Something About Nothing..........# 9

[RAPstar]

I don't mind the new technology, I just think Disney trying to rake the $$ in hands over fist charging for all these extras on top of an already expensive vacation. I don't see the poitn of paying $100+ for a PhotoPass CD when I have plenty of my own pics on my camera (and the PhotoPass photographers aren't professionals, just a better camera than me, lol). And I'm sure they'll have an extra charge for a lot of the other perks (i.e. the characters knowing who you are before you get there). So if a lot of the stuff listed are included with you package and not a ridiculous up charge, then I'll welcome it, but right now i just see it as Disney's magic.......of making your money disappear.

 

[Mad Hattered]

We're headed out tomorrow for some camping and floating at Meramec State Park. I already have the camera in there so I don't forget it this time.

Should be a drunken good time! Now if I just don't lose the camera....

 

[macraven]

i want to hear about this trip when you return.


taking the rv for it's maiden run, eh........



watch out for the mosquitos there..

 

[KStarfish82]

maybe.....

 

[macraven]

off to a half day of skool................ugh



see youse homies later today.

 

[bubba's mom]

barb didn't hear that, for once i just beat the price increase. I agree re the wristband (tres tacky!). I'm sure it'd be a matter of time before they'd sell an upgraded dooney & burke version

i'm a hat-carrying member & all for new technology, just don't want my privacy invaded, especially at the happiest place on 'da earth. I don't want my secret ride itinerary (so secret i don't know it lol) and whatever tidbits are associated with the RFID chip (DOB/CC/etc.) tracked & turned over to disney marketing, who i'm sure shares info as most companies these days unless you opt out.

US citizens aren't required to carry a national identity card issued by the government (a freedom many of us still hold dear) nor any sort of chipped tracking device. (yes, i'm fully aware my cell phone has the capability). I'm just glad I have the old-skool passports w/o the chips after reading the many issues with identity theft.

well congrats on finally squeakin in under the wire for a change! we have the passports w/ the chip...never had any issues. never seen anyone use 'em either...we always just flash our pic....

i was thinking just the opposite.
disney has shorter hours this fall when i will be there.
MK is closed quite a few of the nights due to the mickey party.

AK no longer has extended evening hours.
they close at 5 every day.

dhs is closing at 7.

last year it was about the same.
less hours open for the parks.

about 5 years back, the mk was open until 10.
no more.

epcot is still the same, 9-9 but only the back section once it is 7:00.


keisha, i had to replace my passport some years back (maybe it was in 07) as it had expired.

all the new ones have the chip so when your ten years is up, you will be a part of the system............chip and i don't mean with dip.

if you bring the chips, i'll bring the salsa

Disney can get the prices they want. Even if they close early also... more parks, waterparks, more variety of hotels...there's just MORE of Disney. That, and it is DISNEY. People will drop thousands to go there just because it's "Disney" and it's "magical". Whereas Universal isn't...so there ya go. Whatever...let them spend their $$ there. I gots other places to see w/ my $$.

.....but right now i just see it as Disney's magic.......of making your money disappear.

bingo.

We're headed out tomorrow for some camping and floating at Meramec State Park. I already have the camera in there so I don't forget it this time.

Should be a drunken good time! Now if I just don't lose the camera....

have fun...and don't lose that camera! How ya gonna take pix?

okay...plenty busy again today...gotta git goin.... cya's

 

[bubba's mom]

off to a half day of skool................ugh



see youse homies later today.

have a good day!

don't forget your apple for the teacher....oh..wait...

 

[Melanie230]

i was thinking just the opposite.
disney has shorter hours this fall when i will be there.
MK is closed quite a few of the nights due to the mickey party.

AK no longer has extended evening hours.
they close at 5 every day.

dhs is closing at 7.

last year it was about the same.
less hours open for the parks.

about 5 years back, the mk was open until 10.
no more.

epcot is still the same, 9-9 but only the back section once it is 7:00.






keisha, i had to replace my passport some years back (maybe it was in 07) as it had expired.

all the new ones have the chip so when your ten years is up, you will be a part of the system............chip and i don't mean with dip.

