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

[Koh1977]

I am SO HAPPY for you!! I have been trying to get a better time--we have a 9:30, but I haven't had any luck

Ours is 9:15 on 8/1 now...not ideal, but I will take what I can get at the moment!

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[squirrel4569]

Ours is 9:15 on 8/1 now...not ideal, but I will take what I can get at the moment!

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It was cool to see that happen for you!

Now if only someone would cancel BOG on 8/18-8/22 for a party of 5...

 

[Koh1977]

It was cool to see that happen for you!

Now if only someone would cancel BOG on 8/18-8/22 for a party of 5...

Good luck!! I'd tried twice before and couldn't snag it when they canceled...

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[momto3gr8boys]

I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing...


Sorry I've fallen so far behind here... I had a really awesome Dismeet at the MOA last weekend - and I fell behind everywhere... Hopefully I can catch back up again soon.

D~

Thanks, D. I feel much better. I saw the rehab doctor yesterday - what a great doctor! I didn't even know that type of medicine existed. He literally examined me for an hour and my left arm/hand (which is my dominant side being I am lefty) is significantly weak...it's more than 50% weaker than my right. So PT three times a week and twice a day I get to play with playdough and a bucket of rice at home. I feel like a 3 year old going for OT Today is a brain MRI. I am just so grateful that if this had to happen, it is happening now and not during any of our summer travel plans!

How exciting about your DIS meet! What goes on at those? (I suspect the answers to that are in your PTR - I need to make my way back over there!)

[


I've never seen this stuff before but I like that it doesn't have the artificial colours in it as I have an intolerance to one of the yellow dyes. Wonder if I can get it in Canada? I don't mind buying from Amazon.com but they always charge a crazy amonut for shipping! I've never seen packets of gatorade here either just the cans of powder but I can take one or two in our suitcases and just make up a couple of bottles for us. I'd likely end up just doing water myself due to the dyes in it.

I just checked the ultimareplenisher.com site. Under the store locator there are a lot of stores in Canada that carry it. I'm not sure where you are, but check it out.

Wooooo! (Insert happy dance!) we're Paid In Full!!!

71 days to go!!!

I need to pay off my trip, but I joined the NO BUY thread for June and all I've done is spend money on our upcoming trips That's going to add a chunk to my total - I think I'll wait until my 45 day mark in July just to make my bottom line look better

Darn it. I was almost undetected
Yeah.. I switched. Is anyone shocked anymore?

I heard this was going to happen...I've been waiting ;-)

Please add us! Me, DH, DD and DS at AKL from 8/17-8/24.


adr's:

8/17 - Splitsville around 6 PM
8/18 - Be Our Guest - 6:50
8/19 - Hollywood Brown Derby 4:00
8/20 - Via Napoli 7:00
8/21 - Biergarten 6:05
8/22 - Crystal Palace 8:15 AM
8/23 - Coral Reef 1:00
8/23 -WishesDessert Party
8/24 - 'Ohana 10:30 AM

Welcome!

I've used codes from there. I just input the code I find on the actual car rental website. I don't want to guarantee you anything at all but I KNOW you can get that rental lower. How much lower is anyones guess. Join the August car rental thread on the transportation board. Everyone posts their tips and codes. I know Gina (in this thread) has a pretty good rate with a code she used. I am still waiting but they will come down the closer we get. I've never paid more than 250 for a rental and that's usually 10 day stays. However, there is only four of us so we've used full sized cars and vans.
So watch that thread, try the codes, post your questions in there and start checking the sites daily. When the prices start to drop they can drop several times in one day and then be way back up the next day.
I always book the lowest I can find (don't prepay but just put something on hold) and then when it gets close I use the "Name Your Own Price" feature on Priceline. By close I mean the week before we go. I figure out what I am willing to spend, add in the taxes and fees and make my bid. You can specify van only, and it only checks the car rental companies that are IN the Orlando airport when you select MCO. I've gotten some very good deals that way.
Again, I think you could get this rental under $500 for sure, but it will take some work.

saylorbunch-I agree to keep looking! You can definitely get that rate lower. In May we needed a car for one day (we were getting off the Dream and going to DTD for the day before flying out). I used Budget, picking up at PC and dropping at MCO (which always adds to the cost). My initial one day rental was $118, but I kept looking for codes, and ultimately wound up paying $43 for a Ford Expedition (8 pax)! I would definitely go with flying - those rates will come down!

Just got BOG!!!! Now I have to move our trip back a day...Am I completely crazy???

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woohoo! No, not crazy, but what does moving back the trip entail? Are you flying or driving?

************************************************

Ok, here's my crazy thought from yesterday...actually, I am going to turn this into a QOTD
If a Bounce Back is offered during your trip this summer, will you take advantage?

