A Disney-addicted mom plans a trip in August, 2010! *New pics #574*

[-Hope-]

Hurray for booking your flights! There's just something about it that makes a trip seem more real.

I've heard really great things about Mara, the QS at AKL. They even have the zebra domes everyone raves about. If you end up there and don't want to do a TS you might try that. Here's their menu. Depending on how tired the kids are and how late you actually get checked in and settle in you might want to consider room service. Here's the menu for Jambo House room service and the one for Kidani Village.

Of course if you stay at AKL I would recommend going to see the animals at night with the night vision goggles, I think the kids would get a kick out of that. Even if you eat in the room just so you have a chance to settle in and relax a bit you could always go explore the resort after you eat.

I'm not sure the refurb on the Mexican restaurant is going to be finished in August. I've read 'fall' but don't know what that means for sure. I'm not even sure it will be open when we go in late September.

I'd love to eat on the Boardwalk- I've heard the food at Big River Grille is so-so but the atmosphere when you eat outside is great! Of course if you're going to AK there's always Tusker House.

 

[dismagiclover]

Yay for getting airfare booked. My vote is for AKL because it is such a unique resort. What a great start to your vacation!

 

[lexmas]

Thanks for the tip, I headed over there and found the discount and bumbled my way through sending out codes. I did it twice, because I wasn't sure how it worked LOL. Oh well. Was it $25 off every fare, or just $25 off of one?

I think the stars are telling you AKL too. And, I know you'll be tired and hungry, but Boma sounds amazing for a "just got in and staying here!" meal. It's a buffet, so even if the kids have some melt downs, it will be all right. Plus, one of you can always take them up to the room and the other one can finish eating. (Not that I entirely recommend that, because I know that on my last trip, I was the one taking the boy while DH got to finish eating!)

 

[klacey1]

Less than $300 isn't THAT bad-- good sleuthing! I wouldn't eat at the airport, but I'd just eat CS at AKL. That way, you can eat, get a good night's sleep, and be fresh in the morning!

 

[DrMomof3]

Hurray for booking your flights! There's just something about it that makes a trip seem more real.

I've heard really great things about Mara, the QS at AKL. They even have the zebra domes everyone raves about. If you end up there and don't want to do a TS you might try that. Here's their menu. Depending on how tired the kids are and how late you actually get checked in and settle in you might want to consider room service. Here's the menu for Jambo House room service and the one for Kidani Village.

Of course if you stay at AKL I would recommend going to see the animals at night with the night vision goggles, I think the kids would get a kick out of that. Even if you eat in the room just so you have a chance to settle in and relax a bit you could always go explore the resort after you eat.

I'm not sure the refurb on the Mexican restaurant is going to be finished in August. I've read 'fall' but don't know what that means for sure. I'm not even sure it will be open when we go in late September.

I'd love to eat on the Boardwalk- I've heard the food at Big River Grille is so-so but the atmosphere when you eat outside is great! Of course if you're going to AK there's always Tusker House.

Thanks for the menus Hope. With potential flight delays, we probably will do QS the 1st night. I didn't know about the night vision goggles. That sounds awesome! I'll have to look into that.
I thought the refurb for Mexico was just the QS and not the TS part? I guess I need to look into that more. We also liked the QS area but I know that's closed for refurb. For some reason I thought you could still sit inside.
We'll never last at AK until dinner! I figure we'll eat lunch at pizzafari and then head over to BCV to get checked in. Especially in the August heat! I've heard AK is the hottest of the hot!!!

Yay for getting airfare booked. My vote is for AKL because it is such a unique resort. What a great start to your vacation!

Thanks! I'm definitely leaning toward AKL!

Thanks for the tip, I headed over there and found the discount and bumbled my way through sending out codes. I did it twice, because I wasn't sure how it worked LOL. Oh well. Was it $25 off every fare, or just $25 off of one?

