The Double-and-a-half Trippie ** COMPLETED **

[marivaid]

Airfare Nightmare

If you think we were bad with the resorts/ADRs...

But it's not my fault this time. I take full responsibility for the Resort Madness but not flights.

After 2 years of University I decided it wasn't for me and I wanted to work in tourism instead.
That was in 1999.
I got my degree in tourism in August, 2001.

By the time I'd started job hunting, the tourism industry was at an all time low, and no one was hiring. They had enough trouble staying open.
To make matters worse my area of expertise was, of course, the USA.

This to explain that I do know a few things about booking a vacation, mainly flights. For one thing when you find a good deal, YOU TAKE IT !

I booked my own flight as soon as I knew I was going, and got a Paris-JFK roundtrip for less than 500 euros - my Miami flight this summer cost almost 3 times that.

Grumpy for once listened to me and also booked her October flights then, she got a good deal on a Paris/JFK - MCO/Paris (through Miami) at under 600 euros.

But she didn't want to book her Christmas flights until about a couple weeks ago. She couldn't make up her mind on when she wanted to leave.
When we first looked, a flight leaving on the 20th and coming back on the 27th was under 400 euros.
AND you could even modify it if needed for only 80euros. It's now over 600 and keeps going up yet she won't let me book it for her.

We spent weeks in August trying to figure out which flights to use our AAdvantage points for. At one point I had some first-class tickets held for us but since she couldn't make up her mind I lost those.

Our remaining option now was a flight leaving at 7am (which means DME would have to pick us up at 4am!!) with a change in Chicago.
Grumpy doesn't have enough points for the "economy anytime" option.

Yesterday I was cooking and DING! - no, not a Southwest Ding, but pretty good either way - I remembered that Grumpy had a bunch of Priority Club (Holiday Inn) points and that they could be exchanged for American Airlines miles.

Now, it was 8.30am. I called the French number and got a message that said the office wasn't open until 9.30am. So I called the US numbers and transfered the points in about 3mns. Why is it that it's easier to call someone in the US where it's 2.30 in the morning ??? French customer service stinks.

So, Grumpy can get her rather cheap (but not that cheap anymore) JFK roundtrip for December and get her JFK/MCO flights free. And we'll be together on both flights back home.
I also got a free LGA - MCO flight in the process, Grumpy will have to pay for hers but it's dirt cheap at under 80 euros.

There's only one thing that needs to be taken care of.

I'll be in Clearwater at my friend's. The closest airport is Tampa, and Orlando is about an hour & a half away by car so obviously there are no direct Tampa-Orlando flights. You have to go through Miami, Ft Lauderdale or DALLAS (huh????). Of course the easiest would be to rent a car.
Problem is, I can't drive. I don't even have a license.

Another FL friend was going to teach me how to drive last year but he backed out when I got into his truck, and asked what those pedals were for.
Well, how was I supposed to know ??? I'm in the backseat and all I can see are hands on the wheel. I had no idea you had to do stuff with your feet below.
Johnny is a redneck thru-and-thru, and you don't mess with his truck.
All the pleading and begging and promising reknown French treats (no not THAT you pervs!!!) didn't work.
So, I still don't know to drive.

Now what ?? Take 2 flights and spend $130 to reach Orlando ?
Greyhound ?
Turn into a Tillerman and walk to Disney?

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

marivaid-
I just wanted to pop in and tell you that I'm here reading! So far, so GREAT! WOW!!! You are MY kind of Disney traveler! I highly approve! You have to take advantage of those APs and DDE card, right!

WOW!!! I'm looking forward to reading all about your upcoming trips! (plus I'm still catching up with your July trip!) Just amazing!!!

Take care,
Michelle

P.S. Good luck with the airfare dilemma! You'll figure something out!

 

[marivaid]

marivaid-
I just wanted to pop in and tell you that I'm here reading! So far, so GREAT! WOW!!! You are MY kind of Disney traveler! I highly approve! You have to take advantage of those APs and DDE card, right!

WOW!!! I'm looking forward to reading all about your upcoming trips! (plus I'm still catching up with your July trip!) Just amazing!!!

