~Snowbird Chat~

[snykymom]

I'm baaaaaaaaack! Hope everyone missed me! Actually, I got back on Tuesday, but managed to get sick while down in Disney and just started to feel better. Anyway, I have a couple of posts to respond to, and then I'll tell you all about the rest of my trip!

I have been checking Hoopdeedoo ADRs for the 9:30 showing, and have noticed that they don't book up that far in advance, so I could just worry about getting the non-pay in advance ADRS, especially Le Cellier.

I wouldn't worry too much about Hoop De Doo. I decided to go on Sunday the 13th, at about 4 PM. I got the 9:30 show that night. Category 2, but still. I was the final booking that night, and didn't even have to sit under the balcony. Category 3 wasn't booked at all.

It was a lot of fun.

I'm so angry, ya'll! Please help handle this situation. (ie.... should I be upset?) This is really long, but please take the time to read it and help me out.

Okay, so we started this building process back in June. We are using a church member that we were referred to by friends of ours. When we initially talked to him in July, we made it clear what our budget would be. He had us contact his sister-in-law for financing. She was terribly rude and treated us like crap. We turned in our stuff to her 6 or more weeks ago and have never heard back about doing our financing with her. We went to another bank and were approved on the spot, but it turns out that our builder should have had our house plans drawn up. So three weeks later, our plans were drawn up. We ended up going 100 square feet over our goal. We went over the plans with our builder and he assured us that everything would be fine. So for $1000 dollars we bought our plans. Then for another $1000 we put a deposit down on our lot. So that's $2000 we have already spent towards this.

Three weeks ago we gave him our plans to bid them out. He's had them (the bid results) since Thursday. (He was also building the exact same house across the street from us for my best friend and her husband. I'll call them J&A. (Don't get me started on them building our same house....) My best friends DH (J) is a friend of the builder. On Thursday afternoon he met with our friends to give them their bids. He told us that he couldn't get with us because his printer was down and couldn't print them out. But he could still give J&A their bid.... hmmmm..... It seems like he's trying to put us off on giving us our results.

J called me last night to let me know they wouldn't be building anymore. Their bid came in $18000 dollars over what they planned to spend. We were shocked and nervous.

Builder called G today and told him he was too busy to meet with us. He didn't give G anymore info. That ticked me off. (Again, I feel like he's been hem hawing us around.) I called builder and asked if this was going to be higher than our (recently increased by $10,000) budget. (The square footage would cause this, but we loved the plans so much we were willing to budge.) He told me that our house would now be about $15,000 more than we had discussed with him and totally out of our price range.

I'm so mad. Is this the builders fault? Shouldn't he have known a rough estimate of how much it would cost to build our house and steer us from going well beyond out price range?

We meet with him tomorrow to look over our bids and find the final price. I told G that I don't even want to go. My girlfriends think that we need to take our houseplans to another builder. I feel like our builder has been completely unprofessional and has just strung us along for 3 months!

Thanks everyone for the prayers and advice. The builder called G yesterday while I was trying to nap. (I got 3 hours of sleep on Friday due to stress- not the mention my face is totally broken out.) They had a good talk. G was pretty firm on some things. I think he's getting nervous about losing our business, since he just lost J&A's so he's willing to work with us on some cost to get it to where we want it. G is meeting with him tomorrow to figure it all out. Please pray for wisdom on G's part.

I'm glad it seems to be working out for you, but personally, I'd still hesitate. If this is the way he treats you when he wants your business, what will he do once you've paid him? Whatever you do, make sure you keep escrow money until he completes every punchlist item. Otherwise you'll never see him again.

We were hoping to have the house done in December, but it's looking like it will be done in the beginning of January.

Anyone notice the problem here?

We will be in Disney then! We are asking that our house be finished at the end of January. It will also help because we won't have to worry about a mortgage until we are back from vacation and that makes me feel alot better about G missing ten days of work.

January is going to be a very exciting month for the Shopaholic Family!

I'll bet that there won't be a problem pushing the completion back to the end of January; every construction project takes significantly longer than expected (and normally over budget!)


I don't do detailed trip reports, so here are the highlights:
AKL was wonderful! Even a pool view room was bright and airy and large. Great views of the animals from all over the place. Saw giraffes, zebras, ostriches, wildebeests, flamingos, kudu, Ankole cattle, and a lot of other things I can't think of right now.

