September '09, 22nd anniversary at Pop. FINAL THOUGHTS DECEMBER 3RD

[mickeystoontown]

Of course you know I'd vote for the CBR. I really think Dallas would enjoy it and you and Dale too. I, personally, think the extra $150.00 is worth it. Two sinks, more room, free fridge, etc. There's also a marina and beaches. The main pool has been redone. It's just a nice place to stay.

Hum....not quite sure what I'd say about when to go. If it were me, I'd probably still keep the May times in mind just in case Amanda changes her mind.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Dana!!!!Look what I just found...
just learned of a new discount for Disney Rewards Visa cardholders: get a 40% discount at most Walt Disney World resort hotels, valid most nights 1/1/10-2/11/10.

They also listed an AP special through June 2010!

 

[leamom2princesses]

I vote May 22-29....oh wait, that's not one of the options. I know I'm being selfish again. Would really like to meet up with you again though. CBR is nice and if you haven't stayed there I think you should really consider giving it a try. It's a beautiful resort. If you can't do May 22-29 then I vote for March!

Love the pic of you and Christie and the pics of the boys. Sounds like you had a really good meet.

 

[racefanof88]

I hate it when a post goes POOF. Oh well, I have new info anyway.

Of course you know I'd vote for the CBR. I really think Dallas would enjoy it and you and Dale too. I, personally, think the extra $150.00 is worth it. Two sinks, more room, free fridge, etc. There's also a marina and beaches. The main pool has been redone. It's just a nice place to stay.

Hum....not quite sure what I'd say about when to go. If it were me, I'd probably still keep the May times in mind just in case Amanda changes her mind.

I have been looking at the numbers and if we go in February and use AAA we can get the rooms at CBR at a really good rate. I think we may just have to go in February and maybe again in May .

Dana!!!!Look what I just found...
just learned of a new discount for Disney Rewards Visa cardholders: get a 40% discount at most Walt Disney World resort hotels, valid most nights 1/1/10-2/11/10.

They also listed an AP special through June 2010!

I called Disney and they would not let me use the code on Mousesavers(well the CM I spoke with anyway). She said I had to had gotten a pin code in the mail or email. I asked her if she could try the code on Mousesavers and said she could not . I am going to call back later. I am at work so it is hard to be on hold for too long. If I can't use the code I may just go throught AAA because their rates are about as good as the code rate anyway.

I vote May 22-29....oh wait, that's not one of the options. I know I'm being selfish again. Would really like to meet up with you again though. CBR is nice and if you haven't stayed there I think you should really consider giving it a try. It's a beautiful resort. If you can't do May 22-29 then I vote for March!

Love the pic of you and Christie and the pics of the boys. Sounds like you had a really good meet.

Leanne. I am hoping to go a couple of times next year too so the end of May isn't out of the question. It would be fun to meet up again . I really want to try CBR!!! We drove past it several times while staying at Pop. We totally enjoyed staying at Pop. I wasn't that crazy about their food court though.

Thanks about the pic. It was fun . Had it not been for 'Ohana we would have been able to spend more time doing stuff.

 

[racefanof88]

I am really getting discouraged with Disney today. I am just ranting right now I know, but it doesn't matter what I do I can't seem to get a pin. Wait, I'm wrong, I got the pin earlier this summer for free dining for a child 3-9. Now, I KNOW for a FACT Disney knows how old Dallas is because they have his birth date and when I booked one of our trips it came after his birthday and the CM corrected me as to how old he would be on the trip. The only AP rates they have right now are with pin codes. AAA has a great deal for the week of February 5-11 and I think I may book through them so I can lock in the good price. I really thought by getting the APs I would get some good deals on rooms too........grrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Dana, give it a day or two...chicagoshannon's mom received her AP pin today! so your may still be coming...also, just try another CM tomorrow or sunday!

But, alot of times AAA offers the same deals that WDW does...

but, I do know it is very irriating!!! Luck to you!!

