Sarilas' O-fficial Pre-Trip Report (a.k.a. Vacation, Take TWO!) - Jan. 30-Feb. 8, '09

[Charleston Princess]

That's gorgeous!!! Can I hire you to do that for our June trip next year???

 

[Lady Lallie]

I want one!! That is so great, how do you find the time and patience to do that? I am very impressed!

 

[TarzansKat]

Lara, that's awesome! You're so creative.

 

[Sarilas]

That's gorgeous!!! Can I hire you to do that for our June trip next year???

I'll make you a blank one you can fill in if you want! Just tell me which days you'll be there!

I want one!! That is so great, how do you find the time and patience to do that? I am very impressed!

I do a little here and a little there; in the morning before the girls get up, in the afternoon when they're napping, at night while my DH is in school... it really doesn't take that long! (I had it all pictured in my noggin.)

Lara, that's awesome! You're so creative.

Awe, spanks.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I'll make you a blank one you can fill in if you want! Just tell me which days you'll be there!

You're the best!!!

Hopefully, I will have exact dates as soon as packages are released (Sunday?).

 

[willwriteforears]

Very cool planner! I think your DH's graphics abilities have rubbed off on you!

 

[Native NYer]

Cute itinerary!

 

[Sarilas]

You're the best!!!

Hopefully, I will have exact dates as soon as packages are released (Sunday?).

Okay I'm dying to know if you've been obsessing over the packages like I have been! Changes are afoot!

Very cool planner! I think your DH's graphics abilities have rubbed off on you!

We're two peas in a pod... both Cancer signs, both visual, artsy people... it's like our kids are being raised by the Mad Hatter and the Fairy Godmother!

Cute itinerary!

Thank you!

 

[Sarilas]

Happy 2009 Package Price release day! Cupcakes and root beer floats for all!

I've been completely entranced by planning today. I've got more notes written all over my desk than you could shake a stick at. I've emailed two travel agents and made a call to Disney reservations, I've priced things out on AAA and had discussions with the spousal unit. Here's where we are thus far:

1. We're going to down-grade to the regular dining plan. We're both just really on the fence about paying the extra $1000 for all of us to be on the deluxe when we know the kids are going to just be begging for burgers and fries most of the time. That'll mean changes to the ADR's in the coming days!

2. There is a VERY good possibility that we may end up back at WDW in November(ish) of '09 as an anniversary celebration... this would, however, be a surprise trip from the kids, which is what DH wanted to do with this first trip in the first place but SOMEBODY can't keep her trap shut.

3. Because we may go back at the end of the year I may indulge in an annual pass! I've been pricing it out and we may very well come out ahead on this trip alone, much less the second trip as well...

Here's how my math is looking.

Our 7 days, 8 nights trip with 7 days of park hopper tickets and the regular dining plan at ASMusic Family Suites would come to $4389.52 (with insurance). That's about what we were planning on based on '08 prices. Now, according to the Disney reservationist I talked to this afternoon, it would be $2,983.81 (w/insurance) for the AP rate at ASMusic Family Suites with the regular dining plan for all of us. I priced out tickets at AAA.com (I'll price them elsewhere as well) and for DH and the kids it'll come to $942 for the 7 day park hoppers. My AP is $425 at AAA.com.

Here's where I'm trying not to confuse myself.

$2,983.81 (room/dining)
$1,368.65 (Annual Pass + tickets for everyone else)
= $4,352.46

So based on this quick calculations we'd actually be saving $37.06 by getting the AP and buying tickets separately... How is this possible?! What am I leaving out of my calculations? There must be SOMETHING...

 

[Lady Lallie]

I have no idea about the calculations, they make my head hurt. By all means if it saves you money and you have an excuse to go next year do it! May I suggest the lovely time in the beginning/middle of October, as A LOT of LapuLapuettes will be gathering at the world.

 

[Sarilas]

I have no idea about the calculations, they make my head hurt. By all means if it saves you money and you have an excuse to go next year do it! May I suggest the lovely time in the beginning/middle of October, as A LOT of LapuLapuettes will be gathering at the world.

Ah, October - as much as I would LOVE to it's in the 'maybe' section. (Tatiana's birthday is the week before Halloween so we're usually up to our eyeballs in planning and organizing for that.)

Of course if I had an annual pass it may be possible...

 

[Lady Lallie]

Ah, October - as much as I would LOVE to it's in the 'maybe' section. (Tatiana's birthday is the week before Halloween so we're usually up to our eyeballs in planning and organizing for that.)

Of course if I had an annual pass it may be possible...

There you go. I am looking at October 8th - 15th, 2009. Those are my tentative dates right now.

 

[trixiequilts]

But you can't get the dining plan unless you buy room and tickets together, right?

 

[Charleston Princess]

You have been a busy bee today!!! I have, too! Isn't package release day fun? And stressful at the same time!

I have had lots of discussions with the spousal unit, also.

 

[Sarilas]

But you can't get the dining plan unless you buy room and tickets together, right?

Not according to the reservationist I talked to today! the $2983 quote is room and dining...

 

[trixiequilts]

Oh, are you getting the AP from Disney?

 

[Sarilas]

You have been a busy bee today!!! I have, too! Isn't package release day fun? And stressful at the same time!

I have had lots of discussions with the spousal unit, also.

DH was just in here with me trying to figure out the price quandry... all I can reckon is that the AP rate must save a couple hundred dollars off the room for the week... nothing else computes, Will Rogers!

Oh, are you getting the AP from Disney?

No, but they don't care where you get the pass, only if you have one. (You show it at check in or you don't get the rate.)

 

[trixiequilts]

I am so confused!

 

[Sarilas]

So was I so I just called to figure it out! The first girl was WRONG - you can't do dining on the AP so we're going to stick with the original plan because we WANT the dining plan!

(And now I know why it didn't make mathematical sense... they'd be losing serious bank to offer the AP and the dining plan!)

 

[willwriteforears]

All those scary numbers made my head hurt! But I'm glad you have things figured out now--yay for people who actually know what they're doing/saying when you call them!