Summer's Planning Journal 08/20 Update 08/10/07

[orangetiggs]

Can you not pay for extra baggage?

its a shame you could not have flown with virgin as you are allowed 2x 23kg per person that would have been plenty

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

There really isn't any point paying for extra baggage. 40kg between 2 of us is more than enough, I was just annoyed that I couldn't take my dress in hand luggage. I did call again and she said that sharp implements could be hidden in the folds of a big wedding dress, still doesn't make any sense to me, I know it get's scanned!

 

[Laurafoster]

I took my wedding dress on as hand luggage when i flew with virgin!

It was quite a large dress, but i squashed it down in the dress bag and rolled it up as small as i could and put it into a soft material holdall which fit into the required hand luggage size (actually i think it was 1 inch over) and no one questioned it.

I did advise them it was a wedding dress and there was no problem as long as it fit within the size requirements!

It seems strange that your allowed to carry suits and such on with no problem - surely you could hide things in there too? Seems like such a strange answer - its within their size requirements so why would there care what you carry on? (aslong as its not prohibited that is!)

 

[AbbyPan]

summer, luv your luggage color! YOur DF is a sweetheart. Mine would never let me have that color for the both of us. I ordered mine from Disneyshopping.com....boring...jk, not really, but pink would have been cute

 

[princessdisneybelle]

Ok, I've been mucking about with my new digital camera and I managed to get some good pics of my ring, well at least they aren't blurry.

One in the box

Side view in box

One on my hand

I was out yesterday looking for a suitcases in particular one for my dress, and I saw these really pretty hard suitcase set. They are soft pink by Carlton, I think they look pretty cute, although I don't know if Steven will particularly like them

The large one is 78cm and the medium one is 68cm. The biggest one weighs 5.9kg and I am allowed 20kg per person. Initially we were only going to take 1 large suitcase between us for the 3 weeks, but because I now need to take my dress in my suitcase, we will definately need 2. I have purchased them so hopefully that is our luggage sorted!

Summer I'm sorry about all your dress drama. But I have to tell you I love your luggage. I want pink!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

YAY! Pink luggage is the way to go girl!

No doubt you've seen my pink suitcase in my pre-trip report

BTW, your ring is GORGEOUS!

 

[jodeeluvsdisney]

Love the pink luggage Summer!!! Being a Mary Kay Consultant for over a decade I have TONS of pink everything. Good thing I adore the color! Your ring is gorgeous too! I am glad you are getting your luggage situation sorted!

 

[Tabetha]

Love the suitcases. LOVE them.

I'm sorry the "Dress on a Plane" has been such a trial. I don't see how it matters what's in the case, as long as it fits the standards they've set out, right? What, do they hand search every person's hand baggage? "Oh, that's a wedding gown, that's on our list of terrorist items, off to the clink!"

Frankly, if it were me, (not that anyone's asking), but I'd pack the dress in a sturdy suitcase that fits the specifications and try to take it on the plane. I bet no-one says boo. But if they won't let you board with it, I'd give it to them to put in the belly of the beast and ask if I could watch through the window before boarding to make sure I saw it go on the plane. I don't think they're going to be a jerk to a bride.

When you spoke to them on the phone, were you speaking to a manager?

And how are the other dress shennanigans going?

 

[dee slack]

Summer, don't want to freak you out with your lovely new cases, but if they have integral locks (I know quite a lot of hard cases do), please remember NOT to lock them as last time we took hard cases and used the integral lock, the customs (or whoever) bust it open. You can get the TSA straps as an alternative to secure them.
Must say, that I really admire you managing to take so little luggage - something we've never managed! We'll be taking 3 cases out and expecting to bring back an extra holdall - and our allowance is 23kg each piece!
As for the not being able to take your dress as your handluggage - that really stinks! To me, as long as it's within the size allowance, what does it matter?! So if some poor unsuspecting bride-to-be packed it in her hand luggage without asking in advance, she'd be in for a real shock at the airport, poor thing.

As an aside, we recently went to Iceland, and our case arrived 28 hours after us and was thinking about you and so glad you moved your wedding date back - just in case!

 

[Tiggerific04]

I can't remember if I told you, but your ring is beautiful!