I think the stars are telling you AKL too. And, I know you'll be tired and hungry, but Boma sounds amazing for a "just got in and staying here!" meal. It's a buffet, so even if the kids have some melt downs, it will be all right. Plus, one of you can always take them up to the room and the other one can finish eating. (Not that I entirely recommend that, because I know that on my last trip, I was the one taking the boy while DH got to finish eating!)

I *thought* the discount would only be for one person but we got the $25 off each ticket. $125 savings!
My worry about ADR for Boma is the uncertainty involved with travel. If we land at 5:50pm, what's earliest we can expect to sit-down? I think 7pm is iffy. 7:30 is really late for my kids! I'd almost rather get QS and sit on the balcony watching the animals!!!

Less than $300 isn't THAT bad-- good sleuthing! I wouldn't eat at the airport, but I'd just eat CS at AKL. That way, you can eat, get a good night's sleep, and be fresh in the morning!

That's what I'm thinking, too. Good advice!

Another question: Should I transfer my reservations to a TA at this point? With the split-stay and trying to manage the DME stuff, I'm starting to wonder if I should get someone to help me with all of this. What do y'all think? I've never used a TA for Disney but I'm wondering if I should...

Amanda

 

[lexmas]

I think with your time restraints, Boma probably isn't a good idea then. It would be nice though! I'm glad my kids stay up late so they get time with DH, but you must have some nice free evenings if 7:30 is late! I would just go enjoy that balcony of yours. CS, or even room service would be REALLY nice.

As for the TA, I think it might be easier for you. Do you have one? I'm not crazy about mine, but Charliefours sent me the info for hers and she absolutely loves her! (I don't remember if charliefours is following your PTR, but if she is, I'm sure she can send you the info too!) Let me know if you need one...I'm planning on using her for our next trip!

 

[DrMomof3]

I think with your time restraints, Boma probably isn't a good idea then. It would be nice though! I'm glad my kids stay up late so they get time with DH, but you must have some nice free evenings if 7:30 is late! I would just go enjoy that balcony of yours. CS, or even room service would be REALLY nice.

As for the TA, I think it might be easier for you. Do you have one? I'm not crazy about mine, but Charliefours sent me the info for hers and she absolutely loves her! (I don't remember if charliefours is following your PTR, but if she is, I'm sure she can send you the info too!) Let me know if you need one...I'm planning on using her for our next trip!

Thank you! I transferred my reservations to Dreams Unlimited and I should hear back from them tomorrow. It's just gotten too complicated for me to deal with myself. Now we'll have DME into one resort and home from another. I still have ADRs to cancel and new ones to make. Etc. I also told my DH that since he doesn't really care what I do, I need someone to discuss my plans with! In his defense he does enjoy the trip once we're there.
My littlest usually goes to bed at 7:30 although he can stay up until 8:30 or 9pm if absolutely necessary. My older 2 are usually in bed at 8pm. My oldest can stay up later but Jessica gets tired and asks to go to bed!

Amanda

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hooray for booking your flights. I got that $25 discount code too. I'm super excited about that. We're still not 100% sure on if we're driving or flying, but now, if I fly southwest I have the $25 off. And I still have a credit for 120$, so it's looking good for me to fly.

I would love to stay at AKL, I would stay there!!!!!!!

Ok, so when you booked with your code, did it take $25 off per person or just $25. I've heard people getting 25 pp, but then someone had posted that they called SW and an agent told them it was just 25$ off, not pp.

I do hope it's per person. That would save us $125!!!

 

[DrMomof3]

Hooray for booking your flights. I got that $25 discount code too. I'm super excited about that. We're still not 100% sure on if we're driving or flying, but now, if I fly southwest I have the $25 off. And I still have a credit for 120$, so it's looking good for me to fly.

I would love to stay at AKL, I would stay there!!!!!!!

Ok, so when you booked with your code, did it take $25 off per person or just $25. I've heard people getting 25 pp, but then someone had posted that they called SW and an agent told them it was just 25$ off, not pp.

I do hope it's per person. That would save us $125!!!

