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

[princessesrule4]

Chan- So glad you checked in and I bet things will be looking up TODAY since you are heading to the GF and the fab CM's!! Crowds suck!! but hopefully they will start thinning today,too!

Dawn - hey! I've been MIA too - so much going on!! You've got about a month!!! I'm down to just about 6 weeks!
Driving will be in about a year and a half for us but I think it will be easier for DS from driving golf carts, motorized cars,etc. At least I hope!!


Tete - we have stayed at SOG twice and will be doing another split stay with GFnext summer! ( We do GF last!) Feel free to pm me, if you want!

Besides the lack of theming which isn't as bad as people say, there are great pros to staying there like - great price, huge rooms, quiet, super nice people staying there,nice CM's, beautiful lobby with waterfall, Starbucks and did I mention the PRICE!!
I was scared of staying there, so we did just 3 nights in June and we really and truly enjoyed it!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Channing - Right behind you - we leave tomorrow morning. Hope the crowds go down. We're doing the Haunted Carriage Ride on the 22nd, MNSSHP on the 23rd and the kids are doing the Haunted Pirate Cruise on the 26th. DH is running the TOT 13K on the 25th. When are you leaving?

 

[mandymommy4]

Channing - Right behind you - we leave tomorrow morning. Hope the crowds go down. We're doing the Haunted Carriage Ride on the 22nd, MNSSHP on the 23rd and the kids are doing the Haunted Pirate Cruise on the 26th. DH is running the TOT 13K on the 25th. When are you leaving?

Great, there is a race sat.... That mean crowds again this weekend...... A lot of locals like to come and race theses things and there family's go to the parks. The TOT race is at night, if I am not mistaken?

NO offense to you and your family, i totally mean local crowds, btw

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi all!!

I hope Chan is having her Calgon Take Me Away moment now that she is at the GF!!!!!!!!!! When we went to WDW in October, we always thought that WS was the most crowded (day or night) of any of the parks.

Traci- OMG! It is getting so close!! I love that the kids think Mickey flies in on the barnstormer through the window!! Mickey leaves presents in our hotel room each evening and DH loves to tease DS on our way back to the room by saying "Look over there! I just saw Mickey hide behind that building!" (Of course DS has yet to put together to realize that Mommy is always the last to leave the room in the AM ... not sure how I am going to pull this off in June when it is just DS and me He may need to leave presents in the AM a la Santa Claus )

As for going with older kids, it gets SO MUCH FUN!!! DS was 2.5 when he first went and we spent 75% of our time in Fantasyland or on the TTA. If we left MK, he didn't understand that we were still in WDW He is 5.5 now and we still do Fantasyland first thing in the AM on our MK day, but that is really it for the rest of the trip (except MVMCP, PPP etc.) We wants to ride the "big guy rides" like Splash, BTMMR, Soarin etc. He will finally be tall enough for EE in December (he missed it by 1/2" in May ) so he is PSYCHED to try it. As for Space Mountain, I am too chicken to ride it (as is DH) so we told him it is 48" to ride

DisneyMomx7- have a great trip!!

Hi to everyone else that I am missing

Kristin

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Great, there is a race sat.... That mean crowds again this weekend...... A lot of locals like to come and race theses things and there family's go to the parks. The TOT race is at night, if I am not mistaken?

NO offense to you and your family, i totally mean local crowds, btw

No offense taken. This is DH's first time running the TOT. He usually runs the marathon. The TOT is run at night, and from everything I've heard, it's not nearly as crowded as the marathon. Even the marathon crowds weren't as bad as I expected. I'm not as nervous about this one. Of course we've gone 4th of July when it was really crowded. I'm more concerned about our Feb. trip - dd's are competing in Twirlmania and it's President's Day Weekend! That one gives me the chills thinking about those crowds!

 

[irisbud]

Hi all!!

