"Having a GRAND time - The Official GF Chat Thread"

[vbarry]

Ok GF experts, I need some of your advice.

I have had so much fun reading your experiences its been a great help with my planning.


So, we are planning on going to WDW next year for the first time ever and we will be staying for 10-12 days or so. Not sure how long yet. I am sooo excited, I just can't believe I have to wait so long...I have never planned a vacation this far in advance.

I have two boys, they will be 10 and 12. I have decided that we must stay at the GF...but will probably spend much of our time at Epcot and MGM and the golf courses

So, my question is, would you recommend a split stay with GF and an Epcot hotel or stay the entire time at the GF? Will we get bored at the GF for the entire time and need a change of scenery? Since it is our first time, will we feel like we are missing out by just being at one resort?

What do you think? Thanks!!!!

I may be in the minority here...but I enjoy splitting my stay between the MK resorts and Epcot resorts and have done this our last 3 trips. I have not stayed at the GF (but will this Xmas WOPPEE!) but have stayed at WL and the Poly and have split between Boardwalk and the Beach Club.

I do this because I love soo many things about the MK area but it is not easy to get from the Epcot resorts to the MK area. I also love the Boardwalk area. There is soo much to do, great restaurants and the BC has an awesome pool.

I think that you are going to be there long enough that a split stay will not be that big of a deal.

Have fun planning...it is usually the best part but can driver you CRAZY

Vanessa

 

[Lives4Disney]

I may be in the minority here...but I enjoy splitting my stay between the MK resorts and Epcot resorts and have done this our last 3 trips. I have not stayed at the GF (but will this Xmas WOPPEE!) but have stayed at WL and the Poly and have split between Boardwalk and the Beach Club.

I do this because I love soo many things about the MK area but it is not easy to get from the Epcot resorts to the MK area. I also love the Boardwalk area. There is soo much to do, great restaurants and the BC has an awesome pool.

I think that you are going to be there long enough that a split stay will not be that big of a deal.

Have fun planning...it is usually the best part but can driver you CRAZY

Vanessa

I agree!! We almost always now do a split between an Epcot resort and the GF. Just did Swan/GF and over the summer we do YC/GF. Your boys would like the Epcot resort area, I bet. They have the ESPN Club restaurant and an arcade, fun in the evenings at the BW and it's just a fun family area.....they had movies on the beach at the BC and campfire stuff while we were there, too. If you are going to be at Epcot and MGM a lot you will save yourself a lot of time with the transportation by being in walking distance....plus - ok this is probably cheesy but since you mentioned golf, they have the Fantasia mini golf course over there in that area too w/in walking.

Enjoy your planning - it will go fast!

Channing

 

[Golfing Goofy]

I may be in the minority here...but I enjoy splitting my stay between the MK resorts and Epcot resorts and have done this our last 3 trips. I have not stayed at the GF (but will this Xmas WOPPEE!) but have stayed at WL and the Poly and have split between Boardwalk and the Beach Club.

I do this because I love soo many things about the MK area but it is not easy to get from the Epcot resorts to the MK area. I also love the Boardwalk area. There is soo much to do, great restaurants and the BC has an awesome pool.

I think that you are going to be there long enough that a split stay will not be that big of a deal.

Have fun planning...it is usually the best part but can driver you CRAZY

Vanessa

Thanks...yeah, I can see how the planning is so much fun. It is addicting and I normally don't like planning all that much.... I like the free spirit kinda vacations.

I am starting to drive everyone crazy, as I kept trying to decide on a resort. One day it was the CR, then the POLY and now, finally I know it has to be the GF.

 

[Golfing Goofy]

I agree!! We almost always now do a split between an Epcot resort and the GF. Just did Swan/GF and over the summer we do YC/GF. Your boys would like the Epcot resort area, I bet. They have the ESPN Club restaurant and an arcade, fun in the evenings at the BW and it's just a fun family area.....they had movies on the beach at the BC and campfire stuff while we were there, too. If you are going to be at Epcot and MGM a lot you will save yourself a lot of time with the transportation by being in walking distance....plus - ok this is probably cheesy but since you mentioned golf, they have the Fantasia mini golf course over there in that area too w/in walking.

Enjoy your planning - it will go fast!

Channing

Your TR's and pictures have been most helpful to me. Thanks so much!

I think you are right about them liking the epcot area. And, I love mini-golf. I can still beat everyone at that It is so much fun. Real golf is sooo much more work (i love it though).

 

[mandymommy4]

Mandy- what did your DH say about his Captain Jack pillow!!!!

