FEBRUARY 2008 WDW travelers post HERE!!!

[TEminnie]

Happy to say we will be going for DS 13th birthday, planning on leaving 2/13 and staying till 2/18, short weekend but I don't want to take the kids out of school. This doesn't seem to be a value time any more as it was for us in the past. At least we go the value rate going in and staying with that rate. Now it goes up by the weekend. I have narrowed down my choices to CBR or AKL to really indulge. My quoted AAA prices are CBR water view for 2A + 2K is 1,064.83, AKL savanah view, 2,028.93 or concierge for 2,314.98, for the difference of 286.05 I would definately stay in concierge. I just have to determine if I want to spend the xtra 1,250.15 for the 5 nights. My DH and I have already stayed at the Carribean and really loved it. I know the food is reasonable also. Kids would love the bike and water activities. But, I would love to see the animals every morning. I am just hoping for a good code with my Disney Visa. We'll see anyone else going this time and how have you heard about the crowds, is it a busier time than it used to be?

That sounds like some good deals!
For the CBR--what type of ticket and does that include the meal plan for 5 nites.

 

[mickeywho?]

We have booked SSR with DVC points and are waiting for a AP code for the last few nights of our stay.
Anyone know when the AP rates will be released?

 

[pamjb]

Add me to the list. We are going 2/7/08 thru 2/11/08. A good friend is "forcing" me to go with her. Her DD is going for a cheerleading competition.

 

[lori1043]

Hey Sabrina- I called yesterday after seeing your $82 rate and was told that my $85.60 was the best rate for AAA right now. I may call back!! Seems either they didn't know OR weren't inclined to lessen my bill!!I was a little bummed, BUT still happy with my rate-but , hey, less is less-more more me to spend elsewhere!!

Welcome all the rest, to the February 2008 thread!!

If any of you are TGM'ers, go to the "A penny for yout thoughts" page and post a pic on the picture thread-so we can recognize the other!!

Lori

 

[callaghan0416]

Add me to the list. We are going 2/7/08 thru 2/11/08. A good friend is "forcing" me to go with her. Her DD is going for a cheerleading competition.

What type of cheering competition? Our girls go in December, ususally. Where are you staying? Just curious and a bit nervous. The thought of having squads practice at the wee hours of the morning, my SIL tells me it is not that bad, but she is part of the entourage.

Please don't get me wrong I am sure they are all behaved, but I was a little girl once and have little girls, that is an awful lot of shrieking going on.

Thanks

callie

 

[disneyfan2]

Do they do discounts on the suites?? It WOULD be nice to have 2 bathrooms....

I thought $119 was pretty good at CBR. What rates are y'all getting at POP?? (then MAYBE I could have 2 rooms which means 2 bathrooms--that might be easier to sell to DH since there are 4 of us--with 3 girls!)

our agent told us that AA discounts or other discounts do not apply to the suites at ASMu. so we switched to 2 rooms with the discount

 

[Sabrina90744]

Hey Sabrina- I called yesterday after seeing your $82 rate and was told that my $85.60 was the best rate for AAA right now. I may call back!! Seems either they didn't know OR weren't inclined to lessen my bill!!I was a little bummed, BUT still happy with my rate-but , hey, less is less-more more me to spend elsewhere!!

Welcome all the rest, to the February 2008 thread!!

If any of you are TGM'ers, go to the "A penny for yout thoughts" page and post a pic on the picture thread-so we can recognize the other!!

Lori

Lori

Don't know, I wrote down 82 but could be mistaken. Anyways, that nice CM was telling me to make sure we check all of our emails from Disney to watch for codes. She said if we heard on the boards about people with codes to call and have a cm check our name for codes.

About TGM is that in our February Club or someplace else?

 

[lori1043]

Lori

Don't know, I wrote down 82 but could be mistaken. Anyways, that nice CM was telling me to make sure we check all of our emails from Disney to watch for codes. She said if we heard on the boards about people with codes to call and have a cm check our name for codes.

About TGM is that in our February Club or someplace else?

Thank you!! I may call again in hopes of a better CM!
And no, it is not in the Feb forums, it is in the general ones toward the bottom! Look for "a penny for your thoughts".
Hoep your day is as gorgeous as ours!! Oh, we, your in California, so I guess it IS!!!

