September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[Princess/es19]

Thanks for all the help. I'm sorry to ask another question
I was planning on room only reservations at POP, because DH qualifies for the Military Tickets 4 day PH for $138 each. then one day we were going to do MNSSHP at night, sleep in one morning, breakfast reservation at a resort character breakfast, than enjoy the pool until MNSSHP. (for which DH says he is not dressing up for. at MHP @ DLR last year, i got us to be tinkerbell and peter pan, but he wore jeans and the little cap for pictures only.)

Anyway, If its room only reservation, can I still get free dining?
sigh. I want my stuff to be final already! I am not the type to let things go unplanned and unsure!

 

[peachydreamyxx]

Thanks for all the help. I'm sorry to ask another question
I was planning on room only reservations at POP, because DH qualifies for the Military Tickets 4 day PH for $138 each. then one day we were going to do MNSSHP at night, sleep in one morning, breakfast reservation at a resort character breakfast, than enjoy the pool until MNSSHP. (for which DH says he is not dressing up for. at MHP @ DLR last year, i got us to be tinkerbell and peter pan, but he wore jeans and the little cap for pictures only.)

Anyway, If its room only reservation, can I still get free dining?
sigh. I want my stuff to be final already! I am not the type to let things go unplanned and unsure!

For free dining their is usually a ticket required. Not sure the amount of days so maybe someone else here can better answer you. I do know tho in the past that you needed to have a room and a ticket booked for the free dining promo.

I hear you about not being able to let things go unplanned. I am an obsessive planner and until things are final i'm a wreck Right now I still have yet to make my ADR's and I hate not having them. I feel so behind, even though I'm really ahead of myself haha

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

I would have been too! I'm so glad that you got everything you wanted in the end though!


Yes, thanks L. Harper - there is nothing like a little pixie dust to change the mood. Check ADRs off the list. Now the long wait begins, but I don't want to rush summer.

 

[disneydreamin247]

For free dining their is usually a ticket required. Not sure the amount of days so maybe someone else here can better answer you. I do know tho in the past that you needed to have a room and a ticket booked for the free dining promo.

I hear you about not being able to let things go unplanned. I am an obsessive planner and until things are final i'm a wreck Right now I still have yet to make my ADR's and I hate not having them. I feel so behind, even though I'm really ahead of myself haha

There's a 2 day ticket requirement for FD.

 

[KellyWasHere]

we're driving from Maine. last year it took us 24 hours. we stopped half way through. it was a great road trip, can't wait to do it again. we are thinking of taking the auto train home this time.

That is a drive! I have looked into the auto train but not seriously. Have you ever done it? I love the idea of it.

I thought it would be fun to go a few days early and drive Florida's A1A and stay on the beach somewhere. Don't know if we'll do that or not, though!


Welcome to all the new September travelers!!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Would it be ok if I just put Miller06 on mine?? I think my whole 'handle' would be a bit much for the button LOL



I need to go over to the Disboards and check it out, although since we are staying at the CR I'm not sure if anyone would notice if I put anything out, unless I hung a queen size bedsheet with "hey we're over here ladies!!' on it from the balcony facing the MK

Or you could line your room window with flashing Halloween lights!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Last time it took about 20 hours but we stopped a lot as I was still nursing Clara (then 6 months) fairly often and we also had an emergency *oh my gosh where are all the stinkin' binkies* trip to target.

This time I am packing dinner and hope to shave some time off of the trip. We plan on leaving around 3:30 so we will be arriving the morning of the 23rd. I am actually figuring out the plan for my state bags right now. Somewhere on the dis I read the tip to have the kids open a goody bag at each state line, so I am trying to figure out what I should pack in each state's bag.

I also decided instead of monthly countdown we are going to do them weekly. I like Friday movie nights anyway and there are so many classics the kids haven't seen yet. So starting next week we'll have 25 weeks of countdown parties!

"where are all the stinkin' binkies' Been there, done that!!