He laughed and then said " I guess you want to switch sides?" Then he said "you didn't use the RL cases did you?" I think he was more concerned about me ruining our 800 TC cases! I took my camera to my sisters house for my grandmothers 80th b-day party and left it and I can't get it back till Sunday, I will post a picture asap!

 

[mandymommy4]

DH and I are both trying to loose weight. He is riding 8 miles every day and loosing like crazy. I'm another story! I am thinking about joining WW because I think the accountability is what I need. I have an elliptical and as long as I spent time on it every day I was able to maintain a 12 and eat what ever I wanted. Now we are home schooling and I have no time to be on the elliptical because HS requires a lot of time and the kids have gotten older and the oldest 2 have given up naps. I just got on the scale this morning and I am at my all time high ( not counting pregnancy highs) I am now a 14 pushing 16. Some of my friends think that size is not big but I have a tiny frame and that is huge for me, I was a 4 until I got pregnant. 4 pregnancies in a row have not been kind to my body and my doctor thinks I will need a tummy tuck to get rid of excess skin and tighten my abdominal wall. I honestly can't blame my weight on my baby's, it's the chocolate. I think if I eat right and get up early enough to work out I could eventually get back to a single digit again. I have no desire to be a 4 again but 8 would be nice! You know it's bad when you are watching Biggest Looser and don't even feel guilty about eating ice cream right from the tub. Sorry for the long post but I am so sick of being a fat @ss and needed to rant!

 

[Lives4Disney]

DH and I are both trying to loose weight. He is riding 8 miles every day and loosing like crazy. I'm another story! I am thinking about joining WW because I think the accountability is what I need. I have an elliptical and as long as I spent time on it every day I was able to maintain a 12 and eat what ever I wanted. Now we are home schooling and I have no time to be on the elliptical because HS requires a lot of time and the kids have gotten older and the oldest 2 have given up naps. I just got on the scale this morning and I am at my all time high ( not counting pregnancy highs) I am now a 14 pushing 16. Some of my friends think that size is not big but I have a tiny frame and that is huge for me, I was a 4 until I got pregnant. 4 pregnancies in a row have not been kind to my body and my doctor thinks I will need a tummy tuck to get rid of excess skin and tighten my abdominal wall. I honestly can't blame my weight on my baby's, it's the chocolate. I think if I eat right and get up early enough to work out I could eventually get back to a single digit again. I have no desire to be a 4 again but 8 would be nice! You know it's bad when you are watching Biggest Looser and don't even feel guilty about eating ice cream right from the tub. Sorry for the long post but I am so sick of being a fat @ss and needed to rant!

I am right there with ya.

I just saw my reflection in my front glass door. Lumpy and scary. And the kicker is I just left the kitchen where I ate a bowl of bubble gum icecream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaaaaahhhhh!!!!!! Why do I even buy that stuff - it's crack to me. I could eat the whole carton!!!!!! I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!!!!!!!! AND SNACKS!!!!!!

The pathetic thing is when I was seriously so good on the WW points and dropping the weight constantly I would love to look at myself in the glass door ......now - quick CLOSE THAT DOOR!! (this guy is NOT laughing...but having a tantrum)

 

[mandymommy4]

I am right there with ya.

I just saw my reflection in my front glass door. Lumpy and scary. And the kicker is I just left the kitchen where I ate a bowl of bubble gum icecream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaaaaahhhhh!!!!!! Why do I even buy that stuff - it's crack to me. I could eat the whole carton!!!!!! I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!!!!!!!! AND SNACKS!!!!!!

The pathetic thing is when I was seriously so good on the WW points and dropping the weight constantly I would love to look at myself in the glass door ......now - quick CLOSE THAT DOOR!! (this guy is NOT laughing...but having a tantrum)

Getting old sucks! I use to eat whatever whenever and was tiny and hot, now I think about a French fry and my pants get tight! We have a place called sonics in our town and I LOVE their onion rings and java chillers but they closed a week ago and I was seriously sad! I'm pathetic. It's a blessing though, I have to get hot again! I'm hitting the elliptical in the morning! Good night ladies!

 

[tholczer]

This may sound seriously lame and might not combat giant cravings, but I recently gave up sugar and one capsule of Selenium and one capsule of Chromium picolinate, both in the afternoon with lunch, seemed to really help with the sugar and wheat cravings. It takes about a week, but it really took the edge off.

