***Official November 2013***

[FigmentChick]

Thanks for updating FigmentChick

Glad your internet is working.

I think we're having problems because the whole street uses Internet at the same time. No....I'm serious. With Comcast, you are sharing your bandwidth with everyone in your neighborhood. Unfortunately, because I live in rural, rural South Jersey, Comcast is all I can get. No Verizon FIOS for us.

But....I had a decent conversation with the Comcast rep last night. Really sweet and he said he'd see what he can do to up my bandwidth. So....we'll see. And I've got someone coming on out Wednesday afternoon to check the modem and inside wiring.

So....today I worked with my dad on my dishwasher (the wiring is shot thanks to a mouse), I've talked with you guys and cleaned out my FB friends list. Now I plan to update my packing list and add some things to the "things to do before we leave list". We have to move our chair and ottoman into the kids' rooms before we leave so that cats don't throw up all over them. And we're going to cover the couch with an old sheet or two for the same reason. I swear, we have exorcist cats.

So, I thought I would share what our plans are. They won't change much, so if anyone is looking to meet up, you'll know where to find me.

Wed 10/30 - work a half day and then head to DC to pick up the AutoTrain.
Thurs 10/31 - check-in @ OKW. Definitely visit DTD (hubby HAS to have his Earl of Sandwich) and maybe (hopefully) DisneyQuest
Fri 11/01 - start at MK. Coral Reef at 5:45. Finish evening in Epcot or head back to OKW for the pool or to relax (it IS a vacation, after all )
Sat 11/02 - MGM. I'm not sure whether we'll catch Fantasmic this night or head over to Epcot in the late afternoon/evening.
Sun 11/03 - AK Tusker House lunch at 11:45. Again, we may head over to Epcot in the afternoon/evening (the F&W Festival is on, you know. )
Mon 11/04 - Epcot
Tues 11/05 - day off from the parks. We have a 7pm reservation for O'hana and we hope to catch Wishes on the Poly beach.
Wed 11/06 thru Fri 11/08 - not sure which park(s) we'll be at. Most, likely, we will end up at Epcot towards the end of each day.
Sat 11/09 - check-out day. I just talked to my kids this morning and I think MGM has am EMHs. So, we'll probably go there for an hour and then over to Epcot for a couple of hours before we head to Sanford to pick up the AutoTrain.

OK....so that's all I have for now. I hope everyone had a great weekend and that all of our kids have great first days of school over the next couple of weeks (mine don't go back til the 5th).

 

[taaren]

I'm reading the other thread, too. I don't travel with expensive jewelry, but I do travel with extensive electronics. I have never had anything stolen, but on our last trip, I did have issues with the mousekeepers constantly leaving my room drapes open (on a bottom floor). Even after contacting management and explaining the situation (visible laptops are a thief's dream), it still kept happening. We ended up shoving them in with our clothes in the luggage.

However, this upcoming trip I have $1400 in giftcards. I was planning on using them exclusively for meals and souvenirs, but I think I might go with my hubby's suggestion: pay the room off with them and then just use our credit cards/bank card for everything. I'm unhappy about that, but I think that might be our best bet. That way, I won't have a lot of gift cards laying around.

You can put your gift cards on your account when you check in if you just save the numbers in case they need to refund. Alternately, you could put the gift cards in your safe til the end of your trip and charge everything to the room. That what we usually do. And you can fit smaller electronics in the safe, like iPads ... I do wish they were slightly larger for things like laptops, but I never take mine anyways, just a Chromebook and my phone (which is twice as expensive). I'll have to see if the Chromebook fits this year since its new.

