Metro New Orleans DISers - check in!!! - Part II

[MrsKreamer]

We are going to stay at Pop when we go. The option for us was to either stay in a Mod for 4/5 nights or a value for 8/9 nights. I know the rooms are small but so are my boys. I figure when they get bigger we will start staying at a Mod or offsite.

We stayed at BC for our honeymoon and I thought it wasn't worth it. I found that the CMs were nicer at the Mods and not much difference in the rooms.

I worked at AS Sports in 2001 and I loved it there. We were just allowed to have fun.

Wherever you decide to stay, Kathy, I am sure you will be fine!


Everyone have a nice day!

 

[arminnie]

Sheryl - sorry you are still not totally out of pain. Glad though that it does seem to have helped some.

Kathy - I will be thinking of you with respect to your mother and Katrina. While I was in New Orleans last week it all just seemed so normal (tons of rain though but I kind of expect those downpours in the summer). I made myself totally empty my freezer "just in case".

My mother has been gone 10 years - I still miss her. My cousin sent me a birthday card that had a picture of all the "sisters" in it - all seven of them in shorts at a park. It was probably in the 50s. Only 3 are left. Miss them all.

Peggy - what great information you have. I stayed at AS Music many, many years ago with the cousin I mentioned above and her mother. We had a blast and didn't spend much time in the room.

I stayed at POP a couple of years ago and really liked it. Yeah the rooms are small, but I am not the type to loll around my room a lot anyway.

I drove back to Little Rock on Wednesday - light rain most of the way, but not really a bad drive.

I should be packing right now. I drive to Fayetteville (3 hours) , pick up a friend and then we leave Sunday am for Minneapolis for almost 2 weeks. I am taking my dad's van. Mall of America here I come.

Of course because I am not have to go by airline restrictions I am taking almost everything I own. It will be hot and cold. I have dressy and casual stuff to do. I need it all. I think I've packed 5 purses!

Jenny - good luck with Jack.

 

[arminnie]

I didnt quite now what to expect , so I was a little put off on HOW FAR you had to park away from rooms etc.

Hope you find this story as funny as we did:

When my cousin, aunt and I went to WDW in the 90s they had rented a car before I got there and picked me up at the airport.
I was flying in from San Francisco so it was dark by the time we checked in - really am not sure if it was Music or Movie. The parking lot seemed so far away from the buildings that we were just sure there was a way to get closer.

So my cousin goes down this little road and ends up on a big street with a taxi out front - an old time kind of taxi. We thought how nice that the Orlando taxicab company found such cute cabs.

My aunt and I get out and go upstairs. We were getting a few odd looks. My cousin proceed to exit - or to try to exit. We had NOT been on a real street but on one of the "fake streets". She ended up driving on the sidewalk AROUND THE POOL about 3 times with strangers watching in horror!

She finally got out to the parking lot - very traumatized. The next morning from the second floor we could look out in the daylight and see the GOLF CART PATH that we had mistaken for a road in the dark. I thought that we were going to fall off the balcony laughing at our stupidity. We still joke about it more than a decade later.

 

[Ms Marigny]

Hey Kathy .. We stayed at Pop last yr for one night. It was fine, nothing fancy, fun to look at all the crazy decorations.
I didnt quite now what to expect , so I was a little put off on HOW FAR you had to park away from rooms etc. Im a bell hop , valet kinda girl when it comes to staying at hotels so it was kinda a surprise for me lol. I was also surprised at the amount of people they packed into those places ... the food courts were crazy!
Also the buses were NUTS so I would never stay there with out a car.
The food court was actually pretty good and from what Ive read Its the nicest of all the values.

With all that being said , I dont hate the values, I just wasnt expecting how BIG the areas were and how tiny the rooms were lol. It was clean and neat and exactly what we needed for a bargain. We are staying at All star Music
this time around, I was told they just finished updating all the rooms last yr. All the others its been about 3 yr since updates.
I do wish we were going to be back at Fort Wilderness this yr , but Ill save that for 2010!

This is pretty much my assessment too of our stay at Pop. What bothered us the most was how far away we were from the parking lot. Since we drove and had DD with us, we had a LOT of loot to haul to the room! DH said never again. Otherwise, it was fine, a fun resort and the food court was good (although crowded).

 

[TigerKat]

Tricia - That is too funny....

Thanks for all the value info!! I'm pretty sure we're going to choose Pop, since we have another trip scheduled for Oct '09. We're not going to be in the room much, we may not even hit all of the parks. We'll be watching baseball and probably doing the water parks.

 

[lucas]

Kathy, if you want to be close to the Wide World of Sports - the All Stars or Pop are the way to go. If you stay at POP - don't let them put you the 90's - that is the farthest away from everything. We always ask for the 50's (not preferred) and it has worked out for us.