So are you excited?? Just a little over 2 months now!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

Thanks girls for the replies and compliments As for the suitcases, dee, I never even thought of that, so thank you, they do have integral locks. I looked up the straps online and they are only £10 ($19) so I will purchase that too. My suitcases should arrive today, talk about good service

I am getting really excited now, just over 2 months, I remember clearly when my ticker said 11 months. My only drop in excitement is the weight issue, I really wish I could see more progress. I know I've done really well so far, but I would really like at least another 14 pounds off, that would drop me another size. I think if I were losing more, my excitement would be unstoppable I am trying The Cabbage Soup Diet for 7 days starting on Monday, I think I need to surprise my system again, I seem to have plateaud

Anyway...there comes a time in everyones planning that one questions all her decisions, I am at one of those times. Yesterday I started looking over my ADR's as I knew my mom wanted to go to Raglan Road so I definately had to change one, well 1 turned into 3, turned into 7, so far... I now have a loooooonnnnngggg call to make to Disney Dining today!
Admittedly I have tried to schedule in more down time, for example the day before the wedding we were scheduled to go to MGM, have breakfast at Kona at 8.00, lunch at Beaches and Cream at 12.30 and dinner at Kona at 6.05, then make it over to MGM for Fantasmic and try to squeeze in a carriage ride too
Instead, I have now made this day relaxing, we will do resort exploring I am rearranging our breakfast at Kona for 09.30 and we will have lunch at Beaches and Cream, then dinner at Kona at 6.05. I am not worried about Fantasmic and the carriage ride, well I will still see if I can schedule that but for 9.00pm (last one) before we go off to bed for our big day in the morning.
I have a question for people regarding moving resorts. On the Sunday, the day before the wedding, we are moving from CBR to POFQ. I planned to move at approx 08.00am, by getting a cab and checking in at POFQ and heading off to Kona for breakfast. Does this seem okay to everyone? I know they can move your luggage for you but as it will have my dress, I'd rather do it myself. I know our room won't be ready at that time, but I'd rather check in early so I have the rest of the day free. DF still doesn't know about this surprise move, he'll love it! How quickly can we get to the Poly from POFQ? This will help me schedule breakfast correctly. Would it take an hour or so to check in?
So today I'm going to finalise my day plan and my ADR's, scheduling in more down time, during my mom's stay. It doesn't look like we will be able to fit in MGM properly for her in a week as she definately wants to see Epcot, MK, AK, Seaworld, do resort hopping and maybe some shopping, don't know if I can fit it anywhere. I guess I can play it by ear

 

[mcarthur205]

Instead, I have now made this day relaxing, we will do resort exploring I am rearranging our breakfast at Kona for 09.30 and we will have lunch at Beaches and Cream, then dinner at Kona at 6.05.

I have to be honest here and say that I think you have too much food scheduled for a relatively short period of time. If you have a ts breakfast at Kona at 9.30am I would be surprised if you were hungry enough to want to eat again at 12.30. If it were me, I would skip lunch and save my apetite for dinner! Also, as B&C does not take ADRs you would have to go along there and wait for the first available seating. Its a small restaurant and you may have to wait a while at lunchtime.

I'm not sure how long it will take to check in to POFQ, but unless there is a long line, probably unlikely at that time of the morning, you will easily manage that in under an hour. However, unless you are using a cab to get to Kona you will have to catch a bus from POFQ to the MK and then the resorts monorail to the Poly. This journey could easily take an hour or more!

Don't underestimate the amount of time it takes to get from place to place using Disney transportation. Buses don't run directly between resorts. If you're seated on time for your ADR at 9.30 and are finished eating and out of there by 10.30, it could take 60-90 mins at least to travel to B&C. You would have to walk over to the TTC and catch the monorail to Epcot, walk through Epcot to the Beach Club and B&C via the Internation Gateway. Its a LONG walk in the heat of August! Alternatively, you could take the monorail back to MK from the Poly and catch a bus there to the Beach Club and B&C. Still would take up to an hour or more though!

Maybe you could go to MGM after breakfast at Kona? You could catch a bus there from the Poly. I'll stop rambling on now. Hope this helps!

CarolAnn

 

[Ticky Toria 78]

We flew with Virgin and I took my dress on as my hand luggage, it fit into a small suitcase. I was absolutely paranoid about getting it there in one piece. It was all okay, try not to panic.

If you are going on the Disney Magic Express Bus from the Airport make sure you get the yellow luggage labels from your tour operator. We didn't get ours, and it caused a bit of confusion.

Whilst I had my dress, my husband's suit was packed in the suitcase.

We waited around 3 hrs for the cases. All arrived safe in the end!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

mcarthur205 - I too am beginning to think that we may have scheduled too much. However although we are on the DDP, we will be paying OOP for breakfast and as we are not huge breakfast eaters, I wouldn't have imagined we would have ordered a lot. I am now thinking to go to Kona for Breakfast then head over to MGM after that. I guess we could have lunch in MGM if we get hungry, but I haven't found a place I like the sound of. Plus I liked the idea of taking the boat to Beaches and Cream. I'm right in thinking it goes from MGM? Who knows what I'll do, Im all confused
I sheduled our dinner early that night originally because of Fantasmic, however as it's the night before the wedding I want an early night anyway. I'm still looking ver my ADR's to make sure we're not going back and forth all the time, esp since we are relying on Disney transport.

