PTR:Four Former CMs Reunite For Free Dining:(TR Has Started!) 10/30

[therussells08]

Glad the conversation worked out! Good luck studying for the Praxis! You'll do great!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Sounds liek conversation was a tad uncomfortable in beginning. Glad it turned out okay by the end.

When is the next praxis test? Good Luck

You would be in heaven teaching near Disney

It was but I told her that jobs like what she is going for are almost 1 in a million so that should be her main focus and then the trip next!!

My Praxis test is next weekend (Sat 24th) but I have to drive allll the way from Cincinnati to PA on Fri 23rd after working all day so this will not be fun I'm going to ask for an early leave that day if it's possible!

Glad the conversation worked out! Good luck studying for the Praxis! You'll do great!

Thanks, this is my 6th time taking it since 2007 since I didn't take it at all while I was in WDW from Jan 2008-May 2009 so hopefully 6th time is a charm?! I had 2 other friends and it took them both 5 times so as long as I pass by a point, it will be gold! I've been looking at the same books and feel like I'm going in circles and I'm doing great at the practice tests but that's only because I've been doing them like crazy and I'm beginning to memorize the answers I might drive over to Barnes and Noble today to see if there are any other options!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here for your 2nd PTR finally! Gotta go get caught up!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Good luck with the Praxis test!

Man, teaching near WDW would be awesome!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm here for your 2nd PTR finally! Gotta go get caught up!

Sorry it's going a bit slow now. I'm hoping it will pick up the pace #1, as soon as we book and #2 after I get this Praxis test done next week, my bff's bridal shower the following weekend, and getting Dbro settled down in FL the weekend after that!!

Good luck with the Praxis test!

Man, teaching near WDW would be awesome!

Yes it would! I'm hoping K can get a job in the area and be there for a year before I begin looking. She would be a great personal reference for me I think!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

WHICH DIRECTION TO TAKE?


Hi Dis Friends! I hope everyone had a great weekend! I want to start off by saying this will be my last post/update until next weekend. As most of you know from reading this PTR, my Aug PTR, and my past PTR/TR, I'm 3 years in the making of attempting to pass my Praxis exam (state board test in PA to get my teaching certificate). I've failed the current test 5x now and next weekend will be my 6th time. Last time I missed it by 7 points and did horrible in the "specials" area: gym, music, and art which I typically excel in so I'm hoping to raise my score several points to hopefully just pass by a point or two! With that being said, I'm going to devote this week to: work (3 days of OT--what was I thinking?), sleep, eating, and studying. So fair warning that I might be MIA for the next few days!!!


I don't really have much to update on for the trip as far as it's concerned. I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not but K has a teaching interview South of Orlando this coming week (music ed) so if she would get it, she would be down in FL when we are there and can pop over and meet us on the weekend!!

I have not heard from M as far as her job/interviews are going. We will keep fingers crossed!

J was supposed to call last night to update me on what we want to do but she didn't so I'll just wait!



I wanted to run the numbers by everyone to see if you think this whole FD thing is a good deal for us!! Any advice or input would be great!

FRIDAY OCT 22-TUES OCT 26, 4 nights/5 days
2 adults

CHOICE #1

RESORT CHOICE: POP-standard
-2 day park hopper (our MNSSHP will be ticket #3 as we will not waste a park ticket when we can get into MK at 4pm with the party ticket)

-DDP QS but upgrade to DDP for $80 total (divided by 2 girls of course)

$1,022.54 divided by 2 = $511.27 each
+flight (around $250)
+party ticket ($58)
= $819.27 per girl
..of course I need to keep in mind other expenses: restaurant tips (thinking $10 per meal to be on the safe side?), housekeeping ($1 per day per girl), checked luggage, souvenirs, and extra money for DME for luggage on/off the bus...and anything else??

**I'm hoping to do it all for under $1,000 but does that seem like too much for one person? I know I've read that a family of 4 can go to WDW for under $1500??

CHOICE #2

-RESORT CHOICE: POFQ-STANDARD
-2 DAY PARK HOPPER
-DDP (no upgrade)

$1,232.82
$616.41 each
+party ticket
+flight
=$924.41
+all those extra things listed above


For $100 difference, I don't think it's worth it to switch.

I've also did number crunching if we used my brother's 40% off CM room only discount, added tickets, and saw what money would be left for dining and it left just $30 a day. I compared that to our standard room at POP with DDP upgrade and it was a better deal IMO. Now if we weren't having to pay for tickets, it would be silly to not take the CM discount.

