Metro New Orleans DISers - check in!!! - 09/2009

[FloraFauna]

Good Morning

Serena, I am with the others who say there is a lot to do if you are chicken. I am a chicken myself, but I love Universal. I finally gathered up the courage to ride the Hulk rollercoaster there and loved it. I wouldn't ride Dueling Dragons though. Maybe next time. There are so many other rides you will enjoy.

I spoke with Universal's reservation department yesterday. This is the deal with Wizarding World of Harry Potter: If you stay on the Universal grounds, you can use your room key for front of the line access for 2 of the 3 rides there. For Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you can use your room key for front of the line access only once per day. For the other two rides, you can use your room key over and over again. If you stay on the grounds, you can also arrive 1 hour earlier than the park opens.

I am getting excited. I love the planning almost as much as the trip

Lori, have fun today!

Sheryl, I love Alexis' new word. I going to have to use that!

 

[mapmakerj]

Hello everyone! Does anyone want to help this midwestern girl plan a trip to NOLA? While I am waiting for 2011 to come for our next WDW/US trip I thought I would plan a little getaway this summer to DC. Well I just ended up with emergency dental surgery and I am now awaiting an implant on my front tooth. I had to cancel the DC trip due to timing the next phase of my surgery. We had a family meeting and decided that we would plan something for late in the year when I am all done with my dental work. We all agreed that we would like to go to NO between Christmas and NYE. We are my DH, DS (who will be 11) and myself. We are planning on going from Dec 26-30. We already have decided on the aquarium, to eat as much authentic cajun and creole food as we can and to make a trip to Cafe du Monde for beignets! The hotel we have been looking at is the Country Inn and Suites on Magazine St. We can get a rate of $71 and it got good ratings on tripadvisor, expedia and travelocity. It looks like we will be able to walk to most areas from here. Any comments on this hotel or other suggestions? Also, I would welcome restaurant and touring idea. Thanks for any help you can give me, as this will be the first trip to NO for all of us (we previously had a trip planned but Katrina hit just a couple months before we were scheduled to go.)

 

[zipuzee]

Julie - I hope you are feeling better. Sorry you cancelled your trip. I hope things work out and you and Rie get to go to WDW in April.

Sheryl - glad you all had a good trip despite the crowds. And awesome that ya'll met up with Lori and her family.

Lorie - yea for the upgrade! You must be getting really excited now!

I'm definitely a ride chicken; that's why I enjoy WDW so much. I can go on the kiddie rides and have fun, no one laughs at adults on those rides! And thats about all the rides I do.

Guess what?
The Disneyschoolers are going to MK this week for a homeschool day and we don't have passes yet, so we weren't planning on going-BUT I got a wonderful email tonight and someone offered us passes for it!!!!!!!!!!! Her hubby works for the Mouse and she had some extras.

I feel so blessed!

I'm liking it down here!

Thats really great Lori - I knew once ya'll settled in you would be happy! Now, good luck with the closing tomorrow!!

Hi mapmakerj, and welcome! You'll get lots of help from this board. As to your hotel choice, that's not as close to the French Quarter as it appears, its actually in the business district. Its also a good distance from the Aquarium and even farther from Cafe du Monde. Unfortunately, I can't suggest alternatives, but I know the ladies here will chime in with some great suggestions.

 

[TigerKat]

I spoke with Universal's reservation department yesterday. This is the deal with Wizarding World of Harry Potter: If you stay on the Universal grounds, you can use your room key for front of the line access for 2 of the 3 rides there. For Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, you can use your room key for front of the line access only once per day. For the other two rides, you can use your room key over and over again. If you stay on the grounds, you can also arrive 1 hour earlier than the park opens.

This requires just staying on-site, not purchasing the package right?

I'm a roller coaster fanatic, love them all!!!!

 

[shovan]

Hey y'all,

Back to reality is yucky not at all grawesome!

Lori, I hope you the closing is happening now! That's so nice to get passes for a day! Once your in house, things are going to start feeling right!

Kathy, Those pics are (yeah I gotta use the word again) GRAWESOME!!! I am totally drooling over the Blue Zoo pics!!! The only "fancy" place we did was CG, ended up cancelling both Tutto Italia & Le Cellier. Alexis was tired & wanted to go back to the room for pizza & fireworks.

mapmakerj, You might want to take a look at Hotel Monteleone. My DH has a business acquaintance who stays there every time he's in town. He has gotten rates around $89 a night. Which is a reall good price for an historic hotel in the heart of the quarter. I don't know if those rates are available all of the time or not.


Y'all, I have to admit we've never been to Universal. I am not a roller coaster person & DH can't do them, so my only interest there would be staying in POF.

I'm trying to upload some pics to FB, DH put some on his, but the computer is acting quirky.

 

[zipuzee]

Y'all, I have to admit we've never been to Universal. I am not a roller coaster person & DH can't do them, so my only interest there would be staying in POF.

We've never been either. I'm tempted, because I'd like to at least look around the parks, but never seem to work it into our trip.

