*****Official October 2011 Thread*****

[tlenzendorf]

Did they miss any days earlier this year - when the teachers were protesting? Do you have to make them up?

Thankfully, we did not miss any.

Ours missed 5 and that was fine with me. I'm affected working for the UW Hospital and am close friends with a lot of the kids' teachers.

My 6 year old had one half day cancelled, they stay 10 minutes later the rest of the year and then the last day of school they go 2 hours later than originally scheduled. My 12 year old middle schooler just had their Wednesday afternoon teachers' prep afternoons cancelled and that's all it took to make them up.

 

[Rorey]

Just write down the PIN and give it to your travel agent. The AAA discount is completely separate from any Disney discount given. I booked through AAA and received 40% off resort plus the AAA discount (which I believe is 20% off everything). It winds up being a few hundred $$ less than booking straight through Disney. Also, AAA will take any PIN and apply it to your trip when you get it and compare it with any previous discounts you may have gotten. They'll take the best one then and go with that. So with each new PIN you get, they'll compare the discount and make sure you always have the best one. That's why I go with AAA to book Disney every time!

Well how frustrating for me, AAA told me they could only do their discount or one from Disney, but not combine them.

 

[LJD2143]

Ours missed 5 and that was fine with me. I'm affected working for the UW Hospital and am close friends with a lot of the kids' teachers.

My 6 year old had one half day cancelled, they stay 10 minutes later the rest of the year and then the last day of school they go 2 hours later than originally scheduled. My 12 year old middle schooler just had their Wednesday afternoon teachers' prep afternoons cancelled and that's all it took to make them up.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Just finished up my A&P class tonight! Have to do 2 more things for my online class and we can stick a fork in this semester!

AND she just posted our final exam grades and I got an 88!

 

[Catira]

I think we will be renting a car for our trip 10/22 - 10/29. Just wondering what rates you all have been able to find.

Thanks so much

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I've made my rough plans, but now I'm second guessing myself. Look over our plans and critique them. A few details. We love to eat at Epcot and tend to park hop. This is our 3rd trip, but DS's first trip. I think I'm starting to realize that we wont be able to do as much as normal and want to make the best use of my time.

Oct 15
3:34 pm Flight arrives MCO
DME
7:00 pm Maya Grill (At our resort CSR)

Oct 16
9:00 am MK Rope Drop
Break at CSR
4:50 pm H&V Fantasmic Dinner
8:00 pm Fantasmic

Oct 17
9:00 am AK Rope Drop
Break at CSR
EP
7:50 pm Rose & Crown
9:00 pm Illuminations

Oct 18
9:00 am HS Rope Drop
Break at CSR
MK
6:00 pm Crystal Palace
MNSSHP

Oct 19
AK
1:05 pm Saana at AKL
Break at CSR
EP

Oct 20
9:00 am EP Rope Drop
1:30 pm Chefs De France
Monorail to MK
MK till close at 7pm

Oct 21

9:00 am MK Rope Drop
Break at CSR
EP
6:30 pm Garden Grill

Oct 22
About noon DME pickup

You are on the list!

October 2- October 8 CSR

Can't wait! It will be the 1st visit for the Not So Scary Halloween Party!

Welcome!!

Well call me a Great Daughter!! I just booked a last minute trip for my Dad and I for Star wars Weekend. May 26-29. He is going to flip his lid! Mom made and printed us both ST passports and they look great. I'm 32y/o and can't wait to have a Father/ Daughter weekend!! See if my sis can ever top that.

Oh and finally booked our dinning Reservations for our trip in October.
24th- Chef Mickey's-9:50am

25th-O'hana-9:20am (MNSSHP)

26th-Tusker House-9:05am
Whispering Cannon-6:55pm

27th-Hollywood and Vine-9:25am

28th-Via Napoli-12:45

29th-Hoop dee doo Revue-7:15pm

30th- Dairy Queen on the way home

Totally excited about the coming trip!!!

