June, July, August PLANNING thread

[candizfan]

Hey ladies!

Well I finally have hot water in the house again. I have been without a water heater since Saturday!

I decided to install a tankless hot water heater instead of a standard tank. There is a rebate program on and that will help a bit, but what a big investment.

I will have to see what happens with the gas bills now.

It is pretty cool! It is a box that mounts on the wall instead of a big tank. Other than a huge mess to clean up (dust and grung everywhere) it looks really neat. They had to install new hot and cold water pipes, new venting and gas lines as well as patch the brick the old vent went through. Then they had to move the outlet for the dryer as well.

They were here all day. But I have hot water now!

 

[tripplanner2]

Candi: Sorry about that. We are also doing work on the house. Not selling so dump more into this one. We are changing the kids playroom into a master bedroom. Sounds simple but it is leading into a ton of different things. Isn't that always the way!

Hope everyone is enjoying their time in the World! 32 more days for us, if I survive until then. The house thing is going to finally kill me, you will all see.

 

[Minnie]

Okay this is funny ladies.... we are all in the middle of working on our homes. Right now it's the bathroom - imagine no light - late night run -

Anyways.... I need to get on the stick and book some ADRs - I think I'll try the online system this evening and see what's available. I want to plan a relaxing trip - other than DS's big day

 

[candizfan]

Minnie - I hear the online booking is easy but unfortunately for me, DVC reservations numbers are not recognized. They will need to get that corrected.

I set up my counter and it is 239 days until our next trip.

They say that home renovations increase when times are tough. I am grateful we don't have a lot of debt because we are going to accumulate some doing what we want to do.

I hope the rest of the gang is having a great time at the world. I keep sending good thought that no one gets really sick this trip.

 

[tripplanner2]

Well, we just got the mail and the Fairy Godmother mailed my girls a postcard from Disney World! How exciting is that!!!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their trips.

Candi and Minnie: You guys are hanging back with me! Candi: At least you have a future trip to plan. I am fine as long as there is a trip somewhere in the horizon. It is when there are no plans for a future trip that I am sad.

 

[candizfan]

Well, we just got the mail and the Fairy Godmother mailed my girls a postcard from Disney World! How exciting is that!!!!!

Mail from the Fairy Godmother! How great! She really is a remarkable women isn't she.

I am starting to price flights for next March. I would love to hold out and try Southwest airlines again, but I hate having to wait a couple more months to do that. I would really like to have them bought and paid from sooner. But I am leaning toward them because the baggage fees drive me crazy! (this face looks more crazy to me that scared)

I have a feeling I will cave and just book NWA like I usually do.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Hiya everyone,

Well that week went sooooooooo quickly. Reminded me of why I quit going in July. Heat, Humidity, Crowds, Heat, Mosquito's, Heat, Large tour groups, did I say heat?

It was soooooooooooo great and special actually meeting Tomar [and mr. tomar], and EE22, Donald 11, and the boys. What a great nite. The wishes cruise turned out wonderful. We had the best weather of the week that nite. Definately the high light of our trip.

We found it was better to take it slow and easy on this trip. Since, any other plans involved too much heat and crowds. It was a joy to get away. Needed that break, badly.

The Polynesian was nice. We didn't get the view I wanted. But our room, was surprisingly quiet. [especially at poly > usually very noisy]. We had a view of a garden, and palm trees. Pretty, but not the pool view i wanted. Southwest, was easy and efficent. Got our return seats at mk. Timing is everything, and had to work at that. They didn't want to even start to pull up southwest, till after the time. I said we are within 5 minutes...... . > She explained, cannot tie up computer or 5 minutes.... I said how long does it take you to pull it up? Not long...., I said lets see? It took 2 minutes to pull up, so I said now its 3 minutes and you can't wait 3 minutes talking to us as guest? There was 1 person in line, and 6 other cm's working. We finally got to do it & got A's so it was ok. National was great. We got a VW jetta. Similiar to my bug, so it was ok. Love national.

We also came home to construction. They tore down the "little barn" in back yard and are building another, little house. Dad's favorite contractor is here. Hopefully, this building will last better than the last. He is building it himself [and dad is annoying him]. Suppose to match our house when they are done.

Tomar, hope your having a great time.

EE22, hope your feeling better. Get some rest and push fluids. Great pictures!

TP2 Your under 30 days now! Good luck with the house. Sorry things didn't work out.

Minnie, hope the adr's work out well. Good luck.

Candi, Congratulations on planning another trip. March is crowded, but much easier without the heat.

