(Christmas) Lights, Decorations, Action ..A Post-Christmas PTR (update 12/22-page 42)

[FreezinRafiki]

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Oh, and I found your PTR and I'm coming along. On the PRT. Not the trip. Unless you have room for me?

 

[FairyGodmotherJen]

DW has to be back the second full week of August this year, and has a whole week of teacher workdays before the students arrive. The final teacher workday is June 3. The school year is getting spread out more here, with more days off during the year. I really wish they would go to year-around school, with longer breaks during the times when crowds are lower at WDW.

I hear you there! I remember doing a speech in my freshman year speech class at Purdue about balanced calendar school years. I still think it makes sense as an educator...not to mention that it would be a nice benefit for those of us who like to go to Disney! Seriously, though, I could handle a short summer if I had longer/more frequent breaks during the year. The plan I read about that I like most is the six weeks on/two weeks off schedule (with a month off in the summer). I usually feel so refreshed after longer breaks like Christmas...it would be very nice to have those breaks during the year!

A 1BR at Kidani will sleep 5, which is one reason we made it our home resort. A 1BR at OKW has enough extra space that you can sleep a 5th person. We learned that a couple summers ago when we stayed there!

I noticed that the only DVC resort that will sleep five in a one-bedroom is AKL. Not that I'm in a position to buy into DVC, but I thought that would be a bit of a deterrant if we ever did buy in. We stayed at ASMo for years, and when we stayed at CBR this summer we really noticed it was more centrally located. The travel time seemed much less. Do you notice a difference when you stay at AKL?

Not getting much Disney related stuff done right now. Had to get our scout troop ready and up to summer camp this past Sunday. Will be going back to join them tomorrow night so one of the other leaders can head home, so out of touch for a few days. It is supposed to get even hotter and more humid as the week goes on. I think I chose the wrong part of the week to stay!!!

I finally got everything done with transferring my DVC points into next year so I can get our reservation done for our June 2011 trip! Hopefully when I get back home this weekend I can call and make the ressie! For now I am going to see if I can book a Value 1BR at AKL. If those are already gone, I will go with a Standard 1BR at Kidani instead. At least we will have something booked, and then when our 7 month window opens I might look at changing it to a 1BR at OKW if available.

In the mean time, today is a very special day! I get to change my siggie since I am now the proud Dad of a 21 year old!!! Not bad for a guy who is only 29.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTHEW!

Happy birthday, Matthew!

Hope you survive the heat and humidity at camp, Marv!!!

 

[marvali]

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Oh, and I found your PTR and I'm coming along. On the PRT. Not the trip. Unless you have room for me?

Thanks Barry, and Welcome aboard!

I think you are already going to be there in early December, so I guess you could hang around and join us, not that you would like an excuse for a few more days at Disney, right???

Otherwise, I think there might be a small corner in the trunk. How flexible are you?

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Marv! Happy Birthday to Matthew!

Unfortunately I can't find it, but I think I read somewhere about the refurb at OKW and that they put an additional sleeper chair into the living room of the 1-bedroom, so that it will sleep 5. But I found pictures of a refurbed 2-bedroom and it looked very nice: http://allears.net/acc/g_okw.htm

 

[glennbo123]

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Don't worry that nothing's going on trip-planning-wise. You always seem to hit some doldrums after the ADRs are made. Unless you move on to bags and shoes.

Hey, DVC question. If I need to borrow a few points from 2012 to make a 2011 reservation, the borrowing takes place at the time of making the reservation, correct? And that's an irreversible transaction, yes? (I'm thinking about a trip out west rather than Disney next year, but I'm now at my 11-month mark from our usual vacation time, and I'd like to make a reservation just in case we don't do a trip west. But I don't want to borrow points for an "insurance" reservation.)