Hope everyone had a Special Mothers day.

I added you!

Monday, Oct. 3rd

Raglan Road 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 4th

Afternoon Tea at GF 3:40 p.m.

Wed., Oct. 5th

BOMA COMA for breakfast at 10:40 a.m.
Paradiso 37 @ 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6th

Todd English's Bluezoo @ 7:45 p.m.

You are added!

Yesterday I booked our Behind the Seeds Tour and Haunted Carriage Ride.
Still need to book a tee time for golf, but those reservations are at 90 days.

What else is new October peeps?

We loved the Behind the Seeds Tour last summer! Great, inexpensive way to spend an hour doing something different in Epcot.

Just finished up my A&P class tonight! Have to do 2 more things for my online class and we can stick a fork in this semester!

AND she just posted our final exam grades and I got an 88!

Yay!! Congrats! I'm taking online courses too! Just started my second to last course! I'll be done by the time we go on this trip so that will be a relief!

 

[exwdwcm]

Well how frustrating for me, AAA told me they could only do their discount or one from Disney, but not combine them.

can you see about moving your reservation to another agency if that would save any money?

Just finished up my A&P class tonight! Have to do 2 more things for my online class and we can stick a fork in this semester!

AND she just posted our final exam grades and I got an 88!

woo hoo! congrats. While work sucks, i can say i am so glad i don't ever have to go back to school again. lol- i salute all you in school working hard, i know it isn't easy!!!

I think we will be renting a car for our trip 10/22 - 10/29. Just wondering what rates you all have been able to find.

Thanks so much

We always rent a car. It is a personal preference of mine- we like to be in control of when/where we go. doesn't necessarily save us time, but we just like having it and i know my way around from being a CM for a semester. I usually rent through National, because I am emerald aisle member and we just walk out, pick a car, get in and go. no desk to check in, simply show my license and CC at the window in the parking lot as we drive out, takes 2 minutes and we are done. saves a lot of time. the rental car counters can be busy sometimes- so i like avoiding it. you can find great deals on mousesavers.com for rental cars- they have all the major agencies listed with coupons and codes. you can usually combine a few to get the best deal. And, book something now if you want, but keep checking back every few weeks. I booked us a full size (impala for 5 of us) for our early December trip through National for like $250 for 8 days. then i checked a week before, and found it for $160, saved almost $100 by checking it again the week before- just cancelled my original and booked the new lower rate. So keep checking often. I would also choose a service that is on site. We've used a cheaper one off site (as well as Hertz when they were off site, but they have since moved on site)- it is a pain to take the shuttle off site, with all your luggage, etc. This year, it is just the three of us, so we will just get a standard car, so should be cheaper. Keep in mind there are usually good coupons for $30 off for a weekly rental etc., but they expire, so you have to wait and check for those like 2-3 weeks out. Visit mousesavers often (the car rental section) for all those deals, they keep them updated.

 

[lmc318]

Well how frustrating for me, AAA told me they could only do their discount or one from Disney, but not combine them.

You know, I love my AAA but I've spoken to a friend in NH who has had a horrible time with hers. I just assumed they were all great like mine. Well, you know what they tell you about assuming.... That sucks, though. They really should have consistent policies.

 

[lmc318]

Just finished up my A&P class tonight! Have to do 2 more things for my online class and we can stick a fork in this semester!

AND she just posted our final exam grades and I got an 88!

I just started my first class for grad school today. In about 10 years I'll have my Master's in Adult Education. Woohoo!

 

[shortchange1026]

We are going Oct 23rd to the 30th and I got an intermediate size car from Enterprise for $125 for the week. Estimated final total is $207. It's the cheapest I can find right now. I got it thru a website that tells you all the current deals with all the major car rental companies.

I am also signed up on line thru the Alamo insider's club, they send you e-mails with last minute deals. I took advantage of this for our recent trip to Fort Lauderdale. Saved a huge amount!

