Four-mer TKers...4 one, 4 all, 4 ever

[racetrack18kb]

Marie, take a few deep breaths. A couple of questions first. Would you want to stay onsite or offsite? Onsite is more expensive but you get the total Disney immersion. You get the free transportation to the parks. If you stay offsite, you will get more bang for buck but you will have to have provide your own transportation to the parks. Some of the offsite hotels will provide shuttles to the parks but only a few times a day. The Disney buses will run all day and night making getting around very easy. Are you going to fly or drive?

What time of year would you like to go...spring, summer, fall, or winter? Disney is running a lot of promotions right now and they may run more as the year goes on. Do you like to handle all your own travel arrangement? Would you want to use a travel agent?

 

[Bopsmom]

OMG! I NEED HELP!

DS had this crazy idea... and I am probably even crazier for considering it... of checking out WDW for a week this year. I popped over thinking I would get some ides about tickets, parks, places to stay, etc. but when I did I thought my brain might explode! Good grief! It looks so much more complicated to go to Florida!

So... I am just wondering if some of you can give me some tips on where to start? When is the best time to go? Where to stay for a reasonable rate? What sort of ticket to buy? Etc?????

For you
I tell you that if you need Disney Vacation Club info I would be glad to try and help you.
I also would suggest TourGuideMike.com. You get a discount for being on the Disboards and it will be the best $20 bucks you spend towards a very expensive vacation!


Hey Guys
Laptop Update- It's DOA and we are having to start from scratch today. DH is having to locate all the original software and had to go buy Norton for both laptops. This little jaunt into being right has cost him a bit-I also told our friends that I would 'pay' him with tickets to a football game (from DH's season tickets)

gotta go catch up with the rest of the thread.....

 

[mariezp]

racetrack18kb,

Ummm.... honestly, I do not know the answer to any of these questions.

I'm not sure how much immersion I need but the thought of trying to figure out how to get around gives me a headache. So... is it possible to give me a guestimation comparison of of how much a room would cost onsite vs off site? We like plenty of space and generally get a 2 room suite or 2 connecting rooms. We would be flying so onsite would probably be our better choice so we would not have to rent a car.

We don't like particularily like crowds or hot weather or hurricanes. So just when is the best time to go? For DL I always handle our travel plans but I know what I am doing. Which way do you get a better deal? DO it yourself or travel agent?

Here's the story. We were/are planning to take DH to Colorado for Father's Day. DS had a friend who was planning to go but something came up and she cannot go now. So he came up with the idea of still going a week to Colorado, a week to WDW, to meet some friends who live down there, and a week in DL, so she could go with us. I told him it might end up costing us a good deal more to do both parks and wasn't sure we could pull it off. I also offered to give up my beloved DL for 2 weeks in WDW but he said he did not want to give up DL. (which made me very happy to hear him say)

So, as you can see, cost would most definitely be a priority consideration for this trip in order for us to be able to do both parks. I don't want to mortgage the house just to make DS happy! So WDW pros.... what would you suggest?

 

[BKMETV]

When we went in Dec. I was more concern with convenience rather than cost...this was a one off trip, we don't plan on doing WDW again...at least not for quite a few years. We stayed at AKL for 4 nights and used the buses to go to DHS & AK, then switched to Poly for 5 nights where we used the monorails to go to MK & Epcot. We also utilized Magical Express to transport our luggage and Poly printed our boarding passes for our flight home. Bell services transported our bags between the resort while we spent the day at Epcot. All were excellent. We also liked the idea of going to the parks for rope drop then returning to the resort to hang at the pool in the afternoon, when the parks are busiest, then heading back in the evenings. DH actually enjoyed the trip and says it because Disney made everything so easy.

That being said it was definitely not the cheapest way to go. To give you an idea we were 2 adults & 2 kids with dining plan and basic park tickets (since we were there 8 days we didn't end up needing hoppers) and it cost around $4500.

Most people I know stay off site at places like Orange Lake. Renting a condo for a week is much cheaper but then you have to rent a car, pay parking etc. which also adds up. vrbo.com is a good place to look at rental costs.

 

[racetrack18kb]

To avoid hot weather, hurricanes and crowds, I would look into early November or early December. September is hot and humid and it is hurricane season. It is also usually the time of free dining. Big crowds. October might be good if you don't go around Columbus Day or Halloween. Late September through October, they have Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP). Of course, that means the Magic Kingdom closes early and if you want to attend the party, you have a buy tickets. Beginning of November, you should catch the tail end of the Food & Wine Festival. It's included in your admission to Epcot. I've never been but lots of people rave about it. The only other time I've been when it is not crowded is the end of August right before free dining starts. It was hot, hot, hot. But since the crowds were so low, we were able to spend lots of time at the pool because we would get most of the major rides done very quickly.

