Having a GRAND time - the NEW Official GF Chat Thread PART 3

[mickeynut1]

Just checking in before having to run out and do some errands .

Chan that stinks about the parties while you're there . I totally agree with you that staying at a MK resort makes you want to go to the MK every evening . When they close the park for those parties it really messes things up......and it's happening more often than not anymore with those parties . And the prices are getting a little crazy . Don't get me wrong....we LOVE the parties and plan on going to the Christmas party next year no matter the cost, but it does get a little expensive . But hang in there.....you'll still have a fabulous time .

Well I had better get moving.....it'll be 3:00 before I know it and DSs will be home .

Talk to ya all later .

Deb

 

[marcij]

Mandy, so good to hear the good news.





out of all those ADRs i have i think one is breakfast, the rest are all lunch and dinner spread out over 12 days or so.
I thought about staying at my nemesis rotfl: ) too but i just can't do it.

I did come up with another thought though.

My kids have been asking about Universal for some time now. Im toying with the idea of just ending our trip there. Either from Jan 1st to the 3rd or the 31st to the 2nd or 3rd. 2 or 3 days there solves my hotel problem and thier curiosity about the place.


Thanks for the offer on the cruises... i didnt book any this time. One reason is my younger ones are sometimes cold or get a chill on the boat at night..and thats in the summer!!...The cold doesn't bother me...the rest of them just need some meet on thier bones

I'm sure this will be my one and only stay at that particular resort, though I will keep trying to extend the GF. I'm hoping we have the same weather this Dec./Jan. as last year. It was terrific shorts and swimming weather... up until the night we had the Grand1, and we needed coats, gloves etc. for that night! We invited our guide to meet us to go on the Grand with a couple of her friends, and they were all huddled together freezing!

I think Universal would be a great way to keep your dates. We are actually doing a VIP day over at Universal. A good friend on the DIS did it last summer with her kids and loved it. They have front of the line access, so it's possible to do the high-points of both parks there in a day. My boys have never been and it's been years since DH and I went so we are giving it a go.

 

[tinklvr64]

Hi all...

Well I feel like junk today....headache, stuffy nose/runny nose, achy. Here it comes..that god its 11:20 and we only have the pm left at school. I will be getting im my jammies early tonight with tea!
Chan I will email you tomorrow and let you know if i feel up to muster to go on Sun to the flea market...although I dont want to make you sick right before your trip.

Mandy...i hear ya about being frustrated with the nights being shut down at the MK...just another money maker Its fine to have it...just not 4 times a week!

I had to shut the debate off....i couldnt listen to those 2 anymore...did i ready say that once before?? I am rambling....


GO SOX!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi all!

I finally got the Halloween stuff out this AM (DS has begging for it for over a week). I don't know why I am having a mental block on fal this year

Mandy- great news about your Dad Come on blood levels!!!

Dawn- GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Although, I will admit, if we get beat by the Rays, I will turn my cheers towards them. I would like to see a team who has never won before, going from worst to first to win it all. Sorry Kel!! But I swear I cheered for the Bo Sox the year they finally won!!) I just cannot bring myself to cheer for the cubs though There have been WAY TOO MANY nasty cub fans this year towards our Sox, so what goes around comes around I am not lying when I say DH already has the broom in his car and bought a Dodgers hat to wear to work on Monday

Hi everyone else!!

TTFN!

 

[m&pForever]

I think Universal would be a great way to keep your dates. We are actually doing a VIP day over at Universal. A good friend on the DIS did it last summer with her kids and loved it. They have front of the line access, so it's possible to do the high-points of both parks there in a day. My boys have never been and it's been years since DH and I went so we are giving it a go.

universal had VIP guides too?? okay spill the beans..what do i need to know and where do i find the info?

 

[marcij]

I don't know that much about Universal, but I think the deal is if you stay at one of the three hotels on property, you get front of the line access. For me, that would be good enough and I wouldn't think a guide would be as needed. Since we aren't staying on U property, it is Christmas, and I know nothing about Universal, I think we'll get a lot out of it.

That's about the extent of my U knowledge... sorry! ( and no wisecracks about the extent of my regular knowledge, either!)

 

[Lives4Disney]

hey all....

Dawn, that is fine! I was looking forward to it but at the same time.....I forgot to flip my calender and I told ya how I have been forgetting this the first wekeend of every month for 10 years +. I'd love to go but I know you're sick and omg...I do not want to get sick!! I am ALWAYS sick before or during a trip. So...then again maybe I should just throw in the towel and say ok...bring on the germs.

