Magic: November 1, 2013 5 night Western

[ser0408]

Previous federal employee, survivor of the 1996 furloughs. I think this reads that you can take the time off, but you will not be paid for it. So, for that time you would be in a furlough status, not paid leave. So, the short answer say "no", but with the explanation it seems you could be in a furlough status for that time. It probably is going to be up to your department head and human resources to decide if they will let you off in that furlough status for the few days and then bring you back in the pay status.

That's exactly what my husband has been told. All pre-approved leave is cancelled. If you take leave anyway, you go into furlough status and will not be paid for those days. So he will be able to take the days off, but we won't get paid. Hopefully the government will get this all figured out, so it doesn't come to that. We have 3 1/2 weeks for the government to get this figured out!

 

[KLW1977]

Thanks for posting this! We also had 2 deluxe inside connecting rooms on deck 2 and just switched to 2 connecting on deck 7. Was tempted to get a secret porthole room on deck 5, but there wasn't a connecting available. I'm getting so excited!!

We tried to do this and everything got messed up! I was looking online and saw there were two connecting rooms on 7 still available. So, I booked one and then went to book the other. However, the system wouldn't let me. It wasn't showing the category as available any more. I went back to the first reservation and tried to change it back to the original 2nd deck connecting room. And, it wouldn't let me do that either! I called reservations and they said that the first room I booked (on the 7th deck) was the last available in the category for the military rate and that for some reason the system had changed the other connecting room (on the 2nd deck) so that it no longer would allow 3 people (makes no sense to me). And, there were no other connecting rooms she could put us in. Now, we have one room reserved on the 7th deck and one on the 2nd. The woman I spoke with was very nice and said that when her manager comes in tomorrow he will be able to chance the 7th deck room back to the original one we had on the 2nd, but neither she nor her supervisor was able to (I was hold for a very long time while they tried). What a mess!!!

 

[KLW1977]

That's exactly what my husband has been told. All pre-approved leave is cancelled. If you take leave anyway, you go into furlough status and will not be paid for those days. So he will be able to take the days off, but we won't get paid. Hopefully the government will get this all figured out, so it doesn't come to that. We have 3 1/2 weeks for the government to get this figured out!

I really hope they have it figured out soon. It is very frustrating that we are even in this position.

 

[ser0408]

We tried to do this and everything got messed up! I was looking online and saw there were two connecting rooms on 7 still available. So, I booked one and then went to book the other. However, the system wouldn't let me. It wasn't showing the category as available any more. I went back to the first reservation and tried to change it back to the original 2nd deck connecting room. And, it wouldn't let me do that either! I called reservations and they said that the first room I booked (on the 7th deck) was the last available in the category for the military rate and that for some reason the system had changed the other connecting room (on the 2nd deck) so that it no longer would allow 3 people (makes no sense to me). And, there were no other connecting rooms she could put us in. Now, we have one room reserved on the 7th deck and one on the 2nd. The woman I spoke with was very nice and said that when her manager comes in tomorrow he will be able to chance the 7th deck room back to the original one we had on the 2nd, but neither she nor her supervisor was able to (I was hold for a very long time while they tried). What a mess!!!

Oh Man! I hope they get it figured out for you. I looked a few times yesterday and saw the available rooms online, but DCL was already closed. The last time that I checked last night, I got the message that there were no more rooms available with the military discount, but this morning they were available again. I called first thing this morning, and they were able to make the change for us. Our old rooms were 2575 and 2577 (connecting rooms) which should still be available if you can't get your old rooms back. Maybe the rooms on deck 7 will be available again in the morning.

 

[TwinMomTN]

Whohoo! Expedited passports came yesterday and we got upgraded to a ocean view room! This vacation is gonna be sweet!

 

[disneyholic1977]

Whohoo! Expedited passports came yesterday and we got upgraded to a ocean view room! This vacation is gonna be sweet!

 

[MrsMork]

That's exactly what my husband has been told. All pre-approved leave is cancelled. If you take leave anyway, you go into furlough status and will not be paid for those days. So he will be able to take the days off, but we won't get paid. Hopefully the government will get this all figured out, so it doesn't come to that. We have 3 1/2 weeks for the government to get this figured out!

In the end, I am sure that the furloughed people will get back pay as well, which would mean he would get paid as a furloughed employee for those days. I cannot imagine that they will not pay 800,000 employees that are furloughed. Too much clout by the federal employee unions to allow that. In the meantime......we wait.

 

[MrsMork]

FE HOUSEKEEPING

We have some room changes going on and we have a couple not yet assigned. So, if you will PM any changes and/or assignments to me, I can send out one email to everyone at one time. I think all the dust should settle and rooms be sorted in a week or so. Hope this works for all. We do have all the info we need to get gifts together, just not the info as to where to deliver them all. We will get that AND I will have copies at the 3pm meet incase. So appreciate everyone's help and cooperation with this!

