The Pursuit of Disney Magic (June 7-14, 2008) ~ UPDATED 9/30 pg. 191

[scottny]

congrats on the next trip.

we will be there the end of June. Probably POR. I am staying CBR in September. should be interesting.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

We have rented points for our last two stays and it worked out beautifully! I would suggest you give that a try.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Jackie.... I think I would rule out POP too... those rooms are pretty small. I am with you on wanting to stay longer... the longer the stay the happier I am... but I think if you can't go in Oct for sure give AKL a try....

That's what I am thinking -- if we end up ditching the October idea (which is a big possibility these days) we will definitely be doing AKL for 7 nights/8 days!

After thinking all day today about what resort to stay, the good news is you are going to Disney. That will make preplanning tomorrow easier, just think I am going to Disney and start your countdown calendar.

You are right -- no matter what and no matter where we are staying we are going back to Disney in just ten short months!

Yeah, that's kind of what I was thinking. If one of your problems is deciding which Disney resort you are going to stay at for how long, you're living a pretty good life! It'll all fall into place, and you'll have a great time wherever you stay.

And I hope I'm still around to hear about the Grand Floridian birthday trip, because I know that will be very special.

Yes, I wish all of my big important life decisions could be as fun as choosing the resort for summer!

You better still be around on the DIS boards to hear about the Grand Floridian b-day trip! It will be short, but special! I have dreamed about staying there since it opened, so it didn't take a lot of convincing on Chelsea's part for me to say yes!

Ok I only skimmed what everyone else said, so I'm throwing in my 2 cents for what its worth!

I am a firm believer in a split stay...but you must always make it an increase in resort (value to mod or mod to deluxe) so it feels like a new vacation.
We stayed at CBR last October and I think it is not worth it unless you get to stay preferred because the resort is so big!
We are big refillable mug users and getting to the main building from where we ended up (far off in Jamaica) being a huge hassle...KC had to get off at one stop to refill the mugs and I went back to the room alone every night, getting lost almost every time.

Just wanted to throw my opinion out there!

You make very good points, Kat -- we would book CBR preferred because we are big mug users and I get enough exercise in the parks. I also like your idea of making sure to move up if doing a split stay.

I was playing around with numbers on split stays to see what that looked like tonight -- I just don't know if I want to pack up and move the family mid-week.

Jackie....not to muddle the waters anymore but have you thought of doing a long week with Chelsea for her birthday at the GF? And make that year's long vacation at AKL? I was curious as to the room prices there so of course I looked them up
June rack rates:
GF garden view room $449/night
AKL savanna room $360/night
AKL savanna & bunk beds $390/night

Good luck today sorting it all out!

Oh, without a doubt, GF will be a long weekend in July -- I am thinking about four nights will equal what we normally spend for a week! That may actually be the trip that we split stay: Pop for a few nights and then moving over to the GF for four. Luckily, the July dates for GF are considered value season. It will be hotter than we know what to do with, but we can probably manage.

Jackie!!!!!!!

On such a big and important day for you, I am sorry I was not around to provide help or support on such a big decision!!!! SO SORRY!!!!

Congrats on booking something for June!!!!!! Having said that, I am going to throw in my two cents to probably confuse you some more!!!

IMO, I would TOTALLY rent points to stay at AKL for your June trip!!! Now since I don't have the dates you are going, I can't give you the actual total, but I would be willing to bet staying there for 8 days on rented points could actually be cheaper than staying at CBR for 8 days---if not cheaper, it is going to be VERY close!!!! I have rented points for the past three trips and have had NO PROBLEMS whatsoever!!! I would be happy to hold your hand and walk you through it step by step!!! If you want to post the dates of your trip or PM them to me, I can give you a VERY accurate total of what it would cost.

That is my opinion---I know how badly you want to stay at AKL, and renting points to stay there would make that SO affordable to do so! Let me know how I can help you!!!! Jen

Okay Jackie, I had to go and look into just to give you an idea. I based the dates I used on the general time you went this year. (So somewhere around June 7-15th. (That's a Sunday-Monday) I started with an 8-day stay to give you a good comparison. Now when renting points, you really shouldn't have to pay over $10/point--there are people who will charge more, but there are PLENTY who will only charge $10/point that you shouldn't have a problem finding one. (Some will only charge $9/point---keep your eyes peeled for those lovely DVCers!!!) AKL has 4 different booking categories, so I worked up the rates for all four.

