2009 Discussion-We'll make time fly by!

[sandym718]

I am so excited!! I just read that within a couple weeks they will start doing photo sessions at the Poly!! I can't wait to do that!! If you prepurchase a PhotoPass CD ($99), it's only $25 extra for the shoot and you can do whatever you want with the pics!! Like...Christmas cards! Or printing 8x10's for home and family- so cool! We didn't do photopass last time (thought I planned to), b/c DH thought there was no need as I take tons of photos. Well, of course, I ended up in a total of 2(!) photos out of hundreds. We did get one photo of the whole family taken with the characters (they used my camera) and then DH took a pic of me on Dumbo with the kids. That's it! We're definitely doing Photopass next time and we're definitely doing this cool photo shoot!!!

 

[candizfan]

That sounds like fun. We just did took a trip in March and had the cast members take 133 pictures on our photo pass. We had friends meet us at Disney and so I knew I would want to consider buying the CD.

It was $125 for the first set and $20 for any additional copies. But you do get a release form that allows you to make copies.

Have a great time.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

Hey 2009ers - I've got great news and I just had to share!!!!! Hubby surprised me today and told me we should head to WDW for a short weekend getaway!!!! We decided to go in September for free dining!!! I called this evening and there's still avail at ASMo - we will be booking Monday!!!! A good friend of mine will be joining us. We are staying for 3 nights (18th-21st) and I can't wait!!!!!

 

[ty&brenmom]

Hey 2009ers - I've got great news and I just had to share!!!!! Hubby surprised me today and told me we should head to WDW for a short weekend getaway!!!! We decided to go in September for free dining!!! I called this evening and there's still avail at ASMo - we will be booking Monday!!!! A good friend of mine will be joining us. We are staying for 3 nights (18th-21st) and I can't wait!!!!!

Congrats on the suprise!!!!
If you ride the new toy story ride you will have to tell all about it
I am very tired of the snow here and I haven't really done any disney planning for next year, I am hoping that when I can start pricing plane tickets I will start to get excited.

 

[POOHLUV69]

This waiting is making me do crazy things . I "price-checked" POP again tonight, and a little bubble came up to "Compare CBR". I did, and there was only a $500 difference. Any opinions on CBR? I looked at the map, and it looks huge (compared to POP), but I like the lagoon.

There will be 4 of us (dd's will be 7 & 4). What is the transportation like? I checked out the resort thread, but want info from you guys. Anything you can give me would be great...after all, I only have 15 months to figure this out !

We did CBR last June and loved it. We are going back next August, cant wait to see the new pool. Anyway, we did pay for the preferred location, which is either Martinique or Trinidad North, it cost a little bit more, but was worth it for us. My kids are older and this allowed them to walk to Old Port Royale by themselves. I've heard that Aruba or Jamaica is a good choice if you arent willing to pay for a preferred location. They would only be a short walk across the bridge to OPR.

We didnt have any problem with the buses, really don't think we had to wait more than 5 or 10 minutes for a bus. It seemed like they had plenty of buses and it was never too crowded.

All in all, we really liked the resort, but then again we go for that beachy kind of feeling. CBR gets mixed reviews, but I've stopped reading them as everyone has different expectations.

 

[pixidust princess]

Hey 2009ers. I received 15 replys back on my windsor hills inquiry. I have narrowed it down and still think I want to go with Mickey's Condo. My second choices are The Quinn's properties. I will be getting family members together soon and we will make the decision. I think my obsessive planning scares them a little bit. Hopefully we will be able to get money together out of our stimulus package for the deposit and be able to start paying off the balance. If any of you have stayed at these properties, let me know about your experiences.
The photopass news is great. I think I will suggest we try this on our trip, as there will be several of us to share the cost of the cd. I bet the pictures at Poly will be fabulous!

 

[Micka Mouse]

We did CBR last June and loved it. We are going back next August, cant wait to see the new pool. Anyway, we did pay for the preferred location, which is either Martinique or Trinidad North, it cost a little bit more, but was worth it for us. My kids are older and this allowed them to walk to Old Port Royale by themselves. I've heard that Aruba or Jamaica is a good choice if you arent willing to pay for a preferred location. They would only be a short walk across the bridge to OPR.

We didnt have any problem with the buses, really don't think we had to wait more than 5 or 10 minutes for a bus. It seemed like they had plenty of buses and it was never too crowded.

All in all, we really liked the resort, but then again we go for that beachy kind of feeling. CBR gets mixed reviews, but I've stopped reading them as everyone has different expectations.

Thanks, Dina! I wasn't aware of preferred locations, so I will have to call and ask about the cost increase. I mentioned the possible change to dh, and he didn't say 'no', although that probably means he didn't hear a word I said . Why are Martinique and Trinadad North preferred? Proximity? Better area? I tried to open the CBR map, but couldn't. Thanks!

Shannon

 

[CJN]

Oh, goody! I finally get to join the 2009 crowd!

