Celebrating my Un-Birthday Disney Style-April 2010-New 5/3 - The TR has started!

[Angies1274]

Sorry..that you still have no power. But, glad to hear that you have cable, internet and phone!!

Your AK pictures are great!! Love the one with Goofy, Pluto and your boys!!Very cute!!

 

[Happydog]

Wow! So much fun all kinds of news! The trip seems to be coming together! How cool that you got your resort stay taken care of! So crazy that your weather has taken your power out but not cable and internet! CRAZY!

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Julie! I've been anxious to dig into this reply...

First - The GAD vouchers are good until December 15th. There are black-out periods, but they appear to only be around Easter and 4th of July.

If you use the vouchers toward tickets, you have to first get the free one-day ticket at Will Call THEN you can upgrade that ticket for a multi-day ticket or AP. You don't want to pre-purchase any tickets if you are using the GAD voucher. The value of the GAD tickets is around $70 for kids & $80 for adults.

My guess is that ticket prices will go up in August - and it takes effect right away - but it's probably not enough to make a huge difference in your budget - especially if you are using GAD vouchers for some of the tickets.

It sounds like your plan is correct... get the 3 kid's (1 actual Disney child/2 Disney adults) tickets with the GAD vouchers - saving $230. Get Margaret's ticket either through Undercover Tourist or upon arrival at Disney. (I'd go with Undercover Tourist to avoid the price increase.)

As far as the APs go... yes the DVC discount is greater - the GAD discount is $80 for an adult ticket. My question would be, can you get both?? Are you able to purchase a DVC discounted AP at a park? If so, it could be possible to upgrade a GAD free ticket to a DVC AP?? I would call or email DVC member services or send an email to WDW and see what they say... Or do a little research on the DVC boards. Post the question because I'm sure someone will have an answer.

This is what the FAQ says:
May I upgrade my free one day ticket to an Annual Pass or multi-day ticket?

Yes, you may upgrade the free ticket to another ticket type of greater value within the applicable upgrade window. However, you are responsible for the incremental cost and the new ticket may only be used by you. No changes or refunds will be given. The value of the free ticket may not be used to combine or upgrade with a separate single or multi-day ticket.

Either way, I would sign up soon... look in your area (when you search you can check off a box so that only opportunities show up that are good for kids). If you don't have any luck finding something in your area and you want to do a Project Linus or something else you can do from home, search around the GAD threads and you'll find some other cities to use in your search.

Even if it turns out that you can't combine the GAD & DVC disounts you should all do the GAD together. You can get the special fastpasses... I know you have a GAC for Michael, but maybe you could use the fastpasses for your mom & daughter outing with Aldine? The only thing about the special fastpasses is that they only give out a certain number of them per day so you would want to get them early in the day, even if you didn't use them until later. Or maybe you could just turn the vouchers in for the "Special Ear Hat figurine with unique trading pins".

Glad to hear you are home and some services are back...hope that power comes back on soon and the boys can get back to school!

thanks Amy...for all the answers and help...

I will look into the DVC thing. And we'll talk over our volunteer options in the area.

It makes me slightly nervous waiting to get the tickets there and the time logistic but you are probably right on the cost difference not being that much.

seriously shouldn't be this confusing.

I assume all the ticket exchanging stuff you need to do at a guest services? can you do it at DTD?

that is how we plan to get our AP's if we all go or just some of us to deal w/ the passes...but my tentative plan is after arriving in Disney and checking in at POP on Friday is to go to DTD I want to have ALL our tickets in hand upon arrivng at MK...

I can transfer the tickets on to our keys then later at BLT?

Saturday will be crazy enough w/ checking out of POP and bringing our luggage over to bell services to get taken over to BLT for us. Matt is going to go over to BLT after midnight via a cab (fun huh?) to check in to BLT and get our room keys...we think this will work...

Sat morning the plan is pre park BBB if I can get it, plus I need to get Michael's GAC..so less business at MK the better....kwim?

