Looking for Adventure in the Great Wide Somewhere a PTR

[Charleston Princess]

I know I hit that planning wall on almost every trip where I sit back and think, "This is just stressing me out." Then, everything falls into place, and I get back into the groove of planning. Don't worry too much yet.

Also, don't forget that a general room discount is probably going to be issued soon, too. It seems like it goes AP, Visa, and then the general public so that room discount you are hoping for may still appear! Don't give up hope yet!

 

[Flossbolna]

I am so sorry that you are feeling bad about your trip at the moment!!

When I read about the free dining for Visa cardholders, I was thinking about you and wondering wether this was the deal you were looking forward to or not. I was thinking that I would not want it for exactly the same reasons you stated!

But I think it is not nearly as bad as it appears to be! First, I am certain that a room only code will be released - unfortunately you will just need to wait a bit longer for that. If you look at the historic data on mousesavers, there has been a room only code covering every time period besides holiday season in the recent years. They are just released later than the packages, for your time frame generally at the end of September. I am very confident that something good will come your way! There have always been room only codes for the free dining periods and also during the 4+3 period this year.

For the ADR problem: this is a bit trickier. But I am certain that those horror stories about not getting ADRs because of the 90+10 are due to a large part that a few restaurants are so overly popular. You even have a few either/or restaurants, so chances are that you might get one, but not the other. If you are buying an AP you will be returning soon and will be able to eat at the really popular places next time and it might be the chance to try out new restaurants because those are the ones that are much easier to get. I would suggest playing around with the online reservation system to see what you can get now for September during free dining. This should give you a hint on what the easy to get ADRs are.

Finally, perhaps you could still get the AP rate with the following method: I think that you don't need the AP to book the AP rate, you just need to show it when you check in. So it could work as follows: You arrive at MCO in the morning, take the ME to WL. There you don't check in!! Since you already have your tickets, you don't need the Key to the World card yet. Hop over to the MK (or your park of chice), enter the park. When you exit, upgrade the ticket to the AP. When you get back to WL check in and show your AP!

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh, hon, I'm sorry. I'm with CP, I know there's a point in my planning where I hit a wall. Nothing is working, nothing seems to want to work, and I don't want to do anything anymore.

That was actually my case until I was able to get my ressies to flow more nicely, so I understand the stress.

Honestly, I wouldn't change any of your resort reservations. I don't think it's that easy to just knock nights off of a ressie. Something about the way that they book blocks of nights, I'm not sure. I would be very leary of that, for fear of losing the whole thing.

Truthfully, I think your best bet is to utilize the online system and call until you get a CM who will let you book the ADRs through the dates you want. You know what I mean? That would be my tactic.

And then take a constructive look at the trip. What's not making you happy? What do you have the power to fix?

It's a vacation. It's not supposed to be stressful, but unfortunately, for all of us, the planning of it can be. We need to get it back to not stressful for you. In the mean time,

 

[All7OfUs]

I hit that wall last year too. I think I just sat on things for a few days, without trying to DO anything, just letting the ideas roll around for a while. Things did become clearer and I could get back to phone calls and plans with a better perspective. Bounce the ideas you get here from the experts, and I know good things will be on their way soon!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I know I hit that planning wall on almost every trip where I sit back and think, "This is just stressing me out." Then, everything falls into place, and I get back into the groove of planning. Don't worry too much yet.

Also, don't forget that a general room discount is probably going to be issued soon, too. It seems like it goes AP, Visa, and then the general public so that room discount you are hoping for may still appear! Don't give up hope yet!

I've definitely hitting that point. I just worry about too many things.

I'm afraid the general public code is going to be free dining too.

But I think it is not nearly as bad as it appears to be! First, I am certain that a room only code will be released - unfortunately you will just need to wait a bit longer for that. If you look at the historic data on mousesavers, there has been a room only code covering every time period besides holiday season in the recent years. They are just released later than the packages, for your time frame generally at the end of September. I am very confident that something good will come your way! There have always been room only codes for the free dining periods and also during the 4+3 period this year.

I hope so. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed.