Ate at Jiko, which was phenomenal. We also got an amuse bouche for staying at the lodge; it was a marvelous carrot-ginger soup with pieces of sugared ginger in it for crunch. So tasty and so nice!

The parks were empty! I have been many times, and I have never seen them so devoid of people. On Wednesday the 9th, at 2:30, I got a Fastpass for TSM. At 4 PM, TSM was a 20 minute standby; RnR and ToT were walk on. On the 11th, before MNSSHP, BTMRR was less than 5 minutes; Splash was less than 10; PP was 20 (we jumped on that one!). EE was walk on, Dinosaur, too. Kilamanjaro was great - saw more animals than ever before, including both white & black rhino.

Had a great time at MNSSHP; did a couple of characters & saw the Villains, which is what my d wanted.

Did Keys to the Kingdom, which was a lot of fun and very informative.

Got walkup seating at Teppan Edo and San Angel Inn at normal times.

All in all had a great trip.

Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

 

[snykymom]

Oh, and I forgot to add where we ate - I'm just doing January & this trip, since I can't remember every other one!

MK
Liberty Tree Tavern
Casey's
Columbia Harbor House
Aloha House

Epcot
Teppan Edo
Tangierine Cafe
San Angel Inn
Le Cava de Tequila
Bistro de Paris
Sunshine Seasons
Le Patisserie
Norway bakery (don't remember what that's called, but got School Bread
Le Cellier

AK
Tusker House
Flame Tree
Pizzafari

DHS
Brown Derby
Prime Time
Sci Fi

Grand Floridian
Victoria & Albert

Polynesian
Kona Cafe

CSR
Pepper Market

AKL
Jiko
Mara

 

[danceintherain]

I wouldn't worry too much about Hoop De Doo. I decided to go on Sunday the 13th, at about 4 PM. I got the 9:30 show that night. Category 2, but still. I was the final booking that night, and didn't even have to sit under the balcony. Category 3 wasn't booked at all.

Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

Yeah... I still haven't gotten around to calling about Hoopdeedoo. I'm not terribly worried about it. Maybe I should be, because we definitely want Category 1, but *shrug*

I'm glad your trip was so great that you're Disney'd out! I could still use a little bit of Disney, so I'm still pushing for the December trip even though it may not be possible. Also, I know that if we don't go in December it will be a while before we can plan another trip.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

BLASPHEMER!!! Ladies let's grab the torches and pitch forks and go after her like Gaston did the Beast!!

Joking...I can understand.
I'm glad you had a great trip. I would love to gt a savannah view room, but my DH thinks it'll smell like poo and refuses to get one.

 

[drakes]

I'm baaaaaaaaack! Hope everyone missed me! Actually, I got back on Tuesday, but managed to get sick while down in Disney and just started to feel better. Anyway, I have a couple of posts to respond to, and then I'll tell you all about the rest of my trip!
I wouldn't worry too much about Hoop De Doo. I decided to go on Sunday the 13th, at about 4 PM. I got the 9:30 show that night. Category 2, but still. I was the final booking that night, and didn't even have to sit under the balcony. Category 3 wasn't booked at all.

It was a lot of fun.



I don't do detailed trip reports, so here are the highlights:
AKL was wonderful! Even a pool view room was bright and airy and large. Great views of the animals from all over the place. Saw giraffes, zebras, ostriches, wildebeests, flamingos, kudu, Ankole cattle, and a lot of other things I can't think of right now.

Ate at Jiko, which was phenomenal. We also got an amuse bouche for staying at the lodge; it was a marvelous carrot-ginger soup with pieces of sugared ginger in it for crunch. So tasty and so nice!

The parks were empty! I have been many times, and I have never seen them so devoid of people. On Wednesday the 9th, at 2:30, I got a Fastpass for TSM. At 4 PM, TSM was a 20 minute standby; RnR and ToT were walk on. On the 11th, before MNSSHP, BTMRR was less than 5 minutes; Splash was less than 10; PP was 20 (we jumped on that one!). EE was walk on, Dinosaur, too. Kilamanjaro was great - saw more animals than ever before, including both white & black rhino.

Had a great time at MNSSHP; did a couple of characters & saw the Villains, which is what my d wanted.

Did Keys to the Kingdom, which was a lot of fun and very informative.