The bounceback, was a problem. Hardly, anything was "available". Settled on returning to Polynesian in GV. It was reasonable, 30% off in high season. So not too terrible. I really wanted CR or mkv, but wdw seems to be out pricing somethings.

Oh well, bring on my October planning! mky

 

[Minnie]

MKY - Welcome home I saw your post on the National thread - we booked National for our August trip. The price Would you mind sharing what you used to get a good price? Thanks!

I've just returned from a weekend with the ladies from work. It was nice to get away

We are still working on booking our ADRs. Unfortunately not suprised to find that some of our faves are already booked. I'll just keep checking until the day of our trip I keep reminding myself - relaxing trip - relaxing trip - so if the times don't work pick something else. Tough one for me but I'm working on it

 

[candizfan]

Welcome back MKY - the week really did fly by!

Sounds like you had a good time. July is hot but I like it since we use the pools and water parks so much.

March will be fun. I am looking forward to it.

We are also trying to plan a trip for July to Vail again next year. We are having trouble finding availability for the time shares we want so might make Denver the destination and do a few days in a hotel in Vail or Glenwood Springs.

Either way will be fun because we will be able to spend time with our friends from Denver.

Better run...

 

[EEyorelover22]

Hi all, I guess I am sicker than I thought...I did do a post, but I don't know where it wentI guess I didn't hit post. I'm not sure when I did it...maybe Sat afternoon. I guess I should rest more.

I am feeling better today, but this is not fun. For those not knowing...I have walking pneumonia. I've been pretty sick till today. I think I'm getting better...my headache tonight isn't pounding nearly as much...but each night it comes later so I am not sure I'm out of the woods yet.

Candi and Minnie if you want to see our pics, send me a pm.

MKY: I wrote a big long post about akv I think I've lost it completely. I guess I didn't hit submit when I was done. I talked about the sunrise safari through CL. You and Bug might like it and then stay there on slower days or AK days. I went on and on....

The meet was great. We all had a wonderful time. Wishes was magical and DS and Dh's first time seeing it. Thank you very muchit will always be a special memory.

How is Bug's eye?

TP2 and Minnie...hope you are packing.

I go back to work in less than a month

 

[EEyorelover22]

MKY - Welcome home I saw your post on the National thread - we booked National for our August trip. The price Would you mind sharing what you used to get a good price? Thanks!

I've just returned from a weekend with the ladies from work. It was nice to get away

We are still working on booking our ADRs. Unfortunately not suprised to find that some of our faves are already booked. I'll just keep checking until the day of our trip I keep reminding myself - relaxing trip - relaxing trip - so if the times don't work pick something else. Tough one for me but I'm working on it

Car rentals are out of sight right now! I booked mine last Dec otherwise it would have been nearly $500

 

[tripplanner2]

EE22: Your counter should say for your third trip home. You have second!

Glad you are feeling better. Everyday a bit better.

MKY: Welcome home! Sorry it went fast but at least you got a bit of a break. I heard wonderful things about the meet. I wish I was there but the flight was way too expensive. Just think, you will be back in October!

Candi: Denver sounds nice.

Minnie: Car rentals are through the roof. I think we are better off cabbing it on the occasion that the buses will take too long.

I am planning the same thing. A relazing trip. Even if we get to the parks at 4:00pm.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. 29 more days for us!

 

[candizfan]

EE22 - Welcome home. Did you get sick on the trip or was this left over from before you left? I hope you still had a good time.

What happened to Bug's eye?

TP2 - I love Denver. This will be our third trip with the kids. I worked out of our head office in Denver in 2005. I left every Monday and flew home on Friday for a couple of months. I fell in love with the city. I was lucky to have friends there or it would have been harder being away from home.

We are going to take the kids to Toronto for a couple of days but that is easy planning since it is only a 4 hour drive from here. I have a week of vacation booked and we will spend 3-4 days of it in Toronto.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Hi Candi, guess you didn't see I posted before we left. Vader got excited playing and put up his paw to quick. He scratched her cornea. Since she is allergic to antibiotics, md said just to use compresses. She did & its better. Just a little sore, last week.