 

[aprilisis]

I've missed SO much & have to get caught up, but I am voting CBR & May. CBR for the pirate rooms (I've only seen photos, but they look awesome), the pool, the food court, the boats- (remind me to show you my "boat rage" face photo), & the gift shop/ arcade. I've stayed there a couple of times & LOVED it. I love the beautiful landscaping & opportunities for nice walks as well as the convenient location. I voted for May so you miss the school vacation weeks & the college spring break week- which I know doesn't get too bad, but the May weather rocks in WDW! It is one of my favorite times & you may catch some Star Wars weekend activities!
Now I have to catch up on your TR- I missed WAY too much!

 

[racefanof88]

Dana, give it a day or two...chicagoshannon's mom received her AP pin today! so your may still be coming...also, just try another CM tomorrow or sunday!

But, alot of times AAA offers the same deals that WDW does...

but, I do know it is very irriating!!! Luck to you!!

Thanks Connie . I think I am just tired, we were really busy today at work. I asked the CM today when the AP rates might come out and she said she didn't know. AAA rates for the week of 2/5-2/11 for Pop is $82 a night, CBR $127 and ASMovies is $78. That is a little better than rack rate, but not much. I guess I will wait a few more days to see what happens.

 

[racefanof88]

So after a good Sunday, hot though it was, we had an early ADR at Crystal Palace on Monday, September 28. It was for 8:20am and we were running about 10 minutes late. We pulled out of Pop parking lot at 7:55 and I knew we were not going to make it to CP by 8:20 . We were at the TTC at 8:10 and I figured we would be about 5 minutes late so not so bad. We make it up the monorail ramp just as one was pulling out . Not a problem right? They run pretty quick and one usually pulls up not long after one leaves right? WELLLLLLLLLLL not this time. We waited about 10 minutes and NO MONORAIL. I am getting really antsy because I hate to be late for anything and now we are at our ADR time. So, FINALLY, a train shows up and everybody is ready to get on. But, NOOOOOOOOOO, they do not open the doors WHAT IS GOING ON? After another 5 minutes or so they change drivers and they open the doors. Everybody loads up, and by now of course, the cars are full. So we are off to the MK..........NOT. We sit for another 5 minutes or so before we slowwwwwwwly start moving. As we are heading to the MK we stop just short of the station and sit, and we wait, and wait, and wait, and...........LET ME OFF THIS THING................. So, FINALLY, we pull into the station and it is now 8:35 . It took us 25 minutes to get from the TTC to the MK. We get our bags checked and go into the park and I start the mad sprint toward CP and Dale says "Why hurry now? We are already late. What difference is a couple of minutes going to make?" Of course he is right, but do I let him know that? I DON'T THINK SO.

I do have to get a picture while walking toward CP.

So, we get to CP and check in at 8:45 , I can not believe we are 25 minutes late. Not a problem though because they had overbooked here too. A family sitting across from us on the benches said their ADR was for 8:30 and they had gotten there at 8:15 and were still waiting . I don't know if they overbook or if it just takes sooooooooo long for the characters to make it around the restaurant. That is why we may not do character breakfasts anymore.

These are all pictures taken while waiting.

At about 9:10 or so they finally call our name and we head in.

This was on our table

I thought that was a nice touch. Dale and Dallas wanted coffee so the waiter brought us a pot of coffee and some orange juice. I ordered a diet coke and Dallas ordered some chocolate milk, and it took a while before we got that, but it was OK. I didn't take any pictures of the food, but it was good.


These are the only two characters that made it to our table. I asked Dallas if he wanted to wait and see Pooh and Tigger and he said "Naaaaaaah, let's go so somebody else doesn't have to wait like we did".............aweeeeeee. He just earned a souvenir.

