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

[jdd]

If you could just let me know what resort you're going to be at I can add you to the list!

Oops! Got so excited I forgot

We're at CSR from 8/10-8/15, then (hopefully) switching to the Poly when DH gets here on the 15th. So, Poly from 8/15-8/17.

On another note, are people still having trouble booking their ADRs with the "extra" 10 days? We check in on 8/10, so today is our 180-day mark, but I can only book for our first day . I really wanted to get everything locked in today - and I hate to call, just such a pain...

 

[msyjoa]

I can't PM yet because I only have 5 posts so far. So, once I get to ten posts, I will PM my ADRs.

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

I am a teacher, so the school year is pretty much out. When we started looking, we noticed August was a bit cheaper (based on rack rates), so it seemed fitting. We are from TX, so hopefully the heat won't bother us too much!

Also, thanks for being so welcoming!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I can't PM yet because I only have 5 posts so far. So, once I get to ten posts, I will PM my ADRs.

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

I am a teacher, so the school year is pretty much out. When we started looking, we noticed August was a bit cheaper (based on rack rates), so it seemed fitting. We are from TX, so hopefully the heat won't bother us too much!

Also, thanks for being so welcoming!

This is our first time in August, but our decision was based on price (we are using a free dining bounceback and August room rates are one of the lowest). The last two years we went to WDW in September, but that was more driven by cheap Disney cruise prices. We used to go in December, and are still trying to get back there, but winter rate seasons have increased, so it makes August and September appealing!

 

[Disney Commando]

QUESTION OF THE DAY

The day you arrive and the day you depart the World will you hang at the hotel pool or squeeze in a park visit? How much time do you expect to have at either location on those days?

the day we arrive will be Aug 4th, we should arrive at All star Movies around 10am (depending on the Auto trains arrival time), check in , unload the van take showers and go to the food court for lunch, around noon we should be on our way to Epcot, my son can't wait to get on the Test Track once again (it's been closed for the last 2 trips), it will be my son's 8th B-Day and he wants to eat at Ohana's we got a 5pm ADR, at 7pm we are meeting up with some friends at Capt. Cooks for a Dole Whip B-Day celebration for the kids, then off to MK for the evening EMH's.

It should be at least 8hrs of park time between the 2 parks


The day we will be leaving is Aug 14th, we will be doing the Stitch & Lilo Breakfast at Ohana's then hop a monorail to MK, we have to be out of MK by noon to head for the train station for our departure home.

it will be 3hrs of park time

 

[SenecaWolf]

Oops! Got so excited I forgot

We're at CSR from 8/10-8/15, then (hopefully) switching to the Poly when DH gets here on the 15th. So, Poly from 8/15-8/17.

On another note, are people still having trouble booking their ADRs with the "extra" 10 days? We check in on 8/10, so today is our 180-day mark, but I can only book for our first day . I really wanted to get everything locked in today - and I hate to call, just such a pain...

Your info was perfect, Disneylover99 was the over excited one lol.

Sent from my Galaxy SIII using DISBoards

 

[chuckinthechat]

QUESTION OF THE DAY

The day you arrive and the day you depart the World will you hang at the hotel pool or squeeze in a park visit? How much time do you expect to have at either location on those days?

We are arriving at the airport at 1132 from the flight so we are going to be going to do a little of AK the day we arrive then go to DtD for dinner at T-Rex.

Seeing that it has been so long so I've been there I need to make as much of the time I have available

 

[pigletto]

momto3gr8boys,

If you have an ipad with you, you can make them as you go. I know it's probably not your first choice, but it may make it doable. Otherwise I would just get on your phone and call while you are in transit. I would try to get the popular ones out of the way and then make the rest later from your resort.

You know what.. that's a great suggestion! Dd will have her Iphone and dh has a blackberry tablet so I'll throw it in the bag and use one or the other that day. I usually wouldn't bring a tablet to the park but it will be easy to make them in the car on the way over

 

[pigletto]

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

All three!!

