How a Pin Code COST us money!! October 2011 PTR Updated 3/14

[ddstratton]

Okey dokey. We’re going back to Disney World! This will be our third trip and we will be travelling in late October.

Our first trip was in October 2008. We live in Upstate/Western NY. We drove to Florida, with overnight stops in Emporia, VA,

and Jacksonville, FL.

We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort, in a newly refurbished Nemo-themed room. We were in the Barbados section, Building 13.

We loved it! We stayed for 10 nights and had a blast. We took the AutoTrain home, which runs from Sanford, FL, to Lorton, VA. The drive home from Lorton was about 6 hours.

Our second trip was in May 2010. This time, we took the AutoTrain down to Florida and drove back.

We stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. We stayed here for seven nights and again had a blast. We were in Building 1.

Building 1, as seen from the ferry to/from Downtown Disney.

We drove home to NY, making several pit-stops and spending the night in St. Augustine, FL, Flornece, SC, and Emporia, VA.

DH celebrated his 40th birthday at Disney World in our October 2008 trip. This trip – it’s my turn to celebrate my 40th birthday at Disney World!

And so, we will introduce the cast:

DH – 41 (will be 42 just after we return from this trip). Not a big ride fan. Loves to people-watch, though. Is very easy-going about our vacations. Bascially just goes along with whatever I come up with. Spoils DD rotten.

Me – 39 and will turn 40 on our trip. I love to plan vacations or trips of any kind. Just love it. But I don’t get over-obsessed. If things don’t go just as I planned – oh well. I don’t get uptight about it or feel that things are going “wrong” if they don’t go as planned.

DD – will be 12 when we travel. Spoiled-rotten. Just ask her, she’ll tell ya. This will be her third trip to Disney World as well. She’ll ride just about anything and is usually pretty easy-going.

Mom – 61 yrs old. She LOVES Disney World. She had never been to Disney – or to Florida – before our October 2008 trip. She is over-the-moon thrilled about this trip. We’ll go into that more as the PTR goes on.

Coming up -- how exactly does an emailed PIN code end up COSTING us money?

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm here and can't wait to read all of your details.

 

[eeyoresnr]

I'm here too

 

[ddstratton]

I'm here and can't wait to read all of your details.

Hey there! Details there will be!

I'm here too

Welcome!!

 

[ddstratton]

This trip idea got started because I wanted to spend my 40th birthday at Disney World. I mean, it’s only fair, right? DH spent his 40th at Disney!

We had talked about it on and off, but weren’t really sure if it was going to happen. I didn’t want to take too much time off work, and didn’t want to spend too much money. Hard to do with a Disney trip, huh?

After much discussion, we had decided that we would make a short trip to Disney over my birthday. We would fly down, spend four days, then fly back. I wasn’t really thrilled about this, as I don’t like planes. None of us have ever been on a plane. I just am not comfortable with it. But we were going to try it.

Then came more discussion. From previous trips to Disney and other places, we know ourselves. Our plans change. A LOT. But we wouldn’t be able to change our plans once we bought airline tickets. Not without large penalty fees and such. Plus, DH really wasn’t interested in flying. He agrees with Nebo’s assessment of airplanes – The Aluminum Tube of Death. (Nebo is a WONDERFUL trip report writer here on the DIS)

So I start pricing out the trip if we were to drive. Hmm… Including gas, hotels and meals… The trip would cost just about the same to drive as to fly. A few dollars cheaper even. And if we drive we can hit an extra or two, as we like to do.

To start off, my basic plan for this trip was to take two days to drive down to Florida – just like we did on our first trip. Then we would spend a total of six nights at the Caribbean Beach Resort – this time in one of the Pirate-themed rooms. DD was thrilled about this. She thinks that those rooms just look so cool.

So here I am, hemming and hawing, playing with my trip plans, getting my dates down just so. I was planning on calling Disney Reservations as soon as I had a little chunk of money saved up for the deposit. I like to put down more than just the $200 required, if I can. But my plans were changed. Big time.

I received this in my email.

Very nice, huh? There was just one teesy-weensy little problem. I had planned on being at Disney World from October 21st through October 27th. My birthday is the 22nd. We HAVE to be there on the 22nd! That’s the whole point of this trip! So I called Disney Reservations and spoke with a very nice gentleman. He could only apply the discount to the dates stated on the PIN email. It could not start until the 23rd. So if we wanted to arrive on the 21st, we would have to have a separate reservation for those two nights. Hmm…. What to do…. I went ahead and reserved the Caribbean Beach Resort, in a Pirate-themed room, for the dates allowed on the PIN email. We will be staying here from October 23rd through October 27th. Woo Hoo!!!! I did this as a room-only reservation, as we will get tickets with our reservation for the 21st and 22nd.

But now comes the hard part. Where do I want to stay for the first two nights of the Disney portion of our trip??? Do I save money and choose a value resort?? We’ve talked about staying at Pop Century before…. Or do I splurge and book a Deluxe for those two nights. Let’s see…. It’s my 40th birthday! We’re going Deluxe!!! But which deluxe???

 

[mickeystoontown]

Darla, you are in the same predicament that I was in when we booked with the free dining promo. It didn't start until a day after our arrival date. So, I had to find someplace to stay that first night. We thought the same as you.....stay at a value and same some moolah or use the new room only promo and splurge on a deluxe?

I can't wait to see what you decided.

 

[eeyoresnr]

I can't wait to hear which deluxe you chose!

 

[ddstratton]

Darla, you are in the same predicament that I was in when we booked with the free dining promo. It didn't start until a day after our arrival date. So, I had to find someplace to stay that first night. We thought the same as you.....stay at a value and same some moolah or use the new room only promo and splurge on a deluxe?

