Now Approaching... Sleepingbooty's Sept. PTR (We're BAAACK! 9/26)

[OhioDisneyLover]

I've had the same thing happen in previous trips where I'd hoped to get one resort and they were sold out nearly a year in advance.

I've been booking as far as a year in advance now so that doesn't happen again. It is frustrating though, isn't it?

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Now, don't lead CBR on!

I know - I'm such a tease!

I hate to break it to you but that room class very well could be sold out.

When I booked the YC back in Sept, for an August trip, the rooms were going like hotcakes starting on the 15th in anticipation of FD. If I try online I can get one at full price but with the PIN they are gone for the standard rooms. They've been sending out that PIN quite a lot and people may have snapped up the standard rooms between the PIN that's out and the FD bounceback.

I can't believe the deluxe was available though, there aren't very many of those rooms!. I would call them. You might want to book just to hold it since you can always change to the other hotel

Wow, so you mean 11 months in advance rooms were selling out? That's insane!

Maybe you should try and call them? The site might just be buggy. I would be devastated if one of my options was gone!

That's what I was thinking...

Really?! That's crazy!! It makes me nervous since we'll be booking WL for our Nov/Dec trip. Let me know what you find out!!

Becky, you may want to go ahead and reserve something now!

I would call-- I feel like you're not going at a very busy time and really there SHOULD be standard rooms left. We waited kind of a long time to book POR last year and still had the option of many types of rooms/views-- about a month after they publically announced Free Dining!

I does seem that they should have some left - we're talking rack rate! I wasn't even trying to use a pin or anything.

K, officially freaking out!! Sounds like we needed to make ressies for our alternate dates like yesterday!!! Calling maroo now!!!

Well, I didn't mean to freak you out - but.. um... I was a little freaked myself - had to share!

I've had the same thing happen in previous trips where I'd hoped to get one resort and they were sold out nearly a year in advance.
I've been booking as far as a year in advance now so that doesn't happen again. It is frustrating though, isn't it?

A year in advance? That is crazy!

Yes, after this experience, I was genuinely freaked out. Not because I really wanted WL - like I said, we'd decided on CBR. But I started thinking that if I didn't book soon, I might be out of luck. So........

 

[Sleepingbooty]

It's Official! We're Booked Baby!

I called the travel agent last night and tied it down. I just didn't want to leave it hanging out there any longer. With my weird (to me, anyway) experience on the WDW reservation site, I'd started to think maybe I needed to bite the bullet and make our reservations - just in case September had exploded in popularity. It has been just a bit busier every year we've gone - so you never know. With people booking on Bounceback offers or in anticipation of free dining, things certainly could fill up and I don't want to be left out in the cold. So, this September 18th through the 25th, we will be staying...............................
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Here!

Gotcha! Yep, we went ahead as planned and booked Caribbean Beach Resort. That picture is of the buildings in Jamaica - which I requested. I decided not to request a specific building. I figured, if we end up on one end, we'll be close to the walkway to OPR. On the other end, we'll be close to the bus stop. We also requested a ground floor corner room. Ground floor for no other reason than that it so tiring at night carrying a sleeping six-year-old up the stairs (heck, a nine year old too, possibly). I threw the corner room thing in there at my travel agent's suggestion. We've had a corner room before, and it is nice. I also made the reservation for my parents and had them link the two together and request connecting rooms.

We went with 8 day base tickets. I suppose we may upgrade at some point. But honestly, we've never had a problem without hoppers. And I feel like it gives me a little more structure, which helps when planning. I usually check the Unofficial Guide's website to find out what the best days are to visit each park, and then use that to select two or three days each at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, then a day each at MGM and AK. With that in place, I plan my ADR's accordingly. We either eat in the park we plan to go to that day, or a nearby resort. If we had hoppers, I'd feel a little confused. If I don't know where I'm going to be, how do I know where I should eat? We've only done hoppers once and it was for our 4 day anniversary trip in 07, so we left the planning really loose and everything worked out fine.

