****Official August 2014 Thread****

[Pirate princess 2]

In addition to rotating my shoes everyday, I also learned that at the end of August whatever shoe I wore was going to get soaked in the afternoon rain. I didn't mind. It helped to cool me down.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Ok! I think I've got everyone updated!!!

If you don't see your trip on page 1 and would like to be added, please feel free to PM me with your resort and dates!

I'll be double digit dancing this week....

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I'll be double digit dancing this week....

Me tooooooooo!

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

I'll be double digit dancing this week....

Us too! Today is 104 days

 

[Dwheels]

We are at 111 days

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Us too! Today is 104 days

From the look of our tickers, I think you, me and Mousemommy all arrive on the same day . Thanks for posting your number of days....now I don't have to look mine up! (lazy Sunday and all )

 

[WAHkoMom]

I'll be doing the double-digit dance this week, too!!

103 days until we head out!!

 

[KarmaLady]

We are staying at AKL for the first time in a deluxe! So excited! We'll be there Aug 21-28! I'm so flip flopping on whether to get the DDP now. My kids (dd6 and ds8) don't eat much but it would be nice to have the money already paid. Any opinions out there?

 

[Disneylover99]

We are staying at AKL for the first time in a deluxe! So excited! We'll be there Aug 21-28! I'm so flip flopping on whether to get the DDP now. My kids (dd6 and ds8) don't eat much but it would be nice to have the money already paid. Any opinions out there?

I would maybe pay for the ddp if I was planning on doing buffets everyday. I think that's the only way you'll really come out ahead. Otherwise, I would just calculate the price of the ddp for your family for a week, then take the money it would cost and put it on Disney Gift cards. That way, it's kind of prepaid, but you're not tied to the parameters of the dining plan and you can order whatever you want, without feeling forced to use up credits.

 

[nblake05]

We are staying at AKL for the first time in a deluxe! So excited! We'll be there Aug 21-28! I'm so flip flopping on whether to get the DDP now. My kids (dd6 and ds8) don't eat much but it would be nice to have the money already paid. Any opinions out there?

I know it's a matter of some debate, but, personally, DH and I LOVE the DDP. I think it's a personal choice that hinges on certain factors, like eating habits, financial issues and touring style. We like to eat, to try new restaurants and new food. Plus, we eat about every three hours. We like both TS and CS. We don't mind taking the time out of our day to sit down for a meal, but neither do we mind grabbing something quick. I've done the math on past visits and given what we ordered using the DP, it more than paid for itself. The question is, if we had been paying out of pocket, would we have ordered that appetizer or that dessert...would our meal have then actually cost less? Maybe. I have certain issues when it comes to money (stemming from growing up with out any), so I WILL nickel and dime us! For me the DDP makes it so I don't have to...makes it feel like an all-inclusive vacation. For me, it's worth it to go on vacation and not have to worry about how much a snack costs or should I order that appetizer; even if doesn't fully pay for itself in dollars and cents, it more than pays for it in my piece of mind. The suggestion of putting money on gift cards is a good one! But we like to pay for our trip in full when we book. I don't want to worry about saving a bunch more money... I'd rather just know my WHOLE trip is paid for and I'm good to go!

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We are staying at AKL for the first time in a deluxe! So excited! We'll be there Aug 21-28! I'm so flip flopping on whether to get the DDP now. My kids (dd6 and ds8) don't eat much but it would be nice to have the money already paid. Any opinions out there?

You can figure it out ahead of time to see if it is cost effective for you. We did the DDP once and will never do it again. The adult DDP is about $60.50. Even if you go to a dinner that cost $45 a person, a $10 CS and a $4 snack. you are just shy of $60. The DDP gives you two desserts a day - that is a lot of sweets. We don't eat desserts at lunch and dinner. You would have to eat at high end restaurants everyday and I still don't think you will get to $60. Since this doesn't include tips - that is extra. I understand about paying it ahead of time but if it costs you money to do it why not save the money.

I am sure some people come ahead but I know Disney makes out on the majority of people on the DDP.

 

[coloredimage]

We love the DDP but it's because we're big into food and going to the restaurants around Disney.

With that said, we use it so that we've already paid for big meals. For example, this year we did some math and decided to pay OoP for some of our meals because they aren't worth the DDP - we'll be paying for Kona, Sci-Fi, and the Plaza. On the flip side, it allows us to eat at restaurants that we wouldn't normally be able to afford in our budget if we hadn't paid ahead of time in payment plans - CRT, Le Cellier, and Brown Derby. So it's a coin toss. I'd figure out where you want to eat and how much it would cost you, then figure out the pricing for the DDP and see which is more affordable for you.

