January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part III !!!

[pamouselover]

Hi everybody. I'm back from a Ladies Shopping Weekend with my Mom and my sister! We had a great time in Lancaster County, PA. We outlet-shopped till we dropped! Let's say it was our contribution to the country's "Economic Stimulus".

I ended up talking with my AAA TA on Friday morning. The Pop discounts were not available, so we switched to All Star Movies, to save $272. I was hoping for more, but am very pleased anyway. Now we have to decide how to spend the "saved" money!

Lancaster! I love it up there. I hope to get up there and do some shopping
before christmas. I love shady maple and kitchen kettle.

If you had an opportunity to do the deluxe dining plan, would you?

My DH and I are batting this one around.

The pros for my family are:
-three meals a day
-appetizers included at TS meals
-2 snacks per day (some days my children eat like birds, other times they seem to be bottomless )
-able to try more restaurants we are leaving off the list this time
-resort mug included

The disadvantages for my family are:
-require more $ for tips
-tips will be larger due to the added appetizer
-spending more time at TS and less at parks

We like our plan now, as we have all the ADRs we truly wanted at the times we want them but like the idea of prepaying for all meals and no worries.

Of course I have to keep on thinking of ways to spend more $ at Disney.

Thank you,
Remmy

I think it worth it, and that not worrying about paying for meals is nice when you are on vacation.But I know from the last two times we were on the ddp, we wasted so much food. I cancel my plan due to not having the funds next week to pay off our trip with it on. I just thought we are better off having more time in the parks and not spending that extra 45 mins. to get to a ressie and then the 60 to 90 mins.eating. I think it depends on your family.

 

[pamouselover]

Hey Remmy~
As far as the dlx plan, we opted against it and stuck with the regular.I always ship a couple of med size boxes to our resort and have cereal like Cheerios, breakfast granola bars, juice bottles, stuff like that and the kids eat in the room while we are getting ready to head out for the day--close to the end we usually do one character breakfast OOP and use our snax for goodies to bring home. Our oldest son is over 10, so we have to pay for him as adult. That really makes a big jump in the price- so just eating in the room and then doing an earlier lunch time works great for us. It does take longer to do TS, and so we only really need one a day. And it is a lot of food!!! Hope this helps you a little--this is just what works for our family!!

Could you tell me how you shipped the items to yourself at the resort? I am very intrested in shipping some snack food for the kids. We drove last Aug. so it was nice to take food items and water and ICE TEA!!!!!!!!!

 

[sarbah77]

Yes!! Are you still planning staying at POR? How fun!! Sorry, my memory is mush ~ I don't remember, are you running?

I'm not - my DH is, however!! He's getting pretty psyched.

Sorry about your Bills - I was actually at the game today - big Patriots fan here! But, I was working in one of the concession stands for my non-profit, so we don't get to see much of the game, but just the excitement of being there is great. It was a beautiful day - not too cold and just a light breeze. Saw alot of the crowd in shirtsleeves - not your typical NE November weather. Next, on to the Jets on Thursday night!!

Hey, I drove by the stadium this afternoon - on my way to the Providence airport!

Back in Michigan now. All my flights ran on time and the weather (until we drove from the airport home!) was really really fabulous. Of course, I'm running a little hot right now (one person heatwave!) so I almost didn't have to wear a coat all weekend!

Still thrilled with my vacation discount/money savings, let me tell you!! That $500 savings will be a nice savings and I think the $200 gift card will cover most of the rest of our discretionary spending!



Now, to talk my boss into letting me have the week of Labor Day off when I work in academic.

 

[Monny2AE]

Hi everybody. I'm back from a Ladies Shopping Weekend with my Mom and my sister! We had a great time in Lancaster County, PA. We outlet-shopped till we dropped! Let's say it was our contribution to the country's "Economic Stimulus".

I ended up talking with my AAA TA on Friday morning. The Pop discounts were not available, so we switched to All Star Movies, to save $272. I was hoping for more, but am very pleased anyway. Now we have to decide how to spend the "saved" money!

Did you stop in the Disney Outlet???

 

[jenjolt]

I'm a snowbird as well, just a little late to the party! We'll be staying at the Beach Club (!) from January 4-11 thanks to the 4/3 discount!

Here are our ADR's:
Jan. 4 - Mama Melrose's at 6PM
Jan. 5 - Chef Mickey's at 5PM
Jan. 6 - Coral Reef at 5PM
Jan. 7 - Yak and Yeti at 4:45PM
Jan. 8 - Les Chefs de France at 4:50PM
Jan. 9 - Le Cellier at 6:05PM
Jan. 10 - Kona Cafe at 5PM

Soooooo excited!

Welcome to the Snowbirds!!!! Hope you came to party LOL!!!

What is the monorail cocktail tour?
Sounds fun!


Hey Remmy! We are doind dxdp for the first time. The biggest complaints I read about DXDP are the obvious...takes up park time, too much food. I think that if your family enjoys TS meals then you should go for it. It's not every day you get spoiled that way.

