June, July, August PLANNING thread

[EEyorelover22]

Hi Ladies!! You both are so close now. It's hard to believe Tomar has been gone for almost 2 weeks already! I've been so busy that the weeks have just flown by. Between school stuff, camps, practice, etc. I'm not sure where it went.

I'm so excited for you both!!

I wouldn't do the BBQ for that price either TP2. My friend that did it loves it, but it's just her and her hubby. They leave tomorrow and they are doing the BBQ next Thursday. I saw her Wed and she gave me all her plans.

MKY: She also does the Trails End at FW and likes that too.

We were going to try some new places, but now since it will have been longer since we were there we have to hit our old stand bys. Donald's will be different though at AK. DS loved Donald's. I hope the new place meets his expectations! I also figure DH and I can try places for the next 50 years too

I was out at work last night. Even though it cooled off outside, it was still blazing hot in my room now so many places have air, I am one of the few rooms that doesn't have air and even with the 1% sales tax for schools they say they will not air my room I did get a ton done. Now I just have to take my pictures and posters out to my room and hang those and I'll be good to go It's suppose to be hot all weekend so I'll probably hit it early on Sat morning and get it over with.

I took DS to get his school permit yesterday he can't get his regular one till the 17th on his birthday and he really has no good way to get to football when I go back to work on the 14th. Practice starts at 4 and I get off work at 3:30 so we went and bought one. It will be scary for him to drive alone A friend of mine said she had a very difficult time when her oldest started to drive...it's a whole new feeling of not knowing where they are every minute of every day.

MKY: you should give me your vitals for watching for ap codes when you leave.

 

[EEyorelover22]

TP2, good plan to start ironing early. I still have to switch all my summer stuff from the winter stuff. Then, I can start washing it and ironing. So far, I have the same new (2) shorts that i have been wearing with a few t-shirts I did pull out, since may.

We leave on the wed. the 15th! Limo due at 12 noon. With the construction here we are going to ohare, about 5 hours early.
mky

Good plan on leaving early. That was nasty when we were there.

 

[tripplanner2]

MKY: Did you see that ticket prices are going up on Sunday? I will assume that you have annual passes so it won't affect you. I need to upgrade 2 of the kids tickets to 4 day passes. We already have one day tickets from last year so we just need to upgrade. I wonder if I can do it at the Disney Store. EE22, do you have any idea about that? Not sure if they have a way to upgrade tickets, probably can only issue new ones. I guess in the end it really won't be that much of a difference being that I will get a credit of the higher ticket price too.

EE22: I have also been so busy. Last weekend was my 20 year high school reunion, this weekend is my sisters engagement party, my girlfriend that moved out of state is visiting so her family (with 4 kids under 7) are coming over on Sunday. I am so thrilled to see her though. Then next weekend we are having a house full of company. I told DH, that is it. Once I get through the 11th, I don't want any other plans other than packing and getting ready for the trip. I still have not gotten our school supply list so I am starting to panic. I went up to the school today but they already left for the weekend by the time I made it there. Last year I waited until after our trip and I ran around like crazy for an entire week trying to find the supplies I needed. I wound up calling Elmers Glue because I couldn't find the size that was requested from the teacher. It was nuts because everything was sold out.

I can't believe that Tomar has been gone for 2 weeks already. Time really does fly by. When is she returning? I bet some time soon. I am so looking forward to going this year with just the 5 of us. It is really hard to go with others that live differently than you do. It will be nice to just go and do what we want and not have to worry if everyone is happy with what we are doing.

MKY: How is that foot doing? I hope it is getting lots of rest. You leave in 11 days! Woo Hoo!!!

 

[EEyorelover22]

TP2: I don't know if they can upgrade them at the store. It would be worth a call though that's for sure. I'm sure someone on the theme park board would know too if you started a new thread over there.

Thanks for the heads up!! I'm buying mine TODAY!!! I don't need the expense, but I'm gonna jump! I need one annual pass and I've thought about one for DH for the future since they are good "forever".

I'm going to buy the 7 day hopper with options for the boys for this trip and a 7 day hopper for Amanda and I know that the boys would get the additional options, but they would never use them and their ticket is going up $20. Might as well save $40 since I know we're going.

Tomar comes home on the 7th.

Iowa has their school supplies lists at the stores. Benefit of living in the corn I guess. There is an entire display with all the lists from the area schools which is pretty neat. Walmart and Target always have them. I hope you can get one Monday. Let me know if I can help...I could always ship you something!

 

[EEyorelover22]

MKY...the car rental expert

What is a good price for a mid size car for a week?
I think we had mid size...with 4 of us and luggage.

When I book plane tickets I can book Alamo at the same time and I wondered what a decent price would be. I've only rented at Christmas and that's not a normal time.

I wonder if I should tie it to my tickets though as I probably can't change the fare if I get something better.

 

[EEyorelover22]

TP2: I found this....

Upgrades may be performed only at Walt Disney World. In rare instances, tickets may be mailed from home with payment after arrangements were made over the phone, but they must arrive within 14 days from first usage.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Hiya everyone!

