PTR - SF, NY & WDW Oct/Nov

[CJ2001]

Hi

Well no one in my family is interested in planning along with me or listening to me about the bookings I've made! So hopefully you all will be and I can get some feedback.

It is myself, DH, DD 13 & DS 11 traveling

21st Oct - Flying AirNZ (flew with them last time and loved them) Adelaide-Auck-San Fran

2 nights in San Francisco fishermans Wharf - Pier 2620 Hotel

Planning to do all the things we missed last time

Lombard St
Riding a cable car
Ghiradelli Square
Painted Ladies
bit of shopping at Macy's

Leave San Francisco for NY flying Delta on 23rd Oct
Staying at The Beacon hotel for 4 nights

I have already bought our city passes for 3 days, have looked into booking the TV/movie tour but just remembered, I forgot to give them my credit card details so dont know if the booking will still be there.

23rd - We arrive just before dinner so will head out for tea, then off to check out the area.

Not sure what order we will do the rest yet but on the list is a Basketball game, Empire States, Top of Rock, John Lennon memorial, site where John Lennon was shot, Central Park, FAO Schwartz, Toys R Us store, Times Square, Macy's, 5th Avenue, Staten Island Ferry and Brooklyn Bridge.

Have no idea how we will go fitting this in, feeling a bit overwhelmed just thinking about it.

Leave for Orlando 27th (Delta) - booked in to POR get in late that night so will probably go to Downtown Disney or just look around the resort

Planning on getting the 7 day water park and more pass

28th Magic Kingdom - ADR Crystal Palace breakfast

MNSSHP that night and dinner in MK probably counter service

29th - Hollywood Studios - ADR at Sci-Fi for lunch

30th - Epcot- ADR for Coral Reef dinner

31st - Magic Kingdom ADR at Trails ends so we can check out the halloween decorations

1st Nov - check out of POR and into ????? havent booked anything but thinking Doubletree Hilton,

Shopping

2nd Nov - Animal Kingdom and one of the water parks

3rd Nov - Another one of the water parks

4th Nov - hopefully booking Hard Rock Cafe

Universal Studios

5th Nov - maybe shopping again and Universal

6th Nov - Islands of Adventure

7th Nov (delta) Orlando-Detroit-SFO (couldn't get a direct flight) - early flight to San Fran staying at Doubletree airport hotel. Will be doing anything we missed again

8th Nov - 7pm flight home so will have another half day to spare

Got a few questions

Has anyone got any recommendations on transfers from JFK airport?

We have booked our transfers from SFO but need to book our transfer back to airport - how long would you allow for check in/ security checks? Our flight is at 8.30am.

Has anyone stayed at Hilton Doubletree in Orlando? I liked the thought of having a separate bedroom as we all might be sick of each other at the end of the trip and want some space. That will be 3 hotel stays in the 11 nights we are Orlando - is that a bit overkill?

Also need to buy some (teenager) halloween costumes while in NY as we wont have time when we get to Orlando before Halloween party - does anyone have any places they have been to before? I guess there will be plenty stuff around at that time.

I am a bit of a control freak and am a bit worried that I am going to try and fit everything in stress the family out, this will definitely be our last time in the US as hubby hates flying and nearly has a anxiety attack every time I mention the flight's!

Would love to hear people's thoughts on my plans

 

[PrincessInOz]

Oh wow! You did start a PTR.


Great looking plans.

 

[CJ2001]

Oh wow! You did start a PTR.


Great looking plans.

Yep took your advice

Thanks

 

[PrincessInOz]

Have no idea how we will go fitting this in, feeling a bit overwhelmed just thinking about it.

Just remember .... you don't have to fit everything in. Just fit in what you can and leave room to enjoy being there.

You'll be fine.

1st Nov - check out of POR and into ????? havent booked anything but thinking Doubletree Hilton,

Why not stay at POR for the entire duration?

Has anyone got any recommendations on transfers from JFK airport?

We've normally caught a taxi. I'm sure some of the others will have a recommendation for transfers.



We have booked our transfers from SFO but need to book our transfer back to airport - how long would you allow for check in/ security checks? Our flight is at 8.30am.

8.30 am? On a weekday? For an internal flight with checked luggage, I think most airlines will recommend two hours before hand?? You might want to check with your transfer company; and then compare it against getting a taxi from your FW hotel to the airport.



