August 12, 2011 Disney Dream Meet Link Here

[autimom]

I haven't even bought our tickets yet.

We will be arriving Tuesday evening and may go to HS depending on how we feel after the 12 hour drive. I have yet to see Fantasmic and Illuminations.

I plan to spend 1/2 day in each park and go to BB & DQ. We have to go to AK before the cruise because "It's Tough to be a Bug" closes on the 15th.

I just hate waiting till Tuesday to go to the water park because it will be our last day, so if it thunderstorms.... Twice during our June trip, it stormed for several hours and the outdoor rides were closed, probably water parks too since it was lightning.

 

[CareBear05]

Packing cubes arrived about 20 minutes ago. I pity the FedEx person who has to work at 730 on a Saturday night. I had pretty much given up on getting them this weekend, but voila here they are! They're pretty small, which I'd read in the reviews so I have no problem with that. I'm actually pretty excited about the toiletry kit. That stuff always takes up so much room in my luggage. I got the grasshopper, love the color!! Now do I start packing, or keep procrastinating? lol.

I haven't bought my ticket yet either, Wendy. Probably Monday. I feel you on the iffy weather. The last time I travelled in August to Disney it rained the entire week. A hurricane was going right over Disney. We had the MK to ourselves which was neat, in an odd pyscho scary movie way, and it was all boarded up. THAT's the room key I found with all of the water park days left on it.... hurricanes don't make it easy to hit up the water parks. I LOVE illuminations. Definitely see it if you can.

Judy - that's a big schedule! Good luck!!!

 

[autimom]

I haven't bought my ticket yet either, Wendy. Probably Monday. I feel you on the iffy weather. The last time I travelled in August to Disney it rained the entire week. A hurricane was going right over Disney. We had the MK to ourselves which was neat, in an odd pyscho scary movie way, and it was all boarded up. THAT's the room key I found with all of the water park days left on it.... hurricanes don't make it easy to hit up the water parks.

Oh yeah! So there is a forecast of thunderstorms everyday, but what are the chances of it lasting all day? It actually thunderstormed here all day today.

 

[3smithboys]

Not much longer now - if I could just get the packing finished (or should I say really started!) That is definitely the worst part! Then I can get onto the fin stuff - the mani and pedi!!!

I love reading about all of your plans for the parks - I sure am going to miss them this trip - have fun!!!

Hopefully, the weather will hold out and cooperate for us! August can be so iffy... I know they had to move some things around for the cruisers this week!

 

[autimom]

I know they had to move some things around for the cruisers this week!

I was wondering about them, just peeked in on the 7th cruisers and seen one of ours over there.

I know how much the internet is, but do you know if it is in our room, or somewhere else?

 

[3smithboys]

I was wondering about them, just peeked in on the 7th cruisers and seen one of ours over there.

I know how much the internet is, but do you know if it is in our room, or somewhere else?

I'm not sure about internet in your cabin. We have not tried to use any internet services before on vacation. As soon as we started moving, Nick and I turned off our Iphones. We did not want to get caught with any roaming charges - the cellular at sea can get very expensive, and I've heard that if you leave your smartphones on that it's happened to some people where their phones have been roaming and picked up cellular at sea from the cabin, and they have been charged even when they were not intending to use the phone! (That would be just my luck! )

 

[mclmCruisers]

Organizing, separating and bagging the FE gifts. Not sure if the girls are speeding things up or slowing things down...

I guess we should get serious and start packing clothes some day...

We are flying out Tuesday, spending two days at Universal, then will join you on Friday.

- Michael

 

[Gary Pinkos]

Organizing, separating and bagging the FE gifts. Not sure if the girls are speeding things up or slowing things down...

I guess we should get serious and start packing clothes some day...

We are flying out Tuesday, spending two days at Universal, then will join you on Friday.

- Michael

Are you going home after the cruise ?

Have a safe trip and enjoy Universal.

Haven't started packing yet, FE gifts not done, but one way or the other it will all get done by Thursday.

We are doing Disney for seven days after the cruise. I have purchased annual pass vouchers that we will activate on the 16th. We expect to take friends next year to Disney for nine on ten days. We will make sure our vacation ends before the 16th next year so I get two years worth of vacation out of those passes.

 

[autimom]

I'm not sure about internet in your cabin. We have not tried to use any internet services before on vacation. As soon as we started moving, Nick and I turned off our Iphones. We did not want to get caught with any roaming charges - the cellular at sea can get very expensive, and I've heard that if you leave your smartphones on that it's happened to some people where their phones have been roaming and picked up cellular at sea from the cabin, and they have been charged even when they were not intending to use the phone! (That would be just my luck! )

I need to record a couple of shows while we are on the ship, but last night our power actually went out due to a thunderstorm. I was thinking about downloading them on the ship. I could ask someone else here but we don't even have DVR, we record the old fashioned way with VCR

Organizing, separating and bagging the FE gifts. Not sure if the girls are speeding things up or slowing things down...

I guess we should get serious and start packing clothes some day...

We are flying out Tuesday, spending two days at Universal, then will join you on Friday.

- Michael

I thought about going to Universal, never been. They have a ticket where you can go to both parks and water park for $175.

Are you going home after the cruise ?

Have a safe trip and enjoy Universal.

Haven't started packing yet, FE gifts not done, but one way or the other it will all get done by Thursday.

We are doing Disney for seven days after the cruise. I have purchased annual pass vouchers that we will activate on the 16th. We expect to take friends next year to Disney for nine on ten days. We will make sure our vacation ends before the 16th next year so I get two years worth of vacation out of those passes.

So lucky!

