FEBRUARY 2008 WDW travelers post HERE!!!

[lindamomof3]

So glad to find this thread- we are planning to go Feb 3rd-9th - but know i am worried about Mardi Gras- Do they do anything special for Mardi Gras? Is it going to be crowded? We went the week before and it was not crowded- so i am spoiled.

linda

 

[satrn]

We're planning for the last week in February. I hope we get all the info we need soon.

 

[jb2mw]

Lori1043- We have already booked room only, how late can I wait to add the tickets and dining plan? I know if I book a pkg I have to pay 45 days in advance, but if I just wait to add the tickets and dining plan can I wait til sometime in Jan before we leave on Feb 8??

 

[hockeybabe]

So glad to find this thread- we are planning to go Feb 3rd-9th - but know i am worried about Mardi Gras- Do they do anything special for Mardi Gras? Is it going to be crowded? We went the week before and it was not crowded- so i am spoiled.

linda

Apparently the whole state of Louisiana's school system is out on holiday that week...I'm also interested in how that will affect crowds...anyone???

 

[DrmWvr1299]

We are traveling down from Ohio Feb 1-10 and crowds are a concern of mine also...and still waiting on the discounts

 

[wendypooh]

If you have a reservation then yes, you can book your entire trips ADR's at your 180 point, however, if you have not booked, then no, they will not let you make ADR's for your entire stay, they will only let you book one.


We've done CM's and Cape May - both are fantastic!!! You made some great choices!!

I am getting so excited about making dinner reservations. The first day for ours is August 13th.

Can I make them for our entire trip at that time or do I have to wait 180 days for each day ahead??

We have decided on doing 2 character breakfasts... Chef Mickeys and Cape May, are they good choices???


Thanks for all the information, I honestly love this board

 

[wendypooh]

I know this was for lori - but, if you book a package (tickets,dining) then it has to be paid in full at the 45 day point. Now, if you wait until past the 45 day point, then I believe it must be paid in full at booking. I personally wouldn't do it that way though, as they only allot so many package rooms, you may not get the resort of choice or the dining plan if you wait.

Lori1043- We have already booked room only, how late can I wait to add the tickets and dining plan? I know if I book a pkg I have to pay 45 days in advance, but if I just wait to add the tickets and dining plan can I wait til sometime in Jan before we leave on Feb 8??

 

[wendypooh]

Actually, I believe only Orleans Parish is out the entire week. I may be wrong on that but I think most of the other schools only have the Mon. / Tues. off, at least that is how our Parish is. (Ascension). That said, I am assuming most will take the rest of the week off - I know we are. However, I would think it won't be very bad, maybe a little bit more crowded - we've actually been this same week the last 3/4 years in a row and it's been very nice and managable. Mardi Gras is early this year, typically it isn't during this week.

Apparently the whole state of Louisiana's school system is out on holiday that week...I'm also interested in how that will affect crowds...anyone???

 

[trueblue]

Actually, I believe only Orleans Parish is out the entire week. I may be wrong on that but I think most of the other schools only have the Mon. / Tues. off, at least that is how our Parish is. (Ascension). That said, I am assuming most will take the rest of the week off - I know we are. However, I would think it won't be very bad, maybe a little bit more crowded - we've actually been this same week the last 3/4 years in a row and it's been very nice and managable. Mardi Gras is early this year, typically it isn't during this week.

Lafourche Parish has the whole week off as well. I don't know if any northern parishes get off at all for Mardi Gras though.

 

[lori1043]

hey Wendypooh! I am glad you answered that one b/c I have NO idea how booking packages works.

On another note, for all those worried about Mardi gras crowds, don't. We have only been one other time during the MG holidays AND IT WAS STILL LOW/MODERATE CROWDS. THE ONLY THING YOU'LL DEFINITELY NOTICE IS LOTS OF PURPLE , GREEN, AND GOLD,
if not just LSU gold and purple ! Beads and decorated rooms too! I think crowds were only low/moderate b/c Daytona was the same week, next year it is not. We live right above New Orleans(across that big lake with the longest bridge ever!) and I believe most schools have the whole week off. They did before Katrina anyway! Things have changed down here! I homeschool so we take off when our schedule allows!! We are only going during MG so our family with school age kids can go and not miss school,or too much, as some live in Ascension).
Anyway- I am hoping and thinking it will be low crowds.