I noticed that the only DVC resort that will sleep five in a one-bedroom is AKL. Not that I'm in a position to buy into DVC, but I thought that would be a bit of a deterrant if we ever did buy in. We stayed at ASMo for years, and when we stayed at CBR this summer we really noticed it was more centrally located. The travel time seemed much less. Do you notice a difference when you stay at AKL?

Bay Lake Tower also sleeps 5 in a one-bedroom, but the point-costs per night are higher than AKL.

The travel time does not seem much longer to me at AKL.

Hope you survive the heat and humidity at camp, Marv!!!

I searched "Marvin Smiley" and this is what I got:

 

[Flossbolna]

Unless you move on to bags and shoes.

Great idea! Marvin, we all would love to see which park bags you are considering bringing and which shoes! Also, have you started making autograph books for the kids yet?? And how are the plans for matching t-shirts going?

 

[marvali]

Hey Jen, you ninja posted me.

I hear you there! I remember doing a speech in my freshman year speech class at Purdue about balanced calendar school years. I still think it makes sense as an educator...not to mention that it would be a nice benefit for those of us who like to go to Disney! Seriously, though, I could handle a short summer if I had longer/more frequent breaks during the year. The plan I read about that I like most is the six weeks on/two weeks off schedule (with a month off in the summer). I usually feel so refreshed after longer breaks like Christmas...it would be very nice to have those breaks during the year!

I think the kids are more refreshed too. After a number of weeks in a row, DW can tell they are starting to lose focus. Not to mention those long breaks in the summer are usually pointed at as times when they start to lose what they learned if they don't continue to work. I think that schedule you mentioned would be really good for the teachers, and students, and yes, those of us who are Disney obsessed!

I noticed that the only DVC resort that will sleep five in a one-bedroom is AKL. Not that I'm in a position to buy into DVC, but I thought that would be a bit of a deterrant if we ever did buy in. We stayed at ASMo for years, and when we stayed at CBR this summer we really noticed it was more centrally located. The travel time seemed much less. Do you notice a difference when you stay at AKL?

Actually, the 1BRs at the new BLT also sleep 5, and I think I read that the new resort at Disneyland (Grand Californian) is the same way.

Our one stay so far at Kidani the resort wasn't completely open yet. We didn't really notice any difficulties with transportation except one of the days. The buses when we were there ran very smoothly and we never really felt that far away from anything as far as transportation.

Being away from things a little was actually a selling point to us. When we get back to our room, it is a very relaxing change from all the hustle and bustle of the parks!

I'm anxious to see if there is much of a difference this trip with the resort being completely open, but we usually just give ourselves plenty of time just in case and don't worry about it. As DVC members we know we will be back again soon, so it gives you a whole different mindset about how you tour the parks, etc. No one thing becomes that critical to our trip. We just catch it the next time we go.

Happy birthday, Matthew!

Hope you survive the heat and humidity at camp, Marv!!!

Thanks!

Hi Marv! Happy Birthday to Matthew!

Unfortunately I can't find it, but I think I read somewhere about the refurb at OKW and that they put an additional sleeper chair into the living room of the 1-bedroom, so that it will sleep 5. But I found pictures of a refurbed 2-bedroom and it looked very nice: http://allears.net/acc/g_okw.htm

Thanks for the link and the info Magdalene(with an "A")

When we went a couple of summers ago I called DVC and told them we needed a room for 5. The CM told us we could do 5 at OKW then, but we would have to supply our own bedding. The rooms are really huge, so there is plenty of room. We took DS13 (11 at the time) a cot and sleeping bag, but he ended up just taking the cushions off the sleeper sofa, lined them up on the floor, and slept on those.

It would be great if they do add the sleeper chair, and there is plenty of space for it! Right now it really looks like Matt won't be able to go with us, so all of that would become a moot point anyway since we would be down to only 4. If things work out where he can, we know we could still "squeeze" him in. Of course, DS17 and DS13 would like the fact they have their own bed!

