Yo ho, yo ho, a bounceback life for me LEAVING TOMORROW 9/12!!!!!!!!!!!

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hmmmm looks like you'll NEED Deluxe to hit a good potion of that!! I'd be very tempted to upgrade to DxDDP just because it's a deal at $30/day... whereas $69.... not so much If I had the free dining it might be the only way I could swallow Dx!!

I did 1900 park faire and boma bfasts.... I loved them both
Boma bfst worked well with early am time then rope drop at AK

We did 1900 PF as a 'brunch' took the latest sitting on a 'sleep in' day then hit MK for a while.... also worked great

I'd recommend either/both of them. If you only do one, I'd pick 1900 PF cause there's characters, GF is gorgeous, and if you go early you can still use MK character bfast bus if ou don't have car/taxi

I'm getting hungry thinking about it

Paula

Hi Paula,

I'm trying to talk Joe into the deluxe plan. He prefers not having more than one ADR as day. Two at the most and only on our anniversary or a special day. I'm confused.

I think you should change your trip from 12-20 to the 13-21! then go to HDDMR on the 20th for John's Bday If not we'll work it somewhere else in there and hopefully you will join us!1 It will be that more fun with a large group!

Hey Jenn,

If we change the trip we will add a day and still go down on the 12th since it's a Saturday. I'd do it in a heartbeat....add a day. Last year Joe was ready to come home after 5 days! I think it was the heat, humidity and the car accident before the trip that did it though.

Nonetheless, we will DEFINTELY celebrate John's birthday. Even if we have to do it early then you guys celebrate again on his actual birthday.

So its only $30 to upgrade to DxDP? I say do it if that is an option. Thats not much if you can stomach eating all that food.

You could also use a couple of them for the signature dining 2 TS meals and do some more "nice" meals right? That might be nice like the Narcoosees and such. I say go for the Deluxe. And then do whatever switchy thing Jenn is talking about above me too!

So does everyone get a bounceback promo or is it just random? We didnt get one. Now I'm not upset because we were not going anyway but I was just curious.

Hi Shawna,

Yep, Jenn calculated that it's like 30 bucks a person, per day to upgrade. The signature dining would be the reason we'd do it, especially since we're hoping to coordinate meals with Jenn. Even though Joe and I are both "Pooh sized" it's hard for us to eat that much while we are on vacation, especially when it is hot and humid outside. Chances are we'll do the upgrade but if my mom and the rest of family do end up going back with us, they may not be able to afford it. We're talking another $800 for them. Decisions, decisions.

We had a bounceback flyer in our room at AKL and my mom had one in their room at CBR. They were two totally different offers. Mine was for deluxe and home away from home reorts (I have it here actually....yeah, I'm that nerdy) and theirs was for value and moderate resorts. Now last year, mom didn't have one in her room, but I made her go and ask about it. They did have it available but she didn't book it! She ended up booking in March 07 for September 07. We were at the Dolphin in Sept 07 so we didn't get the option of a bounceback.

I didn't get one in my ASMu room oct 13-18th. I asked about it at the desk (cause I already knew from the DIS boards it was available) the 1st girl I got knew nothing about it The next day I asked someone else... she walked right over and got me a flyer from the filecabinet and told me to be sure to call before i checked out!! Crazy... you would think if they have a promo, Disney would WANT people to know so they could sell it

Paula

Hi Paula,

I can't believe that the first CM didn't know anything about the bounceback offer! I learned a while back that if I'm SURE about something while I am there (that I learned from the DIS) that I keep asking.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

DH and I were on a business trip since last Tuesday (we both have offices in the Albany area) and had a lot of time together since we drove from Ohio to NY so we had the chance to discuss upgrading to dxdp. I think that if it's just the two of us or the two of us and mom, we'll probably going to do it since I think mom would go for it too. I don't think that we'll do it if all 5 of us go because I think it would be hard on Matt to eat that much . That said, I'm getting my lists together for WITH dxdp and without dxdp. Sheesh.....this is confusing.

Inkedupmomma has some fabulous dining ideas and we'd really like to be able to join them for a few of them.

I am still looking at tours becuase I think that we are going to do one. We don't want to do one that is really long though. I've been reading about them and hope to have one selected by spring. Yeah, it takes me that long sometimes to make up my mind.

