VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge, a lot!!

[KAT4DISNEY]

I received our "Incredibles" package for our May trip. I have to be honest, I haven't kept up with anything regarding the wrist bands, MyMagic+, FP+ or anything else. I feel like we are way out of the loop but fortunately we don't tend to worry as much about specific attractions or restaurants as we used to.

Still, I'm thinking I should try to figure some of this stuff out. Some of it looks like you have to have tickets or an AP before they'll let you do certain things? We are buying an AP during our May trip so I guess we can't do anything that requires that prior to leaving.

Ah...just another piece of technology leaving me in the dust.

As Bobbi said you have to have either the ticket or AP or a voucher that you link to your My Disney Experience account in order to reserve your FP+'s. But after first using it in Oct I decided to do a little test during Dec and the majority of our days I did not do the FP+ reservations until the night before and really did not have any issues in getting what we wanted. We also switched around a few things on the day of and only had a couple of times we couldn't switch. So unless something drastically changes I think you'll be ok with buying onsite and then setting them up if you choose to. Nothing else requires the tickets to be linked though.

 

[sleepydog25]

Several Groupies just had a mini-meet at Macaroni Grill in Greensboro this afternoon, and a good time was had by all! We caught up on Disney trips, cruises, and movies among other topics (I mean, really, who needs more than talking about Disney, anyway?). To be sure, we need more of these. Eliza, we missed you! Anyway, here's a pic of the happy gang minus yours truly who took the faintly blurry picture. Slainte!

 

[horselover]

I received our "Incredibles" package for our May trip. I have to be honest, I haven't kept up with anything regarding the wrist bands, MyMagic+, FP+ or anything else. I feel like we are way out of the loop but fortunately we don't tend to worry as much about specific attractions or restaurants as we used to.

Still, I'm thinking I should try to figure some of this stuff out. Some of it looks like you have to have tickets or an AP before they'll let you do certain things? We are buying an AP during our May trip so I guess we can't do anything that requires that prior to leaving.

Ah...just another piece of technology leaving me in the dust.

As Bobbi said you have to have either the ticket or AP or a voucher that you link to your My Disney Experience account in order to reserve your FP+'s. But after first using it in Oct I decided to do a little test during Dec and the majority of our days I did not do the FP+ reservations until the night before and really did not have any issues in getting what we wanted. We also switched around a few things on the day of and only had a couple of times we couldn't switch. So unless something drastically changes I think you'll be ok with buying onsite and then setting them up if you choose to. Nothing else requires the tickets to be linked though.

Hi Granny. As Kat & Bobbi said you do need the ticket linked ahead of time in order to make FP+ reservations. But, like Kathy I also was able to make FP+ reservations during our Christmas trip (and Oct. too) either the night before or in some case the morning of for whatever park we decided to go to for that day. For May I wouldn't worry too much. It's a slow time any way. Once you get your AP just link it to your band & start playing around with making your reservations. I think people are stressing far too much thinking they need to make their FP+ reservations 60 days out or they won't get anything. It may change a little once they remove the paper FP machines but I still think it will be ok.

Several Groupies just had a mini-meet at Macaroni Grill in Greensboro this afternoon, and a good time was had by all! We caught up on Disney trips, cruises, and movies among other topics (I mean, really, who needs more than talking about Disney, anyway?). To be sure, we need more of these. Eliza, we missed you! Anyway, here's a pic of the happy gang minus yours truly who took the faintly blurry picture. Slainte!

Very nice! I recognize, Jimmy, Tammy, Casey, & Luv. Not sure about the rest. Maybe Muushka & Mr. Muushka standing? Can we get a roll call?

 

[DiznyDi]

Several Groupies just had a mini-meet at Macaroni Grill in Greensboro this afternoon, and a good time was had by all! We caught up on Disney trips, cruises, and movies among other topics (I mean, really, who needs more than talking about Disney, anyway?). To be sure, we need more of these. Eliza, we missed you! Anyway, here's a pic of the happy gang minus yours truly who took the faintly blurry picture. Slainte!

