What I learned today!

[jamieguffey]

If you have read any of my other posts you know that my plan is to try to find out one tip every day between now and the start of our vacation on August 22nd. I decided I would document this stuff so that maybe if there is another newbie out there I might be able to actually help someone and contribute to the board rather than just taking info away from it. Also, if my information is incorrect or less than completely accurate you guys can set me straight.



So here goes t-minus 71 days and counting:

Thanks to allears.net I learned that the 10 day advanced check in option is the mouse's ear. Apparently once you get within 10 days of your scheduled arrival you can go to disneys reservation page and check in to your hotel. You even get to try to request certain room features (location) then when you get to your resort you skip right over an actual check in, you don't wait in line you just go to the counter and get your papers and keys and off you go. I also read that if your room isn't ready you can give them your cell number and they will text you when it is!

The reviews were outstanding on this one so unless I hear other wise i am hooking it up first thing on 8/12/09.

bjscheel brought up a good point I am probably going to run out of room so to make it more reader friendly I will just use this post as an index. So here goes:

T Minus 70 Days - Tip on Ponchos
T Minus 69 Days - Tip on Fastpass
T Minus 68 Days - Tip on Guidebooks
T Minus 67 Days - Tip on Touringplans
T Minus 66 Days - Tip on What it all means
T Minus 65 Days - Tip on Lines
T Minus 64 Days - Tip on Scary Rides and the Kids
T Minus 63 Days - Tip on the Ride Height Dilema
T Minus 62 Days - Tip on Sunscreen
T Minus 61 Days - Tip on the end of day
T Minus 60 Days - Tip on staying hydrated
T Minus 59 Days - Tip on finding a lost child
T Minus 58 Days - Tip on getting stuff you need
T Minus 57 Days - Tip on getting your photos home
T Minus 56 Days - Tip on getting supplies
T Minus 55 Days - Tip on kids and castmembers
T Minus 54 Days - Tip on packing
T Minus 53 Days - Tip on weather around the world
T Minus 52 Days - Tip on room ready text alert
T Minus 51 Days - Tip on EWP
T Minus 50 Days - Article on Mistakes Made
T Minus 49 Days - Tip on learning your way around
T Minus 48 Days - Link to Photopass Guide
T Minus 47 Days - Tip on Disney Transportation Routes
T Minus 46 Days - Tip on Epcot with Preschoolers
T Minus 45 Days - Link to MK Touring Video
T Minus 44 Days - Tip on PhotoCD Sharing
T Minus 42 Days - Tip on Keeping Important Phone Numbers
T Minus 41 Days - Tip on Smoke at Illuminations
T Minus 40 Days - Tip on Verifying Your Info.
T Minus 39 Days - Tip on the Disney Dining Plan
T Minus 38 Days - Another Tip on Disney Transportation
T Minus 37 Days - Tip on youtube as a resource
T Minus 36 Days - Tip on the second most common mistake newbies make. Overplanning
T Minus 5 Weeks (35 Days) - Character Meet and Greet Article
T Minus 34 Days - Tip on Customized Maps
T Minus 33 Days - Tip on Telling your friends about Disney
T Minus 32 Days - Tip on Extra Magic Hours
T Minus 31 Days - Tip on Picnic in the Park
T Minus 30 Days - Tip on Picking a Resort
T Minus 29 Days - Tip on ADR's
T Minus 28 Days - A Couple of Dining Plan Thoughts
T Minus 27 Days - Tip on Magical Express
T Minus 26 Days - Tip on Departure Day
T Minus 25 Days - Tip on Room Organization
T Minus 24 Days - Tip on Airport Security
T Minus 23 Days - Tip on Room Keys
T Minus 22 Days - Tip on ADR Numbers
T Minus 21 Days - Tip on a surprise opportunity
T Minus 20 Days - Tip on DizneyMikes Epcot Blogs
T Minus 19 Days - Tip on stitchkingdoms refurb tool
T Minus 18 Days - Tip on my favorite restaurant locator
T Minus 17 Days - Another Keeping the Magic Alive Tip
T Minus 16 Days - Another Magical Express Tip
T Minus 15 Days - Top 10 Tips from a Disney Mom
T Minus 14 Days - Disney Should NOT be Home away from home!
T Minus 13 Days - Tip on the Disney Pre Arrival Guide
T Minus 12 Days - Tip on another picture you need to take
T Minus 11 Days - Tip on Late Night ADR's
T Minus 10 Days - Tip on Seeing the Doc (not the Dwarf) if your sick
T Minus 9 Days - Tip on Online Check In
T Minus 8 Days - Tip on tweeting from the world
T Minus 7 Days - Tip on created index to all the other tips
T Minus 6 Days - Just a reminder on why it is so important to plan early.
T Minus 5 Days - Tip on 180 Day ADR's are coming back
T Minus 4 Days - Tip on Centralized Fastpass System
T Minus 3 Days - Tip on SCHEDULE CHANGES
T Minus 2 Days - Credits
T Minus 23 Hours - THANK YOU!

 

[loritemp]

Just had to say I find it ridiculously cute that you are doing a tip of the day!!! Looking forward to 'em!

 

[FirstTimeDisneyDad]

Ok - I'm in

No suggestions, right? You are going to track down the best of the best yourself?

 

[Ktharee]

Thanks for posting! But what about if you have the dining plan. Someone reported either you couldn't do the advanced check in OR there was a major problem with her dining plan because of it. Anyone know?

