DDA Chapter 4

[tinker1bell]

Now if I could just get my actual post count to match up with the post number on this thread this time!!!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

There are tons of great hotel options off-site that will cut that number down A LOT! Some of the off-site hotels you could acutally walk to the park more quickly than you could from Parasie Pier or DL Hotel. I've never used it, but I believe that the meal plan is really just a series of vouchers. You use them towards your meals as you see fit. While a few specific meals are covered, the rest are covered by the dollar value vouchers. If you didn't see the breakouts of them, here's a site with a good breakdown:
http://www.starward-dream-vacations.com/DL Meal Plans.htm

I've never used the vouchers, but I seem to remember figuring out one time that we'd be better off with just paying OOP for our meals. Remember too that there are tons of restaurant options just blocks from the parks (all walkable so you wouldn't have to rent a car unless you were doing other SoCal things). There are fast food and table service both, plus some specialty restaurants close by as well. If you stay off-site, there are options with breakfast provided.

What info did you run for pricing? I can't seem to duplicate your pricing to see if I can come up with any additional advice.

Thanks, Tia! I ran a 6 night stay at the Grand Californian for 2 adults/1 junior with 6 day hoppers in August and it was $3000 and change. I had it for more nights at first and the price was so high I nearly choked! That was without any food or extra attraction add-ons! The vouchers for food sound like a pain. Better to pay cash, I think.

Wow - that seems really high! With all the off-site options, as Tia mentions, you could definitely stay for cheaper. When Jonathan and I went in Jan. '06 for 3 nights/4 days, I think we paid about $800+ for our AAA package at the DL Hotel. We originally were booked at the Candy Cane Inn for less, but the AAA package at the time gave you unlimited FP's, so we decided it was worth the extra expense (and loved the history of the DL hotel).

Also, for what it's worth, I don't think you'd want to spend a week out there, unless you were planning to do other SoCal attractions. I think you could easily see most of everything in both parks in 3 days (although keep in mind that if you're looking at weekends, since it's definitely more of a "locals" park, the attendance #'s sky-rocket).

Don't forget that they're also going to be doing that huge renovation to DCA over the next few years (seems like it will be done in 2011 or 2012?) - before then, the park will be torn up. Might be worth waiting if it's going to be your one and only trip out there.



If it helps at all, I would put the BC as my fave in the Epcot resort area. Admittedly, we didn't use the buses (had our rental car), but I would bet during the height of summer, that BC probably only shares with YC most of the time. (That is one of my pet peeves about so many deluxes - good grief, give them their own buses! You're certainly paying enough! ) Probably wise to put the queen bed request on your reservation, although I think those rooms are very limited.

That's unfortunate to hear about your ME reservations. AKL IPO has had such a reputation on these boards of being just great, but I've read a few instances recently where they're non-responsive. I wonder what's up with that? Guess I should probably get on their radar screen early for December...

I mentioned the construction to the Uncles, but I think they are going to want to go well before the new stuff is done.
I think I will like BC, but I know how I get with buses. That's why we LOVE Pop and AKL. I figured if I didn't put the queen bed request I would be absolutely guaranteed to end up with double beds.
What was funny about the ME ressie is that the CM is the one who brought it up! She asked if I would need ME to go back to MCO because it wasn't on my ressie! I told her AKL IPO said they took care of it, and they KNEW I was going into AKL and out of BC. Maybe they don't actually book the ME stuff until 45 days out? I know when I have called to book it myself they told me the ME system only shows dates 45 days out.

 

[mommykds]

We'll have to start a new thread in 3 more pages!

I am getting fidgety about Beach Club. It's the bus thing. Sharing a bus between YC, BW, & S/D is not going to make me happy. I am going to try to be calm about it. I am going to remember that it will take a REALLY LONG time to get anywhere. I am going to remind myself that I checked availability at other resorts for those dates with Bounce Back and there was nothing open, so we're stuck with BC. I did have a request for 2 queen-size beds added to our ressie. If I am going to cram into a double bed I might as well stay at Pop where the buses aren't shared with any other resort!

The CM helping me today said there is no Magical Express notation on my ressie. That is NOT GOOD. AKL IPO said they took care of that. I guess I will follow up with them closer to the trip.

"so we're stuck with BC."

Don't stress Elizabeth. Our first week last summer at the BC was packed & we still had great bus service. I must admit that Pop has the best buses but the wait for BC was never long & you only take a bus to Mk & AK anyway. The walk to Epcot & boat to HS are great!