For the ADR problem: this is a bit trickier. But I am certain that those horror stories about not getting ADRs because of the 90+10 are due to a large part that a few restaurants are so overly popular. You even have a few either/or restaurants, so chances are that you might get one, but not the other. If you are buying an AP you will be returning soon and will be able to eat at the really popular places next time and it might be the chance to try out new restaurants because those are the ones that are much easier to get. I would suggest playing around with the online reservation system to see what you can get now for September during free dining. This should give you a hint on what the easy to get ADRs are.

Finally, perhaps you could still get the AP rate with the following method: I think that you don't need the AP to book the AP rate, you just need to show it when you check in. So it could work as follows: You arrive at MCO in the morning, take the ME to WL. There you don't check in!! Since you already have your tickets, you don't need the Key to the World card yet. Hop over to the MK (or your park of chice), enter the park. When you exit, upgrade the ticket to the AP. When you get back to WL check in and show your AP!

I'll have to keep that idea in mind. This whole restaurant thing just has me way too stressed. I miss the days of walk-ups.

Oh, hon, I'm sorry. I'm with CP, I know there's a point in my planning where I hit a wall. Nothing is working, nothing seems to want to work, and I don't want to do anything anymore.

It just kind of snuck up on me.

Honestly, I wouldn't change any of your resort reservations. I don't think it's that easy to just knock nights off of a ressie. Something about the way that they book blocks of nights, I'm not sure. I would be very leary of that, for fear of losing the whole thing.

That's what I'm afraid of. I am trying to toy with Disney math just to see if the deal would work out for me.

And then take a constructive look at the trip. What's not making you happy? What do you have the power to fix?

It's a vacation. It's not supposed to be stressful, but unfortunately, for all of us, the planning of it can be. We need to get it back to not stressful for you. In the mean time,

It's just the worry about planning a trip for someone else now. When it was just me I wasn't stressing about anything. Now I'm worried about planning a trip my friend will love. I know it's crazy, because she doesn't really care too much about her plans, but I worry anyways.

I hit that wall last year too. I think I just sat on things for a few days, without trying to DO anything, just letting the ideas roll around for a while. Things did become clearer and I could get back to phone calls and plans with a better perspective. Bounce the ideas you get here from the experts, and I know good things will be on their way soon!!

Good advice!

 

[MinnieNurse]

Okay, that sweater you made is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Good job.

To MRYPPNS Danica is absolutely adorable!

Now, Wings. You need to have a strong drink, step away from the planning for a while and then get back to it. I hit this wall earlier and felt so over whelmed. I even took a break from the Dis (I know the horror). Sometimes it helps to clear your head to get away from it for a day or two.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Okay, that sweater you made is one of the cutest things I have ever seen. Good job.

To MRYPPNS Danica is absolutely adorable!

Now, Wings. You need to have a strong drink, step away from the planning for a while and then get back to it. I hit this wall earlier and felt so over whelmed. I even took a break from the Dis (I know the horror). Sometimes it helps to clear your head to get away from it for a day or two.

Thank you! Next Friday I'm going to get my drinks! My high school is having an all decade reunion. Should be fun, as I'm going with a friend of mine that I haven't hung out with in ages. I don't even care about the reunion part that much I just want to chill for the night.

 

[Hedy]

Can I be honest with everyone reading along at home?

My trip is beginning to stress me, and I'm not enjoying it. It's just not bringing out any feelings of peace, love, or pixie dust within me. I keep reading other threads and ptr's and have been feeling a bit jealous for everyone who is having things work out nicely for them - discount codes and upgrades abound. I'm jealous, but happy for them at the same time. My stress is even making me have doubts about inviting my friend along. I know this will pass, but right now I'm kind of hitting my limit on Disney planning. You know that point? The worrying about things completely out of your control that begins to take over your every thought.

I'm just feeling agitated and paranoid about my trip 24/7 lately.

I had been hoping that a nice room discount would fall my way on this trip. When I booked last September, I was able to utilize an AAA discount, so I have at least some kind of a deal. Once this became a trip for two instead of just me, I was really hoping for a code that would let us stay at one place for the week for less than what I'm paying for my split stay. My hopes began to rise when I saw the AP codes released earlier this week, and people were saying that the Disney Visa discount usually gets released a few days later and is the same thing.

