Our little thread of BIG changes, the neverending saga of the Resort Changers

[letthewookiewin]

Grades are done, office is packed (just need to move it all to my car), and I still have an hour left today plus tomorrow until 1:30 when we can officially start checking out!

SO, I think I have our days planned out now. I am planning them on the assumption we will NOT use PH. If we decide to get hoppers, we can add them on once we get there. Speaking of which, how late is guest services open at the parks? DH would be more likely to go for PH when we're there and he wants to go hop to another park with DS or something. ;-) now I need to go fix ADRs and FPs to fit the new plan!

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We didn't use park hoppers on our last trip. On nights we could have hopped, we just went back to the AKL and enjoyed the resort pool.

Yes, and I'm dying to tell the kids!!! But we're not going to until we get to MCO!! Supposedly we are just going to visit friends in FL...? Idk...I think DS will see right through DH's story, but oh well... I will try and come up with something, but the point is not to tell them until the very last possible second.

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WOO HOO!! Hopefully they don't figure it out too soon and are super excited.

The friend that I am going with in September should be getting close to her WDW resort about now. She's just going for a long weekend for her birthday. I can't wait for her to start sending me pictures of SWW.

 

[trishadono]

Sorry been so busy and have been reading but not posting. I finally put some pics on poly thread and hope to do gf tomorrow.(pics of GVTR). Here is a sample

That was view from my GV CL room. View of gf is some garden

 

[Sue M]

I figured you may be posting pics so I poped in on Poly thread to check! Great pics, and look at the colour of that sky, wow!! Great view of GF, can't wait for our August stay.

 

[Sue M]

Various split stays were discussed WL/VWL OKW/VWL YC/VWL...do you see a pattern??? DH is SET on OKW, I HAVE to keep DH happy...have to have to have to...resist the urge

Here's a new thought, TA is going to shoot me...it's not a biggie though...

Treasure Island Condo is booked from 8/16-22..check out late on 8/21 like after a day at the beach shower laundry dinner.....(still paying for the 8/21 so we have the room) and my amazing 45% discount! Add a day to OKW...checking in the night of 8/21 (the kids will nap the ride over I am sure!) this will give me 7 FULL WDW days!!!

We the gulf coast!! We've stayed in St Pete Beach a couple of times pre wdw. We always fly into Ft Lauderdale first to visit family and enjoy the beaches while we are there, but the Gulf Coast is so different!! The fine powder sugar beaches, and calm waters, and St Pete is like walking back in time to old Florida.

 

[trishadono]

Still so tired! Takes a few days to unpack, get caught up at work and get energy back after all that walking!!

Rough start with our flight cancelled. We arrived at 11:30 pm Friday instead if 7:30.

We loved our GV CL room!!! Dd loved seeing the duckies on our patio every morning. If you open the curtains they come waddling over and tap the window with their beaks (looking for you and your food)!

We really felt having adrs for lunch worked awesome. We especially enjoyed chefs de france . We booked 12pm and they put all of the reservation people on the wall with the windows so I would recommend that.

I will post pics of food at GVTR later on gf. We really like to do that. Makes you get the whole GF feeling if you are not staying there.

Oh, last morning Lys ran to CC's and got tonga toast to go and brought to lounge. Yummy!!! A "must do" if staying at poly!

For the morning show at MK they added Anna and Elsa!!!! Dd and I both loved seeing them but the kiddos were just thrilled

We did mine train night and day. Loved it

If going soon BEWARE, it closed many times. Sometimes in the morning it wasn't ready and opened late with waiting lines 120 mins long.


To see A&E or SDMT get to MK 830am. Follow crowd(disney CM's make a line you can't cross). For A&E go straight through castle. For SDMT get as far right as you can. After you pass bridge for tomorrow land get ready!!!! The next line of CM's will be in a row appearing to block your path to the right. However all at once they turn and walk making a human rope. We were right behind them and followed them right in. Have to say it was a fun experience

After missing dd at college have to say a disney trip worked its magic and I had my girl back

We both have tried CL at gf/cr/poly and now say gf is our number one

They have so much more food all day you don't feel like you have to schedule your day around the apps and desserts like at cr and poly.

