There's no place like home, a December 2011 DVC pre-trip. 12/2 p56 DL and WDW updates

[rentayenta]

My honey is very excited about this:




Member Golf Clinic
Take advantage of a new Disney Vacation Club Member Golf Clinic. Hone your game with help from professional staff. Benefit from individual or group instruction. Instructors customize lessons to your skill and experience level to ensure you get the most of your session. Golf professional staff can also assist you with club fitting. Please feel free to stop into the Pro shop to ask for more information. Same day sign up is possible if space is available but advance reservations are suggested.

Location
Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course

Date/Time
Thursdays from 9am - 10am

Price:
$15 per person

 

[rentayenta]

And he's stoked about this:


Disney Vacation Club Golf Membership at the Walt Disney World Resort


Take advantage of the exclusive Disney Vacation Club Golf Membership that offers Members who purchase the plan (Cardholders), and up to three Guests, special rates for one 18-hole round of golf per day at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course, Disney's Palm Golf Course, Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course or Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course. The special rates apply for tee times after 10:00 a.m. (Regular Walt Disney World golf rates apply prior to 10:00 a.m.)

 

[rentayenta]

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
You're invited to an evening of friendly goblins and ghoulish fun for the little ones when Magic Kingdom® Park hosts Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on select nights in September and October. Kids, ages 12 and under, can come in their most boo-tiful costumes for an evening of bewitching fun and fantasy, including:

~Trick-or-treating throughout Magic Kingdom Park
~Loads of Halloween entertainment, including Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade
~Happy HalloWishes fireworks spectacular
~Characters decked out in their own Halloween costumes
~Use of some of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions (limited to Party Guests only!)
~Halloween dance parties

 

[DisneyJo]

Or how about a better idea, visit when we're there and he can play 18 holes with a PGA pro free

 

[rentayenta]

Or how about a better idea, visit when we're there and he can play 18 holes with a PGA pro free

I like that too! That would be anough to make DH change the trip. What are your dates for next August? But then I can't loot your house if we are there together.

 

[DisneyJo]

I like that too! That would be anough to make DH change the trip. What are your dates for next August? But then I can't loot your house if we are there together.

Not sure about next August yet, I have my fingers crossed

 

[rentayenta]

Not sure about next August yet, I have my fingers crossed

Remember when your honey wanted you to be a little sly with any travel details so your crazy Disney friends wouldn't come and ransack your house?

 

[rentayenta]

Changes in blue

• Sunday 10/10 Arrive
check into THV with Jenna et al
dinner at Turf Club at SSR
Check out resort
Swim
Chill
Unpack
Walmart

• Monday 10/11
MNSSHP

• Tuesday 10/12
Teppan Edo for dinner

• Wednesday 10/13
50’s for dinner

• Thursday 10/14
DH DVC golf clinic 9-10 am
DH golf
Boma or Sanaa for dinner

• Friday 10/15
Check out of THV and into SSR, Jenna check into SSR
Blizzard Beach
‘Ohana for dinner

• Saturday 10/16

• Sunday 10/17
Sea World Spooktacular

• Monday 10/18
Beaches and Cream for lunch
Jenna leaves

• Tuesday 10/19

• Wednesday 10/20
MK
Tony’s for dinner

• Thursday 10/21
Lunch in DTD
Home



Jenna et al is going to stay at SSR now instead of OKW when we move from the THV. We would move to a 2 bedroom but that means I would have to do a triple spilt stay and move to a 1 bedroom when they leave on Monday. I don't mind moving once, I actually enjoy it, but DH doesn't want to move twice again.

 

[Marshay]

Ok, I finally found you all!

I love seeing the pics of your kids over the years!

So how comes this trip is like more than a year away but you're already a gazillion pages into the thread??

Treehouses -- my DH and I just talked about them tonight...I want to visit sometime but not really expecting them to be all that convenient.

definitely no cooking for 10 people -- but you could always just eat at CS if you wanted to save $ from the DDP for part of the time.

Sea World -- excellent! We splurged one year and did the 7 hour backstage tour. That was sooooo fun!! We got to swim in the tanks where the seals, dolphins and even the killer whales go (not at the same time, though!). There was a gate between us and the whales...the baby whale was so curious about us!

It's cool how your DH is getting so involved laughing in your Disney plans.

Annual Passes are a great way to go! I like the freedom of just going into a park for a few hours and not wasting a whole day's ticket.

Switching resorts once is our limit as well..it was nice to check out AKV for 2 nights (after our BCV 7 nights) but then I wanted to stay there longer! I hope it'll get easier when my kids are older...right now we are staying at one resort only -- just too much packing/unpacking...

