Last minutes worries and other stuff

[snowman]

We leave 0630 Sunday morning for our long-awaited Walt Disney World vacation. It has been 4 1/2 years since our last trip. This is our first time in a deluxe (Look out Wilderness Lodge, the Maine-iacs will be there soon!).

We have Courtyard w/ Bunks booked (and free food, woohoo). I'm torn about room requests. We are just so excited just to be in a deluxe that I'm not sure we care about anything in particular, especially since the resorts are all non-smoking (used to request a smoking room for DSO).

How is the laundry room? Is it more crowded in the mornings or in the evenings? I'm thinking I'll do laundry after 9pm on the Wednesday of our trip. Does it close at some magic hour or is it open 24/7?

Does the Mercantile sell hats? I have a great bucket hat that DSO HATES . Well, I hate water on my glasses (if it rains), so I promised I'd only wear my old one if I can't get another one at our resort. Any idea if they carry hats, specifically bucket hats?

Will it be more effiecient to take a taxi to DisneyQuest for its opening time than trying to take the bus to DTD and then walking from Marketplace to Westside? I'm thinking it would be. Will the lobby concierge (guest services) call a cab for me if I ask?

Things were looking pretty good, only have to get thru today at work, most of the packing is done, one dog is going to the puppy spa tomorrow, the other is going to my sister tonite. Then we hit a problem. My sister had a seizure this morning (first in over a year). She will probably be home from the hospital later today after they get the results of bloodwork. This comes 10 days after Carl's grandfather (his dad's dad) died.

I'm sure we will forget something...but figure we will either live w/o it or buy it there (and pay twice as much )

Thanks for letting me vent my last minute craziness. I love you guys. If it wasn't for all the great info here I'd have no idea which end was up this trip. Since we started planning it last Christmas we have had 3 deaths in the family, Carl has advanced two ranks in Boy Scouts and my sister has had the one seizure. It has been a long year, but Disney has been the light at the end of the tunnel for all of us.

 

[spiceycat]

laundry room varies - hard to predict. when I was there it was 24 hours - but it has been a while.

make sure they give you a courtyard view over the main pool. you don't want the VWL pool courtyard view.

yes they sell hats!

I would take the bus and get off in Westside - pretty sure it is close to DQ.

sorry you had so much trouble this year!

have a great vacation!

 

[grimley1968]

Last time we were at WL 3 years ago I think the laundry room was 24/7. I know I was doing laundry from about 8 PM until about 11:30 PM one night.

Yes, cabbing is always more efficient than waiting on DtD buses. I would think the lobby concierge would call a cab for you.

I agree with above poster: if a true courtyard view is important, make sure to request a room overlooking the feature pool, geyser, etc. Don't worry about any previous requests you may have made. Those check in CM's seem to place a higher priority on requests made at check in time more than earlier requests made before arrival. It's a bird in the hand thing to them, I think. The fewer requests you make, though, the more likely they will be able to meet them.

I'm sorry about all the troubles you've had recently. Hopefully this little bit of magic will help.

 

[disneydreamer1970]

I have not stayed there but wanted to tell you from one "Maine-iac" to another, to have a wonderful vacation!!!

Trish

 

[snowman]

Thanks all for the good words and advice.

True courtyard view isn't important...we only have it because CY w/ Bunks came w/ free food. The bunks are nice, but I'm not as worried about the view. I'll let someone who cares about their view take their shot first.

DSO will be glad to know I won't be wearing what she dubs as "The Ugly Hat" all week.

And, my DSister is on her way home from the hospital, after only a few hours. She is running a fever which is probably what triggered her seizure. (She has trauma induced seizure disorder and is really sensitive to any change - illness, stress, etc). That's a relief for all of us, we almost lost her 10 months ago from a massive grand mal and 3 week coma.

Ya know - 8 years ago we went to Disney for my birthday and my mother had a heart attack 2 days before we left. This time its my sister having a seizure 2 days before our trip to celebrate my birthday.....apparently the idea of me not being home for my birthday is too much for them.

 

[Mayl]

WL is special place.. we went there for our honeymoon 12 years ago and loved it.. With two kids now though, we can not justify the cost vs going to a mod

But for hats, if you go to the Mad Hatter on Main St in MK they have great bucket hats. I keep my hair very short and love the that type of hate to keep the back of my neck from burning

We got one there in our april 07 trip

 

[Donald&Tinkerbell]

I lived up the coast from you in Winter Harbor for 2 years. Married a Maine guy. You might want to look at visors, keeps the water off your glasses and are much cooler. It is hot down here, we have cooled off to 92 today, but it is nothing like August in Maine. You are going to melt. Be sure to use sunscreen & drink whether you feel thirsty or not, or you will be very sick. Have fun at the best place in the world.

 

[winterman]

Hey Snowman, as you can see by our location we are just across the river. I can't comment on any of your questions. Just wanted to say that I'm jealous. DH would never let us stay at a deluxe. Our next trip is in May and I would be happy to stay at POFQ, but it will probably be ASMu.

FYI, our DD25 was just at WDW last week. The heat really wore them out. Good luck and have a ball!

 

[amyy]

Hi Snowman and Winterman. Just up the road here in Bangor. Flew into Portland last night around 10:30 after a wonderful week at POR. You are going to love the weather!! As long as we were by the pool I thought I was in heaven. Cut back on the park time a little because of the heat but the best vacation I have had. We had to turn on the heat because we are so cold today. Hoping it warms up for the Folk Festival tomorrow. Never stayed at WL but we did do counter service there this week after the Segway Tour at FW. Have a great time.