Calling all Chicago DISers #3

[rmom50]

. I don't have one. I took an Android tablet and a cheap cell phone. I'm going to be real disappointed if it turns out we have to buy an I phone to go to Disney World. grrr. Even the ADR's aren't for me. That is the one week of the year - I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE ON SCHEDULE!

Fun talking to you guys again -

 

[macraven]

I also just wrote a big long post that disappeared.

Long story short...

Mac... I have never flown out of MKE. I'm in Rockford and always bus in to Ohare. Always fly United. Considered flying out of RFD, but it's way too complicated for me (not as bad as FP+, but similar ). Plus ... it flies in to Sanford . My trips get a little shorter every year (this year I'm leaving later in day and coming back earlier than that 5:05 I usually take) because geriatric t shirt cat still claims he is alive.

You and Geffric are correct about the boys and the I phones. Mine both are on them for everything. I don't have one. I took an Android tablet and a cheap cell phone. I'm going to be real disappointed if it turns out we have to buy an I phone to go to Disney World. grrr. Even the ADR's aren't for me. That is the one week of the year - I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE ON SCHEDULE!

Fun talking to you guys again -

you know, i had this crazy idea that i needed to buy an iphone for this fall trip.
the only purpose would be for checking line waits and fp changes..........

then i thought about it again and told myself, that's nuts.
even with a smart phone, way more costs than what i have now with a basic cell.


for all the years i have flown to orlando, and other places, i have only used united out of o'hare.
i love united, have had some free trips with my points.
(for the chicago civil round table tours Mr Mac and i take each spring, we use SW out of MKE.)

i am definitely not a fan of SW flights but they are cheap.


this coming september, i did book SW out of MKE for a couple of reasons.
rt that i booked is $238 total with free luggage.
parking there is $12.50 a day compared to $35 a day at ORD.

i usually use car service but it went up last year.

my rt car service from home to ORD was $230 plus tip last fall trip.
came car service from home to MKE would be $180 plus tip.

since i will be gone until 10/17, car service will be cheaper for me going to mke.


how long does it take for the bus from rockford to get to ord?
do they run frequently?


btw, i do not like the fp+ system at all.......
i do not like the magic bands at all.........
it's just not my thing.

i read recently that you don't have to use the magic bands but can get the rfid cards instead.
i need to check into that more.

 

[rmom50]

you know, i had this crazy idea that i needed to buy an iphone for this fall trip.
the only purpose would be for checking line waits and fp changes..........

then i thought about it again and told myself, that's nuts.
even with a smart phone, way more costs than what i have now with a basic cell.


for all the years i have flown to orlando, and other places, i have only used united out of o'hare.
i love united, have had some free trips with my points.
(for the chicago civil round table tours Mr Mac and i take each spring, we use SW out of MKE.)

i am definitely not a fan of SW flights but they are cheap.


this coming september, i did book SW out of MKE for a couple of reasons.
rt that i booked is $238 total with free luggage.
parking there is $12.50 a day compared to $35 a day at ORD.

i usually use car service but it went up last year.

my rt car service from home to ORD was $230 plus tip last fall trip.
came car service from home to MKE would be $180 plus tip.

since i will be gone until 10/17, car service will be cheaper for me going to mke.


how long does it take for the bus from rockford to get to ord?
do they run frequently?


btw, i do not like the fp+ system at all.......
i do not like the magic bands at all.........
it's just not my thing.

i read recently that you don't have to use the magic bands but can get the rfid cards instead.
i need to check into that more.

MACRAVEN...
The bus is great - runs from like 4 am to midnight (or close). I think it's appx. every hour. Takes appx. an hour and a half for them to leave terminal/do two other pick ups/and drop you at the front door there at United. I can park my car at their terminal here for $2. per day securely. I think the round trip ticket is appx. $40. So.... to fly out of here we only have Allegiant to Sanford. Apparently they have finally added a shuttle service from Sanford to DW property hotels that isn't as expensive as transportation was in the past. Allegiant here only flies like twice or 3x per week though and one flight per day. Then you have to pay for bags. You can park at our airport for free - which is great. It's only a few miles from my house. Security is a breeze there, but there are so many variables that it's not worth it to me. Price wise... pretty much the same the way I figure it (with bags and ground in Orlando). United has NEVER let me down. That one flight that you and I were on together - the Sunday 5:05 - was the longest wait I've ever had. If I'd known you were there - that would have been NOTHIN too!

I toyed with buying an IPhone too, but I'm not a phone talker and RARELY use the tablet I bought. Wouldn't be worth it. Plus... my understanding from all these FP+ AND My Disney Experience forums is that many of the people with IPhones had the same issues we did.

