Yo Ho, A Disney Life for Me - Summer 2020 pre trip

[Goldia]

Originally Posted by Kat11

Oh right that is really disappointing. It’ll be a pain, especially if a card is needed as that seems to be going backwards as far as I can see. Can my girls and Glen have the app that I use? I presume so? The problem with phones is they have a habit of conking out and need accessible Wi-Fi don’t they? Or am I being thick as I’m a bit of a technophobe. I don’t even know how to do more than one quote on here like you are such a pro at! 😂

Kat

See more...

Argh I can't find where I thought I'd read that it was only for park reservations for the next 60 days. So maybe I made that up and everyone else was right.

I totally agree about a backward step. I love not carrying cash etc around and just waving my magic band at eveything. But yes more than 1 phone or device can have the same mde. I got Dave to download mde last summer and logged in with my account as I couldn't be bothered to get him to create an account so that I could use mde on his phone when mine was playing up. So you could get your girls to download the app and login for them with your account. I did make it clear to Dave he did not have the authority to make any changes!

Multiple posts is easy! I can teach you if you're interested? You can't do it on a mobile though unless you switch to desktop view. So if you only ever come on the dibb on your phone then not to worry.

[Kat11]

Oh that’s good to know that the same app can be used from multiple phones.

It would be great if you could give me a little lesson on multi quoting as it’s something I’ve tried before but couldn’t figure out what to do. I think it’s how to go back a few pages and quote something and also quote something from a different page at the same time. Iukwim 🤔

I use both my phone and iPad so I’ll just multi quote on the iPad. 👍🏼

Kat

[collybird]

Hello all, I've been avoiding the Dibb again. So sorry Abby, you need us cheering you on right now not wallowing in limbo.

I was very, very sad to see the news about MNSSHP this morning, and Eat to the Beat. I am hoping that perhaps they may run After Hours events in place of MNSSHP.

I was majorly freaked out about the park reservation system having time slots as I was envisaging being escorted out of the park at the end of my slot haha. But I think it is probably to stagger the number of people arriving at the park at any one time. I think (hope!) that the actual capacity for the day will take all time slots into account so you can stay until close regardless of the time you arrive.

[Em4owen]

You sound like me Abby, all these updates are making my head spin especially after being at school all day! I'm glad it's going well for you at work. It is nice to have a bit of the old routine back, isn't it? I know I've missed the kids. How many do you have in your bubble? I've got 7 in mine with 2 more starting on Monday.

[Goldia]

Originally Posted by Kat11

Oh that’s good to know that the same app can be used from multiple phones.

It would be great if you could give me a little lesson on multi quoting as it’s something I’ve tried before but couldn’t figure out what to do. I think it’s how to go back a few pages and quote something and also quote something from a different page at the same time. Iukwim 🤔

I use both my phone and iPad so I’ll just multi quote on the iPad. 👍🏼

Kat

See more...

Ok multi quoting lesson.

If you look at the bottom right of a post you have the like button, then the quote button this is just for quoting that one post though so if you click this it will automatically open a new window with the post quoted so you can reply. You need to select the third button which is speech marks and a + symbol. The button will then turn orange and you can select other posts you want to multi reply to by clicking the same button, you can go back and forward to posts on other pages in the thread. When you've got all the posts you want to reply to then you need to scroll to the bottom of the page you're on and click post reply which is just above the quick reply box. This will then open a reply to thread box with all the posts listed in it and you can do a reply to everyone at the same time right at the end of all the posts or you can reply to each individual within the message.

All that sounds really complicated written out but I promise it's a simple click on each post you want using the "+ button and then the post reply button.

Have a go on this thread so you know what you're doing before doing it in other threads I won't mind you doing a post on here to check how linking them all into one reply works and I'm sure no one else will mind.

Can you tell I'm a teacher and like explaining things? But like a typical teacher I won't be satisfied until I can actually see you doing it, cos I won't know if I've explained it well enough until I see it

Originally Posted by collybird

Hello all, I've been avoiding the Dibb again. So sorry Abby, you need us cheering you on right now not wallowing in limbo.

I was very, very sad to see the news about MNSSHP this morning, and Eat to the Beat. I am hoping that perhaps they may run After Hours events in place of MNSSHP.

