Free Dining Oct-Dec Is Here!!! (And a whole lot more) ~ Part 3

[CaraMiaBelle]

I know; I grew up in NE Philly and never understood this either!

Did you get your dates? Saw you were looking for POR too.

Yes, I did get the dates I wanted! It sounds like almost everyone that was persistent enough got what they wanted. Have you seen more families of 5 looking for POR in the past couple days?

Now, I have a lot of ADR's to adjust, which, at this point, means I will have to call everyday to get for the times I want. Of course I probably won't get to do that anyway until the kids go back to school....is it the 26th yet?

 

[NorCalGal]

I got free dining! (Actually, on the first but it took me a while to find time to post here.) I am sooooo excited. I'm going to arrive on Oct 29th (from California), stay near Universal for three nights and do two days there, then on Nov 1st it's over to Pop for eleven nights!!! And, I got tickets to the Halloween party on Nov 1st and the Christmas party on Nov 8th. Wahoo!!!! (Did I mention I'm excited.)

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I know! Here's the best though....

If you are from south of Trenton, more than likely you root for Philly teams...

North of Trenton, NY teams.....

Sadly....the only population that seems to root for our very own Jersey Devils are the ones in the Pine Barrens.

Funniest thing...as a newlywed living in GA...I pulled into a 'Smile' gas right off I-20 and sat there....waiting for someone to come pump my gas. Someone finally said to me...you gotta pump it yourself....I had no clue how to do it!

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I can't remember, are you north or south of Trenton?
I don't think my sister from Cape May knows how to pump gas....seriously. I think when she was up here recently visiting and needed gas, my other sister pumped it for her!

 

[Coconuts]

Yes, I did get the dates I wanted! It sounds like almost everyone that was persistent enough got what they wanted. Have you seen more families of 5 looking for POR in the past couple days?

Now, I have a lot of ADR's to adjust, which, at this point, means I will have to call everyday to get for the times I want. Of course I probably won't get to do that anyway until the kids go back to school....is it the 26th yet?

I saw a bunch of postings on thread #2 for families of 5 that wanted POR. It was a make or break deal for us if we wanted to stay onsite. We had two rooms at ASMu booked which was almost $1500 more!

 

[black562]

OK - I travel with my family often. It is very hard when people have different ideas and styles. I suggest being very straight forward and put it all out there.

I would say that it seems that your choices have make the person uncomfortable, and that all you want to do is have fun. Suggest that they make the plans that are best for his/her family and you can all meet up when it works for all involved. Maybe suggest a few dining opportunities that include all - but that people can decide to be part of if they want. The message that you want everyone to be happy and have fun can be heard and then they can do what they will. Control is hard when there are many cooks in the kitchen...no matter how great the people are who are involved.

When I have done this in the past, it seems, everyone ends up doing the same thing but once they choose it rather than feeling they must, things go more smoothly.

Good luck!

I forgot to mention....a big welcome to the boards and to our threads. I hope you're having a great time!

 

[JLKennedy]

I can't remember, are you north or south of Trenton?
I don't think my sister from Cape May knows how to pump gas....seriously. I think when she was up here recently visiting and needed gas, my other sister pumped it for her!

I'm in southern NJ...it is illegal for anyone other than a pump attendant to pump gas....it's nice to have when the weather is crappy.

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[HBGdancermom]

I got free dining! (Actually, on the first but it took me a while to find time to post here.) I am sooooo excited. I'm going to arrive on Oct 29th (from California), stay near Universal for three nights and do two days there, then on Nov 1st it's over to Pop for eleven nights!!! And, I got tickets to the Halloween party on Nov 1st and the Christmas party on Nov 8th. Wahoo!!!! (Did I mention I'm excited.)

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[darnheather]

As a 7th grade teacher, I actually try to plan around if I know kids will be out when and if I can. If a student tells me far in advance, if I can move something important, or teach it a bit early, I will.

The week before any break is packed full of tests at our school since we want to test the students before they leave for a bit. It is not unusual for kids to have a test in every class the week before Thanksgiving. The earlier your student tells the teachers, the better, in my opinion. It can be very hard on students, but it can be done!

My 2 cents...

Thank you. Like your user name btw! If it is tests I'll ask if she can take them before we go. I have no problem with that. I am worried about her missing so many days at once but this will be our last vacation during school probably ever with her.

 

[darnheather]

Ok need a place to vent and maybe get ideas. I don't want to start a new thread as there have been many on the topic, I think I may have even started one, but as the trip gets closer there's more drama!

We going on a trip (each family paying their own portion) with my inlaws, and two bother in-laws and their families. 8 adults, 6 kids.

One family has yet to book. When the trip comes up the adults get testy, mean, snarky, and generally unpleasant. SO when free dining came out we instructed our TA to move us to a moderate if price was comparable to get the discount. This decision was made with myself (the Disney nut) and the other two families who have booked.

Fastforward to today when dh had to inform other brother we did make the switch to secure discount. The brother knew it was a possibility prior too and my dh tried calling and texting him Saturday when changes happened. His brother didnt answer.

