AKL September 2007!

[maine girl]

Dzny Dreams, Thanks for the update. I'm so glad the majority of the indoor construction will be done. Here is some noise: : : :

 

[Momto2boysSC]

Not sure if you saw my post in another thread, but I just spoke with Guest Services who assured me that the construction on the interior will be done by 9/1/07. So looks like our Disney magic has begun already!!!

Well, I was reading JAMBO and it had this reply:

Let me start with: I'm not trying to freak you out here, but.....

You know.....I think Guest Services should be beaten with wet noodles. Because, with the info they're giving out, they're going to have some pretty ticked off guests.

Unless things have changed DRASTICALLY over the past 7 days, and they've been working at superhuman speeds with crews quadruple the size they have been working with....the above just can't be true.

Kudo trail, as of 7 days ago, hasn't even been started yet. They were working, still, on the 5th and 6th floor concierge rooms, and Giraffe and Ostrich trail. They MAY have even been putting some finishing touches on some far flung Zebra trail rooms (which open Sept 1st).

I would allow for the possibility that much of the more "offensive" construction has been wrapped up (plumbing, hvac, electrical, etc)...the stuff that was really LOUD. Maybe. But there is LOTS of conversion left to do, even if that's wrapped up. The value and concierge rooms aren't slated to open until early December...and Kudo trail rooms aren't slated to be open until late Jan.

What IS true is that, post Sept 1, they aren't relocating guests any longer. I'm sure that means something. But PLEASE don't go expecting there to be NO construction going on post-Sept 1st. I'd LOVE for that to be true, but just don't see how it could be feasible, given where they are in the construction process and what they have left to do. Hopefully, whatever construction IS going on will have minimal effect on you and your stay.

I'm wondering if guest services is getting confused by the fact that the rest of Zebra trail opens up "officially" Sept 1st.....but not the WHOLE of AKV.

So, I think that none of us are going to be moved, but yes, I think that construction is likely to be going on. And you know what, I'm okay with that. We have a pool view anyhow, and it sounds like they are finished with the areas that we are likely to be. Since I'm a AKL Virgin, I have to go off the map and my naiveté, and that's what Im sticking to. Just positive thinking.

I just so jealous of you that have just TEN days to go.....

I am so ready. Have begun my packing list. Have all my "goodies" all packed so we can dole those out (my latest find - we got Mickey Mouse jibbitz for their crocs to give out the first day we are there and shark jibbitz for when we hit Sea World.).

Of course, it's 100* plus heat index here today. I'm ready for it to be a month from now and MAYBE a bit cooler? PLEASE????? Gosh, even 89* would seem cooler. Last night we had to hit the beach in order to get a breeze. Good thing, though, because it was about 15* cooler there than at our house!

Anyhow, at my house I now have an official first grader and an official kindergartener! So the question becomes - for those of you traveling with school age children, how do you handle the school end of things? This trip would technically count as an unexcused abscence.... Do I find a doctor that will write them sick slips? Do I lie and say that my grandma in California died (which would be a double lie since I have no grandmas.....)? And then what do I do when they get back to school and talk Mickey and Minnie? Then I'm busted! HELP! Advice???????

 

[maine girl]

I agree that construction will occur, but like you, we have a pool view as well. Most of the day we are at the parks, so I hope the evenings will not be too loud with construction. I have a 6yr and a 11yr and we always go off season.My children go to a private school and as long as they know the children are out, we have no problem. Actually all the teachers wish they were going. With the price of a disney vacation, we don't want to be in line for hours do to heavy crowds. The education department needs to understand some people can not follow their scheudules for vacation time. My children are great students, and as long as they realize they will need to do makeup work when they return, I really feel the parents should be able to make the choice, not the educational department.

 

[space ranger 1]

IMHO - Honest is the best policy.

Otherwise you are left teaching your kids the lesson that if you really want something it is okay to lie about it. And I bet you don't want to teach them that.

Right now it is just a couple days from school and class work and home work can be made up. Most schools seem to be understanding, sometimes they are not. But they don't own our kids and can't tell us what to do. When they get older the schools start getting a little more "hostile" about unexcused absences.

Good luck and teach teach your kids to do the right thing.

 

[DznyDreamz]

I am an AKL virgin myself, so I have nothing to compare it to mentally. I think there is a chance we won't even notice what is going on and thats all that matters!!! I am taking my to-be 1st grader out of school too. I plan to tell the school that we have a family vacation planned and thats pretty much it. She is a very strong reader and will not be harmed by a few days out of school in my opinion. i don't think its that big of a deal at this age personally. Let them report me..Ha ha!!!!

 

[Wendi2000]

I'm still looking forward to our trip. Max will be in Kindergarten too... he starts in exactly one week! I can't believe it. I plan on telling his teacher that we have a family vacation planned. I have no idea how they will take it, but whether it is excused or not, we will be going. Hopefully it won't be a big problem. I am not planning on any other vacations during the school year. Our next one will be Thanksgiving week at Disneyland... I really had planned on going to WDW for Christmas this year, but I couldn't pass up on the great discount... I'm a sucker for good deals!!!

Ann, I hear ya on the weather! It's hovering at just 99 today... yucko! At least we don't have the humidity of Florida here though. I really can't stand it and I am dreading the weather we'll probably have while we're there. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to endure it again for the sake of Disney.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

EXACTLY A MONTH FROM TODAY... AKL BOUND!!

