*** The Official July 2014 thread, join us won't you? ***

[momofboyz3]

My boys love breakfast for dinner too! They love it when I make omelettes with roasted potatoes for dinner. I do this once a week during the school year. Easy weeknight dinner!

As a DVC member, I always purchase my tickets from Undercover Tourist. They're discounted, include tax and shipping is free. I also signed up for the newsletter from Mouse Savers, and there is a link to click from the newsletter onto Undercover Tourist so you get a little more of a discount. For the dining plan, DVC members staying on points can purchase it through Member Services. Very easy! But we just buy the Tables in Wonderland card when we get to WDW. It's a better fit for our eating plans. I wish there was a dining plan somewhere in between the regular one and the deluxe. 2 meals anywhere (either TS or CS) and one snack per day per person would be a great fit for us. One could only dream!

Some great information! Thanks! I will see, I'm doing some research & like everything else there are positives and negatives. I love this site.. Nobody around here to talk about disney with. When I mentioned our last trip the response is "must be nice"
I agree I wish their was a regular dining plan that maybe included one signature on top or something. We love food and the whole experience of dining. We definately do ONE TS each day and the HDDR this next trip I'm throwing in a char breakfast so def going way over the alloted points.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Some great information! Thanks! I will see, I'm doing some research & like everything else there are positives and negatives. I love this site.. Nobody around here to talk about disney with. When I mentioned our last trip the response is "must be nice"
I agree I wish their was a regular dining plan that maybe included one signature on top or something. We love food and the whole experience of dining. We definately do ONE TS each day and the HDDR this next trip I'm throwing in a char breakfast so def going way over the alloted points.

You're very welcome! Are you considering purchasing a DVC membership? Or do you just want to stay at a DVC resort in your next trip? You can book a package through Disney in a DVC villa without being a DVC member. They do have some villas available for cas reservations. Then you would be able to book your dining plan and tickets all at once through Disney as a MYW package. You could also rent points through a DVC members but it's not something I would do. I just don't trust people, it's the New Yorker in me. However people rent points all the time without problems. I would just be afraid that I'd arrive and have no hotel room, and the person has my money that I can't get back. Too stressful for me, but again, the paranoid New Yorker in me!

If you have any other DVC questions I can definitely help! I asked tons of questions 5 years ago over here on the DIS and I got a lot of useful information when we bought our membership. I'd love to give some of that back!

We love dining experiences too. We definitely look for restaurants at Disney with good food and atmosphere. We're more into the a la carte restaurants than we were when the kids were smaller. We enjoy the food much more at a la carte places, with the exception of Biergarten which we love! If it weren't for meeting the characters at character buffets, Biergarten would probably be our only all-you-can-eat restaurant at WDW. I'd rather pay the price for a signature restaurant if I'm going to spend that amount. We only go to character meals for the kids since they still enjoy the experience. We do fewer of them on every trip. This upcoming trip we're only doing 2 or 3. On a 10 night trip! We did 5 on our first trip and it was only 5 nights! We've been doing 4 or 5 on the 10-night trips, so this one will have the least amount. They're getting bigger way too fast!

 

[momofboyz3]

You're very welcome! Are you considering purchasing a DVC membership? Or do you just want to stay at a DVC resort in your next trip? You can book a package through Disney in a DVC villa without being a DVC member. They do have some villas available for cas reservations. Then you would be able to book your dining plan and tickets all at once through Disney as a MYW package. You could also rent points through a DVC members but it's not something I would do. I just don't trust people, it's the New Yorker in me. However people rent points all the time without problems. I would just be afraid that I'd arrive and have no hotel room, and the person has my money that I can't get back. Too stressful for me, but again, the paranoid New Yorker in me!

If you have any other DVC questions I can definitely help! I asked tons of questions 5 years ago over here on the DIS and I got a lot of useful information when we bought our membership. I'd love to give some of that back!

We love dining experiences too. We definitely look for restaurants at Disney with good food and atmosphere. We're more into the a la carte restaurants than we were when the kids were smaller. We enjoy the food much more at a la carte places, with the exception of Biergarten which we love! If it weren't for meeting the characters at character buffets, Biergarten would probably be our only all-you-can-eat restaurant at WDW. I'd rather pay the price for a signature restaurant if I'm going to spend that amount. We only go to character meals for the kids since they still enjoy the experience. We do fewer of them on every trip. This upcoming trip we're only doing 2 or 3. On a 10 night trip! We did 5 on our first trip and it was only 5 nights! We've been doing 4 or 5 on the 10-night trips, so this one will have the least amount. They're getting bigger way too fast!