Value---102 points needed ($1020 for the stay)
Standard---119 points needed ($1190 for the stay)
Savannah---144 points needed ($1440 for the stay)
Kilimanjaro Concierge Club---166 points needed ($1660 for the stay)

How does that compare to what you are looking in to?????

Hope that helps!!! Jen

Wow! That really is so reasonable!!! Between you and Trixiequilts you may be walking me through this process. I mean, seriously, those prices are almost as low as a value!

Oh, your leaving us hanging and not telling!!!!!!!!! Cruel!

Well, too late for my 2 cents but I would pick CBR! I am not a value resort fan and AKL while beautiful is too far away from everything for my liking. At least it seems like that. If I did stay there, I would do a spilt stay.

It's never too late to offer your opinion -- I tend to change resorts quite frequently! CBR looks so gorgeous and tropical -- very relaxing.

It's so hard to pick a resort. But definitely pick one that you really want.
Is the GF in 2010 a definite?

Chelsea gets to choose the resort for her 13th -- we'll see if she is like her mother and changes her mind several times beforehand.

She has also decided that she wants the Mad Hatter birthday cake -- how could I possibly resist that???

Jackie, I'm not sure if you are a AAA member but we got a nice discount last April on our 10 night AKL stay! It was a total of $265. Maybe like others have suggested, you could do a split stay? 2-3 nights at Pop and then move to the AKL? Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

Is the AAA discount all year long or just certain dates?

congrats on the next trip.

we will be there the end of June. Probably POR. I am staying CBR in September. should be interesting.

I hope you come back with lots of good things to say about CBR!

We have rented points for our last two stays and it worked out beautifully! I would suggest you give that a try.

Do you pay for the room all up front to the owner? Did you do the dining plan with it? Is that even possible?

 

[Lady Lallie]

That's what I am thinking -- if we end up ditching the October idea (which is a big possibility these days) we will definitely be doing AKL for 7 nights/8 days!

Is that a hint!?!!?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

OMG! SO much going on with you! I think the AAA discounts are year-round. When I called to price things I couldn't find my card so they took my word for it and just said I'd have to show the card when I checked in. If you're more comfortable I'm happy to call and get quotes on your behalf -- just PM me the details!

I will also say that renting points sounds like an interesting option. I haven't done it personally but I've been considering DVC on and off and I think as long as you find a reputable renter (shouldn't be hard on the DIS) you should be fine!

Good luck figuring it out. I know it's overwhelming- Oct trip (which I'm still pulling for b/c I'd so love to meet you - not that it would even be the dates I'm there but still...), GF for Chelsea's b-day, pirate themed rooms, AKL...

Whatever you choose will be great. Let me know if you want me to scope out AAA rates for you.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Is that a hint!?!!?

Not necessarily!

OMG! SO much going on with you! I think the AAA discounts are year-round. When I called to price things I couldn't find my card so they took my word for it and just said I'd have to show the card when I checked in. If you're more comfortable I'm happy to call and get quotes on your behalf -- just PM me the details!

Can you still book directly through Disney or do you have to do it through AAA?

I will also say that renting points sounds like an interesting option. I haven't done it personally but I've been considering DVC on and off and I think as long as you find a reputable renter (shouldn't be hard on the DIS) you should be fine!

The flip side is that I could just buy DVC and then there wouldn't be all this stress -- just a monthly payment for the next 10 years.

Good luck figuring it out. I know it's overwhelming- Oct trip (which I'm still pulling for b/c I'd so love to meet you - not that it would even be the dates I'm there but still...), GF for Chelsea's b-day, pirate themed rooms, AKL...

Whatever you choose will be great. Let me know if you want me to scope out AAA rates for you.

Thank you! It is overwhelming -- at least GF is 2010 so I don't really have to think about that one yet. That just leaves this October and the June trip -- shouldn't be too hard to figure something out.