Has anyone stayed at Hilton Doubletree in Orlando? I liked the thought of having a separate bedroom as we all might be sick of each other at the end of the trip and want some space. That will be 3 hotel stays in the 11 nights we are Orlando - is that a bit overkill?

This is personal choice. I tend to be out enjoying WDW rather than being in the hotel room. We tend to use the room for sleeping. Even if we come back for some down time in the afternoon, usually we're enjoying the resort pool....so we really aren't in the room that much. And transferring from one resort to another will take up time.



Also need to buy some (teenager) halloween costumes while in NY as we wont have time when we get to Orlando before Halloween party - does anyone have any places they have been to before? I guess there will be plenty stuff around at that time.

There should be plenty of stuff available; even in Walmarts or the CVS.




I am a bit of a control freak and am a bit worried that I am going to try and fit everything in stress the family out, this will definitely be our last time in the US as hubby hates flying and nearly has a anxiety attack every time I mention the flight's!

Would love to hear people's thoughts on my plans

I'm sure that there are a LOT of people that understand the "last time" concept or "trip of a lifetime" concept.



Just enjoy the trip. Whatever you get done or don't get done won't matter too much if you and the family are having fun.

 

[Fairy Floss]

Where is your hotel?
The one we're staying at is just near 7th Ave subway station - so catching subway to hotel ($7.50 ~ 30 min) will let you know how that goes when we get back
Have also booked for tv & movie sites tour - email them & check the status of your booking
Looks like you have a fabulous holiday planned - have fun filling in the details

 

[CJ2001]

Just remember .... you don't have to fit everything in. Just fit in what you can and leave room to enjoy being there.

You'll be fine.





Why not stay at POR for the entire duration?







I'm sure that there are a LOT of people that understand the "last time" concept or "trip of a lifetime" concept.



Just enjoy the trip. Whatever you get done or don't get done won't matter too much if you and the family are having fun.

I am contemplating staying longer at POR as the packing and unpacking all the time will be a pain.

Yep 8.30am, I booked this time so we werent up too early and all crabby for the day but then afterwards I remembered how busy it is with business people but then would rather not be crabby!! I vaguely remember it being 2 hours last time aswell. I have emailed the company to ask them. I did a search on internet on taxi prices before I booked and it was $50 to Fishermans wharf or $57 with this chauffeur so I thought that would be much easier for an extra

I think next trip (if I can talk hubby into flying) will be to England again so kids can see where hubby grew up and meet the rest of the family. Also want to do more trips around Oz as hubby still hasn't been to many places (he's been here for 28 years) whereas my childhood was spent traveling around Australia in the good old commodore with no air conditioning!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Your plans look really exciting.

I also have a family that don't take much interest. It can feel pretty disheartening sometimes. But look at the good side, travel control freaks like ourselves would dislike it even more if everyone was chiming in trying to have a say in where we should go or stay. ;-)

I agree with PIO - stay at POR. I would feel like someone had come along and burst my happy Disney bubble if I had to move offsite and still come back to Disney for the next few days to visit the parks. You will not only loose precious time in the move, but also precious time transferring to and from the parks from offsite. You really are only in the room to sleep. Plus at least any frustration you might feel at being in the same small space will wear off quickly. That's the great thing about immediate family, you don't annoy each other for long. Now if we were instead discussing friends or inlaws, I would probably be giving very different advice.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

By the way, did you see my note on the Sep/Oct thread that free dining for Visa holders has been announced. Unfortunately it doesn't include POR.

 

[CJ2001]

Where is your hotel?
The one we're staying at is just near 7th Ave subway station - so catching subway to hotel ($7.50 ~ 30 min) will let you know how that goes when we get back
Have also booked for tv & movie sites tour - email them & check the status of your booking
Looks like you have a fabulous holiday planned - have fun filling in the details

We are staying on Broadway, its been 74th & 74th st near the Museum of natural History.

That would definitely be alot cheaper, let me know how it goes. We will have 4 large suitcases so don't know if we could do that, and then if we got lost it would be my fault as hubby never takes charge!!!

 

[CJ2001]

By the way, did you see my note on the Sep/Oct thread that free dining for Visa holders has been announced. Unfortunately it doesn't include POR.

Thanks Wanderlust just saw your post, do you reckon it is worth changing resorts? I have already paid a deposit, do they refund that? I couldnt do it over the internet could I? I'm not a Disney Visa card holder so would have to wait till released to the public

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks Wanderlust just saw your post, do you reckon it is worth changing resorts? I have already paid a deposit, do they refund that? I couldnt do it over the internet could I? I'm not a Disney Visa card holder so would have to wait till released to the public

When they are both released to the general public, I would run the numbers for FD and compare it against the 30% room-only rate that has also just been released to Disney Visa card holders. From what I can see, the room-only rate applies to POR.