Take care,
Michelle

P.S. Good luck with the airfare dilemma! You'll figure something out!

Wow Michelle I'm so happy you're here!!! I spent all day yesterday re-reading your October & December TRs. Your family is so

I'm almost more excited about YOUR trip than mine because that means another awesome TR!!

 

[marivaid]

We've been flagged!

I swear, we totally have.

When I called earlier & gave my name, it took about 2mns then I heard the computer BEEP. Then I gave my phone number, and it BEEPED again!!

They knew before I even said a word.
It's her again - what is she going to do now???

Well.. how about the fact that we're now not going to CSR at all ?
That we'll be checking in different resorts FOUR times in seven days?

But guess what - it's GRUMPY's fault this time.

We were looking at the Passholder site today trying to see if anything had opened up for WL. Nothing. As a joke, I put in the Beach Club instead.

And they had a room, for Dec 22-23. Standard, $317 with tax.
A *lot* more than we wanted to spend, but Grumpy said, well if we switch from CSR to a Value for the remainder of the trip, that wouldn't be so bad.

Oh gosh, I was so proud of my mom then. She even remembered that we would have to pay rack rate wherever we go Dec 24-27. So, as she said, we may as well go to the Deluxes while we can get AP rates, and stay at the Values when it's full price.

I like that thinking.

We're now doing

Dec 20-21 ASMU (unless a room at WL opens up)
Dec 21-22 WL
Dec 22-24 BC
Dec 24-27 ASMU

We had to change our Candlelight Package (so that we could go while we're at the BC). I told DM that'd mean we would have 3 dinners with no discount instead of 2.
How much are we talking, for that discount ?
Hmmmm $11.27

We just booked 2 nights at $317 a pop and you're worried about a $11 discount???

Well if you say it that way, of course it seems a little silly...

Beach Club, baby !!!!!
I gotta change one of our Halloween ressies because of that though. Makes no sense to go to Cape May in November when we'll be staying IN the resort 6 weeks later. Probably will switch it to Chef Mickey's if there's anything open.
Gotta change 1900 Park Fare too.

Woohoo, Beach Club baby!!!!!

 

[Hedy]

Beach club? Awesome.

 

[my3disneygirls]

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Well, Grumpy's done good! Your mom is a sharp one. Even though you two are pretty new to Disney, you sure know how to plan. Great Job ladies! I feel that WL may open up for you guys, so I'm sending some good vibes. Even if it doesn't you will still have a great trip.

 

[marivaid]

Well, Grumpy's done good! Your mom is a sharp one. Even though you two are pretty new to Disney, you sure know how to plan. Great Job ladies! I feel that WL may open up for you guys, so I'm sending some good vibes. Even if it doesn't you will still have a great trip.

Thanks for the good vibes
It sure would be great especially since I could decorate the room before Grumpy gets there, but even if it's ASMU it'll be awesome It's DISNEY after all !

Hope you have a great weekend!

 

[SeptemberGirl]

So what else do you have planned? I'm relying on your ADR's to plan mine!

 

[dismom9761]

Just wanted to let you know I am here.Back in a little while to do a proper catch up.

 

[marivaid]

Just wanted to let you know I am here.Back in a little while to do a proper catch up.

Hiya Still can't belive Rae rode TOT !!!

So what else do you have planned? I'm relying on your ADR's to plan mine!

Well since you're asking
(and that I'm dying to share)

This is our itinerary for Halloween & I don't think it's gonna change much now

Oct 29
Leaving New York at 5.30pm, I think we'll get to AKL around 9.30-10pm.
Grumpy will most likely head right to the hot tub, I may join her OR go to MK for EMH.

Oct 30
Morning : Animal Kingdom
(Totally skipped that park in July)
Evening : ADR @ Boma 7PM- may have to change this to 6PM if I can manage to get us Haunted Hayride tickets that night -

Oct 31
Morning : Epcot
Note to self : try to get Grumpy on Test Track!
Lunch @ Le Cellier 1.20PM
Evening : Epcot again, see Illuminations
I think we'll try some F&W snacks that evening instead of dinner.

