Conference koolit::disney

   
    Who:   The Scopa Family (Mike, Carol, Mike, Jr.) & Friend (?)
    When:  July 8-22, 1997
    Where: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (Martinique)
    How:   Driving down
    Previous Trips: Sept. '75, June '76, July '90, July '92, and July '94.
    Why:    To enjoy the 25th Anniversary celebration.

    Over the last few months I've been advising a slew of people
    on planning their WDW trips. I guess I got caught up in all
    of this planning and said, "What the heck! Lemme call now and
    book July '97."

    The price for a standard, non-smoking room in Martinique is
    $99 or $108.99 w/tax. These are 1996 prices so they may go up
    but I would expect a hike no more than $5 ($5.50 w/tax) per
    night. That bumps up the total cost up another $80. I can
    live with that.

    I don't know who that fourth member of my party will be. It
    could be my daughter, or my father-in-law, or one of my son's
    friends.

    My daughter will be a Junior in college so she may be working
    that Summer. My father-in-law has never been so he would
    enjoy the classic Disney Americana touch.

    Third choice would be a friend for my son...my preference
    here would be to bring someone who has never been before.

    Sure, I made reservations 23 months in advance but this way IT'S
    DONE and I can do what Kathy Jette always did...pay a little
    here...pay a little there...send some money this month...send a
    little more next month...and soon the room is paid in full.

    That will be painless...and my APs are already paid for.

    There's a Dole Whip somewhere with my name on it....it won't
    be ready until '97...I can wait.

    Mike_whose_vacation.com_says_689_days_before_arriving_in_Orlando!

    Who: Tancreti Family (Me, wife Dottie and kids Douglas and Katherine)
    When: 2 Weeks in April 97
    Where: Orange Lake Country Club, Kissimmee
    How: Possibly drive, most likely fly.
    Previous Trips: Mar 82, Mar 83, Jun/Jul 84, Apr 87, Apr 89, Apr 90, Apr
    91, Apr 93, Nov/Dec 94
    Why: Because by then I/we will need a Disney fix, and can't miss the
    25th Anniversary. We have been there for the 10th, 15th, and 20th, so
    it just makes sense to be there for the 25th, right????
    
    BTW: here's a shocking revelation..... Does anyone in this conference
    know who has been to Disney many times and has not yet had a Mickey
    Mouse icecream bar? Isn't that somewhat UNDisneyian? I won't mention
    any names......
    
    Matt             

    Who: Gulliksen family (me, Greg, & sons - Andrew(4) & Steven (2))

    When: 2 Weeks in May 97

    Where: Port Orleans

    How: Fly

    Previous Trips: Marilyn - 76, 78, 83, 85, 88, 89, 91. Greg - 91
    The kids have never been.

    Why:  I already need a Disney fix and I've got 21 months to go.  Wanted 
    to go off season before Andrew starts school.  (He'll be five in July.)

    Marilyn

    Who: The Lavigne Family
    When: 2 weeks from now
    Where: Dixie landing and Fort Wolderness suite
    Why:  Because if i don't take a holiday I may not make it to 1996
    How:  Driving down
    
    I missed this conference, i have been out for over 2 years.  It's time
    to put some sanity back in my life ;-)

    speaking of sanity, would Sept. '95 plus 2 weeks take one into '97?
    
    Mark

    Mark,
    
    I could go for that.....I need to be bumped 649 days into the future.
    
    Mike

    
    
    
    Who: Martina conference mates
    When: Feb 24th - mar 02nd
    Where: renting a house from an ex DECcie who owns in Kissimmee
    Why:  why does a man climb a mountain?
    	  to have the world best conference get-together
    How:  flying over from various points in the world!!!
    
    
    
    Yahoooo! Florida here we come!

    Who:  The Badger's  Ed, Deb, Amanda, & Eddie
    When: Feb 18th, 1997
    Where: ASM 9 days
    Why:   becuase we like it
    
    our last trip was dec95/jan96  seems like yesterday.
    
    You have to check out The new Disney web page  :: WWW.DISNEY.COM
    
    I was soooooo impressed that I just had to use the web form to make my
    reservations.
    
    
    let's see, I have to readjust vacation.com  362 days to go!
    

