Official September 2012 planning thread! List on page 30!

[mickeyplanner]

Thanks for the advice! The lunch menu does look really good!

The lunch menu is completely different than dinner. You can't go wrong with lunch at Liberty. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

CP is our least favorite character meal because it takes over an hour to meet all the characters....that is too long for our kids to wait.
We love 1900 for breakfast, we do it every trip. Try the lobster eggs benedict and strawberry soup.

thanks, that is how I feel too, and LTT looks so good, but this trip is for the kids.. so that is why I don't know if I should change CP or not...

 

[Svhadden]

Updated to say we're staying at POR, and are now at 106 days. As usual we CANNOT. WAIT.

Watching airfares, keeping our fingers crossed for $99/each way out of New Orleans from Southwest. We got it last year, so hopefully!

 

[lmbcdb]

Headed back to the World for our 4th trip in September!

When: 9/17-9/27
Who: Me, DH42, DS9, DD4
Where: ASMo preferred (Toy Story request)
What: 8 day base tickets

ADRS:
9/17: Hoop-de-do
9/18: Crystal Palace
9/19: Sci-Fi
9/20:none
9/21:Cinderella's RT (1st time, just the girls, after BBB)
9/22:Garden Grill
9/23:none
9/24:La Hacienda San Angel(1st time)
9/25:Tusker House

We prefer to do characters at meals instead of lines, so that's why we're only trying 2 new places. We love the princess meal in Norway, but DD and I wanted to try CRT just once, despite the bad food reviews.

We went in late October last year and the weather was perfect. How bad is it going to be in the latter part of September?

 

[omalleycat]

Thanks thereyouseeher, mickeyplanner and oatszoo for your thoughts on free dining. Went in to see the travel agent and she phoned whoever they call about these things but unfortunately we are not eligible (the reason of being for online bookings didn't sound very plausible, but people down our way tend to go to Disneyland if they are heading to the U.S with some great extended ticket deals etc: here the TAs don't seem to have much info on Disney World or access to specials). I did educate her about the Magical Express as she was initially going to organise a paid transfer
Am not too worried as food is all budgeted for, I will just try not to think about how the people at the next table probably aren't paying

 

[ARAITHEL]

Am not too worried as food is all budgeted for, I will just try not to think about how the people at the next table probably aren't paying

We are paying...just in a different way. We pay "rack rate" for the rooms, which means we get no discount like some other travelers who have taken advantage of other discounts such as 20,25,or 30% off their room rate. I'm paying full price for my room. Some people actually think that "free dining" is the more expensive way to go. Since they think that they can pay out of pocket (OOP) for much less than the cost of dining for each person. It's very nice for me as I'm one of those who want everything paid for before I leave to get rid of any unexpected expenses.

Still confused on why you can't get "free dining?" Is it a US only promotion? I book all myself online...maybe you should look into doing all yourself.

Regardless, hope your trip to the states and to WDW is awesome, and if I'm setting beside you with "free dining" you won't throw something towards my table!

Happy TRAILS!

 

[omalleycat]

We are paying...just in a different way. We pay "rack rate" for the rooms, which means we get no discount like some other travelers who have taken advantage of other discounts such as 20,25,or 30% off their room rate. I'm paying full price for my room. Some people actually think that "free dining" is the more expensive way to go. Since they think that they can pay out of pocket (OOP) for much less than the cost of dining for each person. It's very nice for me as I'm one of those who want everything paid for before I leave to get rid of any unexpected expenses.

Still confused on why you can't get "free dining?" Is it a US only promotion? I book all myself online...maybe you should look into doing all yourself.

Regardless, hope your trip to the states and to WDW is awesome, and if I'm setting beside you with "free dining" you won't throw something towards my table!

Happy TRAILS!

I promise not to throw anything at your table If I had never come across the disboards I would never had known about free dining, so I will just pretend I don't know!! Have been talking up the disadvantages of dining plan such as keeping track of credits, working out what is included each meal and needing to make lots of ADRs (what am I talking about, making ADRs was the most fun thing I've done in weeks!!!).
I'm not sure either why we can't get this promotion, I imagine we could if booking on our own but I like a TA to co-ordinate everything and be able to help out if something goes wrong, they did a great job on our last U.S trip. I'm not sure what kind of rate we are paying for our resort in terms of discounts, the exchange rate has a big effect but we were pretty happy to find that a moderate was doable. (Had looked into off-site but it was the Mickey soap that really clinched the deal )
Thanks very much for your thoughts and best wishes to you too!

 

[KELLY]

Purchase a few things for the trip. I figure the more I get done the less I will need to worry about later. Plus the fact the my older DD birthday is the week before we leave. I may have to push her small party up a week. She wants a Brave party.

