Pre-Trip Our Unexpected (thanks pin code!) Spring Caribbean Beach Trip

Also known as "The I have the Best Hubby in the World" PTR, or "I Wanna Be Like @Tuvalu and Have Our Next NEXT Trip Planned!" PTR

So, we have our December 2016 Land & Sea trip pretty well planned, and are just counting down the days. Discussions between DH and I have been along the lines of, "after this trip, we will take a WDW break of sorts, until Avatar/ Star Wars/ Toy Story opens...maybe we will do Disneyland in the meantime". Enter pin code that DH recieved the other day. I didn't give it much thought, but didn't want to throw it away.

Turns out, DH was giving it more thought, and says to me yesterday something along the lines of "I don't want you to get your hopes up, because we're just price checking..." After assuring him that I would keep myself under control, a few emails later to our favorite agent...we find that we can swing a spring trip, staying at CBR. We had originally wanted Yacht Club, with the Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot happening, but even with a shorter stay, couldn't pay that amount, when compared to a 2-day longer stay at CBR. Also, by staying at CBR, we can have a few more table service ADRs.

So, we will be visiting F&G for the first time ever! It will be much warmer than any of our other stays, but with a full week, we are certain we can utilize the pool and midday breaks and be just fine.

This also marks the first time I've had the next NEXT trip planned before even going on the next trip!! So,

Who: DH (Mrhappyplace) & me
When: April 29-May 6, 2017
Where: Caribbean Beach Resort

 

[Mrhappyplace]

Most of my must do's for this trip involve eating. Here is the current must do's to plan around.

1)Morimoto Asia - Has to be on arrival day as I am going to order enough food for 6 people and we are only two. Will likely fill up our mini fridge and I will snack on leftovers for a couple of days. I love love love Chinese/Asian food and expect this to be among the best I will ever experiance.
2)Boathouse - Baked Alaska, I have never tried Baked Alaska and have wanted to since I first heard of it around 30 years ago. I hear The Boathouse's is really good though with it being intended for 4 and again us only being two I know at least half will be wasted. Perhaps we can have out server split it and send half to another table or the employees can enjoy it but if not we will still be doing this.
3)Flower and Garden outdoor kitchens - Yeah I want to check out the topiaries as well but I enjoyed the food and wine booths a few years back and expect to enjoy these.

I'm a little concerned I may have spoiled myself having only stayed at deluxe resorts so far so hoping a moderate doesn't leave me unsatisfied but I don't expect any issues. Likely the only complaint I will have in this aspect is the lack of choices besides the bus system, our last stay at the Boardwalk I really enjoyed being able to walk to and from two parks and all the resorts buses that could be hoped on for a ride a short distance from our resort, and I expect to enjoy the location of BLT in the near future!

 

[LeighM]

I've only received a pin code once for Disney and I kept the postcard because, until I received one, I didn't think they really existed Now that we don't have a bounceback offer scheduled, I hope to receive another one so I can convince my husband to take another trip sooner.

However, I receive pin codes from Universal Orlando alllllll the time so maybe our next trip will be there.

 

[officialtom]

Moderates are great! I doubt you'll be disappointed. We're big POR fans because of the water taxi service, but as of right now, we'll be at CBR checking in late Feb because the discount there is too great to pass up. We love the bus service and aren't too concerned about relying entirely on it.

Looking forward to seeing more of your planning!

 

[myhappyplace]

I've only received a pin code once for Disney and I kept the postcard because, until I received one, I didn't think they really existed Now that we don't have a bounceback offer scheduled, I hope to receive another one so I can convince my husband to take another trip sooner.

We get them very often. I read somewhere that ordering the newest trip planning dvds each year helps...not sure if that's true but I do always do it, so maybe. I also don't know if it helps but sometimes I mock-plan trips, and it could be my imagination but I swear sometimes it seems like they send me a code just to get me to pull the trigger

Moderates are great! I doubt you'll be disappointed. We're big POR fans because of the water taxi service, but as of right now, we'll be at CBR checking in late Feb because the discount there is too great to pass up. We love the bus service and aren't too concerned about relying entirely on it.

Looking forward to seeing more of your planning!

I've been wanting to try the moderates. My hubby has spoiled me with Deluxes lately, but my trips prior to knowing him were all values. So I am fairly certain I will enjoy!

 

[Mrhappyplace]

I've been wanting to try the moderates. My hubby has spoiled me with Deluxes lately, but my trips prior to knowing him were all values. So I am fairly certain I will enjoy!