    Ed,
    
    Gonna do the choo choo train again?
    
    Mike

    We're undecided at the minute on weither or not we're taking the train.
    We just got a new minivan, so we'd have reliable transportation.
    We'd save $500 train +$300 rent a car - gas, 2 night motel if we drove.
    yet, taking the train was sooooo relaxing and worry free.
    
    this is really an unanticipated trip, thus no advance saving like the
    last trip, so we may have to penny pinch.
    we also have to decide if we're visiting our son en route, now
    stationed at Kings Bay Georgia.
    
    we had a lot of fun at All Star Music, so not being able to aford WL
    didn't hit us too hard.  I figure we can always drive over there and
    rock in the lobby chairs during an off day.
    
    Has anyone else tried making reservations over the WEB?  We haven't
    got an EMAIL conformation yet.
    
    ed
    

    Who:   The Hagen family - Rick, Lori, Matt (almost 9), and Scott (will
           just have turned 6)

    When:  April 18 - 26, 1997

    Where: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort (5 nights)
	   Wilderness Lodge (3 nights)

    How:   flying

    Previous Trips: 1976 and 1986.  We were going to go down in 1996 but 
   	   decided to put it off a year for the 25th Anniversary celebration.
           This will be our first time staying on-site.

    Why:   Been dyin' to take the kids down for their first trip, but were
	   waiting until the youngest was at least 5.  Also, to enjoy the 
           25th Anniversary celebration.

           I'll get to do HDD on my birthday.

    Made my reservations through AAA and they don't know what (if any)
    discounts will be available.  I'm supposed to check back in October.
    But I was told that currently the standard, non-smoking room (in 
    Martinique) is $99 before taxes, and the Wilderness Lodge room, with 
    bunk beds, is $199 before taxes.  Can this be correct???  Do bunk bed
    rooms cost more?  The reason I ask is because it will be 'off-season'
    when we stay at the WL and I was expecting the room to be around $154.  
    The travel agent at AAA didn't seem very knowledgable.

    199 off saeson for wilderness lodge seems very high!
    curious, why didn't you plan your own trip vs aa?
    
    btw, the 1997 rate will[well maybe] be higher and won't be set yet.
    ed
    

    We stayed at Wilderness Lodge during off season and paid $164 (which
    included the extra $15 for a 3rd adult - 3 adults, 1 child).  We had a
    pool/courtyard view.  
    
    I booked through Disney directly and used my MK card.

    I sent off a pointer to the diseny www page.  they are quoting prices
    for $159 to $215.
    looks like aa is no friend unless they reserve a block of expensive
    rooms.
    ed
    

    My question is in regard to the time of year....sometimes late April
    is not a "value season" time.
    
    I'd go through the CRO using your MKC discount and see what prices
    surface.
    
    Mike

    Call us crazy!
    In addition to Feb 97, we are planning a trip in DEC97/jan98
    
    who Ed & Deb, kids Amanda & Eddie
    Disney-nuts [certified]
    
    by train, staying at ASM
    Why:  For the Feb 97 trip we have agreed to buy APs.  Since we have
    APs, we'll have to make the best of them!  Sounds like a good excuss!
    
    ed
    

                                   April 1997
    Who:
    The Arnold Family: Me, husband John, and sons Nathan (11); Jesse (8);
    and Sean (4).  Going with our best friends, Margie and Joe.
    
    When:
    April 5 - 12 (plus extra days for driving)
    
    Where: Renting a 4-bedroom home in Kissimmee.
    
    Previous trips:  April 1994 (we're hooked)
    
    Because the baby stayed with my Mom in Frostproof on our last visit to
    WDW, we never had the problem of ride restrictions due to height/age. 
    He will have just turned 4 (and a few days) for our '97 visit and I
    know he will not be big enough for most of the rides we enjoy.  Does
    WDW do anything to accommodate people waiting in a line with children 
    that are too small to go on the ride?  (I read a note somewhere in this 
    conference that leads me to believe they do, but I can't be more specific.
    
    
    ps.  Can't wait to stop at the restaurant by the river in Falls Church,
    outside of DC for the best sausage, biscuits, and gravy.  Just like my
    Grammy used to make!
    
