*****OFFICIAL July 2012 Thread! Feelin' HOT HOT HOT!

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

Thank you, everyone for the welcomes and the advice! I will just keep on planning without regard to the new Fantasyland stuff.

My husband is also an educator, and I'm a homeschool mom, so we have no choice but to go in July. We're used to brutal OK summers, and it's certainly humid here, but probably not as humid as it is in Florida. But hey, a humid day at Disney has got to be better than a non-humid day anywhere else, right?

To up the crazy a little, we are DRIVING from OK with two children who will be 10 and 5 at the time. We are breaking it up, though. On the way, we will stay in Memphis and Dothan, AL. On the way back, we will stay in Tallahassee, Destin, and Shreveport. We're looking forward to seeing some of the country. We're also going to see Graceland, Kennedy Space Center, and visit the beach while in Destin.

Where is everyone staying? We're staying at CBR.

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

Thank you, everyone for the welcomes and the advice! I will just keep on planning without regard to the new Fantasyland stuff.

My husband is also an educator, and I'm a homeschool mom, so we have no choice but to go in July. We're used to brutal OK summers, and it's certainly humid here, but probably not as humid as it is in Florida. But hey, a humid day at Disney has got to be better than a non-humid day anywhere else, right?

To up the crazy a little, we are DRIVING from OK with two children who will be 10 and 5 at the time. We are breaking it up, though. On the way, we will stay in Memphis and Dothan, AL. On the way back, we will stay in Tallahassee, Destin, and Shreveport. We're looking forward to seeing some of the country. We're also going to see Graceland, Kennedy Space Center, and visit the beach while in Destin.

Where is everyone staying? We're staying at CBR.

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

Sorry for the double post! My computer does NOT like The Dis, and it locks up a lot while I'm on here. BTW, I noticed we're under 300 days now! Woo-hoo!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Thank you, everyone for the welcomes and the advice! I will just keep on planning without regard to the new Fantasyland stuff.

My husband is also an educator, and I'm a homeschool mom, so we have no choice but to go in July. We're used to brutal OK summers, and it's certainly humid here, but probably not as humid as it is in Florida. But hey, a humid day at Disney has got to be better than a non-humid day anywhere else, right?

To up the crazy a little, we are DRIVING from OK with two children who will be 10 and 5 at the time. We are breaking it up, though. On the way, we will stay in Memphis and Dothan, AL. On the way back, we will stay in Tallahassee, Destin, and Shreveport. We're looking forward to seeing some of the country. We're also going to see Graceland, Kennedy Space Center, and visit the beach while in Destin.

Where is everyone staying? We're staying at CBR.

I'm all for driving down to FL too! We drive from Brooklyn, NY to Disney! In 2008 and 2010, we went to southern FL first! You think that it's crazy to drive from OK or NYC to Florida? DH and I keep talking about driving across country, visiting relatives in Seattle, then driving to California (Disneyland! ), then coming back through the southwest and southern US, and visiting relatives in Arizona on the way back. I don't know...it's 7,000 miles of driving just for the trip itself!

It sounds like you have a great road trip planned! We're stopping in Florence, SC on the way down, but we're going to Tampa for 3 nights before heading to WDW. We're staying at an Embassy Suites in Tampa, and going to Busch Gardens and also Legoland (opening in October!!). Then, we're staying at Boardwalk Villas (our DVC home resort) for 10 nights at WDW. On the way back up, we'll stop either in Florence, SC again or in Lumberton, NC (have to decide that with other family meeting us down at WDW and traveling back with us). Then we're heading to Williamsburg, VA for 2 nights and going to Busch Gardens there. Then we come home.

Sorry for the double post! My computer does NOT like The Dis, and it locks up a lot while I'm on here. BTW, I noticed we're under 300 days now! Woo-hoo!

Wow, less than 300! I know that I'm almost at the 10-month mark, but not sure the exact number of days. I will be happy though when I am in the single digits (for months)! Right now, we're booked for a 2-night trip to Foxwoods (casino resort in Connecticut, just under 3 hours from home) November 11-13th. Our 10th anniversary is November 18th, but we're off on the 11th for Veterans Day and that's a Friday, so we decided we would go during the long weekend. My sister is going to watch the kids. This will be our first time going away without the kids since we had them!