Dallas wanted to head to Adventureland and ride a few things so over we went. We stopped at a Kiosk to get me a new ticket holder for my lanyard. One of the new ones has a ziploc type closure and it is configured from top to bottom instead of side to side. If you look at the picture of Dale and Dallas waiting at CP you will see it on Dale's lanyard. I love it. It is so easy to get the tickets in and out of. We had several CM's ask us where we had gotten them because they wanted one. Dallas wanted to ride JC so we got in line and waited.

Here are just a few of the pix I took while waiting

We had to wait about 30 minutes and it was so hot. I swear I don't think it was this hot in July.

Pictures from JC

After JC we rode PoC and decided to go over to Epcot because we were going to be in MK again Tuesday night for MNSSHP. We headed for the front of the park and back to the TTC.

Up next. The sad phone call I got while at Epcot.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

I am like you. I hate to be late. Before we would head out for our ressies. I would get the confirm # and phone # in case something happened I could at least call. I so love that pic of you and Dallas. JC pix are cute. That has been the same for years. I'll never forget the first time I rode back in 75. I am aging myself aren't I?

I hate sad phone calls when on vacay. I hope it's not terrible.

Lovely update.

Ginny

 

[racefanof88]

I am like you. I hate to be late. Before we would head out for our ressies. I would get the confirm # and phone # in case something happened I could at least call. I so love that pic of you and Dallas. JC pix are cute. That has been the same for years. I'll never forget the first time I rode back in 75. I am aging myself aren't I?

I hate sad phone calls when on vacay. I hope it's not terrible.

Lovely update.

Ginny

It totally makes me crazy to be running late. Thanks about the pix. I think Dallas is a cutie, but then I may be a little prejudice . I agree about the JC. I rode it for the first time in 1986 and nothing has changed, but ya know? I think that is the good thing about it. JC and CoT are still original Disney and that makes them great!!!!!

I will post the phone call news in my next post. It is a long story .

 

[aprilisis]

It took me a while to get caught up! I'm glad you are feeling better (& Dallas, too!). it is AWFUL to get sick on vacation...It happened to me, too. I was sick pretty much the whole time. I'm going solo in January to make up for it...sort of. I still missed out on quality time with John.
I'm looking forward to more photos & more reporting!
You, Lisa, Ginny, Connie, & (Jen & more!) I should plan a long weekend next fall! hahaha I wish we could! The F & W kickoff weekend would rock!
Please keep us posted on how you guys are doing. I hope you feel 110% ASAP.

 

[racefanof88]

I think I am going to change my dates to March 5th through 12th. Even if I don't get a good AP rate the 4/3 or 5/2 are a pretty good deal. I could even do pretty good if I go room rate with AAA. The price difference between CBR and Pop is about $125 or so if I go with Disney's 4/3 and that would give us 7 day tickets. The price difference for room only on AAA has a much higher difference between the two, but it would come out less than going with the 4/3. I know that is really confusing . I also contacted Dreams Unlimited to see if a TA can get the AP rate and she sent me an email today saying it was confusing to her that it confirmed me as an AP holder, but was giving rack rates . She said she was going to try again Sunday and Monday to see if something was wrong in the system. I am really having Disney withdrawals and planning a trip is my methadone, or should I say mouseadone?.............

 

[bouncycat]

HAHA funny dude!!! We're planning a weekend early in Dec, well, not really a weekend, probably just one day, but to ride Space Mtn after it opens. IF Chris isn't at a school. Our last ticket expires on the 23rd, so we want to see the new sm. It was running when we were there last week, just tests tho, when we rode TTA, we saw a car going up the lift...the cars are new, and look like the old ones, but different color, not the glow stuff on the side LOL Ya'll should come down here and go with us, you can stay with us here at the house so you can meet Chris, and the boys can play!!! That way, you get to see the Christmas decorations, without all the people, and still be home for the holiday!!! I'll let ya know what weekend I'm looking at maybe tomorrow. Sound good? I got PLENTY of room!!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

