OFFICIAL April 2012 DISers! 2 months and counting!

[lamb616]

just 5 nts -- 4/18-4/23

I still haven't booked our return flight yet b/c I'm holding out for a good deal, but everything's so expensive b/c it's april vacation here![/QUOTE]

That's exactly why I asked when you were going. I got my flights in November b/c of April vacation. My sister just told me she'd like to come and meet us but she can't get a flight home on the 22nd.
Where are you flying out from? What airline?

we CAN get flights home on the 22nd, but I'm not paying $400+/pp (one way!). I scored with our flights on the way down; I'd been checking airfares hourly for days and all of a sudden a nonstop on Delta popped up for $114/pp. which was amazing b/c I had resigned myself to having to change planes if I wanted to get a flight down for under $200. Right after I bought our tickets I checked again and it was back up to $300. Right now it's $360! We fly in/out of Logan.

For the way home we're looking at $250-$270/pp. with 1 stop, but I've been holding out for another non stop deal, lol.

 

[lamb616]

We are doing the same thing waking them up really early for a 7:30 AM flight. I keep telling my husband that maybe we should tell them the night before, but his reply is that they won't sleep the night before. Which I kinda agree with. I am sure that by the time we make it to the airport, it will be smiles all around.

I think we're gonna sleep over my sister's house that night (she'll already be down there so empty house) along with my father/stepmother so we can all be in the same place when the car comes to pick us up at 5:00 a.m. So I obviously have to tell him *something* the night before, but I was thinking of telling him we're going away for a weekend to Boston or NH or something, so if he does pull the "What?! I don't WANT to go away!", he can get it out of his system. Then we go to bed and I tell him where we're really going when we're on our way to the airport.

 

[auprincess]

we are planning to drive, about 7.5 hours, but I went to my mom's this week-end for a few days (3 hour drive) and my baby is NOT a happy traveler!! I am really thinking of getting plane tickets...on the way down we were planning on breaking up the trip, so I think by the time we pay for one hotel night and gas, we could come out about the same as driving, because we can use some DH's skymiles. But, I still really want a vehicle while we are down there. IF he has enough points to rent a car (or at least get a really good deal), can anyone tell me how to get carseats? Can we check them on the plane when we do our stroller? How does that work? And for those renting cars, where have you found the best deals? I'm sorry, I know it has been covered, but I didn't pay much attention since it did not pertain to us then. TIA!

 

[Lisha428]

we are planning to drive, about 7.5 hours, but I went to my mom's this week-end for a few days (3 hour drive) and my baby is NOT a happy traveler!! I am really thinking of getting plane tickets...on the way down we were planning on breaking up the trip, so I think by the time we pay for one hotel night and gas, we could come out about the same as driving, because we can use some DH's skymiles. But, I still really want a vehicle while we are down there. IF he has enough points to rent a car (or at least get a really good deal), can anyone tell me how to get carseats? Can we check them on the plane when we do our stroller? How does that work? And for those renting cars, where have you found the best deals? I'm sorry, I know it has been covered, but I didn't pay much attention since it did not pertain to us then. TIA!

We got a great rate on a week car rental through hotwire. You can bring your own carseat but you usually have to gate check it. It typically does not cost anything for carseats or strollers to do that. You also could rent one from the car rental agency but it's pretty expensive...$10-15 per day or $60-75 per week from what I've seen. Plus it would be a carseat you're not used to. Have a great trip!

 

[Lisha428]

I *Think* I'm done making my ADR's. I've only changed them around 5 million times!

We're not staying onsite so we'll have a car this time. Trying a few new (to us) places!

Fri 4/20 MK Day
Lunch Crystal Palace (DD's choice)
Dinner Citricos

Sat 4/21 AK Day
Lunch Tusker House
Dinner T Rex (DS's choice)

Sun 4/22 DHS Day
Dinner Kona Cafe (we're not going to Fantasmic)

Mon 4/23 EP Day
Dinner La Hacienda

We plan on leaving the park each day for a swim break in mid-afternoon. I don't think we'll get park hoppers. We'll do breakfasts at our hotel and CS meals for any meals not listed. Debating on either Medieval Times or Arabian Nights on Sun 4/22 instead of Kona Cafe but we'll see. Thoughts??

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I *Think* I'm done making my ADR's. I've only changed them around 5 million times!

We're not staying onsite so we'll have a car this time. Trying a few new (to us) places!

Fri 4/20 MK Day
Lunch Crystal Palace (DD's choice)
Dinner Citricos

Sat 4/21 AK Day
Lunch Tusker House
Dinner T Rex (DS's choice)

Sun 4/22 DHS Day
Dinner Kona Cafe (we're not going to Fantasmic)

Mon 4/23 EP Day
Dinner La Hacienda

We plan on leaving the park each day for a swim break in mid-afternoon. I don't think we'll get park hoppers. We'll do breakfasts at our hotel and CS meals for any meals not listed. Debating on either Medieval Times or Arabian Nights on Sun 4/22 instead of Kona Cafe but we'll see. Thoughts??

They look great. The only place we've been to is T-Rex. My boys love it there.
I have a hard time eating a big lunch and then a big dinner. How do you do that?

 

[auprincess]

We got a great rate on a week car rental through hotwire. You can bring your own carseat but you usually have to gate check it. It typically does not cost anything for carseats or strollers to do that. You also could rent one from the car rental agency but it's pretty expensive...$10-15 per day or $60-75 per week from what I've seen. Plus it would be a carseat you're not used to. Have a great trip!

Thanks!! We will be gate checking a stroller, I feel kind of bad gate checking 3 carseats, but oh well!! I sitll don't know if we'll actually fly, but we have to make up our minds soon (like by tomorrow)! I did find a great rate for a van ~ $267 for our 8 nights/days.

