The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Princess Leia]

Woot! Good for you!

I walk deliberately about 5 miles a day. I average about 15,000 steps a day on my fitbit. GABE does not run.

Wow! That is an amazing fitness regimen!

 

[donaldtoo]

Not bad but the price OUCH! I also like having a full kitchen, washer and dryer for anything a week or longer That being said at some point I'd love to do a resort only trip and stay in the bubble sans kids

The value bubble price has been worth it to us, so far...
But, then again, we have no future McDisney trips planned...HELLO KEY WEST...!!!!!!!

 

[donaldtoo]

Very interesting--I love watching old news stories like that. Part of it has to do with the narrator's inflection in his voice--very distinctive.

I've always loved old newsreels...sooo cool...!!!

 

[MinnieM123]

Lifeguards out at Volcano Bay. Test Runs again. I am so excited (that should surprise nobody) for a new waterpark. Waterpark attractions have a life expectancy of about 20 years, their infrastructure goes more quickly than the things we visually see. We've seen over the last years how many issues both Typhoon (27) and Blizzard (22) are having. So I'm doing a happy dance, want to do Volcano on our next visit.

Note: @bioreconstruct out on the web has some awesome air shots of the park.

There was a news report on a local Orlando TV station a few days ago. It appeared as though there was still quite a bit of work to be done on Volcano Bay, and the question raised was would they actually finish by opening day. There were some overhead helicopter shots of parts of slides still unassembled, etc. I also think that they listed May 25 as opening day--which is typical of Universal--to have a major opening of an attraction at least 1-2 days ahead of any big Disney opening event -- (the May 27 Pandora opening).

It remains to be seen if Universal will have everything ready.

 

[MinnieM123]

I recall reading recently (maybe in the General forum, or in N&R) that there was going to be a change in bus service to Blizzard Beach.

So, the other morning when I took the Blizzard Beach bus from my hotel, it only went to Animal Kingdom. The bus driver told us to go to a different loading area at AK, where we would get the Blizzard Beach bus. Well, we all went to the other loading area, and there was a large group of people also waiting. One bus finally came in and we were all jammed in there, for the ride up to BB.

On the way back, it was the same thing--everyone jams into a bus for AK, and at AK, you go find your hotel bus queue and wait again.

Um . . . this is not what guests want . . .

 

[Gabe1]

Medical issues all resolved phew! got my replacement processor a few hours ago via overnight deluxe shipping(the one that offers before 11am deliveries).

Today is free day, going to be with my cousins.
tomorrow will be my last day and I return home on monday

Well that is great news! Woot! Hope you are able to hear better now.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Woot! Good for you!

I walk deliberately about 5 miles a day. I average about 15,000 steps a day on my fitbit. GABE does not run.

Neither does SWG.

And if you ever see me run, you should run too because something is chasing me.

Most likely a bee, but run anyway.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I recall reading recently (maybe in the General forum, or in N&R) that there was going to be a change in bus service to Blizzard Beach.

So, the other morning when I took the Blizzard Beach bus from my hotel, it only went to Animal Kingdom. The bus driver told us to go to a different loading area at AK, where we would get the Blizzard Beach bus. Well, we all went to the other loading area, and there was a large group of people also waiting. One bus finally came in and we were all jammed in there, for the ride up to BB.

On the way back, it was the same thing--everyone jams into a bus for AK, and at AK, you go find your hotel bus queue and wait again.

Um . . . this is not what guests want . . .

We downgraded our passes and haven't been to either water park because that change took place.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Well, all this is fascinating. First of all, I didn't realize they had removed the lockers from the resorts (it's been a number of years since I've stayed at a Disney hotel--I'm usually now over at the Swan). I do recall when I stayed at AKL some years ago, on my day of check-out, I had a locker out by the pool. It was great to get in a last swim prior to taking off to the airport (late afternoon). They had a complete changing area with showers, etc., as well. It really "extended" my stay.

I believe it depends on the resort. AKL still has lockers and showers. Stormalong Bay has complimentary lockers. My dad brings the iPad down to the pool in the morning, reads his newspaper on it, and then stashes it in a locker. They just have a simple code and you can take any one that's open. They really need them there. Most of the rooms are definitely a walk away from the pool. Some of the others I'm not sure whether they have lockers or not. I was at Boardwalk's pool in January, but don't recall seeing them.

 

[donaldtoo]

I like AoA, it's fun. I love their food on sight.

Yep, we stayed in a family suite at AoA in the Cars section in July of '12, and loved the resort!!!
The only sections open at the time were Nemo and Cars.
And yes, even though we ate there only about twice ('cause we had my 50% CM DDP discount, and a ton of ADR's) the food court was pretty darn good. The Surf N' Surf burger was particularly good...!!!

 

[Gabe1]

There was a news report on a local Orlando TV station a few days ago. It appeared as though there was still quite a bit of work to be done on Volcano Bay, and the question raised was would they actually finish by opening day. There were some overhead helicopter shots of parts of slides still unassembled, etc. I also think that they listed May 25 as opening day--which is typical of Universal--to have a major opening of an attraction at least 1-2 days ahead of any big Disney opening event -- (the May 27 Pandora opening).

It remains to be seen if Universal will have everything ready.

I believe (I think) Uni announced its opening day before Disney announced the Avatar opening date. I am actually surprised Disney decided to open on a Holiday weekend, just too many guests and even for the EMH at AK has the two new attractions, Everest, the spinny tops & spinny whirl & then Rivers. I wonder if that is enough EMH attractions.

