*** The Official August 2019 thread ***

[Lakegirl]

We use Logan Express. $7 for the garage or one of my boys drops us off there.

I had to bring one of my boys to Logan a couple of days ago. He had a meeting in the afternoon and didnt have time to take the LE. The new passenger drop of was sooo confusing.

Oh no...what is the new drop off all about. We are fortunate to be able to have someone drop us off.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Oh no...what is the new drop off all about. We are fortunate to be able to have someone drop us off.

There is no longer curbside drop off/pickup. You have to go to the central parking garage and apparently there is an area there. I never made it there. Was so confused on where to go, with my DS telling me to take the "arrivals" ramp, even though he was departing?? I took this ramp and entered into a garage..not sure which one, but my DS was not happy with my turn into the garage, to put it midly!! Next thing I knew, 5 cars were behind me and I had no choice but to take a ticket and enter the garage! I dropped him off at the nearest door and followed exit signs. It wasnt pleasant

 

[Bama Mom]

SIGH, I'm exhausted! Today I had my neighbors 4 month old again and he was a little stinker today. He would be crabby and fussy with me so I would get my 18 year old son to hold him while I got his bottle ready and as soon as I handed him to my son, the little stinker would stop fussing and giggle at my son. I told my son I was taking the day off and he was on baby duty today. It's funny how quick he replied "nope!" .

After Little K left I made fruit dip and apple heath dip for the wedding we are going to tomorrow night. The mom asked if I would make each of the dips because people had been asking for them since the wedding shower I made it for (they are just simple dips so anyone could have made them) but then she informed me they are expecting 150 people . Thankfully hubby offered to cook supper so I could get the dips done. It took me 2 hours to get it all done. I'm glad I went ahead and did them tonight though because now that it's done, I can focus on getting a little packing done during the day tomorrow and also try to get hubby a shirt or two made. I also need to work on a grocery list that I need to get Wednesday so the kids will have food to eat while we are out of town.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Well getting to bed by 9pm didnt work out! I sat down for 2 seconds today to finish watching a show I had recorded last night and lights out for 1.5 hours. Now Im wide awake, baking cookies

DD had a friend over tonight to watch a movie. I was on kitchen duty, as the "friend" is a boy and we have to keep them in peripheral vision!!!

 

[Je-Ree Olenik]

5 days you guys. I'm going nuts! still watching a disney movie everynight and some youtube vids but i am so ready lol work is draining me and my DH so we are ready to go lol even if this 16 hour drive is becoming more of a reality. still need to borrow a cooler from my aunt. i have a case of water already just need to pick up some groceries and my DD is getting her hair braided tomorrow morning. DH still needs to pack some things. DD packed last night.

 

[Ferrentinos]

3 weeks to go for me! We got into the AP previews for Galaxy's Edge so now I am working on new plans for that day. I was able to move our brunch at Crystal Palace to a different MK day. Now I am rereading and working on my GE plans to make the most out of those 4 hours. I got Oga's along with MFSR ride on the first day at the first time slot so we are pretty excited!!!

We've had a pretty rough week as we lost our family dog to lymphoma and we were all pretty devastated. I was having a hard time even thinking about going on a vacation and having fun. This little bit of excitement is so helpful for me to pull myself out of the sadness of losing her. She put up a really good 7 month fight but there was no beating it. She was too young - only 5 - so we all took it pretty hard the sicker she was getting. This Disney trip will really help us heal a bit and celebrate her - we named her Callie after our favorite place on property - the California Grill. We'll toast to her when we dine there for sure.

 

[DISNEY1975]

we named her Callie after our favorite place on property - the California Grill. We'll toast to her when we dine there for sure.

Awww..such a cute name. Im sorry for your loss.

 

[Wood Nymph]

So I booked HS FP at the beginning and end of our trip. The day I booked at the beginning of our trip? The 21st. Figures.
But after the way the crowds have been at DLR I am not sure what we will get and I am pretty sure we will be fine. All the signs are pointing to lower crowds than everyone expected.

Don't worry about the AP previews happening on the day you plan to visit DHS. You won't even notice that they are there unless you happen to walk past the SWGE entrance while they are lining up for their preview time. That time in August is a low crowd time and you will be fine. I would be worried if you were trying to go the DHS on the day it opens to the general public. That will be crazy time.

 

[McFlea]

Hi everyone!

