Ever had a trip balloon out of proportion?

[Laralyn]

So I started off wanting 5 nights at a Value resort--I had to keep it affordable.

I looked online, and it was cheaper to rent the car and drive if we kept it a full week, so I extended the stay to 6 nights, with two days driving.

Then I worried that my BF, who has never been to WDW, might really be more comfortable at a Moderate. Folks here gave some great advice, so I researched prices and figured out we would save if I bought APs and we went next year while they were still good.

Now the 5-night Value stay is a 6-night Moderate stay and we're going again next year.

Then I think about the 20-hour drive... ugh! I look into flight prices. I realize we probably won't be able to go to the parks the arrival or departure days, so I add another night. Now the 5-night Value stay is a 7-night Moderate stay, we're flying instead of driving, and we're going again next year.

Then I go to book tickets on Southwest, which has the only non-stop flights from Austin, and realize we save $80 if we go a day earlier. Hmm. $80 is what we're paying at the resort, and we have APs anyway, so why not extend it another day? Oh, and my BF is a big comics fan so why not take one of those days and go to Islands of Adventure?

So now my driving trip with a 5-night stay at a Value resort is a flying trip with a 9-night stay at a Moderate resort, including a trip to IoA this year and another trip to Disney next year!!!

My travel agent (Kim @ Small World Vacations, who has been wonderful and very patient!) said she couldn't believe my luck because she has not been able to find AP rooms for anyone, and when she called for me, she has gotten every AP room I requested at the resort I chose, even extending the stay two separate times!

Somehow I think my BF (who I am not telling how much some of this costs) doesn't feel quite so lucky.

 

[CindyAnn]

Laralyn - I know exactly what you mean! Our quick 4 day cruise this past January somehow turned into a 4 nights at POP, 3 nights at WL, a 4 day cruise and 4 nights at the Poly (not to mention annual passes, which add a whole new dimension to taking more trips to save money). DH still can't figure out how it happened!

 

[peter1706]

We had a trip planned with my sister in law last year.
A new baby pushed the trip back until aug 2005
That happened to be my 10th anniversary.
Then i figured we'd do the rehitching ceremony at the garden grill.
Then i heard about a vow renewal package that you canhave at the wedding pavilion.
Then i heard about custom vow renewal that adds in more options.
Then I got my mother and my wife's mother to come.
Then I got my brother and GF to come.
Then I got my sister and her family to come.
Then I got a group of friends to come.
Then I planned dinners and parties and this has ballooned into a 25 person trip!! and no one knows about the vow renewal

 

[BethC1952]

We had a four-night trip planned for next week to CBG at rack rate (awful, I know, but all that was available at the time we set it up (early June) because of the holiday weekend). Then I got the discount email (August), and changed it to the discount rate. The next day, my son and his family got the postcard with those great rates, wanted to go with us, but couldn't get away in October. OK, let's see if we can change to December, which has been our usual time to go to WDW anyway. They couldn't quite afford the moderate, so we agreed to change to POP for the four nights. Then it happened. Four nights isn't enough, let's make it five. And again...DH said that since we were saving so much money on the hotel, what would happen if we added a DCL cruise? That meant we had to stay an extra two nights. Feeling very generous, I offered to pay for the additional nights for my son and his family as their Christmas gift. Then DH remembered how sad it is to go directly home from the cruise, and decided that one night back at WDW would be fun. Where to stay? Well, since we aren't going to CBR next week, let's try that. Got the AP rate there for one night. But...well, one night isn't enough, let's make it two...or three!

So our four-night trip for two next week has become 7 days for five and then 7 more for just the two of us!

The funny thing is, this happens to me every year! Last year's 3 night land/four night sea package for two turned into 17 days for 9!

Beth

 

[EsmeraldaX]

March 2004 -

BF and I just return from our trip. His first trip since 1983.

Me : Hey look how cheap PC is?

Him : Let's go back in Dec!

Me : Okay.