I was majorly freaked out about the park reservation system having time slots as I was envisaging being escorted out of the park at the end of my slot haha. But I think it is probably to stagger the number of people arriving at the park at any one time. I think (hope!) that the actual capacity for the day will take all time slots into account so you can stay until close regardless of the time you arrive.

See more...

I've seen on Kenny the pirate that they think people will be able to come and go. They seem to think it's not a once you leave you can't get back in. If you've got a park reservation for the day then it is the whole day but who knows how it will actually work out in reality.

I thought for a brief minute yesterday that I should think a bit about what parks we want to visit each day and the timings, but I'm not going to do any planning at all. I know that sounds mad coming from me. But I already had a plan for which parks each day. So I'll just stick with that for the park reservation system. It seems pointless to try and second guess anymore and I'm not going to expend anymore energy worrying about it.

We've got my parents coming over for a BBQ this afternoon. The weather looks like it will be fab for us, low 20s and sunny. So I'm putting it all out of my mind.

I'm confident it will be a fubar on Monday with everyone scrambling to book their parks and the system crashing so I'm even thinking of waiting until Tuesday, but I dare say I'll be tempted to login when I get home from work as I won't be able to resist seeing what it all looks like. I keep wondering if we will have to queue to login like we did last year when they announced free dining and you had to wait in the virtual queue to get onto the website in the first place. There's no way it will run smoothly.

Originally Posted by Em4owen

You sound like me Abby, all these updates are making my head spin especially after being at school all day! I'm glad it's going well for you at work. It is nice to have a bit of the old routine back, isn't it? I know I've missed the kids. How many do you have in your bubble? I've got 7 in mine with 2 more starting on Monday.

See more...

It's a bit different for me as I'm secondary. So, last week I was in for 2 days with 2 different groups of year 10 morning and afternoon each day. So I've seen close to 60 kids which is great. Very odd though not to be able to go and look over their shoulders at their work and help them. They were quite timid at first and didn't want to speak really or join in when I asked questions. It must have been very strange for them after such a long time out of the classroom. Plus of course the set up is daunting and a little intimidating as they are all spread out 2m apart.

I'd prefer to be in every day, but of course there are still year 7, 8 and 9 that aren't in at all and I'm still doing video lessons and setting work for all them.

I really hope we do get to go back as normal in September. I also hope parents feel confident about sending their kids back and won't be too fearful of it.

[caitlinsmummy]

I must admit I'm quite disappointed with how Disney have dealt with this, drip feeding customers information is so unfair. I don't understand how they can still justify their prices by removing all these perks for staying onsite (just seen about the complimentary magic bands being stopped in January). Your head must be spinning Abby!

Oh the BBQ sounds lovely, it's rather cloudy and overcast here so I think we'll end up getting some rain at some point. Hope the day stays nice for you all and you have a great day X

[jothp]

Hi Abby
I'm just catching up as I've been back at work full time this week. It has been absolutely exhausting. We've got about half of our year 6's back at the moment. I'm not working in a bubble but am supporting with preparing work/photocopying/printing and all sorts of other admin tasks. I've no idea why it has made me so tired.

I saw that they've reduced the social distancing to 1m in NI. I think that is the way they will go here too probably sooner rather than later. I don't think it will mean we can get all children back to school at the same time in September though. Currently all our desks across the school are two seater desks. If distancing was reduced to 1m we could put the desks together in rows (instead of having them all individually as we have now) and sit children in every other seat but I don't think any of our classrooms would be big enough to have 60 desks so we could get 30 children in. I did read yesterday that there should be new guidance for schools within the next two weeks so hopefully that will give a bit more information.

I love the fact that you are staying so positive about your trip. We had decided to cancel ours with a plan to wait a good while to see if any offers come out for next year before rebooking. Everything at the moment is pointing to the fact that park days for 2021 can be booked next week so I'm feeling the pressure to get booked now and therefore might as well just amend this year's booking as we would then get to keep our gift card. I really hope that everything goes in your favour and the restrictions on travel are lifted so you get your holiday. I will keep my fingers crossed that you manage to get some parks booked.