I wouldn't, myself, spend less than 6 days there. Magic Kingdom and Epcot should have 2 days to totally explore the parks. Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom can be done in a day.

Like Ev said, the advantage to staying onsite is the convenience. You will not need a car for any reason. Disney will transport you from the airport to your hotel and back again at the end of your trip. All the hotels will print your boarding passes for you. If you have a late flight going home, they will hold your carryon luggage until it is time for you take the bus back to the airport. If you stay offsite, you have to worry if you catch your shuttle back to the hotel from the parks because there might not be another on. Disney buses will run 2 hours after the park closes. It's very easy when you stay onsite. No driving, no navigating the roads, no parking fees.

Ev talked about 2 of the hotels there. They are what Disney considers their Deluxe hotels. They are a couple of the more expensive hotel but very beautiful. They also have values, moderates, and DVC hotels. Values are your basic run of the mill hotel rooms (Holiday Inn) but with major Disney theming. They are the cheapest and if you are really only looking for a place to sleep, they are wonderful. The 4 value resorts are All-Star Movies, Sports, Music, and Pop Century. All-Star Music also offers Family Suites. Those are connecting rooms with a queen size bed in one room and a pull-out sofa and chair in the other room. I believe there are 2 bathrooms and a small kitchenette.

For the moderate resorts, they are slightly bigger rooms. Port Orleans Riverside offers rooms that have a trundle bed for children. But if you use to more space, that might not even work. Bopsmom can explain DVC resorts....I still have problems understanding all that.

It's very easy to make all the plans yourself. You won't get a better deal by using a travel agent but the really good ones will spend their time looking for deals and promotions for you. It's just another one of the time and convenience deals. Some travel agents will make your dining plans for you others you have to do it yourself. If you have AAA, they often run promotions for some good discounts. But if you go that route, you will have no control over your reservation. Everything will have to be done through your AAA agent. I've heard on here that there are some AAA agents that do not know alot about Disney including supplying false information. Not on purpose or anything but they just don't know. I've used Dreams Unlimited and they were very easy to deal with.

You could do a package deal which will include your tickets. You could also book your room and buy your tickets separately. You can use AAA on your own to book a room discount. If you do everything separately, you can buy your ticket through Undercover Tourist. They have the cheapest tickets and if you sign up with Mousesavers, they will send you emails with a link to save even more. Since this would be your first time, I would only buy base tickets. That will allow you to enter on park per day. You can leave that park and return to the same park later that day. You cannot hop between parks with those tickets.

You may also think about signing up for TourGuideMike. He has wonderful advice on how and when to tour the parks. Some of his information is outdated but his forums are filled with great people who know their stuff. I've used his advice to tour and have avoided lines like you wouldn't believe.

 

[lighttech]

Marie - Like Racetrack said, take a breath! It can seem terribly overwhelming, but once you get into it, its not so bad. Wander around these boards, (even if there are mean people ). You'll find more info than you thought possible.

I have been to WDW twice as an adult. Once off site and once onsite. Now that I've stayed onsite, I don't think I'd go back. We stayed at a value resort, and I deal hunted relentlessly (I actually re-booked our rooms 3 times to take advantage of various promotions.) That's not necessary, I'm just obsessive. I spent less on our value rooms than I had spent for us to stay offsite on our first trip. But, even w/ the extra cost, I would do it again. For me, it made it so much more of a vacation w/o having to worry about how to get where, etc. But its a very personal choice.

I actually recommend starting on Disney's website. For the WDW uneducated, its a great overview. You can look at pages for each resort and they'll estimate prices on a "package" for you. Just don't take those prices as the bottom line, the trip you wind up w/ can vary widely depending on what you want to do.

As for time, we went in November, and I loved it. We had wonderful weather, and it was the start of their Christmas season, so we got to do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and see a lot of the Christmas decorations.

I'll try to share more later... I gotta go. Lunchbreak is over.

 

[DL55]

I'm right there with ya Ev! Please send heat our way!!!