The 3 families are going and doing just Disney. The other brothers family is planning on stopping at mammoth cave KY, doing sea world for a day, universal for a day and then meeting us at Disney. So obviously cost isn't their issue!

But the brother freaked out on my dh and is just being nasty about the whole trip. I am worried about tuem ruining the trip...

Whew feel a bit better at just saying it all. Any ideas? They've got their daughter excited about going but we've stressed since day one its a big expense no one needs to do it if they aren't wanting too....

Oh man that stinks. If they want to stay at value without the dining can they still?

 

[she who must read]

Thank you. Like your user name btw! If it is tests I'll ask if she can take them before we go. I have no problem with that. I am worried about her missing so many days at once but this will be our last vacation during school probably ever with her.

I must admit - few books have been read since the whole FD issue hit the streets! I now read about Disney Disney Disney.

As far as the tests go, taking them early seems to work better for my students in most cases. That being said, not all teachers have the tests ready early - yet another reason for telling the teachers early so they can plan to have the tests done for her.

 

[smitch425]

I'm in southern NJ...it is illegal for anyone other than a pump attendant to pump gas....it's nice to have when the weather is crappy.

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We've been to NJ several times. One of my sisters was stationed there when she was in the Air Force. DH had to go TDY there for two weeks, so the kids and I tagged along. Her two pieces of advice to us were

1. You can't pump your own gas

2. You have to turn right to turn left.



Those jug handle turns were so weird! Right down the street from my house, we have a CFI (Continuous Flow Intersection). It is even weirder!

 

[POROct2013]

Unfortunately, we are one of the ones who still didn't get FD. We are already booked at POR with the DDP in October and I keep trying online and have called a few times and there still isn't anything available for our dates. We can't move resorts because we are travelling with someone who is going solo and even though we could upgrade to a Deluxe with FD for less than we have already paid, she can't. She would have to pay a bunch more.

I'm still trying and being persistent. I hope it pays off.

The odd thing is, I didn't think I cared so much about FD because we had already paid for the DDP but now that I have been reading about so many other people getting it, I would like it too! It sure would be nice to save the $700 (well, not save but get a credit on our credit card). That would help pay for more souvenirs and fun stuff!!

 

[gterin1524]

So I have been trying to add Oct. 9th to my reservation, but everything is booked! Is there something going on that date or did I just pick bad dates? :/.

 

[Coconuts]

We've been to NJ several times. One of my sisters was stationed there when she was in the Air Force. DH had to go TDY there for two weeks, so the kids and I tagged along. Her two pieces of advice to us were

1. You can't pump your own gas

2. You have to turn right to turn left.



Those jug handle turns were so weird! Right down the street from my house, we have a CFI (Continuous Flow Intersection). It is even weirder!

A CFI?? You mean a circle? That's what we call them here and they were abundant in my area and it always bothered me when newbies enter them and don't know how to drive in them. But they are becoming rarer and rarer as many areas are getting more populated, and therefore the circle becomes more dangerous.

 

[Coconuts]

Unfortunately, we are one of the ones who still didn't get FD. We are already booked at POR with the DDP in October and I keep trying online and have called a few times and there still isn't anything available for our dates. We can't move resorts because we are travelling with someone who is going solo and even though we could upgrade to a Deluxe with FD for less than we have already paid, she can't. She would have to pay a bunch more.

I'm still trying and being persistent. I hope it pays off.

The odd thing is, I didn't think I cared so much about FD because we had already paid for the DDP but now that I have been reading about so many other people getting it, I would like it too! It sure would be nice to save the $700 (well, not save but get a credit on our credit card). That would help pay for more souvenirs and fun stuff!!

Just keep with it! I have called twice a day since Thursday and something popped up this morning, and then haven't seen availability since. I'll send you some pixie dust!

 

[Fivemuggles]

Are you guys who are getting POR going online or calling? I still haven't been able to snag it for our dates! If anyone sees oct 26-nov 3 pop up PM me ha!

 

[Coconuts]

Are you guys who are getting POR going online or calling? I still haven't been able to snag it for our dates! If anyone sees oct 26-nov 3 pop up PM me ha!

My computer has only let me see resort availability dining 2 times out of maybe a thousand tries since last Thursday! It kept saying "server busy" Of those 2 times, this morning was one of them and I got my POR reservation. I had also called several times but nothing whenever I call.

 

[ALD85]

Are you guys who are getting POR going online or calling? I still haven't been able to snag it for our dates! If anyone sees oct 26-nov 3 pop up PM me ha!

I look online and call everyday. My dates are Oct 19-26.

EDIT: I'm still trying to get FD.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Are you guys who are getting POR going online or calling? I still haven't been able to snag it for our dates! If anyone sees oct 26-nov 3 pop up PM me ha!

I just check online every once in a while out of curiosity. I guess I should be fine taking a chance with a with standard room and just requesting a building closer in to the River, but if a Riverview room popped up, sure I'd take it.

 

[Fivemuggles]

Oct 26- nov 1 standard AB just popped up at POR if anyone needs it! (I've been playing around with dates for an hour haha)