It's getting harder and harder to have dd miss school. We are doing it for this February trip but she will have to do homework on vacation and she has a very easy semester with gym and art and 2 academic subjects that she excels in, so we felt we could go for a week.
August generally works best because the kids are out of school. So is my husband who does one semester of school and the next 4 months work.. for the last 3 years! He always has one week in Feb and one in August so we make the most of it.
Secondly, it's value season the last week of August and there has been a free dining offer for our last 3 years or a great room rate.
Thirdly, it's become tradition and would feel weird to just sit at home that last week of August when we could be at our favourite family place!!

 

[chuckinthechat]

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

For me it is all about price, the rates are much cheaper and going at the end of August it is a great way to end summer

 

[lovingeire]

Which parade is your favorite and why?

Main Street Electrical Parade, hands down! It's my childhood favorite and is one of those quintessential Disney experiences for me!

 

[lovingeire]

QUESTION OF THE DAY

The day you arrive and the day you depart the World will you hang at the hotel pool or squeeze in a park visit? How much time do you expect to have at either location on those days?

We normally do DTD or pool arrival day and a resort character meal on check out day. We are contemplating getting season passes next year so I think we'll do parks on arrival & departure days then, but we'll be using out military tickets this Aug so only 4 park days for us.

 

[honkytonkmama]

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

Our oldest is in school, and my husband will not let me pull him out. Plus we will be there for our 11th wedding annv.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I can't PM yet because I only have 5 posts so far. So, once I get to ten posts, I will PM my ADRs.

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

I am a teacher, so the school year is pretty much out. When we started looking, we noticed August was a bit cheaper (based on rack rates), so it seemed fitting. We are from TX, so hopefully the heat won't bother us too much!

Also, thanks for being so welcoming!

Ten years ago I was one of those die-hard "I will never go to Disney in the summer!" people. Then my kids got big When they were young I had no problem pulling them out of school at off times. I am still one of those who says I will never go at Christmas, President's Week and Spring Break (though I supposed I should never say never). We went for Thanksgiving weekend in 2009, and that was enough (crowd wise - it was actually one of our best Disney trips ever) for me to swear off holidays. So that left summer. The first time we chose August, it wound up being the end because of the camp schedule. At that point I hadn't realized there was a such a huge difference in crowd levels and price. We had a great trip - yes, it was hot, but it was the perfect end to summer, the crowds were low, the prices were low, and then a year or so into our Aug. trips FD started, and it's been a great time to go.

Since starting our August trips, we went two other times. Once was that Thanksgiving, and once we went in July - right after the 4th. Ugh - that was the worst - super hot and crowded. But that summer we went to Alaska the last week in August. We actually did the Thanksgiving trip that year at the last minute to "make up" for the summer trip.

Wow, that was a long winded answer to your question

 

[momto3gr8boys]

the day we arrive will be Aug 4th, we should arrive at All star Movies around 10am (depending on the Auto trains arrival time), check in , unload the van take showers and go to the food court for lunch, around noon we should be on our way to Epcot, my son can't wait to get on the Test Track once again (it's been closed for the last 2 trips), it will be my son's 8th B-Day and he wants to eat at Ohana's we got a 5pm ADR, at 7pm we are meeting up with some friends at Capt. Cooks for a Dole Whip B-Day celebration for the kids, then off to MK for the evening EMH's.

It should be at least 8hrs of park time between the 2 parks


The day we will be leaving is Aug 14th, we will be doing the Stitch & Lilo Breakfast at Ohana's then hop a monorail to MK, we have to be out of MK by noon to head for the train station for our departure home.

it will be 3hrs of park time

Sounds like a great first day! (and your last too - ours will be similar in that we will do 1900 park fare for breakfast and then head to the MK).

How long will you be on the Auto Train? And here's a dumb question, but what exactly is the Auto Train? Is it like Amtrak? Do you put your car on it? And if so, do you just pack everything in your car and get on the train?

 

[Loreli]

I have a Question for the Day...Why August? Is it the best time for your family, the price, or just tradition?

My mom always took us in Aug back in the 70's and early 80's. It was cheaper and we were out of school. Now she's taking me and my daughters and wants to go in August again. Were I paying we would be going next week while the kids are on February break.

