Will this trip ever get off the ground? - Jan 2012 PTR - TOMORROW - 1/5!!!

[tankgirl427]

And I officially spend too much money this weekend, today is Patriots Day which is basically a MA, NH, some parts of ME thing, but I have the day off from work, so I added to all the Disney shirts I already purchased this weekend.

Here's the rundown on everything I got:

And of course the day after I buy it for $12 its on sale for $9.99

Gotta take a couple pictures to add more things to this list.

The rest:










Yep, I went ahead an bought the annual pass today. Yikes! Okay no more buying things for awhile for me!

 

[annmarieda]

OMG! I love all your shirts. I especially love the cinderella shoe. Where did you get that? My dd would love that shirt.

Cool on getting the AP!

 

[tankgirl427]

Yesterday, after hemming and hawing for a week, I booked the room only for trip #2 while I have an annual pass. Right now I have us booked at Pop Century in a Preferred Room (will probably change this to a standard room) for 9 nights! We'll be there from Jan 6th - 15th. She's off on her Winter Break until January 23rd. If anyone know dates that might be better please let me know!

I would love to splurge and stay at a Moderate, but its just not in cards for this trip. I mean it could be if I shorten the trip in half or if an amazing discount came out.

I also went up to the outlets in Maine and bought my cousin a Coach bag that could extend into a cross body bag. All I knew is that she likes big bag and the Poppy collection from Coach.

So now I'm trying how to surprise her with the trip. She knows the possible dates and that's it. Her mom knows where I want to take here. I know I'll see her at Thanksgiving, so I could surprise her then, or should I wait until Christmas and tell her she's going in two weeks?

And then what if discounts or free dining comes out? Is it worth it to do free dining and just buy two one day tickets and save them for later? If this happens, I would probably change the room from preferred to standard. I think the savings would cover the two tickets. I don't see how a 20% would cover enough food for us for possibly 10 days and 9 nights. Or do I upgrade to a Mod to get DDP, but is that added cost really worth it? The only meal I want to take her to is either the Crystal Palace or CRT for breakfast.

But then again, dates may change once flights are announced further down the line.

 

[annmarieda]

Selfishly, I wish your dates were just a taaaaaaad earlier... But congrats on booking. 9 nights!!! You will have an awesome time.

 

[tankgirl427]

Selfishly, I wish your dates were just a taaaaaaad earlier... But congrats on booking. 9 nights!!! You will have an awesome time.

Well.... you are already considering adding more dates or taking days away. Why not push it off until January with me?

Maybe later in 2012, we'll book at the same time? You, Zoe, and maybe Kira?

 

[annmarieda]

Well.... you are already considering adding more dates or taking days away. Why not push it off until January with me?

Maybe later in 2012, we'll book at the same time? You, Zoe, and maybe Kira?

Thanks for the making me smile.

yes... Kira and I have talked about going in 2012 when the new resort opens. I mean, really other than the bus situation, I loved POP. I think that the new resort will be even more fun. . It does open in 2012, right?

 

[tankgirl427]

I really want to stay in the new resort too! I'm pretty sure it opens in 2012. We should check that out!

I already made my first of many changes to the January trip. I changed hotels from Pop to POFQ. Darn Su-Lynn and her photos of hte refurbished room! That change is costing an extra $600. I was thinking I might be able to use my credit card points for flights for myself and my cousin, when they are finally released for that part of January.

The funny thing about the room at Pop was the prices were listed as $116 for the first weekend, $100 during the week, and $121 for the second weekend. The prices for POFQ is like $179 for the weekends, and $159 for the week. I'll have to wait and see what types of discounts come up, but it might be back to Pop and downgrade even further to a standard room. I didn't think our preferred room, really left much to be preferred, we had to walk from the end of the point facing the 70s all the way to the elevator bank, down to the 1st floor, across the pool area, into the main lobby, and then to the bus stop.

Then I have to consider % off or FD which is the best deal.

Does anyone know if you get the one day tickets, can you take both off and then combine them to upgrade to a multiday ticket and pay the difference?

 

[annmarieda]

I really want to stay in the new resort too! I'm pretty sure it opens in 2012. We should check that out!

I already made my first of many changes to the January trip. I changed hotels from Pop to POFQ. Darn Su-Lynn and her photos of hte refurbished room! That change is costing an extra $600. I was thinking I might be able to use my credit card points for flights for myself and my cousin, when they are finally released for that part of January.