If you decide that the free dining is a better deal for your family and decide to change your reservation over to a resort that the FD applies to, Disney can only transfer the funds deposit over to your changed booking if they are using the same system to make the new booking. They do have two separate systems for making bookings. If they have to use a different system to the original booking, then from memory, I think they refund the money to the card you paid it on and then you will have to pay the new deposit. Depending on how the exchange rate goes, if it is the latter and you paid on your credit, then you will have to pay exchange rate differences and transaction fees all over again.


ETA. I just double checked the dates. I think that the room only discount may not cover your dates. It's going to be a tough call deciding between the FD offer if/when it is released to the general public and whether you wait it out to see if the room rate discount dates are extended.

 

[CJ2001]

When they are both released to the general public, I would run the numbers for FD and compare it against the 30% room-only rate that has also just been released to Disney Visa card holders. From what I can see, the room-only rate applies to POR.

If you decide that the free dining is a better deal for your family and decide to change your reservation over to a resort that the FD applies to, Disney can only transfer the funds deposit over to your changed booking if they are using the same system to make the new booking. They do have two separate systems for making bookings. If they have to use a different system to the original booking, then from memory, I think they refund the money to the card you paid it on and then you will have to pay the new deposit. Depending on how the exchange rate goes, if it is the latter and you paid on your credit, then you will have to pay exchange rate differences and transaction fees all over again.


ETA. I just double checked the dates. I think that the room only discount may not cover your dates. It's going to be a tough call deciding between the FD offer if/when it is released to the general public and whether you wait it out to see if the room rate discount dates are extended.

Thanks PIO, I researched for so long and finally decided on POR. When I look at the reviews for the other Moderate hotels they dont come up very good, so its really a hard decision especially if I miss out on room only discount. Was going to extend my booking to the 3rd November for disney too.

Do they generally extend the discount dates?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks PIO, I researched for so long and finally decided on POR. When I look at the reviews for the other Moderate hotels they dont come up very good, so its really a hard decision especially if I miss out on room only discount. Was going to extend my booking to the 3rd November for disney too.

Do they generally extend the discount dates?

Your guess is as good as mine. However, you might want to take a look at this link.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

You can never tell if Disney will release a discount or not; but this will give you a historic perspective.


I've stayed at POR and CSR before. I do like the PO facilities because you have the option to take the boat to DTD. I know a number of the Dis-sers here have chosen POFQ because it is a smaller resort.



For my family, we are quite food orientated and having a food court on site without having to walk 10 or 15 minutes was the decider for us to choose Riverside over FQ.

 

[CJ2001]

Your guess is as good as mine. However, you might want to take a look at this link.

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

You can never tell if Disney will release a discount or not; but this will give you a historic perspective.


I've stayed at POR and CSR before. I do like the PO facilities because you have the option to take the boat to DTD. I know a number of the Dis-sers here have chosen POFQ because it is a smaller resort.



For my family, we are quite food orientated and having a food court on site without having to walk 10 or 15 minutes was the decider for us to choose Riverside over FQ.

What did you think of CSR?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I would swap to CSR is a heartbeat. But once again I'm biased as that's the moderate that appeals to me the most. Before I discovered DVC Points Rental that was the resort I had decided to book for our trip last year.

For a start, I don't think I would be happy doing nothing and staying with my current booking. On a moderate resort, a room discount usually saves you something like $60p/n, meanwhile the free dining plan saves you about that per person. Particularly when your kids are classified as adults and are eligible for the adult dining plan. For a 7 night stay, a family of four could save you in the region of $1500, which IMO, is far too much to turn your back on.

The other option I suppose is to look at room only discounts for deluxe resorts. You may be able to get one that brings a deluxe down to not much more than what your paying for POR.

As for CSR, unless things have changed in the last year or so, a lot of online fans refer to it as a deluxe-moderate. It's a conference hotel, so apparently a few things such as the linens are slightly higher quality than other moderates. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have even noticed this had it been true, but it is good to hear the upkeep of the resort is to a high standard. The pool there looks great and I like the theming.
The issue many have with this resort is how big it is. Do your research and request a room area that appeals as some are and better positioned and themed than others. Of course no request is guaranteed, but worth having a try anyway.