197 days until we go !!!


Lori​

 

[katiedid36]

Just got the official school calendar for DD. We were on Mid-Winter break this year the last week in February. We stayed at POP & we had great weather & no crowds. I was hoping for the same this year. Its the same week!!! So, we are going to be down there Feb 24-Mar 1st!!! I'm so glad to have a date set

 

[jb2mw]

katiedid36-

Did you enjoy the all star movie resort? That is where we are staying with DS who just happens to love Toy Story. Was the hotel nice, and did the food court have good breakfast items, if you ate there?

We have never stayed on disney property and this will be DS's first time to Disney. Just hope its all that we hope it to be.

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

Hello All,

Can you get a AAA discount AND use a CODE ?

I was thinking about paying the $60 for a AAA memebership so that during value season, I can get 15% off of my moderate hotel. But... would also like to use a code. Can anyone tell me ??

 

[katiedid36]

jb2mw-
We liked All Star Movies. We stayed in the Herbie section. The pool was nice. The food court was great. It was quick & they had a breakfast meal that was perfect for DD & me to split. I think it was about $7. The room is a little on the small side when you have a playpen/travel crib but we didn't really spend that much time in the room anyway

 

[lori1043]

hey, we stayed in ASMovies and loved it. We are trying POP this time. As far as AAA and a code, I think you cannot do that. i can tell you AAA is worth every penny, as i got it for good hotel rates only and wind up using it for locked keys in my sisters car!! It paid for itself that one ****boo!-Lori

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hello All,

Can you get a AAA discount AND use a CODE ?

I was thinking about paying the $60 for a AAA memebership so that during value season, I can get 15% off of my moderate hotel. But... would also like to use a code. Can anyone tell me ??

One discount per reservation, but if a better one than AAA comes out you can have the reservation switched to that code. A great Disney Specialist TA is wonderful for keeping a watch and changing it to the better code so the client know not have to keep checking. Would not use a AAA Travel Agent for this. Try Deams Unlimited or one of theones recommended on www.Allearsnet.com .

Hope this helps!

 

[audrey13]

Just got the official school calendar for DD. We were on Mid-Winter break this year the last week in February. We stayed at POP & we had great weather & no crowds. I was hoping for the same this year. Its the same week!!! So, we are going to be down there Feb 24-Mar 1st!!! I'm so glad to have a date set

We're going that same week for school vacation with our 6-year old DS. I'm glad to hear that is a good week weather- and crowd-wise. We're in Ann Arbor. Where are you?

 

[katiedid36]

audrey13-

I am in Allen Park. When we were there in Feb our first day it was 65 degrees (which still beats anything in Michigan in Feb. ) after that it was in the upper 70s- low 80s. As far as waits most times it took longer to wind thru the rails than anything else. Our longest wait was Splash Mountain & w/o a fastpass it was 30 minutes.

 

[MelB61]

Just found this thread. I just booked my rooms only with AAA at Boardwalk Inn. My DD, 15 then, has the week off for Mardi Gras. It will be our first vacation without our oldest daughter. She'll be in college in TN and won't have a Mardi gras vacation. It's been 5 years since we've been to Disney. We've been cruising instead. Getting excited about returning. We used to go about every 3 years when the girls were little. We started out with our trailer in Fort Wilderness (1992, 1995, 1998) and did Wilderness Lodge in
2002. My DH wanted to stay in a resort close to one of the parks. I'm learning about the reservations and all the tricks. Looking forward to all the info and advice.

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

One discount per reservation, but if a better one than AAA comes out you can have the reservation switched to that code. A great Disney Specialist TA is wonderful for keeping a watch and changing it to the better code so the client know not have to keep checking. Would not use a AAA Travel Agent for this. Try Deams Unlimited or one of theones recommended on www.Allearsnet.com .

Hope this helps!

Thanks, we won't be doing the AAA, but just booked our Caribbean Beach room for 8 nights in Feb. Yippie. Cast memeber, not all that informative, said codes would come out "later this year". We also went Last Feb, when it was below zero here in WI, so the 65 degree days were still nice to us.