Life is too short for self-hatred and celery sticks: final update 12/29, p.98

[kaoden39]

I thought about doing only a day at DCA but not sure Joshua could do an entire day at DCA even with Carsland. He doesn't love DCA. He's like me. I think I'll like it more with Carsland though. It's be super hard to not go into Disneyland....

I do like Knott's and haven't been in years. I don't think my kids have been inside Knott's ever. That's a good idea, thank you. Universal is $$ and I don't want to drive into LA. I hate LA. ​

I couldn't go without going to Disneyland either. I am learning to like DCA slowly but surely.


I have not been inside Knott's for years but I was reading about it recently and you know there are some things that sound really fun to me. I am all for not driving into LA. We have driven from DLH to Beverly Hills and although it isn't a lot of miles but I felt like I had driven 100 miles by the time we were done.

 

[rentayenta]

I couldn't go without going to Disneyland either. I am learning to like DCA slowly but surely.


I have not been inside Knott's for years but I was reading about it recently and you know there are some things that sound really fun to me. I am all for not driving into LA. We have driven from DLH to Beverly Hills and although it isn't a lot of miles but I felt like I had driven 100 miles by the time we were done.

I'll need to check out Knott's more closely. I love Mrs. Knott's fried chicken and they're boysenberry punch. They're funnel cake is the best ever. Way better than Disneyland's even.


​

 

[kaoden39]

I'll need to check out Knott's more closely. I love Mrs. Knott's fried chicken and they're boysenberry punch. They're funnel cake is the best ever. Way better than Disneyland's even.


​

Oh Mrs. Knott's chicken is so good!

 

[rentayenta]

Oh Mrs. Knott's chicken is so good!

The last time I went was during their Sunday champagne brunch with my dad and kids like some 8 years or so ago. Good times. I have great memories of Knott's. they had a dance club there at night in the mid 80's called Cloud 9. It was a hoot. I think Knott's has a water park ow too.​

 

[kaoden39]

The last time I went was during their Sunday champagne brunch with my dad and kids like some 8 years or so ago. Good times. I have great memories of Knott's. they had a dance club there at night in the mid 80's called Cloud 9. It was a hoot. I think Knott's has a water park ow too.​

It's been at least 20 years since I have had the chicken because you don't actually have to go into the park to eat it. Or you didn't at that time. I haven't been in the park itself for many more years than that.

 

[rentayenta]

It's been at least 20 years since I have had the chicken because you don't actually have to go into the park to eat it. Or you didn't at that time. I haven't been in the park itself for many more years than that.

Right, you don't have to go into the park. Maybe we'll just go there for the chicken? It's that good. It tastes like nostalgia should.​

 

[rentayenta]

Can I just say 9 days until Club 33!!!! Single digits! I'm so excited. And grateful. And looking forward to turning 44. ​

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

for single digits!
I did our online check in for our pre cruise BWV stay yesterday , love having a countdown, and you have 2...or is it 3 countdowns

 

[rentayenta]

for single digits!
I did our online check in for our pre cruise BWV stay yesterday , love having a countdown, and you have 2...or is it 3 countdowns

Yay for pre cruise check in!!! How many days before were you able to check in? Was it easy? Did you do it online? What did it entail?

I love countdown too. I've got Club 33, even saying it freaks me out, and then one for the cruise. I need to add a countdown for the day or two we'll be at Disneyland during Spring Break but I've got some decisions to make there. I'm truly thinking about doing just one long mega open to close park hopping day. The thought of two days at Disneyland/DCA without midday breaks isn't all that appealing. I'd rather be crazy commando for a full day then be pooped the second day as I know that's what we'll do. Does that even make sense? ​

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

Yay for pre cruise check in!!! How many days before were you able to check in? Was it easy? Did you do it online? What did it entail?