I don't think magic bands are going away completely. I think that they are just not going to give them out for free anymore. I think we will probably just stump up and pay for them as I already feel like I use my phone too much searching for extra FPs.

I love the photos of the food. You certainly had a huge amount of pulled pork and it looked delicious especially on the nachos. The chilli cheese waffle fries look great too as did the food for VE day. It was really kind of your neighbours to leave you some brownies afterwards.

[Buggles94]

Hi Abby - glad the blaring hold music gave you a giggle - we definitely have to find the positivity at the moment and I'm trying to feel grateful that I'm worrying about park reservations etc when there are much bigger things to worry about. I have spent lockdown booking extra stays at WDW next year to make up for cancelled holidays this year - Feel very lucky to be able to do that but am I mad?!
Also really glad to hear you are back at work. I'm hoping to return in September but really not sure how social distancing as an LSA will work!
I admit I am feeling very stressed about Monday - they are allowing everyone to book their park reservations up to September 26th 2021 I think! What will that do to MDE? I think booking days over Christmas will not be easy! Previously I was almost guaranteed entry staying on site. We are using our DVC points for the stay so really don't want to change as we would struggle with using the points at a different time. We are also DVC AP holders and have now planned to go more than once next year to use the AP! However, AP holders can only book 14 days in total at a time (2 or 3 if not staying on resort) which won't cover our stays so I am trying to plan which days to book and hoping by next year more reservations will be available on the day. If not it will be a VERY expensive AP! One of my stays isn't linking to MDE yet so can't even think about booking days for that one.. Apparently it could take 30 days!
Really hope you manage to get all your parks booked on Monday and it goes smoothly for us all - can't face another 5 hours on hold however much I love the music!
Take care and enjoy the weekend Still loving this TR and it's positivity. Can't wait to hear that you are heading for the airport!

[Kat11]

Originally Posted by Goldia

Park Reservations

So I got home from work this evening to a couple of emails from Disney explaining the park reservation system will go live from next week and will be open to guests with on site hotel reservations only for the first few days.

I think there's been some confusion on the Dibb though as I read a thread where people seem to think this means they will be able to, or have to, reserve the parks they want to visit on holidays for next year. I'm sure I read that the reservation is only for dates through to September 21st, so a 60 day window. This sounds like the FP system to me and makes a lot of sense to me as when the reservation system was announced and all the ADRs and FP we're cancelled they said that ADRs will be able to be booked from 60 days out not 180 days.

Maybe I'm the one who is losing the plot here , but surely Disney aren't expecting everyone with a booking through to this time next year to be booking their park days? I know they've thrown some curve balls at us but that would be madness

The thing that's got me thinking and puzzling though is the requirement to book a time slot along with the day now that is odd and I'm not sure I like it...got to mull thst over a bit I think.

See more...

Oh this is interesting 😁

Originally Posted by Goldia

Food and Wine Festival

So I reckon Disney are messing with me they're announced that food and wine festival will be going ahead this year and starting earlier than ever before. Great right?

Well NO actually the first year we actually get to sample some of the snacks at food and wine is the year they cancelled the dining plan so we will have precisely zero credits to spend

Honestly, you couldn't make it up! I was so looking forward to the idea of Halloween in August and now they've confirmed the MNSHHP nights will not go ahead, but true to form they announce we can spend loads of money on snacks. It's genius.

Good job I've got a sense of humour about it. I've absolutely decided to not stress and worry about the whole thing. And I'm feeling pretty calm about all the announcements today actually. If we get to go then great. If we get to book a park or two then even better. But I'm not going to wind myself up about it.

Although, I am a bit sad that they will discontinue giving magic bands for hotel reservations from January I know that's crazy in the scheme of things but I love the magic band so I'll be sad to see the back of them

See more...

I can’t believe I’m doing multi quoting! 😂

Originally Posted by Goldia

I'm going to try and find where I read it as it does seem to be causing a lot of people in here stress and worry about getting all their ducks lined up in a row. Given that they cancelled all the ADRs I just can't see them wanting everyone booking a park so far in advance. That's mental.

I wonder how APs will work though. We've never had them but I'm sure that I read in a trip report once that APs could only book 7 days worth of FPs in one go. Maybe if you hold an AP you don't need to book a park so far in advance.

