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

[MoonFaerie]

Monday, Dec 12
6:30 AM - Check out of room only and into Platinum at BWI
7:30 AM - Catch bus to AK (will the bus be running that early, or will be need to catch a taxi?) I would not trust WDW transportation to get me anywhere early in the am. JMO Thanks, that's sorta what I was thinking.
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM - Backstage Safari Tour
11:30-1:30 - bus to Epcot, grab a quick lunch I presume you are talking CS lunch Yup, probably Sunshine Season
1:30-2:15 - Behind the Seeds I believe this tour is actually an hour long. They just start a new one every 45 minutes. You're right. It is supposed to be an hour. As long as we have 30 or so mins back at the room to change, I'll be fine.
2:15-4:15 - walk back to BWI, get changed for dinner
4:15 - taxi to GF
5:00-8:00 - dinner at Victoria & Albert's
8:00 - taxi to YC
8:30 - Illuminations Cruise From what I remember of other posts, you are supposed to check in 1/2 hr(?) early for the cruises. Do these go out at 8:30 or is that the time to check in? In Dec Illuminations starts at 9:30, so 8:30 is the check in time.

Tuesday, Dec 13
6:30 AM - check out of BWI, move to Dolphin
8:00 - walk to Epcot
8:30-10:30 - Around the World Seqway tour
monorail to TTC, monorail to CR
11:30-12:30 - Parasailing
change (are there lockers or can we keep a small bag at bell services or something? we'll be back at CR for dinner) & bus to DTD It is my understanding that there are lockers somewhere to put your stuff in. Don't remember where I got that info. Maybe someone else can verify or correct me on this.

2:00 - lunch at Portobello
shopping

Wow, lots of extra time in here just for lunch and shopping before Cirque. Perhaps you prefer to do that, but might I suggest some other water activities, or a Surrey Bike rental, or something of the sort?
I'm toying with the idea of moving parasailing to Mon, adding the Seas Aqua Tour, and then just doing Behind the Seeds OOP later in the week. Otherwise we'll just keep the downtime. Or maybe I'll squeeze the Richard Petty thing in to surprise DH.
6:00-7:30 - Cirque
bus to CR
9:10 - dinner at Cali Grill


It looks like, for the most part, you gave yourself plenty of travel time. Hope you have a great time!

There are lockers between the CR and the marina. I used them last year.

Great! The hours of the car center making it tricky to get a rental car, and it'll save time to not have to go back to BWI/Dolphin to change.

On the Tuesday, when you say "walk to epcot" to do the Segway tour - are you assuming that you will enter via the International Gateway near BCR? I am not certain if that is possible. I am living with the belief that you have to go to the front entrance of Epcot. Can someone confirm?

From what I've found, we can get in through the IG starting at 8 for tours/ADRs.

 

[Waseller77]

From what I've found, we can get in through the IG starting at 8 for tours/ADRs.

I have read the same thing... I think the only Segway tour where you can't walk through the International Gateway is the one at 7:30am. I am going next month and can report back, if that helps!

 

[MoonFaerie]

I have read the same thing... I think the only Segway tour where you can't walk through the International Gateway is the one at 7:30am. I am going next month and can report back, if that helps!

Please do! Since there's no bus from the Epcot resorts to Epcot, we'll have to make alternate plans if we can't get in through the Gateway.

 

[KAA1972]

Both Disney Dining Reservations and my IPO at WL confirmed that Dine with Imagineers is on Platinum Plan. Has anyone tried to add this and been told otherwise?

 

[Rahel]

Both Disney Dining Reservations and my IPO at WL confirmed that Dine with Imagineers is on Platinum Plan. Has anyone tried to add this and been told otherwise?

If you try to book it on the Disney ADR site you can see which Dining plans do cover Dine with an Imagineer. Platinum plan does cover it it seems, but seems to require 2 credits for lunch.

 

[Sugarglider]

From what I've found, we can get in through the IG starting at 8 for tours/ADRs.

I have read the same thing... I think the only Segway tour where you can't walk through the International Gateway is the one at 7:30am. I am going next month and can report back, if that helps!

Thanks for confirming!

 

[Sugarglider]

Both Disney Dining Reservations and my IPO at WL confirmed that Dine with Imagineers is on Platinum Plan. Has anyone tried to add this and been told otherwise?

