Premium Plan for One Night Just for the Tours, LaNouba, etc.??

[sarahgirl]

Did you check the price online? Make sure that you arent getting more than you need to and you can check out different resort rates.

 

[auger]

Reading this thread just makes me determined to somehow get to do this! I see the fun and value, my DH sees the cost oop. One day...

I know your pain.

We've gone around about this for a year now.

It is hard to see past the one-day cost.

We normally go for two weeks for about 3x what this one day will cost.

But for us, we will get 1-day base tickets that we will put towards APs.

That is $255 off of the sticker price of the Plat Plan.

Then we look at only the difference in the cost of the Dlx room over the price we would pay for our usual room.

Then we take out what we would normally spend for food for those two days (the meals and snacks will be more than enough for us for both days).

By then, the package doesn't seem so pricey.

Next, look at the value of what activities you will use, and you see where the plan makes sense! We will get over $2000 worth of activites for about $800.

So remember to look at the real cost, not the one that slaps you in the face when you first pull up the package!!

 

[auger]

Ok, revised schedule number 13546345. Here it goes:

Saturday 9/2/11
6:30 Check in @Pop Are you giving yourself enough time here? I have read many posts about check-in problems w/ inexperienced and unknowledgable CM's due to the rare bookings like this
6:45 Grab a quick breakfast at food court
7:30 Travel to MK and then take boat to FW and walk to bike barn Isn't that a very long walk? The Bike Barn is in the middle of Ft Wilderness.
8:30 Segway tour
10:30 Travel to Downtown Disney (bus)
11:30 Lunch at Fultons
1:30 Travel to MK and monorail to Contemporary
3:00 Tubing
4:00 Parasailing When I called SD's, they said to plan about 45 min-1 hr total time for parasailing
4:30 Change into clothes and dry hair
4:45 Travel by boat to Wilderness Lodge
5:30 Dinner at Artist Point
7:30 Travel by bus to Downtown Disney Could you switch Fulton's & Artist Point so that you don''t have to backtrack so many times? It would give you more time for water fun @ the Contemporary
8:30 Cirque du Soliel
10:00 Travel back to POP

Sunday 9/3/11
7:00 Check out and eat a quick breakfast
7:30 Travel to MK by bus and take monorail to Contempoary
9:00 Jetski tour
10:00 Fishing excursion
12:00 Lunch at Contempo
12:30 Travel to MK by Monorail and then hop on bus to OKW
1:30 Check in at OKW
2:00 Rent boat at OKW
4:00 Rent Surrey bike at OKW
5:00 Travel by boat to DTD and then transfer boats to POR.
6:00 Carriage ride at POR x2
7:00 Travel to MK and take monorail to Grand Floridian
8:30 Dinner at Nacrosses
10:30 Take monorail to MK and bus to OKW.

Day 2 sounds like your timing is much better! Sounds like a great trip!!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Ok, revised schedule number 13546345. Here it goes:

Saturday 9/2/11
6:30 Check in @Pop
6:45 Grab a quick breakfast at food court
7:30 Travel to MK and then take boat to FW and walk to bike barn
8:30 Segway tour
10:30 Travel to Downtown Disney (bus)
11:30 Lunch at Fultons
1:30 Travel to MK and monorail to Contemporary
3:00 Tubing
4:00 Parasailing
4:30 Change into clothes and dry hair
4:45 Travel by boat to Wilderness Lodge
5:30 Dinner at Artist Point
7:30 Travel by bus to Downtown Disney
8:30 Cirque du Soliel
10:00 Travel back to POP

Sunday 9/3/11
7:00 Check out and eat a quick breakfast
7:30 Travel to MK by bus and take monorail to Contempoary
9:00 Jetski tour
10:00 Fishing excursion
12:00 Lunch at Contempo
12:30 Travel to MK by Monorail and then hop on bus to OKW
1:30 Check in at OKW
2:00 Rent boat at OKW
4:00 Rent Surrey bike at OKW
5:00 Travel by boat to DTD and then transfer boats to POR.
6:00 Carriage ride at POR x2
7:00 Travel to MK and take monorail to Grand Floridian
8:30 Dinner at Nacrosses
10:30 Take monorail to MK and bus to OKW.