The state goody bags sound like a fun idea! Especially if you add little things to the bags to occupy their time on the road! If I was taking ALL my kids this trip, we'd be driving since airfare is so high. But since it's just my youngest DD and I, it makes more sense to fly. We drive to/from the coast of SC every June and that's a 16 hour drive. We make a lot of stops and enjoy the scenery!

 

[MamaJessie]

So, when you had to cancel did you lose the deposit you put down or did they transfer it over? Just curious, I doubt they will off FD again but good to know if they do.

They cannot transfer it. What happened was I paid the deposit with a rewards card. I wanted to switch from room only to free dining. They could not transfer the money so they would have had to put it back on the reward card. However the reward card had expired by then so the reward company would have been notified, than my cable company (that's who issued the card) then they would have the reward company reissue the card. Blah. Just decided to use that money for one night at POR and give off site a chance instead of dealing with that headache Also learned there are different cancellation/date change limits when you book room only vs. a package. Room only is much more lenient.

 

[MikellaCinderella]

OOO thanks for the camera strap idea. that is the one thing I know I will have with me at all times!



I agree about the button size - i don't want people to think i'm nuts because my eyes are roaming all over them looking for a green mickey button Lol.

You're welcome!

I can totally picture that scene......."What the heck are you staring at?!" ....."I'm looking for a green DIS button!!" "GEESH!!"

 

[Microcell]

DH and I are going in Sept from the 17-24th . Its our first anniversary and our first trip to the world! so excited. My college classes have a break from labor day until the last Monday in Sept, so i thought the latest week we could go would be the best time for us.

We were going to go in may of this year, but DH got a job in Oregon (we are from the California Bay Area) so it got moved to Sept because we had to spend money moving and buying furniture and what not.

So we haven't actually booked anything yet! My income is going to pay for the trip, so I just have to save about 900 each month starting in April.
But DH and I have talked a lot, and this is something for sure. I feel like such a cotton headed niggy muggin for saying these are our dates when we havent booked anything yet but trust me, my first paycheck ( i get paid monthly - boo) is going to Small world vacations.

I was also kind of waiting until they announced the free dining plan, which i'm guessing is going to happen around May-ish. (and now i don't feel so bad, lol i have at least one good reason to wait) If I book something now, can I add the free dining plan to it when they announce it?

I got paid monthly for 8 years and honestly, once you get used to it you might find you really like it! Makes it easier to save big amounts like you are talking about.. but the first month without pay was painful.. I do remember that!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

For free dining their is usually a ticket required. Not sure the amount of days so maybe someone else here can better answer you. I do know tho in the past that you needed to have a room and a ticket booked for the free dining promo.

I hear you about not being able to let things go unplanned. I am an obsessive planner and until things are final i'm a wreck Right now I still have yet to make my ADR's and I hate not having them. I feel so behind, even though I'm really ahead of myself haha

I'm wondering if their military discounted park tickets could still count towards their package for FD though?! It would be something worth calling about!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

They cannot transfer it. What happened was I paid the deposit with a rewards card. I wanted to switch from room only to free dining. They could not transfer the money so they would have had to put it back on the reward card. However the reward card had expired by then so the reward company would have been notified, than my cable company (that's who issued the card) then they would have the reward company reissue the card. Blah. Just decided to use that money for one night at POR and give off site a chance instead of dealing with that headache Also learned there are different cancellation/date change limits when you book room only vs. a package. Room only is much more lenient.

For this trip, I was originally booked on a 40% off pin code offer at POLY, but decided I wanted to save $$ so I switched to POP "Kids stay/play free". I went ahead and booked that online and then just called them and they switched the money over from the POLY ressie before they cancelled it.

 

[MamaJessie]

"where are all the stinkin' binkies' Been there, done that!!

The state goody bags sound like a fun idea! Especially if you add little things to the bags to occupy their time on the road! If I was taking ALL my kids this trip, we'd be driving since airfare is so high. But since it's just my youngest DD and I, it makes more sense to fly. We drive to/from the coast of SC every June and that's a 16 hour drive. We make a lot of stops and enjoy the scenery!

For this trip, I was originally booked on a 40% off pin code offer at POLY, but decided I wanted to save $$ so I switched to POP "Kids stay/play free". I went ahead and booked that online and then just called them and they switched the money over from the POLY ressie before they cancelled it.

