Haven't been to WDW in a while -- have a few questions!

[Gina]

Okay, our Disney clan of myself, my little boy, my aunt, and my dad are headed back to WDW. We used to go twice a year, until I discovered Disney Cruise Line, and we haven't been to the World since 2001!! *gasp* But we can't stand it any longer, and we are booked at ASMo for early February.

I'm so excited, I can hardly stand myself!! But there is so much that has changed, I imagine. One question I have is about those light-up pins we have. They came in 5 different styles, and they would light up very differently as you neared different places or different things happened. I am having a complete brain freeze as to what they were called... but for my aunt and I, they were the best $15 either of us had ever spent. We got an awful lot of joy from those pins, and watching to see what they would do next.

My question is, do those pins still work?? Are the sensors still in place and whatnot in the parks? I think my favorite was the fireworks room of El Rio del Tiempo (?) where the pins went completely nuts with fireworks of their own. I'd love to see it again!

Second question... Do they still do Early Entry/Surprise Mornings/whatever they're calling it now?

And last... does anyone know when Hoppers historically go up in price?

Thanks so much! I can't wait to get back to WDW!!!

-gina-

 

[DNBois]

It looks like you may be much more of a Disney addict than me but I think I can help - they still have early entry for resort guests (as well as Swan & Dolphin and select DTD resort guests). I believe that the passes go up in price at the beginning of every year but not certain - you can always check on mousesavers.com -Mary will usually tell everyone when the prices go up and when to buy before they do. As far as those pins are concerned, someone else may have to answer that one as I don't know but am quite interested to hear about them - hope I helped (even a little).

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by Gina
One question I have is about those light-up pins we have. They came in 5 different styles, and they would light up very differently as you neared different places or different things happened. I am having a complete brain freeze as to what they were called... but for my aunt and I, they were the best $15 either of us had ever spent. We got an awful lot of joy from those pins, and watching to see what they would do next.

My question is, do those pins still work?? Are the sensors still in place and whatnot in the parks? I think my favorite was the fireworks room of El Rio del Tiempo (?) where the pins went completely nuts with fireworks of their own. I'd love to see it again!

Gina, can't help you on the name of those pins, but I'll bet that they were the ones that were made for the 100 YOM celebration. My best guess is that they probably won't work. It is a possibility though since they had to spend that money on coming up with the technology.

Second question... Do they still do Early Entry/Surprise Mornings/whatever they're calling it now?

Yes... they do. Check out this link...http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm

And last... does anyone know when Hoppers historically go up in price?

I think they just had a price increase not too long ago, so the prices are probably set for a bit. A normal time frame? Hmmm...I seem to remember something of Jan/Feb time frame. At least that's when the APs increased this last time.

Brian

 

[Gina]

Thank you for your quick replies! I'm really glad to know we can still do Surprise Mornings... I love that quiet empty-park time.

And I am SO sorry, I meant to post this on the Theme Park board!! Duh... I was looking at the Resort board too, and just got confused. What a shock. LOL Mods, please feel free to move this!

-gina-

 

[Dalpal]

Hi!
The pins are magical moments pins. I just bought them on e-bay last year. Yes they do still light up and they still sell them at WDW.
I bought one for each of my DGDs so I know there are at least three different kinds. My DGDs loved them. The ones we got also had an extra battery.
Passes:
I think they tend to go up alittle around Jan. of each year. I always buy my passes in Dec. even though I wont be going until July.
Hope this helps

 

[Gina]

YES!!! Magical Moments pins, that's them!! I'm soooooo happy to hear they still work!! *bounces* You just made my day -- thank you!!


-gina-

 

[bassoongirl]

Hey Gina!

We are going to WDW too - but in mid-February! Our DCL plans fell through. If you remember from our cruise last year, we were able to get free plane tickets from Spirit Airlines for volunteering to get bumped off our flight. Well, we weren't able to use the free tickets for the Friday before the cruise or the Saturday or Sunday after the cruise. What a bummer! So we had to change our plans to do a WDW vacation instead. I am actually very excited because we haven't been to WDW since 1999! *gasp*

FYI - I recently bought 5-day PHP passes from Hotwire Savings Club for an excellent price which included free shipping and a $10 rebate for new members. You might want to check it out.