 

[KSL]

momto3gr8boys (sorry, I forgot to click the quote button!):
The AutoTrain runs between Lorton VA (just outside Washington DC) and Stanford FL (about 40 minutes from Orlando). You book it as one-way (of course, you can go round-trip, but you don't book it that way and no discounts for going both legs) and it is very popular with snowbirds and Disney visitors from the northeast! You do have to have a vehicle with you, and they can take cars, vans, motorcycles, but not trailers or campers, I don't think. Lots of info on Amtrak's website, and also there's a great thread on the Transportation board (All About the Autotrain) - I don't know how to post a link here but you'll find it. We LOVE it. Pack everything you want in your vehicle (me + 3 daughters = lots of stuff!) it goes into one of the special cars for transporting the vehicles. Then you just bring a small bag with whatever you want with you for overnight on the train. You can do coach seats or a variety of sleepercar arrangements. Meals in the dining car, movies in the lounge car, outlets at every seat for laptops, DSi, DVD player, etc. Plus you can move around, use the restroom, and sleep, all while on your way down or back! Ok, I sound like a commercial. But we love it & are looking forward to taking the AT again this year!

 

[jennluvsdis]

QUESTION OF THE DAY

The day you arrive and the day you depart the World will you hang at the hotel pool or squeeze in a park visit? How much time do you expect to have at either location on those days?

This time we plan on arriving early so we will be going to MK for a little while we wait for our room to be ready. this will be easy be cause we are staying at BLT. However, we do not have any ADR or other plans for that evening just an early bed to rest up for early mornings. We will spend a little time again at MK on departure day to say goodbye.

 

[Loreli]

What time can we get into our rooms when we arrive? What time do we have to be out by on the last day? Is it different for each resort?

 

[Disney Commando]

Sounds like a great first day! (and your last too - ours will be similar in that we will do 1900 park fare for breakfast and then head to the MK).

How long will you be on the Auto Train? And here's a dumb question, but what exactly is the Auto Train? Is it like Amtrak? Do you put your car on it? And if so, do you just pack everything in your car and get on the train?

momto3gr8boys (sorry, I forgot to click the quote button!):
The AutoTrain runs between Lorton VA (just outside Washington DC) and Stanford FL (about 40 minutes from Orlando). You book it as one-way (of course, you can go round-trip, but you don't book it that way and no discounts for going both legs) and it is very popular with snowbirds and Disney visitors from the northeast! You do have to have a vehicle with you, and they can take cars, vans, motorcycles, but not trailers or campers, I don't think. Lots of info on Amtrak's website, and also there's a great thread on the Transportation board (All About the Autotrain) - I don't know how to post a link here but you'll find it. We LOVE it. Pack everything you want in your vehicle (me + 3 daughters = lots of stuff!) it goes into one of the special cars for transporting the vehicles. Then you just bring a small bag with whatever you want with you for overnight on the train. You can do coach seats or a variety of sleepercar arrangements. Meals in the dining car, movies in the lounge car, outlets at every seat for laptops, DSi, DVD player, etc. Plus you can move around, use the restroom, and sleep, all while on your way down or back! Ok, I sound like a commercial. But we love it & are looking forward to taking the AT again this year!

KSL pretty much summed it up about the AutoTrain, to add it will not really save you time if you were to drive straight through, if you were going to stop overnight it would, but the Autotrain relieves a ton of stress that you would get driving instead you get to relax, I believe it covers something like 942 miles so that is a lot of wear and tear saved on your car also

I love it, if I don't have to drive and can can get to WDW in the morning relaxed it's well worth it

sidenote The earlier you book the cheaper it is, price goes up closer to the trip time

 

[momto3gr8boys]

What time can we get into our rooms when we arrive? What time do we have to be out by on the last day? Is it different for each resort?

Rooms should be ready by 3 or 4 at the latest and you need to check out by 11 on your last day. I am fairly certain it is the same for all resorts. During slower times, you can sometimes get into your room much earlier, but if it's not ready, they will text you when it is ready. If you want to swim, or head to the parks, just make sure you have what you need in your carry on. Anything else can be left with bell services..