POP CENTURY ... LAST WEEK of SEPT. 07 MEET

[SlightlyGoofy]

eeyore45, no matter what anyone tells you a mom knows here child best and you are one smart one. My grandson has a true phobia about flying. He is very quiet and will not talk about it but you can see the palable fear when confronted by the idea and the relief when he finds out he does not need to fly. He and I are close because he has all my bad habits while my other grandson and I share the few good ones I have.

I know you guys are going to have a magical trip that you will remember forever. She can regale you with memories when you are in the nursing home one day.

SG/Linda

 

[aksunshine]

Three weeks from now, my family and I will be enjoying breakfast in the castle!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

aksunshine, we will wave as we wander MK that day. I hope you look down upon us peasants and give us a wave back!

SG/Linda

 

[pooch]

Been reading about the Bounce Back program for next year. Apparently those of us lucky enough to be hanging with the Mouse in Sept are being offered early ressies for free dining next Sept!! You have to book & make a deposit while you're down there and the travel dates are 8/30 thru 9/27 ish. Now why'd they have to go and do that?? I was planning on taking next year off. I'll probably book it, you know, just IN CASE I change my mind!!!

Gail

 

[aries1980]

I can believe it we are in the teen digits till DISNEY!!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I just found out that a dear family friend and her entire family are going to be at DW next August. Since the only thing standing in their way is worrying about whether she will be able to keep up with them and what to do with her (she is a spry 80 year old) I have volunteered to show her around.

Guess that means I have to sign up for the 'bounceback' while I am there even though I do not feel it is anywhere near as good a value as this years package. Any ideas from the peanut gallery?

SG/Linda

 

[aries1980]

I just found out that a dear family friend and her entire family are going to be at DW next August. Since the only thing standing in their way is worrying about whether she will be able to keep up with them and what to do with her (she is a spry 80 year old) I have volunteered to show her around.

Guess that means I have to sign up for the 'bounceback' while I am there even though I do not feel it is anywhere near as good a value as this years package. Any ideas from the peanut gallery?

SG/Linda

can someone tell me where the bounce back thing is so i can read about it

 

[eeyore45]

Aries - I posted on the Peep meet thread what I found - you book with a deposit of $200 - you must put that deposit down before you leave Pop - YOU will not be able to book once you've checked out of Pop!

It is for the dates mostly all of Sept.

No details on if you can book Sept 30 + ten days (the '08 resort will not let you book for one season and into the next - value season _ holiday season - you'll have to make 2 seperate ressies - will this impact the dining bounceback?? no one knows!)

Someone posted, and its been poofed - she called to get the price for a bounceback at Pop and posted the details of the prices - its nowhere to be found!! But she had 2 quotes - the higher quote was for the Deluxe Dining at Pop (I think it was an extra $30 per day per adult - but it gives you 3 TS meals - so do a CRT Breakfast and a LeCellier dinner, do a Hoop de doo review and a CP Breakfast... )

but I would like to figure that out, because we'll be responsible for 18% tip and on a CRT meal that includes the pictures, that's just nonsense - or to tip 18% at a buffet is nonsense imho!

Wait a few more weeks and we'll know for sure!!

Oh and the $200 is refundable!!

 

[keliblue]

Been reading about the Bounce Back program for next year. Apparently those of us lucky enough to be hanging with the Mouse in Sept are being offered early ressies for free dining next Sept!! You have to book & make a deposit while you're down there and the travel dates are 8/30 thru 9/27 ish. Now why'd they have to go and do that?? I was planning on taking next year off. I'll probably book it, you know, just IN CASE I change my mind!!!

Gail

Hi Gail

I will most likely book it... just in case

I can believe it we are in the teen digits till DISNEY!!!

Ain't it great


SG/Linda Do you know who Bonzerella is ?? and are you planning on seeing her ?? She is one of my BESTEST Girlfriends and my Disney Buddy We met last September at WDW, went back in December together and are planning another trip this December . If you do see her at POP, give her a big hug for me..I miss her terrible

 

[thunderbird1]

can someone tell me where the bounce back thing is so i can read about it

Here are the details, direct from mousesavers.com:

"Bounceback Free Dining Promotion
This offer is available ONLY to guests staying at one of the official Walt Disney World resorts between 8/31/07-9/28/07.

Using a special phone number provided on some resort restaurant receipts or on a flyer provided in some resort rooms, you can book a vacation package for next year, for stays between 8/30/08-9/27/08, at a Walt Disney World resort with theme park tickets and receive the Dining Plan for FREE.

If you don't get the offer on a receipt or a flyer in your room, I recommend asking at the front desk.

