**December 2012 Roll Call** Holidays, FLE Opening & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[Tltorrez]

Thank you for the research! I want to do Osbourne Lights during the first Fantasmic since crowds should be considerably lower (hopefully)! Maybe I'll snag some dinner reservations at Kouzzina for after the second Fantasmic! Even if they don't have one, we can do Fantasmic later on in the week. I do hate to eat so late but we're doing a late lunch at CityWalk so we'd probably be okay to wait.

I wanted to do Brown Derby dinner package for an early dinner. But that wasn't available so I ended up with Flying Fish at 7:30. If there's an 8pm then we might just do a regular Brown Derby dinner before the show. That's our off day so we really don't have anything else planned.

 

[DisneyMom0709]

when i go to hs crowd level is a 4 for december 14 on a friday, so I am hoping everything goes good, I know some people line up 30 min before show, I know couple years ago I went in summer and went about ten minutes before show and got seats at the top, I will have a gac and wonder if that will work. I wont be doing fantasmic pacakge because my son wants scifi.
Where is osburne lights at is it around the whole park?
I am just hoping I get to my cape may adr at 8:40 my plans are to line up at 6pm I really don't care where we sit, when I went last year the place wasnt even pack and it was early august

 

[Suziewan]

Terri -- I was looking at your goody bags (great job!) and I came across a mention of CM appreciation cards -- what a nice idea I just found and downloaded some for our trip. Thanks!

 

[Tltorrez]

when i go to hs crowd level is a 4 for december 14 on a friday, so I am hoping everything goes good, I know some people line up 30 min before show, I know couple years ago I went in summer and went about ten minutes before show and got seats at the top, I will have a gac and wonder if that will work. I wont be doing fantasmic pacakge because my son wants scifi.
Where is osburne lights at is it around the whole park?
I am just hoping I get to my cape may adr at 8:40 my plans are to line up at 6pm I really don't care where we sit, when I went last year the place wasnt even pack and it was early august

Osborne Lights is on the Streets of America at the back of the park.

 

[Tltorrez]

Terri -- I was looking at your goody bags (great job!) and I came across a mention of CM appreciation cards -- what a nice idea I just found and downloaded some for our trip. Thanks!

I want to modify some this year so that there's space, maybe on the back to write a specific comment. My understanding is that positive (and of course negative) comments like this can really affect CM job performance evaluations. And that they're really important in the Disney company culture.

Plus it gives me something to do for 3 months. I'm working on a12 Days of Christmas theme now.

 

[ksromack]

Terri -- I was looking at your goody bags (great job!) and I came across a mention of CM appreciation cards -- what a nice idea I just found and downloaded some for our trip. Thanks!

I loved the goodie bags too but I didn't see the CM appreciation cards! Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[Suziewan]

I loved the goodie bags too but I didn't see the CM appreciation cards! Can someone point me in the right direction?

I found them here, and I'm sure there are others.

I think I need a bit of an education about discounts and strategies. If I understand what I've been reading correctly, there are a lot of people who book moderate or deluxe rooms (only?) at the regular price, and then get discounts later, which make them comparable to the lower priced options? I have a lot of questions... Do you ever get free dining with deluxe stays? Does this ever happen with cruises? Tell me your best deal, what did it come down to (in $) in the end (if you care to share )

I don't think I'll ever match my great deal in 2010, which was 7 nights for me and DS for $1300 with the meal plan (AS Movies) and then I found the cheapest flights ever, another $400 for both of us for a total of $1700 magical dollars. Our trip this year cost about $1000 more, but was in April (AS Sports).

Please share with me your best tips for getting the most value for your money, I'd love some advice.

ETA - I bet there's a board for this...off to check.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

100 Days for us today! We are having our movie night tonight instead of Friday. I'll post pics of our celebration tomorrow, along with our countdown calendar!

 

[mom2travel]

100 Days for us today! We are having our movie night tonight instead of Friday. I'll post pics of our celebration tomorrow, along with our countdown calendar!

Congrats!!! Today is our double-digit day

 

[Tltorrez]

I found them here, and I'm sure there are others.

