Tag Archives: Disney Vacation Club

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A Lovely Evening Booked

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Day 355 in my early morning efforts to meet Mickey in October

Today’s plan was to be calling Disney Vacation Club at 8:00 am (9:00 am EST).  This morning I could book an Eat to the Beat Dinner Package at EPCOT while we are in Florida.  I was able to get through right away, so Mike and I are booked for a 5:30 dinner at Rose and Crown Pub, then we have seats reserved for an 8:00 pm Air Supply concert.

All Out of Love, Making Love Out of Nothing at All, Lost in Love, The One That You Love, Here I Am, Even the Nights are Better. Every Woman in the World  So many love songs, so little time.  🙂  It will be a lovely evening with my favorite guy.  Then at 9:00 pm Illuminations, EPCOT‘s fireworks/laser light show.  *sigh*

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I could have called as early at 6:00 am, because the reservations opened at 7:00 am EST this morning.  I didn’t realize that until I had made my call.  Oh well, all’s well that ends well.

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And the Winner Is…

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Day 349  in my deliberations as I prepare to meet up with Mickey

Today the 240 page document on The 2015 Food and Wine Festival became available for download.  People can book the special events beginning 9:00 am EST on July 31st.  So I thought, “Great, I have a week to decide which special event to attend.”  Then as I read further, I saw that Disney Vacation Club members can book online beginning TOMORROW MORNING at 9:00 am EST.  OMGoodness!  That really turned up the burner.  I became a speed reader and flew through the downloaded document.

And the winner is…Parisian Breakfast!  So if I can get the reservation, Mike and I will have breakfast at the French Pavilion at EPCOT on a Saturday morning in October.  It’s one of the least expensive of my options, and it just plain sounds romantic.  I would love to sit across from Mike sharing a croissant and fruit while sipping a cup of French roast coffee.  Oui, oui, little French Girl, I will see you there.

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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To “Tables in Wonderland” or Not…

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Day 323 in my researching my way to meeting up with Mickey (3 months and 16 days to go)

Today’s plan was to look into Tables in Wonderland, a Disney dining discount card.  The card works at the parks and also at Downtown Disney and at most of the restaurants at the resorts.  The card costs $100 for Disney Vacation Club Members.  Tables in Wonderland (TIW) saves 20% on most table service meals at Walt Disneyworld. It includes entrees, appetizers and even alcohol for up to ten people.  When you use it, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to your bill.  So basically you save the cost of the tip plus 2% on all meals. (We’re usually 20% tippers.) There are six of us going to Walt Disneyworld and we will be there for eight nights.  We have at least one table service restaurant scheduled for each day that we are there.  So if we have the card from the very beginning, it will not only brake even, but it will save us some moolah.

We get to Florida on Tuesday, October 13.  We have a 7:00 pm dining reservation at Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West.  (My favorite restaurant in the whole of Walt Disneyworld!)  So shortly after checking in, I will make my way to Downtown Disney (or is it Disney Springs yet?), to purchase a TIW card.  Then I will squeeze that card dry over the next eight glorious nights!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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A Blessed Sabbath

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Day 303 in my driving toward my destination of meeting Mickey at Magic Kingdom

Today I woke early and headed to St. James Lutheran Church to play the contemporary service.  It was transcendent!  The Holy Spirit was there in a very real way.  Listening to and singing with my daughter Emi, who lives in England, is always a blessing and today was no exception.  I am so grateful for that opportunity!

I knew we were eating out twice today, so my plan was to choose wisely.  We ate brunch at Maevery Public House in Lake Bluff.  I picked a Veggie Benny: 2 poached eggs, each on a half of an English muffin, with asparagus, broccoli, spinach and tomato with Lite Hollandaise Sauce.  It was so satisfying.

Now tonight, because it’s Emi’s last night here, she chose the Silo for dinner.  We are all having a side salad.  Mike, Emi, Jake and Eliza will have pizza for their entree.  I will have half of a spinach soufflé baked potato and save the rest for tomorrow.  It is simply a day of delightful worship, family, friends and fabulous food.

I am feeling very blessed and very sated.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Disney Customer Service

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Day 278 on my Disney musings as I make my way to Mickey Mouse

I have to take time to pay homage to Disney Customer Service.  You don’t have to travel to many countries as a tourist, before you realize just how good customer service is at Disney (and in the United States in general).  No hate mail, please.  It’s just true.

I had occasion to call Disney, because I couldn’t get My Disney Experience account linked to my Disney Vacation Club (DVC) account. I tried several time to get the job done online, but ended up frustrated every time.   I dialed the number for Walt Disney World and was connected to Maxwell.  He was simply marvelous!  Within fifteen minutes I had my accounts connected, and he gave me a thorough explanation on how the new system works.

For DVC members, you make your hotel reservation on the DVC members website.  Once you have your reservation made, everything runs through My Disney Experience.  Maxwell and the folks at Disney made it all easy-peasey.  I was all finished with my phone call in less than 25 minutes.  (The system works nearly the same for non-DVC members.  Once you have your Disney on-property hotel reservation, then you can access everything through your very own My Disney Experience app).

Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: My Disney Experience…I LOVE this APP.  I am type-A when it comes to trying to keep all my Disney trip reservations and info in one place.  With this trip, for the first time, I am relaxed because My Disney Experience has it all there for me to check and see at any time.  Leave it to Disney to revolutionize planning!  Way to go, Disney!

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Disney’s Magical Advantages!

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Day 274 in advancing toward meeting up with Mickey Mouse at the Magic Kingdom.

GAH!!!!  My plan for today was to book our trips to and from Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Orlando International Airport on Disney’s Magical Express.  Can you tell?  I’m just a little excited about that!  All six of us who are going in October (me, my honey Mike, our son Jake, his wife Eliza, our daughter Emi and her husband James) have finally booked our flights.  Once all flights are booked, if you are a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Member (and we are), you can go to the DVC website and book the bus.

Now for those who are not Disneyphiles, Disney’s Magical Express is a free perk that folks staying at Disney resorts are provided.  It is literally a FREE ride to and from the airport.  (Now I know there are skeptics out there saying, “Oh, you’re paying for it.”  And that may be true, but I would stay on property even without this perk, so it feels free to me.  And I appreciate it!)  🙂  And on top of that, we can check our luggage in Chicago, and they will deliver it to our room at Old Key West.  Can you say, “Holy wah!”?  I love it!

So, now we are one step closer to being all ready for our vacation.  I hope to write soon about: Disney Vacation Club (it gets me to my happy place), My Disney Experience (an absolutely fantastic planning app), and  apples (I have a bone to pick with the apples/doctor saying).  Thank for hanging in there with me, my dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!

BTW: I am drinking a cup of Starbuck’s coffee from my Magic Kingdom mug, as I type.  It arrived yesterday!  I LOVE it!  Two of my favorite things in one place–Magic Kingdom and Starbuck’s.  Yahoo!   Ya-le-hoo-lah! Thank you so much, Bro Geno and Sis-in-love Patsy!  And thanks to Regina, niece-in-love extraordinare,for picking up an extra mug, just in case.  🙂  Love you guys!

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In the Sweet Spot

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Day 97 in my exciting adventure toward my date with Mickey

My plan for today was to meet with my Health Coach, and I did.  My two goals for the next four weeks are:

  1. Try out walking at the Lake Bluff Health and Fitness Center sprung track.  It is right on my way home from work, so no excuses to not drop in there.  The sprung track will make walking easier on my sore joints.
  2. Research and adjust my holiday recipes, so they are more nutritious and not so filled with empty calories.

Friendly little facts that are making my life exciting:

  • I always weigh myself before I talk to Alex, my heath coach.  And…tan-ta-ta-a-da…I made my 30 pounds this morning!!!  So exciting! I’m very happy about that.
  • OMGosh…Starbuck’s has a Skinny Peppermint Mocha.  I got one yesterday with decaf.  It might be my favorite treat EVER!
  • Jake & Emi (our kid)s, Eliza and James (their spouses), Mike (my amazing husband) and I are booked into Old Key West for our vacation in October.  I have our 5-day Park Hopper passes in hand.  And they are all connected up on “My Disney Experience.”

So right now, gentle readers, life is very good at the Jarvi household. Meet you the Kingdom!

BTW: Shout out to Chris, my wonderful work partner.  (Prayers coming your way, my friend! )  She fell and broke her wrist yesterday.  If you have a sec, offer up a quick prayer for her today.  Thanks, all y’all!

 

 

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We’re Booked!

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Day 96 in my dash to Disney and Mickey

What shall I post about today…hmmm…what’s new and exciting around here?   GAH!

Today’s plan was to call Member Services at Disney Vacation Club and book rooms at Disney’s Old Key West Resort for our trip in October.  AND I DID!  WOOP!  We are booked for a 3-bedroom grand villa for 8 glorious nights.  The villa has a full kitchen, dining room, living room, the aforementioned 3 bedrooms with 3 accompanying full bathrooms,  washer, dryer and a hot tub.  Personally, I think we should just move there.  🙂

Man, I am so excited.  I made sure to only drink one cup of decaf today.  I have had no caffeinated food or beverages today, and I am still all jacked up.  This stuff is gettin’ real!  Woo hoo!

Meet you at the Kingdom!

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Disney Vacation Club Fun

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Day 32 in my quest to meet up with Mickey

Today is a sopping wet, gray day here in Lake Bluff.  We are promised severe thunder storms later on today.  It’s a morning that has spawned tornadoes and flooding throughout the Midwest.

If I had my way, my plan for today would be to read and nap the day away.  However, I don’t see how that would get me ready for our Walt Disney World trip in October 2015.  So, here’s my plan: to try to reverse some of the negative energy that is pressing on me today, I will do Tai Chi after work.  Then to work my arms a bit extra, I will do my Shake Weight.  (tee hee: see previous blog entries about Shake Weight)

We are members of the Disney Vacation Club, and we love, love, love it!!  Old Key West has become our home away from home.  With 150 points Mike and I and the kids/spouses can go to Florida every three years and stay in a three bedroom Grand Villa in the heart of Walt Disney World for over a week.  Woo hoo!  I thought it was 7 nights, but I realized yesterday in looking more closely at our points that even though we used a few points this year, we can still stay for 8 nights/9days when we go.  I am so-o-o jacked!!

And so it goes, dear readers.  Meet you at the Kingdom!