Finally getting to see the lights! Nov '11 Anniversary/Holiday/F&W PTR-New 11/4 p50

[Charleston Princess]

Thank goodness your license arrived! I would have been a nervous wreck!!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Amy!

Only one month left for you!!! How exciting!

My one and only experience with online check-in left me thinking I would never do it again.

There was only one cast member helping Online people, but there were a bunch of CMs helping the other people, so online check-in went much slower.

I'm not sure if that was a unique experience or not, but I know I won't do it again!

Hi Julie!!! I've heard of that happening from time to time.

How are things in Switzerland?

 

[DisMomAmy]

Thank goodness your license arrived! I would have been a nervous wreck!!!

A couple more weeks & I would have been a nervous wreck! I thought it would come in time... I just wasn't sure.

 

[skier_pete]

We loved on-line check-in, but most experience with it is at POP, and it saved us a good 30 minute wait. When we went to AKL, it actually took LONGER, I was the only one there waiting, but the people in front of me were asking some kind of impossible question, so I waited about 10 minutes, and the regular line, which was much longer, actually moved all the way through.

As far as changing rooms, I would say it is no different whether you do on-line check-in or regular check-in. Your rooms are assigned ~5 days in advance for regular check-in. If you want to change rooms after you arrive, if you on-line check-in or not it would be the same process to change rooms. So, my vote is for on-line check-in.

However, if you have a room-request in on your room and you do on-line check-in, do NOT check any of the room requests on the on-line check in. They will override the ones you already had on your ressie.

(I had a long conversation with an actual CM to determine that this is how it all works.)

SkierPete

 

[disneyfan61]

Hi Amy. Wow April 19th is the day we will be leaving for our trip. We may run into you at the airport. I still have to book our flights. I am sitting here in my hospital bed & I think I will start looking at flights!! You have me excited now.

I need to get better so DH & I can get to F&W in 18 days!!! I cannot believe how quick it came.

Wow you just amaze me with your to do lists.

Good job on the yard sale. Disney $$$=great things!!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

I'm so glad your license arrived. One less thing to worry about!

 

[disneyfan61]

So after checking airfare for April 19th Jet Blue was waayyy cheaper than Southwest so we will be flying out of Boston. I could not believe the difference in prices!! We are leaving at 6:00 am on JetBlue.

 

[oOJulieOo]

Hi Julie!!! I've heard of that happening from time to time.

How are things in Switzerland?

Switzerland is fantastic. We absolutely love it. The city we live in is great and we've been doing tons of traveling, so it really feels like we've just been on vacation for 4 months!

I am in the Chicago right now, visiting for the month of October. As much as we love Switzerland, it's SO nice to be home!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I hope the waitlist comes through Amy!

 

[DisMomAmy]

We loved on-line check-in, but most experience with it is at POP, and it saved us a good 30 minute wait. When we went to AKL, it actually took LONGER, I was the only one there waiting, but the people in front of me were asking some kind of impossible question, so I waited about 10 minutes, and the regular line, which was much longer, actually moved all the way through.

As far as changing rooms, I would say it is no different whether you do on-line check-in or regular check-in. Your rooms are assigned ~5 days in advance for regular check-in. If you want to change rooms after you arrive, if you on-line check-in or not it would be the same process to change rooms. So, my vote is for on-line check-in.

However, if you have a room-request in on your room and you do on-line check-in, do NOT check any of the room requests on the on-line check in. They will override the ones you already had on your ressie.

(I had a long conversation with an actual CM to determine that this is how it all works.)

SkierPete

Thanks Pete! It sounds like you've got the system figured out!

Hi Amy. Wow April 19th is the day we will be leaving for our trip. We may run into you at the airport. I still have to book our flights. I am sitting here in my hospital bed & I think I will start looking at flights!! You have me excited now.

I need to get better so DH & I can get to F&W in 18 days!!! I cannot believe how quick it came.