 

[marvali]

Wow, the ninja posters are out in full force today!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

I'll be passing a lot of these on when I finally get to talk to him later today! Of course, with both brothers gone to camp, and the Wii all to himself, I think he stayed up real late to ring in his birthday with "style" so it will probably be a while before he's alert enough to care!

Hey, DVC question. If I need to borrow a few points from 2012 to make a 2011 reservation, the borrowing takes place at the time of making the reservation, correct? And that's an irreversible transaction, yes? (I'm thinking about a trip out west rather than Disney next year, but I'm now at my 11-month mark from our usual vacation time, and I'd like to make a reservation just in case we don't do a trip west. But I don't want to borrow points for an "insurance" reservation.)

I'm pretty sure that is correct about borrowing when they make the ressie, and you can't reverse the transaction. But I wouldn't worry about borrowing points to make that "insurance" reservation and possibly eventually changing it. Just make sure when you make the final reservation you want, you tell them to use the "borrowed" (2012) points first, and then complete the reservation with your 2011 points. If you have 2011 points left over when you are done (I'm assuming that is your plan) then you just bank the 2011 points into 2012, essentially returning everything back where you started, as long as you take a trip in 2012 that uses at least those banked 2011 points so you don't lose them.

Clear as mud, right???

Bay Lake Tower also sleeps 5 in a one-bedroom, but the point-costs per night are higher than AKL.

I heard that somewhere.....

The travel time does not seem much longer to me at AKL.

Great minds think alike....... (okay, I left you the obvious response)

I searched "Marvin Smiley" and this is what I got:

Not sure I'm buying the "Marvin Smiley" part of that, but I think you sure did find a perfect one for my time at camp!

Don't worry that nothing's going on trip-planning-wise. You always seem to hit some doldrums after the ADRs are made.

Wait a minute, I think I have a solution to keep this thread going during the down time. It's an original thought that JUST came to me... Since I never got around to doing a TR for our trip last July when I met the ultra DISfamous glennbo, maybe I can hit some of the highlights here instead.

It would be an event never seen before on the DIS boards......a TR of a past trip in an ongoing PTR!!! I see a HUGE surge in readership in my future!

Unless you move on to bags and shoes.

Great idea! Marvin, we all would love to see which park bags you are considering bringing and which shoes! Also, have you started making autograph books for the kids yet?? And how are the plans for matching t-shirts going?

OMG, I am so in panic mode now! I haven't even BEGUN to think about shoes, bags, shirts and autograph books! So glad I have all of you to keep me on track or I would NEVER get everything done!

Forget that TR inside of a PTR idea. Too much to do, so little time!!!

 

[All7OfUs]

Great idea! Marvin, we all would love to see which park bags you are considering bringing and which shoes! Also, have you started making autograph books for the kids yet?? And how are the plans for matching t-shirts going?

Good one, Magdalene!!

 

[glennbo123]

I'm pretty sure that is correct about borrowing when they make the ressie, and you can't reverse the transaction. But I wouldn't worry about borrowing points to make that "insurance" reservation and possibly eventually changing it. Just make sure when you make the final reservation you want, you tell them to use the "borrowed" (2012) points first, and then complete the reservation with your 2011 points. If you have 2011 points left over when you are done (I'm assuming that is your plan) then you just bank the 2011 points into 2012, essentially returning everything back where you started, as long as you take a trip in 2012 that uses at least those banked 2011 points so you don't lose them.

Clear as mud, right???

I think it's clear as mud. Basically, I can borrow them into 2010 (Dec use year), and then (potentially) bank them into 2011. But that's as far as I can bank them. If I hadn't borrowed them into 2010, I could have banked them into 2012. Gee Whiz, I hope I get to Disney again before my 2012 points expire in December of 2013!!!

I heard that somewhere.....

Ah, my post was first!

Great minds think alike....... (okay, I left you the obvious response)

Is it something like, "well then, how do you explain how you came up with it?"

