Chunkymonkey and Chubbyhubby eat for free! WE ARE BACK! Photo Teasers pg. 23!!

[therussells08]

Very cute bags! I like the designs on all of them! You will have to let us know how the test run in Vegas works out!

I have honestly never taken a bag into a park at WDW! Can you believe it? Thank goodness for my DH's extremely roomy pockets. He always carries everything I need in them so we can skip the lines for bag check when we get to the park.

However, I always end up wishing I had brought something that I didnt. Therefore, the number one item on my Christmas list this year is the Dooney & Bourke Disney Sketch Wristlet. I would love the big bag, but I think asking for a $220 bag the day before I leave for Disney World is maybe a bit much. The wristlet would be perfect though because it would hold all of my small necessities (chap stick, cell phone, etc.) without being bulky. I hope I get it!

 

[Cat0727]

I love your bags! I am a sucker for cute polka dots.

My favorite park bag for the last 4 years has been my JanSport half pint mini backpack. I want to change it up next trip though so maybe this means a purchase of another new bag? haha.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Very cute bags! I like the designs on all of them! You will have to let us know how the test run in Vegas works out!

I have honestly never taken a bag into a park at WDW! Can you believe it? Thank goodness for my DH's extremely roomy pockets. He always carries everything I need in them so we can skip the lines for bag check when we get to the park.

However, I always end up wishing I had brought something that I didnt. Therefore, the number one item on my Christmas list this year is the Dooney & Bourke Disney Sketch Wristlet. I would love the big bag, but I think asking for a $220 bag the day before I leave for Disney World is maybe a bit much. The wristlet would be perfect though because it would hold all of my small necessities (chap stick, cell phone, etc.) without being bulky. I hope I get it!

Aww cute, a D&B wristlet! I have never seen them before so I will check them out. I do love their nylon line with the cute little whale logo though.

Love the bags!

Thank you!!!

I love your bags! I am a sucker for cute polka dots.

My favorite park bag for the last 4 years has been my JanSport half pint mini backpack. I want to change it up next trip though so maybe this means a purchase of another new bag? haha.

Me too I like dots too! A new bag is just a good purchase for me for trips as I like to have a functional and stylish bag to meet the needs of trip. Sounds like more shopping for us in the future.

 

[flamestarrdust]

I am such a fan of LeSportsac, too! That is definitely my go to bag for WDW. It has just the right amount of room for my stuff. On my last visit, I had the same type of messenger bag that you have the pic of but it was white with a sort of graffiti looking print on it. However, it got ruined when something spilled on it and stained it. But that happened at home, not at WDW. I current have two totes (one is a brown background with paisley and the other is white with black hearts), a purse (brown paisley print) and a duffle bag (brown paisley print). I got them at Lord & Taylor when I still lived in NYC. I got them on sale. Lord & Taylor always seemed to have really good deals on LeSportsac. I bought a bag from Avon that is the same size and type as my Duffle and it fell apart after one run through baggage claim. My LeSportsac duffle has been through baggage claim several times and still looks the same as when I bought it. For my upcoming trend, I bought a look alike messenger and wristlet from Target. I am hoping they will be as sturdy as the name brand one but I doubt it.

 

[chunkymonkey]

So it won't come as a surprise to most of you reading my thread that I had been flipflopping between staying deluxe at the contemporary or staying moderate at POFQ. Almost everyone we spoke to told us to stay POFQ because of the charming and pretty grounds.

So we've made the decision to go back to moderate and stay at POFQ. Myself and DH thought it just wouldn't make much sense for us to stay deluxe since we spend so much time at the parks, and barely at the resort, so we didn't want to pay a premium for something we wouldn't use much. Of course the monorail is a great plus at the CR, but we weren't even getting a tower room, just a garden wing room, which I was told was a hike to the monorail anyways. So after thinking about it a while, we are going to revert back to our original choice which was POFQ, which was really where my heart lay in the first place. I chose it because of the theme and because it is relatively convenient. This saves us a little more than 500 dollars on the trip. I feel a shopping spree coming on...

So I will be asking my very nice agent from Mouseketrips of he would be so kind to change my reservation. He told me I could make any change I want provided it was before July 20th based on availability. So POFQ would be my first choice and then POR, CBR, and CSR in that order.

BTW, does anyone have a room preference at POFQ or any other moderate resorts? I want to stay as close to transportation as possible. Thanks!

 

[annmarieda]

So we've made the decision to go back to moderate and stay at POFQ.

I think that is exciting news. POFQ is so quaint. And just think...you won't have to figure out how to fit in getting the beignets.

