Last night at dinner, Peter said the magic words:

I think they played with something like that at Aniimal Kingdom, but I forget exactly how it worked.

They're working on doing something new with it, but it's not in place yet. I don't know any of the details yet.

But they ARE enforcing the return times on Fastpasses, something they've seldom done before.

 

OK, I found it.

Here's the info on Fastpass Plus:
http://blog.touringplans.com/2012/05/02/limited-x-pass-testing-at-walt-disney-world-this-week/

 

I have been following the new Fastpass news. Right now they plan on gearing towards on site visitors. They are studying ways to include locals. So many of us have annual passes and Disney is worried that any of those people will cancel if they have to wait in longer lines because of the new Fastpass system.

When it is hot out, we usually go early in the morning or later in the evening, ride a few of our favorite rides, and then head home. I am excited to think that we may get some of the perks that the visitors have.

 

OK, we had mom and one of my sisters over this afternoon for the pool, so I didn't arrange an airport limo.

But I just placed an order with Oriental trading:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/tie-dyed-bandannas-a2-15_34-18-0.fltr (these are a two-fer. We can keep them wet during the day, and use them to help us cool off. They're also great tied to the handle of each piece of luggage-- they make our bags so easy to spot!!!)

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/sharedFlowController.goToOrderController.do They make it so much easier to keep track of everyone after dark!!!

 

YAY.... just booked a limo to take us to and from the airport.

Our flight leaves at 8:10 am on a Wednesday morning, and we get home at 10 pm a week later. So that means a 5:45 am pickup, and an arrival back home somewhere around 11:15 pm. I couldn't imagine asking family or friends to drive my van to and from.

So we're using the limo company my sister recommended. I emailed them this morning, expecting to hear back tomorrow. I'm happy that they're so attentive to their business that they called back on a holiday.

 

Has anyone used the Disney Mobile Magic app? I saw a commercial for it today. It tells you wait times for rides, including Fast Pass times, has a character tracker so you can track down the characters you want to see, gives you restaurant info and you can even make reservations for dinner. And it's a free app.

 

No, but you KNOW I'll be looking into it after my SAT class today. Thanks! Though my touringplans.com subscription has a lot of that same info, and we have our lunch and dinner ADRs in place.

 

My phone didn't support the Mobile Magic App. The mobile version of their website was really easy to use, though--we had to change our ADRs a couple times. We didn't use the Lines feature of the Touring Plans app as much as we did the nice checklists of the plans themselves (we didn't follow them exactly, but they let you check things off in any order you complete them; it helped us be sure we didn't miss anything we really wanted to do).

 

Some things I want to find over the next few days:
-My "park bag"-- the red Baggalini bag I always use in the parks. It has enough compartments that I can always put my fingers on what I want.

- our hanging shoe organizer... know what I mean? You hang it in your closet and it has 16 or 20 different rectangular compartments for shoes?? It's GREAT for keeping track of wallets and sunglasses and shoes and all that other stuff we use each day. I hang it in the closet and it keeps us organized.

Somewhere in the basement, amid all the stuff we STILL have to go over from my mother in law's house, there's a bin marked "Disney," Time to dig it out

 

Great idea on the shoe organizer!!!!

 

I went hunting online for Baggalini bags becaue I had never heard about them. They have some nice bags!

 

Here's the one I use: http://shop.baggallini.com/baggallini-mes160-messenger-bagg/121602

It's not cheap. But it's gotten me through 2 Disney trips, 2 Mystic trips, and 2 Lake George trips, in addition to my friend's Disney trip, and it's still good as new. It's nylon, so it weighs nothing and dries easily. It's very comfortable on my shoulder. And it holds a LOT. Mine is in red.

And, yeah, Ama, it's a lifesaver. We get up every morning and get right out, without any "where is my other sneaker?" mishaps.

We now use it every time we go away, though it lives in the "Disney" bin in the basement.

 

Hum, I may need to order one of those for our trip.

 

It's cheaper here: http://www.ebags.com/product/baggallini/messenger-slingbagg-rip-stop-nylon/18644?productid=66048

 

Thanks Alice. I think I'll order the red one today. In addition to our Disney trip I can use it when we go to Vermont and do day trips.

 

Ooh, just found it on Amazon and the pink is on sale. It's $32 and free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Baggallini-Me...57&sr=8-6&keywords=baggallini+messenger+sling

 

Oh wait, not free shipping, but only $5.

 

Score!!!!

 

In true neurotic-planner fashion, I've just come across something I didn't know, something that matters to me a lot.

