January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part II !!!

[Pinkdiamond816]

Morning All!!!! Well really afternoon but I have to wait for nap time before I have a minute to jump on.

I read the comment about the Law and Order SVU- glad I didn't watch it! I'm nervous enough because I gave my address to someone on the Fairy Godmailer thread to mail postcards to my kids. I'm paranoid that they are going to come rob my house while we are gone now that I gave out my address and dates of vacation. A friend of mine gave out her personal info to a scammer last week and 3 days later her home was robbed while they were sleeping. The cops don't think it's a coincidence. Crazy things seem to be happening as the economy turns bad. People are getting desperate and petty crimes and break-ins have gone up around here.

OH my! That's horrible! I'm sure everything will be ok though! I've done the postcard thing before, and I've just rented a dvc off the disboards, which involves lots of money being sent over the internet, and it both cases everything was fine!
It's so sad how careful and guarded we have to be these days.

 

[Pluto_fan]

YEA for price drops, dancing at WDW, and whatever else we're celebrating!

If you have a crock pot something easy, and not very time consuming is Chicken Parmagiana - All you do is coat the chicken breast in bread crumbs, stick it in the crock pot (it can be done in about 3 hours on HIGH) and pour spaghetti sauce over it, then before you serve it you put slices of cheese over the top (I usually use Provolone or Swiss) Then all you do is make pasta and maybe some extra sauce, and voila! You can make a salad or something to go with it, and you have a tasty meal. Also, you can cook A LOT of chicken at a time. I only have a little crock pot, usually only good for a meal for 2, and I can fit 6 chicken breast halves in it.

I had to stop watching SVU, because of that very reason. The stories in there are still drilled into my brain. I get sick just thinking about it. Finally I had to cut it out. I can handle the other L&Ws, but SVU is too gruesome.

Becca--thanks for the recipe! I'm going to try that one! DS8 has football practice from 5:30 to 7:30 three nights a week so I'm always looking for recipes that can cook themselves while we're there. And I think I'm with you on SVU...I just don't need any more bad stuff to think about. I need more happy Disney stuff in my mind!

 

[kaos928]

Here goes my first attempt at posting images.... Sorry about the quality but I figured, 'Hey, Disney pictures are Disney pictures, right?' So here they are just the same. They are all of my nephew Louie 2 years ago after he just turned 3.

This is "Red" riding Cinderella's Carousel trying to give the "I Love You" sign

Riding the giant ant at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground at DHS

He was so excited to see Nemo. Too bad the ride wasn't open yet then. I am very excited to ride it

With the tiger at Conservation Station, Animal Kingdom

In front of the castle

Trying out some binoculars at AK with my sister Anna, his step-mom aka "mommynani"

 

[Kazooie01]

How about another party?!?!?!?! I just got a $100 credit on my returning flight!!!!!!!! The price went from $109 to $84!!!

Good news!

 

[Monny2AE]

Congrats on the flight discount Shelly!!!!

OH my! That's horrible! I'm sure everything will be ok though! I've done the postcard thing before, and I've just rented a dvc off the disboards, which involves lots of money being sent over the internet, and it both cases everything was fine!
It's so sad how careful and guarded we have to be these days.

I'm sure it will be fine too. Besides the fact that there's nothing really good to take from my house anyway!

I know everyone is partying today and I'm really not trying to be a grump but....

I just read yet another thread about how run down the ASMo resort is and I'm really getting concerned. I don't get bothered by the bed bugs comments- that could happen anywhere. I'm reading such terrible things about the cleanliness and service and how the rooms are just dirty and in serious need of a refurbishment. We've only ever stayed at CBR before (and loved it!). We really don't have it in our budget to upgrade to CBR this time but I'm starting to get concerned that terrible resort conditions may ruin our vacation. We really have to go cheap as possible this time or not at all. Plus I really love the theming of ASMo- it's perfect for my kids. I'll just cross my fingers that Disney is reading all these reviews and cleans it up before I get there! Ugh! I just don't know what to do.

 

[trixiequilts]

How about another party?!?!?!?! I just got a $100 credit on my returning flight!!!!!!!! The price went from $109 to $84!!!

Woo-hoo! $100 Savings!

 

[trixiequilts]

I just read yet another thread about how run down the ASMo resort is and I'm really getting concerned. I don't get bothered by the bed bugs comments- that could happen anywhere. I'm reading such terrible things about the cleanliness and service and how the rooms are just dirty and in serious need of a refurbishment. We've only ever stayed at CBR before (and loved it!). We really don't have it in our budget to upgrade to CBR this time but I'm starting to get concerned that terrible resort conditions may ruin our vacation. We really have to go cheap as possible this time or not at all. Plus I really love the theming of ASMo- it's perfect for my kids. I'll just cross my fingers that Disney is reading all these reviews and cleans it up before I get there! Ugh! I just don't know what to do.

Just remember to take everything you read with a grain of salt. People always feel better if they're complaining about something. You'll probably find more happy people than ones that were upset. It's only the upset ones that post!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Congrats on the flight discount Shelly!!!!



I'm sure it will be fine too. Besides the fact that there's nothing really good to take from my house anyway!

