I saw your announcement on FB. That is so exciting. I'll be there checking out your bags each month and cheering you on!
SoG looks like a great place to stay. You certainly can't beat the price on the room and the rooms are supposed to be quite large. We have friend who have stayed there and really liked it. They ended up buying at the DVC after a couple of visits to Disney. It is nice that you will have multiple options that will fit your budget.
Thank you Diane! I am working on my first one now... I love the fabrics I chose, if only I could decide on an applique...
Yah - I do really like the resort, it is definately a Deluxe. I keep going round and round in my mind about it though. Our last trip - even though it was 9 days - just felt so much more relaxing. I'll admit - I really enjoyed our very short walk at POFQ... Which may or may not be a deciding factor for us. I just remember our stay at SoG to be so exhausting...
I just wish I could make up my mind.
Part of the reason that we liked POFQ so much, was really because of the pool/slide. SoG does not have a slide - but when I was reading the SoG resort thread yesterday, I discovered that their pool areas are going through a major refurb some time next spring, and they are getting a slide.
Now, if only they would do something about their VERY POOR food choices...
I have a feeling, in the end, price will not be a factor anymore, and the girls and I will end up being at POFQ.
Hey - Just wanted to send a quick note about Columbus Day week/weekend since you are still in the planning process. I just got back from a 5 day trip to WDW over Columbus Day weekend. I have to say that I will never go that weekend again. The crowds were crazy and parks jam packed. The weather was also terrible, but I don't really count that because we have gone in September and the weather has been fine. This year it was very hot and humid, especially bad because the weather had started to really cool down at home. I guess the only take away is that weather is unpredictable!!
This was the second weekend of the F&W Festival and Epcot was unmanageable on F/S/S. Actually, it is my favorite park and we avoided it like the plague the entire trip. We left on Tuesday and the crowd calendars said that the remainder of the week would be better. But, we had two green park days while we were there but I definitely could not tell and would not have classified them as green.
There were room only discounts for the time were were there but they were not doing the free dining. I believe it started after we left. We ended up staying at the Swan for about $1000 less than a deluxe resort at WDW. All in all it wasn't horrible but we definitely found the crowds to be much larger than expected.
Hope that helps a little with your planning.
WELCOME!!! And thank you for the tips. I am still doing a lot of debating about Columbus Day weekend. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of choice. I wish I could avoid it, but it's only an accident that the girls' fall break is the following week (they actually have school on CD). I guess - if we really wanted to, we could fly down on Sunday, and stay until the following Sunday, but I would really like the girls to have at least one day off when we get home.
We don't actually do much with the F&WF... And depending on how our plans go, we may only do a half day in Epcot... Long enough for TT, Soarin', one meal in France and a few Napoleons to go.
I am afraid the Free Dining is a thing of the past. Which is very unfortunate. the current code is really very disappointing, but better than nothing, I guess.
Again - thank you so much for your mini-review... I do plan to avoid CDW as much as possible.
SOG sounds like a pretty good deal financially. I won't whine about how far, far away from POR it is though.
I am just so glad you have pretty much settled on an October trip!
Can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve for your SSP!!!
SoG is a great deal... I am just having a hard time wrapping my mind around the long walk and the poor food choices. For us - this is close to a deciding factor.
And doing the #s - not including the souveniers...
A 7 day stay at SoG (if the current discount is extended to October), with the current promo military tickets (if that promo is exteneded as well), a town car and food would cost us approx:
$2476
A 7 day stay at SoG (with out discounts), regular military discount tickets, town car and food would cost us approx:
$2811
A 7 day rack rate stay at POFQ, Disney tickets and DDP would cost us approx:
$3597 (or
$3075 after my Target discount)...
So, the savings for SoG is minimal, and I need to decide if it is worth the savings. Especially if Disney extends it's 35% code for the military (not sure if I qualify for that, since I only have a retired spouse ID) or any other code.
Any other code would surely make a Disney resort well worth the $$, IMO.
Thank you for the "welcome" several pages back. Yes, I'm still trying to catch up and will take you up on your offer to just start here. And it looks like I picked a good place as you've narrowed your resort choices down to two. I've heard of SOG, but never stayed there. We've visited POFQ a number of times but have not stayed there either. Although our besties, Nicki and Todd, stay there and love it.