I can't wait to see what you decided.

Yup, quite a dilemma.

I can't wait to hear which deluxe you chose!

We decided to go deluxe. You should find out WHICH deluxe on my next installment, tomorrow.

 

[ddstratton]

When we left off wondering which Deluxe we would choose for the first two nights of our Disney vacation… Well…

We are staying at the Polynesian!!!

Not just the Polynesian, though. CLUB LEVEL!!!
(view from Club Lounge)

This is how that PIN code ended up costing us money. When I was pricing out resorts, no garden view rooms came up at Poly. Only Lagoon View and up. However, it was only $90 more to upgrade to a Garden View Club Level Room. We honestly don’t care what the view our our door or window is. We don’t spend tons of time in the room. But to experience the Polynesian at Club Level – sounds wonderful. What better way to spend my 40th birthday???

In total, adding the two nights of Poly Club Level will raise our total price by about $400 or so, as compared to paying rack rate for the full six nights at the Caribbean Beach. So for a couple hundred extra dollars, we get to stay at the Caribbean Beach for four nights in a Pirate room, and we also get to spend two nights at the Polynesian Club Level.

When I told my DD that we would be staying at the Poly for 2 nights, she literally kissed my feet! Then I told Mom. Oh, boy. What a happy dance she did.

So there you have it! We will be at Disney World from October 21st through October 27th.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Wooo Baby! You're going all out for that birthday of your's and I don't blame you one little bit! I envy your club level stay at the Polly and can't wait to see how you like it.

 

[eeyoresnr]

awesome! Poly is still on our "to do" list...can't wait to hear how you like it

 

[mrsksomeday]

Darla, I am SO HAPPY for you!!! What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday!! I can't wait to read about your plans.

 

[ddstratton]

Wooo Baby! You're going all out for that birthday of your's and I don't blame you one little bit! I envy your club level stay at the Polly and can't wait to see how you like it.

Yup!! There's no way I could afford a week or so at Poly, much less at club level. But two nights?? Yeah, I can do that!

awesome! Poly is still on our "to do" list...can't wait to hear how you like it

I am so excited!! I've always loved the Poly. I think a bit of a splurge is in order for my 40th birthday!

Darla, I am SO HAPPY for you!!! What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday!! I can't wait to read about your plans.

Thanks!!! I can't think of a better way to celebrate my 40th! The Poly has always been a dream for me. Two nights at the Poly, at club level, sounds WONDERFUL to me.

I'll have some plans up soon, such as they are. It's hard to make even semi-definite plans until we get park hours for October. But I can still make plans -- they just might need to be adjusted later!

 

[debf]

I'm here too. The Poly is my dd's dream. Every time I price it out I'm like .

 

[carissanboys]

Hey Darla! I'll be back to get caught up on your plans. Love the title!

 

[carissanboys]

Okay - all caught up.

I went to WDW for my birthday in 2009 and it was awesome. Woohoo for staying two nights at the Poly!

 

[weswife]

Thats awesome! I love the Poly! I have never stayed there but we do eat at O'Hana every trip! This has become a must do for us. We get our photo taken and its a great family pic. /keepsake!

CL at the POLY WOW!!!! What a wonderful b-day you will have!

 

[teachermommy78]

Joining in! In your title, you mean 2011, right? I was confused for a bit thinking this was an old one. I'm so jealous of your rooms!

 

[ddstratton]

I'm here too. The Poly is my dd's dream. Every time I price it out I'm like .

Welcome!!!! I've been dreaming of the Polynesian for years. Prices ususally scare me away. But I figured for two nights - for my 40th B-day?? I'll deal!

Hey Darla! I'll be back to get caught up on your plans. Love the title!

Welcome! And thanks!

Okay - all caught up.

I went to WDW for my birthday in 2009 and it was awesome. Woohoo for staying two nights at the Poly!

DH spent his 40th at Disney in 2008, so I just figured that it was my turn!

Thats awesome! I love the Poly! I have never stayed there but we do eat at O'Hana every trip! This has become a must do for us. We get our photo taken and its a great family pic. /keepsake!

CL at the POLY WOW!!!! What a wonderful b-day you will have!

We've visited the Poly before, but never stayed. We had a breakfast at Ohana on our first visit in 2008, and a dinner on our second visit in May 2010. The place was just beautiful. I can't wait to stay there!

Joining in! In your title, you mean 2011, right? I was confused for a bit thinking this was an old one. I'm so jealous of your rooms!

Welcome!! And thanks for the heads-up on my title! I didn't even notice that I had 2010 in there. Yes, it is October 2011.

 

[ddstratton]

To recap so far –

We will be driving from Upstate NY to Disney World. This is a trip of just over 1200 miles. One way. Yikes! But we actually love our driving trips. We started our (mostly) annual driving trips by going to Tennessee/North Carolina. We love the Smokey Mountain area, and have taken that trip a few times.

Our first (mostly) annual trip was to this region of Tennessee, in May 2006. My sister came along with us. She was a month away from 18 at the time.

We stayed in a gorgeous cabin, which was located on the side of a mountain.

The view was amazing!

We did some fun stuff, of course. We visited the Virginia Safari Park…

The Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies…

The Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum…

Cooter’s and the General Lee…

Urg. Look how little DD is here… She was 7 years old. Now, and almost 12, she is only 2 inches shorter than I am!

The Beech Grove schoolhouse in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park…

The Cataloochee Valley…

The Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee, NC…

The Cherokee Bear Zoo…

Cade’s Cove…

And the Dixie Stampede…

Up next… Our Second (mostly) annual driving trip…