We are going Oct3-Oct7 this year.

IOA closes everyday at 7pm
US closes at 6pm Mom Tues Weds and 5pm on Thurs Fri.

Disney only park that closes at 5pm is Animal Kingdom. A couple of days MK closes at 7pm for MNSSHP. (US closes at 5pm for HHN.) Everything else is 9pm. The park hours are much longer than US/IOA. If one park closes early hopping over to another at Disney is an option. When Disney throws in FD...hands down the cost of going to Disney is lower than US/IOA. I still love US/IOA much more than Disney. We love the earlier park hours in the fall because we enjoy relaxing at the pool in the evening. The only thing we hate is we can't ride Jaws at night. We did that a couple of years ago with Bubba's Mom and it was a blast!

 

[Planogirl]

Free dining doesn't work for the two (or three) of us but I can see that it would for bigger groups.

What we will pay is very subjective. After our last trip, I will gladly pay more for Universal than for Disney. Funny since Disney cost us twice as much. But YMMV of course.

 

[macraven]

We are going Oct3-Oct7 this year.

IOA closes everyday at 7pm
US closes at 6pm Mom Tues Weds and 5pm on Thurs Fri.

Disney only park that closes at 5pm is Animal Kingdom. A couple of days MK closes at 7pm for MNSSHP. (US closes at 5pm for HHN.) Everything else is 9pm. The park hours are much longer than US/IOA. If one park closes early hopping over to another at Disney is an option. When Disney throws in FD...hands down the cost of going to Disney is lower than US/IOA. I still love US/IOA much more than Disney. We love the earlier park hours in the fall because we enjoy relaxing at the pool in the evening. The only thing we hate is we can't ride Jaws at night. We did that a couple of years ago with Bubba's Mom and it was a blast!

i know the hours, i will be down there for 16 days in that time period.

dhs closes way before 9pm when i am there.


depending on the dates you go in october to ioa, it closes either 7 or 8.
and if crowds are great, they can extend the hours on that day.

i have been where they have extended closing hours another hour.

if you go the week after your plans, the parks will have longer hours as due to the crowds.


at the studios, it closes at 5 on hhn nights but 6 on the other nights.


i know i can do jaws at night but the thrill is gone for me on that one.

each time i take the private tour, i pass on it and just wait for the others to finish the ride.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

We are going Oct3-Oct7 this year.

Disney only park that closes at 5pm is Animal Kingdom. A couple of days MK closes at 7pm for MNSSHP. (US closes at 5pm for HHN.) Everything else is 9pm. The park hours are much longer than US/IOA. If one park closes early hopping over to another at Disney is an option.

I honestly thought I remembered park hours being much longer, however, this year it seems that isn't the case

Epcot is 9:00 pm - with EMH on the 5th to midnight:

DHS is 7:00 pm - except for the 6th which is 8:00 pm

MK has EMH on the 3rd until midnight, 2 days it closes at 9:00 pm and 2 nights I'm assuming there is a MNSSHP as it closes at 7:00 pm on those nights

 

[macraven]

i know bonny....
i was shocked on the limited park hours this year.
for september, mk will be closed 3 times at 7 for last week of sept to oct 2.

dhs also was cut back on hours


i will only have one emh with epcot when i am there.


looks like i will be getting to bed at decent hours on this trip...


i am guessing that it will be a low attendance time period when i am there.
that is my thought on the cutting of park hours.

it wasn't like that last year for the same time period.
but, for me with the schedule that i have, this will have to be it.
better to get some time in the parks than no time in the parks.

 

[macraven]

almost forgot.

skool was kewl today.


didn't get an apple brab, but was offered donuts.

