The Everything Happens for a Reason TR--Last Trip as a WDW CM*ONE MORE SLEEP! pg 25

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

YAYYYYYYY! I'm so happy for you that you guys got the trip that you really wanted! Congrats! What a great way to close out your cast membership!!! It is sort-of bittersweet, but you will make the best of it, I'm sure!

 

[WDW1st-timers]

Doesn't it feel good when you book? I love that moment. Overall CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

AWESOME! That is so exciting!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

YAYYYYYYY! I'm so happy for you that you guys got the trip that you really wanted! Congrats! What a great way to close out your cast membership!!! It is sort-of bittersweet, but you will make the best of it, I'm sure!

Yes it will be!!!

Doesn't it feel good when you book? I love that moment. Overall CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It does!!!

AWESOME! That is so exciting!

woo hooo!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

WELL....

I guess you can say the "planning" high that I was on just went kaput this morning at about 9am....

As when I had left off you could say the first road block of the trip that we haven't even taken yet had happened when we could not get the BOGO flights, but oh well, it was still a good rate and I'm even willing to pay the $178 for mine.

I couldn't sleep last night I was sooooo excited and woke up at 8am and fell asleep by like 2am

I got up and started printing out my updated word documents and went to print the resort ressies only to find out that the dates did not match up

We had booked the room back in mid June and discussed Fri-Wed but in the end decided on Thurs-Tues but we had booked FRI-WED and our flights are THURS-TUES


So I went in full panic attack mode knowing that a week ago, my CM site was not showing ANYTHING for WL discount so I called Casting right away and the CM could do nothing but in the meantime I checked online at wdw.com and could get a standard at WL for $120 more and the CM found it too so it's booked and I'll be paying the $120 for the mistake and call mom and just lose it on the phone apologizing like crazy. The CM said to keep checking both sites for a Bunkbed room or hopefully they can just put us in a BB room when we check in on Thurs (he noted it in our ressie).
He was able to cancel our Tues night room and do our DME although I'm not sure I trust it, as I still didn't get email confirmation haha but did look up and print the ressies through wdw and my cm site.

..so for now, 2 road blocks in 2 days, I'm not sure I can handle this right now!! and to make matters worse..dell could not fix Ddads computer so it will be a LONG ride back to Pittsburgh for the weekend

...moral of the story: DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING which we normally do, 2 and 3 times but I guess we got caught up in the excitement that we didn't look twice...from now on we will!

And with that I have to head to work and then drive back to Pitt tonight..

..take care

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Ohhhh! Sorry! That stinks! But, even with the extra cost...you will still be at WL at Christmastime and on the dates that you want!

 

[moparop]

Hiya Megan! I've been in and out of your TRs before and just found this one today. It's TOTALLY my dream to stay at WL at Christmas-time! I can't wait to see those photos.

Congrats on the job here in Cincy! It's looks like you have done so many wonderful things already with your students. I am guessing that you must work in our school district boundaries because my son is a kindergartener this year and they did the A-L/M-Z thing and it doesn't seem all that common. Are you liking the Cincy area?

 

[joy13]

Oh no! Well, at least you were able to get a room. Hopefully the price will come down.

 

[Trentmom]

Oh man. That totally stinks.

But you are still going, just had to pay a little more

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Ohhhh! Sorry! That stinks! But, even with the extra cost...you will still be at WL at Christmastime and on the dates that you want!

I know sad day!! I have info that I'll be posting!

Hiya Megan! I've been in and out of your TRs before and just found this one today. It's TOTALLY my dream to stay at WL at Christmas-time! I can't wait to see those photos.

Congrats on the job here in Cincy! It's looks like you have done so many wonderful things already with your students. I am guessing that you must work in our school district boundaries because my son is a kindergartener this year and they did the A-L/M-Z thing and it doesn't seem all that common. Are you liking the Cincy area?

