Royal carriage swap-#1 STROLLER-MISSING-FOUND-MISSING AGAIN

[michael's mom]

OMG....I love it! Are you a taurus? You sound like you are as stubborn (in a very good way) as I am. I would totally argue with someone like you did (I actualy did with a Budget rep who tried to overcharge me for a rental). It is so much fun. Anyway, great persistence!

I hope all is well!
~Maura

 

[parkers*momma]

Nope, I'm a scorpion. LOL....But I can be very bulled-headed! My employee was laughing so hard that she was crying. She kept saying, "I can't believe youare calling a telemarketer" then she would laugh even harder.

On a serious note, nothing had changed...Step-dad is still holding his own-which is a great thing because he isn't getting worse.

I do know I am more than ready for 2009 to be over....it has been a VERY long year already and it's only Feb. Maybe we will get all the bad things over the first part of the year and have a great 2nd half of 2009.

Luckily, our jobs are stable. Our children's jobs are cut in hours but still there, that's a lot better than some ppl.

 

[michael's mom]

Well, I'm glad step-dad is at least staying the same and not worsening.

It's so true about the jobs...my sis lost hers a few weeks ago and my other sis thinks she's going to lose hers in a few months.

How are things with the swap for #4?

 

[parkers*momma]

I asked each swapper who is visiting WDW this week for a complete report on the condition of all the strollers, what accessories each stroller still has and the condition of each of those accessories as soon as they get back next week. So soon we will know exactly what we have to buy and start getting this done.

 

[Picabo]

OK so all you pro's who've been there several times with lil' ones - I now am curious to know how you all like using hoppers vs not hopping? We'll be on our first family trip there for 8nts at Poly in early December. So not peak season but not as quiet as I'd hope for either, from what I understand. I was thinking we'd go with hoppers simply for the ability to go into Epcot in the evenings to eat. (Is that crazy that I'd even contemplate spending the extra money on hoppers just for xtra restaurant choices??) Our PLAN is to go to the parks at rope drop, back to the Poly each afternoon for naps for the girls and back out around 4pm or so for another few hours in the park - and dinner. But of course on AK and HS days, no way am I getting back on the bus to go back to those parks so I was thinking it'd be nice to have the flexibility to go into world showcase at Epcot in the evenings. Should I skip it??? Maddi I just saw your post that you don't use hoppers now so it got me wondering how others do it - especially with young kids. (Mine will be 2 1/2 and 4 when we go and they typically are in bed by 730-8pm)

What should we do???? Save our money or go ahead and have the flexibility??

Melanie

 

[parkers*momma]

For us, my DD isn't that interested in Epcot for an evening. We spend the day at a park, go back to rest or to a resort for a character meal and then back to the same park in the evening. Plus we both love DTD so on the off days we spend evenings there.

We usually do(with character meals each day):
MK-
off day (water park) resort scoping with character meal there
AK
off day (beach)resort scoping with character breakfast
HS
Off day (pool hopping)resort scoping with character meal there
MK
Off day (something in Orlando)resort scoping with character breakfast
Epcot till 4 then MNSSHP
sleep in then AK or HS
MK
Home

I don't feel as rushed, she is always fresh to start another park with a day off in between, and we both love checking out the resorts and playing at DTD.

 

[parkers*momma]

what you will spend for the hopper just to eat...ouch. Meals aren't cheap if you aren't on the free dining plan and to add the hopper just to eat--OUCH...IMHO.

 

[Picabo]

what you will spend for the hopper just to eat...ouch. Meals aren't cheap if you aren't on the free dining plan and to add the hopper just to eat--OUCH...IMHO.

Ya I suppose you're right. haha I like your plans! Sounds like a nice, relaxing pace. Of course your girl is a bit older than mine but it sounds so fun that you and her enjoy doing the same things like checking out resorts and shopping in DTD!

Any clue how long it takes *bus to get to DTD from Poly?? (We won't have a rental car) And how easy (or difficult) is it to get the stroller on and off the busses??

 

[msreneau]

I'm with Maddi, I vote no Hoppers. You have 8 nights, that is plenty. All of the parks have great restaurant choices and so do all the of the resorts!

 

[disneynuts777]

No Hoppers here....we do one park a day thats it. Then if we are tired go back and rest at the resort. Sometimes we will return to the same park later in the day. The only exception to this is AK. The hours are not long enough to take a break in between.
We did the hoppers once and I felt like I had been on a marathon for a continuous week. I needed a vacation from my vacation.

