Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread PART 2

[lovemy2boys]

Hey everyone! Just popping in. we leave three weeks from today. I'm soooo psyched!
Speaking of travel books, I picked up three books and have been reading them all. They are the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids" and "Birnbaums Walt Disney World" and also (I don't have it in front of me) something like "Luxury Guide to Disney".

I have found the first two very very helpful and the luxury book just a "fun" read to see what really nice stuff there is out there. Any opinions on these books? Are there any great ones you'd recommend?

 

[Alicnwondrln]

the luxury guide one has a website as well its cute
but you learn alot more with the Unofficial guide, I
love that book.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Kelly, Maybe all the pesty clients are making you run ragged. Demanding bunch
And, Good for you for getting some sleep. It's hard to have a full time job and kids (trust me, I know too.)

 

[Tinkaroo]

You could do the Wildlife Discovery Excursion. The WDE is available to any club level guest. I've never been on the Sunrise Safari so can't compare them, but they seem to be very much alike. With the WDE you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn and you don't get breakfast. You go in a 16 passenger van and are out on the savanna for about an hour. They pull off the road several times so you have a closer look at the animals. There is an animal handler on board with a lot of information and hands on exhibits, elephant hair, an ostrich egg, rhino horn, giraffe poo, I passed on that one There may have been other things that I don't remember.

Thanks, Maxie. We actually did that tour last year - it was nice, but the people on the tour with us were ultra-annoying (I could so totally see them being the family V dealt with!), so that kind of dampened the experience. We've been there, done that.

I know we'll do the AKL CL sometime just for the Safari, so no biggie. Disney will (hopefully) always be there!

Hey, guys....V told me I could post on the DIS about her dumb guests (we had a long talk and lots of laughs because she's had a day full ) - I said NO I WOULDN"T DO THAT and she was like OH NO GO AHEAD ....Kelly I have to tell you...YOu will laugh. MOney does not buy smarts. These were platinum plan people. She was wondering how they could afford that??!!?!?

They missed their fireworks cruise because they stood out on the "Boat dock" by Narcoosees for an hour and a half waiting for the boat to come. she said one came and left, then another came and left, then another....but none stopped and told us they were the fireworks boat. (duh...they were the transportation from MK,GF,Poly boats)

So then at 9:50 she came up to V's desk and asked her about her fireworks boat....V was like...Ma'am you were supposed to meet the boat in our MARINA. In the GF marina. The lady says well can I still go? V told her she missed the fireworks but she said let me see if I can book you another for tomorrow night. so LUCKILY she did. She told the lady and she said she would leave her a message about where to meet the boat & she said if they come to her desk she will escort them out to the boat - a DETAILED message and the time etc. So anyway....that night rolls around and it's now 8:30. V was like I don't know WHAT made me think of this or the guests but she just happened to phone their room to check on them. Well, they were in their room. V siad Are you ready for the cruise?? You need to get down to the marina and meet the boat. THey were like "duh....huh?" Vonnie said didn't you get my messages?? What messages??? Vonnie toldthem she left messages and so did a VIP person for them....well the guest says..."Oh...is that what that red light on the phone means? We have messages?" this is all in a very strong, slow southern drawl. Vonnie is spazzing out becuase they are about to MISS ANOTHER CRUISE!!! so she says are you dressed??? Yes. Can you get down here to my desk and I will personally escort you out to the boat??? OK......so she is waiting and 10 min goes by. They don't come. She calls again and there is no answer, she looks up and htey have just left their room and grandma is on a scooter!!!! They are in no hurry at all. Just dinking down the hall. V ran up there gunned the scooter and hauled a@@ to get them out to the boat. She said she was out of breath trying to get these slowky pokeys to hurry up!!!! She told the captain she didn't care HOW he did it but to get them to the middle of the lake so they see some fireworks. He laughed.

Well I am off to bed...I don't sleep well when DH is gone. Every noise or every time my dog rolls over I wake up.

See ya all tomorrow!!

Chan

OMG! Poor V! If that is what they deal with day in and day out, I wonder how they don't lose their minds. I guess I forget that they all aren't super duper nice self-sufficient guests like we are, right?!

Sheli - I loved your comment about waiting for the helicopter!

Good morning laadies sorry I was MIA last night
I bet you think it was because of the celtics game but you would be wrong
I feel asleep !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so tired yesterday and the worst headache all day. I woke up this a.m. at 6 and feel great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We must have been sharing the same headache. Although I woke up from my drug-induced nap around 9:30 p.m., and then couldn't get to sleep when I tried to go to bed later. I really hate nights/mornings like that.

I NEED THEM ...they are my security books or something. Same thing with TGM....I hate that site. I keep renewing. Why? (I am a total disney dork). It takes me one hour to read it all and then I am bored with it and it's always the SAME OLD STUFF.....ugh. I do use his best days though. I think his are far more accurate than the Unofficial Guides which are bogus.