We've always gotten to the parks for "rope drop"-- the official opening to each park for the day. Apparently the procedure for rope drop has changed since the last time we were in Disney... the parks actually open before the scheduled time!

I posted the question on one of the Disney message boards, and here's the reply I got.

"Here's what's been happening within the past few months:

Only MK still offers a Rope Drop SHOW along with an inside-the-gates holding area.
MK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."
But, the Rope Drop show is timed so that guests will actually enter the PARK very near the
actual opening time.

DAK no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW,
but still has a "rope" (guest holding area) at a location past the Oasis, near the Tree of Life.
DAK Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."
But, the rope is held in place, and is finally dropped at a time that guests
will actually enter the PARK a bit before the actual opening time.

DHS no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW, AND no longer offer an inside-the-gates holding area.
DHS Gates likely open approx. 15-30 min. "early."

Epcot no longer offers a Rope Drop SHOW, AND no longer offer an inside-the-gates holding area.
Epcot and DHS Gates open approx. 15 min. "early."

AM EMH entrance times seem to not be affected (figure entering 2-10 minutes before the AM EMH time, as usual.)
On AM EMH days, MK will offer some form of their Rope Drop Show
(may or may not be the "full show")
only for AM EMH guests,
and no show at all for the regular hours open time that morning.

As always, for better positioning in the crowds, arrive well before the posted opening time at all parks. "

So apparently I'l be getting my wakeup call a bit earlier than I had planned, especially on our Hollywood Studios day!

 

Off to Bed Bath and Beyond...

Anytime we go on vacation (Lake George, Disney, anywhere for more than a few days) I take along one of those closet hanging shoe organizers. It holds the shoes, the wallets, the sunglasses-- all that stuff you need when you're on your way out the door. (It can get tricky to manage the belongings of 5 people in one room for a whole week. Having a place for all that stuff helps immeasureably.)

Well, I just can't find ours. I know we brought it to Lake George last summer. We might have left it behind. It's not in the Disney bin, or in any of the suitcases.

Of course, it could be in any of the many bins in the basement. But we're still wading through the belongings from my mother in law's house... all that stuff that no one really wants, but that's too valuable to get rid of. (Peter has spent a lot of time this summer scanning photographs, but then what do you do with the originals???)

So I think I'll just give in and go buy another! (After I print up a 20% coupon, of course!)

 

Thanks for the reminder, Alice. I need to add one of those to the list of things to get for Lauren.

 

Silverspoon and anyone else thinking of going in the fall, I just received this email:

Travel Dates: September 30 – December 13, 2012.

Walt Disney World has announced a new round of the Disney Free Dining discount for the travel dates listed above. This is the same discount released to Disney VISA cardholders a few days ago, and is now available to everyone, a Disney VISA card is no longer required.

Not all nights are included however, you must check in on one of the following available dates:

September 30 – October 4, 2012
October 19 – November 1, 2012
November 9 – 15, 2012
November 23 – 29, 2012
December 10 – 13, 2012
Please note that in order to qualify for the free dining offer, your must check in on one of the available dates above. Your stay can extend outside of the available dates, you will still receive the free dining for your entire stay. Availability is extremely limited, and not all resorts may be available. You cannot check in before an available date and receive the discount, it is all or nothing, and the only day that matters is the day you check in.

Guests staying at a Disney World Value resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for free. Guests will be able to upgrade to either the Disney Dining plan or the Deluxe Disney Dining plan by paying the price difference. The Walt Disney World value resorts include All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, Pop Century and Art of Animation.

Guests staying at a Disney World Moderate, Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resort will receive the Disney Dining Plan included for free. Disney World guests at moderate, deluxe and villa resorts will also be able to book the “Free Dining”, and upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining for the normal price difference.

Availability is extremely limited, and must be booked by September 29, 2012. It appears that all suites, campsites and 3 bedroom villas have been excluded from this offer, as well as the standard Little Mermaid rooms the new Art of Animation Resort. All other Disney resorts, including the family suites at All-Star Music and Art of Animation, as well as the other value resorts are included in the offer. There are a few requirements:

Three night minimum stay required
Maximum stay of 14 nights is allowed per reservation
You must also purchase a minimum 2 day basic park pass per person per reservation to qualify.

 

Grrrr. I have been waiting for something like this and of course we were going to check in on the 6th of October. The 4th would mean 2 more days off of school for both of us. Dangit.

 

Alice, how much do you think it would cost for one person to go sometime in January? For maybe 2 days or so?

I need a vacation or something fun so bad! I've been to DL, but not DW.

 

Could you bump it up a week?