_____________________________

AT that point we were leaving Friday morning and coming home Sunday night.

But wait - why not tag an extra day on because we just realized that we could do MVMCP and didn't want to go on a weekend. So now we were leaving Thursday morning and coming home Sunday night.

July 2004 -

My mom : You know, if you guys fly home out Wednesday you can geta cheaper flight.

Me : wow.

_______________________________________________

Okay, so now, still on the DM package we are flying out Wednesday evening and coming home Sunday night. We will stay in a airport hotel Wednesday night.

But wait! What's this? We never considered how we would get from the airport to our house on Sunday night. We'd have to stay overnight in the airport hotel in Boston.

But no - we're paying for an extra night anyway, so lets just stay in WDW Sunday night and come home Monday morning. Added on a night at PC.


August 2004 -

Me : When is our time share week next year?
Him : October
Me : Annual pass rates are awesome
Him : Awesome
__________________________________________

Well.... now we have AP's and we are flying out Wednesday, Dec 1 and staying at Pop Century for 5 nights and leaving Monday morning. We booked room only at AP rates so we're not paying that much more than we were and now we have AP's to boot!

And already talking about where to stay when we go back in May...

 

[nancyL]

We're all from the same world. This happens to me EVERY SINGLE time I plan a "budget minded trip".
LOL
You all had me laughing and laughing and laughing.
Thanks!
nancyL

 

[lovesdumbo]

Boy can I relate only mine is more justifying trips as I usually start out planning deluxe because it will be the last trip for a long time...I went in Nov 98 because I was pregnant and who knew when I get back with kids...then I left DH home with 2 kids and went in Dec 01 because I knew I wanted a 3rd baby and who knew when I get back....then I left DH home with DS and took DD (3 at the time) because I was 6 months pregnant with baby #3 and who knew when she'd get to go with her 2 siblings...then we all went in Jan 04 for DS's 3rd birthday so he'd be free....then we had plans to go in Oct 05 before baby DD's 3rd birthday.....then I figured if I bought AP's this year we could use them for the trip we've got planned next Oct and its our 20th anniversary and DD(5) just started school and I want to go while she still believes that the characters are real......

I keep telling myself next time I'll do garden view......

 

[k&a&c'smom]

LOL!! Yes, this happens to me every trip, I start out with one vacation in mind, and it mushrooms!!

But I have to agree with lovesdumbo in that my worst problem is with those darn APs!!! Told DH last Dec. "we need to go during the holidays to see the World all decorated for Christmas! And, we can get a great deal with AP codes!" Bought APs and headed down for a 5-night stay at BC. Then, since I had the APs anyway, told DH "we need to go during DD's Spring Break, better weather etc., etc." Went for 5 nights at Poly/AKL. August, told DH "we need to go during the summer, DD is out of school and we can spend more time there, thus we won't need another trip." Another 6 nights, this time at Poly/BWI.

We have a 4 night trip booked for the end of Oct. at POR (quickie budget trip for a last use of APs! Yeah, right!) So much for the "APs will save us money" theory!!!

 

[diswedwish]

lol! I'm glad we're not alone...

We had planned another 7-8 night Jan. trip. Then the 7/5 deal came out and we figured why not go in Nov?

Then I talked DH into adding 3 nights at the Poly.

We booked before Southeast had flights listed.

Flights were announced and we had a choice - either leave at 6am after our 3rd night at the Poly or book 2 extra nights?
Which would you pick?

2 months later I realized it would make more sense to book a room-only at POR between the packages, and keep the 1 night Pop at the end.

So great, we get to stay 12 nights and it was still (okay just a teeeeeeeeeeeeeny bit over) what we had planned for, we'd still have a bunch left in savings even after our trip was paid for

Then DH's car died... And after a month of enjoying his "pre-enjoyed" car it needed a lot of $$$ tlc too... This starting out/learning as you go stuff isn't that much fun sometimes... We've learned that no matter how much you think you've saved unexpected expenses come up - so it will be a long time until we book another Disney trip...