I too am doing Deluxe Dining...it was a gift from my dad for my solo trip LOL!! He was the one who inspired me to love Disney so!!!! Anyways I totally agree with you Soleil, I'm using my TS meals as experiences (I have a lot of character meals, this means less time in parks trying to find the characters LOL) and as breaks as it will only be me some days I might need a longer break others I'll just go to a late lunch early dinner and then enjoy a park.

 

[snykymom]

If you had an opportunity to do the deluxe dining plan, would you?

My DH and I are batting this one around.

The pros for my family are:
-three meals a day
-appetizers included at TS meals
-2 snacks per day (some days my children eat like birds, other times they seem to be bottomless )
-able to try more restaurants we are leaving off the list this time
-resort mug included

The disadvantages for my family are:
-require more $ for tips
-tips will be larger due to the added appetizer
-spending more time at TS and less at parks

We like our plan now, as we have all the ADRs we truly wanted at the times we want them but like the idea of prepaying for all meals and no worries.

Of course I have to keep on thinking of ways to spend more $ at Disney.

Thank you,
Remmy

If I were going do a dining plan, it'd have to be deluxe. There are too many restaurants at which I'd like to have appetizers, which aren't included on the regular plan. And I don't want to have to keep track of how many TS or CS credits I'd have.

But because of the amount of food involved, and the way we normally eat, even with multiple signature dining, I think we'd actually lose money on the deal. We don't normally eat both an appetizer and a dessert at any one meal. If you don't eat everything that's on the plan, you're leaving money on the table. And I didn't want the concern of "Are we getting our money's worth?" on my mind either.

I've made the compromise that I've "pre-paid" for my meals because the money's already in my account. I overbudgeted so I won't have to worry about cost.

What is the monorail cocktail tour?
Sounds fun!

From what I understand (or as we're going to do it!), it's going to each of the monorail resorts, and perhaps adding Wilderness Lodge too, for cocktails and drinks, and on the date we're going, to see the Christmas decorations. I ran the idea by my daughter, and she seemed excited about it. And since MK is open until 11 on the 3rd, we'll have a whole evening to do the tour.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Well, we just made our rental car reservation! I wrote down all the coupon codes from mousesavers and we got what I think is a great deal. We're paying $240 for the week and that includes a gps system! We went with a compact car which is what I drive on a daily basis anyways (Ford Focus). I have a HUGE trunk, so I know it will fit all of our luggage and carryons. I'm so excited! All we have left to buy are our park tickets. I'm 76 days away from WDW!

 

[distherapy]

Well, we just made our rental car reservation! I wrote down all the coupon codes from mousesavers and we got what I think is a great deal. We're paying $240 for the week and that includes a gps system! We went with a compact car which is what I drive on a daily basis anyways (Ford Focus). I have a HUGE trunk, so I know it will fit all of our luggage and carryons. I'm so excited! All we have left to buy are our park tickets. I'm 76 days away from WDW!

Yay! Good work!

And sorry I didn't make a note of who asked, but for whomever was curious about shipping snacks - you can use FedEx or UPS or USPS (although FedEx and UPS have tracking that helps dramatically and I must push for FedEx since DH works there!) and ship directly to your resort - use your name & arrival date (& Confirmation number if there's room), c/o the resort. Keep your tracking number handy because they had trouble finding one of our boxes until I gave the tracking number and name of the person who signed for it.

We used Costco to ship water & snacks and that was wonderful...

 

[jenjolt]

Well, we just made our rental car reservation! I wrote down all the coupon codes from mousesavers and we got what I think is a great deal. We're paying $240 for the week and that includes a gps system! We went with a compact car which is what I drive on a daily basis anyways (Ford Focus). I have a HUGE trunk, so I know it will fit all of our luggage and carryons. I'm so excited! All we have left to buy are our park tickets. I'm 76 days away from WDW!

CONGRATS MEGHAN!! I too got a great deal on my rental car (I went economy, but its just me LOL) and I wasn't sure about a GPS system but that is on the list for Black Friday...so crossing my fingers I get a good deal on one!!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

CONGRATS MEGHAN!! I too got a great deal on my rental car (I went economy, but its just me LOL) and I wasn't sure about a GPS system but that is on the list for Black Friday...so crossing my fingers I get a good deal on one!!

The GPS is on my Black Friday list, too! I got one of those "pre-ads" (they're usually pretty accurate) that says Sears has the Garmin Nuvi 205 on sale for 124.99, usually 199.99. That's the one hubby's been looking at. Guess I'll be standing in line at 4am!

 

[crzyred]

So did everybody have a good day?

Mine was alright. I had to work and it was chaotic this weekend!!!

Anywho, there is a minor adjustment we have made to our Disney trip. For our weekend there, someone will be visiting us. A friend of the family will be having a conference in Orlando until Friday so she will be staying with us through Sunday.

So we have to look through our plans and see what we have going on for those days as it will be this persons first time in Disney.

