What I learned today!

[jamieguffey]

DS is 4 years old gonna be 5 in December. That means this time next year I won't be doing a tip of the day for disney I will be on some forum for broken hearted parents whose babies are starting kindergarten. As a result, the wife and I are mulling over an early spring return to the world...I know we haven't even gone the first time yet, but if we like it it will be our last chance before school schedules start getting in the way of mommy and daddy's vacation plans.

As I was browsing around the wdwinfo site. I ran across the transportation page. You guys have calmed my nerves on the bus thing but I saw a little tip that I might use for the what I learned today in the spring (it certainly won't be 90 days of them though). The parks close much earlier in the winter/spring than they do in the summer. The "tip" is that as a result, you need to be aware of the fact that a 9:30pm ADR at the California Grill will require a much different set of transportation plans when the parks are closed at 7pm. No big deal if you are at a monorail resort but it certainly can be if you are at the values. The parks are no longer a hub. So if you are a newbie and getting ready to make your November ADR's keep it in mind!

 

[jamieguffey]

Okay well it is 10 days to lift off but it is 11 days before check in so I will chronicle the advanced check in experience tomorrow!
Well we found out yesterday that DS has strep throat. The good news is we are 10 days out so the antibiotic should be all but gone by the time we leave. The bad news is DD doesn't have it yet and will likely acquire it before we leave. Give it a day or two to show itself and we will be getting right into it next week. Being the eternal optimist that I am it is all going work out perfectly but it did get me thinking. What happens if we do have an issue while we are down there.

We will be without transportation so what do we do? Well we have a couple of options. 1. Get a cab or shuttle service and visit one of the urgent care facilities or 2. Have a Doctor come to the room. According to allears.net they have Doctors who can come to the room. If a prescription is necessary they will phone it in to the pharmacy(Turner Drug I think). The pharmacy will deliver the medicine to the room for a minimal fee. All of which can be billed to the room. There is nothing like convenience in the midst of an inconvenience.

Note the article I found this information in was dated 2004 so I am hoping one of the vets (alesia) will weigh in if this is no longer an option.
See article here: http://allears.net/ae/issue231.htm

 

[gonesaleing]

Kids get sick, that's just the way it is. Get your child on Zithromax for 5 days and she will be right as rain. Tell your pediatrician what you are doing and if you think that your other child is getting sick while you are there, call your dr. at home and ask them to send the script to a local pharmacy.

I would also invest in earplanes for both kids. If they are sick or starting to get sick, the change in air pressure is killer on their eustacian tubes. And give them gummie worms to chew on the plane as well.

You and you wife should build up your immune systems with zinc and vitamin C, just to ward off any illness. And bring chlorox wipes with you to sterilize your hotel room during your trip.

 

[MHSweb79]

Your best bet is to definitely try to address your DD's (non-existent) strep throat before you leave!
My sister & brother-in-law had to call a doctor to their room at the POFQ for my niece who had actually gotten heat stroke at Hollywood Studios. I believe it cost them several HUNDRED dollars for the visit. I don't recall the exact $$ but it was a kind of amount. (I'm thinking $700 but that can't be right. It was up there, though.)
Anyway the concierge can help you get a cab to an urgent care, or you can ask your pediatrician for a prescription before you leave.
I like your spring trip idea. We did take our DD out of 1st grade for a week but that was the last time we were able to take her out of school. Just to show you full cycle, she's moving to college on Sept. 6 this year and we head out to WDW for our anniversary on Sept. 11 for an adults-only trip. (Yes, "you've just sent your only daughter to college and now what are you going to do?" "WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!" )

 

[kiranic]

Love your thread...just found it!!! This is a great way to count down to your trip and help others! Thank you!!!

 

[BeachClubDad]

Agreed - awesome thread!!

 

[gonesaleing]

The best tip I ever got was to ship down food from home via UPS. We box up all of our non perishables and ship them to the resort a few days ahead. This year I am going to send my toiletries as well, since we are going to try to get away with only carry-on luggage for the plane ride. We send our package down with our name and reservation number and when we arrive, it's brought to our room. Easy peezy. We then purchase perishables at Albertsons on our way to the resort via towncar.

