We haven't had a Disney thread in awhile

[Brie]

Jul 31, 2014 12:38:18 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Jul 30, 2014 13:41:19 GMT -5 Brie said:

I want to find some cute stuff for C to wear but the boy selections on Etsy are pretty boring. Basically all just Mickey appliques. Womp womp.

No Jake and the Neverland Pirates?

He's not really into Jake.

[ilikedonuts]

We get photopass every trip. And still use our regular camera and have them take pictures with it too. This gives me more pictures to look through to decide which ones i look less fat in

[whitepicketfence]

Jul 31, 2014 11:38:03 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Jul 31, 2014 11:36:31 GMT -5 whitepicketfence said:

So that's why they were so cheap, lol.

I haven't researched Pop Century yet. I'll have to check it out.

I've read the cabins are decent, and nth have a kitchen. But still only one bathroom. And you'd need a car.

We're planning on driving rather than flying to save on costs so we'd have a vehicle with us. I really don't want to have to worry about driving everyday though with the kids.

An unrelated question, if we book our package now and they offer the free dining plan again next fall, how does that work if we've already paid? Do we just give them a call to have them deduct/refund the charge at that time?

[ilikedonuts]

Jul 31, 2014 15:27:34 GMT -5 whitepicketfence said:

Jul 31, 2014 11:38:03 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

I've read the cabins are decent, and nth have a kitchen. But still only one bathroom. And you'd need a car.

We're planning on driving rather than flying to save on costs so we'd have a vehicle with us. I really don't want to have to worry about driving everyday though with the kids.

An unrelated question, if we book our package now and they offer the free dining plan again next fall, how does that work if we've already paid? Do we just give them a call to have them deduct/refund the charge at that time?

If its available for your room type and dates. Its a limited number of rooms. I think I read something about it not being offered for the cabins, but that was a couple years ago so I don't know if that's changed or not.

[Brie]

Jul 31, 2014 15:38:02 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Jul 31, 2014 15:27:34 GMT -5 whitepicketfence said:

We're planning on driving rather than flying to save on costs so we'd have a vehicle with us. I really don't want to have to worry about driving everyday though with the kids.

An unrelated question, if we book our package now and they offer the free dining plan again next fall, how does that work if we've already paid? Do we just give them a call to have them deduct/refund the charge at that time?

As soon as the free dining dates come out, call disney (you'll likely be on hold for a long time-this is when a good travel agent is helpful!!!) right away!  Disney only sets aside a certain number of rooms per resort eligible for the free dining offer. 

Yes, this exactly.

We were initially booked for Art of Animation the first week of November.  When free dining came out, John spent the morning on the phone with Disney for us and switched us to a nicer resort (Caribbean Beach) with free dining for the second week of November, since the promotion didn't apply during our initial dates.  Free dining was by far a better deal for us, and I'm looking forward to not having to worry about paying for every meal.

We were still early in the trip planning stages and had some flexibility with dates, though, obviously.

[whitepicketfence]

chilerellanos, thank you! I had no idea that was how the free dining offer worked. Good to know!

[Deleted]

I'm just jumping in to say that I spent an hour at work today pricing out a Disney cruise to Alaska. 10k for 7 nights for 4 people (2 adults two children) including airfare.

H was not amused LOL. I thought it was a good price though.

Also I am stalking this thread for Disney tips since we will prob go in a year or so.

[bronxgirl]

Jul 31, 2014 15:15:32 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Our trip is booked!

wow, you're on top of things! What dates are you going?

[bronxgirl]

Is there a benefit to booking with a travel agent vs. booking myself and paying with Disney GCs from Target (i.e. 5% off the trip)?

[fortmyersbride]

Jul 30, 2014 13:13:53 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

Those etsy outfits are so cute!

I'm making my sister sew Natalie a Star Wars sundress since we will be there during Star Wars weekends.

I agree TH breakfast sounds better than 'Ohana.

You have to go to the Star Wars brunch at the Sci FI theater!  That plus Jedi training was seriously the highlight of our trip in May.

[fortmyersbride]

Jul 30, 2014 20:33:49 GMT -5 @starry said:

SHOULD I GET MEMORY MAKER OR NOT? I have a nice DSLR camera... argh!

Memory maker was really worth it for me on this last trip.  I knew that going just me and the kids, there was no way I was going to be in any photos (and I'm barely in photos with the kids anyway).  And since I wanted to make it worth the money, we stopped and each spot that had a photographer and I got a family photo.  We also went on a few rides that had photos (buzz light year and splash mountain).  And the character meet pics with DD are adorable.

It's probably the largest collection I have of pictures with the kids, and they're all pretty good quality.

