Sarilas' O-fficial Pre-Trip Report -1/2009 (a.k.a. Vacation, Take TWO!) - Page 14 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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How awesome that you may be able to go back next year!! Like Marnie said, the time frames are usually about the same. I think they release the actual dates for MNSSHP in May some time.
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I think dinner in Japan would be a great alternative to Boma - I have not yet to try but hear amazing stuff about Teppan Edo, and the menu looks wonderful.
For your MK day how about doing O'Hana for dinner, we love the meal there and the kids have so much fun. It is real family dining. It is a family served meal, check out the menu I think there is something that everyone will enjoy...and then you can hop back on the monorail back to MK or take the boat and make it an adventure.
I wondered about 'Ohana- our biggest question now is how much of a hassle do we want to go through to haul four children from park to resort?! Especially by the end of the week... I'm afraid I'll be napping on park benches from exhaustion by the time day 7 arrives! LOL
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Bothm MNSSHP and the F&W fest are usually the same weeks every year!!
Thank goodness! It just seems like the perfect time for us to go!
Quote:
Originally Posted by DyanKJ130
How awesome that you may be able to go back next year!! Like Marnie said, the time frames are usually about the same. I think they release the actual dates for MNSSHP in May some time.
I'm crossing my fingers! It would definitely be a shorter visit, but packed full of things to do, for sure!
I got a survey in my email from Walt Disney World Research yesterday saying:
"Dear Lara,
Thank you for selecting the Walt Disney World® Resort for your upcoming vacation.
We value our Guest’s opinions, and we’d appreciate your help. Would you please take a survey, lasting about 15 minutes, to tell us about how you’ve planned for your trip?"
Um... YEAH! It seemed to be mostly about whether or not I consider shopping and dining as major functions of our itinerary, did we set a shopping/dining budget beforehand, what kind of research we do, etc. And at the end it asked if I'd participate in a POST trip survey as well... I wonder what Disney has up it's sleeves?
Yesterday the AP room rates were released and I immediately inquired with my TA (Michelle at MEI travel, again, I LOVE HER) to see if there was anything that would work for us. Now I realize that the Family Suites where we were booked almost never (if ever) have a discount since they book just find on their own. BUT you know I'd been holding out for an upgrade to a moderate or even a deluxe resort, if the Disney gods happened to shine down upon me with a discount I couldn't refuse. And Michelle, being her ever lovable self had already called Disney on my behalf. We discussed options, and considered the fact that my room and dining are already paid in full, and what IF there wasn't a package deal with the dining plan? I did some math and came to the conclusion that the Tables In Wonderland card would be almost exactly comparable (if not slightly less expensive) than the dining plan for us, based on our current ADR's and estimates of snacks, etc. So we focused on the room rate discounts, and what was available for the week of our stay.
Value resorts were at a ridiculously low $49 a night! GREAT, but I really wanted to NOT BE in a value resort on our first trip. Especially knowing the cheerleaders would be there when we would... Oh the noise and distraction! And I can't get over not having covered bus stops, and how far away the resort is from the parks- I have four kids people, this is an issue!
Deluxe resorts were in the $140-190 range- GREAT, except that we need TWO ROOMS and my daddy's last name ain't Warbucks. Another time, Deluxe...
So we moved on to moderates. Michelle got very excited and said that there was a resort that she would switch us to in a heartbeat with a rate she hadn't seen in a long time, if EVER. She said it was the resort she'd put a family such as ours in without hesitation, especially on our first trip. In the center of everything, equidistant to all the parks, lots for the kids to do...
And that is how we switched from All Star Music to...
Port Orleans Riverside!
Then I got an email from Michelle this morning that the package deals are out, and we officially have two rooms at POR with a ridiculously good AP rate AND the dining plan. I am SUCH a happy camper!
And the best part- the BEST PART - my husband who, by all means has been very cavalier but not uber excited about our vacation, is THRILLED by this new resort. I believe the word 'tingly' was used when he described first seeing pictures and reading about the resort.
NOW of course though, I have to revamp my ideas of how to get everywhere! I understand there's a boat to Downtown Disney, so if the weather is good our first day that'll be a great start to our vacation! And I don't know where the best places are in POR- I keep hearing about building 14 in Alligator Bayou, and being near the gift shop/food court is a near necessity with a 1 year old (God forbid we run out of milk!) But a couple of the mansion buildings don't look too far away either...
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We have stayed and are staying again at the POR. We love it there and when I travel with my sister and her son the AB rooms hold five (they have a trundle bed) so it works out perfectly...
While it is a large resort, we never minded walking becuase it is just so beautiful and the boatride to DTD is definitely a perk...
