And these are the {Resort} Changes of our Lives ~In Memory of JungleCruiser <3

[babyberger]

Happy Saturday to all. Those who are not feeling well, hope you all are chipper soon

Melissa- the jeep has a trip to Disney too, but for us that would be 2300 miles! It also had a 1600 round trip to take B back to college!

Well now I don't feel so good about my mileage We haven't done any major trips like that. Glad I found you on FB! Always nice to put a face with a name

 

[babyberger]

The show was super fun!!! Still made me cry!

The planning we did was to actually book a YC room only for BFF w/the spring offer and cancel the package she had booked. She is afraid they won't get their income tax refund in time for their 3/4 package payoff date, so the room only is the way to go. She will likely end up buying the tickets through UT instead.

We also decided that we will try to get reservations for the dessert party because I think her DH would be much happier up above the crowd versus right in the crowd, so I have advised IPO and they will let me know when dates open up.

They told their kids, and the kids are soooooooo excited!!!! I'm excited to see Disney through them since they don't get to go as often as our kids. Even our kids are somewhat "overexposed" at this point, lol.

I really like the flexibility of the RO bookings. We have done a package a few times when we have added dining, but the cancellation policy and payment in full 45 days out instead of at check in just makes it worth a second look. I have heard that UT is a good source for tickets too. Do you have the TIW card? As a Passholder you can buy one and use it for all of you, that would definitely save some money on the food too!

 

[padawans]

BB I agree on the room only. I cancelled my interline room at WL and rebooked it with the BB offer. I'm not so patiently waiting for my refund. I was thinking about doing with the YC reservation since the AP rate is about 35% off. I'm going to see how long the first refund takes. I always get nervous waithing for large amounts of money to be refunded. I already paid off my CC so I would just have to turn around and pay off the RO or leave the 4000 credit on it. Makes no since. I could shoot myself for paying off the packages early. The advantage though it would be easy to change my reservations up to the last minute.

Marie I was perusing the DL AP site. I noticed they suddenly dropped the AP discount from about 10% to 25% for the next two weeks. Hopefully that is a good sign that the "no discount idea" is not working out so well. Rack rate at Dl is somewhat reasonable if they bring back the 30% off discounts during the off season maybe you'll get your club level. I think the problem Dl has is that there are too many offsite hotels within walking distance of DL for them to keep their prices so high. I could be wrong, but that's my thinking.

PAS I like your Oct/Nov idea or did you change that already? It does take some time to save up for these trips that's for sure.

Speaking of AP's I was pricing out the Poly GV CL for 4 nights In May. 2700 bucks.I can't wrap my brain around spending that much on a room at the Poly. I'm guessing that's why the GF and Poly reviews on TA are always so bad. If I was paying that much I would expect absolute perfection, and maybe a foot rub at the end of the day. My hats off to anyone willing to pay that.

 

[pumba]

everytime I see the name Marie..I think you are talking to me too...ROFL...I am Marie but most people call me Pum...Or the pig...rofl..

Have a good Super bowl day people...we have a slew of food we will be eating for another month I am sure...I dont do football but I sure love food..


I used to be one of the moderators on the Trip Reports and I would love to read their Magic...it was wonderful....Now I am on the Restaurant board and I love FOOD PORN...nothing better then seeing someone elses plated food before I decide if I want to eat there or not...hahaha...seriously...it is a great board

 

[Mousemommy1]

I really like the flexibility of the RO bookings. We have done a package a few times when we have added dining, but the cancellation policy and payment in full 45 days out instead of at check in just makes it worth a second look. I have heard that UT is a good source for tickets too. Do you have the TIW card? As a Passholder you can buy one and use it for all of you, that would definitely save some money on the food too!

Yes, we will be using TiW.