 

[jmulvaney]

We did the DDP once and won't do it again. It was just too much food for us, especially in the heat of a Florida summer! We like to share and graze, even in nice restaurants. An app, entree, and dessert is just too much most times for us personally. Gift cards is a wonderful idea--I'm going to start buying some!

 

[Dwheels]

We used to get the DDP all the time until the prices went up! It used to cost only $35 a day per adult and $10 for a child which back then also included appetizer and tip! Now it's $60 for an adult and almost $20 for a child does not include tip or appetizer! Def not worth it for my family! It's way too much food and I feel that it dictates my vacation way too much! When we went in august 2 years ago I kept track of everything we ate that would of been on the DDP. Now we are a family of 4 kids back then were 9 and 5 we were there for 8 nights the dining plan would of cost us over $1100. We spent $785 for all of our food for the week! Now remember that doesn't include alcohol or tip but neither does the DDP! We ate at all the restaurants we love in ding flying fish! I think the DDP is just way too expensive and it takes a lot of food now for it to pay for itself!

 

[DISNEY180]

I hope it is OK to ask this here (don't want to go OT), but when I read shoe/sandal recommendation threads, there are people responding who have gone at different times of the year. When we went during the winter, it was easy- my best supportive sneakers. ( 2 pairs, rotated) But since our last summer trip years ago, I have had back problems and an episode of plantar fasciitis. So I thought, who better to ask for advice than summer trippers? Any recommendations?

I have chronic Planter fasciitis (both feet) so I understand the concerns. I bring at least 3 pairs of shoes, two pairs of in shoe Orthotics as they also need to switched, and trade them out daily. I sit alot (people watch and chat with whomever sits beside me) as the pavement takes a toll on the PF and if possible have a day off from the parks. If you have if it in your budget you might want to consider renting an electric wheelchair if gets too much, that way you can still enjoy the parks but not the pounding.

At the resort I also keep a frozen water bottle so I can roll it under my feet as it helps with the inflamation and just feels good..

 

[Mrs. M. Mouse]

From the look of our tickers, I think you, me and Mousemommy all arrive on the same day . Thanks for posting your number of days....now I don't have to look mine up! (lazy Sunday and all )

Lol the countdown stares at me when I turn on my phone and iPad ;-).

Time to start thinking about FP+ as we finalized our magic bands yesterday. We'll each get 2 sets this time (POR and CR) so we got different colors. The unfortunate part is being from Canada they don't ship lol.


QOTD: what are your FP+ priorities for each park?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DISNEY180]

Lol the countdown stares at me when I turn on my phone and iPad ;-).

Time to start thinking about FP+ as we finalized our magic bands yesterday. We'll each get 2 sets this time (POR and CR) so we got different colors. The unfortunate part is being from Canada they don't ship lol.


QOTD: what are your FP+ priorities for each park?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I have to do!!!

HS - RNR
MK- Space Mountain
AK- Early morning Safari
EP- Test Track

I see you are doing two resorts too. Did you put different names on your MB for each stay? OR just colours?

 

[Mousemommy1]

Lol the countdown stares at me when I turn on my phone and iPad ;-).

Time to start thinking about FP+ as we finalized our magic bands yesterday. We'll each get 2 sets this time (POR and CR) so we got different colors. The unfortunate part is being from Canada they don't ship lol.


QOTD: what are your FP+ priorities for each park?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

MK = Anna/Elsa M & G, Mine Train, Space Mountain
EP = Soarin' and Test Track
HS = ToT, RnR, TSM
AK = Everest, Safari, FOTLK show

I was actually on vacation all last week, so today is my 1st day back to work, and I brought my planning binder with me, so I can tweak away at my plans.

 

[DISNEY180]

MK = Anna/Elsa M & G, Mine Train, Space Mountain
EP = Soarin' and Test Track
HS = ToT, RnR, TSM
AK = Everest, Safari, FOTLK show

I was actually on vacation all last week, so today is my 1st day back to work, and I brought my planning binder with me, so I can tweak away at my plans.

What is a planning binder??

 

[Mousemommy1]

What is a planning binder??

It's a binder that I create for every trip that has all of the information and planning materials for each trip in it. I'm a little OCD.