 

[MissLiz]

Wow! Looks like a bunch of kindergartners will be at WDW in September!

I am actually writing a note to DD's teacher tonight to put in her book for tomorrow. She's been in school since Aug 6th, so the teacher should have gotten a pretty good read on her by now, so I'm hoping it won't be too much of a problem. At two weeks, too bad if it is, right?




I'm going to be honest and just tell DD's teacher....I know that DD will be jabbering away about it when she gets back, so there's just no way to get around it. I'm also going to ask for any homework and offer to have DD do an "educational" project while we are there. My plan, if needed, is to have her make an ABC book with a page for each letter and she can either take a picture or find things that start with each letter.

Fingers crossed for everyone who has to talk to teachers/school.....hoping for no major issues for anyone!

 

[DznyDreamz]

I agree with the poster who said we are in charge of our children, not the education department. I could understand kids that are up against exams and college boards, but K, 1st grade, 2nd grade, a few days isn't going to stun their learning. I also plan to write my DD's teacher a note and ask for any suggestions or work assignments we can cover or incorporate into our trip. Like others said, we are going regardless of whether there is "approval" or not. Call me a rebel!

 

[PrejeanPrincess]

Last Sept. I took both my girls out of school. The teachers were okay with it, but when I told the front office they would be out for a week they were little snippy with me. Oh well, they were probably jealous they were going to be at work while we were at Disney. This year my kids will only be in school for 9 days before our trip. My girls will be in 2nd and 4th, and my boys will both start Kinder. so I will be taking all 4 of them out of school.

16 DAYS TO GO AND COUNTING DOWN

 

[TheLastPrincess]

Oh man, I remember those days of being in school and my parents having to take me out so we could go to Disney.........my mom HATED dealing with the school system, which acted like they "own" the kids and parents have no say over what they do or do not do with their children. So my mom, after being fed up for years, took me out before I started 9th grade and I homeschooled my way to graduation. Woohoo! We could vacation any time we wanted! It was the best thing.

 

[space ranger 1]

Oh man, I remember those days of being in school and my parents having to take me out so we could go to Disney.........my mom HATED dealing with the school system, which acted like they "own" the kids and parents have no say over what they do or do not do with their children. So my mom, after being fed up for years, took me out before I started 9th grade and I homeschooled my way to graduation. Woohoo! We could vacation any time we wanted! It was the best thing.

I agree! I understand they have a responsibility to educate the kids, but sometimes they get a little crazy on what they will or will not allow. We are still the parents, they are there to assist us in educating the kids, not run their lives. Mine are still young, but my DW homeschools DS 8 and DD 5. It sure is nice to have flexibility to do trips and stuff when ever we want. And usually that is not during the peak travel seasons (ie we try to avoid the summer travel rush).

But I hope and pray that everyone has great teachers that will work with the kids and parents on what ever work they may miss.

*********15 DAYS************


I have double digits in my sights.

 

[momof296&02]

Hi all-

We will be at AKL 9/12-9/17. Is anyone planing to get together at the pool or anything? I too have a child entering K(DD5) & DS(11) is going into middle school (6th grade). School starts here on 9/5. They will both be missing 2 days of school (wed & Mon- they are off Thurs& fri) I agree that it is a parents choice to pull their child out of school for free dining!!!!!!!!

 

[Momto2boysSC]

I know they have it - I've found it before. Maybe it's just a "Friday afternoon and my head is full" moment, but where on earth on the disney website do you find the schedule for the fireworks at each of the parks?

yes, you'd THINK it would be on the calendar, but oh, no......just the hours there!

HELP!

And yes, I'm making some noise!!!!!!!

 

[DznyDreamz]

where on earth on the disney website do you find the schedule for the fireworks at each of the parks?

I believe if you click on the date on the calendar (the actual number) it opens up to give detailed times for each day for parades, fireworks, etc.

 

[Momto2boysSC]

Well, yes, it's Friday brain.
I found it on THIS website -- Here you go!
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/sepfw07.cfm?requesttimeout=1000
(I still couldn't get it from the disney.com site. Sigh.)

So now the question is - we get in late Sunday afternoon 9/16. I don't want to blow a ticket on just going to see fireworks, so where can we see the ones at MK or MGM from OUTSIDE the park? I was thinking monorail rides and a stop at the Contemporary to see the MK fireworks....??? Would that work?
Can we see the MGM fireworks from anywhere outside the park?

 

[DznyDreamz]

Last trip we could see most of the Epcot fireworks from the CBR. I believe you can see Wishes from any of the MK area resorts (Ploy, CB, WL, FW), especially by the beach. I've not personally done that but I'm sure someone on here has and can give you better information.

 

[DznyDreamz]

Last trip we could see most of the Epcot fireworks from the CBR. I believe you can see Wishes from any of the MK area resorts (Ploy, CB, WL, FW), especially by the beach. I've not personally done that but I'm sure someone on here has and can give you better information.

 

[pixe*dst]

You can also see Illuminations from the Boardwalk/Beach Club Area. We could see them from our BCV balcony in January, & I think the Bridge from BW area to BC area is a good location for that.

I've always wanted to watch Wishes from the Poly beach.

 

[PrejeanPrincess]

Hey guys, we were doing so good with all the noise - WHAT HAPPENED?????? Where is everyone? I know school starts tomorrow, but come on Disney is close in our future!!!!!!