Those Magical Moments pins sound really cool. We may have to get a set of those for the four of us to wear.

I hope things are going well for you!

Gayl

 

[Gina]

OMG, Gayl!!! Yay!! *hugs* I'm so happy to hear from you! Darn, I wish we were going at the same time... but we used to always go at the beginning of Feb., and it's nice and uncrowded.

We were booked on the Grand Princess for March, but I've had to get an attorney to deal with the $%#@! ex... too much $$, and there's not much flexibility in a cruise price. But a trip to WDW, I am the Bargain Queen. LOL Lots and lots and lots of ways I can save money there!

And I didn't even know about the Hotwire whatchamacallit! Yay, another way to save money!! Would you possibly have a link? I've never even heard of that!

Hope all is well with you... tell the funny hubby and the crazy kids HI from Tyler Dean and I!

-gina-

 

[bassoongirl]

Gina,

Steve takes exception to being called the "funny hubby"! He can't imagine where you got that idea!

I am sorry that your cruise plans fell through too. But going to WDW isn't half bad, especially since we haven't been there in several years!

I joined the Hotwire Savings Club (using the free 30-day trial) long enough to buy our 5-day PHP passes. These "plus" passes include two pluses (DTD, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, etc.) They cost $248.27 for each adult, which I found to be the cheapest price when I bought them in September. I received the passes in four days and didn't have to pay any shipping. In addition, I received a $10 rebate for being a new member. I cancelled my membership before the 30 days were up. If you don't cancel, you get billed $7.95 a month. You can also buy Disney meal vouchers on the site. We decided not to buy any meal vouchers, because we thought it would be too much pressure for us to plan our meals in order to use them. However, I hear they are a good deal. I felt a little guilty taking advantage of the good deal through Hotwire and then cancelling, but I wasn't interested in buying anything else through their site.

Steve, Katie and Ryan all say hi! Ryan wants to say a special hi to Tyler Dean!!

*hugs* back!

Gayl

Hotwire Savings Club

 

[AlwaysAPrincess]

Can anyone tell me where I can buy a few of those Magical Moments pins??? We are going at Christmas time & that would be really cool to buy!!

Thanks!

 

[Gina]

You could buy them pretty much all over the place when I was last there, but that was when they had just come out. They had lots of them at the little mobile gift carts and such.

For anyone who has never had one, they are just unbelievably NEAT... or perhaps I am just that easily amused. LOL No, they really are neat!!

They have little lcd lights in them, and a computer chip. There is a clear cover over the whole pin, which lets it appear much different at times than just, say, one of the collectible pins that has lights in it.

During the "Kiss Goodnight," our pins would twinkle in white... very slowly and softly. At times such as when a parade would go by, the pins would light up all bright and rythmic and festive. And on rides like that river ride, where the fireworks go off, the pin would just go nuts!

You just can't know how happy I am that my pin will still work.


Gayl -- I have the picture of Steve in his napkin-pirate-hat, with a butter knife between his teeth, if he needs reminding why he is the funny one. *grin* Tyler Dean says hi to Ryan, and he wishes we were all going to WDW at the same time... So do I!!

-gina-

 

[Dalpal]

I have to say we got these pins for a fraction of what they cost at WDW from e-bay. I would check them out. I think we paid about six $ for each. I think they are about 15 $ at the world.

I just found some.... go to
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=143&item=2278564097&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[bassoongirl]

Gina,

Ryan wanted to change our trip to the week you are going. I wish that were possible! Did you see the link to the Hotwire Savings Club at the bottom of my last post? I forgot to mention in the post that it was there.

Dalpal,

Thanks for the link to Ebay for the Magical Moments pin. I just placed a bid on it! We went on a DCL cruise last year where we met Gina and her DS through these DIS boards. We had a wonderful time with them! My DS discovered the wonders of collecting pins thanks to Gina and her pin collection. He would love to have one of those Magical Moments pins - but I won't tell him about the magical part. I'll let him discover that when we get to WDW!

Gina,

Is this the photo you were referring to?

Steve the Pirate

Gayl

 

[AlwaysAPrincess]

Thank you Dalpal! Headed to the site now. Would love to have the pins for our Christmas trip!!! SOunds really MAGICAL! But then again...it is Disney EVERYTHING IS MAGICAL!!

Thanks so much for posting!