    
    Carol

Both Disney and Universal do parental swaps where one adult stays with the child
and the other rides.  The adult that waited gets on the next ride when the other
adult gets back to take the child. It works out real good at Universal cause
we did a swap on Back to the Future and 5 other people in my party got to go
again with me who waited for Mom to get back. I can't quarantee that they do
it on every ride but I'm sure most of the major rides are taken care of in this
fashion........

mike

RE last couple: The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World talks about the
swapping stuff.

(Hi, Carol!  We see signs for Frostproof when we go to my S.O.'s folks' 
place in Sebring from Orlando.  I've always liked that town's name. :-) )

-- Nina

    WHO:        Julie, Wally, Craig (16), Lauren (12), Kyle (6)
    When:       Saturday, Apr 26 - Saturday May 3
    Where:      Holding reservations at both the Beach Club and Dixie
                Landings ($270 vs $151).
    How:        USAir non-stop out of Manchester, NH
    Car:        AVIS-Fullsize Car ($118)
    Why:        Why not. All of us are hooked!
                Kids just grow up too fast.
                Renewed and received our Annual Passes, couldn't let
                them sit in a drawer for more than a year.
                Airfare is only $164 R/T, such a deal!
                Oh, and to enjoy the 25th!
    Last Trips:  2/96, 4/95, 4/94, 1/90, 4/75
                

    Who:    Wayne, Joan, Daniel (12), David (9) and Steven (3)

    When:   Saturday, Apr 19 - Saturday April 26

    Where:  Dixie Landings 

    How:    American Airlines non-stop out of Boston (good rates)

    Why:    Join in the 25th Anniversary celebration

    Last Trip:  August 1992


    When we went in 1992, we knew we would want to go back for the 25th 
    Anniversary celebration.  This will be the first trip for Steven.  
                    

    
    Who:    	Stephen, Janine
    
    When: 	9th Oct 1996 - 24th Oct 1996
    
    Where:	Courtyard By Marriott - Disney Village
    
    How:	Virgin Atlantic - Direct from Manchester England
    
    Why:	Belated Honeymoon
    
    Last Trip:	Never
    
    
    We are really excited about our first trip to Disney and we have been
    told that the 25 year birthday celebrations start in October, so we
    should just get there in time.
    
    

    
    Who: Sister(Nancy), Brother(Ray), Sister In-Law(Ad) Sister's
         friend(Irene) & me(Gerry).
    
    When: Sept. 20-28 1996.
    
    Where: My place (Imperial Palms @ Marriott World Center).
    
    How: US Air direct from Boston $164 R.T.
    
    Why: To celebrate my kidney transplant, which was donated by my
         sister in-law.  Now that we have both recovered from the 
         operation, I thought this is one way of giving thanks and
         to beable to just relax and have a good time.
    
    Last trip: This will be my 19th trip, the last being 6/94.
    

My dad, daughter & I will be heading down to stay at the
Polynesian.  Last trip:  1991 
Before that I hadn't been to Disney World since 2 visits 
with my high school marching band!

    Matthew (9 turning 10 while there) Darlene and Gary Lonczak
    March 1-10 - Dixey Landings
    Last trip in Dec 93.
    

    The Mills;   Richard, Joanne, Kevin (7)
    The Turners; Mike, Evelyn, Kristy (11), Ashley (11), Michael (7)
    
    When: September 14-20
    Where: Not sure yet - still trying to decide on or off property
    Why:   To see Mickey. I'm the only one whose been before but that was
           12 long years ago
    
    This notes file is great, I still have alot to read/learn.
    Joanne
    

    Okay, I've been remiss.  We leave for Disney at the end of April and I
    haven't put a note in announcing that I'm going!  Why?  Because I'm
    listed as a moderator of this conference and still haven't done trip
    reports from my last three trips - and I didn't want to get yelled at!
    ;-)
    
    Who:  Susan Farina & Mike Lambert (boyfriend)
    When: April 27-May 5
    Where: Dixie Landings
    Why:  It's our first vacation together, and he's never been; he's also
    	  nicknamed me "Disney girl" gave me mostly Disney stuff for
    	  Valentine's Day!
    Last Trip:  August '96 for me, never for Mike
    How:  Driving, with tons of tips from Mike Scopa and AAA
    
    This is my first "romantic" Disney vacation!  I can't wait to to!  On
    the way home, we're going to Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills, NC, where
    Mike will rent a plane and fly us where the Wright Brothers first flew. 
    (Obviously, he's a licensed pilot.)  We might go to Savannah first,
    though.  We hear it's a very romantic city.

