Disney Gives Me the Warm Fuzzies. January 2010 PreTrip Report. Update 11/6 Pg. 79

[Flossbolna]

To ask for a giga update would be too much, wouldn't it???

 

[wigdoutdismom]

While waiting for LL to update, I actually DID an update.....

 

[pooh'smate]

Woo Hoo for your mega update!!! I can't wait.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Mega update?! I'll be waiting too!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I'm waaiiting....

 

[Lady Lallie]

Mega update!

too much like eandesmom

Did you say update?

Actually- I believe the exact wording was "mega update"...

To ask for a giga update would be too much, wouldn't it???

While waiting for LL to update, I actually DID an update.....

Woo Hoo for your mega update!!! I can't wait.

Mega update?! I'll be waiting too!

I'm waaiiting....

No pressure or anything! Update on the way...not so mega though.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Today did not go so well in being stress free, let me tell you.

There were many ups and downs.

I still haven't fully recovered.

Sigh.

Let's recap shall we?

I'll try not to fully recap the 72 emails that I sent to Jen and the Travel Agent today.

So I emailed the TA last night, she got back to me this morning. Apparently the AP rates that are out right now, you need a 15 digit pin that was emailed to AP holders. Well as of the time Jen went to work this morning she did not have one.

Therefore we only qualify for the discount being offered to Disney Visa Cardholders. We got the information from the TA and there were NO standard rooms at Port Orleans Riverside, only King rooms. Jen and I are not so crazy about sharing a bed. Plus it's more expensive. The TA did offer that there were standard rooms at French Quarter.

I had to think. I had my heart set on Riverside. It's my Disney Oasis. I want to stay there so badly.

It took me about an hour to decide that if I couldn't stay at Riverside that French Quarter was the second best option.

I emailed Jen to tell her and then emailed the TA.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

You know where this is going, don't you?

Yep. The TA got back to me around 4PM and all the standard rooms were gone from French Quarter, the only moderate she could find was Caribbean Beach.

No thanks. I think Caribbean Beach is the last on my moderate resort list.

So basically our package at Pop Century totals $604, if we could take advantage of the Disney Visa deal then we would pay $633 for six nights at a moderate.

Can I tell you how much it kills me that with this deal I am still staying at Pop Century?

I emailed Jen in a panic before I left work, she was kind enough to call me while I was driving home to calm my craziness and convinced me to call Disney myself.

So I did.

They confirmed that there are no standard rooms at POFQ or POR, the only one available is Caribbean Beach. Sigh. I had her check Wilderness Lodge for giggles and only had a non-standard room (can't remember if it was woods view or courtyard view) for $1,164. Ummm, no thank you.

Bottom Line.

We are booked at Pop.

I didn't need to waste 25 minutes waiting for Disney Reservations, my TA was right.

Still waiting for an AP email pin or a regular AP rate.

What do you all think about Caribbean Beach? Jen is leaving the decision up to me. Is any moderate better than none?

I'm just bummed that the 4/3 deal doesn't work for us and now we can't get the resort we really want...or that I really want. Bah.

Let's talk about happier things, shall we?

Itinerary 5.0


Wednesday January 13th:
*Flight lands around 11:10AM
*If we get a Disney Visa deal then I can check in, if not I'll head to a park.
*Quick afternoon at Magic Kingdom (?)
*Early dinner @ Yak N' Yeti
*Animal Kingdom EMH’s 5-8PM
*Jen arrives!

Thursday January 14th:
*Magic Kingdom for AM EMH's
*Break
*Hollywood Studios
*Fantasmic @ 6:30
*Brown Derby

Friday January 15th:
*Animal Kingdom @ Rope Drop
*Break
*Pirate & Pals Wishes Cruise @ 6:45PM
*California Grill (!)

Yep, we changed. Hehehe. I am so excited to be eating at California Grill. Now I must decide what I am going to wear!