I totally agree! I'm nervous when it comes to my money & trusting ppl. On our WDW vaca I had a TA and can I tell you the whole time I was worried she was going to take my whopping $5000 and run! No way can I buy DVC, so I was contemplating renting from a 3rd party that some people on the dis has used. But, again I think I would end up with even a bigger headache. I understand your NY attitude, since I'm here in Boston.
My boys are older and will be 14,14 & 10 next trip but I think we missed out not doing a char breakfast last time and those photos are priceless!!
Thanks again!!!!!!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I totally agree! I'm nervous when it comes to my money & trusting ppl. On our WDW vaca I had a TA and can I tell you the whole time I was worried she was going to take my whopping $5000 and run! No way can I buy DVC, so I was contemplating renting from a 3rd party that some people on the dis has used. But, again I think I would end up with even a bigger headache. I understand your NY attitude, since I'm here in Boston.
My boys are older and will be 14,14 & 10 next trip but I think we missed out not doing a char breakfast last time and those photos are priceless!!
Thanks again!!!!!!!

You're welcome! Any time!

I think anyone from a city has the same attitude we do regarding trusting people. I think it's just the way we grew up.

Unfortunately, it seems I have caught a cold. Not feeling so great today. I felt it coming on a few days ago but I thought it was just my allergies starting up so I started taking Allegra again. But yesterday it started to get a little worse even on the Allegra. So I took NyQuil last night instead and slept like a baby. It's all in the nose and eyes so no cough and my asthma is fine, thank goodness. Now I'm hoping no one else catches it. We're supposed to go to Dutch Wonderland in Pennsylvania for the day this coming Friday. When I told DS6 I have a cold and not to hug and kiss me last night when he was going to bed, he said, "but what about Dutch Wonderland?!" I told him I should be fine by then and hopefully no one else will get it. And then I told him that if someone else does have a cold on Friday we will go one day next week instead.

 

[momofboyz3]

You're welcome! Any time!

I think anyone from a city has the same attitude we do regarding trusting people. I think it's just the way we grew up.

Unfortunately, it seems I have caught a cold. Not feeling so great today. I felt it coming on a few days ago but I thought it was just my allergies starting up so I started taking Allegra again. But yesterday it started to get a little worse even on the Allegra. So I took NyQuil last night instead and slept like a baby. It's all in the nose and eyes so no cough and my asthma is fine, thank goodness. Now I'm hoping no one else catches it. We're supposed to go to Dutch Wonderland in Pennsylvania for the day this coming Friday. When I told DS6 I have a cold and not to hug and kiss me last night when he was going to bed, he said, "but what about Dutch Wonderland?!" I told him I should be fine by then and hopefully no one else will get it. And then I told him that if someone else does have a cold on Friday we will go one day next week instead.

Well here's to hoping you feel better soon!!!! Colds are the worst. I usually get one in the winter and one at the beginning of summer. DayQuil & NyQuil usually kills it early on though. Tough with your asthma. My ds13 is "borderline" asthmatic w/allergies throughout the year. It's hard for me to tell if it's a cold or allergies with him or asthma.
Hopefully you will get to Dutch wonderland (never been). Sounds like your family does alot of fun stuff we went to Canobie Lake a few weeks ago and do the beach or the pool on weekends.
Back to work today and already looking fwd to the weekend!
Have a great week

 

[bangzoom6877]

Well here's to hoping you feel better soon!!!! Colds are the worst. I usually get one in the winter and one at the beginning of summer. DayQuil & NyQuil usually kills it early on though. Tough with your asthma. My ds13 is "borderline" asthmatic w/allergies throughout the year. It's hard for me to tell if it's a cold or allergies with him or asthma.
Hopefully you will get to Dutch wonderland (never been). Sounds like your family does alot of fun stuff we went to Canobie Lake a few weeks ago and do the beach or the pool on weekends.
Back to work today and already looking fwd to the weekend!
Have a great week

We try to do lots of fun things in the summer with the kids. Haven't been to the beach here all summer, but we went to the beach in St. Thomas during the cruise.