I am serious. I have every disney book and they sit around but I need them...before I had the DIS I would scour over them though.

The Dis is more fun than a book but if people are so Disneydumb they don't buy a travel book they sure won't know about the DIS.
Chan

Channing - I'm the same way! I have the updated UG's for every year, plus the Passporter books. I have subscriptions to TGM, the UG site, and the Passporter club. I have more souvenier books and "insider" guides on the World than I have room on my bookshelves.

Yet, what do I do most - DIS.

 

[arbonnette]

LOL...and then there were the guests that didn't have any ADRs and NEEDED them to be made while waiting at the CM desk but they had to be between 6 pm and 6:30 pm. OR ELSE.

People are crazy. I guess if you are totally clueless & know nobody that's been to WDW you'd have no idea how much planning and preparation would be needed for a good trip.

Even back when we first started going, I was so stoked - the first thing I did was buy the Birnbaum book. Each trip I buy more books!! I don't even read them but I HAVE TO HAVE THEM!!!! I can't imagine planning a big expensive WDW trip and not looking at ANYTHING before hand....if only for fun. KWIM?

Chan

I buy all the books too, and plan to read them, but don't. I have to have them though. I travel with a huge folder of TGM printouts, and the Disney books. No wonder I had to pay for my suitcase last time. With TGM, I really have found the best days are very accurate. And I like his touring guides. I followed them on the last trip and they worked great for us!

Hey everyone! Just popping in. we leave three weeks from today. I'm soooo psyched!
Speaking of travel books, I picked up three books and have been reading them all. They are the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids" and "Birnbaums Walt Disney World" and also (I don't have it in front of me) something like "Luxury Guide to Disney".

I have found the first two very very helpful and the luxury book just a "fun" read to see what really nice stuff there is out there. Any opinions on these books? Are there any great ones you'd recommend?

I really like the unofficial guide. That is the best one, IMO.

Have a great day, everyone! DD is out of school for the summer and is driving me nuts already ...

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hey everyone! Just popping in. we leave three weeks from today. I'm soooo psyched!
Speaking of travel books, I picked up three books and have been reading them all. They are the "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids" and "Birnbaums Walt Disney World" and also (I don't have it in front of me) something like "Luxury Guide to Disney".

I have found the first two very very helpful and the luxury book just a "fun" read to see what really nice stuff there is out there. Any opinions on these books? Are there any great ones you'd recommend?

Those are good ones...I have all three...for about every year since 1990, haha...also I have the Passporter, which is another good one..it is also a planner with pocket pages, stickers etc...helps you organize and it's handy. I have WDW trivia books vols 1 & 2, the little pocket guides re Imagineering MK, MGM, and AK, and I REALLY LOVE "The Complete Walt Disney World" for it's pics and fun info...I also love and have "WDW Resort, Guide to the Magic" and along with that I have and just cannot find a book by the same author something about the lost journals..it's a fun treasure hunt type book to use at WDW...I brought it last trip and HOPE I didn't lose it!!!! just discovered it's gone. Hidden Mickeys is a cute one we have and take with, and also we have the Passporter Treasure Hunts to bring with. AND more I am sure...these are what is sitting here.

OMG! Poor V! If that is what they deal with day in and day out, I wonder how they don't lose their minds. I guess I forget that they all aren't super duper nice self-sufficient guests like we are, right?!

Sheli - I loved your comment about waiting for the helicopter!

Channing - I'm the same way! I have the updated UG's for every year, plus the Passporter books. I have subscriptions to TGM, the UG site, and the Passporter club. I have more souvenier books and "insider" guides on the World than I have room on my bookshelves.

Yet, what do I do most - DIS.

Lindsay I think that's why she loves us all so much, haha....they deal with a lot of wackos on a daily basis. We are easy. Comparatively speaking.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hi, Andrea....Oh...ya...I am kinda dreading it too. It will be nice to have no schedule, but there go my days of peace and quiet. I used to totally look forward to summer. LOL...NOT ANY MORE!!!

My kids go til June 9 I think. Then LOOK OUT! Hopefully the weather will start to look like summer or at least spring. It's been low 60s here and cloudy. If they can swim we are good to go, but until it heats up it might be scary here.

I just got back from the vet. Tatum is chubby. I was right on the money...she is 130lbs. Owner and dog = chubby. Bummer.

We walk daily but the vet said swimming will be really good for her so we really need to get summer to come to IL.

PS...you guys have kind of talked me into going back to TGM....I just don't know what I am missing. Honestly. I click on his little links and get so bored....It's the SAME STUFF from my first subscription a long time and many trips ago.

 

[Tinkaroo]

My love for SWA just increased even more.

http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vi...entRepository&itemDescriptor=PromotionContent

There are threads over on the Transportation Board, too.

Now the big question is - which airline is next to follow suit?

