September 2010 Check-In

[Nala83]

Okay, I'm so confused right now and I'm hoping you can help me since this is the group going in September. In the past, we've gone in April so I know how to find good dates then, but this time we are thinking about going either October 13-17 or Sept 22-26. We would love to see Disney all decked out for Halloween since Halloween runs a close second to Christmas as a favorite holiday. Are there advantages to going in September over October? If we went in October, we wouldn't be doing MHP since it's too expensive. Any suggestions?

Oh, we are a family of 5 - 2 adults, 3 kids ages 7, 4, 15 months.
Thanks!

When is Columbus Day this year? I remember last year the parks got super crowded right around then. I would (and did) pick September to get lower crowds because that's my priority. (Though check the refurb schedule. There are lots of things down in September. If any of those are must-do's, you may want to do October.)

 

[Belle Ella]

I too want to make my Dining Ressies but am waiting for more entertainment schedules...ahhh I will probably break down and call on Monday.

Belle Ella: We will be there 25-30 now so perhaps a meet-n-greet would be cool...and we are staying at the HoJo anyhow...

What dining were you thinking of doing for your trip?

Hey, maybe I'll even see you at the HoJo I'm hoping a few people might be able to work in a little meet up to maybe all go on a ride together inside the park. It's fun to put faces to names 'round here. Got a few group shots with other DIS'ers I met last year.

Ohs! And don't forget your LGMH's

OK, I think later this evening I am going to go through the many pages that I have been MIA for and get the OP updated again. It's been a while.

 

[steves1bear]

Thanks for the advice. I think we are leaning more towards September because it seems the crowds will be a bit lower, we can still do Halloween without worrying about the park closing for MHP, and we can do the 5 days for 3 deal. Columbus Day is October 11. Our original dates actually fell right over then which is why we thought maybe we should try a few days later. After looking through everything, I think September will work better. At this point, though, we are still a undecided about going, but I guess we should make a decision soon since it's already August!

Thanks again!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I'm getting so excited for our trip!!! I just booked a cabana to use after the Disneyland Half. We have ressies at GK at lunchtime so the DDs will get some park-feel and character interaction on our non-park day. Now I just need to decide where we'll all go to dinner. Since my parents will be joining us for the day, I'm thinking of sending them a list with descriptions and letting them pick where they would most like to go.

 

[MrsPinup]

Columbus Day is October 11.

Bummer! We are also going the 11th-13th...hopefully since it is during the week the crowds will be lower. Our school district does not take that day off for a holiday.

I'm getting so excited for our trip!!! I just booked a cabana to use after the Disneyland Half. We have ressies at GK at lunchtime so the DDs will get some park-feel and character interaction on our non-park day. Now I just need to decide where we'll all go to dinner. Since my parents will be joining us for the day, I'm thinking of sending them a list with descriptions and letting them pick where they would most like to go.

CABANA?! I did not hear about this! Where are those located? I also see that you are near me I have 3 other friends from up here running in the Half - we are pretty excited! Is this your first?

 

[Tablefor5]

What dining were you thinking of doing for your trip?

Hey, maybe I'll even see you at the HoJo I'm hoping a few people might be able to work in a little meet up to maybe all go on a ride together inside the park. It's fun to put faces to names 'round here. Got a few group shots with other DIS'ers I met last year.

Ohs! And don't forget your LGMH's

OK, I think later this evening I am going to go through the many pages that I have been MIA for and get the OP updated again. It's been a while.

Gee, I really want to try and do Blue Bayou and perhaps try Goofy this time. We did Minnie last time. I too have been MIA lately and trying to catch up. My kids started school this week and summer flew by. I am now realizing we are under 2 months until the trip! Need to get cracking with more planning.... I was just hoping to have a better schedule for Sept. (like all of us our thinking) to know how/what/when to plan...feeling crazy and I just shut down due to no action from DLR.
Give us some love peeps!
I may alter my days once I know the schedule for that week. Hoping for fireworks and Alladin to show on the calendar.

BTW: I will be in Martinez on Thursday for a job interview at the County office. I live just over the hill in Brentwood.

 

[Belle Ella]

Gee, I really want to try and do Blue Bayou and perhaps try Goofy this time. We did Minnie last time. I too have been MIA lately and trying to catch up. My kids started school this week and summer flew by. I am now realizing we are under 2 months until the trip! Need to get cracking with more planning.... I was just hoping to have a better schedule for Sept. (like all of us our thinking) to know how/what/when to plan...feeling crazy and I just shut down due to no action from DLR.
Give us some love peeps!
I may alter my days once I know the schedule for that week. Hoping for fireworks and Alladin to show on the calendar.

