All right, Thanlsgiving week group....WE'RE DOWN TO THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!

[DL4my2kids]

I have been working all week with most of it in training classes. I am starting to stress a little, wondering if I have all my tickets, hotel confirmations etc.



I have been planning for so long and then WHAM, the date is here and am I organized and ready??? NO!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

well every one have a grate time my son only has 24hour bug so were'll be there in 8in half days wooohoooo every one have fun and be safe

 

[PrincessKell]

I am feeling better today...thank goodness. But Dh is still sick! I *think* his fever broke today, it spiked up and then broke (I hope) and he was covered in sweat. SOOO I am taking that as a good sign. He is sleeping now.

Tonight is the daddy daughter dance, and he can't go, well because he is still sick...so she is going to go with either Papa or Uncle, hopefully itwont be a huge huge meltdown. They were both looking forward to it so much. Their outfits matched. so cute.

Ok I am going over lists, and plans... I feel like I am missing something. ugh. I hate that feeling.

I hope everyone is feeling great by the time they leave!

 

[Vanvmom]

Raidermouse are you on the early Southwest flight too? We printed out our boarding passes this morning and started our packing! Not sure how we'll get the kids to go to sleep tonight they are so

Until then we are counting the hours....

 

[Vanvmom]

Where is everyone having Thanksgiving Dinner?

We have a tradition of eating Thanksgiving dinner at Rancho Del Zocayo. I know... it's a bit out of the box as far as Thanksgiving dinners go, but then so is going to DL for Thanksgiving!

 

[Raidermouse]

Raidermouse are you on the early Southwest flight too? We printed out our boarding passes this morning and started our packing! Not sure how we'll get the kids to go to sleep tonight they are so

Until then we are counting the hours....

Okay,what are the odds?7:25am A group here.

You?

 

[Vanvmom]

Ditto! DH is #25, the rest of us are in the A30s. Too funny! What are the odds?

 

[PrincessKell]

OK I just have to share this... Georgia went to the father/special person dance tonight with my dad (Papa) since DH is still sick. She looked sooo beautiful!

 

[Wendi2000]

OK I just have to share this... Georgia went to the father/special person dance tonight with my dad (Papa) since DH is still sick. She looked sooo beautiful!

How sweet!!!

 

[PrincessKell]

Thanks Wendi! Now you know if you see this curly haired girl at Story Tellers on Thanksgiving, that would be US! haha

 

[PrincessKell]

Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooo! DH is normal!! He just took his tempature and its normaly. FINALLY! Three long days of over 110 degree temps, with some low numbers in there. its finally down to normal. I was soooooo stressin he wasn't going to be healthy.

He is still in lock down in the bedroom just incase. then I am going to clean the bedroom to get germ free (well the best I can anyway. haha) Now. if I can feel better. the cold is starting to get me to that no engergy stage. I just keep thinking...

Peter Pan First! haha I will be there.

 

[Vanvmom]

The week was GREAT! Well, the hotel was disappointing, but the park was wonderful! We ran into Raidermouse and family at the airport.

The crowds were quite manageable. Busiest day was Sunday the 18th, then it calmed down until Thanksgiving. People were all nice, but we did notice many people smoking in "non-smoking" areas of the park on Thanksgiving. We loved the new castle decor, and got to see the fireworks everynight!

 

[samkj]

We're back as well. We had a great time. I knew it was going to be a great trip from the moment we pulled into the Hojo parking lot Friday Nov 16 at 9:24pm, just in time to see the fireworks from the parking lot!

People were everywhere, but the waits were only 30-45 minutes at the most, on many of the rides. The kids were more adventurous this time and tried many new rides. DD7 only hasn't been on two rides, the Maliboomer (she's too short) and the Orange Stinger because no one wants to go with her! She has become quite the roller coaster junkie! DS6 tried many new rides this trip, some he didn't like, but others he did. DD9 loves everything we take her on (she has cerebral palsy, so the wilder rides are not possible)

Both DD7and DS got picked for Jedi training which was a highlight for both of them. DS left in tears back in Feb after not being picked so this time were were prepared. He came wearing a bright yellow Star Wars shirt and a Jedi trainign academy hat and holding a sign reading "I want to be a Jedi" He was one of the first chosen. After he was picked, DD took the sign and was picked near the end of the selection process. They had a great time and are very proud of thier "diplomas".

The castle and fireworks were amazing. We saw the fireworks from right in front of the castle Tuesday right. We had seen them from other areas the previous 4 nights, but this was the first time near the castle and it really was wonderful! I like the "Remember" show better, but did enjoy the "Believe" fireworks.

The kids enjoyed spending an hour or more everyday running around the Island at DL or the Redwood Trail at DCA. We put in full days (14 hours at the park most days!!) but the kids never complained or even fought. They slept in till 10:30 the morning after we left though since they were EXHAUSTED!!

We liked the Hojo, but will probably stick with someplace closer if we can find something comparably priced for a suite or connecting rooms.