Got walkup seating at Teppan Edo and San Angel Inn at normal times.

All in all had a great trip.

Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

Welcome Back!!! No stones here! I am feeling down about my Jan trip - not as excited as past trips! It sounds like you had a great time and it also sounded very relaxing!
I was wondering about HDDR - the popularity of it seems to be down? Do you think my DD ( 10 years old) would enjoy it. I think the 9:30 seating would be late for us... we did the luau and had the later seating and her and I both fell asleep at the table (opppsss)

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

I'm baaaaaaaaack!


Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

Welcome Back!! Sounds like a great trip. We have been there in past Septembers when it was empty, too. It was great walking right on everything and not really needing to use Fastpasses. I thought with free dining right now though, it might be fuller.

I haven't reached the Disney saturation point yet and would go back in a minute. But I do understand that it is alot of money and that spacing out trips works best sometimes.

 

[MAGGIED]

Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

No stones here.... I am just glad I don't feel that way... yet!!! Sometimes just getting away from all the choas is great... no matter where it is... and for me Disney fits the bill well... great dining, entertainment, nice hotels, and a few rides.... I am not a beach person, and going to our camp is to much work for me... so as long as I can continue to go to Disney I do....

glad you had a nice trip though... and I to love the Keys to the Kingdom tour....

 

[Monny2AE]

I'm baaaaaaaaack! Hope everyone missed me! Actually, I got back on Tuesday, but managed to get sick while down in Disney and just started to feel better. Anyway, I have a couple of posts to respond to, and then I'll tell you all about the rest of my trip!
I wouldn't worry too much about Hoop De Doo. I decided to go on Sunday the 13th, at about 4 PM. I got the 9:30 show that night. Category 2, but still. I was the final booking that night, and didn't even have to sit under the balcony. Category 3 wasn't booked at all.

It was a lot of fun.





I'm glad it seems to be working out for you, but personally, I'd still hesitate. If this is the way he treats you when he wants your business, what will he do once you've paid him? Whatever you do, make sure you keep escrow money until he completes every punchlist item. Otherwise you'll never see him again.


I'll bet that there won't be a problem pushing the completion back to the end of January; every construction project takes significantly longer than expected (and normally over budget!)


I don't do detailed trip reports, so here are the highlights:
AKL was wonderful! Even a pool view room was bright and airy and large. Great views of the animals from all over the place. Saw giraffes, zebras, ostriches, wildebeests, flamingos, kudu, Ankole cattle, and a lot of other things I can't think of right now.

Ate at Jiko, which was phenomenal. We also got an amuse bouche for staying at the lodge; it was a marvelous carrot-ginger soup with pieces of sugared ginger in it for crunch. So tasty and so nice!

The parks were empty! I have been many times, and I have never seen them so devoid of people. On Wednesday the 9th, at 2:30, I got a Fastpass for TSM. At 4 PM, TSM was a 20 minute standby; RnR and ToT were walk on. On the 11th, before MNSSHP, BTMRR was less than 5 minutes; Splash was less than 10; PP was 20 (we jumped on that one!). EE was walk on, Dinosaur, too. Kilamanjaro was great - saw more animals than ever before, including both white & black rhino.

Had a great time at MNSSHP; did a couple of characters & saw the Villains, which is what my d wanted.

Did Keys to the Kingdom, which was a lot of fun and very informative.

Got walkup seating at Teppan Edo and San Angel Inn at normal times.

All in all had a great trip.

Now, here's the big blasphemy on these boards:
I've cancelled my December trip because (drum roll please) I'm Disney'd out! I did everything I wanted to do, saw everything I wanted to see. In January, we saw the decorations and Osbourne Lights. Not interested in either MVMCP or CP, so except for my birthday, I really didn't have any reason to go back. Even with a great deal, it's still a lot of money. I did HDDR this time instead of next, writing off F! since I'd seen it in January, and it's a lot of money for Space Mountain's return!

OK, everyone can start the stoning now!

back! Tired of Disney- oh the horror!!! Perhaps you're still sick and can't think clearly?

Just kidding- it is expensive. If we had gotten to do more this last trip, we would be waiting until 2011 instead of going back this January.

I'm secretly happy that the crowds are low- that might be good news for those of us waiting for a decent discount this Jan. Crossing fingers!