I love countdown too. I've got Club 33, even saying it freaks me out, and then one for the cruise. I need to add a countdown for the day or two we'll be at Disneyland during Spring Break but I've got some decisions to make there. I'm truly thinking about doing just one long mega open to close park hopping day. The thought of two days at Disneyland/DCA without midday breaks isn't all that appealing. I'd rather be crazy commando for a full day then be pooped the second day as I know that's what we'll do. Does that even make sense? ​

You can do online check in 60 days prior to arrival, it was easy. They wanted a credit card number for room charges, approximate arrival time and check out time. The requests they offered for BWVs were a pack n play, close to transportation and ground floor (I didn't have any of those requests).

For me I'd need a day at each park, simply because we haven't seen cars land and DSs would want to spend a lot of time there and I'd hate the thought of just one Disney day, it would upset me so much that I wouldn't enjoy the day, yeah, I might have a few issues .

 

[rentayenta]

You can do online check in 60 days prior to arrival, it was easy. They wanted a credit card number for room charges, approximate arrival time and check out time. The requests they offered for BWVs were a pack n play, close to transportation and ground floor (I didn't have any of those requests).

For me I'd need a day at each park, simply because we haven't seen cars land and DSs would want to spend a lot of time there and I'd hate the thought of just one Disney day, it would upset me so much that I wouldn't enjoy the day, yeah, I might have a few issues .

Check out time? Don't we all check out at the same time on a cruise?

Did you make any request for the BWV? I had to call when I made my THV requests as they didn't list my specific ones. I tend to get fairly specific.




I totally get it and have the same issues as you. I'm having a tough time deciding on the one day vs two which I know sounds silly right? Always choose two but we've got our nights pretty well planned out so I'd only want to do one night there. Maybe we'll do 2 day 1 park/per day tickets instead of Hoppers and do Disneyland all day and then DCA the next day with Disneyland being our late night. I need to figure out which park has EE/EMH which day and do the opposite so we are on equal footing as we won't have access to EE/EMH. Who'd think it'd take so much planning for a day at Disney. Plus we'll choose Disney on the cooler days. I'm not sure if those tickets have the 14 day window like hoppers do.​

 

[franandaj]

Check out time? Don't we all check out at the same time on a cruise?

Did you make any request for the BWV? I had to call when I made my THV requests as they didn't list my specific ones. I tend to get fairly specific.




I totally get it and have the same issues as you. I'm having a tough time deciding on the one day vs two which I know sounds silly right? Always choose two but we've got our nights pretty well planned out so I'd only want to do one night there. Maybe we'll do 2 day 1 park/per day tickets instead of Hoppers and do Disneyland all day and then DCA the next day with Disneyland being our late night. I need to figure out which park has EE/EMH which day and do the opposite so we are on equal footing as we won't have access to EE/EMH. Who'd think it'd take so much planning for a day at Disney. Plus we'll choose Disney on the cooler days. I'm not sure if those tickets have the 14 day window like hoppers do.​

Check out is based on our Dinner seating. The early seating usually goes to breakfast at 7:00AM on the last day and can start disembarking (by character/colored luggage tags). Second seating should be at breakfast by 8:30AM. Our concierge host tried to give us luggage tags that would get us off the ship earlier, but I knew we would be slow and the red Mickey tags we had were just fine. We were on our way to leave the ship no later than 9:30AM and our car was all loaded up with luggage before 10:30AM. It's in their best interests to get you off that ship ASAP since they have a whole new crowd coming on at noon.

Sun. - DCA
Mon. - DCA
Tues - DL
Wed. - DCA
Thurs. - DL
Fri. - DCA
Sat. - DL

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

Check out time? Don't we all check out at the same time on a cruise?

Did you make any request for the BWV? I had to call when I made my THV requests as they didn't list my specific ones. I tend to get fairly specific.




I totally get it and have the same issues as you. I'm having a tough time deciding on the one day vs two which I know sounds silly right? Always choose two but we've got our nights pretty well planned out so I'd only want to do one night there. Maybe we'll do 2 day 1 park/per day tickets instead of Hoppers and do Disneyland all day and then DCA the next day with Disneyland being our late night. I need to figure out which park has EE/EMH which day and do the opposite so we are on equal footing as we won't have access to EE/EMH. Who'd think it'd take so much planning for a day at Disney. Plus we'll choose Disney on the cooler days. I'm not sure if those tickets have the 14 day window like hoppers do.​

It was the Check Out time for BWV that was "asked", it was the online check in for BWVs that I did yesterday.

