Trip Report Readers Chick Chat and Guy Gabbing Thread!

[Zipadeelady]

I saw this last night and it just reminded me of someone one. IYKYK

 

[Tuvalu]

 

[joshsprincess921]

Hello friends! I very rarely venture away from the trip report forum, but I just so happened to have done so today and found you all!

 

[rshell68]

Hello friends! I very rarely venture away from the trip report forum, but I just so happened to have done so today and found you all!

Welcome!! Glad you found us

 

[Songbird76]

Safe travels!

Thanks! I totally should have taken an "After" photo when we arrived in Denver. Oh my.

 

[MickeyCB]

Hello friends! I very rarely venture away from the trip report forum, but I just so happened to have done so today and found you all!

Welcome!!

 

[MickeyCB]

Aulani trip planning update.
Today DVC announced people can use all of their points again so we added one night to our trip. This goes to show how sharp Gary still is.
Aleisha and I were trying to figure out how to add a day to the end of the trip which would require, the Hawaii segment of the flight to be changed, add a day on the end and Gary and I have to change our flights back to Pittsburgh.
Gary walks in and says why don't you add a day onto the front of the trip. DUH!
We were going to be sitting for 2 days in Sac waiting to leave anyway!

So we added a night at Aulani, she got our Hawaii flight moved up one day, and I got one day added to the rental car.
I used Budget and by chance got an email from them today that it is Amazon prime day. I called Budget customer service to change our reservation and the first guy was not helpful as he told me I had to cancel my reservation and would lose $50. I asked to speak to the supervisor and the first guy said "he won't be able to help you are you sure you want to talk to him", why yes, yes I do.
I got one day added onto the rental and it was $124 cheaper because of prime day, and he waved the $50 because he said (just like I said to the first guy), that I was only modifying my reservation.

So if you're keeping score, we got an additional day in Hawaii using points, an extra day of car rental for $124 less! (Oh and Hawaii airlines did not charge us anything to change our day we fly and somehow got better seats)!

 

[Swissmiss]

Thanks! I totally should have taken an "After" photo when we arrived in Denver. Oh my.

So true! Was Denver your final airport or just the end of your long flight? Looking forward to my vacation at the end of the month but not the 15 hours to get to my final destination (and I am not counting my first flight because I have willingly booked to spend the night in Paris at the airport to avoid a 7 am flight from my city and rushing through CDG to change terminals and planes).

 

[Zipadeelady]

Hello friends! I very rarely venture away from the trip report forum, but I just so happened to have done so today and found you all!

 

[Zipadeelady]

Aulani trip planning update.
Today DVC announced people can use all of their points again so we added one night to our trip. This goes to show how sharp Gary still is.
Aleisha and I were trying to figure out how to add a day to the end of the trip which would require, the Hawaii segment of the flight to be changed, add a day on the end and Gary and I have to change our flights back to Pittsburgh.
Gary walks in and says why don't you add a day onto the front of the trip. DUH!
We were going to be sitting for 2 days in Sac waiting to leave anyway!

So we added a night at Aulani, she got our Hawaii flight moved up one day, and I got one day added to the rental car.
I used Budget and by chance got an email from them today that it is Amazon prime day. I called Budget customer service to change our reservation and the first guy was not helpful as he told me I had to cancel my reservation and would lose $50. I asked to speak to the supervisor and the first guy said "he won't be able to help you are you sure you want to talk to him", why yes, yes I do.
I got one day added onto the rental and it was $124 cheaper because of prime day, and he waved the $50 because he said (just like I said to the first guy), that I was only modifying my reservation.

So if you're keeping score, we got an additional day in Hawaii using points, an extra day of car rental for $124 less! (Oh and Hawaii airlines did not charge us anything to change our day we fly and somehow got better seats)!

This is for Gary!

 

[cgersic]

Quick question: does anyone know of a way to buy merchandise from one of the hotel shops on property? I'm specifically looking for the My Adventure Book journal that I saw on my last visit. I thought for sure I would be able to find it online, but of course, it's only the Ebay scammers that have them. Thanks in advance!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Thanks! I totally should have taken an "After" photo when we arrived in Denver. Oh my.

Hey, I'm just glad you made it to the US without flight cancelations derailing plans. Can't wait to hear about your adventures!

 

[joshsprincess921]

Quick question: does anyone know of a way to buy merchandise from one of the hotel shops on property? I'm specifically looking for the My Adventure Book journal that I saw on my last visit. I thought for sure I would be able to find it online, but of course, it's only the Ebay scammers that have them. Thanks in advance!

I just joined a Disney Personal Shoppers page on Facebook. I haven't used them yet, but the downside is they charge at $12.50 service fee and a $5 handling fee. But something like this may be an option, unless you know someone who going that could buy and ship to you.