Looks like you all had great fun! Would love to have been able to join in. A 14 hr road trip is a bit on the 'not going to happen' side on a cold winters day!
Everyone looks terrific! Jimmy, Tammy, Casey, Mr. Muush, Muush, Will, Liz and Luv - you too, Sleepy.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Love the photo Sleepydog! Glad you all had fun!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[bobbiwoz]

What a nice picture of a fun time!

 

[jimmytammy]

We had a great time!! Always fun catching up with groupies, talking Disney, life stuff, more Disney, VWL and DVC sprinkled throughout, with a Moose Dusting of Cruising thrown in. Our waiter came back to the table and asked whats the deal with all the Disney Visas, he was intrigued and began to share his love of Disney too. Its contagious folks!!

 

[Granny]

I do think you need the hard ticket, or the promise of a ticket like a voucher, to be able to get FP+ times. DH & I are very happy with this new system because we have been able to spend just a few hours in a park and get to do the 3-5 things we really enjoy. If you have ADR's in the system and you pick rides you want FP+'s for, the system lets you pick times for the rides around your meal. Also, even in busy December times, we were able to get FP+'s for rides we wanted the day before. This is great because we didn't have to get to DHS at rope drop to get something for TSMM, we could get to the park at 3, for a 3:15 ride time! Yeah!

Relax...I think May is not a particularly busy time, and I think things will work out!

Bobbi

Bobbi...thanks so much for the information. I think FP+ will work great for DW and I too since we really don't do a lot of attractions and don't wait in lines longer than 20 minutes or so. I know that early May is a less crowded time so I wasn't really worried about it, other than wondering if people who don't use FP+ are left out in the cold for Fast Passes in the parks. I know at Universal that if you don't have front of the line priviliges or have purchased a FOTL pass book, you are pretty much out of luck at snagging any FOTL passes at all for that day within 2 hours of the park opening.

As Bobbi said you have to have either the ticket or AP or a voucher that you link to your My Disney Experience account in order to reserve your FP+'s. But after first using it in Oct I decided to do a little test during Dec and the majority of our days I did not do the FP+ reservations until the night before and really did not have any issues in getting what we wanted. We also switched around a few things on the day of and only had a couple of times we couldn't switch. So unless something drastically changes I think you'll be ok with buying onsite and then setting them up if you choose to. Nothing else requires the tickets to be linked though.

Kathy...thanks for the great information as well, and comforting to hear that we may still be able to use the FP+ after we get there. So do the FP+'s execute through the wrist bands too? The technology is all very cool but I always feel like I'm behind the curve!

Hi Granny. As Kat & Bobbi said you do need the ticket linked ahead of time in order to make FP+ reservations. But, like Kathy I also was able to make FP+ reservations during our Christmas trip (and Oct. too) either the night before or in some case the morning of for whatever park we decided to go to for that day. For May I wouldn't worry too much. It's a slow time any way. Once you get your AP just link it to your band & start playing around with making your reservations. I think people are stressing far too much thinking they need to make their FP+ reservations 60 days out or they won't get anything. It may change a little once they remove the paper FP machines but I still think it will be ok.

Julie...thanks also for more great input on this. I am not stressing really...DW and I could spend 10 days at WDW and do very few attractions and be okay with it. But we just didn't want to show up and find out that we had messed up by not doing something simple on line. Sounds like we can't do much (other than ADRs which we also tend to avoid) until we get there.

I didn't know they were killing off the paper FP machines. So on line will be the only way to get FPs in the future? Or do you mean they will replace the paper machines with wrist band FP machines?

I hope these wrist bands work better than the old paper AP's. We have had to change out our APs an average of 2-3 times each year as they stop working. De-magnetized? I don't know but Guest Services says that swapping out APs is one of their most common tasks. Hoping the wrist band works better.

 

[eliza61]

Oh Bobbi, sorry I missed your birthday. Glad to hear you had a wonderful day.

JT, Muush and sleepy25, Sorry I couldn't make the meet. Can't wait for the summer time meet, I'm so there.