We did our on line cruise "stuff" last week, at our 75 days prior to embarkation.

As we are renting the points for our BWV stay I asked the owners to request that we are away from the elevators on a high floor with thinking that we might get fireworks from Epcot that way. We have a 1 bedroom Standard View.

For me hoppers for 2 days at DL wouldn't be necessary, there is enough to do in each park without hopping if you're there for only 2 days. But it's amazing how fast the passes add up especially for the 5 of you and the kids being counted as adults. I'm not sure about the 14 day window either

 

[rentayenta]

Check out is based on our Dinner seating. The early seating usually goes to breakfast at 7:00AM on the last day and can start disembarking (by character/colored luggage tags). Second seating should be at breakfast by 8:30AM. Our concierge host tried to give us luggage tags that would get us off the ship earlier, but I knew we would be slow and the red Mickey tags we had were just fine. We were on our way to leave the ship no later than 9:30AM and our car was all loaded up with luggage before 10:30AM. It's in their best interests to get you off that ship ASAP since they have a whole new crowd coming on at noon.

Do I have any choice in the time? I'd like as late as possible right now but that might change with our flight times. True, I didn't realize that unlike a hotel who's got until 4:00, the ship turns around fast. Yikes, no wonder they want people off so early.​

Sun. - DCA
Mon. - DCA
Tues - DL
Wed. - DCA
Thurs. - DL
Fri. - DCA
Sat. - DL

Thank you! So I'm thinking we'll do DCA on Tuesday and Disneyland on Wed. That's so so helpful. Trying to wrap my heads round all of this so last minute overwhelms me. ​

It was the Check Out time for BWV that was "asked", it was the online check in for BWVs that I did yesterday.

We did our on line cruise "stuff" last week, at our 75 days prior to embarkation.

As we are renting the points for our BWV stay I asked the owners to request that we are away from the elevators on a high floor with thinking that we might get fireworks from Epcot that way. We have a 1 bedroom Standard View.

For me hoppers for 2 days at DL wouldn't be necessary, there is enough to do in each park without hopping if you're there for only 2 days. But it's amazing how fast the passes add up especially for the 5 of you and the kids being counted as adults. I'm not sure about the 14 day window either

Ive always wanted to stay at the BWV. I hope you get a fireworks view. It looks like such an awesome resort. The BW area alone is so cool.

I think as this is our first cruise, I'm at the 75 day check in too or maybe it's even less like 60?

Yeah, I'm really thinking about not getting Hoppers. I can always add it if Joshua has had enough DCA. Not staying on property stinks! Or even close by. My friend lives close but not walking close. I figured it'd be a 60 minute journey between leaving the park, getting to the car via tram, and then getting to her house. Not terrible and we could go back. I'll have to give it more thought.



And can I say?

8 days until Club 33!!! ​

​

 

[franandaj]

Do I have any choice in the time? I'd like as late as possible right now but that might change with our flight times. True, I didn't realize that unlike a hotel who's got until 4:00, the ship turns around fast. Yikes, no wonder they want people off so early.​

if you have already chosen your dinner seating the choice has been made. Also your luggage needs to be placed outside your stateroom door by 10:30PM the night before you disembark. As soon as the ship docks they're unloading that stuff. You need to be out of the stateroom by like 8AM, with all your carryons.

It's sort of a pain if you have a late flight. What we're doing in April (and I still have to work this all out with Disney) is we will take their transport back to the airport from Galveston, and then catch the airport shuttle to the Doubletree, stay overnight and catch an 8AM plane home the next morning.

 

[eandesmom]

Right, you don't have to go into the park. Maybe we'll just go there for the chicken? It's that good. It tastes like nostalgia should.​

the chicken is amazing and no, you don't have to go in to the park to get it. just know that if you do go to Knott's, AAA gets a discount at the gate, 10% I think.