 

[think-like-tink]

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. The wait is so hard for me to handle!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. The wait is so hard for me to handle!!

I'm with you! While I love having my vacation planned because all of this is very exciting, the wait seems so long right now...but before we know it, the holidays will be here and the time's gonna fly! I will just be happy in a couple of weeks...with the new school year underway for just a few days now, things are so busy at work. Not difficult work, but a lot of busy work, and the adjustment period that we go through every year. This is my 13th year teaching, and it is the same every year...can't wait for it to be October and be completely in the swing of things at work...then things just flow and it goes by very fast.

 

[think-like-tink]

We have 66 more days 'til my dh comes home, He has been gone for a year and it has gone by smooth. Can't wait to have my fam. back together

 

[miprender]

feel like I haven't been here in a while. With school starting up it seems I have less time than before.

Midori and I made a You Tube video, hope you guy's can veiw it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYMMbUa3qQ&feature=email

Great video.

Thank you, everyone for the welcomes and the advice! I will just keep on planning without regard to the new Fantasyland stuff.

My husband is also an educator, and I'm a homeschool mom, so we have no choice but to go in July. We're used to brutal OK summers, and it's certainly humid here, but probably not as humid as it is in Florida. But hey, a humid day at Disney has got to be better than a non-humid day anywhere else, right?

To up the crazy a little, we are DRIVING from OK with two children who will be 10 and 5 at the time. We are breaking it up, though. On the way, we will stay in Memphis and Dothan, AL. On the way back, we will stay in Tallahassee, Destin, and Shreveport. We're looking forward to seeing some of the country. We're also going to see Graceland, Kennedy Space Center, and visit the beach while in Destin.

Where is everyone staying? We're staying at CBR.

Sounds like a fun roadtrip too. If we ever drive I would break it up that way too.

To answer your question we are staying at AKL and might add on a few days and try another resort. I love trying new places.

We have 66 more days 'til my dh comes home, He has been gone for a year and it has gone by smooth. Can't wait to have my fam. back together

How wonderfult that will be!!

 

[RHMH]

To all - I know I am a little late with this up-date so he goes.

We have a very educational meeting. It was very exciting for Midori and myself. The trip is in June and it is for two weeks. Wow!!! I am glad it is for only two weeks, any longer I will go crazy without Midori. 15 days is long enough.

We submitted our application and our 400.00 deposit so Midori can be scheduled for an interview. So now - we are waiting for information as to when the interview will take place. There will be 40 kid's from different schools in the Fort Worth area going on this trip. 5000.00 plus 350.00 for the airfare from DFW to LA. The 5000.00 covers everything else except spending money. Flight from LA to Sydney, and guess what they will transfer in Dubai. Man I would love to fly into and over Dubai just to see all of the neat architecture I've seen only in pictures and National Geographic channel. Midori is so excited to be considered to go but it will be decided after the interview process. I have all of the documents in order and all of the required letters of recommendation. So here's hoping Midori will get accepted.

I told Midori if she goes on this wonderful trip to Australia - our annual WDW trip in July will have to be a short one, 4 to 5 days instead in our 9 to 10 days and no resort stay this time. We'll have to stay at Extended Stay next to the Convention Center on I-Drive.

Now I am going to copy this up-date and post it on a couple of other threads - waiting for my up-date so please do not think I am posting it to show off. OK????

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and Friendship.

 

[michsig]

Coronado Springs July 21-29, 2012

 

[miprender]

To all - I know I am a little late with this up-date so he goes.

We have a very educational meeting. It was very exciting for Midori and myself. The trip is in June and it is for two weeks. Wow!!! I am glad it is for only two weeks, any longer I will go crazy without Midori. 15 days is long enough.