[mslhb]

Jul 30, 2014 20:33:49 GMT -5 @starry said:

SHOULD I GET MEMORY MAKER OR NOT? I have a nice DSLR camera... argh!

We got it for our June trip and thought it was totally worth it. If you are going with others you can link everyone together so anyone's magic band can be scanned and the pictures will show up. I went with my sister and kids so we just shared one account. They have a new feature for ride photos where it auto senses your band and the picture shows up without you having to do anything. Definitely be on the lookout for the photo people. They are at a lot more places then just the main iconic stuff and I don't think people realize it. Epcot is a good place for character pics. The character spot doesn't ever seem that busy and has the classic ones. Also the countries have a lot. My DD even at a young age loved hugging them and getting her book signed.

[Redpoppy]

Aug 2, 2014 14:42:53 GMT -5 ribollita said:

According to Disboards, all systems down at WDW today - Magic Bands, FP+, dining. What a mess. Get your shit together, Disney!

We were there today. It was so annoying. In addition Seven Dwarf Mine Train broke around 2 and was still broken 4 hours later. We went to watch a show instead and that was delayed and they did one song. Splash mountain was down for a bit.

DS ended up Junior mayor at lunch and got a free ticket fast pass. After not being able to go to mine train since it was broken we went to pirates, watched the parade and went back to swim. It's our last day here and the trip was a blast regardless but their system sucks if it breaks down. Also it is hotter than heck and I have "Disney rash" on my calves from the heat popping capillaries in my ankles/calves.

DS has been wearing his happy birthday pin since a cast member have him it on Wednesday saying his birthday was close enough. We were at Hollywood and Vine for dinner (no characters) and they gave him a card signed by the Disney Junior characters that he keeps going back to look at. We didn't put any requests in, just the pin.

Also annoying with fast pass plus is when you get additional fast passes they randomize who in the party can book for the party. So when I went up to get a second additional one (we were at Hollywood Studios) mine would only let me get a pass, not get them for the three of us. I had to go back and get DS's while they were sitting in the shade trying to cool off. They said they started that last week.

[ilikedonuts]

Aug 2, 2014 19:18:35 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

Aug 2, 2014 14:42:53 GMT -5 ribollita said:

According to Disboards, all systems down at WDW today - Magic Bands, FP+, dining. What a mess. Get your shit together, Disney!

Also annoying with fast pass plus is when you get additional fast passes they randomize who in the party can book for the party. So when I went up to get a second additional one (we were at Hollywood Studios) mine would only let me get a pass, not get them for the three of us. I had to go back and get DS's while they were sitting in the shade trying to cool off. They said they started that last week.

So you'd need all the bands and have to book each at a time at the kiosk? what if the slot fills up? what a surprise another dumb idea from disney!

[Redpoppy]

Aug 2, 2014 20:20:48 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

Aug 2, 2014 19:18:35 GMT -5 Redpoppy said:

Also annoying with fast pass plus is when you get additional fast passes they randomize who in the party can book for the party. So when I went up to get a second additional one (we were at Hollywood Studios) mine would only let me get a pass, not get them for the three of us. I had to go back and get DS's while they were sitting in the shade trying to cool off. They said they started that last week.

So you'd need all the bands and have to book each at a time at the kiosk? what if the slot fills up? what a surprise another dumb idea from disney!

The first three were pre-booked. I had the three of us linked. It was just an issue with the additional one at a time ones. You don't have to book each additional individually, we just went through the bands until we found the one that would let us book all three of us at once. The cast member would cancel the process if it wasn't the full party one (though could've booked individually). Once I realized we just all went up each time. It was just dumb. It just clutters the area with more people than needed for what should be a quick and easy process to get another fast pass. Maybe they will realize how much it slows the process and revert to anyone in the party booking again.

I do like pre booking the fast passes, but wish you could add on ones to another park before you head there. We were at Epcot in the morning and I wanted to try getting something at Hollywood Studios since we didn't use up all three but you can only do one at a time booking if you move when you move another park in the same day. We had to wait until we got to HS to add one.

[ilikedonuts]

Yes! I feel like should be able to book the 4th FP for any park int he current park you are in. Because if there is nothing available at Hollywood Studios maybe you'd rather go to Epcot if you could get a 4th FP there.

[Deleted]

Can I just say that I'm jealous of anyone who can go during a promotional period? My husband insists on going when the kids are off from school so we're limited to the most popular (and thus expensive) times. Last time we went over President's Day weekend and next time we're going over Thanksgiving. It's so annoying. Not that I don't take school seriously but how much is a first grader really going to miss?? lol.