Marvel...we went to Universal a couple yrs ago and stayed at Portofino Bay. It was nice. If you stay at any of their resorts you just show your key and BOOM...in ya go. We were done with everything in two easy lazy days. It is DEFINITELY worth it to stay onsite at UO. It's very pretty, walk to everything, smallish parks. We enjoyed it. WE mostly did it for DS who is a thrill ride junky. I think I went on maybe 5 rides. It's not my thing but it's a pretty place. We could do those 5 rides over and over again though with that magic room key. I think that is the way to go. GREAT IDEA for your last day or so. I mean...JMO...YMMV.

Marci sounds like your plans are coming right along!! It iwll be here before you know it.

OK...just checking in...need to run. I am having that same fall brain freeze, Kristin. I usually have the stuff out and spider webs and mums all over the front....I am not in the mood....and wouldn't ya know it this is the year Halloween is on a Friday and DDs want a Halloween party.

Sheli....LOL...John Stewart is using your siggie guy (Galum?) as John McCain hahaha......

Happy FRIDAY!!!!

Off to check my SWA AGAIN....and see about extending my stya one more night.

Chan

 

[mickeynut1]

Afternoon All . Finally back from running....did my cleaning this morning....now just waiting for DSs to get home at 3:00 . Then off to football tonight .


Kristin ~ Don't feel bad about the Halloween decorating....I still have not gotten anything out . Time is flying by too fast for me that I keep telling myself it CAN'T BE OCTOBER YET . I just can't get in the fall mood . I'm seeing Christmas stuff in stores and it's FREAKING ME OUT !!!!


Chan ~ Any luck on the SWA fares ? You're too funny.......you weren't sure you were going a few weeks ago and now you're looking into extending your trip . Make sure you take LOTS of pics for me so I can see more of what I'm in for come July .


Deb

 

[mickeynut1]

Ok Kristin....you made me feel guilty.....after my last post I went and got some Halloween stuff out . I put my Mickey wreath on the front door, my Mickey candle trio in the greatroom, and my Happy Halloween Mickey (of course ) flag outside . My sister used to do ceramics a long time ago and she made both DSs ceramic pumpkins with their names carved out....very cute.....I put those on each side of the fireplace . That should do for awhile . The outside stuff can wait until DH gets home and he can put that up . It does make it feel a little more fall-like with that little bit out .

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We don't really decorate outside. I have a couple mums in pots and we will have pumpkins, but that is all this year. In the past we have done the cornstalks and haybales, but not this year.

I have some stuff that I set out inside. My fireplace mantle gets redecorated, my 2nd island in the kitchen gets a display, I change out the towels in the bathrooms and kitchen to Halloween themed etc. Nothing too crazy (I save that madness for Christmas )

 

[princessesrule4]

m&p- We've stayed at Portofino Bay and Hard Rock and the front of the line access is awesome! My kids like IOA the best- DD still loves Dr. Suess Landing- great for little kids. HR doesn't have balconies, Portofino does. Portofino is quieter and more spread out - we felt like the only ones there - this was in June, so I'd imagine Christmas would be more packed. Portofino is more like the GF. HR is more of a fun atmosphere- it felt more crowded ( not annoyingly so or anything) but it was more of a fun vibe,IMHO.YMMV.

 

[mickeynut1]

We don't really decorate outside. I have a couple mums in pots and we will have pumpkins, but that is all this year. In the past we have done the cornstalks and haybales, but not this year.

I have some stuff that I set out inside. My fireplace mantle gets redecorated, my 2nd island in the kitchen gets a display, I change out the towels in the bathrooms and kitchen to Halloween themed etc. Nothing too crazy (I save that madness for Christmas )

DH usually gets cornstalks for the front porch columns and yard light and gets haybales to make a neat little display outside......then a few pumpkins along with a scarecrow get thrown in . I get the inside decorated while he does the outside . Christmas is my big decorating season too . It looks like Disney World around here once I'm done . Can't ever have enough Mickey decor .

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I was just looking at my decs and I realized that NONE of it is Disney themed Some of our Christmas stuff is (tons of ornaments plus the tree skirt in the family room tree) but most of it is just Santa or Snowman themed.... I need to get shopping in December and change that!!

 

[mickeynut1]

I was just looking at my decs and I realized that NONE of it is Disney themed Some of our Christmas stuff is (tons of ornaments plus the tree skirt in the family room tree) but most of it is just Santa or Snowman themed.... I need to get shopping in December and change that!!