 

[lori1043]

I have never been to Universal either.

waiting for Harry! My SIL called Universal also and they told her the HP section will probably be open the week before you can get the packages but that official day was May 28th. My SIL decided to wait I beleive.

Thank you!

Well, the money is wired and we got the code to the house- paper signing is tonight at 6:30. it's not like any closing we have had, wherever everyone is at the table with a title agent or lawyer and thier agents.

We wired money to the title agent, she gave us the codes to the lock box, we get the keys and do one last walk through before signing the docs.

Transfered all the utilities and called the AC/Heat guy for changing the thermostat(it's wrong for a heat pump unit) and a few other little things. Gonna buy some black appliances(just about the SAME price as buying a white fridge, we can get a convection oven, microwave and dishwasher) to match our black fridge we already have. Plus a washer/dryer.

We are getting our belongings next Monday. We wanted some time to get all this done, change floors in girls rooms(has nasty dirty carpet) and start the painting!

And MK on Friday!

Love ya'll, Lori

 

[Terry36]

Happy Monday Gang...Today was my 1st day at my new work location. It's so weird not being in a CORPORATE office; I have alot of decompressing to do since I've been in one for 14years. I'll be working from here 2 days a week until I'm officially transfered. The ENTIRE morning was the badging/clearancing process. I feel like I'm going work for the FBI.

Lori - Congrats on signing at 6:30 tonight.

Sounds like a bunch of us will be visiting Universal the upcoming year.

 

[shovan]

I have never been to Universal either.

waiting for Harry! My SIL called Universal also and they told her the HP section will probably be open the week before you can get the packages but that official day was May 28th. My SIL decided to wait I beleive.

Thank you!

Well, the money is wired and we got the code to the house- paper signing is tonight at 6:30. it's not like any closing we have had, wherever everyone is at the table with a title agent or lawyer and thier agents.

We wired money to the title agent, she gave us the codes to the lock box, we get the keys and do one last walk through before signing the docs.

Transfered all the utilities and called the AC/Heat guy for changing the thermostat(it's wrong for a heat pump unit) and a few other little things. Gonna buy some black appliances(just about the SAME price as buying a white fridge, we can get a convection oven, microwave and dishwasher) to match our black fridge we already have. Plus a washer/dryer.

We are getting our belongings next Monday. We wanted some time to get all this done, change floors in girls rooms(has nasty dirty carpet) and start the painting!

And MK on Friday!

Love ya'll, Lori

Yay! I'm so happy for y'all! Weird that the thermostat didn't match the unit. I pray that everything goes smoothly & that there will be no surprises when you start working on the house.

 

[shovan]

Happy Monday Gang...Today was my 1st day at my new work location. It's so weird not being in a CORPORATE office; I have alot of decompressing to do since I've been in one for 14years. I'll be working from here 2 days a week until I'm officially transfered. The ENTIRE morning was the badging/clearancing process. I feel like I'm going work for the FBI.

Congrats on the new job! Who are you working for? ( Sorry I probably missed this. )

 

[TigerKat]

Lori - Praying everything goes smoothly.

Terry - Hoping your job transition goes smoothly as well.

Had my dental crown cemented today, not feeling to well, woke up with a headache then went to the dentist. Talk to yall later.

 

[shovan]

Kathy, Sorry about the dentist & not feeling well!

Here's a few pics from our trip.

Wilderness Lodge

Views from our BLT balcony:

From the window across the hall from our room:

They were both great, but we really loved the fireworks view from our room at the BLT!

 

[Terry36]

Sheryl I absolutely love WL....Aly and I always stay there. Love it at Christmas as well. I PM'd you about the job.

to you Kathy. I hope you feel better.

 

[FloraFauna]

Sheryl, what a beautiful view! It is grawsome That must have been so much fun to watch the fireworks from there.

Kathy, sorry about your tooth. I hope you feel better.

As for the question about Universal/Harry Potter: the room keys will be good at Wizarding World of Harry Potter for guests who stay on the grounds. It is not only for the HP package.

I am going to the dentist tomorrow. I cracked my front botton tooth.

 

[rie'smom]

Kathy, Sorry about the dentist & not feeling well!

Here's a few pics from our trip.

Wilderness Lodge

Views from our BLT balcony:

From the window across the hall from our room:

They were both great, but we really loved the fireworks view from our room at the BLT!

Grawsome pics Sheryl!! The WL is so nice.

Kat, I hope that you feel better.

Y'all have to go to Universal! Consider yourself warned though that it is addictive. Imagine staying on site, going to a separate entrance, and waiting 5 minutes to get on the best rides! We always go at the end of our trips because it is so relaxing to sleep in and not run around like a crazy chicken getting fast passes.

 

[shovan]

Mary, The bellman told us to put the tv on channel 20 when Wishes started. We were able to hear the music, it was totally grawsome!

 

[lori1043]

Yay! I'm so happy for y'all! Weird that the thermostat didn't match the unit. I pray that everything goes smoothly & that there will be no surprises when you start working on the house.