Maddi...I see you got my payment. I am glad because I was a little nervous about it
I hope that the pixie dust on the card helps your Step Dad out.
How is your Mom doing?

Take care and have a great day!!

 

[debraW76]

Maddi, that is the funniest telemarketing story i have ever heard. And you handled it so nicely

You should post his number and let everyone here call and harrass him

I tried searching for B.I.T. Telemarketing but couldn't find anything. I wonder why he had to have your boss' number? Maybe he is the stubborn taurus? Our receptionist is great about screening calls for us so we don't really have that problem (well, we do but it is taken care of by her).

 

[mtquinn]

Hi! I was reading all of these stroller swap threads and I am fascinated to learn how you got this started! Not that I am ambitious enough to start one, but I am going March 21-28 and so curious. What a great idea to help defray costs. Thanks for any info!

 

[Belchers1]

Hi Picabo - while I do not consider myself a pro, I do consider myself a big planner and read everything I can get my hands on before the big trip (which is why I LOVE THESE BOARDS!!!). When my babies get older **sniff, sniff** and can venture out on their own a bit more, I could see doing the hoppers, but right now, I love just going with MYW tix bc they take away any pressure. I know me, and if we had the option to go to another park, I would feel the need to make the most of the tix and push just a few hours more. With 8 days, I would slow down and enjoy all of the small things Disney has to offer. Another suggestion would be to explore the other resorts and their dining options. We've discovered that even the different food courts have quite a selection and all offer a different scenic view by simpling carrying your food out the front door! Good luck and enjoy the trip!

***Also, I'm not sure if you've heard, but The Beach Club has a fantastic place called Beaches & Cream that we loved! We didn't feel like waiting bc we hadn't made reservations ahead of time, but we also wanted to try T-Rex in DD...and we also love Earl of Sandwich for a cheap and always yummy dinner. AND, my all-time favorite Disney food that we must get as soon as we arrive in the parks on day 1 - Turkey Legs...yum yum!!!!

And yes Maddi, I'm trying to talk the entire family into a Grand Gathering in a year !

 

[Picabo]

Ohhh thanks to all of you for your advice on the hoppers!!!! It means so much for me to hear it from other moms! Now one thing is that so many of you say 8 nts is a long time so we can stretch things out and go at a slow pace and here I am panicing that 8nts is not enough! haha Here's my rough schedule (although I do not know hours of the parks yet but it's a general idea) Let me know if you think this is do-able or how you'd make changes:

Day 1 - Arrive and hang at hotel (early dinner at Epcot then early to bed)
Day 2 - Magic Kingdom
Day 3 - MGM Studios (Osborne Lights in evening)
Day 4 - No parks - go to DTD and pool in the afternoon
Day 5 - Epcot - midday break - then back for Illuminations!
Day 6 - Sleep in and hang at hotel or...more MK time??
Day 7 - Animal Kingdom
Day 8 - Magic Kingdom (back in the evening for Spectromagic!)
Day 9 - late bkfst at Chef Mickey - then fly home (boo hoo)

You see - afraid 2 days at MK is not enough - with lil' ones! Should we skip going to AK all together and instead have a 3rd day at MK and then a down day again with no parks?? The late night I want to be sure we don't have to be up early the next morning. Eeeek! How would you TWEAK my plans??

PS - how easy is it to fit the stroller on the busses. I know I asked before but some reason can't see the answer so sorry to re-ask!

 

[parkers*momma]

everything but the kitchen sink! My then 12 yo basically starved himself that day because he vowed that he WOULD eat the entire thing. HAHAHA


when it arrived...look at the sparkle in his eyes and the smile upon his lips:

When he finished...total different expression, don't you think?

hahaha...needless to say, he didn't eat anything else that day. He never got sick but he was a lot slower when walking.

 

[parkers*momma]

Ya I suppose you're right. haha I like your plans! Sounds like a nice, relaxing pace. Of course your girl is a bit older than mine but it sounds so fun that you and her enjoy doing the same things like checking out resorts and shopping in DTD!

Any clue how long it takes *bus to get to DTD from Poly?? (We won't have a rental car) And how easy (or difficult) is it to get the stroller on and off the busses??

If I remember right...none of the bus rides are longer than 15 minutes to anything(good traffic). The stroller, personally, I didn't think it was bad at all to get on and off the buses. I tried to be the very first or the very last on the bus. If I was the first, I moved to the back, sat the stroller within the area of the back door of the bus so we could be the first off. If I was the last one on the bus, most drivers left me place the stroller beyond the yellow line on the floor and we were again, the first ones off the bus. If you have a really great driver (this happened several times for us) they will let you load through the back door. Just ask them and some will let you.

