Just booked a January Trip!

[becanya]

Through some finagling and negotiating, we decided that instead of doing our adult-only trip at the end of January, we are going to take the kids on a surprise trip the week after New Years!!! :sohappy: Imagine, that week after Christmas and New Years is so sad, and you wake up to your parents loading you in a taxi for the AIRPORT to WDW! Does it get any better than that? I think not. And because we have DVC points and annual passes, we really just have to pay for food, plane tickets, and souvenirs.

This is the first trip I have ever booked WITHIN the 180 day window, so last night I went into a fury of trip planning/meal reserving. This morning when I called to see what was available for DVC resorts, I was sad to discover VWL, our home resort, is all booked up for half the trip. So we are staying at VWL Jan 2-5, then SSR Jan 5-8. We did go on the waitlist for VWL for those three days, so we'll see if it happens. I have no idea how hard that will be to get those days off the waitlist.

Here are the meals I was able to get last night...none of them were too far off what I was requesting.

Monday:
- Lunch at some MK quickservice place
- Dinner at Kona Cafe

Tues:
- Breakfast at Chef Mickey's
- Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern
- Dinner at Crystal Palace

Wed:
- Lunch at Sci-Fi
- Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Thurs:
- Lunch at Tutto Italia
- Dinner at Turf Club (New for us)

Fri:
- Breakfast at Donald's Safari at Tusker House
- Dinner at Grand Floridian Cafe (New for us)

Sat:
- Lunch at Tony's Town Square
- Dinner at Kona Cafe

Sun:
- Breakfast at Kona Cafe (yes, we love Kona)
- Lunch at Crystal Palace

 

[Tinkwings]

Well that tells me I best get on phone and reserve....must be the marathon taking over your VWL weekend nights....maybe something will open up from a cancellation? I would not want to switch hotels myself...but a friend who is DVC had to do that last trip 1/2 and 1/2.

Never did online reservations....hope it's quicker than the phone!!!:king:

 

[Tinkwings]

Oh and your adr's look good...we are going to try Liberty Tree for Lunch for first time as my children don't care for their dinner but approved of their ala carte lunch menu....GREAT location, like Crystal Palace while at MK!!!:king:

 

[becanya]

Well that tells me I best get on phone and reserve....must be the marathon taking over your VWL weekend nights....maybe something will open up from a cancellation? I would not want to switch hotels myself...but a friend who is DVC had to do that last trip 1/2 and 1/2.

Never did online reservations....hope it's quicker than the phone!!!:king:

Yes, the DVC rep said it was definitely the marathon. The only DVC resort with availability for Jan 5-8 is SSR right now. I don't want to switch resorts either, but I guess if we have to it's better than staying at home!!! I just don't want to pack up everything and move, you know? The online system was very quick and easy. Usually I do everything on the phone, but I think I might use the online system from now on. Even well within the 180 day mark everything I wanted was still available.

Oh and your adr's look good...we are going to try Liberty Tree for Lunch for first time as my children don't care for their dinner but approved of their ala carte lunch menu....GREAT location, like Crystal Palace while at MK!!!:king:

We actually did Liberty Tree last year for lunch and it was really good. The Crab and Spinach dip is a great appetizer. We both got pot roast and really enjoyed it (mine was quite fatty compared to my DH's...just meant I ate more of the sides!). For dessert, they really push the sticky toffee cake/pudding. My DH ordered that and it was just ok. My apple pie was FANTASTIC though. I'll definitely order that again.

 

[becanya]

Well that tells me I best get on phone and reserve....must be the marathon taking over your VWL weekend nights....maybe something will open up from a cancellation? I would not want to switch hotels myself...but a friend who is DVC had to do that last trip 1/2 and 1/2.

Never did online reservations....hope it's quicker than the phone!!!:king:

WAIT! I thought from the other January thread that you already had reserved the week! Are you guys trying to do DVC ressies too? I would get on the phone right now and make those reservations! Loved your other thread, by the way...helped me worry less about our trip. :wave:

 

[Tinkwings]

No were are not DVC'rs...has taken YEARS to get DH to open his eyes to WDW being a vacation vs his preference for camping....:lookaroun:lol:

But WL is my resort of choice and I always feel better to have that ressie even if I have to change later on...still praying for a winter discount as I prefer to stay on club level and got 40% off last visit.....:sohappy:

 

[Tinkwings]

But I do have my airtickets!!!!:animwink:

 

[becanya]

No were are not DVC'rs...has taken YEARS to get DH to open his eyes to WDW being a vacation vs his preference for camping....:lookaroun:lol:

But WL is my resort of choice and I always feel better to have that ressie even if I have to change later on...still praying for a winter discount as I prefer to stay on club level and got 40% off last visit.....:sohappy:

Well, you know since the downpayment is the same regardless of your price, I always book as soon as I figure out my dates so I can get the ROOM I want, then keep my eyes open for discounts so I can get the PRICE I want. When a deal comes up that applies, I just call and apply it to my reservation. They will still give you the discount even if you have reserved before the discount comes out. I figure I'm going regardless, so I might as well go ahead and book.

 

[Tinkwings]

Yeah I know that's how I look at it too....of course would prefer to have discount ticket in hand and have it sealed and done but such is the fun of getting all our "mice" in a row....:king: I really liked when I switched last time and they refunded my night's deposit and transferred me to having it on my Disney Visa so I would have 6 months to pay with no interest....worked out really nice for tax time!:animwink: