January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part V

[BellaSoleil]

Hmm. . . maybe they removed the frozen coke machine because they are going to change everything to Pepsi products!!!

Okay, probably not, but a girl can dream!

You are the cutest, Shelly!

From a Northerner from way back (now in the Boston area, so I can't say "Yankee" ): On the first road trip I took to the South, we stopped at a Chinese restaurant. Now, up here in New England and Mid Atlantic states, Chinese restaurants serve little pots of hot, black or green tea. So I asked for tea when the server asked me what I wanted to drink. Needless to say, I got a glass that was cold and SWEET!!! I'm an unsweetened iced tea girl myself (I save my calories for desserts! ); I didn't know you had to order "black tea" to get it unsweetened!

My mom and I do the same thing with calories. We are big water/unsweet tea drinkers. I allow myself a small cup of sweet tea on weekday mornings and on the weekends I have a big cup!

 

[trixiequilts]

Definitely add the Park Hopper option it's totally worth it if you finish a park early, but still want some park time.
Oh. I forgot to mention the buses (I don't know if you'll have a car). We had few bus troubles while we were there, except when it came to the Disney Studios buses. It seemed like we waited twice as long for those buses than any of the others. I think the reason behind it was that it stops at one of the water parks both ways. It's not that far out of the way, but it seemed to make our wait extra long just about every time we waited for the bus.
If you do have a car with you, then I'd totally recommend driving to the Studios. The other parks we only waited 15 minutes at most no matter what time of day we were trying to catch one.

We were at AKL from January 21 - 28...

the only two times we had any wait to speak of was going to MK.

And we never made any stops at the waterparks to or from DHS!

I thought the bus service for the most part was excellent.

 

[snykymom]

Definitely add the Park Hopper option it's totally worth it if you finish a park early, but still want some park time.

What's nice about the park hopper is that you can wait to add it until you need it. Guest Services at any part can add it for you. And then, if you decide you don't need it, you'll have saved the money!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

We're staying at Pop this trip and I'm pretty excited about it. However, I was informed over on the FAQ thread for Pop that they removed the frozen coke machine and put in an iced tea machine instead! I was really looking forward to those frozen cokes because I had never stayed there before. I'm pretty bummed.

WHAT?!?! OMGosh my son will be SO disappointed! That's the biggest reason he wanted to go back. He chose Frozen Cokes over Pirate Waterslide.

This girl just wishes that Disney would offer Pepsi products instead of Coke. I need my Mtn.Dew to keep me going at Disney!!!!!

Now THAT would be the only good reason to switch. Pepsi is the sweet nectar... And I mean the real stuff, none of that diet crap!

 

[Monny2AE]

Another vote for Pepsi here too

As for sweet tea. I'm not a big fan of McDonald's version but LOVE the sweet tea from Chik Fil A

 

[BellaSoleil]

Another vote for Pepsi here too

As for sweet tea. I'm not a big fan of McDonald's version but LOVE the sweet tea from Chik Fil A

McDonalds is almost too sweet.

 

[Pluto_fan]

McDonalds is almost too sweet.

I have to agree..and I love sweet tea! I try to go half-and-half with their sweetened and unsweetened. But I'm usually sharing with the guys and they like it all sweet!

Good morning Snowbirds!
I've been following along, although not posting much...it's great to see our little group still chatting away! I'm enjoying hearing everyones plans for upcoming trips!

 

[danceintherain]

We were at AKL from January 21 - 28...

the only two times we had any wait to speak of was going to MK.

And we never made any stops at the waterparks to or from DHS!

I thought the bus service for the most part was excellent.

Interesting...I agree that the bus service was excellent overall as well. I have nothing to compare it to though.

What's nice about the park hopper is that you can wait to add it until you need it. Guest Services at any part can add it for you. And then, if you decide you don't need it, you'll have saved the money!

I completely forgot about that...but I think with the Military Salute tickets you have to add everything when you buy the tickets. You also have to buy all 5 discounted tickets at the same time.

