***Official April 2013 thread*** SEE POST # 4028

[rebeccaariel]

Oh good grief!!! How in the world can the disney website be working, but not the call center??? I just can't decide if I want to wait and risk missing the discount totally or make a new reservation online and cancel my existing one. Sigh....

I don't think the discount will be gone within a day. Most people don't frequent this or other Disney planning websites and thus won't necessarily be privy to this information so promptly. Most probably won't book the day the discount comes out.

 

[TJDisneymama]

I think POFQ has limited availability for the discounts and when it does, it's pretty small - like 5% off the room (plus the ticket discount)

 

[librarygeek]

I just found out that my sister will be able to join our family trip. Which is great, but I made all of our dining ressies for 5 people (not 6). How easy is it to get them changed? It looks like I can't do that online (unless I rebook, and I have BOG so I can't do that), but if I call up is adding an extra person something they can do easily? It's not something that would be a problem, would it? I would guess that most parties of 5 are being seated at tables for 6 anyway?

 

[bigjrfan88]

POFQ? I thought it was excluded from the discount.

Its not completely excluded. Its just not that great of a discount. I think you only really save money on the tickets. Maybe 5% or something like that. We tried it the day the Visa promo came out because we love POFQ and the price for our 5 day stay was only about 200 dollars cheaper than what was quoted as a non-promo price, and that was for a standard room too. However I was able to save a considerable amount when I switched to POR. Its basically the same price as what I had for my room at POP.

 

[TJDisneymama]

according to my phone app, I'm at 98 days so you know what that means......................................
................................................
................................................
time for the double-digit dance!

 

[bigmochick]

Booked POR riverview for 4/12-20. Not extremely excited about the location since I've read some ho-hum reviews of alligator bayou where our party of 5 will have to stay. I just keep telling myself that we aren't going to be in our room that much.

 

[mkleinbe]

Just got through and with a resort switch got the discount applied.

We're now at POR instead of AoA. I'm a bit sad, but in the end, the money won out.

 

[TJDisneymama]

it's so hard..... I can switch us to AKL right now (from AoA) and save us an additional $350 (on top of the $400+ I already saved from the new discount)........... so a DELUXE for LESS money!!! BUT......I think the kids will be underwhelmed by AKL. They won't hate it or complain or anything, I just think they'll be like "eh, whatever" (it would be a standard room, not savanna-view), and I don't want them to be all "eh", I want them to be like "OMG!". I just keep telling myself they're only young once and the time is limited for them to have the "WOW factor" and I think they'll def. get the WOW Factor at AoA.
I think this will be our last stay at a Value. I love the Values for young kids because I like the over-the-top, in-your-face aspect of them. As they get older though, I think they'll appreciate the Mods & Deluxes more with the better pools, and easier access to parks and stuff.

 

[rebeccaariel]

"We're sorry, all circuits are busy right now. Please call again later."

*repeatedly smashes head against desk"

 

[Mousemommy1]

it's so hard..... I can switch us to AKL right now (from AoA) and save us an additional $350 (on top of the $400+ I already saved from the new discount)........... so a DELUXE for LESS money!!! BUT......I think the kids will be underwhelmed by AKL. They won't hate it or complain or anything, I just think they'll be like "eh, whatever" (it would be a standard room, not savanna-view), and I don't want them to be all "eh", I want them to be like "OMG!". I just keep telling myself they're only young once and the time is limited for them to have the "WOW factor" and I think they'll def. get the WOW Factor at AoA.
I think this will be our last stay at a Value. I love the Values for young kids because I like the over-the-top, in-your-face aspect of them. As they get older though, I think they'll appreciate the Mods & Deluxes more with the better pools, and easier access to parks and stuff.

Do your kids like animals??? I mean, I think that WOW factor is there, that they can step outside and see all of the animals....and you'd have the pool slide (if your kids like that)....As much as I want to stay at AoA, I would switch to AKL in a heartbeat! Just sayin...

 

[USAND3KIDS]

Do your kids like animals??? I mean, I think that WOW factor is there, that they can step outside and see all of the animals....and you'd have the pool slide (if your kids like that)....As much as I want to stay at AoA, I would switch to AKL in a heartbeat! Just sayin...

I agree with that. It's absolutely beautiful and they do have nice pools over there too.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Do your kids like animals??? I mean, I think that WOW factor is there, that they can step outside and see all of the animals....and you'd have the pool slide (if your kids like that)....As much as I want to stay at AoA, I would switch to AKL in a heartbeat! Just sayin...

they like animals fine....but they're not like crazy animal fans or anything. We go to a lot of good zoos too so it's not like we don't ever get to see those types of animals. I agree it would have more of the WOW factor if we were in a savanna room, but those aren't discounted. Also, factor in that Animal Kingdom is their least favorite park........ and we also like to have separate sleeping areas since YDD gets up at the crack of dawn and we'd be giving that up at AKL.
I have plenty of time to obsess over it though, lol.