 

[chunkymonkey]

I am such a fan of LeSportsac, too! That is definitely my go to bag for WDW. It has just the right amount of room for my stuff. On my last visit, I had the same type of messenger bag that you have the pic of but it was white with a sort of graffiti looking print on it. However, it got ruined when something spilled on it and stained it. But that happened at home, not at WDW. I current have two totes (one is a brown background with paisley and the other is white with black hearts), a purse (brown paisley print) and a duffle bag (brown paisley print). I got them at Lord & Taylor when I still lived in NYC. I got them on sale. Lord & Taylor always seemed to have really good deals on LeSportsac. I bought a bag from Avon that is the same size and type as my Duffle and it fell apart after one run through baggage claim. My LeSportsac duffle has been through baggage claim several times and still looks the same as when I bought it. For my upcoming trend, I bought a look alike messenger and wristlet from Target. I am hoping they will be as sturdy as the name brand one but I doubt it.

L&T is a great place for lesportsac as they often have sales and you can use the coupons for 15% off too! Nowadays I shop for Lesportsac at Macy's or at the outlet. The outlet is great for finding older prints at cheaper prices. There is one up at Woodbury Common outlets in Central Valley, NY. I love lesportsac because in addition to being cute and lightweight, they are insanely durable. I also have some of the Stella McCartney for Lesportsac line as well as Tokidoki for Lesportsac and I love them too.

 

[TokyoDina]

Love teh bags which reminders me we need to get a new suitcase. Ours finally breathed it's last in the Orlando Airport.....on our way home.

 

[trickiwoo]

Handbags!! I love handbags. What girl doesn't?

::raises hand::

I dunno, I'm just not into handbags. I own one purse. It's small and tan and plain. And actually, it's falling apart. I've had it for years. But I'm thinking I can get a few more months of use out of it before I absolutely *have* to buy a new one.

Do you have a favorite park bag?

I try *not* to bring a bag into the parks. The less I have to carry, the better... so carry nothing at all is ideal! Last year I wore shorts with lots of big pockets... and pockets with zippers! I kept my wallet, a point and shoot digital camera, a pair of sunglasses and my cell phone in my pockets and I was set!

This year I plan on doing the same, I just also want to bring my DSLR, so I'm going to get a sling bag for it!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Since posts are more fun with pics, here's a few pics from me and DH's travels over the years.

Can anyone guess where this is?

Disneyland

Me and one of my sisters, who's a twin, at ITTBAB

And all of us at DCA

Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA

In Temecula, CA at our wedding rehearsal

Our Honeymoon in Tahiti/Bora Bora

Napa Valley

Here's a recent picture of me and DH at the Yankees vs Orioles game last week taken with my p and s camera.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Love teh bags which reminders me we need to get a new suitcase. Ours finally breathed it's last in the Orlando Airport.....on our way home.

Cool. It's funny, I rarely, if ever, check my bags on a domestic flight. I always pack light enough to carry-on. But since this year, we are doing ME as well as flying jetblue where there is no fee for checked bags, I am most likely going to take advantage of it. Hopefully my luggage will make it in once piece! I am always scared of it getting lost which is why I try to avoid checking in in the first place!

 

[chunkymonkey]

So now that we've switched over to POFQ, I adjusted some of the times for our am breakfast ADRs because I know there is no way we would make it now that we're not staying on a monorail resort. However, I didn't want to completely adjust our ADR schedule so I am keeping the ressies for now as I really want to eat at Kona and Chef Mickey's!

So here is our new schedule with adjusted ADRs in blue:

Arrive Sept. 3rd 10pm

Get on ME, check-in at POFQ resort

September 4th

Morning:

Breakfast – QS at POFQ (Beignets! Beignets!)
DHS around 8am for EMH

Afternoon:

Lunch – QS at DHS

Later in afternoon/evening, go to MK

Evening:

8:45pm, monorail to Poly
Dinner – 9:05pm ADR @ ‘Ohana, Polynesian Resort
View Wishes at dinner

September 5th:

Morning:

Bus to Epcot
Breakfast – QS at Sunshine Seasons

Afternoon:

Bus to Animal Kingdom
Possibly an ADR @ Yak n Yeti

Evening:

5:15pm - Bus to AKL
Dinner – 5:45pm ADR @ Boma, Animal Kingdom Lodge

Magic Kingdom EMH until 1am

September 6th:

Morning:

Travel to Poly
Breakfast – 9:15am ADR @ Kona Café, Polynesian Resort
Monorail to MK

Afternoon:

Lunch - QS at MK

Evening:

Dinner – 5pm T-rex
Hollywood Studios EMH until 11:30pm

September 7th:

Morning:

Bus to Epcot - EMH starts at 8am
Breakfast – QS at Sunshine Seasons

Afternoon:

Lunch – 12:30pm ADR @ Le Cellier, Epcot World Showcase

Evening:

TBD, maybe AK

September 8th:

Morning:

Travel to CR
Breakfast – 9:20am ADRs at Chef Mickey's, Contemporary Resort
Monorail to Epcot or MK

Afternoon:

TBD

Evening:

Get on ME to Orlando Airport
Depart Orlando 7:20pm flight

So I am not sure what the best way it would be to get from POFQ to Poly or CR resorts...would taking the water taxi to DTD and then taking a bus be better than taking a bus to MK and then taking the monorail over?

 

[chunkymonkey]

::raises hand::

I dunno, I'm just not into handbags. I own one purse. It's small and tan and plain. And actually, it's falling apart. I've had it for years. But I'm thinking I can get a few more months of use out of it before I absolutely *have* to buy a new one.

Sigh I wish I were more like you. It would definitely be cheaper, and DH would absolutely LOVE that.

I try *not* to bring a bag into the parks. The less I have to carry, the better... so carry nothing at all is ideal! Last year I wore shorts with lots of big pockets... and pockets with zippers! I kept my wallet, a point and shoot digital camera, a pair of sunglasses and my cell phone in my pockets and I was set!

This year I plan on doing the same, I just also want to bring my DSLR, so I'm going to get a sling bag for it!

Wow, that would be great if I didn't have to bring a bag with me at all times, but I am so used to carrying one that not having one would just make me worry that I left it somewhere, lol. Yes, you do have to get your bags checked when entering the park, but I have not actually waited long for it so it' not too much of a big deal.

Have you decided which bag you were going to purchase? I photographer friend of mine had a KATA bag which he wore arond his waist when shooting, and it was soooo easy to change lenses and stuff. IT also had a nice bright yellow lining. I myself just ordered a Kelly Moore bag so that I can use it as both a storage bag and shooting bag. My shootsac is just to soft to use as a storage bag but I like it for shooting.

 

[annmarieda]

So here is our new schedule with adjusted ADRs in blue:

Arrive Sept. 3rd 10pm

I am not sure if you are aware...ME bag pick up stops at 10pm. I found this out the hard way on our last trip. Our flight was due in just a hair past 10pm. I went rounds with cms prior to our trip trying to get a straight answer, so in case you have not gone through all this...let me save you some headache, because believe me...it is hard to get a straight answer.

If you mark your luggage AND your flight arrives by 9:59pm the sorter will pull your luggage for ME. If your flight arrives 10pm or later you have to go to the luggage carousel and pick up your own bags. Even if your have the tags, leaving your bags will not get them sent to POFQ the next morning. It is all in how it is handled getting off the plane. Once it makes it to the regular carousel it is your responsibility to pick up. With three kids and a cranky dh in tow, this was NOT a good start to our magical trip.

sorry if this is bad news...

 

[TokyoDina]

Sounds like a good plan so far. Not sure about your Question I've only stayed at the military resort or the value........

You know I'm not going to deny that I've never had to pay for a checked bag. Never. I've been in the military seriously my whole life and you just have to show the ID and it's free.....have a lost a bag...umm yes! I lost on on the way back from Europe. It made it's way back home to me a week later but thankfully it was after my trip was over and not before!

I've never eaten at Boma maybe next time? Not sure. I think all your places sound good though! I'll have to keep an eye out for the free DDP next year!

 

[chunkymonkey]

I am not sure if you are aware...ME bag pick up stops at 10pm. I found this out the hard way on our last trip. Our flight was due in just a hair past 10pm. I went rounds with cms prior to our trip trying to get a straight answer, so in case you have not gone through all this...let me save you some headache, because believe me...it is hard to get a straight answer.

If you mark your luggage AND your flight arrives by 9:59pm the sorter will pull your luggage for ME. If your flight arrives 10pm or later you have to go to the luggage carousel and pick up your own bags. Even if your have the tags, leaving your bags will not get them sent to POFQ the next morning. It is all in how it is handled getting off the plane. Once it makes it to the regular carousel it is your responsibility to pick up. With three kids and a cranky dh in tow, this was NOT a good start to our magical trip.

sorry if this is bad news...

Wow, thanks for the heads up!! Doh, guess our first taste of ME won't really be the REAL ME experience, LOL.
Our flight arrives at 9:56pm. Probably by the time our bags get out we will have to pick them up from the carousel. Either that or just take our bags on board the plane as carry-ons!

