January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part V

[Dancegrl624]

My pin came via snail mail this time. I did get one earlier and I got it in an email. Our little Maddie is a trooper when it comes to walking, so Pop bus stops at the very end is no big deal to her! She's was used to walking all the way to the car at the end of the day, and we never heard even one complaint! We do plan on telling her this time. I would die if I had to keep it a secret again! We won't tell her until everything is set in stone. I may let her help with the ADR's though. All I know is that I want to eat at CP and LeCellier. I need to hop on my ADR's fast!!! We're already at 60 days (give or take a few). Time to change my ticker!!!!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Oh Meghan! How exciting for you! I am so excited to follow along in all your planning! Get your ADR's as quick as you can! One hint I learned was that for the more popular ones (ie. Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's etc) try to make them for later in your trip rather than at the beginning! You might have better luck getting the times you want!

 

[snykymom]

What do ya'll think about driving to and from the parks with a little one? Would that be better than POP busses?

Good idea, to every park except Magic Kingdom. Two reasons for that: 1) if you drive, you then have to go to the TTC and take the boat or monorail to MK; if you take the busses, you avoid TTC, and 2) unless it's changed recently, at Magic Kingdom they don't designate where the trams stop. We found that people were pretty polite until the first tram stopped where they weren't; then everyone was pushing & shoving to get on the trams. And for those with strollers, it wasn't pretty.

Meghan, have fun with your ADRs!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Meghan! You have to tell us all about your plans!! ADRs, resort, etc! Most of us have to wait a while, so we're going to live vicariously through you! Isn't it exciting to be going back so soon? We went in June 1999 (my first time) and went back in Feb or March 2000 for all the special millenium stuff. Otherwise, we usually have at least a year in between visits. This time it will only be about 10 months! Yippee!!!

I had someone tell me today, why do people keep going over and over to WDW? I HAD to give them the "what -for" with my answer. Her jaw dropped when I asked why do people "go to the lake" every weekend in the summer? Nothing changes there, at least at Disney there's always something new and new rides, resorts, restaurants...
I think I made my point.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I've stayed at POP and really liked it - both regular and preferred rooms. The only real problem we had with POP is that at the parks, POP's busses are wayyyyy at the end of the queue. It's tough with a little one.

That's exactly the reason we haul our huge stroller on and off the busses as opposed to renting one! You have it to ride to the busses and to go from busses to hotel room!

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

We got the pin today! Too bad we can't use it! Is that cheaper than free dining for everyone? My head hurts too bad to crunch the numbers right now!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Did the pin come email or snail mail? Just curious.

Snail...same one Shelly received.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We got the pin today! Too bad we can't use it! Is that cheaper than free dining for everyone? My head hurts too bad to crunch the numbers right now!

I was doing that same math yesterday. I came up with free dining to be a better deal for us.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Did everybody see this???



http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2156068
!!! PLEASE READ!!! Important News Regarding Swaps & Shares!!!

It has always been a rule on the DIS that anything involving money changing hands between members was not permitted on the boards. With that in mind, a decision has been made to end all swaps and shares that include money passing between DISers.

What does this mean?
Beginning today, all Photopass shares requiring a payment are over on the DIS. No new paid Photopass shares can be started.
Threads for existing Photopass shares will be locked on Friday of this week. Any new threads will be deleted beginning today unless they are offering the Photopass Share at no charge to participants.
Fridge and stroller swaps that are free can continue. However, if a refrigerator/stroller is lost or damaged, the swap leader cannot collect money from members to replace the lost/damaged item. Swaps may continue if an item is donated for the use of subsequent share members.
No new fridge or stroller swaps will be permitted to start unless the fridge/stroller is a donated item and the swap is free to all participants.
Any fridge or stroller swap that is not free to new members will be closed on Friday of this week. This will allow those leaders of swaps that are currently collecting money to decide whether they are willing/able to offer their swap for free. On Friday, any swap threads that are not free will be locked and their links will be removed from the sticky threads.

 

[Monny2AE]

Did everybody see this???

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2156068
!!! PLEASE READ!!! Important News Regarding Swaps & Shares!!!

Interesting.
When I was looking into a stroller swap for our trip I did notice a few swaps that charged for use of the stroller long after it had been paid for. It made me wonder who was pocketing the profits. I wonder if the few who took advantage and turned it into a business here on the DIS ruined it for everyone who was legitimately looking to save some cash and share with others.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I am pretty bummed about no more Photopass Shares. It is nice to get the photopass pics, but there is no way I would pay the $100+ for it, it's not worth it. That's why I always got in on a share and only paid around $20.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Oh Meghan! How exciting for you! I am so excited to follow along in all your planning! Get your ADR's as quick as you can! One hint I learned was that for the more popular ones (ie. Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's etc) try to make them for later in your trip rather than at the beginning! You might have better luck getting the times you want!

I'm going to call and make my ADR's today. With LeCellier, I'm just going to ask what they have open. I don't care what day or time!

