2011/2012 Beach & Yacht FAQ, Part IV- DO NOT POST- see new 2012 thread

[natebenma]

Personally, I wouldn't even have that much of a problem buying the photo if you could buy one or two 4x6's. Just the right size for a scrapbook. Not interested in a 5x7.

Just so you all don't think I'm a total cheapskate, I have been known to purchase ride photos, especially if they show my child(ren) in states of terror:

Here is one from Dinosaur:

And from the Bamboo Chutes at Storyland in NH- Note that my oldest son has the same look on his face as the panda.

 

[saintstickets]

I know someone on this board can help me with this-
I wanna schedule the Wishes dessert party but my DH wants to see the parade and Wishes all in the same night b/c God forbid we come back just so I can see the parade (well my mom too) b/c DH and boys could care less about it anymore.- I know makes me very . They sat through it last year just for me.
Well my question is- will we be able to get to the party after parade ends if we sit at the beginning ( about 20-25 min right?) if we have a seating of like 9? Is it ok to be a little late? Why does DH need to stress me out about this? I just wanted to do dessert party one night then parade another.
Just thought of this while typing- my mom and I can watch parade while DH, dad, and boys do rides!!! On a different night than WDP. I think I answered my own question. What do you think??

We did the Wishes Dessert Party 2 years ago during May. There was only one sitting for the Dessert Party and the first parade of the night is going on during that time. After the 1st parade (9:00), you have a great view of the fireworks and then you can go line up to watch the 2nd parade at 11:00. We were able to do both that same night without a problem. Depending on what time of the year you are going, there may be only one parade though. Don't forget to watch for Tinkerbelle. She flies right over the top of you! Here are a few pics of what you'll get and see with the Wishes Dessert Party...

Dessert tables

View of Castle before fireworks

Fireworks

 

[natebenma]

Great pictures of the Wishes Dessert Party!!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great pictures from the Wishes party! Last night, I signed us up for three different parties in April because I couldn't decide which night to go. I need to get our plans finalized this week/weekend so I can cancel the two we don't want.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I'm so happy for you! My oldest has a not-so-mild anxiety disorder combined with depression. He was diagnosed this year after getting a 2nd grade teacher who yells at the class a lot. It has NOT been a good year for him! You have my sympathy and support!

I'm another one who is quite unhappy about the FP rules. With 3 little kids and all the unknown drama that can occur at any moment during a trip, we've liked the flexibility of the "old" FP system. I realize that the new system might be ok afterall but I hate the constriction of it. I find it bad enough that we plan ADRs 180 days out and then have to figure out our park schedule in advance. Our life is so stressful (2 surgeon family with 3 young kids, one with anxiety/depression and one with mild Cerebral Palsy) that I keep trying to keep our Disney trips as spontaneous as possible. The idea that we should pre-plan every minute of the trip doesn't work for me - AT ALL! Ok, vent over.

In happier news I'm 99% sure I'm going to run the ToT 10 mile race the last weekend of September. BC is one of the host resorts so that will likely be where I stay. I'm super excited since BC is one of my favorites and it's a perfect location for the 1st weekend of F&W. I'm really hoping that this will be the solo trip that I didn't get last year.... I didn't book my trip - yet! I'm thinking about flying down on Friday, September 28th. It looks like that'll likely be a MNSSHP night so I hope to attend that. Saturday night is the race - followed by an after-party at DHS. I'd fly home Sunday night or Monday morning. So psyched!!!!
Plus it's almost our 180 day ADR time for our August trip to BC. Time to start obsessing!
I made an executive decision to spend a 3 day weekend at Fort Wilderness in a Cabin following our June 5 night Dream Cruise. With all the trips we have planned this year, I couldn't justify the higher costs of staying in the Boardwalk area. I'm thinking that we'll have a mellow weekend enjoying all the Fort has to offer with little to no park time (ah, the advantages of having APs!). Opinions?
I'm here in spirit, even when I'm not here in person!

Amanda

Thanks for the sympathy, I know what it's like having 2 challenging children- DS10 also has severe ADHD and DS14 has ADHD w/ out hyperactivity ( thank God )
I can't imagine being a doctor and having the challenges you have though. I think I was actually reading your TR not long ago b/c we were in Disney during hurricane Irene too, but on the other end of it. We had to stay 2 more days b/c flights home were cancelled.
Wow 3 trips in 1 year!! You are so lucky They all sound great. Have fun.

Deb

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Just so you all don't think I'm a total cheapskate, I have been known to purchase ride photos, especially if they show my child(ren) in states of terror:

Here is one from Dinosaur:

And from the Bamboo Chutes at Storyland in NH- Note that my oldest son has the same look on his face as the panda.

Oh the Bamboo Chutes- brings back memories!!! We haven't been to Storyland since DS10 was 3 or 4. We still to vacation in NH though I do love it there. The boys love the Alpine Slide at Attitash.

