November 2012 Trip planners #4~almost Disney time! Everyone welcome!

[Smileybug]

How are ya'll planning your tip money. Are you just thinging a flat 20%? Or going strictly by the service?

 

[princesshope1982]

im feeling left out.. i think i am the only person that has not changed our reservation since we made it in. NO discounts or free dining or anything lol.

 

[Smileybug]

im feeling left out.. i think i am the only person that has not changed our reservation since we made it in. NO discounts or free dining or anything lol.

Don't feel bad. Disney is probably in love with you.

 

[princesshope1982]

Don't feel bad. Disney is probably in love with you.

lol yeah cause they havent had to share any deals with us. they better make my trip awesome!!

 

[squirrel4569]

im feeling left out.. i think i am the only person that has not changed our reservation since we made it in. NO discounts or free dining or anything lol.

I did make one change, extending it by a day, but since we're arriving on the 17th we don't get any discounts either. With it being a busy week we did ADRs at 180+10 and everything has pretty much booked up since. I've looked at changing a couple of things, but haven't found anything that saves us at all.

 

[Broncobilly83]

Good Morning Everyone!!!

The second question is a matter of opinion, but I don't see how they can take the walls down when they are still working on the Snow White Mine Train attraction, which is pretty massive. There may be a few walls down, but certainly not all of them.

Well, if they are still working on something, like the Snow White Mine Train, then yes those walls stay up. I was thinking more along the line of the walls around attractions and shops set to open for the November 19th soft opening and then any overall walls blocking the entire expansion, thus just leaving walls around specific buildings not set to open.

 

[Smileybug]

I did make one change, extending it by a day, but since we're arriving on the 17th we don't get any discounts either. With it being a busy week we did ADRs at 180+10 and everything has pretty much booked up since. I've looked at changing a couple of things, but haven't found anything that saves us at all.

I've made a few......................

Well, if they are still working on something, like the Snow White Mine Train, then yes those walls stay up. I was thinking more along the line of the walls around attractions and shops set to open for the November 19th soft opening and then any overall walls blocking the entire expansion, thus just leaving walls around specific buildings not set to open.

I agree.

 

[disneychic2]

Okay ya'll, I need some advice. I just checked out the room only discount. It will save us $1.400.00. BUT ......Now we are paying for all food out of pocket. If we take this discount over free dining we would drop most of our breakfast reservations. We eat very little breakfast. But I made the reservations just trying to use the credits with the DxDP. I am sure we will still eat lunch and supper at all the TS resturants that I already have booked. So........ what would ya'll do.

I have found that for two people staying Deluxe it's a better value to take the room discount. But then, we don't like to eat two table service meals. We like just one a day. Are you getting the discount info by phone? I don't see anything on their website.

Wow!! Thanks for all of the imput ya'll. I just sat hubby down and explained everything to him. I think we are going for the room discount and going to pay oop for the food.

We started with FD and then upgraded to DxDP DH does prefer two TS meals a day.(Which is why I upgraded to DxDP.) But with the DxDP I felt pushed to use those credits. So I did. It is just to many meals for us to comfortably eat every day. We do not have children going so we do not need the meal time to use as down time. I wish Disney offered a plan with 2 TS meals a day.



After typing this all out..........I'm still confused.

I think that's the good choice.

Are any of you guys doing the Candlelight Processional dinner package? Since the week we are going is supposed to be low crowd levels, I'm torn about paying the extra money. We want to see Neil Patrick Harris. Any advice???

I think especially for NPH it will be hard to get a seat if you don't do the package. He's very popular! If you do decide to forego the package, you'll need to get into line quite early for the standby seating.

I'm throwing a party for you!! I can't wait for our trips!!!!

Thanks!!

How are ya'll planning your tip money. Are you just thinging a flat 20%? Or going strictly by the service?

I'm planning 20%, but reserve the right to make it a bit less if necessary.

Well, if they are still working on something, like the Snow White Mine Train, then yes those walls stay up. I was thinking more along the line of the walls around attractions and shops set to open for the November 19th soft opening and then any overall walls blocking the entire expansion, thus just leaving walls around specific buildings not set to open.

Okay, gotcha! Yes, I think that's exactly what they'll do. The walls around the newest attractions and restaurants will probably all be gone. Not so sure about the overall walls blocking the entrance to the new expansion. We'll just have to wait and see how many walls are gone. Hope it's a lot!!

 

[squirrel4569]

How are ya'll planning your tip money. Are you just thinging a flat 20%? Or going strictly by the service?

Always go with the service. I know some people are upset that the gratuity is not included in DDP, but for me I find when gratuity is included at places due to party size the service isn't as good. I will typically tip 20-25% of the entire bill, alcohol and tax included, when service is good. Good service to me means a balance of attentive service that isn't overbearing. I shouldn't have to hunt down my server to get a drink or my check and they shouldn't be asking me every 30 seconds how my meal is or if they can get something for me.

 

[AquaDame]

I have found that for two people staying Deluxe it's a better value to take the room discount. But then, we don't like to eat two table service meals. We like just one a day. Are you getting the discount info by phone? I don't see anything on their website.

