FEBRUARY 2008 WDW travelers post HERE!!!

[speedyf]

Speaking of the AAA rate, does anybody know if the discount is typically blacked out for CR MK view rooms? We have two of these rooms booked 2/15-2/22 '08, and were told when we booked the rooms months ago that the '08 rates had not come out and so we could not apply the AAA discount. Now that I have received the '08 rates, I called to give more deposit money and find out about my usual AAA discount. I was told that the discount was not available for my rooms during my time of stay. I am thinking now that it was sheer dumb luck that has allowed us to use the AAA discount every single time before, and not an automatic thing. However, because of the sheer dumb luck, if that is what it was, I assumed the AAA was automatic. Right now I am booked at rack rate and, without that AAA rate, am thinking about either cancelling or changing to a less expensive resort. Can anybody give some info on the realtionship of the AAA rate to CR MK rooms? I am feeling sick. I have been craving this trip.

I can't really answer your question about whether the date and room is blacked out...but, I am curious to know if you tried calling more than once..??

The reason I ask is that on the day the 2008 rates were released, I called and asked for the AAA rate and was told it was unavailable. I immediately called back and was able to apply the rate to my reservation (grand gathering of 4 rooms). I called back 2 minutes after I hung up with the first CM.

I knew the rates were available because of people posting on this board. With my prior experience with reservations CM's, I've also learned that not all of them are always aware of everything that is released or available. If you don't get the right answer, call back and get a different CM.

If you did this already...then, I would try back a few more times to see if the room magically "opened up" for the discount.

Speed

 

[speedyf]

Speedyf- did i mention THANK YOU to you for mentioning the AAA rate last week(I beleive it was you, if not, than thank you to that person!!). I got it too and i am thrilled! If AP is cheaper, even by a few dollars, i will do it......

Lori

No problem...glad you were able to snag the AAA rate. The next big date is in 3 days....August 23rd. Southwest.com will open up their schedule into February. They usually do it at around 10am our time and it's usually the best time to try to lock in the lowest rate for plane tickets (if they are available).

Also...I agree with you on the moderate vs. value resort. We have stayed moderate a few times when I was able to get a pin rate of $79 at POR and an AP rate of $94 at CBR around Christmas. While we enjoyed both resorts, I didn't see a big value in upgrading. The fridge is nice...but, that's about it. The bus service doesn't seem to be any better or worse....the beds are still double beds (you have to move up to deluxe to get queen size). The pool has a slide...but, my 7 year old was not impressed with it after riding on Humunga Cowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon. The moderate has a sit down restaurant in addition to the food court....of course, they want $18 for a plate of jambalaya which I'm sure won't come close to being as good as my grandmother's jambalaya.

We enjoy both value and moderate....but, I won't go moderate unless we get a good discount.

Speed

 

[5 blind mice]

Regarding the AAA rate, when I called Disney, they told me they could apply the AAA rate to a room-only reservation, but not a package. When I called a AAA travel agent, he was able to apply the AAA rate to the package. This was important for our family, because we wanted the dining package. Also, the AAA agent told me that if the Visa Rewards deal is extended into February, he can probably apply that discount to our package as well.

 

[lori1043]

No problem...glad you were able to snag the AAA rate. The next big date is in 3 days....August 23rd. Southwest.com will open up their schedule into February. They usually do it at around 10am our time and it's usually the best time to try to lock in the lowest rate for plane tickets (if they are available).

Also...I agree with you on the moderate vs. value resort. We have stayed moderate a few times when I was able to get a pin rate of $79 at POR and an AP rate of $94 at CBR around Christmas. While we enjoyed both resorts, I didn't see a big value in upgrading. The fridge is nice...but, that's about it. The bus service doesn't seem to be any better or worse....the beds are still double beds (you have to move up to deluxe to get queen size). The pool has a slide...but, my 7 year old was not impressed with it after riding on Humunga Cowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon. The moderate has a sit down restaurant in addition to the food court....of course, they want $18 for a plate of jambalaya which I'm sure won't come close to being as good as my grandmother's jambalaya.

We enjoy both value and moderate....but, I won't go moderate unless we get a good discount.

Speed

WOW , do you have ESP??? I was on SWA last night looking. How do you know the dates they relelase the info?? I am HAPPY to know you!!
I figured if we drove, it would cost aroung $500. $300 for gas(my bother just drove there for work and this was thier total on gas) and we usually stay somewhere on the way there and back , that would be another $150 for relatively cheap hotel. Plus food, which would be brought or fast, or at the very most, Cracker Barrell(yum).

So, if we get SWA rates for a comparable fee, I am IN!!
I feel like it is all coming together! Hoping for a great flight price!!
I'll be glues on the 23rd for a DING!

