***Official November 2013***

[WDW Fan since 1975]

I'm under 60 days until my trip (WOO HOO!!) and I'm trying to do the online check in, but it keeps saying there's a problem, try again later.

I'm wondering if it's because my friend (a Cast Member) made the reservations for me?

Has anyone done online check-in the past day or so?

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[Tltorrez]

So I am second guessing our trip, if anyone cares to give your opinion I'd appreciate it!

Going with DH, dd6, ds2 nana62. Nanas first and she says only trip. Staying at AoA

We only have a few days...arriving on 11/10 Sunday, get to resort mom babysits while DH and I go to Cali grill
The plan is to have a resort day on Veterans Day, avoiding crowds and whatnot. Ohana dinner at 5, going early around 3 to have a drink and sit on beach. Also have to return rental car by 10am.
Tuesday MK rope drop til we drop, Wednesday AK, probably DTD in the evening, leaving it open.

Now I am thinking we don't have enough park time! We can't add days and money is an issue. However, I work for a blog and I qualify for media tickets from disney. I am going to try but I hear they often give two tickets. SO do we use the tickets, buy the other two, and...
1. By hoppers for my mom and dd, use our day passes to go to Epcot after animal kingdom for a few hours
2. Ditch the resort day,go to the parks (Epcot or magic k? Not sure) from probably 10 am- 3 then do Ohana.
3. Try to get refunded one of the adult tickets for our current plan (not sure we can do this?)
4. Try to do the Xmas party Monday, switching Ohana to thurs morning instead, our ME bus leaves at 11:30

Am I causing issues by doing all of this? I am just anxious once we are there, after an hour or two we are going to wish we were in the parks, and I want my mom to see Epcot too. I am thinking of number one to keep the resort day..of cours ei have no rain plan for Monday yet. DH and my mom don't have an opinion right now.
WWYD?

So you essentially have three days, right (Min-Wed)? My personal preference is not to do more than two park days in a row, so three days means two parks. We just cant handle more than two full days. Ideally you'd have your off day in between, but I can see why you'd want to avoid Veteran's Day.

Partys are fun but that means a very late night. That might be rough on little ones if you're planning rope drop the next morning. As for Ohana in the morning - if you think you'll be packed and ready to go, that might work. I always seem to be scrambling to pick so I try to leave our departure morning open, no matter how tempting it is.

Going to Epcot after AK doesn't seem like a bad idea. Though Hoppers aren't cheap. Not sure it's worth it for a few hours. But it could be fun.

Overall, I think your original plan looks solid. I always have to restrain myself not to over plan but I've learned the hard way that trying to squeeze in too much just leaves us miserable. We're going for four days this time (not including travel days) and I have us in the park 3 days - all at rope drop but only one moderately late night. We have one off day that we won't even go near WDW ( my Mom lives 45 min away). DS keeps trying to talk me into Beaches & Cream but I'm sticking to my guns.

 

[Tltorrez]

First, #1 won't work. You have to have hoppers to visit different parks on the same day. 2 park tickets won't work.
I would ditch the resort day.

I almost said the same thing but then I re-read her plan. Two park tickets would work if they are day passes not connected to her package. You can't use two days from a Multi-day ticket. But in this case, Disney would have no way to know she was hopping because the Day Passes would be unconnected. It wouldn't be a cost-effective solution if she was paying but since they're free it's not a bad idea. The other two hoppers would still be expensive though.

 

[Tltorrez]

As far as the LGMH I printed some but then used laminating folder that I picked up from the craft section in Wal-Mart and then used an iron to get the laminate to seal. I'm still doing some testing to tweak it to get it just right, but it seems like it will work just fine.

Mine are laminated with my Xyron so that I can reuse them.

 

[kayemgi]

BTW, I think it was this thread that was talking about the Lime Green Mickey heads. Someone said the Disney paint line was discontinued......Well what was discontinued was the Mickey head paint chip. I was at Walmart today and saw the line of paint. They had the Lime Green color but the paint chip was just regular squares, with a tiny mickey head on the corner. So technically if you wanted to make a head out of the paint chip you could go get one and cut out the shape or draw it or something.

Just thought I'd mention it in cause you didn't want to print them and wanted the thicker material.

I was just at Walmart and I didn't notice any! I was specifically there looking for vacation stuff, and I noticed the paint section and thought I should go pick up a lime green paint chip to make my Mickey head. I wonder if my Walmart doesn't have them or if I just didn't see them. I just grabbed the first lime green one I saw, so it's entirely possible it's the latter! Oh well, I'm sure that if I even see any DISers they won't shun me because my lime green isn't the exact right one...Right?

 

[Sheilby]

Personally I always liked Spring because it tells me the snow is behind me with the similar temps to Fall. With Fall it reminds me of what is coming and that I don't like. The reason I don't like winter is I feel trapped. Between the demands and stress of the holidays, and then the snow and ice that keep me home......I look forward Spring.

