Did I do it wrong?

[Jacks2583]

I booked our first trip to WDW for Sept 22-29. I called WDW to book it, I did not have any PINs (I am still not sure what that is) or codes. I do not have a Disney Visa. I am still hoping for the free dining plan code to come out so I can use that.

I booked the hotel, the Magic Your Way (no park hopper or water park) and Dining Plan. They didnt have a standard room avail for AKL so we went with a pool view with a queen/bunk bed.

Should I be calling back to see if I can get a better rate or a discount of some sort?

Thank you for your help. I am pretty clueless for all of this stuff

 

[mickeystoontown]

I say you did fine. Now, all you need to do is watch these Codes and Rates forums to see if any new promos come out for your travel dates. You need to also watch the Disney website www.disneyworld.com for special offers. There is a special offers tab on the right hand side of their home page. If an offer comes out that will allow you to save money, immediately call Disney and ask them to modify your reservation. I have done this numerous times and have never had a problem.

 

[Jacks2583]

ok thanks! Good to know you have the option to update on any promotions.

Can you do more than one? For example, if there is free dining and a certain percentage off, may I apply both?

 

[mickeystoontown]

ok thanks! Good to know you have the option to update on any promotions.

Can you do more than one? For example, if there is free dining and a certain percentage off, may I apply both?

You can only use one promotion per reservation. If there are two promotions going on (like right now there is a gift card and a room rate % off), I price out them both and see which one saves us the most money.

 

[Jacks2583]

thank you so much!

 

[metsno1]

Your reservation looks fine to me. Just a question:

You have kids going with you, correct (you booked the bunk beds)? Because the water parks are pretty amazing. For our two DD's (12 and 10), they're every bit as important as the four main parks. Every time we go to Typhoon Lagoon, we say "next time, we're spending another day here!"

Personally, I think the no-park-hopper is a good call. I've never really been able to figure out why people would want to spend so much of their time transferring between parks. But some love it!

 

[Jacks2583]

we are taking my stepdaughter (who will be 13 at the time). I considered the water parks, but DH absolutely hates water parks. I think SD will be happy playing at the pool at AKL. While I know she would enjoy the water parks, since DH would not go, i decided to pass.

Thank you so much for all the info

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

we are taking my stepdaughter (who will be 12 at the time). I considered the water parks, but DH absolutely hates water parks. I think SD will be happy playing at the pool at AKL. While I know she would enjoy the water parks, since DH would not go, i decided to pass.

Thank you so much for all the info

Hi neigbor!! Welcome to Disboards. You came to the right place to get your questions answered. Can I ask, where in Va you are located?

 

[Jacks2583]

Hi neigbor!! Welcome to Disboards. You came to the right place to get your questions answered. Can I ask, where in Va you are located?

I am in the Charlottesville area. What about you?

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I am in the Charlottesville area. What about you?

I'm right across the mtn from you. I'm in Stuarts Draft, about a 30 minute drive.

 

[tinkerbell313]

Jacks2583...we are north of you up 81 in the Winchester area...we will also be staying at AKL Sept. 22 to 28th!!!

 

[Jacks2583]

wow! not far at all AND staying at the same resort at the same time?!?!?

Which room did you decide to stay in? I just switched mine to a pool view with 2 queen beds.

DH and SD have never been to WDW, and it has been a LONG time since I went, so it should be very exciting for all of us

 

[tinkerbell313]

We will be staying in a Savannah view room (we got 2 rooms). We are actually looking for Club level but I booked with a pin code and they do not have any rooms avilable with the pin code. The reason we want the club level is because my parents will be coming with us...its their first time at WDW. Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer (with a good prognosis) this past September, so I thought club level would be good for him so Mom and Dad can go back to the room or lounge and just relax.

This will be our 2nd time at Disney...the first being June 2009 and we stayed at CBR. DD will be 6 and DS will be 4...so younger than your SD.

If you haven't already...you should start planning on your meals if you will be doing any table service (TS) meals. Our window for making ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) will be coming up shortly. I believe its Friday, March 26th. You can make those on line (at 6AM ET) or you can call in to the Dining reservation line at 7AM ET.

We always do TS for breakfast and/or dinner...its just the type of family we are. If we eat lunch, it will be counter service (CS).

And y'all will have a blast!!!

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

Jacks2583...we are north of you up 81 in the Winchester area...we will also be staying at AKL Sept. 22 to 28th!!!

I'll be missing you by 4 days. LOL. We leave the 18th.

