The GROOVIER New Pop Century FAQ Thread Chapter 3! ~ Posts #1 & #2 are MUST sees!

[The 4 "Quay"balleros]

I have also not had any luck getting on a fridge swap for our dates and was planning to pack a soft sided cooler in our checked suitcase so we can fill it with ice at POP. I was hoping to keep 1/2 gallon of milk cold for breakfast and my little guys as well as keeping my DS's medicine cold.

I never thought of getting a bigger cooler and checking it. How does that work? Does every airline allow this? We are flying southwest.

This is why I love DIS - great ideas and fast responses!!!!!

Just call Disney and request a fridge for medical purposes. My youngest had medicine that needs to be kept cold. Our last 2 trips('08,'10) we've gotten the refridge at no charge.

 

[szvers]

That is my understanding too. I would call and tell them that your son has medicine that has to be kept cold and ask what their policy is on getting a refrigerator. You may have to get a statement from your son's doctor stating this is true, not sure, but it would be well worth the trouble to get a refrigerator for free!

Both my wife and daughter are insulin dependent diabetics and I told them this and they said the fridge is free. I guess my proof is they both wear insulin pumps.

 

[labsrus1]

We are also waiting for Sep to get here...
Flying on 9/11, dont know if to be happy or nervous!

Anyone arriving on 9/11?

 

[danaw11]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas about the fridge. My mom is my travel agent so I will have her call Southwest and ask about checking a cooler. I will be sure to post what she finds out.

Also, the medicine is not insulin so I didn't want to "abuse" the fridge for medical needs. We really just need to keep a cold pack/medicine bag frozen in order to carry our son's epi-pen/allergy medicine around with us in the parks all day. It does not have to be stored in the fridge normally but when we are at the beach or out in the HOT (Florida) sun all day we need to keep it cool. I wasn't sure if that would count for medical reasons. Maybe I will check with Disney and see what they say.

 

[momsavealot]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas about the fridge. My mom is my travel agent so I will have her call Southwest and ask about checking a cooler. I will be sure to post what she finds out.

Also, the medicine is not insulin so I didn't want to "abuse" the fridge for medical needs. We really just need to keep a cold pack/medicine bag frozen in order to carry our son's epi-pen/allergy medicine around with us in the parks all day. It does not have to be stored in the fridge normally but when we are at the beach or out in the HOT (Florida) sun all day we need to keep it cool. I wasn't sure if that would count for medical reasons. Maybe I will check with Disney and see what they say.

Just curious as I have epi pens for my kids. My epi pens say on them not to be refrigerated and really not to get below 59 degrees. If you put them with a cooler bag, they might get too cold. It says they can get up to 86 degrees so I just carry mine on me in my purse in the parks. I never leave them in a hot car or in direct sunlight. WEre you told by a doctor to keep them cool and is this some kind of special medical bag?

 

[danaw11]

Just curious as I have epi pens for my kids. My epi pens say on them not to be refrigerated and really not to get below 59 degrees. If you put them with a cooler bag, they might get too cold. It says they can get up to 86 degrees so I just carry mine on me in my purse in the parks. I never leave them in a hot car or in direct sunlight. WEre you told by a doctor to keep them cool and is this some kind of special medical bag?

Yes, we don't refrigerate the epi-pen inself but just keep in near the cold pack when we know we will be in 85+ degree weather for an extended period. Ours says it should be kept at 77 degree with excursions up to 86 degree. The first time we took a week long beach vacation our doctor recommended keeping it "cool" since we were going to be out in the hot sun for extended periods.

It would be a lot easier if we didn't have to do this so maybe I will double check with our doctor and also a friend who is a pharmacist.

 

[DisneyMom5]

Yes, we don't refrigerate the epi-pen inself but just keep in near the cold pack when we know we will be in 85+ degree weather for an extended period. Ours says it should be kept at 77 degree with excursions up to 86 degree. The first time we took a week long beach vacation our doctor recommended keeping it "cool" since we were going to be out in the hot sun for extended periods.

