"You want to ride Dinosaur again?" - New 10/21 - The End!

[eandesmom]

I've also thought about the Backyard BBQ - do they always do that or is it just a special event?? The reviews make it sound kind of crazy though.

It might be seasonal? But I think it is most of the time. I agree though, it sounded a bit crazy to me too when I looked at it.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Great dining recap! I agree that having the convenience of all your meals paid for is a BIG plus! We will definitely do DDP in one form or another when we go back!

Your list of favorites is very helpful. I'd like to try a few of the places you have listed and your opinion is good to have! We'd love to do Teppan Edo next trip as well as Le Cellier. Maybe Jeff and I can sneak away and do Le Cellier just the two of us!


And we definitely want to try Chef Mickey's. It's on the MUST DO list for our next trip...whenever that may be!

 

[mousescrapper]

HI Amy


first I feel like the worst friend ever ....

I never wished you a Happy Birthday....so HAPPY BIRTHDAY

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What a stink on losing the snow-globes...but at least Daddy got on the plane right

Love the frog cookies too cute...did I mention Michael's 6th b-day was frog themed? funny huh?

Love the last set of PP pic's at DHS...the one of you guys jumping is great! so glad that worked out for you and you are loving your pictures.

Good recaps so far...w/ what you loved and did and things to look forward to next time (isn't that why we love Disney)

Great recap on the DDP...glad all those credits got used! and sounds like you guys had some great food

As far as planning the next one...it's always good to have that maybe wish list in your head....if you don't go back in 2010 you KNOW you'll be back sooner or later....understnad those Disney blues

Scrappie J~

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm glad you feel like you got a good value from the DDP....that's the most important thing.

 

[DisMomAmy]

It might be seasonal? But I think it is most of the time. I agree though, it sounded a bit crazy to me too when I looked at it.

I'll have to think about it some more - Zach would love a BBQ theme but the chaos could be too much!

Great dining recap! I agree that having the convenience of all your meals paid for is a BIG plus! We will definitely do DDP in one form or another when we go back!

Your list of favorites is very helpful. I'd like to try a few of the places you have listed and your opinion is good to have! We'd love to do Teppan Edo next trip as well as Le Cellier. Maybe Jeff and I can sneak away and do Le Cellier just the two of us!


And we definitely want to try Chef Mickey's. It's on the MUST DO list for our next trip...whenever that may be!

I can see why a lot of people choose Chef Mickey's to start off their vacation!!

For a dinner without the kids, Le Cellier would be at the top of the list!

HI Amy


first I feel like the worst friend ever ....

I never wished you a Happy Birthday....so HAPPY BIRTHDAY

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What a stink on losing the snow-globes...but at least Daddy got on the plane right

Love the frog cookies too cute...did I mention Michael's 6th b-day was frog themed? funny huh?

Love the last set of PP pic's at DHS...the one of you guys jumping is great! so glad that worked out for you and you are loving your pictures.

Good recaps so far...w/ what you loved and did and things to look forward to next time (isn't that why we love Disney)

Great recap on the DDP...glad all those credits got used! and sounds like you guys had some great food

As far as planning the next one...it's always good to have that maybe wish list in your head....if you don't go back in 2010 you KNOW you'll be back sooner or later....understnad those Disney blues

Scrappie J~

Hi Scrappie!! I've missed you over here...

Thanks for the birthday wishes!! That's so funny that Michael's 6th birthday was a frog theme!

The snow globe thing was not a big deal AT ALL given the circumstances!

If we don't make it back in the spring of 2010 there's always hope for the fall right?? And if that does't work, I'll be there with you in 2012.

I'm glad you feel like you got a good value from the DDP....that's the most important thing.

I always have to feel like I've gotten my money's worth for things - the DDP definitely did that for me!

 

[carissanboys]

Great dining recap. I have similar feelings about the dining plan.

Teppan Edo will definitely be at the top of my "to try list" for next time.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Great dining recap. I have similar feelings about the dining plan.

Teppan Edo will definitely be at the top of my "to try list" for next time.

Thanks Carissa - I think you guys will like Teppan Edo!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Good morning Dis-friends! It's a chilly fall morning here - in the 30s!

I need your help! Southwest released fares for April vacation week yesterday so I was pulling together a little spreadsheet of our various options for February vacation week and April vacation week to share with Tim. As I was showing him the spreadsheet and asking for his opinion, I prefaced my comments with "I'm not booking anything because we haven't even decided if we want to go..." and he said, "Who are you kidding, you know it, I know it and the rest of the world knows it, just go ahead and book it!"

