The Good, The Bad, & the Nuts! ...ANYONE GOING MAY 8-15?

[mom3sonstt]

Although they may not be original, t-shirts are still a nice souvenir in that they're relatively inexpensive and (as a benefit to the giver) they pack well!

My kids could probably go a week or two and wear a different Disney shirt each day with all the shirts we've gotten them over the years. Plus, knowing they will probably get one or two when we are down there, I still feel the need to order them new shirts before the trip from the Disney store so they will have good shirts for the trip

 

[All7OfUs]

WOW, Tanya, those are super long, mega-udates... I need a bit more time than I have at this moment to read them, but i will be back to very soon

Hope you're having a great day!!!

 

[KatMark]

Tanya, congratulations again on Mark's graduation. Great pictures!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Got online Friday evening and booked some rooms....several rooms!

Yesterday Danny went down to Sean's to take a couple things to him before Sean leaves for camp for the summer. He's going to be working at a church camp, by the time he is done we will be down to the last few days before we leave for Disney. There were some things he was going to need to replace because they are things that his current room-mate will be taking with him when he moves out. So I booked Danny a room for last night. He is staying at Country Inn & Suites (well all the rooms are for there at various locations). He used 5000 member points and paid $59. Regular price $99.

July 30 we are staying overnight in Columbus, OH after the Meatloaf concert. We got a room listed for $139 for $70 with a code I found online.

Then for their trip to Florida (I will already be at WDW since I am flying early) they will stay in Nashville in a 1 Bedroom suite for $70 - listed as $109. The next night they will be in Ocala using 5000 points and paying $55. Regular price without points is $102.

Coming home they will stay in Ocala again for the same rate. And in Nashville again for $70, only this night that room is listed as $119.

For booking online we earn either 1000 or 2000 points per reservation, so of the 15,000 points we used we will earn back between 6000 and 12,000. Somewhere in the midst of all those bookings we went from Silver members to Gold members, so the rooms booked at Silver will be 1000, the ones at gold will be 2000. The nights that we use points and cash, we will earn points on the cash portion. The nights that we stay for $70 using the code I don't think we earn points on.

So now I can plug in some prices into our Disney budget now that we know how much the rooms will be. The rooms where we use some points appear to be regular guest rooms (as opposed to suites) but at the Gold level it says we qualify for upgrades - they'll have to see if they have any available upgrades at check in time. Mark doesn't like to share a room with us - he seems to think we should always get suites. Since it will just be guys maybe the spoiled little brat will adjust.

We also have 2 nights booked in December for Sean's graduation, but Danny booked them a long time ago. We had them booked for this spring and wound up not needing them since Sean wound up needing another semester to finish . On one of his trips down there Danny had the people at the hotel move them over to the new dates. Right now they are booked at the regular price. We may switch them over to the cash plus points rate, or wait and see if I come across any other codes. The one I used for the Disney & Columbus trips supposedly can only be used 3 times per customer.

I also bought some travel size toothpaste, a new thing of deodorant with a matching scent of body spray that meets the liquid size guidelines, and a new toothbrush. My Disney vacation shopping has officially begun!!!

 

[mom3sonstt]

Hmmmm....didn't expect this! DH was asking me tonight what I plan on doing during my solo time before they get there. I told him I was thinking about maybe going to the Teppen Edo place, but wasn't sure. I don't think I would like eating there by myself. I don't mind eating at a restaurant by myself, but would feel strange eating at a group table, especially if I was the only one who didn't know anybody . He asked me what place that was so I explained that it was the Japanese restaurant where you sit around the grill while he cooks your food in front of you. He said that he would go with me if I wanted to wait. Then he asked if they served steak. Apparently on one of his trips to Japan for work he had eaten at a place like that, the chef kept trying to get him to try some of the seafood and local stuff, but stubborn hubby was not impressed. The chef finally gave up and cooked steak for him - he said it was the best steak he'd ever had. So evidently I will be booking us a meal there

 

[KatMark]

Hmmmm....didn't expect this! DH was asking me tonight what I plan on doing during my solo time before they get there. I told him I was thinking about maybe going to the Teppen Edo place, but wasn't sure. I don't think I would like eating there by myself. I don't mind eating at a restaurant by myself, but would feel strange eating at a group table, especially if I was the only one who didn't know anybody . He asked me what place that was so I explained that it was the Japanese restaurant where you sit around the grill while he cooks your food in front of you. He said that he would go with me if I wanted to wait. Then he asked if they served steak. Apparently on one of his trips to Japan for work he had eaten at a place like that, the chef kept trying to get him to try some of the seafood and local stuff, but stubborn hubby was not impressed. The chef finally gave up and cooked steak for him - he said it was the best steak he'd ever had. So evidently I will be booking us a meal there

Sounds awesome. We've never eaten there, but we have a meal at a Japanese Steakhouse every trip to Marco. The food is always so good.

