Memories of Little Green Men and Sardines (6/8-17, 2010) **FINAL UPDATE 2-25-2011**

[photographymom517]

For those of you going on vacation this fall or for Christmas...look what I found today when I logged on DIS!

Free Dining offer!!!!

Valid for stays most nights 08/15/10 – 12/21/10

Book a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes a 5-night, 6-day stay at a Walt Disney World resort and a 6-day park ticket, and receive the Dining Plan for free!

Book a Disney Value Resort and and get the Quick Service Dining free!

Book a Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villas Resort and and get the Regular Dining free!
Sample Pricing: The following pricing is for select dates 8/15/10 - 12/21/10 in a Standard Room. Sample pricing does not include tax. Rates will vary depending the resort, room type, and dates of travel. Click Here to see a list of the Disney seasons to see the non-discounted Rates.

Value Resort (5 nights, 6 days for a family of 4): $1,440
Moderate Resort (5 nights, 6 days for a family of 4): $1,843


Discount Codes: The following codes can be used to for obtaining these discounts by calling Disney directly, or by contacting Dreams Unlimited Travel.

Value Resorts with free Quick Service Dining: NF3
Moderate Resorts with free Regular Dining: WG7
Deluxe Resorts with free Regular Dining: WG7

 

[Tinkermom76]

Oh Natalie, you will be very excited about the Alice merchandise! There is a mad hatters hat...did you see a picture of it? I'll try to find one...and if I don't have one in my vacation photos, I know I saw one on another trip report. I'll try to find it for you!

The mad hatter hat looks just like the one Johnny Depp wears in the movie...and it includes the red hair! I saw lots of people walking around with them on. I heard someone mention that they were sold out at alot of stores, but we were there when it was SUPER BUSY! I'm sure they're available again. Are you visiting Downtown Disney on your trip? I saw lots of Alice merchandise at Tren-D. Not sure about the cheshire cat, but I know there were some cute shirts from the movie. I'm sure there's something with the cheshire cat on it!

Oh I would die for that hat.... I LOVE the Mad Hatter, on our last trip we had so much fun with him at 100 Park Fare

 

[reelmom]

For those of you going on vacation this fall or for Christmas...look what I found today when I logged on DIS!

Free Dining offer!!!!

Valid for stays most nights 08/15/10 – 12/21/10

Book a Walt Disney World vacation package that includes a 5-night, 6-day stay at a Walt Disney World resort and a 6-day park ticket, and receive the Dining Plan for free!

Book a Disney Value Resort and and get the Quick Service Dining free!

Book a Disney Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villas Resort and and get the Regular Dining free!
Sample Pricing: The following pricing is for select dates 8/15/10 - 12/21/10 in a Standard Room. Sample pricing does not include tax. Rates will vary depending the resort, room type, and dates of travel. Click Here to see a list of the Disney seasons to see the non-discounted Rates.

Value Resort (5 nights, 6 days for a family of 4): $1,440
Moderate Resort (5 nights, 6 days for a family of 4): $1,843


Discount Codes: The following codes can be used to for obtaining these discounts by calling Disney directly, or by contacting Dreams Unlimited Travel.

Value Resorts with free Quick Service Dining: NF3
Moderate Resorts with free Regular Dining: WG7
Deluxe Resorts with free Regular Dining: WG7

WooHoo...............going to look right now. My husband has his own business(Grading, Hauling, Clearing) and we are at the mercy of his job also. And since the housing market is the way it is, I never know when we are able to go next. We have been fortunate and the Lord has blessed us. We know of a lot of people who have lost their jobs in our industry so I am thankful that while work has not been great, he does have some work. We argue when it comes to Disney too. Seems he always wants to be responsible. I am always wanting to go and always planning the next trip because I want to be ready when DH says, "Let's go!" He just doesn't say it as often as I like. Since I am a glutton for punishment, I am going to look at the free dining dates, probably only to have DH crush those plans.