As for Space Mountain, I am too chicken to ride it (as is DH) so we told him it is 48" to ride

Kristin

 

[traci]

What park do you predict will be the most busy then? Should we hit MK at Rope Drop and then head to another for afternoon/evening? We have hoppers so that's not a biggie...

HELP ME !!!!!!

 

[mickeynut1]

Afternoon Ladies

I have a few minutes before DSs get home so I thought I'd pipe in here . I have a question for all you GF gals as I am having the hardest time deciding where to stay for our December 2009 trip . I know I will LOVE the GF when we stay there in July . Right now I'm debating between GF and YC. My question is this.....in your opinion, of course.....is Sugar Loaf worth it? I know RPC would be the ultimate, especially during the holidays . I also know staying in the main building would be awesome . I'm just not sure if it's doable......I guess it depends on the dates we pick (value vs holiday pricing ) and for how long . SO.....any thoughts??? Any and all opinions welcome . THANKS .


Deb

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Deb, I would stay in a broom closet to be at the GF in December!!! If you could go during value season, than take RPC.

What about a split stay?? Part GF RPG and part YC?

 

[traci]

Deb, I would stay in a broom closet to be at the GF in December!!! If you could go during value season, than take RPC.

What about a split stay?? Part GF RPG and part YC?

Wouldn't value season be less crowded too? Maybe?

okay so I am packing and I think I need a suitcase just for hairbows and shoes....these are just the bows (where is the smilie that is shaking his head like WTH are you crazy lady??)

 

[mickeynut1]

A broom closet .

Have you done a split before and if so, was it a big hassle ? I think I would have to do 6 nights with a 3/3 split rather than just 5 as I was originally thinking . When I was considering a split stay for our July trip (GF/BC), DH was concerned about the check out/check in day and the possibility of our room at the second resort not being ready . So I went with all 7 nights at the GF for that trip . But I will have to give it some thought for December and make a decision soon as I'm really anxious to book . Thanks .

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I am doing a split this trip. We are at POP the first night (since we don't land until 7:30pm) and then a GF spilt stay (Day 1 is room only, Days 2-8 are a package).

We are planning on taking a cab from POP to the GF with all of our luggage. If the room isn't ready, bell services will store the luggage and your carry ons for you. When you get back to your room that night, call and they will bring it up.

Anyway, if a split isn't an option, I wouldn't worry about giving up RPC for a GV room to save some $$$. Granted, I have never stayed RPC (so I don't know what I am missing ) but staying GV is just fine too! Even if you have to go at holiday time pricing, I would stay GF GV!

 

[mickeynut1]

Wouldn't value season be less crowded too? Maybe?


That's what I was thinking....a little less crowded anyway . We'd be leaving right as the Christmas crowd was coming in . DH says I can't take DSs out of school for a week since they're both in high school next year .....but I'm thinking TOO BAD because that will save me a ton of money not having to pay holiday prices for 4 out of the 6 nights . Plus I don't listen to DH much anyway.....I just tell him when we're going and that's that......he doesn't want anything to do with the planning and that's fine by me .


okay so I am packing and I think I need a suitcase just for hairbows and shoes....these are just the bows (where is the smilie that is shaking his head like WTH are you crazy lady??)

OMG, Traci.....Too cute . Your daughter is going to look adorable . Must see pics when you get back .

 

[mickeynut1]

Anyway, if a split isn't an option, I wouldn't worry about giving up RPC for a GV room to save some $$$. Granted, I have never stayed RPC (so I don't know what I am missing ) but staying GV is just fine too! Even if you have to go at holiday time pricing, I would stay GF GV!

These thoughts entered my mind as well since we will just have been at the GF in July . I do like the idea of trying the YC.....but the GF keeps popping into my head and I so want to try RPC.....but like you said you really don't know what you're missing if you've never stayed RPC before . I'm starting to think that just being at the GF in a GV room around Christmas time would be worth it . Anyone ever have any luck with codes/discounts on GF RPC rooms I wonder ?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Probably not over Christmas week... I had a 40% off pin for last year's GF stay in August and a 20% off pin for this December. I never checked on RPC availability since that was never an option for us.

