** Official ** March 2011!!!

[SnowWhite607]

We were undecided about which resort to stay at, but have finally decided it's gonna be AKV Kidani. My father in law is such a animal lovers that being able to see them every day is going to be wonderful for him.
I saw a few posts saying that some of you are flying on southwest airlines. I did not think their flights have been posted yet. If they are, are they on their main site or something different?

As of August 17, the schdule was posted thru March 11. If you need a flight after that, you will have to wait until October.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Well, I've just been able to change from WL to CSR!!! I wanted to stay at a deluxe resort again but saving almost $1,000 to stay Moderate just makes it hard to justify. An CSR has had no availability since the discounts were announced. Well this morning there was one room that popped up and I grabbed it!!! Love having Queen size beds, Double beds are just to small for tall people.

I am dissapointed with the airfair out of New Orleans. We flew this past July and it cost the 3 of us a little over $500. Now it's up to $750 and that's with a stop in Tennessee instead of direct.

Our dates are March 3 - March 9!!!

We will be there roughly at the same time then!

Yes the fares are definitely more for Mardi Gras week than many other weeks. Law of supply and demand I suppose. They know people want the airfare so they can charge whatever they want. Plus since Southwest has no baggage fees, I htink a lot of people tend to use them, especially families on school vacations.

Its 750 for a flight with a stop? They opened up the schedule window on August 17. I got up at 630am and all the cheap flights were sold out for the day I had originally planned to go. You really have to be ready to book that day and apparently very early in the morning as well.

I changed my dates around after I found out that my daughter got an extra day off from school so we are going March 4 instead of March 5. I also looked last night and all the Sunday March 6 flights are sold out, at least the direct ones.

 

[Vickis3js]

We were undecided about which resort to stay at, but have finally decided it's gonna be AKV Kidani. My father in law is such a animal lovers that being able to see them every day is going to be wonderful for him.
I saw a few posts saying that some of you are flying on southwest airlines. I did not think their flights have been posted yet. If they are, are they on their main site or something different?

You will love Kidani!! Its our fav. If you are staying SV request a lower floor. We stayed in a second floor room last Dec and the animals were so close. We are staying at Jambo when we go in March. We are going in Dec as well and we are staying at OKW and I already know I will be missing AKL.

 

[krazyhardrocker]

Hi! New to Disboard. We are going to be staying at the POP March 13 - 20, 2011. Also doing the 3 night Disney Cruise departing on March 10th. First trip for our boys (9 and 15) and my wife and I have not been since our honeymoon (Poly 9/91). We are so excited and I can't wait for the park schedules to come out!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hours are out on the travel agent site!!

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_Mar.pdf

 

[krazyhardrocker]

Wow, I can not thank you enough for that link. It has been driving me crazy waiting for these to come out. Truely appreciated.

 

[ocalla]

I just pm'd you.

 

[Mom2micayla]

Thanks for posting the hours, Amy. That rocks!

Not much longer until I can make our ADRs. I think we're going to do the DxDP since we haven't been since the late 80s and are dying to try all these yummy looking restaurants. The thought of spending $1100 on food (not even adding in tips or tax, either! ouch! ) makes me sick, but we got our week at SSR free and the 7 day park hoppers free, so we're out less than 2k for the whole deal (just flight & DxDP, plus a few extras here and there). Not too bad for staying a week at a deluxe villa, I think!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Thanks for posting the hours, Amy. That rocks!

Not much longer until I can make our ADRs. I think we're going to do the DxDP since we haven't been since the late 80s and are dying to try all these yummy looking restaurants. The thought of spending $1100 on food (not even adding in tips or tax, either! ouch! ) makes me sick, but we got our week at SSR free and the 7 day park hoppers free, so we're out less than 2k for the whole deal (just flight & DxDP, plus a few extras here and there). Not too bad for staying a week at a deluxe villa, I think!

Happy to share!!

So tell me... how did you get your resort & park tickets for free?

 

[Mom2micayla]

Happy to share!!

So tell me... how did you get your resort & park tickets for free?

The resort was a gift from my ILs. They traded one of their RCI timeshares into SSR for us as a 10th anniversary gift.

The tickets were free from the rewards sites earnings I do from time to time (Sunshine Rewards, Mypoints and some of my Disney Visa Rewards).

 

[DisMomAmy]

The resort was a gift from my ILs. They traded one of their RCI timeshares into SSR for us as a 10th anniversary gift.

The tickets were free from the rewards sites earnings I do from time to time (Sunshine Rewards, Mypoints and some of my Disney Visa Rewards).

That's a great gift!! We were never able to exchange our Interval International timeshare for a Disney resort... and now that they are with RCI we'll never get the chance.

Have a great trip!

 

[SnowWhite607]

I just pm'd you.