We have only two ADR's, and are only keeping one ... Chefs de France, we're going to cancel Garden Grill just can't bring myself to pull the trigger on cancelling since I keep thinking maybe we'll have a bunch of extra cash by then and I'll be able to justify spending $150 on a character meal.
The meal I'm most looking forward to, though, is Wolfgang Puck Express in the Marketplace. For us, it was the best counter service hands down. We loved BOG for lunch for CS in MK, and also Sleepy Hollow's waffle sandwiches! Flame Tree was pretty good, and Boulangerie Patisserie was our favorite in Epcot.
This year since we're staying at BCV I'm hoping to pop into Epcot for a few more impromptu CS meals ... want to hit Sunshine Seasons, Tangerine Cafe, and maybe the Japanese CS if we have time for it. Problem is we're used to world-class ethnic food being from Hawaii and California so we were underwhelmed by the Mexican food (delicious tacquerias are more ubiquitous than Starbucks around here) and think we might have the same experience with the Japanese food since we're familiar with how good it should be.

 

[wdwnut61]

I think we're having problems because the whole street uses Internet at the same time. No....I'm serious. With Comcast, you are sharing your bandwidth with everyone in your neighborhood. Unfortunately, because I live in rural, rural South Jersey, Comcast is all I can get. No Verizon FIOS for us.

But....I had a decent conversation with the Comcast rep last night. Really sweet and he said he'd see what he can do to up my bandwidth. So....we'll see. And I've got someone coming on out Wednesday afternoon to check the modem and inside wiring.

So....today I worked with my dad on my dishwasher (the wiring is shot thanks to a mouse), I've talked with you guys and cleaned out my FB friends list. Now I plan to update my packing list and add some things to the "things to do before we leave list". We have to move our chair and ottoman into the kids' rooms before we leave so that cats don't throw up all over them. And we're going to cover the couch with an old sheet or two for the same reason. I swear, we have exorcist cats.

So, I thought I would share what our plans are. They won't change much, so if anyone is looking to meet up, you'll know where to find me.

Wed 10/30 - work a half day and then head to DC to pick up the AutoTrain.
Thurs 10/31 - check-in @ OKW. Definitely visit DTD (hubby HAS to have his Earl of Sandwich) and maybe (hopefully) DisneyQuest
Fri 11/01 - start at MK. Coral Reef at 5:45. Finish evening in Epcot or head back to OKW for the pool or to relax (it IS a vacation, after all )
Sat 11/02 - MGM. I'm not sure whether we'll catch Fantasmic this night or head over to Epcot in the late afternoon/evening.
Sun 11/03 - AK Tusker House lunch at 11:45. Again, we may head over to Epcot in the afternoon/evening (the F&W Festival is on, you know. )
Mon 11/04 - Epcot
Tues 11/05 - day off from the parks. We have a 7pm reservation for O'hana and we hope to catch Wishes on the Poly beach.
Wed 11/06 thru Fri 11/08 - not sure which park(s) we'll be at. Most, likely, we will end up at Epcot towards the end of each day.
Sat 11/09 - check-out day. I just talked to my kids this morning and I think MGM has am EMHs. So, we'll probably go there for an hour and then over to Epcot for a couple of hours before we head to Sanford to pick up the AutoTrain.

OK....so that's all I have for now. I hope everyone had a great weekend and that all of our kids have great first days of school over the next couple of weeks (mine don't go back til the 5th).

Your plans sound great looks like we are going to miss each other by a few days

Your internet sounds like where my oldest DD (26) lives in rural Smyrna. They have comcast too and is slow. She works from home and is hoping someday soon FIOS will make it's way there.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Your plans sound great looks like we are going to miss each other by a few days

Your internet sounds like where my oldest DD (26) lives in rural Smyrna. They have comcast too and is slow. She works from home and is hoping someday soon FIOS will make it's way there.

I live out in farm country and have Comcast (although Fios was recently made available) and I've never had any problems. Is FIOS really that much better?

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

I'm reading the other thread, too. I don't travel with expensive jewelry, but I do travel with extensive electronics. I have never had anything stolen, but on our last trip, I did have issues with the mousekeepers constantly leaving my room drapes open (on a bottom floor). Even after contacting management and explaining the situation (visible laptops are a thief's dream), it still kept happening. We ended up shoving them in with our clothes in the luggage.