I would get your request in for the queen beds. There are more queens than doubles though.

 

[tink2020]

Jen, we got your package -- thank you! You confused the daylights out of Kyle, because he didn't recognize your name!


I'll try and catch up with the rest of you guys soon. I'm having a trying few days with work, trying to balance when I'll be done there, etc. We also had a client pass away over the weekend (15 month old, who actually was one of our most stable clients) so there is a TON to deal with there -- both with debriefing (self and staff), and a crapload of paperwork, etc. The administrative aspect of it (and all of the root cause analyses, incident reporting, etc (even though it didn't happen anywhere near one of our shifts) just make it a really strange experience.

I hope you all are doing well!

 

[mommykds]

Well I got the results of my mammo. Seems they found calcification & I need to have another mammo in 6 months.

 

[lovesdumbo]

She is settled in quite well, I think. Kristin and I got a lot of things unpacked yesterday and today so her room looks like it can be lived in. Both her room mates like her dog and seem very nice and very busy. So there should not be much of a transition there.

I decided to drive on home tonight, rather than spend the night in Richmond with Kristin in her dorm/apartment. I am almost caught up here and then I am hoping to sleep in tomorrow. I don't teach until 3:00.

Glad to hear you made it back home safe & sound!

Good morning.

YAY, our tickers are back!!

We have a 2-hour delay here which means no preschool. Thank goodness! I still have the fever and the awful cough. I don't want to go infect any of the kids, but we don't have subs available.

Hope you're feeling better!

You might use them to invest in a t-shirt press --you'd be done in no time! Randy loves ours. We're usually finishing up things at the last minute before trips, so I can pack while he presses.


Thanks for all the PD for Andrew and the games. His team won the tournament! Andrew was on cloud 9 last night. He played pretty well. He played 1/2 of the first game, all of the second game, 1/2 of the third game and the fourth game only lasted 1/2 of an inning. He held his own -- actually played pretty good, but didn't have any on-base hits. He connected a few times for foul balls and a pop-up someone caught, but he also walked a few times and made a couple of important runs.

So can we just send you all our shirts? I bet the press does a great job too!

Congrats to Andrew and his team!!!

His 6th birthday is our first day at WDW so I wanted a special shirt for him. Of course he wanted Jack Sparrow. For some reason nothing came immediately to mind so I played around and came up with something. I'll see what he thinks when he gets home from school.

Do we get to see it?

I am getting fidgety about Beach Club. It's the bus thing. Sharing a bus between YC, BW, & S/D is not going to make me happy. I am going to try to be calm about it. I am going to remember that it will take a REALLY LONG time to get anywhere. I am going to remind myself that I checked availability at other resorts for those dates with Bounce Back and there was nothing open, so we're stuck with BC. I did have a request for 2 queen-size beds added to our ressie. If I am going to cram into a double bed I might as well stay at Pop where the buses aren't shared with any other resort!

The CM helping me today said there is no Magical Express notation on my ressie. That is NOT GOOD. AKL IPO said they took care of that. I guess I will follow up with them closer to the trip.

Well you can walk to Epcot and Studios. How bad can it be? Pop has direct busses you know.

Good afternoon, DDA! After 70+ yesterday we're starting to dip below freezing and the rain is turning to sleet. Yuck! That lasts the rest of today and tomorrow is looking like 3-6" so far with more on Thurs. Oh well, spring will come sooner or later.

YUCK!!!! I am SO done with winter. We are relatively mild this week-40's but I am ready for sunshine and 60's or so would be nice. I'm hoping daylight savings will get me out this funk-driving home in daylight.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I'll try and catch up with the rest of you guys soon. I'm having a trying few days with work, trying to balance when I'll be done there, etc. We also had a client pass away over the weekend (15 month old, who actually was one of our most stable clients) so there is a TON to deal with there -- both with debriefing (self and staff), and a crapload of paperwork, etc. The administrative aspect of it (and all of the root cause analyses, incident reporting, etc (even though it didn't happen anywhere near one of our shifts) just make it a really strange experience.

I hope you all are doing well!

How sad.

 

[Tammi67]

WTG Andrew!!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

"so we're stuck with BC."

Don't stress Elizabeth. Our first week last summer at the BC was packed & we still had great bus service. I must admit that Pop has the best buses but the wait for BC was never long & you only take a bus to Mk & AK anyway. The walk to Epcot & boat to HS are great!

I would get your request in for the queen beds. There are more queens than doubles though.