I do have some mixed feelings about spending money rather than paying off some significant debt, but even with the trip we'll be making more headway than we have ever been able to. Sounds like a good compromise, right?

So I need help deciding when to go... February vs. April vacation weeks. (For those of you who followed my PTR from last year, this is a familiar scenario.) Our school vacation weeks are a week later than most of the country so either time shouldn't be too busy. I think February will be slightly busier though. The reason we are thinking about February is because if we go in April we miss the NH Family Support Conference that we have been wanting to attend for several years now. And when we go in April, by the time June/July roll around it seems like we've just been on vacation and we end up scaling back some of our early summer plans. Though we will be going out to the lake cottage in the Berkshires again next summer for sure.

With these thoughts in mind, I was leaning toward February... until I checked out airfare. I would really prefer to fly on Southwest - it's much more convenient for us and we you can check 2 bags each. Jet Blue was good as well but we dragged on more carry on luggage than necessary becuse they only allow one checked bag. (We decided it we fly JetBlue again, we'll just suck it up and pay for extra bags rather than deal with dragging them around with us.) Flying on Southwest in February, we can get down there on a $99 flight with one stop in Phili (we've always flown direct, but this flight doesn't require a plane change, just a stop). Getting back is a different story - I can only find $154 if we come home on Saturday or $208 if we take the extra day and get home on Sunday. All of these flights are out of Tampa - we want to fly in to Tampa to visit Jeff & Karen & the kids and the Tampa flights are much lower than the Orlando flights for our return trip during either month.

So then the April fares came out for Southwest... (JetBlue has flights available for the trip down in April, but hasn't released May yet so we wouldn't be able to buy a return flight yet.) I can get us down on Thursday for $139 or on Friday for $99 and home for $154 on Sunday - all direct flights, without the worry of winter weather delays...

Also the Winter Olympics will be going on during our trip if we go during February vacation - I'm not as big a fan of the winter games as I am of the sumemr games, but I enjoy watching them and we would miss out on most of that.

What to do??

Those of you who follow Southwest fares - do you think rates will just go up from this point forward or do you think there might be some dings?? I'm feeling the need to decide and book quickly before prices rise. Should I wait for JetBlue to release May fares?

I'll be back later today for my next installment of my recap - on-site vs. off-site.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Oh boy...that really is a dilemma! I am a BIG fan of the Olympics...summer or winter so I would miss being a part of that. But it IS Disney...ugh!

I never had very good luck with Dings on Southwest, but found that the fare seemed to be the best right around 4 months out. Have you looked at a site called farecast.com? It will let you know whether the flight is likely to go up or down in price. It's not available for all markets and I'm not sure they include Southwest, but it would give you an idea of the trends. I've found it to be fairly accurate.

I agree that flying Southwest is the most convenient with a family...that luggage fee is really a big deal when you have kids and all their stuff to transport!

I love the weather at Disney in April so that is always a big plus for that time of year for me. AND...the Flower and Garden Festival is always beautiful.

I'm afraid I'm not tons of help! But.....I'm so excited for you that you are planning a trip! I have NO idea when we'll be able to get back. Jeff and I are thinking of a cruise to the Bahamas this spring to celebrate our 40th birthdays, but the boys are talking about a Disney trip. I don't think WDW is going to happen in 2010, but maybe we can shoot for 2011!

I'll be interested to find out what you decide!

 

[carissanboys]

For me, the deciding factor would be the weather. April in Florida is hotter than I enjoy so I would much prefer February. But, that's just my preference.

Another trip - how exciting!

 

[Happydog]

OH HOW fun! How EXCITING! I would say to try a different holiday season. Why not? It seems that you have good reasons for both, and I am sure April weather would be nice, but I hear you about the time so close to summer... Would there be good discounts in Feb vs. April? Or the other way around? IF these are school holiday weeks, then I would say Feb vs. April... I got the impression that spring break weeks are crazy....

Good airfare prices regardless .... Didn't I read from another TR or PTR that if the fare goes down they will give you the credit difference? SW air AND Jet Blue?

Maybe I am wrong about that... anyone else know?

LOVED your other updates, though!!!! Great dining recap, and I think you have some good plans... I would say to try WCC again - it was one of our favorites this summer...

 

[MRYPPNS]

Without knowing the exact dates that you are looking at....I'd say Feb vacation. But don't count on Southwest prices out of Manchester that week to drop. Is it worth it to even look at Logan? Southwest will be flying out of there by then if they haven't already. My only other suggestion would be to fly mid-week...maybe Thursday to Thursday. Oh and isn't the buy 4 get 3 deal good until March at the Disney resorts??

 

[Hedy]

For me, the deciding factor would be the weather. April in Florida is hotter than I enjoy so I would much prefer February. But, that's just my preference.