You're right many Americans think we're crazy to book our holidays so far ahead so I'm 99% that some on here have misunderstood.

See more...

Whoop whoop 👏🏼

Originally Posted by Goldia

Kat we keep posting at the same time! Jinx, padlock, 1, 2, 3!

Yep, I've been at work all day and came home to a whole bunch of emails and messages and then read all the updates on WDW website. It was only after that when I came on here and found people had interpreted it different to me.

Hotel guests can buy magic bands. But if not, then you use your phone to unlock your room so having MDE on your phone is vital. They will give you a key to world card if you don't have the app but I think if you don't have the app then you won't be able to plan or anything...they are really pushing the app.

See more...

Thanks Abby!

Originally Posted by Goldia

Argh I can't find where I thought I'd read that it was only for park reservations for the next 60 days. So maybe I made that up and everyone else was right.

I totally agree about a backward step. I love not carrying cash etc around and just waving my magic band at eveything. But yes more than 1 phone or device can have the same mde. I got Dave to download mde last summer and logged in with my account as I couldn't be bothered to get him to create an account so that I could use mde on his phone when mine was playing up. So you could get your girls to download the app and login for them with your account. I did make it clear to Dave he did not have the authority to make any changes!

Multiple posts is easy! I can teach you if you're interested? You can't do it on a mobile though unless you switch to desktop view. So if you only ever come on the dibb on your phone then not to worry.

See more...

Has it worked? 🤞🏼

I hope you are impressed! 😂👍🏼

Kat

[Goldia]

Originally Posted by caitlinsmummy

I must admit I'm quite disappointed with how Disney have dealt with this, drip feeding customers information is so unfair. I don't understand how they can still justify their prices by removing all these perks for staying onsite (just seen about the complimentary magic bands being stopped in January). Your head must be spinning Abby!

Oh the BBQ sounds lovely, it's rather cloudy and overcast here so I think we'll end up getting some rain at some point. Hope the day stays nice for you all and you have a great day X

See more...

It does seem bizarre, but I'm managing to stay fairly upbeat, perhaps because I'm not convinced the borders will open up for us to go to the US in July. Maybe they will for August travellers but Dave will no longer be working from home and so we are tied to our original holiday dates and can't shift it back a week or two. I'm not too bothered, if we go we go and if we don't we don't.

The BBQ was really nice. We even roped mum and dad into playing swing ball, which was fun. Kate started planning Disney at Home in case we can't travel. We get to eat microwave meals and watch movies all day for travel day. Mum did say that we should all sleep in one room the whole time and only use one bathroom . She also offered to spray us with the hose so we could pretend we were on a water ride she got quite into the planning so Kate has recruited her as a cast member and they've come up with all sorts of snacks and photo spots around the garden and she's going to make us wear our magic bands to scan for food and rides.

Originally Posted by jothp

Hi Abby
I'm just catching up as I've been back at work full time this week. It has been absolutely exhausting. We've got about half of our year 6's back at the moment. I'm not working in a bubble but am supporting with preparing work/photocopying/printing and all sorts of other admin tasks. I've no idea why it has made me so tired.

I saw that they've reduced the social distancing to 1m in NI. I think that is the way they will go here too probably sooner rather than later. I don't think it will mean we can get all children back to school at the same time in September though. Currently all our desks across the school are two seater desks. If distancing was reduced to 1m we could put the desks together in rows (instead of having them all individually as we have now) and sit children in every other seat but I don't think any of our classrooms would be big enough to have 60 desks so we could get 30 children in. I did read yesterday that there should be new guidance for schools within the next two weeks so hopefully that will give a bit more information.

I love the fact that you are staying so positive about your trip. We had decided to cancel ours with a plan to wait a good while to see if any offers come out for next year before rebooking. Everything at the moment is pointing to the fact that park days for 2021 can be booked next week so I'm feeling the pressure to get booked now and therefore might as well just amend this year's booking as we would then get to keep our gift card. I really hope that everything goes in your favour and the restrictions on travel are lifted so you get your holiday. I will keep my fingers crossed that you manage to get some parks booked.

I don't think magic bands are going away completely. I think that they are just not going to give them out for free anymore. I think we will probably just stump up and pay for them as I already feel like I use my phone too much searching for extra FPs.

