Here goes, my first PTR.....*UPDATE 9/27* only one day left!!

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I got my personalized t-shirt designs!!! The designers on the Creative DISigns board are awesome!!! I am so excited. Of course all I have is the designs, I still have to figure out how to get them onto transfers, and then onto t-shirts! Piece of cake, right?!! I've learned so much since joining up here, surely I can learn that too!! If I ever figure it out, I will be sure to post a photo, I can do that now so there's hope yet!

Here's another random photo from our first day at Disney, in Magic Kingdom on March 25, 2009...

Oooooh! Can't wait to see them! Use Amymickey's transfers if you can, they work REALLY well, I'm still wearing shirts from our 2009 trip that I have had forever, they wash over and over really well! You can get them at amymickey.com

 

[mtgirl29]

I got my personalized t-shirt designs!!! The designers on the Creative DISigns board are awesome!!! I am so excited. Of course all I have is the designs, I still have to figure out how to get them onto transfers, and then onto t-shirts! Piece of cake, right?!! I've learned so much since joining up here, surely I can learn that too!! If I ever figure it out, I will be sure to post a photo, I can do that now so there's hope yet!

Here's another random photo from our first day at Disney, in Magic Kingdom on March 25, 2009...

I am so glad you are going to give it try! I cannot wait to see your shirts!

 

[PixieMama]

Ooooo, fun! Can't wait to see your shirts. I can't decide if I want to wear Disney tees on my trip or now... I usually do, but my DH and DDs also wear them. On my Sept. trip, I'd probably be the only one out of our group wearing a Disney tee, LOL!

 

[cgerdon02]

Yay for getting your MNSSHP tickets! That's the next thing on my list We are going much closer to Halloween so I'm already worried that they could sell out. I don't think they will, but I would be devastated if they did.....I am looking forward to it the most on our trip!

 

[MARsMama]

I am excited to make the t-shirts. I will take a look at amymickey and see what the cost is. Sometimes the shipping is too much, being in Canada. I would like to have the good quality transfers, but if I have to I'll go to WalMart. My cousin uses the ones from there for our family reunion shirts every year and they seem to work out ok....although the t-shirts are always white.
I've never had Disney shirts to wear for the trip, so I'm excited about that, and I'm sure the kids will be too

 

[silverhaze269]

Great PTR! I followed the link in your siggy from someone else's PTR...I noticed you're from NS too, and I couldn't resist taking a look at your PTR

Glad to hear you got your flights...and at such a great price too! We sometimes end up getting 2 one-way tickets to make it cheaper, which is what we did this time (I'm going in just 23 days ) Now that you've got things more secured, I'm sure the time will just fly by!

Also, great photos, especially of your mom. I am so sorry for your loss

 

[MARsMama]

Great PTR! I followed the link in your siggy from someone else's PTR...I noticed you're from NS too, and I couldn't resist taking a look at your PTR

Glad to hear you got your flights...and at such a great price too! We sometimes end up getting 2 one-way tickets to make it cheaper, which is what we did this time (I'm going in just 23 days ) Now that you've got things more secured, I'm sure the time will just fly by!

Also, great photos, especially of your mom. I am so sorry for your loss

Welcome to my PTR!! Glad to have you along, it's nice to have another Nova Scotian
So exciting that you leave soon

 

[MARsMama]

