November 2012 Code Watch!!

[exwdwcm]

STupid 3 day off site meeting got in the way of my DIS'ing. It is wrong that I DIS more at work than at home?

Good Morning Everyone!

I don't even know where to begin to plan my ADR! How will I know what park we wnt to go to on which day Really warm day = water park. Less crowded day = MK. etc. I don't know any of that now! Suggestions are very welcome - plam with/for me!

1. I start off by looking at the park hours. I keep a table going where I list out all the park hours per day of my trip.
2. I also denote the EMH and special events/fireworks (MVMCP etc.).
3. Then I look at touringplans and easywdw and i actually have a row to show the crowd level for each day of the trip and recommended park and avoid park. Those are the first steps.
4. Next, I start placing in parks on each day- we usually want to hit MK on the first or second day
5. Then we usually do one park in the am and a different one in the afternoon/evening after taking a midday break. So i try and spread it out, and not do one park too many times in a row.
6. Other things come into play, like making sure we do a few morning EMHs, hitting F&W NOT on the weekend if possible (and always in the morning), building in a mid trip waterpark day or rest day etc. Also make sure you hit the main stuff you want- like if you want to do Fantasmic, it might not be offered every night, so i write in those things- obviously i need to do DHS on a certain night to catch it etc. Same with MVMCP.
   
   So it is a lot of jostling around. Then, i plan my meals. I usually know where I want to eat, but I don't place it on the date until I make the schedule and know what park I will be in which day for optimal time in the park with low crowds.

What is Be OUr Guest that may be open?

here is some great info on it: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/12/13/disney-worlds-be-our-guest-restaurant-to-open-in-late-2012/
LOcation

The restaurant will be located in the Beauty and the Beast area of the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion. And the actual dining rooms will be inside the Beast’s Castle!
Atmosphere

There will be three dining rooms in the restaurant, seating 550 people. Will you be seated in the Library/Gallery, mysterious West Wing (where the enchanted rose is kept), or the two-story Ballroom, where a snow effect in the windows will make guests feel as though they’ve stepped into the film?
Medieval windows will extend to the ceiling to create an enchanting castle-like feel. Murals will feature our favorite characters from the movie as we dine. At the moment, this will not be a character meal; but I’m hoping for some fun animatronic action to occur from time to time. Fingers crossed!
The restaurant will offer table-service dining during the evening, and counter-service dining during the day. This is part of a new approach to dining that Disney has been testing out with some of its newer restaurants, hoping that it will create better guest flow and save money at the same time.

So I talked my Grandmom into doing DxDP with us. I have to pay the difference split with my brother but its only $100 each. If we get FD then thats even better! It really helped me figure out our ADR's now I got them nailed!


Question: do you think this is too many buffetts? I know they work better with a big group. My DBro GF had gastric bypassand said she prefers buffets because she hates wasting food and she can pick and choose what to eat. Do you hink doing CP 2x in the week is too much? I know we would have been there for breakfast but I need something for lunch and reviews of The plaza rest are good....Tony's go either way, what would you choose?

If your family likes buffets, i wouldn't worry about it being too many. it is great for large groups and you can ask for your check earlier than you can often with a regular meal. just makes it easier!

I agree about Crystal Palace. I love eating there and wouldn't mind going twice in one trip.

I'm actually torn between Crystal Palace and the Grand Floridian character breakfast for this trip. We LOOOVE the Mad Hatter. I'm pretty sure we're going to do Hollywood and Vine for my four year (thanks for the tip from this group about Jake and the Neverland Pirates!) We're OOP this year, so I don't think we'll want to do a third character meal.

But then I'll miss going to Crystal Palace.

What to do? I'm pondering it.

tough call! You can always catch the Mad Hatter near the Tea cups though, he is out there pretty often. We are looking forward to the H&V meal too. I do not have high expectations for the food, but looking forward to my son meeting Jake!

Hi Everyone! I'm joining in here hoping for a deal for November. Right now, we're thinking of November 2 - November 6th. I know the crowds will probably be heavy with Jersey Week and the week before Veterans Day, but at least it won't be super hot. I can deal with crowds much easier with nice weather. We can move our trip to the week before if we can a better rate for late October, but the kids would have to miss more school.