Yes, having a cold is crumby. But I'd rather have a cold than a stomach virus any day. To me, those are the absolute worst. My poor niece had one a little over a week ago and then her sister caught it. Then my sister (who is 4 months pregnant) had it. My parents also had it. One ran through our house a few months back. Both boys and I had it but DH was lucky and didn't catch it. Last year DS6 had 2 back to back stomach viruses on our WDW trip. One was while we were there and he was sick one night then fine the next morning. And a week later when we left WDW he got sick in the car on the drive home. For 3 days. I was in touch with his doctor from the road and we cut our trip short. We were supposed to spend a couple of days in Williamsburg, VA and go to Busch Gardens but we left to go home the morning after we got there. I took him to the doctor and he said it was 2 different viruses, a week apart. Apparently that is not uncommon at that age. But it was also carsickness combined with the virus. We found out on Christmas that he gets carsick. We were on the way to friends who we go to every Christmas, and he was playing his DS. He got sick once and then I took away the DS. He was fine from that point on. The doctor said he gets carsick and no video games, reading or movies in the car. He told us to give hum children's Dramamine on the cruise too. We did and he was fine the whole time!

I'm feeling a little better tonight than last night. Hopefully we'll all be fine for Dutch Wonderland. It's a fun place to go, but geared toward younger kids. We started going there when our big one was 2 and our little one was only 3 months old. We have been there several times since. The boys love it. I'd say its good for kids up to 10 or 12. After that, Hershey Park is better for the older kids and teens. And Dutch Wonderland has dole whips! I'm looking forward to having one of those!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Hopefully we'll all be fine for Dutch Wonderland. It's a fun place to go, but geared toward younger kids. We started going there when our big one was 2 and our little one was only 3 months old. We have been there several times since. The boys love it. I'd say its good for kids up to 10 or 12. After that, Hershey Park is better for the older kids and teens. And Dutch Wonderland has dole whips! I'm looking forward to having one of those!

How far are you from Dutch Wonderland or Hershey? I worked at Hershey Park when I was in College. I grew up in Lebanon. Went to school in Millersville.

 

[think-like-tink]

I think I have mentioned we are looking to move to Orlando next summer, or sooner if the house we are in sales. I looked up houses last night in the orlando area, I found a few I really liked. I found myself on mapquest typing in the address just to see house long it would take me to drive to Disney. I have lost my mind..... Distance to Disney will be a deal breaker in the next buying a house adventure.

 

[bangzoom6877]

How far are you from Dutch Wonderland or Hershey? I worked at Hershey Park when I was in College. I grew up in Lebanon. Went to school in Millersville.

We live in Brooklyn, NY, so we're quite a distance away. It takes about 2 and a half hours to get to Dutch Wonderland. We have done it several times as a day trip, and a few times as an overnight from Saturday to Sunday of Columbus Day weekend. The plan on Friday is to leave at 6am, go to the Bird-in-Hand Family Restaurant for breakfast (LOVE that place!), go to Dutch Wonderland at opening time (10am) or shortly thereafter, spend the day there and have an early dinner somewhere local, perhaps Miller's or Plain & Fancy.

Hershey is a but further away, about 3 hours. I went to Hershey Park a few times as a kid and loved it. We took the boys to Lancaster as our summer vacation for 5 nights in 2009, when they were 4 and 2. We went to Dutch Wonderland, Hershey Park, Chocolate World, Strassburg Railroad, Kitchen Kettle Village, a pretzel factory in Lititz and some museums. We ate at some wonderful restaurants and we stayed at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, in the pool building. It was a very nice vacation and the boys loved everything we did.

We are going for an overnight trip this coming Columbus Day weekend. DH is the Athletic Director at his school, so he is in charge of all the sports teams. He works every weekend, sometimes both Saturday and Sunday, from the time the school year begins until the end of October. The only exception is Columbus Day weekend when there are no soccer games. So we will go overnight then, Saturday to Sunday. We find the one night is enough to do the things we love, and we don't hit the Friday evening traffic going there or the Monday traffic coming home. I love Lancaster in the Fall! I always end up buying the teachers' holiday gifts from Kitchen Kettle Village...they have such great things there!