The boysenberry pie is pretty killer as well.

I'd check park hours for your trip, you may not be able to do all that you want in one day with both parks depending on the hours. I'd vote for 2 day tickets but no hopping I think.

If you are there on a Sunday and haven't done the Sunday brunch on the Queen Mary, that's a lot of fun, as is the ghost tour.

 

[franandaj]

I'll need to check out Knott's more closely. I love Mrs. Knott's fried chicken and they're boysenberry punch. They're funnel cake is the best ever. Way better than Disneyland's even.


​

Somehow I missed this Mrs. Knott's chicken discussion! The chicken is the best! We went to the Brunch last May and it was very good. I haven't had dinner there since the last day of the last Expo. That was a while ago considering I now have a ticker for the next one!

That's one of the few places left where you get a full meal with all the extras included with your dinner. We always end up taking the pie slice to go since we're stuffed from the chicken. Best biscuits ever! And you don't need to go into the park, just be prepared to wait half an hour or so to be seated.

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

Ive always wanted to stay at the BWV. I hope you get a fireworks view. It looks like such an awesome resort. The BW area alone is so cool.

I think as this is our first cruise, I'm at the 75 day check in too or maybe it's even less like 60?

Yeah, I'm really thinking about not getting Hoppers. I can always add it if Joshua has had enough DCA. Not staying on property stinks! Or even close by. My friend lives close but not walking close. I figured it'd be a 60 minute journey between leaving the park, getting to the car via tram, and then getting to her house. Not terrible and we could go back. I'll have to give it more thought.



And can I say?

8 days until Club 33!!! [/CENTER​

​

Yay for 8 days
We are looking forward to our stay, and we are having a very close look at DVC, I'm sure we'll be going to yet another DVC tour kinda wish we would have done it years ago. We are just trying to figure out if we should do resale or direct

This is our 1st cruise too and we had to wait until 75 days to do our on line stuff.​

 

[rentayenta]

if you have already chosen your dinner seating the choice has been made. Also your luggage needs to be placed outside your stateroom door by 10:30PM the night before you disembark. As soon as the ship docks they're unloading that stuff. You need to be out of the stateroom by like 8AM, with all your carryons.

I chose early seating. Yikes, that's early. So I have to carry pajamas and toiletries around with me? That doesn't sound so hot. Doable but not fun. ​

It's sort of a pain if you have a late flight. What we're doing in April (and I still have to work this all out with Disney) is we will take their transport back to the airport from Galveston, and then catch the airport shuttle to the Doubletree, stay overnight and catch an 8AM plane home the next morning.

I'm thinking of adding on 2 nights at AKV after. But that part would be a secret for Joshua. No parks just AKV. He fell in love with it during this last trip. We'd do Boma for sure, some pool time if its warm enough which I'm sure it will be compared to what we're used to, pin trading, and he'll make the beaded necklace again by doing all of the activities between Jambo and Kidani. I just have to figure out the whole SLC to Miami, port to WDW, and then we'd probably fly out of MCO if we did WDW. I think we can fly into FL which is generally cheaper than to Miami. I have a lot of research to do.

You're going out of Galveston? I think it's a good idea to stay the night. I think we will stay the night in Miami and fly out the next day if we don't do AKV. It just seems like so much work to disembark and fly the same day.​

the chicken is amazing and no, you don't have to go in to the park to get it. just know that if you do go to Knott's, AAA gets a discount at the gate, 10% I think.

The boysenberry pie is pretty killer as well.

I'd check park hours for your trip, you may not be able to do all that you want in one day with both parks depending on the hours. I'd vote for 2 day tickets but no hopping I think.

If you are there on a Sunday and haven't done the Sunday brunch on the Queen Mary, that's a lot of fun, as is the ghost tour.

I always have to go to Schooner or Later when we're there on a Sunday, Alison knows exactly where I'm talking about. http://schoonerorlater.com It's tradition. I'm from that area and have seen the Queen Mary etc too many times to count. The only real touristy thing we do is Disneyland.