I love the photos of the food. You certainly had a huge amount of pulled pork and it looked delicious especially on the nachos. The chilli cheese waffle fries look great too as did the food for VE day. It was really kind of your neighbours to leave you some brownies afterwards.

See more...

I bet you are worn out. A full week on site is more than me and I was shattered with just my 2 days. Just wearing proper shoes was hard! I agree that 1m is not going to be enough for us to fit all the kids into a classroom. It's the break and lunch times that are really making me ponder at the moment. We have 1600 students and around 30% of ours are free school meals. Getting everyone through the restaurant is going to be tricky, we usually serve around 300 hot meals going up to 500 if it's chips or roast day. Plus we have the cold lunch option of sandiches etc. I've been racking my brain around how we can get them through socially distanced and if we have to operate some kind of bubble system at secondary then that is going to be a bit of a puzzle to have to work out. Staggered lunch will likely have to start as soon as school opens to fit them all in of course there must be a way, we just haven't thought of it yet. Hopefully the government guidance of what we are allowed to do and what we're not allowed to do will be clear. But I doubt they will offer any advice as to how to answer the feeding them conundrum.

You're right it seems that perk reservations can be booked from next week for holidays through to September next year. I was wrong as I thought it was only 60 days in advance. I really wouldn't worry about booking a park for next summer though. I believe that July and August never reach capacity anyway and so I'm confident that if you wait you will have plenty of time to make your mind up. I could be wrong, but it's a possibility that they won't even have reduced capacity by next summer, maybe you'd still need to make a park reservation but if it's full capacity then don't worry.

Originally Posted by Buggles94

Hi Abby - glad the blaring hold music gave you a giggle - we definitely have to find the positivity at the moment and I'm trying to feel grateful that I'm worrying about park reservations etc when there are much bigger things to worry about. I have spent lockdown booking extra stays at WDW next year to make up for cancelled holidays this year - Feel very lucky to be able to do that but am I mad?!
Also really glad to hear you are back at work. I'm hoping to return in September but really not sure how social distancing as an LSA will work!
I admit I am feeling very stressed about Monday - they are allowing everyone to book their park reservations up to September 26th 2021 I think! What will that do to MDE? I think booking days over Christmas will not be easy! Previously I was almost guaranteed entry staying on site. We are using our DVC points for the stay so really don't want to change as we would struggle with using the points at a different time. We are also DVC AP holders and have now planned to go more than once next year to use the AP! However, AP holders can only book 14 days in total at a time (2 or 3 if not staying on resort) which won't cover our stays so I am trying to plan which days to book and hoping by next year more reservations will be available on the day. If not it will be a VERY expensive AP! One of my stays isn't linking to MDE yet so can't even think about booking days for that one.. Apparently it could take 30 days!
Really hope you manage to get all your parks booked on Monday and it goes smoothly for us all - can't face another 5 hours on hold however much I love the music!
Take care and enjoy the weekend Still loving this TR and it's positivity. Can't wait to hear that you are heading for the airport!

See more...

Yes I think the situation for annual placeholders, DVC members, Florida residents is a bit trickier than for those of us with one trip booked and our 14 or 21 day tickets. I agree that reserving a park at Christmas and Easter is likely to be the most difficult as those are the times of the year when the parks tend to reach capacity. If it were me I would prioritise the most popular dates first rather than doing the reservations in chronological order, so presumably Christmas Day, New Years Eve...But I've never been at Christmas so I'm not sure beyond that what to suggest. I hope you get lucky with that booking. For what it's worth Arpil is still a long way off and lots can change so even if you don't get linked in the next day or so hopefully it won't make a difference to park reservations. Also, if capacity increases then so will the park reservation slots so you may find you can book them up nearer the time. Maybe it will be like the hard to find ADRs that pop up a few days before because people are changing their plans.

Originally Posted by Kat11

Oh this is interesting 😁



I can’t believe I’m doing multi quoting! 😂



Whoop whoop 👏🏼




Thanks Abby!



Has it worked? 🤞🏼

I hope you are impressed! 😂👍🏼

Kat

See more...

brilliant, I hope you're feeling proud of yourself it really made me laugh to see all the posts linked together.