 

[mommy.foster.6]

we are planning to drive, about 7.5 hours, but I went to my mom's this week-end for a few days (3 hour drive) and my baby is NOT a happy traveler!! I am really thinking of getting plane tickets...on the way down we were planning on breaking up the trip, so I think by the time we pay for one hotel night and gas, we could come out about the same as driving, because we can use some DH's skymiles. But, I still really want a vehicle while we are down there. IF he has enough points to rent a car (or at least get a really good deal), can anyone tell me how to get carseats? Can we check them on the plane when we do our stroller? How does that work? And for those renting cars, where have you found the best deals? I'm sorry, I know it has been covered, but I didn't pay much attention since it did not pertain to us then. TIA!

alamo has some really great rental rates right now....join their alamo insiders club (free) and then use the code AD2359FDF and you should get a great discount....i always check on tuesdays which is the best day for rental prices and i lowered my 6 day rental again by 10 dollars to 113 total including tax and fees.

If you cant bring your carseats on the plane to use then check them at the gate.....def. not at the counter. I'm a car seat tech and could tell you some nightmare stories about what happens to those seats, the same goes for renting seats through a car company....very scary, and not safe at all.

good luck, let me know if you need helping finding a good car deal and cant figure out the alamo

 

[mommy.foster.6]

Super excited, things are all falling into place......realized I'm in the *teens* for my countdown! Got my packing started, lists made, and lists for grandma whose watching the kiddos for the week we are gone Putting together my portfolio of ressies etc. and maps for driving to cocoa beach and anywhere else we might stop.

Almost considered changing my ADR's but stuck with them and hoping they are good!

Cannot believe I'll be in my favorite place here again shortly!

 

[figmentswife]

OMGoodness - I can't believe we are at 30 days till Disney, and 17 to telling DD's friend she is going to Disney. I have got so much to finish.

I have to go back to AC Moore and get a few more shirts today - I have 3 more to do, then our personalized shirts will be done. All of my glitter shirts are done.
Last week I found out I am gluten intolerant, so I spent all afternoon going through where/what I can eat at each park and I typed it all up then printed, and glued to 1/4 sheet of card stock. I can daily slip that parks cheat sheet into my fanny pack and pull it out when I get hungry. AWESOME.

I keep checking rental care rates, and they are going up. Glad I booked mine 2 months ago with advantage for $328 for 14 days. Budget has a little cheaper deal right now, but I would have to pick up the car the morning we leave at like 4am, so I think I am going to stick with pick up on the 26th. That way we can pack the car the night before we leave, then get up and go around 5am on the 27th.

the crowd calenders keep changing - I hope they are done now.
Here is our final (I HOPE) plans:

April 27th - arrive around 2 or 3. Downtown Disney (very quickly) just to run to Babycakes to pick up some gluten free bread,cupcakes & donuts.
April 28th - Animal Kingdom- Dinner at Garden Grove @ The Swan 6:30
April 29th - Hollywood Studios
April 30th - Epcot
May 1 - Magic Kingdom
May 2 Magic Kingdom - Hair appt 11:30am, Wishes Dessert Party 9pm
May 3 - Epcot
May 4 - Magic Kingdom
May 5 - Animal Kingdom
May 6 - Hollywood Studios
May 7 - Epcot - or what ever we feel like

My friend and her DD will be with us on April 27, 28, 29 and May 2 & 3rd. We will leave the parks everyday for a break and return each evening. The only day I am concerned about is the 28th - I had wanted to go to Epcot that day b\c it would be easy to walk to dinner and back, but it is "park to avoid" on one of the crowd calenders.

I have so much done - WHY do I feel like I still have so much more to do???

Have a great day everyone.

 

[wdwgirl03]

10 days!!

Also got a reservation at T-Rex which I am excited for. I've been wanting to eat there for a long time!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

10 days!!

Also got a reservation at T-Rex which I am excited for. I've been wanting to eat there for a long time!

My boys love it there. We've been ther the last 2 trips. They'll be disappointed we're not eating there this year
To many restaurants~ not enough time!!

 

[Moodyzblu]

One week !!

 

[strompetrel]

First Disney Trip in 28 years. Nothin's changed in the place, right?

Staying in POFQ.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

First Disney Trip in 28 years. Nothin's changed in the place, right?

Staying in POFQ.

OMG 28 yrs.!! It'll be like going for the first time all over again. How exciting!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Has anybody ever used one of these passes before??
I think there are only a few parking spaces in each park, right?
When DH picked up my park tickets yesterday- they asked if he wanted one.
I was so PSYCHED when he got home. If we go through AAA for our trips we always forget about that stupid pass.
DH knew about the spaces but didn't ask them any questions- typical man!

 

[angierae]

Well, WDW has started crediting back my money from changing my package. $200 of it went on gift cards that I found yesterday (I have a huge stack of gift cards from buying them at Target) but there's another $487 that's been credited that is going to one Visa or the other one. On hold with them now to see if they can tell me which cards how much went to so I knwo where to keep an eye out.

 

[RobertLC]

First Disney Trip in 28 years. Nothin's changed in the place, right?

Staying in POFQ.

This will be the first time I've been since 1975 and my wife's first time since 1979.

Wonder if we'd qualify for the "First Visit" pins since all that was there back then was the Magic Kingdom?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

This will be the first time I've been since 1975 and my wife's first time since 1979.

Wonder if we'd qualify for the "First Visit" pins since all that was there back then was the Magic Kingdom?

Definately get the pins and have a magical trip!!!

 

[JJ in wonderland]

10 days to go!!!! 9 until we start our drive!!!!