DIS Dads DDC XVIII - Spring Fever!

[Cinderella's Fella]

I am contemplating a 2013 Disneyland, Aneheim trip.

Anyone else going?

If so, when?

My ticker says 88 days. And as we found out, it's always right!




Guess I'll have to PM Don and let him know for page 1.

 

[scott2997]

Question for those of you that have stayed in a BLT studio before...

I'm curious what the electrical outlet availability is near the bed and in the main living area in general.

I have to plug in the ol' CPAP machine right next to the bed and was wondering if there is an available outlet or if I should pack a small power strip.

Also, we'll have 3 cell phones and a camera battery or two to recharge each night.

I noticed there is an outlet in the kitchen area - just wasn't sure about the main living area. It's hard to tell from pictures.

Thanks!

 

[afwdwfan]

John Deere right? See I was paying attention to Tractor Talk. Andy, keep the pictures coming through the growing season. Would be interesting to see how my corn at Publix gets there. Hope it is a great year for the farm.

I can do that. Sometimes when you're driving back and forth for a few hours, you've got to do something to break the monotony. Taking a picture or 2 is no problem. One of these days I might actually think to take a picture of the equipment from the outside.

 

[carlnix30]

not knocking DVC.

But Has anyone wondered what they do with the money from the ones that aren't DVC that rent the DVC rooms at rack rate? Does that go towards lowering the DVC members dues? Is there accountability for the income the DVC property makes?

serious question.

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Question for those of you that have stayed in a BLT studio before...

I'm curious what the electrical outlet availability is near the bed and in the main living area in general.

I have to plug in the ol' CPAP machine right next to the bed and was wondering if there is an available outlet or if I should pack a small power strip.

Also, we'll have 3 cell phones and a camera battery or two to recharge each night.

I noticed there is an outlet in the kitchen area - just wasn't sure about the main living area. It's hard to tell from pictures.

Thanks!

I always bring a power strip and an extension cord whenever I travel for those same needs. I also bring a non polarize plug adapter too, hate trying to plug in a polarize plug into a non polarize outlet.

 

[middlepat]

Well, CRUD!

Work has been a beverley this week and I'm too many pages behind to catch up.

On the plus side, I've only got about 57 hours until I'll be on the ground in Maui.

Just gotta get through the next day and a half of crazy then 2 weeks of relaxation!

I'll toast each of you while I'm there. (Let's see, 690 / 14 days.... hmmmm) well, maybe only half of you.

 

[scott2997]

Well, CRUD!

Work has been a beverley this week and I'm too many pages behind to catch up.

On the plus side, I've only got about 57 hours until I'll be on the ground in Maui.

Just gotta get through the next day and a half of crazy then 2 weeks of relaxation!

I'll toast each of you while I'm there. (Let's see, 690 / 14 days.... hmmmm) well, maybe only half of you.

Have a great time Brian!

One of these days I hope to be able to take 14 days of vacation in a row......kinda hard when I only get 2 weeks of vacation all year as it is!

Enjoy!

 

[afwdwfan]

Well, CRUD!

Work has been a beverley this week and I'm too many pages behind to catch up.

On the plus side, I've only got about 57 hours until I'll be on the ground in Maui.

Just gotta get through the next day and a half of crazy then 2 weeks of relaxation!

I'll toast each of you while I'm there. (Let's see, 690 / 14 days.... hmmmm) well, maybe only half of you.

Have a good time. Don't worry about toasting me. I can be one of the half that has to miss out on that part. Just have a Dole Whip for me if you make it over to the Dole Plantation.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Well, CRUD!

Work has been a beverley this week and I'm too many pages behind to catch up.

On the plus side, I've only got about 57 hours until I'll be on the ground in Maui.

Just gotta get through the next day and a half of crazy then 2 weeks of relaxation!

I'll toast each of you while I'm there. (Let's see, 690 / 14 days.... hmmmm) well, maybe only half of you.

Hope you have an awesome time. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Have a good time. Don't worry about toasting me. I can be one of the half that has to miss out on that part. Just have a Dole Whip for me if you make it over to the Dole Plantation.

This.

 

[ClearScreen]

I always bring a power strip and an extension cord whenever I travel for those same needs. I also bring a non polarize plug adapter too, hate trying to plug in a polarize plug into a non polarize outlet.

I do this as well.

I actually have an "electronics bag" which is just a backpack that contains a power strip, plug adaptors, cell phone cords, batteries and I throw into it cameras, ipods, nintendos, portable DVD player, laptop, and other electronic stuff we need for the trip. It is bascially the same every trip, and everyone in the family knows to check the electronics bag.

 

[that's nice]

On the plus side, I've only got about 57 hours until I'll be on the ground in Maui.

Just gotta get through the next day and a half of crazy then 2 weeks of relaxation!

I'll toast each of you while I'm there. (Let's see, 690 / 14 days.... hmmmm) well, maybe only half of you.

Enjoy your vacation!!! Where are you staying in Maui?

Feel free to toast me while you are there!

Have a good time. Don't worry about toasting me. I can be one of the half that has to miss out on that part. Just have a Dole Whip for me if you make it over to the Dole Plantation.

I didn't think I'd see you posting today.. You have internet out there in the field?

 

[disney67]

Good morning Gents

it has been a roough week with wife starting her first week of work and trying to find time to get on the computer . because it is like get home at 1145 pm go to bed about 2 am wake up 4am with wife to say have a nice day . then back to sleep till i wake kids at 630am up till 930am sleep till 130pm then get cleaned up and off to work i go and you wounder why me and my CPAP machine don't get along
hope to have time to play catch up tommorow but if not i will have the weekend wife off !!!!!!!!!! I do not know if this is a good thing or bad thing

 

[cj9200]

not knocking DVC.