Thanks for the AAA Knott's tip. My father is in an ALF in Anaheim. When I was growing up he spoiled me rotten with weekly trips to Disneyland and Knott's. One of the main reasons we chose So Cal over AZ for Spring Break was to see my father. He suffered a major stroke 7 years ago. He loved Mrs. Knott's fried chicken so I think I'm going to get a big dinner to go and bring it to him while we're there. I'd love to take him to Disneyland but he's a full assist and I just can't do it alone. He could only ride what he could stay in his chair for which would be fine by me but I can't change his bag. If there was a way I could figure it out, I'd do one day hoppers for all of us and give him one last trip to Disneyland. It's because of him I love it so much. I think I need to call his social worker to see if it can be figured out. His ALF is in Anaheim so it's close. If I could get staff to follow me over and help me get him in and out the car and into his chair, I could figure out the rest.​

Somehow I missed this Mrs. Knott's chicken discussion! The chicken is the best! We went to the Brunch last May and it was very good. I haven't had dinner there since the last day of the last Expo. That was a while ago considering I now have a ticker for the next one!

That's one of the few places left where you get a full meal with all the extras included with your dinner. We always end up taking the pie slice to go since we're stuffed from the chicken. Best biscuits ever! And you don't need to go into the park, just be prepared to wait half an hour or so to be seated.

I do love their chicken and we haven't had it in years. Our last time was Sunday brunch as well. The wait can be brutal but I think we'll end up getting it to. It's not the same but as mentioned above, my dad is too much for me to physically handle alone.​

Yay for 8 days
We are looking forward to our stay, and we are having a very close look at DVC, I'm sure we'll be going to yet another DVC tour kinda wish we would have done it years ago. We are just trying to figure out if we should do resale or direct

This is our 1st cruise too and we had to wait until 75 days to do our on line stuff.

I hear great arguments for both resale and direct. We bought direct and will probably continue to do so. I don't like the limitations put on resale. Having said that, if I found the perfect GCV contract resale, I'd jump on it but would buy direct for any other DVC.

So it is 75 days? Did you book any excursions though Disney? Palo?​

 

[eandesmom]

I always have to go to Schooner or Later when we're there on a Sunday, Alison knows exactly where I'm talking about. http://schoonerorlater.com It's tradition. I'm from that area and have seen the Queen Mary etc too many times to count. The only real touristy thing we do is Disneyland.

Thanks for the AAA Knott's tip. My father is in an ALF in Anaheim. When I was growing up he spoiled me rotten with weekly trips to Disneyland and Knott's. One of the main reasons we chose So Cal over AZ for Spring Break was to see my father. He suffered a major stroke 7 years ago. He loved Mrs. Knott's fried chicken so I think I'm going to get a big dinner to go and bring it to him while we're there. I'd love to take him to Disneyland but he's a full assist and I just can't do it alone. He could only ride what he could stay in his chair for which would be fine by me but I can't change his bag. If there was a way I could figure it out, I'd do one day hoppers for all of us and give him one last trip to Disneyland. It's because of him I love it so much. I think I need to call his social worker to see if it can be figured out. His ALF is in Anaheim so it's close. If I could get staff to follow me over and help me get him in and out the car and into his chair, I could figure out the rest.

If nothing else you can bring him chicken dinner but I'd call (or perhaps his social worker knows) Disney they might really be able to help you figure something out. Is there someone you could get to help with the bag, etc for the day? I would think the social worker would be able to suggest someone you could hire or Disney would. You can get the chicken to go as I am sure you know, that's what we did, it's a separate carryout location. I really wanted to eat at Mrs. Knotts as I had such fond memories of it as a kid but we just finished up at the park way too early to eat there so took it with us.

We actually ate it at Paradise Pier.

You forget Jeff lived in Long Beach....

YUM! That beauty was mine. Jeff is obsessed with the Galley Mess. Me, I liked the idea that they'd sell you the whole bottle and just bring you more oj as you needed it

oh my word the E's look little! and OMG I want to go back after seeing this picture, well heck, all of them