vacation plans questions

[cjsull]

I haven't posted here a lot... most of them have been in the CR thread. My H and I have been saving for a trip for almost a year, and we are going to be able to finally take our kids to Disney for the first time next year. Our whole family is HUGE Disney fans (I even worked at the Disney Store when in college), and we are beyond excited about going. They will be finding out we are going for sure on Christmas morning. If we get it together in time, that is.

I had been looking at CR and trying to figure out where we wanted to stay, either in the tower or Garden Wing. I was looking at pairing a room with a dinner plan, which made picking a location more interesting. In other words, which room plan and which dining plan... and what are the costs.

Well, my H and I finally agreed that, considering that we don't plan to spend all that much time in the room, the garden wing might actually work out well for us. And after reading all the reviews in detail (for hours!!), I think the basic dining plan is the way to go. Unless someone would normally buy that much food anyway, it doesn't seem that you actually save money with the deluxe dining plan. I'm going to put all the money on a gift card ahead of time, and I will have the same benefit of having "paid for it all already".

So what I'm saying is, I think we have decided!!! A garden wing, garden view with a basic dining plan for the five of us!! Yeah!

Now, the problems begin. Well, not problems, exactly, but complications.

I had my mind set on when we were going in Sept next year, but when my H approached his supervisor, things changed. We are a military family. His supervisor basically told him when he is able to put in for a leave request. And it's not the week we were hoping to go. That's ok, except for a few concerns I have.

I'm not sure if I am supposed to post this here or not, so please tell me if I'm doing something wrong.

Now we are being told that we can only go the first week in Sept, which starts the 3rd and ends the 10th. The thing is, that first weekend is Labor Day weekend. NOT when I wanted to go, specifically for that reason. We figure that we can maybe avoid some of the Labor day craziness by not going to the MK that day. Does anyone have experience with the Disney parks on weekends like that? Is it going to be bad the whole week, or will we only have to worry about that first weekend?

Second concern is about air travel. We will be traveling on a family voucher, so it will be standby. Being a holiday weekend, I'm concerned about getting on a plane that Saturday because we would need 5 seats on the plane... a lot for standby. The only idea I could think of was actually flying out that Friday and finding a cheap hotel to stay at for one night before we start our Disney adventure on Saturday. But how would getting around work? Can't afford to rent a car, so I'll have to do some research on this. If anyone has any thoughts on this, feel free to share.

I want to also mention that that Saturday, the 3rd, also happens to be my H's birthday!!

Of course, all of this hangs on my H actually getting a leave request granted for that week, and we are waiting for him to get back to us. I hate the waiting, but I figured I'd use this time to ask some questions here.

Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

 

[MHSweb79]

Relax- Labor Day week is a great time to go since school has started pretty much everywhere around the country. The crowds will be pretty low all week.

As for flying out on Friday, you may want to look into staying at a value resort for one night. That way you could take Magical Express from the airport to the value, then switch on Saturday. Either take a cab or take a bus to MK and walk over to the CR. Bell services at the value will transfer the luggage for you sometime during the day. Or if you do take a cab just bring your luggage with you.

 

[jmm476]

Relax- Labor Day week is a great time to go since school has started pretty much everywhere around the country. The crowds will be pretty low all week.

As for flying out on Friday, you may want to look into staying at a value resort for one night. That way you could take Magical Express from the airport to the value, then switch on Saturday. Either take a cab or take a bus to MK and walk over to the CR. Bell services at the value will transfer the luggage for you sometime during the day. Or if you do take a cab just bring your luggage with you.

I was going to suggest the same thing. The values are very reasonable, although I'm not sure which ones allow 5 people in the room? Pop Century was great, but I think 4 people is the limit there. I think Port Orleans Riverside (a moderate) allows for 5, so you'd still save a chunk of money staying there.