My parents just got back and got me a 100.00 disney gift Card for my birthday.

On a side note I'm in double digets now. I think I'm at 97 days left as of today. I'm so hoping there is a bounceback offer in the room for Free Dining like there was last year. If there is we will be booking 14 nights.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

On a side note I'm in double digets now. I think I'm at 97 days left as of today. I'm so hoping there is a bounceback offer in the room for Free Dining like there was last year. If there is we will be booking 14 nights.

I can't wait to hear about bouncebacks from some of our early September travelers!

 

[chimilady]

I thought the Free dining expired on Friday. Did you try before Friday?

 

[omalleycat]

I thought the Free dining expired on Friday. Did you try before Friday?

Hi chimilady, yes I had great advice from this thread to ask before the 18th but still no go. My TA had no information at all on the dining plan (paid or free), she did look in several different places on the computer and then called their suppliers who said we were not eligible. But we budgeted everything out long before we had ever heard of free dining so all is good, just would have been a nice bonus! Next time I would perhaps try a different travel agency, I know one has the paid dining plan mentioned in their brochure so they would be familiar with how it all works, unfortunately this agency has a less than stellar reputation.

 

[ShhhQ]

Hi chimilady, yes I had great advice from this thread to ask before the 18th but still no go. My TA had no information at all on the dining plan (paid or free), she did look in several different places on the computer and then called their suppliers who said we were not eligible. But we budgeted everything out long before we had ever heard of free dining so all is good, just would have been a nice bonus! Next time I would perhaps try a different travel agency, I know one has the paid dining plan mentioned in their brochure so they would be familiar with how it all works, unfortunately this agency has a less than stellar reputation.

Next time definately go with another agency... I just did a little google search... for free disney dining and new zealand (since your tag line says that) and found that YES you should have qualified for it. Here are a few of the lines...

"Australian and New Zealand Disney travellers, the incentive to plan a vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort just got a little sweeter, thanks to the return of one of our most popular guest offers – free Disney dining!
Guests will get a free dining plan when they buy a nondiscounted five-night/six-day Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. To be eligible, guests must book through May 18 for vacations taking place at Walt Disney World between Aug. 25 and Sept. 29."

 

[ARAITHEL]

Whew...I just finished booking my SIL and niece and nephew at POR with us. Unfortunately they told me they would for sure go AFTER Friday and the close of free dining. We took the 20% off of the room and will see if something else will open up that's a better discount before August 5th when our rooms have to be paid for. No skin off of my rear...it's their $$.

They are now proud owners of a POR Garden View Royal Room for 6 days and 5 nights! Arriving on the 19th and departing on the 24th. (No need to add to the list, as I'm already listed)

Switched all our ADRs to accommodate 7 people except 'Ohana...UGH. I still have a TS there for 5...hoping that I can get the +2 added. All I know is that I will be eating there with or without them. Can't pass up the incredible wings and banana bread pudding!

I've had one BIG day of Disney planning. Still working on their "trip guide." I'm a closet graphic designer and I'll have them a booklet before the middle of the summer.

All of these people are basically "NEW" to the Disney experience. It should be an adventure. The kids have never been. Babysitter has never been. MIL went with her two sons in 1978 before Epcot was opened and SIL went in 1992 with her HS band. I could need prozac. ...or a margarita from Mexico. Sheesh, those things are lethal.

 

[mickeyplanner]

thanks, that is how I feel too, and LTT looks so good, but this trip is for the kids.. so that is why I don't know if I should change CP or not...

The kids will love 1900. Are you using all your ts credits for character meals?

 

[ARAITHEL]

Just my 2Cents...

I booked both CP and 1900 park fare. Thought the kids would like them both and CP worked well for us on day 1 since we will already be in MK.

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

The kids will love 1900. Are you using all your ts credits for character meals?

No not all,
I have
Ohana dinner
Mama Melrose
Cape May dinner
Rainforest DTD

I looking at the menu I think I am going to keep CP. I think my kids will like it and they can pick something other than nuggest there.

 

[popcenturylover]

Posted here a while back and was never added to list. So, please add us for Sept. 23-28 AOA. Thanks!

 

[Elissajoy]

Please add me to the list: Arriving Sept. 1st. Staying Sept. 1-8 at POR.

 

[onescgirl]

Has anyone heard if Spectromagic will be back in Sept or will it still be Main St. Elec Parade?

 

[Katmat75]

I am not on the list either. Please add me!! I cannot wait to get there!!!!

We will be there Sept. 18 to Sept. 24 at SoG!


Love you Mickey!! See you soon!!!