I started thinking yesterday that the only way I am going to swing a 2014 August trip is to book a BB (ok, I do realize this is a crazy thought, but I know you guys get it!). We have a number of things already planned for 2014, and DS17 will be heading off to college in Aug. It's not as much about the discount as it will be easier to sway DW by booking a BB "just in case" as opposed to drumming up a trip mid-year. But here's the problem, like I said, DS is off to college, which will very likely fall into the BB dates and we will have no idea where he is even going at that point. So, does anyone know if I were to book it would I be able to switch the dates (within the BB dates offered and provided there is availability)? I know I changed a BB once, but I think there was no availability - I just don't remember if that was the reason or if it was that there was no switching allowed. I hope I am making sense here!

 

[Koh1977]

Thanks, D. I feel much better. I saw the rehab doctor yesterday - what a great doctor! I didn't even know that type of medicine existed. He literally examined me for an hour and my left arm/hand (which is my dominant side being I am lefty) is significantly weak...it's more than 50% weaker than my right. So PT three times a week and twice a day I get to play with playdough and a bucket of rice at home. I feel like a 3 year old going for OT Today is a brain MRI. I am just so grateful that if this had to happen, it is happening now and not during any of our summer travel plans!

How exciting about your DIS meet! What goes on at those? (I suspect the answers to that are in your PTR - I need to make my way back over there!)

I just checked the ultimareplenisher.com site. Under the store locator there are a lot of stores in Canada that carry it. I'm not sure where you are, but check it out.

I need to pay off my trip, but I joined the NO BUY thread for June and all I've done is spend money on our upcoming trips That's going to add a chunk to my total - I think I'll wait until my 45 day mark in July just to make my bottom line look better

I heard this was going to happen...I've been waiting ;-)

Welcome!

saylorbunch-I agree to keep looking! You can definitely get that rate lower. In May we needed a car for one day (we were getting off the Dream and going to DTD for the day before flying out). I used Budget, picking up at PC and dropping at MCO (which always adds to the cost). My initial one day rental was $118, but I kept looking for codes, and ultimately wound up paying $43 for a Ford Expedition (8 pax)! I would definitely go with flying - those rates will come down!

woohoo! No, not crazy, but what does moving back the trip entail? Are you flying or driving?

************************************************

Ok, here's my crazy thought from yesterday...actually, I am going to turn this into a QOTD
If a Bounce Back is offered during your trip this summer, will you take advantage?

I started thinking yesterday that the only way I am going to swing a 2014 August trip is to book a BB (ok, I do realize this is a crazy thought, but I know you guys get it!). We have a number of things already planned for 2014, and DS17 will be heading off to college in Aug. It's not as much about the discount as it will be easier to sway DW by booking a BB "just in case" as opposed to drumming up a trip mid-year. But here's the problem, like I said, DS is off to college, which will very likely fall into the BB dates and we will have no idea where he is even going at that point. So, does anyone know if I were to book it would I be able to switch the dates (within the BB dates offered and provided there is availability)? I know I changed a BB once, but I think there was no availability - I just don't remember if that was the reason or if it was that there was no switching allowed. I hope I am making sense here!

At the moment, the plan is to drive a rental SUV...

As for switching BB resorts...yes, as I've learned from my fellow RCers (resort changers) thread, it is quite possible!!

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[jdd]

AoA is very nice. I think the suites are overpriced but we're able to stay there this time because of a discount and a friend joining us. The LM rooms there are great though and the themeing of the whole place is awesome.

AoA is our favorite resort, so far. We stayed in LM rooms the night they opened! Highly recommend.

Thanks for the recommendations - I'm just about sold on AoA. It bothers me a bit that you can't get any kind of discount on their rooms though - have to get over that one...

 

[squirrel4569]

Thanks for the recommendations - I'm just about sold on AoA. It bothers me a bit that you can't get any kind of discount on their rooms though - have to get over that one...

You can get discounts on the suites, including free dining when they offer it. We have a room only discount on a Cars suite for this trip. The Little Mermaid rooms are only in small section of the resort though, so they fill up fast and no need for a discount.

 

[zabache]

Ours is 9:15 on 8/1 now...not ideal, but I will take what I can get at the moment!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Glad I could help.
I would so love to get a BOG now for either our first or last day at the parks but a bit earlier. We're doing the dessert party the first day and that's why I gave up the BOG and then on the last day we'll be at CRT.
Maybe once the 45 mark hits people will start cancelling some ADR's.

 

[thetorit]

For anyone else who is buying their "souvenirs" before we go - the Disney store is having their twice upon a year sale now! I got DD 4 princess dresses for under $90 total last time (that were normally $50 each) so I've been waiting for this sale to come back!

 

[pigletto]

As far as the AoA suites they were running a deal on Orbitz this week where it was 15% off a suite plus if you enter the promo code SUNFUN15 at check out there was another 15% off. Don't know if it's still going on but it covered all of August. In fact, most resorts were available.

