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

[eandesmom]

your fuzzy Disney math sounds a lot like ours! So of course I like it!

I would wait to see what those Southwest flights look like but I can't argue with your plan. As to where to stay, it just depends on how much you save by the friday flights whether to add to your current package, a room only night or a value night makes the most sense. The good/bad thing about adding to the current package is adding to the DDP which may increase costs more than you saved, or need,

 

[Sleepingbooty]

tough one....I'd probably book the room first...especially if you're fairly sure that you'll get a good fare out on friday.

Well, that's the thing. I'm fairly sure - but not 100%. I'm just predicting based on what Southwest is selling for typical weekends in May (I checked May because it seems like I get the best fares on Southwest for about 2 to 4 months out). What I'm seeing is $79 fares for the late afternoon/evening times, and more than twice that for morning fares. So I'm assuming a similar pattern for September. Of course, there's always Ding....

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Hmmm....I don't know what I would do. I do know one thing, Southwest is released flights through sometime in Oct tomorrow (I've been waiting too!). Maybe you should wait until after tomorrow to book flights (just to check out if Southwest is super cheap) and then book an extra night after that.

Oh, that's good to know! I don't see a flag on my Ding thingy yet, but I'll check...

 

[Sleepingbooty]

your fuzzy Disney math sounds a lot like ours! So of course I like it!

I would wait to see what those Southwest flights look like but I can't argue with your plan. As to where to stay, it just depends on how much you save by the friday flights whether to add to your current package, a room only night or a value night makes the most sense. The good/bad thing about adding to the current package is adding to the DDP which may increase costs more than you saved, or need,

Yes, I actually need to DO the math, don't I?

Of course, I'm assuming free dining here - so that would mean only the room cost - but that's a big assumption!

 

[glennbo123]

Anything to justify another day or two.....I've been known to do it. The difference in airfare flying out a day earlier (sounds just like your scenario) justified our 1-night stay at POR last year.

I'm not sure which I'd book first, but I guess you should wait until you can see the rates.

 

[All7OfUs]

Always extend if possible.




Always!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Anything to justify another day or two.....I've been known to do it. The difference in airfare flying out a day earlier (sounds just like your scenario) justified our 1-night stay at POR last year.

I'm not sure which I'd book first, but I guess you should wait until you can see the rates.

Well I could wait, but what if CBR doesn't have any rooms left for Friday night? I guess I could book a one-nighter elsewhere. Was it a big hassle switching the next day? Oh yeah, that was when Judy almost lost the AP's right?

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Always extend if possible.




Always!

Right?!

I've gotten the go ahead from my folks and Scott - so I think I'll do it. Question is, should I just try to add to our current ressie? This would give us and extra day's worth of meal credits. Or, should I book a one-night room-only elsewhere? Maybe at a value, to save even more moolah?

 

[jenbear123]

Sounds like the dilemma I was in not too long ago. Since our flight didn't arrive until 7:30pm, I decided we should fly down a day early so we don't miss a whole day. The flight times were the same for either day. This way, we get a fresh start.

If saving money is the objective here, I'd try to book a value. But if you want to avoid the hassle of switching resorts, book another night at CBR. Hopefully it'll be available!

How did your ADRs go???

 

[jordanyosh]

Right?!

I've gotten the go ahead from my folks and Scott - so I think I'll do it. Question is, should I just try to add to our current ressie? This would give us and extra day's worth of meal credits. Or, should I book a one-night room-only elsewhere? Maybe at a value, to save even more moolah?

I'd add the night to your ressie--that bumps up the cost of the dining plan....

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Sounds like the dilemma I was in not too long ago. Since our flight didn't arrive until 7:30pm, I decided we should fly down a day early so we don't miss a whole day. The flight times were the same for either day. This way, we get a fresh start.

If saving money is the objective here, I'd try to book a value. But if you want to avoid the hassle of switching resorts, book another night at CBR. Hopefully it'll be available!

How did your ADRs go???

I'd add the night to your ressie--that bumps up the cost of the dining plan....

Okay. I emailed my TA and told her to go ahead and try to add Friday night to our existing ressie. I said if there wasn't any availability, to book us a room only at Pop or ASMo, or any of the mods. Now that I look at that, she's probably going to want to know what I'd prefer in what order. Maybe I should email her again....

 

[jordanyosh]

Okay. I emailed my TA and told her to go ahead and try to add Friday night to our existing ressie. I said if there wasn't any availability, to book us a room only at Pop or ASMo, or any of the mods. Now that I look at that, she's probably going to want to know what I'd prefer in what order. Maybe I should email her again....