I asked my travel agent if we should add the dining plan now, since we were hoping for the free dining promo to come out in April. She said that it DOES actually make it easier to switch you to the free dining promo if you are already on the plan, so I did book the plan. And honestly, we'll do the dining plan no matter what. If we don't get free dining, then they'll likely have some other discount, and we'll just pay for the dining plan. I've done the math, and it definitely pays off for us. This will be the last year that Jenna is a child under the plan, though, so we'll have to re-evaluate next year. Of course, if its free - its a no brainer.

Whew. I'm so glad I've finally gotten it nailed down. Now we can concentrate on other things, namely ADR's! 38 days until I can make them. Or, let me rephrase that... 38 days until my superstar travel agent will be making them for me! Let the dining discussion commence!

Click here for Chapter 12: What Kind of Disney Diner Are You?

 

[jenbear123]

I thought the dining plan was non-refundable? i.e. once you book the dining plan, it can't be switched? At least that's what I advise my clients (I'm a travel agent too) to hold off on the dining plan to see if free dining comes out if their dates fall during that time. Unless you've booked with a Disney specialist agency, I would double check....

 

[glennbo123]

Congrats on booking!

 

[ladybugmom]

YAY!!! So glad you were able to book!! So did you find out if the WL thing was a glitch?! I was kind of holding off wondering if we should wait and book in May while we're there with the Bounceback offer?! What do you think?

 

[All7OfUs]

The boards went down just as I clicked submit, so here's take 2-short version.

I think you'll be really happy at CBR! If it were me, I'd rather have a sure room, than nothing at all in hopes of something- does that make sense??

The pictures of this resort look very alluring. I know you're going to have a great time!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

I thought the dining plan was non-refundable? i.e. once you book the dining plan, it can't be switched? At least that's what I advise my clients (I'm a travel agent too) to hold off on the dining plan to see if free dining comes out if their dates fall during that time. Unless you've booked with a Disney specialist agency, I would double check....

Oh REALLY! I didn't know that?! I thought EVERYthing was refundable until 45 days out? Well, if that IS so, I guess it is not that big of a deal, because we would definitely still do the plan. I figure if free dining doesn't happen, there will be some other promo. And if there isn't, at the very least we can use a AAA discount, right?

Congrats on booking!

Thanks, Glenn! It feels good to have it nailed down.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

YAY!!! So glad you were able to book!! So did you find out if the WL thing was a glitch?! I was kind of holding off wondering if we should wait and book in May while we're there with the Bounceback offer?! What do you think?

Well, if you were to book now, and only put down the $200 deposit, you could still make another ressie if you do get a bounceback. You'd be able to get your deposit fully refunded for the initial booking, or have it credited to the new ressie, right?

The boards went down just as I clicked submit, so here's take 2-short version.

I think you'll be really happy at CBR! If it were me, I'd rather have a sure room, than nothing at all in hopes of something- does that make sense??

The pictures of this resort look very alluring. I know you're going to have a great time!

I totally agree. And really, we've been happy at every resort we've stayed at during our trips to WDW. The "cons" at each resort have been so minor - it was hard to come up with them for my PowerPoint. Don't you love the looks of the Jamaica section? So cheerful!

 

[klacey1]

Yay for booking!! It's always such a load off to have the trip booked! I've never stayed at CBR, but it's very tropical and pretty!!

 

[eandesmom]

having that reservation booked is the best feeling!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost as good as when it's paid off.

ADR's in 38 days, how fun to start planning!

I didn't know that about the dining plan being non-refundable, seems odd to me but we waited to add it last time and plan to do so this time as well.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Yay for booking!! It's always such a load off to have the trip booked! I've never stayed at CBR, but it's very tropical and pretty!!

Thanks! I just hope we like it as much as we liked POR!

having that reservation booked is the best feeling!!!!!!!!!!!! Almost as good as when it's paid off.

ADR's in 38 days, how fun to start planning!