I think it looks great, except I think you're pushing it to have lunch at Fulton's on Saturday. I took the bus from WL to DTD once and it was almost an hour trip, no joke. The bus went from WL to GF, then backtracked past the WL turn to head to DTD. It seemed like the long way 'round and I couldn't believe how long it took. This wasn't an isolated event, either. There was a thread on the Theme Parks board a week or so ago about the same issue of buses to/from DTD being very slow and WL was specifically mentioned.

I think you should eat lunch on Saturday somewhere in the MK area (Kona Cafe? The Wave?) and see if you can get a reservation at Fulton's before La Nouba. Or you need to spend some money on cabs, if you have your heart set on these dining choices.

 

[sarahgirl]

Great ideas, thanks all. I think i am going to switch Fultons lunch around to Sunday. Also I'm sure I'll be starting Saturday at 6:00AM, just b/c I am so OCD about making sure that I make all the connections. The buses start running to MK about 6:30 so if I grab a bagel and drink I should be fine. Probably going to make dinner at AP 5:45, just to be on the safe side- they are wide open for reservations so I really think I'll be fine.

See we are learning from each other. I love it!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Since others are sharing their itineraries, I thought I'd share ours. It'll be me and my husband and my sister and her husband. We're doing the Premium plan, staying at Pop. We will have a car, since we drive to WDW.

Arrive, Sunday 11/27
--We will probably go straight to DTD to see if we can get my sister/BIL's tickets from their package early, and upgrade them to Military Salute tickets to use. My husband and I have APs; we'll keep our tickets for future use.
--Check in, room-only, military rate at Pop.


Premium Plan Day 1, Monday 11/28

7:00 Check in package at Pop
8:00 Depart for Epcot (drive or take bus)
8:45 Check in for 9:00 Segway tour
11:30 Lunch at Le Cellier
{{Afternoon is free: may schedule a fishing trip for the guys from BW or YC or walk to Fantasia Gardens to pay mini-golf}}
5:40 Dinner at Les Chefs for Candlelight Processional
8:15 Candlelight Processional with Michael W. Smith
9:30 Illuminations
{{May play mini-golf afterwards if we didn't earlier and weather permits.}}

Premium Plan Day 2, Tuesday 11/29

7:00 Check in for room-only night at Pop
8:00 Depart for Magic Kingdom (drive)
8:45 Check in for 9:00 Keys to the Kingdom tour
{{Considering golf lessons in the afternoon. Other suggestions?}}
6:20 Dinner at Tony's Town Square (but I'm trying to get the Castle). I want my sister to see the Castle lights
8:00 Depart for DTD for 9:00 La Nouba show

Wednesday, 11/30

Check out and head for home.

I am bummed that there are MVMCP both on Sunday and Tuesday nights, so we don't have a chance to see Wishes. I'd like to be able to see the Osborne Lights at DHS, but unless the park hours are changed, DHS closes at 8:00 every night.

Thoughts? We didn't schedule any water activities because we think November weather is iffy and we're all Floridians (read: wusses about cold).

I'm really excited about doing this!

 

[marivaid]

Well, since we are sharing plans here's ours. Experts please feel free to critique!!

We are going 22-29 and have 23-29 booked at CSR with FD. Then we have our package night on the 25 at WL. We chose to book the whole week at CSR to avoid having to move all of our stuff for just one night, plus we get free dining as sort of the icing on the cake

Day 1

7.30 - Leave CSR & go check at WL. Maybe have breakfast at Roaring Forks.
Then bus to Epcot.
9.30 - Dolphins in Depth
12.30 - Seas Aqua
After Seas Aqua we will call & make sure our room is ready at WL, if not, we'll go over to CSR to change for the evening. Cab it to DTD.
6.00 - Dinner at Fulton's
8.30 - Illuminations fireworks cruise departing from YC.

Day 2
8.20 - Breakfast at CRT
10.00 - Boat rental at Sammy Duvall's (haven't booked yet)
11.00 - Parasailing for 2 of us - the other one's afraid of heights
Back to CSR after parasailing
01.00 - Facials at the CSR salon. They only have 2 rooms so 2 of us are booked at 1PM and the 3rd at 2PM.
05.00 - Dinner at Victoria & Albert's
09.00 - La Nouba

Will it be tacky to warn our server at V&A that we must be done by 8PM because we have La Nouba booked that night ? Seems to me like 3 hours is more than enough for dinner but it is V&A...

 

[sarahgirl]

Well, since we are sharing plans here's ours. Experts please feel free to critique!!