Anyway, we haven't booked anything yet. I was thinking of renting points and staying in a 1 bedroom villa, but dh does not like the idea of not having access to a food court. So, we will probably get 2 rooms at a value or moderate if we get a pin for a room only discount. Free dining would of course be great if the room discount doesn't happen!

Has anyone gotten any a pin they were able to use for November yet? I've only gotten a pin once in my life and it was for last year when we didn't go to Disney at all!

Renting points is a great option! I do love having the food courts at the mods. However, I found a lot of the deluxes have a pretty decent selection too. More than I had thought. At CR's Contempo Cafe, we were able to get pizzas, chicken, sandwiches, salads and more. It is not as broad a selection as the mods, but still decent.

 

[Happy Mom2]

STupid 3 day off site meeting got in the way of my DIS'ing. It is wrong that I DIS more at work than at home?

I wish I could Dis at work, but it's probably a good thing that I can't. I'd never get any work done!

1. I start off by looking at the park hours. I keep a table going where I list out all the park hours per day of my trip.
2. I also denote the EMH and special events/fireworks (MVMCP etc.).
3. Then I look at touringplans and easywdw and i actually have a row to show the crowd level for each day of the trip and recommended park and avoid park. Those are the first steps.
4. Next, I start placing in parks on each day- we usually want to hit MK on the first or second day
5. Then we usually do one park in the am and a different one in the afternoon/evening after taking a midday break. So i try and spread it out, and not do one park too many times in a row.
6. Other things come into play, like making sure we do a few morning EMHs, hitting F&W NOT on the weekend if possible (and always in the morning), building in a mid trip waterpark day or rest day etc. Also make sure you hit the main stuff you want- like if you want to do Fantasmic, it might not be offered every night, so i write in those things- obviously i need to do DHS on a certain night to catch it etc. Same with MVMCP.
   
   So it is a lot of jostling around. Then, i plan my meals. I usually know where I want to eat, but I don't place it on the date until I make the schedule and know what park I will be in which day for optimal time in the park with low crowds.

I'd like to add just one thing... don't expect it to be perfect the first time. I must move things around at least 10 times before I get something I'm happy with. I've even scrapped the whole thing, and started over. Good luck! I'm sure you'll work up a great itinerary.

We are looking forward to the H&V meal too. I do not have high expectations for the food, but looking forward to my son meeting Jake!


Yeah. H&V was our least favorite breakfast out of CP, CRT and TH.

 

[denman007]

Joining this thread as we are planning on Nov 10 - 17.

I've been many times but not for about 3 years. In that time I have gotten a dozen postcards and email pins having to throw them all away.

I hope I can get something for when we go or at least free dining. So far we have a group of 9 planning to go.

 

[iwantpeace]

Thanks for the welcomes!

It's so painful to have to throw away pins for when you're not going! I would love to be able to go more.

I called yesterday just to check. Didn't get the nicest cm, but I have no pin and no public discounts. I know it's too early for public discounts, but I'm ready to get something booked. My dh who isn't the disney lover that I am does not want to book anything unless he knows he's getting a deal.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!

 

[exwdwcm]

Joining this thread as we are planning on Nov 10 - 17.

I've been many times but not for about 3 years. In that time I have gotten a dozen postcards and email pins having to throw them all away.

I hope I can get something for when we go or at least free dining. So far we have a group of 9 planning to go.

welcome! Don't you hate getting pins when you can't use them. here's hoping you get something great for this trip. So much new to see and do since you've been!

HappyMom2- so true- it is never perfect and I revise it many times usually. But we do pretty good about sticking to our plan most of the time. Although we've been much more flexible in recent years, which you have to do with kids obviously. never know what the weather will bring, if someone will get sick etc.

 

[ksack]

Of course a few days after we booked our November trip I got a card in the mail offering room discounts... I emailed Disney to see if we could take advantage of that and I'm waiting to hear.

I know I can call and ask a CM, but I thought I'd give the email a shot..

 

[Happy Mom2]

Good morning, y'all! I guess I'm going to work on my itinerary some more today. I've about got it done. I'm sure it will change somewhat once the official hours are released.

I'm not feeling well this morning. Wednesday was 3 weeks since my hysterectomy, and Thursday night I fell. DH left the bottom drawer in the bathroom open, and when I got up in the middle of the night,... well, it wasn't pretty. In an effort to not hit my stomach, I managed to really bang myself up. I have no idea how I managed to get so many scrapes and bruises, but I guess I'm just talented that way. Anyway, I feel like I've been hit by a truck today.