The views from cr and poly lounges are awesome though. We got our lunch from CC's to go and ate in the CL lounge one day. Had the place to ourselves and that great castle view

 

[dimndgal1]

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! and...

DOUBLE DIGIT DANCE!!!

Trish - Love the TR and so glad you had a good time! Thanks for the info about SDMT! Hoping the hype will die down by Sept but good to have that in my pocket for an FYI! LOVE the pic of GF... I will not consider a GF split... I will not consider a GF split.......

pas - LOVE the Gulf Coast! My grandparents lived in Venice and MIL's dear friend lives in that area now... we have crashed her place twice because we love it so much! In return, she gets to come to WDW at Christmas so it all works out

to all and hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Still so tired! Takes a few days to unpack, get caught up at work and get energy back after all that walking!!

Rough start with our flight cancelled. We arrived at 11:30 pm Friday instead if 7:30.

We loved our GV CL room!!! Dd loved seeing the duckies on our patio every morning. If you open the curtains they come waddling over and tap the window with their beaks (looking for you and your food)!

We really felt having adrs for lunch worked awesome. We especially enjoyed chefs de france . We booked 12pm and they put all of the reservation people on the wall with the windows so I would recommend that.

I will post pics of food at GVTR later on gf. We really like to do that. Makes you get the whole GF feeling if you are not staying there.

Oh, last morning Lys ran to CC's and got tonga toast to go and brought to lounge. Yummy!!! A "must do" if staying at poly!

For the morning show at MK they added Anna and Elsa!!!! Dd and I both loved seeing them but the kiddos were just thrilled

We did mine train night and day. Loved it

If going soon BEWARE, it closed many times. Sometimes in the morning it wasn't ready and opened late with waiting lines 120 mins long.


To see A&E or SDMT get to MK 830am. Follow crowd(disney CM's make a line you can't cross). For A&E go straight through castle. For SDMT get as far right as you can. After you pass bridge for tomorrow land get ready!!!! The next line of CM's will be in a row appearing to block your path to the right. However all at once they turn and walk making a human rope. We were right behind them and followed them right in. Have to say it was a fun experience

After missing dd at college have to say a disney trip worked its magic and I had my girl back

We both have tried CL at gf/cr/poly and now say gf is our number one

They have so much more food all day you don't feel like you have to schedule your day around the apps and desserts like at cr and poly.

The views from cr and poly lounges are awesome though. We got our lunch from CC's to go and ate in the CL lounge one day. Had the place to ourselves and that great castle view

Love the picture you posted. I'm glad the trip was such a great one.

With the mine train, did you notice the cars being able to move side to side much? That is the thing I am worried most about it.

 

[pigletgirl]

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! and...

DOUBLE DIGIT DANCE!!!
to all and hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!

YAY for the double digit dance! We're creeping up on the 90 day mark, so crazy! I remember when we booked and were at 200+ days. Time flies!

Trish - its our dream to stay at the GF. I'm not sure if I would do it with our family or save it for a special trip for just DH and I. Who knows!

Anyway, not much news on the trip itself. I've started making a list of what we already have and what we still need to buy. I'm thinking about buying diapers and having them shipped to our resort versus us bringing them. Anyone have success with that?

Eeek, cannot believe we're heading into the second week of June!

Hope everyone is healthy and well!

 

[letthewookiewin]

YAY for the double digit dance! We're creeping up on the 90 day mark, so crazy! I remember when we booked and were at 200+ days. Time flies!

Trish - its our dream to stay at the GF. I'm not sure if I would do it with our family or save it for a special trip for just DH and I. Who knows!

Anyway, not much news on the trip itself. I've started making a list of what we already have and what we still need to buy. I'm thinking about buying diapers and having them shipped to our resort versus us bringing them. Anyone have success with that?

