September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about your 4 year old. Best wishes for a quick heal and speedy recovery!!

Very sorry to hear about that broken arm. I hope your daughter is feeling better soon!

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about your little one. I can imagine how stressed out you are right now. We'll be thinking and praying for you.

Thanks all, I really appreciate it

She has a cast and sling on and says her arm is still painful but she insisted on going to pre-school this morning...I think she just wants to show off her cast to her friends. At least I can hop on here and think about other things for awhile!

 

[MamaJessie]

My 4 year old broke her arm on Monday so my Disney planning has been on hold. We were in the ER for over 7 hours with her

Besides my youngest with the broken arm, my 7 year old is on a week long school trip in Wisconsin this week and I"m just feeling a little stressed. Luckily I only have a few ADR's I'm thinking about since we're paying OOP for meals but my date is coming up next week on St. Patrick's day.

Broken arms stink! DD did that when she was 6 (buckle fracture) and it was no fun. Hope your little girl has a speedy recovery.

You must be missing your 7yo . Paying OOP definitely shortens the ADR list

I was working on our schedule yesterday while I was waiting for DD to finish up at dance and I think we are going to add DHS to the schedule. I'm thinking we may spend just a morning there.

I'm also trying to decide if we should eat at Rose & Crown or Whispering Canyon Cafe. I'm leaning toward WCC because we've eaten at R&C multiple times. Plus, we could eat at WCC and then make it back to BLT for the fireworks.

Have you ever tried WCC? If not I'd go there, it's fun to try something new and discover new favorites. I have never been there myself but I think we are only going to try restaurants we didn't try before.

Aren't these decisions so hard?! I'm reworking our plans too. I had another revelation last night. So, it's back to the drawing board.

I just remembered we should visit DH's family when we are there... It's not that I don't enjoy their company but it is a 1 1/2 hour drive there to get to a very non child proofed house (I don't mean knick-knacks in reach, it is CRAZY - take my word for it) and visit for a couple hours just to drive back to Orlando. Is it rude to tell them to come visit us in DTD? We plan on being there the night we arrive and his Uncle, although not a Magic Kingdom kind of guy, would probably be comfortable enough at HOB. We're also going to visit his grandparents but we can do that on our departure day.

 

[KELLY]

We're finally home and settled in. Here's Lilyana Emilia Anne

She is so beautifl. Congrats!!

My 4 year old broke her arm on Monday so my Disney planning has been on hold. We were in the ER for over 7 hours with her

Besides my youngest with the broken arm, my 7 year old is on a week long school trip in Wisconsin this week and I"m just feeling a little stressed. Luckily I only have a few ADR's I'm thinking about since we're paying OOP for meals but my date is coming up next week on St. Patrick's day.


disneydreamin247: Congratulations! Your new is beautiful!!!

Sorry she broker her arm. Hope she is ok?

 

[KELLY]

Maybe you guys can give me some insight. We paid off our vacation at pop in full. While doing that I upgraded to CBR which is another 750.00. It really isn't the money but yes that is alot of money. Especially since I paid less than that for all 4 of us to fly.

I'm afraid I will miss pop in the worst way. We are on the QSDP and so love there foodcourt. So CBR or POP?

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Maybe you guys can give me some insight. We paid off our vacation at pop in full. While doing that I upgraded to CBR which is another 750.00. It really isn't the money but yes that is alot of money. Especially since I paid less than that for all 4 of us to fly.

I'm afraid I will miss pop in the worst way. We are on the QSDP and so love there foodcourt. So CBR or POP?

I vote for POP. The savings in money is enough reason for me. But aside from that, I love POP, apparently you love POP, and the value resort food courts are great. Not sure if you've ever eaten at CBR, but if you go back to POP, make sure you at least eat at CBR and visit the resort. It will help you decide if you'd like to stay there next time.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Maybe you guys can give me some insight. We paid off our vacation at pop in full. While doing that I upgraded to CBR which is another 750.00. It really isn't the money but yes that is alot of money. Especially since I paid less than that for all 4 of us to fly.

I'm afraid I will miss pop in the worst way. We are on the QSDP and so love there foodcourt. So CBR or POP?

Oh, and you can always do a split stay, even if it's one night at CBR. We are fond of split stays!

I was born in Waterville, Maine!

