*****Official February 2015 Thread! Come check in and chat!*****

[travelbug08]

How was the code advertised? Orbitz email?

I found it by going to "Deals" on the Orbitz website.

 

[jmac323]

My kids are old enough that we can do date night and they can do their own thing. We're planning on doing the Blue Bayou one night while the kids grab a quick dinner and spend a couple of hours on their own. We weren't sure how they would feel about that since they love that restaurant but they took it quite well lol My daughter already has her meal planned out for that night.


Oh wow how I long for the day when my kids can go off on their own while DH and I have some quiet time LOL. May I ask your kids ages by chance? I have a ways to go with mine but I was curious what age kids are starting to get some freedom in the parks like that. I know it's subjective, and everyone is different but I was just curious.

 

[ClaraOswald]

United emailed me today and our flight time changed. Instead of having 2 hours in Denver (which we wanted since we have a 1 year old and it will be lunch time) we now only have 45 minutes. Boo.

I hate when airlines do that! We have flown United and American the past two vacations and BOTH have done that to us! Once to DL for our Christmas vacation 2012/13 and then again last New Years to Hawaii. The DL one was the worst though because we literally could not make our connecting flight. The plane wasn't even set to land until about 30 minutes AFTER our connecting flight was supposed to leave!! Needless to say, I was a little upset with the agent I spoke to. They ended up having to change our whole flight and instead of one stop, we ended up having two because of their screw up! I was NOT impressed!

That is pretty crappy!

So I found a decent flight on Southwest. I talked to United and I got a refund. I had booked using a ton of airline miles (plus $16) and I got everything back. I cancelled that flight. And we're going to book one on Southwest that has a 2 hour layover. It's $152 per person. But we have a credit of $150 we should be able to use from when we rebooked our return flight at a lower price.

So now we're flying SWA both ways. We arrive a bit later to California but not much, so that's good. And now our longer flight is the first leg so that might be a good thing too.

 

[Aladora]

That is pretty crappy!

So I found a decent flight on Southwest. I talked to United and I got a refund. I had booked using a ton of airline miles (plus $16) and I got everything back. I cancelled that flight. And we're going to book one on Southwest that has a 2 hour layover. It's $152 per person. But we have a credit of $150 we should be able to use from when we rebooked our return flight at a lower price.

So now we're flying SWA both ways. We arrive a bit later to California but not much, so that's good. And now our longer flight is the first leg so that might be a good thing too.

Yuck, sorry you had to go through all of this but at least you were able to not only get all your points and $ back from United but you found a flight on SW that works for you!

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

It seems like the code was only good for 48 hours which is why it has now expired.

How was the code advertised? Orbitz email?

 

[ClaraOswald]

So what things have you guys NOT booked/purchased yet?

My "to do list" looks like this....

Buy park tickets
Reserve kennel for our dog
Buy/ship pack n play to hotel (can't do this until a few days before.)
Need to buy a few items for our son - headphones, new books/toys for plane, shade extender for stroller.

I think that's pretty much it. Well, except for things we'll need to purchase once we arrive in California.

We already have our flights, hotel, and car rental booked. (We also have back up dates book at a hotel for April.)

 

[Aladora]

How was the code advertised? Orbitz email?

Sorry Danny, you must have missed my original reply to your question, it is at the bottom of page 16. I've quoted it in this reply below:

Someone posted a thread here about Orbitz having a 20% code so I decided to check it out. I couldn't find the 20% code so I originally booked the room with the 10% one, then when someone posted the better code on this thread, I rebooked using that one. If you are Canadian, you can go through ebates.ca to get to Orbitz and get cash back that way.

But, I would sign up for their e-mails, it would make sense that they would send codes out that way but also keep your eyes open here.

 

[Aladora]

So what things have you guys NOT booked/purchased yet?

My "to do list" looks like this....

Buy park tickets
Reserve kennel for our dog
Buy/ship pack n play to hotel (can't do this until a few days before.)
Need to buy a few items for our son - headphones, new books/toys for plane, shade extender for stroller.