 

[joshsprincess921]

We are such an indecisive family.
We are in the midst of planning our trip for next year and we keep going back and forth on our resort choice.
We've narrowed our choices down to Wilderness Lodge (we are currently booked here) or back to Yacht Club again. My hubby seems to be leaning more to Yacht Club. He loved the location and the convenience of getting from point A to point B. He's really not big on the buses and being packed in like sardines. He likes that he can walk or use the skyliner at Yacht. But at the same time he does think Wilderness Lodge looks amazing. My son is leaning towards Wilderness Lodge. We ate dinner there years ago and he's wanted to go back ever since, hah! Me, I'm stuck in between. I'd like to stay somewhere we haven't before, but at the same time I loved Yacht for the same reasons Josh did. Josh is definitely not a journey person, he just wants to be at the location he wants to be at as soon as possible. I am a patient person so it doesn't bother me as much. Regardless of our choice, I know we will have a fantastic time! I Just wanted to type out my thoughts because again...indecisive.

 

[MickeyCB]

We are such an indecisive family.
We are in the midst of planning our trip for next year and we keep going back and forth on our resort choice.
We've narrowed our choices down to Wilderness Lodge (we are currently booked here) or back to Yacht Club again. My hubby seems to be leaning more to Yacht Club. He loved the location and the convenience of getting from point A to point B. He's really not big on the buses and being packed in like sardines. He likes that he can walk or use the skyliner at Yacht. But at the same time he does think Wilderness Lodge looks amazing. My son is leaning towards Wilderness Lodge. We ate dinner there years ago and he's wanted to go back ever since, hah! Me, I'm stuck in between. I'd like to stay somewhere we haven't before, but at the same time I loved Yacht for the same reasons Josh did. Josh is definitely not a journey person, he just wants to be at the location he wants to be at as soon as possible. I am a patient person so it doesn't bother me as much. Regardless of our choice, I know we will have a fantastic time! I Just wanted to type out my thoughts because again...indecisive.

In my opinion it's not indecisive, it's fun planning and playing with options.
The boats in the back of WL are wonderful to ride to MK, and you can grab the monorail there to the TTC and on to Epcot. Or if they ever open the WL to Contemporary boat rides you can ride over and hop on the monorail there and to the TTC.
I detest split stays, some people love them, but you could always do both resorts.

 

[MickeyCB]

This is for Gary!

He will love this! I'll share it with him.

 

[joshsprincess921]

In my opinion it's not indecisive, it's fun planning and playing with options.
The boats in the back of WL are wonderful to ride to MK, and you can grab the monorail there to the TTC and on to Epcot. Or if they ever open the WL to Contemporary boat rides you can ride over and hop on the monorail there and to the TTC.
I detest split stays, some people love them, but you could always do both resorts.

You are right. I love the planning part of it and it's fun that my husband has gotten more into the planning.

 

[Songbird76]

So true! Was Denver your final airport or just the end of your long flight? Looking forward to my vacation at the end of the month but not the 15 hours to get to my final destination (and I am not counting my first flight because I have willingly booked to spend the night in Paris at the airport to avoid a 7 am flight from my city and rushing through CDG to change terminals and planes).

Denver was our final airport destination, but we missed our connection in Detroit (lots of fun stories!!) so we ended up getting there much later than planned. We had been traveling for over 24 hours by the time we got to Denver.

 

[erstwo]

Hello! I have found my way over here from the trip reports as well! I'm loving all the trip/ family pictures!

Hey friends! Now that Logan's graduation trip is over, I have to start planning Lily's! I can't believe she's a senior this year!! Anyhow, she wants to go to New York City, so no Disney for me! We will likely be driving. Anyone have any suggestions for places to stay? Not sure if we should plan to stay right in the heart of things, or stay on the outskirts and drive, or stay on the outskirts close to public transportation, or something else!?! We are also open to suggestions of must see things and must visit places. I appreciate any help that can be offered!

I agree with @Darstarr - what matters most about where you stay is what you want to see! I'm usually there for Broadway - I usually stay near Times Square - Marriott Marquis is so great, but it's gotten more and more expensive. If you don't stay there, be sure to still visit their restaurant/ lounge - It has the best views. I stayed the Westin at the corner of 8th and 43rd in March and really enjoyed my stay. That being said, Times Square isn't necessarily my favorite area of NYC, it's just usually the most convenient - so many great places in NYC!

I'm not opposed to the subway in NYC and will take it from time to time, but I have to admit I just usually Uber wherever I need to go. I wish I had driving advice, but even my husband - who is Chicago born and raised - won't drive in NYC. Street parking is crazier than anything we've ever seen - Chicago, Paris, Munich, Vienna, London, LA - he's driven us in all of those places and NYC is above and beyond. But people do it, so you probably can figure it out!