 

[Momtotwogirls]

Any of you know if you turn your Iphone on airplane mode, it will not charge you roaming fees, right? I will have to search on the main board, there was a question like this a few months ago.

 

[lexandme]

We have Verizon and they told me it's 25 to 50 cents for each outgoing and incoming text. But that's all I asked them about! I plan on turning off the phone as soon as we leave port also. I'm sure if you call your carrier they can tell you - or go to their website.

Plan on finishing up our packing today. Decided to take another checked bag. We ran out of room even though we have been downsizing.

 

[NJDisFans]

Oh yeah! So there is a forecast of thunderstorms everyday, but what are the chances of it lasting all day? It actually thunderstormed here all day today.

Wendy,
We go to Disney every year in August (after the 15th). It always forecasts thunderstorms everyday. They typically last about 5 minutes, cool things down a bit for a while, then it becomes a sauna as the sun comes out again, and they everything is completely dry 20 minutes later.

Half of the time, we miss them while on line for a ride. We were there once when a hurricane was headed right for Florida and left a day early, only to find out that it barely rained in the park and it was empty that day.

In the beginning, we would panic and buy the Disney ponchos, only to wear them for 5 minutes and carry them around for the next 8 hours. Now, we throw a 99cent poncho in our pocket every morning, and usually just let it rain on us without even opening that. (We dry in 20 minutes also).

Now, with your smartphone and some of the weather apps, you can even watch the storm on radar and see how small it is, so you can decide if it's time to visit the shops (during the longer storms), or just wait under cover until is passes.

3 more days, then we hit the road! (We're driving from NJ). 90% packed and ready!!

- Rich

 

[CareBear05]

I'm not too worried about the weather. I'm in the best place on earth and nothing could really ruin that.

The week I talked about earlier the hurricane was right over disney so it was a different story and rained non-stop. Lived in the rain jackets, some flip flops, and some quick drying clothes and we were good to go. We didn't let it stop our fun.

The last time I went in August about 9 years ago (I avoid Summer months in Disney like the plague usually) it would "storm" for about 10 minutes, if that, and then be sunny and gorgeous like nothing happened.

 

[levisfam]

HI everyone, like Cara we never let the rain bother us in "The World". Actually if you don't mind getting a little wet - it makes the park experience a whole lot better in my opinion. We stand under cover and watch as the THOUSANDS of people go running back out the park entrance. (Most of them don't know that it only rains for a few minutes). Then we get a snack, ride a ride and come out to beautiful sunshine... And a half empty park!!!

Gary, we do the same thing as you every other year with the annual passes. We go the last 2 weeks of August one year, buy the annual passes and then go the first 2 weeks of August the next year. The second year is always the nicest when you don't have to pay for any park tickets that year LOL. And since we are DVC members and have the annual passes I can sometimes convince Steve to take us back at some other point during the year. You should hear me beg for that "please please we have the tickets, and no hotel costs, pretty please"

I will be turning my cell phone off when we leave the port, thanks to the info. I got here. I never really thought about it so thank goodness someone mentioned it.

To say I am excited is such an understatement!!! I am going loopy!! 5 days until we all sail away!!

 

[autimom]

I got some cheap ponchos...in June we didn't bother buying the disney ones either, but it really didn't seem like anyone left the park.

 

[CareBear05]

So, finally stopped procrastinating and started packing. I'm happy to say I have one small load of laundry to do and then it's done as far as clothes.

I do have to say I absolutely LOVE the packing cubes. Love, love, LOVE! Looks like I'll have plenty of room left to pack my FE stuff and souvenirs to bring home. Whoever thought of these things is a genius in my book.

 

[autimom]

I started packing, have to do laundry tomorrow to finish. Will do laundry again Thursday at the resort so I won't have to on the cruise. Dug out some old shorts for the days we drive down and back.

Super-Duper EXCITED!

 

[pittsburghgirl]

We are also super excited. Work tomorrow is going to DRAG! Trev and Melina have to come to work tomorrow to get a filling done each. If they would quit eating twizzlers maybe their teeth wouldn't rot! will try and do my airtran check in tomorrow. The hard part will be trying to teach my dad how to get my mom's boarding pass. Tough to do over the phone they are not very tech savvy have a great day tomorrow everyone. Rae

 

[levisfam]

Rae!! Good idea to get the fillings before the trip! I broke a tooth one year on one of those hot cinnamon covered almonds in the Magic Kingdom. I was spazzing out waiting for the massive pain to come. Never did come thank God, but it made eating for the rest of the trip fuuun

Judy, that schedule is really intense. You're gonna need the cruise after all of that! It will be so much fun!

Tori and I got our nails done today.. I usually just have them paint hers (since she is only 6) but she has been asking for the full pedicure. I was in vacation mode, so I said go ahead. It was funny to watch her squirm as they scrubbed her feet

Started packing. The FE stuff does not fit into one suitcase.. Gonna try to get the rest of it into one of our other suitcases. Since we were newbies, I thought we had to get gifts for every day of the cruise. I had bought the stuff for 2 separate days before realizing I didn't HAVE to do that. Needless to say I have a TON of stuff.

Have a safe trip to those who are leaving tomorrow. I work until Wednesday. Then we leave Thursday. So we're right behind ya!

 

[Gary Pinkos]

I looked at the calendar this morning, saw it is the 8th and my first thought was....this can't be right, I will be on the cruise the 12th......then I realized that it was right.

For those of you who are already at WDW.....have a great week, safe travel to everyone, especially those that are driving.

We still have a few things to do, we have two dogs, two cats, three turtles & fish. One dog, going to stay at in-laws, one dog (agressive) going to kennel. Cats, turtles & fish staying home with a 10 year old neighbor looking in on them.