May 2011 Check In-And May Has Arrived!!!!

[eryn the pooh]

Sent you a pm for possible meet on May 12th CDNCA!

 

[davidsprincess]

In 8 days we fly out to California!!!I am so excited that I want to squeal!!! This is so hard as I have to stay calm because DD doesn't know. I haven't started to pack yet as I have to do that at night and put the bags away for during the day. That will be this weekends project. I can't believe that we are finally in single digits!! I can't wait to see the kids' faces when they find out that they are going to DISNEYLAND!!!

 

[geekypeach]

We leave home TOMORROW! I still have nothing packed! What's my prob? LOL

 

[minchie]

sorry wrong thread!!

 

[yupikgal]

We leave 3 weeks from today!!!! Can hardly contain our excitement.

CDNCA - that is a sweet offer. We won't be there yet, but I hope you all have fun!

DisneyPrincess, it sounds like we will be down there at the same time, except we leave 3 weeks from today! We are going to SD first for 4 nights though, so we won't actually be in DL until the 30th...have fun!

So excited to be leaving in 3 days. All the suitcases are packed - all that's left is just some last minute items for my backpack. Our flights are supercrowed (or at least appear that way) which will be quite a change from our barely half full flights two years ago. Hopefully DH will be okay and either sleep or let his iPad entertain him - I just can't afford to upgrade us to first class this time. Still holding off on buying our tickets until Monday night just in case there is some last minute deal. I know its not likely but I'd kick myself if I bought today and a discount came out on Monday.

honeymo78, you must be there now, how exciting! Our flights were very crowded last year too, and I'm expecting no less this year, especially because it's right when our school gets out...I just hope we won't have the same crying, whining, kicking kids we had sitting in back of us last year! It doesn't look like they decided to come out with any sweet ticket deals this year, for the last 2 years we have gone they were already out by this time...you can ask for the difference, by the way, if you do buy and then a special deal comes out! I would love to have an iPad!! My laptop just went kaput, and since I just got hired at a new place, ($$) I'm tempted!!

We leave in three days, too! Guess I'd better get started packing....once all the laundry is done, though. We are also waiting until Monday to buy our tickets, just in case.

Unfortunately, I've been looking at those park ticket prices, and no good deals (yet) we are buying the 6 day ones today with a pkg thru Costco

I will be there only 2 days but I'm from San Diego so we go a lot. Only DL this time, no CA. We are staying at the Grand Californian May 8th and 9th. There are 6 of us in 2 rooms.

nana50, we are heading straight to San Diego with Amtrak after getting to Anaheim this month! I see the weather has been good? Looking forward to relaxing before our Disney fun! I have us booked 2 nts on Coronado, and then right now, 2 nts at the Hyatt Manchester (got a buy 1, get 1 1/2 off)..it sounds like the reviews are positive on TA, so I'm crossing my fingers! Our kids just found their old legos and started playing with them again, and now they are wanting to go back to Legoland now (they are teens, but they are open minded and they realize it's normally for little ones) so we may just end up staying up in Carlsbad for a couple of nights instead!

I am so excited. WE are leaving home in just 3 days, and will be in Disneyland in 5.

I have my vacation book put together, and I am finishing laundry today so I can pack tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for all your advice on planning this trip. I look forward to sharing it with you all when we return.

misty, you should be there now, congrats!! What is a "vacation book" btw?

My son is packed since we leave on Sat but will be going to Park City for a week before heading on to DL 2 weeks from yesterday!!
Managed to find somebody who was willing to rent me about-to-expire points at the DLH so it looks like we'll be staying there instead of FFI. Although I did want to see the refurb at FFI w AP's those prepark opening WOC FPs will come in handy! Does anybody know if the ticket/ap has to be activated at the main gate before it will work at WOC? Would love to know if I could send one party member to fetch those while the rest of us grab bkfast/sleep in or if we all have to go together. Guess I can ask the front desk if no one here knows.
See y'all soon!

taaren, how/where did you find someone to rent points from? I assume you mean through the DVC? That's pretty cool! I was going to call Costco to buy a pkg for Paradise Pier Hotel today, so I'm just curious!

Yay for May!

I will be at PPH starting May 29th for three days for my birthday! Enjoy your trips everyone!

We decided to stay at the PPH for our entire 6 nights ArchOwl, I hope you have a great time there! We stayed last year for 2 nights in the concierge level, but this time since we'll be there longer, and I plan on ordering from Vonn's before we get there, so a regular room will do just fine!