Just us, but we think the rooms at POFQ are the same as POP. And it depends on how lucky you are with your room location cause for us, after we parked it was still a long walk to our room.

arminnie, that story is just too funny!

 

[ilovejack02]

Tricia... Thats just to freaking funny!

 

[TigerKat]

Kathy, if you want to be close to the Wide World of Sports - the All Stars or Pop are the way to go. If you stay at POP - don't let them put you the 90's - that is the farthest away from everything. We always ask for the 50's (not preferred) and it has worked out for us.

Thanks for the great tip Peggy!

 

[kmores]

Good morning guys.....Today would be my Mom's birthday so I'll be heading to the cemetary on my way to the gym. Mom's birthday always leads into Katrina so I may be a little out of touch for the next week or so.

hugs - I lost my mom 10 years ago (2 days before my birthday) so I have some idea how it feels PM if you need to vent

 

[kmores]

The All Star Resorts and Pop Century are both close to the Wide World of Sports area. The All Stars are much farther out for getting to the parks - it is a very long bus ride anywhere you are going other than the Sports Complex. Plus each All Star resort has their own small food court. They are all on the same bus route, so which ever one you get on or off at, you have to stop at all the other All Star resorts, too.

But..... my brother has played in WDW softball tournaments several times and all the teams have stayed at the All Star Resorts. The Wide World of Sports Complex has their own website: http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage&bhcp=1

We love Pop Century. It is close to the Sports Complex, too. They have one of the best resort food courts - it is huge. Plus they have their own buses so you don't have to stop anywhere else. And they are in a good location - much closer to get to the parks or anywhere else in the World. We are staying at Pop Century when we go in a few weeks.

Fingers crossed for you guys!

that's why we are staying at Pop in November - cause of the bus issue. the food court is nice - try to get a preferred room close to the front if you can because it IS a big complex and I think only has a bus stop at the front....but you won't be in the room much because you will be at games or in the parks and the rooms are really not any different that moderate rooms so why pay more?

 

[kmores]

Hello all!

So sorry ive been off the boards this week, its been crazy! Jack started school and I started a new job that came on quite suddenly.

Kathy... hope you had a good day, I cant imagine how hard this was for you today! to you!

We have had a bad week with Mr. Jack. He was rotten everyday this week at school, yelled at the teacher, slapped a cpl of kids ( the teacher said she understood because the kids in question were being bad too, but he needs to learn control DUHH??!!) , disrupted class, would not do class work etc.
He is such an angel with us and any time he has spent with our friends, Im so confused . Everyone I talk to who knows him doesnt understand.. no one has ever seen him act like this.
Today we get a call from the Principal.. she wants to place him in first grade??!! She tested him today and discovered he is prob on a second grade level in reading and language.

I have spent this last week trying to decide if I need to home school or keep him at his school. So much confusion!! Im getting ready to yank him out and homeschool, I should have went my gut in the first place and not listened to anyone but Lori LOL.

Three more weeks till vacation, I think we need it!

sounds like he is gifted and just bored? may not handle change well though either ... hang in there!!!

dd bit a boy at school this week....sigh she is in 3rd grade so this is not a good thing. she did this once last year too.

 

[kmores]

Hey y'all!

Well I finally got off of my butt and started packing today. I have to pack slowly and gradually- if I do it all at once I overthink everything and get stressed about it. I also went to Target to buy the last of the stuff we need for the trip with DD singing "Frere Jacques" all through the store (in French toddler babble, thank you very much ). Good times, good times. Only 13 days left!

Kathy- Wow, another trip! How awesome!! Hopefully it will take your mind off of things.

Hey lucas! Thanks for the map! Since we're doing a split stay, it is good to see where POR and CBR are in relation to each other. We're driving, and DH and I both have terrible sense of direction. Yep, we'd even get lost on Disney property even with all of those signs around.

Jenny- I can imagine how nerve-wracking it must be with the school first reporting bad behavior from Jack and then wanting to move him up a grade. Maybe he is bored and therefore cutting up? I will say that I understand your hesitation with the homeschooling in regards to the opinions of others- when I told a friend we were thinking of homeschooling Sienna, she looked at me like I had two heads and told me what a horrible idea that was, that DD would never be properly socialized and be weird, etc, etc. I can imagine that must be some of the reactions you've been getting too. But you gotta do what's best for your family- that is what matters the most. I hope it all works out.

wish I was going with you to Disney! can I just sleep on the floor?!?

there is a homeschool group in New Orleans called CHEF I think - my friend is the president of it. the people are mostly church folk but it could help you have some resources if you aren't already in it. they do PE and other activities together so you can have that "socialization" for the kids and other parents. one of my friends has like 6 kids and is expecting twins. again!