No such luck.

Sure enough a Disney Visa deal came out today, but not the discount code that I was hoping for, a free dining code.

Now, don't get me wrong the free dining is a great deal. I was thrilled to be able to get it last year for my trip, but this year I wanted a room code for a few reasons. One, we already have tickets. I know that I could get just a one day ticket, but still I'm thinking of upgrading my 5 day passes to an AP. I hate to spend the money on a ticket right now that I won't need. It just feels useless. Second, I really didn't want to face all that food this trip. Yes, it's a great deal, but the past two years I've done it I've found myself eating more than I would normally. Especially with the dessert with lunch and dinner. I definitely don't usually eat desert with lunch normally, and even at dinner I'd rather have the option of getting an appetizer and then just pick up a sweet snack later on in the evening if I'm so inclined.

I'm also getting paranoid now about getting my ADRs. I've researched here on the Dis boards, and on a few other boards as well about what the current policy is for booking ADRs with a split stay. There seems to be no consistency among the CM's when it comes to this. Some people are saying they are able to book all their ADRs 90 days out of their first check in date. Other people are being cut off, and have to call a second time. I wasn't overly worried about this (well, maybe a little worried), until free dining had to show it's ugly face. Now I'm worried that I'm not going to be able to get the ADRs that I want since the restaurants are going to be crazy. I was really hoping I wasn't going to have to deal with free dining stuff this trip! ADRs are all I have on my mind lately, and the parnanoia is making me a bit crazy.

I'm actually considering adding on additional days to my POP reservation so that I can make my ADRs, and then just cancel the extra days later. I've also considered making a new reservation for the full trip, and then just cancelling it afterwards. I'm just afraid that once I cancel the reservation, they will cancel the ADRs too.

I'm just not up for dealing with trip stress!

So when my ADR's were made yesterday, my TA was able to make ADR's for the entire week of my then split stay.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Ahh, the planning overload. I know it well!

I think what others have said, just step back and then maybe what is not making you happy about the trip will be more clear.

 

[If U Had Wings]

So when my ADR's were made yesterday, my TA was able to make ADR's for the entire week of my then split stay.

I hope that will be true in December!

Ahh, the planning overload. I know it well!

I think what others have said, just step back and then maybe what is not making you happy about the trip will be more clear.

I'm just stressing too much about things under my control. It's making me wish I was still going solo so I wouldn't worry too much. Ugh!

I haven't done any planning all weekend.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm sorry I missed your post the other day....

I think we all think that wall in the planning. You can only do so much ahead of time and then you are just spinning your wheels over the same stuff.

My educated guess is that room only discounts will be released for your dates. Maybe as late at mid-October.

All I can say about ADRs is less is less sometimes. Less ADRs the less stress before and during your vacation. And less money and less time. Just something to think about.

To MRYPPNS Danica is absolutely adorable!

Thank you!

 

[princess&her4princes]

I'm so glad you like it. It looks adorable on her.



You know, you ever have a girl, I'd be happy to knit one for you too! Just sayin!

As tempting as that is.....lol!! I think I'll stick with my three boys.... I've met my limit!! LOL!! But thank you!! It was ADORABLE!!!!

Sounds like you're hitting the wall with the planning...I"m feeling the same way....I have to post my plans, but I'm sick of being the only one planning on my trip and my party doesn't seem to care.....they don't get DIS....hmm....so I feel your pain! Take a deep breath...it will be okay!!!!

Hope you had a nice weekend with no planning!!!!!!

 

[If U Had Wings]

As tempting as that is.....lol!! I think I'll stick with my three boys.... I've met my limit!! LOL!! But thank you!! It was ADORABLE!!!!

Sounds like you're hitting the wall with the planning...I"m feeling the same way....I have to post my plans, but I'm sick of being the only one planning on my trip and my party doesn't seem to care.....they don't get DIS....hmm....so I feel your pain! Take a deep breath...it will be okay!!!!