 

[keishashadow]

have a good day!

don't forget your apple for the teacher....oh..wait...

or chips & dip (french onion or spinach), might as throw in a slice of cheesecake!

mh - soon to be one with the wilderness, then he's going to step inside his motorhomeenjoy!

mac - i thought they were modifying the chip in the new passports to make them more secure? DH & DS (of the same unfortunate name that draws unwarranted attention by TSA) haven't had to go thru t he extra security drill when carrying the passports. We did a test last year w/DLicenses vs the passports, guess who got stuck corralling all their gear while they were searched again.

conspiracy theory bud of mine (we birds of a feather flock together) swears by a metal contraption to avoid CCs being 'read' by random reader, sez the claim that the covers deter readers is bs.

I've had CCs compromised more than 5 different times-have lost count. Despite best security measures in place on my end, it is what it is, the world we live in i suppose. i just am more cognizent of the issue and the crap involved to replace a card (usually in connection with travelso I make sure to bring a few CCs each trip)

jmho re park hours, don't forget when staying onsite @ U you need to factor in:

* the miniscule time it gets to the parks (vs WDW where sometimes you just can't get there from here mentalitywhich leads me to typically rent a car)

* FOTL on most attractions which enables guests to accomplish more in a shorter period of time vs the FP @ WDW.

I don't understand why U's marketing dept hasn't been all over introducing new tix media! Either an extra specially priced HP AP that provides 1 hour am entry (sky's the limit on that pricing) or a one day option at the parks not tied into a hotel stay by now...the HP faithful would lap it up. Many state here they're of the one & done mentality and seem willing to spend proportionally more than the U regulars.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

I don't understand why U's marketing dept hasn't been all over introducing new tix media! Either an extra specially priced HP AP that provides 1 hour am entry (sky's the limit on that pricing) or a one day option at the parks not tied into a hotel stay by now...the HP faithful would lap it up. Many state here they're of the one & done mentality and seem willing to spend proportionally more than the U regulars.

Don't you dare give them any more ideas on how to raise ticket prices more!!!!

 

[keishashadow]

Don't you dare give them any more ideas on how to raise ticket prices more!!!!

but i need a j o b

btw, forgot I wanted to look & see how much the U AP's have risen, note to self

 

[Melanie230]

Two of our US/IOA days US closes at 5pm. Disney (except for AK) is open later than that.

 

[Melanie230]

Free dining doesn't work for the two (or three) of us but I can see that it would for bigger groups.

What we will pay is very subjective. After our last trip, I will gladly pay more for Universal than for Disney. Funny since Disney cost us twice as much. But YMMV of course.

Yes..Disney is cheaper for our family. I think I priced US/IOA for the average family going the same time as us at about $1800. That would be 4 nights HRH, 1 AP, and 3 park unlimited tickets (since we will be there 5 days), parking 4 nights. That does not include any food.

Disney at Caribbean Beach same dates it was about $200 more but it included food.

Hands down...our family enjoys Universal much more than Disney. My kids LOVE the rides, the hotel, and the pool. We enjoy the earlier evenings so we can enjoy a nice dinner, and relaxing by the pool. The hotels are fabulous in the evenings!

 

[macraven]

or chips & dip (french onion or spinach), might as throw in a slice of cheesecake!


mac - i thought they were modifying the chip in the new passports to make them more secure? DH & DS (of the same unfortunate name that draws unwarranted attention by TSA) haven't had to go thru t he extra security drill when carrying the passports. We did a test last year w/DLicenses vs the passports, guess who got stuck corralling all their gear while they were searched again.





jmho re park hours, don't forget when staying onsite @ U you need to factor in:

* the miniscule time it gets to the parks (vs WDW where sometimes you just can't get there from here mentalitywhich leads me to typically rent a car)

keisha...i have no idea about the different chips of the passports.
i got mine overnight thru the state department.
other than that, i like my picture that is in it.........
that's all i know....

Don't you dare give them any more ideas on how to raise ticket prices more!!!!

you tell her bonny!!!!
make her wear her tin hat when she says things like that...

but i need a j o b

can you pole dance?

 

[RAPstar]

can you pole dance?

I can.