    Hey Susan...where are those trip reports?
    
    Mike Scopa
    Disney Moderator and Chief of Trip Report Police

    An update on our December trip:
    
    Who:       Ed, Deb, Eddie, & Amanda
    Last trip: Feb 97
    When:      Dec 20th, 1997
    How:       Amtrak, leave Dec 19th.
    Where:     Polly [lagoon view], Contemporary Towers, Wilderness Lodge
    How long:  Two weeks
    
    One of the bad things about being infect with Disney-itis and having
    gone so many times is one uping the last vacation.  We orignally were
    going to stay at ASM, a very nice resort in WDW.  Then we later added
    in 8 nights at WL.  Yesterday I was talking with the wife and saying
    how I had always wanted to stay in the Contempory Towers.
    She convienced me that we should just bite the bullet and do it.  Then
    I added in that we should split the remaning time at the Polly.  Deb
    added only if we can look out at the Castle.  Do you know how much a 
    Polly Lagoon room costs?  It costs 4 nights at ASM, or two nights at
    WL!  But we did it.  Called CRO and got the rooms we wanted.
    Now can't wait to go!  Christmas eve and Christmas will be in WL.
    
    ed
    

    
    Who: Phil, Karen, Michael (12), Geoffrey (8) and Alexa (5)
    When: July 7 - 14
    Where: The Beach Club
    How: "Big Silver Bird"
    Why: Dumb Question!
    Last Trip: July 1994 (Wilderness Lodge)
    
    Previous Trips - August 1975 (This was the summer I graduated from high
    school. WDW is a little different 22 years later.) Oct. 87, Oct. 89
    (The Big Red Boat), July 91, August 92 and July 94.
    
    It seems like it's been FOREVER sense the last trip. We had plans to go
    last summer, but "things" happen (see note 530.1) We had plans to go
    this summer, but it was all depending on taxes. We got the word on
    Friday, needless to say it was a happy weekend. Now we can move forward
    with the real plans. We had put down a deposit for the above mentioned
    week with hopes of being able to go, but didn't want to get to excited
    (or tell the kids) until it was official.
    
    Phil, who is very excited and counting down the 97 days!
    

    Who: Paula, Ralph & Brienne (9)
    When: May 10-18
    Where: All Star Music
    Why: 15th Anniversary and well needed vacation
    Last Trip as a Family: 1992
    
    Just two weeks ago I booked our trip. When I started therer was no
    availability at the least expensive hotel and took a reservation at the
    Wilderness Homes. Each day I called to try to change. Finally got a
    reservation at Dixie Landings and today finally changed it to the All
    Star Music. Tip: If you need to change to another hotel try at 7 AM
    eastern time because there are automatic cancels overnight as well as
    people that cancel later in the day and the best availability is in the
    morning. Price per day went daown from 215 a night to 85 (plus the 11%
    tax), which is a big difference for 8 nights. Disney will still get my
    money just in a new form.
    
    I can't wait to go!!!
    
    
    
    

Who: Ric, Suze and Rachael Raymond
When:  April 25-30
Where: Polynesian
Why:   Vacation fun and the 8 year old insists
Never been before

Driving down from New Hampshire.  Looking forward to our six days in the parks. 
Hope that we get to do a lot of the first time tourist stuff.

Thanks to everyone who has written in this file.  It has helped with our
planning.  Rachael has all of the Disney tour books memorized...expecially the
book Disney for Kids by Kids.

Will let you know how things go.

