'Finally got my own way!' PTR

[Tinkerbell1989]

Evening all!

Well, I may be a little forward in doing my PTR but I've spent the past 6 months trying to convince DBF to book our 2012 holiday to Disney. After a week off work, and an impromtu visit to Virgin Holidays, he has finally said that if we can get his staff discount then we can go! So I'm gonna start this now... but it may disappear next week if VH don't let us have our discount!

So, I'll introduce us

On our last holiday to Corfu
Her: Steffi, 22, nursery nurse, dreamer, obsessed with everything Disney much like the rest of my family.
Him: Tom, 23, business analyst, sensible with money, likes spreadsheets, pretends he's too mature for Disney but enjoys the planning and the technologies.

Plans so far:
Well, as I've said, right now, none
But when I pin Tom down to book it next week, it will be -
8th-20th October (12 nights) at Coronado Springs Resort with Quick Service Dining Plan.

How do you guys find the QSDP? Compared to the DDP?

We've never stayed at a WDW resort before, so I'm looking forward to the freedom of going back to the hotel during the day, and I'm hoping it won't be horribly busy like it often is in December.

To-do list:
BOOK IT!
Insurance and ESTAs
Keep saving £1s for spending money
Take a good look at food places - book any ADRs?
MNSSHP - consider?
Clothes shopping - obviously!
Collect shopping list from family - Lucky Charms etc

Unfortunately I don't have much more to add now... but I'm hoping to come back with a confirmation and much more to do

Thanks for reading my waffling

Steffi xx

 

[beautifullily]

Fingers crossed you get your discount. Look forward to hearing more.

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Fingers crossed that you can get your discount!

Octobers a wonderful time to visit & I think MNSSHP is a definate, alot of fun.

 

[wilma-bride]

Hope you get your own way - you're a girl after my own heart

October is a great time of year to visit, we love MNSSHP and the warm but not so humid weather. The parks are not as busy as December but probably more so than the quieter months like January and September.

We've never done the QSDP but there are some great counter service places at WDW - we love Yak & Yeti CS at Animal Kingdom, Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD and Columbia Harbour House at Magic Kingdom. Plus, Earl of Sandwich is a great CS place too.

Fingers crossed you get it booked

 

[joolz1910]

I hope you get it booked!

 

[Linda67]

I hope you get it booked, I'll send positive vibes to you!
You must to MNSSHP, it's so much fun
You'll love the food and wine festival as well and you can use your snack credits to sample the booths
Happy planning

 

[tinks_1989]

Hi I am here following your invitation and with my bottle I said I would bring (didnt have a bottle drinking one)

I would defiantly go with Port Orleans Riverside and if you can afford to upgrade the dining I would! x

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Hehe, aww thanks ladies! And Leanne, drinks of any sorts are welcome

Well, an update on our booking issue. We couldn't get our discount but we can get a money off using our Tesco Clubcard points.

So, after Tom messed around with his magic spreadhseet, we discussed making more use of the DDP instead of the QSDP, and before I knew it our clubcard points had been converted to airmiles with VH!!

I was given a choice of where to stay, which we'd like to put the deposit down tonight, so... where to stay?!

Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, or Port Orleans French Quarter?!

EDIT - It's done! We've off to Coronado Springs!
xxx

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Awww! thats great news. Can't wait to hear more of your plans x

 

[beautifullily]

Yeah, let the planning commence!

 

[MrRomance]

Hoping you will get your discount so you can move on with the planning!

To attempt to answer some of your questions and add my 2p worth....

QSDP vs DP

QSDP is absolutely fine if you're "on-the-go" types and don't care for the character experiences. There is plenty of choice, plenty of options and if you like to be busy, you can eat on the fly.

DP wins out if you have kids or you like character meals. The character meals are quite expensive so even if you're only planning on doing a couple of them, it's worth upgrading to the DP. We leave in 4 days and we went for a deluxe resort to get the DP for this reason. Unless you're dead set on a moderate, consider the upgrade. When we booked there was a deal running on Saratoga Springs (35-45% off) which made it no more expensive than our other choice which was Port Orleans. So watch for deals.

ESTA

I don't know if you're likely to go to the US again in the next couple of years, but if you are or think you might be, leave your ESTA application until about a week before your Florida trip. They run for 2 years and you don't have to do it until 3 days before you leave. No sense in paying twice for your ESTA if you plan another US trip in the next 2 years.