In preparation for next year I have also purchased yet another book that I hope will help me take better pictures. Let's face it, I stink at taking pictures. I love photography but for some reason, it just doesn't like me. I'm on a mission though so hopefully I will learn something over the next 10 months.

Side story here, not really Disney related but during this fiasco all that was running through my head was my mental picture of me safe and sound at the Magic Kingdom insted of where I was at the time. While in NY I had to take the train from Albany to NYC for a meeting. The train ride was uneventful and we decided to take a cab to our office since it was raining really hard. On the way back, we were in a hurry to make the train back to Albany so we took the subway. OMG it was NOT a pleasant experience. The subway stopped and myself and two colleagues got on. Well, there was a car that was nearly empty which is unusual so we hopped on that one. Yeah, now I KNOW why it was empty. There was this younger man on the train shouting every obscenity that you can possibly imagine and letting us all know exactly everything that he was prepared to do in order to avoid incarceration. Well, let's just say that every other person on that car was slowly trying to move to the other end of the car. I had not experienced anything quite like that before as this dude was totally out of control. All I kept thinking was "just imagine yourself at the Magic Kingdom, waking down main street, nearing Cindy's castle." I must have told myself that 100 times until we got off of the subway. In the end when the doors opened everyone FLEW out of that car while he kept on yelling at anyone that would listen. . I really enjoy visiting NYC but I'm thinking that I'll stick to cabs from now on.

 

[ILuvCrush]

I am still looking at tours becuase I think that we are going to do one. We don't want to do one that is really long though. I've been reading about them and hope to have one selected by spring. Yeah, it takes me that long sometimes to make up my mind.

The tours are nice

In preparation for next year I have also purchased yet another book that I hope will help me take better pictures. Let's face it, I stink at taking pictures. I love photography but for some reason, it just doesn't like me. I'm on a mission though so hopefully I will learn something over the next 10 months.

You know what works even better??? Take tons of pictures between now and then... you don't need to print them. Take of people and buildings and animals... all different times of the day and weather. Really, practice makes perfect If you take pics just to practice..you can take the same pic over and over with different settings and stuff so you can figure out what works and what doesn't! I wanted to learn to take night pics of a full moon... yep I took probably 150 over 2 nights.... but the result at AK last month, proved to me that it was worth figuring it out!!

Side story here, not really Disney related but during this fiasco all that was running through my head was my mental picture of me safe and sound at the Magic Kingdom insted of where I was at the time. While in NY I had to take the train from Albany to NYC for a meeting. The train ride was uneventful and we decided to take a cab to our office since it was raining really hard. On the way back, we were in a hurry to make the train back to Albany so we took the subway. OMG it was NOT a pleasant experience. The subway stopped and myself and two colleagues got on. Well, there was a car that was nearly empty which is unusual so we hopped on that one. Yeah, now I KNOW why it was empty. There was this younger man on the train shouting every obscenity that you can possibly imagine and letting us all know exactly everything that he was prepared to do in order to avoid incarceration. Well, let's just say that every other person on that car was slowly trying to move to the other end of the car. I had not experienced anything quite like that before as this dude was totally out of control. All I kept thinking was "just imagine yourself at the Magic Kingdom, waking down main street, nearing Cindy's castle." I must have told myself that 100 times until we got off of the subway. In the end when the doors opened everyone FLEW out of that car while he kept on yelling at anyone that would listen. . I really enjoy visiting NYC but I'm thinking that I'll stick to cabs from now on.

 

[earthfaries]

I'm here!!! Your trip sounds so exciting!!! We will be there in Sept. house hunting ~ do you want to meet? That will be so neat!

About your dining choices...Hollywood and Vine is great ~ we really enjoyed it. Boma for breakfast is INCREDIBLE!!! I really think you should do it on your next visit, it's not one of those places you want to put off for years, kinda like BTMRR and Splash ~ you don't know what you're missing!

We ate at Fresh in '03. It was wonderful , very different from everything else in Disney. They have the most incredible , gourmet desserts ~ the creme brulee is the best I've ever had I highly recommend trying Fresh too. Chef Mickey's is fun, you guys would like it. The food's pretty crappy, I would recommend breakfast if eating there.