There is a 3-night minimum stay requirement. Reservation for 2008 must be made before you check out and no later than September 28 to qualify. A $200 deposit is required at time of reservation."

Someone posted CRO's number on another thread as 800-828-0228. Whether or not we get "the flyer," we're going to be calling this number first thing after we check in. I don't know whether we'll be able to make it work for us or not, but for $200 (refundable, on the Disney VISA, with 6 months no interest), why wouldn't we? I'd much rather book it and have to cancel than not book it and wish we had!

I know some of you are leaving soon--we'll miss you, and have a safe trip! See you all in a couple of weeks!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

keliblue, I am borrowing Bonz for a parade while we are there. Since she is a fellow Hoosier I figured it was the least I could do for the poor thing. I will gladly give her a hug. Will you not be there when she is? `Nope, just checked and she leaves just before you get there. Tell you what, I will give her a hug from you and when I see you I will give you one from her. How about that?? Did I send you my details so you can reach me if need be? I have done so often that I no longer remember who I did and did not give it too. I am usually more organized but I just am plain wore out.

When I booked this trip I took into account that there might possibly be yet another free dining package next year so I planned it late in the cycle so I could use our AP's again. One less BIG expense!!

SG/Linda

 

[thunderbird1]

I just found out that a dear family friend and her entire family are going to be at DW next August. Since the only thing standing in their way is worrying about whether she will be able to keep up with them and what to do with her (she is a spry 80 year old) I have volunteered to show her around.

Guess that means I have to sign up for the 'bounceback' while I am there even though I do not feel it is anywhere near as good a value as this years package. Any ideas from the peanut gallery?

SG/Linda

I kind of already said this, both here and on another thread, but BOOK IT! You can always cancel, but you can't book it once you're gone. If a better deal comes along, switch to that one. If it doesn't work out for you, cancel.

And no, it won't be as good a deal as this year's, but I'm already coming up with ideas to save $$ next year. We'll probably do more buffets to keep the tip costs down. Not that I don't tip at buffets, but I don't feel guilty tipping a little less, plus we won't have the added costs of the appetizers dh won't be able to live without. The regular TS meals we do book will probably be more lunches than dinners. And we'll see how my (just turned 10) dd does this year. If she still prefers the kids' meals, we'll probably pay OOP for her for some kids' meals next year, thus saving up adult credits to cover extra TS meals that way. We'll be upgrading to AP's for sure now, since we'll be able to use them on both trips (thank goodness we booked for the end of this year's free DDP instead of the beginning!). And we'll probably get the DDE card once we upgrade to our AP's on this trip to help with the cost of drinks and next year's extra kid's meals.

But no, I haven't really spent much time figuring out how to make the new, unimproved free DDP work for us at all yet!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

thunderbird1, thanks for you input. I had not considered the buffet option and that is great for us anyway cause hubby is a big eater and I only eat certain low carb things. I tip the same percentage, buffet or not but the buffet meals are less expensive, usually so that would make a difference. That and the fact that our AP's will cover this trip AND the next one which makes it a go, for now!

Do not worry about the fact that you have not spent as much time as you 'should' on figuring out each nuance of the bounceback offer. I am sure you, and many others, will make up for lost time soon. If we cannot be there we obsess over details until we can!

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[DisneyMom5]

I haven't seen anyone actually express this yet but:

This month we're going to Disney World!!!!




The bounceback program would not be tempting IF not for the fact that my MIL is most likely NOT going to make it on this current trip with us.
As of the moment they are saying she is going to need dialysis for a while.
This is a new thing, and not something we can deal with in FL less than two weeks from now. Not to mention she is still in the hospital until AT LEAST this Tues., and needs probably one more surgical procedure before she leaves.

This week has been exhausting. We really want to get her healthy, but it is added stress having this trip hanging over all of our heads. She will be ok in the long run (hoping) but probably not close enough to well in less than two weeks. [That is to say, well enough for US to go, but not for her to go.]

Anyway -- the idea of locking in free dining now to take her back next year is REALLY tempting. Dh will lock me up at WDW and take away my Disney Visa if he hears me talking, even THINKING about it. LOL

Sigh.
It's cool that they are offering it NOW while the free diners are there, instead of waiting til December. My guess is previous free diners make up a goodly portion of the returning free diners this year.

Ok, I am off to do some more pre-trip stuff.

Have a good holiday everyone.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

DisneyMom5, we are going to Disney World, THIS WEEK!


Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!!

I am so sorry your mil is not going to make this trip but I am betting that she would not want you all to miss it on her account. Just take loads of pictures and she will be happy.

