****August, 2012!!!****

[sweetcanadian]

Hey - how does everyone feel about starting up a new Aug 2012 thread? I know the OP of the thread posted saying she had to cancel her trip - so our list is no longer maintained.

We could also then make sure the original post is updated with all the instructions needed to follow the thread. Things like Nikki's ADR thread, the 2 LGMH creations, the park list, and our QOTDs. This is such an incredibly fast-moving thread that it's really hard for anyone new to wade through 160 (and counting!) pages of posts.

The most difficult part will be making sure newbies know not to post in the old thread - maybe we can get a mod to close it? We would def. link to it from the new thread though.

This would be awesome if all the useful info was on first page & then discussions.

 

[LifeIsDis]

Oh as far as Garden Grill, the revolving restaurant is sooo cool. We loved the one at the CN Tower and this is just like it (except with better food lol)with Disney scenery and you guys will LOVE Chip N' Dale, they are soooo much fun.

I need to try Garden Grill sometime!

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?!

We NEVER use a travel agent. I think it's just better to book everything yourself (if you know what you're doing of course).

 

[litlpixie]

GOOD MORNING TEAM!!

In answer to the QOTD: I have always booked our WDW vacations myself. For me, alot of the fun comes from finding the best deals, and making the ADR's myself and doing all of the planning

And SenecaWolf: Thanks for telling me how to multi-quote, that's the 2nd time you gave me technical advice. BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME AS THE TEAM AUGUST FARSIGHTED AND UNCOORDINATED CHEERLEADER, I DUB THEE.....TEAM AUGUST TECHNICAL GURU!!!

 

[Aliceacc]

I use a travel agent.

It costs me nothing, and someone else earns a commission. Plus, I have another pair of eyes looking for discounts, and someone who will call in my ADRS at 7 am, while I'm on my way to work.

This time I switched to a Disney Certified agent (Tracey H at Dreams Unlimited) and she's been a total delight! The day Wishes Dessert Party ADRs opened up, she had us done by the time I got home from school.

 

[ginny_lynn]

1 Month!!!!!!!!​

​

 

[OneBadApple]

to all the new comers!!!

Oh as far as Garden Grill, the revolving restaurant is sooo cool. We loved the one at the CN Tower and this is just like it (except with better food lol)with Disney scenery and you guys will LOVE Chip N' Dale, they are soooo much fun.

Garden Grill is my favorite character meal. I think the food is great and the character interaction every time we have gone has been wonderful.

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?

I used a Disney Specialist TA. I like that there is someone knowledgeable who is passionate about WDW and can guide me here and there. Plus, I hate calling Disney (it's long distance from Canada with no 1-800 # ...a huge pet peeve) so she makes all my ADRs and other ressies. I also got my trip insurance from her. Plus, she gave me a Disney gift card for booking with her Overall I do my own planning as I am a researcher and am Dis-obsessed. I do like knowing I'm supporting a small home business and that a TINY bit of my money gets diverted from the Mouse to someone who helps make Disney trips so much more fun.

I would hands down refuse to use someone who doesn't have a clue abt WDW though....unless I really do everything myself and just give them the commission. Too much potential for trouble!

I have used AAA for this trip only because I needed to book the package to get the parking pass. I used her last year as well and thought she knew what she was doing, but she told me I could add the dining plan when I check in, which I thought was wrong but thought maybe they changed the policy. Luckily I asked a couple of girls from here that are disney specialists and let me know that policy has not changed.

 

[CRdisMom]

I book all my trips myself. I'm a control freak and need to know all that is going on with it. Lol. I'd use a TA if I knew I was going to get a better deal

 

[taylor3297]

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

[SIZE
="4"]Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?[/SIZE]

I used to book everything myself. Then I met my friend who works for Mouse fan travel, Now she books my trips and any ADRs that I want her to book. I book most of my ADRs myself.