BTW: I will be in Martinez on Thursday for a job interview at the County office. I live just over the hill in Brentwood.

BB and GK are the two meals I've booked so far. My two absolute favorites. One lunch and one breakfast. Very excited about. I'm still debating about the whole WOC vs. Fantasmic! vs. tour thing right now. Waiting on some announcement about the Halloween season is adding to the frustration so I feel you there. Keeping my fingers crossed that this week will be the week. At least they now have the WOC thing figured out as far as when it's going to show. But I really, really, really want to know what they are gonna do about the fireworks and Aladdin too.

Small world My grandmother lived out in Brentwood a few years ago. I was out there every weekend pretty much. Good luck with your interview. My mom currently works with the County If it's downtown you'll probably even drive by my house without knowing it, haha.

 

[Tablefor5]

BB and GK are the two meals I've booked so far. My two absolute favorites. One lunch and one breakfast. Very excited about. I'm still debating about the whole WOC vs. Fantasmic! vs. tour thing right now. Waiting on some announcement about the Halloween season is adding to the frustration so I feel you there. Keeping my fingers crossed that this week will be the week. At least they now have the WOC thing figured out as far as when it's going to show. But I really, really, really want to know what they are gonna do about the fireworks and Aladdin too.

Small world My grandmother lived out in Brentwood a few years ago. I was out there every weekend pretty much. Good luck with your interview. My mom currently works with the County If it's downtown you'll probably even drive by my house without knowing it, haha.

Thanks! It is a small world, after all!
I think I will book my dining reservations tomorrow.
C'mon Info!!!

 

[Belle Ella]

I have decided I will be calling Disney Dining every morning until they start accepting the reservations for Ariel's Grotto. I don't really want to eat at Wine Country Trattoria -- especially when it costs more! As of this morning it's still a no-go for AG and they are definitely getting a lot of calls and questions about it. The CM that I spoke to a little bit ago made some comments on that. Poor guy.

OK, so that's a little bump from me. I am going back to update the OP right now!!

 

[MrsPinup]

Would any of the runners (or other people there Labor Day weekend) want to get together for a mini meet on Saturday the 4th?

 

[Belle Ella]

Alright, got updates done for the most part!!

We'll be there in September! 9/2 to 9/5 at GCV for the Half Marathon. This is a yearly trip we take WITHOUT our kids.

You can add us to the list too - originally DH & I were going to WDW in Sept/Oct for the Food & Wine Fest, but we ended up buying a Jeep, so we'll be driving down the coast from Vancouver to Anaheim instead. We have a WDW trip still planned for May (Disney Cruise) so we'll add some WDW days on there instead - decided that I'll miss DL (it's my "home" park ) too much to not do it for another year or so, so this works out better - I get to do both parks & the cruise within a year!

We'll be at GCV 09/28 & DLH 09/29-09/30 (though we're hoping that we'll get a room at GCV using our points - we're on waitlists currently).

I'm crossing my fingers for Al Lutz to be right about WOC for the end of Sept. I'll be really sad if we don't get to see it during that time.

It's official, my wife and I won the weightloss competition that was sponsored by my work (I mentioned it earlier in this thread). Our results for anyone who cares, I took first place ($2,000) and lost 48 lbs (83 pounds total for the year). My wife took second place ($1,500) and lost 20 lbs.

Disneyland...here we come!

That's awesome!! Congrats!!

I will be at Disney August 31st-September 1st and staying at the GCH for the first time. I used to live not even 30 minutes away from the park so I never stayed onsite til last year when we stayed at DLH, not in the new rooms. It was great to stay onsite, however, we didnt like the rooms much. I would like to stay there again but this time in the newly renovated rooms however if we booked 2 night stay at GCH using our DIsney Visa, then in return they will give us a $200 gift card. (DHL would be $150)The main reason we picked those dates is because its only $430 wo taxes/fees. I checked middle of August and its $530 wo taxes/fees. Then I was thinking about going Sept 7th-9th since its only $430, but I checked on the Calendar and WOC isn't showing...well as of yet...I also thought of going Sept 15th-17th (my bday is the 15th) but the prices is once again $530plus no WOC. So the only real solution as of now, is to go August 31st-September 1st, so I still get the late closing of the parks as well as WOC. Summer nights end August 29th, I believe, but do you think my dates would still have the summer crowds? I know the so cal AP holders get unblocked the week prior.