It seems to me that you are a very loving and thoughtful dil and that you dh would deeply appreciate you thinking of his mom as well as saving him so much money and would applaud you booking the bounceback offer. I think you should sacrifice and sign up, for their sakes. (only kidding a tiny bit)

I think you are so right in Disney being smart to market the BB to the crowds already there for the same thing this year. Must be cheaper to book all the rooms up at one time rather than drag it all out.

SG/Linda

(who loves cordless power tools)

 

[eeyore45]

FOUND THE POST!!

I called the number on the flyer and had them price some things for me. A 3 night stay at Pop (standard room) w/ 1 day base tix for 2 adults and free DDP = 431.52. (By my calculation 3 nights at Pop + 1 day base tix for 2 adults bought separately = 427.99.) Don't know where that extra $4 comes from .

3 nights at Pop (standard room) w/ 1 day base tix for 2 adults and Deluxe Dining Plan = 623.52. So there's a $192 difference btw the package w/ the Deluxe DDP and the package with the regular DDP which comes out to $32/person per day. So the discount for the deluxe DDP is a bit more than 50% off if the $69.99 price per person per day is accurate (not sure if that price has been confirmed).

Now I just have to figure it out!! due to less food and more tip - someone figured its just a 13% increase - it would have to be at least 18% tip + percentage for loss of appetizer... imo anyway!

But for 3TS

CRT + Lecellier
PSB + Narcooses
CP + Artist Point
Ohana Brekkie + Cali Grille
Cape May + CRT Dinner

I could easily fill 3TS places - but I'd be spending 5 hours a day eating!!

 

[DisneyMom5]

DisneyMom5, we are going to Disney World, THIS WEEK!


Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!!

I am so sorry your mil is not going to make this trip but I am betting that she would not want you all to miss it on her account. Just take loads of pictures and she will be happy.

It seems to me that you are a very loving and thoughtful dil and that you dh would deeply appreciate you thinking of his mom as well as saving him so much money and would applaud you booking the bounceback offer. I think you should sacrifice and sign up, for their sakes. (only kidding a tiny bit)

I think you are so right in Disney being smart to market the BB to the crowds already there for the same thing this year. Must be cheaper to book all the rooms up at one time rather than drag it all out.

SG/Linda

(who loves cordless power tools)

You go ahead and shake your tailfeather girl. Anyone who's going to be in WDW this week deserves to!!

MIL was really looking forward to being there with every one of her grandbabies at once. A bit of a dream for her. I guess we'll see what happens the next few days. Things can change rapidly.

Unfortunately, DH would not see things that way. He is hoping to get back in school (University) in January with a goal to try and finish most if not all of his BA next year. So more money and time off for WDW is not an option.

I LOVE cordless power tools as well.
Dh is not so much the "do-it-your-selfer."
The kids joke that when they are old they will sit around and remember fondly how mom used to build things with power tools and Dad used to crochet. (He doesn't really. Though I do know several men who do!)

He is muy macho in the area of martial arts and military history and stuff like that.

 

[pooch]

but to me, its still FREE!! I know, no appy, tipping OOP, rack rates, but I'm just enough of a sucker to lock in on that word FREE!! We can split an appitizer if we want one and we always left some cash for a tip anyway. I'm booking as soon as I get there, I'll sort the details later.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I checked and as long as you are staying during Value season the room rate is $82 a day plus tax and then adding in the one day tickets, I still cannot see where it would add to that much but then my math skills are not as good as my verbal skills, so said my SATs.

DisneyMom5, I only taunted you cause I know you are going to be there soon yourself. Otherwise I would never be that mean. I have been trimming all the bushes with my new cordless hedge trimmer. I hesitated in buying one forever because I have a perfectly good corded one but let me tell you, cord free is the way to go, for light stuff anyway. It is far cheaper than hiring someone else to do it or paying for a funeral anyway.

I am not sexist. I do not think that men have to do men things and women, women things. I just think that every living thing on this earth should do SOMETHING useful.

Unfortunately I think your hubby has a point there but your mil's dream of being at DW with all of her grandkids has a certain charm also. I can relate.

A few more bushes to trim and some sweeping up to do. It will look like a jungle when I get back (if it ever rains) or it will all be dead from lack thereof. Why bother? Cause I care.

SG/Linda

 

[aries1980]

im curious to know how they will work the tip now that its not included for 2008. i know that it should be 18% but you think if its actually left to people I think some of the waiters/waitress will get shafted if people dont leave it or not enough when it was included there was no thought.

Not that im not a good tipper I usually leave 20% but I like the dinning plan so I didnt have to worry about tax tip or what not and carry around cash... I live on my debit card.