 

[jp'smommy]

Ok, I am working on ADR list. So far I have LaCellar, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Coral Reef, Tusker House (breakfast), Kona Cafe, and Boma. I am very iffy about Boma. I need some input here if anyone has a minute. I just want to be ready to tell our TA when the 20th gets here.
I had the BEST time making our schedule on Sunday. It makes it feel so real. Now I just have to see how many times I will make changes!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Ok, I am working on ADR list. So far I have LaCellar, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Coral Reef, Tusker House (breakfast), Kona Cafe, and Boma. I am very iffy about Boma. I need some input here if anyone has a minute. I just want to be ready to tell our TA when the 20th gets here.
I had the BEST time making our schedule on Sunday. It makes it feel so real. Now I just have to see how many times I will make changes!

I would give Boma a try. We went for dinner once and were very pleasantly surprised!

 

[WelovMickey!]

Ok, I am working on ADR list. So far I have LaCellar, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Coral Reef, Tusker House (breakfast), Kona Cafe, and Boma. I am very iffy about Boma. I need some input here if anyone has a minute. I just want to be ready to tell our TA when the 20th gets here.
I had the BEST time making our schedule on Sunday. It makes it feel so real. Now I just have to see how many times I will make changes!

I loved Boma

 

[jbmom]

My 4 year old broke her arm on Monday so my Disney planning has been on hold. We were in the ER for over 7 hours with her

Besides my youngest with the broken arm, my 7 year old is on a week long school trip in Wisconsin this week and I"m just feeling a little stressed. Luckily I only have a few ADR's I'm thinking about since we're paying OOP for meals but my date is coming up next week on St. Patrick's day.


disneydreamin247: Congratulations! Your new is beautiful!!!

I hope your DD is doing okay! My oldest DS broke his arm when he was 3, it was a twisting break, it amazed me how fast he adapted to doing everything with his right hand(he's a leftie). It didn't slow him down a bit.

Maybe you guys can give me some insight. We paid off our vacation at pop in full. While doing that I upgraded to CBR which is another 750.00. It really isn't the money but yes that is alot of money. Especially since I paid less than that for all 4 of us to fly.

I'm afraid I will miss pop in the worst way. We are on the QSDP and so love there foodcourt. So CBR or POP?

I love Pop's food court too. We are going to try CBR for the first time. We have stayed at Pop, but not for many years. I have heard good things about CBR's food court. If it were me I would stick with CBR, but then again I don't see us going back to Pop again, even though we enjoyed it when we stayed there.

Ok, I am working on ADR list. So far I have LaCellar, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Coral Reef, Tusker House (breakfast), Kona Cafe, and Boma. I am very iffy about Boma. I need some input here if anyone has a minute. I just want to be ready to tell our TA when the 20th gets here.
I had the BEST time making our schedule on Sunday. It makes it feel so real. Now I just have to see how many times I will make changes!

You have great choices! We have eaten at all of them except WPC. I love Boma, the soups are wonderful. I say give it a try, my kids didn't think they would like it either and ended up loving it!

 

[JoBird]

Dani-- Princess Lilyana is absolutely breathtaking. She is just perfect. Hope you all are doing wonderful.

Add us to the list! We'll be back at Pop for free dining again from the 3rd to the 10th.

Hi!! Welcome to the thread! I think I remember reading a report of yours from last year about Labor Day week- it was one of the reasons I chose that week! So--- do you have anything you'd like to tell us about September??

My 4 year old broke her arm on Monday so my Disney planning has been on hold. We were in the ER for over 7 hours with her

Besides my youngest with the broken arm, my 7 year old is on a week long school trip in Wisconsin this week and I"m just feeling a little stressed. Luckily I only have a few ADR's I'm thinking about since we're paying OOP for meals but my date is coming up next week on St. Patrick's day.


disneydreamin247: Congratulations! Your new is beautiful!!!

Poor baby-- I hope she is better soon. It's so hard to deal with a broken arm. My DS broke both wrists at the same time two years ago--- mirror images on xrays-- falling out of a swing. I know what you're going thru.





Okay, so I wasn't here yesterday so this is old but I wanted to share what I do with my kids and their spending $$ when we go.

First they save as much as they can- between allowances, chores, birthday $- everything---so that they can use it there. It usually ends up being around $100 that they save. They are always asking what they can do in the house to earn some cash. They are allowed to use all of it or none of it, but they have to wait until later in the trip to do so, otherwise it would all be blown the first day.

Added to their money- in an envelope on their first morning there-- is usually $50 a child, we used to give it in Disney Dollars, but now it is in cash. So that is around $150 total they can use.

I also every morning give them what we call Tinkerbell gifts- they wake to presents and confetti all over their beds, around the presents. It used to be a different t shirt coinciding for each park, plus bows for the girls, toys they can use to play in line with, small stuffed characters, small notebooks, autograph books, glow bracelets and necklaces, some type of candy and always a new pin for their lanyard every morning. I collect them all from The disney store online and different places for months before we go. Walgreens usually has some MM candy and such.
The day we went to MNSSHP the kids got their new costumes to wear.

