****August, 2012!!!****

[mrstomrice]

Also adorable! I love these surprise stories!

Which beach do you come down to if you were actually coming to the shore?

We usually go to Ocean City, NJ...I can taste the Manco and Manco now It is an easy day trip for us and we have never stayed more than a few days. We told them they are going for the week...just nervous that there will be some disappointment, but they will get over it when reality sets in They are huge fans of Disney and they talk about it nearly every day.

 

[jennyf2]

I'm flying from mn on the 8th. I have driven to Atlanta so I know what you are up against. Good luck

We're flying from MN (North St Paul) on the 5th

 

[CRdisMom]

We're flying from MN (North St Paul) on the 5th

I'm flying delta. How about you? I'd giggle if I run in to you. I'll be the one trying to cram all 4 parks into one day...lol. Yup. Gotta get the most of these 2 days.

I'll be rocking the awesome tag Nikki made for us

 

[beachmama3]

We usually go to Ocean City, NJ...I can taste the Manco and Manco now It is an easy day trip for us and we have never stayed more than a few days. We told them they are going for the week...just nervous that there will be some disappointment, but they will get over it when reality sets in They are huge fans of Disney and they talk about it nearly every day.

That's just a little bit north of where we live!! Cool. I think your boys will totally be okay with the change of plans!

 

[pigletto]

Awesome surprise! let us know how it goes!
We tried to surprise DH's parents (he and his sister & brother all planned this for a year) and arranged for everyone to get together in May. As much as DMiL& DFiL tried to act surprised, you could tell they weren't. It was a huge let down for the little kids. Turns out Disney, under strict instructions NOT to contact them, mailed them everyone's invoice (we all chipped in together for the trip and didn't want them to know even how much it cost) not once, but twice!! They were happy though, especially once they figured out they weren't paying for everyone (as it seemed by the invoices).

Oh my god Can you imagine? "Surprise! You get to take all of us to Disney..it's all booked just pay the bill!!"

I hope you still had a wonderful time. I would have been disappointed too!

 

[elaine amj]

I'm still trying to scoop up adr's! Ahh! I did make appt for Harmony Barbershop (DS7) and Pirate League mermaid makeover (DD8) today! So glad I had no trouble getting those!

I just booked the Mermaid makeover today for my DD! Stoked as I was worried about it. It's a little over 50 days out and I wanted 9:30am as we are going for a 10:20am CRT ressie! That morning will be all about characters. We start with the Mermaid makeover - then if she's done in time, we go to meet Ariel first. Then CRT, then the Princesses again, then Mickey and Minnie. I like to go to the official meets for good Photopass pics.

I'm getting Photopass+ and should get good use out of it! I'm organizing a Photopass share on FB to defray some of the costs of it - and even hoping to find folks going about the same time to do a Photopass+ share! I think it could work but there haven't been a lot of +shares yet.

Sorry I don't have any experience at GG but one of the best times I had dinning not just at DW but anywhere was at Teppan Edo at Japan. Good to hear you enjoyed Biergarten we and going their this year.

I'm glad to hear a solid review on Teppan Edo. I'm a bit worried about our ressie there and keep wavering. That said, it will be our first time at a hibachi grill although we go for sushi buffets regularly.

 

[beachmama3]

Sorry I don't have any experience at GG but one of the best times I had dinning not just at DW but anywhere was at Teppan Edo at Japan. Good to hear you enjoyed Biergarten we and going their this year.

Thanks for getting back to me! May have to check out Teppan Edo. We have a local Hibachi place that we LOVE.

You will definitely enjoy Biergarten. Delish. Also, fabulous location for Illuminations! We stake out a position after dinner and have a beer while we wait!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Here's what our family made today to count down the last 45 days until our trip.

 

[KarmaLady]

Oh my god Can you imagine? "Surprise! You get to take all of us to Disney..it's all booked just pay the bill!!"

I hope you still had a wonderful time. I would have been disappointed too!

You should seen their faces! We decorated SiL's house with mickeys everywhere, yelled surprise and gave them cards good for a trip to Disney. They were like, yes we need to talk about this... So serious! Until MiL nudged FiL and pointed to the "All expenses paid" line in the cards! Poor guys!

The next day (after it sunk in) FiL cried thanking us, saying its something parents should do for their kids, not the other way around. So sweet!

 

[Disney Commando]

40 more sleeps till WDW, then when we get back its 78 more sleeps till we return

 

[NightAngelX]

When I was there in May it was an offer for a percentage off the room, going up to 35% off. It had dates until the end of the year so I imagine they are still using it.
I know I've seen a picture of it around. I'll see if I can find it for you so you can see the details and dates

Ok.. read this thread. You might be in luck. It shows the dates and room discount offer but it also mentions that a free dining one comes out sometime in August. I've never seen one on our late August trips.. but we usually stay on points at a Deluxe so maybe that's why
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2913298

I mentioned the bounceback deal thing to my husband and told him what last year's was and DH started thinking about doing a trip with his entire family. He was like 'we could do Christmas...oh wait you won't have any vacation yet...okay next year...for Star Wars weekend!' LoL He's like a little kid. He is planning on telling his parents to see if they are interested. I've been saying at least the past 2 years that we should do a holiday Disney trip. So who knows, maybe some year... I was just amused that he was so on board with booking another trip right away. Of course I will have to be the voice of reason that we can't afford to but maybe if its a group trip and costs are split we can swing it. I know that will be a totally different experience. I love my in-laws but they are all kinda crazy.

Here's what our family made today to count down the last 45 days until our trip.

So cute! I love your countdown! I need to put the countdown on our calendar at home and maybe even at work. It would be fun to 'dismiss' each day down on my Outlook calendar at work. lol

Tonight DH and I went though all 4 park maps (and used the website) to decide what we wanted to do and what general order we are going to do things in. We want to see lots of shows.

