2009 Discussion-We'll make time fly by!

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Ozdisney, don't know if they have these in Auz or if they're only available in the UK but we're going for 14 nights and getting an Ultimate 14day ticket which allows unlimited park hopping access to all parks, water parks, etc. This is also available in a 21 day option, there are some good prices for these on some UK websites, PM me if you want some site addies.

 

[Ozdisney]

Hi 2ScottishPrincesses,

I tried to PM you bit it wouldn't let me because I don't have enough posts yet. If you could PM those links that would be great..we don't seem to have that ultimate ticket option here in Australia for WDW only a 14 day one for DL and we have already been there.

Thank you for your help. What a great site!!

 

[candizfan]

OK how would I go about looking into renting points. Is it done via WDW travel or privately?

Thanks again for the new tip.

It is done privately. This board has a section for renting DVC points. Here is the link.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29#DVC-MAIN-rent-trade

I did a lot of reading on this site before I decided to rent out points. I am a DVC member and I have had a lot of luck renting points to wonderful people on this site.

When you contact a renter, make sure you feel comfortable with them. If you don't, say thanks anyway and move on. A lot of people have basic contract they use and payment terms very a lot so make sure you ask.

Be fair to the renter by not having them check availability or make reservations if you are working with someone else on trying to find a room. It can take a lot of personnal time for the member.

Price per point varies a lot too. Everyone bought into different resorts for different costs and everyone's position is different so each person sets a price they can live with. If points are going to expire, they tend to be cheaper since it is use it or loose it.

Here is a link to the different resorts that are available. Take a look at the resorts and see which ones you like.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/resorts.htm

Then check out this area to see what the points are for each night at each resort for the time you are looking at.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-vacation-club/DVCpoints.shtml

Both of these are sites on the DIS board.

Remember that a room booked with Disney requires sales tax to be added and it is around 11% or 12% I believe. If you rent points, there is no additional taxes since the member pays property taxes. You can see what the rooms usually cost if booked through Disney by looking at the official Disney site. It will give you a comparison that way.

It might not work out for what you are looking to pay but it might give you some choices.

You can book rooms at DVC using points for one day or many. It is very flexible and you might want to stay at one for just part of your trip and you can do that.

Have fun looking, they are beautiful resorts and my kids can spend up to three days at the resort without wanting to go to the parks.

Jo-Anne

 

[Ozdisney]

Thanks so much for all the information. It is definitely something that looks like it will be worthwhile checking into.

My children have seen pictures of Stormalong Bay and they already want to stay at the BC or YC. They will be 15 and 8 when we go. I was thinking more along the lines of a moderate (I really like the look of POR) and then a stay at The Hard Rock Hotel for a few nights and finish off our last week in a Deluxe.

Thank you again for helping me.

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Have PM'd you with site details Ozdisney. I agree with you Disboard it total invaluable the folks here are so knowledgeable, helpfull and fun. It's like visiting my own little support group for Disney Addicts !!!

 

[candizfan]

Have PM'd you with site details Ozdisney. I agree with you Disboard it total invaluable the folks here are so knowledgeable, helpfull and fun. It's like visiting my own little support group for Disney Addicts !!!

To belong to a support group, don't you first have to admit you have a problem....me I am still in denial..

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

To belong to a support group, don't you first have to admit you have a problem....me I am still in denial..

Your so right.....I could quit any time I wanted to


I just don't want to

 

[candizfan]

Your so right.....I could quit any time I wanted to


I just don't want to

I see you are also in denial...then I am amoung friends.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

We will be at WDW for the first time for our honeymoon at AKL in January 2008 and are already planning another trip with my mom and dad (who have also never been to WDW) for 2009. We aren't sure about which month yet. I would like to pick a month towards the end of the year to allow for more saving time!!! Anyone have recommendations as far as crowd levels go?? DF (will be DH by then) wants to do waterparks, so we need a month that will still be warm enough for that.

 

[danceintherain]