 

[eliza61]

Ok, the weather around most of the nation has been brutual. Here in the Northeast, mother nature seems to be in the middle of psychotic menopausal throw down. We had 8 inches of snow friday, this morning it was 59 degrees and by this evenings rush we're supposed to drop down to the teens.

So let's see those pictures of "sunshine". Only one rule, must be wdw related.
Sunny day at the pool, bright blue skies over the castle, flowers from a flower and garden festival. Bring em on.





My home resort is actuall the Beach club (sssh, don't tell anyone. lol)

 

[bobbiwoz]

Oh Bobbi, sorry I missed your birthday. Glad to hear you had a wonderful day.

JT, Muush and sleepy25, Sorry I couldn't make the meet. Can't wait for the summer time meet, I'm so there.

Thank you for saying that. Yes, I have enjoyed my birthday celebration, and it continues as I hear from others! Soon, Meriweather and I will be meeting at WDW!We share January as our birth month, & sharing a meal together in January seems to be becoming a tradition! We have an ADR at Le Cellier!

Like so many places, we are experiencing very cold here in Ohio! Looking forward to our January get away. We usually have been in WDW for NYE and beyond, but this year, I gifted that reservation to my DSis! She is enjoying FL right now!

 

[DiznyDi]

It is indeed cold in Ohio! Absolutely all area schools and public buildings are closed today. Schools have already announced closure for tomorrow. DDad still has to work. I have no plans to leave the house today. A pot of soup and fresh baked bread is on todays menu.

Bobbi - you show Washington Township OH as your place of residence. We live in Homeworth OH also in Washington Township. Is it possible we live near one another?

Love your idea of sunny pictures Eliza. Here's my offering. Sure would be nice to be there right now!

 

[DiznyDi]

Anyone else making their early December 2014 reservations yet? We expect to be at VWL Dec 4-13. I booked Dec. 4-10 yesterday and will need to add the remaining days in the next day or two.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Ok, the weather around most of the nation has been brutual. Here in the Northeast, mother nature seems to be in the middle of psychotic menopausal throw down. We had 8 inches of snow friday, this morning it was 59 degrees and by this evenings rush we're supposed to drop down to the teens.

So let's see those pictures of "sunshine". Only one rule, must be wdw related.
Sunny day at the pool, bright blue skies over the castle, flowers from a flower and garden festival. Bring em on.





My home resort is actuall the Beach club (sssh, don't tell anyone. lol)

Thank you so much for these pictures eliza61. For our May trip we are staying 3 nights at BC and then moving over for 7 nights at VWL so these pictures are exactly what I was hoping to see . I can't wait to get to Sunny Florida in May.

We are in the Midwest (Illinois) and will have temps reaching a high of -12, yes that was negative 12 as the high. My poor DH has to work today, he is a telephone repairman that works outside (hopefully his boss is smart enough and won't let any of the guys go out in it, instead have a free day at the garage). I have to work too, I work in retail but for some wonderful reason (being sarcastic), my company thinks that people will be out and about today . I'm just hoping that no one will show up and we will close up shop early....both girls are home from school today which they are ecstatic about because they were suppose to go back to school today, so that will give them one more full day to play with their Disney Infinity that they got for Christmas. I hope everyone stays warm today and when I get a chance I will post some of my own pictures of the sunny days at Disney .

 

[eliza61]

Thank you for saying that. Yes, I have enjoyed my birthday celebration, and it continues as I hear from others! Soon, Meriweather and I will be meeting at WDW!We share January as our birth month, & sharing a meal together in January seems to be becoming a tradition! We have an ADR at Le Cellier!

Like so many places, we are experiencing very cold here in Ohio! Looking forward to our January get away. We usually have been in WDW for NYE and beyond, but this year, I gifted that reservation to my DSis! She is enjoying FL right now!

It is indeed cold in Ohio! Absolutely all area schools and public buildings are closed today. Schools have already announced closure for tomorrow. DDad still has to work. I have no plans to leave the house today. A pot of soup and fresh baked bread is on todays menu.