 

[dddisrunner]

It is all year long, but the percentage changes depending on what season you travel in. For June I believe it is 10 percent off the room only portion of your package!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Can you still book directly through Disney or do you have to do it through AAA?

Yup- right through Disney. Just tell them you're a AAA holder and interested in AAA rate.

The flip side is that I could just buy DVC and then there wouldn't be all this stress -- just a monthly payment for the next 10 years.

Well now you're thinking!

 

[dddisrunner]

Yup- right through Disney. Just tell them you're a AAA holder and interested in AAA rate.





Well now you're thinking!

Jackie,

I just wanted to add to this post. If you want to book a package with the AAA discount, you have to book through AAA, but if you want to book a room only without purchasing the dining plan then you can book through Disney. I hope that makes sense!

 

[Charleston Princess]

It is all year long, but the percentage changes depending on what season you travel in. For June I believe it is 10 percent off the room only portion of your package!

Yup- right through Disney. Just tell them you're a AAA holder and interested in AAA rate.

Jackie,

I just wanted to add to this post. If you want to book a package with the AAA discount, you have to book through AAA, but if you want to book a room only without purchasing the dining plan then you can book through Disney. I hope that makes sense!

Good to know!!! Thanks so much! I am filing all of this away in my brain to mull over.

 

[MegansMom]

Jackie--

You can do DDP with renting points---no problem. You would have to work out payment details with the person you are renting from. Always make sure you guys come to an agreement and use one of those simple contracts that you can find on the DVC board. Let me know if you need any more help!!! Jen

 

[ncsjodi]

Jackie--

You can do DDP with renting points---no problem. You would have to work out payment details with the person you are renting from. Always make sure you guys come to an agreement and use one of those simple contracts that you can find on the DVC board. Let me know if you need any more help!!! Jen

The person you rent your points from has to put the DDP on the reservation, but you pay for it at check-in. We've done this for renters in the past.

Feel free to PM for a view from the DVC owner on renting points. We've done it three or four times without a problem.

 

[Tinkerbell424]

I've read your whole PTR and TR, and I just wanted to say you did a really good job writing it! I'm glad you guys had a fun time on your trip.

 

[trixiequilts]

We're all dying to know what you're thinking. Soon?

 

[julezdisney]

The flip side is that I could just buy DVC and then there wouldn't be all this stress -- just a monthly payment for the next 10 years.

About $150/mo on the lowest point value (160 pts)! DH would've been SOOO mad at me if I'dve come home w/a DVC membership on Sunday! Although the incentive was a 5nt stay at Saratoga Springs or the new AKL DVC lodging.

Jackie--

You can do DDP with renting points---no problem. You would have to work out payment details with the person you are renting from. Always make sure you guys come to an agreement and use one of those simple contracts that you can find on the DVC board. Let me know if you need any more help!!! Jen

SOOO good to know this! I want to do this in the future! Thanx for that tip!

 

[Native NYer]

Is tonioght update night? Even though I don't want this tr to end, I'm so curious about your resort choice

 

[wigdoutdismom]

That's what I am thinking -- if we end up ditching the October idea (which is a big possibility these days) we will definitely be doing AKL for 7 nights/8 days!



You are right -- no matter what and no matter where we are staying we are going back to Disney in just ten short months!



Yes, I wish all of my big important life decisions could be as fun as choosing the resort for summer!

You better still be around on the DIS boards to hear about the Grand Floridian b-day trip! It will be short, but special! I have dreamed about staying there since it opened, so it didn't take a lot of convincing on Chelsea's part for me to say yes!



You make very good points, Kat -- we would book CBR preferred because we are big mug users and I get enough exercise in the parks. I also like your idea of making sure to move up if doing a split stay.

I was playing around with numbers on split stays to see what that looked like tonight -- I just don't know if I want to pack up and move the family mid-week.



Oh, without a doubt, GF will be a long weekend in July -- I am thinking about four nights will equal what we normally spend for a week! That may actually be the trip that we split stay: Pop for a few nights and then moving over to the GF for four. Luckily, the July dates for GF are considered value season. It will be hotter than we know what to do with, but we can probably manage.





Wow! That really is so reasonable!!! Between you and Trixiequilts you may be walking me through this process. I mean, seriously, those prices are almost as low as a value!