 

[Catira]

We always rent a car. It is a personal preference of mine- we like to be in control of when/where we go. doesn't necessarily save us time, but we just like having it and i know my way around from being a CM for a semester. I usually rent through National, because I am emerald aisle member and we just walk out, pick a car, get in and go. no desk to check in, simply show my license and CC at the window in the parking lot as we drive out, takes 2 minutes and we are done. saves a lot of time. the rental car counters can be busy sometimes- so i like avoiding it. you can find great deals on mousesavers.com for rental cars- they have all the major agencies listed with coupons and codes. you can usually combine a few to get the best deal. And, book something now if you want, but keep checking back every few weeks. I booked us a full size (impala for 5 of us) for our early December trip through National for like $250 for 8 days. then i checked a week before, and found it for $160, saved almost $100 by checking it again the week before- just cancelled my original and booked the new lower rate. So keep checking often. I would also choose a service that is on site. We've used a cheaper one off site (as well as Hertz when they were off site, but they have since moved on site)- it is a pain to take the shuttle off site, with all your luggage, etc. This year, it is just the three of us, so we will just get a standard car, so should be cheaper. Keep in mind there are usually good coupons for $30 off for a weekly rental etc., but they expire, so you have to wait and check for those like 2-3 weeks out. Visit mousesavers often (the car rental section) for all those deals, they keep them updated.

We are going Oct 23rd to the 30th and I got an intermediate size car from Enterprise for $125 for the week. Estimated final total is $207. It's the cheapest I can find right now. I got it thru a website that tells you all the current deals with all the major car rental companies.

I am also signed up on line thru the Alamo insider's club, they send you e-mails with last minute deals. I took advantage of this for our recent trip to Fort Lauderdale. Saved a huge amount!

Thanks I'll keep checking to see if we can get a good deal for our trip.

 

[MARsMama]

We always rent a car. It is a personal preference of mine- we like to be in control of when/where we go. doesn't necessarily save us time, but we just like having it and i know my way around from being a CM for a semester. I usually rent through National, because I am emerald aisle member and we just walk out, pick a car, get in and go. no desk to check in, simply show my license and CC at the window in the parking lot as we drive out, takes 2 minutes and we are done. saves a lot of time. the rental car counters can be busy sometimes- so i like avoiding it. you can find great deals on mousesavers.com for rental cars- they have all the major agencies listed with coupons and codes. you can usually combine a few to get the best deal. And, book something now if you want, but keep checking back every few weeks. I booked us a full size (impala for 5 of us) for our early December trip through National for like $250 for 8 days. then i checked a week before, and found it for $160, saved almost $100 by checking it again the week before- just cancelled my original and booked the new lower rate. So keep checking often. I would also choose a service that is on site. We've used a cheaper one off site (as well as Hertz when they were off site, but they have since moved on site)- it is a pain to take the shuttle off site, with all your luggage, etc. This year, it is just the three of us, so we will just get a standard car, so should be cheaper. Keep in mind there are usually good coupons for $30 off for a weekly rental etc., but they expire, so you have to wait and check for those like 2-3 weeks out. Visit mousesavers often (the car rental section) for all those deals, they keep them updated.

We are wanting to rent a vechicle for one day this trip, could you tell me what services are on site, or lead me to some information that would tell me. We want to rent a vechicle to have the day we leave POR as we will be staying at a hotel close to the airport and flying out the next day. Is there places on site that have another place at the airport? I'm new to renting a vechicle, never done it before.

 

[Nermel9]

I just booked the Haunted Carriage ride for October 5! I can't wait, it should be lots of fun, I can't wait to check out Fort Wilderness!

Ugh, I've been looking at car rental rates for the week I'll be there and they are outrageous!!! I refuse to pay over $200 for a rental car, and I can't seem to find anything under $300 total! I like Alamo, because you get to pick your car, and if you book through Costco, you get a free additional driver, but I really hope rates go down! They should as our trip gets closer, but wow, right now, prices are insane!!!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Thanks everybody for the thumbs up for school

Have any of you tried carrentals.com? I had gotten some pretty decent prices from them before.