Ok, I think I'm caught up, for the most part.

 

[rentayenta]

Ok, I finally found you all!

I love seeing the pics of your kids over the years!

It's amazing how quickly they grow.

So how comes this trip is like more than a year away but you're already a gazillion pages into the thread??

I think it's because 1/2 of it is me thinking aloud.

Treehouses -- my DH and I just talked about them tonight...I want to visit sometime but not really expecting them to be all that convenient.

I love the THV- so old school Walt. Thankfully the THV and SSR are the same resort or we would have been buying at 2 DVC resorts. DH loves SSR so much so we are adding that extra day to ensure he gets some relax time at SSR.

definitely no cooking for 10 people -- but you could always just eat at CS if you wanted to save $ from the DDP for part of the time.

Because of this rotten head cold, I could not sleep last night so I looked through the menus of the TS that we want to do and I am thinking that the DDP is still not a great deal for us. We love our appetizers and a beer or cocktail with dinner. I am thinking the TIW card might better suit us. The only place TIW doesn't apply to is Teppan Edo which is of course, one of the most expensive meals we want to try.

Sea World -- excellent! We splurged one year and did the 7 hour backstage tour. That was sooooo fun!! We got to swim in the tanks where the seals, dolphins and even the killer whales go (not at the same time, though!). There was a gate between us and the whales...the baby whale was so curious about us!

That sounds amazing! We went to Sea World in San Diego about 8 years ago, during Halloween, and it was really cool. Can't wait to go back.

It's cool how your DH is getting so involved laughing in your Disney plans.

I make mad fun of him but I am actually enjoying it as long as he doesn't get too involved.

Annual Passes are a great way to go! I like the freedom of just going into a park for a few hours and not wasting a whole day's ticket.

I would love APs but am just not sure we'd make it back within a year. Guess we could always upgrade on the last day if we decided. Right now, with the trip being over a year away, we don't think we'd make it back within a year, but even this last time, we kinda wished we upgraded to APs so we could go back this December. Plus we need one AP to get the TIW card. Need to do the math on that.

Switching resorts once is our limit as well..it was nice to check out AKV for 2 nights (after our BCV 7 nights) but then I wanted to stay there longer! I hope it'll get easier when my kids are older...right now we are staying at one resort only -- just too much packing/unpacking...

Two nights is just a taste. Last trip we did OKW GV 5 nights, AKV 3 nights, and then POR 2 nights. This was before we owned DVC. This trip we'll do THV for 5 nights and then SSR for 6 nights. We will still be at the same resort with Jenna et al but just not in the same villa. To have that happen, we'd have to do another triple split which we don't want to do again. It was fine once. Funny how spoiled we get.

Ok, I think I'm caught up, for the most part.

for reading and posting!




I clinked the link for your autograph book and WOW that is fabulous!!!!!!!! Awesome job!!!

 

[rentayenta]

14 days until AZ/Vegas!!! ​

48 days until So Cal!!! ​

52 days until DVC ressie!!! ​

175 days until Mexico!!! ​

207 days until ADRs!!! ​

386 days until THV!!! ​

 

[rentayenta]

Due to having 3 sick kids, a head full of snot, the inability to sleep, and too many cold meds, I have dissected the value of DDP for my family. Makes the frog in 8th grade science class seem whole after the number I have done on this.

For our family, the price just doesn't add up. We have 4 technical adults and one child making the DDP cost $181 per day for my family of 5. Taking into account the fact that I hate to waste food and that we love appetizers and that we would NEVER order 5 desserts with dinner, never ever ever, nor would Chloe (my middle DD) order a huge Filet for her self, the DDP is not bargain for us. Take for instance my dissection of Teppan Edo, this is what we would order:

• 3 salads @ $6 each
• 3 miso soups @ $3 each
• 1 California Roll @ $8
• 1 Filet (DH) @$30
• 1 Filet (me and Gab) @$30
• 1 Filet (DD and DS to share) @ $30
• possibly one ginger cake for dessert @ $6
• 3 sodas if the kids insisted @ $2 each

I chose the Filet as they are the most expensive to illustrate my point knowing we could possibly order chicken or another less expensive entree. The appetizer, soup, and salad would not be included and would be OOP plus any beer or wine. So basically, the 3 Filets, 3 sodas, and 1 dessert total $102. The plan costs $181 per day.