We stay at a villa (not DVC members) and I cook every day...yes, you read that right, I cook on vacation. I don't mind and I like the flexibility. We are not big 'out to dinner' people and I can't bear the constraint of having to rush around or schedule our plans around a lunch or dinner reservation. My husband says that he doesn't want this vacation to be all about food. If we want a nice dinner out, we can go to NYC for that.

Price point, for $140 plus a pantry delivery from home, I can feed my family three square meals a day for a week. This allows me to spend more of my budget on the resort (BLT this trip). My kids are teenagers and we like our down time. I couldn't bear spending a entire week in just one room. Again, it's all what you prefer.

Another thought, BLT has sliding doors, not hanging ones so the over the door hangers for toiletries won't work. I bought those 3M hangers that don't mark the wall to hang it on instead.

Lastly, do all your due dilgence up front. Do your research, review every website and tentatively plan out your days. Then, once you are there, let it all fly out the window.

 

[javamoma]

Okay well it is 10 days to lift off but it is 11 days before check in so I will chronicle the advanced check in experience tomorrow!
Well we found out yesterday that DS has strep throat. The good news is we are 10 days out so the antibiotic should be all but gone by the time we leave. The bad news is DD doesn't have it yet and will likely acquire it before we leave. Give it a day or two to show itself and we will be getting right into it next week. Being the eternal optimist that I am it is all going work out perfectly but it did get me thinking. What happens if we do have an issue while we are down there.

We will be without transportation so what do we do? Well we have a couple of options. 1. Get a cab or shuttle service and visit one of the urgent care facilities or 2. Have a Doctor come to the room. According to allears.net they have Doctors who can come to the room. If a prescription is necessary they will phone it in to the pharmacy(Turner Drug I think). The pharmacy will deliver the medicine to the room for a minimal fee. All of which can be billed to the room. There is nothing like convenience in the midst of an inconvenience.

Note the article I found this information in was dated 2004 so I am hoping one of the vets (alesia) will weigh in if this is no longer an option.
See article here: http://allears.net/ae/issue231.htm

I had strep throat the first time we went to WDW when I was 7. It was suppose to be a 24 hour bug so the MD told us to go ahead and leave for vacation. 24 hours later my fever was up to 103. Emergency care worked great for us. Plus we were in communication with the MD back home. My mom and dad took turns taking my sister to the park while the other stayed at the hotel with me. I did manage to get 2 days at the park and have wonderful memories from it. I think my parent's memories are more tramatic since they had a sick child with a high fever. But I thought the trip was fun in spite of my illness!

 

[YesMickey]

Okay well it is 10 days to lift off but it is 11 days before check in so I will chronicle the advanced check in experience tomorrow!
Well we found out yesterday that DS has strep throat. The good news is we are 10 days out so the antibiotic should be all but gone by the time we leave. The bad news is DD doesn't have it yet and will likely acquire it before we leave. Give it a day or two to show itself and we will be getting right into it next week. Being the eternal optimist that I am it is all going work out perfectly but it did get me thinking. What happens if we do have an issue while we are down there.

We will be without transportation so what do we do? Well we have a couple of options. 1. Get a cab or shuttle service and visit one of the urgent care facilities or 2. Have a Doctor come to the room. According to allears.net they have Doctors who can come to the room. If a prescription is necessary they will phone it in to the pharmacy(Turner Drug I think). The pharmacy will deliver the medicine to the room for a minimal fee. All of which can be billed to the room. There is nothing like convenience in the midst of an inconvenience.

Note the article I found this information in was dated 2004 so I am hoping one of the vets (alesia) will weigh in if this is no longer an option.
See article here: http://allears.net/ae/issue231.htm

Don't do like I did and panic if someone gets very sick. We went Feb. 08, My daughter was basically getting over the flu, my wife was getting it, and my son and me were fine. At the end of the 2nd night of 5, (Super Bowl Sunday), my son began coughing horribly, (he spent a week in the hospital a few years back) and had a 103 temp in the A.M. So I paniced, went to concierge at POFQ, got my plane tickets changed and we were home by 3pm, and in the Peds. office the next morning. He had the flu, gave him tamiflu and was better in 24hrs. We still would have had two nights left. While I was looking at my paperwork from the trip, I noticed on my Resort flyer, there is a local Urgent Care type Center that is local and will come pick resort guest up, and bring you back to the resort. We could have done that, laid off the parks for a day or so and still had our vacation. So when you get to your resort, if you are staying on property, read the resort handout you get in your check in folder and it has all types of tips including that one. Have Fun

 

[mechteach]

The best tip I ever got was to ship down food from home via UPS. We box up all of our non perishables and ship them to the resort a few days ahead. This year I am going to send my toiletries as well, since we are going to try to get away with only carry-on luggage for the plane ride. We send our package down with our name and reservation number and when we arrive, it's brought to our room. Easy peezy. We then purchase perishables at Albertsons on our way to the resort via towncar.

I thoroughly second this recommendation. Last December I sent down a huge box with cereal, bagels, PB, a loaf of bread, a small Christmas tree, ornaments, lights, small Christmas presents, etc. for $22. I don't know if this is true at all resorts, but I sent our box via UPS and it was delivered to our room the same day. My mom sent a box via the USPS two days *before* I sent my UPS box, and it took the WL until two days after we arrived to locate it and send it to her room.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was really tight on space in our suitcases last year going down, so I knew it would be even tighter going back. I got a couple of Priority flat rate priority mailing boxes from the post office and bought stamps for them. Since they are flat rate, it doesn't matter what the box weighs. I had them preaddressed to me. On that last morning when I couldn't make it all fit, it was so nice to be able to shove some things into the boxes and drop them off at the front desk of the hotel.

 

[chell]

Anyway the concierge can help you get a cab to an urgent care, or you can ask your pediatrician for a prescription before you leave.

I know someone else suggested this as well, that is what I would do to be on the safe side. You may want to have some on hand for the adults as well. Every single time I fly I get bronchitis. Last year was our Honeymoon and I really, really didn't want to get sick so I asked for some antibiotics before we left. It was great to not get sick after flying.

Be prepared! Also buy any meds you and your children might need since you have one who has been sick. I'd rather take them down than have to try to get them once there. You can take meds on in your carry-on in a separate baggy.

 

[Dancing Queen]

Okay well it is 10 days to lift off but it is 11 days before check in so I will chronicle the advanced check in experience tomorrow!
Well we found out yesterday that DS has strep throat. The good news is we are 10 days out so the antibiotic should be all but gone by the time we leave. The bad news is DD doesn't have it yet and will likely acquire it before we leave. Give it a day or two to show itself and we will be getting right into it next week. Being the eternal optimist that I am it is all going work out perfectly but it did get me thinking. What happens if we do have an issue while we are down there.

We will be without transportation so what do we do? Well we have a couple of options. 1. Get a cab or shuttle service and visit one of the urgent care facilities or 2. Have a Doctor come to the room. According to allears.net they have Doctors who can come to the room. If a prescription is necessary they will phone it in to the pharmacy(Turner Drug I think). The pharmacy will deliver the medicine to the room for a minimal fee. All of which can be billed to the room. There is nothing like convenience in the midst of an inconvenience.

Note the article I found this information in was dated 2004 so I am hoping one of the vets (alesia) will weigh in if this is no longer an option.
See article here: http://allears.net/ae/issue231.htm

What is with everyone getting sick before vacation?

A bad cold is going through my family right now and I am worried that my ds will develop an ear infection while we are down there. We are 7 days out so we will all be well by next week (or all on antibiotics!).

 

[mom2rtk]

Okay well it is 10 days to lift off but it is 11 days before check in so I will chronicle the advanced check in experience tomorrow!
Well we found out yesterday that DS has strep throat. The good news is we are 10 days out so the antibiotic should be all but gone by the time we leave. The bad news is DD doesn't have it yet and will likely acquire it before we leave. Give it a day or two to show itself and we will be getting right into it next week. Being the eternal optimist that I am it is all going work out perfectly but it did get me thinking. What happens if we do have an issue while we are down there.

We will be without transportation so what do we do? Well we have a couple of options. 1. Get a cab or shuttle service and visit one of the urgent care facilities or 2. Have a Doctor come to the room. According to allears.net they have Doctors who can come to the room. If a prescription is necessary they will phone it in to the pharmacy(Turner Drug I think). The pharmacy will deliver the medicine to the room for a minimal fee. All of which can be billed to the room. There is nothing like convenience in the midst of an inconvenience.

Note the article I found this information in was dated 2004 so I am hoping one of the vets (alesia) will weigh in if this is no longer an option.
See article here: http://allears.net/ae/issue231.htm

I would at least call the pediatrician's office. Most these days won't give out an rx without a definitive diagnosis in the office. Watch the day of the week too. If you plan to phone their office but your vacation will encompass a weekend, you know the odds are you will need them on the weekend....

Pack lots of ibuprofen and tylenol. And have a plan. Much better to know now and anticipate than to have it come up while you are gone.

 

[HawkeyeMickey77]

DS is 4 years old gonna be 5 in December. That means this time next year I won't be doing a tip of the day for disney I will be on some forum for broken hearted parents whose babies are starting kindergarten. As a result, the wife and I are mulling over an early spring return to the world...I know we haven't even gone the first time yet, but if we like it it will be our last chance before school schedules start getting in the way of mommy and daddy's vacation plans. QUOTE]

I am so with you on this! I was out this past weekend getting stuff for our trip in a month (b/c I don't want to be rushed & frantic the closer the date gets) and saw everyone shopping for school supplies and got a little misty eyed thinking about my oldest DS who will be going off to kindergarten next fall. I too am hoping if all goes well on this trip maybe we'll get back down before next fall.

Thanks for all the great tips & I look forward to hearing how the trip goes and what suggestions you have after you come back too!

 

[kmartin555]

Great thread! Lots of wonderful info for us first timers!

 

[DianaLeslie]

This time next year Ds and I will be shopping for college supplies.

This is our last, last hurrah before (regular) school starts.

I'd give a lot for him to be just starting kindergarten again.

 

[jamieguffey]

Wow single digits now. We are getting close!

I did the online check in last night and it was extremely straight forward.

Verify Itinerary
Enter the approximate time of arrival if known.
Enter the approximate time of departure if known.
Add the credit card you want the incidentals charged to.
Ask for any special requests.
- To do this there is a little box were you click an add button.
- It only offered me the refrigerator and a pack and play. So I set up for a fridge.
Read and Accept terms and conditions.
Print confirmation

Took all of 2 minutes and one of them was getting my wallet for the credit card.

According to the confirmation paper all we have to do now is go to the online check in desk at the resort and show ID to pick up our Keys to the World.

Since that was so easy I decided to go ahead and look at our airline reservations. We are flying with Airtran. The one thing I didn't have was the confirmation number for the airline. I don't know if I got it at some point and lost it but I didn't have it. I called Disney Travel Company and after a short wait they gave it to me.

Here is where it gets a little silly. I went to the Airtran page and it gave me the opportunity to select our seats. Being as this will be the kids first time flying I wanted to make sure they got a window seat. Apparently, this is a convenience that costs money. It was $6 extra to pre arrange our seating. As you may or may not know I am kind of a big guy so the emergency exit rows are most comfortable for me. IT WAS $20 to pre select a seat in those rows. :wow:

So I am a sucker and I paid the extra $6 per ticket to make sure my kids could look out the window. Note: if you wait until you get to the airport to get a seat assignment there is no charge. We will be rolling pot luck on the flight home!

 

[mechteach]

Here is where it gets a little silly. I went to the Airtran page and it gave me the opportunity to select our seats. Being as this will be the kids first time flying I wanted to make sure they got a window seat. Apparently, this is a convenience that costs money. It was $6 extra to pre arrange our seating. As you may or may not know I am kind of a big guy so the emergency exit rows are most comfortable for me. IT WAS $20 to pre select a seat in those rows. :wow:

So I am a sucker and I paid the extra $6 per ticket to make sure my kids could look out the window. Note: if you wait until you get to the airport to get a seat assignment there is no charge. We will be rolling pot luck on the flight home!

Thanks for the details on the online check-in! I've been curious about that.

With the AirTran seat selection, it's good that you only sprung for the $6. Even though the on-line tool lets you select an exit row seat, if you're traveling with kids (under age 14? I think), they don't let you sit in the exit row, so you would be out an extra $14.

Also, for the return flight, you do NOT have to wait until the airport to select seats. If you do online check-in 24 hours in advance, you can select your seats at that time free of charge.

 

[chell]

What I love about AirTran is that you can upgrade to Business Class for about $50. With children I guess it would get real expensive but it was a nice splurge for us last year. On our flight back home they even upgraded us for free since they were overbooked and needed to make room in the coach section.