Let's plan Together! Jan 2009

[thistle922]

I am also trying to book through AAA and the rates listed are $69.70 +, but when I call Disney they told me the AAA rate was $82.73 +? When you book through AAA can you call Disney and discuss your reservation w/them or do you have to deal w/AAA only? Also, are you allowed to use The Magical Express to and from Airport if you book w/ AAA?

Thanks for any info!

I booked with Disney directly.

The original quote I was given through AAA was 97.00, as well as the first time I called Disney. When I looked on the AAA website, I came up with the 69.70. I called Disney to ask which one was right, and she said that the price she had was 69.70 for the AAA rate. I don't know why the differences, though I did call a week apart; maybe the rate dropped in that time frame? I don't know. Each time I called I told them I had the membership, maybe they just didn't hear me in the beginning.

I believe ME is for anyone who is staying at a Disney resort regardless of where you book, you just have to get it set up.

ETA: Maybe mention that you show the price on the website as "blah blah blah" and see if they honor that? That might be what happened, because I do remember I told her that right away, that I had discrepancies in the prices and the website had the lowest rate.

 

[sherry7]

Whew! Just finished all the ressies (flight, hotel, tickets, ADR) and now I can sit back and let the anticipation build! . I couldn't have done it without all the great help on the DIS. We are going for the first time between the 10th and the 20th. I've seen people discussing MLK weekend and the past crowds. I wanted to let everyone know that it is not only a three day weekend but there is a BIG soccer championship at the sports complex. That is actually why we're going. This happened last year as well which might explain some higher crowds. Anyway just thought I'd share.

What dates is the soccer championship? We're going from Jan 16 - 26....I'm trying to figure out which days to avoid the Mouse and go to US, IOA, SW instead.

 

[steffali]

Ok we are thinking of going Jan 18-24 or Jan 25-31 here is the problem... our first choice is MLK weekend and our second choice is going into the weekend of superbowl anyone have any thoughts on the crowds???

 

[henrylovespooh]

Kind of like Jersey Week in the fall--we can have Fairfax County week in January! What were they thinking, scheduling three days of school during an 11-day stretch?

I would also like to see others' park plans. I've been working on ours, but I'm not totally satisfied with it. There are some "limited opportunity" things to work around--Fantasmic! only on Monday or Thursday; Spectromagic only on Monday, Thursday, or Saturday (these are during our dates, Jan 19-25). We'll plan to do morning EMH but probably not evening. We'd like to try Blizzard Beach if it's not too cold, so I'm thinking I should plan it for early in the week so we can push it back to later if the weather looks better then. Too many factors to account for! Any brilliant thoughts for me?

Wow - lots of NoVA people - how cool! And I used to live in New Jersey, but never did Jersey Week (kids weren't in school yet). I don't know what Fairfax County was thinking. Why not just have the Teacher conference/in service days the same week and have the whole week off?

Anyhoo, I'm wondering the same thing about water parks. We've never gone before because our kids were small and I thought it would be too much work for not alot of fun. Now I think they might like it, but not sure how warm it will be. When we went to WDW last January, I thought it was too cool for the pool.

We have seen Spectromagic many times, so if we can't do it this trip, that will be okay. We haven't seen Fantasmic or Illuminations yet, so I'd like to see them this trip.

I'm getting so excited!

 

[verlee]

Ok we are thinking of going Jan 18-24 or Jan 25-31 here is the problem... our first choice is MLK weekend and our second choice is going into the weekend of superbowl anyone have any thoughts on the crowds???

We will be in WDW Jan 24-28th. I talked with a Cm about the Superbowl crowds when we made our reservations. She told me they don't expect too much before the Superbowl as most people will be in tampa. Of course, that is just what they were guessing and she did not know for sure.

 

[Lil'Mermaid75]

We discussed the Superbowl crowds with our Travel Agent when deciding which week to go. We agreed that while the hotels might be busier due to the proximity to Tampa, the parks shouldn't be impacted much. Unfortunately, attending the Superbowl as a family with the prices of tickets (upwards of $1000 each! ) isn't an option - so you'll see a lot of corporate individuals in attendance. Even if 25% of the individuals attending the Superbowl go to Disney, that won't have too much of an impact on crowds.

You'll probably see more crowds at the airport, and the price of flights might be affected, but I wouldn't let the thought of higher crowds deter you.

 

[Trissy]

I booked with Disney directly.

The original quote I was given through AAA was 97.00, as well as the first time I called Disney. When I looked on the AAA website, I came up with the 69.70. I called Disney to ask which one was right, and she said that the price she had was 69.70 for the AAA rate. I don't know why the differences, though I did call a week apart; maybe the rate dropped in that time frame? I don't know. Each time I called I told them I had the membership, maybe they just didn't hear me in the beginning.

I believe ME is for anyone who is staying at a Disney resort regardless of where you book, you just have to get it set up.

ETA: Maybe mention that you show the price on the website as "blah blah blah" and see if they honor that? That might be what happened, because I do remember I told her that right away, that I had discrepancies in the prices and the website had the lowest rate.

How did you find prices on AAA's website? When I went there to check it said to contact my local agent. Can you tell me what you clicked on to put your member number in?

 

[wendygrace]

Supebowl is back to being the lat weekend in Jan? When did that happen? Grrr! Hasn't it been in Feb that last few years?

 

[MomofKatie]

Supebowl is back to being the lat weekend in Jan? When did that happen? Grrr! Hasn't it been in Feb that last few years?