I received a 40% pin code on after booking our Dec 2010 trip. Well I called her and come to find out she was in the Bahamas on vacation. I figured she would wait until she got home to see if we could use the pin code. Well, she made the changes for me while I was on vacation. She also got up early to make our CRT ADR.

She also sends her clients gift cards, drawstring bags, hand sanitizer, autograph books etc. Her cruise line clients get on board credit and a gift delivered to the stateroom.


Well now I am her assistant. So I still book through her.

 

[jm106]

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?

I used a travel agent because she is a close friend. She doesnt know a ton about Disney and I think she learns a lot from me when I make her do all of my leg work. She now knows about YES tickets and Split Stays. I also dont think she had much knowledge of room types so now we have both learned that. Honestly, Its more of a pain to use her but its her business so I do it because she gets paid and I get the same vacation. I was her first client when we went a few years ago.
I have not broke it to her that I booked vegas to see Jimmy Buffet in October on expedia. It was easy and a good deal so we jumped on it.

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I book all my trips myself. I'm a control freak and need to know all that is going on with it. Lol. I'd use a TA if I knew I was going to get a better deal

ITA!! I am waaaaay too much of a control freak to allow someone to book for me.

Not too mention planning/obsessing over every detail is half the fun!

 

[Sabrefan]

ALMOST SINGLE DIGITS!! 12 DAYS!! I CANT STAND IT!!

 

[Aliceacc]

We'll be at WDW the same days as you!!!

I'm quivering with excitement!!!

See ya at MCO!!

 

[crostorfer]

My answer to the QOTD:

I would never use a TA. There is absolutely nothing a TA can do for me that I can't do on my own using these boards and Mousesavers. I would never put another person in charge of something that is as important, and such a large investment for me. I've never had an issue booking everything on my own, it's 30 minutes of my life, and it's done. That is, until I start changing, LOL, then it's another 30 minutes.


And now, on a side note: I just booked a breakfast at CRT as per my daughter's request. I knew it was expensive, we've done it before.....however....I SWEAR in 2010 I paid like $65 for the two of us for breakfast. I just got off of the WDW dining site and paid $85.54. $85.54 for one adult and one child. I'm kind of appalled. This will be the last time we do this particular reservation. You could spend one night at a value resort with a 30% off discount code, for what I just paid for that breakfast. Those of you who go as a whole family, I don't know how you do that. WOW!

 

[Emteach]

For the QOTD:
We booked through CAA (I just dont feel confident enough to book everything by myself, maybe next time). That being said we will definately be calling Disney a couple of weeks before our vaca. to make sure that everything is in our reservation, restaurants look good but making sure our building request for the Poly is there. Our paperwork looks good but as someone said; dont want it messed up.

One Month, One Week, One day until our flight heads to Orlando and One Month, One Week, Two Days until we arrive is Disney! Getting excited just writing that!

 

[4Joyces]

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?

I used a Disney certified TA from themagicforless.com. She's been great to work with. I pretty much had everything priced out and planned on my own, but get a few freebies with the TA and so I went that route. She's been great to work with- sends out weekly emails with tips and tidbits, and was super patient with me when I changed resort (both times!). I did all my own ADRs online, though. the only one I called for was the Seas Aqua Tour at Epcot because I don't think you can do that one online.

I'm down to 15 days! Also just ordered the photopass plus, I know cutting it close on the delivery time

I ordered my photopass + on a Friday and got the voucher in the mail the next Wednesday. I think they just say 14 days to be safe- you should get it in plenty of time!

ETA- corrected the name of my TA. Had it wrong- doh!

 

[NightAngelX]

Yes, but only Star Wars ones and they cost between $20 to $125 each at Celebration. I did get Ye Ha Bob's last year for free though.

My DH totally wants that 125 dollar signature for Darth/Chancellor whatshisname. lol If we do go to the Celebration we will likely get it if its still available (said limited tickets where you could buy them but we don't want to buy them in advance in case we don't go). DH already has a pic with Luke and Lea's signature on it (framed with cert of authenticity) and also wanted to get C3PO and R2D2 too at this thing. Sorry I don't know actors/actresses names. Trekkie here.