The POP is feeling like a sore in my back right now w/ getting Sat. moving along...

I will keep you posted on our thoughts.

thanks again

J~

PS yes AK did not open till late April of 1998...we were there in early Sept of 1998 w/ friends...I spent half our touring in a wheelchair...I was not a fan yet of this park after our first trip...It was really different...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Glad to hear you are home and some services are back...hope that power comes back on soon and the boys can get back to school!

thanks Amy...for all the answers and help...

I will look into the DVC thing. And we'll talk over our volunteer options in the area.

It makes me slightly nervous waiting to get the tickets there and the time logistic but you are probably right on the cost difference not being that much.

seriously shouldn't be this confusing.

I assume all the ticket exchanging stuff you need to do at a guest services? can you do it at DTD?

that is how we plan to get our AP's if we all go or just some of us to deal w/ the passes...but my tentative plan is after arriving in Disney and checking in at POP on Friday is to go to DTD I want to have ALL our tickets in hand upon arrivng at MK...

I can transfer the tickets on to our keys then later at BLT?

Saturday will be crazy enough w/ checking out of POP and bringing our luggage over to bell services to get taken over to BLT for us. Matt is going to go over to BLT after midnight via a cab (fun huh?) to check in to BLT and get our room keys...we think this will work...

Sat morning the plan is pre park BBB if I can get it, plus I need to get Michael's GAC..so less business at MK the better....kwim?

The POP is feeling like a sore in my back right now w/ getting Sat. moving along...

I will keep you posted on our thoughts.

thanks again

J~

PS yes AK did not open till late April of 1998...we were there in early Sept of 1998 w/ friends...I spent half our touring in a wheelchair...I was not a fan yet of this park after our first trip...It was really different...

Ugghhh... I totally forgot about the whole POP thing!

I'll be able to give you a better sense of how this will work after our trip, but I've heard it takes about 10-15 minutes. The steps are as follows:

1. Each GAD person has to go to Will Call at one of the four major parks, with proper ID (photocopy of birth certificate for kids) to exchange their voucher for a free one-day ticket. These tickets are valid for only that day.

2. You then use the free one-day tickets to activate them. (Has to be that day.)

3. Then you can upgrade the one-day tickets to whatever other ticket you want by visiting Guest Relations. Whether you can do this at DTD or not, I don't know... I would think yes, but I'm not sure.

I have read recent reports that CMs at Will Call have been letting people upgrade their tickets right away when they redeem their vouchers, but I'm not sure if that's at their discretion...

As far as adding them to your KTTW card... not sure??

Remind me... what is the date of your arrival and when do you move over to BLT? Is it just one night at POP? Could you take care of the tickets at a different park on your arrival day? You might have to upgrade to 8 day PH tickets rather than 7 to make up for the arrival day, but that's only a couple dollars per ticket. But that does add some extra running around...

 

[DisMomAmy]

Sorry..that you still have no power. But, glad to hear that you have cable, internet and phone!!

Your AK pictures are great!! Love the one with Goofy, Pluto and your boys!!Very cute!!

Our laundry is really piling up! We can do just about everything except run the dishwasher (I'm OK with handwashing & paper plates), laundry (hope I don't have to go to the laundromat) and stove/oven (that's getting old...)

Wow! So much fun all kinds of news! The trip seems to be coming together! How cool that you got your resort stay taken care of! So crazy that your weather has taken your power out but not cable and internet! CRAZY!

It was fun packing for a quick overnight getaway, it was a good dry run for the kids carry on bags & toiletries.

It is strange that we have no power, but our cable is back up... but I'm not complaining.

 

[DisMomAmy]

PS yes AK did not open till late April of 1998...we were there in early Sept of 1998 w/ friends...I spent half our touring in a wheelchair...I was not a fan yet of this park after our first trip...It was really different...

Oh I forgot to add this before...

You must tell more - what was up with the wheelchair?