We had a couple of bad moments. First DH missed Fantasmic because the crowds/security wouldn't let him back to the spot we had been holding for over an hour an a half after he had to take DS to the bathroom 20 minutes before the show started. I was able to get DS through the crowd, but honestly NO ONE would let DH in. Second the locker we were renting jammed so I wasn't able to get the camera out for my son's birthday at Goofy's Kitchen, then I was late for the dinner since I was dealing with getting it opened. Luckily I phoned DH who was at the restaurant and had him run over to the gift shop and pick up a single use camera and just left the locker till later.

Now, I have to convince DH that we need to go back sooner rather than later. I have no idea when our next trip will be. All I can get him to agree to at this point is sometime in the next two years! I think I better give him some time to recover then have the kids ask!

 

[kelmac284]

Hi Amy sounds like a GREAT trip! We are excited. We leave in 6 days and can't wait. Hey we are going in February too! We are going down for the kids President's week break. We are actually going to San Diego first to visit family and see the Zoo and Seaworld as we haven't been there since 04 when Shane was in Iraq and we have never been with Shane and then we are spending the rest of the week at Disney. Maybe we will see you there!

Oh and they got new stuff at the outlet too! We were just there yesterday and I got another 10% off coupon!

Glad you had a great time and see you on the boards!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im going tonight in 9hours and 15mins..and already planing next year halloween trip lol

 

[Vanvmom]

samkj - closer is great, but don't do the Carousel... it didn't cost much, but it wasn't worth much either. Fairfield Inn was okay back in 2001, but I wouldn't stay there again during Thanksgiving week - housekeeping had Thanksgiving and the day after off, so we had no housekeeping services those days. We tried Park Vue in 2002, and it was worse than the Carousel. In all our trips, the best non suite hotel (that has rooms big enough for 5 people) that we've stayed at close by is the Candy Cane.

 

[Raidermouse]

Just got back too, it was neat running into vanvmom and their family during the trip.Wow VanVMom, I really liked Carousel Inn and so did my family.We weren't in the tower we were in the lower section across the lot which was perfect for us.I would like to know what you didn't like.It just shows how you can get different reviews from same place same time.We had good service.We were in newly renovated rooms which had hard wood floors.Our daughters and nephews have a decent asthma problem so in our case it's welcomed.We had a great overall trip.Crowds were fine,hearing my wife scream holy terror on California Screamin' launch was my life highlight Have to go but have more to tell.

 

[samkj]

Kelly, our possible Feb trip is really up in the air. Our AP's expire Feb 17, so we would need to renew or get regular passes in order to go which may put it out of our price range. Worst case scenario it will be Feb 09 before we return which is still more often than many. Have a GREAT time next weekend! The decorations are amazing! If you get any photopass pictures let me know. I will probably end up ordering a CD, and would be happy to add yours on.

Raidermouse, we stayed at the Carousel Inn two years ago and enjoyed our stay too. We don't need much, since we just use the room for sleeping!

 

[samkj]

I can't believe I fogot to mention the thing that upset me the most upon arriving home. My 1,002,800 point round on Buzz Lightyear email never came through!!! Luckily my husband was riding with me, or I know he would never believe my score(you gotta love stopping right in front of a triangle target!)! From now on I will take a picture of the screen when sending the email, so I have backup proof!!!

 

[Vanvmom]

Just got back too, it was neat running into vanvmom and their family during the trip.Wow VanVMom, I really liked Carousel Inn and so did my family.We weren't in the tower we were in the lower section across the lot which was perfect for us.I would like to know what you didn't like.It just shows how you can get different reviews from same place same time.We had good service.We were in newly renovated rooms which had hard wood floors.Our daughters and nephews have a decent asthma problem so in our case it's welcomed.

We were on the 4th floor near the back elevators in one of the older rooms. I bet our rental SUV was parked under your room. We'd requested a room for 5 people, and they gave us a room with 2 queen beds and no room for a roll away, so our youngest had to sleep on extra bedding on the floor. They did bring the extra bedding quickly though. We had to request 5 towels each day (they took 5 but only left 4). The second day the bed sheet had a huge stain on it when we turned down the bed to go to sleep. The bathroom shower curtains were not water proof or resistant, and each time anyone showered the water went through it and got the floor very wet. One day housekeeping took all of our glasses and did not leave any new ones. The next day they accidentally unplugged the fridge while cleaning and we came back to the room to find our yogurt and string cheese were warm. That same day housekeeping also threw away all our open soaps and did not leave any new ones. Thankfully DH always has travel size soap in his toiletry bag. I know they were all just minor things, but they added up to a pretty comical stay that was much more work than it needed to be. We began to feel like we were being real pests by calling to ask for a 5th towel, glasses, that 5th towel again. Again, I'm certain it wasn't anything intentional, but it did get a bit like "yes, it's us again." If only any one or two of these things had happened, then I would have shrugged it off, but it just kept happening.

On another note... we found it pretty funny that the first thing we were told when we checked in was "please initial here indicating that you know that since the room is prepaid that there will be no refunds." This was literally the first thing we were told when we came in to get the keys to our room. We didn't check in expecting any refunds - we booked a package trip through AAA and Disney Travel that we'd paid in full ahead of time.

I'm really glad your family had a great experience. I've heard that from other people on these boards too. It just wasn't that way for us, stuff like that happens sometimes. I'm just hesitant to recommend it to other people as the reviews are not consistently good.