I made an ADR cancellation today....got rid of CRT breakfast. Couldn't really justify spending $175 on breakfast, other than the fact the DD8 requested it for her birthday, but recently she's been saying that she really doesn't care if we eat there or not...she's more excited about Beast's Castle.
So, I emailed IPO to cancel our CRT ressie, so we should get the refund on that because its prepaid.
We've eaten there twice before, so I'm not sad about it....just trying to decide if I should pick up another breakfast ressie. We are not breakfast people but sometimes a hot breakfast is yummy.

 

[pumba]

we found that the Princess breakfast at Akershus was amazing...more time with the princesses and the photo at the beginning before you are seated with Belle is included with your breakfast price...we loved the food and the variety and the atmosphere was amazing...just a heads up

 

[Mousemommy1]

we found that the Princess breakfast at Akershus was amazing...more time with the princesses and the photo at the beginning before you are seated with Belle is included with your breakfast price...we loved the food and the variety and the atmosphere was amazing...just a heads up

Unfortunately, we very much dislike Akershus.

Bad experience there...

I am thinking that we would replace it with a non character breakfast as even my kids find character meals to be of poor food quality, and chaotic, lol!

 

[DetTigsGal]

I wish akershus would go back to non-character buffet. The only time we went was before that and really enjoyed our lunch

 

[chimo2u]

BB I agree on the room only. I cancelled my interline room at WL and rebooked it with the BB offer. I'm not so patiently waiting for my refund. I was thinking about doing with the YC reservation since the AP rate is about 35% off. I'm going to see how long the first refund takes. I always get nervous waithing for large amounts of money to be refunded. I already paid off my CC so I would just have to turn around and pay off the RO or leave the 4000 credit on it. Makes no since. I could shoot myself for paying off the packages early. The advantage though it would be easy to change my reservations up to the last minute.

Marie I was perusing the DL AP site. I noticed they suddenly dropped the AP discount from about 10% to 25% for the next two weeks. Hopefully that is a good sign that the "no discount idea" is not working out so well. Rack rate at Dl is somewhat reasonable if they bring back the 30% off discounts during the off season maybe you'll get your club level. I think the problem Dl has is that there are too many offsite hotels within walking distance of DL for them to keep their prices so high. I could be wrong, but that's my thinking.

PAS I like your Oct/Nov idea or did you change that already? It does take some time to save up for these trips that's for sure.

Speaking of AP's I was pricing out the Poly GV CL for 4 nights In May. 2700 bucks.I can't wrap my brain around spending that much on a room at the Poly. I'm guessing that's why the GF and Poly reviews on TA are always so bad. If I was paying that much I would expect absolute perfection, and maybe a foot rub at the end of the day. My hats off to anyone willing to pay that.

Hi Padawans! Discount would be so great! I've narrowed it down to Embassy Suite South for Sunday, Mon, Tue (Knotts Berry Farm, and Universal those days), then we'd move over to DLH for Wed, Thur, Friday for our Disney days. Then departure would be Sat Feb 8, 2014. That's how I'd like it to go anyway, but hotel costs are up there.....even Embassy suites are $200 per night. It would be great to get CL with our DLH portion, but as of this moment, I'm not willing to pay an extra $600 for three nights!
Fingers crossed prices come down a little.....or a lot!

 

[Janet B]

Morin' Peeps!!

Jen, hope the girls are feeling better after having the meds this weekend

Padawans, just wanted to let you know we finally took our Christmast tree down yesterday!!

Marie, congrats on your new birthday present!

Hey RCers! For any of you going to WDW soon for Flower & Garden, I was just checking out the new food/drink options for F&G. New for 2013... specialty drinks will include:

HOLY SWEET JESUS!!!! Dole Whip with Spiced Rum!!! Get me to WDW pronto!!!!!

Since I've never had a dole whip, more incentive for me to do so! Wonder if it will be available for F&W?

and I love Holy Cannoli...and the way she says it, I crack up every time!

Pas, been meaning to tell you how much I like this "Bree-ism"!! I found myself saying it this weekend on Sam who looked at me like.. .what??

