395 days of planning all lead up to this! Sept/Oct 2012

[jenny105]

What is the "CS"? Counter service? In Mexico Pavillion? lol

Good thing I have a year till my trip! My kids will not believe I haven't been there in 16 years cause I'm gonna know everything by then!

Yes, CS is counter service. There's a place across from the Mexico building that overlooks the lagoon and serves Mexican food. I've eaten there before and it's very good. There's also a margarita stand nearby

ONE YEAR TILL OUR FIRST TRIP TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!

and my favorite

 

[CdnCarrie]

Have you checked out allears to look at all the menus?

 

[HeatherLassell]

Have you checked out allears to look at all the menus?

I've started to but April is so far away I find I can't get into it yet. lol

I've gotta worry more about what the kids will eat but the boys already know one meal has to be a princess character meal for their sister. And I want to eat at Mexico in Epcot. My oldest wants to eat at Germany. But I remember how much I disliked it when I was 16. I may just convince him to go to the pavillion but eat elsewhere. lol

 

[CdnCarrie]

Germany dinner is kind of fun. It's like Octoberfest here at the Convention Centre.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Germany dinner is kind of fun. It's like Octoberfest here at the Convention Centre.

I don't like the food though. lol I've also never been to Octoberfest.

 

[jenny105]

I've started to but April is so far away I find I can't get into it yet. lol

I've gotta worry more about what the kids will eat but the boys already know one meal has to be a princess character meal for their sister. And I want to eat at Mexico in Epcot. My oldest wants to eat at Germany. But I remember how much I disliked it when I was 16. I may just convince him to go to the pavillion but eat elsewhere. lol

Biergarten in Germany is SO much better than San Angel Inn in Mexico. Plus you get a little show while you eat. It's also a buffet so there's 'regular' food too. You didn't like it when you were 16, that was years ago! I'd give it another try but that's just my two cents

 

[HeatherLassell]

Cool video from the Imagineers about the inside of the Little Mermaid Ride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjSbyAhsBmM&feature=player_embedded

 

[HeatherLassell]

Hmmmm..... Ok so after reading and commenting in the "Seats on the Bus" thread I am now 99% sure I will be renting a car for our trip! It isn't that much on top of the thousands I will be spending anyways. And this way we're good to travel on our 2 *empty* days (10 days and only 8 days of park hoppers) to other parks or even to Walmart to get cases of water!

OMG people are crazy!

Basic manners:
Saying please
and thank you
and excuse me

Other than that you are just expecting too much. If you get on a bus that is ALREADY FULL you are not entitled to someones seat (who waited probably longer than you since they actually GOT a seat) just because you're carrying a kid or you're older or you're pregnent. Geez. Plan better, get to the bus line and make sure you GET a seat....or WAIT for another bus.

Got a little worked up there. Sorry!

Yeah....so any rental car reccomendations? I've NEVER rented a car before.

 

[Terkina]

The bus sounds crazy. I'm sure you will find information about renting a car here on the forum. I have seen some threads about it in the Transportation forum.

 

[jenny105]

I've never had a problem with the buses. Sure, they're standing room only during peak times, but other than that what's the issue? Even that doesn't bother me. People just need something to complain about.

 

[CdnCarrie]

If you are on the DIS long enough you do get to see the hot topics - the bus seating is one of them.

I remember my Mom teaching me to give up my seat for the elderly. Now I haven't taken a bus in years but back when I was in University and rode daily I always offered a seat to a senior. I would give my seat up for a young child.

But those threads are crazy!

 

[HeatherLassell]

But those threads are crazy!

Sooo crazy! But I keep reading it. lol And then NOT wanting to respond because someones just gonna yell at me. lmao They have no point either. Because you aren't going to change my opinion and I am not going to change yours. So both sides just go back and forth "You're RUDE and a jerk and blah blah blah if you don't give up your seat" and "You're rude and entitled for getting on a standing only bus and expecting me to give you my seat!"


I'm gonna check out the Transportation thread and start looking into booking a rental car. I keep seeing people saying $200 a week but I quickly looked and was getting numbers of over $800! I must be doing something wrong.

 

[CdnCarrie]

mousesavers.com has a large section on car rentals.