It would be a lot easier if we didn't have to do this so maybe I will double check with our doctor and also a friend who is a pharmacist.

We've never kept them cool. I hadn't even thought of that!!!
Check with a pharmacist, they would be the best person to ask.

On a good note, the security at the parks that checks your bags doesn't even bat an eye at epi-pens and inhalers...they see them all day long!

 

[KELLY]

We are also waiting for Sep to get here...
Flying on 9/11, dont know if to be happy or nervous!

Anyone arriving on 9/11?

Nope but we did fly the following year after 9/11 on 9/11 and it was fine.

 

[tr-ray]

Just had to switch my trip around a little...

Was booked 12/9 - 12/16 but pushed it out till 12/10 to take advantage of FD. But, we'll be flying down on the 9th anyway and doing a room only the first night!

Can't wait to have 9 days (almost!) in Disney!!

We stayed in Bldg 10 in Feb. 2009 (room 0460) and I liked that - very quiet! Hoping to get into the 60s bldgs this time around!

 

[danaw11]

We've never kept them cool. I hadn't even thought of that!!!
Check with a pharmacist, they would be the best person to ask.

On a good note, the security at the parks that checks your bags doesn't even bat an eye at epi-pens and inhalers...they see them all day long!

Oh no! I didn't mean to worry anyone - we allergy folks have enough to worry about. There has been some discussions on the disabilities DIS board as well as some other allergy boards I read and it seems like people vary quite a bit in what they do.

It seemed like people who knew they would be in and out of the sun just carried it as they normally did. Others carried it in an insulated lunch bag or baby bottle holder with or without a cold pack. People seemed to use the cold pack when they knew they would be out in the HOT sun for a long period of time either at a beach or water park, etc.

I hope that helps! This discussion has helped me. I have decided not to "sweat" (pun intended) not having a fridge at Pop and just making do with a cooler that we either buy from a grocery service or bring on the airplane with us.

Thanks again DISers for the useful dialogue.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

I have been thinking about this option but noticed Garden Grocer had a minimum order of $40 and a delivery fee I wasn't sure if it made sense. I really only need milk. But I guess I could think about getting breakfast supplies and diaper supplies from them instead of bringing it with us. Thanks!

Yes, Southwest rocks! I just wasn't sure if you have to have the cooler "prepared" in any way or if you could just walk up with an empty cooler and check it. Can it be a hard- or soft-sided cooler? Any advice from anyone who has checked a cooler before????

Honestly, without much splurging or waste you can hit that $40 and still save money. For us, we hate the soda fountain drinks at disney, the local water really makes it just taste "off" compared to what we have at home. We usually order a 12 pack or two of soft drinks (two 12 packs=same $ as one refillable mug), usually some drinks for the kids, some fresh fruit, a bag of pretzels and maybe some peanut butter crackers, a box or two of breakfast bars....just stuff that will let you have a craving snack or a quick bite to tide over until the next meal without spending $20 on snacks at the food court or using 8 snack redemptions on the meal plan. Knowing you have an ice cold drink and a gnosh waiting on you in the room often makes that long bus ride home much more bearable.

We first used grocery delivery about 4 years ago at the beach, where on arrival day we either had to pack a huge cooler and lug it all the way up to the condo OR fight the crowds at the grocery store on an island where everyone checks in on the same day.....or pay $20 and our order is in our condo waiting on us when we check in, perishables already in the fridge etc. Once we used it, there was never any turning back and now pretty much every vacation it is our first option, our "go to" choice.

Southwest does indeed rock, and the magical transfer stuff is wonderful. We have used it 3 times now. Each time we just pack a carry on with our sleeping stuff (PJs, meds, tooth brush/tooth paste) and when we get to the hotel just tell bell services to hold the luggage till morning (it usually arrives about 1.5 hours after you do, so they would be waking you up with room delivery when it arrives.) Our flight usually gets into Orlando at around 8 p.m. so we are in our hotel room by 10 p.m., immediately in bed and get a good night's sleep, up bright and early at 6:30 the next morning and a bell services person is right there at the door with all our luggage. This is one of the things Disney has changed in the past 6 years that is absolutely outstanding, compared to other changes that have you smacking your head. They have a home run with magical transfer.