TP2, funny about the cab. Our last day, we rented a boat on seven seas lagoon. It would not start > so they upgraded us from the whaler to a pontoon. [should of tipped us off to a problem] We get in all is fine, head for bay lake. Its only a little cloudy at this point. We get over the water bridge & it starts sprinkling. By time bug drives us to the wl boat landing it is pouring rain. Boat patrol pulls up and says go back. We go around the little island and head back towards the water bridge. We go another 20 feet. And now it is a torrential storm. Thunder, lightening and side ways rain. Boat patrol finds us again and says "your not going to make it, go to cr now" So we follow them there and pull in. We are drowned rats by now. So they say we have to wait till it clears. It starts clearing about 15 minutes and they say another front is moving in. You can wait or return to Poly on monorail. I said to bug, can we take a cab to poly? She made us get on the monorail. I left a puddle where we where standing & getting stared at. Flip flops, coverup and b. suit. That was our last big adventure of the trip.

mky

 

[mkymouse4ever]

minnie, I sent you a pm.

mky

 

[tripplanner2]

MKY: That is very funny.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Candi...got sick on the trip on Sat. I still had a good time.

I think I fade in and out of knowing what I am doing here...not good.

mky: funny story!!

Minnie...will send pics tomorrow....I'm not sure I can handle the task right now.

TP2: I didn't change my counter...it flipped to next year on it's own. Well, at least I don't think I changed my counter....

maybe I dreamt my post during my fever fits

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Good morning everyone!

I was supposed to work today, but cancelled on call. Guess its quiet there too.

Having trouble putting somethings back from our trip. Guess, that means I didn't want to come home. We worked on our, adr's for october last nite. Has anyone tried Paradiso 37? or is it not open yet? How about "the new" Italy? Seems very pricey but the menu is interesting. I still have to call about the tea's, apparently you can't make them on the internet dining thing.
Any other adr's that you guys want to suggest?

In October, we will be there during food and wine festival. We are not drinkers, but epcot seemed party central last time we went to that. They where supposed to be better organized last year, so hopefully it will be nice.

TP2, & minnie How many more days???????????

Happy tuesday, mky

 

[EEyorelover22]

mky: do you have your room worked out?

I wish I had not lost that post about AKV. I recommended Jambo if you ever stay there since it's hotel and DVC. Kidani is all DVC. The 1br at Jambo only are missing the extra bath if you stayed in a villa too. I could help with room location.

We did the sunrise safari through CL which we all loved! it's only certain days of the week. You leave early in the morning, but they take you back stage where the animal houses are and then slowly through the safari trail at AK. The evening one with dinner at Jiko is nice too. I think that one is CL at any resort to book. The morning one is only for CL guests at AKL I believe.

The breakfast on the sunrise safari after the trip through the safari is THE BEST breakfast I have ever had anywhere. It's in a room in the Tusker House.

CL at AKL is amazing. We worked it out that at the end of one of our trips I booked CL for the last day even with an ap rate and I checked out and checked in the last morning just for the safari. We stayed in our room since it was sav. view. CL can be sav view or poolview which I find lame, but it is what it is. We were close to the lobby on that trip so going up with the key to 6th floor was easy. It's only certain days so I planned around it and it worked like a charm. I remember the day I booked the room and the safari...we were in the middle of a non planned fire drill at school and I got into "trouble" as I was on my cell hiding in my room

We talked about it being "far out". We don't think so, but you and Bug are use to being at the Poly and CR which are closer. I recommended down days for staying there or your AK day.

Kidani doesn't have a counter service and the giftshop is small. The lobby took me back as it's so much smaller than Jambo. Still beautiful though.

So...if you ever decide to stay there let me know.

Don't know about those two places. We loved the tea and I'm so glad that DL11 and I went

Question: My chest hurts more now...wonder if it could just be sore from all the coughing. You saw/heard my cough...it got worse before we left of course.

TP2 & Minnie...clock is ticking.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

Hiya ee22

Before we left, I talked to bounceback people a few times. I finally "settled" on the Poly GV for our october trip. The price was actually $3000.00 less than the CR mkv tower / with AAA rate. So, I had to take it. I am still holding on to it, for a ap rate. Doubt it will be "included" but worth the try. Then will see what the cost is and which one I keep. I checked our historical ap rates, and looks like oct. usually comes out in august about the 15th. So that is just a couple more weeks. With the economy and increase in discounts hopefully, it will be sooner.

We have been interested in akl. But, the savanna is comparable with poly / cr prices so have always veto'd it for them. The safari sounds wonderful thou. So glad you got to try it.

We are planning on trying jiko, this trip. Bug, isn't interested in boma at all. We are planning one donald's breakfast in tusker house. I am also considering breakfast at 1900 park faire. There are so little choices for breakfast. I like to eat breakfast late and skip lunch. I can't believe we where at wdw, for a full week and never had an itadoozie or mickey bar. Oh well, something to look forward to. Actually, we didn't eat much > seemed to hot to want to.

mky