I got $25 off per person. I already paid so I don't think they can take it back!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I just joined "The Disney Driven Life." It's SO me!!!
I now have a Dreams Unlimited travel agent. Her name is Tracy and I love it already!!! It's weird to hand over control but it's also a relief. And I have someone to discuss trip details with when my husband isn't interested. I did get my husband to say that he'd like to have dinner at San Angel Inn on Sunday night so I can have Tracy book that for us.
I still need to decide where we're staying that first night. We could probably get one more night at BCV. That would be easiest but also more expensive. CSR is cheapest (of the options that would be ok with my DH). I really want AKL but I'm not sure it's worth the price. Or maybe WL? What to do???

Amanda

 

[3princesses+aprince]

That's great it was $25 per person, I heard that someone else got that too. If we're flying I have the code too! That was a great little deal!!!

Congrats on your travel agent! As for where to stay I'm not sure. In the end I think you'll be happy wherever you are that first night!

 

[-Hope-]

Congrats on the travel agent!

I still vote for AKL but only because its on my list of places I'd really love to stay if I could afford it.

 

[DrMomof3]

That's great it was $25 per person, I heard that someone else got that too. If we're flying I have the code too! That was a great little deal!!!

Congrats on your travel agent! As for where to stay I'm not sure. In the end I think you'll be happy wherever you are that first night!

It's so rare and exciting that I was able to share helpful information!

Congrats on the travel agent!

I still vote for AKL but only because its on my list of places I'd really love to stay if I could afford it.

I agree about AKL except that I really want to try to get our January 1/2 marathon trip, too. I'm now thinking that saving $$$ that first night will be worth it if it helps me get to run in January. I'm also thinking that maybe we could stay at AKL in January because it's less expensive than the other deluxes and my MIL would totally love it. I was originally thinking a monorail resort for the convenience but I'm now more interested in saving $$$. And we could get a 2 bedroom villa at AKV (for us and my parents) and a studio for my MIL. We could even consider renting a minivan for that trip to help us get around.
Tom is now claiming that he's willing to do an AKL trip. Since the January trip will be short-ish and during off-season, the bus issues should be minimized. Plus, it might be nice if the weather's a little cooler to have all the great activities at AKL (that don't depend on the pool since January isn't always pool weather).
I'm strongly leaning towards CSR at this point but we'll see (yesterday I was convinced that AKL was the way to go!).

Amanda

 

[dismagiclover]

I say save the money if it's going to help you get there for the half in January! It will be so worth it!

 

[-Hope-]

I agree- if it gets you there in January save the money!!

 

[BabyEeyore]

I just joined "The Disney Driven Life." It's SO me!!!

Amanda

I just joined a week or so ago, too!

 

[DrMomof3]

I say save the money if it's going to help you get there for the half in January! It will be so worth it!

Exactly!

I agree- if it gets you there in January save the money!!

I knew it made sense!

I just joined a week or so ago, too!

Another crazy person like me!

Amanda

 

[DrMomof3]

I added a dinner ADR for Sunday night at San Angel Inn. We've eaten there before and everyone liked it. I hadn't made a Sunday ADR because we didn't know our flight situation. Now that we're arriving a day early, I wanted a dinner for Sunday night.
Still need to decide about where to stay on Saturday night. I'm pretty sure it'll be CSR.
I also need to decide 7 day park hoppers vs. APs for the kids. I need to discuss this with DH (who is playing softball right now). I'm leaning towards APs because I think we'll use them....
This trip is coming right along...

Amanda

 

[lexmas]

gotta love getting AP's...

 

[DrMomof3]

We're officially staying at CSR the 1st night. I remembered that we're doing Dave Ramsey for a reason and I told me inner princess that she'll get another opportunity to stay at AKL when $$$ isn't as much of an issue.
I think I'm going to buy the kids 7 day park hoppers for now and then decide if we're going to upgrade or not once we get there. I think we'll have a better idea of finances by August. I'm dreaming about a Star Wars weekend for my eldest and DH next year so the AP would be used then (and hopefully in January, too).

Amanda