Well I'm off to finish my laundry now since I can't seem to find my bed. I think it's under the pile of clean clothes .

 

[trixiequilts]

Well I'm off to finish my laundry now since I can't seem to find my bed. I think it's under the pile of clean clothes .

At least it's not under a pile of dirty clothes!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

UGH!! We also did SO much freakin' laundry today. I know we had 3 overflowing baskets of clean clothes in our room (that had been sitting there all week), then I washed at least another 4 loads and folded those. I hate laundry! At least hubby helped. So then we got in the mood (no, not THAT kind of "in the mood") to clean out closets so we could actually see the floor of our walk-in. Hubby cleaned ours and I cleaned out the kids. Got a huge basket of stuff that doesn't fit them anymore! Now where do I put it...?

 

[PEANUT1]

Well, we just made our rental car reservation! I wrote down all the coupon codes from mousesavers and we got what I think is a great deal. We're paying $240 for the week and that includes a gps system! We went with a compact car which is what I drive on a daily basis anyways (Ford Focus). I have a HUGE trunk, so I know it will fit all of our luggage and carryons. I'm so excited! All we have left to buy are our park tickets. I'm 76 days away from WDW!

are you going for more than a week? that seems a little high for a compact for a week? We priced ours for under150$.

 

[crzyred]

UGH!! We also did SO much freakin' laundry today. I know we had 3 overflowing baskets of clean clothes in our room (that had been sitting there all week), then I washed at least another 4 loads and folded those. I hate laundry! At least hubby helped. So then we got in the mood (no, not THAT kind of "in the mood") to clean out closets so we could actually see the floor of our walk-in. Hubby cleaned ours and I cleaned out the kids. Got a huge basket of stuff that doesn't fit them anymore! Now where do I put it...?

Good Will or Salvation Army.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Please let me know if I missed any updates/changes to the lists. I'm sure I missed some over the weekend. . .

We changed our dates and resort to 1/26 (maybe 1/25) to 2/1 at CBR

I'm a snowbird as well, just a little late to the party! We'll be staying at the Beach Club (!) from January 4-11 thanks to the 4/3 discount!

Soooooo excited!

You're never too late to join the snowbirds!

You will LOVE Wicked - I can guarantee that. I've seen it 3x - once in NYC with the original cast and twice on tour. It is an amazing show and you'll never look at the Wizard of Oz the same way again (and that's all I'm saying ) My D goes to college in NY and she sees shows all the time, and WICKED is one of her top favorites. She actually keeps in touch with a few of the actors who she has met when they have done the show before. Let us know how you like it!!

What are the other shows in your package plan? We are definitely Broadway fans - not sure if there are many I haven't seen. And, D saw 24 shows last school year - thank goodness for student discount tix - but, she would rather spend her money on seeing a show than shopping - go figure!!

Okay, just back from Wicked! IT WAS AWESOME!!!! I am so excited I get to go again! Some of the other shows we get are Grease, Frost/Nixon, Spring Awakening (which we'll miss because of WDW), Fiddler on the Roof and A Chorus Line. I keep waiting for THe Little Mermaid or Mary Poppins to come. We've seen The Lion King, although I wouldn't mind seeing it again with the girls.
Good night everyone!!

 

[Remmy]

Thank you to all the Snowbirds that responded to my dilemma of Dining Plan or Deluxe Dining Plan. I will share the ideas with DH and go over all the restaurants that we wish to visit and are going to visit. I do wish to stress, I am extremely thankful for all responses as it shed new light on some items I missed on my pro and con list.

This will also bring up the question of, is it possible to upgrade your Dining Plan, if you have already paid for your package? We still have some time before fully deciding but I think we will have to act quick for more ADRs if we are considering it. I will have to contact our travel agent with that one.

I am finding it very hard to talk to DH about all of our arrangements. It is his family with the Disney bug. This will only be my third trip and our children's second so I would like any guidance he wishes to see on how our trip is going. He is a laid back planner, more seat of the pants type fellow, and sometimes we miss so much doing it that way. Luckily, if I decide to do whatever, no complaints, he will gladly follow along. I just want a decision on how much financially we should go for, as we have saved for most, but with our Canadian $'s decline, I didn't plan for that much variance. Sorry for my ramblings.

Thank you again, for all that responded to my family's dining dilemmas.

Remmy

 

[PEANUT1]

I agree Wicked is awesome. We saw Spamalot last weekend and I never laughed so much in my life.

 

[Remmy]

I wish everyone has had a good Sunday. I know my family had a good day of rest.

I wish to welcome all new Snowbirds, I am certain our list of Snowbirds will keep on growing with this new deal.

I hope we all have a safe night and sweet and wonderful dreams of our upcoming Disney vacations.

Good night,
Remmy

 

[2disneygirls]

I'm not - my DH is, however!! He's getting pretty psyched.

Mine too! Will you be "spectating" much? I must confess that my dds and I will probably be at the park while he's running........but I'm sure we'll try to meet him at the finish line.