Wow you just amaze me with your to do lists.

Good job on the yard sale. Disney $$$=great things!!

Oh no... I hope you feel better soon & get yourself out of the hospital!

I'm so glad your license arrived. One less thing to worry about!

Thanks Missy!

So after checking airfare for April 19th Jet Blue was waayyy cheaper than Southwest so we will be flying out of Boston. I could not believe the difference in prices!! We are leaving at 6:00 am on JetBlue.

Unfortunately, I suspect you missed the low fares that were available first thing in the morning 10/3... I'm glad you found some good fares with JetBlue. I really wish they would fly out of Manchester! We'll have to share itineraries & figure out a time to meet!

Switzerland is fantastic. We absolutely love it. The city we live in is great and we've been doing tons of traveling, so it really feels like we've just been on vacation for 4 months!

I am in the Chicago right now, visiting for the month of October. As much as we love Switzerland, it's SO nice to be home!

I hope you enjoy your visit back to Chicago! I'm sure your mom is thrilled to have you & Claire home!

I hope the waitlist comes through Amy!

Thanks! If it does, it does but if it doesn't, that's totally fine too! We can't go wrong with either place.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

All caught up now! Looks like you guys had a great summer. We love spending time up north too, there is so much great stuff to do there!

Less than a month to go now... you must be so excited! I can't wait to hear how the surprise turns out.

 

[mousescrapper]

Hey Amy

 

[irish dancer]

Yay for one month!!

My vote would be to not bother with online check-in. I've done it both ways and didn't notice any difference. Plus I think if you're still waiting for a possible waitlist it might help if you're not already checked in. Also, while your room might be assigned in advance they won't have your keys all made up and such as they do with online checkin. If you do decide to go with it maybe wait until the day or two beforehand.

 

[eandesmom]

Thank goodness your license arrived! We get paper ones if not renewing online but they have your picture and everything. Last time that happened I carried it, with my old one (punched through but still) so they could compare a real picture to a paper picture if they had to or asked.

I personally wouldn't bother with online check in, but that's just me!

 

[disneyfan61]

Of course I missed the good airfare prices by a week. Always a day late & dollar short.

Anyway I am very very glad to be home recuperating and dissing!!

I cannot wait to hear about you surprising the boys. So much fun for all!!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Those paper licenses are the stupidest thing. DH had one once. We need to get our passports...it's been on our to do list for 2 years. DH's grandmother lives in Canada and is 92 years old if you get my drift. Plus then I could visit Tracy.

Yay, yes you could visit me! Get those passports!


Hi Amy! Catching up.... can't believe how close you're getting!

 

[DisMomAmy]

All caught up now! Looks like you guys had a great summer. We love spending time up north too, there is so much great stuff to do there!

Less than a month to go now... you must be so excited! I can't wait to hear how the surprise turns out.

My plans for the surprise are coming along nicely. I can't wait to spring it on them!!

We spend a little time up north every summer. There really is a lot to do!

Hey Amy

Hi

Yay for one month!!

My vote would be to not bother with online check-in. I've done it both ways and didn't notice any difference. Plus I think if you're still waiting for a possible waitlist it might help if you're not already checked in. Also, while your room might be assigned in advance they won't have your keys all made up and such as they do with online checkin. If you do decide to go with it maybe wait until the day or two beforehand.

I think I'm leaning toward NOT doing online check-in. How busy can it really be at 11am on a Tuesday?

Thank goodness your license arrived! We get paper ones if not renewing online but they have your picture and everything. Last time that happened I carried it, with my old one (punched through but still) so they could compare a real picture to a paper picture if they had to or asked.

I personally wouldn't bother with online check in, but that's just me!

My paper license did have my picture & I probably would have been fine flying, but "probably" made me a bit nervous. They did the same thing with my old license - they gave it back to me but cut off the corner.

Of course I missed the good airfare prices by a week. Always a day late & dollar short.