Tracy

 

[mandymommy4]

This may sound seriously lame and might not combat giant cravings, but I recently gave up sugar and one capsule of Selenium and one capsule of Chromium picolinate, both in the afternoon with lunch, seemed to really help with the sugar and wheat cravings. It takes about a week, but it really took the edge off.

Tracy

Thanks, so can I get those at any old pharmacy or do I need to go to a health food store?

 

[mandymommy4]

Kelly
I am doing a trip report on my blog and I was wondering if it's ok to copy pictures off the photo thread and use. I am a dork and deleted the pictures I took of our room and lobby thinking I had loaded them onto the laptop. Oops!

 

[vbarry]

Getting old sucks! I use to eat whatever whenever and was tiny and hot, now I think about a French fry and my pants get tight! We have a place called sonics in our town and I LOVE their onion rings and java chillers but they closed a week ago and I was seriously sad! I'm pathetic. It's a blessing though, I have to get hot again! I'm hitting the elliptical in the morning! Good night ladies!

Getting older does stink. It is very hard to lose weight and I am SICK of it! I think you should try WW. I never had to really work that hard at losing weight but after 2 kids and turning 35 it seems very hard to lose the weight. This is my fourth day but I like the accountability. My life is crazy with two girls and the oldest being involved in just about everything! My biggest problem is trying to focus on watching what I eat. This way I have to count the points and it is easy. I joined online for a free 7 day trial. You can record your points on there. I eat something and put it in the computer. I know it sounds like work, but it has been kind of fun and I am definatley watching what I put in my mouth.

I am heading for the elliptical now! Good luck!

 

[grannyminnie]

Morning all...good to know I can come to a place and express my excitement (without rolling eyes) that two weeks from today, I leave for the happiest place on earth!!!
My non-DH just doesn't get it..

 

[WishesQueen]

I have two boys, they will be 10 and 12. I have decided that we must stay at the GF...but will probably spend much of our time at Epcot and MGM and the golf courses

So, my question is, would you recommend a split stay with GF and an Epcot hotel or stay the entire time at the GF? Will we get bored at the GF for the entire time and need a change of scenery? Since it is our first time, will we feel like we are missing out by just being at one resort?

What do you think? Thanks!!!!

Welcome!! I have a DS13 and he loves to golf with his DH!! You will love the courses at WDW.

We have travel to WDW both ways with splits and without and loved it both ways. Just one tip, be very organized when you pack. I packed 4 luggages for 4 people approximately 9 days not counting a huge duffle on wheels for shoes (I also have a DD) and 2 carry ons. Anyway, we used 2 luggages for one hotel and 2 luggages for the next and it went real smoothly. We didn't waste too much time unpacking and repacking!!

 

[WishesQueen]

DH and I are both trying to loose weight. He is riding 8 miles every day and loosing like crazy. I'm another story! I am thinking about joining WW because I think the accountability is what I need. I have an elliptical and as long as I spent time on it every day I was able to maintain a 12 and eat what ever I wanted. Now we are home schooling and I have no time to be on the elliptical because HS requires a lot of time and the kids have gotten older and the oldest 2 have given up naps. I just got on the scale this morning and I am at my all time high ( not counting pregnancy highs) I am now a 14 pushing 16. Some of my friends think that size is not big but I have a tiny frame and that is huge for me, I was a 4 until I got pregnant. 4 pregnancies in a row have not been kind to my body and my doctor thinks I will need a tummy tuck to get rid of excess skin and tighten my abdominal wall. I honestly can't blame my weight on my baby's, it's the chocolate. I think if I eat right and get up early enough to work out I could eventually get back to a single digit again. I have no desire to be a 4 again but 8 would be nice! You know it's bad when you are watching Biggest Looser and don't even feel guilty about eating ice cream right from the tub. Sorry for the long post but I am so sick of being a fat @ss and needed to rant!

Since I hit 40 I received a gift that I would love to return!!! Its the roll around my waist. One morning I woke up and there is was, I kill myself trying to get rid of it and I even tried bigger clothes to conceal it, but there it still is!! I can't wait to see what else happens!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Kelly
I am doing a trip report on my blog and I was wondering if it's ok to copy pictures off the photo thread and use. I am a dork and deleted the pictures I took of our room and lobby thinking I had loaded them onto the laptop. Oops!

I dont mind at all.

 

[Lives4Disney]

Morning all...good to know I can come to a place and express my excitement (without rolling eyes) that two weeks from today, I leave for the happiest place on earth!!!
My non-DH just doesn't get it..

Yay!!