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?

I booked myself but I did get two quotes from 2 different TAs. They had the same deals I had and said it was unlikely any other discounts would come up between booking and my trip since it was so soon. I liked the idea of giving a small business a comission, but at the same time it was a control issue too and I just wanted to do it myself. However I'd love to find one of the TAs who seem to find awesome deals stated on this thread.

Hey - how does everyone feel about starting up a new Aug 2012 thread? I know the OP of the thread posted saying she had to cancel her trip - so our list is no longer maintained.

We could also then make sure the original post is updated with all the instructions needed to follow the thread. Things like Nikki's ADR thread, the 2 LGMH creations, the park list, and our QOTDs. This is such an incredibly fast-moving thread that it's really hard for anyone new to wade through 160 (and counting!) pages of posts.

The most difficult part will be making sure newbies know not to post in the old thread - maybe we can get a mod to close it? We would def. link to it from the new thread though.

Great idea!

1 Month!!!!!!!!​

​

ME TOO!!!!!

ALMOST SINGLE DIGITS!! 12 DAYS!! I CANT STAND IT!!

Yay! That is awesome! Can't wait to read about your trip! You are going to post here after you get back (or during) right???

 

[litlpixie]

I would like anyone staying at a villa to definitely report back on how your stay was. I have decided to rent points next year and stay at a DV for the first time and it would help getting feedback from the Team August peeps! yep, yep, already planning next year

 

[OneBadApple]

I book all my trips myself. I'm a control freak and need to know all that is going on with it. Lol. I'd use a TA if I knew I was going to get a better deal

I am a control freak too and have booked our 1st 4 trips myself, but since we are now members of AAA, I have been using them. Last year, I actually booked it myself and then had the reservation moved to AAA.

ALMOST SINGLE DIGITS!! 12 DAYS!! I CANT STAND IT!!

 

[littlezar]

My only absolutes so far:

Monday, August 20th - Magic Kingdom 9:15 for Pirates League for my youngest

Wednesday, August 22nd - Epcot 8:30 for YES class (Ocean Discoveries) for 10yr old

I received an email yesterday from Disney Rewards about the Disney Store family & friends 25% off that starts today, but I was able to use it yesterday with my Disney Visa. Ordered the 2012 drawstring bag ($14.96 after disc.) and 2 of the autograph books with spot for picture ($22.43 for both after disc.) and a few tees.

QOTD - Never used a travel agent, for anything, ever. Of course, I haven't really done a whole lot of traveling. We've done visiting family, day trip attractions close to wherever we lived at the time, Myrtle Beach (2 hours from where we lived at the time) Disney (3 times previously we've used military tickets, this time it's YES tickets), some of the sites in Washington DC while DH was up at Quantico for a school. DH has done extensive traveling (Europe, Asia, South America)....of course, it was while he was deployed, so no travel agent for him....except maybe Uncle Sam, LOL!!

 

[disneydreamin247]

Since I'm still up and it's 1AM....here's the
QUESTION OF THE DAY (QOTD)

Did you use a Travel Agent or did you book your trip yourself?

I used a Disney Specialist TA. I like that there is someone knowledgeable who is passionate about WDW and can guide me here and there. Plus, I hate calling Disney (it's long distance from Canada with no 1-800 # ...a huge pet peeve) so she makes all my ADRs and other ressies. I also got my trip insurance from her. Plus, she gave me a Disney gift card for booking with her Overall I do my own planning as I am a researcher and am Dis-obsessed. I do like knowing I'm supporting a small home business and that a TINY bit of my money gets diverted from the Mouse to someone who helps make Disney trips so much more fun.

I would hands down refuse to use someone who doesn't have a clue abt WDW though....unless I really do everything myself and just give them the commission. Too much potential for trouble!

I am a Disney specialist and booked my own trip. Does that count? lol