We are going 22-29 and have 23-29 booked at CSR with FD. Then we have our package night on the 25 at WL. We chose to book the whole week at CSR to avoid having to move all of our stuff for just one night, plus we get free dining as sort of the icing on the cake


Will it be tacky to warn our server at V&A that we must be done by 8PM because we have La Nouba booked that night ? Seems to me like 3 hours is more than enough for dinner but it is V&A...

I think it would be smart to let your servers know that you want to be done by a certain time that way they can pace the meal better.

 

[nannette]

Anyone see the Orlando Sentinel article about the Grand Floridian Spa closing for 18 months beginning mid-September? I wonder if those with existing GF spa reservations will be contacted and rescheduled for one of the other WDW spas? My son and his girlfriend have GF spa reservations in November but they have not been contacted as yet by the IPO about this change.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-grand-floridian-spa-closing-20110805,0,97843.story

I actually heard this yesterday and sent an email this morning to IPO. IPO told me that the Spa would be contacting everyone with reservations during that time period and they would rebook them at Saratoga Springs Spa. I asked to be rebooked at YC since we are staying there anyway and it was taken care of. So if you haven't heard I would call the spa and make the change now.

Well, since we are sharing plans here's ours. Experts please feel free to critique!!

We are going 22-29 and have 23-29 booked at CSR with FD. Then we have our package night on the 25 at WL. We chose to book the whole week at CSR to avoid having to move all of our stuff for just one night, plus we get free dining as sort of the icing on the cake

Day 1

7.30 - Leave CSR & go check at WL. Maybe have breakfast at Roaring Forks.
Then bus to Epcot.
9.30 - Dolphins in Depth
12.30 - Seas Aqua
After Seas Aqua we will call & make sure our room is ready at WL, if not, we'll go over to CSR to change for the evening. Cab it to DTD.
6.00 - Dinner at Fulton's
8.30 - Illuminations fireworks cruise departing from YC.

Day 2
8.20 - Breakfast at CRT
10.00 - Boat rental at Sammy Duvall's (haven't booked yet)
11.00 - Parasailing for 2 of us - the other one's afraid of heights
Back to CSR after parasailing
01.00 - Facials at the CSR salon. They only have 2 rooms so 2 of us are booked at 1PM and the 3rd at 2PM.
05.00 - Dinner at Victoria & Albert's
09.00 - La Nouba

Will it be tacky to warn our server at V&A that we must be done by 8PM because we have La Nouba booked that night ? Seems to me like 3 hours is more than enough for dinner but it is V&A...

I have Victoria and Albert's Chef Table booked which starts at 5:30 and I have the fireworks cruise booked the same night which meets at 8:30 at GF and I was told the Chef's table is 3 hours. So I think you'll be fine just let them know to be safe that's what I plan on doing.

Have fun!!!

~Nannette

 

[marivaid]

I think it would be smart to let your servers know that you want to be done by a certain time that way they can pace the meal better.

I have Victoria and Albert's Chef Table booked which starts at 5:30 and I have the fireworks cruise booked the same night which meets at 8:30 at GF and I was told the Chef's table is 3 hours. So I think you'll be fine just let them know to be safe that's what I plan on doing.

Have fun!!!

~Nannette

Thank you both

 

[Joceyposse]

Hey everybody,

My mom and I have decided we'd like to give the one-night premium plan a try before the package rules change in 2012.

We are planning a short trip in October, so we're thinking of sandwiching the premium package in for one night in the middle. Tell me what you think...

October 6th
-arrival at Pop (room-only reservation).
-go to MNSSHP that night

October 7th
7 a.m. check-in for Premium package, get cards, etc.
8:30 - Keys to the Kingdom tour (lunch included)
2:30 - Parasailing (just me, mom is afraid of heights)
3:30 - watermouse rental
5:30 or 7:15 (not sure yet?) - Hoop Dee Doo Review
after dinner carriage ride at Ft. Wilderness (* does anyone know if we can book the Haunted Carriage Ride using the Premium package?)

October 8th
6:30 a.m. check-in for another room-only reservation at Pop for that night
7:45 a.m. Around the World Segway tour, then catch bus to Ft. Wilderness...
11:30 a.m. Ft. Wilderness Back Country Segway Tour
2:30 p.m. late lunch (@ WCC?), then cab over to...
4:30 p.m. golf lesson
6:30 p.m. dinner (not sure where yet -- maybe Cali Grill? maybe Citrico's? open to suggestions -- not huge on seafood)
9pm Cirque du Soleil

October 9th
SLEEP IN
-doing F&W that day

October 10th
-depart

Think this makes sense? Mom and are both organized and pretty fit. Think it's too much though?

