~Snowbird Chat~

[Dancegrl624]

We've been watching airfare around here too. As you all know, we love JetBlue. I've been looking at their fares for awhile, but my DH wasn't quite ready to give the ok yet. Well wouldn't you know....he finally decides to ok the trip and Jet Blue's fares jumped from $69 each way to $94 or $104 each way!!! I'm not happy. So...we're now waiting for Southwest to extend their schedule (which will happen on March 23rd). I really don't want to fly with Southwest...1. they have that weird boarding procedure and 2. they don't participate with ME. I know that we could still use ME, but I don't want to wait around for my luggage and then get on the bus. I was very spoiled back in June I guess! Is it awful of me to hope that Southwest's fares are the same or more than JetBlue?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

You don't have to wait on your luggage with SW. They participate with ME. We have never got our luggage at Orlando!

I think the difference is that maybe they don't participate in the Resort Airline Check-in for the way back. Meaning that you would have to take your luggage with you back to the airport and check it yourself before your flight home. At least they didn't used to participate in that. They may now.

I do hate their boarding procedure. I always feel like we are being herded like cattle!

They used to offer great rates between Pittsburgh and Orlando, but no so much anymore. That's why we are looking at AT.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Shelly, I forgot, did you get a pin too or is that just when you wanted to go back? I NEEEEED pin code!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I got a PIN about 2 weeks after we got back from vacation! I got the 20, 30, 40% off PIN! That's the only way we would go deluxe! The Pin is good for most of 2010, but we really wanted to go the same week again since it was so great!

Try pricing out vacations on the Disney website for your dates (while logged on) and then saving them. That's what I did and I got the email Pin a week later!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I got a PIN about 2 weeks after we got back from vacation! I got the 20, 30, 40% off PIN! That's the only way we would go deluxe! The Pin is good for most of 2010, but we really wanted to go the same week again since it was so great!

Try pricing out vacations on the Disney website for your dates (while logged on) and then saving them. That's what I did and I got the email Pin a week later!

That's the same pin I got. I've been saving vacations, ordering the planning dvd, ordering the custom maps.....I've been logging onto the Disney website a million times a day!

Everything I've read on here about ME, it seemed like Southwest didn't participate. Thanks for clearing that up for me! I still adore JetBlue. You can't beat the tv's at every seat and all the delicious snacks they offer.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

okay Shelly!! I will get on that this afternoon!! I am sooo debating if I want to do a split stay....Mike Looooved the WL...I thought it was spectacular too, but for us we are gonna have to stay in a club level...those are over $600 a night...I really have just stayed in love with the BC..and we can do a 5 person standard room for $340 a night or even go up a few notches to $4 something, or Deluxe for $5 a night...still cheaper than the WL...oh, what's a girl to do? See why I need that pin?!!! I thought we might start out at the BC and end up at the WL...but I am steering myself more and more to the BC area.....that's really my personal favorite place to stay.....I loooove walking to Epcot.....just thinking about going up that Monorail ramp right now is wearing me out!
Well....we are having a LAZY day....its dreary and pouring rain...90% all day....we are already floating around here!!!! I think Chocolate chip cookies are in order.....

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hey ladies! I'm so excited for you all for November. Wish I could go and see my pals! NO, I have to go when it's hot and humid! Oh well.
I'm playing the airfare watching game too. NOT liking the numbers. It's looking easily like $1000 for the four of us. Most likely 1200.

Shawna - I can't believe you haven't gotten a pin yet! I've had 3 or 4 since we got back. Just got another one last week. Oh, I wish I could give it to you!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

That's the same pin I got. I've been saving vacations, ordering the planning dvd, ordering the custom maps.....I've been logging onto the Disney website a million times a day!

Everything I've read on here about ME, it seemed like Southwest didn't participate. Thanks for clearing that up for me! I still adore JetBlue. You can't beat the tv's at every seat and all the delicious snacks they offer.

I'm not sure why there is all the SW ME confusion. I even had a CM tell me that we could not use ME period if we flew with SW. Not true at all! I think it's that resort airline check-in thing that confuses everybody. We never use that anyway.

We've never flown JetBlue. I'll have to check and see if they fly out of PIT. I don't remember. All I know is that every time I check none of the other airlines can even come close to AT and SW.