I know, I know. But MK is my favorite park. I guess I should start staying at a monorail resort, huh? It will just really chap my tushy if we are stuck on a bus for an hour every time we try to go to or from MK or AK. We don't spend much time at AK, but MK is a big deal. I suppose we can always take a cab if the buses are stressing me out.

Jen, we got your package -- thank you! You confused the daylights out of Kyle, because he didn't recognize your name!


I'll try and catch up with the rest of you guys soon. I'm having a trying few days with work, trying to balance when I'll be done there, etc. We also had a client pass away over the weekend (15 month old, who actually was one of our most stable clients) so there is a TON to deal with there -- both with debriefing (self and staff), and a crapload of paperwork, etc. The administrative aspect of it (and all of the root cause analyses, incident reporting, etc (even though it didn't happen anywhere near one of our shifts) just make it a really strange experience.

I hope you all are doing well!

Good luck, Jennifer! How sad for that little guy.

Well I got the results of my mammo. Seems they found calcification & I need to have another mammo in 6 months.

Well, you can have more cookies when you get there!

Bernadette - I know the buses are direct from Pop, which is why we love it there! But the dang beds are too small!

 

[Tammi67]

We'll have to start a new thread in 3 more pages!

I am getting fidgety about Beach Club. It's the bus thing. Sharing a bus between YC, BW, & S/D is not going to make me happy. I am going to try to be calm about it. I am going to remember that it will take a REALLY LONG time to get anywhere. I am going to remind myself that I checked availability at other resorts for those dates with Bounce Back and there was nothing open, so we're stuck with BC. I did have a request for 2 queen-size beds added to our ressie. If I am going to cram into a double bed I might as well stay at Pop where the buses aren't shared with any other resort!

The CM helping me today said there is no Magical Express notation on my ressie. That is NOT GOOD. AKL IPO said they took care of that. I guess I will follow up with them closer to the trip.

That was one thing I didn't like about staying at BWV....too many bus stops.

 

[Tammi67]

Well I got the results of my mammo. Seems they found calcification & I need to have another mammo in 6 months.

YUCK!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

So DS called just now. He had homework on Wednesday that he didn't finish because his eyes were still blurry. He had a sub on Thursday because his teacher was chaperoning a field trip. Friday DS was on a field trip and didn't have his backpack, but he didn't see the teacher anyway. So I told him he HAD to turn that in TODAY. The marking period ended Friday, so I am sure they have to have grades in soon. DS tried to go turn it in this morning but the hall monitor got him so he wasn't allowed to go to the classroom. (It's a crap shoot - we knew she might get him.) So by the time he went to class he FORGOT to turn it in!

The teacher talked to each student today about their project boards. He told her there is some blank space, and she told him to color it. I did print out some extra photos from the internet today so we can add some to the board, but I told him NOT to color it. I think it will look HORRIBLE if he tries to color in the blank spaces. What do you guys think?

On a better note, he went to his detention after lunch and the classroom was locked. He sat down in the hall and waited. The teacher came along and asked him what he was doing, and he said he was there for detention. The teacher had forgotten, and for DS's honesty the teacher said he doesn't have to come to detention after today!

 

[tmfranlk]

YUCK!!!! I am SO done with winter. We are relatively mild this week-40's but I am ready for sunshine and 60's or so would be nice. I'm hoping daylight savings will get me out this funk-driving home in daylight.

So far, I'm doing okay with it all. I just keep reminding myself of how bad it can really get (i.e. Boston the last few years) and our snow doesn't seem so bad. Plus, I don't have to walk to the train in it everyday so it's not so bad here.

 

[tmfranlk]

On a better note, he went to his detention after lunch and the classroom was locked. He sat down in the hall and waited. The teacher came along and asked him what he was doing, and he said he was there for detention. The teacher had forgotten, and for DS's honesty the teacher said he doesn't have to come to detention after today!

Yeah! Something went right for him today! Seems like he needs that sometimes. I think the additional pictures might look better. Otherwise, maybe a light yellow or something to color around the images, but nothing too bright. Hope he can still turn in the paper tomorrow!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I know, I know. But MK is my favorite park. I guess I should start staying at a monorail resort, huh? It will just really chap my tushy if we are stuck on a bus for an hour every time we try to go to or from MK or AK. We don't spend much time at AK, but MK is a big deal. I suppose we can always take a cab if the buses are stressing me out.



Bernadette - I know the buses are direct from Pop, which is why we love it there! But the dang beds are too small!