 

[irisbud]

Deb,

we ALWAYS do a split stay, it makes it like two vacations in one! Disney really makes this so incredibly easy! We call bell services on the day we are checking out of one hotel and into the other; they take our luggage to the other resort for us; we go to a park for the day and then head over to check in the second resort and get our luggage! So easy! We like to do a BW area / monorail split! Your boys are old enough that it shouldn't be a hassle. I can see where being without a room would be a problem if you have little ones.

 

[mickeynut1]

Probably not over Christmas week... I had a 40% off pin for last year's GF stay in August and a 20% off pin for this December. I never checked on RPC availability since that was never an option for us.

I think I priced RPC holiday prices and I believe it was like $990/night . That's totally NOT doable for me . That's when I started thinking to take the boys out of school that week before and go value season and end our trip that Friday when holiday pricing starts . The more I think about it, I may just go GF GV and save that $$$$$$ . But the split is still something I might consider. Good for you on the pin codes ....I've never been lucky enough to get one .

Deb,

we ALWAYS do a split stay, it makes it like two vacations in one! Disney really makes this so incredibly easy! We call bell services on the day we are checking out of one hotel and into the other; they take our luggage to the other resort for us; we go to a park for the day and then head over to check in the second resort and get our luggage! So easy! We like to do a BW area / monorail split! Your boys are old enough that it shouldn't be a hassle. I can see where being without a room would be a problem if you have little ones.

Thanks for the input . I'm going to do some checking on availability and prices and see what I come up with . DH doesn't really care what we do.....as long as I'm happy, he's happy . I just love that man .


OK.....I better go get dinner ready.....TTYL .


Deb

 

[BlueSkies]

Kristin Too funny about Space Mountain but when your DS learns to read which I'm sure he's beginning now there will be no lying about the height requirements...UH OH

Deb We like GF GV also I have never stayed in RPC but we have stayed in SL many times, it is very nice ,of course the lounge does not compare to RPC (and I dont love the way they re did it-but its still very nice... it used to feel very bed and breakfasty-is that a word.. ) but I will say since spending time at the resort is a important part of our vacations SL is great...the ammenities are the same as RPC and we enjoy having the beverages/snacks etc all day...we often reutrn to the resort miday for R&R...also if you do decide on a split stay the lounge will be available to you even if your room is not ready ..BTW I think our next trip will be split also...I like the idea of being at an EPCOT resort for part of the vacation...But hey as Kristin said its the GF anywhere will be nice... Also how about an AAA discount??

OMG I've written a novel here

Traci Your DD is gonna look adorable!!

 

[mickeynut1]

BlueSkies, I think my mind was just stuck on thinking that being in the main building would be nice (which I'm sure it IS )......but after doing some pricing, there's really no way I can afford to spend that kind of money for a room . We stayed CL at the WL a few years ago and having water, pop, snacks, etc whenever we wanted was great....not to mention a quick continental breakfast . Even though we haven't stayed at the GF yet, I know that just staying there in a GV room is a treat in itself like Kristin said . So I think I need to quit dreaming and get back to reality . We stayed at the BC in 2003 and it is nice being close to Epcot......so now I'd like to try the YC . Disney makes it so hard with too many great resort choices to choose from .

 

[BlueSkies]

Deb I am torn between YC and BC also-of course 2nd half of trip will be GF..I would love to hear how you liked BC I think my teens will like the proximity to the Boardwalk and DHS...did your kids love SAB?? The renovated BC rooms look great (similar to GF ) I know Channing said she liked the YC I think all of the rooms there have balconies (not sure about BC)...I'll be planning as soon as I know what the kids schedules will be next year...

Lucky you planning a few Disney trips at once

BTW still no luck for the beginning of December But I'm still trying....