Ohmygosh, I have been so out of touch! I just spent the last hour catching up. Yes, there are dishes to be done and laundry to fold, but it is more important to get up to date with my Aug Dis friends!
I have been in a ballet bubble for the past few weeks. My daughter is dancing a children's role with the NYCBallet this week and tomorrow is her last performance. What an experience! But I will be kind of glad when it is over and life can get back to "normal". And then I can resume my Disney planning in earnest!
I can't remember everything I read and have never learned how to do the multi-quote function, so here are random responses, lol!
Pigletto - looking forward to pics of the new pup. Is there a post-August board?! I feel like I will miss this group! Let's hope Pigletto's Lights doesn't happen, though I would love to see that!
Momto3 - DH and I were at DL last July for our anniversary (sans kiddos) and we had a ball. We had 5 days in the parks which I think most people would say was more than necessary but we are major Disney fans and had never been there before. We stayed at the GC and it was hands-down the best choice. Proximity, pool (and pool loungers!), atmosphere, everything - it was fantastic. If you have the budget, GO FOR IT! You will not be disappointed. A couple of other things: (1) Hydroguy has a great sticky on DL for WDW vets -- definitely read that. (2) We splurged on the Dessert Package viewing for Fantasmic and I highly recommend it. You will. not. believe. the crowds that build for Fantasmic (at least, this is how it was in July), and it is a very congested area. Absolutely worth every penny to not have to push/shove/wait for hours. We had a great view and lots of yummy drinks/treats -- enough to bring back to the room to nibble on the next day! (3) Radiator Springs Racers has a single rider line that saved us HOURS. Awesome ride, but would only have done once or twice if I had to wait in that line. Even the line to get fastpasses was hours long. It was insane. Granted, we were there only about a month after it opened, but if it is still anywhere like that you should consider single-rider. Seriously, we were feeling sheepish and guilty walking past All Those People in line! I think the most we waited in SR line was 10-15 minutes. (4) you can go INSIDE the castle! There's a sleeping beauty display/attraction thing there that you walk along at your own pace. I had no idea and almost missed it! If I think of anything else or if you have questions let me know and I will try to answer!
Gina - Amazing how everything happens like that! Sounds like you are managing everything well, though, and I agree with the pp who said that hopefully once you get through this you will be able to scale back on the home improvements for awhile!
Squirrel - I saw swim shirts yesterday at my Target. On discount! Suits too, as well as beach bags. My DD almost talked me into a cross body bag but I held my resolve that my girls DO NOT NEED ANOTHER THING. This house already feels like it is bursting at the seams and I need to clear out clutter. Just because it was cute and a bargain at $5 does not mean we need it! (I have to keep telling myself this. Sorry, I digress....). I have gotten 3 "tubes" of glow bracelets (I think 10 bracelets in each tube) at the Target Dollar Spot. Those are easy and fun and so much cheaper than buying any of the light-up gadgets in the park.
On the fridge thing - Gee, that's a pain for folks who were planning on having them, and it seems like they really should communicate with guests ahead of time that there is a chance their room won't have one. I imagine they don't want thousands of upset guests calling in. But if you book a room which is described as having a fridge, and then you get there and there isn't one, that doesn't seem right. Hmmm.
On the fastpass+ thing - I am definitely not looking forward to it!

We have the regular fastpass system down to a science and it works well for us. I am nervous about change! And I can't imagine only getting 3 per day. Plus, I don't like having to commit to a park that far ahead. We do usually have a plan of what we want to do, but I like the flexibility of changing it if necessary, depending on any one of a number of factors that could come into play (weather, characters we want to see, ride closures, you name it). It's enough that we have the ADR schedule! But I will try to keep an open mind and hope that the Dis has lots of good tips once it is fully rolled out. I am hoping it is not ready for our August trip, though!
We're leaving for the autotrain in 28 days and arrive in 29 days. Woo-hoo, under 30!! One year I made a countdown chain with trivia for each day but this year I got lazy and just did one with characters on it. Still cute, though!
Ok, this is already really long, so I'm going to post and then pull myself away from the computer for awhile. Back into the Ballet Bubble for a few more days, lol!!