If you have no Disney themed stuff then you sure do need to do some shopping in December . I have NO self control when I'm down there.......I get so caught up in all the holiday stuff no matter what time of year it is (Christmas store in DTD ). I come home with ornaments EVERY TIME.....I have so many that I almost run out of room on my tree when I'm decorating it . Over the last 5 years or so I've gradually phased out the snowman/santa decor and replaced it with strictly Mickey decor .

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I need to get a cute Mickey tree topper. That is my one "must have" this trip. We already have the 2008 ornament from the May trip and I think I am going to see if Betsy can get a personalized one from Days of Christmas for DS in his basket. (I really need to start thinking about what I want her to put in that thing )

 

[m&pForever]

hey
Marvel...we went to Universal a couple yrs ago and stayed at Portofino Bay. It was nice. If you stay at any of their resorts you just show your key and BOOM...in ya go. We were done with everything in two easy lazy days. It is DEFINITELY worth it to stay onsite at UO. It's very pretty, walk to everything, smallish parks. We enjoyed it. WE mostly did it for DS who is a thrill ride junky. I think I went on maybe 5 rides. It's not my thing but it's a pretty place. We could do those 5 rides over and over again though with that magic room key. I think that is the way to go. GREAT IDEA for your last day or so. I mean...JMO...YMMV.

m&p- We've stayed at Portofino Bay and Hard Rock and the front of the line access is awesome! My kids like IOA the best- DD still loves Dr. Suess Landing- great for little kids. HR doesn't have balconies, Portofino does. Portofino is quieter and more spread out - we felt like the only ones there - this was in June, so I'd imagine Christmas would be more packed. Portofino is more like the GF. HR is more of a fun atmosphere- it felt more crowded ( not annoyingly so or anything) but it was more of a fun vibe,IMHO.YMMV.

I think Im going to do it..you guys have convinced me!
I've been on USF website all afternoon reading as much as i can. My oldest barely remembers being there so a few days (im thinking at least three) will be great.
I had the thought that front of the line access wouldnt be that great since everyone staying there has it. Im thinking of EMH but i guess Disney has so many more hotel rooms.
I hope i dont like it to much that i start bashing the GF and every other hotel

I like thier simple in park meal plan too.
Can you believe it, Im actually pretty excited and I have the Poly and thier management to thank for it.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

m&p, there is nothing better than the front of the line access at U. We where there a couple of years ago, and doing everything in the park is easy with little wait.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Good morning! I am up for a soccer game on this brisk fall morning.

I agree with Princess P. Front of the Line is terrific. I just wish there was more for ME at UO. It's a good alternative though. Great idea M & P.

When we were at UO it was end of March, spring break week.....a huge spring break week for many folks have it off. FOTL made it a breeze. We did UO for 3 nts - which was actually 1 too many IMO...and then we went over to WDW to the GF for 9. (LOL....we were SUPPOSED to do a GF/Poly LVC split) but we were so happy at the GF we asked to stay there instead adn the concierge CMs were soooo flattered. (we told them there is no comparison between the two resorts and the service at both) And they found us a room.

Hope everybody has a good Saturday.....I have to dig out the winter stuff...it's time! My project for the day...swapping out clothes.

Dawn...hope you're feeling better! Jo is still coughing bad.

Talk to ya all later,

Chan

 

[traci]

Spidey is helping me with my happy dance! woo hooie!! 20 more days. 20 more days and we'll be at Disney World *and* the GF!!! 20. More. Days. That's 480 hours. It's been over a year since we have been to Disney - 2 years since our last stay at the GF. I seriously cannot contain myself.

Channing, did I see you were extending your stay?? Are you going to be there while we are (10-24/11-1)?? I thougt I also read Kelly may be there too around that time?

The talk of Universal as peaked my interest. What is a good age to take your kids? Is it a park you can do in a day or two? If you were to stay at one of their resorts which would you pick for overall favorite???

 

[m&pForever]

Spidey is helping me with my happy dance!

The talk of Universal as peaked my interest. What is a good age to take your kids? Is it a park you can do in a day or two? If you were to stay at one of their resorts which would you pick for overall favorite???

Gotta love Spidey!!!

When we went many years ago our kids were babies and they loved the Dr Seuss land. I remember being able to do the whole park in one day so Chan is right no more than 3 would be needed.
Im actually thinking of giving my RPC room for new years eve and checking in to universal on the 31st. That way we can have the first and second for the 2 parks and start our drive home on the 3rd.
Im leaning towards Portofino for the hotel. I wouldnt mind hardrock but the other one reminds me of my nemesis.