BUT this year Fall is my season. I'm hoping we don't see Snow until after my November vacation. The past 3 years we had early snow. Loved the winter a couple years ago that never got cold or a lot of snow.

I'm the opposite, Spring reminds me that the summer heat is coming soon. Summer makes me feel trapped because unless I'm in water I need to be in air conditioning.

In the winter I don't mind being trapped inside. We home school so on cold winter mornings we cuddle up on the couch under a big blanket and read books. My house is up a very steep driveway, so if it is snowing I really am trapped, only way down is via sled. I keep my basement well stocked so I don't have to run out for anything and we use it as an excuse to bake.

I tend not to get stressed about the holidays. As long as my kids get our big special breakfast on Christmas they are happy. Now you have me thinking about homemade cinnamon rolls and I'm hungry!

 

[rabbruzzetti]

60 Days!!! What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing online check in?

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

My flights just dropped another $36 each

Dropped? Ok does that mean you haven't booked yet so that helps you save?
I'm under the impression that once I book, that's the price I pay.
Is there a trick to getting the cheaper price if they drop after you booked?

Can you tell I never go anywhere to know this stuff?

 

[sjs314]

Dropped? Ok does that mean you haven't booked yet so that helps you save?
I'm under the impression that once I book, that's the price I pay.
Is there a trick to getting the cheaper price if they drop after you booked?

Can you tell I never go anywhere to know this stuff?

I booked back in March or May I forget now but with JB if the flight price drops after you book they will issue you a credit (not a refund) which you have a year to use to book another flight.

Since I booked our flights have dropped 4x and I now have $214 in my travel bank for future use

 

[Coconuts]

Ha, I guess being from Nevada the Florida fall humidity feels good. It hit 91 here (NJ) today, but it was 97% humidity - you felt like you had to cut the air to walk through it. I was inside most of the the day. I prefer high 60's low 70's. I absolutely LOVE the fall, always my favorite season. Crisp nights, cool breezes and the look and smell of the changing leaves totally does it for me.

I know it was gross here yesterday and today. Walked the kids to school and took dog for a walk and I'm soaked!

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

I booked back in March or May I forget now but with JB if the flight price drops after you book they will issue you a credit (not a refund) which you have a year to use to book another flight.

Since I booked our flights have dropped 4x and I now have $214 in my travel bank for future use

REALLY!!! Are those the refundable or nonrefundable flights? Or it doesn't matter?

My flights for November won't be dropping. I got an amazing deal on our flights. They are flying out of an airport that is reopenning for commercial flights. I got in on the first day of the announcement and great prices.

But I keep looking at a maybe vacation in February and I hesitate about booking more so because I'm not 100% I'm going. Not expecting the flights to go down, but just would be cool if I booked and they did and I got a credit. The credit would help me have weight of going away again.

Thanks for the heads up on this. And congrats on the credit!

 

[ammag]

Thanks for the advice, guys! I think if we get the tickets we will add park hoppers, $120 is a lot for half a day but since we are not going back for about 4 years and my mom may never return I think it might be worth it.

As for the green mickeys, we will totally judge you for having the wrong color!!!! Banished form the DIS!!!!!!

I am just making my own and getting as close as I can, not looking for exact paint chip. Going to hang it on our double stroller . So say hi if you see me!!!

I look almost like my blurry picture of me there, taken in 1988

 

[Coconuts]

OMG so excited!!!!!

We were able to get a great price on airfare, but leaving a day later than our stay. So basically we got almost two more days in WDW. But as soon as we booked the flight, availability for that extra FD night at POR disappeared, after being available for weeks. I have been checking frantically every day to see if there is availability for one more FD night at the end of our stay. I have been hawking the website and calling constantly only to be told that FD are sold out for that night at POR. We were able to get a room discount for that night, but it was only 5% at POR, but at least we had a room for the night.

This morning I checked the website, albeit with a different checkin date, but it was available until 11/9! I called immediately and they said some nonsense about that night only being available if I checked in on 11/2(the date I plugged in) but not if I checked in on 10/31. Huh??? I then asked nicely to talk to a supervisor; I didnt' quite get that if there was availability on that night, why couldn't I add it on? Instead of connecting me to the supervisor, the CM came back on and said they would add the extra night!!!

I can finally stop checking the WDW website any time I had a free minute. Now I can devote even more time to the DIS!!!!

 

[Tltorrez]

OMG so excited!!!!!

I can finally stop checking the WDW website any time I had a free minute. Now I can devote even more time to the DIS!!!!

Yay!!!

I'm going to miss staying onsite. But I don't miss the discount hunting.

 

[OneBadApple]

OMG so excited!!!!!