 

[Family Loves Disney]

Another set back on getting the list updated. The hospital called me Monday night and asked me to work, more like on their hands and knees begging me to work with extra incentive pay. Like an idiot, I went in because my addiction to WDW is so severe I want the extra pay for fun stuff for our trip. lol. Anyway, there is not enough money in the world to justify being abused by not only patients, but their family members, and then the day shift nurses I was giving report to. I was so abused that I literally slept for 2 days. Now, I am beginning another 5 night work week. I am only working half a shift tonight, then full 12 hour shifts tomorrow to Sunday. So the list won't get updated till next week. I'm sorry to the newbies, I have not forgotten about you, just so Disney driven for extra $$ for our trip. to all the newbies, pull up a chair and enjoy everyone on the thread. I have absolutely loved meeting my new October friends and consider them all family.

An update on Justin. Went to the doctor again today, his pneumonia is not better, but not worse either. He now has an ear infection on top of the pneumonia and strep throat. Poor baby. The pediatrician started him on another antibiotic and a steroid and to continue his breathing treatments 3 times a day. I am so angry he was not admitted at the Children's hospital and given IV antibiotics, then he would not have missed almost 2 weeks of school.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week and weekend. I may get on the board to check on ya'll , but won't have the time to update the list. I miss you all and will be on next week.

 

[Catira]

Hi Shannon.. don't worry about any disboard updates. Your family comes first and after those long work days you need to take care of yourself Hoping your son gets better soon

 

[CHCH99]

Hi everyone we will be joining in the fun in October 2011 as part of our 5 week trip to USA. Will be arriving 9th October after our Caribbean cruise and staying at the All Star Sports resort until 14th then moving to Double Tree at Universal for a further 5 nights. Notice noone else is at the Sports Resort - is this a bad sign!!

I am a solo mum (self employed Chartered Accountant) travelling with my 11 year old son (leaving my 2 older daughters back here). We are from Christchurch, New Zealand and have had this trip booked since last October - meant to join up earlier but been having a few earthquake issues to say the least. Back onto the planning now though. First real trip to the States apart from a stopover in LA for me many years ago.

Really looking forward to it - we have got park hopper tickets with water park option for every day but not sure which days we will go to which park at this stage - seems I have alot more planning to do. Have managed to work out what MNSSHP is (struggling with some of the other abbreviations though I have to admit) I managed to get tickets to MNSSHP for 11th October and they have arrived by courier today. Very exciting especially for my son as we don't celebrate Hallowean here!

Any help or advice anyone can offer would be greatly received. I notice that everyone seems to be making dinner reservations already?

 

[sjs314]

Hi everyone we will be joining in the fun in October 2011 as part of our 5 week trip to USA. Will be arriving 9th October after our Caribbean cruise and staying at the All Star Sports resort until 14th then moving to Double Tree at Universal for a further 5 nights. Notice noone else is at the Sports Resort - is this a bad sign!!

I am a solo mum (self employed Chartered Accountant) travelling with my 11 year old son (leaving my 2 older daughters back here). We are from Christchurch, New Zealand and have had this trip booked since last October - meant to join up earlier but been having a few earthquake issues to say the least. Back onto the planning now though. First real trip to the States apart from a stopover in LA for me many years ago.

Really looking forward to it - we have got park hopper tickets with water park option for every day but not sure which days we will go to which park at this stage - seems I have alot more planning to do. Have managed to work out what MNSSHP is (struggling with some of the other abbreviations though I have to admit) I managed to get tickets to MNSSHP for 11th October and they have arrived by courier today. Very exciting especially for my son as we don't celebrate Hallowean here!

Any help or advice anyone can offer would be greatly received. I notice that everyone seems to be making dinner reservations already?

Welcome!!!