We didn't like AK the first time we were there either... I just remember how hot it was!

 

[mousescrapper]

Remind me... what is the date of your arrival and when do you move over to BLT? Is it just one night at POP? Could you take care of the tickets at a different park on your arrival day? You might have to upgrade to 8 day PH tickets rather than 7 to make up for the arrival day, but that's only a couple dollars per ticket. But that does add some extra running around...

Ok I am working on a whole post to help me figure out all this crazy disney math....

Date of arrival is Friday 11-19 just one night stay no tickets no DDP for this first day...

Day 2 is Sat the 20th and our first day at BLT...and first day for parks.

I wouldn't want to upgrade to 8 Day just for the sake of having the ticket stuff all taken care of before we get to MK in the morning...I know we WILL NOT go to the park on arrival day. we'll have to take care of it that morning at MK.

I do know we can check-in after midnight on the 19th (so really it is Sat the 20th) and get our room keys and then be notified later (way later) in the day when our villa is ready.


I do know we can bring our luggage to bell services at POP in the morning before catching an early bus to MK and they will deliver our stuff to BLT...

I don't plan to unpack on Friday...I think I will pack in 1 bag the Saturday clothes and tolietry essentials for that morning so we are not opening up more than 1 suitcase at POP...but of course my OCD self will not be happy organizing the room after the trip has "begun" Pooey!

I guess if this is the way to go...we'll just have to be super on top of things and get out of POP and over to MK...

Now am I understndning this...

If we go to DTD on Friday I can get the AP's taken care of there (which I have been told no using GAD) and then on Saturday we'll exchange the 3 kids 1-day GAD voucher to get a ticket and then I may have to come back to GS and upgrade the 1-day free ticket into 7 day PH's...is it going to cost me the the price we are figuring w/ the $70 to 80 value of the 1-day off the total cost of the PH?

Oh I forgot to add this before...

You must tell more - what was up with the wheelchair?

We didn't like AK the first time we were there either... I just remember how hot it was!

Ok I have asthma and it was bugging me all of that trip already...AK day was super hot and I was struggling w/ breathing...went to first aid hoping for something who knows what...and ended up leaving w/ a wheelchair and Matt pushed me around the park for the 2nd half of the day...we left the park before our friends that day too...

I remember KS, the then dinoland, hated the then dinosaur, one of the walking trails, think we did conservation station...not sure on anything else?

J~

 

[DisMomAmy]

Ok I am working on a whole post to help me figure out all this crazy disney math....

Date of arrival is Friday 11-19 just one night stay no tickets no DDP for this first day...

Day 2 is Sat the 20th and our first day at BLT...and first day for parks.

I wouldn't want to upgrade to 8 Day just for the sake of having the ticket stuff all taken care of before we get to MK in the morning...I know we WILL NOT go to the park on arrival day. we'll have to take care of it that morning at MK.

I do know we can check-in after midnight on the 19th (so really it is Sat the 20th) and get our room keys and then be notified later (way later) in the day when our villa is ready.


I do know we can bring our luggage to bell services at POP in the morning before catching an early bus to MK and they will deliver our stuff to BLT...

I don't plan to unpack on Friday...I think I will pack in 1 bag the Saturday clothes and tolietry essentials for that morning so we are not opening up more than 1 suitcase at POP...but of course my OCD self will not be happy organizing the room after the trip has "begun" Pooey!

I guess if this is the way to go...we'll just have to be super on top of things and get out of POP and over to MK...

Now am I understndning this...

If we go to DTD on Friday I can get the AP's taken care of there (which I have been told no using GAD) and then on Saturday we'll exchange the 3 kids 1-day GAD voucher to get a ticket and then I may have to come back to GS and upgrade the 1-day free ticket into 7 day PH's...is it going to cost me the the price we are figuring w/ the $70 to 80 value of the 1-day off the total cost of the PH?