 

[Jasperann]

they like animals fine....but they're not like crazy animal fans or anything. We go to a lot of good zoos too so it's not like we don't ever get to see those types of animals. I agree it would have more of the WOW factor if we were in a savanna room, but those aren't discounted. Also, factor in that Animal Kingdom is their least favorite park........ and we also like to have separate sleeping areas since YDD gets up at the crack of dawn and we'd be giving that up at AKL.
I have plenty of time to obsess over it though, lol.

I know how you feel about not wanting to switch from AoA. I had the same issue. I was so excited to stay at AoA, but then I found out that Deluxe Club level at the Boardwalk was only going to be like 1700 more for us. I couldn't pass it up. We will probably never get to stay at a Deluxe again, until the kids are older at least. I also asked the kids which place they preferred to go, surprisingly they all loved the look of the clown pool and picked the resort because of that. I know we will be going back to the values (which we all love) on our next trip. So we will do AoA then. Even my oldest DD loves the value look, so I'm not worried about them being to old to enjoy the wow factor of it.

 

[pwdebbie]

Argh! Called, got through in minutes, lady was checking "one more way" for me and we got disconnected. Now I am hoping my original reservation is still intact because she was making changes on it, then when the numbers came out higher she switched them back, but we weren't completely finished when I was greeted with the message about the survey and then poof, gone. I called back and got the "please try your call again later" message. I can hear dh now, "You should have just left well enough alone."

 

[rebeccaariel]

Finally got through after being on hold for quite some time! Saved a surprising amount, over $600, which is great. I had to switch from a preferred room to a garden view room at POR though, but I'm not one to complain about little details. I'm just excited to go.

 

[Jasperann]

Argh! Called, got through in minutes, lady was checking "one more way" for me and we got disconnected. Now I am hoping my original reservation is still intact because she was making changes on it, then when the numbers came out higher she switched them back, but we weren't completely finished when I was greeted with the message about the survey and then poof, gone. I called back and got the "please try your call again later" message. I can hear dh now, "You should have just left well enough alone."

I had something like that happen to me, but I'm pretty sure the CM hung up on me. So I was so afraid that she had made the changes and called back to make sure she hadn't. Then made the changes that I had wanted to make. But that wasn't today, so I didn't have an issue getting back through. Good Luck!

 

[TJDisneymama]

I know how you feel about not wanting to switch from AoA. I had the same issue. I was so excited to stay at AoA, but then I found out that Deluxe Club level at the Boardwalk was only going to be like 1700 more for us. I couldn't pass it up. We will probably never get to stay at a Deluxe again, until the kids are older at least. I also asked the kids which place they preferred to go, surprisingly they all loved the look of the clown pool and picked the resort because of that. I know we will be going back to the values (which we all love) on our next trip. So we will do AoA then. Even my oldest DD loves the value look, so I'm not worried about them being to old to enjoy the wow factor of it.

GAH! I don't know what to do! Split stay? But it would only be 3 nts. each, IDK if I want to deal with moving after 3 nts......

this may call for a poll on the Resorts board......

 

[cherylsmike]

GAH! I don't know what to do! Split stay? But it would only be 3 nts. each, IDK if I want to deal with moving after 3 nts......

this may call for a poll on the Resorts board......

I think if the AOA will give your kids the WOW factor you should keep it. My kids are older (16 and 13) and the wow factor, especically for DS13, is hard to come by these days. It will be well worth the money. Take these moments, savor them, take lots of pictures. Excited kids will make your trip more magical

 

[cherylsmike]

Resort Changer, here!! More for the magic than the discount, but it helps.

cherylsmike -- April 14 - 21; POR

We love POR!

 

[trtl6941]

according to my phone app, I'm at 98 days so you know what that means......................................
................................................
................................................
time for the double-digit dance!

97 for me!!

it's so hard..... I can switch us to AKL right now (from AoA) and save us an additional $350 (on top of the $400+ I already saved from the new discount)........... so a DELUXE for LESS money!!! BUT......I think the kids will be underwhelmed by AKL. They won't hate it or complain or anything, I just think they'll be like "eh, whatever" (it would be a standard room, not savanna-view), and I don't want them to be all "eh", I want them to be like "OMG!". I just keep telling myself they're only young once and the time is limited for them to have the "WOW factor" and I think they'll def. get the WOW Factor at AoA.
I think this will be our last stay at a Value. I love the Values for young kids because I like the over-the-top, in-your-face aspect of them. As they get older though, I think they'll appreciate the Mods & Deluxes more with the better pools, and easier access to parks and stuff.

I had the SAME struggle! We could stay at the beach club or AK for about the same (even cheaper in some cases) and I was freaking out because I have always wanted to stay deluxe! But...my kids are 2, 5, and 6 and I know AoA would totally make their day! I have many years ahead where they will think Deluxe is cool too. That was hard to pass up though!