Yay! People who are as crazy as me.
I am currently planning 2 trips for 2009.
The 1st will be my Honeymoon, most likely the 2nd week of January. I'm not even engaged yet, so it really is crazy to be planning the Honeymoon, but if it doesn't work out, I suppose I could still go...
At the moment I'm planning on AKL, for a myriad of reasons. First of all, the animals. I just think it would be charming to have animals so close. We're thinking Concierge Level, so we can take advantage of the Sunrise Safari. We were originally planning on the Wanyama (Sunset) Safari, but it costs more, and my boyfriend found out there are no "people eating animals" in the Savannas around the AKL. There is however "people eating animal" potential on the Sunrise Safari.
Right now I'm toying with either a split stay with a Moderate. DB is against this idea, because he wants our Honeymoon to be special, not in some silly normal room. I've tried to explain to him that it's Disney, it doesn't matter, but as he's never been there before he just doesn't understand.
Right now we'll probably do a split stay with the 1st half in a Standard AKL room and the 2nd half Concierge AKL. We'll save around $300 doing it that way, and there's always the chance of an upgrade at Check-In!
For the 1st half, we'll do the Deluxe Dining Plan, and the 2nd it will be a room-only ressie, so we'll pay for our meals as we eat them. We both think the Deluxe will be too much food, but we thought it'd be interesting to try. This will also give us a little more freedom: We'll only have to pay for the first half 45 days in advance, instead of the whole thing. Also, we're planning on registering with Disney, so any money people give us for our wedding, we can put towards the room-only ressie when we pay at check-in, which we wouldn't be able to do with a package (we would only be able to make changes 5 days in advance on a package) Also, I'm planning on upgrading to an Annual Pass sometime during this stay (second trip in a year deems this necessary), and paying for the DDE, which means we can get 20%OFF any additional table service meals we do (which I figured out is about how much we'll saving with the DDP anyways... considering choices of restaurants and what we WOULD eat)

The second trip will be May/June 2009. This one would be with my Mom and 2 sisters. My choices at the moment are either CBR or Swan/Dolphin.
This trip is justified by a bunch of things. My college graduation, my Mom receiving her teaching certificate, and it will also be around the time of my mom's 46th Birthday, my older sister's 24th Birthday, and my younger sister's 16th. (I'm the odd one out, my birthday's in November, actually today, but that's beside the point)
It will be Swan/Dolphin if we can get a good enough discount either from Mom's Teacher Discount or my Annual Pass Discount. Caribbean Beach if nothing of the sort exists. I want to be in the EPCOT Resort area, because I want to make the afternoons, "trying desserts in Epcot" time. We would be able to transfer to Epcot and try the different country desserts, then walk back to our room, and take a nap, or try the pools. Whichever is more appealing at the time.
For both trips I'm planning on trying Dreams Unlimited, well for the first one. If I like it, then for the second one.
Anyways, my boyfriend wants to take me out for my birthday...he thinks I'm crazy getting on here all the time, but I'm sure he'll love it when I save him $500 or more with my obsessive planning.

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

danceintheraine, have you read jaycns's TR entitled "Living our dreams"? Jay and her family stayed at AKL Concierge this summer and she has written the most fabulous TR about it with gorgeous pics, if you haven't already see it make a point to do so. We are debating BC or Poly for 2009 but Jay's thrown another option into the mix and now DD11 is campaigning for AKL!!!

 

[danceintherain]

I'll have to see if I can find the thread.
I know we're definitely doing at least part of our stay Concierge. We're both worried about the expense though. It seems kind of twisted to spend more on a 1 week trip to Disney than I spend on an entire semester of school. If you look at our finances, our Disney Trip will basically be funded by school loans. Technically, it will be school paid by the loans, then Disney paid with cash, but umm...yeah...same thing. If I can get out of college with less school loans and one beautiful trip to Disney, I will be very happy. Originally, I was considering AKL Concierge for the full time with either the Premium or Platinum packages. It's definitely good I'll have time to weigh all my options, because if I was going THIS January I would probably end up spending tons more money than necessary. I figured out there would be no way to get our money's worth with either Prem. or Plat. DB has never been to Disney before, and I want him to be able to actually enjoy the Disney basics without worrying about making it to our 2PM Parasailing appointment. Instead of a different extra activity every day I have planned just two. Fort Wilderness Campfire Sing-a-long (which will cost nothing more than the marshmallows etc...) and the Around the World Segway Tour. Also, I'm considering buying him one of the Richard Petty Experiences at the RaceTrack as his groom's gift, but SHHH...don't tell him. However, I found out that you can do the same thing at the local Kansas Speedway, so that might make more sense, and it wouldn't cut into our Disneymoon time. (he could do that when I go on my second trip of the year with my mom and sisters...it's like a whole day thing)
Anyways, I've decided that the basics are the best idea for us. It has taken me around a month to figure that out. HAHA! We probably COULD also give up the whole AKL Concierge idea too, but I think this will probably be the only time I'll get to stay Concierge. I think I can rationalize half the stay in Concierge. Especially if I get a lot of bites on my Disney Wedding Registry.

Sorry for the rambling. I just get excited to tell people all about my plans!

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

Hey don't apologise, getting excited is what this thread is all about!! I think in reality we're all a bit mental, my family are sick listening to my plans already so it's good to to be able to talk to fellow obsessives .

You have planned well already. Are you having a Disney wedding or purely a Dineymoon? I wanted a Disney Wedding but DH was insistant that he wanted all the family there, we had a truely beautiful wedding but I do sometimes think we missed a big opportunity. I'll just have to brainwash one of my girls into being a Disney Bride, they're only 11 and 2 so hopefully if I start the programming early enough I might get my dream (what's that you say selfish, their special day not mine....I'm not listening!!!)