Anyway ~ can't wait for an update! Talk with you later

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

The tours are nice



You know what works even better??? Take tons of pictures between now and then... you don't need to print them. Take of people and buildings and animals... all different times of the day and weather. Really, practice makes perfect If you take pics just to practice..you can take the same pic over and over with different settings and stuff so you can figure out what works and what doesn't! I wanted to learn to take night pics of a full moon... yep I took probably 150 over 2 nights.... but the result at AK last month, proved to me that it was worth figuring it out!!

Paula,

I am taking your advice and taking pictures of just about everything and anything, especially at night. I am going to carry around a little notebook so that I can write down the settings I use until I learn more about hte camera. DH just bought me another book so I have more reading to do!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I'm here!!! Your trip sounds so exciting!!! We will be there in Sept. house hunting ~ do you want to meet? That will be so neat!

About your dining choices...Hollywood and Vine is great ~ we really enjoyed it. Boma for breakfast is INCREDIBLE!!! I really think you should do it on your next visit, it's not one of those places you want to put off for years, kinda like BTMRR and Splash ~ you don't know what you're missing!

We ate at Fresh in '03. It was wonderful , very different from everything else in Disney. They have the most incredible , gourmet desserts ~ the creme brulee is the best I've ever had I highly recommend trying Fresh too. Chef Mickey's is fun, you guys would like it. The food's pretty crappy, I would recommend breakfast if eating there.

Anyway ~ can't wait for an update! Talk with you later

Hi AMy,

I'd love to meet you and your family in September. Hopefully we will be there at the same time.

We are definitely going to do BOMA for breakfast. I've heard and read so much that I can't see not doing it!!!

I really want to try Fresh. I've wanted to for a few years now and just never did it. I think it's time that we try. DH is game too.

There are just way too many choices!!!

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Sophia,
Just back, and am catching up with everyone! You sound like your plans are coming along nicely!
Will catch up properly later, we are still totally disorganised and jet lagged here - we bought out Disney I'm afraid....this is the first holiday we've never come back with money left! I now need to find places to put everything we bought!
Di x

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hi Sophia,
Just back, and am catching up with everyone! You sound like your plans are coming along nicely!
Will catch up properly later, we are still totally disorganised and jet lagged here - we bought out Disney I'm afraid....this is the first holiday we've never come back with money left! I now need to find places to put everything we bought!
Di x

Di,

Glad to have you back! I can't wait to hear all about your trip. Too funny that you bought out Disney!

I'm getting ready to do an update here too. It's looking like Joe and I are the only ones going next year so I have to plan two trips....one for if the rest of the family goes, and the other if it's just the two of us.

Talk soon!

Sophia

 

[earthfaries]

That's what I'd do in this case. I would make adr's under your name for the 2 of you, and adr's under his name for the other party size. Just make sure to cancel the ones you don't need ~ here on the boards there are threads , esp. in Sept. , where people post their cancellations and adr needs so it would work out fine

Looking forward to that update!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I'm getting ready to put up my Christmas tree, which makes me think about next year's trip to Disney. Why, you ask? Because are tree is a total Disney tree, from top to bottom. I am anxious to put up all of the new ornaments that we brought back last September. DH however is in no mood to help me haul all the stuff out!

I think that my family is afraid to tell me that they are not going to go next September. My nephew told me the other day that his mom told him that they were not going back until 2010 for our 10th anniversary celebration. We are thinking of renewing our vows but after checking into the cost, it may be out of reach for us. So now I am thinking that if they are not going for sure, we are going to upgrade to the deluxe dining plan. There are just too many 2 TS meals that we want to do so we may as well if it will just be the two of us.

I have been browsing the menu's on allearsnet to try and make my decisions. It's hard though, because there are just too many choices.

Still have not decided on a tour...waiting to read other TR's to see what people have done and how they liked it.

Not much to share but I thought I'd at least get myself back to thinking about my planning.

 

[earthfaries]

Yay an update! We started putting our tree up yesterday ~ I just love Christmas, but it is a lot of work
When will you know if the rest of the family is going? Have you talked to your sister? Tell them it's okay, that you just need to know...

I can't wait to hear more! I want an update on your TR too!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Yay an update! We started putting our tree up yesterday ~ I just love Christmas, but it is a lot of work
When will you know if the rest of the family is going? Have you talked to your sister? Tell them it's okay, that you just need to know...

I can't wait to hear more! I want an update on your TR too!!!

Hi Amy,

Well, we got the tree up and the Disney village but no lights or decorations yet on the tree. I will work on that throughout the week.

I've talked to my sister and I'm still getting a non-committed answer. I guess I have til March to plan ADR's so I'm going to plan two sets....on with them, one without them.

Once I get ready for Christmas I'm going to go back to my OCD planning.

The TR is basically done except that I want to post scrapbook pages as I get them done. I think that will take me all winter!

Thanks for reading.

 

[earthfaries]

Hi Amy,

Well, we got the tree up and the Disney village but no lights or decorations yet on the tree. I will work on that throughout the week.

I've talked to my sister and I'm still getting a non-committed answer. I guess I have til March to plan ADR's so I'm going to plan two sets....on with them, one without them.

Once I get ready for Christmas I'm going to go back to my OCD planning.

The TR is basically done except that I want to post scrapbook pages as I get them done. I think that will take me all winter!

Thanks for reading.

I love your scrapbooking ~ you're so good at it! I'm looking forward to seeing how it comes along

Have fun decorating!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

So I did some decorating yesterday. I STILL don't know how to use this dang camera so forgive the picture quality. I really, really, really NEED to take a class before our next trip.

I can't seem to find the ornament that my sister got us for our anniversary last trip. I must have put it in a "safe place" when we returned from our last trip. I have GOT to find it. She went to DTD so many times for that thing. She had it personalized and had to try and get back there to get it. I think she had to go more than once because it wasn't ready the first time. All I know is that I HAVE to find it! Me and my dang safe places....they are killing me!

Anyway, all of the ornaments on the tree are Disney. It took me nearly an entire day to get them on because as I grabbed each one I thought about when I got it, what trip it came from, etc. Such a stroll through our past trips. Makes me want to dive back into planning this next adventure.


Start with the wreath. I didn't want it to get ruined outside so we hung in on two chains from the ceiling. I normally hang my painted windows here. I took one with flash one without since it is lit. Sorry for the quality.

You can kind of see how it is suspended from the ceiling here.

Tried the same dang thing with the tree. Man I need to figure out how to use my freaking camera. Also, I had planned to restring all of my ornaments with clear fishing line or green crochet thread to match the color of the tree so you could not see them. Never got to it.

Some of the ornaments closer up:

Here is a picture of Tink on the top of the tree. Her wings light up and change colors:

If we don't have Tink on top of the tree, this guy sits up there....he's on the left in this picture:

Here is my little Disney village that friends got for us for Christmas a few years back. I have to get DH to hide the cords and stuff but for now, this will work.

And finally......."the girls." I wish I could get more of the princesses but so far, I have only seen these three.

I hope to finish decorating by this weekend. This is really getting me in the mood for diving into next September and planning away.........

 

[macraven]

i have done the keys morning tour at MK.
guests have to be 16 and up for that one.

i really like it, have done it 4 times in the last 4 years.

if you have the disney visa card or the AAA card, you will get a discount.
you have to mention that when you book the tour.


last year i did the seeds tour also at epcot.
by showing my cc, it was $12.40 for that tour.

you have to mention you have the cards for the discount and then show them to the cm when you arrive for the tours.

next year i'll be doing that 7 hour tour of the 3 parks.
i didn't look into it this year when i was there but a year ago when i checked on it, the price was $200 but discounts available like the other tours.
no lunch provide on that backstage tour.

lunch is provided for the mk keys tour.
you order the food when you check in that morning and when you have your break, it will be at columbia harbor house.

the keys tour is one of my favorites. you get a special keys pin that is not sold anywhere. you get lunch included in the tour fee.

there are different morning times for the tours.
i always take the first tour which is at 8:30. i make sure to book it on a morning there are no emh at mk.
when you start at 8:30 and it is empty from people inside the mk, you can get great pictures. you can also hear the tour guide a lot better in case he isn't using the mic system.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Hi Sophia,
You're really set for Christmas! Your tree looks fab! We got more Disney ornaments this trip, so I can't wait to put them up.
Your village looks so sweet! I was keen to get the Cindy's castle light up ornament, but I thought it was just for tea lights. When we saw it it was electric, and I worried about the change in voltage using it over here. I decided to play safe and not get it, I didn't want to blow it up! But I'll probably get it next trip!
I think you're doing the right thing and planning to make 2 sets of ADRs - at least that way you're covered either way, it's always easier to cancel than try to find bookings.
And I'm glad I'm not the only one who forgets all my safe places!
Di x

