PART TWO *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[cybrkitn]

Yeah! We'll be paid in full tomorrow!!!!

Congrats

 

[1stvisit0909]

Gaston is going to be out for M&G!!! I dont normally stop for characters but I am loving all this new BaTB stuff!!!

Ditto!

 

[WedgieSock]

When: December 26th - January 1st

Where: POFQ

The last time I went to WDW in December was in 2000 when I was 2, so I don't remember that trip, but we've been in January & November

I'm most looking forward to bring there around Christmastime I love all the decorations and stuff, and plus I haven't been since June!!
It's tough not living in Florida!!
And this time, we're flying down!! We've driven the past couple trips cause my mom just doesn't like the airport stuff like security and baggage and whatever. Buuuut I'm not really liking the 16-hour drive from PA so that's exciting!

Welcome!

Yay for flying .... 16hrs would kill me. I can't even do the 8 hours drive ... we're stopping over night to break it up

 

[cybrkitn]

ewwwww - this coming from someone called Wedgie?? LOL...

but, um no, lol - don't smell like one AT ALL!

I was eating my dinner when I read that. Thankfully, my mouth was empty at the time!

 

[mom2travel]

Gaston is going to be out for M&G!!! I dont normally stop for characters but I am loving all this new BaTB stuff!!!

Ooooh fun!! I hope he shows some attitude like the Tremaines

 

[ksromack]

Gaston is going to be out for M&G!!! I dont normally stop for characters but I am loving all this new BaTB stuff!!!

Where will he live? At the tavern? I'm going to be like a child with the M&Gs. I hope that doesn't creep out any of the characters.

 

[ksromack]

To rent a car or not rent a car, that is the question!

We've got a 4 night trip, staying on-site at AoA, so technically we don't HAVE to have a car to get around, and it's just us 2 adults, so no messing with strollers or kiddie meltdowns waiting on a bus to worry about. A rental would be around $200 plus gas to refill the tank.

Here's what I've come up with as far as pros and cons:

The good:
A car WOULD get us to the resort, checked in and to HS the first day faster than waiting on the ME and a bus would.

The third day we're going to AK first thing in the morning, DTD in the afternoon, have a dinner ADR at the Grand Floridian and MVMCP. A car would be loads faster than dealing with the bus system, and I'm kind of worried after reading all the horror stories about how long it can take to get a bus back from DTD about missing our ADR accidently (for which sissy would have my head).

The last day we've got HS in the morning, Epcot in the afternoon and a dinner ADR at Kouzzina. We'll likely be done at Kouzzina late enough that we'd take a cab back anyway, so I guess that'd be about $20 toward the car rental right there.

Our flight back leaves at 6 am, so ME would probably pick us up around 3 am. We could easily sleep an extra hour if we had a rental car.

The Bad:
It's an extra $200 I hadn't planned on spending.

A car means I have to be responsible for figuring out directions, etc. instead of just leaving the whole mess to Disney's bus drivers and enjoying my trip.

I'd be paying for it to sit in the AoA parking lot for at least one of the day's I'm paying for.

Parking and dealing with the trams may eat up most of the time we'd save vs. using the bus system

Ok gang - Feedback, thoughts, suggestions???? Come on - talk me in or out of it!

I would normally vote NO for a rental car....but you only have 4 days and you are bouncing around quite a bit for parks and ADRs.....I think you almost HAVE to rent a car, otherwise you will be spending hours waiting for transportation.

 

[cybrkitn]

Thats what I wanted to do but I'm worried I won't have time, I have to be paid by 23rd. I didn't realise (and thank you for letting me know) that there was a limit on it!



Wow. I was thinking a couple of thousand. Thanks for the info I just get paranoid because I've had my card stopped so many times - in this country & in the UK - because of unusual activity. See, I will suddenly go out and buy all kinds of random stuff that have no rhyme, reason or connection then I'll get to like the 20th store and its refused*. I call and they always apologise saying it looked like a 'stolen card spending spree' .... what an insult!

Definitely call the bank. I just posted back on page 120 (I think) about the problem that I had with paying off our balance today. We just opened a new checking account last month and didn't know that there was a $200 point of sale limit for the first month. We wouldn't get an increase on our MC/debit card until our 45 day mark which is the 15th! Thankfully, they were able to increase the limit so that we could pay it off. If they had not done that, our vacation would have been cancelled due to non-payment of the outstanding balance.

 

[ksromack]

Welcome!

Yay for flying .... 16hrs would kill me. I can't even do the 8 hours drive ... we're stopping over night to break it up

We have always driven to Orlando from StL......but if I remember right it's about 15 hours give or take 30......we've done it because taking 4 kids plus ourselves was always cost prohibitive. I don't mind sitting in the passenger seat navigating but hubby wants to fly. I hate flying but I put on my big girl panties and flew out to LA a few months ago to see my sister-in-law and niece (it was her hs graduation party)....and I didn't die from fear.....of course, the Bloody Mary didn't hurt any

In two weeks we DRIVE to my fil's cabin in the woods of West Virginia and that's a 9+ hour drive. I can see why dh doesn't want to drive to Florida too!