I'm sure you've read all this already but get your tickets online and/ or arrive early for the Empire State building if it's on your 'must do' list. Same for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. And I would say skip Empire and just do Top of the Rock instead. I totally agree with @HouCuseChickie about the TKTS booth in the middle of Times Square or you could try for rush tickets or student tickets at the individual theaters. I hope and pray all this COVID stuff will be over by the time Lily graduates, but just in case - be sure to stay up to date on the NYC regulations for COVID. They don't mess around and each individual 'business' can enforce their own rules. Last October (2021) I watched a family get turned away from MOMA because one of the kids didn't have all of the required vaccines (I think at that point it was two shots) and they wouldn't let them in. Heartbreaking. And, at that time, restaurants were super strict as well. In March and May (2022), restaurants had eased (no one checked my vaccine card) but Broadway shows were still super strict.

I don't know about Lily, but as much as my daughter loves Broadway shows, I'd say my daughter's trips to NYC are mostly about the 'aesthetic' as the kids say. So for her, she wants to take pictures at Bryant Park/ NYC Library, Battery Park with the Statue, she wants to shop, she loves photos with Times Square at night (last trip, we had to go out at midnight in the FREEZING cold to take pictures with the 'countdown' that happens at 11:58), Ralph's coffee, the Met (aka the Gossip Girl steps) Central Park - the Boathouse, the zoo, Imagine, Alice, etc. Those are just some of the things that make her teenage heart happy.
Things that are super touristy but I'm happy we've done - behind the scenes Ellis Island tour, tea at the Plaza (not as amazing of a space as you'd imagine, but glad to have done it), rent a boat in Central Park, and Tavern on the Green. My husband and son love the Apple store on 5th Avenue (something for them to do while you're at the Plaza?) If you want some Disney in NYC besides the store - NYC library in Bryant Park has (the real) Winnie the Pooh and friends!
In a class of it's own, of course, is the World Trade Center memorial and the Freedom Tower. Not to be missed.

 

[TheMouseFan]

Hello! I have found my way over here from the trip reports as well! I'm loving all the trip/ family pictures!


I agree with @Darstarr - what matters most about where you stay is what you want to see! I'm usually there for Broadway - I usually stay near Times Square - Marriott Marquis is so great, but it's gotten more and more expensive. If you don't stay there, be sure to still visit their restaurant/ lounge - It has the best views. I stayed the Westin at the corner of 8th and 43rd in March and really enjoyed my stay. That being said, Times Square isn't necessarily my favorite area of NYC, it's just usually the most convenient - so many great places in NYC!

I'm not opposed to the subway in NYC and will take it from time to time, but I have to admit I just usually Uber wherever I need to go. I wish I had driving advice, but even my husband - who is Chicago born and raised - won't drive in NYC. Street parking is crazier than anything we've ever seen - Chicago, Paris, Munich, Vienna, London, LA - he's driven us in all of those places and NYC is above and beyond. But people do it, so you probably can figure it out!

I'm sure you've read all this already but get your tickets online and/ or arrive early for the Empire State building if it's on your 'must do' list. Same for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. And I would say skip Empire and just do Top of the Rock instead. I totally agree with @HouCuseChickie about the TKTS booth in the middle of Times Square or you could try for rush tickets or student tickets at the individual theaters. I hope and pray all this COVID stuff will be over by the time Lily graduates, but just in case - be sure to stay up to date on the NYC regulations for COVID. They don't mess around and each individual 'business' can enforce their own rules. Last October (2021) I watched a family get turned away from MOMA because one of the kids didn't have all of the required vaccines (I think at that point it was two shots) and they wouldn't let them in. Heartbreaking. And, at that time, restaurants were super strict as well. In March and May (2022), restaurants had eased (no one checked my vaccine card) but Broadway shows were still super strict.

I don't know about Lily, but as much as my daughter loves Broadway shows, I'd say my daughter's trips to NYC are mostly about the 'aesthetic' as the kids say. So for her, she wants to take pictures at Bryant Park/ NYC Library, Battery Park with the Statue, she wants to shop, she loves photos with Times Square at night (last trip, we had to go out at midnight in the FREEZING cold to take pictures with the 'countdown' that happens at 11:58), Ralph's coffee, the Met (aka the Gossip Girl steps) Central Park - the Boathouse, the zoo, Imagine, Alice, etc. Those are just some of the things that make her teenage heart happy.
Things that are super touristy but I'm happy we've done - behind the scenes Ellis Island tour, tea at the Plaza (not as amazing of a space as you'd imagine, but glad to have done it), rent a boat in Central Park, and Tavern on the Green. My husband and son love the Apple store on 5th Avenue (something for them to do while you're at the Plaza?) If you want some Disney in NYC besides the store - NYC library in Bryant Park has (the real) Winnie the Pooh and friends!
In a class of it's own, of course, is the World Trade Center memorial and the Freedom Tower. Not to be missed.

Thanks! Lots of helpful info! And that is exactly what Lily will want to do!!