INSURANCE

Look on comparison sites for annual policies and check with your bank. VH wanted £125 for insurance, we got an annual policy with the same benefits for £72. If you bank with Nationwide or a couple of others, you can upgrade your "free European insurance" to worldwide for £20ish.

Staying on Disney & October crowds

Once you stay on Disney, you'll never go back! We stayed off site (very happily) for many years. In 2008 we stayed on-site and now wouldn't consider an off-site hotel! It will spoil you! Our usual time to go is October/November and crowds are very manageable and nothing like the busy periods.

Hope that helps!

 

[Ciorsdah]

Congratualtions!!!!

I'm heading over to POR in September so my planning is around the same stage as yours, the excitement is sky high!!

We have the QSDP as my DBF is a picky eater and I dont eat much so the 2 meals per day plus 2 snacks are more than enough for me, I'll miss a "proper" dining experience while on holiday each night, but I think we are going to book 2 nice dinners per week.

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Awww! thats great news. Can't wait to hear more of your plans x

Me too... Do you think 8 months is too soon?

Yeah, let the planning commence!

Ah thanks, Fay!

Hoping you will get your discount so you can move on with the planning!

To attempt to answer some of your questions and add my 2p worth....

QSDP vs DP

QSDP is absolutely fine if you're "on-the-go" types and don't care for the character experiences. There is plenty of choice, plenty of options and if you like to be busy, you can eat on the fly.

DP wins out if you have kids or you like character meals. The character meals are quite expensive so even if you're only planning on doing a couple of them, it's worth upgrading to the DP. We leave in 4 days and we went for a deluxe resort to get the DP for this reason. Unless you're dead set on a moderate, consider the upgrade. When we booked there was a deal running on Saratoga Springs (35-45% off) which made it no more expensive than our other choice which was Port Orleans. So watch for deals.

ESTA

I don't know if you're likely to go to the US again in the next couple of years, but if you are or think you might be, leave your ESTA application until about a week before your Florida trip. They run for 2 years and you don't have to do it until 3 days before you leave. No sense in paying twice for your ESTA if you plan another US trip in the next 2 years.

INSURANCE

Look on comparison sites for annual policies and check with your bank. VH wanted £125 for insurance, we got an annual policy with the same benefits for £72. If you bank with Nationwide or a couple of others, you can upgrade your "free European insurance" to worldwide for £20ish.

Staying on Disney & October crowds

Once you stay on Disney, you'll never go back! We stayed off site (very happily) for many years. In 2008 we stayed on-site and now wouldn't consider an off-site hotel! It will spoil you! Our usual time to go is October/November and crowds are very manageable and nothing like the busy periods.

Hope that helps!

Thankyou - yeh it does help actually. We sat down with the QSDP restaurants and realised that we would eat more than that, and may end up spending money on TS... so we have upgraded to DDP, as there were lots of places on that list in which we would eat! And I can eat!

My Grandad is taking us to Florida December 2013, and so we had already thought about leaving the ESTA until late. Now I know we definately can, it makes things easier! And insurance, I think we have with our Natwest account, but it needs checking!

Congratualtions!!!!

I'm heading over to POR in September so my planning is around the same stage as yours, the excitement is sky high!!

We have the QSDP as my DBF is a picky eater and I dont eat much so the 2 meals per day plus 2 snacks are more than enough for me, I'll miss a "proper" dining experience while on holiday each night, but I think we are going to book 2 nice dinners per week.

Ah see, Tom and I are not picky and I can eat so the DDP is perfect for us... and if we don't use all our snacks, we can spend them on the last day at Goofys Candy Co!

Thanks for everyones replies... we've got the DDP restaurant list, so we just need to work out where we want to eat, and our day-to-day plan I wonder if it is too soon to start all this planning!

Steffi xxx

 

[darthtatty]

cant wait to hear all your plans. Fingers crossed you get a lovely discount and book it

 

[Ciorsdah]

Its never too soon to start planning!

Trust me - I'm a PA. I can plan the unexpected now

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Well we've been looking at the restaurant list, and we have chosen too many! This is going to be harder than I thought!

