From the South Pacific to the Jersey Shore
by way of the Bayou??
Now that the backgrounds been set and the characters introduced, its time to get down to business. It is time to make a PLAN.
Remember? Planning ahead = Less Stress. Lets say it together one more time:
Less.
Stress.
I like to begin with the selection of a hotel. If you think about it, everything else rides on ones choice of hotel: restaurant choices, transportation issues, even which side of Epcot youll enter are affected by your pick for short-term-Disney-residency. In case thats not enough, if were talking about on-site properties, ones hotel selection also sets the mood, the vibe, the tone of the trip. Do we want fun and flighty? Comfortable and lived-in? Upscale and haughty? Obviously, the hotel selection is a big deal for me and deserves careful consideration and research.
The search begins with a thought-provoking question:
Which one havent I stayed at yet?
Yep, very scientific, that. There are still many WDW properties in which Ive yet to sleep, so I went in with the hope of a new experience. I also knew wed need two hotels.
Because, last year, we spent three nights at the Wilderness Lodge after one night at the All Stars. And it wasnt enough. And Deluxe was nice. Very nice. But we cant afford five Deluxe nights, so we need two hotels. Right? Right.
In past years, Ive waited for the Annual Passholder discounted rates to come out, then tried to book a room. Ive always gotten a discounted room with this approach, but never in the hotel I really wanted. This year, I consulted the DIS faaaaaar in advance. In July, to be specific.
(Turns out, this isnt early at all by DIS standards. How many of you have your 2008 vacations reserved now? I rest my case!) And the DIS told me I should book immediately, or risk missing out on a yet-to-be-stayed-in hotel once again; I could always apply the discount later. So I got down to business and tried to figure out where wed like to be, starting with our Deluxe choice.
I was all set to book the Contemporary, when I laid eyes on Tikimans website devoted to the Polynesian. I fell in love. The Poly represented all a Disney hotel should be: relaxed, themed to the hilt, spacious rooms, room service, friendly staff I just knew this was the right place for us. When I got home that night, I shared Tikimans site with DM, who also fell in love. The Poly was a winner!
The secondary hotel choice was easy. We wanted a moderate. Id stayed at every moderate but the Alligator Bayou section of Pt. Orleans Riverside. Done deal. I booked two nights at POR and requested the AB section.
Now, all we had to do was wait for those AP rates to come out
Which they did.
On the one day I was away from a computer until 10am.
As soon as I saw the news and understood the precarious situation in which I found myself, I got on that phone and dialed like my life was on the line. After five attempts and 45 minutes on hold, I finally got through.
I dont remember the CMs name, but I remember he was uber-friendly, so Ill call him Sammy Happy Pants. SHP thanked me for calling Disney. SHP said hed be happy to help me book the Poly at an AP rate, which, BTW, would be a HUGE savings over rack rate.
Thank you SHP, youre the best! Ive always wanted to stay at the Poly and now youre offering to let me stay there at a bargain rate? I think I love you Sammy Happy Pants!
Only SHP hadnt actually gotten to the reservation part of the reservation yet.
And, when he did, he did not have uber-happy news for moi.
There were no more AP rooms available at the Poly in Dec.
SHP took this moment to vocalize his wish that Id have called two hours earlier, when they had loads of Poly rooms available at AP rates.
Sammy Happy Pants was bringing me down.
But he did offer an alternative. He had lots of rooms at the Boardwalk Inn for $150 per night less than rack rate at the Poly. Any other time, Id have jumped all over that kind of deal! But the Poly had already won my heart. And how was I going to break the news to DM? Could we possibly finance the Poly without a discount?? I left my reservation stand; I just couldnt make a decision yet.
Back home that night, I broke the news to DM. She asked how much the un-discounted Poly room was.
When I told her, her head spun around a few times, her eyes bugged out and I was a little worried she might have a heart attack.
DM was no longer in love with the Poly. She was head over heels in love with the BWI.
And, fifteen minutes later, thats exactly where we had our new reservations.
And that, good reader, is how the careful, less stress method of hotel selection was accomplished, leading to our upcoming 2 night POR/3 night BWI stay with The Mouse!
Up next: does a non-Dining Plan eater stand a chance at the 90 day mark??
Have I mentioned I'm from Buffalo?? Have you all SEEN what's happening there right now? Soap bubbles are just fine with me!
on my vacation. :
Before you know it, she'll be doing her own TR's like Glenda's mom! Has she bought a Passporter yet?? 
So, what's new???
Ok, has "real" life interupted DIS time? C'mon on, V, can't ya come out and play???
over here....
