ª"˜˜ª¤.¸Team August 2013 Thread! (Part 2)¸.¤ª˜˜"ª&#9733

[JavArmy]

Okay, update on my Mickey mail. While we did get our magical express stuff, we did not get our usual packet with the fancy luggage tags or check in information. It was only magical express stuff. I'm sure this is because we had to call ME directly since we have 2 different flights connected to one room.

So, the bad news is I didn't get to check out any new luggage tags

The good news is that I get to look forward to ANOTHER package from Mickey

 

[JavArmy]

On another note, I know we were taking apps yesterday and I may be the only one who didn't know this, but there is an app for the iPhone that keeps track of your Disney gift card balance!

I was sooooo excited to find this out! The kids (ages 5 and 7) will be getting gift cards for spending money and while they've gotten pretty good at understanding the concept of money (they've had to earn it all with chores) the idea of credit cards still confuses them. I'm hoping that by seeing a number showing them how the money is being taken off the card will help!

Just FYI!

 

[DisMom1981]

On another note, I know we were taking apps yesterday and I may be the only one who didn't know this, but there is an app for the iPhone that keeps track of your Disney gift card balance!

I was sooooo excited to find this out! The kids (ages 5 and 7) will be getting gift cards for spending money and while they've gotten pretty good at understanding the concept of money (they've had to earn it all with chores) the idea of credit cards still confuses them. I'm hoping that by seeing a number showing them how the money is being taken off the card will help!

Just FYI!

That is awesome. What is the app called?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[JavArmy]

That is awesome. What is the app called?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I just searched "Disney gift card" and it popped right up

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The Calgary stampede starts soon and we have tickets for a day there already.

Now that sounds like fun!!! Its on my Canadian bucket list for "things to do before I become a snowbird and move to Florida"!!

Gina, Jake sounds like such an awesome kid! I think I told you last year that I worked Y camps for years too!
Excellent memories!

He is a good kid.....I am very blessed. And he is so very aware of how fortunate he is to have such a "fun" job . While his buddies are flipping burgers at McDonalds or stocking shelves at the grocery store, he's getting paid to play basketball and ball hockey with elementary school kids. You can't get any better than that.

Your DD is quite the little entrepreneur . She will enjoy having her own spending cash this summer! Will she recruit Ben to help her out along the way?

Any one else feeling like their world was rocked a bit from the news about James Gandolfini?

I actually had to look up who it was, but once I did, I was able to put the name to the face. So sad when someone passes away at such a young age. My heart goes out to his family.

 

[Megs114]

We just changed to these exact dates at POP! It is our first time too. However we have kids in tow so no romantic ADR for us! Also, we are driving bc even the flights out of Laguardia are ridiculous for 4 people!!!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Oh I know! My DH has a rule that he will fly for no more than $100 each way. We are going from LaGuardia to Tampa for $198.

 

[Loreli]

Any one else feeling like their world was rocked a bit from the news about James Gandolfini?

I had to ask DH who he was. We don't have TV.

 

[jdd]

Hollywood and Vine - lunch or breakfast ADR?

We've done both and really enjoyed the food both times. Youngest DS used to be a huge Little Einsteins fan, and the character interaction there was great My boys are definitely more into lunch foods than breakfast, so we probably won't do any more breakfast ADRs, but it's awesome if you can get one before the park opens. Good luck!

 

[jdd]

The kids' schedules are packed this summer! Oldest two are away all this week at camp.

DS15 has drivers ed for two weeks this summer (he'll be 16 on August 1st and can't wait ), then two weeks of summer gym - so he can take two science courses during the school year and still get lunch! He also rows for our high school crew team, so will have two weeks of that camp.

Baseball just finished up for the younger two, but my middle son does a baseball camp three days a week through the end of July. He also spends a lot of time with friends in the neighborhood - biking, local swimming pool, exploring our "woods".

Youngest has day camp next week, several days planned with grandparents to visit the zoo, wave pool, science center. And he loves to read so he's doing our library's summer reading program.

They all have daily chores, and we have several day trips planned and two camping weekends. After our DW trip, they only have four days until school starts again . Summer goes by too fast

 

[poohlover4life]

I did it! I did on-line check-in! Ok so I was a little dissappointed that they made me link my credit card to my room key because my husband and I don't like that since we had a bad experience the one year we did. But, according to the very nice cast member I talked to on the phone when we get there we should be able to unlink it so we'll see how that goes. Otherwise i'm so EXCITED!! I love early check in it makes it feel so close!!!!!!!! Now I just want some Mickey Mail to make me smile and hang on my fridge lol.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I did it! I did on-line check-in! Ok so I was a little dissappointed that they made me link my credit card to my room key because my husband and I don't like that since we had a bad experience the one year we did. But, according to the very nice cast member I talked to on the phone when we get there we should be able to unlink it so we'll see how that goes.

I agree. They never used to force guests to link a credit card during online check-in. I believe they started that last year or so. We don't like linking our card for multiple reasons, but we ended up keeping it attached anyway and didn't have any issues.

 

[pigletto]

I agree. They never used to force guests to link a credit card during online check-in. I believe they started that last year or so. We don't like linking our card for multiple reasons, but we ended up keeping it attached anyway and didn't have any issues.

Really? They make you?
Last time I did online check in it was optional. Or maybe I've just always linked my card so assumed it was optional. Weird.

