Team Renfroe - Pre-Trip Report for May 15-22, 2009 **Final Chapter**

[TigerKat]

How did I miss this thread Alan??????? I've got 20 pages to catch up on before I leave.........

 

[Camster0307]

Hey Cammie! I totally understand and the Renfroes wish you all the best on your upcoming trip. Can't wait to read the trip report!!

Thanks Renfroes! We're very excited!

And -- -- for "Rusty's" soccer team! Love the younger picture also; they grow up tooooo fast!

 

[Camster0307]

How did I miss this thread Alan??????? I've got 20 pages to catch up on before I leave.........

Oh - going somewhere, Kathy?

 

[TigerKat]

Oh - going somewhere, Kathy?

You betcha, see ya Saturday!

 

[alan_renfroe]

How did I miss this thread Alan??????? I've got 20 pages to catch up on before I leave.........

Hi Kathy!! Gosh, I didn't realize you weren't on board for the PTR!! You'd BETTER subscribe! Team Renfroe has missed your comments!

Thanks Renfroes! We're very excited!

And -- -- for "Rusty's" soccer team! Love the younger picture also; they grow up tooooo fast!

and we are excited for you! Can't wait to hear all about the trip! Remember - pictures...we want pictures!

Gosh, I almost cried when I saw that soccer picture comparison. Time goes by SOO fast!

Oh - going somewhere, Kathy?

You betcha, see ya Saturday!

Oh great! Just rub it in that YOU ALL are going and we are NOT!! Just kidding! I hope you all have a great trip and loads of fun. Kathy, I want to see YOUR trip report also!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Oh, I am SO excited about this "Buy 4, get 3 free" offer!! Woohoo!

Now, we really have some tough decisions to make. Here are our primary options:

Scenario #1 - Last year, we stayed at Coronado Springs Resort and LOVED it. We bought the package deal that included 6 nights at the CSR, 6 Magic Your Way tickets, no park hopper, but we did get the Water Parks package, and the Deluxe Dining Plan. Our total was $3,625. Before this offer, we priced out the same thing and it came to $3,732. However, NOW, we could stay at CSR for 6 nights, have 7 days in the park (one extra park day), add the water park option, and the Deluxe Dining Plan - all for $3,300!! That's $325 cheaper than last year, and we get one extra day in the parks!!

Scenario #2 - We have been strongly considering staying at the POP this time in order to save ourselves some money. As much as we loved CSR, we were really not in our room that often. (I primarily loved CSR for the awesome pool slide, pool bar, and the location.) Anyway, if we go with the POP, we could stay an EXTRA NIGHT, giving us 7 days, 7 nights. If we add the water parks option and the Deluxe Dining Plan, our package would cost $3,246.

SO..... do we upgrade to CSR? or do we stay an extra night by staying at the POP? Hmm....

 

[TigerKat]

SO..... do we upgrade to CSR? or do we stay an extra night by staying at the POP? Hmm....

Decisions, decisions.....just popping in to say bye bye. I'm taking the laptop so I'll be in touch with y'all!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Decisions, decisions.....just popping in to say bye bye. I'm taking the laptop so I'll be in touch with y'all!

Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. Have a great time! Tell Cammie and the girls that Team Renfroe says hello!

 

[englishrose47]

My TA called and said it didn't look like I'd save anything over myAAA rate but she is still checking I think I'll visit her tomorrow cuz that doesn't sound right !!

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

Aww Alan don't tell little Rusty this but he was adorable when he was 5. He still is but I'm sure that it would be really uncool to hear that from someone who could be his mom.
I know Josh is getting to that stage when he gets really upset when someone comments about how "cute" he is.... unless it is a little girl, then I guess it is stll embarrasing but ok.

 

[Michelle_and_Aaron]

Oh and that 7 nights for the price of 4 did not work for us either Rosie. My dates are blacked out.

 

[englishrose47]

Oh and that 7 nights for the price of 4 did not work for us either Rosie. My dates are blacked out.

I did get a discout $271 MY ta CALLED ME AND SAID IT WENT THRU yAHOOEY!!

 

[Figment's Friend]

"Rusty" was such a cutie as a little soccer player and he's turned into such a handsome pre-teen!

That new buy 4 nights, get 3 free deal is almost too good to be true! Wow, Alan, you really save a lot with either scenario of yours! I noticed the price difference wasn't that significant from scenario #1 and #2 at all, but by picking #2 you'd get an extra day in the parks and an opportunity to stay at a completely new resort!

Can't wait to hear what you'll choose (and what dates you choose as well!) We leave on our trip in just three weeks!

 

[mousebit]

Happy week-end everyone!