Joining this thread as we are planning on Nov 10 - 17.

I've been many times but not for about 3 years. In that time I have gotten a dozen postcards and email pins having to throw them all away.

I hope I can get something for when we go or at least free dining. So far we have a group of 9 planning to go.

Welcome!!!

Thanks for the welcomes!

It's so painful to have to throw away pins for when you're not going! I would love to be able to go more.

I called yesterday just to check. Didn't get the nicest cm, but I have no pin and no public discounts. I know it's too early for public discounts, but I'm ready to get something booked. My dh who isn't the disney lover that I am does not want to book anything unless he knows he's getting a deal.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!

I've heard going on Disney's site and playing around and saving some vacation offers helps generate offers. It's never helped me, but for some it works. Be sure you are signed in!

You too!

 

[FunkyDuck]

Of course a few days after we booked our November trip I got a card in the mail offering room discounts... I emailed Disney to see if we could take advantage of that and I'm waiting to hear.

I know I can call and ask a CM, but I thought I'd give the email a shot..

Of course you can take advantage of those discounts if they are for your vacation dates....call a CM and ask them to apply them to your vacation.

 

[Happy Mom2]

Good morning y'all!

 

[ThreeAngels]

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Welcome to all the newcomers!

Good morning, y'all! I guess I'm going to work on my itinerary some more today. I've about got it done. I'm sure it will change somewhat once the official hours are released.

I'm not feeling well this morning. Wednesday was 3 weeks since my hysterectomy, and Thursday night I fell. DH left the bottom drawer in the bathroom open, and when I got up in the middle of the night,... well, it wasn't pretty. In an effort to not hit my stomach, I managed to really bang myself up. I have no idea how I managed to get so many scrapes and bruises, but I guess I'm just talented that way. Anyway, I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

Oh, wow, I'm so sorry that happened to you! I hope you're feeling much better already and not too sore. I bet your DH feels bad. I know you're enjoying your time at home. All the better to Disney plan and re-plan!

Hope y'all have a great day!

 

[iwantpeace]

Good Morning Everyone!

 

[ksack]

Of course you can take advantage of those discounts if they are for your vacation dates....call a CM and ask them to apply them to your vacation.

Thank you... I do realize I can take advantage of the deal, but I read that you can only use one deal per reservation... I was holding out hope that a free dining would come along...

Though I do question something that I read that I didn't really understand... If you put a discount, such as a room discount, on your reservation and a free dining comes along can you have the room discount removed and the free dining added??

TIA!

 

[Happy Mom2]

Oh, wow, I'm so sorry that happened to you! I hope you're feeling much better already and not too sore. I bet your DH feels bad. I know you're enjoying your time at home. All the better to Disney plan and re-plan!

Hope y'all have a great day!

Thanks. Yesterday was horrible, but today is looking better. You're right - there is nothing better than Disney to occupy myself!

Thank you... I do realize I can take advantage of the deal, but I read that you can only use one deal per reservation... I was holding out hope that a free dining would come along...

Though I do question something that I read that I didn't really understand... If you put a discount, such as a room discount, on your reservation and a free dining comes along can you have the room discount removed and the free dining added??

TIA!

This is correct! I would add the discount now, and if FD comes along you can always change it.

 

[Happy Mom2]

Here's a picture of my picture itinerary... (crossing my fingers that it posts)!

3rd try is the charm!

 

[ksack]

Thanks. Yesterday was horrible, but today is looking better. You're right - there is nothing better than Disney to occupy myself!



This is correct! I would add the discount now, and if FD comes along you can always change it.

Thank you for clearing that up!!

 

[Akess]

Hello. I am new to this board, so I am not sure if I am posting in the right place or not. Me, my husband, my 14-year-old daughter, and a friend of my daughter's are going to Disney World in November. We are planning on arriving to Disney on Wednesday, November 21 and departing on Monday, November 26. This will be our fourth trip to Disney World, but the last time we were there was in 2003. I have not booked a hotel yet, as I am still trying to decide between the Beach Club Resort and the Wilderness Lodge. I like the Beach Club for the pool, but have not booked it yet because I am not sure if it is worth spending the extra money on a resort for the pool if the weather may not be warm enough to enjoy the pool.