We were able to get a great price on airfare, but leaving a day later than our stay. So basically we got almost two more days in WDW. But as soon as we booked the flight, availability for that extra FD night at POR disappeared, after being available for weeks. I have been checking frantically every day to see if there is availability for one more FD night at the end of our stay. I have been hawking the website and calling constantly only to be told that FD are sold out for that night at POR. We were able to get a room discount for that night, but it was only 5% at POR, but at least we had a room for the night.

This morning I checked the website, albeit with a different checkin date, but it was available until 11/9! I called immediately and they said some nonsense about that night only being available if I checked in on 11/2(the date I plugged in) but not if I checked in on 10/31. Huh??? I then asked nicely to talk to a supervisor; I didnt' quite get that if there was availability on that night, why couldn't I add it on? Instead of connecting me to the supervisor, the CM came back on and said they would add the extra night!!!

I can finally stop checking the WDW website any time I had a free minute. Now I can devote even more time to the DIS!!!!

Congrats on getting the extra day.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

OMG so excited!!!!!

We were able to get a great price on airfare, but leaving a day later than our stay. So basically we got almost two more days in WDW. But as soon as we booked the flight, availability for that extra FD night at POR disappeared, after being available for weeks. I have been checking frantically every day to see if there is availability for one more FD night at the end of our stay. I have been hawking the website and calling constantly only to be told that FD are sold out for that night at POR. We were able to get a room discount for that night, but it was only 5% at POR, but at least we had a room for the night.

This morning I checked the website, albeit with a different checkin date, but it was available until 11/9! I called immediately and they said some nonsense about that night only being available if I checked in on 11/2(the date I plugged in) but not if I checked in on 10/31. Huh??? I then asked nicely to talk to a supervisor; I didnt' quite get that if there was availability on that night, why couldn't I add it on? Instead of connecting me to the supervisor, the CM came back on and said they would add the extra night!!!

I can finally stop checking the WDW website any time I had a free minute. Now I can devote even more time to the DIS!!!!

Hurray for free dining! If you are that bored, I still have a couple ADR's you could stalk for me. LOL!

 

[Coconuts]

Hurray for free dining! If you are that bored, I still have a couple ADR's you could stalk for me. LOL!

LOL, actually I still have a few of my own that I'm looking for, but they aren't deal breakers. If I don't get them, I still have ones that I'm pleased with.

I actually am still looking for your Ohana on 11/15. Let me know if you want me to look for anything else.

And believe me I'm not bored; this just means maybe some time can be devoted to things that needed to be done, like laundry and cleaning my house!

 

[babydoll65]

I'm under 60 days until my trip (WOO HOO!!) and I'm trying to do the online check in, but it keeps saying there's a problem, try again later.

I'm wondering if it's because my friend (a Cast Member) made the reservations for me?

Has anyone done online check-in the past day or so?

Thanks,

Mike.

I did online check-in yesterday without any problems. Online check-in opened up for me again today (doing a split stay) but have held off because I'm not sure if I should wait. I want to pick up my tickets early and it has been stated not to do online check-in as it may create problems picking them up.

 

[wdwnut61]

OMG so excited!!!!!

We were able to get a great price on airfare, but leaving a day later than our stay. So basically we got almost two more days in WDW. But as soon as we booked the flight, availability for that extra FD night at POR disappeared, after being available for weeks. I have been checking frantically every day to see if there is availability for one more FD night at the end of our stay. I have been hawking the website and calling constantly only to be told that FD are sold out for that night at POR. We were able to get a room discount for that night, but it was only 5% at POR, but at least we had a room for the night.

This morning I checked the website, albeit with a different checkin date, but it was available until 11/9! I called immediately and they said some nonsense about that night only being available if I checked in on 11/2(the date I plugged in) but not if I checked in on 10/31. Huh??? I then asked nicely to talk to a supervisor; I didnt' quite get that if there was availability on that night, why couldn't I add it on? Instead of connecting me to the supervisor, the CM came back on and said they would add the extra night!!!

I can finally stop checking the WDW website any time I had a free minute. Now I can devote even more time to the DIS!!!!

I'm so happy for you
I'll PM you when I get home from work

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

LOL, actually I still have a few of my own that I'm looking for, but they aren't deal breakers. If I don't get them, I still have ones that I'm pleased with.

I actually am still looking for your Ohana on 11/15. Let me know if you want me to look for anything else.

And believe me I'm not bored; this just means maybe some time can be devoted to things that needed to be done, like laundry and cleaning my house!

I hear ya. My house is a disaster...it's just so hard to focus on cleaning when there is a Disney trip to plan!
Aaaw thanks! The main ADR I am looking for right now is Akershus dinner for the 16th or 21st. I had scheduled lunch, but after looking at reviews, it seems like most of the negative ones are regarding lunch. I guess breakfast would work as well, but I kinda wanted to try some foods I wouldn't normally try. : ) Let me know if there is anything I can look for for you too!
What is everyone else's thoughts on Akershus lunch vs dinner?