 

[zabache]

For anyone else who is buying their "souvenirs" before we go - the Disney store is having their twice upon a year sale now! I got DD 4 princess dresses for under $90 total last time (that were normally $50 each) so I've been waiting for this sale to come back!

Thanks for the tip. Do you think they might be having the sale at the actual stores too? I need to get my DD her princess dress.

 

[flnngn2]

I'm watching CNN coverage of Tropical Storm Andrea. Calling to add Travel Insurance when I get home.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

Christine.... I will definitely be booking BB if it is offered while we are there. I can tell you from personal experience that switching BB dates, resorts is EASY as long as there is availability.

 

[KSL]

No pressure, but I might be interested if you decide to skip.

Ok, yep, we're going to cancel it. Party of 5 for 'Ohana at 5:20 on Friday, August 16th. If you are interested, let me know & we can coordinate time for me to cancel and you to call in for it. ! I'll wait a few days to hear. Hope this works out for you or another of my fellow August travelers!

 

[KSL]

There are lots of levels to this for me. Some people think I'm crazy and have actually been rather rude, so I just don't mention it at all to them. Some know and respect that this is my "thing", but don't get it, so we don't discuss it either. Then I have several friends/family members who also really like Disney, but they're definitely not the obsessive planner that I am . We talk Disney only when they have a trip planned, and need some advice . My kids will often make Disney references, and mention something they'd like to do, but they're not really interested in the planning details.

No one I know feels quite the same way I do about Disney - which is why I love you all so much

This is exactly me, too!

 

[chuckinthechat]

I've thought about booking a BB if it was offered but that will be probably a game time decision when I see what the offer is.

 

[squirrel4569]

I've thought about booking a BB if it was offered but that will be probably a game time decision when I see what the offer is.

It's kind of crazy to think that with Disney it seems as if you have to plan not only your next trip, but your trip after that as well!

Taking into account price increases, potential sales, various promotions, holidays, school schedules, bouncebacks, ADRs and possibly FP+ you're behind the curve if you don't have a plan more than 6-8 months in advance.

This trip was somewhat spontaneous. We planned it only 5 months in advance.

The planning for this trip has also bled into the planning for the next trip that we had originally planned. We are planning to do some things we know we won't get to on this trip in the next trip. Also, since we have a pretty good idea of when our dates are next year we'll know if we can use the BB or not. As a matter of practice though I'll likely reserve a BB knowing there is some flexibility with it and that we could cancel if we couldn't make it work with our plans.

 

[KSL]

Ok, finally getting around to posting these! This is a mix of our old favorites and new places, so we are looking forward to them all!

8/12 @ 8:15am - Akershus Royal Banquet
8/13 @ 7:15pm - Rose & Crown
8/14 @ 5:10pm - Mama Melrose for F! Pkg
8/15 @ 12:55pm - Liberty Tree Tavern
8/17 @ 4:55pm - Be Our Guest
8/19 @ 10:15am - Tusker House
8/20 @ 9:00pm - Wishes Dessert Party
8/21 @ 12:45 - Via Napoli

We are also hoping to do CS lunch at Be Our Guest & Earl of Sandwich, plus snacks at Starring Rolls and the Sand Pail at one of the water parks -- we haven't tried any of those yet and have heard great things!

Two of the meals above (MM and BOG) are as a party of 9 with one of my BFFs and her family (whose daughter is my middle DD's BFF), and the TH breakfast will be as a party of 17 with my other BFF & her family (whose daughter is my middle DD's other BFF -- works out well that way! ), and her BFF from high school & family. I'm sure they'll have to split us up somewhat, I am just hoping we have tables on the same side of the restaurant.

 

[thetorit]

Thanks for the tip. Do you think they might be having the sale at the actual stores too? I need to get my DD her princess dress.

Yes, in store and online!

It's kind of crazy to think that with Disney it seems as if you have to plan not only your next trip, but your trip after that as well!

Taking into account price increases, potential sales, various promotions, holidays, school schedules, bouncebacks, ADRs and possibly FP+ you're behind the curve if you don't have a plan more than 6-8 months in advance.

This trip was somewhat spontaneous. We planned it only 5 months in advance.

The planning for this trip has also bled into the planning for the next trip that we had originally planned. We are planning to do some things we know we won't get to on this trip in the next trip. Also, since we have a pretty good idea of when our dates are next year we'll know if we can use the BB or not. As a matter of practice though I'll likely reserve a BB knowing there is some flexibility with it and that we could cancel if we couldn't make it work with our plans.

We started planning our 2014 trip (that will be pushed back to 2015 now because the deployment) since right after all the details to this trip were written in stone.
Maybe by 2015 I'll be able to get into BOG......

 

[squirrel4569]

Maybe by 2015 I'll be able to get into BOG......

I've already got a reminder on my phone for 180+10 for BOG ADRs for our June 2014 trip.