In order to tell you about our big news regarding our trip I better give you some background.....
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but I am an only child. However, I have a few cousins who I am particularily close with that are just like sisters to me. One of those I consider my best friend who lives about 4hrs away from us. For many years we have travelled back and forth to each others homes for visits throughout the year, so we keep in really good touch. (Her Mom and my Mom were sisters) One of the many things we have in common is that our families are both major Disney fanatics!! She has three children just like us, two of which are merely weeks and months apart from two of our kids' ages. Our children all get along really well, and so do us adults. We always have a great time together even if it's limited to a few visits a year.
Back in 2005 I really thought of trying to plan our first Disney trip. My cousin had been there a few times already and they were planning a 2006 trip so we thought it'd be great to go at the same time. I started planning and saving and in 2006 we ended up needing to find a home to buy and all our plans went out the window. My cousin and her family went that year. Then, in 2008 they had planned to go again, but this time with her in-laws. We knew were wouldn't be going on that trip with them, but started saving anyway. Finally mid-2008 (probably around the time they were in Disney), we actually booked our 2009 trip, our first trip ever. We had a few snags, mostly due to Mom's health, but we pulled off that trip and finally got to Disney, only to realize we wanted to go back again!!!
Last summer, my cousin and her family planned another trip down, this time driving down as we had done the previous year...it was their first time with that adventure and they loved it like we did!
As you know we had been planning to do a 2011 trip, almost since we came back from our first trip, but summer 2010 was just too soon after Mom's passing for us to get things together and go with them. So, instead we stuck with our 2011 idea and by the middle of September we finally booked it. They were just back from their trip and, although they wanted to go with us, it wasn't in the cards for them at that time. We went ahead and continued with our plans and have been sharing them with my cousin along the way.
The other day I was talking to her and she told me that they were thinking of possibly doing another trip in March 2012. Of course I was so excited for her, but saddened by the fact that although our trips were getting closer together we weren't quite connecting with the times and we would be only 6 months off of going together. (We are going on the assumption that while we would love to plan another trip, this may very well be our last one down, so it would have been great to go together.) However, they just didn't think they could swing it that soon.
But, yesterday I got to thinking about the great flight prices we got, and the free dining that is offered and I did some research. I found some prices and sent them off to my cousin.
Well, long story short (not really eh?!) my cousin phoned me this morning and they're going this fall!!!!! Now b/c of the free dining dates they are arriving before us, and leaving before us, but we will all be down there for five days together!! I'm so excited!!!

Now, this all leads to a few questions that some of you wonderful ladies may know. I've looked around the boards and will continue to, but thought I'd ask here first.....
We have our ADRs all made. For the places that we may want to dine together should they just try to get an ADR for 5 at the same time and ask to be seated together when we arrive (if they are successful) or do we need to book an ADR for 10 and if we get it cancel our 5-seat ADR? Also, if we have to go with the 10, how does that work with two different families paying, and with the tip?

 

[Lidian]

In order to tell you about our big news regarding our trip I better give you some background.....
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but I am an only child. However, I have a few cousins who I am particularily close with that are just like sisters to me. One of those I consider my best friend who lives about 4hrs away from us. For many years we have travelled back and forth to each others homes for visits throughout the year, so we keep in really good touch. (Her Mom and my Mom were sisters) One of the many things we have in common is that our families are both major Disney fanatics!! She has three children just like us, two of which are merely weeks and months apart from two of our kids' ages. Our children all get along really well, and so do us adults. We always have a great time together even if it's limited to a few visits a year.
Back in 2005 I really thought of trying to plan our first Disney trip. My cousin had been there a few times already and they were planning a 2006 trip so we thought it'd be great to go at the same time. I started planning and saving and in 2006 we ended up needing to find a home to buy and all our plans went out the window. My cousin and her family went that year. Then, in 2008 they had planned to go again, but this time with her in-laws. We knew were wouldn't be going on that trip with them, but started saving anyway. Finally mid-2008 (probably around the time they were in Disney), we actually booked our 2009 trip, our first trip ever. We had a few snags, mostly due to Mom's health, but we pulled off that trip and finally got to Disney, only to realize we wanted to go back again!!!
Last summer, my cousin and her family planned another trip down, this time driving down as we had done the previous year...it was their first time with that adventure and they loved it like we did!
As you know we had been planning to do a 2011 trip, almost since we came back from our first trip, but summer 2010 was just too soon after Mom's passing for us to get things together and go with them. So, instead we stuck with our 2011 idea and by the middle of September we finally booked it. They were just back from their trip and, although they wanted to go with us, it wasn't in the cards for them at that time. We went ahead and continued with our plans and have been sharing them with my cousin along the way.
The other day I was talking to her and she told me that they were thinking of possibly doing another trip in March 2012. Of course I was so excited for her, but saddened by the fact that although our trips were getting closer together we weren't quite connecting with the times and we would be only 6 months off of going together. (We are going on the assumption that while we would love to plan another trip, this may very well be our last one down, so it would have been great to go together.) However, they just didn't think they could swing it that soon.
But, yesterday I got to thinking about the great flight prices we got, and the free dining that is offered and I did some research. I found some prices and sent them off to my cousin.
Well, long story short (not really eh?!) my cousin phoned me this morning and they're going this fall!!!!! Now b/c of the free dining dates they are arriving before us, and leaving before us, but we will all be down there for five days together!! I'm so excited!!!