I think I have mentioned we are looking to move to Orlando next summer, or sooner if the house we are in sales. I looked up houses last night in the orlando area, I found a few I really liked. I found myself on mapquest typing in the address just to see house long it would take me to drive to Disney. I have lost my mind..... Distance to Disney will be a deal breaker in the next buying a house adventure.

If I was looking to move to the Orlando area I would definitely research areas closer to WDW!!! We would have APs for sure, and probably eat at Epcot every Saturday!

Maybe if I hit the lottery one day I could buy enough DVC points to just live there!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Hi everyone!!!

Check out my signature...it's official! I booked our trip this morning! Our 11-month DVC home resort window opened up. Here is our itinerary as of now (I say "as of now" in case our overnight stops change on the drive down or back up):

Fri., July 18, 2014: Leave the house and drive to Fayetteville, NC
Sat., July 19, 2014: Drive from Fayetteville, NC to Palm Coast, FL (a little under 2 hours away from WDW)
Sun., July 20, 2014: drive from Palm Coast, FL to WDW and check in at BWV!!!!!
Wed., July 30, 2014: check out of BWV and drive to Savannah, GA
Thu., July 31, 2014: drive from Savannah, GA to Tysons Corner, VA (just outside of Washington, DC)...visiting some old friends from college (I went to University of Maryland)
Sun., August 3, 2014: drive home

There you have it...our 2014 trip itinerary!!! The 10 nights at WDW are a definite...only the overnight stops might change, but I think we're pretty set on what we're doing. A total of 16 nights of fun and magic!!!!!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Hi everyone!!!

Check out my signature...it's official! I booked our trip this morning! Our 11-month DVC home resort window opened up. Here is our itinerary as of now (I say "as of now" in case our overnight stops change on the drive down or back up):

Fri., July 18, 2014: Leave the house and drive to Fayetteville, NC
Sat., July 19, 2014: Drive from Fayetteville, NC to Palm Coast, FL (a little under 2 hours away from WDW)
Sun., July 20, 2014: drive from Palm Coast, FL to WDW and check in at BWV!!!!!
Wed., July 30, 2014: check out of BWV and drive to Savannah, GA
Thu., July 31, 2014: drive from Savannah, GA to Tysons Corner, VA (just outside of Washington, DC)...visiting some old friends from college (I went to University of Maryland)
Sun., August 3, 2014: drive home

There you have it...our 2014 trip itinerary!!! The 10 nights at WDW are a definite...only the overnight stops might change, but I think we're pretty set on what we're doing. A total of 16 nights of fun and magic!!!!!

Sounds like an awesome itinerary!!! Congrats on finally booking!!!

 

[RHMH]

Hi everyone!!!

Check out my signature...it's official! I booked our trip this morning! Our 11-month DVC home resort window opened up. Here is our itinerary as of now (I say "as of now" in case our overnight stops change on the drive down or back up):

Fri., July 18, 2014: Leave the house and drive to Fayetteville, NC
Sat., July 19, 2014: Drive from Fayetteville, NC to Palm Coast, FL (a little under 2 hours away from WDW)
Sun., July 20, 2014: drive from Palm Coast, FL to WDW and check in at BWV!!!!!
Wed., July 30, 2014: check out of BWV and drive to Savannah, GA
Thu., July 31, 2014: drive from Savannah, GA to Tysons Corner, VA (just outside of Washington, DC)...visiting some old friends from college (I went to University of Maryland)
Sun., August 3, 2014: drive home

There you have it...our 2014 trip itinerary!!! The 10 nights at WDW are a definite...only the overnight stops might change, but I think we're pretty set on what we're doing. A total of 16 nights of fun and magic!!!!!

Looks Great!!! We will be at the B.C., so maybe we will run into each other before we leave on the evening of the 20th.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Looks Great!!! We will be at the B.C., so maybe we will run into each other before we leave on the evening of the 20th.

Nice, right across the lake! We're thinking of going to Epcot for lunch that day since we will arrive early to WDW and then we can shop around the WS and have dinner that evening at Garden Grill so we can begin the vacation with a character dinner. Will you be going to a park that day?

 

[momofboyz3]

Hi everyone!!!