 

[tinkerbell313]

I'll be missing you by 4 days. LOL. We leave the 18th.

We were originally going to go the week before but we are pulling DD out of school (first grade) and they have a teacher workshop on the the 22nd...so she will only miss 4 days of school instesd of 5. We also are planning it around JetBlue's schedule and their flights are cheaper on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!! LOL.

I have never been this time of year...I am hoping for a relaxing trip in "Disney World" terms of relaxing that is...

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I've never been in June but what I have read over the years...September will be a BIG difference. We do use the early EMH just to get in the parks ealier to beat the heat. But the crowds are really good. Most of all of them were walk on to 5 min waits.

I finished all of my dining ressies this am! I'm set. IDK if your taking bottled water with you or not but Food Lion has theirs on sale this for 2.99 and there is a 1.00 coupon off(if your interested, let me know I can pm you the link). So it will only be 1.99 for 24 bottles. I figure I would put it with the rest of my disney stuff.

 

[tinkerbell313]

Thank you for the offer...I believe we are OK in the H2O department Although a great price for water.

Did you get your reservations you wanted?

I am looking at the hours of the parks and the times for wishes/illuminations etc. and I am trying to plan from there. Mu husband wants to eat at Jikos, again...no biggy there. But, I am deciding between Le Cellier and Yachtsman Steakhouse for one meal (the number of credits doesn't matter) and CRT for another meal. We did Akershus and enjoyed the princess interation but did not enjoy the food (we were there for dinner). I have heard mediocre reviews for CRT but am wondering if we should just bite the bullet for DD. She hasn't asked to eat there because she doesn't know that you can eat in Cinderella's castle.

I just hope that if/when they announce free dining that it will be after my 180 day window. I believe my day is March 26th. I just want to get my ADRS in. Then I will determine what dining plan we are going to do since some of the restuarants we want are 2 TS.

 

[tinkerbell313]

Not sure where you guys are flying out of. But I was just booking our flights out of Dulles and Jet Blue is $139 RT per person (this includes taxes and fees). Jet Blue has not charge on baggage for 1st bag...and, what my kids love...TVs in the back of every seat.

 

[Jacks2583]

We will be staying in a Savannah view room (we got 2 rooms). We are actually looking for Club level but I booked with a pin code and they do not have any rooms avilable with the pin code. The reason we want the club level is because my parents will be coming with us...its their first time at WDW. Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer (with a good prognosis) this past September, so I thought club level would be good for him so Mom and Dad can go back to the room or lounge and just relax.

This will be our 2nd time at Disney...the first being June 2009 and we stayed at CBR. DD will be 6 and DS will be 4...so younger than your SD.

If you haven't already...you should start planning on your meals if you will be doing any table service (TS) meals. Our window for making ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) will be coming up shortly. I believe its Friday, March 26th. You can make those on line (at 6AM ET) or you can call in to the Dining reservation line at 7AM ET.

We always do TS for breakfast and/or dinner...its just the type of family we are. If we eat lunch, it will be counter service (CS).

And y'all will have a blast!!!

I am so sorry about your dad. Saying a little prayer for him that is wonderful that you are going with your parents and your children!

I have started picking places to eat. DH has not been very much help, but he likes to comment/complain on my choices. UGH He has no idea how much planning this trip is going to take! I started a little calendar/spreadsheet for each day as to which park I think we will go to, all the park hours for the day, EMHs, and ideas for places to eat. I need to finalize all of our restaurant plans- maybe this weekend. I think my plan is to do one TS and one CS a day (we are going to do the DDP). I know there are a few breakfast TS meals I want to do (probably late morning), but most will probably be dinner. I was planning on taking some snacks for first thing in the morning (like granola bars and poptarts for SD).

I am a little worried about making ADR since I dont really know what time we are going to feel like eating. It is hard when it is your first trip and everything is unknown.


What did you think of CBR? Are your kids excited about AKL?

 

[Jacks2583]

Not sure where you guys are flying out of. But I was just booking our flights out of Dulles and Jet Blue is $139 RT per person (this includes taxes and fees). Jet Blue has not charge on baggage for 1st bag...and, what my kids love...TVs in the back of every seat.

I have been watching flights also. I am trying to decide between Dulles and Richmond- both are about the same distance from us. It looks like in general Richmond flights are cheaper than Dulles for some reason. I want a direct flight leaving in the morning and coming back evening, ideally. Unfortunately, I have to wait a bit to book my flight. Part of my trip (as limited amount as I can make it!) is work related and I havent gotten an ok from my work to book yet.