Pros and Cons of POP VS POFQ:

Pros of POP:
-Enjoy the refurbished rooms (was there in March 2010 in building 6)
-The pool is nice
-LOVE the food court food and the hours that it's open
-Never had any bus issues in the 4 or 5x that I've stayed there
-Have always had good mousekeeping

Cons of POP:
-No towels at the pool--must request from housekeeping but have never had a problem getting tons of towels
-No hot tub at the pool. It's nice to use that after a long park day! I guess a tub with hot water can do the same?
-No fridge in the room to stash desserts we can't eat
-Bigger in size compared to POFQ, especially if you are in a far building

Pros of POFQ:
-Nice pool with slide + it has towels at the pool
-Love the hot tubs
-We can use the pool at POR
-Food court is great
-The rooms are bigger and have a fridge
-Double sinks
-smaller in resort size to POP
-can take the boat to DTD or POR to use their pool

Cons of POFQ:
-MORE MONEY
-Bus will stop at POR making it a longer ride
-MORE MONEY
ya, I can't think of anything else


SO...If you were us what would you do? Where would you stay? Is there something you would give up?

I know if we pick choice #2, unless I can get a cheapo flight (which isn't looking promising), there is no way I could do the trip for under $1,000. If we do choice #1, I can see how it can be done!

I love the added amenities of the moderate but J will get there in the afternoon on Friday and would use them, we are doing a park on Sat, pool/dtd day on Sun before the party, and parks on Mon. On Tues, we would have till 1pm before DME comes. I'm not sure that we'd have enough time to justify paying an extra $100 for a better pool + fridge. I won't be arriving until 10:30/11pm on Friday.

If we are having to pay for the park tickets (which we are), I feel like it would be a waste to go back to the resort for a long period of time during the day just to fee like we need to use the amenities we are paying for.

J is willing to spend no more than $1500 on the trip.


I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU GUYS..WHAT WOULD YOU DO???



Well, that's it for me! Let me know your thoughts and opinions on the 2 choices! I'll update you all next week!!

 

[therussells08]

I would just stick with POP!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I would just stick with POP!

Thanks! I'll be back tomorrow with an update! We're hoping to book tomorrow at some point. I just checked WDW.com and our first choice: POP is still available, POFQ no longer is but Riverside is which is just as good IMO!

 

[Nermel9]

I'd go with POP too!

 

[CPer'sMom]

Megan,

Hope your test went well

 

[therussells08]

I'm glad you're back! How did your test go?

 

[Hallowishes]

hi! i just found your PTR and am hooked on it! ive read it all already and i think you should stay at POP it seems that it was your first choice from the beginning and you should stick with it! plus, that $100 could pay for some nice souvinirs/tips. (or drinks! ) cant wait to hear what you guys end up deciding!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'm glad you're back! How did your test go?

Thanks! I'll be updating shortly!

hi! i just found your PTR and am hooked on it! ive read it all already and i think you should stay at POP it seems that it was your first choice from the beginning and you should stick with it! plus, that $100 could pay for some nice souvinirs/tips. (or drinks! ) cant wait to hear what you guys end up deciding!

I agree with the whole drink thing..of course I'm going to be with some of my very good friends that I used to drink with all the time when we lived at WDW..remember PI We miss it!!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I'd go with POP too!

You will see!!!

Megan,

Hope your test went well

Thanks, I'll update shortly

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

My Test





*Disclaimer: I will be posting this in this PTR and my other PTR

HI DIS FRIENDS!!! I hope everyone had a good week/weekend. A ton of you were asking about my test. Well...I will do a mini TR of my 12 hours that I spent in Western PA!

I got out of work super early at 3:40 PM instead of 6 so I was happy right off the bat! That means I would get to PA early, relax and have a good sleep! My mom decided the day before to surprise me and drive with me! It left our 2 dogs home with my Dbro and Dad..they survived the night though!!

We left for PA at 4:15pm and mom drove while I studied! We planned on eating dinner at Cracker Barrel 1/2 way through the trip but we got into a huge construction mess and ended up stopping to use the potty, get gas, and eating Wendys..in the car

When we finally got into PA, we stopped by the local DQ in the town that we lived in for 23 years..kinda missed it when I went back but oh well!
After getting a twist with crunchies, we got in the car and headed to our hotel: Fairfield Inn..

This is when it went south! We stay at Marriott properties allll the time as we have the credit card along with Disney Visa but when we checked in and go into our room, we walked right out as it smelled like smoke We aren't smokers and all the Marriott hotels are smoke-free. After being switched to the only room left in the hotel, a handicap one at that, we got settled into our 1st floor room that smelled of old yucky pool towels and musty smelling. We did try out the hot tub..but after 5 mins the chlorine took over and we left lol.