However, this upcoming trip I have $1400 in giftcards. I was planning on using them exclusively for meals and souvenirs, but I think I might go with my hubby's suggestion: pay the room off with them and then just use our credit cards/bank card for everything. I'm unhappy about that, but I think that might be our best bet. That way, I won't have a lot of gift cards laying around.



Hmmm...let's see. There are salads available at Cosmic Ray's in MK. Oh! Oh! Also....Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavillion in Epcot is totally awesome! There's a beet and goat cheese salad that I love and sushi and stir fry....all types of fresh food. There's pizza available at Pizza Planet in MGM. I'm not sure about AK as we've never eaten counter service but once there. Hubby said there is Pizzarfari, but get there early (or later) as it is a mad house! (his guiding tips, not mine ).



As for ADRs: we have three. We're eating at Coral Reef our first day in the parks (after we start in MK). We have a 5:45 ressie on Nov 1st. Then, we will eat lunch at Tusker House in AK on Sunday, Nov 3rd at 11:45. Lastly, we are eating dinner at O'hana on Tuesday, Nov 5th at 7pm.

That's it for us. We're paying oop and really just enjoying the parks and a leisurely pace instead of being tied down to reservations.

I was thinking of taking the advise and if my husband insists on bringing his laptop, either bringing a laptop lock to lock it to the desk OR hide it in the suit case and lock the suit case.

Dropped my son at college today and am so ready to bring on Disney now!!!
When you are at Ohana on November 5th, please give a little toast/salute to us as that is our actual 25th Anniversary.
We had to wait 10 days to leave because of scheduling issues. But I"m happy with just being there that month.

Originaly we wanted to do the leisurely and not be tied down with reservations but one thing went to another and......then Free Dining happened. LOL But honestly the ADRs are making sure we see all the parks and include BW which might not happen if we didn't make the reservation. Yay!

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

the non-resort QSs I want to try are BoG lunch and WPE. We will also be trying POP foodcourt and AoAs.

We love Cosmic Rays and Flame Tree and would definitely hit those again. The only boring QS on the potential agenda for us is whatever we eat at BB. I am sure it won't bother us though since it will be our only burger/hotdog, cake in a cup type meal.

I like the idea of shoving the laptop in a locked suitcase, I just don't have such a thing....

By locked suitcase I was going to go to walmart and they have little combination locks that fit through the hole on the suit case zipper pulls. Nothing fancy but gives the option to slow a thief down. I was also thinking I would put the suitcase in the closet in such a way that doesn't scream "I'm locked" so it doesn't get the curiosity going that there must be something to take. LOL
ACTUALLY....hmmmmm if I remember right a lot of the resorts have a shelf in the closet. So if I put the suit case up on the shelf with the zipper towards the wall.......Am I over thinking this or what? I hope he doesn't bring the laptop. But then again he will probably bring his tablet and Kindle.

 

[FigmentChick]

Your plans sound great looks like we are going to miss each other by a few days

Your internet sounds like where my oldest DD (26) lives in rural Smyrna. They have comcast too and is slow. She works from home and is hoping someday soon FIOS will make it's way there.

wdwnut61 - just realized you and I are so close!!! (or have I had that connection before? lol) Anyway, yes, my connection is like your daughter's.

I live out in farm country and have Comcast (although Fios was recently made available) and I've never had any problems. Is FIOS really that much better?

FIOS is faster because the signal is based on fiber optic connection rather than the old wiring connection that basic cable wires travel.

I didn't have any problem yesterday, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I was thinking of taking the advise and if my husband insists on bringing his laptop, either bringing a laptop lock to lock it to the desk OR hide it in the suit case and lock the suit case.

Dropped my son at college today and am so ready to bring on Disney now!!!
When you are at Ohana on November 5th, please give a little toast/salute to us as that is our actual 25th Anniversary.
We had to wait 10 days to leave because of scheduling issues. But I"m happy with just being there that month.

Originaly we wanted to do the leisurely and not be tied down with reservations but one thing went to another and......then Free Dining happened. LOL But honestly the ADRs are making sure we see all the parks and include BW which might not happen if we didn't make the reservation. Yay!