Yes, I think your right ee22, you can only upgrade at a guest services window from one of the parks. You cannot even do it at the resort. Also TP2, when ak opened I had to upgrade our tix's cause they where for "3" parks hopper and did have to pay extra to add the 4th park. They said you can still use that tix at the other parks but not ak. So it was not an automatic upgrade, definately paid extra.

Car prices: I try to do as best I can, but like to stay with national, due to convince and they are really extrememly easy. They also do not do the hard sell insurance. The cheapest, I think in the last 5 years, I saw was about 130.00 a week for midsize. right now, i am about 178.00 / wk. which is still better than i am pulling up now. I would not go much above 200.00 / 250 or you should be getting a convertible / cadillac. It pays to reserve early. I get an guess at what times, we might book to fly, then reserve when the price comes down. You can always cancel or rebook, if it gets cheaper.

I hope tomar, got some good weather. Looks like it is still raining there. I hope it quits, it will not be pretty having a large garbage bag on this boot. You guys are soooooooooo right, I will need an ECV for the 3 parks and probably a wc for mk. I could barely make it through walmart last nite, but I am trying to work on my stamia. TP2, I might be too embarrassed to meet up with you guys. Guess I am feeling my age. today is: #48. Yikees Well, I found my black mickey sandals / slip on's I bought 2 years ago at the poly. They are about 2 1/2" wedges so on the left foot / it will even me up with the boot. And it matches black. At least I am not waddling back & forth. I am calling it march of the penguines.

I have so much to do, I guess I better start. sis did all the and now i need to iron off and on. i like to do everything once, and touch up there if needed. But watching I love lucy on tvland, and playing cribbage on pogo is probably not gonna get us ready.

Have a great weekend! mky

 

[EEyorelover22]

I'm not far behind you at 43 this year coming up in November.
We are young at heart though.

I bet you look fab with your sandals and boot

I bought my annual passes through Member Services. Save some bucks. Now I need to call and get MYW tickets too. At least it will be paid for


Best News. I'm done with my room!!!
I even got the other department filing cabinets organized too!! Now I don't have to go back till the first day.

 

[EEyorelover22]

MKY: I must be too far out. I'm getting $320 with my NEA discount and a week in Feb with the same discount is $174. That sounds like a good price. I hope I can get it in June.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Thanks EE22! I still would prefer to be on that side of 45. OH well, can't stop time. Had a great b-day with the family. Lots of rain here today too. Looks like all week.

Have a great weekend. mky

 

[EEyorelover22]

Glad you had a good bday. They are sort of uneventful now usually for me but, uneventful is good

TP2 saved me some bucks today that's for sure.

If you wouldn't have posted that I would have never known about it since I've been so busy today.

It will be less painful when I have to buy airfare in the future since the tickets are already paid for now

Now I'll just have to start stashing cash for food as soon as the August bills roll out. August is so expensive for us

 

[EEyorelover22]

TP2: I am confusing myself over tickets like you did.

Had a thought about the non-expiration....

I assume that with the options if you buy non-expiration tickets the options would not expire either?

If so, there is another way to look at the options. New prices.

7 day park hopper with 7 options = 334
7 day park hopper with 7 options no expiriation = 435

So for $98 (the difference) a person could use the water park 7 times...$14 per day. If you only go to the water park 1 day per trip which is what we usually do, we would have that non-expiration ticket for 6 more trips. Then I'd only have to buy a hopper ticket.

I already bought our tickets for 2008, but I should play with them a bit and see. It's difficult to judge with the guys since they go to DQ a lot and I couldn't predict what would be left. But, DD is a different story. I only got her a park hopper with no options. I should figure this out before next August when they go up again I'm sure. It's so confusing. But, that's because I'm trying to save money

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Glad you guys got all that tix info, in case someday i need it. I am utterly lost when it comes to them. I even have trouble with the tix from universal.

Did they raise all tix prices? including ap's? I think they went up last winter? They usually don't do them all at once.

Tommorrow SINGLE digits!

 

[EEyorelover22]

I knew when you went to single digits, I'd be weeping!!! I cannot believe summer is GONE!! Tomorrow I register both kids for high school...now that's creepy

I think all the tix went up. The money I saved on tickets went to buy DS a graphing calculator for $100 good grief!!

I really need to do some more thinking on the tickets and the non expiration. It's hard to know if it's worth it till after you see what's left before you leave. I wonder if you can add on the non expiration feature after you have used it? I think it's based on the original ticket price though.

The 2008 room rates are out and the new dining plan too. No "appy" and no tip included anymore.

Also, there are more rumors of CRV too

I make my dining ressies on Christmas Eve...that is too cool

 

[tripplanner2]

Hey EE22 and MKY: Just caught myself up from the weekend.

MKY:

EE22: Thank you so much for the offer of shipping supplies. That is so nice. I am going to the school early tomorrow to see if I can get my hands on something. I did see a list at Target but it was a generic list by grade and each TEACHER in our school requires different supplies. I can't believe you go back so soon. I am getting anxious too. I did start ironing Friday night. I caught up on all the clean stuff so now I just need to catch up with the dirty stuff.

