FEBRUARY 2008 WDW travelers post HERE!!!

[yooperfan]

I'll be the one running back and forth across the park collecting Fastpasses

Speed

can you get fastpasses before the one you already have expires or is used?

 

[wendypooh]

Hey Girl - how are ya?? Anyway, I was looking at the first page and just wanted to clarify that we are at AKL and the Poly!!! 7 nights AKL 1 night Poly for my BDay!! (and yours---LOL) We are both the 2nd right??
Anyway, have a good weekend!

hey I have been a slacker!! I'll get all the new people posted on the first page probably tonight!
Lori

 

[lori1043]

Hey - how are ya?? Anyway, I was looking at the first page and just wanted to clarify that we are at AKL and the Poly!!! 7 nights AKL 1 night Poly for my BDay!! (and yours---LOL) We are both the 2nd right??
Anyway, have a good weekend!

Hey, I'm good, thank you . BUSY at work today!! YES, I will be 38 on Feb 2, 2008 , oops, not 38, 29 AGAIN !!!

I will be at the Spirit of Aloha celebrating my birthday in Feb 1st, though. The 2nd will be all about the MK!!!

Lori

 

[mickiecake]

we are going Feb2-9. Staying at AKL. I'm wondering now (like everyone else) how busy it will be? who else has been during Mardi Gras??

 

[dixipixi]

This will be our first year to go during Mardi Gras, so I don't know how the crowds will be. I do know that just about every 3rd person I talk to around here is planning on a WDW trip that week!!!

 

[wendypooh]

LOL -- that's funny cause I'm gonna be 26 again!!!
We'll be at MK on the 2nd too - hopefully all decked out in our P&P Party gear!!!! Still waiting on official word though......... I sure hope they let
us know soon!!!!

Hey, I'm good, thank you . BUSY at work today!! YES, I will be 38 on Feb 2, 2008 , oops, not 38, 29 AGAIN !!!

I will be at the Spirit of Aloha celebrating my birthday in Feb 1st, though. The 2nd will be all about the MK!!!

Lori

 

[wendypooh]

Me too Me too!!!! We'll be at AKL from the 2nd - 9th, then move over to the Poly!! We usually always go to WDW during this time of year and it's very nice and managable, however with Mardi Gras being early in '08, I'm not sure how the crowds will be. Hopefully not too bad! I see this is your first trip to the world!! Congrats! You and your boys will LOVE AKL, we've stayed at the lodge 3 times now and we just love it!! If you have any questions about it let me know and I'll try to answer. There are TONS of things for your boys to do, we typically take one day off just to do the offerings at the lodge! Oh, and my DS will be 8 too, maybe we'll see you there!!

we are going Feb2-9. Staying at AKL. I'm wondering now (like everyone else) how busy it will be? who else has been during Mardi Gras??

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Joining this thread (and the Jan 08 one!) - planning a trip Jan 31-Feb 2 - just a short trip, but I'm so excited about it!

I have some questions about how to book this - I got a quote from AAA and I got a quote from Mouse Fan Travel - the AAA quote was lower, but maybe it's better to go with the travel agency so they'll watch for discounts for me?? what do you think?

I went to allears to see what travel agency they recommended -and I really couldn't figure out what they recommend - which one do they say to use?

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Joining this thread (and the Jan 08 one!) - planning a trip Jan 31-Feb 2 - just a short trip, but I'm so excited about it!

I have some questions about how to book this - I got a quote from AAA and I got a quote from Mouse Fan Travel - the AAA quote was lower, but maybe it's better to go with the travel agency so they'll watch for discounts for me?? what do you think?

I went to allears to see what travel agency they recommended -and I really couldn't figure out what they recommend - which one do they say to use?

Mouse Fan Travel is an excellent agency - if you go on the www.allearsnet.com you will see MouseFan ads - Deb Wills travels with them and recommends them. The agents will definitely watch for discounts - just as DU does here. Also, at certain times of the year, MouseFan arranges discounted rates with WDW - these will be slightly more than AAA, but much better than rack rate! Oh, MouseFan can do the AAA discount for you, if available.

In order to advertize on allears, Deb Wills check out the sponser and they must meet high standards.

Feel free to send me a pm if you would like the name of some agents. I am not an agent, just a happy client!

Good luck!