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

i have done the keys morning tour at MK.
guests have to be 16 and up for that one.

i really like it, have done it 4 times in the last 4 years.

if you have the disney visa card or the AAA card, you will get a discount.
you have to mention that when you book the tour.


last year i did the seeds tour also at epcot.
by showing my cc, it was $12.40 for that tour.

you have to mention you have the cards for the discount and then show them to the cm when you arrive for the tours.

next year i'll be doing that 7 hour tour of the 3 parks.
i didn't look into it this year when i was there but a year ago when i checked on it, the price was $200 but discounts available like the other tours.
no lunch provide on that backstage tour.

lunch is provided for the mk keys tour.
you order the food when you check in that morning and when you have your break, it will be at columbia harbor house.

the keys tour is one of my favorites. you get a special keys pin that is not sold anywhere. you get lunch included in the tour fee.

there are different morning times for the tours.
i always take the first tour which is at 8:30. i make sure to book it on a morning there are no emh at mk.
when you start at 8:30 and it is empty from people inside the mk, you can get great pictures. you can also hear the tour guide a lot better in case he isn't using the mic system.

Thanks for the info on the tours. I think we're going with the KTTK tour next year. We have done the backstage magic tour a couple of times and really enjyed it. You'll have to try it. There are discounts for Visa holders (I believe). There may be AP discounts too but I think that the Visa discount is better.

Hi Sophia,
You're really set for Christmas! Your tree looks fab! We got more Disney ornaments this trip, so I can't wait to put them up.
Your village looks so sweet! I was keen to get the Cindy's castle light up ornament, but I thought it was just for tea lights. When we saw it it was electric, and I worried about the change in voltage using it over here. I decided to play safe and not get it, I didn't want to blow it up! But I'll probably get it next trip!
I think you're doing the right thing and planning to make 2 sets of ADRs - at least that way you're covered either way, it's always easier to cancel than try to find bookings.
And I'm glad I'm not the only one who forgets all my safe places!
Di x

Hi Di,

Mom told me that it is most likely that they will NOT go so I think I am safe with the 2 sets of ADR's. I am still bothered by the fact that they are not joining us (or most likely will not).

I was so happy to get my tree up. I just love Disney ornaments.

And I STILL have not found the ornament from my sister. I am so bummed out............

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Hey everyone,

Well, today has not been a good day for my family.

This morning my mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly. It was such a shock. We live in Ohio and she lived in PA so we were not even there. My MIL was young....63 years old. We still don't know what happened and are hoping to get some answers tomorrow.

Believe it or not the sadness for the day didn't end there. I phoned my dad to let him know and he had just found out that he has cancer. I just don't know what to do.

We are planning a tomorrow (started today) and awaiting the arrival of relatives. Thank God I have a great family support network. Some of my family members are staying at my house to take care of my cats since we left in such a rush. I am thankful that I have them.

All this said, I really, really, really need a pick me up trip to Disney. Too bad it's not in the budget.

Anyway, I am not sure when I will be back to trip planning but I hope to be back on soon ... I need the DIS right now.

 

[Dr_Finkelstein]

Oh Sophia,

What terrible news, so sorry. This is obviously a really upsetting time, but I'm thinking of you all.

How is Joe doing? Tell him we're sending good thoughts

I hope everything turns out positive for your Dad as well, treatments nowadays can be really effective.

I know its corny but you have to try and stay positive, and things do get better, though it can take a while.

So sorry again to hear all the news.

Di x

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Oh Sophia,

What terrible news, so sorry. This is obviously a really upsetting time, but I'm thinking of you all.

How is Joe doing? Tell him we're sending good thoughts

I hope everything turns out positive for your Dad as well, treatments nowadays can be really effective.

I know its corny but you have to try and stay positive, and things do get better, though it can take a while.

So sorry again to hear all the news.

Di x

Thanks, Di. You know what is interesting? We were here last Saturday and I was on the DIS reading parts of your TR to Joe. We got to talking and my MIL found out that you live in Scotland. She got so excited and said "you know someone in Scotland?" I replied "well, sort of." She said, "do you think that you can ask her to send me a postcard from there?" She collected postcards and I told her that I would PM you and ask. I never got to do that and now I really feel bad.