 

[CarolAnnB]

I just did the online checkin today It worked fine for me. The only thing you can request, however, is a pack 'n play crib and refrigerator, not locations. If you want to request a certain location, you should call reservations before you do the online checkin. They can put it in for you.

 

[pipermae]

Thanks for posting! But what about if you have the dining plan. Someone reported either you couldn't do the advanced check in OR there was a major problem with her dining plan because of it. Anyone know?

I had the dining plan and I was able to check in online (just got back yesterday at 3 am). Any issues that come up when you get there can be easily fixed at any guest service at the hotel and any of the parks.

 

[la79al]

I don't know how well the online check-in actually works but on our last trip we were the fourth people in regular line and online check-in line had no one in it. I just stood there doing one of those 'd'oh, why didn't I just log on and do it.....'

 

[NJ2Boardwalk]

I have a question....is there a separate registrar for online check in? I can't see how just because you did online check in you can walk up to the desk and collect your papers. You still have to place a credit card for purchasing and collect keys, etc. I would be mad if I was waiting on line to see the "next available agent" and somone cut me to pick up papers. Anyone know??

 

[sueh]

I have a question....is there a separate registrar for online check in? I can't see how just because you did online check in you can walk up to the desk and collect your papers. You still have to place a credit card for purchasing and collect keys, etc. I would be mad if I was waiting on line to see the "next available agent" and somone cut me to pick up papers. Anyone know??

I haven't done this yet but from what I have been reading there is a seperate line for online check-in. I believe that if you do online checkin that is where you enter your credit card number for charging privledges. When you arrive you go into the seperate line and your paperwork has already been printed and if your room is ready it is assigned as well.

 

[M5ward]

I think you submit the credit card info during the online check-in process. You are given your room keys as part of the packet when you go to the online check-in desk at the resort.

 

[jamieguffey]

Just had to say I find it ridiculously cute that you are doing a tip of the day!!! Looking forward to 'em!

Actually it is a veiled excuse to ask more questions in a passive aggressive type way. I cover them as a tip and then let the vets tell me what I want to know.


70 To Go

Apparently, It rains just about everyday at some point in central florida. Every book, site, and forum I visit has a whole section on ponchos. The best advice I found was on the Disney Moms I think...Buy your ponchos before hand. Go to the dollar store or some sort of discount store. Get several disposable ones that are of a color not normally used.

Yellow, Clear, and Red "seem" to be the easiest to find. As a result, when it starts to rain no one has a head or a face anymore they are all the same color garbage bags running around.

This is especially a problem if you have a 3 and a 4 year old that are easily distracted. What just moments before was not a big deal for either of you is now a possible serious issue.

If however, they have a bright green poncho that stands out they may now actually be easier to find than the would have been otherwise.

Disposable for two reasons

1. Because who wants to deal with trying to maintain a wet garbage bag for a week straight. Although I am torn on this one. do I really just create trash for the sake of not having to hang up my poncho when I get back to the resort?
2. Space is a big issue and those things are like maps. Once you unfold them the first time they never go back the way they were and now you have to find a spot for it in your fanny pack?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Dollar Store ponchos are SUPER thin. Thinner than a trash bag. And if the wind is blowing it becomes a huge challenge to wrangle the poncho into place and keep it there. We bought WDW ponchos last year and will use those from now on. I will probably carry the disposable ones as back-ups, but they are really only good in a pinch.

 

[Alesia]

We bought ponchos, but never used them. They're kind of a pain. We all decided that we'd rather just get wet.

 

[jeanneg4of4]

Did the pre resort check in at WDW in march. All of my requests were already noted and I could see them on line. I had the Dinning plan and had no problem with it. There is a separate line for pre registered guest. It was amazingly fast. No one else in line even though it was 1pm and the regular line was BUSY. It probably would have taken less than 2-3 min. since everything is there waiting for you.They just confirm the information and off you go. It did take us a few more minutes because we wanted a specific room area so she had to go make different arrangements. It still only took less than 10 min.

 

[DianaLeslie]

Keep posting the tip (aka questions).

Ds and I go the week before you and I've never stayed at the park(s) before.

(I planned online check in and ponchos are purchased.)

Is it sad that with 64 days to go excluding bandaids and some snack foods I think I have pretty much everything picked up already?

 

[Alesia]

Keep posting the tip (aka questions).

Ds and I go the week before you and I've never stayed at the park(s) before.

(I planned online check in and ponchos are purchased.)

Is it sad that with 64 days to go excluding bandaids and some snack foods I think I have pretty much everything picked up already?

Oh, Honey!

I was completely packed by then!

 

[disgram]

I am starting to pack now and we don't leave til the 25th of August!!!

 

[mlittig]

Thanks for doing this I will be checking in regularly.

 

[DianaLeslie]

Okay see that actually makes me feel much better.


I have friends that are going at the same time Ds and I are. And of the 3 of them (all adults), only one is prepping along with me.

She and I are joking that the other two will turn around at some time on this trip and say "I forgot . . . " and we'll be able to just whip it out. (We might even hold back on saying "I told you so". Might.)

 

[Dremwvr]

What a great idea!! I'm on board.

Oly question I have for you is....I leave in 130 days, can you keep going with the tips?? These so far are good stuff. I had no clue about the online check in. Now I've got to create a pre-trip check list.

About the poncho, I have yet to ever travel to any disney park and feel the need for any poncho. I really don't like how big and bulky they are. However since we are traveling at the end of Hurricane season, this time around something is needed. Before we go we are buying Frogg Toggs - Driducks. They are a little more expensive but they don't look like a trash bag, are made of material instead of plastic, and definitely reusable.