Official May 2011 thread!

[kadesha]

Thanks to the kids free discount code, we FINALLY booked!!! Can't wait til May 13!!!

 

[BDL]

Happy Holidays everyone! I just realized our last full day in Disney will be Mother's Day. Does anyone know if Disney does anything special? We were planning on AK that day, with ADR's at Tusker for breakfast. I was thinking we would probably do DTD that evening for dinner and shopping. I don't really care about being "pampered" or anything like that, I just don't want to miss out on anything that Disney might be doing that day.

You could always have the Disney florists break into your room while you are out and leave a nice gift bundle, flowers, glass slipper, etc...

 

[bobbieh76]

We are going in MAY!!!!

9-13th this is our 3rd trip since our first in 2008!! My kids are 6 and 8 and have been begging to go since we got home from our trip in 2009!! I had a trip planned in December of 2010 but had to cancel so we are looking forward to this trip! This will be the first time we are driving and it will also be the our first time at Coronado Springs Resort in the past we have flown and stayed at POP!

Our April 2009 trip was absolutely PERFECT no rain, not too hot, and not too crowded I am hoping that we luck out on this trip too!!!

We have not done the water parks in the past and I was curious anyone on this board done them in May are they worth the extra money or not? We thought about just going to Blizzard Beach one day... any input?

 

[melnbil]

From what I have read and researched, if you are only going one time, do not add the water parks and more option, just get a one day ticket. If you plan on doing at least two of the three (BB, TL, or Disney Quest) then it is better to add the option. I personally am waiting till we get there and will see if we can squeeze in a day.

 

[AKL LOVER]

We have not done the water parks in the past and I was curious anyone on this board done them in May are they worth the extra money or not? We thought about just going to Blizzard Beach one day... any input?

From what I have read and researched, if you are only going one time, do not add the water parks and more option, just get a one day ticket. If you plan on doing at least two of the three (BB, TL, or Disney Quest) then it is better to add the option. I personally am waiting till we get there and will see if we can squeeze in a day.

Melnbil is right. If you are just going to a waterpark for one day, then do not add the water park and more option. It is cheaper to just buy a one day ticket for each person once you get there. The upgrade for the water park and more option is only worth it if you visit the waterparks or DQ multiple times!

It is plenty hot enough in May to go to the waterparks. If you are worried about it and just plan on going to BB one day, then play it by ear and pick the day that will be the hottest while you are there to go.

 

[marcikira]

Hi! Joining in!
Just got booked last night with the kids free promo and we'll be going May 9-14!!!

We are celebrating lots this year! We'll be there on my birthday but we will also be celebrating DH 50th and our 15th anniversary!

DD and I stayed up late last night and booked all the ADRs last night! We can't wait!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Just added another two days to our WDW vacation. Now, we are doing a split stay: 2 days at Port Orleans Riverside and 9 days at Caribbean Beach. I booked the CBR stay with free dining and saved about $1,500. I booked the Port Orleans stay with the new 25% off promo and saved $99.00. The cost of our 2011 vacation (with 4 people...all considered adults) is $678.00 less than our 2010 vacation with 3 people.

 

[AKL LOVER]

Just added another two days to our WDW vacation. Now, we are doing a split stay: 2 days at Port Orleans Riverside and 9 days at Caribbean Beach. I booked the CBR stay with free dining and saved about $1,500. I booked the Port Orleans stay with the new 25% off promo and saved $99.00. The cost of our 2011 vacation (with 4 people...all considered adults) is $678.00 less than our 2010 vacation with 3 people.

I'm always amazed at how much some people save with free dining! Right now, since both my kids are little we still save more with room or package discounts. For my May vacation I saved $990 (at AKL) with a PIN I received in the mail...I was pretty psyched about that til I just read your post!! Now I almost can't wait til my kids get older so I can say that I saved as much as you!!

 

[Jonesloonybin]

I forgot to mention what we will be celebrating. Our 11th anniversary is on the 6th. My youngest dd's birthday is in May (she will be 8). My oldest dd will be turning 16 but her birthday is in July. I am thinking of letting both of them pick one day and they can "celebrate" their birthday and wear a pin. What do you all think? I just feel a little bad since the oldest's bday is not until July. But I don't want to just let one do it.

Do you think it would be ok? Oh, and this is our first trip, so we are celebrating that too.

Terri

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm always amazed at how much some people save with free dining! Right now, since both my kids are little we still save more with room or package discounts. For my May vacation I saved $990 (at AKL) with a PIN I received in the mail...I was pretty psyched about that til I just read your post!! Now I almost can't wait til my kids get older so I can say that I saved as much as you!!