I will definitely toast to you while we're there!

By locked suitcase I was going to go to walmart and they have little combination locks that fit through the hole on the suit case zipper pulls. Nothing fancy but gives the option to slow a thief down. I was also thinking I would put the suitcase in the closet in such a way that doesn't scream "I'm locked" so it doesn't get the curiosity going that there must be something to take. LOL
ACTUALLY....hmmmmm if I remember right a lot of the resorts have a shelf in the closet. So if I put the suit case up on the shelf with the zipper towards the wall.......Am I over thinking this or what? I hope he doesn't bring the laptop. But then again he will probably bring his tablet and Kindle.

You're not over thinking it. I swear I had this exact scenario in my head.

I have to travel with my laptop because I'm always "on call". Yes, I am an accounting manager, but I also handle IT issues. So, if someone's computer isn't working, I can remote in. Also, I usually do some work while I'm on vacation: payroll, answering emails, daily cash reports, etc. However, this time I'm working for a great organization and I'm being told to "enjoy my vacation". So, I'll probably check my emails and that will be it. But, I like to have my laptop so I can upload pics, check my yahoo email, and, of course, my hubby will have to update his fantasy teams.

My daughter is brining her laptop because she is a freshman starting next week. She will be able to download her school assignments through the Power School portal. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that her schedule works itself out this week.

OK...happy Monday, everyone. I'm off to try and get the 2014 budget done for two departments.....

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

You're not over thinking it. I swear I had this exact scenario in my head.

I have to travel with my laptop because I'm always "on call". Yes, I am an accounting manager, but I also handle IT issues. So, if someone's computer isn't working, I can remote in. Also, I usually do some work while I'm on vacation: payroll, answering emails, daily cash reports, etc. However, this time I'm working for a great organization and I'm being told to "enjoy my vacation". So, I'll probably check my emails and that will be it. But, I like to have my laptop so I can upload pics, check my yahoo email, and, of course, my hubby will have to update his fantasy teams.

My daughter is brining her laptop because she is a freshman starting next week. She will be able to download her school assignments through the Power School portal. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that her schedule works itself out this week.

OK...happy Monday, everyone. I'm off to try and get the 2014 budget done for two departments.....

Ok now that we discussed it here, did we blow our extra check. LOL
Seriously if someone wants to steal they will look for least restrictive way of getting to it. And if I take the extra anything precaution and it still gets stolen at least I didn't leave it on the desk inviting the situation. I'm not even comfortable with the idea of a laptop lock on the desk.

So I don't have a lot of expensive jewelry but the few pieces I have, I am not considering finding a place to stash them during my vacation, at home. I will have someone at my home while I'm gone, but don't want to leave them in the obvious find me places.

Last night was once again another weird/bad dream. I think it's been a consistent week of those dreams now. Last night (and I'm sure because of these posts) I dreamed someone stole my laptop out of my car. I hardly ever take my laptop out of my house, but in the dream........

82 days until Disney. Hope the happy thoughts start flowing and the dreams start soon. I'm gonna try but doubt it will happen, but want to try to restrict my Disney reading this week cause I don't want the over Disney reading to kill my actual experience with a "done that" feeling.
I crack myself up! Like that can really happen.

 

[OneBadApple]

Good Morning!!!!!!!

I hope everyone's Monday is off to a good start.

By locked suitcase I was going to go to walmart and they have little combination locks that fit through the hole on the suit case zipper pulls. Nothing fancy but gives the option to slow a thief down. I was also thinking I would put the suitcase in the closet in such a way that doesn't scream "I'm locked" so it doesn't get the curiosity going that there must be something to take. LOL
ACTUALLY....hmmmmm if I remember right a lot of the resorts have a shelf in the closet. So if I put the suit case up on the shelf with the zipper towards the wall.......Am I over thinking this or what? I hope he doesn't bring the laptop. But then again he will probably bring his tablet and Kindle.

I love the idea of getting a small combo lock. I'm not sure if we are bringing a laptop this year but if we do, I think I will go buy a lock. I'm bringing my iPad which I hope will fit in the safe.