 

[DrMomof3]

Sorry we missed you!
I would request "close to lobby" on your reservation... and don't do on line check in so that when you do get to the hotel front desk you can confirm that this request was honored for your room assignment or ask that it be fixed if you aren't close to the lobby.



Like Tigger, we know you bounce around a lot in life so no worries when it takes you a while to check back in on us.... we'll wait for you!

The solo trip sounds great, in fact I think I will take one myself... like at the end of this month!! I also am not staying at the BC because I could not afford it this trip, especially since I am ditching the family and running away from home! I know I'll get back there some day... but for now I'm on a LOW budget. I think the Wilderness Cabins will be a real treat for you and the gang and it will help keep things fresh and exciting. I think planning a Disney trip with out going to the parks makes it easier to enjoy all those other Disney attractions that aren't in a park. Things like mini golf and renting boats often get pushed to the back burner and these are the type of Disney treats that can be enjoyed by the whole family for a relatively low price (when compared to park tickets).

One of the things that you can do for free is to take the boat from Down town Disney to Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside and do a little hotel exploring. The boat ride is gorgeous and best of all they do the driving and it's FREE! Why heck, they will even take you back to DTD for the low low price of Nuttin! This is one of those adventures with beautiful scenery, some Aha moments, like when you float by the Tree houses and Old Key West resort. It's the perfect thing to do for a family that wants to go somewhere with a minimum of effort expended.

So that's enough from me. Keep us posted on your comings and goings and stay tuned for further reports and other mischief from your friends here at the BC/YC FAQ thread!

~Marlton Mom

Thank you! You make me smile every time I read your posts!!!

Amanda - my DH ran the TOT in 2008 and we LOVED that trip. First, it was a surprise trip. The kid didn't know anything until the morning we left!
We did MNSSHP and the TOT race was so much fun. After the race we just kept walking on Toy Story with no wait at all!

Yay!!!! I'm super excited and just hoping it all works out!

Thanks for the sympathy, I know what it's like having 2 challenging children- DS10 also has severe ADHD and DS14 has ADHD w/ out hyperactivity ( thank God )
I can't imagine being a doctor and having the challenges you have though. I think I was actually reading your TR not long ago b/c we were in Disney during hurricane Irene too, but on the other end of it. We had to stay 2 more days b/c flights home were cancelled.
Wow 3 trips in 1 year!! You are so lucky They all sound great. Have fun.

Deb

Thanks Deb! Nathaniel (my anxiety/depression child) actually doesn't have ADHD which is very unusual. It's been a nightmare of a year for him and I've spent more time with doctors and the school than I ever thought imaginable! And Zachary's disabilities are very, very mild. Severe enough for stroller as wheelchair but he functions at a very high level considering! I have been working on my TR again. Months later.... My Nurse Practitioner also got stuck in Orlando due to Hurricane Irene!

Amanda

 

[jmkrat]

Hi all! I am thinking about changing my reservation to concierge level. I was wondering if anyone knew the difference between the deluxe rooms vs. reg. club level rooms. I was wondering if the size of the room is different between club levels? Does anyone have a picture? Thank you !

 

[Momofthreemen]

Lol! You will love the wishes cruise! I thought it was amazing. DD and I did the Chef's table at V&A don't eat all day is all I can say!! Not only is it a lot of food but we added the wine paring as well so it was A LOT of drink as well!! Such a great experience though. DD's FIANCE (yes this morning he proposed) we love him so we approve he is a chef so we are used to being spoiled when we dine but V&A chef table was so over the top! My suggestion for the 32 snacks is go to Goofy's Candy Shop and bring home gifts! We did that and it worked out well for us. When we did the Backstage tour it was about 3 years ago now we had lunch at Whispering Canyon and from what I've read they still have it there. I do know that for a while lunch was at Mama Melrose. It's a fun tour, but like I said the Keys tour was so interesting to us not so much because of the tunnels but more for the history we learned while walking through the park for 5 or so hours. To me Walt Disney history is so interesting. Anyway try and fit in the jetski that was a lot of fun. The days will fly by and before you know it you'll be there having an amazing time!!!

Again if you have any other questions let me know!!

Happy Planning!!

~Nannette

Congratulations to your DD and new Fiance !! Thanks for all the information.

 

[TeenaS]

Hi all! I am thinking about changing my reservation to concierge level. I was wondering if anyone knew the difference between the deluxe rooms vs. reg. club level rooms. I was wondering if the size of the room is different between club levels? Does anyone have a picture? Thank you !

The regular CL rooms are all on the fifth floor. The six deluxe rooms are on floors 1-4 and of course your key gives you access to the lounge on the fifth floor. The deluxe rooms are significantly larger. For more information, please go to the first page of this thread.

 

[nannette]

Congratulations to your DD and new Fiance !! Thanks for all the information.

Thank you and your welcome on the info!