On another note-I made an itinerary, here it is:

DAY:
1. Feb 1, Friday-travel and Spirit of Aloha Dinner show, 8pm(luau)
2. Feb 2, Sat.-Magic Kingdom (hopeful for Pirate and Princess party this night) am and afternoon break, then back for party in the pm-7:30-12:30
3. Feb 3, Super bowl Sunday- Animal Kingdom. Closes at 5pm so we’ll prolly eat at Rainforest Café on the way out. Super bowl- back at room. IF Saints are NOT in it, me, Ashton, and Haley will head for Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom while Paul and others watch the game. It will prolly be empty!
4. Feb 4, Monday-Disney MGM. 3:40 reservation at Sci-Fi. I did this for all of us but you don’t have to go. I can keep it until that day. If you don’t go, well it will be easier on the wait staff, huh??!!! Right now, I think I included everyone-14 of us. I can add or subtract to this # anytime. It is something my family will be definitely doing; you can join us if you want to! Tonight, Fantasmic is at 7pm, a must see!
5. Feb 5, Fat Tuesday- whatever we want day. I will list the whatever we wants below that we may do. Sleep in day!
6. Feb 6, Wednesday-MK in the am, 12:05 ressie at Cinderella’s Royal Table-only if you already paid for the reservation, do you have one. EPCOT- pm, Future World. Illuminations at 9pm

7. Feb 7, Thursday-EPCOT world showcase in am, Magic Kingdom in pm. Spectromagic (we have never seen) will be a picnic dinner of MK fast food while waiting (hopeful it works out this way)! It starts at 7pm. Fireworks at 8pm. Sit in front of castle watching it change colors eating a Mickey ice cream bar while everyone else herds out.
8. Feb 8, Friday- some of you will be leaving and IF we have Gabbi, we will too. BUT if not this will be another free day for us to do whatever we want and bid you goodbye!
9. Feb 9, Saturday- possibly another WDW park day, but it could be a Universal day for us!! We have free tickets for here from Ashton’s Make a Wish trip that we never used.
10.Feb 10, Sunday- sleep in (if we already did all our extras we want to do) and head home.

Free day extras we would like to cover all these things BUT want our free days to be relaxing too!

1. · Movie at Fort Wilderness (if not too cold)
2. · Typhoon Lagoon, (also if not too cold)
3. · Give Kids the World –this will be a definite for us. This is the place that helped grant Ashton’s wish. It is where we stayed and has MUCH sentimental value for us. It is a wonderful place you can come to visit with us if you like. It is NOT sad; it makes all these families just FORGET all their strife. Free ice cream!! Christmas every Thursday! Castle of Miracles. Look up their site for more info. It is a HUGE subdivision of fun. It is a great place to think of when you are thinking of a place to donate to!
4. · Richard Petty Driving Experience (goes on a great sale in December) About $100 normally, it is about $50-60 in December.
5. · Universal Islands of Adventure(with those free passes)
6. · Hotel hop- we want to check out Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge.
7. · Monorail riding (just for fun)
8. · Downtown Disney(a must)
9. · Disney outlet on the way to GKTW (I need to find out more about this place. Heard you can get same stuff as in parks a lot less $$$$. I would like to find this place before going. I am not wasting time hunting for it.
10. · Cocoa Beach.

Sorry I could not make it smaller, I copied and pasted???? Pressed the #1 on size and some lines did it, but not all. Wierd.

Lori

 

[speedyf]

Lori and everyone else....

I was wrong on the Southwest date. The new release date is Monday, August 27th.

If you go to the Southwest website and click on Travel Tools at the top of the page, you will see this info:

We are currently accepting air reservations through January 11, 2008. On August 27, we plan to open the schedule for purchase through March 7, 2008. This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.

Here's the direct link:

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/travel_center.html?ref=trvltls_gn

They must have changed the date recently from the 23rd to the 27th. The rates have been rather high lately. For our trip to Orlando in May, the rates were released at $104 each way for a total of $220 per person round trip.

We decided to drive at that time. They later released special rates on some flights and we were able to fly into Tampa on the Friday night and fly out of Orlando at 9am on the Sunday morning flight for $59 each way. I was able to rent a car from Alamo in Tampa for $40 and we stayed at an offsite hotel that Friday night for $55. We ended up not saving much money...but, extended our vacation by a couple of days instead.

So...check out Tampa as well. The drive was easy...right up I-4 for about an hour....basically, like a trip from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

As for the itenerary, we are looking at this for now...but, with 20 people in our party, it will probably change:

Thurs - Jan 31st - Drive for 4 hours after work...stay in Mobile or Pensacola.

Fri - Feb 1st - Drive the rest of the way and check-in to All Star Sports

Sat - Feb 2nd - Magic Kingdom - Supper at Chef Mickey's that evening

Sun - Feb 3rd - Animal Kingdom - 5pm close...watch Super Bowl at the resort

Mon - Feb 4th - Epcot - My Favorite

Tues - Feb 5th - Magic Kingdom in the morning (Cindy's Royal Breakfast at 8:05am for 20)/ rest or Downtown Disney at night

Weds - Feb 6th - Disney Hollywood Studios - Rock N Roller Coaster...woohoo!

Thurs - Feb 7th - Rest...or Water Park....or everyone go their own way...probably Epcot again

Fri - Feb 8th - Magic Kingdom - stays open until 11pm....our last night.

Sat - Feb 9th - Start driving home...stop in Pensacola or Mobile.