Bobbi - you show Washington Township OH as your place of residence. We live in Homeworth OH also in Washington Township. Is it possible we live near one another?

Love your idea of sunny pictures Eliza. Here's my offering. Sure would be nice to be there right now!

Sid, the squid got the last flight back to Cincinnati last night. He was supposed to pull out of philly at 3 but due to weather delays didn't leave until almost midnight.

Classes start today but he just texted saying the high was only about 2 degrees

 

[sleepydog25]

Anyone else making their early December 2014 reservations yet? We expect to be at VWL Dec 4-13. I booked Dec. 4-10 yesterday and will need to add the remaining days in the next day or two.

We wanted to, but with two trips already planned (Aug & Sep, details to come), it's not looking good until maybe 2015.

Even as far south as Virginia, we're bracing for frigid temps: -7 overnight tonight with windchill around -30. We do live in the mountains, so that's not helping, either. Stay warm, friends!

 

[Muushka]

Keep warm everyone!

I love those summer pictures. Warms my furry little heart.

Eliza, for our summer Groupie meet, let us know when and where and we are on it!

We had a great meet. It was a great way to see 2014 begin. Looking forward to our next!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Kathy...thanks for the great information as well, and comforting to hear that we may still be able to use the FP+ after we get there. So do the FP+'s execute through the wrist bands too? The technology is all very cool but I always feel like I'm behind the curve!

Yes - you book your FP+ online or thru the phone app and each attraction with FP lines now has the electronic scanners at the FP entries where you use your band. If Mickey turns green they'll let you in. And there are more FP attractions that have been added - mostly attractions that never needed them and still don't.

Speaking of which - I'm apparently having some sort of stress caused by the glowing green Mickey Head. I had a dream 2 nights ago that he would whirl around and then turn yellow and no one would let me in to the ride!

I didn't know they were killing off the paper FP machines. So on line will be the only way to get FPs in the future? Or do you mean they will replace the paper machines with wrist band FP machines?

I hope these wrist bands work better than the old paper AP's. We have had to change out our APs an average of 2-3 times each year as they stop working. De-magnetized? I don't know but Guest Services says that swapping out APs is one of their most common tasks. Hoping the wrist band works better.

The paper FP's will be a thing for Yesterland to report on - they'll all be gone. As I understand it they already are completely out of AK. There won't be a physical FP anymore - just a "reservation" you've done. The proof to the CM that you have the reservation is thru using the Magic band at the FP entrance and hopefully getting a Green Mickey.

You still get paper AP's and need them to get any discounts otherwise your Magic Band is simply accessing the info that you are an AP holder and again - you would get a Green Mickey Head saying you can go into the park. But currently you get a new Magic Band for every reservation and in theory they would all work unless you deactivated them from your account. Actual use may vary - I've had fine luck at some resorts and then things like no bands working at the resort or every band except the one that was sent to me for the specific reservation work. The only thing that has always worked is to get into the park.

My poor DH has to work today, he is a telephone repairman that works outside

Cool PoohsFan - I'm in the Telco industry. The repair guys are going out as little as possible in MN today. Some story of -20 real temp and -45 to -50 windchill. All I'll say is that Nevada is apparently one of the places in the country to be - predicted high of 50 today.

Anyone else making their early December 2014 reservations yet? We expect to be at VWL Dec 4-13. I booked Dec. 4-10 yesterday and will need to add the remaining days in the next day or two.

Yep! Reserved Dec 4-11th yesterday which will finish out my AP. And at VWL so maybe we could plan a meet that just requires taking the elevator down to the lobby!

However I apparently have an oddball convention thrown in at the CR in November which is messing up my plans a bit. Still hopeful to get the Dec trip in though.

And finally - some sun!

And what's more sunny than California!

 

[sleepydog25]

Has gone from 34F this morning to 16F this afternoon. . .and still dropping. Still, our temps won't be as bad as many of you farther north. So, on with the Warm Disney Picture Show (thanks, eliza!):







Stay warm!!

 

[Granny]

LOVING the sunshine photos, everyone! Great idea Eliza!