 

[Monny2AE]

As far as the All Stars resorts was the bus concern the only complaint people had about staying there. We're probably staying ASMo next time and we usually drive to everywhere (except MK) so I'm not too worried about the buses. Any other concerns?

 

[drakes]

As far as the All Stars resorts was the bus concern the only complaint people had about staying there. We're probably staying ASMo next time and we usually drive to everywhere (except MK) so I'm not too worried about the buses. Any other concerns?

I have no concerns and would stay there again. We had our room in the Mighty Ducks section, which at first I was disappointed. However it ended up being the perfect location. The Fantasia pool was in refurb, we were right there for the Mighty Ducks pool. We had a ground floor room at the end by a starwell and heard little noise, in fact WL was noisier!

We could walk into ASMo or ASMu for food, shopping and bus stop. ASMu was probably closer. We swam at the ASMu guitar pool as the "fun playful pool" I loved the themeing and big icons of the Movies. We had planned to return to the Movies for our jan 2009 trip, but lucked out with the 3 for 4 deal and WL was more economical for us so we upgraded (after alot of drama).

The buses were not bad, I was expecting horrendous! Mind you it was Jan 2007 and the parks were not as busy as Jan 2009. The wait for busses was just as long there as it was for WL. We would board the bus at ASMu to ensure a seat and we always had a seat to the park. At the end of the day the busses were more packed and we did have to stand a couple of times after Wishes and Fantasmic. However Disney transport was great at calling in more busses when needed. As well they had chained off queuing lines for the bus. This helped with keeping order, our past trip at WL some people would just barge in front of you- no order!

We ate breakfast in the food court and got the simple platters, we also had the refillable mug, so breakfast was never over $5.00 (we were on regular dining plan that trip and our brekfast was our OOP meal).

My Mommy and Me trip will need to be value and I loved the Movies, but I also like to try something new, I feel like we spent so much time at Music that I stayed there as well, so I was considering POP- but I prefer the look of the AStars. DD is not into AS Sports. I also looked at POR and CBR. I can't decide, which I guess is not too bad and I have not officially booked anything.

I think we've set my mind on no to August due to heat and lines, although DD is not inot the big rides so lines won't be too much of an issue, the heat will be. I think i am again rethinking this!!! Perhaps all the rooms are booked for the deals that are out and that will settle it for me

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

for those of you planning on a Jan 2010 POP trip, can you tell me your reasons for choosing POP.

POP has never been on our list, I think it's the flashy colours that distracts me - but we have stayed at All Stars

We stayed at both All Stars Sports and Pop Century on our trip in January. I have no complaints of either one! AS Sports was always picked up and dropped off first for bussing and Pop doesn't share busses at all! The resorts are both HUGE! Rooms were fine. Definitely smaller than WL but clean and neat just fine for what we needed! The food courts at each were well laid out and easy to navigate! Like I said, no complaints, just TONNES of people and we found them to be a bit loud. We really enjoyed our time at WL and have decided that we prefer Mods or deluxes more than Values!

Well, I know my ticker says that I won't be returning to Disney for quite a while, BUT.... my DH has a huge Disney itch right now! This week we were giving serious consideration to doing free dining in August! Even though it would be a fantastic deal, we have decided that we will wait until the weather is a little more tolerable! Methinks that a January/February trip is possibly on the horizon! We are ALL feeling the need to return to our Happy place sooner than MArch 2011! The girls decided that if we did go that they both REALLY want to try POFQ! The serpent slide and the DTD boat has them hooked!

Hope everybody is having a good day! Hugs to All!

 

[BellaSoleil]

Okay, I just finished up the party in Belle's classroom. I bought all of the little girls mermaid crowns to wear. Of course, being the two year olds that they are, the little boys were very jealous and ending being the ones wearing the crowns. HILARIOUS!!!

It get's even better- Belle's best boy friend decided to steal the hair bow out of her hair and wear it, too. I took pictures. His ole' country boy daddy will be so proud!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We stayed at both All Stars Sports and Pop Century on our trip in January. I have no complaints of either one! AS Sports was always picked up and dropped off first for bussing and Pop doesn't share busses at all! The resorts are both HUGE! Rooms were fine. Definitely smaller than WL but clean and neat just fine for what we needed! The food courts at each were well laid out and easy to navigate! Like I said, no complaints, just TONNES of people and we found them to be a bit loud. We really enjoyed our time at WL and have decided that we prefer Mods or deluxes more than Values!

