ª"˜˜ª¤.¸Official Team August 2013 Thread!¸.¤ª˜˜"ª&#9733

[SheriffWoodyHowdy]

Hello. First time on this board. We are staying at AoA 8/18 thru 8/25. My husband and daughters first trip, my second in 21 years. We are all very excited!

 

[joshsmom]

We won't be doing online check in since we're staying with DVC points borrowed from a family member. But we did it last time we were there and didn't have any problems!

Thank you for the positive thoughts. I hope you have a wonderful vacation!!!

 

[joshsmom]

Hello. First time on this board. We are staying at AoA 8/18 thru 8/25. My husband and daughters first trip, my second in 21 years. We are all very excited!

We have lots of fun on this thread!! Hope you like it too and I hope you have a WONDERFUL trip!!!

 

[Disney Commando]

Months ago when I started planning out our days for our August trip I added some things to do that did not exist at that time, Being a Commando, when I plan I like to look way outside the box, I tend to plan some things based on speculation of rumors, Now when I start planning I will admit most have no ideal what I'm talking about, but crazy enough by the time of the trip most of them pan out, A couple of things I already had incorporated into our plans for August, that are now operational are A Pirate's Adventure Interactive Game in MK & Wilderness Explores Game at AK

Also I can't wait to start asking around for cards the Transportation Cards series 3 (have complete sets from series 1 & 2 including pulled cards) with all the park hopping we do it's a fun pastime

 

[Koh1977]

Wow...I'm exhausted.

I went to Target today and picked up $1700 in gift cards with my RedCard for $1615 to pay off our remaining balance. Then I got home and started paying off the balance $50 at a time. This is the first time I've ever had an issue with the Disney website (I know many have had issues with it) and it was agonizing. You can only enter one gift card at a time, it was very slow to process things and after two or three cards it would kick you out and have you sign back in again, sometimes two or three times before it would let you pay more. All in all I think it was about 2 and 1/2 hours to enter 34 gift cards.

The upshot is though that the trip is paid for now.

So with the recent price increase and our desire to come back next June I'm reconsidering the AP purchase. I'm going to bust out Excel this week and see if it is worthwhile.

I told DH that if I'd known we were coming back within the year, I would've gotten an AP last September and booked a BB!! Oh well...he says no Disney for 2014 though...

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[Koh1977]

Months ago when I started planning out our days for our August trip I added some things to do that did not exist at that time, Being a Commando, when I plan I like to look way outside the box, I tend to plan some things based on speculation of rumors, Now when I start planning I will admit most have no ideal what I'm talking about, but crazy enough by the time of the trip most of them pan out, A couple of things I already had incorporated into our plans for August, that are now operational are A Pirate's Adventure Interactive Game in MK & Wilderness Explores Game at AK

Also I can't wait to start asking around for cards the Transportation Cards series 3 (have complete sets from series 1 & 2 including pulled cards) with all the park hopping we do it's a fun pastime

Transportation cards??

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[thetorit]

We heard through the rumor mill that DH is up for deployment again. I do NOT want this, not only because this vacation is to celebrate him coming home from the last deployment - I'd trade the vaca to keep him home!, but because he's been gone for 15 months since we got married less than 23 months ago. We'll find out this week the timeframe we're looking at, please send happy thoughts that it is a long long LONG time from now!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hello. First time on this board. We are staying at AoA 8/18 thru 8/25. My husband and daughters first trip, my second in 21 years. We are all very excited!

to our thread! Glad to have you along! Your trip falls just before ours.....we are there from the 23rd to the 31st. It will be here before we all know it!

We heard through the rumor mill that DH is up for deployment again. I do NOT want this, not only because this vacation is to celebrate him coming home from the last deployment - I'd trade the vaca to keep him home!, but because he's been gone for 15 months since we got married less than 23 months ago. We'll find out this week the timeframe we're looking at, please send happy thoughts that it is a long long LONG time from now!

That sucks. Hopefully the rumor is just a rumor. I can't imagine my DH being away that long.......it must be so tough for you all!!

 

[JavArmy]

We heard through the rumor mill that DH is up for deployment again. I do NOT want this, not only because this vacation is to celebrate him coming home from the last deployment - I'd trade the vaca to keep him home!, but because he's been gone for 15 months since we got married less than 23 months ago. We'll find out this week the timeframe we're looking at, please send happy thoughts that it is a long long LONG time from now!

Sorry to hear about the deployment. Keep your hopes up, you know how the rumor mill goes in the military, everyone always assumes the worst. How long has he been home for? They have to keep him home at least a year (depending on how long he was deployed for last time). How long of a deployment are you looking at? Keep us updated! Even though my husband hasn't deployed much, we have been through it and know a bit about the good and bad that military life can bring. I was in the Navy for 6 years (that's where I met my husband), he has been in the Army for 13 years (he just had his Army birthday a few days ago), and we have been married for almost 8 years (our anniversary is the 25th!). The military life can be rough, especially since its hard for those outside to relate, so if you need anything, just know you have another military spouse here!!

 

[zabache]

Tomorrow is 60 days for me!! Woohoo!! Do you have to have it PIF before you can do online check in?

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I haven't payed any part of my balance an the online check in button appeared on the My Experience page yesterday which was the 60 day mark.

 

[disnia]

Wow...I'm exhausted.