Okay... I've got to rant about something.
I replied to a thread asking about buying assigned seats vs. not paying the fee and just letting the airline assign them to you. Boy... did that thread go south fast. All these people came out of the woodwork bashing the OP and anyone else who doesn't want to pay for assigned seats. They said stuff like "you don't love your kids unless you pay to make sure you sit by them. If you can't afford to pay for assigned seats, then don't go on vacation! I'd never move to accomodate you and your child. I paid a whopping $6 for this assigned seat and I'm not moving." Good God -- How nasty can you get?
Oh, and that's not the only thread that went south fast. Another was saving money by eating in your room. Which basically turned into a "Don't you dare cook food in the hotel room. You're gonna smell up the place. You'll burn the resort down!

" Where are these people coming from??? Taking questions and basically turning them into a grudge match. What's wrong w/ people lately? There has always been nasty people on this board, but seems like lately they've multiplied.
Okay... RANT OVER!

That's why it's so entertaining.

OMG! I NEED HELP!

DS had this crazy idea... and I am probably even crazier for considering it... of checking out WDW for a week this year. I popped over thinking I would get some ides about tickets, parks, places to stay, etc. but when I did I thought my brain might explode! Good grief! It looks so much more complicated to go to Florida!

So... I am just wondering if some of you can give me some tips on where to start? When is the best time to go? Where to stay for a reasonable rate? What sort of ticket to buy? Etc?????

racetrack18kb,

Ummm.... honestly, I do not know the answer to any of these questions.

I'm not sure how much immersion I need but the thought of trying to figure out how to get around gives me a headache. So... is it possible to give me a guestimation comparison of of how much a room would cost onsite vs off site? We like plenty of space and generally get a 2 room suite or 2 connecting rooms. We would be flying so onsite would probably be our better choice so we would not have to rent a car.

We don't like particularily like crowds or hot weather or hurricanes. So just when is the best time to go? For DL I always handle our travel plans but I know what I am doing. Which way do you get a better deal? DO it yourself or travel agent?

Here's the story. We were/are planning to take DH to Colorado for Father's Day. DS had a friend who was planning to go but something came up and she cannot go now. So he came up with the idea of still going a week to Colorado, a week to WDW, to meet some friends who live down there, and a week in DL, so she could go with us. I told him it might end up costing us a good deal more to do both parks and wasn't sure we could pull it off. I also offered to give up my beloved DL for 2 weeks in WDW but he said he did not want to give up DL. (which made me very happy to hear him say)

So, as you can see, cost would most definitely be a priority consideration for this trip in order for us to be able to do both parks. I don't want to mortgage the house just to make DS happy! So WDW pros.... what would you suggest?

I've always stayed on site for WDW but I think off site condo would be best for you. Disney rooms can be expensive ir you want two. Values are fine but small rooms. We've had 4 in the Deluxe without a problem. But that was us, DD and Grandma. DD slept on the sofa.
I'm partial to spring--April, May or June. I was cold in April but just fine in May and June. Since we only go every 4 years or so I don't feel I'm much of an expert. I'm sure everyone will give their 2 cents.

 

[lighttech]

Oh, forgot why I originally got on. My boss is a "naughty word." He has been telling us our schedule will be changing, throwing everyone into a panic, but refused to answer any specific questions. Then today, he emails us from his home (where we can't get him or say anything back) tells us our new schedules and that they will start in 9 days. Nice, huh?

I'm freaking out. I'm gonna have to be in by 6:30 now. Which leaves DH to get both boys ready, means I won't get to see my kids in the morning before I leave for work, and means that continuing to nurse BL is completely up in the air. I'll have to wake him up at like 5:30 if I want to do a morning feeding. Not to get too personal, but I know I can express milk at work (I already do) but I'm afraid of what will happen to my milk supply if I'm not nursing from the time he goes to bed at night to the time I get home from work... pumping just isn't quite the same.

Sorry, just worrying and needed to get it off my chest. DH isn't being much of a help right now. He's too freaked out about it too... Doesn't know how he's going to get 2 kids out of the house and get up so early w/o any help.

 

[BKMETV]

Oh, forgot why I originally got on. My boss is a "naughty word." He has been telling us our schedule will be changing, throwing everyone into a panic, but refused to answer any specific questions. Then today, he emails us from his home (where we can't get him or say anything back) tells us our new schedules and that they will start in 9 days. Nice, huh?

I'm freaking out. I'm gonna have to be in by 6:30 now. Which leaves DH to get both boys ready, means I won't get to see my kids in the morning before I leave for work, and means that continuing to nurse BL is completely up in the air. I'll have to wake him up at like 5:30 if I want to do a morning feeding. Not to get too personal, but I know I can express milk at work (I already do) but I'm afraid of what will happen to my milk supply if I'm not nursing from the time he goes to bed at night to the time I get home from work... pumping just isn't quite the same.