That's interesting! when questioning the IPO on other tours she ended up saying to me "only the things on the platinum plan brochure" so I suppose I began assuming that if it wasn't specifically listed it wasn't included. I might have another look at my plans! thanks

 

[marivaid]

7:30 AM - Catch bus to AK (will the bus be running that early, or will be need to catch a taxi?) I would not trust WDW transportation to get me anywhere early in the am. JMO

Just make sure it's not a day with morning EMH at AK. We tried to get a cab to AK on morning EMH once and the driver warned us that he probably wouldn't be allowed to enter the parking lot.

 

[MoonFaerie]

Just make sure it's not a day with morning EMH at AK. We tried to get a cab to AK on morning EMH once and the driver warned us that he probably wouldn't be allowed to enter the parking lot.

Thanks for the tip! I totally didn't think about EMH or anything. Since we're just popping in for the tour, I wasn't worried about crowd levels at all. It is a morning EMH at AK that day. In that case, should the bus be ok? I'd just hop over to the Dolphin and rent a car for the day, but they aren't open early enough.

 

[nannette]

Please do! Since there's no bus from the Epcot resorts to Epcot, we'll have to make alternate plans if we can't get in through the Gateway.

Just so you know if you are staying at BC/YC/BW/BWI/BCV and you have an early morning tour booked and you can't get through the IG if you go to the valet and tell them you have an early morning tour they will credit you for the cab to the front of Epcot. You will pay for the cab and they will reimburse you back to your room because there are no buses to EPCOT and they don't allow you to walk through the park when it isn't open.

HTH
~Nannette

 

[Lehuaann]

DH and I were discussing adding on a 1 nt plat for our upcoming trip. Are we obligated to use IPO for booking fishing excursions, spa, etc?

I enjoy planning things myself, so just wondering.

And another thing, DH wants to start off fishing at 7 am. Is the earliest checkin time 6:30 am?

TIA

 

[Waseller77]

Just so you know if you are staying at BC/YC/BW/BWI/BCV and you have an early morning tour booked and you can't get through the IG if you go to the valet and tell them you have an early morning tour they will credit you for the cab to the front of Epcot. You will pay for the cab and they will reimburse you back to your room because there are no buses to EPCOT and they don't allow you to walk through the park when it isn't open.

HTH
~Nannette

Thanks, Nannette! I am going to contact the IPO at the Beach Club to find out for sure. Everything I have read said you can get in to early morning breakfasts and tours at the IG starting at 8am.

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?sort=&page=1&qid=127044&pid=43&cid=68

 

[nannette]

Thanks, Nannette! I am going to contact the IPO at the Beach Club to find out for sure. Everything I have read said you can get in to early morning breakfasts and tours at the IG starting at 8am.

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?sort=&page=1&qid=127044&pid=43&cid=68

Breakfast ressies are different than tours that meet at the front of the park. IF the park isn't open yet they won't let you walk to future world alone. If you need to be at the front of the park for an earlier than park opening you can take a cab and they will reimburse you through a credit on your room. Been there done that. IPO or the tours line should be able to confirm this for you. Good luck and have a great time the plan is awesome!! I have 7 days of it coming up in November and can not wait!!!

~Nannette

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

I'm a little frazzeled so please forgive me if I have previously posted this question - I have three upcoming trips - Aug 24-Sept 2, Mid Oct, and Thanksgiving. I always pre-purchase the Photopass cd at the discount prior to my departure. I enter pics at last possible day, and I usually can get both trips on one cd. I can also pay a little extra for extensions.

Now here is my question - for those who have experienced platinum plans before :

I was planning to do a one night Platinum for each of my trips, however I am not sure that logistically I can pull it off for my Aug trip. I understand that the Platinum plan gives you a coupon code to apply to your photopass cd purchase zeroing out the cost. Would it potentially work if I do the platinum plan on my October trip and my first trips photos are on my account??

I dont want to be cheap , but it seems a waste to purchase a Photopass CD in Aug for $99 IF I am going to receive a free one in October.


Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Waseller77]

Thanks, Nannette! I am going to contact the IPO at the Beach Club to find out for sure. Everything I have read said you can get in to early morning breakfasts and tours at the IG starting at 8am.

http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/questions.aspx?sort=&page=1&qid=127044&pid=43&cid=68

I contacted IPO (and we know they don't always provide the correct answers...) - here is what she had to say:

"Yes you may go in through International Gateway but, you will need to take your confirmation number with you. The cast members at the gate will ask you for your reservation number to go through. Please let us know if you need any further assistance."