Thanks for reading!! I am enjoying the Cincy area and the fact that the weather seems to be the same as FL right now but I'll have a huge wake up call when snow begins to fall and having not seen it in 2 years I'm sure I will be:

I teach in the Mason area so I'm not sure if you know where that is. Very Very Very nice area, beautiful homes and 5 mins away from Kings Island is great

Oh no! Well, at least you were able to get a room. Hopefully the price will come down.

Yes..we'll see!

Oh man. That totally stinks.

But you are still going, just had to pay a little more

Ya, we have options I guess??

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

YAY IT'S THE WEEKEND!!!!!

I feel like having 3+ posts within a day or two is a ton but oh well, people might be lurking and want to read what I have to offer so here goes. Aside from that, I'll be spending my weekend cleaning and packing up my bedroom for our new Realtor here in Pittsburgh, going to an engagement party for my college roomie, spa pedi day with mom, and well NOT planning our disney trip at all


So pretty much when I had left off, my WL dreams seemed to be smashed for Thurs the 10 at least...

As we stand, we have my CM discount for a bunk bed room from 11-15 at $207 a night
and now a standard view room at WL non discount for $327 (me paying the diff.)

Well as Ddad and I were driving home he says to me, well since we almost 100% probably will not be upgraded or put in a BB room the first night for the length of stay (even with the added notes), maybe we should explore other options with my discount. Fine. Here is the basic gist of my discount. If you want something good, book EARLY. WL room=good and booked in June..now the rooms are all gone. Could get MK view at Poly for 237 a night back in June, now GONE.

So I got home and started searching and came up with the following:
Discount: Yacht Club $244 for the night-wayy cheaper than 327 and always wanted to stay there!
Non Discount: Any moderate except POFQ for $230 or 2 rooms at a value for $230

Well, it's a no brainer and we booked YC, well we did the put on hold for 7 days but I think we'll end up booking it and cancel WL.

So life is crazy and soooo many ressie numbers and as we stand we have:
2 ressies for Dec 10: WL and YC
11-15 at WL
and AKL for the following week still booked and will cancel tomorrow (some CM is gonna me!!)

Well, if you didn't think life could get any crazier, now we have to plan dining and well, I had the dining planned out (no DDP remember) until Ddad reminded me of the possibility of my $20 CM DDP (regular DDP at discount) which could pop up in early Nov and added to our ressies AND I get a holiday package good for a year and get 50% off 1 restaurant inside and 1 outside a park so now onto ALLLLL those ADRs that I will have to make next week!!!

It's off to bed for me so the near heart attack from this morning has worn off and now I'm cool!!

BTW, if you have stayed at YC or BC do you know the pool hours????
We may adjust the first day to use an hour or two of the pool before moving to WL depending on the weather and pool hours


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

UP NEXT:
-Going from simple ADRs to ADRs out the wazooooo
-Day by Day
-More planning!!!

 

[Trentmom]

You sure do keep us on our toes over here with all your changes


Seriously, that is so cool you are staying at YC. I have only walked through it, but looks so pretty in there

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oooh, the Yacht Club! I always wanted to stay there just because the name sounds so prestigious.

We stayed at the Beach Club Villas last December and loved it. Sorry, I don't know what the pool hours were though.

 

[moparop]

I've never been to the YC even to visit, but it's a resort I'd love to check and out. And how awesome you were able to use the CM discount to get it! Score one for you Megan! I can't wait to hear which ADRs you decide to go with - it's one of my favorite parts about planning a Disney trip!

We DO live in Mason, although more in Deerfield Township than Mason proper. I kind of figured you were here when you mentioned the Kindergarten Phase-In. It's the cheaper part of town. Having KI right around the corner is super ideal and I am sure we will be getting season passes once the boys get a bit older. It seems like we are the only people arouind who don't have them. We moved here from Michigan so I don't think of the Cincy snow as too bad, but I am sure coming from FL you'll have a different take on things. Have you heard about Graeter's Ice Cream and Dewey's Pizza yet? They are my two favorite things about living here and are the places I take all guests into town!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

You sure do keep us on our toes over here with all your changes


Seriously, that is so cool you are staying at YC. I have only walked through it, but looks so pretty in there

I'm very excited! When I called to cancel the 5 million dollar WL room and AK for the next weekend the lady was ranting and raving about YC so we'll see!!