The funny thing about the room at Pop was the prices were listed as $116 for the first weekend, $100 during the week, and $121 for the second weekend. The prices for POFQ is like $179 for the weekends, and $159 for the week. I'll have to wait and see what types of discounts come up, but it might be back to Pop and downgrade even further to a standard room. I didn't think our preferred room, really left much to be preferred, we had to walk from the end of the point facing the 70s all the way to the elevator bank, down to the 1st floor, across the pool area, into the main lobby, and then to the bus stop.

Then I have to consider % off or FD which is the best deal.

Does anyone know if you get the one day tickets, can you take both off and then combine them to upgrade to a multiday ticket and pay the difference?

I think it is cool that you switched. Hopefully there will be a good discount. And.. if you do go back to POP, I wouldn't get the preferred room or even worry about it... I think it just places you near the pool (did you look at the map that shows where they are all located?) In September, our room was super close to the main hall and so really convenient...and standard.

I have no words of wisdom for you regarding the tickets. Hopefully someone else will know how that works.

 

[Joyciemc]

I can't be much help about the tickets/ dining plan... that all confuses me!

I love both POP and POFQ! I can't help you with that one, either

When in 2012 would you be going?? We are tentatively thinking about a fall 2012 trip...

 

[tankgirl427]

Well, I'm trying to talk the guy from KY to going on a long weekend trip, being the fact that he backed out. So I'm going to see how October is, and it will either be a Labor Day or Columbus Day long weekend trip. Although, I kinda want to see the Flower and Garden Festival.

Last weekend, BF and I went to the MFA-Boston cause it was the Musuems on Us weekend with Bank of America, it was pretty cool to see the Dale Chihuly exhibit. I might go back another free weekend before its gone.

I was running into Target last night and ended up behind this lady on her phone and her daughter. I was in my own world until I heard the word Polyesian, then my ears perked right up. I mean what's the chances she's talking about the World? The conversation goes on about the monorail, how her kids like Animal Kingdom and what's the other park? And the pros and cons of the different resorts. If she ever got on the phone I should have asked if she was a disboarder.

 

[tankgirl427]

So I've been trying to figure out whether or not to tell my cousin about the trip or to surprise her. And then if I am going to surprise her, how to do it?

I spend all day yesterday reading people's surprises of what they did and sort of came up with a combination of them for my surprise.

Now before I decided how to surprise her, I was thinking if there is another 40% offer off deluxe, I should upgrade our room once again to the Contemporary. I really like how its walkable to MK and its one of the less expensive Deluxe Resorts, it would make the price of the room about the same price as POFQ with no discount. Now I'm thinking if they do offer that, I might put a spilt stay or have us spend the last night there. But that is yet to be decided.

As far as surprising her, since the trip is in the begining of January, I could sort of gift her the trip at Christmas, but I normally don't see her at Christmas. I do however see her at Thanksgiving, but I just don't want other family members to get jealous.

So I decided I would send her random things that could apply or be used at Disney along with random puzzle pieces to this puzzle:

I started putting it together last night to make sure there is nothing that is a dead give away, but after three hours and the cover I still don't have it done! So I'm now thinking I should write on the back of the puzzle some message and when she flips the puzzle over she'll see Minnie. Great right? : Did I forget to mention this is a 300 piece puzzle and is approximately 2' x 1 1/2'? I have a lot of blank space to fill up. I was thinking of writing: Lisa, To figure out where we are going, flip the puzzle over!

I'm just going to send her a bunch of random pieces maybe every week until she figures it out. I also got her random things: a bobble (filtered water bottle), magic wand, princess hat, mardi gras beads, green army men, star wars toy, a wind up butterfly, and I'm sure there was a few other things. I didn't want anything that gave away disney right away. I'm also thinking with her last puzzle pieces, I"ll send it with the Coach crossbody bag I got her for the trip and maybe getting the "I'm going to Disney World" shirt off the Disney store and sticking it in there.

This is the other puzzle I got, but you could see with some of the pieces it was Disney quite easily.

I'm going to put this one together as well before deciding which one to write on!

Any suggestions?

 

[annmarieda]

I love the puzzle piece idea! What if you wrote your message on the face of the puzzle though? I am not sure if a 300 piece puzzle would be easy to flip over..... Very cool idea. Now I am thinking I need a trip to surprise someone so I can do that.