Anyway I am very very glad to be home recuperating and dissing!!

I cannot wait to hear about you surprising the boys. So much fun for all!!

Oh well... JetBlue is awesome - The flight we took out of Portland had only two seats per row (on each side) so we didn't have to share our row with anyone plus the tvs are great.

Yay, yes you could visit me! Get those passports!

Hi Amy! Catching up.... can't believe how close you're getting!

I'll get right on it!

24 days to go!!!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Yay for 24 days!!! You are getting so close and I am sure getting so excited.

Not sure what to do about online check in. We could not do it last time. We were on a split stay and if they have the same reservation number, the dvc site will not allow online check in. Anxious to hear how it goes with you since we will be there a few weeks later.

You should be able to stay on a waitlist up until 7 days is my understanding as long as you request it. Good luck on coming through! We have had good luck so far!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Yay for 24 days!!! You are getting so close and I am sure getting so excited.

Not sure what to do about online check in. We could not do it last time. We were on a split stay and if they have the same reservation number, the dvc site will not allow online check in. Anxious to hear how it goes with you since we will be there a few weeks later.

You should be able to stay on a waitlist up until 7 days is my understanding as long as you request it. Good luck on coming through! We have had good luck so far!

Now we're down to 22 days!!!

Have you had waitlists come through after the 31 day mark? I don't expect anyone to be canceling at this point. I figured if it did come through, it might be in the first few days after my 31 days, when it wasn't quite 31 days for the person canceling - if that makes sense?

 

[DisMomAmy]

With only three weeks to go, how am I doing on my to-do list?

Here is this week's:
4 weeks to go: (10/8-10/14)
• Coordinate pet care - DONE
• Make grocery list (for villa)
• Garden Grocer order (not sure if we are doing)
• Inventory batteries – buy more if needed - DONE
• Buy more Ziploc bags - DONE
• Buy gift cards for kids – not doing this time
• Follow up if no ME documents – DONE/arrived!!

I need to review the groceries with Tim but he has a super busy work weekend. He doesn't usually work weekends, but there's a big project that has to be done after hours so he's heading into work around 3 this afternoon & working overnight. Hopefully we can review the groceries on Sunday. The major issue is trying to figure out what groceries we'll buy at Jeff's in Tampa... I don't want to bring too much with us from their house because I'm expecting that we'll have to leave our luggage with bell services to return our rental car before we go into the next day.

The good news is that I've made progress on the list for the next two weeks:

3 weeks to go (10/15 – 10/21)
• Put ADRs in phone (cancel any extra ADRs) - DONE
• Put Touring Plans in phone - DONE
• Let schools know about kids - DONE
• Start matching outfits and putting in Ziplocs
• Organize/label toiletries
• Watch the “Stranger Danger” DVD
• Roll coins from change jar - DONE
• Get quarters & pennies for pressed pennies - DONE
• Order cake?
• Order any Rx refills - DONE

2 weeks to go (10/22 – 10/28)
• Buy snacks for travel day
• Buy extra cat food & litter
• Pull apart Disney folder and take only what’s needed
• Start packing into suitcases
• Get money organized
• Transfer Disney rewards to rewards card
• Get my glasses/sunglasses adjusted at Lenscrafters
• Make list of DISers at Disney & put in phone
• Find/redo DIS tag
• Print Door Sign?
• Organize DVDs & kids games
• Organize ipods/ipad - music, videos, games
• Pre-order Photopass CD - DONE
• Pack copy of auto insurance - DONE

I'm feeling pretty good about my progress. I know the last week will be super busy with work odds & ends and various appointments so I really need to have all of the packing done (aside from the last minute stuff) before we roll into that week.

I'll have another update to post tomorrow about the big reveal for the surprise! I've been working on that & need to take some pictures to share with you.

Also, starting next Friday, I'll have an update every day until we go!! Stay tuned!!