Hope you had a nice weekend with no planning!!!!!!

Okay...just keep it in mind.

I think the lack of input from my friend is starting to get to me too. I forwarded her a plan for the week, asking for her opinion, and haven't heard anything from her. Ugh! I think I just spoil people by being the one to worry about everything.

 

[Happydog]

Hi! I've seen you posting here and there..... but I just came over to your PTR today... I think they just offered the room only discount you are looking for? I see it popping up on the DIS? "save at least 28%"? Re the AP discount, I think you have to give them your AP # to do it... or at least I did, when I called to add two nights to our Dec trip... but I would still check with the CM's and just ask? I think it is worth a shot, the % is 40%, but I think the dec rate for your dates is really good.... less than $200.00 a night for WL...

Oh, I am exploring that Princess 1/2 too !!! SO good for you!

 

[MyMuse]

I've been enjoying your PTR.

I wanted to let you know that I think most planners hit a wall. Taking a step back might help and de-stress you a little. Chances are a room-only code will come out soon, though free dining through December came out as well.

I don't know if that is good news or bad news for you. I know it is also difficult when you ahve someone going with you that doesn't share and/or shoulder some of the plans with you. I think all my future trips will be solo or semi-solo. My May trip taught me that!

Here's to you getting your pixie dust back soon.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Hi! I've seen you posting here and there..... but I just came over to your PTR today... I think they just offered the room only discount you are looking for? I see it popping up on the DIS? "save at least 28%"? Re the AP discount, I think you have to give them your AP # to do it... or at least I did, when I called to add two nights to our Dec trip... but I would still check with the CM's and just ask? I think it is worth a shot, the % is 40%, but I think the dec rate for your dates is really good.... less than $200.00 a night for WL...

Oh, I am exploring that Princess 1/2 too !!! SO good for you!

I did find the room only code today, purely by accident. I was playing on the website with the free dining stuff and found the magic words - click here for room only deals. Now I'm playing around with Disney math and making some hard decisions.

I would love to get a deal on my WL dates. That would be sweet!

And thanks for visiting!

I've been enjoying your PTR.

I wanted to let you know that I think most planners hit a wall. Taking a step back might help and de-stress you a little. Chances are a room-only code will come out soon, though free dining through December came out as well.

I don't know if that is good news or bad news for you. I know it is also difficult when you ahve someone going with you that doesn't share and/or shoulder some of the plans with you. I think all my future trips will be solo or semi-solo. My May trip taught me that!

Here's to you getting your pixie dust back soon.

Her ambivalence is a good and bad thing. Good because it's really easy plan a vacation with her, but bad because occasionally I'd like a little input. I guess it's good to know that I know she'll be happy no matter what I decide.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Okay, I'm calling all my readers for a bit of help and their 2 cents. I'm hoping you all can help me make a decision.

I was poking around on the Disney site today just checking out the free dining rates, when I noticed down lower on one page a lovely little link. A click here for great room only rates link. (They are hiding it on all of us!)

I started playing around with it, checking out some rates and now I have a few tough decisions to make. I've narrowed my decisions down to 4, including the stay with what I already have choice.

Option #1
My first choice would have been to keep the WL for the entire week. Sadly there are no rooms available at the WL for my dates. If I want to keep the WL, I'm going to have to keep it with my AAA rate which is I think about 20%. This way I'll still have a split stay, making me a bit nervous about getting tables for free dining.

Option #2
I can get a standard view room at AKL for the entire week for about what I'm currently due to pay. I think I'll save about $20 or something if I switch. I'll gain the benefit of having my whole week at one place for ADRs and I'll still have my balcony. The downside is that we'd be pretty far off from everything, and my balcony may overlook the parking lot.

Option #3
I can save a bit more by changing over to CBR. If I book a week at CBR I'll save about $440 off the total rate, so about $220 for me. Again I'd have my whole week at one place for ADR planning, I like the beachy theme, and I'd save enough money to swing 2 days in March for the princess marathon. (I'd only have one more day to pay for then). Downside - no balcony, and again I'd be away from the MK area.