Ok I have asthma and it was bugging me all of that trip already...AK day was super hot and I was struggling w/ breathing...went to first aid hoping for something who knows what...and ended up leaving w/ a wheelchair and Matt pushed me around the park for the 2nd half of the day...we left the park before our friends that day too...

I remember KS, the then dinoland, hated the then dinosaur, one of the walking trails, think we did conservation station...not sure on anything else?

J~

Hopefully you guys can work it out to get over to MK early enough to deal with the tickets, but if you do have time the day before, the 8 day PH ticket is only $3 more than the 7 day. But it would probably be more aggrevation to drag everyone to a park to deal with all that.

Our plan, if they don't let us upgrade the tickets on the spot, is to go to Will Call & get the one day ticket, go to Guest Relations outside the park for the GAC(s) then go to Guest Relations in the park on our way out to upgrade the tickets. I'm hoping they'll just let us upgrade the tickets at Will Call.

Depending how much of a hurry you are in, you could skip Guest Relations all together until after breakfast then upgrade the tickets & get Michael's GAC at the same time. Hopefully I'll have a better answer for you about how much they let you do at Will Call after my trip.

Try to find a GAD opportunity soon... They are only giving out a million vouchers! I'm sure there is still time, but don't wait until summer.

I can totally understand how your asthma would have acted up at AK - that has to be the hottest park. Do you think they designed it that way since you're supposed to be in Africa part of the time? Though I suppose Everest isn't a very hot place is it?

 

[mousescrapper]

thanks Amy...

Yes I am going to pick something ASAP...

and I think our best bet would be just to deal w/ it all that morning...

so you need to go to ticket will call a seperate window/ counter and I'll have to get in another line for guest services for the upgrade and the GAC...

seems like a pain to me...but $230 is a good savings...

I am pretty sure I read that one of the reasons it is so hot is because of the greenery...have to look it up...and yes you are in Africa

 

[DisMomAmy]

thanks Amy...

Yes I am going to pick something ASAP...

and I think our best bet would be just to deal w/ it all that morning...

so you need to go to ticket will call a seperate window/ counter and I'll have to get in another line for guest services for the upgrade and the GAC...

seems like a pain to me...but $230 is a good savings...

I am pretty sure I read that one of the reasons it is so hot is because of the greenery...have to look it up...and yes you are in Africa

Hopefully they will consistently be letting people do the upgrade at the time they turn in the vouchers... but the official line is that you have to enter the park with the free ticket before you can upgrade it, therefore yes, you have to get in another line. And for those getting a GAC, that makes a 3rd line... unless you wait to get your GAC inside the park when you are upgrading your free ticket. Clear as mud, right?

 

[eandesmom]

I have heard that they will let you upgrade right when you turn in your voucher versus it being a separate transaction as it says on the site but until you actually try it, who knows!

I just know I have a huge fear of forgetting the kids bc's and then not being able to redeem theirs!

Does Disney usually raise their ticket prices in August? I didn't know that.

 

[DisMomAmy]

I have heard that they will let you upgrade right when you turn in your voucher versus it being a separate transaction as it says on the site but until you actually try it, who knows!

I just know I have a huge fear of forgetting the kids bc's and then not being able to redeem theirs!

Does Disney usually raise their ticket prices in August? I didn't know that.

I've heard mixed reports, but the more recent ones are that they were allowed to upgrade at will call. I just wonder if it's consistent...

I have already photocopied the kids birth certificates and stapled them to the vouchers. I was afraid I'd forget too... or wouldn't be able to find the birth certificates if I waited until last minute.

Yes - I think they raise the prices every August. I don't remember when or where I saw this, but floating around out there somewhere is a chart of the increase history that goes back several years.

 

[eandesmom]

I've heard mixed reports, but the more recent ones are that they were allowed to upgrade at will call. I just wonder if it's consistent...

I have already photocopied the kids birth certificates and stapled them to the vouchers. I was afraid I'd forget too... or wouldn't be able to find the birth certificates if I waited until last minute.