Meghan, have fun with your ADRs!

I sure will!

Meghan! You have to tell us all about your plans!! ADRs, resort, etc! Most of us have to wait a while, so we're going to live vicariously through you! Isn't it exciting to be going back so soon? We went in June 1999 (my first time) and went back in Feb or March 2000 for all the special millenium stuff. Otherwise, we usually have at least a year in between visits. This time it will only be about 10 months! Yippee!!!

I will be sure to tell all about our plans. I was thinking of adding it onto my TR....I don't know what to do!!!

Question for everyone....what would you all recommend:

Chef Mickey's or Boma for breakfast? I've been to CM's (almost 12 years ago) but never to Boma. I need help!!! I believe I'll only have 4 TS, so I need to make them count!

 

[Monny2AE]

I am pretty bummed about no more Photopass Shares. It is nice to get the photopass pics, but there is no way I would pay the $100+ for it, it's not worth it. That's why I always got in on a share and only paid around $20.

My thoughts exactly. We did the photopass and split it between my sister, my parents, and us so we all paid $33 which made it worth it. I guess you can still do them via PM's?

Chef Mickey's or Boma for breakfast? I've been to CM's (almost 12 years ago) but never to Boma. I need help!!! I believe I'll only have 4 TS, so I need to make them count!

We love Chef Mickey but I've never been to Boma before so I'm not much help huh?

I'm so excited for you and especially Madison...what a lucky princess!!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I guess you can still do them via PM's?

That's kind of what I was thinking!

 

[trixiequilts]

Question for everyone....what would you all recommend:

Chef Mickey's or Boma for breakfast? I've been to CM's (almost 12 years ago) but never to Boma. I need help!!! I believe I'll only have 4 TS, so I need to make them count!

If I only had 4 TS, I wouldn't use one for Boma breakfast. It was very good, but not as incredible as I expected. I'd go to Chef Mickey's while Madison is still interested in the characters.

 

[Kazooie01]

The PhotoPass share thing doesn't bother us. We have always got the $99 pre-buy. We had 300 photos this past January when all was said and done. That works out to only $.33 a photo. My Sister and her family had over 400 photos ($.25 a shot!). Plus you get all the cool borders and stuff. We look at it this way, a photo can last a life time and sometimes those Disney photographers get that one in a million shot.

People can easily justify spending the money on Deluxe Resorts, "water view" rooms, suites, preferred rooms etc. (and no offense to those who do), but when compared a $99.95 PhotoCD is chump change. Once your trip is over, you can't take the room with you. Heck, when we checked for our August trip at CBR, a Pirate water view room was $400 dollars more than a standard room. Deluxe Resort upgrades can be in the thousands! People pay that without a second thought, but balk at the idea of $100 PhotoCD that you have forever.

For those of us that like to use PhotoPass, if there’s a way to keep the share thing going, we’re all for it. But if it’s not workable, I wouldn’t let it stop a family from using the PhotoPass service, just our opinion.

I think you just need to put everything is perspective, in big picture of things; a PhotoPass CD is one of the more minor costs for sure.

 

[Dancegrl624]

If I only had 4 TS, I wouldn't use one for Boma breakfast. It was very good, but not as incredible as I expected. I'd go to Chef Mickey's while Madison is still interested in the characters.

Thanks for your help! I do love the characters at CM!

I actually just got off the phone with Disney. We're all booked! We're staying at Pop in a preferred room because the standard was all booked up. The price they gave me over the phone was already the preferred price, so no crazy suprises there! I also tried to make some ADR's, but I only got one. I'm going to have to keep calling back for LeCellier, CP and CM. But, we got a very early dinner at Sci-Fi! I know that Madison will love it there and I haven't been in a long time. The CM on the phone was super sweet and she made sure she put my birthday in the ressie. This is going to be such an awesome trip!

 

[Kazooie01]

Thanks for your help! I do love the characters at CM!

I actually just got off the phone with Disney. We're all booked! We're staying at Pop in a preferred room because the standard was all booked up. The price they gave me over the phone was already the preferred price, so no crazy suprises there! I also tried to make some ADR's, but I only got one. I'm going to have to keep calling back for LeCellier, CP and CM. But, we got a very early dinner at Sci-Fi! I know that Madison will love it there and I haven't been in a long time. The CM on the phone was super sweet and she made sure she put my birthday in the ressie. This is going to be such an awesome trip!

Great to hear, you'll really like POP!

 

[trixiequilts]

Has anyone had trouble when you printed 4 X 6 prints from PhotoPass with the Disney borders? I printed mine and some of the edges get cut off. I'm very frustrated. I'm going to find my ordering info and e-mail them about it.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Has anyone had trouble when you printed 4 X 6 prints from PhotoPass with the Disney borders? I printed mine and some of the edges get cut off. I'm very frustrated. I'm going to find my ordering info and e-mail them about it.

A lot of mine did the same thing. I didn't have this problem last year and I got them printed through the same company. . .