 

[Lives4Disney]

My love for SWA just increased even more.

http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/Vi...entRepository&itemDescriptor=PromotionContent

There are threads over on the Transportation Board, too.

Now the big question is - which airline is next to follow suit?

OMG! I am gonna go check that out on the Transpo board. This is new news to me. I fly SWA or American.....yep...SWA is my new #1. Well, until they start ripping us off, too. Ya...makes you wonder what's next.

I guess more people will be Fed Exing their stuff down now.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

$15 for the first bag

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hey girls! I'm back! Fun trip, but exhausting! I think it will take days to get caught up!!

Kristin

PS: I just read above about American... WTH is wrong with the airlines??? AA's airfare is so much higher than everyone elses and now they are doing this?? I smell a bankruptcy....

 

[triplefigs]

Hey girls! I'm back! Fun trip, but exhausting! I think it will take days to get caught up!!

Kristin

PS: I just read above about American... WTH is wrong with the airlines??? AA's airfare is so much higher than everyone elses and now they are doing this?? I smell a bankruptcy....

Kristen, did you get the BB or staying with the PIN code? BTW, we will be there the same time. We're going Dec 9-14.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

They only had AKL or YC available for my dates... we booked 12/5 at Pop with the BB since we are planning on a late flight. Besides, now I am in with the BB code and can keep checking to see if the GF opens up at all (which I doubt) We only have the pin for 12/7-12/14 so we are rack rate room only on 12/6 at the GF. Too many ressies!!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

glad you had fun

 

[Lives4Disney]

Kristin, welcome back! Glad it was a fun trip!!! Can't wait to hear more.


Hey...guys...OK I jsut got an email that somebody posted on the cake thread.... Here is the cake...done by the GF Bakery and deliverd to Citricos.... OK....I hope they liked it and were happy with it but if it were me I'd be disappointed. That looks like a regular old grocery store cake, doesn't it? Not even as nice as some. What is UP with that GF Bakery?!??!? I bet they hired a bunch of nobodys to fill all these cake orders ...just generic people with no training to do basic cakes and just FILL THE ORDERS... I haven't attempted to get anywhere with my cool Mad Hatter cake request. I just am not in the mood for dealing with it.

 

[arbonnette]

Kristin, welcome back! Glad it was a fun trip!!! Can't wait to hear more.


Hey...guys...OK I jsut got an email that somebody posted on the cake thread.... Here is the cake...done by the GF Bakery and deliverd to Citricos.... OK....I hope they liked it and were happy with it but if it were me I'd be disappointed. That looks like a regular old grocery store cake, doesn't it? Not even as nice as some. What is UP with that GF Bakery?!??!? I bet they hired a bunch of nobodys to fill all these cake orders ...just generic people with no training to do basic cakes and just FILL THE ORDERS... I haven't attempted to get anywhere with my cool Mad Hatter cake request. I just am not in the mood for dealing with it.

I hope the people who ordered it liked it, but the writing is sad ... I would be extremely if I had ordered a cake and gotten that. It looks like something you picked up at the grocery and had them right the name on for you right there at the counter. I have never ordered a cake as I know I would very high expectations and would not want the disappointment!!!

I read about the American Airlines thing, and as much as I love the convienence of SWA, I really wish you could check in for your return flight at the Disney resorts like you can with some of the other airlines ...

 

[lovemy2boys]

Hey ladies, don't be dissing American! DH is a pilot for AA!

 

[Lives4Disney]

Hey ladies, don't be dissing American! DH is a pilot for AA!

We live in the NW suburbs of Chicago. LOTS of AA pilots out here. OUr neighbor was one, Jojo's good friend's dad is one, one of Zack's good friend's dad is one......they're all over!!! I guess what gets everybody is the nickel and diming.

Andrea - Ya...that writing is horrid. I would be mad because you know that cake had to have cost $50 or abouts. Come on. It has nothing Disney about it. I don't mean to make an example of that one, but it popped up in my emails and here i am about to order a "lovely" and expensive bday cake and I sure as heck don't want some boring old Costco cake while I am at the GF.

 

[vbarry]

I just wonder what is really going on with the entire airline industry.

I am not saying anything about American but right now their non-stop flights from St. Louis to Orlando or over $1000 for my Christmas trip.

I cannot find anything right now cheaper than $500. I know I have time but it is hard to wait. I really do not want to spend $2000 to fly my family.

 

[Lives4Disney]

I just wonder what is really going on with the entire airline industry.

I am not saying anything about American but right now their non-stop flights from St. Louis to Orlando or over $1000 for my Christmas trip.

I cannot find anything right now cheaper than $500. I know I have time but it is hard to wait. I really do not want to spend $2000 to fly my family.

Vanessa, I found great rates on SWA. HAve you considered SWA??

No...I wouldn't want to pay $2000 for a flight to FL. That would bum me out. I paid that much to fly to PR. and just a bit more to fly to HI!!