Hey, Alan! I'm sharing your pain and confusion! I'd like to try CSR too, but love POP so much...it's just so fun and comfortable...feels like our Disney home now...and of course it saves me $$$...to spend on other Disney stuff! But, I have longer than you to make up my mind...not going back til Oct. 09.

Anyway, I am soooo sloooow at getting my pics uploaded and edited. Pathetic, I know.

But DGD just put together a slide show of POP at night for her MySpace page. I'll share it with ya now...just to get ya in a POP mood - and confuse you further!

http://www.slide.com/r/UICgNXtxuj9c...previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

 

[dddisrunner]

Sorry I have been missing! Just caught up! LOVED the pictures of you and your DS from Washington DC! So scary looking at the soccer then and now pics. how fast they grow! How cool that you could add another night by staying at Pop! I would go for another day, definitely! Can't wait to hear all about your ADR'S, thanks to you we have decided on deluxe dining! If you get a chance I would love for you to check out my pre- trippie for this summer!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hi Alan!

Just checking in to see what the Griswolds/Renfroes have been up to! Looks like you've been having fun.

Your wife is one talented baker. And happy birthday to DD!

How great that you got to go to DC with your son. I LOVE the leaning on Washington Monument photo-- it came out great!!

Thanks for sharing the soccer pictures. He has grown up fast!

Any progress on making decisions for the next trip? I'm no help-- it has me all confused as well. I am heading to Pop for two nights next month and would be happy to do any sleuthing on your behalf if you want me to check anything out for you.

Can't believe your ticker says 6 months already. Seems like yesterday it was a whole year away!!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Aww Alan don't tell little Rusty this but he was adorable when he was 5. He still is but I'm sure that it would be really uncool to hear that from someone who could be his mom.
I know Josh is getting to that stage when he gets really upset when someone comments about how "cute" he is.... unless it is a little girl, then I guess it is stll embarrasing but ok.

He cracks me up! All of the sudden in the last year, he's very concerned about how his hair looks, what clothes he wears, etc. He told us that he would like cash for Christmas or gift cards to American Eagle and Aeropostle!
(Of course, he's also asking for an XBox 360!)

Oh and that 7 nights for the price of 4 did not work for us either Rosie. My dates are blacked out.

I saw that some dates in April were blacked out, and I figured it was during Easter week when you guys are going. That's too bad.

I did get a discout $271 MY ta CALLED ME AND SAID IT WENT THRU yAHOOEY!!

YAY!! Rosie's saving money too!

"Rusty" was such a cutie as a little soccer player and he's turned into such a handsome pre-teen!

That new buy 4 nights, get 3 free deal is almost too good to be true! Wow, Alan, you really save a lot with either scenario of yours! I noticed the price difference wasn't that significant from scenario #1 and #2 at all, but by picking #2 you'd get an extra day in the parks and an opportunity to stay at a completely new resort!

Can't wait to hear what you'll choose (and what dates you choose as well!) We leave on our trip in just three weeks!

Little Rusty is quickly turning into Big Rusty!! And Clark and Ellen are coping as best we can!

Yeah, that 4 nights, get 3 free is a GREAT deal. I guess with the economy being what it is, Disney would rather go ahead and fill those rooms by offering this deal now. Either way, I'm just glad we can take advantage of it!

I am really struggling with which scenario to go with.... more on that in a later post.

Ooh, take lots of pictures on your upcoming trip! We LOVED your last report!

Happy week-end everyone!

Hey, Alan! I'm sharing your pain and confusion! I'd like to try CSR too, but love POP so much...it's just so fun and comfortable...feels like our Disney home now...and of course it saves me $$$...to spend on other Disney stuff! But, I have longer than you to make up my mind...not going back til Oct. 09.

Anyway, I am soooo sloooow at getting my pics uploaded and edited. Pathetic, I know.

But DGD just put together a slide show of POP at night for her MySpace page. I'll share it with ya now...just to get ya in a POP mood - and confuse you further!

http://www.slide.com/r/UICgNXtxuj9c...previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Cool! Thanks for posting this link, Barb!

Yes, we are really struggling with decisions now. DD and DW are really wanting to go to the POP, while DS & I LOVED CSR SO MUCH! Three key reasons for wanting to go back to CSR so badly: 1 - Queen-sized beds, 2 - refridgerator in room, and 3 - awesome pool slide. We looked at several POP pictures over the weekend and DD would just love to be in the 60s section! (She fathoms herself as a little Neo-Hippie!)

Decisions, decisions...

Sorry I have been missing! Just caught up! LOVED the pictures of you and your DS from Washington DC! So scary looking at the soccer then and now pics. how fast they grow! How cool that you could add another night by staying at Pop! I would go for another day, definitely! Can't wait to hear all about your ADR'S, thanks to you we have decided on deluxe dining! If you get a chance I would love for you to check out my pre- trippie for this summer!