Unless the Caribbean resort has upgraded to queen beds in the last year, this resort wouldn't appeal to me. Still I'd be mighty tempted if this was the only way of getting the free dining.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

By the way, as soon as you get to 180 days for the 1-3 Nov, book some ADRs just incase you do decide to stay at Disney the whole time and get the free dining. You can always cancel later if you change your mind, but at least you've secured yourself some desirable bookings.
I initially had a few more bookings than I wanted, but it gave me breathing space to move around my timetable until I was happy with it and then cancel the bookings I didn't want.

For your AK day you have many great choices. I can recommend Tusker House for breakfast, Yak and Yeti for lunch, or BOMA or Sanaa at the AKL for dinner.

The waterparks have no table service places, so perhaps book a resort dinner, or make two ADRs for another day.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Sorry, one last thought.

If you do end up going with free dining, it may pay to look at your ADRs and decide if it's worth using the dining credits for them or paying for a few out of pocket (OOP).

For example, Coral Reef, being one of the most expensive 1 table credit restaurants onsite is an excellent use of credits. Whereas for a burger at Sci Fi you may be better paying OOP. Particularly if you're to full for dessert like we were.

I'm only mentioning this as it may give you an excuse to book a few extra ADRs that appeal to you. I know it can mean a lot of food, but the restaurants at WDW are just so much fun, dining at them can add to your overall experience. For example, I enjoyed my lunch at Prime Time as much as the rides at HS. Our waiter had us laughing from start to end.

 

[CJ2001]

I would swap to CSR is a heartbeat. But once again I'm biased as that's the moderate that appeals to me the most. Before I discovered DVC Points Rental that was the resort I had decided to book for our trip last year.

For a start, I don't think I would be happy doing nothing and staying with my current booking. On a moderate resort, a room discount usually saves you something like $60p/n, meanwhile the free dining plan saves you about that per person. Particularly when your kids are classified as adults and are eligible for the adult dining plan. For a 7 night stay, a family of four could save you in the region of $1500, which IMO, is far too much to turn your back on.

The other option I suppose is to look at room only discounts for deluxe resorts. You may be able to get one that brings a deluxe down to not much more than what your paying for POR.

As for CSR, unless things have changed in the last year or so, a lot of online fans refer to it as a deluxe-moderate. It's a conference hotel, so apparently a few things such as the linens are slightly higher quality than other moderates. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have even noticed this had it been true, but it is good to hear the upkeep of the resort is to a high standard. The pool there looks great and I like the theming.
The issue many have with this resort is how big it is. Do your research and request a room area that appeals as some are and better positioned and themed than others. Of course no request is guaranteed, but worth having a try anyway.

Unless the Caribbean resort has upgraded to queen beds in the last year, this resort wouldn't appeal to me. Still I'd be mighty tempted if this was the only way of getting the free dining.

Thanks wanderlust. Going to go with CSR & book till 3rd Nov.

 

[CJ2001]

By the way, as soon as you get to 180 days for the 1-3 Nov, book some ADRs just incase you do decide to stay at Disney the whole time and get the free dining. You can always cancel later if you change your mind, but at least you've secured yourself some desirable bookings.
I initially had a few more bookings than I wanted, but it gave me breathing space to move around my timetable until I was happy with it and then cancel the bookings I didn't want.

For your AK day you have many great choices. I can recommend Tusker House for breakfast, Yak and Yeti for lunch, or BOMA or Sanaa at the AKL for dinner.

The waterparks have no table service places, so perhaps book a resort dinner, or make two ADRs for another day.

Thanks will start looking, was trying to book Raglan for the 1st last night but kelp saying couldn't book right now try again. Will try today

 

[CJ2001]

Sorry, one last thought.

If you do end up going with free dining, it may pay to look at your ADRs and decide if it's worth using the dining credits for them or paying for a few out of pocket (OOP).

For example, Coral Reef, being one of the most expensive 1 table credit restaurants onsite is an excellent use of credits. Whereas for a burger at Sci Fi you may be better paying OOP. Particularly if you're to full for dessert like we were.

I'm only mentioning this as it may give you an excuse to book a few extra ADRs that appeal to you. I know it can mean a lot of food, but the restaurants at WDW are just so much fun, dining at them can add to your overall experience. For example, I enjoyed my lunch at Prime Time as much as the rides at HS. Our waiter had us laughing from start to end.

That's a great tip, going to have to study the dining plan