I went to Target today and picked up $1700 in gift cards with my RedCard for $1615 to pay off our remaining balance. Then I got home and started paying off the balance $50 at a time. This is the first time I've ever had an issue with the Disney website (I know many have had issues with it) and it was agonizing. You can only enter one gift card at a time, it was very slow to process things and after two or three cards it would kick you out and have you sign back in again, sometimes two or three times before it would let you pay more. All in all I think it was about 2 and 1/2 hours to enter 34 gift cards.

The upshot is though that the trip is paid for now.

So with the recent price increase and our desire to come back next June I'm reconsidering the AP purchase. I'm going to bust out Excel this week and see if it is worthwhile.

My husband has been doing the Target cards in small batches without a problem. We'll remember this for the big batch and plan accordingly! Yikes!

We're considering the AP and TIW for this trip, we keep going back and forth on it.

 

[disnia]

60 Days! All checked in to CBR (not PIF yet, so there was no issue with that). We have preferred rooms and selected the corner and second floor on the check in requests. First time at CBR, not entirely sure what to do for requests. Dates are 8/2 - 8/10. Wondering if a Friday arrival versus a Saturday arrival hurts or helps us?

 

[Koh1977]

60 Days! All checked in to CBR (not PIF yet, so there was no issue with that). We have preferred rooms and selected the corner and second floor on the check in requests. First time at CBR, not entirely sure what to do for requests. Dates are 8/2 - 8/10. Wondering if a Friday arrival versus a Saturday arrival hurts or helps us?

Awesome!! Online check in here I come!! we are 8/2-8/9 at AKL!

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[joshsmom]

We heard through the rumor mill that DH is up for deployment again. I do NOT want this, not only because this vacation is to celebrate him coming home from the last deployment - I'd trade the vaca to keep him home!, but because he's been gone for 15 months since we got married less than 23 months ago. We'll find out this week the timeframe we're looking at, please send happy thoughts that it is a long long LONG time from now!

DEFINITELY sending you very happy thoughts!!!


Good MORNING all my August DIS friends!!! SO EXCITED about everyone starting to be able to do on-line check in!! That just means we are THAT MUCH CLOSER to seeing Mickey!!! It also means that if you are stalking cancellations, you should start looking soon!! Some people get to their 45 day point and realize that they can't go and they cancel before it costs them anything. So although our 45 days may be a bit away yet, its something to think about and be ready for!!!

 

[Disneyforus]

My husband has been doing the Target cards in small batches without a problem. We'll remember this for the big batch and plan accordingly! Yikes!

What is the advantage of doing the Target Gift Cards? Are you buying them with a credit card to get reward points?? I did someting similar one year when Sams Club was selling them for cheaper than the face value, and they had a free $10...or something along those lines.

Thanks!

 

[jdd]

What is the advantage of doing the Target Gift Cards? Are you buying them with a credit card to get reward points?? I did someting similar one year when Sams Club was selling them for cheaper than the face value, and they had a free $10...or something along those lines.

Thanks!

I'd love to know this too! But we have a room only ressie, so I won't be paying it off online. I imagine the check in CMs would think I'm nuts if I showed up with a fistful of gift cards

 

[pigletto]

What is the advantage of doing the Target Gift Cards? Are you buying them with a credit card to get reward points?? I did someting similar one year when Sams Club was selling them for cheaper than the face value, and they had a free $10...or something along those lines.

Thanks!

5% off when you use the Red Card to pay for them and I believe some people also have a pharmacy coupon for an additional percentage. So essentially if you buy enough of them to pay down your package, you build in a discount for yourself

 

[B's Marie]

We heard through the rumor mill that DH is up for deployment again. I do NOT want this, not only because this vacation is to celebrate him coming home from the last deployment - I'd trade the vaca to keep him home!, but because he's been gone for 15 months since we got married less than 23 months ago. We'll find out this week the timeframe we're looking at, please send happy thoughts that it is a long long LONG time from now!

Sending good vibes!

 

[pigletto]

We heard through the rumor mill that DH is up for deployment again. I do NOT want this, not only because this vacation is to celebrate him coming home from the last deployment - I'd trade the vaca to keep him home!, but because he's been gone for 15 months since we got married less than 23 months ago. We'll find out this week the timeframe we're looking at, please send happy thoughts that it is a long long LONG time from now!

I hope at this point it's just a rumor. Crossing my fingers and toes for you!

 

[KSL]

I know I read somewhere on here that folks with lots of gift cards have listed out all the numbers and faxed them in for them to be applied to their balance. Sorry, I know that isn't very helpful when I don't have a link to the thread or the fax number, but maybe if you search you will find it, or call and ask? Just a thought.

Target also had a promotion in the Fall where you would get a $10 Target gift card for every $50 spent when you brought in the coupon. You were only supposed to use two coupons, but someone posted a PDF with four coupons on it to print as many as you wanted. I am very much a rule follower so I felt slightly ill each time I went in that I was breaking rules, but I told the cashier each time what I wanted to do and asked whether it was allowed and they let me do it every time! So I went about 6 times over a week and each time bought 2 $50 Disney gift cards (separate transactions) with my RedCard, so I saved the 5% on the Disney gift card AND got a $10 Target card back. I still have the stack of $10 Target cards, which I will use to redeem for more Disney gift cards, FREE! I felt like I won the lottery.

I think I am going to join in with those stalking the Dessert Party reservations opening. We'd like to go on the 20th (Tues). Any of you trying for then?

I need to post my ADRs, too.....