How did you get your son to go with you? Besides I'm sure you $prang, but I'd love for one of mine to go with me even with that!

GEFFRIC......... YOU MUST BE SO EXCITED leaving so soon.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Hi Chicago friends!

Dork - so sorry about your ankle. Isn't Anna/Elsa a FP now? I thought I read that on here someplace. I haven't even seen the movie yet, so not up on that. Your trip sounds great though! I've never used an ECV, but pushed my son around in a wheel chair one year (he was too young for ECV). It was not good for me.

I booked my annual trip this week too for the free food - Disney visa. I ended up with the exact dates I went last year. Maybe Visa does the exact dates every year? Anyway... my trip is Nov. 9 - 15. Going back to All Star Music. Air fares seem high - will wait a bit to see if they come down. I looked to see when I booked last year and it was in June. $199 RT. Can't beat that. I'd be happy to come close. Normally I let them bump me off to get a free flight for the next year, but I was too tired and crabby. They did ask, but they had put me through so much in security that I passed on it. Stooopidly.

And MACRAVEN - I didn't get the FP+ figured out last year, so need to learn it too. I did find out after returning that it wasn't all my fault though. A lot had to do with the WI-FI and magical what ever they call it site. Neither of them seemed to work at the same time. Luckily............ when you are solo... doesn't matter much. With kids.............. would not have been ok.

So - Chicago land son is now working in Wicker Park and living in Logan Square. Broke his collar bone (another biking accident) and was off work for a while. We're not sure what oldest son is doing. He lives next door, but ? Keeps a low profile so he isn't asked to help out.

Did a little clean up on river bank today. Can't believe what ends up in that river - ew. ew. Lots of Styrofoam food and drink containers. Water depth is WAY LOW right now though, so good time for cleaning.

Hope you are all well. ROSEPRINCESS - HOW WAS YOUR TRIP? You waited so long for that one - hope it didn't disappoint! Kids have fun? Did Rose Prince go too or just you and kids/school?

Glad you got FD for November! We are headed in September/October and had to wait on hold for 5 hours just to get it! GAHHH!!!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Geffric, sooo jealous of your trip!!!!!! So soon AND the cruise?! Have fun!!

Rmom, I'm in Rockford too and have never flown out of RFD. I usually do Midway but recently we have been driving! It's not as bad as it seems and with 5 of us, is much cheaper! Hahaha!!

 

[rmom50]

Glad you got FD for November! We are headed in September/October and had to wait on hold for 5 hours just to get it! GAHHH!!!

MICHELLE NO WAY - HI! Hey... why don't you head over for a glass of wine - we can help search for the jumper in the river.
I think I only waited about 5 minutes most, but I called late in day. I bet your kids are so excited!
Oh... it's fun to see you here!

 

[rmom50]

Michelle - oh... crossed messages. I would drive too with five $$$$$.

 

[macraven]

Glad you got FD for November! We are headed in September/October and had to wait on hold for 5 hours just to get it! GAHHH!!!

i didn't know you made your trip for sept/oct !!

that's my time period also.


what are your dates?



geffric, you really need to get back to the early fall schedule for the motherland trips...........
how did your son grow up this fast??
it doesn't seem possible.


rmom, your husband is retiring, mine is quitting his job in a couple of months.
that is one reason i added days to my trip to make it a long one.
i will be leaving for my trip one month after he stops working.

it will help me get used to him being around 24/7.

 

[macraven]

Geffric, sooo jealous of your trip!!!!!! So soon AND the cruise?! Have fun!!

Rmom, I'm in Rockford too and have never flown out of RFD. I usually do Midway but recently we have been driving! It's not as bad as it seems and with 5 of us, is much cheaper! Hahaha!!

all those hours in one car with littles.


you are a brave woman.........


i had 3 sons in a bit over 4 years.
cross country driving with just me and them.
i cried a lot.......


michelle, do you drive staight thru or do a one night stop each way?

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

MICHELLE NO WAY - HI! Hey... why don't you head over for a glass of wine - we can help search for the jumper in the river. Are you still here in Rfd?
I think I only waited about 5 minutes most, but I called late in day. I bet your kids are so excited!
Oh... it's fun to see you here!

Mmmm....wine...........I'm in the chicago burbs with my mom for mother's Day and definitely in need of some wine! Hahahaha!!! Other than that, yes I am still in rockford. We are in the Rolling Green neighborhood

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We are doing the 24th-6th but the first few days in Universal. The kids handle the trip in the car great, I am the horrible one! Hahaha, I think I drive my husband crazy counting down the half hour increments and barely driving We drive straight through but stop to eat and play in rest areas to stretch legs and the like

 

[geffric]

 

[slo]

Good morning everyone!!!