Sorry, just worrying and needed to get it off my chest. DH isn't being much of a help right now. He's too freaked out about it too... Doesn't know how he's going to get 2 kids out of the house and get up so early w/o any help.

He sounds like a horse back end...and to email from home to avoid confrontation means he knows it will not be taken well by his staff.

Can you take to pump to work and take "pump breaks"...preferably in his office!!

 

[lighttech]

He sounds like a horse back end...and to email from home to avoid confrontation means he knows it will not be taken well by his staff.

Can you take to pump to work and take "pump breaks"...preferably in his office!!

He is. And, he does know that it won't be well rec'd and he hates confrontation.
I do pump at work, its just that I know pumping doesn't stimulate milk production as much as nursing, and I'm a little nervous about going from like 9 at night when the baby goes to bed until after I get home from work the next day... which is what it will be if I can't do that morning feeding.

As far as "in his office" goes... I can only imagine. He is so ridiculously uncomfortable w/ any type of personal conversation, I don't even tell him when I'm going to go express the milk because he can't handle it. It like working for a 12 yr old boy!

 

[racetrack18kb]

lighttech, I don't know what kind of advice to give you about this situation. Just when you are probably getting back into the swing of things at work, they have to go and mess with your schedule. That really stinks. And your boss can't deal with you having express milk?! Oh geez, how'd he ever get to be boss?

Anyways, how late will you have to work? What time will DH have to leave in the morning?

 

[BKMETV]

Morning all:

Looks like it was pretty quiet last night...not much new here...DH worked the night shift so is sleeping, and the monsters are playing Wii...still snowing but it's warmed up to a balmy 9*F

Hope you all have a great day.

 

[Sukie]

Good morning all. DH and I have already been to Wal-mart and Hannafords to get our shopping done for the week. Snowing again, at least it warmed up. We are having a heat wave it is 14* here and not windy at all. I have to get some housework done today. The first one on the list is laundry. If I don't get some of that done I won't have anything to wear to work tomorrow. That might not be a bad thing I hope to get everything done before the football games come on this afternoon.

Pikester and I went shopping yesterday. The two stores that we went to where I got the best deals were JC Penny's and The Bonton. At JC Penny's I got two winter coats for my granddaughter size 4T for about $12. I have started my birthday shopping for everybody for the year. The Easter stuff for the grandsons is done. I will still need to get chocolate bunnies.

Lighttech~ What ever happened to the Employer that appreciated there employees and try to work around new moms?

mariezp~ I read your Trip Report last night. Wow, what a good time by all. I see that you are planning another trip. Do you need a new pen and notebook?

Bopsmom~ So sorry about your laptop.

BKMETV

Racetrack18kb

To everyone else, hopefully the "heat wave" will be heading your way.

 

[M&N]

How's that?

Great smilies for the songs. Knew I could count on you.

O and just an update for everyone, the showers

Still cold and mist like, however the dean of the school was in my bathroom yesterday, he told me they were cold Thanks, I hadn't figured that out yet

Deans are just so smart! NOT!

PS - That's why I just come here now. I feel pretty sure I won't get yelled at for having an opinion (or anything else.)

We love opinions---everyones.

whgrn~ With it being so cold it is hard for me to imagine that I shouldn't wear socks. If I choose to, can you recommend some.
Pikerster and I are finally going shopping tomorrow. Target and Michael's will be one of the first stores that we will go to. This is my first time going for the after Christmas sales. I wonder if there is any thing left I do have gift cards for the BonTon and Kohl's that I want to spend before they too go out of business.

I do not like our BonTon any more. It's getting too expensive. Doesn't carry the 'cheaper' styles anymore.

Oh, forgot why I originally got on. My boss is a "naughty word." He has been telling us our schedule will be changing, throwing everyone into a panic, but refused to answer any specific questions. Then today, he emails us from his home (where we can't get him or say anything back) tells us our new schedules and that they will start in 9 days. Nice, huh?

Do the others agree? Can't you go as a group and discuss it? Hold up a picture of BL and say "He needs his mommy in the morning!" It's not like you aren't getting the sets ready.

Hope you are all thawed out. We had some snow over the weekend too...not much. Patrick is not a dirty white. His poor window washer froze and wouldn't work. He has no garage at Mom's.
Hotel Hershey was wonderful on Sat. I even tasted shark and liked it. We then went to Chocolate World. We must have a TKer meet there.

 

[mariezp]

Looks like things are kinda slow around here today. I guess everyone else has been busy too.

We took DS and DD to Jiu-Jitsu class yesterday morning and then in the afternoon we picked up a friend of his and went to Main Event so we were busy ALL DAY.