My DH also buys them pins every day-it's his "thing" to do, so they don't use their $$ on that.

This helps cut down on them wanting small items in the parks- they are then able to use their $$ for more expensive items- Legos, etc once they get into the parks.

I'm sure all of this sounds excessive to some, but I think I get as much joy out of getting it together as they do in receiving it. It keeps me in a Disney mood all year long, searching the items out. Besides, it's so much fun to hear their squeals every morning as they see what Tink brought them.

This year I'm sure they will spend a lot of their money at the UF game that we will be attending-- they all now would rather be in Gator Gear head to toe than MM stuff. Kind of makes me sad.



Oh and Kelly-- if it were me, $750 would be worth it to stay at CBR rather than POP---- I personally feel like there is a big enough difference btwn a value and a mod to pay for it.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I also every morning give them what we call Tinkerbell gifts- they wake to presents and confetti all over their beds, around the presents. It used to be a different t shirt coinciding for each park, plus bows for the girls, toys they can use to play in line with, small stuffed characters, small notebooks, autograph books, glow bracelets and necklaces, some type of candy and always a new pin for their lanyard every morning. I collect them all from The disney store online and different places for months before we go. Walgreens usually has some MM candy and such.
The day we went to MNSSHP the kids got their new costumes to wear.

My DH also buys them pins every day-it's his "thing" to do, so they don't use their $$ on that.

This helps cut down on them wanting small items in the parks- they are then able to use their $$ for more expensive items- Legos, etc once they get into the parks.

I'm sure all of this sounds excessive to some, but I think I get as much joy out of getting it together as they do in receiving it. It keeps me in a Disney mood all year long, searching the items out. Besides, it's so much fun to hear their squeals every morning as they see what Tink brought them.

That's really cute about the Tink gifts!

We do something similar, but just at the beginning of the trip. We'll buy gifts in advance and choose a character to "send" it to our girls. For example, before we leave for Disney, there will be a note at home (with or without gifts) from Minnie saying she can't wait to see them at Disney. Then, when we arrive, we usually "race" to our hotel room and DH conveniently takes the long way to get there with the girls. It buys me time to run into the room first and lay out the gifts before the girls get in there. So, when they open the door, they'll see another note from Minnie saying, 'Welcome to Disney", along with some gifts. It's a neat part of our vacation to look forward to each year!

 

[peachydreamyxx]

Just need to vent. I just spent over an hour on the phone with two different CM's. I called to give them my flight information and figured why not just ask if I happened to have a PIN code. So this CM was beyond helpful and tried everything, she told me she was able to apply a QSDP and upgrade it for my September dates. It ended up that my 35% off discount was cheaper then FD, but for my parents room they would save an additional $500. So after about 45 mintues she applies the codes, asks me to hold on one second and then the phone goes dead. She hung up on me and sent me to the survery at the end of the call. She was really nice and I dont think she meant to hang up on me. Needless to say I call back, speak to another really nice CM. She now cant figure out how she was even able to apply the code to my dates since we are past the Aug 13th cut off. Now she cant apply anything to my parents room and goes off searching for codes. Then, once again, we get cut off! Now they dont even have my flight information which was the purpose of my call. Im just so frustrated because no one tells you the same thing twice and it takes forever to call back since they make you talk to the automated voice. Ughhhh I guess I will try and call back tomorrow with my flight info

 

[pinkle]

Ok, I am working on ADR list. So far I have LaCellar, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Coral Reef, Tusker House (breakfast), Kona Cafe, and Boma. I am very iffy about Boma. I need some input here if anyone has a minute. I just want to be ready to tell our TA when the 20th gets here.
I had the BEST time making our schedule on Sunday. It makes it feel so real. Now I just have to see how many times I will make changes!

We love Boma There is alot of 'unusual food' there but there is enought 'regular' food that you should be ok. Their soups are amazing!

Just need to vent. I just spent over an hour on the phone with two different CM's. I called to give them my flight information and figured why not just ask if I happened to have a PIN code. So this CM was beyond helpful and tried everything, she told me she was able to apply a QSDP and upgrade it for my September dates. It ended up that my 35% off discount was cheaper then FD, but for my parents room they would save an additional $500. So after about 45 mintues she applies the codes, asks me to hold on one second and then the phone goes dead. She hung up on me and sent me to the survery at the end of the call. She was really nice and I dont think she meant to hang up on me. Needless to say I call back, speak to another really nice CM. She now cant figure out how she was even able to apply the code to my dates since we are past the Aug 13th cut off. Now she cant apply anything to my parents room and goes off searching for codes. Then, once again, we get cut off! Now they dont even have my flight information which was the purpose of my call. Im just so frustrated because no one tells you the same thing twice and it takes forever to call back since they make you talk to the automated voice. Ughhhh I guess I will try and call back tomorrow with my flight info

Thar's awful!!!! You should try again. I hope you can get your discount!!!!