I have frequent flyer miles from biz travel, usually enough for two free tickets at any given point in a year. We still choose to buy tix through Southwest instead. Here is a SW trick, they publish their fares at very predictable, precise intervals. For instance, for week before Xmas travel we knew they published on the second tuesday in July (last year.) We logged on just after midnight and got four of the super saver fares (limited availability on any given flight) so our tixs were less than $90 each one way. Within a week the super saver ones were sold out and the cost would be $129 each, each way. So when you know your travel dates, figure out the fare publication date and hit your airline reservations the moment they come out. We actually booked air 4 months prior to booking disney hotel. (unlike air, disney hotel often gets cheaper the closer you get to travel date, their specials and promotions are based upon advanced bookings at any given property and might come as little as 60 days prior to your travel date. You can ALWAYs rebook your exact same trip with new offers to get the better pricing.)

Just a final "not that you asked" point - make sure you have the Disney Visa card. our neighbors across the street literally traveled same dates same hotel december 2009 and we were over a thousand $ cheaper (we buy meal plans and tix etc so did they) than they were just from the PIN offer we received via email. That 2009 experience is a repeat of the 2008 experience where we booked a "general public" booking via the specials online at the disney website at the Contemporary in June for December travel, and then rebooked 2 times with a travel specialist as new PINs came in. We reduced our bill by a little over $1,200 AND upgraded from garden wing parking lot view to tower room bay view. We could not have done that through "general public" offers via the disney website, and I checked. Even if you don't upgrade the rooms, the money you save could go to cirque de solie tix, for instance.

Ok, long rambling post over.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to check in the hard cooler. We are flying JetBlue and are entitled to six bags free (we have 4 kids) so we won't be charged. The only restriction is that the length, height and depth together must total less than 60 inches, which was tough in the beginning. I did have to return the 1st cooler my dh bought because the wheels made it too big. The one I ended up buying is an Igloo "Ice Cube" and it has wheels and a handle just like luggage. If the airline wants to open it, they sure can. I was just going to throw in some boxes of cereal, pop tarts and Pep Farm goldfish for the room. I know it may get beat up a bit during travel but the cooler cost me $27 at Sam's Club and I can use it in the future for the beach, etc. Yes, it will be a pain to dump and refill ice, but I will put my dh in charge of that! Just to make sure, I'm going to call the airline today and make sure coolers are okay. I'll post back if they're not.

The checked baggage does have restrictions as to size and weight. It is usually a sum of the lengthxheightxdepth in inches (see, for instance, http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html sorry if we aren't supposed to post external links) and then a hard number on the weight. Just google "airline xyz baggage policy" and it will be in there. As long as you don't exceed the dimension limits or the weight limits they don't care if you are checking vera bradley luggage or coleman coolers.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas about the fridge. My mom is my travel agent so I will have her call Southwest and ask about checking a cooler. I will be sure to post what she finds out.

Also, the medicine is not insulin so I didn't want to "abuse" the fridge for medical needs. We really just need to keep a cold pack/medicine bag frozen in order to carry our son's epi-pen/allergy medicine around with us in the parks all day. It does not have to be stored in the fridge normally but when we are at the beach or out in the HOT (Florida) sun all day we need to keep it cool. I wasn't sure if that would count for medical reasons. Maybe I will check with Disney and see what they say.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html

As long as you don't exceed the dimensions or weight, a cooler is good to go as checked luggage. They want you to secure the lid, from personal experience. (i.e. strap it shut.)

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

Just had to switch my trip around a little...

Was booked 12/9 - 12/16 but pushed it out till 12/10 to take advantage of FD. But, we'll be flying down on the 9th anyway and doing a room only the first night!

Can't wait to have 9 days (almost!) in Disney!!

We stayed in Bldg 10 in Feb. 2009 (room 0460) and I liked that - very quiet! Hoping to get into the 60s bldgs this time around!

