[jo-jo]

But don't give up checking on rooms at the value. My DS is going 9/22-9/29, in one week's time we booked and rebooked three times. First at Sports for those dates, then POP for 9/22-10/1, then POP 9/22-9/29. But I was checking online several times a day to see if POP would open up again. We will be there starting 9/26 but not with free dining. We have a room at POP with the 40% room discount. On 9/30 we will be moving to BCV. (and paying for food the whole, but still excited)

[KarenT]

I am taking DD for( hopefully) a MNSSHP , we are at All Star Sports, the weekend of 9/20 to 9/24!
But I did not know about the pool! Oh well. We will have car, so I am sure that the resort will let us go to another All Star pool.
Atleast we are at WDW!

[skwak]

We are going August 24th till September 4th. Can't wait!

[Soundgod]

That's a shame Skwak, I would have liked to meet you. We don't arrive until Sept 22.

[gingles]

Hey, ya'll, make sure you get yourself on Dana's "who's going to Disneyworld" thread in Mousetrap. I noticed several of you free DDP'ers aren't on it.

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by packerbeth

Oh boo hoo, you have to stay at concierge level. All of us over at the values feel so sad for you...

My friend's dh booked us during the days for Visa card holders, and apparently couldn't get POP, so we're at ASMu.

Beth, I didn't mean it like that. It's like trying to book a standard at the Pop, but all they have are family suites. I meant it added $800 to the bill and more than cancelled out the free dining.
I have never ever ever lorded it over anyone that more often than not we stay in deluxe resorts. It's not out of elitism, it's just a desire for a level of fantasy comfort on vacation. If we had kids, I assure you, it'd be the Pop every time.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by skwak

We are going August 24th till September 4th. Can't wait!

right behind you! I will be there from 8/27- 9/4!

FREE DINING here I come!

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

That's a shame Skwak, I would have liked to meet you. We don't arrive until Sept 22.

oh for goodness sake! I am going to miss you again! I leave on the 4th!!! GRRR one of these days soundgod our trips will be at the same time...change yours..lol

[Soundgod]

Dana, the last I knew, you were going in October. Going over Labor Day instead? Look, I won't promise, but I'll see if we can pull off a day trip while you're in WDW. Also, isn't bananallamaarama around this time as well?

[Dana]

Originally Posted by TaraRae82

I won't be going during the free dining but my best friend is going with her family, checking in Sept 16 for 5 nights. She said when she called at 9:30am on Thurs the 12th (announced to the public), she was on hold for a long time which she expected. However, when she finally got a CM, she was told that the computer system was so overwhelmed with reservations that new reservations couldn't be booked and she'd have to call back! Boooo! Anyway, she got through again and got booked and asked for her price and was told an amt that was too large. She asked if that was with the free dining and was then told she had to have a pin code for it. She ended up talking the CM into giving her a pin code for it and all is well but it was kind of a hassle and the first CM she talked to wasn't very pleasant I guess. The friend of mine said that all the rooms were booking so fast, they had to stay at Pop Century because Movies and Music were totally booked! I take it they've allotted a certain number of rooms per resort?

I had a similar experience when I changed my reservation from october to august. When I asked the CM what the credit back to my card would be she said there is none cause you added a day....I asked her what the total was and she told me.....way higher than it was suppose to be. I asked her if she added the free dining and when she said I needed a code, I told her she knew it. I told her I could put HER on hold and go get it right off the disney forum I moderated for....she found it about 2 seconds later. They aren't giving it to you unless you have the code or get a good cm. If I didn't know what I was talking about, I would have not got that free dining....I would have just assumed that becasue the trip was one day longer, that it was the same price.... I told her the exact price it should be with the free dining...after a pause and my threat to put her on hold to get the code, she suddenly "remembered" it....I was amazed. I wonder how many people are paying to much right now??? She also told me that standard rooms at POFq were booked and they only had water view left. I told her to try that again because I was able to secure a standard room at POFq on the computer seconds earlier...wow it worked the second time she tried...amazing.

[packerbeth]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

Beth, I didn't mean it like that. It's like trying to book a standard at the Pop, but all they have are family suites.

Oh, I know! That's why I went !

It'll be my first time at a Value; we were at BCV in January w/ the whole family (and only because the ILs paid!). This time it's just another mom and me, and while I really wanted AKL or OKW, we couldn't justify the expense, since we're not taking the family.

I'm not sure what we'll do on our next family trip, or when that next family trip will be, for that matter...although we will be going to DLR in June '09. I have no idea where we'll stay then!

[Soundgod]

Beth, any idea if the concierge rooms look into Epcot? I've got this perverse idea to watch Illuminations from the balcony if possible. The values are OK, especially if you don't plan to spend too much time in the room and on the grounds, just plan on eating other places most of the time unless you like food courts.

Oops, Beach Club, not Boardwalk. Never mind. Besides, I know you can't really see into Epcot well enough to see Illuminations from the Beach's concierge.

[packerbeth]

When we were at BCV, we could only hear the fireworks. I actually never saw Illuminations, either at BC or at the park itself. It's on my to-do list in September, along with Fantasmic!

We'll definitely be doing our eating at the parks, and don't plan on depending on ASMu for much food. In fact, when we stayed at BCV, we were there five days and only ate in the resort twice. I didn't even make it into Beaches & Cream - another September must-do!

[TaraRae82]

Mmmmm...Beaches'n'Cream......YUM. We're going to purchase the DDP but we'll pay OOP for that meal as I'm thinking we'll make it dessert only. I'm an ice cream nut and I HAVE to try that Kitchen Sink!!!! Yes, I know it's only myself and my DH but I HAVE to try it! Their banana splits are to die for!!!!

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by packerbeth

When we were at BCV, we could only hear the fireworks. I actually never saw Illuminations, either at BC or at the park itself. It's on my to-do list in September, along with Fantasmic!

In fact, when we stayed at BCV, we were there five days and only ate in the resort twice. I didn't even make it into Beaches & Cream - another September must-do!

I think I saw some of Illuminations from the Beach's bus stop with difficulty. I don't see how you could stay in the rooms closest to the International Gateway for 5 days and not see Illuminations once from inside the park. I do see from your avatar that you've eaten at Goofy's Beach Club Breakfast, which I always consider before Beaches and Cream, but I have no desire to tackle a kitchen sink. If you can, you should try Yachtsman's Steakhouse sometime as well.