Nice that you pulled the trigger.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Alright, I emailed my TA again, and gave her my order of preference in case we can't get the extra night at CBR.
Pop - standard, room only
POFQ - standard, room only
CSR - standard, room only
POR - standard, room only
All Star Movies - standard, room only

It'll be interesting to see what she comes up with! I figure that if we had to pay 139 for the early morning fare I wanted, it'll cost us an extra $228 to travel than I'd planned on. So, by switching to Friday and using the $82 evening fare and paying for an extra night, we still come out a bit ahead.

 

[jordanyosh]

Alright, I emailed my TA again, and gave her my order of preference in case we can't get the extra night at CBR.
Pop - standard, room only
POFQ - standard, room only
CSR - standard, room only
POR - standard, room only
All Star Movies - standard, room only

It'll be interesting to see what she comes up with! I figure that if we had to pay 139 for the early morning fare I wanted, it'll cost us an extra $228 to travel than I'd planned on. So, by switching to Friday and using the $82 evening fare and paying for an extra night, we still come out a bit ahead.

Way to go!

 

[glennbo123]

Well I could wait, but what if CBR doesn't have any rooms left for Friday night? I guess I could book a one-nighter elsewhere. Was it a big hassle switching the next day? Oh yeah, that was when Judy almost lost the AP's right?

That's exactly right. She had them, but she was a bit frazzled from hurriedly packing, so she didn't see them in her wallet. Other than that, switching resorts was no big deal.

Congrats on pulling the trigger.

 

[Charlefours]

We are ignoring UG suggestions a few days too. I based it off my family's preference. On our list the best day for MK was Tuesday 9/13 but we knew DD's birthday would be there. At least they do not say it is the worst park to visit. I hope with it being September, the crowds hopefully will not be too horrible. We are 4s or 5s every day but the last day when it turns to a 6. I like your third plan best. We are planning on hitting the EMH at EP our last night too. Capping our trip with Illuminations, seems like the perfect way to end our trip! :

adorable glasses for Jenna! Definitely could have headaches for the first week or so as her eyes adjust to seeing full strength.

Ugh--transportation, or mainly flights, are just insane! It is just too expensive to fly for us and my Dad hates to fly so we are driving down. Good thing DD is a great traveller (even since she has potty trained). I priced out flights to fly down the night before for us too. I think you need to do whatever is best for your family. You could always add an extra night onto your room than drop it if you do not take flights or free dining is not offered. :confused2: It is such a hard decision to make. If it was me, I would extend the trip by one night. To be able to get down there Friday night, get a good sleep hopefully and have a full day at Disney would be fantastic!

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Way to go!

That's exactly right. She had them, but she was a bit frazzled from hurriedly packing, so she didn't see them in her wallet. Other than that, switching resorts was no big deal.

Congrats on pulling the trigger.

Yay! She was able to get the extra night added onto our existing ressie! Now, I'm hoping for SW to release Septembers fares tomorrow.

 

[Sleepingbooty]

We are ignoring UG suggestions a few days too. I based it off my family's preference. On our list the best day for MK was Tuesday 9/13 but we knew DD's birthday would be there. At least they do not say it is the worst park to visit. I hope with it being September, the crowds hopefully will not be too horrible. We are 4s or 5s every day but the last day when it turns to a 6. I like your third plan best. We are planning on hitting the EMH at EP our last night too. Capping our trip with Illuminations, seems like the perfect way to end our trip! :

I'm feeling pretty good about the third plan. And I agree with you - if the days are rated 4s or 5s, how bad can even the "worst" park be?

adorable glasses for Jenna! Definitely could have headaches for the first week or so as her eyes adjust to seeing full strength.

That's what I'm hoping. She had another headache today.

Ugh--transportation, or mainly flights, are just insane! It is just too expensive to fly for us and my Dad hates to fly so we are driving down. Good thing DD is a great traveller (even since she has potty trained). I priced out flights to fly down the night before for us too. I think you need to do whatever is best for your family. You could always add an extra night onto your room than drop it if you do not take flights or free dining is not offered. :confused2: It is such a hard decision to make. If it was me, I would extend the trip by one night. To be able to get down there Friday night, get a good sleep hopefully and have a full day at Disney would be fantastic!

I did try to talk the family into driving to save $$ (and spend the savings on Wilderness Lodge), but they didn't go for it. Scott hates driving. My dad loves to drive, plus he's cheap, so you'd think he'd have been all for it. We never flew anywhere when I was a kid. But even he is getting soft in his old age.

 

[jenbear123]

Great to hear you sorted out the extra night. I'll cross my fingers for ya and the fares with SW coming out tomorrow!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Just checked and Southwest does not have their fares up yet. It now says that that date is subject to change. I don't get it. Every other airline has their schedules up through the end of October. What is up with Southwest?