Team Renfroe - Pre-Trip Report for May 15-22, 2009 **Final Chapter**

[karajeboo]

Since I found you on Cammie's TR, too, thought I'd come check out your PTR - I read your TR before and it's great! We were there the same time last year - love me some Disney in May!

As for Pop, you'll love it! We've stayed there twice, as well as a couple of mods and deluxes. Pop is the best bang for your buck - it's clean, the buses are great, and the food court and shopping is great, too!

I think you made a good call not going All Stars. We were just booked there this past weekend but got a FREE upgrade to Coronado! We did not like what we saw there, with regard to the crowds and buses, so we were thrilled to move up!

I'll be checking in with you, especially since I'm heading back in early May with the family and then again for the Mammoth May Meet with Ellen and Cammie!

 

[englishrose47]

Hi Kara !!! See you in May!!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

What does the tshirt look like? We have an AK meet the week before. Too bad we don't have tshirts!

Hi Berte family! Check out the link in my signature called MAMMOTH MAY MEET. I have the t-shirt graphic posted on there. Hope all is going well with your planning.

Since I found you on Cammie's TR, too, thought I'd come check out your PTR - I read your TR before and it's great! We were there the same time last year - love me some Disney in May!

As for Pop, you'll love it! We've stayed there twice, as well as a couple of mods and deluxes. Pop is the best bang for your buck - it's clean, the buses are great, and the food court and shopping is great, too!

I think you made a good call not going All Stars. We were just booked there this past weekend but got a FREE upgrade to Coronado! We did not like what we saw there, with regard to the crowds and buses, so we were thrilled to move up!

I'll be checking in with you, especially since I'm heading back in early May with the family and then again for the Mammoth May Meet with Ellen and Cammie!

Hi Kara! Welcome to our PTR! We have actually upgraded from our original plans of staying at the Pop to staying at CSR again. We just loved it last year SOOO much....and now that they have queen-sized beds, that was the clincher! We were VERY happy at CSR last year, and it may well be our Disney "home" place.

Can't wait to meet you and everyone on May 17th!

Alan

 

[alan_renfroe]

rumors about crowds expected to be larger than normal this May? hmmm....I sure hope not. One of the things we loved so much about choosing May last year was that the crowds were tolerable. I read on one of the May boards that the UG rankings are 8s and 9s on some days. Yikes!

 

[Lady Lallie]

rumors about crowds expected to be larger than normal this May? hmmm....I sure hope not. One of the things we loved so much about choosing May last year was that the crowds were tolerable. I read on one of the May boards that the UG rankings are 8s and 9s on some days. Yikes!

I've been reading about that too, Alan. It has me a bit freaked out but I'm trying to stay on the positive side. Maybe with the 4/3 promotion they think it's going to be more crowded...

 

[karajeboo]

Hi Kara! Welcome to our PTR! We have actually upgraded from our original plans of staying at the Pop to staying at CSR again. We just loved it last year SOOO much....and now that they have queen-sized beds, that was the clincher! We were VERY happy at CSR last year, and it may well be our Disney "home" place.

Can't wait to meet you and everyone on May 17th!

Alan

Alan, I've got a lot of pics of the new rooms in my most recent TR - we got a FREE upgrade from ASMo to CSR!!!!! It was our third time at CSR but first time in the remodeled rooms. Nice upgrade....

rumors about crowds expected to be larger than normal this May? hmmm....I sure hope not. One of the things we loved so much about choosing May last year was that the crowds were tolerable. I read on one of the May boards that the UG rankings are 8s and 9s on some days. Yikes!

I have heard a lot of people saying that the crowds are larger than expected right now, too. But we were just there this past weekend and I thought it was fine. I did use TGM and he was spot on with which parks would be the most crowded.

But we love going in May, too, and what I've always found is that the weekends are a bit busier because of day trippers, but really, I think it's the best time of year to go - love the F&G festival at Epcot! - so even if crowds are up a bit, I think you'll agree that it will still be very manageable!

 

[brookelizabeth]

No! We don't have Shamrock Shakes!! And I feel cheated....what's up with that? Ronald McDonald is holding out on us Alabamians!!

Yeah, that snow storm in 1993 was epic. I don't think I'll ever see anything like that again in my lifetime. I learned one thing by not having water for a week.....do you have any idea how much snow you have to melt to fill up the back of a toilet?

That is awful about no Shamrock Shakes! It's strange how they are in some places but not others.

That is HILARIOUS about melting snow for the toliet. Are you completely serious?! Or was it just an attempt?

Your ADR changes look like they will be great moves! The Kim Possible game looks like a ton of fun. We were tempted in January, but didn't do it. I kinda wish we would have, but all well! Next time.