 

[pigletto]

The kids' schedules are packed this summer! Oldest two are away all this week at camp.

DS15 has drivers ed for two weeks this summer (he'll be 16 on August 1st and can't wait ), then two weeks of summer gym - so he can take two science courses during the school year and still get lunch! He also rows for our high school crew team, so will have two weeks of that camp.

Baseball just finished up for the younger two, but my middle son does a baseball camp three days a week through the end of July. He also spends a lot of time with friends in the neighborhood - biking, local swimming pool, exploring our "woods".

Youngest has day camp next week, several days planned with grandparents to visit the zoo, wave pool, science center. And he loves to read so he's doing our library's summer reading program.

They all have daily chores, and we have several day trips planned and two camping weekends. After our DW trip, they only have four days until school starts again . Summer goes by too fast

Holy Moly you're a busy family. I feel like that right now because my youngest has soccer on the same nights that he has a basketball skills session in another town. We go directly from one to the other and he didn't get to bed until 10 last night. I had to bring dh his dinner out to the car last night when he got home from work so he could eat on the way. Tight schedule these days.

 

[squirrel4569]

I did it! I did on-line check-in! Ok so I was a little dissappointed that they made me link my credit card to my room key because my husband and I don't like that since we had a bad experience the one year we did. But, according to the very nice cast member I talked to on the phone when we get there we should be able to unlink it so we'll see how that goes. Otherwise i'm so EXCITED!! I love early check in it makes it feel so close!!!!!!!! Now I just want some Mickey Mail to make me smile and hang on my fridge lol.

We have to change our credit card stuff around when we get there too. We could only link one card to our account and we want our friend to have her own card linked to her account. I don't use the charging feature anyways since I get a discount when I use my Disney Visa.

Hollywood and Vine - lunch or breakfast ADR?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Love the pre-RD ADR breakfast. You get in before most everyone else and get to see the park relatively empty. Great opportunity for some pictures.

So.. does everyone have plans for their kids to keep them busy this summer?

Kids are up at the grandparents and will likely be there until about 2 weeks before we leave for Disney. In the meantime at home DW and I will spend some kidfree time with friends, celebrate our anniversary, do some planning of the trip and some home repair work while the kids are gone. It should go pretty quickly.

We're already discussing next year's plan. Looks like it may be a bigger event than I previously thought. We may go towards mid-June to celebrate my in-law's 20th anniversary and a bunch of family may be joining us. If my math is right we could have somewhere in the range of 15 people! And with my wife and I being the Disney Experts we're being asked to plan it! Dear Lord, how am I going to get a BOG ADR for 15 people?

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Really? They make you?
Last time I did online check in it was optional. Or maybe I've just always linked my card so assumed it was optional. Weird.

Yeah, when we checked-in last year, there was no way around it. I considered not doing online check-in because of it, but figured I would give it a go. It turned out fine, I just think we should have the option one way or the other.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

We're already discussing next year's plan. Looks like it may be a bigger event than I previously thought. We may go towards mid-June to celebrate my in-law's 20th anniversary and a bunch of family may be joining us. If my math is right we could have somewhere in the range of 15 people! And with my wife and I being the Disney Experts we're being asked to plan it! Dear Lord, how am I going to get a BOG ADR for 15 people?

What an exciting plan! We are also already planning next years trip. We will be celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and 1st trips with 20 people! Like you, my family will be doing most of the planning and we are having family meetings to discuss the plans. Our first meeting was a few weeks ago and the next one will probably be after this years trip.

I am excited and a little nervous at the same time. I have already planted the seed that with a group so large and ages ranging from 7-55; we will not be able to stay together 24/7. I do plan on pool time, water parks and some ADR's together though.

 

[cinnderly]

Is anyone familiar with early check in with regards to POR? I wanted to request a room in one of the mansions, but I did not see anywhere that I could indicate that preference, only corner room, ground floor, second floor and highest floor. Is this something I would need to do either over the phone or via fax? I remember reading about people sending faxes before their trips in the POR FAQ. I'll check there as well, just figured I'd ask my August peeps first.

 

[jdd]

Holy Moly you're a busy family. I feel like that right now because my youngest has soccer on the same nights that he has a basketball skills session in another town. We go directly from one to the other and he didn't get to bed until 10 last night. I had to bring dh his dinner out to the car last night when he got home from work so he could eat on the way. Tight schedule these days.

Ha ha - we've had to do that too on occasion - eat in the car on the way from one activity to the next! We are busy, but as another person mentioned on here, my kids need to be very active so I don't hear the dreaded "I'm bored" .

 

[amomma23]

Is anyone familiar with early check in with regards to POR? I wanted to request a room in one of the mansions, but I did not see anywhere that I could indicate that preference, only corner room, ground floor, second floor and highest floor. Is this something I would need to do either over the phone or via fax? I remember reading about people sending faxes before their trips in the POR FAQ. I'll check there as well, just figured I'd ask my August peeps first.

Yes, you can fax for sure. Head over the the POR thread for more info about it. There is a CM in the know and many, many people have gotten their request and then some.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

So I just had my smile for the day. Was thinking this morning about the waiting....another 7 weeks until we leave ... and how sometimes it seems like such a LONG time (and yes, in others, not so much). Then I happened to stumble upon this pic, and imagined all of Team August sitting around doing exactly this for the next few weeks. Perhaps that's what I need....a little yoga!