 

[tankgirl427]

I booked my flight for October!!! This morning I checked Jet Blue and it was $264 round trip, leaving 8pm Saturday night (which is the day our timeshare starts) and flying back at like 6 or 8 am. Way too early for me.

I was just about to go to bed, literally ten minutes ago and decided to check again. Jet Blue was now $219!!!!!!!!!!!! So I checked what flights it was for and found a Friday 7pm flight down there and was so excited! Originally I wanted to leave at the 8:50 one to get home, get my things and have a relaxing cab to the airport. Now I'll just leave work an hour early. So I check out the return flights and see 6, 6, and 6. Now I was only looking at Saturday or Sunday to return where did the third 6 come in? A flight leaving Saturday at 6pm!

So I booked those flights right up quick before it could go away! One flight booked, now to wait for Jet Blue to come out with dates past January 3rd! Yippee! Happy Dance Time!

 

[annmarieda]

for booking your flight!! I think that makes it just more real to have that in place. And that it went down...Congrats!!!

 

[tankgirl427]

I seriously can't believe I got that deal for a flight! I'm 5 months out, its supposed to be still high for another two months, but nope I lucked out on that one. When I woke up on Saturday there was no return at 6pm at that price, and now if I purchase the same schedule it would be $244!

Ann - Give it a few more months and I'm sure the prices will come down for your flights too!

I was stalking the flights with this application I downloaded for my android phone, which is just like kayak.com!

 

[tankgirl427]

I'm still in shock! I just bought our flights down for January for $219 each. This trip I included insurance (especially after the winter we just had!). I booked Delta round trip, leaving Friday at 7am and returning Sunday at 7pm. I'll still have to drop off my cousin at her house before heading home and then going to work Monday am. That's going to be a fun Monday!

I wasn't feeling the $25 first checked bag so I signed up for the Delta AmEx so I'll get 20,000 or 25,000 points with purchasing the airfare and we can both check our bags for free! I was trying to wait until July so I could get 5x points on my credit card, but I was worried that $219 wasn't going to last. Then by the time July comes I would have to decide between the Delta flights which get in earlier and leave a little earlier (better for me getting home) and JetBlue later morning and departing flights, but free checked bag.

So now that flights are booked for both stays, I should be able to relax right?

Nope! ADRs are consuming my mind and I have a list of twenty places I want to try in ten days. I need to shorten the list! Hurry August so 2012 rates are shown and give some good discounts I can use finally!

 

[annmarieda]

On getting the airfare!!! You should be able to relax a bit... but yes, getting the ADRS squared away is the next maddening thing. I keep finding myself getting close to having a plan and then thinking I don't even know my exact days so why go to all this trouble. My current days booked are just tooo expensive to fly on so I am thinking I will have to change my dates...

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Joining in!! How awesome that you are planning TWO trips!!!

That ALWAYS happens to me, that I'll buy something and then around 4 seconds later it'll be 96% off. I've learned to really try to wait for sales with the Disney website, there seems to always be one!

A puzzle may be a bit difficult to flip over when assembled (giant spatula? ) What about writing the message at the bottom of the box of pieces? Or would she just dump them all out to start? Hmm...I'll be thinking!

 

[tankgirl427]

I finally figured out how to get photos off my camera when I didn't' have a card in it and now I have a few photos of the Chocolate Buffet to share!


Buzz with drink menu,not sure why he is sideways when I fix this already.













Here's Buzz out and 'bout Boston.



Also on Mother's Day, BF and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to check out "Through the Looking Glass". I love this room!







Finally, is anyone else annoyed with ticket prices going up so soon? I thought I had until August to figure out what to do about getting a ticket for my cousin, well now I had to move that plan up by two months. So I bought a 10 day ticket from UT. I figured I"ll spring for the extra $4 on Park hopper upgrade if we need it.


OH! I forgot to add I'm now thinking b's BF will not be joining us for this trip even though last weekend she was talking about him looking forward to Star Tours. She posted this to her facebook " damn, instincts are just always right in the end arent they?" and then changed her status from in a relationship to single. YIKES! I still think we should try and find another 4th person in cause we need to break the group up. Seven days of keeping three people together might be a little overkill!
Hope everyone is well!

 

[annmarieda]

Ack... I am sorry to hear about the 4th person bailing..

Ticket prices are going up, but not by a whole lot, right?