I think I need a bit of an education about discounts and strategies. If I understand what I've been reading correctly, there are a lot of people who book moderate or deluxe rooms (only?) at the regular price, and then get discounts later, which make them comparable to the lower priced options? I have a lot of questions... Do you ever get free dining with deluxe stays? Does this ever happen with cruises? Tell me your best deal, what did it come down to (in $) in the end (if you care to share )

I don't think I'll ever match my great deal in 2010, which was 7 nights for me and DS for $1300 with the meal plan (AS Movies) and then I found the cheapest flights ever, another $400 for both of us for a total of $1700 magical dollars. Our trip this year cost about $1000 more, but was in April (AS Sports).

Please share with me your best tips for getting the most value for your money, I'd love some advice.

ETA - I bet there's a board for this...off to check.

You can get FD at a Deluxe resort. However, it is generally, more cost effective to get a room-only discount. At Values, Free Dining is usually a better deal. Mods can go either way. Room-only discounts tend to be a higher percentage as the resort coass goes up. Of, course there are exceptions to all of these. The more people you have in a room, the more FD can be a good value. But each family needs to crunch the numbers for themselves.

For us, the dining plan doesn't work at all no matter how free it is. Plus this trip we have APs so we don't need park tickets. Instead of a dining discount we'll use the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount on most meals. Plus the AP gives us a discount on tours, merchandise and it gave us a deeper discount on our room than the General Public discount.

So the room-only has always been our best deal. I think my best deal was Jan 2011 when I got 40% off a 1BDR at Boardwalk Villas. That was still coming off the recession though. We won't be seeing discounts that deep now. And discounts are a lot more targeted than they used to be to specific resorts/room types. No availability = no discount. That applies whether you book a new one or apply to an existing one.

Personally, I don't book unless I'm prepared to pay rack rate for the room. Last year we were waiting for Oct discounts before booking. When they didn't materialize I booked The Dolphin instead. Some people prefer to book and cancel if necessary. This year I knew I needed space for 6 people. I booked a 2BDR at BWV because the rack rate cost was cheaper than booking two separate rooms. I booked as soon as it was available in January. I chose BWV over BLT or BCV because I knew there's usually more availability so my chance of a discount was higher. Turns out there was still no discount on the 2BDR. Nit surprising. What was surprising is that Studios were available and with a discount. so I cancelled and rebooked a 1BDR + Studio at a discount. A 2BDR at that resort is just a 1BDR + connecting Studio. So I lost the guaranteed connecting door and saved $1500. A fair trade.

So the lesson here is, the more flexible you are and the more willing you are to choose the less popular resorts, the better the deal. though I have no idea why BWV is less popular. We love it!

 

[tofubeast]

I think I need a bit of an education about discounts and strategies. If I understand what I've been reading correctly, there are a lot of people who book moderate or deluxe rooms (only?) at the regular price, and then get discounts later, which make them comparable to the lower priced options? I have a lot of questions... Do you ever get free dining with deluxe stays? Does this ever happen with cruises? Tell me your best deal, what did it come down to (in $) in the end (if you care to share )

There are lots of debates on what is a better deal: Free dining or room only discount. It all depends how many people are traveling in a room (the more, the better FD can be) and if you need tickets etc. As an FL resident, it is much better for me to go with FL resident room only discounts (or AP when I have one) and then to use my local AAA for either discount FL resident discounts or AP. Plus as an AP (or FL res), I can purchase the Tables in Wonderland card which gets me 20% off most of the restaurants (TS) and drinks. That is a great deal. With FD, gratuity is not included, so that can add up and be a missed cost.

People usually book to hold a room and such. When discounts are offered, they try and apply the code to their reservation. Sometimes that may not work (only so many rooms at the discount price), so people may have to switch to another resort.

Regarding cruises, a great msg board is cruisecritic.com That is the board for cruising, just like the Dis is the board for Disney planning. Anyway, when discounts happen, you can usually have it applied to your current reservation so long as it is before the 45 day mark. When you book a cruise, you lock in that price. So if the price goes up, it doesn't matter to you. But if it goes down (that is why it is good to watch the rates like a hawk), you can get a credit and/or have discounts applied.

 

[ciao_gina]

Posting so I can see my countdown. I am at the 2+ month mark!

 

[Valgoof]

Posting so I can see my countdown. I am at the 2+ month mark!

Jealous!!

 

[Valgoof]

Ok I think I like my plan, so I thought I would post it for all of you to critique. I have come to terms with not having a BOG ADR and am now just waiting for the Dessert Party to open up. Not sure about the Kona ADR. We would have to be up early and it would be OOP.