Hope you have a good work day.
Thanks for coming back Kathy.
I know you have had so much on your plate and I really appreciate the time you took to stop by. I've been thinking of you and your family during this time, and sending prayers your way.
Well if you are staying SOG could you not book the new discount instead? It's up to 35% off a mod 40% deluxe. Still RO but maybe a better deal? I know our dining cost vs ddp is the same so booking a package is not a draw for us.
Thanks for alerting me to this Callie - I didn't even think of it. Right now that military offer only extends through the end of Sept 2013... So, hopefully WDW will offer it again, because it would make a big difference, and make my stay at POFQ even cheaper than staying at SoG - even if I had to fork out cash for the ddp. I did some of the figures above, and I was really amazed at how little savings there is - especially considering that the current above quote is a Disney rack rate.
Decisions, decisions, decisions!
I don't blame you one bit for thinking of SOG. Sounds so much cheaper. Even the discounts won't make POFQ that cheap! And you know I'm not a fan of the dining plan, so that isn't a factor for me. Plus....I've been changing things with our trip too and we might be staying at either the Poly or Contemporary instead to accommodate a larger party
(tell ya later) so SOG would be closer to me!
You guys will have a great trip no matter where you stay...so don't stress too much about it. Just go with your favorite.
I dunno... I think if Disney were to offer a discount, I really think that POFQ would be cheaper. And I LOVE the dining plan - it works out really well for the girls and I.
Hmmm.... Larger party???? Do tell...
Thanks Suzi... I do need to stop stressing about it... But if I was to go with my favorite - I might just pick AKL to try. I just wonder how the girls would do in a bunk bed - they are pretty sound sleepers, and have never been in bunks before.
SoG sounds like a great option....just save for your food and put it on GC's! then hopefully won't go over budget on it!
Yup! If that's the option we decide to go - that is exactly what we will do.
Huge dislike I did not know this!
I know - I hate it when they refurb Splash... I know it's necessary - but that is one ride I won't do with out. I remember saying last year, if they ever decided to refurb it while I was planning to go - I would change my trip dates. I know you can't do that - and I hate that for you, becuase I think your clan would enjoy it immensely.
My luck - they will refurb BTMRR - yet again - when we go. It was being refurbed for our 2003 trip and our 2012 trip, the only time I've ever ridden it was during our 2008 trip.
That is a long refurbishment (for my favourite ride)! I wonder what they are doing! OF COURSE you can't go when you can't do Splash Mountain!!
Hi! I agree - that is a long refurb! I am sure it is just regular maintenance - painting, mechanical stuff and all that jazz... It's a huge ride with a lot going on behind the scenes, so I am sure there is a lot to do? All I know, is that I will never see it being refurbed.
Yay! D's officially on the October train!
Me too....just not sure how many will be with me. But I'll go by myself if I have to! I'm going to meet D and Oopsi darn it!
Yup!!! I am very curious about all of your hints... And yes, you are definately going to meet us!
Sorry I have been MIA and I pop over and see about Splash Mt being closed in March but glad to see your going now in Oct. I am thinking about Oct for F&W if I can convince Bob to go back then.
Sheila!!! I am very glad to see you!! I hope you are doing well! Oooh - that would be awesome if you could join us in October - I would love to finally meet you! Do you need any help convincing Bob to go? I'd be happy to do whatever I can.
I did most of my ramblings above, so I don't have much for you all today.
Except that I need to complain about my tags yet again... They still are not here and I am about ready to freak! I know they are coming from Australia and they will take a bit longer, but I am just so irritated that the seller dropped the ball for 10 days and now I am having to delay mailing out items because I don't have tags for them. This really bothers me a lot.
I am hoping to get the majority of my first auction item done today. And get started on the accessories for it this weekend. I didn't realize until I was at work yesterday, that my first auction is less than a week away.
So, I have a lot to get done.
Does anyone have any experience with Practice Writer? I am looking for someone to help me create a basic template that I can use for all of my auctions. I have all the graphics, and I could probably figure it out myself, but I just don't have the time.
I hope you all have a fantastic day!
D~
I've sent you a PM.
And it really helps that I have a vacation to plan too.
It's going to be a great time!!! 
