September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[disneydreamin247]

It's all Mother Natures fault, your lil princess does not like the cold

I think she's too content with the constant feedings she's getting now. I am on a 2 hour meal schedule.

 

[youcansmellit]

Is anyone going to MNSSHP? Last year we went and had a good time. I'm not sure if we will do it again.

I dressed up in leather lederhosen. Not one of my better ideas.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Is anyone going to MNSSHP? Last year we went and had a good time. I'm not sure if we will do it again.

I dressed up in leather lederhosen. Not one of my better ideas.

We are!!! We absolutely love it! I think MNSSHP fireworks are the best we've seen at MK. The parade is super awesome and DS loved bringing home his sack of candy lol.

 

[MissLiz]

Dani--hugs to you for all you and your family have been through! I say add another day....what the heck!

And by your post, I see your little princess has decided not to come join the party yet. My thoughts are with you! My first was due July 6th and decided to finally show up July 16th. My second is very prompt. She decided to join us on her due date.


Just an update, the DVC talk continues at the MissLiz household. My butt is ready to get on the phone and buy, buy, buy. DH keeps flip-flopping on buying direct and buying resale. It's driving me nuts. I do have to remember that if we buy in before September, then our current plans will probably change. We'll still go in September, but we'd probably end up using points instead.


We will be going to MNSSHP on Tuesday the 20th! I can't wait! We've gone twice now and loved it both times. Of course, I can't get DH to dress up no matter how much I pay him. Last year, I just threw on some black ears and a tail and was a "cat".

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Just an update, the DVC talk continues at the MissLiz household. My butt is ready to get on the phone and buy, buy, buy. DH keeps flip-flopping on buying direct and buying resale. It's driving me nuts. I do have to remember that if we buy in before September, then our current plans will probably change. We'll still go in September, but we'd probably end up using points instead.

I've recently been really wanting DVC. We're years off from seriously considering it, but we would probably go resale. I couldn't see us ever being able to afford the buy-in with Disney. Also, we would generally use DVC to add a day or two to our vacation, rather than use DVC for the entire vacation. We wouldn't buy-in unless we could pay for it in cash. Personally, since it's considered a pre-paid vacation plan versus an "investment", it's not something we would go into debt for. That's why we are years away from making that decision. But those 25 point contracts on resale markets are so tempting!!!

 

[peachydreamyxx]

Is anyone going to MNSSHP? Last year we went and had a good time. I'm not sure if we will do it again.

I dressed up in leather lederhosen. Not one of my better ideas.

We will without a doubt be attending again this year. We are hoping for the 27th! Id like to attend twice, but were opting to try Food and Wine at the end of our trip for the first time!

 

[MissLiz]

I've recently been really wanting DVC. We're years off from seriously considering it, but we would probably go resale. I couldn't see us ever being able to afford the buy-in with Disney. Also, we would generally use DVC to add a day or two to our vacation, rather than use DVC for the entire vacation. We wouldn't buy-in unless we could pay for it in cash. Personally, since it's considered a pre-paid vacation plan versus an "investment", it's not something we would go into debt for. That's why we are years away from making that decision. But those 25 point contracts on resale markets are so tempting!!!

Oh, trust me, it's been a huge discussion going from me wanting to do it and DH being adamantly against it to making a whole lot of sense for us.

We've been looking at the resales and trying to find something that we like before the March 20th changes, but I don't feel comfortable with that. I don't want to rush into a choice or have to choose what's available. I want to be able to choose for us as a family so buying direct is looking like it's going to be the way to go. That's where the leanings are today. Ask me tomorrow, it will be different.

I know those little contracts are so tempting! We thought of that, too. Of course, when we did, all of the ones we liked were sale pending. We keep checking, though, just in case.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I will be at Pop from Sept 24th(my anniv) till Oct 1st. We were supposed to be on the Wonder but that didn't work out with vacation time, so we are at WDW. Pop will be our home unless we move for a better deal. or Free dining again, cause we missed out on it from December promo cause we were still booked on the Wonder at that time.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Oh, trust me, it's been a huge discussion going from me wanting to do it and DH being adamantly against it to making a whole lot of sense for us.