I didn't know that about the dining plan being non-refundable, seems odd to me but we waited to add it last time and plan to do so this time as well.

Yep, paying it off will be a great feeling. Shouldn't be long - I e-filed my taxes last week, so I imagine we'll be getting our refund soon. I wonder if I should be looking at airfare this far out?

 

[jenbear123]

Oh REALLY! I didn't know that?! I thought EVERYthing was refundable until 45 days out? Well, if that IS so, I guess it is not that big of a deal, because we would definitely still do the plan. I figure if free dining doesn't happen, there will be some other promo. And if there isn't, at the very least we can use a AAA discount, right?

I'm sure you'll be able to apply a AAA discount. At least you're positive you'll want the dining plan regardless of if it's free or not. Still double check with your TA

 

[kcandbella]

Congrats on booking! I'm sure it makes it feel more "real!" Sooo exciting!

 

[All7OfUs]

That's what I thought too; refundable and cancellable (yeah, so it's not a word- it sounds legit) until 45 days out. Can someone confirm???

 

[jenbear123]

I found this directly from Disney on their website:

"Disney Dining Plan meals and snacks may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part, sold separately, transferred or refunded."

Although, just reading that makes me think they mean the meals that you redeem your credits towards cannot be refunded.

Click here to go to Disney's website, then click on whichever dining plan you'll be on. In the PDF, there's a little blurb on the left hand side that explains the terms and conditions. Nowhere does it mention anything about 45 days prior....

 

[All7OfUs]

Hmmmm... now, I'm worried, cuz maroo booked our first part with a DDP. And now we may be switching our dates. Maybe she better call just to clarify if we CAN switch without a problem.

 

[GreatBiscuit]

I confess! I have been remiss in my "First Poster" duties! I'm all caught up now and that you are finally booked! Sorry to hear about your computer bug, but glad you were able to get it restored. No laughing here. We had a PC once at work that I wound up having to reformat / reinstall windows TWICE on before it would behave properly. Spent a good two days farting around with that dumb thing. Anywho, glad the Power Point was a success and that the ribs turned out okay. Congrats again on your booking. I'll be more diligent in my posting duties!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

I'm sure you'll be able to apply a AAA discount. At least you're positive you'll want the dining plan regardless of if it's free or not. Still double check with your TA

Yes, we definitely still want it - but I will check with her when I call to put down my deposit.

Congrats on booking! I'm sure it makes it feel more "real!" Sooo exciting!

Thank you! Yep, very exciting!

That's what I thought too; refundable and cancellable (yeah, so it's not a word- it sounds legit) until 45 days out. Can someone confirm???

Anyone? Bueller?

I found this directly from Disney on their website:

"Disney Dining Plan meals and snacks may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part, sold separately, transferred or refunded."

Although, just reading that makes me think they mean the meals that you redeem your credits towards cannot be refunded.

Click here to go to Disney's website, then click on whichever dining plan you'll be on. In the PDF, there's a little blurb on the left hand side that explains the terms and conditions. Nowhere does it mention anything about 45 days prior....

I just wonder though, if that only means that you cannot get a cash refund for meal credits you didn't use - that's kind of how I read it

Hmmmm... now, I'm worried, cuz maroo booked our first part with a DDP. And now we may be switching our dates. Maybe she better call just to clarify if we CAN switch without a problem.

I will let you know what my TA tells me - I'm calling tomorrow...

 

[Sleepingbooty]

I confess! I have been remiss in my "First Poster" duties! I'm all caught up now and that you are finally booked! Sorry to hear about your computer bug, but glad you were able to get it restored. No laughing here. We had a PC once at work that I wound up having to reformat / reinstall windows TWICE on before it would behave properly. Spent a good two days farting around with that dumb thing. Anywho, glad the Power Point was a success and that the ribs turned out okay. Congrats again on your booking. I'll be more diligent in my posting duties!

The Biscuit's back!

Yeah, you better be more diligent, buddy! We're all gonna miss you when your TR is finished - hope you don't forget about us!