I wanted to check in and say HI to everyone

How's everyone's summer going?
Our is super busy - which in not surprising for us.
*Katie has made a travel ball softball team, so we are currently finishing up her rec ball season, while starting the travel ball season. Juggling 2 teams is a little hectic, but she's enjoying it. Her first travel ball tournament is the 2nd weekend in July, and we are really looking forward to it.
*Stephanie's schedule is a little more relaxed this summer, which is good for her. She's taking a couple of summer school classes to get some classes out of the way, and she's singing more and more. She sang The National Anthem before a baseball game on Sunday, which was exciting for her. I'm trying to get her to sing before a Railcats baseball game, which will be super awesome for her!!! She's done some other singing events too. I'm so proud of her for using her voice to give joy to others. She's such a great kid!!!!
*Kevin and I are just trying to keep up with our kids, and have no time for anything else, which is ok, I'm not complaining. I'm probably a little busier, because I'm the one that practices with Katie almost everyday. As her pitching gets more advanced, she's having to practice all the time. So I'm the one that sits on the bucket to catch her pitches. I love it!! It's great alone time for her and I to spend together

Anyone going on vacation?
We have nothing this year due to Katie's softball schedule. I'm hoping we can squeeze a long weekend in somewhere, but I think it's doubtful. Her schedule is super demanding!!!

That's about it from here.
I hope you are all doing well, and I will check in again soon!!!

 

[Crissup]

Our last two months have been all about me and my kidney. I'm going in today to have a 5.5cm tumor removed from my left kidney. Then I'm looking at about 6 weeks of recovery. Hoping they don't find any evidence that it has metastasized.

We did get a 5 day cruise in February with my mother. She had never cruised Disney before. Then a short trip to the World in early April just as all this was starting.

Hoping once this is all over, I can scrape up enough vacation time in to get one more trip in this year.

Sent via my iThingy

 

[slo]

Hi friends!!!

I'm sitting here patiently waiting for the rain to pass so we can start thinking about getting Katie's softball game in today. Her 10:45am game was postponed until 2:15pm, and i'm hoping that happens. The news isn't making me feel real confident that it will.

It's been awhile since I posted some pictures of the kids, so I thought I would take a few minutes and do that now.

Stephanie is no longer playing soccer, but is perfecting her voice. She's taking voice lessons, and is singing more and more in front of a crowd.
She sang in her first show, and she performed Let it Go from Frozen.







She also sang The National Anthem twice. Once for opening day of our softball league, and the picture shown is for a local elite adult baseball team




Katie is playing lots of softball.
The picture below is her pitching for her rec ball team



This week Katie started her travel team, and Monday was her first game. She has moved up to the 12U division, which is great, but she looks so small compared to these big girls - she's turning 11 in August, and most other girls are 13. She is their starting pitcher.




So this has been our summer so far, and I'm loving every minute of it.

I hope your summer is going well too!!!

I'll check in again soon

 

[slo]

Happy Monday!! All games cancelled for the weekend, but Katie's gonna be busy all week - 7 games. It's a good thing she loves her softball

 

[macraven]

you know it is Monday when Slo comes here to post.

 

[Alesia]

I'm hoping that some of you can give me some advice.

Were planning on visiting Chicago next year. Neither of us are crazy about the idea of driving in the city, so my original plan was to take the Amtrak from Carbondale, which is about 2 hours from my house. I like the idea of letting someone else do the driving, but it's going to make for a long day.

Then I thought about driving to one of the suburbs, leaving the car parked there for the week and taking the Metra into the city. Now for the questions: Is that even possible? Do the Metra stations even have long term parking? If so, what town would you recommend? We would be coming from the south.

 

[Crissup]

Do the Metra stations even have long term parking? If so, what town would you recommend? We would be coming from the south.

Can't really answer your direct question. Some stations charge for their parking. Others, the municipality may provide either a parking lot or street parking, but overnight would be up to local ordinances.

One suggestion though, assuming it doesn't have to be free, would be the long term parking lots at one of the airports. You could park at the long term lot at Midway and ride the train in from there.

 

[Alesia]

One suggestion though, assuming it doesn't have to be free, would be the long term parking lots at one of the airports. You could park at the long term lot at Midway and ride the train in from there.

That's a really good idea! It looks like it's only $15 per day for the economy lot.