So the dates are looking like Oct 30 or Nov 1st ish to Nov 7ish, Jersey Week, attack of the Jersayans The kids would only miss 4 days of school I'll be home Sunday evening...although I am running home to shower around 3am inbetween jobs

Glad you're back BFF I am SO much better today. Slept all night, and got paid to do it!!

I'm also thankful YOU are feeling much better! And the weekend's over for you! And will the November trip stick my friend??

Good morning RC Family I am going to try to get caught up before Steven and I start working on his papers (one for this week and one for next). Then hopefully latter today I will pull out the suitcases and start getting organized.

Janet - Oh no, I am sorry you were so sick this week Glad you are feeling back to yourself. I was in Boynton yesterday and wishing you were still in town so we could have grabbed a quick lunch

Melissa, hope you got Stephen's papers in order (can you come help me with my paper mess? )

I'm much better, thanks! And my mind's been drifting back to FL with those great temps and my time with you. Did you get your packing finished?? started? Just 2 more days!

Oh so since it seems like a lot of you are thinking end of October, you need to start coordinating so I can make one trip up Our AP's expire Sept 15 and we are not sure if we are renewing but it looks like I may have to make a very strong argument to do so

Yes Meslissa!! Sam and I are tentatively booked for 11/1-1/5. Trying to catch the last MNSSHP! It would be great if you could come up!

Janet B- grades are due on Monday, so J will know if he made it then. Band director told them after class yesterday, that it required a lot of thought and he was taking the weekend...he's just playing with them

Oh, hope your DS gets great news today!

Well I hate to say this, knowing our luck, something will mess it up. As it stands, whenever the IRS finally starts dealing with student stuff, we should get back more than enough to pay for a suite at AoA, upgrade to the DlxDDP, buy MNSSHP tickets, get there and back, and have some spending money.

Wookie, that would be fantastic!!!

Me too! FD at the values is a great deal!!!

You know it bff!

hello..
Okey ...AP rates were not for French Quarter or Movies...so my husband........Decided to look at All Star Music...we are four adults and we like to have a preferred room...so "HE" looked at this place...it looks okey..never been to this one...and we saved almost 300 dollars...so I did the change over..

The reason for Movies and French Quarter not on the list...is because these are very popular resorts and usually fill up without a discount...so they didnt do those..

We also "CHANGED" two of our dining reservations...

OY OY OY..

have a good day

Pumba, our first Disney resort was ASMu, preferred, calypso building. We really liked being so close to the food court, and we were right around the corner from the pool. It was a great location.

 

[Janet B]

I am thinking that we would replace it with a non character breakfast as even my kids find character meals to be of poor food quality, and chaotic, lol!

Candace, How 'bout Kona? And even though you were thinking "no character" we absolutely love the O'hana breakfast! Great food, great character interaction. I find it less hectic, than say Chef Mickeys (but we also like that one too ).

 

[jennyjinx3]

Hi Janet!

Thanks for asking, all the DD's are feeling good and going to school today! DD4 still has a cough but no more fever, thank goodness. All is well!

Well, I blurted out about our May trip last night to a co-worker. She knew about our Nov trip, and was shocked to hear we are going in May too. I tried explaining to DH that I feel awkward sometimes talking about our trips to certain friends. They are deeply in debt, and I can see the wheels turning about how we can afford it. I tried to downplay it all. I know, I should be proud of the fact that we can do this, but it is hard when people are giving you their silent disapproval.

OH WELL!! We are excited...!

Have a great day all!

Jen

 

[pumba]

Us too...when someone says...."you are going to Disney AGAIN??" Gasp..rofl..and we say yup...
I remember the year we went in April, then September, (9/11 came home at one am on that day) and then again in December and then April ..we were checking out resorts for our family to go to...Ended up in a suite at the Dolphin...But people think we are nuts..
WHY I wonder..hahaha..

it is 18 again this morning...at least it isnt below zero like it is predicting for the end of this week...YUCK

Have a good day..