 

[HeatherLassell]

mousesavers.com has a large section on car rentals.

Thank you!

 

[HeatherLassell]

So once the park hours are revealed for the 12 days we will be there I am going to decide by the parks which days we will go to which park so I can figure out our ADRs. Since we have 10 full days (11 credits for cs, ts and snack each) and only 8 park days...the other 2 days I'm thinking we will go to resort restaurants.

I'm thinking of going over to Animal Kingdom Lodge. I think the kids would love to see it and then I've heard alot of good things about the restaurants.

Whispering Canyon Café Restaurant looks AMAZING at Disney's Wilderness Lodge!

I'm sure I read something about horeseback riding and that would be awesome. Found it: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/tri-circle-d-ranch-farm/ It is at the cabins at Fort Wilderness!


Also some campfire?
Found it:
Chip'n Dale's Campfire Sing-a-long
Gather 'round the campfire at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort with your nutty pals for songs and fun, then watch a classic Disney movie under the stars.


This is just too much fun!

 

[HeatherLassell]

So since I got the free QS and upgraded it to the Free Dining plan our package went up to 3254 so with my 200 deposit I owe 3054

NOW....I've started thinking if I'm already at that price...what's a FEW hundred more?

I can owe $3054 and stay at POP in a standard room for the 11 nights with the DDP. (and 8 day park hoppers)

OR we can move up to a moderate which would give us the 11 nights and the DDP in a standard room with 8 day park hoppers.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Total: $3,565.99

I would owe $3365.99 only like $310 more than my current package. And we could be at a moderate instead of a value.


Advice? Opinions?

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

I usually end up doing something similar through the course of my planning. I always find myself upgrading something, whether it be dining or our resort or adding a day. That said, I think for the price upgrading to a moderate could be a good choice.

I think it depends on what you're going to use your resort for. If you plan on spending most of your time at the parks and not much at your resort, Pop is probably a better fit. If you plan to spend some time relaxing at your resort and hanging out at the pool, most of the moderates have better-themed pools than Pop does.

Since you have a little time, have you looked at the rest of the moderates besides Caribbean Beach? By the time you go on your trip, CBR will be the only moderate with double beds. The rest will have queen beds.

I hope this helps!

 

[HeatherLassell]

I usually end up doing something similar through the course of my planning. I always find myself upgrading something, whether it be dining or our resort or adding a day. That said, I think for the price upgrading to a moderate could be a good choice.

I think it depends on what you're going to use your resort for. If you plan on spending most of your time at the parks and not much at your resort, Pop is probably a better fit. If you plan to spend some time relaxing at your resort and hanging out at the pool, most of the moderates have better-themed pools than Pop does.

Since you have a little time, have you looked at the rest of the moderates besides Caribbean Beach? By the time you go on your trip, CBR will be the only moderate with double beds. The rest will have queen beds.

I hope this helps!

Well I still need it to be more child friendly. I didn't think that my kids would like the Port Orleans resort (even though I do) and the pool at CBR seems pretty cool. I may end up just staying at POP. We have 2 days that are non park days. So yeah we'll spend some time at the hotel.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Note to self: Give Disney a call and see what the cost would be to upgrade my (will be) 9 year old to an "adult" (10+) ticket.

After reading all the threads about kids meals and then going and looking at the selections in the many menus available I do not think he will be satisfied with the food.

I hear it shouldn't cost too much to do it, but there is no way the kids meals will be enough for him. My daughter eats like a bird and I can always share some of my food if she is still hungry. I hear the adult portions are pretty huge!

 

[archdandy]

I went to disneyworld.ca and then once there I found the "special offers"

As long as you go before or BY Sept 29th you can get the free Quick Service (if in a value resort) or Free Dining if mod or deluxe.

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....CA&promotionCode=fy12dineCA&market=fy12dineCA

Thank you! I had planned to go at the end of October and into the beginning of November but now I think we might change it to the end of September early October. The free dining makes it worth it to change the dates.

About the moderate resorts, have you looked into the Coronado Springs resort? I know it puts some people off being a convention resort but we went in June (peak season) and honestly we didnt even notice the conventioners. They also have a really great pool (its a mayan pyramid!) where they play pool games during the day and they have a slide as well.