Can anyone tell me what became of the Nightime Safari? I know they launched it but is that still a go?

 

[Gabe1]

Speaking of sorbets, I had the BEST raspberry sorbet at the ice cream parlor on Main Street USA. There's no added sugar, either. I was dying in the heat one afternoon, and I got the sorbet--think I inhaled it, it was so yummy and cold!!

We really have to revise your touring plan woman. Snowmen melt in Disney at this time of the year.

 

[Cesar R M]

Just curious--does that save you a lot of money? I found most things priced about the same. At the ABC Commissary for example, if you got the Mediterranean salad, that was $10, but if you got it with chicken it was $12.99. (That's only a few dollars difference--not much of a savings.)

Perhaps over the course of a week, that might add up. But I also looked a portion sizes as well. Some places were generous, and others were more skimpy. Unless a salad was more substantial (and I don't mean just more salad greens to fill up the bowl), those choices might not fill me up, if I was more hungry.

An exception might be the vegetable platter at Tangierine Cafe for $12.99.

well. those 2.99 you saved can keep accumulating I guess

 

[Cesar R M]

Do you notice a difference? Can you hear better with a new processor?

so far so good, the explanation was kinda weird.
They claimed that the program with noise reduction was not approved yet in the USA when they gave me the processor, but was activated for me because I was from Mexico. So technically it was not 100% tested. yet was given to me enabled.

At least thats what the doc explained to me. They installed a variant and newer version of that program in my replacement processor, as well as fixing the bad button and some secondary devices which had some issues with the batteries (for constant use).

I have to say cochlear guarantee service is incredible good.

 

[Gabe1]

Well, all this is fascinating. First of all, I didn't realize they had removed the lockers from the resorts (it's been a number of years since I've stayed at a Disney hotel--I'm usually now over at the Swan). I do recall when I stayed at AKL some years ago, on my day of check-out, I had a locker out by the pool. It was great to get in a last swim prior to taking off to the airport (late afternoon). They had a complete changing area with showers, etc., as well. It really "extended" my stay.

As for the digital lockers at the water parks, they were not there in May of 2016, because I was there and the lockers were the older key versions. What really surprised me from your info. above is that the $5.00 deposit is no longer returned??!! When I was at Blizzard Beach this week, I was just so glad that I remembered all my numbers, that I didn't even think about the $5.00 return deposit!!

So, here's another tidbit for you. When I first went to the swim shop, I asked to rent a towel. The guy asked if I was a Disney hotel guest and I said yes. He gave me a towel, and told me that one towel was free to Disney hotel guests. (I used to pay at least a few dollars for a towel.) Hence, my guess is that they're offering a free towel to a D. hotel guest, but charging them a full $10.00 now for a locker, with no $5.00 refund at the end. Sounds very convoluted to me!!

Yep. Wonder how many guests never figured out the new lockers went up $5 for going digital as at first blush it appears new lockers same price. No key to return so you don't even think of the $5. And your are correct, I can always remember a towel fee way back from when Typhoon opened. One time that happened to us as a family. From that point forward before we left for a water park we went past our resort pool, took pool towels for the family and when we were leaving the waterpark we just dumped them into the towel return by the changing house.

In the fall we experienced that convoluted bus route to Typhoon Lagoon. Take a bus to Disney Springs and then board a bus to Typhoon. OMG! It took over an hour each way and we were staying at POR, so close. The way back to the resort took for freak'n ever, so annoying. Next time we do a Disney water park Uber it will be. Did you see that Disney has hired a transportation Guru? This time from the outside to recreate Disney inhouse transportation since they are thinking light rail and gondolas for the future? Possibly by the time I'm too old to go down a waterslide they'll figure out how to get guests to the waterparks.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

12 days until National Donut Day.

 

[MOXOMUMD]

 

[Gabe1]

Ok, thanks...that's what I thought, but we were all excited to do that last Summer and then we got there and they were charging $20 per person to do it, so we ended up not doing it. I couldn't find ANYTHING in the books or website information indicating there was an upcharge for it and I was sure I read somewhere that it was included, so I was very disappointed to find out otherwise. But when I asked a CM, she said they'd always charged, but it really didn't sound like she was telling the truth. I'm wondering if they are instructed to fib on stuff like that so people don't get mad when they get charged extra. "uh...no ma'am, it's always been that way."

Oy. I wish you would have asked that question while you had the opportunity.
Snorkeling in the reef was always part of your admission as long as my family did it. There was a different upcharge to go scuba diving in the reef at $20.
They also had or have an upcharge to surf in the wave pool and Epcot had or has a scuba in the seas as an upcharge.

 

[Gabe1]

Just heard the rumbles of the ambulance an firetruck up the road to our neighbor and long time friend. Kids my kids age and part of our Swim family.
Blah.

 

[Gabe1]

so far so good, the explanation was kinda weird.
They claimed that the program with noise reduction was not approved yet in the USA when they gave me the processor, but was activated for me because I was from Mexico. So technically it was not 100% tested. yet was given to me enabled.

At least thats what the doc explained to me. They installed a variant and newer version of that program in my replacement processor, as well as fixing the bad button and some secondary devices which had some issues with the batteries (for constant use).

I have to say cochlear guarantee service is incredible good.

So hoping this works for you my friend.