Nov 1
Morning : Animal Kingdom (whatever we didn't do on the 30)
Evening : Magic Kingdom
Dinner @ Crystal Palace 5.55PM
MUST HAVE OUR BUTTS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE BY 8PM!

Nov 2
Breakfast @ Boma 10AM
Grumpy stays at the pool, I go check in at POP
The plan is to stay & enjoy AKL 'til around 2pm, get to POP by 3,change and then go to MNSSHP.
Dinner @ Liberty Tree Tavern 5.25PM
Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!!!!
I intend to stay until it closes, and since we won't have done much that day Grumpy will probably do the same. Emphasis on Hallowishes, parade & trick-or-treating - the rides aren't that important anymore.
Don't think we'll be dressing up unless we find something cool in NYC. We'll probably just buy a funny hat and put some orange-and-black makeup on.

Nov 3
Wake up late, probably.
Lunch @ Kona Cafe 1.15PM
Visiting the Poly at least once on each trip is a must.
Evening.. don't know yet. We'll probably end up going back to Epcot, but in the very unlikely occurance that we don't feel like it, then we'll go to MGM to see Fantasmic. No ADRs that night since we don't know where we'll go, but if we decide on Epcot then we'll probably go to Nine Dragons (don't need an ADR there).

Nov 4
For ONCE we don't have to leave in the early morning. DME should pick us up around noon, so we're going to MK.
Breakfast @ Crystal Palace at 8.10AM (will give us a chance to maybe see MK "empty")
After breakfast we'll have a couple hours to hit some of our favorites.. Splash, PhilarMagic, Pirates... then back to POP to get our luggage and wait for the sad bus


Yeah, so we're doing CP twice ... not sure how that happened but we're both OK with it. It's just the most practical since we want to be in MK at those times.

I'm working on my solo trip right now as I'm waiting for the latest CSI to finish downloading... seriously leaning towards coming a day early.

 

[marivaid]

Woohoo ! I was able to apply the new room-only code that came out today to our AKL reservation, and we saved over $160 on our room rate.

DM & I racked our brain trying to decide what to do. Stay at AKL for the whole stay in October ? Strangely, we both WANT to go back to POP. We didn't have time to take pics in July or use the resort much.

So we decided to use the money we saved in October for our December trip instead.. and I upgraded us from ASMU to POFQ for December 24-27.

 

[SeptemberGirl]

What a great trip you have planned! And I LOVE how your schedule looks - I need to spiff up my Excel file. Working on that tonight!

We are staying at POP in March and I'm so excited about it - I really want to experience that resort.

I'm working on all my ADR's for January now - doing a Fantasmic dinner package but torn over all my WS choices! So many restaurants and Le Cellier is a fav, but I hate to just fall back on the known.

 

[marivaid]

One month !!!!!

In exactly 30 days we'll be on our way to WDW!!!

Ok, well, not really. We'll be waking up in NYC, me still all Jovied from the night before, and probably go to Canal Street to buy $10 watches that'll stop working the following week.

But, still.

ONE MONTH,BABY!

 

[my3disneygirls]

You better include info about the concert in your TR, I want details lady.

I'm very excited for your trip, I don't know why maybe because I'll get too see all of your lovely pics.

In a few days I'll get to start making my ADR's. I'm glad I've had so much time to think about it. I have changed my mind so much about where we want to eat. I think I'm pretty set on where we want to go.

 

[marivaid]

You better include info about the concert in your TR, I want details lady.

I'm very excited for your trip, I don't know why maybe because I'll get too see all of your lovely pics.

In a few days I'll get to start making my ADR's. I'm glad I've had so much time to think about it. I have changed my mind so much about where we want to eat. I think I'm pretty set on where we want to go.

Oh I'll give you so much info on that concert ya'll will be unsuscribing

Sooooo tell me, which restaurants did you pick for your ADRs ?? Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[SeptemberGirl]

It will be here before you know it! I can't believe you're going to be in my state, listening to one of our hometown boys! Did I tell you he lives in my town? In the rich part of town, obviously.

It's going to be awesome! Excited for you!

 

[marivaid]

Did I tell you he lives in my town? In the rich part of town, obviously.