Not sure I'm buying the "Marvin Smiley" part of that, but I think you sure did find a perfect one for my time at camp!

I thought that maybe it did.

Wait a minute, I think I have a solution to keep this thread going during the down time. It's an original thought that JUST came to me... Since I never got around to doing a TR for our trip last July when I met the ultra DISfamous glennbo, maybe I can hit some of the highlights here instead.

I'd read that!

It would be an event never seen before on the DIS boards......a TR of a past trip in an ongoing PTR!!! I see a HUGE surge in readership in my future!

How innovative! I see a huge surge of somethin', not sure it's readership.

OMG, I am so in panic mode now! I haven't even BEGUN to think about shoes, bags, shirts and autograph books! So glad I have all of you to keep me on track or I would NEVER get everything done!

Forget that TR inside of a PTR idea. Too much to do, so little time!!!

Get to work on it! We expect a shoe, bag, shirts, and autograph book update soon!

 

[Flossbolna]

OMG, I am so in panic mode now! I haven't even BEGUN to think about shoes, bags, shirts and autograph books! So glad I have all of you to keep me on track or I would NEVER get everything done!

Forget that TR inside of a PTR idea. Too much to do, so little time!!!

I would love to see what your DSs say when you present them with autograph books for the trip! Or worse: matching t-shirts!

I am looking forwar to that TR inside the PTR (yes, it is a very novell idea, I don't know why I did not think of it in my PTR?? )

I think it's clear as mud. Basically, I can borrow them into 2010 (Dec use year), and then (potentially) bank them into 2011. But that's as far as I can bank them. If I hadn't borrowed them into 2010, I could have banked them into 2012. Gee Whiz, I hope I get to Disney again before my 2012 points expire in December of 2013!!!

Well, otherwise you would have to rent those points to someone - I might know someone who is thinking about renting points at some point in the future..

 

[All7OfUs]

Well, otherwise you would have to rent those points to someone - I might know someone who is thinking about renting points at some point in the future..

Hmmm....

 

[marvali]

I think it's clear as mud. Basically, I can borrow them into 2010 (Dec use year), and then (potentially) bank them into 2011. But that's as far as I can bank them. If I hadn't borrowed them into 2010, I could have banked them into 2012. Gee Whiz, I hope I get to Disney again before my 2012 points expire in December of 2013!!!

Okay, not sure how serious you are but I am going to try again JUST in case someone out there is confused by all this.

With a DEC Use Year and a need for extra points for a 2011 trip, you are borrowing from 2012 into your 2011 bank of points, which you actually get this coming December 1st. Once you borrow those points from your 2012 allotment, you cannot legally bank them back into 2012, but must use them in 2011 (prior to Nov 30) or lose them.

However, for example, if you borrow 50 points from 2012 into 2011, and ask for them to be used first for your 2011 trip, and have 50 points remaining from your 2011 allotment you got on Dec 1, 2010, you can bank those 2011 points into 2012 and are essentially right back where you started, except that you must now use those banked 2011 points (50) in 2012 or you lose them, so remember to use them first. You can't bank them into 2013.

Hopefully that clears the mud instead of stirring it some more!!!

Ah, my post was first!

Yep, your ninja post beat me to it!

Is it something like, "well then, how do you explain how you came up with it?"

That'll work!

Get to work on it! We expect a shoe, bag, shirts, and autograph book update soon!

Okay, okay. I guess my time at camp is going to require some me time to make some notes where I can get right on it when I get back home! A DIS TR/PTR poster's work is never done!

I would love to see what your DSs say when you present them with autograph books for the trip! Or worse: matching t-shirts!

Yeah, I can't even pull off one of Dan's same color smurf shirt days!

I am looking forwar to that TR inside the PTR (yes, it is a very novell idea, I don't know why I did not think of it in my PTR?? )

And I thought Germans were supposed to be efficient.....