Yes - I think they raise the prices every August. I don't remember when or where I saw this, but floating around out there somewhere is a chart of the increase history that goes back several years.

Great idea on the photocopy and staple! I found a great GAD activity for K&T who want to do it for the fast passes. Waiting to hear back from the organization.

Not as sure about Sandie and Paul (and Doug). They wouldn't really "get" the value of the FP's until after the fact and if I took the tickets off of their room, and then prices went up, that might not make sense.

Not to mention the idea of facilitating that (them turning in their vouchers and then upgrading) gives me a headache.

hmnn.

 

[jordanyosh]

no power yet?

 

[carissanboys]

Glad to see you around, Amy! You were missed. Thank goodness for generators! It really is a necessity for those living in New England. Hope the power comes back soon.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Amy! Sorry I've been MIA for a few days. Sometimes my life just gets crazy!

The rumors are true...Jeff and I are going on a cruise in May! We are taking a 4 night cruise out of Orlando to the Bahamas. We are planning to spend the weekend after the cruise in Orlando, so of course, I've been trying to squeeze in a Disney day while we're there. I went on the GAD thread and found some great opportunities that Jeff and I can do at home together. I could have gone and volunteered a day somewhere, but it's much harder for Jeff to do with his work schedule and I wanted something we could do together. So...we are going to make blankets for Project Linus in Massachusetts and mail them. I am no seamstress, but it looks like a fun project that both of us will be able to handle! YAY....we'll get to go to WDW for a day! Now to decide which park......

I love the AK pics....it's amazing how much your boys have grown up in just the last two years. You can really see it in the pictures!

Still no power?????

 

[mousescrapper]

Hopefully they will consistently be letting people do the upgrade at the time they turn in the vouchers... but the official line is that you have to enter the park with the free ticket before you can upgrade it, therefore yes, you have to get in another line. And for those getting a GAC, that makes a 3rd line... unless you wait to get your GAC inside the park when you are upgrading your free ticket. Clear as mud, right?

Oh yes...clear as mud

I have already photocopied the kids birth certificates and stapled them to the vouchers. I was afraid I'd forget too... or wouldn't be able to find the birth certificates if I waited until last minute.

great idea...now I know I have some photo copies around somewhere already...

Yes - I think they raise the prices every August. I don't remember when or where I saw this, but floating around out there somewhere is a chart of the increase history that goes back several years.

Yes I believe this is the case too, at least it has been the last few yrs I have been tracking price increases...now what I don't get is that the DDP historically will go up too...but I have been told that this price increase does not go in affect till Jan of the following yr...so why do the ticket prices immediately go up?

I think I have it written down what the prices were in 09 and 09 prior to those increases...but if you find a chart to Amy that would be helpful in speculating...

PS as well I sent out an express interest for a volunteer opportunity helping at a local forest preserve...only catch is if Matt will be able to do it w/ his arm/back...

talk soon...

any power yet?

J~

 

[DisMomAmy]

NO POWER YET!

This morning was the first time I started feeling frustrated... fortunately the school got power back last night so the kids were back there today.

NH had over 300,000 without power at the peak of the outage - it's now down to 15,000... I guess we are the lucky few!

Just wanted to check in... I'm off to school for our PTO Green Eggs & Ham lunch today... was supposed to be yesterday, but since there was no school...

Hopefully next time I check in we'll have power!

 

[mousescrapper]

Can I do a Power dance for you?

I know there is some crazy '90's song that has some line in like that..

"you got the Power!"



Otherwise does someone have a Really LONG extension cord?

 

[DisMomAmy]

Can I do a Power dance for you?

I know there is some crazy '90's song that has some line in like that..

"you got the Power!"



Otherwise does someone have a Really LONG extension cord?

Oh you're too funny!! Now I have that song in my head!

But it must have worked! There were 4 power trucks on our street when I got home from school today!! No power yet - but I'm hoping the trucks are a sign that we'll be getting it back any time now.