How booked up will these activities already be? (We just decided this week!)

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[sarahgirl]

Hey everybody,

My mom and I have decided we'd like to give the one-night premium plan a try before the package rules change in 2012.

We are planning a short trip in October, so we're thinking of sandwiching the premium package in for one night in the middle. Tell me what you think...

October 6th
-arrival at Pop (room-only reservation).
-go to MNSSHP that night

October 7th
7 a.m. check-in for Premium package, get cards, etc.
8:30 - Keys to the Kingdom tour (lunch included)
2:30 - Parasailing (just me, mom is afraid of heights)
3:30 - watermouse rental
5:30 or 7:15 (not sure yet?) - Hoop Dee Doo Review
after dinner carriage ride at Ft. Wilderness (* does anyone know if we can book the Haunted Carriage Ride using the Premium package?)Haunted Hay rides are not included.

October 8th
6:30 a.m. check-in for another room-only reservation at Pop for that night
7:45 a.m. Around the World Segway tour, then catch bus to Ft. Wilderness...
11:30 a.m. Ft. Wilderness Back Country Segway Tour
2:30 p.m. late lunch (@ WCC?), then cab over to...
4:30 p.m. golf lessonI think they only do these on the hour. And 4:00PM would be the last available time.
6:30 p.m. dinner (not sure where yet -- maybe Cali Grill? maybe Citrico's? open to suggestions -- not huge on seafood) I'd make your dinner reservation for alittle earlier just so that if you dont get in on time, you dont have to rush to dinner. Remember you are supposed to be at Downtown Disney by at least 8:30.
9pm Cirque du Soleil

October 9th
SLEEP IN
-doing F&W that day

October 10th
-depart

Think this makes sense? Mom and are both organized and pretty fit. Think it's too much though?

How booked up will these activities already be? (We just decided this week!)

Any input is greatly appreciated!

.

 

[auger]

OK, so I went to my AAA office yesterday to see aout the AAA discount on the room portion of my 1-day Plat package.

The girl tries to pull it up and says she can't book it that way because you have to do 3 days because of the great discount AAA gives you on a package.

Now, that is totally contrary to everything I have read on here.

Anybody have any insght on this or advice on getting my AAA to do it?

I have 3 different AAA offices to choose from. I thought maybe I would get a different answer @ one of the others?

 

[sarahgirl]

OK, so I went to my AAA office yesterday to see aout the AAA discount on the room portion of my 1-day Plat package.

The girl tries to pull it up and says she can't book it that way because you have to do 3 days because of the great discount AAA gives you on a package.

Now, that is totally contrary to everything I have read on here.

Anybody have any insght on this or advice on getting my AAA to do it?

I have 3 different AAA offices to choose from. I thought maybe I would get a different answer @ one of the others?

As long as it is for 2011, you should have no problem booking it with AAA for 1 night. Also it isnt that great of a discount so I don't know what this woman was talking about with how great the discount is. I would go to another AAA office and talk to them.

 

[auger]

As long as it is for 2011, you should have no problem booking it with AAA for 1 night. Also it isnt that great of a discount so I don't know what this woman was talking about with how great the discount is. I would go to another AAA office and talk to them.

See, I told you that you were my private info booth!!

Thanks for the answer.

One of the reasons I'd like to get it through them is because I want the Diamond parking pass. Plus, any discount helps!!

We'll be down there for about a month, and I have problems with all the walking at WDW. So any steps I can save really helps me out.

I will check out one of the other offices. I'm not sure the girl yesterday really was knowledgable enough to help me out. So maybe someone else will know how to book it.

 

[sarahgirl]

See, I told you that you were my private info booth!!

Thanks for the answer.

One of the reasons I'd like to get it through them is because I want the Diamond parking pass. Plus, any discount helps!!

We'll be down there for about a month, and I have problems with all the walking at WDW. So any steps I can save really helps me out.

I will check out one of the other offices. I'm not sure the girl yesterday really was knowledgable enough to help me out. So maybe someone else will know how to book it.

Go on the WDW website and get a printout of exactly what you want them to book for you. That way they have it in hand and can't give you wrong information. Also when I went to AAA they called the reservation the phone and didn't do it online, I don't know if that can be an option.