Our dates are January 21st - 31rd. The first three nights at the Swan and then a week at Orange Lake North Village. Our last trip was in Jan. 2007 with my two sisters. This time around it's with my sister, BIL and their three boys, ages 4 - 14. So a VERY different trip this time. Different, but all good!

 

[POOHLUV69]

Thanks, Dina! I wasn't aware of preferred locations, so I will have to call and ask about the cost increase. I mentioned the possible change to dh, and he didn't say 'no', although that probably means he didn't hear a word I said . Why are Martinique and Trinadad North preferred? Proximity? Better area? I tried to open the CBR map, but couldn't. Thanks!

Shannon

Did you try and open the map from the Resorts link at the top of the page? You could also try and google it, I'm sure you'd find something. Martinique and Trinidad North are situated on either side of Old Port Royale and the main pool so this is why they are considered preferred. We were in Martinique bldg 24 last year and that was a 2-3 min. walk to OPR. I believe the best buildings to "request" are Martinique 24,25,26 and Trinidad North 31,32,33.

I copied the link to the map from this board, see if you can open it.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.htm

 

[POOHLUV69]

Oh, goody! I finally get to join the 2009 crowd!

Our dates are January 21st - 31rd. The first three nights at the Swan and then a week at Orange Lake North Village. Our last trip was in Jan. 2007 with my two sisters. This time around it's with my sister, BIL and their three boys, ages 4 - 14. So a VERY different trip this time. Different, but all good!

Your well under 1 year . I'm soo jealous, I still have 16 months to go.

 

[sandym718]

I can't wait to get under 1 year!!!!! I think it will seem more "normal" to others that I am planning when it's under a year. But who cares anyways? I just want it to be less than a year - only 11 more days!!!

 

[Asellus]

I am not going until 2009 (we need time to save for it...and I like going between October and early December) and I wish the time would go by quickly. I'm undecided whether to stick with Marriott Residence Inn (we get employee rate...since my sister works there...$45-$75 a night...) or splurge with staying on Disney property. I have always stayed at Marriotts since first my Mom worked for them, then my sister....I'm so spoiled from nice Marriotts that I think I will not like values...or possibly even the Moderates. Now if only I could convince my husband that its worth paying for a Deluxe (He has never ever been to Disney....:O)

 

[Micka Mouse]

I am not going until 2009 (we need time to save for it...and I like going between October and early December) and I wish the time would go by quickly. I'm undecided whether to stick with Marriott Residence Inn (we get employee rate...since my sister works there...$45-$75 a night...) or splurge with staying on Disney property. I have always stayed at Marriotts since first my Mom worked for them, then my sister....I'm so spoiled from nice Marriotts that I think I will not like values...or possibly even the Moderates. Now if only I could convince my husband that its worth paying for a Deluxe (He has never ever been to Disney....:O)

 

[daisy_77]

Just a drive-by HEY for all the 09ers!

 

[Vacation planner]

I am leaving for WDW in 46 days but since that trip is already all planned out, I can't help but start planning my next trip.
I don't know if I am going to survive waiting until Jan 09 to go again.

I understand completely, we just returned from Disney two weeks ago and already I'm thinking about going again in April 2009. The last trip we waited two months for, how am I going to get through a year?

 

[Asellus]

Well I decided almost two years would be too long to wait....so I'm going in December! We'll be staying at the Residence Inn to save on money. (I figure...this is my husband's first real vacation [no I'm not kidding...he never even went on vacations as a kid] so I won't stay in WDW this time....but planning on AKL next time.....once he's hooked)

 

[Mom2Evie]

I did the same thing myself. Hubby decided were going to have a down year and skip WDW in 2008. I couldn't stand it. I booked a quick 4 day trip for my BFF, DD & I to go during free dining this September. We'll be at Pop again this trip and then back to the All Star resorts for April 2009.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Well I hate to do this but I need to have the list changed again. We have decided to stay agt POP afterall.

I am kind of down about it but happy at the same time. We stayed at POP in 2006 and loved it and had no intentions to stay anywhere else in 2009. But then I started doing research and seeing pictures of POR and how beautiful it is and I talked DH into staying there. I was so excited.

Well last night it just hit me. Why do we need to spend all that extra money (Close to $1000.00) to stay at POR. We are they type of people that are up first thing and off to the parks and then stay until they close. We rarely use the pools. So why am I willing to spend all that extra money for just a place to sleep? We loved POP when we were there so why mess with it. Plus, with the gas prices as they are right now that extra money could come in handy.

So Arkansas Mom when you update the list please change me back to POP. Sorry to keep changing on you. I think this is the final decision (no promises).

 

[Asellus]

I know how you feel Mrs. Grumpy. I was dying to stay at a Disney resort....but getting Marriott employee rate (my sister works there) at $50 a night + free breakfast won out. (Oh and the whole suite aspect....the kitchen will save alot of money on food)

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm looking at July 2-5, just a short trip to see the special fireworks. I'm hoping to stay at either the Contemporary or a Boardwalk area resort. The Swan and Dolphin look great, but it is a major bummer that they do not participate in DME. Any suggestions?