Your "non-DH" must really be in the dog house, haha, for being a non Disney DH.

Two weeks will FLY BY!!! Happy packing!

Channing

 

[irisbud]

Golfing Goofy, we like to do an EPCOT / MK resort split stay as well. Disney makes it so convenient (we are so lazy we wouldn't do it otherwise ). I would love to do 10 days at the Grand too, though!

Well, I whined and got BF to agree that we should add two days to the beginning of our wedding trip, so we will have seven nights at Disney and then four nights on the Wonder. I am feeling much better now, as I thought five nights was not going to be enough, considering all of the activities we had planned, and I was getting VERY stressed over the whole thing.

I don't know BF's family very well, and I keep asking him questions like "would they like this" "they wouldn't do this, would they" and "They wouldn't think we should...". He told me that he thinks I hate his family !?! That is not true, I just want to make sure everyone is on the same page (ie, no one shows up to our wedding in shorts, crocs, or t-shirts; people understand we are not going to pay for all group meals, etc. ) All the guests on my side know what is expected on them (ie money, food, park time, wedding day attire, etc.) and I just want him to relay the same things to the guests from his side. I tried to explain to him that I DON'T KNOW THEM in more than a cursory manner so I don't know what they will or won't do in any situation but his family is a touchy subject for him I guess. It never has been before

I've already cancelled an event that I wanted to do on the day immediatly before the wedding with just the women I am close to on my side. I am not a partier, so I was going to do a sort of lunch/mini golf thing with my mom, my bridesmaids, and another woman I am VERY close with (one of those mom-like figures, KWIM) as a substitute for a bachelorette party. BF threw a fit because I didn't want to invite anyone from his side. He was also angry because he said I deliberatly picked an activity his mother wouldn't want to do! No, I just picked something my girls and I would think is fun! I really wasn't being rude, I don't think. I wanted to have a nice, relaxing day with my girls that I am closest to. I am uncomfortable with people I don't know well, and so are some of my girls. We have a dinner with EVERYONE that evening anyway, so I just didn't see where it was rude? . Maybe that is immature of me, but I thought that if I invited ONLY those I am very close to no one could really throw a fit. I just nixed the whole thing because I don't need the stress and the drama and I don't want to cause strife. My day won't be relaxing if I have to do two huge events, and it wasn't that important anyway, I guess, so I guess we will just do the dinner .

Hopefully, adding these two days will give us more time for ourselves, which is my main concern. I thought with only five nights, we were packing so much into our limited time that we wouldn't have any time for ourselves until the cruise. Now, I hope more time will help alleviate this.

He is not trying to be pig headed, he just dosen't understand how much planning I do for these trips, and that is fine. I want him to think that everything just magically falls into place! . He loves Disney a lot, but he dosen't "get" it the way we on theses boards do. He thinks being alone on the cruise will be enough, where it was a terrible thought to me that we wouldn't get to share any time alone on the Disney portion of our Honeymoon.

Okay, rant and whining over. Sorry, I just needed to let it out!

Anyway, good luck to all who are doing WW!

 

[mandymommy4]

I dont mind at all.

Thanks, I wasn't sure if that was considered a "No-No"

 

[Lives4Disney]

Amy..... I just read your post. I am really sorry things are getting so stressful. From my experience that's the way wedding planning goes. Somebody is always going to get their nose out of joint or feel left out.....you just can't please everybody....the bad thing here is that your DF is upset.

DH and I have been married for almost 20 yrs and I still don't KNOW his family. I have been avoiding them for years. No, seriously I totally understand how you feel about the new people you don't know and it makes for some discomfort. It's tough when you want things YOUR way on YOUR wedding and then "strangers" get in the way.....maybe you could still do the golf fun outing w/your mom & friends if you did something little - maybe a brunch or something with HIS mom and family & friends another morning?? and/or include YOUR mom and friends with that, too, for comfort level and that way maybe you'd get to know them a bit - and your mom would too....just for a couple hours.... Just a little compromise? It's a shame the whole fun thing you were looking forward to is off but I guess from an outsider's view (mine) - and I sure do understand your feeilngs 100% - it might look kind of standoffish if you don't include his side of the family in something special.....by marrying him you are "supposed" to be joining his family...KWIM? BUT I haven't done that part either. I am not really comfortable with strangers either so I totally understand how you feel but I know I made my own mistakes with my own situation. DH is very close to his mom though so sometimes it gets tough, but we always work thru it.

It is good you added the extra days. Your right....you will enjoy those extra quiet days together.

Channing