Also just checked the ticker.... 1 month 1 week until Disney!! 4 more weeks with the boot and the crutches... that gives me one week to be walking before Disney... I have a funny feeling I'm going to be in Disney in a boot or surgical shoe!! YAY for fancy footwear!

~Nannette

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Thanks Deb! Nathaniel (my anxiety/depression child) actually doesn't have ADHD which is very unusual. It's been a nightmare of a year for him and I've spent more time with doctors and the school than I ever thought imaginable! And Zachary's disabilities are very, very mild. Severe enough for stroller as wheelchair but he functions at a very high level considering! I have been working on my TR again. Months later.... My Nurse Practitioner also got stuck in Orlando due to Hurricane Irene!
Amanda

Don't get me wrong it wasn't a bad place to be stuck for 2 more days

 

[DisMomAmy]

And from the Bamboo Chutes at Storyland in NH- Note that my oldest son has the same look on his face as the panda.

We love Bamboo Chutes! Haven't been in a few years, but it used to be an annual tradition! We actually bought the photo so I took a redneck picture of the photo to save myself from scanning. This one's from 2007.

 

[honeymom]

I am really worried. Today we switched to BC from Poly. I made clear to agent that we wanted a garden view room and asked her several times to confirm that she was booking a garden view room. We literally got the last room available at either bc/yc. when confirmation came through she had booked us a standard view room, not the garden view. are any of the standard view rooms better than others? I do not know if she will be able to change the view since there was so little availability and am resigning myself to a standard view, but it really bums me out (I like looking at something pretty like a garden). maybe i can do something with room request to cut the damage.

 

[JanetMom]

What do you think of the Memories show on the Castle?

I'm curious about it but unsure. I just love the way the Castle looks with all the different colours at night, and I don't know if I will feel the same if they project pictures on the Castle.

(Just looking for things to obsess over as I count down the days )

 

[MickeyT]

What do you think of the Memories show on the Castle?

I'm curious about it but unsure. I just love the way the Castle looks with all the different colours at night, and I don't know if I will feel the same if they project pictures on the Castle.

(Just looking for things to obsess over as I count down the days )

We loved it. Saw the regular in august and holiday version in December . It almost seems like a part of Wishes. Only a short time between the two.

 

[bshields93]

I'm going to be at the BC in May with my family! This is the first time going this time of year and I was wondering if there is anything fun going on that doesn't happen in other seasons?

 

[natebenma]

I'm going to be at the BC in May with my family! This is the first time going this time of year and I was wondering if there is anything fun going on that doesn't happen in other seasons?

I am not aware of any special events for May. I checked my files and I don't have a May activities schedule from past years. I'm sure there will be some fun events going on at the pool, and I think that May would be an excellent month to enjoy the campfire and/or movie on the beach.

 

[natebenma]

Oh the Bamboo Chutes- brings back memories!!! We haven't been to Storyland since DS10 was 3 or 4. We still to vacation in NH though I do love it there. The boys love the Alpine Slide at Attitash.

We love Bamboo Chutes! Haven't been in a few years, but it used to be an annual tradition! We actually bought the photo so I took a redneck picture of the photo to save myself from scanning. This one's from 2007.

ddluvsdisney and DisMomAmy- thanks for sharing your memories/pictures from Storyland! Everyone else, thanks for indulging us. Storyland is a northern New England family vacation tradition, featuring some rides, Cinderella's castle (complete with a carriage ride), a very low rent Jungle tour (you ride in cages pulled by a jeep and view fiberglass animals), and some attractions based on famous stories like The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe and Heidi.

What do you think of the Memories show on the Castle?

I'm curious about it but unsure. I just love the way the Castle looks with all the different colours at night, and I don't know if I will feel the same if they project pictures on the Castle.

(Just looking for things to obsess over as I count down the days )

Here is a link to some pictures in a trip report (Boo to Two! by missyrose). Like Mike said, I believe the castle still turns colors for most of the evening, and the photo projections are a very small part of the pre-Wishes show:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43836181&postcount=140

I am really worried. Today we switched to BC from Poly. I made clear to agent that we wanted a garden view room and asked her several times to confirm that she was booking a garden view room. We literally got the last room available at either bc/yc. when confirmation came through she had booked us a standard view room, not the garden view. are any of the standard view rooms better than others? I do not know if she will be able to change the view since there was so little availability and am resigning myself to a standard view, but it really bums me out (I like looking at something pretty like a garden). maybe i can do something with room request to cut the damage.

Unfortunately, I don't really have any answers. I don't know how to figure out which standard views might be better than others. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to word a request to optimize a standard view view?

 

[MickeyT]

I'm going to be at the BC in May with my family! This is the first time going this time of year and I was wondering if there is anything fun going on that doesn't happen in other seasons?

Not BC but the easy stroll over to Flower and Garden at EPCOT is great if you are there before May 20.