Deluxes and cruises. Kinda planning on booking our third cruise while we are on the second cruise to take advantage of the bounceback offer.

 

[LadyBelle]

What is a pin code?

 

[myhappyplace]

What is a pin code?

It's a mailed offer, with a specific code (non transferable, good only for the person it is sent to) which discounts sometimes room only, sometimes packages (I think) up to 30% depending on date, resort, rooms, etc.

This one was for stays most nights from 1/1- 6/7/17.

 

[LadyBelle]

It's a mailed offer, with a specific code (non transferable, good only for the person it is sent to) which discounts sometimes room only, sometimes packages (I think) up to 30% depending on date, resort, rooms, etc.

This one was for stays most nights from 1/1- 6/7/17.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out in the mail. I've just gotten a land/sea brochure only so far.

 

[myhappyplace]

Other dining we are leaning toward, aside from Morimoto and Boathouse (dessert) are:

-Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic Dinner Package
-Liberty Tree Tavern
-Biergarten
-Tiffins RoL Package (if available then)
-BoG or CRT pre-park opening breakfast

Rest will be counter service or F&G kiosks...thoughts?

 

[LadyBelle]

BoG for breakfast. We sat in the East Room. I don't have the pic of my breakfast on my tablet, but it was the delicious croissant donut. For atmosphere alone' if you can get the ADR, go for it.

 

[Mrhappyplace]

We decide to skip the BoG preopening breakfast for this trip cause we got one for our December trip which we much prefer as it will be decorated for Christmas and being that we are staying at BLT we won;t have to worry about catching a bus early in the morning. Aside from that we got all the ADRs we wanted thanks to @Disneyfalcon



BTW anyone have any idea what we can expect for May 4th? I know nothing has been announced but are there usually M&G with characters that aren't usually around or anything like that?

 

[myhappyplace]

Time for an update to this thread!!

When I began this Pre-Trip thread, we hadn't gone on our December trip (it was wonderful, see my signature for a link to the completed thread if you so wish), and since then, not only has that trip happened, but I just completed the trip report for two very quick solo-ish weekends in February. AND during the second of those two trips, we took advantage of the bounceback offer, and have a September Food & Wine trip planned. Whew! I wanted to wait until after my Feb short trips, and after our FP booking window to update and focus on this April/May trip (we keep referring to it as our May trip, though it actually begins April 29th).

So...ADRs, FPs, and construction updates!

ADRs: We've minorly tweaked our ADRs. The Hollywood Brown Derby meal has now become a Fantasmic Package. The Tiffins meal has now become a Rivers of Light package. AND...I'm so excited...we've added the Trattoria al Forno breakfast with characters from my two favorite movies- Little Mermaid and Tangled! Squee! DH is not a big breakfast eater, but I booked it for 7:30, so we should be able to enter the International Gateway and get started on an Epcot day fairly early, so that might appease him

FP: Thanks to our wonderful agent, we got all of the major ones we wanted (I start work at 7 and cell phones are not permitted, so I'm so glad she was able to help me out...last time I was lucky enough that our booking window opened on a weekend, but not this time).

CBR construction: So, thanks to the forum, we knew about the construction that is scheduled to take place at CBR. When our travel agent asked if we wanted her to try to move us, we declined because we don't eat at our resort all that much, so this wasn't a big deal to us. So, then she told us that we would now be getting $75 off per night of our stay May 1st and on, we were very glad! We will definitely take that!

Bounceback: We are hoping to utilize the bounceback offer for a potential November or December trip, before the AP runs out



OK, so our trip now looks like this:

Saturday, April 29th- arrival. Unsure whether we'll enjoy the pool, or go to a park for a little bit, but then we have a 6:30pm ADR at Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs

Sunday, April 30th- Hollywood Studios, which has morning EMH. We have a 4:30pm Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic Package and FP for TSM, Star Tours, and ToT.

Monday, May 1- Animal Kingdom, which has morning EMH. We have a 5:35pm Tiffins Rivers of Light Package and FP for the Safari, Everest, and Festival of the Lion King

Tuesday, May 2- Epcot, which has evening EMH. We have a 4:00pm ADR at Biergarten and FP for Living with the Land and Frozen.

Wednesday, May 3- Magic Kingdom, which has evening EMH. We have an 11:35am lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern and FP for 7DMT, Splash, and Peter Pan.

Thursday, May 4- Epcot, which has morning EMH. We have a 7:30 am breakfast at Trattoria al Forno and FP for Test Track.