 

Well the whole reason we were going the second week is that I have off the 8th and she has off the 12th, so we would miss 4 days instead of 5. I do have 5 personal days though, and the 5th is PD so I wouldn't have to write plans, and it probably doesn't make that much difference if she misses 4 or 5 days of school. hmmm.

 

Travel DatesCheck In January 11, 2013
Check Out January 15, 2013

Travel Party1 Adult

Resort ChoiceDisney's Pop Century Resort

Dining and Entertainment ChoiceMagic Your Way Package

Park Ticket Choice5 Day Magic Your Way Ticket........$772.52
If you add in the dining package (1 snack, 1 counter service, 1 sit down meal a day), the new total is $995.88

Get a friend to join you, and the new totals are $1059.16 and $1503.88 respectively.

That includes accomodations at a Value resort (POP Century-- you could certainly get a Moderate or Deluxe instead), park tickets, and transportation to and from all 4 parks and the airport.

You can play with other options here:
http://bookwdw.reservations.disney.go.com/ibcwdw/en_US/_framework/components/processEngine

If you're willing to forego the meal plan and the ride to and from the airport, take a look at the Swan and Dolphin-- both offer a great teacher's discount.

Gotta run, I'll get back with more info later.

 

With this special offer, get extra savings when you book a Magic Your Way package and stay between 8/15/12-9/29/12. You must purchase a package that includes a minimum of 3 nights accommodation at an on-site Walt Disney World resort and a minimum 2-day Base Ticket.

Discounts on room rates with this offer:

All-Star Movies 15% off

All-Star Sports, All-Star Music, Port Orleans - Riverside, Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Polynesian 20% off

Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs and Ft. Wilderness Cabins 25% off

Animal Kingdom Lodge (standard room only), Beach/Yacht Club, BoardWalk Inn, Old Key West and Saratoga Springs 30% off

Other resorts may be available with this offer, at varying discounts (mostly 5% off). Note that rates are higher on September 28-29 than the other dates in this range.

Tickets can be upgraded to add Park Hopper, Water Park Fun & More and/or No Expiration, for an extra cost.

Book by 8/14/12. Offer excludes Disney's Art of Animation Resort, all suites and 3 bedrooms. Vacation package can be booked up to a maximum of 14 days. Everyone in your party must purchase the same package and same tickets. Some room categories, dates and resorts may not be included in this offer. The number of vacation packages available with this offer is limited.



or
http://www.swandolphin.com/offers/teachers/index.html

 

Silver, instead of free dining, would you and your sister consider taking a YES class to save money on park tickets?
http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/catalog/?location[]=WDW&filter=startDate

Here are the YES ticket prices: http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/WDW/pricing/2012/non-florida/

as opposed to the regular ticket prices: http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwticketprices.html#baseticket

 

We talked about doing this and she was excited about maybe doing something with the animal workers since she wants to be a vet. I guess I can't get this AND the dining plan.

 

Nope. The dining plan is part of a package that includes park tickets.

so this time out, we're skipping the dining plan; I figure that the $130 or so per person I save with the YES tickets will more than offset any dining plan savings. We're still eating as though we're on the plan though, with one sit down reservation each day or night.

Brian and Julia are taking the Marine Careers class in August.

 

.

 

My Baggalini bag came yesterday. It looks great and I plan to give it a "trial run" when we go to Vermont later this month.

 

I hope you like it as much as I like mine!

I threw it into the washer last week to freshen it up

 

I remembered I have tickets to a lecture by Maya Angelou on the 2nd, so I think we will stick with the YES discount the following week.

 

Silver, my kids are each doing a YES class when we're there. It's my first trip so they have never done it so I can't say at all what it's like, but it sure sounds cool, and the discounted tickets is certainly a big plus.

 

Off to the Poly on the 10th!

 

Oh, I LOVE the Poly!!! That's where we've stayed the last 2 times!!

 

Three of us are doing a Photopass share-- would you like to join us??

Before the price increased a few months ago, I got a Photopass for $99.99. If you join in, it will cost each family only $25 to be a part.

I'm going first. When I got home, I'll input my pictures. You, Ms. Mar, and mom2ohc do the same. Once everyone's pictures are in. I'll order the CD and my husband will make copies for each of you, then mail them out.

Let me know if you're interested.

 

That sounds like such a great idea!

However, I've never done photopass before, and as I researched it I don't think it is something we'd be interested in (( Mainly because we don't really have kids that are into the parks qnd walking around all day.. mainly the pools, some rides but not for long, etc.))

Maybe next time, if I get some more research done

I hope you all have a great time! Yay Disney!