 

[dtr_angel]

Dee, I was wondering if you can give me some advice. We've always wanted to go to a water park, but I could never figure out an easy way to do it as far as our stuff with only 2 people. We're staying at the AKL in May, and we're hoping to go to Blizzard Beach for a day. I already bought some ziploc big bags for our stuff thanks to reading your trip report Any tips you have would be great! My plan is to go straight to BB in the morning, and come back to AKL after we're done.

 

[Queila]

Hi Dee!
You must be in Mexico by now. Do you miss us already?

Anyways, just wanted to wish you a good trip and say I loved your flat Dee appearance at the Dismeet. What a great idea!

Also, I am sorry your departure day was last than perfect. Don,t even get me started on airline companies. I was supposed to fly back to Montreal in 2005 from Orlando through Boston. When I got to MCO American Airlines told me that flight did no exist anymore and that we would have to wait four hours to get a plane to Miami and from Miami up to Montreal. We landed here at 1 am instead of in the middle of the afternoon like we were hoping. That was the day I swore I would never buy an AA ticket again.

Anyways, hope you are having a blast!

Q

 

[dtr_angel]

Oh wow I hope you are enjoying Mexico!

 

[Kat in GA]

I was so excited to find a July trip report! We are going in July this year - and we have never done summer - only September - so I have been looking for reports that will help me gauge crowds and have an idea of what to expect.

Thanks so much for the TR...and the pictures...and the details!

 

[natebenma]

Dee, I was wondering if you can give me some advice. We've always wanted to go to a water park, but I could never figure out an easy way to do it as far as our stuff with only 2 people. We're staying at the AKL in May, and we're hoping to go to Blizzard Beach for a day. I already bought some ziploc big bags for our stuff thanks to reading your trip report Any tips you have would be great! My plan is to go straight to BB in the morning, and come back to AKL after we're done.

Well, I have some contradictory advice. When we visit a waterpark, we find a couple of chairs and leave our things. We have never had anything stolen or gone through, but I wouldn't suggest leaving anything at your chairs that is valuable to you. I did describe that last year we came back to our loungers when it started raining and a couple of girls were sitting there- the loungers were under cover. But they didn't touch our stuff.

We have had a camera at the bottom of our beach bag- the one my son uses- and have not had any problems, but again, we wouldn't leave anything irreplaceable (a favorite camera, with the memory card of pictures from your trip so far). I love having a waterproof camera, because I just take it with me everywhere. If your camera is not waterproof, you can always take a few pictures when you arrive, then stash it in a locker. Or just leave it behind at the resort. There are some photopass photographers around the park- I love the little photopass card they give you with the elastic to wear around your wrist. I will often use it at the parks, too.

Or buy one or two of the disposable waterproof cameras- BEFORE YOUR TRIP!

Since you are coming and going right from AKL, I suggest taking towel(s) from the resort. But otherwise, you can rent towels while at Blizzard Beach. We did that since we were spending the entire day away from our resort.

In my pictures, you can probably see the water wallet we have- it is a clear waterproof pouch you can wear around your neck (google "water wallet")- we put our Key to the World Card and a little bit of cash. There may be a couple of stands at the water parks that only take cash (mini donuts, maybe).

We bring dry clothes to change into so we won't be uncomfortable on the airconditioned buses.

Hope this helps.

Hi Dee!
You must be in Mexico by now. Do you miss us already?

Anyways, just wanted to wish you a good trip and say I loved your flat Dee appearance at the Dismeet. What a great idea!

Also, I am sorry your departure day was last than perfect. Don,t even get me started on airline companies. I was supposed to fly back to Montreal in 2005 from Orlando through Boston. When I got to MCO American Airlines told me that flight did no exist anymore and that we would have to wait four hours to get a plane to Miami and from Miami up to Montreal. We landed here at 1 am instead of in the middle of the afternoon like we were hoping. That was the day I swore I would never buy an AA ticket again.

Anyways, hope you are having a blast!

Q

I'm back! We had a really great time. Fantastic weather. I'll report more, and of course post a picture or two (I took around 1,500)!

Ugh! That is terrible about your flight! Can you imagine if you had to go through something like that with Beatriz?

I was so excited to find a July trip report! We are going in July this year - and we have never done summer - only September - so I have been looking for reports that will help me gauge crowds and have an idea of what to expect.

Thanks so much for the TR...and the pictures...and the details!

Hi Kat-

I hope you can get some useful info from my report. My advice is to get to the parks, early early early. If you are staying onsite- use the Extra Magic Hours (we are morning people, so this worked best for us). You get more done in those first two hours than you can all day long. You are ahead of the crowds and it is usually the coolest time of the day. Enjoy your trip, and the planning!

 

[LovintheLodge]

Hi Kerry- hope you don't mind me using the picture. I think you were the only one who ever posted a picture of the meet! I didn't want to identify others in the picture here or on the BC site since I don't really have permission from anyone.

I would be more than happy to credit you with the photo here and on the FAQ thread. DIS meet photo courtesy of LovintheLodge

I know I missed out on a great time!

Thanks for the nice comments about the Y&B site. I'm really pretty happy with how it is coming along, and it is nice having friends (real or imagined) to take pictures for me and to keep the guest lists.

I think early on in the new thread there was a WL fan who posted and was concerned about booking over at the Y&B (can't remember which one) because they love the Lodge so much. I told them there are others who have come over and enjoyed the resort, with you in mind.

Have you reached the part of the new thread with the news about Teena, or have you been in touch with her?

Hi Dee! You just returned from vacation right? As I said, I feel 'famous' (haha) that you posted the picture and have no problem with it. We had a fun time that day and met some wonderful people (some lasting friendships for sure!). Please feel free to keep it on the site. I can still remember when Teena told us and then showed us the 'flat Dee' and said we must include it in the photo. We were cracking up! I think I took a close-up of Teena with 'flat Dee' too. I'll have to go back and check that out...

I have sooooo much catching up to do on the new YC&BC thread that you created, but as I said you have done a GREAT job!! There is so much wonderful information there. I starting reading through the site but I think that was about 30 pages ago?!?!?! I may have caught the latest posting of that WL fan because I checked the thread the other day and saw that a WL fan switched back to WL from BC. I will have to get on the site and start posting!!

Yes, I keep in touch with Teena (just love her!). I am sooo happy that things are looking up for her. She is a wonderful person...BC is lucky to have her. I will never forget the day we arrived at the BC and were greated by her!!

Kerry