Another trip - how exciting!

I'm holding the same position as last year, ironically also about the weather-I've had too many February vacations cut shoirt due to snow in NE, that I prefer April.

 

[eandesmom]

Well it's a coin toss for me.

On the one hand, I'd pick April b/c it would be warmer. Feb had some nice days and some chilly ones! It was also insanely crowded for us but it would really depend on your exact days, we were there before and after President's day.

On the other hand, I get the April being too close to summer factor, if I did April I'd move summer plans towards the end of summer if possible. And depending on the dates you would get flower and garden? right?

However, for me the deciding factor would be promo's on the rooms, if buy 4 get 3 is good for all your dates than it is just a matter of time preference. If not, go with the promo!

I don't think the flight costs seem different enough to have those be a factor.

Not much help.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Oh boy, that's a tough one Amy. . . I found this time around that the SW rates did nothing but go up after they were released. I waited and waited for them to go down and they never did. Nor did I ever see a Ding between PITT and MCO, which is odd. So I would say to book early. They will credit you if the rate does drop (well, you have to do it, they are not going to tell you), but that credit is only good for 1 year from the original date of purchase.

As for February or April. . . . I don't know!! I would do the research and go when it is expected to be least busy.

Good luck!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Thanks for your input everyone!! I booked some airfare today!!!

I'll be back later to tell you all about it... gotta run to pick Zach up from school now.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks for your input everyone!! I booked some airfare today!!!

I'll be back later to tell you all about it... gotta run to pick Zach up from school now.

Ooohhh the suspense!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Sorry I've been MIA most of your TR, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

I'd go with Feb. I love going during that time of year.

I, too, will be there the 5-18 and will be missing some of the Olympics, but since the Games are in Vancouver, it will be completely possible that some major events will be on West Coast Time...so PERHAPS, hockey, skiing, ice skating will be on at 7-8pm West Coast time 10-11pm EST which means that you can have a full day at the parks and come home and watch some things...I'm banking on that for my trip.....

Good luck with the decision....

 

[DisMomAmy]

Before I tell you the story about our upcoming trip, I want to recap our on-site experience!

On-site vs. Off... that is the question.

We have stayed off-property at various timeshare condos - The Marriott Grande Vista (October 07) being our favorite so far. We usually have a 2 bedroom unit - we've stayed in one bedroom before as well as a 3 bedroom. We like the space, in condo laundry, kitchen and of course, the price!

I stayed at POP with my mom in April 08 and then of course we stayed at CBR this trip. I loved the atmosphere, the food court, the pool, the Disney transportation (including DME), and especially the option to buy the Disney Dining Plan. And we never did this, but I loved having the option to split up and go to two separate parks.

However, with all the pros, come the cons. We had a really hard time adjusting to the small space. Alex is not a good sleeper. He has a hard time getting to sleep at night and he wakes up really early. Sitting quietly waiting for him to fall asleep at night was difficult and keeping him quiet behind the curtain (that divided the vanity area and the sleeping area) was a challenge too. Plus he is very particular about what he’ll eat – we had to wing it a bit with some of his favorite foods. Having a kitchen has helped out with that in the past. Zachary could also use a little space away from his brother from time to time, which wasn’t easy at CBR. Plus we pay for the timeshare condo whether we use it or not… we are actually about to forfeit a week that we didn’t use because they only let you “bank” them for two years. We currently have 2007, 2008 and 2009 all banked (it’s the 2007 week that will be lost in November). In addition to all that, when we stay at our condo we are able to have guests come and stay with us. If we are visiting with family it’s nice to be able to hang out with them at night after the kids go to bed, rather than going our separate ways at night.

So with all that being said, we haven’t ruled out staying on-property again in the future (I still dream of the Beach Club or Animal Kingdom Lodge), but for this upcoming trip we have decided to use our timeshare and stay at a Marriott (probably) condo. We won’t know for sure exactly which location we’ll be at until 60 days before our trip when we can trade into the higher rated condos. So that’ll give me something to research in the coming weeks/months.

Up next: More details on the next trip & Final recap – the highs & lows.

 

[eandesmom]

I hear you on the pro's cons! For us right now, with the older kids, having access to EMH outweighs the sleeping space issue but it will be interesting to see how it goes. I really hope we get connecting rooms so the younger ones can go down earlier. I hate sitting on the bed in the dark, waiting for them to crash!

That said, now that they are older, they can be up later and that helps a LOT.

I am going to miss having a kitchen but we will see if my tree house sacrifice (to make my MIL happy) was worth it!

We did a house one year and all that space was fabulous!