Would it take more than an hour to take the monorail from MK to Epcot and walk through Epcot? Probably by the time you changed monorails and went through bag search at Epcot but it might be less stressfull for you.

You could also just get off at the first bus stop if the busses were sharing. How far of a walk is it from the furthest resort to the BC? Can't be that far from say BW to BC and it would probably be faster than waiting for a bunch more stops.

2 rooms at Pop (4 beds, 2 bathrooms, 2 tvs....) has to be cheaper than BC.

I do want to stay at BC with the kids someday as I know they would LOVE the pool but not til Emma is a bit less picky. She's getting better-maybe next year unless we love the family suites.

So DS called just now. He had homework on Wednesday that he didn't finish because his eyes were still blurry. He had a sub on Thursday because his teacher was chaperoning a field trip. Friday DS was on a field trip and didn't have his backpack, but he didn't see the teacher anyway. So I told him he HAD to turn that in TODAY. The marking period ended Friday, so I am sure they have to have grades in soon. DS tried to go turn it in this morning but the hall monitor got him so he wasn't allowed to go to the classroom. (It's a crap shoot - we knew she might get him.) So by the time he went to class he FORGOT to turn it in!

The teacher talked to each student today about their project boards. He told her there is some blank space, and she told him to color it. I did print out some extra photos from the internet today so we can add some to the board, but I told him NOT to color it. I think it will look HORRIBLE if he tries to color in the blank spaces. What do you guys think?

On a better note, he went to his detention after lunch and the classroom was locked. He sat down in the hall and waited. The teacher came along and asked him what he was doing, and he said he was there for detention. The teacher had forgotten, and for DS's honesty the teacher said he doesn't have to come to detention after today!

I think photos from the internet of Greece would be a great idea. Could you do any graphs-maybe a pie chart of their exports? I don't think him coloring in the background would go with the current look of the board. It looks so nice & neat now that I think if he colored it in it would look lousy-like he ran out of ideas or something.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Jen, we got your package -- thank you! You confused the daylights out of Kyle, because he didn't recognize your name!

:

WOW! you guys got that quick..i just ordered it the other day!
OOPS i forgot to put my dis name on the package--good thing you knew it was me ! Glad you like it!`

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Question for you guys--
My mom has my grandpa's favorite ties and wants to make them into something for my grandmother..she was thinking a pillow, small blanket, or something like that..
is there anything else that you guys have done in the past?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Would it take more than an hour to take the monorail from MK to Epcot and walk through Epcot? Probably by the time you changed monorails and went through bag search at Epcot but it might be less stressfull for you.

You could also just get off at the first bus stop if the busses were sharing. How far of a walk is it from the furthest resort to the BC? Can't be that far from say BW to BC and it would probably be faster than waiting for a bunch more stops.

2 rooms at Pop (4 beds, 2 bathrooms, 2 tvs....) has to be cheaper than BC.

I do want to stay at BC with the kids someday as I know they would LOVE the pool but not til Emma is a bit less picky. She's getting better-maybe next year unless we love the family suites.



I think photos from the internet of Greece would be a great idea. Could you do any graphs-maybe a pie chart of their exports? I don't think him coloring in the background would go with the current look of the board. It looks so nice & neat now that I think if he colored it in it would look lousy-like he ran out of ideas or something.

There is a discussion about that very thing on Resorts right now. DH would rather sit on a bus than have to walk the entire way through Epcot,and I think I might agree! You have a good point about getting off at whatever stop is first and walking from there. It would have to be closer than walking all the way through Epcot!

I am going to put some craft foam behind the photos to make them "pop" out a little bit. Not sure if I will use the foam as a border or just as a backing to make the photos thicker. I'll let DS pick. I have a photo of a huge, gnarled olive tree and a smaller photo of fresh olives. The other 2 are landscapes. I told him the only other thing I can think of would be to maybe make a sun and some seagulls as a backdrop for the little fisherman. The board does look very clean right now, so I am worried about making it look cluttered and junky. The teacher asked him if it looks like he put some effort into it. Well, yes, I do think it looks like it took some effort, thank you very much!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Question for you guys--
My mom has my grandpa's favorite ties and wants to make them into something for my grandmother..she was thinking a pillow, small blanket, or something like that..
is there anything else that you guys have done in the past?

Sorry, Jen. Unless she wants to mount them on a Science Fair board this is not my area!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Sorry, Jen. Unless she wants to mount them on a Science Fair board this is not my area!

well thats an idea hahaha