Oooh, the Yacht Club! I always wanted to stay there just because the name sounds so prestigious.

We stayed at the Beach Club Villas last December and loved it. Sorry, I don't know what the pool hours were though.

Oh I'm very excited!!!! I've always wanted to stay there but we never wanted to shell out the money but for 1/2 off and one night, I'll get my fix and cross that off the list!!

I've never been to the YC even to visit, but it's a resort I'd love to check and out. And how awesome you were able to use the CM discount to get it! Score one for you Megan! I can't wait to hear which ADRs you decide to go with - it's one of my favorite parts about planning a Disney trip!

We DO live in Mason, although more in Deerfield Township than Mason proper. I kind of figured you were here when you mentioned the Kindergarten Phase-In. It's the cheaper part of town. Having KI right around the corner is super ideal and I am sure we will be getting season passes once the boys get a bit older. It seems like we are the only people arouind who don't have them. We moved here from Michigan so I don't think of the Cincy snow as too bad, but I am sure coming from FL you'll have a different take on things. Have you heard about Graeter's Ice Cream and Dewey's Pizza yet? They are my two favorite things about living here and are the places I take all guests into town!

What a small world!! I LOVE the mason area and deerfield too. My parents are looking at houses in that golf course division off of Bethany but they are also looking in West Chester bc the homes are a tad cheaper and they would rather have new and cheap than slightly older so we shall see!! All my kids talk about their "gold passes" for KI. We'll prolly get them next year but it was a rude awakening the difference between KI and WDW..you can say we're super spoiled!!! I have not hear of those two eating places yet! La Rosa's seems to be a favorite and it's good!!

Thanks for reading, I'll have an update tomorrow most likely as we are getting ready for ADRS!!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Alright, I SWEAR this will be my last update for a few days. Not much more to report on since I've had a lot in the past few days.

We have finally settled on our ADRs but as I said before, it's just not as simple as I thought it was. With not being on the DDP we figured we'd do CLP lunch package to save $$$, Ohana because Ddad and Dbro have not eaten there, and 50s PTC because we haven't eaten there in years and even though Ddad claims its "expensive cracker barrel food" he would rather go there than Mama Melrose :

..so we were set on that, until I began to think

Well with free dining, EVERYONE will be booking ADRs left and right so well maybe we should plan ahead and always cancel. Even though we are not on a DDP, my CM $20 could always pop up at any time so then we would have to book for that and I also get my Christmas package and get 1/2 off a TS in and one outside a park so now we have to plan for that and the simple 3 ADRs turned into 7

I'll make you wait for the official list but my questions on this whole online ADR system....

Sadly I left WDW before we were officially trained on online ADRs (since we used ADR at BBB we were trained park wide) so I'm kinda in the ?????? on all this.

I went onto WDW.com today to "play around" with the dates. You can book for Dec 4 right now so I attemped 50's and put in the date range bc it said you can book up to 5 days out and it would not let me???!!! So my Questions Are:::::

-Do you have to prove you are checking in that day to do the date range?

-Will the split stay mess up my ADRs?

-Will I have to do my ADRs day by day?

...I'm thinking if it's that hard, I'll get up and just call. We have to call for the CLP package anyways although some of the ADRs that I want are going to be popular: Chef Mickeys, Ohana, 50s, etc.


ANY ADVICE????!!!

Okay I'm done for tonight, please respond if you have any advice or can help!!

TIA

~Megan

 

[Trentmom]

You have to plug in your resort reservation number to prove you are staying on site to be allowed to do your whole stay.

You will not be allowed to yet, as you are not at 90 days yet right?

Not sure how split stay works.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

YC will be fun! I stayed there before and didn't care for it because I was cooped up sick in my room Can't wait to hear about it. That pool is awesome!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

You have to plug in your resort reservation number to prove you are staying on site to be allowed to do your whole stay.