 

[glennbo123]

Hmmmm....didn't expect this! DH was asking me tonight what I plan on doing during my solo time before they get there. I told him I was thinking about maybe going to the Teppen Edo place, but wasn't sure. I don't think I would like eating there by myself. I don't mind eating at a restaurant by myself, but would feel strange eating at a group table, especially if I was the only one who didn't know anybody . He asked me what place that was so I explained that it was the Japanese restaurant where you sit around the grill while he cooks your food in front of you. He said that he would go with me if I wanted to wait. Then he asked if they served steak. Apparently on one of his trips to Japan for work he had eaten at a place like that, the chef kept trying to get him to try some of the seafood and local stuff, but stubborn hubby was not impressed. The chef finally gave up and cooked steak for him - he said it was the best steak he'd ever had. So evidently I will be booking us a meal there

Yeah, I don't think that'd be the place I'd want to go by myself since they'd seat me with a group.

I imagine the steak would be pretty good there. I'm glad you'll be going to it with hubby.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Sounds awesome. We've never eaten there, but we have a meal at a Japanese Steakhouse every trip to Marco. The food is always so good.

Danny is very much a steak, burger, salad, catfish, or fried chicken eater. No Chinese food, no Mexican food, no seafood, no..... He did say he has no use for the rice that is listed on the menu, but apparently he is ok with the noodles.

Yeah, I don't think that'd be the place I'd want to go by myself since they'd seat me with a group.

I imagine the steak would be pretty good there. I'm glad you'll be going to it with hubby.

I booked us for a 1:30 lunch. We are staying at boardwalk, so I figure with doing it midday we can do any park except AK in the morning and would be close enough to get there for a late lunch. I imagine by that time of day in august, we will be ready for a break.


I have all 5 of us booked at garden grill for 6:40 on an epcot extra magic hour night, and all 5 booked for breakfast at kona the day before they leave. I have me booked for breakfast at boma (I'm moving to AKL after they leave). Don't know if I'm going to schedule any more or not.

 

[marvali]

Hey Tanya, all caught up again! That has to be the busiest final full day I've ever read about that didn't include a single ride or attraction!!!

We did Teppan Edo before and the whole family thought it was fantastic! And the steak was

 

[mom3sonstt]

Hey Tanya, all caught up again! That has to be the busiest final full day I've ever read about that didn't include a single ride or attraction!!!

We did Teppan Edo before and the whole family thought it was fantastic! And the steak was

It was pretty busy - I don't think we realized we hadn't done any rides or shows until later in the afternoon. I was really hoping for another trip on the Tower, but then, I'm always hoping for another ride on the Tower!

 

[All7OfUs]

I got the scallops at Teppan and they were so yummy! I"m sure the steak was good too, but you'd have to ask Mary about that. That's what she got. As for eating there by yourself; yeah, I think that'd be harder than say, Marakesh or Les Chefs. I"m just glad he's excited about it, and you can enjoy it together.

That was a ton of rooms you booked, and all for a nice discount! Great job!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

All caught up! I think I have to echo Marv's comment--that's an awfully busy day while seeing no attractions whatsoever!

 

[mom3sonstt]

I got the scallops at Teppan and they were so yummy! I"m sure the steak was good too, but you'd have to ask Mary about that. That's what she got. As for eating there by yourself; yeah, I think that'd be harder than say, Marakesh or Les Chefs. I"m just glad he's excited about it, and you can enjoy it together.

That was a ton of rooms you booked, and all for a nice discount! Great job!

I havent decided what I will get at Teppan - either the shrimp or scallops probably - or both if they have a combo. I'm sure he will have one of the steaks.