 

[snykymom]

Welcome Back!!! No stones here! I am feeling down about my Jan trip - not as excited as past trips! It sounds like you had a great time and it also sounded very relaxing!
I was wondering about HDDR - the popularity of it seems to be down? Do you think my DD ( 10 years old) would enjoy it. I think the 9:30 seating would be late for us... we did the luau and had the later seating and her and I both fell asleep at the table (opppsss)

Yes, the popularity certainly seems to be down - one more casualty, I think, of the dining plan, since it requires 2 TS credits. When people were just comparing dollars for entertainment/food, it was much easier to figure out.

When I booked my honeymoon back in 1982 (and yes, I'm still married to the guy!), I booked about a year in advance. At that time, there wasn't the need for ADRs. So I book the room, etc. and the woman said, "And of course, you'll want to do the Hoop De Doo Revue. . . ." I said, "I'm not sure, we're not into country stuff (remember this was the era of "Hee Haw")." She said, "Trust me. You WANT to do the Hoop De Doo Revue." You could book it at 365 days, and it was always booked!

Anyway, I think your DD10 would love it, if she's OK with corny stuff. If she's a "cool" kid, maybe not so much. Food is very good - salad, ribs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, baked beans, cornbread, strawberry shortcake. All you can eat & all you can drink of soft drinks (wine & beer for adults). Lots of fun.

Back in '82, they also had a Broadway style review at the top of the Contemporary (called "Top of the World"). Wish they'd bring back something like that again. (Didn't like the luau - found the food inedible. Hope that's improved, but I've never been brave enough to try it again.)

BLASPHEMER!!! Ladies let's grab the torches and pitch forks and go after her like Gaston did the Beast!!

Joking...I can understand.
I'm glad you had a great trip. I would love to gt a savannah view room, but my DH thinks it'll smell like poo and refuses to get one.

Even standing out in the overlooks of the savannahs, there were NO SMELLS! I was amazed. It smells worse at AK.

No stones here.... I am just glad I don't feel that way... yet!!! Sometimes just getting away from all the choas is great... no matter where it is... and for me Disney fits the bill well... great dining, entertainment, nice hotels, and a few rides.... I am not a beach person, and going to our camp is to much work for me... so as long as I can continue to go to Disney I do....

glad you had a nice trip though... and I to love the Keys to the Kingdom tour....

I know, about the relaxing. That's one reason that I had a hard time deciding - I could just hang around CSR and be happy. But, there is another reason, too - my D is going to Rome for her study abroad next spring. So I'm saving my time and money to visit her and tour a bit of Europe - I've never been. And maybe I'll be able to take 2 weeks!

back! Tired of Disney- oh the horror!!! Perhaps you're still sick and can't think clearly?

Just kidding- it is expensive. If we had gotten to do more this last trip, we would be waiting until 2011 instead of going back this January.

I'm secretly happy that the crowds are low- that might be good news for those of us waiting for a decent discount this Jan. Crossing fingers!

Based on what I saw, they'll have to put one out. When I get my USB cord and can get pictures out of my camera, I'll show you a shot of MK in the afternoon one day. You won't believe it.

And thanks for all the welcome back wishes!

 

[jenjolt]

Welcome Home!!!! I leave for Disney in 5 days and I'm hoping for the low crowds you saw!! I know with the start of Food and Wine it will pick up a bit, but I'm still hoping for low crowds and walk on rides!!

I can't wait to see your pictures!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Jen!! I am soooo glad you are getting to go to WDW so much this year!!! I am hoping for those same crowds in Dec!!!!! Hopefully since it's only the 2nd week, we'll won't see any people!!! Wouldn't that be weird!!! ha!!
Hope ya'll all had a great weekend and are rested up for the week to come!!

 

[BellaSoleil]

I'll take time to catch up on the post tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell you all that we took Belle to the movies for the first time today. She did so great! We can't wait to take her to The Frog Princess in a few months.

We let her pick her outfit and she work a tradition shirt for the Ukraine (G brought it back from his mission trip last March), pink shorts and Tinkerbell flip flops. Too funny!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I'll take time to catch up on the post tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell you all that we took Belle to the movies for the first time today. She did so great! We can't wait to take her to The Frog Princess in a few months.