Thanks again

Ric

    Who:	Mark, Lane & Kimberly Antry
    Last trip:	May '96, Oct '91
    When:	Dec 3rd, 1997
    How:	Delta Airlines from Salt Lake City
    Where:	???? and Caribean Beach Resort (Aruba)
    Why:	We just can't stay away!!!
    
    I know it has been just over a year since our last trip but we just
    can't stay away!  I planned the last trip as a Christmas present for my
    wife and daughter and now it is the wife's turn.  We were going to go
    in Sept for our aniversery but I suggested that we extended that into
    the after Thanksgiving/before Christmas timeframe and take in Disney
    when it is least crowded and also decorated with all its splendor for
    Christmas.
    I don't know where we are staying for the first 5 days, My wife won't
    tell me, it is a surprise, I would sure hope it is Wilderness Lodge, I
    don't want to know until we pull into the parking lot.  Also, our
    daugther(13) will be comming home to Grandma on Sunday after 5 days and
    then it will be the wife and I on our own.  I already miss Kimberly but
    I think that it will be fun.  I don't remember our last his/her only
    vacation, but we didn't want her to miss that much school and it will
    be nice to spend some time alone.
    I'm looking forward to maybe doing the parks when Kimberly is there and
    then after she is back home spend time really exploring all the
    non-ride stuff, maybe doing more eating in EPCOT and all those other
    things that we haven't done in the previous 2 trips.  We have never
    been to river country even though it was on the list for last year.  I
    am already collecting and compiling a list of things I want to do.
    
    I just can't wait, WDW is the best vacation in the WORLD!!!
    
    Mark

Who: Scott, Lisa, Ariadne & Alexandra
When: 27-Sep to 14-Oct (actually, a split trip)
Why: First time, and new DVC members (loved DL, looking forward to WDW)
Where: Old Key West, Tampa and Vero Beach

We'll be driving from Colorado, staying overnight in Marion IL (it looks like);
spending 2 days on the road in each direction - which might be a challenge with
the kids, but I've got the portable TV and VCR ready to go!

From 28-Sep to 3-Oct we'll be in a 1 bedroom at Old Key West, then we'll pop
over to Tampa to visit Busch Gardens for 2 days, then back to Old Key West from
5-Oct till 11-Oct during which we'll catch the Space Shuttle launch scheduled
for 9-Oct, and a visit to Sea World to check on Klondike and Snow.  We'll wrap
up the trip with 2 days at the DVC Vero Beach Resort.

We're probably trying to do too much, but then again, with a serious case of
Disneyitus, what can you do?  Got the kids scheduled for the Kidventure program,
and got the reservations for Victoria and Alberts (the Chef's table), the
Hoop-De-Do Review and Mickey's Tropical Luau.

Frankly, we were getting a little nervous; it was taking longer to close on our
DVC membership than we anticipated, and what with waiting for everything to get
entered into the DVC computer....  Anyway, no problems getting the reservations
we wanted.  Now I just need to get our other hotel bookings done, but that can
only happen 30 days before with the ITC-50 membership discount - it doesn't look
like there will be a problem though, as the hotel we are planning on for Tampa
has all 175 of its rooms available for the time period we're looking at (of
course, it is just a tad bit early).  So I just need to remember 30 days before
and 60 days for the other dining reservations.

--Scott

Who:   Leslie, Greg, Joshua, and Erin
When:  June 21-25
Why:   Have been wanting to take the kids there, probably a once in a lifetime
       family trip for us.
Where: The Contemporary

Josh and Erin are my step children - 14 and 12 years old respectively. I just
read Mike's comments about people wishing they had taken their kids when they
were younger, but I am not going to let that dampen my expectations for the 
trip. We only have the kids in the summer so that's when we have to take go.
I hope its not too hot and the lines aren't too long. We're going to my sister's
for a few days after Disney - she lives about 2 hours south of Orlando. Greg
and I have been once before, but I got some sort of flu the day before and
wasn't feeling great so don't remember a whole lot. Josh has been to Disney
Land in California with his school band. Erin has never been. I hope it turns
out to be a great vacation.