I called two different times because I was hoping I could get a CM that could help me. Good to know though!! I should have held out longer

I picked up some disney themed brown paper bags at the dollar store so now I just need to figure out what to buy to put in them. I am thinking maybe travel games and maybe a movie. Ill check easter clearance for basket stuffers at 75% off. They should be along the lines of what I am looking for...

 

[basketkat]

My 180 day window is on Sunday...I know I can do all 10 days of our trip as far as ADR's go, but do I have to call back on the ACTUAL 180 mark as far as BBB goes? In my head that seems like how it works, but I don't want to miss out on getting the time I want.

Thanks everyone!

 

[MamaJessie]

My 180 day window is on Sunday...I know I can do all 10 days of our trip as far as ADR's go, but do I have to call back on the ACTUAL 180 mark as far as BBB goes? In my head that seems like how it works, but I don't want to miss out on getting the time I want.

Thanks everyone!

I have no idea. What day are you planning on doing BBB? I think I want to get in early on the 26th. Or the 28th.

 

[basketkat]

I have no idea. What day are you planning on doing BBB? I think I want to get in early on the 26th. Or the 28th.

October 1st because it is my daughter's (oh and Disney World's...ha!) birthday. I want an early ressie so we can have a late breakfast at CRT.

 

[Princess/es19]

I'm wondering if their military discounted park tickets could still count towards their package for FD though?! It would be something worth calling about!

Oh goodness I never thought about that..... You may be my new best friend I was going to call anyway to see if DH qualifies for Military discount at POP, He is in the NG but hasn't been activated in a while, so he doesnt apply for Stars and Stripes or a room at SOG. Still, he gets tickets for both of us for four days park hopper only $138 each. than one day of half rest/MNSSHP, than a day at Universal/IOA. than the saturdays are all day travel days. thats the plan so far!
If worst comes to worst and we can't get discounts and stuff, i would be willing to cancel the day at Universal or try and combine it with MNSSHP but we already are losing 3 hours of the day so i know we will need a day of rest!

You all have been so helpful! The money we lost having to cancel our May trip i hope to "make back" in what i make by booking in mid september instead of Memorial Day weekend!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

My 180 day window is on Sunday...I know I can do all 10 days of our trip as far as ADR's go, but do I have to call back on the ACTUAL 180 mark as far as BBB goes? In my head that seems like how it works, but I don't want to miss out on getting the time I want.

Thanks everyone!

You can make your BBB ressie at the same time as the ADR's, as long as it's still within 10 days of your arrival date! I just did it a couple weeks ago when it was my ADR booking day!

 

[basketkat]

You can make your BBB ressie at the same time as the ADR's, as long as it's still within 10 days of your arrival date! I just did it a couple weeks ago when it was my ADR booking day!

Oh wonderful!!! Thank you SO much!!! I'm waking up before the sun to do them online on Sunday (I live in Central Time Zone) and then I will call and do her BBB apt when the phones open.

Thank you SO much! I KNEW I could count on my September DISer's!!!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Oh goodness I never thought about that..... You may be my new best friend I was going to call anyway to see if DH qualifies for Military discount at POP, He is in the NG but hasn't been activated in a while, so he doesnt apply for Stars and Stripes or a room at SOG. Still, he gets tickets for both of us for four days park hopper only $138 each. than one day of half rest/MNSSHP, than a day at Universal/IOA. than the saturdays are all day travel days. thats the plan so far!
If worst comes to worst and we can't get discounts and stuff, i would be willing to cancel the day at Universal or try and combine it with MNSSHP but we already are losing 3 hours of the day so i know we will need a day of rest!

You all have been so helpful! The money we lost having to cancel our May trip i hope to "make back" in what i make by booking in mid september instead of Memorial Day weekend!

If you call WDW let me know what you find out about that.....now I'm curious! The only reason they may NOT allow it is if they say that you're trying to use two discounts at the same time. ....but maybe the military park ticket offer isn't in the same rules as the standard "discounts".