We let her pick her outfit and she work a tradition shirt for the Ukraine (G brought it back from his mission trip last March), pink shorts and Tinkerbell flip flops. Too funny!

Self-dressing stage one has begun!!!! Ha! I remember when my baby started picking her outfits! She does pretty good now...but some stuff is stll pretty wacky!

 

[Monny2AE]

Based on what I saw, they'll have to put one out. When I get my USB cord and can get pictures out of my camera, I'll show you a shot of MK in the afternoon one day. You won't believe it.

Woo Hoo! I hope that's good news for 2010 deals!

I'll take time to catch up on the post tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell you all that we took Belle to the movies for the first time today. She did so great! We can't wait to take her to The Frog Princess in a few months.

We let her pick her outfit and she work a tradition shirt for the Ukraine (G brought it back from his mission trip last March), pink shorts and Tinkerbell flip flops. Too funny!

Please tell me you got a picture of that! Arguing over clothes isn't worth it unless you're going someplace important. Besides you need to have pictures like that so when she's older she can blame you for dressing her funny.

 

[MAGGIED]

I am getting excited... I am under 3 weeks for this trip!!! I almost thought it was time to bring out the suitcase and start packing... then I decided it was to soon.... I might want to wait and see what the weather is like.... we are have 75 degrees during the day here and 40 degrees at night... we actually had to put our heat on the other night.... its not even october....

 

[MAGGIED]

Oh no.... how did he get out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

I am getting excited... I am under 3 weeks for this trip!!! I almost thought it was time to bring out the suitcase and start packing... then I decided it was to soon.... I might want to wait and see what the weather is like.... we are have 75 degrees during the day here and 40 degrees at night... we actually had to put our heat on the other night.... its not even october....

You know someone's getting close to a trip when Disco Dale makes an appearance!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Hey Snowbird Pals and Gals!

Have a few minutes of sanity time right now! Thought I would drop in and see how y'all were doin'!

I'll take time to catch up on the post tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell you all that we took Belle to the movies for the first time today. She did so great! We can't wait to take her to The Frog Princess in a few months.

We let her pick her outfit and she work a tradition shirt for the Ukraine (G brought it back from his mission trip last March), pink shorts and Tinkerbell flip flops. Too funny!

That is too cute! My girls both insisted on dressing themselves at about 20 months. Since then the only rules I put on them are that the clothing has to be modest (no bare midriffs or spaghetti strps) and it has to be seasonally appropriate (no tank tops in December!). There have been a few outfits that I myself would not choose to wear, but for the most part, they are both good about choosing nice outfits!

I am getting excited... I am under 3 weeks for this trip!!! I almost thought it was time to bring out the suitcase and start packing... then I decided it was to soon.... I might want to wait and see what the weather is like.... we are have 75 degrees during the day here and 40 degrees at night... we actually had to put our heat on the other night.... its not even october....

WENDY!!! You know we're not supposed to let that guy out! What would Peaches say? Somebody call the police! There they are! Get Disco Dale put back in his cage!

I am so excited (and slightly jealous) for all of you going on Free Dining trips! I really hope Disney releases something soon for us 2010ers! Anybody heard any good rumours lately? I keep hearing that something BIG is going to come down on the 27th of THIS MONTH!!!

 

[Monny2AE]

Hey Snowbird Pals and Gals!

Have a few minutes of sanity time right now! Thought I would drop in and see how y'all were doin'!




I am so excited (and slightly jealous) for all of you going on Free Dining trips! I really hope Disney releases something soon for us 2010ers! Anybody heard any good rumours lately? I keep hearing that something BIG is going to come down on the 27th of THIS MONTH!!!

You got a few minutes of sanity time and you're using it up here- you are definitely addicted. Guess that goes for me too. Kids are napping and I'm here instead of getting stuff done.

I've heard mixed stuff about the 27th. I heard it's either that the ADR's are going to 180 on that day (a month earlier than expected) or that it could be something good us going in 2010. CM's are scheduled for overtime that week for SOMETHING. Just don't know exactly what for yet.

 

[BellaSoleil]

Woo Hoo! I hope that's good news for 2010 deals!

Please tell me you got a picture of that! Arguing over clothes isn't worth it unless you're going someplace important. Besides you need to have pictures like that so when she's older she can blame you for dressing her funny.

Of course, I did. She was so proud of herself. I'll try to post it soon.