Just getting caught up with this great Pre TR. Congrats on POR, it's, IMHO, the best moderate.
If you are still looking to switch from Cali Grill to someplace you can take all of your clan, I would suggest Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge. You can take the boat to and from MK. It's great fun as long as you don't mind "playing along" with the CMs who are the servers. If you have anyone who is too shy then it might not be an option. Just a suggestion!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
We have stayed and are staying again at the POR. We love it there and when I travel with my sister and her son the AB rooms hold five (they have a trundle bed) so it works out perfectly...
While it is a large resort, we never minded walking becuase it is just so beautiful and the boatride to DTD is definitely a perk...
Congratulations on your upgrade...
I keep hearing about the beauty... I really cannot WAIT to see it all!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Congrats on the savings and moving to POR!!
Thank you so much- I'm pretty stoked!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy
Just getting caught up with this great Pre TR. Congrats on POR, it's, IMHO, the best moderate.
If you are still looking to switch from Cali Grill to someplace you can take all of your clan, I would suggest Whispering Canyon Cafe in the Wilderness Lodge. You can take the boat to and from MK. It's great fun as long as you don't mind "playing along" with the CMs who are the servers. If you have anyone who is too shy then it might not be an option. Just a suggestion!
That is great to hear! I always feel relieved hearing from Disney veterans that something gets the thumbs up!
I'm afraid Whispering Canyon is out- our 3 year old is painfully afraid of any kind of excitement such as that- she'll literally spend the evening hidden in my lap! She likes to have zero attention drawn to her or to feel like someone else's attention may spill over to her... we've learned to deal with it and she may in fact need to skip out on some rides at WDW because of her fears, but we're going to do the best we can to expose her to everything she'll allow us to.
I'll have to look at my ADR's again, but I think both the nights I'm canceling are Epcot nights- I thought about Tokyo dining for one and San Angel Inn for the other? My son and husband LOVE sushi (the rest of us like hibachi style) and Mexican food is a family favorite...
Make sure you schedule a surprise carriage ride for the family. We enjoyed it and since we stayed at POFQ we chose the route that goes down there but you can also go around POR if you want. Say hi to Joe and Mr. Ned for us. Joe is a really great horse and carriage driver.
Make sure you schedule a surprise carriage ride for the family. We enjoyed it and since we stayed at POFQ we chose the route that goes down there but you can also go around POR if you want. Say hi to Joe and Mr. Ned for us. Joe is a really great horse and carriage driver.
Oh, awesome! I will do my darndest to do the carriage ride- if they can take six of us, it'll be a done deal!
Great update! How awesome that you were able to move to POR for a reasonable price. We've stayed there 3 times and absolutely the resort. Building 14 is the closest to Riverside Mill with Buildings 15, 18 and 27 being good locations, as well. You might find the maps WillCad has on his website helpful. WillCad's maps. Hope this helps! Looking forward to more
Lara great update!!! Congrats on upgrading to POR. My family and I stayed there in May and we were in Alligator Bayou...and enjoyed it very much so. My father didnt like AB because he felt he was in a swampl. LOL! My husband and I stayed in Magnolia Bend in the Mansion Houses back in 99, when it was still Dixie Landings, and the rooms were beautiful, if not a bit farther away from the Food Court and Main buildings! Cant wait to read more.
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Great update! How awesome that you were able to move to POR for a reasonable price. We've stayed there 3 times and absolutely the resort. Building 14 is the closest to Riverside Mill with Buildings 15, 18 and 27 being good locations, as well. You might find the maps WillCad has on his website helpful. WillCad's maps. Hope this helps! Looking forward to more
Holy cow that's a great website! I'm such an over-planner that I like to have a visual idea of everything before I go... this is perfect, thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetyface77
Lara great update!!! Congrats on upgrading to POR. My family and I stayed there in May and we were in Alligator Bayou...and enjoyed it very much so. My father didnt like AB because he felt he was in a swampl. LOL! My husband and I stayed in Magnolia Bend in the Mansion Houses back in 99, when it was still Dixie Landings, and the rooms were beautiful, if not a bit farther away from the Food Court and Main buildings! Cant wait to read more.
Yay for another person who likes the resort! I need the validation! LOL
I was asking my DH if he liked the idea of a mansion house or the other style and he can't decide- I think he fancies himself a Louisiana fisherman and wants those hand made beds and tin roof feeling... with a hot bath and cable tv of course.
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the resort. Building 14 is the closest to Riverside Mill with Buildings 15, 18 and 27 being good locations, as well. You might find the maps WillCad has on his website helpful. 
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