FWIW!

 

[auger]

So here's the latest on my dealings with AAA and trying to get a discount on this pkg through them.

The first office I went to, the girl tells me I cannot book a one day play pkg w/ them because the discounts are so super that I must book a min 3 days.

OK, I know that it right because of others posting here saying they have done it!

So on to the second office where I find that indeed I can book only a 1 day pkg!! But there is no availablility for the room I want, only an upgraded room, which essentially negates any real discount.

Yes, I know, upgraded room for the same price... but we won't be in the room for it to make a difference.

SO today, I go to office #3 where I am given ridiculous prices that are higher with a AAA discount than if I book online myself!!!

WHAT?!?! That's crazy!!! SO I ask, are you sure you are booking what I asked for? Answer, yes (as she reads it off to me).

Doesn't make sense, I got lower prices myself, blah, blah, blah...

She calls Disney. Same price she came up with. I tell her to ask what room type. Oh, surprise, surprise, it's three upgrades above what I asked for!!! Well of course it's higher than the quote I was getting online!

So I have her try other dates and resorts to try and get the price I found. She claims to have pulled it up at WL for the same pkg components I did, and came up w/ a AAA discounted price that was about $125 more than my price!

I gave up and thanked her for her time and left.

I plan to go back to office #2 and ask her to keep trying to get me the room I want. She was the only one who seemed to have the brains to book this package through AAA for me.

Wish me luck!!

 

[sarahgirl]

So here's the latest on my dealings with AAA and trying to get a discount on this pkg through them.

The first office I went to, the girl tells me I cannot book a one day play pkg w/ them because the discounts are so super that I must book a min 3 days.

OK, I know that it right because of others posting here saying they have done it!

So on to the second office where I find that indeed I can book only a 1 day pkg!! But there is no availablility for the room I want, only an upgraded room, which essentially negates any real discount.

Yes, I know, upgraded room for the same price... but we won't be in the room for it to make a difference.

SO today, I go to office #3 where I am given ridiculous prices that are higher with a AAA discount than if I book online myself!!!

WHAT?!?! That's crazy!!! SO I ask, are you sure you are booking what I asked for? Answer, yes (as she reads it off to me).

Doesn't make sense, I got lower prices myself, blah, blah, blah...

She calls Disney. Same price she came up with. I tell her to ask what room type. Oh, surprise, surprise, it's three upgrades above what I asked for!!! Well of course it's higher than the quote I was getting online!

So I have her try other dates and resorts to try and get the price I found. She claims to have pulled it up at WL for the same pkg components I did, and came up w/ a AAA discounted price that was about $125 more than my price!

I gave up and thanked her for her time and left.

I plan to go back to office #2 and ask her to keep trying to get me the room I want. She was the only one who seemed to have the brains to book this package through AAA for me.

Wish me luck!!

What dates and resort are you looking at?

 

[auger]

What dates and resort are you looking at?

I am having them check Sep 20th, 21st, and 22d for the WL or AKL.

Sometimes there is availability on one day and not another, then the next day it switches to the other way.

Certain times there may be a standard room available and others it may be a Woods view only (@ WL that is).

BUt I know that it should be 1233.68(?) for the package w/ a st rm.

The lady today gave me a quote of $1358!!

So I just need an agent be willing to keep trying till what I want opens up. It comes and goes so she just has to be persistent.

Maybe that'll be asking too much though. Sigh...

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I am having them check Sep 20th, 21st, and 22d for the WL or AKL.

Sometimes there is availability on one day and not another, then the next day it switches to the other way.

Certain times there may be a standard room available and others it may be a Woods view only (@ WL that is).

BUt I know that it should be 1233.68(?) for the package w/ a st rm.

The lady today gave me a quote of $1358!!

So I just need an agent be willing to keep trying till what I want opens up. It comes and goes so she just has to be persistent.

Maybe that'll be asking too much though. Sigh...

Had she added insurance or something? That is rather strange.

 

[auger]

Had she added insurance or something? That is rather strange.

Nope, I askedabout that too, thinking maybe that was jacking it up.

But she said it was not on there.

What I don't get is that these people have all graduated the Disney College, yet not one has had a clue what the Platinum Plan was!

I have more Disney knowledge than they do!!

Maybe I should go work for them so that they have at least one person who has a clue!!!