 

[Spartangirl]

OMG....what a crazy morning!!! I really hope you were able to reschedule your photo session since you were so excited about it. SO GLAD the CM was so nice to you...glad you got a "little bit of magic" in all the chaos. Looking forward to reading about what happens next...

 

[photographymom517]

OMG....what a crazy morning!!! I really hope you were able to reschedule your photo session since you were so excited about it. SO GLAD the CM was so nice to you...glad you got a "little bit of magic" in all the chaos. Looking forward to reading about what happens next...

Yes it was quite a crazy morning for us! The day gets better though...wait & see! I'm going to post an update right now!

Since I already know what happens next, I figured I wouldn't keep all of you waiting any longer! lol

Throughout our trip, we ran into a number of wonderful CM's! I am writing letters to Disney about 3 or 4 of the really, really nice ones who went out of their way to be helpful and/or kind to us! I wish I had the ladies name at TT&C because she would definitely be included! She was the nicest person I encountered on our trip!

WooHoo...............going to look right now. My husband has his own business(Grading, Hauling, Clearing) and we are at the mercy of his job also. And since the housing market is the way it is, I never know when we are able to go next. We have been fortunate and the Lord has blessed us. We know of a lot of people who have lost their jobs in our industry so I am thankful that while work has not been great, he does have some work. We argue when it comes to Disney too. Seems he always wants to be responsible. I am always wanting to go and always planning the next trip because I want to be ready when DH says, "Let's go!" He just doesn't say it as often as I like. Since I am a glutton for punishment, I am going to look at the free dining dates, probably only to have DH crush those plans.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!!! You don't know how much I appreciate it! I was beginning to think I was the only one with these work issues! lol Glad to hear that someone else understands! I completely agree with you...there are so many people with horrible work situations right now & who have other problems due to the economy. I don't mean to sound ungrateful whenever I complain about my husband's job, but as you know it can be quite frustrating at times...especially whenever it comes to our love for Disney vacations! I am thankful that my husband has worked as much as he has during the bad economy & even more thankful that we were able to take a vacation even with everything else going on back home!

You and I should provide support for each other whenever we plan our trips & then have to cancel at the last minute. I think we are in similar situations & understand how each other feels...excited when we plan the trip, disappointed/frustrated when we have to cancel, thankful for the work, yet still frustrated at times! Please feel free to PM me at anytime when you are planning and/or cancelling a trip!

Oh I would die for that hat.... I LOVE the Mad Hatter, on our last trip we had so much fun with him at 100 Park Fare

Yes, you will that hat! I'm still searching for the pic for you...I know I have it saved somewhere! I had no idea the Mad Hatter was at 1900 Park Fare! I will have to see if he's still there & schedule it for next trip! I love the Mad Hatter & the entire Alice crew!

 

[photographymom517]

Well, I felt bad making you wait this long to see what happens!!! So I decided to post part of the rest of Day 2...I think I still have 2 more parts to post after this! It was supposed to be our "free day" but actually turned out to be a full day...

When I last left you, I was on the phone with the PhotoPass desk at the Beach Club resort. I had explained our “transportation disaster” to the CM & explained how disappointed I was that we wouldn’t make it to our Photo Session. I told him I was really looking forward to it (I almost started crying while talking to him!) The CM on the phone told me to hold on a minute.

He came back a few seconds later & told me that they had 2 photographers working, so if I was able to come by 10:30am, they could fit me in.

THANK YOU!!!! This man also saved my day!

We ended up getting on a bus to Hollywood Studios, walking to the boat (luckily one was waiting for us & left as soon as we boarded. This was at 10:15am)


Flags at Hollywood Studios on our way to the boat…

My son on the boat

stopping by the Swan/Dolphin at 10:23am

 

[Tinkermom76]

Yes, you will that hat! I'm still searching for the pic for you...I know I have it saved somewhere! I had no idea the Mad Hatter was at 1900 Park Fare! I will have to see if he's still there & schedule it for next trip! I love the Mad Hatter & the entire Alice crew!