But Has anyone wondered what they do with the money from the ones that aren't DVC that rent the DVC rooms at rack rate? Does that go towards lowering the DVC members dues? Is there accountability for the income the DVC property makes?

serious question.

Good question and hopefully a serious answer.

The DVC Management Company (whatever it is called) retains ownership of a percentage of points in each resort that are used for reservations on rack rate. They pay the same dues for their equivalent number of points that DVC members do. Rack rates are also added when DVC members trade out for use on non DVC resorts such as cruises, Adventures by Disney or the timeshare exchange company where they have a contract.

The audit of the use of member funds is done by an independent auditor. Each member receives a report stating where the dues money was spent. I throw them away or just glance at them. There are strict laws in Florida to protect "timeshare" owners from unscrupulous developers. I am confident that if DVC tried to pull anything, the outrage and publicity would be enormous. Many DVC members watch closely (and debate) how dues are spent.

Saying that, the problem with Aluani and the underestimating of prospective dues caused that uproar. Upper management was fired and the state of Hawaii stopped Disney from selling at the resort. People who already bought were grandfathered in at the dues DVC management estimated and the difference will be eaten by Disney, not the members. In that instance, the system worked.

If you look at things like how dues are spent and annual increases, Disney does a good job with the allocation and accountability issues.

 

[RodBelding]

not knocking DVC.

But Has anyone wondered what they do with the money from the ones that aren't DVC that rent the DVC rooms at rack rate? Does that go towards lowering the DVC members dues? Is there accountability for the income the DVC property makes?

serious question.

Great question.

Good question and hopefully a serious answer.

The DVC Management Company (whatever it is called) retains ownership of a percentage of points in each resort that are used for reservations on rack rate. They pay the same dues for their equivalent number of points that DVC members do. Rack rates are also added when DVC members trade out for use on non DVC resorts such as cruises, Adventures by Disney or the timeshare exchange company where they have a contract.

The audit of the use of member funds is done by an independent auditor. Each member receives a report stating where the dues money was spent. I throw them away or just glance at them. There are strict laws in Florida to protect "timeshare" owners from unscrupulous developers. I am confident that if DVC tried to pull anything, the outrage and publicity would be enormous. Many DVC members watch closely (and debate) how dues are spent.

Saying that, the problem with Aluani and the underestimating of prospective dues caused that uproar. Upper management was fired and the state of Hawaii stopped Disney from selling at the resort. People who already bought were grandfathered in at the dues DVC management estimated and the difference will be eaten by Disney, not the members. In that instance, the system worked.

If you look at things like how dues are spent and annual increases, Disney does a good job with the allocation and accountability issues.

Terrific answer.

I was going to attempt to explain this, but CJ did it much better than I would have.

 

[middlepat]

Have a great time Brian!

One of these days I hope to be able to take 14 days of vacation in a row......kinda hard when I only get 2 weeks of vacation all year as it is!

Enjoy!

Hope you have an awesome time. Can't wait to see the pictures.

Have a good time. Don't worry about toasting me. I can be one of the half that has to miss out on that part. Just have a Dole Whip for me if you make it over to the Dole Plantation.

This.

Enjoy your vacation!!! Where are you staying in Maui?

Feel free to toast me while you are there!

Thanks guys. We're staying with my parents who have a condo in Wailea. Unfortunately there is no Dole Plantation on Maui but we'll see what we can do to substitute.

 

[cj9200]

Well, CRUD!

Work has been a beverley this week and I'm too many pages behind to catch up.

On the plus side, I've only got about 57 hours until I'll be on the ground in Maui.

Just gotta get through the next day and a half of crazy then 2 weeks of relaxation!

I'll toast each of you while I'm there. (Let's see, 690 / 14 days.... hmmmm) well, maybe only half of you.

And you expect us to feel sympathetic because you have to work before taking a 14 day vacation in Maui?

Seriously, have a great time. We know it has been a slog with the CFP exam. Tell my girl I said hi and to have fun. Expect lots of pictures. Let me know when you are down here next. Maybe we catch a BB game at the new stadium. Or at least have dinner.

 

[that's nice]

Thanks guys. We're staying with my parents who have a condo in Wailea.

that's nice!

We stayed at the Grand Wailea on our honeymoon. It is a beautiful part of the island.

 

[afwdwfan]

I didn't think I'd see you posting today.. You have internet out there in the field?

Unfortunately, I'm in the office today until 5:00.

Coincidentally, that's about the time we should be getting rained out of the fields, but I'm fine with that. We need it.


Actually, 3G is available even in the middle of a corn field. There's actually some use for it too. Over the last few years, the satellite mapping equpment and computers in tractors have become sophisticated enough, that right now we have programs where you take a card out of the tractor computer and put it in a laptop to download information. I can see this trend growing to where you'll just be able to put a wireless hot spot inside the cab of a tractor and do everything without even having to mess with removing a data card.

 

[twokids0204]

We are stoping by there this summer. First about 12 days in Hawaii and then 5 days at DL. Really looking forward to it. Won't have a car but found out they have a pass for Universal that includes transportation. May also do that.

Would love to hear more details about this transportation to universal from Disney, when you get more details.

We will likely do the citypass, which means both Universal and Disneyland.

 

[twokids0204]

Great question.



Terrific answer.

I was going to attempt to explain this, but CJ did it much better than I would have.

Yeah.......Ummmm, me too....