OFFICIAL JULY 2009 THREAD!!! (Part 2) It's here!!

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I didn't realize you could fly out of Long Beach to Orlando!! Which airline? We flew Delta and got a great rate of $250 round-trip.

That is a great rate.

I'm flying JetBlue.

 

[PopArtGal]

Hey Everyone!
We just got back last night and DDs and I had a great time. The three of us agreed that it was less crowded than we expected! The wait time for Test Track was 90 minutes; Haunted Mansion hovered around a 20 minute wait time and oftentimes, we were able to walk right onto rides: Pirates, Peter Pan during EMH a.m., Splash during EMH late hours. Overall, it didn't seem too crowded!

The weather was quite muggy for us California girls but we were saved by our Misty Mate/O2Cool and our two cases of Costco water. The last two days were very hot/humid with very little rain.

We loved the EMH and stayed until 2 a.m. at MK on Friday! We were in MK until 1 a.m. on Sunday night and DDs were able to ride Splash 3 consecutive times without having to get off! I should have ridden as I served as a table service "meal" for the mosquitoes! And, have discovered I am very allergic to WDW mosquitoes!

We had a great time: loved POFQ, had a great meal at HBD w/Fantasmic, and totally loved the Keys to the Kingdom tour @ MK. We had a great guide who loves Disneyland as much as we do so he made sure to reference DL throughout the tour. We were able to go backstage to watch dancers rehearsing for the parade and then later saw all of them in the parade and then after the parade. Truly magical to see the "backstage" workings of MK.

We were at the parks at either rope drop or EMH morning hours and enjoyed the morning EMH as we were able to ride 3 or more rides within that hour. Only did AK for one day as we were able to accomplish everything we planned there and chose to spend more time at MK/Epcot/DHS. Loved Parkhopping as we were sometimes in 3 parks in one day (we had a rental car)

We looked for LGMH but didn't see any except for the Logo on the black eco bag which can be purchased throughout the parks for only 9.95 w/a purchase of $40.

I'll be happy to answer any questions; we are in San Diego right now and hope to head home to the hot Central Valley this evening. We truly were sad to leave the World!!

Soo cool!

We are doing the Key tour on July 21. Can't wait!

Anyone else??

We are doing the firs tour of the day.

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

I think I actually prefer hot/dry versus hot/humid! DDs are now San Diegans so it was definitely weather-shock for them! Our misting fan and searching out "cool" spots saved us!

Oh yeah, I'll take hot/dry over hot/humid any day! I lived in southern and central California and then Utah for years -- it definitely gets hot there but it's dry. Here in the south it's hot and humid and that gets to be just plain miserable.

 

[PopArtGal]

Temps look great!! I was expecting more like 100 degrees!

Agreed.

Plus I'm not worried about the thunderstorms.

It seems that in July they always announce thunderstorms.

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

Agreed.

Plus I'm not worried about the thunderstorms.

It seems that in July they always announce thunderstorms.

I'm used to afternoon scattered thunderstorms -- we get those "pop up" afternoon summer storms all the time here in Georgia. What I don't want is the downpour that lasts for hours!

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

We used Disney transportation for MK but drove to all the others. We did use the boat from POFQ to DTD on our first night as we didn't check-in until after 7 p.m. We also used the bus to AK, then to AKL, then back to AK to transfer to a Dolphin bus to pick-up the car. Whenever we went to a park later in the day or for late EMH, we were always able to get close parking and were always quickly picked up by the tram. I liked having the car as we could make spontaneous decisions as to where to eat or get a snack. We were on the QSDP so we weren't tied into many TS meals.

Thanks so much! I'm second guessing so many things right now...to early EMH or not...to drive or use the buses/monorails...UGH! I hate second guessing myself. LOL I just need to get there and start enjoying our vacation.

Where is the International Gateway entrance at EPCOT?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

...to early EMH or not...

I talked to Mindy for a bit this morning. She said that EMH have been packed (at least the late EMH, I can't remember what she said about the early EMH). She also said that they've spent too much time "hopping" between parks.

I told her I'm glad I went with the anti-EMH & anti-hopping plan.

 

[PopArtGal]

I'm used to afternoon scattered thunderstorms -- we get those "pop up" afternoon summer storms all the time here in Georgia. What I don't want is the downpour that lasts for hours!

It's been raining most days here.

And it's not hot.

We have no summer in Quebec right now lol

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

I talked to Mindy for a bit this morning. She said that EMH have been packed (at least the late EMH, I can't remember what she said about the early EMH). She also said that they've spent too much time "hopping" between parks.

I told her I'm glad I went with the anti-EMH & anti-hopping plan.

OK, then I'll stop second-guessing my anti-EMH plan. I do have park hoppers but don't know if we'll use them or not. Since we're going on the special military tickets, it only cost me $25 per person to add park hoppers to our five day tickets, so I did it just so we would have the option if we wanted it.

 

[NJBILL]

I'm used to afternoon scattered thunderstorms -- we get those "pop up" afternoon summer storms all the time here in Georgia. What I don't want is the downpour that lasts for hours!

Well, According to the National Weather Serivce in Orlando, Saturday thru Next Wednesday should have a "normal chance of precipitation"...After Wednesday,there could be a greater chance..

SAT-WED...THE SFC RIDGE AXIS WILL STAY SOUTH OF THE AREA THIS
WEEKEND AS THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH REMAINS ENTRENCHED OVER THE
EASTERN U.S. ADDITIONALLY...ANOTHER FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE
SOUTHEAST AND APPROACH NORTHERN FLORIDA OVER THE WEEKEND AND BECOME
STATIONARY NORTH OF THE AREA BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. A DOMINANT W/SW
FLOW WILL BE PRESENT ACROSS THE AREA WHICH SHOULD DELAY THE EAST
COAST SEA BREEZE AND FOCUS CONVECTION ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE
FLORIDA PENINSULA INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. SOMEWHAT LOWER PWATS...MORE
TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...1.6 TO 1.7"...WILL PRODUCE NORMAL
RAIN CHANCES OF 30-50% EACH DAY.

THE GFS IS MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH BUILDING STRONG UPPER RIDGE
WESTWARD ACROSS THE ATLC WHICH STEERS AN EASTERLY WAVE ACROSS FL
MIDWEEK BRINGING ENHANCED RAINFALL CHANCES. BUT THE 00Z ECMWF
REMAINS CONSISTENT IN KEEPING A SHARP UPPER TROUGH OVER THE
EASTERN CONUS AND PULLING THE EASTERLY WAVE N/NW EAST OF
FLORIDA...KEEPING THE HEAVIEST PCPN OVER THE ATLC.

 

[Itinkso]

Thanks so much! I'm second guessing so many things right now...to early EMH or not...to drive or use the buses/monorails...UGH! I hate second guessing myself. LOL I just need to get there and start enjoying our vacation.

Where is the International Gateway entrance at EPCOT?

The Gateway is located between the Boardwalk and the Beach Club. When you enter Epcot you are right across from the Fish & Chips/England. We used the Gateway when we wanted to do World Showcase and used the boats to get from Epcot to DHS for our Sci-Fi ressie and then returned.

EMH: We didn't think it was bad at all as we used to do the Early Entry at DL. At DHS, there was always a long line for RnRC even during EMH but we used fast passes. We thought the morning EMH was better than the later EMH due to non-resort guests packing the ride lines before the standard closing time. But after an hour, the lines thinned down to just resort guests.

 

[NJBILL]

2 to go...

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

2 to go...

1 more for me...and I'm thinking I might just have to leave work a bit early tomorrow because I have so much to get done.

Thanks for the weather info, by the way!

 

[trennr]

2 to go...

 

[HicksWDW]

I'm used to afternoon scattered thunderstorms -- we get those "pop up" afternoon summer storms all the time here in Georgia. What I don't want is the downpour that lasts for hours!

I agree!!

Well I just got off the phone with UPS & the Disney Store. I was trying to find a way to get our personalized T-shirts to us for our trip. As it is, the package was scheduled to arrive on Monday, the day we are going to be in WDW! UPS told me that I could have the package held at the UPS Service Center (the place it goes before it gets loaded on the truck) and I could go pick it up myself. But, there was not guarantee that it would arrive there the Friday before we left. Or I could have the package shipped to our resort at Disney. But, any changes made with shipping would have to be done by the shipper - the Disney Store. So, I called them and spoke to a CM named Portia - really nice. I explained everything to her and she said that she thought it would be better if we have the package sent to our resort - POP Century. So, I gave her our reservation number so they could link it back to us. She said that the package might actually arrive at our resort before the 20th... How is that possible? I mean why would it take longer for it to get to my house instead of WDW which is 6 hours further away. I told her I didn't care as long as it arrived there while we were "there". So, now I am waiting for a supervisor to call me back with the expected arrival date and any price increases. I sure hope she doesn't give me a date that is after we leave!!! We shall see! Sorry so long. I just needed to vent some! Afterall, it is their fault the delivery date was rescheduled to a later date!!

 

[Born 2B a Princess]

I agree!!

Well I just got off the phone with UPS & the Disney Store. I was trying to find a way to get our personalized T-shirts to us for our trip. As it is, the package was scheduled to arrive on Monday, the day we are going to be in WDW! UPS told me that I could have the package held at the UPS Service Center (the place it goes before it gets loaded on the truck) and I could go pick it up myself. But, there was not guarantee that it would arrive there the Friday before we left. Or I could have the package shipped to our resort at Disney. But, any changes made with shipping would have to be done by the shipper - the Disney Store. So, I called them and spoke to a CM named Portia - really nice. I explained everything to her and she said that she thought it would be better if we have the package sent to our resort - POP Century. So, I gave her our reservation number so they could link it back to us. She said that the package might actually arrive at our resort before the 20th... How is that possible? I mean why would it take longer for it to get to my house instead of WDW which is 6 hours further away. I told her I didn't care as long as it arrived there while we were "there". So, now I am waiting for a supervisor to call me back with the expected arrival date and any price increases. I sure hope she doesn't give me a date that is after we leave!!! We shall see! Sorry so long. I just needed to vent some! Afterall, it is their fault the delivery date was rescheduled to a later date!!

I hope they're able to work it out so the shirts are delivered while you're there!

 

[HicksWDW]

I hope they're able to work it out so the shirts are delivered while you're there!

Thank you!

I also went out and finally got some medicine for my chest congestion and some vitamin C drops. I want this cold gone so I can enjoy my trip!

I decided to email my TA to find out why I STILL had not received my Mickey Mail yet. She said that her mail carrier accidentally kept her outgoing mail (which contained my info.) in the back of his truck. She inquired about it since other customers including myself had begun to question where their documents were. Anyway, she said that she mailed it personally and it should arrive tomorrow. So my question to you all just in case it doesn't arrive, what exactly is in the Mickey mail? Does it contain pertinent information needed to finalize or confirm our reservation? I just don't want to show up at Pop on Monday and everything not be complete. KWIM??

 

[PopArtGal]

Thank you!

I also went out and finally got some medicine for my chest congestion and some vitamin C drops. I want this cold gone so I can enjoy my trip!

I decided to email my TA to find out why I STILL had not received my Mickey Mail yet. She said that her mail carrier accidentally kept her outgoing mail (which contained my info.) in the back of his truck. She inquired about it since other customers including myself had begun to question where their documents were. Anyway, she said that she mailed it personally and it should arrive tomorrow. So my question to you all just in case it doesn't arrive, what exactly is in the Mickey mail? Does it contain pertinent information needed to finalize or confirm our reservation? I just don't want to show up at Pop on Monday and everything not be complete. KWIM??

It mostly has vouchers in it.

 

[Itinkso]

Thank you!

I also went out and finally got some medicine for my chest congestion and some vitamin C drops. I want this cold gone so I can enjoy my trip!

I decided to email my TA to find out why I STILL had not received my Mickey Mail yet. She said that her mail carrier accidentally kept her outgoing mail (which contained my info.) in the back of his truck. She inquired about it since other customers including myself had begun to question where their documents were. Anyway, she said that she mailed it personally and it should arrive tomorrow. So my question to you all just in case it doesn't arrive, what exactly is in the Mickey mail? Does it contain pertinent information needed to finalize or confirm our reservation? I just don't want to show up at Pop on Monday and everything not be complete. KWIM??

It has the vouchers for the arcade, a free 5x7 photopass pic, free keychain from Planet Hollywood as well as 15% off of PH merchandise, and a voucher for one person free at either of the miniature golf courses. We got our free keychain and pic; gave away the arcade pass and didn't golf! Hope yours gets to you before you leave on your trip!

 

[Itinkso]

When we were at the Brown Derby, the table next to us asked if their desserts could be held for them. Their waiter told them they could have their choice of any dessert and when they returned before closing the dessert would be packaged up for them! We, of course, ate our desserts with dinner as we couldn't wait to try them! And, we also received a complimentary chocolate mousse dessert for my birthday! We had a total of 4 desserts for the three of us! And, we are usually not dessert eaters!