Well, otherwise you would have to rent those points to someone - I might know someone who is thinking about renting points at some point in the future..

Hmmm....

Another satisfying solution........at least for one of the involved parties!

 

[All7OfUs]

Another satisfying solution........at least for one of the involved parties!

I was thinking of cooking up yet another Ladies' Trip.

 

[jenbear123]

I was thinking of cooking up yet another Ladies' Trip.

I'm totally down if that Ladies trip involves gals from the DIS

 

[The Disney Fanatic]

If my plans work out I might be there before your trip or even at the same time as you and your family. Question... Do your kids get as excited as they did in their younger years about going to Disney World?

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey Marv, how's your weekend shaping up?

 

[marvali]

I was thinking of cooking up yet another Ladies' Trip.

I'm totally down if that Ladies trip involves gals from the DIS

Oh sure, leave us great DIS guys out of your plans, and glennbo too!

If my plans work out I might be there before your trip or even at the same time as you and your family. Question... Do your kids get as excited as they did in their younger years about going to Disney World?

ABOARD! I'm guessing you mean my December trip. Have you ever been during the Christmas Holiday season before! It is a really great time to go.

I'm not sure if they love it or get as excited anymore about another Disney trip when we are planning it (DS13 pretty much is since he hasn't been as much as the older too yet), but when they get there, they don't have any hesitation about having a great time and spending as much time as possible in the parks and on the rides.

Personally, I have to spread most of the rides out each trip so as not to get too "comfortable" with them and the excitement wanes, but they can still do things like ride Tower of Terror 7 times in a row when the lines are short.

BTW, where are you guys in NC? We used to live in the Wilmington area for about 15 years.

Hey Marv, how's your weekend shaping up?

Wow Liesa, I feel so out of touch! Left Wednesday to spend the rest of the week at camp with my Scout Troop. We just got home a few hours ago and I'm still trying to get settled back in. It was really hot, and I didn't get a whole lot of sleep, so my weekend will be spent mostly catching up on my rest.

I still had to take a little time to check in with all of my great Disney friends and see what has been going on! (It has nothing to do with putting off unpacking my stuff and getting all the dirty laundry together!)

 

[Flossbolna]

I was thinking of cooking up yet another Ladies' Trip.

I'm totally down if that Ladies trip involves gals from the DIS

Oh sure, leave us great DIS guys out of your plans, and glennbo too!

I was actually thinking more about me being only 36 days younger than the MK and we will both approach an important birthday soon which needs to be celebrated in style...

BUT a ladies trip with the gals from the DIS sounds like a lot of fun! And it wouldn't be as if we were going with strangers either!

And Marvin, you and Glenn and the other guys from the DIS just have to organize your own gentlemen trip to conincide with the ladies trip!

Wow Liesa, I feel so out of touch! Left Wednesday to spend the rest of the week at camp with my Scout Troop. We just got home a few hours ago and I'm still trying to get settled back in. It was really hot, and I didn't get a whole lot of sleep, so my weekend will be spent mostly catching up on my rest.

Hope you can catch up on sleep and get some rest! Where did you go for the camp? Are the Blue Ridge Mountains anywhere near you? Katharina and I had once planned a trip through the south-eastern US and had planned to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway which sounded like a great route to us!

And just for pure amusement, there is a German song about the "Blue Mountains" (Blaue Berge) which I think must mean the Blue Ridge Mountains. The singer Heino which in Germany is legendary as a very traditional entertainer (as kids and teenager we hated his style) did sing it in this 70's TV show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQM0ViyrvMk

I still had to take a little time to check in with all of my great Disney friends and see what has been going on! (It has nothing to do with putting off unpacking my stuff and getting all the dirty laundry together!)

Checking the DIS is always important - especially when you have boring chores to do. I somehow know that as well...

 

[The Disney Fanatic]

BTW, where are you guys in NC? We used to live in the Wilmington area for about 15 years.

Greensboro, NC