Well, I know my ticker says that I won't be returning to Disney for quite a while, BUT.... my DH has a huge Disney itch right now! This week we were giving serious consideration to doing free dining in August! Even though it would be a fantastic deal, we have decided that we will wait until the weather is a little more tolerable! Methinks that a January/February trip is possibly on the horizon! We are ALL feeling the need to return to our Happy place sooner than MArch 2011! The girls decided that if we did go that they both REALLY want to try POFQ! The serpent slide and the DTD boat has them hooked!

Hope everybody is having a good day! Hugs to All!

We were seriously considering going for free dining in August too. It is very tempting! But in the end we decided it was better to wait and be able to stay where we want (if we went in Aug we would have to do a value) and not be so hot & crowded - so January 2010 it is!!

 

[drakes]

We were seriously considering going for free dining in August too. It is very tempting! But in the end we decided it was better to wait and be able to stay where we want (if we went in Aug we would have to do a value) and not be so hot & crowded - so January 2010 it is!!

This is my reasoning as well. We may end up paying more in Jan, but we avoid the heat and crowds! Plus it's in my comfort zone for a Mommy & Me trip. I keep reading my planners to decide on resort!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

This is my reasoning as well. We may end up paying more in Jan, but we avoid the heat and crowds! Plus it's in my comfort zone for a Mommy & Me trip. I keep reading my planners to decide on resort!

Yes, we decided it was better to wait and go when we know we will be happy all around, rather than trying to squeeze a trip in there that we were unsure of anyway.

I know, deciding where to stay is so hard!!!

 

[snykymom]

Well, I just bought my Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets! Pricier than I wanted, but the AP discount did help some. Of course, now I have to get my mind around the concept of Halloween right after Labor Day! But as some of you may remember, my d really wanted to see the villains, and now she can!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

We were seriously considering going for free dining in August too. It is very tempting! But in the end we decided it was better to wait and be able to stay where we want (if we went in Aug we would have to do a value) and not be so hot & crowded - so January 2010 it is!!

That was the other factor that decided it for us too! My DH did not enjoy the values AT ALL! He is very wary of big crowds of people so the mobs at the values just turned him right off! He really wants to stay at the Contemporary but the girls and me want to try the POFQ! We'll see who wins!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey girls!! how is everyone? Bella, when is Belles bday? Was it today, or just the party? My hubby's is Sunday & my middle one is next Sunday. He was my Mother's Day Boy! Ha!

OT---I got an odd email today from a friend. It was from someone they knew that is a Dr. in the west part of Texas. Around San Antonio. Anyway, he says the media is really keeping a tighter lid on the swine flu than what is really happening to keep pandamonia from occuring. Seems all the ERs around there are already filling up---people sick and people thinking they are sick (with the flu). I was just curious what Andrea or any of our health care workers are hearing.

Here in Texas ALL public school upcoming events-such as UIL have all been cancelled. Track meets and races included, and schools are closing. Anyone else hearing weird reports?

 

[BellaSoleil]

Hey girls!! how is everyone? Bella, when is Belles bday? Was it today, or just the party? My hubby's is Sunday & my middle one is next Sunday. He was my Mother's Day Boy! Ha!

OT---I got an odd email today from a friend. It was from someone they knew that is a Dr. in the west part of Texas. Around San Antonio. Anyway, he says the media is really keeping a tighter lid on the swine flu than what is really happening to keep pandamonia from occuring. Seems all the ERs around there are already filling up---people sick and people thinking they are sick (with the flu). I was just curious what Andrea or any of our health care workers are hearing.

Here in Texas ALL public school upcoming events-such as UIL have all been cancelled. Track meets and races included, and schools are closing. Anyone else hearing weird reports?

G hasn't mentioned anything. He's been at the hospital all day and we've talked quite a bit.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

thanks girlie!!!!