My suitcases came yesterday and I am so happy with them. I ordered another one for my mom as she wanted pink also, so we will all match

Here is a shortened example of our itinerary. Bear in mind most mornings we will be eating breakfast around 7.30, I never sleep in when I'm on holiday I am still looking over myADR's and trying to decide if they are final or not

If there are any restaurants missing that you think we should try, please let me know. I know we are already doing a lot but I have duplicated some and I would like to try loads of different places.

Thurs 16th Arrival O’Hana’s 19.05
Fri 17th (Seaworld), Old Port Royale, Smoky Creek and Coral Reef 19.30
Sat 18th (Epcot), Old Port Royale, Les Chefs De France 12 and Le Cellier 18
Sun 19th (Resort Hopping/ MGM), Kona Café 09.30, Kona Café 18.05
Mon 20th (Wedding), Sassagoula, Citricos 12.15, Victoria and Alberts 18.45
Tue 21st (Animal Kingdom), Boatwrights, Flame Tree BBQ, Raglan Road 19.30
Wed 22nd (MK), Chef Mickey’s 09.10, Peco Bills, California Grill 20.00
Thur 23rd (Epcot), Boatwrights, Sunshine Seasons, Kona Café 20.30
Fri 24th (Seaworld), The Mara, Hospitality Deli
Sat 25th (Animal Kingdom), The Mara, Flame Tree BBQ, Raglan Road 19.30
Sun 26th (Bush Gardens), The Mara, Zambia Smokehouse, Jiko 20.30
Mon 27th (MGM/Epcot), The Mara, Sci-Fi Dine-Inn 12.50, WPC 19.30 TS
Tue 28th (Disney Quest),The Mara, B & C, Concourse Steakhouse 19.30
Wed 29th (Magic Kingdom), The MK Bakery, Cosmic Rays, Artists Point 18.30
Thur 30th (DCL Boarding), The Mara
Fri 31st (DCL Bahamas)
Sat 01st (DCL Bahamas)
Sun 02nd(DCL/Universal Studios)
Mon 03rd(IOA)
Tue 04th (Discovery Cove)
Wed 05th (US/City Walk)
Thu 06th (Flight home)

 

[mcarthur205]

Yes you can take a boat over to the Epcot resorts area from MGM. The boat goes slowly but its a nice ride over. You're right about there not being many good food choices at MGM, maybe you could take the boat over to the Boardwalk area a little later on in the afternoon and get an early dinner at Spoodles? They take ADRs, its a lovely restaurant and the food gets good reviews. You could then go back to MGM after dinner for Fantasmic (what time is it on in August?), and then head back to your hotel afterwards.

You have a lot scheduled, but I'm sure you want to see and do as much as possible while you're there. I'm sure you're going to have a ball!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

We have never been to WDW before and are unlikely to return until Law school is finished (3 years ) so, yes, I may have scheduled more than normal, but as you said, I really want to fit in as much as possible. I am somewhat flexible on lunch but it's difficult to try and fit in all the things my mom would like in just a week. It's fine for us as we are there for 3 weeks, but scheduling all the restaurants whe would like in that time is difficult!

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I have just got back from my opticians where I picked up my colored contact lenses. I have taken a few pics with different colors in , in the hope that you girls can give me advice as to which ones suit me best. I actually bought the blue ones, but I now think I like the violet ones. I don't wear glasses very often, distance only, but I thought for the wedding and honeymoon it would be nice as I didn't want to see Steven at the ceremony in a blur as I come walking down the aisle. They are 30 day lenses and I really can't decide anymore. I am unsure whether I should go for a color or just stay with my own brown eyes.

Here are the pics...

Blue Eyes

One on left is green and one on right is violet

My own eyes, very dark brown.

So what do you guys think? My worry is that I may look back on the pics and regret not having my own color of eyes, but I think I really love the violet ones, the blue ones now, I'm not too sure of, they seemed nicer in the store.

Really grateful for your opinions

 

[Swmhc]

I love your brown eyes ! I think with your hair and skin tone, the Lord got it right.

 

[luv4mylittleones]

I really like your natural color eyes best. I happen to find brown hair and brown eyes to be very sexy. The blue and violet seem fun but I don't think they are as classically beautiful as your brown eyes. I'd wear the color contacts for the honeymoon, but not for the wedding...

 

[jasonandlisa]

I vote for either your own eye color or the blue ones. The change from the blue ones looks more subtle to me. The other two just look too "different" to me. But mostly I think you should just go with your gut and go with whatever feels most comfortable to you!