 

[misty7260]

WE ARE LEAVING TODAY!!!!!

I am so excited as soon as dh gets off work, we are heading out. I need to get my but in gear and get the van loaded and the house work done.

yupikgal, a vacation book, in my case is a small3 ring folder with all my reservation confirmations, tickets, itinerary and insurance documents all in one place. It makes it so much easier for me if I have everything together.
I know some people have made really fancy ones, mine is a just a plain folder, as I am not super crafty, but it works. I will include photos in my trip report. We will be back in 10 days.

Happy Weekend All!

 

[yupikgal]

misty, have a MAGICAL trip, how exciting! Our trip is 3 weeks from today!! Can't wait! Are you driving then? How nice that you can do that...we have no choice, have to fly, in fact, we take two jets to get there...

Your "vacation book" sounds like mine, actually I just stick things in a big ziplock bag and call it good, but now you are making me think I should use a folder, so things won't get bent, especially because I have our Amtrak printouts that have a bar code scanner thingy to get our actual tickets with. I'm very happy for you!! Have a fantastic time, what are you doing besides Disney? We're going to San Diego for the first part of our trip, then Disney, then the central coast, then back to the Anaheim area for one last hurrah!

 

[misty7260]

We actually only live about 12 hours away by car, and dh doesn't like to fly. WE are taking it slow and easy, first day only about 5 hours, second only 5, we are staying 1 night in las vegas, then 5 hours to Disneyland.

We are staying 4 days in Disneyland, then we are hanging in L.A. and the beach, with a hotel at Pismo Beach, then off to the aquarium at Monterey Bay, and a slow easy drive home.

We like to drive, because we can stop and see whatever, and if it takes an extra day, oh well, we have extra days built in. It's fun to stop at touristy things, and check out fun parks along the way.

HOpe you have a great trip as well.

 

[misty7260]

Your "vacation book" sounds like mine, actually I just stick things in a big ziplock bag and call it good, but now you are making me think I should use a folder, so things won't get bent, especially because I have our Amtrak printouts that have a bar code scanner thingy to get our actual tickets with. I'm very happy for you!! Have a fantastic time, what are you doing besides Disney? We're going to San Diego for the first part of our trip, then Disney, then the central coast, then back to the Anaheim area for one last hurrah![/QUOTE]

I found sheet protectors to put the items in, it makes it neat and easy to find everything, as I have it in the order I am going to need it. If I had more in the book, I would have it tabbed as well, but this is a small one for me.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Flying out tomorrow and then actually checking into VGC on Sunday. Hope the good weather holds up.

 

[taaren]

yupikgal, yep we rented DVC points. I own but only enough for 1 trip per year which we usually take in the fall so this time we lucked out in finding somebody on another dvc forum website (name would end up asterisked if I posted it but if you google dvc owners it'll be one of the top ones) on a rent/trade board who had some points to use or lose by the end of the month so we ended up paying only about $20/night more for DLH than we would have for FFI. Can't beat that deal w a stick!
DH and DS flying out tomorrow and I'm flying out Sat so very excited but haven't packed since I have 1 more final to get through and then Ill be free to Disney! Last minute packers, I'm right there with you, its okay since all we'll need to be happy is our tix to see the Mouse. :

 

[Faithful Raider]

We actually only live about 12 hours away by car, and dh doesn't like to fly. WE are taking it slow and easy, first day only about 5 hours, second only 5, we are staying 1 night in las vegas, then 5 hours to Disneyland.

We are staying 4 days in Disneyland, then we are hanging in L.A. and the beach, with a hotel at Pismo Beach, then off to the aquarium at Monterey Bay, and a slow easy drive home.

We like to drive, because we can stop and see whatever, and if it takes an extra day, oh well, we have extra days built in. It's fun to stop at touristy things, and check out fun parks along the way.

HOpe you have a great trip as well.

We are doing about the same thing! 12 hour drive, a night in vegas on the way down, and a week in LA. Doing the beach trip, and a visit to the Long Beach aquarium, and probably taking in a Dodgers or Angels game!!

 

[yupikgal]

We actually only live about 12 hours away by car, and dh doesn't like to fly. WE are taking it slow and easy, first day only about 5 hours, second only 5, we are staying 1 night in las vegas, then 5 hours to Disneyland.