We've been looking at the resales and trying to find something that we like before the March 20th changes, but I don't feel comfortable with that. I don't want to rush into a choice or have to choose what's available. I want to be able to choose for us as a family so buying direct is looking like it's going to be the way to go. That's where the leanings are today. Ask me tomorrow, it will be different.

I know those little contracts are so tempting! We thought of that, too. Of course, when we did, all of the ones we liked were sale pending. We keep checking, though, just in case.

Yeah, I wouldn't rush to get something before the March 20th changes, unless you were really sure about it. I think it would be nice to find a little contract and test the waters with it, but they are being snatched up everywhere right now! Speaking of which, if you go in at a 160 buy-in or higher, I've seen alot of arguments for breaking the one contract into a couple of smaller contracts. They can sometimes be easier to sell on the resale market later. Although I'm not sure what else that would affect while you own it.

Ahhh, I love talking all things Disney!!

 

[MamaJessie]

Last time we went we loved it and we are hoping to go again this time.

Lessons we learned -
-even if your son insists on wearing a power ranger costume, convince him otherwise because it is too hot for such things
-cutesy shoes are cute for normal costumes - crappy for disney walking
-bring DH a costume because although he says he won't dress up once he gets there he will change his mind and require an on site costume purchase..

 

[disneydreamin247]

The changes to resale perks really don't seem to be enough to deter me from buying resale. I wouldn't use points to stay at Gf or Poly because it isn't worth it. I don't think I'd be using them for DCL either. I think it's something like 36 points per night for a GV room at Poly. If I rented points at $10/point that would be $360! That's the same as i'm paying for my CL room. I'd really only use points for DVC resorts, and I'm not that keen on the choices which is what's been keeping me at bay for now. I'd need to see another monorail choice before I'd buy in.

 

[MamaJessie]

Here's another giant picture until I figure out what to do....

 

[disneydreamin247]

MamaJessie your family is adorable!!!

 

[MissLiz]

I really think that staying at SSR broke up with the whole DVC thing. We tried the renting points thing in 2008 and stayed at OKW and hated it. I may have hated it because I was pregnant and grumpy and I gladly own up to that but even DH and DD hated it so we were not interested in DVC.

Then, we stayed at SSR and loved it! We really enjoyed the resort itself and we said that we would consider having that as our home resort if we ever decided to do DVC.

In planning this next trip, I've been pulling out all my receipts and paperwork from past trips and we started looking at how much we were spending on both room and tickets and it was a huge wake up call to us!

We started out with saying that any resort would do, but then we narrowed it down to SSR, AKV, or BLT. We kind of knocked SSR off the list because, although we liked it, it's easy to get into for reservations and there's no need to have the 11 month booking window there.

I'm not too sure about BLT because we haven't been inside it yet. Plus, DH keeps asking me if I would be okay staying there without a MK view and I just don't know.

We love AKL! It is DH's favorite resort and my 2nd favorite resort. The kids love it, too. The only thing I don't like about it is the bus service, but we drive to WDW every time so we always have our car and we've just recently started driving to all the parks. It's a whole heck of a lot easier than busses.

It also doesn't hurt that you can book the Hawaii resort, too.

 

[MissLiz]

MamaJessie -- how cute is that picture?!?!?!?!

Love it!!

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

The changes to resale perks really don't seem to be enough to deter me from buying resale. I wouldn't use points to stay at Gf or Poly because it isn't worth it. I don't think I'd be using them for DCL either. I think it's something like 36 points per night for a GV room at Poly. If I rented points at $10/point that would be $360! That's the same as i'm paying for my CL room. I'd really only use points for DVC resorts, and I'm not that keen on the choices which is what's been keeping me at bay for now. I'd need to see another monorail choice before I'd buy in.

Agreed on all points! Although I like the Animal Kingdom Villas, since monorail isn't a factor for me. And since we generally stay at value resorts during value seasons with promotions, DVC is a much more expensive option for us. We'd view it more as a novelty item and just something that's neat to have. But maybe someday!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Jo- how can I leave? ............I would miss you too much and what is this that I missed about Shelly and a frog on her makeup case?
Now that I am thinking about it I vaguely recall someone writing about a frog with a pic in their TR............was that Shelly.....getting old is a terrible thing , the memory is the fist thing to go

It was 2 trips ago Sheila. So don't worry, you aren't losing it!