So much choice!
Supercalifragilistic Breakfast at Park Fare (GF)
The Crystal Palace (MK)
Chefs De France (E)
Coral Reef (E)
Le Cellier (E)
Teppan Edo (E)
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (HS)
House of Blues (DD)
T-Rex Cafe (DD)
Califronia Grill (CR)
Cinderella's Royal Table (MK)

Still considering...
50's Prime Time Cafe (HS)
Yak and Yeti Restaurant (AK)
Restaurant Marrakesh (E)
Le Hacienda de San Angel (E)
The Turf Club Bar and Grill (SSR)
Grand Floridian Cafe (GF)

Eek! Look at all that food!! Our final choices will be made when the opening hours and EMHs are released - so it's just a couple more months of looking at menus and food reviews!

To do:
MNSSHP - I'm not a big lover of Halloween in that it's not my favourite holiday, but I figure if we're in the area, we might as well take part in the activity!
Wishes Dessert Party - I was having a look at some reviews last night, and again think I'd like to do this, but it would be something we'd have to pay for OOP.
CRT - I know it's on our food list, but I soooooo want to do this. Just struggling to convince Tom that it's worth the 2 TS credits each!

xxx

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Your restaurant choices look great! I really enjoyed Le Celliers. Yum.

MNSSHP is fun and the dessert party is good, I'm hoping to do it again this year. If you like to snack on desserts it's good and you get the big bonus of not being trod on whilst watching Wishes.

Can't wait to see your final resturant list. Some of the ones you are considering are great places to eat xx

 

[Tink2312]

Your plan sounds great so far. We've stayed at Coronado Springs twice and we love it - superior rooms to the rest of the moderates and the most beautiful lake. Also lovely pool area and particularly good quiet pools. I'd recommend you request Casitas or Cabanas (our personal favourite) as the Ranchos section is a bit far out and we don't care for the theming - all looks very fake and plastic IMHO.
Loving the restaurant choices - I personally wouldn't bother with CRT - why not try dinner at 1900 PF instead - similar characters and only 1 TS. Have you thought of having a meal at the Polynesian? We love Kona Cafe and Ohana for dinner and I've heard they're both good for breakfast too (Ohana breakfast is with Stitch and friends). We love eating over there and spending time exploring the resort and one of our favourite things to do is relax and watch Wishes from the beach - you can't beat laying on a lounger away from the crowds!
Happy planning

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Your restaurant choices look great! I really enjoyed Le Celliers. Yum.

MNSSHP is fun and the dessert party is good, I'm hoping to do it again this year. If you like to snack on desserts it's good and you get the big bonus of not being trod on whilst watching Wishes.

Can't wait to see your final resturant list. Some of the ones you are considering are great places to eat xx

The only places we've eaten at before is Chef Mickeys, Rainforest Cafe and Tusker Hosue... so we just wanted to try lots of new and different places. And I love my food, so as long as I get to eat I'm happy!

Your plan sounds great so far. We've stayed at Coronado Springs twice and we love it - superior rooms to the rest of the moderates and the most beautiful lake. Also lovely pool area and particularly good quiet pools. I'd recommend you request Casitas or Cabanas (our personal favourite) as the Ranchos section is a bit far out and we don't care for the theming - all looks very fake and plastic IMHO.
Loving the restaurant choices - I personally wouldn't bother with CRT - why not try dinner at 1900 PF instead - similar characters and only 1 TS. Have you thought of having a meal at the Polynesian? We love Kona Cafe and Ohana for dinner and I've heard they're both good for breakfast too (Ohana breakfast is with Stitch and friends). We love eating over there and spending time exploring the resort and one of our favourite things to do is relax and watch Wishes from the beach - you can't beat laying on a lounger away from the crowds!
Happy planning

Aw bless you! I'm glad you enjoyed CSR! And thankyou for your recommendation... we need all the help we can get wiyth regards to onsite stays!

I think the appeal for me of CRT is simply because it's in the castle... but, I agree for 2 TS each it seems a lot!

Ooh the Polynesian for Wishes! What a good idea! And we watched something the other day which showed how to make 'Tonga Toast' (from Kona I believe?) and it looked delicious!!

Maybe I've got some adjusting to do...

xxx

 

[Tink2312]

Tonga toast is Kona but rather than use a TS for breakfast there, we go to Captain Cooks for a CS and you can get Tonga toast there too - yum!