Check out my signature...it's official! I booked our trip this morning! Our 11-month DVC home resort window opened up. Here is our itinerary as of now (I say "as of now" in case our overnight stops change on the drive down or back up):

Fri., July 18, 2014: Leave the house and drive to Fayetteville, NC
Sat., July 19, 2014: Drive from Fayetteville, NC to Palm Coast, FL (a little under 2 hours away from WDW)
Sun., July 20, 2014: drive from Palm Coast, FL to WDW and check in at BWV!!!!!
Wed., July 30, 2014: check out of BWV and drive to Savannah, GA
Thu., July 31, 2014: drive from Savannah, GA to Tysons Corner, VA (just outside of Washington, DC)...visiting some old friends from college (I went to University of Maryland)
Sun., August 3, 2014: drive home

There you have it...our 2014 trip itinerary!!! The 10 nights at WDW are a definite...only the overnight stops might change, but I think we're pretty set on what we're doing. A total of 16 nights of fun and magic!!!!!

Wooooowooooooo!!!!!!!! That looks awesome & it's official which makes it reality!!! How exciting! I'm super happy for you

 

[momofboyz3]

We try to do lots of fun things in the summer with the kids. Haven't been to the beach here all summer, but we went to the beach in St. Thomas during the cruise.

Yes, having a cold is crumby. But I'd rather have a cold than a stomach virus any day. To me, those are the absolute worst. My poor niece had one a little over a week ago and then her sister caught it. Then my sister (who is 4 months pregnant) had it. My parents also had it. One ran through our house a few months back. Both boys and I had it but DH was lucky and didn't catch it. Last year DS6 had 2 back to back stomach viruses on our WDW trip. One was while we were there and he was sick one night then fine the next morning. And a week later when we left WDW he got sick in the car on the drive home. For 3 days. I was in touch with his doctor from the road and we cut our trip short. We were supposed to spend a couple of days in Williamsburg, VA and go to Busch Gardens but we left to go home the morning after we got there. I took him to the doctor and he said it was 2 different viruses, a week apart. Apparently that is not uncommon at that age. But it was also carsickness combined with the virus. We found out on Christmas that he gets carsick. We were on the way to friends who we go to every Christmas, and he was playing his DS. He got sick once and then I took away the DS. He was fine from that point on. The doctor said he gets carsick and no video games, reading or movies in the car. He told us to give hum children's Dramamine on the cruise too. We did and he was fine the whole time!

I'm feeling a little better tonight than last night. Hopefully we'll all be fine for Dutch Wonderland. It's a fun place to go, but geared toward younger kids. We started going there when our big one was 2 and our little one was only 3 months old. We have been there several times since. The boys love it. I'd say its good for kids up to 10 or 12. After that, Hershey Park is better for the older kids and teens. And Dutch Wonderland has dole whips! I'm looking forward to having one of those!

**** hope you are on the quick road to recovery!**** my gosh I feel soo bad for your little guy just reading that. Two stomach bugs back to back arghh and while on vacation. My youngest gets car sick as well, any drive more than 30 minutes he needs a bag
Would love to go to Hershey Park one of these years... I'm just so addicted to disney and I can't do more than one trip a year. LOVE DISNEY!

 

[think-like-tink]

Hi everyone!!!

Check out my signature...it's official! I booked our trip this morning! Our 11-month DVC home resort window opened up. Here is our itinerary as of now (I say "as of now" in case our overnight stops change on the drive down or back up):

Fri., July 18, 2014: Leave the house and drive to Fayetteville, NC
Sat., July 19, 2014: Drive from Fayetteville, NC to Palm Coast, FL (a little under 2 hours away from WDW)
Sun., July 20, 2014: drive from Palm Coast, FL to WDW and check in at BWV!!!!!
Wed., July 30, 2014: check out of BWV and drive to Savannah, GA
Thu., July 31, 2014: drive from Savannah, GA to Tysons Corner, VA (just outside of Washington, DC)...visiting some old friends from college (I went to University of Maryland)
Sun., August 3, 2014: drive home

There you have it...our 2014 trip itinerary!!! The 10 nights at WDW are a definite...only the overnight stops might change, but I think we're pretty set on what we're doing. A total of 16 nights of fun and magic!!!!!

Yay. Looks awesome Bonnie.