It's been a long difficult summer of scrimping and saving and trying to justify our trip, but payment is in and we're almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cathy59]

Yes! Yes! Yes!

 

[leighe]

That's me! This is how our Christmas trip went.

DH's b-ball team (he's a coach) was supposed to be playing in a tourney at WDW (staying at one of the All Stars) the week before Christmas. So of course I'm going to go to. Well, I'd better take my sister so I have someone to hang out with during practices, games. etc. Ok - well, we'll get our own room.

Well, maybe sis and I would be happier at a moderate. Ok, make ressies at POFQ.

DH's team decides against tourney. Sis and I have AP's (oh those evil little things!) so we might as well go anyway.

It's Christmas - isn't the WL supposed to be gorgeous at Christmas? Change ressies to WL.

Since it is Christmas, GF has always been little sis's dream resort maybe we should go there. OK. Switch ressies again.

So my value/basketball trip with a few trips to the parks in between games has become a girls only trip with a room at the GF, tickets to Cirque, an average of two PS's a day, spa treatments, and I've already started a list of souviners I want to bring home!

DH just rolls his eyes but is super generous and a sweetheart about the whole thing really.

 

[rcraw45425]

for us We were there last spring break started at Hotel Royal Plaza (ick) moved to the CR,at $300 a night rack rate .DD7 asked to go for her birthday in April (spring break, peak season). Booked CBR then had to cancel because DH's check was shorted $$$ by accounting. Decided to do a budget trip since I already had passes, stayed offsite at a Holiday Inn on Irlo Bronson . Wasn't totally aweful, we just stayed at the parks the whole time. DD9 says in late May, can we go back for MY birthday in June? We already had a beach trip planned, just cancelled the condo and went, took advantage of GA resident rate of $149 for the CR. Fun trip. Well, DH's birthday is this Wednesday. .We planned a fall trip after he saw WL on our June trip. Booked for November, found out it was Super Soap weekend. Rescheduled for W & Th at AKL, Fr & Sa at WL. Then we decided to do MNSSHP on Fr. WL for Fr & Sa was going to run us ~$300 a night (rack rate, only one available at the time). AKL was around $150. Was able to switch W &Th to WL at $169, F & Sa to Poly at $244. See where this is going? I'm moving reservation money from hotel to hotel so it's not really costing me anything, right? Then on Monday I said, you know, kids are already missing W, Th & Fr anyway, why don't I book Pop for Tu night and we'll leave after school? Did that, required another deposit. Next morning he says to try to change Pop to WL so we won't have to move again. Did it, Disney claims that it'll be easier to credit back to my CC than just apply the money to existing ressie. Checked bank, the money just came OUT of my account today, who knows when it'll go in. DH thinks I'm spending too much time stressing about this trip but I want everything perfect. I tend to become a type A personality where the mouse is concerned.

 

[BambiTamby]

What else can I say......
<center><font size=6>Annual Passes BURN a hole in your pocket!!!</font></center>

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Well when we started planning ours a few months back, it ballooned into 2 trips! We're going in November and May.
Kim

 

[DutchsMommy]

I had to laugh when I read this post. I was just surfing around trying to find a great price for our flight in Feb '05 and they had Toronto to Orlando one way $19!!!!! However (and it's a big however) they only fly on certain days, so of course I was thinking well, we're booked into AKL for Monday night, we just add one more day and arrive Sunday, and after we get back from DCL it's Thursday, but the great deal isn't until Friday, so maybe we could stay at port Canaveral and see a spaceship or something?!? So basically, saving $200 on the airfare would end up costing me $500 in hotels!! Oh well, all's fair in Love and Disney right!?!