Oh how I hate the airline game!

okay Shelly!! I will get on that this afternoon!! I am sooo debating if I want to do a split stay....Mike Looooved the WL...I thought it was spectacular too, but for us we are gonna have to stay in a club level...those are over $600 a night...I really have just stayed in love with the BC..and we can do a 5 person standard room for $340 a night or even go up a few notches to $4 something, or Deluxe for $5 a night...still cheaper than the WL...oh, what's a girl to do? See why I need that pin?!!! I thought we might start out at the BC and end up at the WL...but I am steering myself more and more to the BC area.....that's really my personal favorite place to stay.....I loooove walking to Epcot.....just thinking about going up that Monorail ramp right now is wearing me out!
Well....we are having a LAZY day....its dreary and pouring rain...90% all day....we are already floating around here!!!! I think Chocolate chip cookies are in order.....

Yes, get right on that!! Seriously, about a week after saved a vacation they sent me a PIN with an offer for the resort I had saved the quote for. The PIN was good for any resort, but it was obvious what prompted the PIN. Then I got 2 more after that.

I so hope you get one!

I definitely vote for the BC area over the WL. Especially if you are Epcot/DHS people like us! I always thought I'd stay at the Poly if I went deluxe, but I really love the BC/YC/BW area so much more. I can't wait!!

Plus $600 a night for the WL!! Yikes!

Hey ladies! I'm so excited for you all for November. Wish I could go and see my pals! NO, I have to go when it's hot and humid! Oh well.
I'm playing the airfare watching game too. NOT liking the numbers. It's looking easily like $1000 for the four of us. Most likely 1200.

Shawna - I can't believe you haven't gotten a pin yet! I've had 3 or 4 since we got back. Just got another one last week. Oh, I wish I could give it to you!!!

I wish you could go in November too!

Don't worry, after this year we are probably going to have to start traveling in the summer because DS will be in 7th grade the following school year. So I have my doubts about taking him out of school.

SO -- I'm counting on you to tell me that the summer isn't that bad!!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Summer isn't terrible Shelly. If you use EMH and park hoppers, it's really quite managable. Yeah, it's really hot and the parks are more crowded, but it's not horrible. Until last Jan, I had only ever gone to WDW in June, July or August. The daily afternoon rain shower isn't too bad...just be prepared with ponchos!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We just don't deal well with the heat/humidity at the parks. One of our May trips it was 90+ degrees each day and the humidity was through the roof. It was by far our least favorite trip. We got very little done and the kids (and DH ) were whiny all week. As a matter of fact that trip is what prompted the January trip the year after!

But I guess if I have to choose between Disney in the summer or no Disney at all I will have to go with Disney in the summer!!

What is better, June, July, or August??? The Swan/Dolphin have some awesome teacher rates in August, so I am thinking about the Swan in August 2011 since I am subbing at the kids school now. . . Or is August a terrible idea??? I am thinking August because we can go in late Aug when a lot of schools are back in session , we don't go back until September. . .

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Summer isn't terrible Shelly. If you use EMH and park hoppers, it's really quite managable. Yeah, it's really hot and the parks are more crowded, but it's not horrible. Until last Jan, I had only ever gone to WDW in June, July or August. The daily afternoon rain shower isn't too bad...just be prepared with ponchos!

That's good to hear! I am going to get my hair cut short, bring ponytails for the girls, ponchos, tank tops (which I don't normally wear much) and totally use that pool at BC!!! We figure, we've done just about everything 3x over, so we will pick what we really want to do and just relax. Plus with the DxDP, we'll be taking breaks to eat regularly. I may have to start a PTR so you all can help reassure me that my schedule will work!

 

[Dancegrl624]

We just don't deal well with the heat/humidity at the parks. One of our May trips it was 90+ degrees each day and the humidity was through the roof. It was by far our least favorite trip. We got very little done and the kids (and DH ) were whiny all week. As a matter of fact that trip is what prompted the January trip the year after!

But I guess if I have to choose between Disney in the summer or no Disney at all I will have to go with Disney in the summer!!

What is better, June, July, or August??? The Swan/Dolphin have some awesome teacher rates in August, so I am thinking about the Swan in August 2011 since I am subbing at the kids school now. . . Or is August a terrible idea??? I am thinking August because we can go in late Aug when a lot of schools are back in session , we don't go back until September. . .

All of those summer months are extremely hot and humid. I recommend going to the park that has EMH in the AM, getting as much done as possible, maybe eat lunch in the park and then head back to the hotel for a break/swim/nap. Once the sun starts to go down, it's much more comfortable. I would probably choose late August, but that's just me. June and July are when most schools are off for the summer and then southern schools start back in August.