Sorry you had to learn the hard way! It would make sense for them to let you know ahead of time. Especially with flights later in the day.
Thanks again for this piece of info!!! Extremely helpful!!

Sounds like a good plan so far. Not sure about your Question I've only stayed at the military resort or the value........

You know I'm not going to deny that I've never had to pay for a checked bag. Never. I've been in the military seriously my whole life and you just have to show the ID and it's free.....have a lost a bag...umm yes! I lost on on the way back from Europe. It made it's way back home to me a week later but thankfully it was after my trip was over and not before!

I've never eaten at Boma maybe next time? Not sure. I think all your places sound good though! I'll have to keep an eye out for the free DDP next year!

Luckily they lost your bag on the way back from your trip! I would be so upset if I had nothing to wear on vacation. It's wonderful what you do for our country, so having a free checked bag is just a small measure of gratitude that the airlines can show which is nice

I have never eaten at any of these places which I am dining at this year! Usually we only make 1 or 2 ADRs per trip, but since this year is free DP we're going all out, LOL. I'm so excited to review these places on our TR after we get back!

 

[annmarieda]

Wow, thanks for the heads up!! Doh, guess our first taste of ME won't really be the REAL ME experience, LOL.
Our flight arrives at 9:56pm.

Here is where I got the run around when I was trying to get a straight answer at WDTC... I am not 100% sure that it is that the bags have to come off the plane by 9:59pm or if the plan has to hit the gate by 9:59pm. Either way, your flight cuts it close.

In February, I put our tags that ME sent us on our luggage just in case... but our flight was a bit delayed, so in the end there was no question that our luggage would be at the carousel. For us, we always have WAY too much luggage. The idea of not having to go to one side of the airport and then back to the other for ME is a huge plus. In february it was not so fun to drag our checked luggage and carryons from one side to the other. This time, I made sure to get a flight that would ensure we would not have to get our luggage ourselves.

 

[topdog]

WOW! You got lucky to score the LeCellier ressie. That is so difficult to get these days. We were hoping to get that for our Candlelight Processional dinner. But Disney still won't take any of the CP reservation yet. Right now, I was able to get one regular dinner reservation there. If we can get the CP dinner there also, then I will cancel the regular dinner reservation. But if we can't get the CP dinner there, we might have to pick Teppen Edo instead. No biggie.

Boma is another one we want to try but we'll have breafast instead. I can't wait to hear what you think on those 2 restaurants.

 

[chunkymonkey]

Here is where I got the run around when I was trying to get a straight answer at WDTC... I am not 100% sure that it is that the bags have to come off the plane by 9:59pm or if the plan has to hit the gate by 9:59pm. Either way, your flight cuts it close.

In February, I put our tags that ME sent us on our luggage just in case... but our flight was a bit delayed, so in the end there was no question that our luggage would be at the carousel. For us, we always have WAY too much luggage. The idea of not having to go to one side of the airport and then back to the other for ME is a huge plus. In february it was not so fun to drag our checked luggage and carryons from one side to the other. This time, I made sure to get a flight that would ensure we would not have to get our luggage ourselves.

That is a good idea and good to note for next time! LOL. Me and DH usually leave after work on a Friday so it never occured to us we'd miss ME. Next time we'll take the day off.

WOW! You got lucky to score the LeCellier ressie. That is so difficult to get these days. We were hoping to get that for our Candlelight Processional dinner. But Disney still won't take any of the CP reservation yet. Right now, I was able to get one regular dinner reservation there. If we can get the CP dinner there also, then I will cancel the regular dinner reservation. But if we can't get the CP dinner there, we might have to pick Teppen Edo instead. No biggie.

Boma is another one we want to try but we'll have breafast instead. I can't wait to hear what you think on those 2 restaurants.

I wanted to do dinner at Le Cellier but was unable to get a ressie. Really wanted to try the prime rib but unfortunately there are no dinner times available for our stay! Free DP probably has something to do with it too...

We have never been to Disney during the holidays so will be nice to see what your thoughts are on the CP. Good luck with booking that!

Will definitely share my thoughts on all the restaurants! Looking forward to Boma too!

 

[Cat0727]

ooohh let me know what you think of POFQ! I am deciding between staying there (if I get a pin) or renting points at AKL. We walked around POFQ for a bit and it's beautiful! I like that it's a small resort.

I've stayed at CBR and it's so, so nice. We had a car though, so I can't comment on bus transportation.

Your itinerary looks so good! I think you should take a bus to MK and then the monorail. It's faster, and you'll get to hear the good ole resort monorail loop!