That leaves $79 in food for the rest of the day that we would have to surpass to break even on the plan. Even eating at Cosmic Ray's in MK (one of the more $$$ places) wouldn't touch it. Again, we would never get 5 desserts so let's say we ordered 2 chicken platters at Cosmic Ray's @ $10 a piece, 1 8 piece chicken nuggets at $8, a chicken Caesar salad $7, and 2 large sodas for $5 that equals $30.

So now we are at $132.

5 snacks at $4 each comes to $20.

Now we are at $152. The plan costs $181 a day. Am I missing something? For us the DDP forces us to order food and desserts we normally wouldn't eat.


Anyone seeing something that I am not? I want to get the most bang for my Disney back. Don't even get me started on how 50's PrimeTime adds up. Even with the foo-foo Tink drinks I think I hit $80 for the 5 of us.

Now 'Ohana is better on the DDP. 4 adult buffets @ $33 each is $132. One child's buffet is $16 putting us at $148. Take the same math with Cosmic Ray's and the snacks and we save $17 if we are on the DDP.

Maybe I should dissect every meal for your enjoyment?

 

[rentayenta]

Here is my Sanaa dissection. I know you were all waiting.

• Naan $9
• 2 Samosas $ each
• soup $7

All the above are not included on the DDP so we'd pay OOP.

• Tandoori Lamb Chops $21
• Fish $22
• Tandoori Chicken $18
• 2 kids meals $16 or the NY Strip $19

This puts us at $80 so far. Throw in 3 sodas and 2 desserts and we are at $105.

 

[rentayenta]

You know the song and dance................


Not included on DDP:

• Baked Goat Cheese and Tomato $6
• Caesar Salad $6
• Mixed Green Salad $6

On the DDP:

• Strip $28
• Salmon Salad $20
• Lamb Chops $23
• Grilled Tuna $23 or 2 kids meals $16
• a dessert $6
• 3 sodas $9

$109 total leaving $72 to spend to break even.


Oh and I haven't touched the tip difference.

 

[Native NYer]

Doesn't seem like the DDP makes sense for you. As a DVC member, can you take advantage of the free dining offer?

 

[rentayenta]

Doesn't seem like the DDP makes sense for you. As a DVC member, can you take advantage of the free dining offer?

Nope. Free dining is only available with a room/ticket package.



Spoke with Jenna tonight and they are also fine skipping the DDP. Her honey isn't so hip on having reservations every night. We would still make ADRs but could cancel and we wouldn't be out any money.

 

[vamassey1]

Since your crew shares so many meals it really does sound better not to do the DDP.

It really can put a damper on things to have to stop for a meal.

 

[rentayenta]

Since your crew shares so many meals it really does sound better not to do the DDP.

I used to think most people shared but I am starting to think we are in the minority. We share when we go out here too. If the kids want their own meal, that's great, as long as they'll eat it.

It really can put a damper on things to have to stop for a meal.

It can be cumbersome. I hate that feeling of having to do anything while on vacation, even eating.

 

[Native NYer]

Nope. Free dining is only available with a room/ticket package.



Spoke with Jenna tonight and they are also fine skipping the DDP. Her honey isn't so hip on having reservations every night. We would still make ADRs but could cancel and we wouldn't be out any money.

That stinks! I guess they figure DVC members will use the kitchen in their villa some days.

It's hard to be tied to ADRs, especially with a large group. I love the new online reservation system. You can just cancel your ADR from your room (if you bring your computer) easily the same day.

 

[rentayenta]

That stinks! I guess they figure DVC members will use the kitchen in their villa some days.

I think they figure it's like preaching to the choir- they've got our money and they know we are coming.

It's hard to be tied to ADRs, especially with a large group. I love the new online reservation system. You can just cancel your ADR from your room (if you bring your computer) easily the same day.

It can be hard. I think the only one that might be tough will be 'Ohana. Turf Club is supposed to be excellent but not super popular which is great by me. I am excited to try the online ADR system. I have read about some glitches so that makes me nervous. I will have to be up at 1 am to make our ADRs.

I like your ADR countdown ticker. Do you have them all planned out? Where are you dining?

13 days until AZ/Vegas!!! ​

47 days until So Cal!!! ​

51 days until DVC ressie!!! ​

174 days until Mexico!!! ​

206 days until ADRs!!! ​

385 days until THV!!! ​

Today we are finally going to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. With everyone being sick and DH at work we've had to push it back a couple of days. We are going to go for a picnic and then do Tashlich- the casting of sins into the water. We are going to this great park with a stream and throwing bread crumbs into the water. The bread represents any wrong-doings over the past year and the water washes them away. It's generally done the first day but we have all been sick. And really, who doesn't need to apologize for something?


L'Shanah Tova to any Jews reading. May you have a sweet New Year!