I am super curious what everyone uses as their park bag? I am packing up all of our stuff and it made me wonder what you all use in the parks?

I will be using a Tumi backpack for my fiance's and my items this trip. This backpack seems PERFECT for in the parks!

So what do you take with you in the park?

I had been thinking about minimizing what we carry and switching from a backpack to a fanny pack, then I found a cute UP themed one and my decision was made. I plan to only bring the bare necessities - phone, gift card only on oop meal days and maybe a disposable poncho. It will be a new experience for me - I hope it works out!

 

[dnllmz]

Well getting to bed by 9pm didnt work out! I sat down for 2 seconds today to finish watching a show I had recorded last night and lights out for 1.5 hours. Now Im wide awake, baking cookies

DD had a friend over tonight to watch a movie. I was on kitchen duty, as the "friend" is a boy and we have to keep them in peripheral vision!!!

I am not looking forward to dealing with the boy situation. My dd is only 6 so I have some time. But DS is 9 and I'm starting to hear more and more chatter about girls.

3 weeks to go for me! We got into the AP previews for Galaxy's Edge so now I am working on new plans for that day. I was able to move our brunch at Crystal Palace to a different MK day. Now I am rereading and working on my GE plans to make the most out of those 4 hours. I got Oga's along with MFSR ride on the first day at the first time slot so we are pretty excited!!!

We've had a pretty rough week as we lost our family dog to lymphoma and we were all pretty devastated. I was having a hard time even thinking about going on a vacation and having fun. This little bit of excitement is so helpful for me to pull myself out of the sadness of losing her. She put up a really good 7 month fight but there was no beating it. She was too young - only 5 - so we all took it pretty hard the sicker she was getting. This Disney trip will really help us heal a bit and celebrate her - we named her Callie after our favorite place on property - the California Grill. We'll toast to her when we dine there for sure.

I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like the AP preview of GE is just the Disney magic your family needs.

 

[TheLadyRohn]

I would be worried if you were trying to go the DHS on the day it opens to the general public. That will be crazy time.

Our flight is on the 28th so I don't need to worry about that!!! I figure all the AP visitors will only have eyes for SWGE.

Not sure if anyone else finds these last 30 days the hardest - everything is booked and all I can do is watch YouTube. And make packing lists. And haunt the message boards. And speculate on crowds.

 

[Sanda Thorne]

Well getting to bed by 9pm didnt work out! I sat down for 2 seconds today to finish watching a show I had recorded last night and lights out for 1.5 hours. Now Im wide awake, baking cookies

DD had a friend over tonight to watch a movie. I was on kitchen duty, as the "friend" is a boy and we have to keep them in peripheral vision!!!

Isn't it fun being the "babysitter". I find it so awkward trying to find things to do that don't make me look like I'm watching them.

 

[Sanda Thorne]

3 weeks to go for me! We got into the AP previews for Galaxy's Edge so now I am working on new plans for that day. I was able to move our brunch at Crystal Palace to a different MK day. Now I am rereading and working on my GE plans to make the most out of those 4 hours. I got Oga's along with MFSR ride on the first day at the first time slot so we are pretty excited!!!

We've had a pretty rough week as we lost our family dog to lymphoma and we were all pretty devastated. I was having a hard time even thinking about going on a vacation and having fun. This little bit of excitement is so helpful for me to pull myself out of the sadness of losing her. She put up a really good 7 month fight but there was no beating it. She was too young - only 5 - so we all took it pretty hard the sicker she was getting. This Disney trip will really help us heal a bit and celebrate her - we named her Callie after our favorite place on property - the California Grill. We'll toast to her when we dine there for sure.

I'm so sorry for your loss. We lost one of our dogs to lymphoma too. It was awful. I hope you have a nice trip, it sounds like you all deserve it.

 

[Tomh]

5 days you guys. I'm going nuts! still watching a disney movie everynight and some youtube vids but i am so ready lol work is draining me and my DH so we are ready to go lol even if this 16 hour drive is becoming more of a reality. still need to borrow a cooler from my aunt. i have a case of water already just need to pick up some groceries and my DD is getting her hair braided tomorrow morning. DH still needs to pack some things. DD packed last night.

The last few days are always nuts, rethinking everything, wondering if I forgot to pack anything, thinking there must be something important that I overlooked. Once the drive starts though, I always settle down, and just enjoy the fact that we are on the way to Disney.