 

[my3disneygirls]

Oh I'll give you so much info on that concert ya'll will be unsuscribing

Sooooo tell me, which restaurants did you pick for your ADRs ?? Inquiring minds want to know!

OK, I just went and go my Disney notebook. Which is chock full of notes. They are FINALLY posting extra hours, but all of the details are not up yet. I want to do opposite of extra hours since I'm off site this time around. Well that was more info than you asked for.

We are going to spend all day at AK for the first time, so I want to do the new Donald's breakfast and Yak & Yeti for dinner. I'm dieing for info on this place!
Here is my wish list for the rest of the trip.
BBB for little DD followed by Breakfast in CRT. They have the appointments for the makeovers starting at 8am so I'm hoping for some cool pics of the castle.
Dinner at LTT for my man Goofy.
Breakfast at Crystal Palace.
Middle DD wants 50's Prime Time, I'd rather pass, but it's her vacation too.
All the girls want to go to Le Cellier (hubby wants to pass, because we've been before, but unlike the children it's not his vacation too. )
Also on the wish list is Chefs, Boma, Kona, Biergarten, Raglan Road, Jinko and Coral Reef.

Now all of this will depend on if we get AP's which I really want, then we can get the DDE card. I heard they are making changes to it in November, so hopefully they wont ruin it somehow. I told mom not to get me any birthday, christmas...gifts and just put any money she would have spend aside to go toward my passes. So we are saving our pennies, so hopefully we will get AP's. Then of course like you and your Mom we will HAVE to go back.

 

[marivaid]

OK, I just went and go my Disney notebook. Which is chock full of notes. They are FINALLY posting extra hours, but all of the details are not up yet. I want to do opposite of extra hours since I'm off site this time around. Well that was more info than you asked for.

We are going to spend all day at AK for the first time, so I want to do the new Donald's breakfast and Yak & Yeti for dinner. I'm dieing for info on this place!
Here is my wish list for the rest of the trip.
BBB for little DD followed by Breakfast in CRT. They have the appointments for the makeovers starting at 8am so I'm hoping for some cool pics of the castle.
Dinner at LTT for my man Goofy.
Breakfast at Crystal Palace.
Middle DD wants 50's Prime Time, I'd rather pass, but it's her vacation too.
All the girls want to go to Le Cellier (hubby wants to pass, because we've been before, but unlike the children it's not his vacation too. )
Also on the wish list is Chefs, Boma, Kona, Biergarten, Raglan Road, Jinko and Coral Reef.

Now all of this will depend on if we get AP's which I really want, then we can get the DDE card. I heard they are making changes to it in November, so hopefully they wont ruin it somehow. I told mom not to get me any birthday, christmas...gifts and just put any money she would have spend aside to go toward my passes. So we are saving our pennies, so hopefully we will get AP's. Then of course like you and your Mom we will HAVE to go back.

WOW, you picked a lot of my favorites!! LTT & CP are sooo fun.

I'm really hoping to see some updates about the DDE situation. We already have 8 ADRs in 6 days for December, and if they really don't allow DDE discounts for the whole holiday period, we're gonna have to cut way way way back - dump all the character meals for one thing

Yep when you have an AP you'll want to come back again and again and again . Although lately the general public codes have been better than the AP ones - we got AKL at $149/night with the GP code, AP rate was $185/night. But we're getting a better deal in December with AP.

BBB is really cute, if I had the guts I'd go and get myself princessed up, but I'm too chicken. Maybe if I could talk DM into it!! Are you going to get it too or just your DD?

 

[my3disneygirls]

Just DD, but her two older sisters may want to join in. My oldest wants to, but my middle is on the fence. I have to pin them down this week.

That's weird about the AP codes. I get the same thing with AAA sometimes. I'll go online for a hotel and get a AAA rate then call the hotel directly and get it cheaper.

If I don't end up with DDE I will dump most of my ADR's and eat off property for most of my meals. Disney food is too expensive and there are tons of places to eat off property.

They still haven't posted hours for AK or posted which days are EH am and pm. Disney better hurry up, so I can finish making my plans.