Eeek, cannot believe we're heading into the second week of June!

Hope everyone is healthy and well!

I know, I can't believe it's June already. No changes for my September trip, although I am thinking about upgrading to CL, if I can save the up money.

I am thinking about changing our trip for next Summer. We were supposed to go see my sister, but I just found out they moved into an apartment. I know it might be selfish of me, but the more I think about it, I really don't want to spend my 20th year wedding anniversary sleeping on the floor (or having my kids sleep on the floor/couch) of my sister's apartment. I really want to do a cruise and started pricing them today. Ideally, we could get two rooms. Have the DH and I in a balcony room and the boys in an interior room, right across the hall. That or I would love to get a suite.

 

[dimndgal1]

YAY for the double digit dance! We're creeping up on the 90 day mark, so crazy! I remember when we booked and were at 200+ days. Time flies!

Trish - its our dream to stay at the GF. I'm not sure if I would do it with our family or save it for a special trip for just DH and I. Who knows!

Anyway, not much news on the trip itself. I've started making a list of what we already have and what we still need to buy. I'm thinking about buying diapers and having them shipped to our resort versus us bringing them. Anyone have success with that?

Eeek, cannot believe we're heading into the second week of June!

Hope everyone is healthy and well!

I love your ticker because it's right in front of mine (I think we're off by days!) My countdown started over 400 days!!! Crazy to see the double digits roll by! I think the saddest part is 300 days after I initially booked, I'm still at WL (albeit in a bunk now) but I had 10 actual changes and tons of 'almost' changes.... just to end up in the same place

We are ordering diapers through Amazon for both our upcoming trips (esp for Dec because we'll have two LOs there). My friend does it all the time for all her vacations and has never had an issue so I'm all about it!

Have a blast at the beach!

I know, I can't believe it's June already. No changes for my September trip, although I am thinking about upgrading to CL, if I can save the up money.

I am thinking about changing our trip for next Summer. We were supposed to go see my sister, but I just found out they moved into an apartment. I know it might be selfish of me, but the more I think about it, I really don't want to spend my 20th year wedding anniversary sleeping on the floor (or having my kids sleep on the floor/couch) of my sister's apartment. I really want to do a cruise and started pricing them today. Ideally, we could get two rooms. Have the DH and I in a balcony room and the boys in an interior room, right across the hall. That or I would love to get a suite.

OOOH, yes, do a cruise! I totally understand not wanting to spend anniversary in 'bleh' conditions! One reason why we cut Christmas short v. visiting family all around Florida after Disney - New Years Day is our 10th anniversary. We get back from WDW 27 or 28 so we're going to hang with my folks for a couple of days and leave the kiddos with them for 2 nights so DH and I can celebrate NYE and 10 years!

If you do want to book a cruise, even if you just are thinking about it, grab it early! I saw cruise rates for Christmas sailings that were such a great rate and really tried to get ILs on board (v. WDW at Christmas). By the time they started coming around rates had gone up 1k per room! *sighs*....

Tomorrow we head to Kings Dominion for Coasting 4 Kids! So excited to be a part of Team Dis and raise money for worthy kiddos!!!

to all and have a relaxing weekend!

 

[dimndgal1]

MIL is driving me batty with ADRs!
I have gotten ADRs from every other group for Christmas - mostly wish lists (figuring we would book what we wanted and decide to cut down or pay OOP once we have a chance to sit down together later this summer).

MIL gave me 3 requests, all of which will end up being group meals (because most people also want to eat there). So DH asks her to come up with a list of places she and FIL want to eat. She responds "wherever you kids go, we'll go, too"... except her three kids are scattering to the wind come lunchtime most days (we figure we might start at the same park and split after hitting some headliners). She was really put out -- she assumed we would eat every TS meal together. DH explained that we would be taking long afternoon breaks together at the resort, so we would be able to meet up then, and that it really wasn't feasible to have ADRs for 11 or 12 all week. Plus, I promised DD6 we would get a princess meal in there and I don't want to A) make her miss out or B) make others sacrifice a meal to appease my girls. *sighs* ILs come out next week for a visit so we'll have to sit down super fast and work out their ADRs but it's beyond frustrating to try to plan when all I get is "whatever you all are doing"... NOT helpful!