I think that's pretty much it. Well, except for things we'll need to purchase once we arrive in California.

We already have our flights, hotel, and car rental booked. (We also have back up dates book at a hotel for April.)

I've got our hotel and flights booked, all I really have left to do is get our park tickets although when it gets closer to the trip I will download a bunch of movies and shows for all of us to watch and load them onto each of our tablets.

Oh! I almost forgot, I need to make reservations for DH and I to go to Napa Rose and also for DS to go to Pinocchio's Workshop. We might do the Critter breakfast since we are going to be there but we are still discussing that.

I'm also going to put in an order from Von's to get some stuff delivered since we are not renting a car and I hate paying so much for bottled water in the park! Between the three of us we got through at least 6 bottles of water a day and depending on the heat, that number can go much higher!

 

[MadameRebecca]

So what things have you guys NOT booked/purchased yet?

We need to:
- make dining reservations
- organise Photopass+
- book airport transfers
- since we'll be travelling with a 13 month old, I need to make sure I have everything organised for her. Disneyland hotel have a pack n play but we're buying a stroller at Walmart day 1. Cheaper than renting. Because we're coming from Australia, we'll be able to get our American confectionary stash to take back with us lol.

Any travelling to Disneyland with a baby tips welcome!!

 

[minneylovesmicky]

So what things have you guys NOT booked/purchased yet?

We just have to book the Character meals, as you can only do those 60 days out, so am waiting for that time frame to come up, in the mean time I am still trying to work out which one to do, thinking Goofys Kitchen.

We were going to do the World of Colour Dining package but World of Colour won't be on whilst we are there, so don't have to worry about that one now.

So apart from the Character meal, we are done, we have brought all our bits and bobs we need, so just counting down now - 84 days to go

 

[lalasmama]

So what things have you guys NOT booked/purchased yet?

... Just about everything!

Hotel reservations are made, and that's it!

I've been watching flight prices. Was going to buy this week, but we're buying a house instead, so I have to wait a paycheck. Down payment was bigger than expected!

I'm working on my disbounds for the week. Trying to get pieces together that can double up. So far, I've got Anna. Thinking if I manage a light blue shirt or two, I could pull off Genie (using my blue Anna pants and a red belt), maybe a casual Cinderella or Elsa as well.

I'll be starting to collect my gift cards to use for food at the next payday too.

Hubby buys my ticket, and won't do that until January, probably. Or, who knows, that may well be my present under the tree!

We pay for the hotel at check-in, so no worries about that until the day-of. Watching those Orbitz deals again though, for when we have enough money all at once to pay for a hotel. There were some screamin' deals there!

90 days today!

 

[ClaraOswald]

I've got our hotel and flights booked, all I really have left to do is get our park tickets although when it gets closer to the trip I will download a bunch of movies and shows for all of us to watch and load them onto each of our tablets.

Oh! I almost forgot, I need to make reservations for DH and I to go to Napa Rose and also for DS to go to Pinocchio's Workshop. We might do the Critter breakfast since we are going to be there but we are still discussing that.

I'm also going to put in an order from Von's to get some stuff delivered since we are not renting a car and I hate paying so much for bottled water in the park! Between the three of us we got through at least 6 bottles of water a day and depending on the heat, that number can go much higher!

Yeah, we'll need to download movies or something for our son to watch on the plane. Though right now, he's not really into t.v. or movies yet.

And I think we might make a reservation for Big Thunder BBQ.

I really, really hope it isn't hot for our trip. I want to be able to wear jeans and a t-shirt during the day and a sweatshirt at night. Actually, a sweatshirt during the day would be nice too.

We need to:
- make dining reservations
- organise Photopass+
- book airport transfers
- since we'll be travelling with a 13 month old, I need to make sure I have everything organised for her. Disneyland hotel have a pack n play but we're buying a stroller at Walmart day 1. Cheaper than renting. Because we're coming from Australia, we'll be able to get our American confectionary stash to take back with us lol.

Any travelling to Disneyland with a baby tips welcome!!