Now, this all leads to a few questions that some of you wonderful ladies may know. I've looked around the boards and will continue to, but thought I'd ask here first.....
We have our ADRs all made. For the places that we may want to dine together should they just try to get an ADR for 5 at the same time and ask to be seated together when we arrive (if they are successful) or do we need to book an ADR for 10 and if we get it cancel our 5-seat ADR? Also, if we have to go with the 10, how does that work with two different families paying, and with the tip?

Grats on having extra family!

I recommend trying to land ADRs of 10, otherwise, you may not be sat at the same time or even nearby. If you do 2 ADRs of 5, you can most certainly request that you be sat as a party of 10, but they may not be able to accommodate (ie, they have have 2 round 6top tables ready for you on opposite sides of the room when you arrive).

The best thing to do is call the Disney Dining Hotline and see what you can and can't do. In some cases, you might not be sat at the same table (even with an ADR of 10), but multiple tables nearby (we had this happen at GF Cafe, we were sat at 2 4tops back to back).

Once you're sat, you can state that it will be separate checks to your server. Each check will have the tip automatically added to it (since its a large party). Even on the DDP, you just tell them who is on what check and they totally work with it. We had a group of 8 and did this in 2009. It was easysauce.

If you can't land any 10tops, then perhaps try for the 5s and make the request. If its busy, they may not be able to accommodate your request. And maybe a CM at the Dining Hotline can link the ADRs somehow. I dunno, but its always worth a shot!

G'luck and let us know what happens!

 

[DearPrudence]

How much fun that your cousin's trip will overlap with yours! I'm sure you will all have a great time together. That's exactly how I felt when my sister decided to go to DW the same time as us -- we figured it would enhance both our trips. Fun for all involved!

 

[MARsMama]

Thanks, ladies. We are so excited
We did change up a few reservations, but we're keeping all the same meals and added one! We got a ADR for 10 at Sci-Fi, so I cancelled our 5 person one. We also booked an ADR for 10 for the HDDR, which none of us have been too, any thoughts on that new addition??
They are going to try to get in to T-Rex when we're going as well. There are two days that they were unable to get in where we are going, one was at 1900 Park fare and the MM F! dining pkg. They are going to keep trying as it gets closer, in case of cancellations, and in the meantime book somewhere they would like to try.
Thanks for the input, Lidian

It is going to be extra hard to keep this from the kids, but we're going to try and hold off on telling them about the trip until June still, and we're not even telling them that their cousins will be going the same time We're going to let them just 'run into each other' once we're down there

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

That's great news!!!!!! OMG, you aren't telling them that their cousins are going?!?! HOW to people keep these secrets? I can't keep secrets for the life of me. What fun it will be to "run into them"! I'm glad you got most of the ADRs worked out!

 

[PixieMama]

Yay for your news! That's great that you'll be able to spend time together on your vacation.

Good luck keeping the secrets! I love the idea of letting the kids just "run into each other" when you're there... that's great!

 

[MARsMama]

It will be tricky keeping it from the kids, but I think we can do it. My cousins kids are thinking that they were planning a Feb 2012 trip, which is what they will continue to tell them until the end of the summer. We're gonna just tell our kids that we're going for MJs birthday, which is after my cousins family are back. Once September is here we will tell the kids the actual dates, but they won't be able to compare notes as we're 4hrs away from each other and the next time we'll see each other will be in Disney!!