Option #4
The only option that will cost me more money. For a mere $100 more I can upgrade the WL portion of my trip to my dream resort - the Boardwalk Inn with a standard view room. (Once I apply the POP discount to my POP room). This is very tempting!!!! Still, it's not solving my ADR problem, but it may be the best chance I have of staying at my dream place.

So my question is what would you do? For those of you that have stayed at the WL is it really that wonderful that I shouldn't give up the ressie I booked last September? Would you book your dream resort if it meant you may have problems getting all the ADRs you wanted? Stay at the same rate and stay at a different deluxe for the entire week? Or would you just go for the savings - forgetting the luxury and go with the best deal?

A nice code was supposed to be making my life easier, not harder. I don't know why I'm so afraid to let go of my WL ressie. When I made it, I wasn't even all that excited about it. Now I'm reluctant to let go of it. I don't know anymore if it's because I really want to stay there, or it's because I've had the reservation for so long.

I think I'm going to go torment myself with some resort pics!

 

[Flossbolna]

As a long time member of the Jambo thread (the unofficial AKL FAQ and chat thread) I guess my advise has to be to take Option 2!

Seriously: I think AKL is a wonderful resort! Have you ever visited it? I have seen many pictures of the Christmas decorations and while it is not traditional, it is spectacular. They really do a wonderful job at decorating!

Generally AKL transportation is considered to be very good. The transit time to AK is less than 5 minutes, to Epcot and DHS about 10-15 min and to MK 15-20 min. The big advantage is that once you are on the bus it will go directly to the park. On the way back you now have one stop at Kidani, but still that's pretty good! From what I have read at WL you would need to stop at another resort for all trips besides the MK. I never felt too far away from everything at AKL, but well connected to everything. In contrast at the Poly, I felt close to MK and Epcot, but really removed from DHS and AK.

Standard view: There are standard view rooms that are sub standard savanna views, so if you request "not parking lot view" you might have a chance to score one of those. You could also always ask at check in wether you can upgrade to a pool view room for the price difference which I think is 5 $ per night. I guess pool view is not available with the discount?

I am really sorry that this makes your life even more difficult!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Honestly, if I were you....I'd pick one of the options that would have you staying at one place for the week.

That way you don't have to worry about your ADRs and you don't have to switch resorts.

Personally, I'd go with AK.

 

[If U Had Wings]

As a long time member of the Jambo thread (the unofficial AKL FAQ and chat thread) I guess my advise has to be to take Option 2!

Seriously: I think AKL is a wonderful resort! Have you ever visited it? I have seen many pictures of the Christmas decorations and while it is not traditional, it is spectacular. They really do a wonderful job at decorating!

Generally AKL transportation is considered to be very good. The transit time to AK is less than 5 minutes, to Epcot and DHS about 10-15 min and to MK 15-20 min. The big advantage is that once you are on the bus it will go directly to the park. On the way back you now have one stop at Kidani, but still that's pretty good! From what I have read at WL you would need to stop at another resort for all trips besides the MK. I never felt too far away from everything at AKL, but well connected to everything. In contrast at the Poly, I felt close to MK and Epcot, but really removed from DHS and AK.

Standard view: There are standard view rooms that are sub standard savanna views, so if you request "not parking lot view" you might have a chance to score one of those. You could also always ask at check in wether you can upgrade to a pool view room for the price difference which I think is 5 $ per night. I guess pool view is not available with the discount?

I am really sorry that this makes your life even more difficult!!

I did stay at the AKL. We got upgraded from POFQ when they closed the entire place down for renovations back in 2003. I loved it. It's making it very tempting to go there again.

They only had regular standard view rooms and savannah bunk bed rooms available for our trip for the entire week. I would have liked to see a pool view room!

I just have way too many decisions!

Honestly, if I were you....I'd pick one of the options that would have you staying at one place for the week.

That way you don't have to worry about your ADRs and you don't have to switch resorts.

Personally, I'd go with AK.

It is tempting! Of course then I went to allears and looked at the fabulous renovated rooms at BWI. I'm just hopeless. (We also won't mention that I priced an upgrade to BCV too that would be less than my current WL ressie ).