Sat 12/15-Flight lands at 9:25 am. Find ME. Check in at POP. Eat CS lunch at POP food court. Go to AK. Bus to AKL for dinner at Boma 5:05 or 7:15.

Sun 12/16-Breakfast at Kona at 8:05. MR to MK. CS lunch at BOG. MR to Epcot. Dinner at San Angel Inn at 5:00. Boat or bus to DHS for Fantasmic (if 2nd show offered), Osborne Lights and EMH.

Mon 12/17-Breakfast at POP. Rope Drop at DHS. CS lunch. Break at POP. Dinner WCC at 6:25. Boat to MK for Wishes Dessert Party and EMH

Tues 12/18-Wake up whenever. Get to Epcot when we get there. Dinner at Tutto Italia at 4:00. MR to MK for MVMCP.

Wed 12/19- Breakfast at POP. DHS. CS lunch. Boat to BW area. Dinner at ESPN. Mini golf, explore BW resorts, JellyRolls.

Thurs 12/20-Breakfast at POP. Rope Drop at Epcot. Lunch at Le Cellier at 1:00. Dinner at Mexico or Norway CS. Illuminations.

Fri 12/21-Breakfast at POP. Rope Drop at DHS. Bus to MK. CS lunch. Say goodbye to my castle. Dinner at Ohana at 4:50. MR to Epcot for EMH.

Sat 12/22-Go home. Flight leaves at 9:35 am.

 

[levenhopper]

Ok I think I like my plan, so I thought I would post it for all of you to critique. I have come to terms with not having a BOG ADR and am now just waiting for the Dessert Party to open up. Not sure about the Kona ADR. We would have to be up early and it would be OOP.

Sat 12/15-Flight lands at 9:25 am. Find ME. Check in at POP. Eat CS lunch at POP food court. Go to AK. Bus to AKL for dinner at Boma 5:05 or 7:15.

Sun 12/16-Breakfast at Kona at 8:05. MR to MK. CS lunch at BOG. MR to Epcot. Dinner at San Angel Inn at 5:00. Boat or bus to DHS for Fantasmic (if 2nd show offered), Osborne Lights and EMH.

Mon 12/17-Breakfast at POP. Rope Drop at DHS. CS lunch. Break at POP. Dinner WCC at 6:25. Boat to MK for Wishes Dessert Party and EMH

Tues 12/18-Wake up whenever. Get to Epcot when we get there. Dinner at Tutto Italia at 4:00. MR to MK for MVMCP.

Wed 12/19- Breakfast at POP. DHS. CS lunch. Boat to BW area. Dinner at ESPN. Mini golf, explore BW resorts, JellyRolls.

Thurs 12/20-Breakfast at POP. Rope Drop at Epcot. Lunch at Le Cellier at 1:00. Dinner at Mexico or Norway CS. Illuminations.

Fri 12/21-Breakfast at POP. Rope Drop at DHS. Bus to MK. CS lunch. Say goodbye to my castle. Dinner at Ohana at 4:50. MR to Epcot for EMH.

Sat 12/22-Go home. Flight leaves at 9:35 am.

I like it . It seems like a lot of hopping, but everything makes sense, and it flows well.

We land about an hour apart...maybe we'll be on DME together (if you are late or we're early).

 

[ciao_gina]

Jealous!!

Don't be. When I am going through post-trip letdown, you will be enjoying your trip!!

 

[BDL]

We're at the 100 day mark...

TOMORROW'S OUR DOUBLE DIGIT DAY!!!!!!

 

[Valgoof]

I like it . It seems like a lot of hopping, but everything makes sense, and it flows well.

We land about an hour apart...maybe we'll be on DME together (if you are late or we're early).

I almost qualified it with "I know it's a lot of hopping, but we love to switch parks." And I wanted to eat in Epcot a lot. Last year we hopped everyday except one and two of our days we went to 3 parks. Somehow we all get ADD when we get to Disney.

Ummm I vote that you get there early. I'd love to meet you, but I dont want to start off my trip being late.

 

[Valgoof]

Don't be. When I am going through post-trip letdown, you will be enjoying your trip!!

Good point. But at least you will still have Christmas to look forward to after your trip.

 

[bellaally]

Went to disneystore online just want to let everyone know just ended up buying Minnie adult Santa hat its on sale around 11 bucks and all there theme park items are an extra 25% off (extra25) so it was like 8 bucks, plus I bought some souvenirs 25% off so we don't have to buy at the parks and have to add weight to our luggage.