3 weeks to go for me! We got into the AP previews for Galaxy's Edge so now I am working on new plans for that day. I was able to move our brunch at Crystal Palace to a different MK day. Now I am rereading and working on my GE plans to make the most out of those 4 hours. I got Oga's along with MFSR ride on the first day at the first time slot so we are pretty excited!!!

We've had a pretty rough week as we lost our family dog to lymphoma and we were all pretty devastated. I was having a hard time even thinking about going on a vacation and having fun. This little bit of excitement is so helpful for me to pull myself out of the sadness of losing her. She put up a really good 7 month fight but there was no beating it. She was too young - only 5 - so we all took it pretty hard the sicker she was getting. This Disney trip will really help us heal a bit and celebrate her - we named her Callie after our favorite place on property - the California Grill. We'll toast to her when we dine there for sure.

How exciting that you got into the AP preview! So sorry to hear about your dog, I know how upsetting that is. A few years back, my wife, son and I went to Disney for two weeks. It was a rough vacation. It started out with me breaking the transmission in my car a month before the trip. Cost us $1000 to get it fixed. First day of the trip, I got gout in my right foot. Never had it before in my life, and never want it again! We left NY like 2:30 in the morning. 7:00 we are in Maryland just outside of the DC area, middle lane of 3 lanes of traffic, and we hit a huge pot hole doing 70. It broke the steering knuckle on the right side of the car, car starts shaking and veering back and forth violently. Thankfully, I managed to get it off the road without having an accident. We ended up spending the night, and part of the next day there waiting for it to be fixed. While we were there, I was out taking a walk with the son, stepped in a hole in the grass with the foot that had the gout, and nearly fell out in the road in front of a delivery truck. Next morning, we get the car back, another $1000 for the repair. At this point, we missed an overnight stay we were supposed to have in Kinglsand Georgia, it is 11:30 in the morning, and we are still in Maryland, we should have been in FL already.

We drove straight through to FL, getting there at 2:30 in the morning for our overnight stay at Caribe Royale. We missed an entire day in FL, taking our son to Wonder Works, dinner at the Hard Rock, and the opportunity to relax, and have a swim at Caribe Royale, but at least we got there in time to get a bit of sleep before checking into Port Orleans the next morning. A few days later, we all got sick. Went to Wal Mart to get medicine, got gas, and the car wouldn't start. Ended up sitting in the parking lot at the gas station for pretty much 4 hours waiting for AAA to come get the car. Wound up missing supper at Disney Springs, and cost us another $1000 to get the fuel pump replaced. Through all of this, we managed to have fun. First day driving home, my mother tells me the refrigerator isn't working. Ok, we've had enough bad news now. Second morning, of our drive home, my mother calls again, and tells me the dog died. At that point, I'm like mom . . . .stop calling me, I don't want any more bad news lol.

Through all of that, we still had a great time. You are about to have an amazing trip!

Don't worry about the AP previews happening on the day you plan to visit DHS. You won't even notice that they are there unless you happen to walk past the SWGE entrance while they are lining up for their preview time. That time in August is a low crowd time and you will be fine. I would be worried if you were trying to go the DHS on the day it opens to the general public. That will be crazy time.

I wouldn't be at all concerned about the crowd levels due to AP previews of Galaxy's Edge. In general, I don't worry much about crowd levels. Get to the park for Rope Drop, use your three pre booked FP+ early in the day, and then use the app, and the refresh method to get more, and you will get to go on plenty of rides. Eat CS meals earlier, or later than normal meal times and you will avoid the big lines for food.

 

[Tomh]

I had been thinking about minimizing what we carry and switching from a backpack to a fanny pack, then I found a cute UP themed one and my decision was made. I plan to only bring the bare necessities - phone, gift card only on oop meal days and maybe a disposable poncho. It will be a new experience for me - I hope it works out!

My wife used to carry a big backpack in the parks. I couldn't fathom how she would do it in that heat. The last few years, I have been running a campaign to convince her to leave the thing behind, and travel light. For the most part, she has been doing so, and seems to enjoy her time in the park a bit more. I have never carried anything more than what I can shove in the pockets of my cargo shorts, and occasionally my camera bag so I have my DSLR with me, but I don't carry that every day of the trip.

Our flight is on the 28th so I don't need to worry about that!!! I figure all the AP visitors will only have eyes for SWGE.