Is there any way to find out the times of all the shows before we get there?

Another reason I love my husband is that he told me he wants to get the characters AUTOGRAPHS...he's 36 not 6! I asked him if he knew there were people inside those costumes and he then rephrased that he wanted the princesses autographs. I said 'they are NOT giving you their phone numbers, they are signing it Cinderella' He did a little wink as if to say 'we'll see about that'. What a goof. I want my picture with as many characters as possible but I think the signing thing is for little kids. Anyone else get autographs as an adult? If he REALLY wants to do it I want to get him an autograph book BEFORE we go.

 

[twotoohappy]

BCV in 36 days!

 

[emmysmommy]

OMG, I read your Dining Review from your most recent stay for your DD's 16th B-Day and it was FAB!!! I hope you do another one for your August trip as I will be an avid reader of that review too!!

Thanks! I'm sure I'll have a dining review just waiting to escape when I come back. I love that you are the cheerleader for Team August!

 

[elaine amj]

I FINALLY made a ticker! Getting more excited as the trip gets closer!

Oh can I get added to the official Aug 2012 list pretty please? My dates are Aug 22- Sep 3 and I'll be at Pop.

Also, Nikki: I would love a Team August mickey head. My real name is Elaine (well, guess that's rather obvious...).

So glad to see so many Canucks who are going to be there. Hmm..maybe I should create a list of all the Canadians? It would be fun

Here's what our family made today to count down the last 45 days until our trip.

Love it, love it, love it! Last year I borrowed somebody's trivia questions and my kids got to open one up every day. They loved it.

Is there any way to find out the times of all the shows before we get there?

Another reason I love my husband is that he told me he wants to get the characters AUTOGRAPHS...he's 36 not 6! I asked him if he knew there were people inside those costumes and he then rephrased that he wanted the princesses autographs. I said 'they are NOT giving you their phone numbers, they are signing it Cinderella' He did a little wink as if to say 'we'll see about that'. What a goof. I want my picture with as many characters as possible but I think the signing thing is for little kids. Anyone else get autographs as an adult? If he REALLY wants to do it I want to get him an autograph book BEFORE we go.

For show times, Steve Soares' site is the best around - http://wdwent.com

As for adults collecting autographs, lots do It's easy to do as you go up to take pics with the characters and will not look weird in Disney. One year I got my kids ball caps and we got the characters to sign the caps. Last year I got them the Disney Jr. Encyclopedia which lists all the characters and each character signed "their" page. I'm still debating if I'm bringing that back.

We're planning to get Photopass+ (I'm organizing a Photopass share on Facebook to help with the costs) and plan on lots of pics with the characters. So I might just bring the Encyclopedia back and concentrate only on autographs we don't already have.

 

[SenecaWolf]

Ugh, no email updates all day, so many threads to catch up on! lol

Anyways, I had asked about the bounceback offer the other day and was told this:

It could be different this year of course, but usually in August (it began on 8/8 last year) - close to when the Free Dining people start arriving - the current room discount BB expires and a new FD package BB begins.

This FD BB is to be able to book FD for the next years FD dates (will be for Aug/Sept 2013 if it happens again). So IF it's the same this year, starting sometime this August you will be able to book a FD package a year ahead for 2013.

Then this FD BB usually ends sometime in October, and sometime in Oct/Nov a new Room Discount BB begins that has dates through the next year.

So does that mean if I book THIS August when we go, the bounceback would be free dining for NEXT August??? Oh I hope so, we want to do a split stay Pop/Poly and FD would seal the deal!!!


As for all the surprises, I am going crazy...thanks to the DIS and being able to talk to my daughter about it I have managed to keep it from my son for a month now.....still have 47 days to go. All the questions I'm asking about what he would like to do, where he wants to eat, etc...he thinks is just my neurotic planning ahead for next year

The plan is mom/son trip, going to have my sister drive us to the airport with DD but DS will think we're just all going to dinner. As we hit the exit for the airport we're going to tell him. I'm hoping this works out well, he's always said he wanted to be suprised like the kids in the commercials so that's what he's gonna get.

 

[starrPA]

Hi everyone!
Reading all the posts about counting down and now I am getting REALLY excited. We're staying at POFQ Aug 28 - Sept 5. Just spent all day rearranging ADR's and am bleary eyed but still too psyched to relax.
Nikki, I would LOVE one of those cute badges you made. Thanks so much for designing them. My name is Starr.
This will be the first trip my husband and I have ever made to WDW without the kids! Decided it would be a perfect way to spend our 16th wedding anniversary, just hope it's not too crazy hot.
Hope to see some of you in 50 days!!!

 

[Bethpremier]

And now for this commercial break:

Look at my ticker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We now return you to your regular scheduled talk.



That is all.

 

[litlpixie]

I love that you are the cheerleader for Team August!

uh-uh-uh....that's Uncoordinated Cheerleader. I mean well and have alot of spirit, however have tendacy to walk into doors and hurt things when I try to do splits

 

[jm106]

No more questions of the day? It was fun!

I am now really in prep mode and waking every day with butterflies! I cant believe how close I am.

I am making the boys invitations to Pirates League(they will be surprised) does anyone have any ideas of wording? I could use help on it please and thanks. I have to get their shirts and costumes done this week
I will have DS make mousekeeping envelopes later.

 

[mrstomrice]

Just 5 weeks to go....we will be at the airport waiting for our flight! By this time the kids will have figured out the surprise! Now to decide whether or not to bring a stroller. It will be our first time without one with the kids. We are so used to having somewhere to put things when we ride, I think I will be lost without it. I think I would rather have it than find out we want it...Dh disagrees. Thoughts?