Lori

 

[Sabrina90744]

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Thank you!! I may call again in hopes of a better CM!
And no, it is not in the Feb forums, it is in the general ones toward the bottom! Look for "a penny for your thoughts".
Hoep your day is as gorgeous as ours!!

Lori

Ok I will be heading over there later today!!

 

[Hyonlyf]

We planned our trip for Mardi Gras vacation here and now I find out my high schooler has cheer competiton at the same time. So now we are going to extend our trip, Feb 2-9.

 

[triplefigs]

Any idea when they will release the dates for P&PP? Fingers crossed for Feb 2 since they have MK closing at 7pm!

 

[lori1043]

I got my Disney Visa in today. -codes???-Lori

 

[Sabrina90744]

I got my Disney Visa in today. -codes???-Lori

Woo-Hoo I have half the mind to apply just for Disney codes, but I am strictly a cash only person.. I think we are getting closer to our codes coming out. The park hopper upgrade would save me about $285, not to bad.

 

[lori1043]

Sabrina-I am too(a cash person)!!!! I haven't had a CC in a long time. We have paid for it(figuratively and literally) but I KNOW it will be used and paid off every time I get a paycheck. I am nervous, but learned my lesson and NEVER again will I allow that to happen. I am going to use it like a debit card. I do not beleive in putting vacations on CC's, but you do need them to book things. I feel it is a luxury to vacation, so we save save save for , like 1.5-3 years between WDW trips. I will, however, for Disney rewards, pay for the hotel on this when I have the money in my savings- which should be my next paycheck.

DH never liked it b/c the rates are so high. After talking to him and a few years of proving to ourselves we can live off cash(we are still paying some debt, but mostly school loans).

This may sound crazy, but soon as I got it I used my label maker and put little notes on the CC itself!! "Got cash?", "Can u pay 4 this?" reminders to be WISE!!

Lori

 

[Sabrina90744]

Sabrina-I am too(a cash person)!!!! I haven't had a CC in a long time. We have paid for it(figuratively and literally) but I KNOW it will be used and paid off every time I get a paycheck. I am nervous, but learned my lesson and NEVER again will I allow that to happen. I am going to use it like a debit card. I do not beleive in putting vacations on CC's, but you do need them to book things. I feel it is a luxury to vacation, so we save save save for , like 1.5-3 years between WDW trips. I will, however, for Disney rewards, pay for the hotel on this when I have the money in my savings- which should be my next paycheck.


Lori

I never thought about doing it that way. See I figure how much I am going to spend, like for our 2009 trip I have already started putting $40 a week away in an ING account, it is taken out electronically. Is there an annual fee with Disney Visa??

 

[speedyf]

There are also other benefits from being a Disney Visa card member besides the codes that sometimes come out for resorts.

Of course, if you are a cash person....you can just apply and not use it.

Here are a few that I have actually used:

Free picture with character at Epcot Innoventions - You get to go into a room where only your family interacts with select characters for a few minutes and a PhotoPass photographer takes several pictures. You can then go to the Kodak store located under Spaceship Earth to pick your favorite picture and have it printed and put in a cardboard frame. I think the picture is 5x7...if I remember right. What's really nice is that the line forms outside a wall...away from the picture area. So, it's closed off...just you and the characters....and you don't feel as rushed. We had Goofy and Minnie. I think it's a max of 6 people per card holder.

Discount on tours. We have not been able to take great advantage of this...since our DS is only 7. We did, however, do the Family Fun Tour at MK on our last trip. We saved 20% by being Disney Visa cardholders which is actually a bigger % than what the AP holders get (I had both...but, the DV was better). The tour was fun...it's like a guided scavenger hunt through the MK where you end up playing games with Peter Pan and Wendy while trying to find Captain Hook's hook at the end. My DS7 loved it.

Discount on shopping at some places. I didn't find alot of places...but, I know for sure the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney offered 10% off and I think we may have received a discount somewhere else (Goofy's Candy Shop or the Kitchen Stuff shop?????)....can't remember.

Of course....you get the discounts at DisneyShopping as well.....and there are probably a few things I have left out....but, these are all the things I personally experienced so far.

In the past....we had received free movie passes for special openings of Disney Movies....but, they seem to have discontinued those or maybe they are just not available in my area. We were able to see Chicken Little for free and that carrier pigeon movie (can't remember the name) as well.

It seems to have a few extra nice perks just for being a card holder (besides the regular accumulation of points / rewards).