 

[disneyholic1977]

FE HOUSEKEEPING

We have some room changes going on and we have a couple not yet assigned. So, if you will PM any changes and/or assignments to me, I can send out one email to everyone at one time. I think all the dust should settle and rooms be sorted in a week or so. Hope this works for all. We do have all the info we need to get gifts together, just not the info as to where to deliver them all. We will get that AND I will have copies at the 3pm meet incase. So appreciate everyone's help and cooperation with this!

Thank you for all of your hard work!!!! I was trying to remember what time the meet was - I was thinking 3:30 so glad you said 3:00 !!

 

[stitch'sgirl]

That's exactly what my husband has been told. All pre-approved leave is cancelled. If you take leave anyway, you go into furlough status and will not be paid for those days. So he will be able to take the days off, but we won't get paid. Hopefully the government will get this all figured out, so it doesn't come to that. We have 3 1/2 weeks for the government to get this figured out!

Previous federal employee, survivor of the 1996 furloughs. I think this reads that you can take the time off, but you will not be paid for it. So, for that time you would be in a furlough status, not paid leave. So, the short answer say "no", but with the explanation it seems you could be in a furlough status for that time. It probably is going to be up to your department head and human resources to decide if they will let you off in that furlough status for the few days and then bring you back in the pay status.

Oh this makes me feel better! It's okay if I don't get paid for those days, as long as we don't have to cancel. Of course, I'd rather get paid, especially since I have over four weeks of vacation to use before the end of the year!

I took the advice of my friend in the same situation and just dove into fish extenders this weekend. Certainly kept me busy!! My goodness, the days are flying by, we'll be waving goodbye to Miami in no time soon.

 

[kpadalik]

Whohoo! Expedited passports came yesterday and we got upgraded to a ocean view room! This vacation is gonna be sweet!

Awesome!!! I bet you feel so relieved!

 

[fly4free2]

Whohoo! Expedited passports came yesterday and we got upgraded to a ocean view room! This vacation is gonna be sweet!

Oh that is wonderful news. You can take a deeeepppp breath and let the planning begin.

 

[TwinMomTN]

Question for all you crushing veterans... I am completing the check in process on the website and it asks for port arrival time which is anytime between 1 and 3:30. I am arriving at MIA at 10:30 am. I don't want to just sit around at the port unless there is something to do there. Should I just hang at the airport and have lunch? I know with 2 toddlers that a long wait with nothing to do would be awful painful...

 

[MrsMork]

Question for all you crushing veterans... I am completing the check in process on the website and it asks for port arrival time which is anytime between 1 and 3:30. I am arriving at MIA at 10:30 am. I don't want to just sit around at the port unless there is something to do there. Should I just hang at the airport and have lunch? I know with 2 toddlers that a long wait with nothing to do would be awful painful...

Are you taking Disney transportation?

 

[MrsMork]

FE CORRECTIONS

I'm sure there will be more. For now, I had one 3 year old girl listed on the spreadsheet as 3 year old boy. When I send the emails out with the room corrections, I will include any other corrections with details. I don't want to do it here for privacy reasons. Hope that makes sense. Let me know if it does not.

 

[TwinMomTN]

Are you taking Disney transportation?

Yes. Advice?

 

[KLW1977]

I booked the turtle farm through their website. I also e-mailed about transportation. I got a fast response that said transportation to/from port is not guaranteed and is offered on a first come/first serve basis. So, for those who have been to Grand Cayman before, how easy is it to find a cab that can accommodate 5? Has anyone done this before? I am a little worried about getting there and back now.

 

[VowRenewal13]

Question for all you crushing veterans... I am completing the check in process on the website and it asks for port arrival time which is anytime between 1 and 3:30. I am arriving at MIA at 10:30 am. I don't want to just sit around at the port unless there is something to do there. Should I just hang at the airport and have lunch? I know with 2 toddlers that a long wait with nothing to do would be awful painful...

Have lunch at the airport and then take the Disney shuttle to the port. By the time you have inprocessed you will not have to wait too long to board the ship.

 

[MrsMork]

Yes. Advice?

I think if you take Disney transportation they let you check in when you get there. The ship should start loading around 11:45ish and it goes fairly quickly once they start. You will have buffet lunch as soon as you board, so I would not eat a big lunch at the airport.

 

[VowRenewal13]

They will let you check in but you will not be able to board until your boarding group is called. Your boarding number is based on your check in time. But by 1PM you should be able to board when you finish with your paperwork.