 

[Picabo]

Oh yum! Only a child could get away with eating that many calories in one sitting! haha

 

[parkers*momma]

No Hoppers here....we do one park a day thats it. Then if we are tired go back and rest at the resort. Sometimes we will return to the same park later in the day. The only exception to this is AK. The hours are not long enough to take a break in between.
We did the hoppers once and I felt like I had been on a marathon for a continuous week. I needed a vacation from my vacation.

Maddi...I see you got my payment. I am glad because I was a little nervous about it
I hope that the pixie dust on the card helps your Step Dad out.
How is your Mom doing?

Take care and have a great day!!

I LOVED the card! Did you get those one disneyshopping.com?

 

[parkers*momma]

Maddi, that is the funniest telemarketing story i have ever heard. And you handled it so nicely

You should post his number and let everyone here call and harrass him

I tried searching for B.I.T. Telemarketing but couldn't find anything. I wonder why he had to have your boss' number? Maybe he is the stubborn taurus? Our receptionist is great about screening calls for us so we don't really have that problem (well, we do but it is taken care of by her).

HAHAHA...I did run the number on reverse phone look-up. It's greensboro, N.C. and unlisted. I should post it everywhere...it wouldn't be private anymore. hahahaha

 

[parkers*momma]

Ohhh thanks to all of you for your advice on the hoppers!!!! It means so much for me to hear it from other moms! Now one thing is that so many of you say 8 nts is a long time so we can stretch things out and go at a slow pace and here I am panicing that 8nts is not enough! haha Here's my rough schedule (although I do not know hours of the parks yet but it's a general idea) Let me know if you think this is do-able or how you'd make changes:

Day 1 - Arrive and hang at hotel (early dinner at Epcot then early to bed)
Day 2 - Magic Kingdom
Day 3 - MGM Studios (Osborne Lights in evening)
Day 4 - No parks - go to DTD and pool in the afternoon
Day 5 - Epcot - midday break - then back for Illuminations!
Day 6 - Sleep in and hang at hotel or...more MK time??
Day 7 - Animal Kingdom
Day 8 - Magic Kingdom (back in the evening for Spectromagic!)
Day 9 - late bkfst at Chef Mickey - then fly home (boo hoo)

You see - afraid 2 days at MK is not enough - with lil' ones! Should we skip going to AK all together and instead have a 3rd day at MK and then a down day again with no parks?? The late night I want to be sure we don't have to be up early the next morning. Eeeek! How would you TWEAK my plans??

PS - how easy is it to fit the stroller on the busses. I know I asked before but some reason can't see the answer so sorry to re-ask!

Poly? Right? Here is a list of things to do at the resort: FUN!

SUNDAY (la'pule):
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner

MONDAY (po'akahi):
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner
3pm: Pool games at the Nanea Volcano Pool
3:45pm: Yaka Dula Keiki Hula at the front of the lobby

TUESDAY (po'alua):
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner
1pm: Plush demonstration
3pm: Pool games at the Nanea Volcano Pool
3:45pm: Yaka Dula Keiki Hula at the front of the lobby
6pm: Torch Lighting Ceremony; outside at the Great Ceremonial House

WEDNESDAY (po'akolu):
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner
3:45pm: Yaka Dula Keiki Hula at the front of the lobby
6pm: Torch Lighting Ceremony; outside at the Great Ceremonial House

THURSDAY (po'aha):
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner
1pm: Plush demonstration
3pm: Pool games at the Nanea Volcano Pool
3:45pm: Yaka Dula Keiki Hula at the front of the lobby
6pm: Torch Lighting Ceremony; outside at the Great Ceremonial House

FRIDAY (po'alima):
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner
3:45pm: Yaka Dula Keiki Hula at the front of the lobby
6pm: Torch Lighting Ceremony; outside at the Great Ceremonial House

SATURDAY (po'aono):
10am: Hula-Dancing: Join us in the Great Ceremonial House
11am - 1pm: Ho'olaulea (Open House) Held every third Saturday of the month
12pm - 2pm: Arts & Crafts in the Great Ceremonial House at Keiki Korner
3pm: Pool games at the Nanea Volcano Pool
3:45pm: Yaka Dula Keiki Hula at the front of the lobby
6pm: Torch Lighting Ceremony; outside at the Great Ceremonial House
__________________


Something else you can do is go to other resorts...We loved Movies when the kids were little. Awesome photo shots for your scrapebook....