On another note, here are my potential ADRs for Dec:

• 
  Arrival night: Raglan Rd (apps, drinks - OOP) *group*
  AK day: Tusker House (lunch)
  MK day: QS, maybe Sanaa or Wave (lunch) *DH and me... no kiddos*
  HS day: H&V (lunch) *with BIL, SIL, 1 yo nephew*
  EP day: Biergarten (lunch) *group*, Akerhus (dinner)
  25th: 1900 PF (bfast) *whomever wants to go*, Cape May (dinner) *group*
  26th: T-Rex (dinner) *group*

I am going to make ADR for PF for whole group and figure as we get closer people can opt in our out... I just like the idea of Christmas Day at GF and think DDs will enjoy. Personally, I feel like there is more than enough family time built into the plan as it is. I recommended that MIL/FIL could join the kiddos at H&V to see character interaction (since all 3 kids will be together) but we'll see how it plays out.

 

[letthewookiewin]

OOOH, yes, do a cruise! I totally understand not wanting to spend anniversary in 'bleh' conditions! One reason why we cut Christmas short v. visiting family all around Florida after Disney - New Years Day is our 10th anniversary. We get back from WDW 27 or 28 so we're going to hang with my folks for a couple of days and leave the kiddos with them for 2 nights so DH and I can celebrate NYE and 10 years!

If you do want to book a cruise, even if you just are thinking about it, grab it early! I saw cruise rates for Christmas sailings that were such a great rate and really tried to get ILs on board (v. WDW at Christmas). By the time they started coming around rates had gone up 1k per room! *sighs*....

Tomorrow we head to Kings Dominion for Coasting 4 Kids! So excited to be a part of Team Dis and raise money for worthy kiddos!!!

to all and have a relaxing weekend!

I have the DH on board, but I might be about to quit my job. She hired me because she was getting too many kids. The plan was, she would make appointments for her kids on non-busy days only. Well more times than not, she makes them on our busy days "because that's all they had". Well I am getting sick of being left to feed lunch, have them use the bathroom, wash up, and get laid down to nap by myself. We can easily have 14 - 15 kids that are ages 4 down to 4 months. It's just too much, and I am really starting to feel like she is taking advantage of me.

MIL is driving me batty with ADRs!
I have gotten ADRs from every other group for Christmas - mostly wish lists (figuring we would book what we wanted and decide to cut down or pay OOP once we have a chance to sit down together later this summer).

MIL gave me 3 requests, all of which will end up being group meals (because most people also want to eat there). So DH asks her to come up with a list of places she and FIL want to eat. She responds "wherever you kids go, we'll go, too"... except her three kids are scattering to the wind come lunchtime most days (we figure we might start at the same park and split after hitting some headliners). She was really put out -- she assumed we would eat every TS meal together. DH explained that we would be taking long afternoon breaks together at the resort, so we would be able to meet up then, and that it really wasn't feasible to have ADRs for 11 or 12 all week. Plus, I promised DD6 we would get a princess meal in there and I don't want to A) make her miss out or B) make others sacrifice a meal to appease my girls. *sighs* ILs come out next week for a visit so we'll have to sit down super fast and work out their ADRs but it's beyond frustrating to try to plan when all I get is "whatever you all are doing"... NOT helpful!

On another note, here are my potential ADRs for Dec:

• 
  Arrival night: Raglan Rd (apps, drinks - OOP) *group*
  AK day: Tusker House (lunch)
  MK day: QS, maybe Sanaa or Wave (lunch) *DH and me... no kiddos*
  HS day: H&V (lunch) *with BIL, SIL, 1 yo nephew*
  EP day: Biergarten (lunch) *group*, Akerhus (dinner)
  25th: 1900 PF (bfast) *whomever wants to go*, Cape May (dinner) *group*
  26th: T-Rex (dinner) *group*

I am going to make ADR for PF for whole group and figure as we get closer people can opt in our out... I just like the idea of Christmas Day at GF and think DDs will enjoy. Personally, I feel like there is more than enough family time built into the plan as it is. I recommended that MIL/FIL could join the kiddos at H&V to see character interaction (since all 3 kids will be together) but we'll see how it plays out.