After a long shower and then getting into bed, I froze most of the night and fell asleep around 2 and got up at 6am

I got a quick breakfast in the lobby and headed out to the university to take my test.

I should have allowed for more time as I was the 2nd to last person in the room and didn't even take the time to use the potty as I usually do

When the test began, I got nervous really nervous..not because I didn't study but because I felt the material that I studied was not showing up as much as I had liked it to! I got nervous that this was test #6 and I probably won't pass it. I finished with 25 mins to spare and went over Lang Arts and changed 8 answers..I'm hoping it was a smart move.

I'll find out in 3 wks what the outcome is. After that if I pass, I can finally apply for my Teaching Cert in PA, if not, I might look into Ohio's program or FL's.

Thanks for all the wishes..hopefully they helped!! If they did, 6 will be my new lucky number..not 7

 

[therussells08]

I'm sure you did great! We are all rooting for you! When I took my Praxis I didn't have time to finish the essay section and I had a panic attack in front of an entire room of strangers.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

WE BOOKED TODAY!!!


Hi Dis Friends!! I hope you all missed me tons while I was away! Well I'm back now. If you are wondering about the test, I posted a report above this update! Thanks again for the well wishes..we'll see if 6 becomes my new lucky number!!


THIS IS THE BIGGEST UPDATE OF ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



WE BOOKED OUR FREE DINING PACKAGE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


M and K are still not sure of joining us so J and I went ahead and booked today


We had made plans to be on the phone (me calling her) at 1pm and that I would book it online and I would walk her through it on WDW.com so she could see what I was doing up until the payment screen.

I was out in the morning doing pampering things with myself since my college roomie's Bridal Shower is this coming weekend. After getting my nails done, hair cut, eye brows waxed, and getting gas in my car, I headed home only to see my car said it was 2pm I forgot all about J and our phone call!!

I called her right away and apologized for the delay! She said it was okay it was only 1pm her time in Chicago and that we forgot to say if we were calling EST or CST It all worked out


The first thing we made a final decision on was resort and we chose...

We decided that $100 extra each for POR (Pofq is no longer available) that we weren't going to be there long enough to take advantage of a hot tub, towels at the pool, and a fridge in our room

In the end for resort, 2 day park hopper, and the dining upgrade it was
$511. 27 each

We paid the $200 deposit so now we owe $822.54 total before 9/7/10

We still need to get our MNSSHP tickets and my flight.

J booked her flight today with SW. She will get into MCO at 1pm on Fri 10/22 and leaves MCO at 3pm at 10/26.

The flights I'm looking at with Delta gets into MCO at 9pm on 10/22 and leaves at 4pm on 10/26. Had I taken the day off on 10/22, I would have gotten in the same time as J. I can't justify taking 3 days off as this year already I've been off/will be off:
March for 2.5 days
June for 4.5 days
Aug for 2.5 days
Sept for 1 day
Oct for 2.5 days
Dec for probably at least 3 maybe 4 days

J plans on going to DTD if the other 2 girls can't come and having a CS dinner there and going shopping I feel bad because the $$$ we saved by doing POP could have been spent to see Cirque!

We have already made our day to day schedule (to be posted at a later date)

And DINING!!!! We have 4 days of meals!

I will post what some of our options/choices were and you can guess the 4 we picked!

Crystal Palace, Tonys, 50s PTC, Sci Fi, Mama Melrose, Les Chefs De France, Le Cellier, Teppan Edo, Coral Reef, Tusker House, Ohana, Kona, WCC, and Chef Mickeys

I will post the dining in another update but I thought I would do a question for each of my updates to make the time fly!!!





***QUESTION OF THE WEEK****

~What is one restaurant at WDW that people would say:
"OMG, HOW HAVE YOU NOT BEEN THERE YET??!!!!"


I have 2:

Cinderella's Royal Table and Crystal Palace

...crazy since I have been going to WDW every other year since I was 2 years old and I lived there for a year and 1/2!!


UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*May all your dreams and wishes come true!*

 

[therussells08]

YAY! That's so awesome that you booked it!!

I am staying at POP in December! I've never stayed there before but it looks great!

The restaurants that would make people say that to me are probably Le Cellier and Chef Mickeys!

 

[wdwgirl03]

YAY for booking!!! So exciting!

As for your restaurant question, I would say the same as you did, and a whole lot more too. We are not big on ADRs and usually go to the same places over and over.

 

[Trentmom]

Yay you booked!! Good choice going with Pop

Mine would probably be LeCellier