My daughter is brining her laptop because she is a freshman starting next week. She will be able to download her school assignments through the Power School portal. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that her schedule works itself out this week.

OK...happy Monday, everyone. I'm off to try and get the 2014 budget done for two departments.....

Power School is one of my company's competition here in NY. We only deal with NY schools.

 

[sjs314]

By locked suitcase I was going to go to walmart and they have little combination locks that fit through the hole on the suit case zipper pulls. Nothing fancy but gives the option to slow a thief down. I was also thinking I would put the suitcase in the closet in such a way that doesn't scream "I'm locked" so it doesn't get the curiosity going that there must be something to take. LOL
ACTUALLY....hmmmmm if I remember right a lot of the resorts have a shelf in the closet. So if I put the suit case up on the shelf with the zipper towards the wall.......Am I over thinking this or what? I hope he doesn't bring the laptop. But then again he will probably bring his tablet and Kindle.

I have brought a laptop and more recently my iPad with me every trip since 2006 and that includes trips to Vegas and DL and I either put them in the safe if they fit or into my suitcase which I keep in a closet. While I do lock the safe never worried about locking my suitcase and Have been fine.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

My two suit cases nest in each other.
Once I empty the big one into the drawer the smaller will fit inside the big one.
So if I put the lock on that inner smaller suit case, the valuables will be out of sight and the suit case will be not screaming "hey! I locked something I don't want you to have. Na na na na na na".

All will be well. Infact Hubby and I were talking about Laptops and I think he decided not to take it and just take his tablet. I told him if he has his laptop I'll be drawn to want to use it and it will be hard to give him my undivided attention as typing on the laptop is easier than my phone or tablet. I think he is voting for my attention.

Apparently his phone does an auto upload for him to google+ or something. Plus we are getting photopass.


I'm not doing too well getting off here. LOL

 

[FigmentChick]

I've already ordered my PhotoPass+, but we will still be using our camera A LOT. Hubby just bought himself a brand new lens for our DSLR camera. He's so excited at how close everything appears now.

So, I'll be uploading pics (and video) even though we have the PP.

I do like the idea of putting a suitcase within a suitcase. However, we normally "live out" of the suitcases. Amy has her own, the boys share, and so do hubby & I. The other one is for toiletries.....I guess I could use that one and unpack a little. I'm always afraid to do that though, for fear of leaving something behind. I'll just have to scour the room extra hard when we pack up to leave.

 

[kelleigh1]

Since I asked about a countdown, I thought I'd share a photo of the countdown that I made over the weekend:

The "Disney Vacation" is a big sticker, but I left it attached to the plastic and used little velcro pieces to attach it so I can change it out and put on the "Disney Cruise" sticker that I also bought, for when we start the 99 day countdown to our cruise.

 

[OneBadApple]

Since I asked about a countdown, I thought I'd share a photo of the countdown that I made over the weekend:

The "Disney Vacation" is a big sticker, but I left it attached to the plastic and used little velcro pieces to attach it so I can change it out and put on the "Disney Cruise" sticker that I also bought, for when we start the 99 day countdown to our cruise.

I love it!!!!

 

[AMateus]

78 Days!

 

[Rpasko]

78 Days!

79 here!!

 

[kaylasmom07]

79 here!!

79 for us too! Us it just me or does 79 seem soooo much closer than 80?

 

[WDW Fan since 1975]

It is NEVER too early to start counting down! We're so excited about going back - we're making plans and starting our checklists.

Isn't it great to have something to look forward to?

I can't wait!!

 

[Hunclemarco]

80 here Can't come soon enough!

 

[Camaro305]

I live out in farm country and have Comcast (although Fios was recently made available) and I've never had any problems. Is FIOS really that much better?

Fios price is good for NEW customers. Once the promo expires, I think it's a bit expensive. The service is rock solid though. We're coming up on the end of our 2 year agreement and the price is going to go up about $60 a month, so we may be going back to Comcast.