We're staying offsite and our hotel rents a crib for $10 a night. We're just going to buy and have a new pack n play delivered instead for $40 since the used crib at the hotel would be $80. Our son will be 16 months for our trip. I'm nervous!

We have a cheaper stroller that we're bringing with us so we can have it at the airport for our layover.

We are also bringing a cheap/light car seat for use on the airplane and in our rental car.

 

[Aladora]

Yeah, we'll need to download movies or something for our son to watch on the plane. Though right now, he's not really into t.v. or movies yet.

And I think we might make a reservation for Big Thunder BBQ.

I really, really hope it isn't hot for our trip. I want to be able to wear jeans and a t-shirt during the day and a sweatshirt at night. Actually, a sweatshirt during the day would be nice too.

I'm trying to remember what my son loved at that age...not much in the way of tv or movies but I think he watched the Curious George movie a lot! And Dora the Explorer...he was SO into Dora for so many years that I almost lost my mind!

We finally tried BTRBBQ this past August and to be honest, none of us were all that impressed but then again, we are not huge eaters so it seemed like it cost a lot for what we ate. I know that there are lots of people who rave about it.

I'm the total opposite to you, I would like nothing more than to have it HOT when we are there, at least hot by Victoria February standards that is. I'd be thrilled if I can wear shorts and either tank tops or t-shirts the whole time but I think it more likely to be shorts during the day and jeans at night. Victoria weather in February is between 3 and 8 degrees C so for me, the hotter the better!

 

[StyledSugar]

Oh wow how I long for the day when my kids can go off on their own while DH and I have some quiet time LOL. May I ask your kids ages by chance? I have a ways to go with mine but I was curious what age kids are starting to get some freedom in the parks like that. I know it's subjective, and everyone is different but I was just curious.

They are 16 & 11 (turns 12 while we are there). We tried the freedom thing for them on our last trip when my daughter was 14 and my son was 9. They stick together really well and checked in with us every hour. They loved it! We only did it a couple of times while we were there but they were very responsible and we didn't have any concerns.

I truly believe it's different with every child and only the parents know what their own children can and cannot handle. I have a feeling they will want more time to themselves this time, since they are both a little older now and I am fine with that. I know the majority of our time in the park will be spent together but they need to do their own thing sometimes as well.

 

[jmac323]

They are 16 & 11 (turns 12 while we are there). We tried the freedom thing for them on our last trip when my daughter was 14 and my son was 9. They stick together really well and checked in with us every hour. They loved it! We only did it a couple of times while we were there but they were very responsible and we didn't have any concerns.

I truly believe it's different with every child and only the parents know what their own children can and cannot handle. I have a feeling they will want more time to themselves this time, since they are both a little older now and I am fine with that. I know the majority of our time in the park will be spent together but they need to do their own thing sometimes as well.

I bet it is a nice little break for everyone to be able to split up. Mine are 4 years apart and still young but I've started letting the older one do a few things on her own, with me stalking her from close by LOL.

 

[jmac323]

What have I NOT done yet?

Pretty much everything. I've only booked our timeshare so far. What I need to do:
- dining reservations in January
- park tickets by Xmas
- order photopass+

 

[AZMermaid]

We liked BTBBQ but thought it was a little overpriced- even for DL.

I need to buy tickets. I am waiting until at least Jan because I am hoping for a ticket deal. I also need to book our offsite stroller rental and our dining when the window opens. We are trying Ariel's this time and that will likely be our only table service.

 

[anniebean]

As far as I know, we've only booked the flight. Fiance is handling all of the reservations, but I don't think he's actually booked it yet.

 

[Aladora]

As far as I know, we've only booked the flight. Fiance is handling all of the reservations, but I don't think he's actually booked it yet.

Depending on where you want to stay, you might want to nudge him to book the hotel soon!

 

[minneylovesmicky]

As far as I know, we've only booked the flight. Fiance is handling all of the reservations, but I don't think he's actually booked it yet.

lets hope it isn't a "holiday? what holiday? you never said you wanted a holiday" reaction from him