JBmom--- maybe we could persuade Shelly to tell us about the frog on her makeup case ....

I forgot about that! Yes, Shelly please tell the frog story. Apparently, there are frogs out to scare the unsuspecting vacationers at POR.

Okay, you ladies asked for it!!!

This was November 2009.

We had gotten back to POR late one night after IllumiNations. The kids got changed into their pj's and I went to wash my face. I turned on the bathroom light and went to reach for my washcloth and saw 2 little eyes looking at me!! I didn't take time to investigate, I just ran away and yelled to DH that there was something on my make-up bag. He tried to catch the thing and it jumped clear to the top of the mirror. Boy could that thing jump high and fast!! Eventually he did catch it and it went out over the balcony/hallway ledge!

At that point we had been there for about 3 nights I think. And we hadn't had housekeeping come in yet. So he had likely been in there the whole time.

Here he is!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I forgot about that! Yes, Shelly please tell the frog story. Apparently, there are frogs out to scare the unsuspecting vacationers at POR.

Hi jbmom. I'm joining the thread since you have been peer pressuring me into it! I guess better late than never right! I can't wait until our trip, but I'm still worried about the heat! I can't believe I let you talk me into an August/September trip! Here's hoping we won't melt, and my family will still speak to me when we get back.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

I really think that staying at SSR broke up with the whole DVC thing. We tried the renting points thing in 2008 and stayed at OKW and hated it. I may have hated it because I was pregnant and grumpy and I gladly own up to that but even DH and DD hated it so we were not interested in DVC.

Then, we stayed at SSR and loved it! We really enjoyed the resort itself and we said that we would consider having that as our home resort if we ever decided to do DVC.

In planning this next trip, I've been pulling out all my receipts and paperwork from past trips and we started looking at how much we were spending on both room and tickets and it was a huge wake up call to us!

We started out with saying that any resort would do, but then we narrowed it down to SSR, AKV, or BLT. We kind of knocked SSR off the list because, although we liked it, it's easy to get into for reservations and there's no need to have the 11 month booking window there.

I'm not too sure about BLT because we haven't been inside it yet. Plus, DH keeps asking me if I would be okay staying there without a MK view and I just don't know.

We love AKL! It is DH's favorite resort and my 2nd favorite resort. The kids love it, too. The only thing I don't like about it is the bus service, but we drive to WDW every time so we always have our car and we've just recently started driving to all the parks. It's a whole heck of a lot easier than busses.

It also doesn't hurt that you can book the Hawaii resort, too.

We stayed at SSR through normal Disney hotel reservations (with a huge PIN discount), and I was surprised it was so easily available. So I kind of agree that maybe you wouldn't need it as your home resort. I think the resort was great, but I thought the room decor seemed outdated to me. I think I was just spoiled by the CSR refurb.

If it were me, AKV would be my choice. We drive everywhere, so buses or monorails aren't an issue for us. Our kids love the animals there and it has a nice secluded feel to it.

However, with these upcoming DVC changes, just a word of caution about other changes that could come in the future. The only thing that is generally guaranteed with DVC is your home resort. Anything else (even rules about switching to other DVC resorts) are perks. So make sure your home resort is where you want to be! My DH had recommended getting a cheap resale at HHI. Although we live generally close to HHI, we would've purposefully bought there with the intent of using AKV or some other DVC resort. But since these March 20th changes were announced, it made us alot more aware of the need to choose your home resort wisely!

 

[L-Harper]

I have everyone added up to this point! Welcome to all of our new friends here!

Dani- I am so sorry to hear what all has happened to your lovely family lately. What a rough time for all of you. It sounds like you guys really need this amazing vacation. It's so great of you to do all of this for your mom.

I have some stinky news. We are taking off the last 2 days of our trip, so we'll just be at Pop from the 7-14. We had a couple things come up and we had to take money out of our Disney budget. I'm annoyed and mad, but there isn't anything I can do about it. I know that we'll be at WDW again, so we'll be able to stay at AKL another time. So, now I'm back to re-planning.