We are staying 4 days in Disneyland, then we are hanging in L.A. and the beach, with a hotel at Pismo Beach, then off to the aquarium at Monterey Bay, and a slow easy drive home.

We like to drive, because we can stop and see whatever, and if it takes an extra day, oh well, we have extra days built in. It's fun to stop at touristy things, and check out fun parks along the way.

HOpe you have a great trip as well.

you should be heading DL today? How exciting!! Your vacation sounds great, if we lived down there, I would take a lot of driving vacations too, and we also love to stop and "smell the roses" along the way, enjoy!! Safe travels!

I found sheet protectors to put the items in, it makes it neat and easy to find everything, as I have it in the order I am going to need it. If I had more in the book, I would have it tabbed as well, but this is a small one for me.

That sounds good, I just don't want any big hard back binder type thing, I'd get a folder with prongs, if that is what you are refering to...I think I have the sheet protectors already, having the folder would be better than just using a zip lock which can get bent, thanks!

yupikgal, yep we rented DVC points. I own but only enough for 1 trip per year which we usually take in the fall so this time we lucked out in finding somebody on another dvc forum website (name would end up asterisked if I posted it but if you google dvc owners it'll be one of the top ones) on a rent/trade board who had some points to use or lose by the end of the month so we ended up paying only about $20/night more for DLH than we would have for FFI. Can't beat that deal w a stick!
DH and DS flying out tomorrow and I'm flying out Sat so very excited but haven't packed since I have 1 more final to get through and then Ill be free to Disney! Last minute packers, I'm right there with you, its okay since all we'll need to be happy is our tix to see the Mouse. :

Lucky that you own, how nice! Great deal on the DLH, congrats! I didn't think of that as an option, but since I couldn't wait anymore, I booked our Costco pkg yesterday, yippee!! We're staying at the PPH the entire 6 nights now! We were going to split and stay off site for the first 4, then move to the PPH, but we decided we didn't want to deal with the hassle, so we paid the extra to stay put. We are happy with our decision! What is your major and what year are you? Our daughter just finished her first year of college! Have a great trip!!

We are doing about the same thing! 12 hour drive, a night in vegas on the way down, and a week in LA. Doing the beach trip, and a visit to the Long Beach aquarium, and probably taking in a Dodgers or Angels game!!

Faithful, sounds like a great trip too, and my husband would be jealous, he'd love to see another game, we saw the Angels in 2009 against Tampa Bay, it was a lot of fun!!

 

[yupikgal]

Not sure who is updating this thread, but can you change the original post made by ishbit92 (DD) to stay at the BWPPI from 5/30-6/3 to staying at the PPH from 5/30-6/5?? Thanks! Just made that decision and booked through Costco yesterday! First time I'm getting us a pkg deal, I normally book separately, but I'm starting a new job, and I didn't want to worry about all the separate docs, so I figured they would send them all to me in a neat little pkg! Can't wait!!!

 

[ArchOwl]

We decided to stay at the PPH for our entire 6 nights ArchOwl, I hope you have a great time there! We stayed last year for 2 nights in the concierge level, but this time since we'll be there longer, and I plan on ordering from Vonn's before we get there, so a regular room will do just fine!

First time staying at PPH! Stayed at GCH in February and loved it, but since that was a big splurge, decided to save a few bucks and stay at PPH. Excited to try a new place!

 

[skiingfast]

For those visiting on May 20th. See how you can win a chance to preview Star Tours.

Star Tours Preview Contest.

 

[davidsprincess]

Not sure who is updating this thread, but can you change the original post made by ishbit92 (DD) to stay at the BWPPI from 5/30-6/3 to staying at the PPH from 5/30-6/5?? Thanks! Just made that decision and booked through Costco yesterday! First time I'm getting us a pkg deal, I normally book separately, but I'm starting a new job, and I didn't want to worry about all the separate docs, so I figured they would send them all to me in a neat little pkg! Can't wait!!!

Done!

 

[Faithful Raider]

For those visiting on May 20th. See how you can win a chance to preview Star Tours.

Star Tours Preview Contest.

Thanks!

 

[skiingfast]

Just a reminder May, if you will be around DL on the 20th of May, You could win a preview on Star Tours including park ticket for the day.

Star Tours Preview Contest

 

[RickinPA]

I will be packing today and will be flying into San Diego next Saturday. If anyone has any tips on driving from San Diego to DL on Sunday I would love to hear them.

Based on the extended forecast I better bring my rain gear!! I'm hoping that will change.

TIA