We finally got smart and settled in to using one chain of hotels as much as possible to rack up the points. Before we had member cards to several and never earned enough points anywhere to really use. The code I found by googling Country Inn and Suites codes. Anymore whenever I order anything online I will check to see if there is some sort of coupon or code that I can plug in. I just ordered some re-fill Passporter pockets that were less than $9. I found a code and got another $1.39 off. That's almost half of a bottle of pop at WDW!

 

[mom3sonstt]

All caught up! I think I have to echo Marv's comment--that's an awfully busy day while seeing no attractions whatsoever!

We still consider these "parent only" trips as bonus trips. We aren't as concerned about riding a bunch of rides and trying to see everything. Unfortunately, that attitude is starting to spill over onto our family trips because the boys go off and do their own thing so it is "parents only" again. Anything with any kind of line, he will bypass and say "we can do that another time". The problem is, he does that so often, and it's the same rides that have the long lines, that we never do some of them anymore. I am really hoping that Snow White is still open in August - I haven't seen it in a long time, and I hear it will be going away with the new expansion.

 

[MAGIC...itis!]

I am late to the party here but loved your not trip report. You have a very readable style. Sounds like a great trip and a great bunch of folks taking it.

We seem very similar! From age to resort preference to dining preferences to our next trip being in August. I feel for you...

 

[mom3sonstt]

I am late to the party here but loved your not trip report. You have a very readable style. Sounds like a great trip and a great bunch of folks taking it.

We seem very similar! From age to resort preference to dining preferences to our next trip being in August. I feel for you...

thanks for joining this crazy ride!

I'm there aug 3-15.....do we overlap?

 

[englishrose47]

I havent decided what I will get at Teppan - either the shrimp or scallops probably - or both if they have a combo. I'm sure he will have one of the steaks.

!

Now I have eaten there alone and was seated with a very nice family of 7!! I had no problem being SOLO, but then I lap dance with Pigs !!
As for the combos they have shrimp and chicken and they have steak and shrimp, the scallops which are Yummy are not a combo!!

 

[MAGIC...itis!]

I'm there aug 3-15.....do we overlap?

Yes on Aug 5. My main dates are later in the Month Aug 20-24.

DH and I are attending a concert in Orlando then staying with friends. On 5th we are up early (for us)... first we'll do AKL for Dinosaur; then something I've always wanted to do -- Winter Summerland miniature golf! Next is Epcot for late a lunch at Le Cellier and... who knows. I'm always up for saying hi to new folks. Maybe our paths will cross!

Please let me offer congratulations on your "gangsta" kidney, your improving health, and your courage to put it in "print".

I await your next TR. The old pics brought back lots of great memories. I too visited WDW for the first time in 1977 and again in 1978. Good stuff!!! :

 

[marvali]

thanks for joining this crazy ride!

I'm there aug 3-15.....do we overlap?

We need to compare our schedules when it gets a little closer. We have from the 3rd to the 7th to catch up with each other. Right now for those days I'm looking at primarily DHS, Epcot, DHS, MK and then home but that will probably evolve some especially since we can hop... At the son's request we are doing a late breakfast at O'hana on departure day before we hit the road.

Now I have eaten there alone and was seated with a very nice family of 7!! I had no problem being SOLO, but then I lap dance with Pigs !!
As for the combos they have shrimp and chicken and they have steak and shrimp, the scallops which are Yummy are not a combo!!

When we ate at Teppan Edo at least one person in the family had one of the different combos, but I can't remember if anyone ordered the scallops. I had the steak/shrimp combo. Everyone thought it was a fantastic meal!

 

[englishrose47]

Yes on Aug 5. My main dates are later in the Month Aug 20-24.

DH and I are attending a concert in Orlando then staying with friends. On 5th we are up early (for us)... first we'll do AKL for Dinosaur; then something I've always wanted to do -- Winter Summerland miniature golf! Next is Epcot for late a lunch at Le Cellier and... who knows. I'm always up for saying hi to new folks. Maybe our paths will cross!

Please let me offer congratulations on your "gangsta" kidney, your improving health, and your courage to put it in "print".

I await your next TR. The old pics brought back lots of great memories. I too visited WDW for the first time in 1977 and again in 1978. Good stuff!!! :

Our paths could cross we will be there 19th thru 27th!!!