I know everyone is partying today and I'm really not trying to be a grump but....

I just read yet another thread about how run down the ASMo resort is and I'm really getting concerned. I don't get bothered by the bed bugs comments- that could happen anywhere. I'm reading such terrible things about the cleanliness and service and how the rooms are just dirty and in serious need of a refurbishment. We've only ever stayed at CBR before (and loved it!). We really don't have it in our budget to upgrade to CBR this time but I'm starting to get concerned that terrible resort conditions may ruin our vacation. We really have to go cheap as possible this time or not at all. Plus I really love the theming of ASMo- it's perfect for my kids. I'll just cross my fingers that Disney is reading all these reviews and cleans it up before I get there! Ugh! I just don't know what to do.

Try not to get too discouraged about what you read on these boards. We've never stayed at ASMo so I can't comment on the rooms, but we visited the resort in May and it was great! The pools and grounds looked nice and clean as well as the food court. You will find good and bad threads about every Disney resort. From what I read about the last resort we stayed at I thought it was going to be wonderful. We were very disappointed. So you just never know. It can go either way.

Hey - Maybe they will come out with some awesome codes for January and you will be able to go to CBR for the price of a value!

 

[trixiequilts]

Hi Shelly!

 

[kaos928]

I've stayed there a few times and at the Music a ton of times with out any problems. Once as CS the maid left our door propped open, no one stole anything and they gave us a bunch of free stuff Gotta run to class going hiking in the woods for Ecology and its nice and muddy out, too

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hey Trixie!

 

[Pinkdiamond816]

Ugh! I just don't know what to do.

Just don't stress! I'm sure it will be fine and your family will have a great time! I know I've stayed in some bad hotels before, and they just become part of the story of our vacation. Besides even the worst conditions of a Disney hotel will be better that some of the ok conditions at many motels!

 

[trixiequilts]

Shelly (and everyone else )--have you taken pics with princesses before?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Shelly (and everyone else )--have you taken pics with princesses before?

Nope, never. The boys aren't interested. Too bad they don't know that we are having dinner at 1900 Park Fare on our first night!!!

 

[Pinkdiamond816]

Shelly (and everyone else )--have you taken pics with princesses before?

Yup
I've been to both Princess meals (only once with a little girl!), at the PPparty I made it a point to see all the princesses, and whenever I come across one with a short line in WS I stop for a pic!

 

[trixiequilts]

Yup
I've been to both Princess meals (only once with a little girl!), at the PPparty I made it a point to see all the princesses, and whenever I come across one with a short line in WS I stop for a pic!

Did you feel like you looked really bad in the pics with them? I saw my DSisIL (who is very pretty) in a pic with Cinderella and even DSisIL looked bad. I don't know what I'll do...

 

[Kazooie01]

I know everyone is partying today and I'm really not trying to be a grump but....

I just read yet another thread about how run down the ASMo resort is and I'm really getting concerned. I don't get bothered by the bed bugs comments- that could happen anywhere. I'm reading such terrible things about the cleanliness and service and how the rooms are just dirty and in serious need of a refurbishment. We've only ever stayed at CBR before (and loved it!). We really don't have it in our budget to upgrade to CBR this time but I'm starting to get concerned that terrible resort conditions may ruin our vacation. We really have to go cheap as possible this time or not at all. Plus I really love the theming of ASMo- it's perfect for my kids. I'll just cross my fingers that Disney is reading all these reviews and cleans it up before I get there! Ugh! I just don't know what to do.

We stay at All-Star Movies almost every visit. Just remember for every one or two bad reviews you hear, there are literally thousands of good reviews you don't. I'm sure the resort has a few rooms with issues (it's seems like it would be very hard to keep every single room perfect with the number of people that move through them) but fingers crossed you'll have a good experience. If you do have a problem, bring it to a CM's attention. We luckily haven't had an issue at WDW that once brought to the attention of the right person, wasn't taken care of. You are right on with the theme, your children should love it. That resort screams Disney! Our Children won't let us stay anywhere else!

 

[BellaSoleil]

I took a picture with Snow White on our Honeymoon.... DH insisted (I think she's his favorite .) I turned my nose up to the other Princesses, though. I was still bitter from the "small eyes" remark.

This trip I am planning on taking a picture with Cinderella and any other Princess that crosses my path. Hooray!!!!

 

[BellaSoleil]

Monny-

Please don't listen to what everyone else says. People can be such terrible critics on these type of boards. As an ex-Disney employee I can assure you that Disney wouldn't let anything get "run down" looking. It might not be as crisp and clean as the GF or AK Lodge, but it will be clean, comfortable and presentable. If it is not, speak with management and they will help you find something else.

 

[coffeehousemom]

I wouldn't worry too much about ASMo. We stayed there last Jan & thought it was great. The room was clean & ready for us to check in at 9am. We only had the mickey head on our bed the one time & no towel animals but it was fine. I think alot of people set their expectations up way too high & then get let down real easy. I look at it this way I'M ON VACATION at DISNEY!!! As long as the rooms are clean I'm thrilled. Besides it's not like you will be in the room for 15 hours a day. Just to sleep hm kinda hard to look at faded bedcovers thru closed eyelids.