 

[lori1043]

I THINK I have everyone updated on the first page. I THOUGHT if we knew when each other was going-we could be on a lookout. Wouldn't it be cool to run into someone you "talk" to but not in person?!
I met someone at my DD9's previous school who had kept up with her progress through chemo for years-never met her until then. It was really cool. She found our website through a cancer survivors site in CANADA-she happened to be surfing I guess. This particular site has all these caringbridge sites listed by state, so I guess she looked up Louisiana and found us! Small world. We were sitting in a gazebo waiting for the bell to ring to pick up the kids from school and as I was telling some gald about Ashton having leukemia, she just busted out about following her journey for a couple years online-she had never signed in though. She's got an adorbale little boy that DD7, Haley, is friends with.
Also If you want to do a Magical Gathering but don't have enough people in our party, you could pair groups up for that.
Anyway- I'll recheck that list is updates in a couple weeks.

ALSO I voted someone as BRAVEST traveler on that page-she is bringing 7 children to WDW w/out another adult! Her DH will be fighting for our country while we are having fun in WDW. I hope one of you see her- she must be a very resilient person!!-KUDOS to you- you know who I mean!! I personally THANK her and admire her bravery .


Lori

 

[ms*mountaineer]

you can add me ms*mountaineer 1/30 - 2/2

not sure where we're staying yet - but I DO have ADR's for Ohana and Norway Princess Breakfast already.

 

[mickiecake]

What a great idea!! Our family would LOVE to do one of these.. we will be there from Feb 2-9. We would need at least 4 other people, anyone interested???

 

[mickiecake]

Oh,, and btw, I talked to a DIS-er who is a CM, and they said WDW isn't usually crowded for Mardi Gras, for those who were wondering

 

[lori1043]

If you go back to the 1st pages you will see talk about crowd levels, It is brought up a BUNCH of other times also. I know it is time consuming, but you may want to check it out! Hakuna Matata! Also, I am all for a MG BUT already have a group-BUT not sure if THEY want to do a MG, SOOOOOOOOOOOO, It may be an idea, I will put it out there should the time come! Hope you find some family wanting to share a MG!

I will add you soon ms*mountaineer-I am tired! Gotta work in the morning!

Lori

 

[kjbrown]

So, I am actually IN Orlando right now for business. It was SO depressing to see the Magical Express bus and NOT get on it! No plans for the World on this trip!

 

[lori1043]

So, I am actually IN Orlando right now for business. It was SO depressing to see the Magical Express bus and NOT get on it! No plans for the World on this trip!

BUMMER! I will be in California in 2 months and NOT going to DL. I guess we are spoiled huh??!! I just went to DL in Feb. and being so close is gonna be tough! i'm there with ya' sista'!!

Lori

 

[lesliewitt]

You can put us down for VWL from 2/9-2/15.

 

[satrn]

I'm setup for Feb 23rd-29th at ASMu. Do these usually work on suite rooms too?

 

[werfamily]

You would have thought I would have remembered the "call back and re-check reality" rule of DIS-ing...but I did not. Thanks for reminding me to do so, and wish me sprinkles of "the dust"!!!!

Amazing how often you have to call back! It wasn't until I reached the third CM when I was 180 days out until I got someone who knew that I could make all of my ADRs for the whole trip at one time. You'd think it would be something that comes up every day. Luckily, we still got everything we wanted, including a CRT breakfast on my DD5 birthday.

 

[speedyf]

Just wanted to post a reminder that Southwest released their rates today.

Seems like most of the outgoing weekend dates from New Orleans (Feb 1st, 2nd, 3rd...fri, sat, sun) have no availablity at the cheapest $99 rate.

In case you are not familiar with how Southwest has been doing this lately, this is the norm for New Orleans. They seem to release the rates and show you the cheaper discount rates...but, they are all "unavailable" except for the refundable anytime rate (most expensive).

I helped a friend here at work with his trip for Thanksgiving. I was online and refreshed the screen right when the flights were released for Thanksgiving. Same thing....all the discount rates were "unavailable" with only the most expensive rate being available during dates they believe will be heavily traveled.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, but you still want to fly direct with Southwest from New Orleans...check out Tampa. It is an hour drive on interstate to Disney. You do have to rent a car, but....you can rent for just one day and return onsite to Disney.

Here's a link to some great deals on National rental car:
http://www.fatwallet.com/t/63/521905/

I have already rented using some of these codes and paid $35 after tax for a one day rental. I usually return the car to the Dolphin hotel the next morning at around 8am and we can then catch a bus from the Dolphin to any theme park to start our day. National does not charge any extra for pick-up in Tampa...drop off in Orlando......nor vice versa for your trip home.

In May...we were able to fly into Tampa for $59....then, fly out of Orlando (using the Magical Express for transportation) for $59 to get the best possible deal.

I remember pre-Katrina (2 years ago) when the cheapeast "promotional fare" would start at $65 for Orlando and if you were online anytime during the day the rates were released, you could usually grab that fare. Now....the cheapest rate is $99 each way. By the way, Southwest and Delta are the only two carriers that fly non-stop direct to Orlando from New Orleans.

Speed