I hope you can get the inlaws to figure out their non group ADRs without too much pain.

 

[dimndgal1]

I have the DH on board, but I might be about to quit my job. She hired me because she was getting too many kids. The plan was, she would make appointments for her kids on non-busy days only. Well more times than not, she makes them on our busy days "because that's all they had". Well I am getting sick of being left to feed lunch, have them use the bathroom, wash up, and get laid down to nap by myself. We can easily have 14 - 15 kids that are ages 4 down to 4 months. It's just too much, and I am really starting to feel like she is taking advantage of me.

I hope you can get the inlaws to figure out their non group ADRs without too much pain.

Oh,no way - single-handing that many kiddos with that age range?! Nope! Heck, I worked in a room with 8 pretoddlers and 2 other teachers and felt overwhelmed! I hope things change or you find a better place to work! You don`t need that kind of stress... esp when it`s not your business and you are just helping.
Ty about MIL... just need to get through ADRs and then it`s FP+ time for Sep! I`ve already decided I am not dealing with FP+ for Dec group... once we all talk in July, they can send requests to TA! I already told TA I`m doing my own for Sep(I`ll be out west so midnight is easier when you`re 2 hrs behind!) Once we go in Sept, I`ll have a better grasp for Dec.

 

[Sue M]

MIL is driving me batty with ADRs!
I have gotten ADRs from every other group for Christmas - mostly wish lists (figuring we would book what we wanted and decide to cut down or pay OOP once we have a chance to sit down together later this summer).

MIL gave me 3 requests, all of which will end up being group meals (because most people also want to eat there). So DH asks her to come up with a list of places she and FIL want to eat. She responds "wherever you kids go, we'll go, too"... except her three kids are scattering to the wind come lunchtime most days (we figure we might start at the same park and split after hitting some headliners). She was really put out -- she assumed we would eat every TS meal together. DH explained that we would be taking long afternoon breaks together at the resort, so we would be able to meet up then, and that it really wasn't feasible to have ADRs for 11 or 12 all week. Plus, I promised DD6 we would get a princess meal in there and I don't want to A) make her miss out or B) make others sacrifice a meal to appease my girls. *sighs* ILs come out next week for a visit so we'll have to sit down super fast and work out their ADRs but it's beyond frustrating to try to plan when all I get is "whatever you all are doing"... NOT helpful!

On another note, here are my potential ADRs for Dec:

• 
  Arrival night: Raglan Rd (apps, drinks - OOP) *group*
  AK day: Tusker House (lunch)
  MK day: QS, maybe Sanaa or Wave (lunch) *DH and me... no kiddos*
  HS day: H&V (lunch) *with BIL, SIL, 1 yo nephew*
  EP day: Biergarten (lunch) *group*, Akerhus (dinner)
  25th: 1900 PF (bfast) *whomever wants to go*, Cape May (dinner) *group*
  26th: T-Rex (dinner) *group*

I am going to make ADR for PF for whole group and figure as we get closer people can opt in our out... I just like the idea of Christmas Day at GF and think DDs will enjoy. Personally, I feel like there is more than enough family time built into the plan as it is. I recommended that MIL/FIL could join the kiddos at H&V to see character interaction (since all 3 kids will be together) but we'll see how it plays out.

Your plans look great. We did the 1900 at dinner, those stepsisters are hilarious!
It's hard managing everyone's expectations for sure! Maybe a family meeting with all those going may help. I think starting the day together, and doing some headliners together is a great idea. Then re-grouping later. And presumably everyone has cell phones and can text if they want to find you to meet up.