You will not be allowed to yet, as you are not at 90 days yet right?

Not sure how split stay works.

THANK YOU!!!!!!! I tried to put in my # to see if it could find my ressie and it could not So after trying both ressies I was like hm, they are both with a CM discount so MAYBE I have to book on my CM site...well I have to!!! I'm sure it runs at the same speed as the regular wdw site but it does not see the connection of the split stay which means


1. I can book my ADR for the 11th at 6am and then call at 7 and see if they will recognize the split stay and do the rest via phone

or

2. Book the ADR for the 11th and wait for the next morning to book the rest with the WL ressie.

We'll see, I'm glad I'm figuring it out before next Friday

YC will be fun! I stayed there before and didn't care for it because I was cooped up sick in my room Can't wait to hear about it. That pool is awesome!

Aww, I feel the same way about AKL when I had food poisoning last Dec but I'm very excited and can't wait to talk more about it!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

HAPPY LABOR DAY TO EVERYONE!!!

I wish I could say it was sunny and hot and an awesome day but sadly it is not and is rainy and IMOP, cold (high 60s)...oh boy am I NOT ready for winter haha!

I thought I would take some time to do some recaps of this and that before my Ddad (now going to be Dd) head back for the 5 hour journey from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati!!

So be prepared for this and that from our current resort ressies, to hopeful ADRs, to a Disney talk-filled weekend!! So here we go!!!!!

A RECAP OF THIS AND THAT:

So with all the switching and this and that I thought I would recap our current plans as of 9/7:

Dec 10: Staying at YC-standard room
Dec 11-15: Staying at WL- courtyard view with BB


HOPEFUL ADRS!!!!

My ADR date is slowly approaching!! After reading on other Pre-TR I'm starting to feel anxious, nervous, excited, and glad that I don't work till 12:30 for the rest of the week!

After having thought that everything is set up-when using my CM room discount, I have to book my ADRs through my CM site, I then realized the split stay and that the ressies won't recognize that so now what?!

Conclusion:
-Get up on Friday at 6 and book our ADR for the 11th
-Call casting at 7 to see if they can override the split and book the rest
-If not, get up on Sat at 6 and book the rest and call at 7 to book CLP

Another road block:
Well the "what ifs" started to fly around and by that I mean discounts, ddp, non ddp, etc. so as of right now we went from having 3 small ADRs to 7 or 8
Without major details we have the categories:
1.ADRs without any discount
2. ADRs with CM DDP (not likely to pop up bc of free dining)
3. ADRs with my CM xmas coupons
4. ADRs with CM DDP and Xmas coupons

I'll wait till everything is booked but the ones we're thinking of are the following:
-50s Prime Time or Mama Melrose (might book both)
-Japan for CLP (if on DDP)
-China for CLP (if not on DDP)
-Artist Pointe (if using xmas coupon or DDP)
-Ohana

Has anyone ever been to The Plaza at MK? Using my xmas coupon, I can pick that or LTT but we've eaten there many times and sadly CP and Tonys are blocked for dinner and we need a dinner.

DISNEY TALK OF THIS AND THAT

Just when I was beginning to think my fam was not as thrilled about this as I was, my Dd and I nearly talked for 2 hours driving home on Friday about WDW and Dm said her and Dd talked about it the whole way home from the city on Sat and last night at Olive Garden (endless pasta ) we talked about it again!

I was also able to head to Home Depot to get the mickey paint samples for the count down. I'm going to start it on our 90 days so stay tuned for that!

I went online yesterday to disneystore.com and bought a travel bathroom bag and a 2 set blue disney luggage although I had MAJOR issues being able to sign on with my email and even tried 2 other emails and finally had to buy the stuff as a 'guest' and it won't track my order so I'll be calling tomorrow to see if the order even went through even though I have a tracking number!

For now that is about it!!! Once our ADRs are finalized I'll be posting those on the correct days!!

Have a great Holiday!!

BLAST FROM THE PAST PICTURES:
My fav ride! Our family trip in 1994

Chef Mickeys in 1992