I'm sure your discount is going to be better than mine as you are booking a deluxe resort, so like you said anything is better than nothing and you get the parking pass. (Speaking of which I am 22 days from my vacation and still have not gotten my packet yet.)

 

[Sugarglider]

Hey everybody,

My mom and I have decided we'd like to give the one-night premium plan a try before the package rules change in 2012.

We are planning a short trip in October, so we're thinking of sandwiching the premium package in for one night in the middle. Tell me what you think...

October 6th
-arrival at Pop (room-only reservation).
-go to MNSSHP that night

October 7th
7 a.m. check-in for Premium package, get cards, etc.
8:30 - Keys to the Kingdom tour (lunch included)
2:30 - Parasailing (just me, mom is afraid of heights)
3:30 - watermouse rental
5:30 or 7:15 (not sure yet?) - Hoop Dee Doo Review
after dinner carriage ride at Ft. Wilderness (* does anyone know if we can book the Haunted Carriage Ride using the Premium package?)

October 8th
6:30 a.m. check-in for another room-only reservation at Pop for that night
7:45 a.m. Around the World Segway tour, then catch bus to Ft. Wilderness...
11:30 a.m. Ft. Wilderness Back Country Segway Tour
2:30 p.m. late lunch (@ WCC?), then cab over to...
4:30 p.m. golf lesson
6:30 p.m. dinner (not sure where yet -- maybe Cali Grill? maybe Citrico's? open to suggestions -- not huge on seafood)
9pm Cirque du Soleil

October 9th
SLEEP IN
-doing F&W that day

October 10th
-depart

Think this makes sense? Mom and are both organized and pretty fit. Think it's too much though?

How booked up will these activities already be? (We just decided this week!)

Any input is greatly appreciated!

My advice for you may be to rethink doing two segway tours back to back. When doing a segway you are standing, in one place, for a long time and others on this thread have reported that it is very sore for the legs and feet.
Otherwise - have a fun time!

 

[KAA1972]

Has anyone done this as part of the Platinum plan? I think my husband wants to try this but I'm not sure how long it takes or what time of day the events happen. Any thoughts?

Also, does anyone know if Dine With An Imagineer is part of the Platinum plan?

 

[KAA1972]

DH just surprised me by booking 3 nights at WL on Platinum Plan for my 40th b-day. I'm super excited but I want to get a good plan finalized before the 180 day mark opens on 8/17. We will do one night - room only at WL - on either side of the Platinum plan.

Sunday, Feb. 12th - check in WL - room only
Monday, Feb. 13th - check in WL Platinum
Early Reservation at BBB for daughter -- not part of Platinum plan, right?
CRT Breakfast - following BBB
Disney Family Magic Tour - if times are appropriate - not sure when this tour is scheduled. If not, just some MK touring with family.
Spa, Saratoga Springs for me -- is this the only spa option with GF spa closed? We have a car but I don't want to burn travel time.
DD, DH - Watercraft, or Pony Ride or Fishing
Early dinner at Artist Point - Kids Club for DD if she wants -- she LOVES kids clubs!
Fireworks Cruise at MK - everyone!


Feb. 14th
In-Room Baby sitter for DD
Around the World Segway for myself and DH
Dive Quest DH
Sitter brings DD to Epcot or I go back for her
Lunch for DD, (possibly sitter) and myself at Coral Reef while DH does Dive Quest - may use one of our tickets for sitter since we are AP holders.
Behind the Seeds -- DH, DD, myself
Kids Club for DD for evening
Victoria and Alberts for DH, and myself
Carriage Ride for all at FW - possibly do this before V&A

Feb. 15th
In-room sitter for DD
Keys to Kingdom for DH, Myself - earliest time possible
Pony Rides for DD in afternoon with DH, Myself
Yachtsman - dinner - kids club for DD if she wants or dinner with us.
La Nouba - for all

Feb. 16th
Richard Petty for DH
Hollywood Brown Derby Lunch (dine with Imagineer- if included in Platinum)
Watercraft Rental in p.m.
Dinner show - maybe Hoop Dee Do, or SoA

 

[Sugarglider]

Has anyone done this as part of the Platinum plan? I think my husband wants to try this but I'm not sure how long it takes or what time of day the events happen. Any thoughts?

Also, does anyone know if Dine With An Imagineer is part of the Platinum plan?

Sorry - don't know about Richard Perry - but I do know that Dine with an Imagineer is not on the plan.