Anyway, from what I understand from above posts, there are days in November (around Thanksgiving) that are blocked off from applying discounts to. Is this correct? I have never saved a penny on lodging or dining at Disney in the past because I was completely unaware of these pin codes (which I have received many times over the years, but never understood them or used them). Now that I am a little more educated in this I would love to save a little money on this trip, especially since we are allowing my daughter to bring a friend (we are covering the cost of the friend 100%). I recently received a Game On 10% pin code, but have not used it yet. I did see if it was valid during my stay and it ended up showing me a $90 total discount for my stay. Is this the best discount I should count on seeing during my travel dates? If so, if I use the current pin to save me $90 and a better discount does become available, can I change drop the Game On pin and replace it with a better discount? And finally, if I use the Game On pin, does that mean I will no longer be sent other pins or discount codes?

 

[Happy Mom2]

Hello. I am new to this board, so I am not sure if I am posting in the right place or not. Me, my husband, my 14-year-old daughter, and a friend of my daughter's are going to Disney World in November. We are planning on arriving to Disney on Wednesday, November 21 and departing on Monday, November 26. This will be our fourth trip to Disney World, but the last time we were there was in 2003. I have not booked a hotel yet, as I am still trying to decide between the Beach Club Resort and the Wilderness Lodge. I like the Beach Club for the pool, but have not booked it yet because I am not sure if it is worth spending the extra money on a resort for the pool if the weather may not be warm enough to enjoy the pool.

Anyway, from what I understand from above posts, there are days in November (around Thanksgiving) that are blocked off from applying discounts to. Is this correct? I have never saved a penny on lodging or dining at Disney in the past because I was completely unaware of these pin codes (which I have received many times over the years, but never understood them or used them). Now that I am a little more educated in this I would love to save a little money on this trip, especially since we are allowing my daughter to bring a friend (we are covering the cost of the friend 100%). I recently received a Game On 10% pin code, but have not used it yet. I did see if it was valid during my stay and it ended up showing me a $90 total discount for my stay. Is this the best discount I should count on seeing during my travel dates? If so, if I use the current pin to save me $90 and a better discount does become available, can I change drop the Game On pin and replace it with a better discount? And finally, if I use the Game On pin, does that mean I will no longer be sent other pins or discount codes?

Welcome!! You've come to the right place! We love to plan and save money!

No one knows what type of discounts they will offer. A better one may come along, but I do know the discounts they offer during Thanksgiving week are pretty slim.

Yes, if you use your discount now and another one come along, you can change it.

As for being sent additional PINs if you use the one you have now... that's a total guess also. I tend to think it lessens your chances, but I know others who have received a code when they already had a trip books.

Personally, I'm waiting. I'm going the week before Thanksgiving, which is a slower week so I'm going to wait to see what they come out with. Considering you are going during one of the busiest weeks of the year, I would probably book it sooner rather than later to be sure you can reserve the type of room you want. I don't think you need to rush out and do it today though.

I vote for the Beach Club solely because I want to stay there! You never know what kind of weather you will have in November. It could be freezing or it could be very warm. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will have a great time!

 

[Akess]

Thanks for the advice. The last time we went to Disney was in November of 2003, during Thanksgiving break as well. The weather was mild: not too cold, but not warm. And during our stay the parks were not crowded at all. However, from what I have been reading, it has been busier the last few years during Thanksgiving break. This makes me a little nervous, but I guess I have to deal with crowds to avoid taking my daughter out of school during the week.

And we are leaning towards the Beach Club Resort because of the pool and location to Epcot and Hollywood Studios; however, I do not want to spend all that money on a resort with a great pool and not enjoy the pool because of the weather.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

I have been holding off booking our trip because I have been waiting for a code, but I decided to go ahead and book for fear of our dates being sold out. So excited now!!!
So, until a code comes out, I booked room only for November 13-25th POR. We went this same time last year and loved it! Previously we would go during spring break. It was a welcomed break from the cold and snow...but being at Disney during the Christmas season was awesome. The lighter crowds (as compared to the week and 1/2 before Easter) for most of the days were a bonus, too!

No free dining code=staying off site for the first time this year. We are going to try Bonnet Creek if a code doesn't come our way. It might be a nice change but I love being in the Disney magic 100% of the time. So I realllllly hope it happens soon!!!