Does anyone know when the 'official' Disney hours for September come put....I found some online but not on the Disney site. I would like to see the official hours before I make my ADR's

 

[KellyWasHere]

Ok, I am working on ADR list. So far I have LaCellar, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Coral Reef, Tusker House (breakfast), Kona Cafe, and Boma. I am very iffy about Boma. I need some input here if anyone has a minute. I just want to be ready to tell our TA when the 20th gets here.
I had the BEST time making our schedule on Sunday. It makes it feel so real. Now I just have to see how many times I will make changes!

I've never been to Boma but my mom goes almost every trip with her friends. They really love it.

Just need to vent. I just spent over an hour on the phone with two different CM's. I called to give them my flight information and figured why not just ask if I happened to have a PIN code. So this CM was beyond helpful and tried everything, she told me she was able to apply a QSDP and upgrade it for my September dates. It ended up that my 35% off discount was cheaper then FD, but for my parents room they would save an additional $500. So after about 45 mintues she applies the codes, asks me to hold on one second and then the phone goes dead. She hung up on me and sent me to the survery at the end of the call. She was really nice and I dont think she meant to hang up on me. Needless to say I call back, speak to another really nice CM. She now cant figure out how she was even able to apply the code to my dates since we are past the Aug 13th cut off. Now she cant apply anything to my parents room and goes off searching for codes. Then, once again, we get cut off! Now they dont even have my flight information which was the purpose of my call. Im just so frustrated because no one tells you the same thing twice and it takes forever to call back since they make you talk to the automated voice. Ughhhh I guess I will try and call back tomorrow with my flight info

Oooh, that's frustrating!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Does anyone know when the 'official' Disney hours for September come put....I found some online but not on the Disney site. I would like to see the official hours before I make my ADR's

The official Disney hours are out and can be found here:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/calendar/.

You have to go to each Park page separately and then choose September from the drop-down menu. Hope this helps!

 

[MissLiz]

Kelly -- we love CBR so I would pick that one. We've never stayed at Pop, but the food court at CBR isn't bad at all. We have never had a bad meal there that I recall.

My DH proposed on the beach at CBR on my first ever WDW trip, so it holds a very special place in my heart.

jp'smommy -- I vote to give Boma a try! It is one of our favorite restaurants and we try to get there every trip. There are enough things that aren't too crazy that you can get a good meal there, even for picky eaters. Plus there's enough "different" foods that you feel like adventurous trying. The last time we ate there, we had the best CM!

MamaJessie -- we've never tried WCC, so I think we will probably do that. I think it seems like a lot of fun and we can take the boat over, so that would be a nice little trip.

 

[MamaJessie]

Just need to vent.

Vent away! That sounds so frustrating!

My DH proposed on the beach at CBR on my first ever WDW trip, so it holds a very special place in my heart.

Awe

Kelly - what do the kids think about the resorts?

 

[KELLY]

Vent away! That sounds so frustrating!

Awe

Kelly - what do the kids think about the resorts?

They wanted to stay at pop. But I just showed them the pool and rooms just a standard room and they seemed all for it. So it looks like CBR for us. My youngest who just turned 3 is acting like a pirate now. LOL

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

We're finally home and settled in. Here's Lilyana Emilia Anne

Congrats!! She is too sweet!!

Too cute! I love the Daisy page with all of the hearts. What size is the book?

The book is an 8x8. I like that size. It fits nicely in a large ziplock to protect it from rain and water rides.

That is great! And so funny because I was also creating our autograph books on Shutterfly yesterday. This is the first time I've done a photobook as an autograph book and am worried about it. I created ours, ordered them, then cancelled because I am so unsure about it. I'm afraid that if I don't leave a ton of empty space, the characters will have a hard time signing it, especially the ones that have to put the book on their nose to sign. So the books just looked ridiculous to me, with these teeny tiny pictures.

So, if I may ask, what size is yours? I'm assuming the characters never had problems signing them? And are all those backgrounds available on Shutterfly, or did you create the pages then load them up as one big picture per page?

QUOTE]

It is plenty big. I did it last year and they had plenty of room to sign. I will try to post a few pictures from our last book to show you how it looks when they sign All of the backgrounds I used are on Shutterfly.