Sheryl- your pics are once again, GRAWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a little tinge of regret not meeting you for "wishes"

We went to the house tonight to get the keys from the lockbox(they gave us the code) as it was rekeyed this past week. The agent is running late. It was cold in the house so we put the heater on and it worked fine. Not sure WHY about the thermostat either. Gonna be calling the inspector tomorrow for more info.

No suprises would be great. You think the inspector should cover all the grounds. I am praying so.

Mary or anyone else with pool experience: what kind of pool vac is needed. I want one that doesn't require me to get IN- is there such a thing? We really know nothing about pools. Paul wants to use a pool guy till we learn to do it ourselves. (Jenny did say something about a pool guy a few weeks back!)

Louie is gonna be planted soon! He is growing a lot!

Lori

 

[portocall]

I have never been to Universal either.

waiting for Harry! My SIL called Universal also and they told her the HP section will probably be open the week before you can get the packages but that official day was May 28th. My SIL decided to wait I beleive.

Thank you!

Well, the money is wired and we got the code to the house- paper signing is tonight at 6:30. it's not like any closing we have had, wherever everyone is at the table with a title agent or lawyer and thier agents.

We wired money to the title agent, she gave us the codes to the lock box, we get the keys and do one last walk through before signing the docs.

Transfered all the utilities and called the AC/Heat guy for changing the thermostat(it's wrong for a heat pump unit) and a few other little things. Gonna buy some black appliances(just about the SAME price as buying a white fridge, we can get a convection oven, microwave and dishwasher) to match our black fridge we already have. Plus a washer/dryer.

We are getting our belongings next Monday. We wanted some time to get all this done, change floors in girls rooms(has nasty dirty carpet) and start the painting!

And MK on Friday!

Love ya'll, Lori

Congratulations on your new home! And MK on Friday, lucky you. That reminded me of what might be considered a funny story round these parts. In the late 80's, early 90's McDonalds was doing their Monopoly game. As usual they had many instant win coupons, usually the standard burger or fries. We had McDonalds every Friday as a tradition once my sister got sick... so the first week, I pull a piece off my cup and I got Boardwalk and MK. So I thought, damn, like I want a free milk. Saved it though. Next week, both my sisters got a playing piece and MK. So fast forward to week three. My mom orders three milks. Lady at the counter looks at them and says do you still want the milk, these are free tickets to the Magic Kingdom So, since you are in Florida, just so you know, MK is Disney tickets at McDonalds (and includes nothing but the ticket)... like I need to tell you what MK means

Kathy, Sorry about the dentist & not feeling well!

Here's a few pics from our trip.

Wilderness Lodge

Views from our BLT balcony:

From the window across the hall from our room:

They were both great, but we really loved the fireworks view from our room at the BLT!

Totally grawsome pics. I love them. Ya know, universal isn't all rollercoasters, and my sister did it in a wheelchair for years and it was very easy to navigate. You and Bob might actually really like it. Being honest, I prefer the Studios to IOA (which is coaster heavy, but I enjoyed it despite not riding them) as I always thought it was superior to Hollywood Studios (ahem MGM)

 

[portocall]

Sheryl- your pics are once again, GRAWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a little tinge of regret not meeting you for "wishes"

We went to the house tonight to get the keys from the lockbox(they gave us the code) as it was rekeyed this past week. The agent is running late. It was cold in the house so we put the heater on and it worked fine. Not sure WHY about the thermostat either. Gonna be calling the inspector tomorrow for more info.

No suprises would be great. You think the inspector should cover all the grounds. I am praying so.

Mary or anyone else with pool experience: what kind of pool vac is needed. I want one that doesn't require me to get IN- is there such a thing? We really know nothing about pools. Paul wants to use a pool guy till we learn to do it ourselves. (Jenny did say something about a pool guy a few weeks back!)

Louie is gonna be planted soon! He is growing a lot!

Lori

Sorry, I couldn't help it. I think the brand most people I know who have inground pools use is called a Polaris. They don't require you to get in the pool (algea scrubbing on the other hand does) you just pull on the hose and program it. I don't let kids swim while it is in the pool however for safety sake. Tanglement issues as they are fun to play with and race with but don't ask how I know that. Hope this helps some.

 

[Ms Marigny]

Hey y'all!

Erik and I are in phlegm hell...hack, hack, cough all day long. I hope this means the virus is on its way out though.

Sheryl- Grawesome pics! That MK view is fabulous! And the Wilderness Lodge looks just beautiful!

Cara- We stayed at RPR twice and Loved, loved, LOVED it!! The pool is awesome, the landscaping is just gorgeous, and you can't beat being able to walk to the parks and have front of the line access. Even though the resort is the least expensive of the three, it is on par with a Disney deluxe resort.

We are also rollercoaster weenies but love Universal/IOA! There is plenty to do other than the big coasters (we've never ridden on the Hulk or Dueling Dragons). We haven't been back the past few years because it isn't very baby friendly, but we plan to return when Erik is around 4 or so (tall enough to ride some rides).

Lori- Congrats on the house! And MK on Friday- lucky girl! You're making me want to come steal that house more and more...