 

[RHMH]

Nice, right across the lake! We're thinking of going to Epcot for lunch that day since we will arrive early to WDW and then we can shop around the WS and have dinner that evening at Garden Grill so we can begin the vacation with a character dinner. Will you be going to a park that day?

Yes, We always end up at MK on the last day. He is our agenda and ADR's. When it is time (Day 180) to make our dining reservations, I get up early each day and get our reservations in. I have not had any trouble in the past getting our ADR's.

July 12th DTD - T-Rex Dinner
July 13th MK - BOG Dinner
July 14th HS - Sci-Fi Lunch
July 15th EP - Free Day - ?
July 16th AK - Ohana's Dinner
July 17th Resort Hopping maybe Chef Mickey's
July 18th MK - Plaza Lunch
July 19th HS - 50's Dinner
July 20th MK - Tony's Lunch

 

[bangzoom6877]

Wooooowooooooo!!!!!!!! That looks awesome & it's official which makes it reality!!! How exciting! I'm super happy for you

Thank you!! Yes, it feels so much more real now!

**** hope you are on the quick road to recovery!**** my gosh I feel soo bad for your little guy just reading that. Two stomach bugs back to back arghh and while on vacation. My youngest gets car sick as well, any drive more than 30 minutes he needs a bag
Would love to go to Hershey Park one of these years... I'm just so addicted to disney and I can't do more than one trip a year. LOVE DISNEY!

I felt so bad for him on that trip. He was so good though. He wasn't crying or carrying on. He stayed a lot calmer than me. Stomach bugs are the one thing I can't handle. I'm fine with colds, cleaning up cuts and scrapes, wasn't bothered by diaper changing, but I have this horrible fear of throwing up so stomach bugs cause terrible anxiety for me. I really wish I wasn't like that. It makes me feel like I'm not as good a mom as I should be. DH is so good about it though. He understands, as frustrating as it must be for him to deal with me at those times.

I understand about wanting to spend your annual vacation at Disney! I love it there too! If I could vacation any way I want every year it would be alternating cruises with Disney. We did that the last few years and it was great. Those are my 2 favorite types of vacations! But in 2 years, when we're between WDW trips again, we might venture out and do an all-inclusive in the Caribbean or Mexico. That means I have to muster up the strength to get on a plane though...don't like to fly and haven't flown in 13 years!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Yay. Looks awesome Bonnie.

Thanks!

Yes, We always end up at MK on the last day. He is our agenda and ADR's. When it is time (Day 180) to make our dining reservations, I get up early each day and get our reservations in. I have not had any trouble in the past getting our ADR's.

July 12th DTD - T-Rex Dinner
July 13th MK - BOG Dinner
July 14th HS - Sci-Fi Lunch
July 15th EP - Free Day - ?
July 16th AK - Ohana's Dinner
July 17th Resort Hopping maybe Chef Mickey's
July 18th MK - Plaza Lunch
July 19th HS - 50's Dinner
July 20th MK - Tony's Lunch

MK is a great way to spend the last day! You have some really great ADRs also. We love Sci-Fi and 50s at DHS! Plaza is also great...love eating there and looking at the castle! Are you planning to just kind of eat and snack around Epcot? DH and I talk about doing that for lunch on check-in day rather than make a lunch ADR. Maybe just go t the WS and have a little something in different countries.

Do you get up every morning to make your ADRs? Since you stay on property you could make up to 10 days (after your check-in date) worth of reservations starting 180 days before check-in. As long as you use your resort reservation number when making ADRs, you can do this. Then you only have to get up early one morning!

 

[RHMH]

Thanks!

MK is a great way to spend the last day! You have some really great ADRs also. We love Sci-Fi and 50s at DHS! Plaza is also great...love eating there and looking at the castle! Are you planning to just kind of eat and snack around Epcot? DH and I talk about doing that for lunch on check-in day rather than make a lunch ADR. Maybe just go t the WS and have a little something in different countries.

Do you get up every morning to make your ADRs? Since you stay on property you could make up to 10 days (after your check-in date) worth of reservations starting 180 days before check-in. As long as you use your resort reservation number when making ADRs, you can do this. Then you only have to get up early one morning!

Wow!!! Thanks, did not know that. Then that is what I will do!!!