You are making t-shirts for the meet? That is so awesome! I wish I could come!

 

[ckdsnynt]

rumors about crowds expected to be larger than normal this May? hmmm....I sure hope not. One of the things we loved so much about choosing May last year was that the crowds were tolerable. I read on one of the May boards that the UG rankings are 8s and 9s on some days. Yikes!

I'm hoping the high crowds is for the week after we are there (like just before memorial day?) Keep our fingers crossed. How many days to go??????

 

[alan_renfroe]

I've been reading about that too, Alan. It has me a bit freaked out but I'm trying to stay on the positive side. Maybe with the 4/3 promotion they think it's going to be more crowded...

Yeah, that's what I am thinking. If you think about it from a business perspective, the 4/3 promotion helps them fill their resorts, which in term brings money through concessions, park hoppers, water parks, etc. Big crowds may be the tradeoff for getting to take advantage of the 4/3 promotion.

Alan, I've got a lot of pics of the new rooms in my most recent TR - we got a FREE upgrade from ASMo to CSR!!!!! It was our third time at CSR but first time in the remodeled rooms. Nice upgrade....



I have heard a lot of people saying that the crowds are larger than expected right now, too. But we were just there this past weekend and I thought it was fine. I did use TGM and he was spot on with which parks would be the most crowded.

But we love going in May, too, and what I've always found is that the weekends are a bit busier because of day trippers, but really, I think it's the best time of year to go - love the F&G festival at Epcot! - so even if crowds are up a bit, I think you'll agree that it will still be very manageable!

Thanks, Kara! I just found your trip report, and I subscribed of course. Those pictures of CSR are amazing!!

I'm with you about the month of May - I think it is WAYY better than going in the heat of summer, and the F&G Festival is beautiful. I think the key is to be at rope drop and try to get in all of your favorites within the first few hours. (That's our plan anyway!)

That is awful about no Shamrock Shakes! It's strange how they are in some places but not others.

That is HILARIOUS about melting snow for the toliet. Are you completely serious?! Or was it just an attempt?

Your ADR changes look like they will be great moves! The Kim Possible game looks like a ton of fun. We were tempted in January, but didn't do it. I kinda wish we would have, but all well! Next time.

You are making t-shirts for the meet? That is so awesome! I wish I could come!

Oh, I am soooo feeling stuck in po-dunk-ville, Alabama right now! How DARE they not share the Shamrock Shakes with us? (Of course, maybe it's just as well!)

I am absolutely DEAD serious about melting snow for the toilet! We had a battery-powered hot plate with a big boiler on it. We would shovel show and melt it. It takes about 2 hours to melt enough snow into water to fill the back of a toilet!! (I am SO SAD that I know that! )

Yes, we are having t-shirts made up for our meet in May! I will post a picture of the t-shirt in my next post.

I'm hoping the high crowds is for the week after we are there (like just before memorial day?) Keep our fingers crossed. How many days to go??????

Yeah, that's what I am hoping for as well. We intentionally chose the week prior to Memorial Day weekend, so that we could attempt to get and out before the Memorial Day weekend started. We expected the Friday before M. Day to be packed....but last year, the Mon, Tues, Wed before weren't crowded at all. Hopefully it will be the same this year!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Hello readers! I am proud of myself....my artistic side is coming out! I have designed t-shirts for our May Meet at Epcot! Here is what the t-shirt will look like:

Front:

Back:

(Actually, the back has been updated. I forgot one of the names and went back to add it. Anyway, you get the idea.)

Also, I put together a May Meet store online yesterday!! Here is the link:

http://www.cafepress.com/dismaymeet

I think it is hilarious that you can order a beer stein, a messenger bag, or even a thong with our MAMMOTH MAY MEET logo on it!!

 

[TigerKat]

Love the thong.......

 

[ckdsnynt]

I will wear my shirt proudly! I have been trying to get my family to wear shirts alike for years, especially the year we went with a group of 11 (friends and family). You would have thought I wanted to tatoo their faces Every time a saw a group with matching shirts I would point them out and how cute they were and they would roll their eyes and say, "Uh, yeah and we ain't them! Get over it!"
So this trip, I might just make them wear some of these shirts! Revenge is so sweet. Just think, everywhere they look, they will see these shirts and I will have one on and they will see me matching these other shirts

 

[pmama]

I'd pay money for a picture of you all in the thongs. Joking aside, cute idea!

 

[ckdsnynt]

I'd pay money for a picture of you all in the thongs. Joking aside, cute idea!