Not sure if anyone else finds these last 30 days the hardest - everything is booked and all I can do is watch YouTube. And make packing lists. And haunt the message boards. And speculate on crowds.

Please, do haunt the message boards. We enjoy the company

 

[omniscientmommy]

Not sure if anyone in here was trying but the SWGE AP Preview registration site went live this morning. I will be heading to Batuu on 8/21, woohoo!!

Also as a side effect from these AP Preview dates we may get an influx of new August friends

Yes we got in for the AP SWGE preview 8/19 9am to 1pm!

 

[22Tink]

Just hit the 2 week mark! Youngest DD comes home from camp tomorrow, we celebrate her birthday next week, then Disney on Aug 9th!! We also have my other daughter's bridal shower on Sunday. Being so busy will make these last 2 weeks fly by I'm sure!

 

[luvmy2babies]

We're in the teens. Yay!

Yesterday, items started showing up from that big Amazon order I placed on Wednesday. More stuff will arrive today. My 16 year-old has the responsibility of pulling packages inside. I am working away from home this week. My son is in a robotics camp 30 minutes from home and with traffic on the route we had to take, I decided it would be better to head over to a library a few minutes away from him to work instead of going back home. The change of scenery has been nice although I am ready to get back to my home office. I did the same thing last week for soccer camp.

It's been worth it. Both camps have been great. He is having a ball this week. He had never gotten to build a robot and control it with a computer before but had wanted to for a while. He'd also been missing a couple of friends from school who had also been missing him so the other parents signed their kids up for the camp and we surprised the boys the first day. He got to name their robotics team. He has a Mechanical Engineering camp next week he is looking forward to. It's definitely helped the time go by as well.

We're going to get some school shopping out of the way this weekend. Also need to get my son some shoes for his upcoming soccer season because he has his team camp just a few days after we get back. My daughter is getting her hair braided on Tuesday. Also need to schedule a junk removal to do some decluttering and I'd love to have it done before the trip.

Realized after I got us the reservation for the dessert party we probably shouldn't hit MK until late on that day so I changed some early fast passes to some late ones. That morning will be close to leaving so we'll do some laundry and pool time.

Looked at the website of our local airport to check for any changes that would affect us. We haven't been a family to fly often so we are not at the airport much. Hoping to change that and get more trips in before my daughter graduates high school. Looks they have added an online booking system for parking. And you get a small discount for using it. I haven't used terminal parking for the last 7 years; but I'm thinking we'll use it this time. Not having to worry about driving up to it and it being full would be nice. That happened once which is one thing that started us using the park and ride lots to begin with. The other thing was the price increase; but they have split terminal parking into tiers so there is a less expensive option. I feel fortunate we live so close to our airport. It's only about 30 minutes away. I know others have to drive 2 hours or more.

Whew! So much rambling today. I'm really ready for this vacation.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Oh my word. I can't believe I've come full circle! Way back near the beginning of this thread I thought we were bringing the whole family down for an August trip and then that got moved to May. Well, here we are again! The AP previews of SWGE opened up and Dh and I snagged reservations for August 18 9am -1pm. Guess that means we're going to Disney World!

We have reservations at Pop Century for 8/17-8/19, so just a quick trip. Although, I think a quick dip in the sauna that is southern Florida in August will be about all I can handle. We'll have our cooling towels and hats along for sure. This is our first trip to wdw with just the two of us! I'm so excited to do whatever WE want to do without having to consider everyone else in the group.

We arrive at 2:25 at the airport that Saturday. I'm planning to hit Animal Kingdom that night, then DHS the next morning for our Galaxy's Edge experience and whatever else we do there that day, we'll hit MK that evening, and then Epcot on Monday morning before getting picked up by the Tragical Express around 2:00. I've never done a trip to Disney that was less than 1 1/2 weeks, so this will be a very new experience!

 

[TheLadyRohn]

Please, do haunt the message boards. We enjoy the company

I will! It has given me an outlet for my obsession. I am a planner and I love it but it gets to the point where it's just time to go!!!

We have been faithful rope droppers at DLR and had one single day we missed it (preteen attitudes are so fun) and it threw the rest of the day all out of whack. We will definately be there early and I have a feeling I will be rearranging FP+ in the parks to minimize wait times. I know it will all be good and once I am there I go with the flow but until then I second guess myself!