I spent Labor Day of this year in the parks, just over the long weekend. We didn't find the crowds to be bad at all, with the exception of the day before (sunday) at MK. And even that wasn't that bad, just more crowded than it had been the couple days before. I love going over Labor Day, I'm sure you'll all have a good time!

 

[Straitlover]

Another suggestion for flying out on Friday - you can get an inexpensive room at a hotel near the airport, one that has a free airport shuttle. Stay there that night, and shuttle back to the airport Sat morning. Give Magical Express a flight number that arrives on Saturday morning (you don't have to be on it), and then you can take DME to your resort.

Congrats on the first trip!

 

[Disney Fool]

If you go that week, it's usually "free dining" at WDW;

 

[cjsull]

Thank you for the ideas. I had some of the same thoughts, but not all of them. Why tell me to relax? Did I sound frantic or something? Don't worry, I'm not. Just looking for as much info as I can find so that I can minimize surprises. That's just the way I roll, baby. If I needed to make plans around crazy crowds at the parks, I'll do that. But from what you all said, it sounds like it isn't too much worse than the norm. That's great!
Why is it usually "free dining"? Just curious.
I'll have to look into these options and see what might work for us. Unfortunately, the value resorts don't let you have 5. But maybe Shades of Green will work? hmmm... another thought.

Thanks to all of you. Soooo looking forward to this.

 

[KellyNY]

You can stay at airport hotel first night, so you would not have to rent a car or travel at all. Next morning you can use ME to get to CR. Do not worry about Labor Day. We did it this September, no real crowds at all. We stayed from 9/3- 9/10. On Labor Day we went to DHS, TOT had no line, RNR 20 min, TSM crazy as usual, not related to LD.

 

[Disney Fool]

Why is it usually "free dining"? Just curious.
.

Disney offers free dining from mid-August thru September-never guaranteed, of course, but it's been going on for some time. you pay rack rate for your resort, (no discounts) and Disney adds the dining package.

 

[cjsull]

Oh, that thing. Yeah, I heard about that, but right now the room rates for military are 40% off deluxe rooms, so we were going to go with that for our first trip. Thanks.

Here is one other question. I had also heard that the parks may not be open full hours anymore at that point. For those of you that went at that time of year, did the parks close earlier, or were they still summer hours?

 

[KellyNY]

Oh, that thing. Yeah, I heard about that, but right now the room rates for military are 40% off deluxe rooms, so we were going to go with that for our first trip. Thanks.

Here is one other question. I had also heard that the parks may not be open full hours anymore at that point. For those of you that went at that time of year, did the parks close earlier, or were they still summer hours?

I think hours were slightly shorter, like hour or 2 shorter then during the summer. Illuminations were still at 9PM, Wishes were at 9 instead of 10 PM and we had fun watching Illuminations with Wishes in a background. Weekends still had longer hours. Shorter hours during this time really not visible.

 

[cjsull]

Thanks!

I looked up the Orlando airport hotel, and I had forgotten that it is inside the terminal. That might be a good option for one night, as long as they'll let us have 5 in a room. It would be much easier to stay there a night and then ME the next day.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

Free Disney Dining dates are already posted for 2011 thru Sept. 28. Your dates are included for this offer. Ask the CM when you call to make your reservation. I would call as soon as possible. There are only so many rooms per hotel that are available. You can always change your dates if you need to later, but at least you can lock in the FDD. We are a party of four, we're going later in Sept and have already booked. FDD will save us about $200 a day. For 9 days you can't beat it.

 

[cjsull]

Well, we booked back in November, and we still haven't found out if we can go or not yet.
But we should find out this week!!!

I also got a room at the hotel at the airport for one night, and booked a couple of dinner reservations for the week... hoping for the best!

If we are ariving on my H's birthday, I heard that he can get a special Birthday button or something. Can he wear that for more than the few hours we will actually be there that day? Maybe another day or two on our trip? Just wondering.

Can't wait to find out if this is really on!!!!

Thanks everyone. Just excited, so had to write.