So glad you saved money by getting your tickets yesterday. It makes me feel better. I called and I cannot upgrade until we get there. I have to go to guest services at a park in order to get the upgrades. I am thinking of going to dinner at Beaches and Cream on our arrival night. I figure MGM is the closest park other than Epcot but I am unsure if guest services is available at the International Gateway entrance.

MKY: I had my 20 year high school reunion last weekend. That made me feel old. I understand your pain. It would be so wild if I ran into you and recognized you with the boot on and all. I would still love to meet you in person. I feel like I know all of you already.

Well, I am exhausted. We have been so busy. I am a little relieved that the weekend it over. Can't wait to get some sleep.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I was serious about finding stuff if you can't. I remember what a nightmare that was. I hope you can get a list tomorrow. Let me know if I can help...by the time you start our supplies are restocked.

The "each teacher requests specific items" is not allowed here in our district anymore. It was getting ridiculous with what they wanted.

I don't know if you can upgrade at the International Gateway or not. Someone on dis should know if you were to ask. Sorry you couldn't upgrade early. I read that many who wanted to renew their annual passes outside the 30 day mark couldn't either which is a bummer too.

I had it all figured out what tickets to get here on a post it so I knew what I wanted, but then I confused myself when I tried to get the best savings possible. Oh well...I did the best that I knew at the time. I remember us talking about the non expiration feature before and I didn't get it then. It makes sense with the options though that's for sure. I never looked at the difference in price for the non-exip divided by what's left. However, like I said, I can't predict how many times the boys will go to Quest and the waterparks. I liked having the ap last year and I didn't have to mess with the MYW tickets. I've been busy today with final errands and organzing stuff so I haven't gotten back to it yet. I have 10 months to work it out

I'll probably leave well enough alone this time as I'd get hit for the price increase if I added anything to the tickets...The Mouse always gets his Buck.

Reunions...last summer was my 20th COLLEGE reunion they don't have them, but YIKES!!!

It's very hot and humid here. Very nasty. I opend the door and thought I was in AK!!!

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Hiya everyone!

EE22, those are some interesting changes to the dining plan. We have never taken it. But have been there for the "free" dining twice now, and wow seems like alot of food. I was really impressed with a large family at primetime 50's "we want to use 2 appetizers, 4 dinner, and 2 dessert credits"....... I would be soooooooooo lost. The credit union tried to get me to take the american express "travel check card" instead of the individual checks, told them I would have no idea on my budgeting of money, and what was left. I need to see it in front of me. I would probably come home and missed half our food credits.

TP2, You are too sweet! You better run right up to us, if you see me in my ECV, and boot. I would think we should be easy to pick out. Actually, in the last 2 years, I talk with you guys everyday or 2 and my friends here, maybe every 2 weeks, or once a month sometimes? It is really nice, to share our disney mania with others who "get it". I am so tired of explaining "why" any single woman (my age) {let alone one who works with kids everyday} would go to disney every vacation. I will be pm'ing our daily plans, just need to know your park dates too.

wow, 2 hrs and 10 more minutes > to SINGLE digits!
mky

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Yes, you can definately upgrade tix at the international gateway (been there done that). Or at any park guest service / tix window, or TTC.

Inside info: Shhhhhhhhhh,
If you wanted to "extend" tix We once > had ap's and wanted to renew early > but was too early > So we Upgraded our tix > which then became Preminum ap's > with a new renewel date. Just paid the difference and they change to "new" tix and had a new date on them for the year. Also getting the cheaper price before the tix price changed later that week. We just happened to be there during the announcement.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I don't think I could handle the DP either...for sure DH couldn't. Good Grief.

Besides you guys on this thread I have only told one person in my family that we bought DVC and that is my step mom. She has gone to HH with my cousin and said how wonderful it is. She's very excited for us. Others would just wonder what set of stairs I fell down to make me have to go to Disney for the next 50 years. I loved seeing the two little old ladies at MGM at Christmas so there are others out there that are much older than you MKY!

MKY you should pm me your phone # and dates you'll be gone. I looked in my old messages and I must have had to clean out my box.

I was putting stuff from our December trip away and found the maps you send me I started to panic over the whole driving thing again. Then I remembered we just followed the signs...except for the 6 lanes of traffic we flew across at the MK booths we did good

DD has 4 tubes of quarters and pennies ready to go and we went through her books of the ones she has with the check list. What a scam!!

I'm so excited for you guys. REST UP for the MOUSE!!

When you guys get back I will be in the single digits for months!!

 

[EEyorelover22]

Yes, you can definately upgrade tix at the international gateway (been there done that). Or at any park guest service / tix window, or TTC.

Inside info: Shhhhhhhhhh,
If you wanted to "extend" tix We once > had ap's and wanted to renew early > but was too early > So we Upgraded our tix > which then became Preminum ap's > with a new renewel date. Just paid the difference and they change to "new" tix and had a new date on them for the year. Also getting the cheaper price before the tix price changed later that week. We just happened to be there during the announcement.

You are so smart MKY

I'd do Beaches and Cream and then go to the International Gateway.
I love that place!!