And just for the record, before I came to these boards I was doing a 7 day land/sea which has now blossomed into:

3 nights AKL concierge, 3 nights Poly concierge and 4 nights on the Wonder and darn it if I could justify the cost of the Cat 3 on the ship I would do it in a heartbeat! We are going to see Tigger at the Crystal Palace, doing the Sunrise Safari at AK, celebrating DS's b'day with an Illuminations cruise, and will be contacting Shirley directly for gift baskets. I have e-mailed Tikiman personally for advice, and can't thank the Lizard Lounge enough for hours of lurking enjoyment.

I tell you - my trip would have been a lot less magical if it hadn't been for the DIS.

So, before I throw up or group-hug my computer I will get off the sugary-sweetness of it all and go back to planning - I have to finish reading my Passporter for the 24th time before I turn in for the night.



TTFN

 

[rcraw45425]

This is so true! I just got off the phone with WDWTC again to see about the credit for POP. This girl said " I'd have done it that way too, just credited it to one of the room stays. She did give me a great piece of advice forall of you that are planning to resort hop like us. She made sure to notate that our Poly ressie was a continuation of our WL one. also told me to call the Poly the night before our WL check out and remind them that we're already onsite, and would like to come over early on Friday. Maybe this will enable us to be assigned to a room that's not already occupied,allowing us to get in by say noon. These people are the best!

 

[yecats]

I can relate. In 2001 I was supposed to do my first solo trip to the world. Got pneumonia and ended up in the hospital when I was supposed to leave for Disney. True bummer. As I was disappointed I planned a 5 day trip with my mom. Then I learned about the biddingfortravel site and decided to save money and bid on priceline for a room right offsite. Before you knew it I had the room booked for 9 nights, had a 7 day PHP to Disney and a 5 day consecutive pass for US (used 3 of the days off that pass) and then had 2 travel days.

Last year I had decided to finally do my solo vacation at the world with a 5 day trip. Then the FTP came out and I called and the pricing sure was great but wasn't for the time of year I love to go. Then it was extended to Nov. and I decided to go a few weeks earlier than usual. So then my 5 day trip went to an 8 day trip, then I decided that I wanted to be there to use my UPH all day the first day so then I had to fly in the day before so bid on priceline for the first night and then won hotel in DTD, then changed airflight to earliest flight out that morning to have a full day shopping at DTD. Then decided that had to use the full last day of the UPH so extended the end of the trip with another night purchased off of priceline.

This year bought 5 nights from DVC owner then decided to add another night on for the drive up day. This worked out well as it turned out I had a pin code and gee a room was available so added a day on. My trip in total will be 7 nights/8 days and there is no way that I can add on additional nights.

Glad to know that I am not alone.

 

[Laralyn]

Whew! I'm so glad I'm not alone!

Since it's my BF's first time to WDW and he's pretty much going just for me, I'm trying to plan neat stuff that he will enjoy. Sometimes I feel like I'm cramming too much into our trip... not in terms of too many things to do at once, but in terms of too many things that cost money! Somehow I'm using the AP as an excuse to go again next year, but not using it as an excuse to put some stuff off until next year.

Funny how that works.

 

[Kitster]

Boy can we relate to everyone's situations. Here's what's happening to our upcoming November trip.

When Disney announced the annual pin cruise this spring we decided to go, instead of getting season hockey seats (good decision since there IS no season so far!). We would fly out on Nov. 13th, stay in a hotel near the airport and drive over to Port Canaveral on the morning of the 14th. When the cruise returned on the 18th, we would grab a rental car and go see my Dad in Miami for his birthday, returning to Orlando ~Nov 23 to fly home for Thanksgiving with DBF's mom in CA.

We couldn't get 1st class plane reservations on the 13th using FF miles, but the 11th WAS available! Then Disney announced the dates for F&W festival. Now if we just push back our flights 2 days we get to enjoy the last weekend of F&W then go cruising.....and so on and so forth. Booked 3 nights at Pop Century hoping for an room only code......little did we know Still no airline tickets.