I got it, thank you! I tried to get a flight for March 3, later in the evening so we could get free dining. Last flight is sold out.

I already got a wanna get away fare so I could only change it to another wanna get away fare without losing money. Oh well.

I am taking my mom and as much as I would be willing to stay an entire week, she is on the frugal side and I think she is spending about as much money as she is prepared to spend anyway.

 

[Vickis3js]

The resort was a gift from my ILs. They traded one of their RCI timeshares into SSR for us as a 10th anniversary gift.

The tickets were free from the rewards sites earnings I do from time to time (Sunshine Rewards, Mypoints and some of my Disney Visa Rewards).

So how do you get Disney stuff from Mypoints? The points sites are my addiction. My poor kids can never buy things in the store I make them come home so I can buy them online to get points LOL. I was able to get $200 in gas cards already from my points for our drive down in March, I have $100 in my SR account and my Disney rewards is already over $300. Since gas is paid for I would love get Disney stuff from mypoints.

 

[MyPeanut&Bug]

Thanks for posting hours! I've had a stressful, emotional week (DS starting kindergarten and I'm not handling it well...) and Disney planning is just what this night called for.

Flight prices are killing me and my budget, especially on the heels of not being able to take advantage of any of the 3 deals announced the other day. Hoping something much better opens up with a few that haven't released March's schedule yet (namely Allegiant, I'm holding out for something great from them based on friends who have used them to fly to Orlando) If it wasn't for the time constraints of DH and DS being in school during our trip, we'd definitely be driving again!

 

[Vickis3js]

Thanks for posting hours! I've had a stressful, emotional week (DS starting kindergarten and I'm not handling it well...) and Disney planning is just what this night called for.

Flight prices are killing me and my budget, especially on the heels of not being able to take advantage of any of the 3 deals announced the other day. Hoping something much better opens up with a few that haven't released March's schedule yet (namely Allegiant, I'm holding out for something great from them based on friends who have used them to fly to Orlando) If it wasn't for the time constraints of DH and DS being in school during our trip, we'd definitely be driving again!

UGHH I am so there with you on airfare. We want to fly out of Atlantic City, NJ since we live like 25 min from the airport but Spirits airfare is insane right now for March. Southwest's fares were not that bad BUT they are only open for our flight down right now. We missed the cut off by one day we are booked until the 12th and they only have fares listed until the 11th. We will not change that date since we were able to get AKL CL with out DVC points. We have 2 days at the beginning I can add and one day at the end I can add but I will NOT take away from the end. So I have my fingers crossed that it gets cheaper. DH said he would drive but since its just him and I this trip I'm not feeling it.

 

[MyPeanut&Bug]

Vicki, I've found the same as you - a fairly decent price on AirTran leaving when we want to but no return flight on the day we want to leave. It's good enough that I'd book if that return one would be added. But yes, I'm like you - no way am I cutting it short just because of the stupid flight!

 

[Mom2micayla]

So how do you get Disney stuff from Mypoints? The points sites are my addiction. My poor kids can never buy things in the store I make them come home so I can buy them online to get points LOL. I was able to get $200 in gas cards already from my points for our drive down in March, I have $100 in my SR account and my Disney rewards is already over $300. Since gas is paid for I would love get Disney stuff from mypoints.

Not directly Disney, but Landry's gift certificates are usually what I use Mypoints for. You can cash them out for a meal at Y&Y, Rainforest or T-Rex. Of course that doesn't work if you're doing DDP. I've seen some people who have been cashing out for Walgreens gc's, then going to Walgreens and using that gc to buy a gc to Disney. I haven't tried it yet, but it might be worth a shot if you do shop at Walgreens and can use their gc if they deny you for some reason.

Of course, if you're driving, you can also use the points for Walmart, Kmart or Target and then buy groceries that way too.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Not directly Disney, but Landry's gift certificates are usually what I use Mypoints for. You can cash them out for a meal at Y&Y, Rainforest or T-Rex. Of course that doesn't work if you're doing DDP. I've seen some people who have been cashing out for Walgreens gc's, then going to Walgreens and using that gc to buy a gc to Disney. I haven't tried it yet, but it might be worth a shot if you do shop at Walgreens and can use their gc if they deny you for some reason.

Of course, if you're driving, you can also use the points for Walmart, Kmart or Target and then buy groceries that way too.

My Walgreens has a sign that says you can only buy gift cards with cash or debit cards so that wouldnt work for me BUT......we are not doing the DDP so a Landry'd gift card would work!! Thanks for the info!

 

[fupresti]

Wife and I will be staying at BCV from 3/5-3/13. Just need US Airways to drop fares a little

 

[Disneymom77]

Woohoo! Just booked our trip this afternoon for March 3-12 Could not pass up free dining for 9 days! We are staying at POFQ We love it there