The *Official* February 2011 Thread - Happy Dance Time...The Park Hours Are Out!

[Marlynmik]

Mandy, that's great that you booked!

Gina, thanks for the tip about SW opening up more dates tomorrow. . . I've been checking their site for a week now trying to get a price on a flight. Debating 2 departure cities: Toronto and Buffalo. I'd rather leave from Toronto (about 2 hours closer than Buff - still a 4 hour drive) but Buffalo is WAY cheaper (sometimes even by HALF!) Seems like a no-brainer, but in the middle of winter, that extra distance can be very difficult.

Let us know Dee when the Losers thread starts!

Looks like a few of us will have overlapping trips

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

MarlynMik- I am thinking about southwest too (from Cleveland- lets hope we dont get snowed in)- I think I would have to drive to another city too- not sure. Does southwest have direct flights? We flew continental last time and paid $176 round trip- Awesome price I thought. Hoping to find something along those lines again.

 

[mommy2mac]

We ARE BOOKED for POFQ 2/2-2/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soooo excited!!!!

Hey lilandvisma my "group" is now booked for POFQ 2/1-2/8! We are having a mini family reunion! My husband, daughter, myself along with my two sisters, brother-in-law, and my mom and dad are all going! I cannot wait! We got free dining today with our booking!
I am sooooo excited too! The planning is now in high gear

 

[mommyof2Pirates]

Hi! Very small world, isn't it?! I went to Freedom as well (class of 86!) I was in the band, so it's been interesting having been in Freedom's band, and supporting Liberty's band. You know how that rivalry is!

2011 is going to be the year of trips for the band. They are doing Disney in February, and Hawaii in November. They are the honor band for the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We are hoping we can pull off both trips...we'll see!

We are in the process of selling mums right now....LOL

Well good luck with all the fundraising. My dh is going to have a hard time cheering for freedom once the boys get there. Even now if we go to a football game we have to sit on Liberty's side. My oldest son is just starting kindergarten this year so he has a while to get use to the idea of becoming a freedom fan. I went to allen high school so I guess I can understand if my kids went to dieruff how I would feel. Thats why we dont live in east allentown....among other reasons.

Well I wish ds a great year sounds like so much fun stuff to look forward too. Liberty's band is amazing!

 

[Shann50952]

We just re-booked our package to take advantage of the free dining. So now we are going 2/17-2/24 and staying at Caribbean Beach...I am so excited we were able to upgrade to a moderate resort and get free dining all for less money. Now, I will just be missing two days of work cause we are going Thurs-Thurs...but oh well. Now to just get our flights...which I am thinking will be a little cheaper flying on a thursday instead of a saturday.

 

[Gina]

Gina- Tell me EVERYTHING about POP! It will be our first time staying. I went with a standard room- and requested 70s ground floor........ fingers crossed.

Holy crow, where to start??? I have stayed all over Disney property, but once DS and I stayed at Pop, that was it. Pop just has this *energy* about it -- an indescribable feeling -- that is unique to that resort. It's fun, with all the cool pop culture icons, but it's also really pretty -- lush landscaping and flowers, and towering palm trees. And walking by the lake and sitting on the bridge is sooooo peaceful... you'd never guess you were at a value resort.

Now, can we talk about the food court?? Best selection and variety of any resort, plus tie-dyed cheesecake! Plus the best shop of any resort, all rolled together in Everything Pop!

Have I mentioned I love this place? lol 70's Building is a great location -- hopefully we'll be in the same building, because that's what I requested too!

You're going to love Pop!!!

 

[xanphylus]

We just booked a surprise 10th Birthday Trip for DD!!!! Ack! Had to once I saw the free dining on her birthday! I'm a sucker for yummies! We go Feb 11-15. Not telling her until the car is packed and we drive PAST the bus stop! Very excited and already making ADRS. We stay at Pop and her birthday dinner is with Chef Mickey!

 

[o2bnoz]

Xanphylus.... CONGRATULATIONS on booking the surprise trip!!! What a fantastic 10th birthday present!!!

And welcome to the February thread! I'm planning a surprise trip, too. It is HARD to keep this secret!

Hey.... anyone who is interested in the February Losers thread, it was posted last night. Lots of views, no posts. Don't leave me hangin' out there alone!

 

[robeck]

Just 'pulled the trigger' last night. It's official, Feb 5 through Feb 12, 2011, Polynesian Concierge level with basic dining and 8 day park hoppers. Booked jet blue and got the extra leg room seats. Unfortunately my TA misspelled our names so I have to wait for a correction to my reservation. Once I pay the deposit I'll contact Poly IPO and get started. I am NOT going to over plan. A couple of character breakfasts, California grill and Ohana for dinner and aqua seas tour are our only plans at this time.

 

[marcyinPA]

OK...got my first quote for POP, 2/1-6, with free quick service dining and five day passes (no hopping). $1500 for 2 adults, and 2 eleven year olds (adults...LOL)

Still waiting on a quote for POFQ...

If the CM discount rate on room only is approx. 40% off, and we get a CM discount on park passes....(I have no idea what that discount looks like)...which would be the better deal?!? We'd have to pay for food (no DDP) with the CM rate. Our two kids eat like grown men.

Not sure what to do!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Dee- Done

Gina- THANKS! Can't wait to try out POP!!!!! That would be awesome if we both got 70s! Do you have any clue what park you will be at on which day, or do you play it all by ear?

Marcy- Will they give you the CM prices over the phone? Cant figure out what it would save you without the discounts......