It's never too late to offer your opinion -- I tend to change resorts quite frequently! CBR looks so gorgeous and tropical -- very relaxing.



Chelsea gets to choose the resort for her 13th -- we'll see if she is like her mother and changes her mind several times beforehand.

She has also decided that she wants the Mad Hatter birthday cake -- how could I possibly resist that???



Is the AAA discount all year long or just certain dates?



I hope you come back with lots of good things to say about CBR!



Do you pay for the room all up front to the owner? Did you do the dining plan with it? Is that even possible?

We pay for the room up front from the owner, did the dining plan on the last two trips but are thinking about dde for the next trip, but you can do the dining plan if you want to!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Jackie--

You can do DDP with renting points---no problem. You would have to work out payment details with the person you are renting from. Always make sure you guys come to an agreement and use one of those simple contracts that you can find on the DVC board. Let me know if you need any more help!!! Jen

Thank you! I am just so shocked at how inexpensive the room is if you are renting points.

The person you rent your points from has to put the DDP on the reservation, but you pay for it at check-in. We've done this for renters in the past.

Feel free to PM for a view from the DVC owner on renting points. We've done it three or four times without a problem.

I just may do that!

I've read your whole PTR and TR, and I just wanted to say you did a really good job writing it! I'm glad you guys had a fun time on your trip.

Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed it!

We're all dying to know what you're thinking. Soon?

I will let you all know soon. I promise. Well, I will let you know what we have booked, but that might change since hearing about renting points. However, I will let everyone into the specifics soon.

About $150/mo on the lowest point value (160 pts)! DH would've been SOOO mad at me if I'dve come home w/a DVC membership on Sunday! Although the incentive was a 5nt stay at Saratoga Springs or the new AKL DVC lodging.

Really? Was that with the interest rate figured in? The numbers we were working with were about $200 a month for 160 points. I wonder if they have new incentives?

Is tonioght update night? Even though I don't want this tr to end, I'm so curious about your resort choice

Well, I thought it would be update night, but then open house happened. Tomorrow for sure!

We pay for the room up front from the owner, did the dining plan on the last two trips but are thinking about dde for the next trip, but you can do the dining plan if you want to!

Do you get paperwork from the owner that shows you paid and that you are staying in that room? How does that work at check-in?


Do you remember Tour Guide Barbie in Toy Story 2? That's me on open house night -- I smile and do my little speil for three hours. I see 100 of my students and their parents -- I adore seeing them after the summer, and it's one of the few times during the year that I get to really chat and visit with the parents. However, this year was fun and heartbreaking at the same time -- this year (normally I have students for all three years) half of my 8th graders will now be going to a new teacher. I wasn't expecting it and only found out yesterday, so tonight I had to tell some of my absolute favorites and their wonderful parents that they would have a new teacher after having me for two years. I teared up a lot. Anyway, long story short I am completely drained both from smiling and laughing a lot, and providing some sad news. I was going to update the TR, but I am so drained right now, I don't think I could string together a coherent sentence to save my life (maybe that is why Barbie is a little flighty ). Here's a treat though, if you have managed to read this far. We are booked at CBR, but that might change very easily. I still want AKL, the October trip is not definite at all, and then there is the whole renting points thing. So, really nothing is set in stone.

 

[ncsjodi]

Do you get paperwork from the owner that shows you paid and that you are staying in that room? How does that work at check-in?

What we've done in the past is that once we get the full payment from the renter, we send them the reservation confirmation sheet that we get from DVC when we make the reservation. It has the renter's name and address on it, along with the confirmation number. Even though the owner has to make the reservation, it is in the renter's name, so that's not a problem at check-in. Actually, the CM checking you in will not even know that you are renting points. They'll greet you with "welcome home!" just like an owner gets!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What we've done in the past is that once we get the full payment from the renter, we send them the reservation confirmation sheet that we get from DVC when we make the reservation. It has the renter's name and address on it, along with the confirmation number. Even though the owner has to make the reservation, it is in the renter's name, so that's not a problem at check-in. Actually, the CM checking you in will not even know that you are renting points. They'll greet you with "welcome home!" just like an owner gets!

Okay, that's good to know! Thank you!