Then this morning was church and this afternoon I did some rearranging in the garage to hopefully get the Christmas stuff back in it. Sad I know but I still have decorations out. Anyway, after DS got through scrapping the drywall bits from the floor he and I finished painting the floor in the room we had fixed for him. His gym is ready for him to move in! He is really excited. I ordered him a batch of Jiu-Jitsu related posters and stickers to decorate the place with and he was even excited about that.

Thanks to all for the input on WDW. I am not quite sure how that is going to work out. Right now my brain is too darn tired to even think about it much. I am not quite sure just how we would fit in 3 different vacations in a year. Still, I will do a little further study and see if it is an attainable goal. I have never wanted to completely wanted to give up my trip to DL but at the same time thought we should check out WDW at least once so I guess 3 vacations would certainly work towards solving those dilemmas. Lots to think about... Thanks TKERS especially for giving me a few sites to head me in the right direction! I think my head has at least stopped spinning!

lighttech, it is so sad to hear what you are having to go through. Sometimes it seems like nothing is ever simple! I hope you are able to work out a good solution to the problem.

Sukie, thanks for stopping by the trip report. I make a point to start planning for the next trip as soon as we get back! Yep.... gonna need a new pen and paper!
Congrats on finding some good shopping deals.

Guess I better go order pizza.. I'm making DH "fix" supper (or go pick it up) since he napped the whole time DS and I worked in the garage!

 

[My sister's princess]

Well I am preparing for my last day as an underager I know life isn't going to be that much more exciting after my birthday on Tuesday, but hey I can at least have a drink now and then

 

[M&N]

My Sister's Princess + 21 =

 

[racetrack18kb]

Happy early birthday, MSP!!! I remember turning 21...vaguely.

Hey M&N!! You're back early aren't you?

 

[My sister's princess]

Haha it isn't until Tuesday.....the same day I start working in a senator's office (internship of a lifetime! ) But thanks!!!

 

[lighttech]

lighttech, I don't know what kind of advice to give you about this situation. Just when you are probably getting back into the swing of things at work, they have to go and mess with your schedule. That really stinks. And your boss can't deal with you having express milk?! Oh geez, how'd he ever get to be boss?

Anyways, how late will you have to work? What time will DH have to leave in the morning?

I'll be done at 4:30, that will be the good thing. I'll have a lot more time w/ the boys at night... of course, less time w/ DH, b/c I'll have to go to bed so early. But, its better than if one of us was working shift work, which we've done before.
DH will probably have to get up when I leave, at least for now (so about 6am) so he can take over w/ BL. DS currently sleeps until 7, so he wouldn't be a problem. I know a lot of people get up at 6, but DH is definitely a night owl. 6 seems awful to him. DH will have to get the boys to daycare earlier b/c we purposely put them in a daycare near my work, since I was doing most of the dropping off. Its totally the opposite direction for him, so its going to add like an hour onto his morning unfortunately.

Pikester and I went shopping yesterday. The two stores that we went to where I got the best deals were JC Penny's and The Bonton. At JC Penny's I got two winter coats for my granddaughter size 4T for about $12. I have started my birthday shopping for everybody for the year. The Easter stuff for the grandsons is done. I will still need to get chocolate bunnies.

Lighttech~ What ever happened to the Employer that appreciated there employees and try to work around new moms?

To everyone else, hopefully the "heat wave" will be heading your way.

Gosh, you're so on top of things!
Thanks for the support. I know that Employer is still out there, but I definitely don't work for him.

Do the others agree? Can't you go as a group and discuss it? Hold up a picture of BL and say "He needs his mommy in the morning!" It's not like you aren't getting the sets ready.

Nobody's happy, but we don't have much of a choice. We got hit by layoffs and lost an employee. When you only have 6 in your dept. to begin w/ one person makes a huge difference. We're supposed to provide as much support for the live show as we can, and we already can't cover all the hours. Now, w/ one less person, we're having to move around and spread ourselves thinner. I'm at least grateful I didn't wind up the one w/ the "floating" schedule. One of my co-workers had his whole shift change (probably to a better shift for him, he got off of second shift), but it will only be regular sometimes. When we have big projects, he'll have to change it up w/ potentially very little notice.

Well I am preparing for my last day as an underager I know life isn't going to be that much more exciting after my birthday on Tuesday, but hey I can at least have a drink now and then

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Early)

Haha it isn't until Tuesday.....the same day I start working in a senator's office (internship of a lifetime! ) But thanks!!!

Congrats! That sounds awesome!