Also, if Disney ends up showing WOC during the weekdays in September, (im gonna wait to book til mid August to make sure) and I decide to book September 7th-8th instead, how do you think crowds would be at that time, it being after labor day? Any knowledge would be greatly appeciated! I CANT WAIT!! :]

I will also be at the parks again in october (i know im spoiled :} ) I went last year and loved the space mtn overlay. I also went Xmas time in December. Wow such a difference in holidays. Never again during christmas time lol

Me, my wife and two daughters (6 & 3) will be at the DLH, Sept 24 -29.

Just booked a quick getaway for DD and I for 9/5-9/8! We are so excited as we haven't been since last November. Hoping to see WOC but am sad that Alice, HM and Toy Story won't be open....oh well - we'll be at Disneyland though!!!!

Add my name to the list of people going in Sept. We get in on the 4th and leave on the 6th. We're at the DLH for the races!! 5K on Saturday and 1/2 on Sunday, then Disneyland!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait, only 1more month!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

CABANA?! I did not hear about this! Where are those located? I also see that you are near me I have 3 other friends from up here running in the Half - we are pretty excited! Is this your first?

The cabana are located by the Mariposa pool at the GCH. Here's an overview photo: Mariposa Pool, seen from the new Villa wing, with original pool area beyond.

Here's a photo of the cabana up close: Cabana at the Mariposa Pool.

This is my first half marathon! DH and I will both be running together. We're following the Hal Higdon Novice Half Marathon plan. I just finished my 7 mile long run yesterday and I'm feeling really good about where I'm at so far! Are you also in the Sacramento area?

 

[curiouslittleoyster]

DH, a friend, and I will be there 9/25 thru 9/27. We are staying one night at BWPPI(but reviews are making me want to change to Park Vue or Stovalls) and we are waitlisted at GCV. Please, please, please waitlist come through! We've waitlisted at the GCV before, but didn't come through. We will be participating in the Scavenger Hunt! Yeah!

 

[jory29]

Lots of new Aug. Entertainment Card rates at Hojo's have opened up today! Here's hoping that more date in Sept. will follow!!

 

[Tablefor5]

Lots of new Aug. Entertainment Card rates at Hojo's have opened up today! Here's hoping that more date in Sept. will follow!!

YES! C'mon Sept dates!
I was surprised at all the August dates that opened up! Does that mean that they aren't fully booked those days? I mean if they were booked, I wouldn't see any reason to need discounts. A lot of those days are weekends too... Hmmmm...well here's to hoping the same will open up for September!

 

[MrsPinup]

The cabana are located by the Mariposa pool at the GCH. Here's an overview photo: Mariposa Pool, seen from the new Villa wing, with original pool area beyond.

Here's a photo of the cabana up close: Cabana at the Mariposa Pool.

This is my first half marathon! DH and I will both be running together. We're following the Hal Higdon Novice Half Marathon plan. I just finished my 7 mile long run yesterday and I'm feeling really good about where I'm at so far! Are you also in the Sacramento area?

Thanks for the pics! I am using that plan too. Just did my 5 mile today. Now that both the kiddos are riding bikes without trainers, they can ride in front of me when I run. We are up in Roseville actually

 

[kim3339]

The summer was going by so fast, and now... it's... dragging... on! Why can't it be Sept. 3rd and not August 3rd. I want to go nooooww!!!!!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Thanks for the pics! I am using that plan too. Just did my 5 mile today. Now that both the kiddos are riding bikes without trainers, they can ride in front of me when I run. We are up in Roseville actually

Well, cool! Does that mean you're getting the cabana for the day of the Half?

I'm doing a 4 1/2 today. Haven't done it yet and if it doesn't cool down soon, looks like I'll be hitting the gym to run on the treadmill. Ick. I love doing Miner's Ravine trail up in Roseville!

 

[Belle Ella]

Now that September is only a month away I find the time to be going by faster. It always seems that way for me once I hit the 60 day marker. Now I'm 50 days away! OOOOH YAY!

 

[Belle Ella]

AH! Bumping back to page 1!!

And another call for anyone interested in scheduling a meet up while I'm there. I'm hoping to get a mini get together any time from 9/23-9/27!!