You might want to pay money NOT to see some of us in thongs

 

[alan_renfroe]

Love the thong.......

Isn't that hilarious? When I saw that a thong was an option, I thought that would be really funny to put in our online store!!

I will wear my shirt proudly! I have been trying to get my family to wear shirts alike for years, especially the year we went with a group of 11 (friends and family). You would have thought I wanted to tatoo their faces Every time a saw a group with matching shirts I would point them out and how cute they were and they would roll their eyes and say, "Uh, yeah and we ain't them! Get over it!"
So this trip, I might just make them wear some of these shirts! Revenge is so sweet. Just think, everywhere they look, they will see these shirts and I will have one on and they will see me matching these other shirts

That's hilarious!! Love this statement: "Uh, yeah, and we ain't them! Get over it!" That sounds JUST LIKE something my 12-yr-old would say! That's why I put some buttons and stuff like that on the online store....maybe at LEAST you can get them to wear a button, right?

I tell you what is going to be funny - if we all wear these shirts, some of us are bound to run into each other in Epcot before the 3pm meet! Heck, by 3pm we may have already met several people throughout the day!

I'd pay money for a picture of you all in the thongs. Joking aside, cute idea!

The question is......how MUCH money?!?!?!

Thanks! When I started setting up an online t-shirt, I noticed they had all kinds of items to choose from...so I did some kids shirts, then some buttons, then magnets....when I saw the thong, I just HAD to go there!!

You might want to pay money NOT to see some of us in thongs

Hahahah.....AMEN to that!

 

[englishrose47]

Alan this meet is getting even Mammouther !!!! The best THONG about it sorry couldn't resist!!!! I still have to find this site to view those THONGS!!!!

 

[kgle]

Hi Kara !!! See you in May!!!

LOL I saw this and I was like Rosie...why are you posting that on Alan's PTR and I already know I will see you in May


Alan- No more meetup for me At least not in Epcot. I do hope that we are able to get together at the pool or something while we are at pop though! I will have to try to get online and post the room number so you know whereabouts we will be staying


I think...............the Mammoth Meet should totally skip Epcot and go to Clearwater Beach

 

[englishrose47]

LOL I saw this and I was like Rosie...why are you posting that on Alan's PTR and I already know I will see you in May


Alan- No more meetup for me At least not in Epcot. I do hope that we are able to get together at the pool or something while we are at pop though! I will have to try to get online and post the room number so you know whereabouts we will be staying


I think...............the Mammoth Meet should totally skip Epcot and go to Clearwater Beach

Sorry I must have got my threads confused !! I am at Pop , I know Alan originally was but he is now at one of the mods !!! So we can meet at Pop!!

 

[colinsdad]

Well, you just KNEW that we couldn't leave well enough alone and keep all of our ADRs without changing something! 90 days is a LONG time!

Anyway, after doing some thinking, we decided to move the times for a couple of our reservations.

1 - We moved our dinner at Flying Fish on May 16th from 7:05pm to 7:45pm. This may not seem like a big deal, but we really want to catch the last showing of the American Idol Experience at 6pm...and DHS closes at 7pm that day. We figured that if the show lasts close to an hour, we would never make it to Flying Fish at the Boardwalk by reservation time. SO...we decided to move it to 7:45pm. We hope to get there a little early and walk around the Boardwalk, since we've never been there.

2 - We moved our Le Cellier lunch on May 17th from 12:45pm to 11:35am. With our DISmeet at 3pm, we felt like we would not get to see very much of the World Showcase before the meet. DS & DD are both excited about doing the Kim Possible experience, so we figured an earlier lunchtime would give us more time before our 3pm meet.

So, even though we made a couple of changes, they were only minor changes and I think we'll be glad we made them!

Hi Alan. Just catching up on the PTR. I think moving Flying Fish a little later was a very good idea. We loved the Boardwalk when we stayed there last September and it is very nice to walk around. After dinner, be sure to check out the performers.

We can't wait to try out the Kim Possible experience as well.

rumors about crowds expected to be larger than normal this May? hmmm....I sure hope not. One of the things we loved so much about choosing May last year was that the crowds were tolerable. I read on one of the May boards that the UG rankings are 8s and 9s on some days. Yikes!

I've never heard of UG rankings but understand what they are from this post. But where can I find them to check them against the days I have planned? Just one more thing I learned from the DIS. Thanks.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi,

I found you on inkedupmomma's PTR and followed you over. I have a lot of reading to do but I did skim over all 40 some pages over the past hour and I am hooked!

I cant wait to read your TR when you get back. We are staying at CSR (booked at the same time as inkedupmomma) and it will be our first stay.

Subbing and can't wait to hear more.