Saturday January 16th:
*Epcot @ Rope Drop
*Break
*Epcot
*Le Cellier

Sunday January 17th:
*Hollywood Studios @ Rope Drop
*Break
*Magic Kingdom EMH’s 10-1AM
*Plaza

Monday January 18th:
*Jen & I talked about going somewhere else this morning but I don't remember where. I think we are keeping our options open. Either a leisurely morning at Downtown Disney or hit up a park we feel we are missing out on.
*Break (?)
*Animal Kingdom, early afternoon to approx. 5PM
*Jiko

Tuesday January 19th:
*1900 Park Fare
*Magic Kingdom
*Flight Departs @ 6PM

I also booked a Park & Fly hotel near the airport. I found a great deal...at least to me. It's $135 for the night before I leave, parking for the week and a shuttle to the airport.

Now I could have found a cheaper hotel with a shuttle but this hotel has a 24 hour shuttle vs. a first come first serve limited hours shuttle. I'm worried about weather delays. I do live in New England. Also, the best part of this shuttle? If it snows when I'm gone, they will shovel out and clean off my car! Yayayaya! I hate doing that and it's well worth the extra $30 over the hotels for them to do that for me. Plus if weather conditions are crappy when I land, I'm sure I can get another night at the hotel so I don't have to drive.

So the ADRs are set...for now.

The resort is set....for now.

Now I have to think about the other essentials. Wardrobe, park bags, shoes....

Where Am I?

 

[meeko_33785]

Sorry you couldn't get into either Port Orleans. I do like Caribbean too. We've stayed there a bunch of times. It's a bit older and a bit more sprawling than Riverside or French Quarter. It's also missing that Southern charm I know you were hoping for. However, the rooms are pretty big (even bigger than the other moderates, though not by a too-drastic amount). If you really want a moderate, it's not a bad choice. I would have a hard time choosing between Pop and Caribbean though. Sorry, that's not very helpful.

As for the detail photo, it looks really familiar. Is it on Hollywood Boulevard?

 

[jordanyosh]

I think you're in China....

CBR is a nice resort. I've stayed there and actually stayed at one of the farther villages (Barbabos) in 94, 96, and 2000.

Pros
Larger rooms
2 sinks
Privacy Curtain
Refrigerator
Each village has its own pool/laundry facility

Cons
Busses
Distance to Old Port Royal
Distance from Guest Services/Concierge/Bell Services

I like a tropical feel to resort...so CBR fits nicely.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Sorry you couldn't get into either Port Orleans. I do like Caribbean too. We've stayed there a bunch of times. It's a bit older and a bit more sprawling than Riverside or French Quarter. It's also missing that Southern charm I know you were hoping for. However, the rooms are pretty big (even bigger than the other moderates, though not by a too-drastic amount). If you really want a moderate, it's not a bad choice. I would have a hard time choosing between Pop and Caribbean though. Sorry, that's not very helpful.

As for the detail photo, it looks really familiar. Is it on Hollywood Boulevard?

That's it too. I'd be missing the Southern Charm! I'm actually looking at pictures on Trip Advisor right now, and it's a lot prettier than I remember.

You are close but not on Hollywood Boulevard, not technically at least.

I think you're in China....

CBR is a nice resort. I've stayed there and actually stayed at one of the farther villages (Barbabos) in 94, 96, and 2000.

Pros
Larger rooms
2 sinks
Privacy Curtain
Refrigerator
Each village has its own pool/laundry facility

Cons
Busses
Distance to Old Port Royal
Distance from Guest Services/Concierge/Bell Services

I like a tropical feel to resort...so CBR fits nicely.

The buses are not a problem since we will have a rental car. I did read that the rooms are larger, which is nice. It's not that I don't like Pop it's just that I want to try a moderate so badly. I've done deluxe and value. Deluxe is wonderful but too pricey, value is great for a budget trip but I think I want that middle road if that makes sense. I can tell you one thing, as soon as I get home in January I am booking a room at Riverside for the maybe next fall trip just in case.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Are you outside the Great Movie Ride? Looking at the roof?

 

[mickeysmyboy]

UGH! I'm so sorry that you couldn't get a room at either Port Orleans!

My sister usually stays there and she had a heck of a time last year getting a room there at a discounted rate! I guess because it's a really popular resort the discounted rooms go really quickly!

I hope the AP rates work out for you and you can get something closer to what you want!