We have found RO is better for two in a moderate as well, but the moment that third person is added in it seems to make a big difference..! It all comes down to what you would eat as well - even when we have had FD we book meals for more TS than we have credits for so we still spend some amount OOP either way. We have a hard time matching the cost of the DP while ordering what we want as well - sometimes the apps look better than the entrees or we want to split a plate/don't want desert/want a signature meal/want an event like HDD or CP. A lot of times appetizers look so good, and we still order a couple of beers/drinks during the week as well. Both times I have also qualified for and gotten the TiW card which gives 20% off (but requires an 18% gratuity so its like the tip is "free" basically with a tiny bit extra off the bill). When I sit down and do the math based on OUR ORDERING STYLE the dining plan never comes ahead of what we can do with equivalent dollars for the two of us.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

i want a flashy thingy

 

[jrlongino]

Good Morning Everyone!!!

As for the first question, I don't think 4 day tickets at $150 are legit. And if it was through the yes program at Disney, he probably would have said so. I would ask him for the website and check it out or just tell him you think they are bogus. Your instincts are right on. I checked the Disney site and 1 adult 4 day ticket is $256...before taxes. Undercover Tourist has discount tickets, but you only save about $20-25.

The second question is a matter of opinion, but I don't see how they can take the walls down when they are still working on the Snow White Mine Train attraction, which is pretty massive. There may be a few walls down, but certainly not all of them.

Hope you make out ok! By the way, did you decide which embroidery machine??



DH and I went during that time frame a few years back and, while it was more crowded than we were used to (we usually go in September), it will be much less crowded than you are used to since you go in the summer. Having said that, I think the weekend you will be there is a 1/2 marathon race. Easy WDW had the following crowd levels predicted: 12/7-4, 12/8-6, 12/9-7, 12/10-8, 12/11-7, 12/12-5 You see how it spikes up over the weekend. It is certainly busier than when we went. I think if it's important to see Fantasmic and you don't want to wait in line, you should book a F!package. Personally, with just DH and I, we always wing it. We don't stand in line, but go in after the line has moved in. But then, it's pretty easy to find just 2 seats. Hope this helps!

Good for you! Always great to save money!!

This made me laugh!

One other Fantasmic question do I need to order from sort of prefixe menu or minimum for Mama Melrose Fantasmic package or can we just order al la carte?

 

[TinkPirateMom]

OK, I have 2 questions for more in the know that I

1) In trying to help my friend with his September trip, he said he found 4 day MYW tickets for $150ish online. I told him that seemed awfully cheap and they might not be valid tickets. While I could not find anything online that cheap via legit ticket sellers, might he be referring to E-Bay or something?

Military Salute tickets are 4 days in length and about $150. I'm not sure if your friend would be eligible for that but perhaps that's what they saw??

 

[TinkPirateMom]

Just saw my ticker...

OH EM GEEE!!!!! 2 months and 6 days until I'm in freakin Walt Disney World

 

[princesshope1982]

Just saw my ticker...

OH EM GEEE!!!!! 2 months and 6 days until I'm in freakin Walt Disney World

ahhhhhh its so close

 

[AquaDame]

ahhhhhh its so close

It is! Soooooo much to do between now and then, luckily this weekend is a 4 day for me!

 

[kerriemiller]

Great DH is dragging his feet now there are no more club level rooms showing up on the website at the 30% discount. I dont want to stay at OKW or SSR to spread out and to far from everything

 

[princesshope1982]

It is! Soooooo much to do between now and then, luckily this weekend is a 4 day for me!

i agree, and it is going to go so fast once school starts...will i ever be ready lol

 

[aubreysmom09]

So I checked out the RO discount and if I switched back to CBR we would save $300. Then we would have to buy food. Im not sure if we would really save anything. I know of really great places in Orlando that are cheaper than eating in the park, but then we have to leave. DO CS for lunch. If we book and go to POP we would save $625. Which I know we could do CS and a couple TS meals. I just don't know if I want to stay at a Value since we will be spending a day and a half at the resort Either way in 89 days we will be in WDW

 

[disneychic2]

We have found RO is better for two in a moderate as well, but the moment that third person is added in it seems to make a big difference..! It all comes down to what you would eat as well - even when we have had FD we book meals for more TS than we have credits for so we still spend some amount OOP either way. We have a hard time matching the cost of the DP while ordering what we want as well - sometimes the apps look better than the entrees or we want to split a plate/don't want desert/want a signature meal/want an event like HDD or CP. A lot of times appetizers look so good, and we still order a couple of beers/drinks during the week as well. Both times I have also qualified for and gotten the TiW card which gives 20% off (but requires an 18% gratuity so its like the tip is "free" basically with a tiny bit extra off the bill). When I sit down and do the math based on OUR ORDERING STYLE the dining plan never comes ahead of what we can do with equivalent dollars for the two of us.

Exactly right. It all depends how you like to eat. Good points!

One other Fantasmic question do I need to order from sort of prefixe menu or minimum for Mama Melrose Fantasmic package or can we just order al la carte?

It is al la carte. You can do lunch or dinner at MM.

Just saw my ticker...

OH EM GEEE!!!!! 2 months and 6 days until I'm in freakin Walt Disney World

yay!!

Great DH is dragging his feet now there are no more club level rooms showing up on the website at the 30% discount. I dont want to stay at OKW or SSR to spread out and to far from everything

I've stayed at OKW before and I'd rather stay just about anywhere else. Check by phone to see about the club level...they may be able to help you. Hope you get what you want!