 

[kmores]

Well this fall we start applying and campaigning to get Sienna into one of the charter schools. If she doesn't get in, then we will seriously start thinking about homeschooling. I may be talking to Lori plenty then!

my niece was at Lutcher (I think that is it - near broadway uptown). I got to pick her up a few times and the after school program was INCREDIBLE - they had reading buddies and real educational activities vs. just being a babysitting thing. I figure if they were that on the ball with just their afterschool program, they must be an awesome place to learn!

 

[kmores]

wow a lot to read through after 2 days! going to a party in BR today - jewelry, mineral makeup and a little fun with gals from high school!

 

[TigerKat]

Hey Lorie -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

 

[lucas]

Hey Kat,

Just had another thought about being close to the Wide World of Sports. You don't have to go value.
What about Caribbean Beach or...... Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Peg

 

[TigerKat]

Hey Kat,

Just had another thought about being close to the Wide World of Sports. You don't have to go value.
What about Caribbean Beach or...... Animal Kingdom Lodge?

Peg

Well since we have another long trip in October '09 I'm thinking about $$$, it's a big difference, no?


By the way -

GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!

 

[Camping Cat]

there is a homeschool group in New Orleans called CHEF I think - my friend is the president of it. the people are mostly church folk but it could help you have some resources if you aren't already in it. they do PE and other activities together so you can have that "socialization" for the kids and other parents. one of my friends has like 6 kids and is expecting twins. again!

I have been playing with the idea of homeschooling my granddaughter when she is ready. I would really be interested in any info your friend might be able to pass on. I'll check out CHEF and see if I can find anything. If anyone has any info to share, please PM me.

 

[lori1043]

Hey gals. Columbus was nice and we know nothing more that that right now! More on it later though.

To all the those considering homeschooling....
I KNOW people look down to homeschooling. I must admit it was VERY daunting at first. But I followed my heart and took the less traveled path and it reaps GREAT rewards. NOW, I will admit that everyday ain't all flowery and pretty. There are many days that I wondered why in the world I'd do this to myself or my kids. Everyone (except 1 who did homeschool her daughter in the past) I work with looks at me like I am an alien. It IS very uncomfy, but I work for the grocery $$ and a little for a vacation here and there. I am not there for acceptance from people whom I admire and like, but who don't get it and maybe never will. I AM an advocate of homeschooling, but I definitely do NOT think it is for everyone. I DO think, in MVHO, that there are specifics that MUST be met for it to be successful. Here they are-

• hubby is on board-A #1, you will NEED the support on those aforementioned yucky days, know it is right for YOUR family
• if it is truly in your heart to do it, all the naysayers will not bug you-as much, anyway! Just go to the Dis homeschool boards for good "lines" to respond with! I have gotten some doozies. Mostly, I just say, "it works for our family" or to really get someone off my back, I say, "we do it for religious reasons" which is very much just a sliver of our personal reasons for doing it! I could go on and on about the socialization though-but know this, there are studies that prove homeschoolers transition to college much easier b/c the already know how to be independent studiers. I am NOT saying brick and mortar school kids all do not have this gift, but I know I didn't!
• Have fun with it-school isn't just about books and worksheets-esp in the younger years. Field trips and travel are a BIG deal of schooling. We used our EPCOT days and a Chicago trip day or2 as school days-and we were on vacation.

I do know family and friends will think you are a nut, but hey, they probably think it anyway about our love for Disney!! Just tell them it will give you more chances for vacations in OFF SEASON when the parks are much less busy(this is a perk!). If they think socialization is being addressed in the schools, well , I personally beg to differ. I DO realize they will have more friends in the school system, but I also know that my kids have closer relationships with the really good , IF fewer, friends. I know this may sound like I am keeping them in a bubble, but I feel ,as a parent, we have more control over the type kids they befriend. In fact, you have more of the opposite problem that friends in the school system. I was telling this to Jenny, but there are families who homeschool who are doing it only for religious aspects(which I find nothing wrong with, but not my style) and don't participate in Halloween, or Harry Potter, or Mardi Gras, or even Disney, which we DO all of these. You are going to find dual parent, fundamentalist(right word?, not sure) Christian families, who may offend you(unfortunately) in the opposite way you imagined. BUT, on a great note, it gives you and your kid lessons on how to deal with it. My very best homeschool friend is like that and we respect each others boundaries(or lack thereof on my part according to her) and I love this girl. She has been a mentor to me in my homeschool journey. She is going to WDW for the 1st time next year b/c they used to never DO WDW. I am rubbing off on her now!

Okay I know this is long and SO off topic and off thread, but I will say this one last thing...
I have seen wonderful, deep relationships happen b/t kids and parents who homeschool. It is very personal and NOT wierd!! The graduation made me want to homeschool all the way through. Not that they don't go off to college and do their own thing. But I digress and take it one year at a time as that is what is good for us.

If anyone needs to talk, please PM me and I'll give you my cell #.

Lori

 

[Terry36]

So what will you guys be doing tomorrow during the rain?