Here's a link to the rewards available:
http://disneyrewards.disney.go.com/

If you decide to apply....I think there is a link floating around to get $50 worth of reward just for applying and using the card once.

Speed

 

[speedyf]

I never thought about doing it that way. See I figure how much I am going to spend, like for our 2009 trip I have already started putting $40 a week away in an ING account, it is taken out electronically. Is there an annual fee with Disney Visa??

I do the same thing with ING....except I put away $30 per week electronically.

No annual fee on the Disney Visa.

I'm not trying to push or entice anyone into applying. Everyone knows their own limitations and feelings when it comes to credit cards.

If you do decide to apply. Here is a link to get the $50 in Disney Rewards:

http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webcgi/webserve.cgi?partner_dir_name=disney_50ddrd_altmedia&page=cont&mkid=6SWH11

I believe it asks for a code at some point. The code is 6F2G11.

Just to make sure that I am within posting guidelines....I get nothing for that link....it is not a referal. I just found it on the Budget Board and figured I would repost over here since we obviously have nothing better to do than to wait for codes to be released so we can all spend our extra money on Mickey Ice Cream bars....

Again...I have used this link and it has worked for me earlier this year. I have been a cardholder since 2004. I decided to apply for a card under my wife's name as well to receive another free $50 and for her to have a credit card under only her name.....and yes, I realize how dangerous it is to use "wife" and "own credit card" in the same sentence.

Speed

 

[Sabrina90744]

Speedy, Thanks for all of the information , there does seem to be a lot of perks. Just have to really sit down and think about it. Again, thanks

 

[lori1043]

WOW I wish I had THAT Disney Visa code-I only got $25 !!!
Anyway, I do the same with my local savings account. I have seperate Vacation, Christmas and School savings account and a specific amount goes in each time I get paid. Right now I am at $75 for our Feb trip, and we do $50 for Christmas(it gives us about $1000, BUT I do not use that much on Christmas-it is also for the kids birthdays in October and December. It just takes a huge load off in the fall/winter months for us!!
Since I homeschool I take out about $25 per paycheck for school- curriculum and field trips and all the little extras you need for HS'ing. the rest I pay for groceries and living!!!
Not that you needed that much info!!!

Lori

 

[speedyf]

WOW I wish I had THAT Disney Visa code-I only got $25 !!!
Anyway, I do the same with my local savings account. I have seperate Vacation, Christmas and School savings account and a specific amount goes in each time I get paid. Right now I am at $75 for our Feb trip, and we do $50 for Christmas(it gives us about $1000, BUT I do not use that much on Christmas-it is also for the kids birthdays in October and December. It just takes a huge load off in the fall/winter months for us!!
Since I homeschool I take out about $25 per paycheck for school- curriculum and field trips and all the little extras you need for HS'ing. the rest I pay for groceries and living!!!
Not that you needed that much info!!!

Lori

That's cool, Lori. The only reason I go with ING is because they seem to have a higher rate of return than the local banks in my area. All my local banks have a minimum deposit requirement and usually pay around 1% or 2% apr. I'm making over 4% at ING and I'm looking to open an account at Emigrant Direct online (again, great info from the Budget Board) that will pay over 5% apr.

Hey....that extra 3% over the local banks on an average $1000 balance for my annual vacation savings will give me at least an extra $30....which is enough for a meal at Cosmic Ray's

I also did the sign-up shuffle on ING. I signed up in 2004 for that as well. They were offering a $25 / $10 referral bonus. $10 for the existing account holder referring the new account and $25 for the new account holder opening the account.

I was able to sign up myself....then, refer my wife....so, I received $10 for the referral and she received $25. I then referred my DS7 and received another $10 and he received $25. All of the savings were linked to my one checking account....so, I basically received $70 just for opening 3 savings accounts. Back then, it was no minimum deposit to do this. I think they put a minimum of $250 to do this now.

I basically use the different accounts to save for different things. My account has the vacation savings. My DS7's account has his money from birthdays, Christmas, good grades, etc....until it builds up enough for me to send it into his 529 college savings account with the state. My DW's account holds our regular savings plus money that we use to pay off purchases made at 0%....ie, we purchased a new Serta bed at 0% over 12 months....last November. We had the money in the savings, but took the 0% offer and just let the money sit at 4%+ over the past year. Another extra $60 or $70 to help pay for breakfast with Chef Mickey.


Speed