Leslie 

    Leslie,  The last time we were at Disneyworld was 2 years ago at
    exactly the same time you are going.  The weather was beautiful, hot,
    sunny days but no humidity.  The evenings were warm enough to go for a
    swim before bed if you wanted.  
    
    Hopefully, you will have the same luck we did, but I suggest you all
    have hats with you to protect against sunstroke.

    Yo Scott,
    
    So how long does it take to drive from Col. to Orlando?
    
    Mike

25 hours according to Map'n'Go - and on previous trips I've found Map'n'Go to be
fairly accurate as long as I got the speed limits set correctly.

Marion, IL is about 1/2 way.

If anyone else has experience with driving from CO to FL and thinks my times are
off, please let me know ASAP.

--Scott

    I'm in St. Louis, pretty near Marion. My brother-in-law drove to
    Orlando several years ago and he said it was about a 13 hour drive from
    here. Unfortunately, I don't know what speed limit he was going.

    Scott,
    
    So we're talking about a 1400 mile trip? It takes about 25 hours to
    drive down from NH but we have the lovely NY, NJ, and D.C. areas to 
    drive thru.
    
    Mike

1856 miles according to Map'n'Go.  I've lowered the speed setting for Interstate
travel and am now getting 27 hours, though i'm now thinking that 30 is probably
more reasonable when you take into account gas/bathroom stops.  This is still
do-able in two days though.  When we did our trip to Disneyland, Map'n'Go was
very accurate for the estimated time.  Thankfully we don't have to contend with
anything like NY & DC.

    
    We did the drive from just a little west of Philly in 94. My kids are
    great travelers (we did the Pilly to Boston trip at least 3 times a
    year) so we didn't have to stop every hour. 
    
    We left at 9:00 am on Thursday morning, stopped for the night at around
    10:00 in Savannah. Next morning, after breakfast, we got going around
    10. We arrived at the Wilderness Lodge at 3:15, just in time for check
    in.
    
    We figured if we took out the time for stops to eat and gas up, the
    trip took 18 hours.
    
    
    Phil

RE:                      <<< Note 475.51 by SU2PLY::CUDAK >>>

Thanks. I think I'll start making a packing list before too long. Hat & 
sunblock will definately be on it! I hope our weather is like yours was.
What were the lines like that time of year?

Leslie

(both vacation.com and my MS/Windows quickie agree)

Well, based on the feedback I got, we re-arranged just a little bit; we're going
to leave on 26-Sep at noon, and travel to Salina, KS; then the next day to
Chattanooga, TN and then on into WDW - so we're giving ourselves three travel
days down with a short step, long step, short step pattern.  Right now we're
still scheduled to take 2 days coming back; we'll gauge how it is going down and
adjust our return schedule if needed.

Our space shuttle launch for 9-Oct is off though; NASA has been re-doing the
launch schedule because of schedule slips in Space Station Freedom, and it
doesn't currently look like there will be a launch during our trip (though if
things keep slipping, the one in late September might slip into October - STS-83
I think).

--Scott

    Well, we've done some re-arranging - We are leaving September 4th and
    returning September 16th - wanted to take advantage of the cheaper
    mid-week airfare, you know!  I was able to extend our reservation 
    at the Wilderness Lodge to cover all the days!  I just decided that 
    one week wasn't enough, and since my husband was going to have to take 
    more than one week's vaction time by then, well, it just seemed like
    the right thing to do!  
    
    So, please adjust vacation.com accordingly - we're on our way - sooner
    than expected, and rarein' to go!   Wilderness Lodge and Mickey - here
    we come!!!!!!!!
    
    Val Verge

    Who:   Ruth, Randy, Nicole and Andrew
    When:  July 9 - August 3
    Where: Polynesian (7/11 - 7/18), Boardwalk Villas (7/19 - 8/1)
    Why:   Should be obvious
    How:   Driving from NH
    
    We're not sure what to expect for this trip.  We're assuming the crowds
    will be larger than normal so we're planning to spend more time doing
    stuff outside the major parks.  The kids are looking forward to doing
    a lot of swimming and water activities.  We have planned a bunch of
    side trips - Universal Studios, Sea World and Busch Gardens are at the
    top of our list.