Hey! Great to hear from ya! Yes, DS AND DD are growing up too fast!

Staying at the POP would definitely give us a few advantages: 1 - an extra night, 2 - that extra night on the Deluxe Dining Plan means 3 more TS meals!, and 3 - a new experience. See my post above for my reasons for still wanting to stay at CSR.

Next post, I'll show what we are tentatively planning if we stay at the POP.

Hi Alan!

Just checking in to see what the Griswolds/Renfroes have been up to! Looks like you've been having fun.

Your wife is one talented baker. And happy birthday to DD!

How great that you got to go to DC with your son. I LOVE the leaning on Washington Monument photo-- it came out great!!

Thanks for sharing the soccer pictures. He has grown up fast!

Any progress on making decisions for the next trip? I'm no help-- it has me all confused as well. I am heading to Pop for two nights next month and would be happy to do any sleuthing on your behalf if you want me to check anything out for you.

Can't believe your ticker says 6 months already. Seems like yesterday it was a whole year away!!

Hi Christine! DW is definitely a talented baker! Maybe that is why I've gained .... ahem.... a few pounds since we've been married!

DS & I really enjoyed sharing DC together. Even though it was really only one day, it was a perfect day - great weather, perfect time of the year, election year, etc. The "leaning" picture was his idea!! (He's quite the creative one!)

We've made a little progress, but to be honest I'm as confused now as ever. I thought we would have a little more time to make decisions, but with this "Buy 4, Get 3 Free" promotion, we want to book our trip within the next few days. More in the next post...

Alan

 

[alan_renfroe]

Staying at the POP Century would have a few advantages over staying at Coronado Springs Resort. They are:
1. A little less money
2. We could stay 7 nights instead of 6 nights
3. Staying 7 nights means 3 extra TS meals on the Deluxe Dining Plan, which would allow us to try some new things.
4. DD is just dying to stay at the POP! (She has a hippie fascination!)

Basically, we live 11 hours from WDW by car. Our children will be excused from their school for one week for a family trip to WDW. (Our principal is really cool about letting parents take their kids to Disney, as he realizes the educational factor that goes along with it.) Anyway, the plan is to check the kids out of school at noon on Friday, May 15, 2009. If we get on the road immediately and stop only once for gas and drive-thru dinner, we can be at WDW by 11pm. If we go with the POP Century scenario, we would plan to check in at 11pm on Friday night so that we could hit the ground running on Saturday, May 16th.

If we go with this scenario, we will have 21 TS credits each for the trip. Here is what we are thinking as a tentative itinerary:

Friday, May 15, 2009
Arrive at Pop Century around 11pm
Check in and unpack

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Park = Magic Kingdom
Breakfast = Crystal Palace
Lunch = Liberty Tree Tavern
DW & DD do GF Tea and DD’s hair (out of pocket)
Guys do Dinner at Tony’s Town Square

Sunday, May 17, 2009
Park = AK
Breakfast at Tusker House
Lunch at Yak & Yeti
Dinner at Kona

Monday, May 18, 2009
Park = DHS
Breakfast = use 2 credits at the POP
Lunch = 50s Prime Time Café
Dinner = Citricos

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Park = Typhoon Lagoon/Blizzard Beach
No Breakfast - sleep in
Lunch at Typhoon Lagoon (out of pocket)
Dinner at California Grill

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Park = Epcot
Breakfast = Kona
Lunch = Le Cellier
Dinner = Flying Fish Café

Thursday, May 20, 2009
Park = Magic Kingdom
Breakfast = Chef Mickey’s
Lunch = The Wave
Dinner = Artist Point

Friday, May 22, 2009
Epcot & Downtown Disney
Lunch = Tutto Italia or Les Chefs
Dinner = ‘Ohana

After dinner on Friday, we will leave WDW, drive as far as we can and stay at a roadside motel, then get up and drive home on Saturday.

 

[englishrose47]

Great plans for Pop !! I'm with your DD I love Pop, It is really family oriented! They have 3 pools (no slides ) a baby pool and Goofy Jet streams, the foodcourt is very good and everyone is friendly !! The rooms are smaller but for the amount of time you are in them they are fine! New mattresses this year !!No fridges but their are lots of fridge swaps which I always get in on.! I think you would like it there! I've never had problems with the buses there . Our first family trip we had sooo many Towel Animals it was unreal, and our mousekeeper told us to take them . I have one on top of my TV right now as a reminder of our first visit !!

 

[alan_renfroe]

Thanks, Rosie. I think we are getting closer to a decision about the POP. It would be less money, longer time, and 3 extra meals on the Deluxe Dining Plan! We will make a decision this week one way or another. Our 180-day window for making ADRs starts one week from today!

Alan