The Superbowl is on Sunday, 2/1.

 

[thistle922]

How did you find prices on AAA's website? When I went there to check it said to contact my local agent. Can you tell me what you clicked on to put your member number in?

From the main site, (aaa.com) click on the "travel" tab, then click the "hotel" tab in the search area, and click the "hotel only" button. Under city I plugged in "Lake Buena Vista, FL" and then my dates, and hit search. It should pop open a new window and bring up the results; at that point I clicked on the alphabetical tab "D" to bring up the Disney hotels only (well, all hotels that start with the letter D...which is all the Disney resorts and a few random other places).

This was all without actually entering in the AAA membership number, they only asked for that once you took the steps to book the room.

Hope that helps! If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

 

[JustMickey]

We just booked our trip a few days ago. Jan 5-11! We booked our trip online, will I be able to call and have the PH upgrade added if/when it comes out?

 

[GeoEngnr]

What dates is the soccer championship? We're going from Jan 16 - 26....I'm trying to figure out which days to avoid the Mouse and go to US, IOA, SW instead.

The championship is Jan 17, 18 and 19th. I understand from our coach that there is also a band/cheerleading tournament that same weekend although I can't confirm.

 

[goofynme]

We are waiting for January and want to join you all!

 

[jensen]

We have finally booked our flights for January. We are going to be there the 24-31. Of course, I simply booked based on the available prices and didn't even think about crowd levels... so, I'm wondering if I'm going to be there in the middle of some cheerleading or football thing... please tell me NO!

 

[steffali]

We have finally booked our flights for January. We are going to be there the 24-31. Of course, I simply booked based on the available prices and didn't even think about crowd levels... so, I'm wondering if I'm going to be there in the middle of some cheerleading or football thing... please tell me NO!

I wanted to do the same dates but my DH claimed it would be crowded because of superbowl... I m hoping that the whole month of January will be empty

 

[Kazooie01]

I wanted to do the same dates but my DH claimed it would be crowded because of superbowl... I m hoping that the whole month of January will be empty

(Below is part of a post my Husband and I left a few months back)

We sure are no experts, but my Husband and I have done a bit of research because the time frame of this year’s Super Bowl falls about the same time we go to WDW each year.

The stadium in Tampa holds 65,857, we figure if even 10% of the fans come to Disney before or after, that is still only roughly 6500 extra bodies (I think we have seen tour groups that big) broken up over all the parks. And with Super Bowl tickets already going for $1000-$10,000 per seat, the number of families that can afford the game and WDW drops even more.

Our trip this past year (Jan 30-Feb-6) with some strategic planning and Fast Pass use, never had a wait of over 20 minutes for anything. Add the possible extra bodies and we still think the risk is worth the reward. Just hoping to offer some help. Isn't trip planning fun!

 

[scm200]

We got a good deal on airfare thru AirTran - 181.00 each boston/mco Jan 22-30 and I booked 3 nights at POP for 269.01 (AAA rate - will rebook AP rate if it comes out and will upgrade then...), and 5 nights at Saratoga Springs (1st time staying at my home resort) for 55 points (studio). There are just 3 of us, all adults so the studio will be fine at SS, and a standard rm is fine at POP, we usually request 50's or 60's as my mom is the 3rd person in the room, and we like staying in those buildings.

I have not been in January in a while, and never late January, but I figured the price of airfare was good, and the DVC season was perfect time to go back. We have learned to pack light, but I will probably bring my laptop and a couple of movies or TV Series for the plane ride, I am used to Jet Blue and not having a TV will seem strange.

I have not purchased the Park Hopper for the non-passholder in the group yet, I will probably get that thru Underground Tourist - there service is great. I am planning on taking Magical Express this trip, as it will be our "budget busting tip" along with using our DDE, now known as Tables in Wonderland , does that make the abbreviation TiN? The 20% discount at Everything POP food court is a keeper....

I should try to get LeCellier reservations now I guess, I will have to start thinking about that...

 

[steffali]

(Below is part of a post my Husband and I left a few months back)

We sure are no experts, but my Husband and I have done a bit of research because the time frame of this year’s Super Bowl falls about the same time we go to WDW each year.

The stadium in Tampa holds 65,857, we figure if even 10% of the fans come to Disney before or after, that is still only roughly 6500 extra bodies (I think we have seen tour groups that big) broken up over all the parks. And with Super Bowl tickets already going for $1000-$10,000 per seat, the number of families that can afford the game and WDW drops even more.

Our trip this past year (Jan 30-Feb-6) with some strategic planning and Fast Pass use, never had a wait of over 20 minutes for anything. Add the possible extra bodies and we still think the risk is worth the reward. Just hoping to offer some help. Isn't trip planning fun!

This i why I hate DH !!! I just keep thinking that the week we are going will be more crowded than the week you are going.....I will have to beat him up if I have to deal with a lot of crowds . OFF TOPIC where are you in Upstate NY ????

 

[Kazooie01]

This i why I hate DH !!! I just keep thinking that the week we are going will be more crowded than the week you are going.....I will have to beat him up if I have to deal with a lot of crowds . OFF TOPIC where are you in Upstate NY ????

A small town right in the middle of Syracuse, Utica, and Binghamton called Norwich (we're about 50 mins from each of the cities).

And about January, we go every year and compared to other times of the year, even a busy January isn't so bad.

 

[andrea2289]

Subscribing

We'll be there January 16 through the 20th