 

[jennyjinx3]

Us too...when someone says...."you are going to Disney AGAIN??" Gasp..rofl..and we say yup...
I remember the year we went in April, then September, (9/11 came home at one am on that day) and then again in December and then April ..we were checking out resorts for our family to go to...Ended up in a suite at the Dolphin...But people think we are nuts..
WHY I wonder..hahaha..

it is 18 again this morning...at least it isnt below zero like it is predicting for the end of this week...YUCK

Have a good day..

It was also said that "You guys really need to go somewhere else don't you think??"

I replied that yes, someday we hoped to do more 'world' traveling, but right now WDW was our favorite. It is just funny to me, I would never question someone else's family plans, just not me. Oh well....

 

[DetTigsGal]

We get it from our families, they figure when we go on vacation we should visit them. Not that they ever visit us, they are too busy going other places . I don't even want to hear what they will say when we tell them we are going again in June - after T'giving and not going back to MI for Christmas because we went with the band to Disney -

 

[Mousemommy1]

Candace, How 'bout Kona? And even though you were thinking "no character" we absolutely love the O'hana breakfast! Great food, great character interaction. I find it less hectic, than say Chef Mickeys (but we also like that one too ).

I think we have scrapped the whole breakfast thing now. We are not big breakfast eaters anyway, so we will just eat in the lounge. DH came home yesterday wanting to discuss dining reservations....really??? 2 months out???

Anyway, I ended up adding 50's PT Diner at his request. We were pretty sure we had eaten there but I don't think we have. I think we were thinking of when we ate at H&V and they share bathrooms right??? Anyway, the menu looks yum and DH wants to give it a shot, so

Hi Janet!

Thanks for asking, all the DD's are feeling good and going to school today! DD4 still has a cough but no more fever, thank goodness. All is well!

Well, I blurted out about our May trip last night to a co-worker. She knew about our Nov trip, and was shocked to hear we are going in May too. I tried explaining to DH that I feel awkward sometimes talking about our trips to certain friends. They are deeply in debt, and I can see the wheels turning about how we can afford it. I tried to downplay it all. I know, I should be proud of the fact that we can do this, but it is hard when people are giving you their silent disapproval.

OH WELL!! We are excited...!

Have a great day all!

Jen

So glad the girls are feeling better!!!

I hear ya on the whole "you're going back again" thing. Funny, that is something that we always get from the BFF's who are now going, but they are getting so excited about the trip, it's awesome!!!

We get it from our families, they figure when we go on vacation we should visit them. Not that they ever visit us, they are too busy going other places . I don't even want to hear what they will say when we tell them we are going again in June - after T'giving and not going back to MI for Christmas because we went with the band to Disney -

My family always expects us to travel down to see them too...but funny thing is...we do...We have flown down there 3 times in the past 1.5 years, and the last time they came up was probably about 2.5 years ago...

My mom won't come up now, because we have the cat...she's allergic, but really??? So, just expects us to come down there. But, you know what??? There are hotels...I don't mean to be mean, but c'mon. Anyway, they will have to wait until we are good and ready to come down again. We have done our part and the plane flies both ways and our next plane flies to Orlando!

 

[pas130]

Unfortunately, we very much dislike Akershus.

Bad experience there...

I am thinking that we would replace it with a non character breakfast as even my kids find character meals to be of poor food quality, and chaotic, lol!

We did a early ADR there, the food...meh, but it wasn't full yet so we had great Princess interaction

Pas, been meaning to tell you how much I like this "Bree-ism"!! I found myself saying it this weekend on Sam who looked at me like.. .what??



I'm also thankful YOU are feeling much better! And the weekend's over for you! And will the November trip stick my friend??

Bree-ism She is too much !!!!

This trip has to stick...Brian does not believe I won't change...and Bree said we should go to Pop we had fun there

Hi Janet!

Thanks for asking, all the DD's are feeling good and going to school today! DD4 still has a cough but no more fever, thank goodness. All is well!