We tried to book a Cat. 10 cabin for the pin cruise, but the only thing available at that time was Cat. 8.......ok, a bit more money, but not too bad. THEN I started seeing people raving about the REAS, so we added that to our cruise package (the $299 price will save us $$$$ in spa costs, which is where we spent most of our previous Disney cruise......man was I spoiled )

August was when things really blew up (after our AP's expired, of course)......... we got THE email !!!!! Our rate at Pop Century went down and NOW we were talking about extending the trip so we can spend Thanksgiving at WDW. Afterall, we are spending Christmas with Mom, aren't we? Quick, call CRO and find out that yes, Nov. 23 - 29 are included in the email promotion, so I book a King room at CSR. That night we book airline tickets, before we get blocked on flying first class.

So to make a long story short, our 10 day trip has now increased to 18 days, our cruise and family visit trip now includes Food and Wine festival, a 4 day cruise, a 5 day family visit and then 6 more days at WDW. We have to buy AP's. We bought tickets for the Nov. 28th MVMCP. We're going to CP on Nov. 27th. We have dinner PS at Ohana on Nov. 23rd, 1900 Park Faire for Thanksgiving, Crystal Palace before MVMCP on Nov. 28th.

But the story doesn't end there. DBF needs less than 10000 FF miles to keep his Gold status with AA. Unfortunately since we're using miles for our November trip, that one doesn't count toward his total. Enter the airfare wars........RT LAX to MCO thru ORD (more miles ) >$200 per person. Don't we have friends who will be at WDW at the end of Oct???? YES !!!! Wouldn't we love to go to MNSSHP again this year? YES!!!! Can we afford the time off work? YES!!!!!

Call CRO and get BAP rate for Pop Oct. 29 - Nov. 1, buy MNSSHP tickets for the 29th. Book an intermediate with National ($62.04 for 3 days). Go back to get airline reservations and Poof .....the price is now $287 per person, RT. Nuts Ok, let's not panic......kept trying and voila......$224 per person thru Chicago (4967 miles, amost halfway there). Book it Dano !!
Guess what ??? We're now heading to WDW on a red-eye out of LAX on the 29th of Oct, returning to LA on Nov. 1. Then we're flying out of Orange County on Nov. 11th, returning on Nov. 29th.

The sad thing is DBF still needs ~4700 miles to keep his Gold status, so we're doing this all over again Dec. 8th - 12th (LAX - MIA-MCO / MCO - LAX....4751 miles for a grand total of 25062 miles and Gold Status) !! He's paying for his trip and I'm cashing in MY frequent flyer miles so I can go. We have friends who will be at WDW for Mousefest, we get to go to MVMCP, again, and he retains his Gold status We're not sure where we're staying yet, but who cares.....WDW here we come.

Who says AP's burn holes in your pockets ????? I've learned to keep mine in a fire-proof box For those of you who wonder if AP's are worth the cost, here's a list of our WDW trips for the year 2004:

Jan 31 - Feb 9 - 5 nights Wildernes Lodge Woods View (AP rate), 4 night in Miami
June 4 - June 14 - 3 nights Pop Century (AP rate), 4 nights in Miami, 3 nights CSR King room (AP rate)
Oct. 29 - Nov. 1 - 3 mights Pop Century (BAP rate)
Nov. 11 - 13 - Pop Century (email rate)
Nov. 14 - 18 - DCL Wonder pin cruise
Nov. 18 - 22 - Miami for Dad's birthday
Nov. 23 - 29 - CSR King room (email rate)
Dec. 8 - 12 - Pop, CSR, CBR ?????????? who knows

 

[graygables]

But, we are SAVING money by staying longer, dear! Our 4 day, DH and I trip has ballooned into a 9 night AKL extravaganza with 2 DDs going along, too! All the same reasons, SWA is cheaper on Thurs than Fri, etc, etc. I've been adding a day here and there and when we announced to DDs this evening that they were going to get to go along, he just about passed out when he heard the final tally of days! Poor thing. He'll just have to get used to it. My other favorite line: With my AP, Disney is *practically paying* us to come!