I didn't realize just how much I would save by booking with the free dining until I ran the numbers. I was amazed! That's the biggest savings we have ever had on a Disney vacation. Normally, my savings are in the $300 to $400 range and I was happy with that.

 

[Jonesloonybin]

Hi! Joining in!
Just got booked last night with the kids free promo and we'll be going May 9-14!!!

We are celebrating lots this year! We'll be there on my birthday but we will also be celebrating DH 50th and our 15th anniversary!

DD and I stayed up late last night and booked all the ADRs last night! We can't wait!

That is great!! Congrats on all the celebrations!

What is your countdown for?? For a second I got excited thinking I was in the double digits for my countdown since I am arriving before you...but nope, we still have 116 day.

Terri

 

[crostorfer]

I forgot to mention what we will be celebrating. Our 11th anniversary is on the 6th. My youngest dd's birthday is in May (she will be 8). My oldest dd will be turning 16 but her birthday is in July. I am thinking of letting both of them pick one day and they can "celebrate" their birthday and wear a pin. What do you all think? I just feel a little bad since the oldest's bday is not until July. But I don't want to just let one do it.

Do you think it would be ok? Oh, and this is our first trip, so we are celebrating that too.

Terri

My Daughter will be turning 8 on our vacation as well, and we'll be there at the same time! Have fun!!! Thats weird, because our dog is named Buddha as well! LOL

 

[mickeystoontown]

I forgot to mention what we will be celebrating. Our 11th anniversary is on the 6th. My youngest dd's birthday is in May (she will be 8). My oldest dd will be turning 16 but her birthday is in July. I am thinking of letting both of them pick one day and they can "celebrate" their birthday and wear a pin. What do you all think? I just feel a little bad since the oldest's bday is not until July. But I don't want to just let one do it.

Do you think it would be ok? Oh, and this is our first trip, so we are celebrating that too.

Terri

I think that will be perfectly fine. When we checked into the CBR last May, they gave our son his birthday button (his birthday was the 24th) and my mother her first visit button. They asked if we were celebrating anything else and we said we weren't since our anniversary wasn't until August and our birthdays were months away. The castmember said we should celebrate early and handed us anniversary buttons to wear.

 

[Chrissyb8885]

is there a poll somewhere of who is going what week in may??? im sure there is but i cant seem to find it

thanks
Chrissy

 

[3Leafs]

is there a poll somewhere of who is going what week in may??? im sure there is but i cant seem to find it

thanks
Chrissy

I was thinking the same thing..

 

[Pooh67_68]

I don't remember a poll, but you can always start one.

 

[marcikira]

That is great!! Congrats on all the celebrations!

What is your countdown for?? For a second I got excited thinking I was in the double digits for my countdown since I am arriving before you...but nope, we still have 116 day.

Terri

Thanks!

Oh my! Gotta change my countdown. Our ORIGINAL dates were in April, but the vacation dates didn't work out.... off to change the countdown!

 

[Jonesloonybin]

My Daughter will be turning 8 on our vacation as well, and we'll be there at the same time! Have fun!!! Thats weird, because our dog is named Buddha as well! LOL

Wow that is weird! Our dog is a pug. We are originally from Salem, Oregon. (fellow Pacific Northwesterners!)

I hope you guys have a great trip! I just can't wait until May!

Terri

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Since the discounts are out now, I'm thinking about going for the minimum stay for the discount, which I think is 3 nights and 4 days. Not sure. I know I changed to going to Disneyland, but the discount is very appealing. It will probably be my mom and I. We will be going May 1st - 4th and either staying at ASMu, POFQ or POR. We haven't decided on a hotel. I made two ADRs. One for May 2nd at the California Grill at 9:20pm. I want to see Wishes on my birthday so hopefully I can get a good view. The other is for Tokyo Dining on May 3rd at 6:00pm. I might change that, but I still need to convince my mom to go.

 

[klm7926]

Hi there! This is my first post on here and I'm here to join the May 2011 group!!! My DH, DS1 (6) and DS2 (4) and I will be leaving on April 30th to meet my dad, stepmom, little sister (who all live in NY), older sister and BIL at Orange Lake Resort where my dad owns a timeshare. We are planning on visiting WDW while there...OF COURSE! I couldn't be more excited. I haven't been there for about 20+ years and my DH and DS's have never been there. My boys have NO idea. We are keeping it a secret until we get there. I can't wait to see their faces! Every time they see a Disney commercial they ask if they can go there someday.

I'm hoping to get a lot of fun tips for our trip! I'm all about saving money and having a good time!!!!!