You 4/3 saga sounds like mine last year!! But we wanted to move from a certain mod that shall remain nameless to WL and add extra days to even take advantage of the deal! The price difference wasn't that big though and we ended up making out really well!! The emailing back and forth with the TA was crazy! Not to mention I hate wait when it comes to disney planning! I get all keyed up and then the waiting stinks!

Your new plans look great! Cali grill is so nice! I can't wait to eat there again someday!

I love the idea of staying at a park and fly hotel. Especially if their going to clean your car if snows gotta love that!

 

[Flossbolna]

I am so sorry that you did not get POR or POFQ! I will keep my fingers crossed that a great rate will come up for you still - with availability at one of the POs!!

My sister and I actually really considered staying at CBR, we thought the beach theme would be wonderful to get away from grey winter in Germany to sunny Florida in January. But if it isn't what you want, I think keeping POP sounds like not such a bad deal after all!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ughhh, what a resort dilemma! For me, I would stay at CBR over Pop if the price was about the same. We liked it there, and Charles even more than me. It's where we will most likely stay next summer -- he wants the kids to experience it. It definitely has a very island feel to it, the rooms are slightly bigger than other moderates, the food court was good, and overall the whole place was just as lovely as all Disney resorts. Since there is only a few dollars difference between it and Pop, if it were me, I would go for the moderate.

 

[MEK]

LL.....

I am so sorry you did not get POR or POFQ (which is the resort I really think you guys will love - but you already know that ). I am SURE that more discounted rooms will open up there, Those AP rates are really fickle. When I was booking CSR with an AP rate for my June trip I could NOT get an AP rate to save my life for Sat night, only Sun. When I called back for another reason I got the most awesome CM who made it happen and offered me the rate. That was like 3 weeks before my trip.

My point is....you WILL get POR. It is only October and you are going in January. Those general AP rates will open more rooms. I did not get the AP code either, though I wish I had.

However, I have stayed at CBR and Pop and for $34 more I would definately stay at CBR. I know it is not close to being your first choice, but in January it would be so pretty and tropical. Plus I bet the new pool remodel is nice and you will have Jen's car to get around the place, which is pretty big. You stand a good chance of getting a room really close to where you park the car. Big convenience there. Seriously, one thing I didn't like about Pop is walking to the car. Too far! (Boy am I a complainer).

Anyway - I know how badly you wish everything was all wrapped up with a nice neat bow, but you will just have to be patient a bit longer. Here's hoping pixie dust will come your way real soon.

 

[aprilisis]

OMG...I have missed too much! I have to catch up, but I DID read your latest update. I have never stayed at Pop, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I really like CBR. Of course, I'm with you on POR- it is so quiet & relaxing. CBR is very pretty & colorful...and maybe you can get a pirate room.
I am going to be there the same time as you & doing the mk emh on the 17th! We should talk about meeting up for a few emh rides!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Just jumping in here with my opinion......
Like you need that.....
Any who, after looking at CP's CBR photo's I think you would really enjoy it! Well I would anyway!
I think you should go for it! If something opens up at POR you can switch, right?

 

[manntra]

I am going to go with CP's advice too and try out CBR. If not for anything that you haven't stayed there before and it will be something new. Was it that one or CS that was just refurbed? I think CS from reading another TR awhile back. If you do this and then still keep trying for your true wish then hopefully it will come through

Tracy

 

[eandesmom]

Well not to beat a dead horse since I think you have a universal opinion so far but I too would book at CBR. For all the reasons everyone else said.

And keep checking. I think Mary Ellen is right and there is a strong liklihood of it opening up. Make sure your TA is basically checking daily for you, give her permission to just move you automatically to either Riverside or FQ if they open up.

Of course it it were me I'd probably book that fall room now, you know my saga with next August room availability, better to protect it now!

On to happier things.

I your ADR list!

YUM!

 

[Native NYer]

Sorry you couldn't get POR or POFQ. I know it's not your first choice, but I would upgrade from Pop to CBR. You'll have a bigger room. Plus, the beaches look so beautiful in the photos. I hope something opens up at POR or POFQ for you.