Oh yes he is with Alice and Mary Poppins.. it was fun

 

[photographymom517]

and then I see this…

The lighthouse is currently under refurb. It looks like they put all new siding on it & are doing some other work as well.

FINALLY, we arrive at the Beach Club Resort…the GORGEOUS Beach Club Resort that is!!! It would be amazing to stay here!

A bunch of families were headed to Cape May which is right in the same entrance as the photo area, so I just told my husband to follow them. Don’t ask me how we managed, but we arrived in the lobby of BC at 10:35am.

I honestly just got all emotional again just explaining what happened! It was quite a flood of emotions that morning for me!!! Within 2 hours time, I felt excited, disappointed, hopeless, relieved, thankful, and ecstatic (once we arrived of course!).

I told you…WHAT A DAY!!!

The photo session turned out very nice. We checked in, then they gave us a card with a barcode on it & I took it into the gift shop (which is right next to the photo desk) to pay. I had another little bump in the road because the guy at the desk was in training & couldn’t figure out how to apply my 20% off discount. Even after all I went through, I wasn’t paying full price. There was a small part of me that almost said “its ok, just let me pay without the discount” but I figured, look at what I had been through, I could wait a few more minutes! Lol

Luckily another lady was nearby & came to help him. I heard her say “I never saw this before…I wonder where the code is.” OH BOY!!! Again? I almost cried…but I just smiled & said, its ok, please take your time. Right after that, she found it & apologized like five times to me. I assured her it was fine. After it was processed & the other trainee-CM apologized, I assured him it was fine as well. I said I have been a trainee a number of times & trained others as well throughout my job experiences, so I completely understand…it always takes time to learn new things! He seemed very pleased with my response. He must have seen the look on my face & thought I was going to yell or something, but I didn’t. I understand these things happen, even on a day like I had!

We went out with the photographer. I told her that my son would probably cooperate for the first 10 minutes and that was about it. She said that was understandable considering the morning we already had! I told her to try to get some family shots & maybe some of my son by himself (if he’d let her). I asked for indoor shots before outdoor because I knew once my son saw the sand/pool, he would be done with pictures! She took us through the lobby to a seating area. It was very pretty…I wish it was my office! We did a few pictures on the balcony right outside & then went back inside to take some in the sitting area. Our son did very well with those pictures, but wouldn’t allow her to take any of him alone. I told her it was fine & that I understood because of his age.

Last year, when I had his 1 year pictures taken, he did awesome! He smiled & laughed & didn’t want to leave the photo studio! This year, I barely got 1 photograph for Christmas or his birthday. I ended up doing his birthday & Easter together because I knew he wouldn’t go twice within a 3 month period!

After we got the pictures inside, we went back through the lobby & tried to sit on a bench right outside. The sun was in our eyes, it was very bright that morning! We tried moving underneath a tree, but our son wasn’t cooperating. I decided to just let him walk around & pick a spot. Of course, he went towards the water. He saw the kids leaving on the Pirates cruise & wanted on the boat! He was a little mad that he wasn’t able to get to the boat before it left. I told him that wasn’t our boat & that we would be leaving soon on our boat. He seemed content with my answer & walked around in the sand pointing at birds & the giant Pirateship. She asked if I wanted pictures by the ship but I said no because there was a little swimming/pool area & I knew our son would jump right in!

He was more interested in the sand anyway, so we decided to try to get some photos in front of the Boardwalk. We all stood on the beach & we told our son that Tiger (his cat) was in the tree above the photographer’s head. It was my husband’s idea…I knew he was trying his best to save the photo-session. He knew it meant a lot to me & I could tell he was trying to make our son cooperate for me. J We got a few photos on the beach, maybe 5 or 6, then were headed back inside. She asked if he liked cars & if I thought he would sit inside one. I would have loved to have gotten the chance to see that car & it would have been cute to have some pictures of our son sitting inside it! At this point, my husband was having trouble just holding him. None of us had eaten breakfast (my fault completely). I told the photographer that I thought our son was done with the pictures & while I’d love more, it was ok to stop.