Friday, May 5th- Magic Kingdom, which has morning EMH. We will head to Disney Springs for our 1:00pm at Boathouse (mostly just for dessert) and then head back to MK, which is where I have FP for 7DMT, Buzz, and Space Mountain.

Saturday, May 6th- departure day



Note about the EMH...I didn't plan it this way. I really just wrote out the days how they made sense for us, then checked the park hours as they were available and it just worked out that everyday coincided with the EMH park. We decided to still go for it, knowing that we intend to try to get rides in in the mornings, and then take rest and swim breaks at the resort if/when it gets hot or too busy, then come back in the evenings.

So now, we just wait. We make piles of clothes designated "for our Disney trip". And wait some more.

Thanks for reading and we welcome any input!

 

[amjt660]

New plan looks great
We loved Tiffins in December
Make sure to arrive early to have a drink (or two) at the Nomad lounge.
The view of Pandora from the comfy couches on the deck will be awesome.

Following along this one and the Sept one.

Max

 

[darthcarranus]

Other dining we are leaning toward, aside from Morimoto and Boathouse (dessert) are:

-Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic Dinner Package
-Liberty Tree Tavern
-Biergarten
-Tiffins RoL Package (if available then)
-BoG or CRT pre-park opening breakfast

Rest will be counter service or F&G kiosks...thoughts?

Stayed at CBR 2 weeks ago. Did Tiffins ROL package - Tiffins food is .. adventurous. Food was good, reserved seating was good for RoL, didn't care for the service at Tiffins- for the prices charged you expect excellent service. It wasn't up to that level. Expected more attention than we received. We did Liberty Tree Tavern. we will not be going back - not great service, not good food. Did Biergarten. That was good service, show and food. I tried from the moment we made reservations in November until the week we were there to set up BoG for any meal. Never available. btw, we really enjoyed our stay at CBR. great looking resort. bus stops are close to rooms. the buses may be full, but our longest trip anywhere was MK. From leaving the resort, it took about 25 minutes. Our shortest trip was DHS. That took about 5 minutes. Getting back almost always took longer. Enjoy your surprise trip.

 

[myhappyplace]

Stayed at CBR 2 weeks ago. Did Tiffins ROL package - Tiffins food is .. adventurous. Food was good, reserved seating was good for RoL, didn't care for the service at Tiffins- for the prices charged you expect excellent service. It wasn't up to that level. Expected more attention than we received. We did Liberty Tree Tavern. we will not be going back - not great service, not good food. Did Biergarten. That was good service, show and food. I tried from the moment we made reservations in November until the week we were there to set up BoG for any meal. Never available. btw, we really enjoyed our stay at CBR. great looking resort. bus stops are close to rooms. the buses may be full, but our longest trip anywhere was MK. From leaving the resort, it took about 25 minutes. Our shortest trip was DHS. That took about 5 minutes. Getting back almost always took longer. Enjoy your surprise trip.

Here's hoping your service at Tiffins was a fluke, sorry to hear that!

Thanks for the info on the bus...that's the one feature that sort of worries DH, hopefully they will be reliable.

 

[Mrhappyplace]

With the trip only a few days away we spent some time this weekend looking over menus and photos considering what we might order on this trip. Got to say it looks like we will be eating some great food. We haven't done much signature dining in the past and we are doing 4 signature meals in this trip!

It doesn't look like we are getting the giftcard for staying at CBR but instead got a discount on the room rate = to the giftcard offer. Either way when added to the pin code we booked with the price seems very nice. Hopefully the construction won't impact our enjoyment I suspect it won't as we don't tend to use the resorts facilities much. Frankly I'm more concerned with being reliant on only buses and if that is a issue early on maybe we will use Uber a time or two.

 

[myhappyplace]

^^which means I need to download the Uber app....

 

[Zipadeelady]

@myhappyplace and @Mrhappyplace I think everything sounds wonderful. My last dinner at Liberty Tree was delicious so hopefully you have the same experience. I've wanted to try Biergarten but we still haven't been able to work it in. We are also going to be trying Tiffins in September so let me know how it goes!

 

[myhappyplace]

@myhappyplace and @Mrhappyplace I think everything sounds wonderful. My last dinner at Liberty Tree was delicious so hopefully you have the same experience. I've wanted to try Biergarten but we still haven't been able to work it in. We are also going to be trying Tiffins in September so let me know how it goes!

We will definitely report back on Tiffins! Glad to hear about Liberty Tree...I really want turkey, so we will probably go with the platter, and I am so glad the ooey gooey toffee cake is available! My last meal at Biergarten was in 2005, so I'm glad I will be able to do it again.