We submitted our application and our 400.00 deposit so Midori can be scheduled for an interview. So now - we are waiting for information as to when the interview will take place. There will be 40 kid's from different schools in the Fort Worth area going on this trip. 5000.00 plus 350.00 for the airfare from DFW to LA. The 5000.00 covers everything else except spending money. Flight from LA to Sydney, and guess what they will transfer in Dubai. Man I would love to fly into and over Dubai just to see all of the neat architecture I've seen only in pictures and National Geographic channel. Midori is so excited to be considered to go but it will be decided after the interview process. I have all of the documents in order and all of the required letters of recommendation. So here's hoping Midori will get accepted.

I told Midori if she goes on this wonderful trip to Australia - our annual WDW trip in July will have to be a short one, 4 to 5 days instead in our 9 to 10 days and no resort stay this time. We'll have to stay at Extended Stay next to the Convention Center on I-Drive.

Now I am going to copy this up-date and post it on a couple of other threads - waiting for my up-date so please do not think I am posting it to show off. OK????

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and Friendship.

No worries. It's great to be so happy for your daughter and Midori is lucky to have such a great dad

 

[bangzoom6877]

feel like I haven't been here in a while. With school starting up it seems I have less time than before.

To answer your question we are staying at AKL and might add on a few days and try another resort. I love trying new places.

I feel the same way...ever since school and work started back up, things here have been totally crazy! I feel like it's non-stop all the time! Going to work every morning very early, teaching my classes (but the paper work and preparation are much more work and more stressful than the teaching itself), coming home and making sure DS6 does his homework and reads, karate for DS4, DH takes DS6 to swimming, tomorrow DS6 starts singing lessons, and he is also starting Jewish Education on Sunday (not at a temple, but more of a cultural thing with Hebrew included...we're not religious by any stretch of the imagination, but want him to learn about Jewish culture as part of his heritage...and the place where we are sending him makes it fun!)...it just never ends! But...and this will sound crazy too...I love every second of it! I love what I do for a living, and I love coming home and doing all these things with the kids too! I just wish I had a little more time for certain other things right now, like the DIS!

To all - I know I am a little late with this up-date so he goes.

We have a very educational meeting. It was very exciting for Midori and myself. The trip is in June and it is for two weeks. Wow!!! I am glad it is for only two weeks, any longer I will go crazy without Midori. 15 days is long enough.

We submitted our application and our 400.00 deposit so Midori can be scheduled for an interview. So now - we are waiting for information as to when the interview will take place. There will be 40 kid's from different schools in the Fort Worth area going on this trip. 5000.00 plus 350.00 for the airfare from DFW to LA. The 5000.00 covers everything else except spending money. Flight from LA to Sydney, and guess what they will transfer in Dubai. Man I would love to fly into and over Dubai just to see all of the neat architecture I've seen only in pictures and National Geographic channel. Midori is so excited to be considered to go but it will be decided after the interview process. I have all of the documents in order and all of the required letters of recommendation. So here's hoping Midori will get accepted.

I told Midori if she goes on this wonderful trip to Australia - our annual WDW trip in July will have to be a short one, 4 to 5 days instead in our 9 to 10 days and no resort stay this time. We'll have to stay at Extended Stay next to the Convention Center on I-Drive.

Now I am going to copy this up-date and post it on a couple of other threads - waiting for my up-date so please do not think I am posting it to show off. OK????

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and Friendship.

Sounds very nice and very exciting! Flying over Dubai sounds amazing...I have also seen pics of the architecture there and it looks so beautiful!

We have 66 more days 'til my dh comes home, He has been gone for a year and it has gone by smooth. Can't wait to have my fam. back together

OK, you wrote this 5 days ago, so tomorrow you will already be at the 60-day mark! It will be wonderful for you to have your family all together again, especially in time for the holidays! There will be a lot to be thankful for this year!

 

[RHMH]

feel like I haven't been here in a while. With school starting up it seems I have less time than before. Great video.

RHMH Answered - Thanks - we had a lot of fun making the video.

No worries. It's great to be so happy for your daughter and Midori is lucky to have such a great dad

Thanks - You know how much I love my Daughter Midori.


Bangzoom 6877 wrote - Sounds very nice and very exciting! Flying over Dubai sounds amazing...I have also seen pics of the architecture there and it looks so beautiful!

RHMH Answered - You are right - In addition to the 5500.00 for Midori's part of the trip, I would have to pay an extra 3500.00 to go with Midori to Australia. CAN"T come up with that !!! Sorry friends - I can't do the multi-quotes to well.

 

[wed100105]

I'm with you! While I love having my vacation planned because all of this is very exciting, the wait seems so long right now...but before we know it, the holidays will be here and the time's gonna fly! I will just be happy in a couple of weeks...with the new school year underway for just a few days now, things are so busy at work. Not difficult work, but a lot of busy work, and the adjustment period that we go through every year. This is my 13th year teaching, and it is the same every year...can't wait for it to be October and be completely in the swing of things at work...then things just flow and it goes by very fast.

I hear you! I'm on maternity leave right now and time is flying, but I know once Thanksgiving rolls around, the rest of 2011 will go so fast. It's January-March that will be hard for me. I hate the cold weather and it's dark when I get up and sometimes dark again before I get home. There is a lot of screen time at our house during those months.

This will be our first time going away without the kids since we had them!

Ironically we talked about a mommy/daddy only trip for my bday next summer (30!) and decided we wanted to take the kids to Disney instead. Enjoy that solo couple time!


I'm so excited. I was able to get Beach Club Villas for July 21-28, 2012 through a RCI exchange today. We have an one-bedroom. I'm a little nervous about some negative reviews I've read on allears, RCI, and tripadvisor. We are used to a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. I'm excited to be so close to Epcot.

ETA: Guess what ladies! When I called my husband and told him about BCV he said, "Can you just get 7 nights? It seems like we should stay longer." WOW!!! We were able to get a two-bedroom Hilton Grand Vacation Clubs on I-Drive for July 27-August 1st. (We won't use August 1-3...but have to book a week.)

I'm searching for car rentals for those five days and they are RIDICULOUSLY high! I paid $211 (including taxes) last year for 12 nights. I'm not happy to find prices at $300 for 7.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I hear you! I'm on maternity leave right now and time is flying, but I know once Thanksgiving rolls around, the rest of 2011 will go so fast. It's January-March that will be hard for me. I hate the cold weather and it's dark when I get up and sometimes dark again before I get home. There is a lot of screen time at our house during those months.




Ironically we talked about a mommy/daddy only trip for my bday next summer (30!) and decided we wanted to take the kids to Disney instead. Enjoy that solo couple time!


I'm so excited. I was able to get Beach Club Villas for July 21-28, 2012 through a RCI exchange today. We have an one-bedroom. I'm a little nervous about some negative reviews I've read on allears, RCI, and tripadvisor. We are used to a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. I'm excited to be so close to Epcot.

ETA: Guess what ladies! When I called my husband and told him about BCV he said, "Can you just get 7 nights? It seems like we should stay longer." WOW!!! We were able to get a two-bedroom Hilton Grand Vacation Clubs on I-Drive for July 27-August 1st. (We won't use August 1-3...but have to book a week.)

I'm searching for car rentals for those five days and they are RIDICULOUSLY high! I paid $211 (including taxes) last year for 12 nights. I'm not happy to find prices at $300 for 7.

I can't stand that dead of winter period either. I'm OK with the beginning of January because my mom's birthday is the 5th and DS6's is the 7th...but once those come and go, I feel that depressing part of winter taking over. We leave the house between 6:30 and 7am for work, depending on the day of the week (DH goes in early twice a week), and it feels like the middle of the night during that time. I am lucky to get out of work at 2:50pm, so it is still daylight. Fortunately, my sister's birthday is a week into February, so it gives us something fun and happy to look forward to...then we are off President's week. But after that comes the tough part...the end of the winter when I feel like it's enough already, but March goes by way too slowly. For me, that's the worst month...long, miserable, nothing in our family to celebrate, and can't wait for spring to come already!

OK, enough depressing winter talk...that's great that you were able to get the 2BR at the Hilton for a longer period of time!!! I also like staying more than 7 nights...for us last year, 10 nights were perfect. Not too short, but not too long...and we were OK with going home, didn't feel like we should have done more. So of course, we're very happy to be going for 10 nights once again!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Hey everyone!! Has anyone ever gone to the Afternoon Tea in the Garden View at the Grand Floridian? We're planning to go to that with the rest of the family on the day they arrive to meet us at WDW, and I was wondering if I can get any opinions on it. Thanks!

 

[miprender]

II'm so excited. I was able to get Beach Club Villas for July 21-28, 2012 through a RCI exchange today. We have an one-bedroom. I'm a little nervous about some negative reviews I've read on allears, RCI, and tripadvisor. We are used to a 2 bedroom at Wyndham Bonnet Creek. I'm excited to be so close to Epcot.

We stayed one night at BCV on our trip in July and I really LOVED it there. I loved being able to walk right to Epcot. The place was just so cheery and bright.

Hey everyone!! Has anyone ever gone to the Afternoon Tea in the Garden View at the Grand Floridian? We're planning to go to that with the rest of the family on the day they arrive to meet us at WDW, and I was wondering if I can get any opinions on it. Thanks!

I have never done this either but it does sound like fun.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We stayed one night at BCV on our trip in July and I really LOVED it there. I loved being able to walk right to Epcot. The place was just so cheery and bright.



I have never done this either but it does sound like fun.

I love being able to walk to Epcot too! When we were looking into buying a DVC membership, DH and I decided that it would be either BWV or BCV because of the close proximity to Epcot and DHS. Plus, they are centrally located on property. We ultimately decided on BWV because the standard view rooms require fewer points per night than BCV rooms, and the purchase price was slightly lower than purchasing BCV (we did resale). When we stayed at BWV in July 2010 for the first time, we were VERY happy with our decision! We would have been happy with BCV also, but BWV was more in our price range for the resale. Love that resort area! Of course, many people prefer BLT because of being able to walk to MK, and others prefer AKV because of the amazing scenery...or OKW or SSR or VWL because those resorts are beautiful also...but for us, the location of BWV and the price were the deciding factors!

Yes, the afternoon tea sounds like fun. I posted about it on the restaurants board, and it sounds like we will have a great time! We're going to go to the tea on the day my parents, sister and nieces arrive. Then, since we decided not to make a dinner ADR that evening, we're going to go to Epcot in the evening and snack around the World Showcase! That way, anyone who is hungry enough can enjoy a full meal, the kids will all be taken care of, and anyone who just wants a little snack can enjoy that too! I'm thinking a caramel cupcake from the caramel shop in Germany! OK, and maybe sharing something with DH from Tangierine Cafe first in Morocco...we love the food there!

 

[Oz!]

I just found out this weekend that we will be joining my in-laws for their 40th wedding anniversary to WDW in July. I know that is still a long way off, but the Oz family is pumped! We are still in the very early stages of planning, but I have a question for all of you. When will the fantasy land expansion start opening??


thanks in advance

oz

 

[bangzoom6877]

I just found out this weekend that we will be joining my in-laws for their 40th wedding anniversary to WDW in July. I know that is still a long way off, but the Oz family is pumped! We are still in the very early stages of planning, but I have a question for all of you. When will the fantasy land expansion start opening??


thanks in advance

oz

Hi and welcome to the July 2012 thread! It's NEVER too early to start planning a WDW vacation! Plus, it is already October...July will be here before we know it!

As far as the Fantasyland expansion, I haven't found any info yet with any specific dates. Everything I read just says that it will open in phases, beginning late 2012. I am *hoping* that by late 2012, they mean some time after June...and that some things will be open in July. My own prediction (and I'm no expert, believe me!) is that the first (or one of the first) to open will be the Beast's Castle and the Be Our Guest restaurant. That restaurant will seat 551 people at a time (CRT only seats around 130), and this is a HUGE money-maker for Disney. Rides and other attractions that will be there, are included in the admission ticket price...they don't make extra for them. However, rides probably take a LOT less time to put together than a whole castle that holds so many people in its restaurant!

We shall see...I am hoping that something is open. It is also my wish for the Be Our Guest Restaurant to be open so that we could enjoy it with the whole family.