 

[sissy_ib]

Well, we booked back in November, and we still haven't found out if we can go or not yet.
But we should find out this week!!!

I also got a room at the hotel at the airport for one night, and booked a couple of dinner reservations for the week... hoping for the best!

If we are ariving on my H's birthday, I heard that he can get a special Birthday button or something. Can he wear that for more than the few hours we will actually be there that day? Maybe another day or two on our trip? Just wondering.

Can't wait to find out if this is really on!!!!

Thanks everyone. Just excited, so had to write.

Good luck! I know the feeling of waiting on leave approval. We never know until a few weeks ahead of time and it is always so stressful waiting. Right now I am in limbo over our wedding/Disneymoon. (the one we already had to push back once)

He can wear the B-day button all week. If it is noted in your reservation they will have it and 1st visit buttons ready. If not just ask when you check in.

 

[cjsull]

Wow, that is so cool! Thank you so much!
Just to get your opinion... I have dinner resvs that night for the Hoop-dee-doo. I checked on that res a few days ago, and it didn't list under there that it was his B-day. Do you think it's better to call and let them know a few days before, or is it enough to just tell them when we get there?

It's bad enough to be in limbo about a family trip, but a wedding? Ugh!!! I am so sorry! I really hope that things work out for you!!

 

[sissy_ib]

Wow, that is so cool! Thank you so much!
Just to get your opinion... I have dinner resvs that night for the Hoop-dee-doo. I checked on that res a few days ago, and it didn't list under there that it was his B-day. Do you think it's better to call and let them know a few days before, or is it enough to just tell them when we get there?

It's bad enough to be in limbo about a family trip, but a wedding? Ugh!!! I am so sorry! I really hope that things work out for you!!

Thank you We have our fingers crossed it will all workout. If not we still have each other and that's what is important. (wow I'm sappy today lol)

Ok, for your reservations you can go online and add the celebration to your ADRs. Just log in to WDWs site and log in. I'm pretty sure you go to "my reservations" near the top. It is under where it says "places to stay". I would add the birthday to all of them. That way you have a better chance of them recognizing his b-day. In October I put my fiances b-day on our ADRs and it was not recognized. (Kona Cafe lost our ADR and we had 3 other TS meals) No big deal but a "happy birthday" would have been nice. Of course he also refused to wear the button
We got engaged down there and we did get several "congratulations" wearing those buttons. He wasn't happy but I put my foot down on wearing those!

 

[danceintherain]

Hoop dee doo is not a good choice if you are unsure of your arrival time (maybe you are now?). It should have required prepayment or credit card guarantee, and if you don't cancel, I think, 48 hours in advance they will charge you something...sometimes only $10/person, I dont know. It does work a bit different on the dining plan, but you'll either be out the money or the credits, even if you don't show up.

I just thought you should be aware of that, if you weren't already.

You can call, or go online, and add his birthday to the ADR. If he wears his button, and you notify them when you check in, they'll probably get the idea.

Did you rebook when discounts came out for your dates? I hope you find out whether you can go or not soon! I know how frustrating military leave can be. My husband told me the other day that he won't be able to take any days off until November, and even then, who knows...?

 

[cjsull]

The reason that I feel comfortable booking the restaurant is that we are flying in the night before. Because we are on vouchers, we are not taking the risk. We are leaving Friday night, no matter how late we get on, and then staying a night at the hotel at the Orlando airport. That way, in the morning, we can just walk down and get on the Disney bus.

We actually booked and paid for our trip all back in November. Now, I just need to be able to go!

Thanks for all the ideas. I will definitely check it out.

 

[cjsull]

WE GOT IT!!!

We found out two days ago that we have leave for vacation!!!

YEAH!!!

 

[DizneeMommy]

Hooray!! So glad you'll be able to go! Be sure to wear the first trip buttons the whole trip. . .CM's love to sprinkle a bit of "pixie dust" when they can. And be sure DH wears his birthday button!!