 

[WedgieSock]

Definitely call the bank. I just posted back on page 120 (I think) about the problem that I had with paying off our balance today. We just opened a new checking account last month and didn't know that there was a $200 point of sale limit for the first month. We wouldn't get an increase on our MC/debit card until our 45 day mark which is the 15th! Thankfully, they were able to increase the limit so that we could pay it off. If they had not done that, our vacation would have been cancelled due to non-payment of the outstanding balance.

Your post is what got me thinking! I'll call them in the morning.

 

[cybrkitn]

Your post is what got me thinking! I'll call them in the morning.

Glad I could help .

 

[rachdd]

I think a dismeet is in order! We booked a courtyard view. What about you?

Absolutely! I am sure I will be easy to find... I will be the one yelling JAXON!! Lol, it seems to have become a trend the last few weeks, ugh. I am hoping it ends soon.

Courtyard for us too!!!

 

[SAT887]

Ahh. I based our park days on what night each park had their EMH night. So those are first with a second, non-EMH day for Epcot and MK. I also had to make sure that we planned around the early closing for HS on 12/5 due to Pop Warner. Which worked out well, b/c HS's EMH night is on 12/2. I finally have a chance on riding RnRC!

Yeah, our original plan was to go see family in DTD, afternoon break and then MK... Then, I read about the parade, changed it to HS and then we decided against seeing family to avoid drama... It's funny at first my plan was very deliberate for many reasons, then ADRs, parade taping and family changed it all!!

 

[SAT887]

1. Remember us when you win.
2. If you have that much $, you won't be cleaning your home at GA
3. I moved out of MA to escape the winter season (though it's fun to visit!). We do have seasons here. Spring is fall (things turn brown then) and fall is spring (raining season so everything is green). Haha
Our seasons are
-Gorgeous Delightful "This is why I moved here" Months Late Oct-April/early May.
-May-June rainy season
-Hot (but *if* you live near the beach, it ain't so bad, so you kinda love it because all the snowbirds are gone, and people think it is bad when in reality it isn't all that bad. So you have the restaurants and beaches all to yourself. You happily agree with relatives and people out of the area that is "sooooo god awful" this time of year and so you keep the myth alive.) And in reality, it is just as humid in NY/Boston, but just more a/c here.
-Early October -when you wonder when it will eventually cool down a bit, but you realize the season is coming because the sun isn't directly overhead. Then suddenly (come mid or later Oct), you wake up and go outside to walk the dog and there is a cool, dry breeze.

Haha I need to move to a warmer climate ASAP. I am from NJ and live in NH and about 3 hours north west of Boston... Our seasons

Mid October-May- Stick Season (trees all look like sticks!) and winter (and holy freakin' cold!!)

May - Mud Season

June - Black fly season

July-August --- Summer!!! One of the best places to summer- I don't think I used my AC more than a handful of times....

September-Mid October.... Fall beautiful fall!! Best parts of living in the White Mountains. However this year was ruined by rain...

Yep ready for a warmer climate!!

 

[SAT887]

It doesn't matter how small you type it .....

Yeah because it's the same size on the DIS app on my phone!!!

 

[SAT887]

I so agree. We lived in Florida for 14 years then became half-backs (moved halfway back to NC) to be closer to DGD and now can't wait for the housing market to improve so we can get back to Fl. Used to love summer in Florida - the restaurants actually welcome you, parking spots are readily available, nice afternoon breeze at the beaches and best of all year round - Publix is there. If you grocery shop in NC you will understand how important that is.

We are looking at NC... What's with grocery stores?

 

[SAT887]

I don't even have to worry about keeping the myth alive with my family, as they all live in MD too and wish there was more snow and cold weather!! One aunt and uncle are planning to move to Montana in 2014 after she retires and are looking forward to the snow, and another aunt wants to move to NH for more snow. They think I'm crazy for wanting to live in FL, as they are convinced it never gets below 90 degrees

I am going to be moving to the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

I lived in Bradenton for a bit

 

[cybrkitn]

Yeah, our original plan was to go see family in DTD, afternoon break and then MK... Then, I read about the parade, changed it to HS and then we decided against seeing family to avoid drama... It's funny at first my plan was very deliberate for many reasons, then ADRs, parade taping and family changed it all!!

So far we didn't have to change our park plans. But I'm happy that we are able to do all of the PM EMH days! The only thing that I missed out doing is getting an ADR for 50's PT. I waited too long to make our ressies and now they are booked for 12/2 . We had to settle with H&V for dinner.

 

[SAT887]

So far we didn't have to change our park plans. But I'm happy that we are able to do all of the PM EMH days! The only thing that I missed out doing is getting an ADR for 50's PT. I waited too long to make our ressies and now they are booked for 12/2 . We had to settle with H&V for dinner.

Maybe something will open up We still might take advantage of PM EMH - our MIL will watch the kiddos (who will probably crash around 7) at night. However, I'm betting on being in Resort Lounges enjoying wine and grown up time... Although Epcot is pretty inviting at night, good drinks, food and great atmosphere in the World Showcase!

 

[cybrkitn]

Maybe something will open up We still might take advantage of PM EMH - our MIL will watch the kiddos (who will probably crash around 7) at night. However, I'm betting on being in Resort Lounges enjoying wine and grown up time... Although Epcot is pretty inviting at night, good drinks, food and great atmosphere in the World Showcase!

I've been looking online and so far nothing has opened up for 50's yet. It's still booked. I doubt that I will be able to get that for us.