Wookie sorry you're having this problem at work. It's hard. We've been understaffed at work for a month now. Anyone sick, school board isn't sending out replacements

 

[pigletgirl]

I have the DH on board, but I might be about to quit my job. She hired me because she was getting too many kids. The plan was, she would make appointments for her kids on non-busy days only. Well more times than not, she makes them on our busy days "because that's all they had". Well I am getting sick of being left to feed lunch, have them use the bathroom, wash up, and get laid down to nap by myself. We can easily have 14 - 15 kids that are ages 4 down to 4 months. It's just too much, and I am really starting to feel like she is taking advantage of me.
Not cool! That is way too many kids for anyone to have to take care of. Kudos to you for hanging in there this long.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday! We're just hanging out watching WWII documentaries on our DVR. Yes, we're nerds at heart! Hope everyone has a great start to the week!

 

[Koh1977]

Quick question for all you knowledgeable ladies.

If we are getting 2 sets of bands for our split stay, do we take all 8 with us? Or would we really only need one per person?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[basketlacey]

Quick question for all you knowledgeable ladies. If we are getting 2 sets of bands for our split stay, do we take all 8 with us? Or would we really only need one per person? Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

You only need one per person but it sure is fun to have choices in. The morning! We are up to 5 each with the 6th one on the way lol!

 

[basketlacey]

I have the DH on board, but I might be about to quit my job. She hired me because she was getting too many kids. The plan was, she would make appointments for her kids on non-busy days only. Well more times than not, she makes them on our busy days "because that's all they had". Well I am getting sick of being left to feed lunch, have them use the bathroom, wash up, and get laid down to nap by myself. We can easily have 14 - 15 kids that are ages 4 down to 4 months. It's just too much, and I am really starting to feel like she is taking advantage of me. I hope you can get the inlaws to figure out their non group ADRs without too much pain.

Oh wow Wook! That's crazy about the number of kids. I'd guess it is probably not legal either. At least here, the ratio of kids to teachers has to be much lower than that.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Oh,no way - single-handing that many kiddos with that age range?! Nope! Heck, I worked in a room with 8 pretoddlers and 2 other teachers and felt overwhelmed! I hope things change or you find a better place to work! You don`t need that kind of stress... esp when it`s not your business and you are just helping.
Ty about MIL... just need to get through ADRs and then it`s FP+ time for Sep! I`ve already decided I am not dealing with FP+ for Dec group... once we all talk in July, they can send requests to TA! I already told TA I`m doing my own for Sep(I`ll be out west so midnight is easier when you`re 2 hrs behind!) Once we go in Sept, I`ll have a better grasp for Dec.

I have the DH on board, but I might be about to quit my job. She hired me because she was getting too many kids. The plan was, she would make appointments for her kids on non-busy days only. Well more times than not, she makes them on our busy days "because that's all they had". Well I am getting sick of being left to feed lunch, have them use the bathroom, wash up, and get laid down to nap by myself. We can easily have 14 - 15 kids that are ages 4 down to 4 months. It's just too much, and I am really starting to feel like she is taking advantage of me.
Not cool! That is way too many kids for anyone to have to take care of. Kudos to you for hanging in there this long.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday! We're just hanging out watching WWII documentaries on our DVR. Yes, we're nerds at heart! Hope everyone has a great start to the week!

Oh wow Wook! That's crazy about the number of kids. I'd guess it is probably not legal either. At least here, the ratio of kids to teachers has to be much lower than that.

Thanks y'all. I recounted last night, and without any drop-ins coming, we'll have 16 kids. She keeps thinking that since it's mostly "during nap time", it's ok. The thing is, I still have to get lunch for all those kids. She, for some reason, doesn't understand me having a problem with it.

 

[trishadono]

Love the picture you posted. I'm glad the trip was such a great one.

With the mine train, did you notice the cars being able to move side to side much? That is the thing I am worried most about it.

No the cars barely rocked. It was faster than I thought but very short!