I thought we got some really nice poses. I bought the package with the seven 5x7’s and the Photo CD so I can post those pictures on here! I also got a PhotoPass card to add the photos from the session to my PhotoPass account. I added a lot of borders, cropped pictures, made them black & white, etc. so once I get my CD from PhotoPass, I will repost some of my favorites!

With the discount, it cost $85.16 which I am very pleased with. (That’s cheaper than I pay at JC Penney back home & I don’t get the CD.)

We went back to the desk & she put the pictures onto a CD, onto the PhotoPass card, and onto her computer. Once on the computer, she went through each one & let me choose my favorites. Our son loved seeing himself on the computer screen! At the end, we went to “the favorites” & guess what? I had exactly 7 favorites! She printed out the seven 5x7’s, put them into a little Disney folder & handed me the CD case with the CD & PhotoPass card inside! It was very quick & only took around 5 minutes once I choose my favorite poses! (We ended up with a total of 46 pictures…if we would have done the other places she suggested, I think we would have gotten around 75-80 pictures.)

What a morning!!! It was definitely not what I had planned…but lesson learned. Next time, I will double & triple check my Disney transportation schedule & see how to get from place to place. Obviously, if you use the buses/monorail/boats on every trip, you’re already familiar with the transportation. But if you are like me, and aren’t so familiar with it, make sure to learn from my mistakes! Double check how to get from place to place BEFORE you leave on your trip…especially if you have dinner ressies or something scheduled at another resort/park. And if you still aren’t sure, ask someone before you leave your resort & get lost like me! Lol

Or take a cab…that’s what I plan to do next trip if we have ressies to go ANYWHERE!!! lol



Where do we end up going the evening of our very eventful day???? Find out in my next update!!!

 

[PopArtGal]

So glad you finally got your photo session and got neat poses!

 

[stephielela]

I am so glad you got to do your photo session!!! I can't wait to see how they turned out! How long would you say it took from the time you got there to the time you left?

 

[reelmom]

Feel free to PM me anytime also. I looked at the added dates for the free dining but we can't take advantage of any. My FIL told us the other day that he wanted to go on a short weekend trip to Orlando with us but it had to be when the weather was cool. Since my two boys are in school and due to my part-time job(at a church preschool which follows the county school calender), vacations are dictated by the school calender. It looks like we might go a couple of days before Thanksgiving but not to Disney. BooHoo! They have decided they want to do SeaWorld. I thought if I could get free dining, we could swing Disney. Guess not. Being that close to Mickey and not going to see him is gonna be hard. I guess I can always do a resort character meal or go to DTD.

Glad you were able to make it to the photo shoot in time. I can't wait to see the pictures.

 

[photographymom517]

So glad you finally got your photo session and got neat poses!

I have my Photo Session CD so I will upload some pics to Photo Bucket tonight or tomorrow & then add those to my Day 2 post. I'll also have more once my regular PhotoPass CD comes in the mail in about 2 weeks...they gave me a PhotoPass card with my session so I was able to add them to my account & add borders/crop photos/etc. and add those to my regular CD that I preordered!

I am so glad you got to do your photo session!!! I can't wait to see how they turned out! How long would you say it took from the time you got there to the time you left?

LOL...now I can answer your question from the other day! I didn't want to respond because then I would have given away what happened on our Day 2!

Whenever we first arrived, I went immediately to the gift shop & paid for our session. There was a little confusion with the discount (as I wrote about in my post) so that took a little extra time. We arrived at the Beach Club resort at 10:35am. My Photo Session receipt says 10:43am...the lady explained the session to me a little prior to me paying, so that plus the discount confusion explains the 8 minutes between when we arrived & when I paid. We left the session a little earlier than normal because of my son getting tired/hungry. We went immediately to Hurricane Hanna's and my receipt said 11:33am. So, I would say it took a total of 1 hour...plus transportation time (although don't go by ours since it was total chaos! lol)

In response to your previous question, I would say that your ADR time should be fine. Once you are at the Grand Floridian, you can hop on the monorail to get to the Magic Kingdom probably within 15 minutes. Your plan for the day also sounded really good. I'm glad you picked a later time to schedule your session. It seems like the sun's position mid-day is alot better than early morning! I know if we would've done more beach photos, the sun would have been directly in our eyes, so the pics wouldn't have turned out that great. I would give yourself an hour all together...to get to the session, talk to the photographer, pay for the session, get your pictures taken, and then go back to the desk to look through them & pick which ones you want.