Here's another random photo from our March 2009 trip....

This was taken near the teacup ride, on our first day at MK

 

[MARsMama]

I forgot to mention that we are considering upgrading our DDP to DxDP. I know I've read a lot about it and that some have/are considering it, so correct me if I'm wrong....I am able to upgrade my DDP to a DxDP if I pay the difference, even if my DDP was free dining. If so, do you know if I have a time limit in which I have to upgrade? We purchased our package last September and are thinking of doing it now, will it be too late?

Now, our reason for wanting to do this is that now that we have added HDDR to our plan, we have two TS meals that we are over on our DDP. They are two meals that we don't want to give up, so we were going to pay OOP for them. However, when I checked on the price to upgrade it was $100+ cheaper than paying OOP for those two TS meals. Also, with us having an ADR at CRT, we have a day without a TS meal, so we could add one if we upgrade. Besides, the extra snack credits may come in handy with the F&W, if you are able to use snack credits.

So, is what I'm planning on doing actually possible? who should we contact to do it, our TA or just phone Disney direct?

 

[PixieMama]

I could be wrong, but I think if you're dealing with a TA then any changes/upgrades you do to your package would have to be done through the TA. If I were you, I'd give that person a call and ask if you can upgrade by paying the difference.

 

[MARsMama]

Thanks, Pixiemama, that's what I was thinking and Dh is going to phone our TA and see what she says. I hope we can upgrade as it'll save us, but if not we'll be okay with that.
I'll update when I find out, keep your fingers crossed we can do it!!

 

[MissStitch626]

It's so great that your cousin's family will be there at the same time - what a great surprise for your family to 'run in' to their cousins! You should definitely have the camera ready to capture the look on their faces at that moment

 

[Lidian]

I forgot to mention that we are considering upgrading our DDP to DxDP. I know I've read a lot about it and that some have/are considering it, so correct me if I'm wrong....I am able to upgrade my DDP to a DxDP if I pay the difference, even if my DDP was free dining. If so, do you know if I have a time limit in which I have to upgrade? We purchased our package last September and are thinking of doing it now, will it be too late?

Now, our reason for wanting to do this is that now that we have added HDDR to our plan, we have two TS meals that we are over on our DDP. They are two meals that we don't want to give up, so we were going to pay OOP for them. However, when I checked on the price to upgrade it was $100+ cheaper than paying OOP for those two TS meals. Also, with us having an ADR at CRT, we have a day without a TS meal, so we could add one if we upgrade. Besides, the extra snack credits may come in handy with the F&W, if you are able to use snack credits.

So, is what I'm planning on doing actually possible? who should we contact to do it, our TA or just phone Disney direct?

Thanks, Pixiemama, that's what I was thinking and Dh is going to phone our TA and see what she says. I hope we can upgrade as it'll save us, but if not we'll be okay with that.
I'll update when I find out, keep your fingers crossed we can do it!!

From what I understand, you can upgrade your package at anytime. You could also upgrade upon check-in. But if you move from one package to another, you can't move back if the previous package has expired. So it should be no problems to upgrade from DDP to DxDP and just pay the price difference before your 45 day mark.

All changes must be done through a TA if you booked through a TA. If you call WDW direct, they can answer questions, but can't modify your package at all - your TA would have to do it.

Can't wait to hear what your TA says!

 

[MARsMama]

Thanks for all the info, I really appreciate how helpful you all are
However, I did a miscalculation (I must admit my head is just in the right place as the days get closer to Sunday) and we will be keeping the DDP as it will be too much to upgrade compared to what we'll be paying out of pocket.
I'm still excited though and have gotten a DISign request with our two families names and I love it!! Can't wait for my cousin to see it!! We're planning to head to to their place the last weekend of June and do some t-shirt making together!!!
I also forgot to mention that our MNSSHP tickets came the other day