Ok Pop from 2/1-2/6 5 day tickets and QSP dining (no discount) $2199.94
same thing- with the dining discount $1500.14

Saves you $699.80

You could upgrade to the DDP (to get table serive meals) and it would be $1720.14

POFQ (no discount) would be $2822.76
With Free DDP (table service) would be $1902.96

Saving you $919.80

Between those two- I would probably lean towards POFQ with free DDP dining. Though, when you get the cast member discount quote see if its cheaper The dining plan for 4 people for 5 nights would be $919.80 so add that to the price of your discounted room and tickets and see if its cheaper!

New joiners- WELCOME!


Is it February yet???

 

[robeck]

My package is just over $5k. I didnt realize that Poly was so much more expensive. It's the only place that I have ever stayed, and I've never looked elsewhere. I'm just a creature of habit. I found something that I'm happy with and I stick to it.

 

[Gina]

Gina- THANKS! Can't wait to try out POP!!!!! That would be awesome if we both got 70s! Do you have any clue what park you will be at on which day, or do you play it all by ear?

"Play it by ear"... Er, not so much. I'm one of those compulsive trip planners -- color-coded charts, lists, etc. But I do stay flexible, too!

If a park is more crowded that we planned on or something, we'll switch plans midstream and hop somewhere else. That's where the Lines app is priceless -- "Hey, the wait times at such-and-such have been pretty light so far this morning! Let's pop over there and go ride!"

I'm kinda excited, though, because changing the trip by a week means I get to re-do my charts and such... lol.

The only bad thing about changing our dates is that now we'll be there when the cheerleaders will be there. In a word, UGH. Been there, done that, wanted to choke the life out of every one of them. I guess bringing a tranquilizer gun would be very un-Disney-like?


-gina-

 

[lilandvisma]

OK...got my first quote for POP, 2/1-6, with free quick service dining and five day passes (no hopping). $1500 for 2 adults, and 2 eleven year olds (adults...LOL)

Still waiting on a quote for POFQ...

If the CM discount rate on room only is approx. 40% off, and we get a CM discount on park passes....(I have no idea what that discount looks like)...which would be the better deal?!? We'd have to pay for food (no DDP) with the CM rate. Our two kids eat like grown men.

Not sure what to do!

That would probably depend on how much you plan on eating TS meals while there? If your kids are big eaters I'd probably go with the free dining deal...I booked POFQ yesterday and for 2 adults and 2 children for 8 days 9 nights it was around $2200. For us I hope I made the right decision staying at a Mod because a part of me really wants to try POP still! Still, our vacation will be roughly $3000 after airfare which seems to be the cheapest with Delta at the moment. Does anyone know if Southwest has released their rates past January yet? Last I checked you could only view into mid Jan!

I think if you planned to stay deluxe it might benefit you more to use his discount but since you are talking about POP or POFQ...it's questionable!

GL!

 

[lilandvisma]

My package is just over $5k. I didnt realize that Poly was so much more expensive. It's the only place that I have ever stayed, and I've never looked elsewhere. I'm just a creature of habit. I found something that I'm happy with and I stick to it.

Don't blame you! I wish we could stay there...maybe once the kiddos get a bit older.

 

[lilandvisma]

"Play it by ear"... Er, not so much. I'm one of those compulsive trip planners -- color-coded charts, lists, etc. But I do stay flexible, too!

If a park is more crowded that we planned on or something, we'll switch plans midstream and hop somewhere else. That's where the Lines app is priceless -- "Hey, the wait times at such-and-such have been pretty light so far this morning! Let's pop over there and go ride!"

I'm kinda excited, though, because changing the trip by a week means I get to re-do my charts and such... lol.

The only bad thing about changing our dates is that now we'll be there when the cheerleaders will be there. In a word, UGH. Been there, done that, wanted to choke the life out of every one of them. I guess bringing a tranquilizer gun would be very un-Disney-like?


-gina-

Hey Gina, thanks for the add on Facebook

I'm also a compulsive trip planner LOL nothing wrong with that at all!

 

[lilandvisma]

Hey lilandvisma my "group" is now booked for POFQ 2/1-2/8! We are having a mini family reunion! My husband, daughter, myself along with my two sisters, brother-in-law, and my mom and dad are all going! I cannot wait! We got free dining today with our booking!
I am sooooo excited too! The planning is now in high gear

Yay! We will see you there Did you request any specific building? I didn't yet...not sure if I should or not. Building 7 is supposed to be closest to POR which may be good since I was planning on stopping by there at least once to check out their food! 2 and 5 were supposed to be closer to the bus stop and main area I believe?? LOL, I'm so giddy!! We have never been to POFQ and I'm hoping that we like it.

 

[lilandvisma]

TO EVERYONE...I will update the list once things settle down with the reaction to the discounts being offered With so many ppl. changing their dates it'll be best to give it a few days!! By Friday it will be updated!! Just didn't want anyone to think I've forgotten about them or not keeping things up to date

 

[BethR9]

Allison,

I'm here! I'm here!

I haven't had a chance to play around with the discounts and our dates but I'm thinking we may have to change our dates also which would be the week that you're there. I guess I'm just following what you do.

I need to run the numbers but haven't had time. We were looking at Feb 6-11. Now maybe Feb 13-18. I can't remember the free dining dates though either. But if we change, does that mean everyone else is changing for free dining thus higher crowds now? I'm thinking yes. I think I'd pay a little extra to not have crowds but free dining? I'd love that! So I just don't know. How much could the crowds go up in value season though, ya know? Disney sure knows how to get people there, don't they?

Just when I thought I had it sort-of planned. I love how they released them early this year. I wasn't expecting anything until at least late September or maybe even November.

Can someone just please make up my mind for me? Show me the different numbers/scenarios and I'll go with it.

Beth

 

[Coach81]

Good luck with your decision