I think I am going to change my dates to March 5th through 12th. Even if I don't get a good AP rate the 4/3 or 5/2 are a pretty good deal. I could even do pretty good if I go room rate with AAA. The price difference between CBR and Pop is about $125 or so if I go with Disney's 4/3 and that would give us 7 day tickets. The price difference for room only on AAA has a much higher difference between the two, but it would come out less than going with the 4/3. I know that is really confusing . I also contacted Dreams Unlimited to see if a TA can get the AP rate and she sent me an email today saying it was confusing to her that it confirmed me as an AP holder, but was giving rack rates . She said she was going to try again Sunday and Monday to see if something was wrong in the system. I am really having Disney withdrawals and planning a trip is my methadone, or should I say mouseadone?.............

wonder what's up? good luck!!

 

[racefanof88]

HAHA funny dude!!! We're planning a weekend early in Dec, well, not really a weekend, probably just one day, but to ride Space Mtn after it opens. IF Chris isn't at a school. Our last ticket expires on the 23rd, so we want to see the new sm. It was running when we were there last week, just tests tho, when we rode TTA, we saw a car going up the lift...the cars are new, and look like the old ones, but different color, not the glow stuff on the side LOL Ya'll should come down here and go with us, you can stay with us here at the house so you can meet Chris, and the boys can play!!! That way, you get to see the Christmas decorations, without all the people, and still be home for the holiday!!! I'll let ya know what weekend I'm looking at maybe tomorrow. Sound good? I got PLENTY of room!!

I may get up the nerve to ride SM. We rode BTM and Dallas and I loved it. I know SM is totally different since it is in the dark, but I may get brave . When we rode TTA I took some pictures when we went through SM. You could hear them working behind the wall. Thank you Christie, that is so sweet . I will mention it to Dale. I don't mind doing a quick weekend trip. A lot to times we will drive to Talladega, to see a race, and drive up and back in the same day. It is a 5 1/2 hour drive to go there.

wonder what's up? good luck!!

I don't know, that is really strange to me too . Thanks Connie I hope we can get a good rate.

 

[bouncycat]

Wow...Long drive just for a race!! But, hey, staying with me, at least you don't have to shell out $$ for a hotel....then we can play cards, and cook out on the grill, or whatever! We cook on the grill ALOT! SM isn't a big deal, really, it doesn't go very fast, the biggest thrill of it is it's in the dark. I'm just hoping it's smoother once it's redone. We did ride that new one at universal yesterday, it's REALLY cool!! Chris just left...so maybe I'll go do an update!! LOL Let me know what you think about coming here. We do have park hoppers for our last day, so we don't HAVE to be restricted to the MK. Anyways, think about it!

 

[racefanof88]

Talking to Connie about her little one has made me miss mine being little . I pulled out our photo album from our first trip and wanted to scan some of the pictures and add them here, but my scanner isn't working . So, what did I do? I took pictures of pictures........ Dale thought I had lost my mind, but I wanted to post some of them.

Here are some of the pictures from the kids first trip Oct.30-Nov.4, 1999. Please forgive the quality. The acutal pictures are much better.

Look how little Dallas was......... He was 13 months old.

Last, but not least.


We wore him out.

Amanda and Tyler would kill me if they knew I had posted these pictures . I don't care I love them. I guess I have got to get a new scanner now so I can scan some of the other years and have them in better quality.

 

[bouncycat]

AWWWWW Those are awesome!!! LOVE them!!!! It's always fun to look at older pictures!!! Dallas still looks the same, only older!!! TOO cute!

 

[racefanof88]

AWWWWW Those are awesome!!! LOVE them!!!! It's always fun to look at older pictures!!! Dallas still looks the same, only older!!! TOO cute!

Thanks girl!! I made Dale bring in all the old albums. I found a tin last week that has about 10 rolls of undeveloped film in it. I have got to take them to Walmart and have them developed so I can see what they are....