You are really going at a magical time of year. Very low crowds, you will get to experience all the holiday experiences, comfortable weather....the two weeks prior to the christmas week is a great time to do disney. We have been down 3 times in the past 4 years the week before the week of christmas, and will never go to disney any other week again. Other weeks have low crowds, but don't compare to the christmas decor, christmas programs (epcot's is spectacular) etc.

Growing up our parents took us 4 times, always june/july...our honeymoon was a trip in september, we also did spring break for 3 days as kids. No way, never again. Those "off weeks" prior to the christmas week are the best.

Also having the full 9 days makes it so much more enjoyable compared to 4 or 5 days. We increased from 6 to 7 days and even that extra day made us feel so much more relaxed, we saw more, felt less ragged etc. I hate that sometimes vacations feel like an invasion versus relaxation. When you spend that kind of money you want to pack everything in that is possible, having an extra day or two brings back the relaxation part of the vacation.

You are really hitting the sweet spot on travel time and length of trip. Have fun, I am jealous.

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

The checked baggage does have restrictions as to size and weight. It is usually a sum of the lengthxheightxdepth in inches (see, for instance, http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html sorry if we aren't supposed to post external links) and then a hard number on the weight. Just google "airline xyz baggage policy" and it will be in there. As long as you don't exceed the dimension limits or the weight limits they don't care if you are checking vera bradley luggage or coleman coolers.

Oh, one other thing (sorry on a posting tear this morning.) The coolers make an excellent way to bring home the park momentos you buy. (disney ears, ride pictures, any gift shop purchases etc.) Nice to have hard sided luggage to protect your delicate purchases.

 

[tiggerplus5]

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/baggage.html

As long as you don't exceed the dimensions or weight, a cooler is good to go as checked luggage. They want you to secure the lid, from personal experience. (i.e. strap it shut.)

I like the idea of the cooler. I can't find a free fridge swap at this late date and we have a toddler that will be snacking all day. Any ideas on how to strap it shut? Bungee cords or something more secure?

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

For all of you experienced WDW & POP Century people, can you please help me with the following:-

1. Is there a direct bus from POP to each of the parks?

2. Is there a direct bus to Downtown Disney?

3. How do I get from POP to the following resorts:-
- Poly
- AKL
- WL
- Grand Floridian
- Contemporary

4. How long does it take to get from POP to each Park via the bus?

5. When you exit each park, where is the POP bus stop?

Thank you so much in advance for any help you can give. I've very excited about my first WDW and my first stay at POP.

 

[DisGal520]

For all of you experienced WDW & POP Century people, can you please help me with the following:-

1. Is there a direct bus from POP to each of the parks? YES

2. Is there a direct bus to Downtown Disney? YES
3. How do I get from POP to the following resorts:-
- Poly
- AKL
- WL
- Grand Floridian
- Contemporary

YOU COULD BUS TO THE CLOSEST PARK, THEN TAKE THE BUS FOR AKL, WL. FOR THE POLY, GF AND CONTEMPORARY - BUS TO MK AND TAKE THE RESORT MONORAIL AT MK ENTRANCE

4. How long does it take to get from POP to each Park via the bus? VARIES AS TO WHICH PARK - SO ITS 15 MINUTES TO 30 MIN

5. When you exit each park, where is the POP bus stop? - VARIES BY PARK, BUT USUALLY A LITTLE HAUL
Thank you so much in advance for any help you can give. I've very excited about my first WDW and my first stay at POP.

 

[tiggerplus5]

shuttergirl,

check out ourlaughingplace. they have a transportation calculator. There's even an app for your iphone if you have one!

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

 

[Buckeye Lurker]

I like the idea of the cooler. I can't find a free fridge swap at this late date and we have a toddler that will be snacking all day. Any ideas on how to strap it shut? Bungee cords or something more secure?

When all else fails, there is duct tape. I think we just used that reinforced strapping tape that our grandparents used to ship stuff through the mail, one wrap around the middle did it. Keep in mind that TSA is probably going to open it at the airport anyway.