Anyway I digress, why not try one of the fireworks cruises at MK or Epcot? We're hoping to book one for my 40th in Jul'09...like yourself I'm already in planning overdrive. I'm sure you'll both have a fantastic time no matter what you choose to do and please try to do a TR so we can all hear how it goes.

 

[danceintherain]

It's just a Disneymoon. I'll be having a church wedding.
I'll definitely do a TR though... if I'm still active on here at the time. (though usually once I start on a board I stay on it...the last 2 have closed...for various reasons)
I figure now is a good time to plan, because after he ACTUALLY proposes I'll have other things to plan. Also, technically it's his job to handle the Honeymoon. This way he'll have access to all my efficient planning. All my Excel Spreadsheets are on HIS computer (I don't have a laptop, and we needed a computer for school while we're in Europe)

Basically, before it's time to actually plan the wedding and honeymoon I'll have the Disneymoon planned. I'll be able to hand it over to him, and he can hand it over to whatever TA we decide to use. (at first I was thinking SWV, but now I'm thinking DU, because they'll do ADRs and flights...I think...I don't remember) DB is great, but he's not much of a planner. I'll probably still be stressed about the whole thing, (I tend to over think things) but at least if next November comes and I'm up to my ears in wedding invitations I'll know that somebody will be updating our ressie with the new codes. I think it will be a beautiful trip. My sister went on her honeymoon to a "castle" in Wichita, KS. Even if we only get a Standard room in AKL, and a couple of park tickets... I think I'll have her trumped.

I read part of the jacyns' thread. I didn't get to finish it earlier, because my mom wanted me to call her. We make calls through the internet (Skype) but if anything else is up it tends to disconnect more than usual. It's really cheap though, and I don't have to sit in some silly call center.
Anyways... the thread. It was really cute. It made me reconsider doing the Wanyama Safari. Maybe I'll do both!

I hope one of your daughters fulfills your dream. I love the idea of a Disneymoon. I was planning on it since my last trip to Disney (last New Year's) We were in Epcot one evening, and my brother said "This would be a really great place for a honeymoon. You could eat dinner in a different country every night." Anyways, now that I've researched it, I love the idea even more. I think my favorite thing is the Disney Wedding Registry. Since we can register for pieces of our Disneymoon, if we spend money on Victoria & Albert's we can say, "well, it was a wedding present" I like the idea of other people funding my vacation!

 

[danceintherain]

I thought about the Fireworks cruises, but then I thought again. That's one of the things that's included in the Premium/Platinum packages. When I was considering those, I was literally considering doing EVERYTHING included, but we can really only spend about a week there, and I have to remember DB has never been there. He might decide he wants ALL the character's autographs and make me help him look for the ever elusive Daisy (she's was REALLY hard to find when I was little and lived in FL...I think we only ever found her once)

 

[2ScottishPrincesses]

He might decide he wants ALL the character's autographs and make me help him look for the ever elusive Daisy (she's was REALLY hard to find when I was little and lived in FL...I think we only ever found her once)

We saw her this summer in MGM just round from The Hat with Donald. We were going to try for her autograph but it was quite a long queue and the girlies were ready to faint from hunger so we decided to eat instead. See that proves that I'm not the bad, Disney obsessed mother that I would first appear to be

 

[danceintherain]

That's good. Maybe when I get home I'll try to find my old autograph book, and take it with me. (I can fill in all the characters that have surfaced since then) Unfortunately, there were 4 of us at the time, and stuff like that gets mixed up over the years. Even if something says my name in it, my brother might still say its his. Also, we practiced our own "autographs" so there might not be a lot of space in it...

 

[candizfan]

This trip is justified by a bunch of things. My college graduation, my Mom receiving her teaching certificate, and it will also be around the time of my mom's 46th Birthday, my older sister's 24th Birthday, and my younger sister's 16th. (I'm the odd one out, my birthday's in November, actually today, but that's beside the point)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Never say "beside the point"after announcing it is your birthday!!

 

[danceintherain]

Thanks!
My boyfriend is taking me to Paris this weekend. I tried to convince him that we need to go to Paris Disneyland for a day, but he didn't take to the idea. We'll only be there 3 days. I suppose I can make do with looking for Hidden Mickeys in the Eiffel Tower, but somehow I don't think that will be as satisfying...
I suppose I can still wait until 2009. At least it's early in 2009

 

[Micka Mouse]

Anyone getting itchy??? We decided to wait until 2009 because the girls will be 7 & 4, and hopefully whine-free . But I keep thinking it's just too far away. There is NO chance of switching to 08, and I don't really want to switch, but it's just so far away (guess I'm becoming the whiner )

We're going to Playhouse Disney this weekend...maybe that will be enough of a fix for me