Sun - Feb 10th - Arrive back home....

We may have to tweak it a little though. We may end up doing Hollywood Studios on the Monday and moving Epcot to the Thursday and having the Wednesday as the off day / water park day / whatever day.

Speed

 

[avic77]

I have been working on our schedual. We are from Mobile so we have a shorter drive but the same lovely Mardi gras Holiday
Saturday Feb 2nd 2008: Wake up early (5-6am) and Drive to hotel Check in (@ 3-4pm) then Visit Down Town Disney
Sunday Feb 3rd 2008: Magic Kingdom 2:30 lunch with Pooh and Friends Spectro and Wishes that evening (Skipping the Super Bowl (TiVo)! so hope the park is deserted)
Monday Feb 4th 2008 Epcot Late Breakfast with the Princesses at Akerusus's Royal Banquet 10:20am
Tuesday Feb 5th 2008 Animal Kingdom and evening at Downtown Disney
Wed Feb 6th 2008 Disney HollyWood Studios
Thursday Feb 7th Extra Park Day revisit MK maybe
Friday Feb 8th Another Extra Park Day / Shopping
Saturday Feb 9th SeaWorld!
Sunday Feb 10th Pack up check out and drive Home

 

[Megan07]

Just Subscribing.

 

[lori1043]

Sppedyf- we have a few days in common!! Maybe we'll see ya!
MK on 2/2
AK on 2/3(hotel for Superbowl, unless we don't play then me and my DD's will go to MK EMH)
EPCOT on 2/7

We'll have on Celebrate Life shirts!!

Lori
PS thanks for the heads up on SWA

 

[musicmom3]

I can't really answer your question about whether the date and room is blacked out...but, I am curious to know if you tried calling more than once..??

The reason I ask is that on the day the 2008 rates were released, I called and asked for the AAA rate and was told it was unavailable. I immediately called back and was able to apply the rate to my reservation (grand gathering of 4 rooms). I called back 2 minutes after I hung up with the first CM.

I knew the rates were available because of people posting on this board. With my prior experience with reservations CM's, I've also learned that not all of them are always aware of everything that is released or available. If you don't get the right answer, call back and get a different CM.

If you did this already...then, I would try back a few more times to see if the room magically "opened up" for the discount.

Speed

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"!!!!

 

[kjbrown]

Lori and everyone else....

Tues - Feb 5th - Magic Kingdom in the morning (Cindy's Royal Breakfast at 8:05am for 20)/ rest or Downtown Disney at night

So, YOU'RE the one! I called right away and only got 8:30! We'll be there, too (just a little later than you!).

 

[kjbrown]

Looks like we'll have some days in common, Tuesday at Magic Kingdom and Wednesday at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I haven't decided what I'm bringing as my DIS board recognition (a LGMH perhaps?). But, maybe we'll see eachother!

 

[speedyf]

Looks like we'll have some days in common, Tuesday at Magic Kingdom and Wednesday at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I haven't decided what I'm bringing as my DIS board recognition (a LGMH perhaps?). But, maybe we'll see eachother!

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

Speed

 

[speedyf]

So, YOU'RE the one! I called right away and only got 8:30! We'll be there, too (just a little later than you!).

Sorry about that. Besides being an IT guy during the week, I spend some weekends DJ'ing for weddings or parties. That was a rough day because I returned home at 2:30am and had to wake up at 5:45am to start calling for that breakfast....OUCH!

Anyway....see ya a Cindy's!

Speed

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

I just have to say how nice it was when I booked my package from my room only, how the CM was able to apply my dining plan to all my existing ADR.

I didn't even have to give her those conf #'s she had them. And was also able to credit my card that I had put the Hoopy Review on. It was sure better than the days of calling back to dining, and giving all those conf # 's.
We've got like 9 ADR's so I was thrilled!!!

Now, if we could just get the codes for Jan/Feb 08, I REALLY be happy.

 

[kjbrown]

Sorry about that. Besides being an IT guy during the week, I spend some weekends DJ'ing for weddings or parties.

That's funny, I spend my week as an IT girl.

 

[WETWHISTLE]

We booked our February 2008 trip yesterday with AAA! So now it's official! We'll be there February 15 - 25th!!!! Staying at Pop Century.

I'll be interested to see if a code comes out that will get us a better deal!

 

[avic77]

Any idea when Disney Rewards Visa Discount will come out for Feb Vacationers? I got my card today!

 

[lori1043]

hey I have been a slacker!! I'll get all the new people posted on the first page probably tonight!
I am thinking about the Disney Visa-DH works for Chase and doesn't like it much. BUT I may use it as a "debit" pay off everything each month and get points or whatever. He likes the United card for airmiles-I like it too, but have always wanted the Disney one-wish i could hook it up to my checking!!-Lori

 

[Befferk]

Any idea when Disney Rewards Visa Discount will come out for Feb Vacationers? I got my card today!

Silly question, the code that comes out for Disney Visa holders, is that for packages only?

Beth

 

[mollyseven]

IS there some busy dates to avoid in early feb...any american holidays or anything....we have friends wanting early feb. and i wondered about how busy it would be???