I can not comment about the AASports Resort as I have never stayed there. In all honestly my DS and his wife stayed there in 2008 and they did not like it but it could have just been due to when they were there late February (I think it was busy because of youth groups) food court and pool crowded.
To be fair since your son is 11yrs old I think he should like it there.

You can start booking ADRs at 180 days out and the more popular places fill up fast. Since it is already past the 180 day mark I would get a list together of places I wanted to eat during my trip and see what is available soon. You can always cancel later, plus you may find yourself having to check the site daily to secure that one special ADR you want but do not dispare people cancel all the time and eventually you will most likely be able to find the ones you want.

 

[lmc318]

Hi everyone we will be joining in the fun in October 2011 as part of our 5 week trip to USA. Will be arriving 9th October after our Caribbean cruise and staying at the All Star Sports resort until 14th then moving to Double Tree at Universal for a further 5 nights. Notice noone else is at the Sports Resort - is this a bad sign!!

I am a solo mum (self employed Chartered Accountant) travelling with my 11 year old son (leaving my 2 older daughters back here). We are from Christchurch, New Zealand and have had this trip booked since last October - meant to join up earlier but been having a few earthquake issues to say the least. Back onto the planning now though. First real trip to the States apart from a stopover in LA for me many years ago.

Really looking forward to it - we have got park hopper tickets with water park option for every day but not sure which days we will go to which park at this stage - seems I have alot more planning to do. Have managed to work out what MNSSHP is (struggling with some of the other abbreviations though I have to admit) I managed to get tickets to MNSSHP for 11th October and they have arrived by courier today. Very exciting especially for my son as we don't celebrate Hallowean here!

Any help or advice anyone can offer would be greatly received. I notice that everyone seems to be making dinner reservations already?

Welcome! I would say with everything going on in your neck of the woods a vacation is long overdue!

I had problems with the acronyms as well and still do sometimes. Here's a link that should help you out for the theme park related acronyms: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/acronyms/

I think the resorts are a matter of preference. I've never stayed at value resort but I know plenty of people who love them. With an 11yo boy, I'm sure it'll be perfect! Check out the Resorts thread and find the All Stars thread and you'll see plenty of reviews and advice for the resort and how to get the most out of your stay.

Also wanted to mention with the dining, as sjs said, it's best to start booking your reservations now. Unfortunately since reservations can be made so far in advance, it's very difficult to get a table service meal as a walk up without waiting for a while. There are some places where you can do it (I hear Kona in the Polynesian is an easy walk up) and there are some restaurants not on the Dining plan, so they may be easier to get as a walk up as well, but for the most part, a reservation is suggested. Like sjs said, make them now and cancel if you change your mind, but if there is something for sure that you know you want to do, book it now.

 

[srauchbauer]

Hi everyone we will be joining in the fun in October 2011 as part of our 5 week trip to USA. Will be arriving 9th October after our Caribbean cruise and staying at the All Star Sports resort until 14th then moving to Double Tree at Universal for a further 5 nights. Notice noone else is at the Sports Resort - is this a bad sign!!

I am a solo mum (self employed Chartered Accountant) travelling with my 11 year old son (leaving my 2 older daughters back here). We are from Christchurch, New Zealand and have had this trip booked since last October - meant to join up earlier but been having a few earthquake issues to say the least. Back onto the planning now though. First real trip to the States apart from a stopover in LA for me many years ago.

Really looking forward to it - we have got park hopper tickets with water park option for every day but not sure which days we will go to which park at this stage - seems I have alot more planning to do. Have managed to work out what MNSSHP is (struggling with some of the other abbreviations though I have to admit) I managed to get tickets to MNSSHP for 11th October and they have arrived by courier today. Very exciting especially for my son as we don't celebrate Hallowean here!

Any help or advice anyone can offer would be greatly received. I notice that everyone seems to be making dinner reservations already?

we stayed at the sports family of 4 in Feb and enjoyed the rooms are not huge but do-able. The check is was so quick the kids didn't even have time to explore the gift shop (lol), We don't spend a lot of time at the hotel so we try to save $$ where we can.