That's good to hear! I am going to get my hair cut short, bring ponytails for the girls, ponchos, tank tops (which I don't normally wear much) and totally use that pool at BC!!! We figure, we've done just about everything 3x over, so we will pick what we really want to do and just relax. Plus with the DxDP, we'll be taking breaks to eat regularly. I may have to start a PTR so you all can help reassure me that my schedule will work!

I didn't bring any short sleeved shirts with me in June...just tank tops. Nothing too tight either. I wore lots of "flowy" shirts and it worked out well. Tony wore light colored t-shirts and he was fine (he loves the heat!). We brought our own ponchos (from Walmart in the hunting/camping section) and they were very durable. I actually still have them in my Disney box in the basement! The youth size was still really long on Maddie, so I just got a bunch off the bottom. We all had our own color (Tony-blue, Me-yellow and Maddie-pink). We really stood out from the crowd of clear Disney ponchos!

I'm more than happy to help with the planning of summer trips!

I'M OFFICIALLY BOOKED AT POP!!!!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thanks for the tips Meghan and CONGRATS on booking your trip!! What are your dates? (I can't do the math on my own!)

 

[Dancegrl624]

Sept 22-29

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Oh Meghan - That is SOooooo Exciting!!! And less than a month until you can book ADRs!!! I would so love to do a free dining trip in Sept! Not this year though! Please start your TR as soon as you have details girl!! The calendars for Sept are out so you can pick your park days!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey ladies! I'm so excited for you all for November. Wish I could go and see my pals! NO, I have to go when it's hot and humid! Oh well.
I'm playing the airfare watching game too. NOT liking the numbers. It's looking easily like $1000 for the four of us. Most likely 1200.

Shawna - I can't believe you haven't gotten a pin yet! I've had 3 or 4 since we got back. Just got another one last week. Oh, I wish I could give it to you!!!

I wish I could take it!! Ha!!!!

We just don't deal well with the heat/humidity at the parks. One of our May trips it was 90+ degrees each day and the humidity was through the roof. It was by far our least favorite trip. We got very little done and the kids (and DH ) were whiny all week. As a matter of fact that trip is what prompted the January trip the year after!

But I guess if I have to choose between Disney in the summer or no Disney at all I will have to go with Disney in the summer!!

What is better, June, July, or August??? The Swan/Dolphin have some awesome teacher rates in August, so I am thinking about the Swan in August 2011 since I am subbing at the kids school now. . . Or is August a terrible idea??? I am thinking August because we can go in late Aug when a lot of schools are back in session , we don't go back until September. . .

A little FYI...my bday is the end of July (25th) and it's typically the most humid /hottest week of the year down here!!! The last year I went with my parents, we came home from Disney on the 24th...let me just tell you it was so dang hot!!!!! Of course, we didn't have an on site hotel to hit midday...we were just there all day and boy does it wear you out quick!!!!! If you can skip the parks from around 12-close to 3 you will do much better. That time of day down here with our humidity is just unbearable. Do what you can in the a.m., then go back in the evening...

That's good to hear! I am going to get my hair cut short, bring ponytails for the girls, ponchos, tank tops (which I don't normally wear much) and totally use that pool at BC!!! We figure, we've done just about everything 3x over, so we will pick what we really want to do and just relax. Plus with the DxDP, we'll be taking breaks to eat regularly. I may have to start a PTR so you all can help reassure me that my schedule will work!

Oh, yeah...do a PTR!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Oh Meghan...Congrats on getting booked!!!!! Keep us posted with those plans!!!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I have already written down the park hours for Sept. Now, I need to sit down and think about ADR's. My 180 day mark is March 26th!!!! I really want to do MNSSHP too. Once Madison heard about it (quite some time ago) she said she'd like to do it. You know why? To meet the Villans!!! She's so funny. I think that the party sounds like a lot of fun....the parade, Hallowishes, the Villians...we will try our best to get to that.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Girl....the villains are great! I loved the Queen Of Hearts from Alice...she's quite scary.....and Cruella De Vil is the most intimidating character ever---besides Hook, of course!!!!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Hi Snowbirds!

I'm excited for all of you planning your next trips! Wow, your SECOND trips since we all went in Jan 09! I'm so jealous! I know we won't be back before fall of 2012 at the VERY earliest...but I know we WILL be back some day! We already have our park tickets! We bought 7-day hoppers for our Jan 09 trip back in July 08, before the price increase. But then they came out with the military ticket deal, so we bought those and used them for that trip. So we still have the others that we never used. Of course, they are two adult and two child tickets, and by that time we'll need four adults and one child! But I saved the recipt and it will be interesting to see how much prices have gone up by then...