Just to explain a little better, once the photographer is done taking pictures, they go to the photography stand & upload the pics from their camera to their computer. This takes about 5-10 minutes. Then, they go through each pose with you & you pick your favorite ones. You can also add borders and/or crop them at this point if you want. I didn't do that, so it went a little faster. I just figured since I was getting a PhotoPass card, I could later add my own borders & crop the pics on the Disney PhotoPass website & then add them to my CD. If you're going to add the borders on-site, then this will take longer (I'd leave an additional 10-15 minutes). We also only got 46 pictures all together. If we would've had over 80 pics or even 70, it would have taken longer to look through them all & choose my favorites.

If you find out about the session prior to your trip (which you've already done!) then you should be fine. It seemed like things went more smoothly & quicker because I had already researched the session ahead of time. If you know what package you're getting ahead of time, this will save time as well. As soon as she pulled out the sheet to show me, I said "I already know which one I want...the seven 5x7's with the CD." This really helped because she didn't have to explain each package to us. They say that they talk to you for 10 minutes & take pics for 20 minutes...but if you know what you want ahead of time, I'd say it takes about 10 mins to pay & talk...then 20 to take photos, then 10-15 more to look over them & choose/print/put on CD. I'd say a total of 45 minutes should be more than enough time, then leave 15 mins to get to the MK from GF...an hour should be fine! We had problems with almost every aspect of it (as you know! lol) and we were still done within an hour.

I hope this helps you & if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!

Feel free to PM me anytime also. I looked at the added dates for the free dining but we can't take advantage of any. My FIL told us the other day that he wanted to go on a short weekend trip to Orlando with us but it had to be when the weather was cool. Since my two boys are in school and due to my part-time job(at a church preschool which follows the county school calender), vacations are dictated by the school calender. It looks like we might go a couple of days before Thanksgiving but not to Disney. BooHoo! They have decided they want to do SeaWorld. I thought if I could get free dining, we could swing Disney. Guess not. Being that close to Mickey and not going to see him is gonna be hard. I guess I can always do a resort character meal or go to DTD.

Glad you were able to make it to the photo shoot in time. I can't wait to see the pictures.

If you can't go to Disney, maybe suggest a day at Universal! I love it there too!

I understand going when the weather is cooler. It was sooo hot & humid on our trip! We went last year in March/April and the weather was gorgeous!

I'm hoping to post the pictures sometime this evening or tomorrow. I just have to add them to PhotoBucket from my CD.

 

[PopArtGal]

It's really awesome that you could add that to you cd.

 

[2kids2luv]

So glad the photo session worked out for you! Can't wait to see how the photos turned out. I'm surprised at how reasonable the prices were.

 

[stephielela]

I love how detailed you are!!! I feel so much better about our plans now. I am sure we will know exactly what we want, and we will be getting the CD too, so we won't customize anything there. I am super excited! I hope we don't have trouble getting the time we want!!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I am so glad you were able to get your photo session in. I know how disappointed you would have been had you not been able to do it.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Yay! I'm so glad you got to do your photo session! I would say that anyone is capable of getting lost (at least temporarily) in the Disney transportation system, no matter how frequently they use it. It's just confusing at times!

 

[Happy Elf]

I'm glad you were able to make it to your photo session! Can't wait to see some of the pictures.

 

[Tinkermom76]

I am so Happy for you Hope and I can't wait to see the pictures

 

[lledman]

I am very happy to read that you were able to have your photo session and get shots that you were pleased with.