Well, I blurted out about our May trip last night to a co-worker. She knew about our Nov trip, and was shocked to hear we are going in May too. I tried explaining to DH that I feel awkward sometimes talking about our trips to certain friends. They are deeply in debt, and I can see the wheels turning about how we can afford it. I tried to downplay it all. I know, I should be proud of the fact that we can do this, but it is hard when people are giving you their silent disapproval.

OH WELL!! We are excited...!

Have a great day all!

Jen

Glad the girls are back to school

It is hard, but I know how hard we work for our trip...I hate even mentioning it sometimes but everyone knows it's my thing

Us too...when someone says...."you are going to Disney AGAIN??" Gasp..rofl..and we say yup...
I remember the year we went in April, then September, (9/11 came home at one am on that day) and then again in December and then April ..we were checking out resorts for our family to go to...Ended up in a suite at the Dolphin...But people think we are nuts..
WHY I wonder..hahaha..

it is 18 again this morning...at least it isnt below zero like it is predicting for the end of this week...YUCK

Have a good day..

It's almost May!!!!!

It was also said that "You guys really need to go somewhere else don't you think??"

I replied that yes, someday we hoped to do more 'world' traveling, but right now WDW was our favorite. It is just funny to me, I would never question someone else's family plans, just not me. Oh well....

I always say I do my world traveling at Epcot at WS....and it's probably cheaper

We get it from our families, they figure when we go on vacation we should visit them. Not that they ever visit us, they are too busy going other places . I don't even want to hear what they will say when we tell them we are going again in June - after T'giving and not going back to MI for Christmas because we went with the band to Disney -

Our vacations are about happy family time...and Disney is our happy place!!! It's all good

 

[Mousemommy1]

We did a early ADR there, the food...meh, but it wasn't full yet so we had great Princess interaction

Bree-ism She is too much !!!!

This trip has to stick...Brian does not believe I won't change...and Bree said we should go to Pop we had fun there

Glad the girls are back to school

It is hard, but I know how hard we work for our trip...I hate even mentioning it sometimes but everyone knows it's my thing

It's almost May!!!!!

I always say I do my world traveling at Epcot at WS....and it's probably cheaper



Our vacations are about happy family time...and Disney is our happy place!!! It's all good

The princesses were great at Akershus! We went for lunch, but bad food....bad, bad, food.

Let's just say, still frozen in the middle meatballs...
And hot dogs my kids wouldn't even eat....

 

[jennyjinx3]

So I keep thinking, for our Nov dates, if we are super dee duper lucky and the bounceback offer is still available when we are there in May....maybe we will not do AoA and try the GF instead!!!

Although maybe we will go super frugal and do POR instead. Ack.... I can't get the GF out of my mind though and DD6 is fascinated with it there.

I got a quote from the Magical Vacation people, and although they had no promotions for the week we want to go, she gave me a quote for Thanksgiving week at the GF that was about $900 cheaper than on the Disney site. Too bad, the higher crowds would kill us then.

What to do.....

 

[pas130]

The princesses were great at Akershus! We went for lunch, but bad food....bad, bad, food.

Let's just say, still frozen in the middle meatballs...
And hot dogs my kids wouldn't even eat....

BF wasn't great either IMO

So I keep thinking, for our Nov dates, if we are super dee duper lucky and the bounceback offer is still available when we are there in May....maybe we will not do AoA and try the GF instead!!!

Although maybe we will go super frugal and do POR instead. Ack.... I can't get the GF out of my mind though and DD6 is fascinated with it there.

I got a quote from the Magical Vacation people, and although they had no promotions for the week we want to go, she gave me a quote for Thanksgiving week at the GF that was about $900 cheaper than on the Disney site. Too bad, the higher crowds would kill us then.

What to do.....

Ahhhhhh the Grand Bree and DS4 AND DS12 want to go...but DH not so much

Whatever you do...do not get a quote for the last week of August for GF.......