The Official Planning Thread of the Bubble Ladies 2008 WDW Tour

[Princess Susi]

Can somebody please PM me the Bubble Ladies' last name(s)?

Edited to add: 500th post baby! WOO-HOO! Finally got my "JabberJaw" pic!

Congrats Kwahati! Now you can claim to be a big talker just like the rest of us! :D:

Another donation coming at the end of the week... :)

[Big Wallaby]

Well, I told myself I wasn't going to do this, but I now need to start pushing a bit for money. I almost have enough for airfare, but we need to get more, and I need to get the tickets booked promptly. I'm starting to feel the pressure, that I don't have everything set up yet, and need to get it done. I don't like asking for money, but then that is what this project is, on some level. We're up to $470, for airfare need a total of $630. I would like to get the plane tickets booked this week, then everything else can fall into place.

Zazu, what have you had happen with the room reservation?

[vixen101485]

May I make a suggestion and feel free to poo poo it. :) I was playing with the numbers for rack rate on a value because I have sleep issues tonite and considering you were thinking of including food into this, why not wait until Sept when they release free dining or see about what strings you can pull to get it as the bounceback program even tho they didnt stay at the times the bounceback was offered. This way they get fed everyday for free (not including tip--dont get me started on that :mad :) and you have more time to come up with the money for the trip and write letters to guest relations or wherever one would write letters to for this sort of thing. By waiting till the "off season" (or whatever that time frame is called) Disney Corp would be more apt to possibly comp a few nites here or there or throw in some extras since they would not be losing as much money on a room.

Here are the rates for (I believe what you set as dates) not including tax

March 3-13 (mon-thur, next week)
cost per nite....$119 except on Friday and Saturday where the cost is $129
Total for that time frame... $1,496
Add on food for that time and you add on the $880 below + some

Sept 8-18 (sun-thurs, next week)
cost per nite....$82 ....no difference in cost for Fri and Sat nite
Total for those dates.....$928
And adding on 1 day base ticket for them both (since you have to, to get the DDP package brings it up to)....$1,080
With DDP added on.....$1,839 (FREE DINING IS GOOD)

HUGE DIFFERENCE, especially if you can include free Dining for both of them for those dates(now if you figure out what you CAN save with free dining it is even more)
Which estimated before tip Out of pocket comes out to for 10 nites x 2ppl...
Snacks....$4 x10(nites)x2(ppl) =$80
CS...$15 x10 x2= $300
TS....$25x10x2=$500
------$880
the difference is only $59 from the actual plan for that time frame with my rough estimates which wouldnt pay for tips but I did rough the numbers judging by what we pay for meals

I know you all want to get them here ASAP but waiting gives more time to set up and plan more.

Mind you this is all coming from my POV and I dont know what kinds of rates you all can get them but it is something to think about.
I know some of my numbers may be skewed but it is a rough estimate and considering it is 5;30 AM I think I am doing pretty good. LOL I was actually looking at stuff for our upcoming trips and figured why not?

[KidAtHeart]

Waiting isn't necessarily a bad idea, Vixen, but keep in mind that there are some people who have already booked time off of work and bought their own tickets to come down to join the Tour during the March dates. Changing now leaves those people...well...stuck.

[vixen101485]

Good point...Besides us, who all else is headed down that time frame?. Regardless, I think looking at a value over the Contemp as lodging might be a good idea if someone is hitting Disney up for some comp rooms. More likely to give those since they are cheaper and they are not losing as much money. Downside is that a lot of the values are booking up quick, thankfully most of the schools dont go on Spring Break till around the 15th or later this year. ( :D: I've been following threads on it on other boards---I do wanna be stuck in the crowds..lol)

There is only a little over a month left to make plans on what tours, etc are going to be done. Also unless someone has really good connections or we(bubble ppl and friends) luck out there is also not going to be much in the way of dining. I called yesterday and a few of the places I wanted on specific days had nothing available. We are only doing 1 TS at this point due to money concerns but still.......

Well.....Either way I have my itinerary already made out for the week we are going to be there so I guess I may miss out on some things if they get planned on separate days.

[KidAtHeart]

I'll be going down during that time frame. BW, I sent another small donation your way. You know I'm pretty close to tapped, but having had to book my own airfare way ahead of time, I understand needing to get it done sooner rather than later!

As to hotel costs, I think the Value's are a good idea. Personally, I have always stayed in the Value resorts, and enjoy them. Granted, I can't compare to any other resorts, but I'm only ever in the room to sleep!

Another option, though I do feel somewhat bad suggesting this being as I don't live down there (or I'd volunteer beds!)...is there anyone who might be willing to give the Ladies somewhere to stay? A guest room perhaps in their home? I know it's a bit of a stretch to suggest, but it's all I have!

[vixen101485]

LOL....I was thinking about the stay with others too...great minds think alike. I just figured with the transportation issues it wouldnt be feasible unless those they were staying with would be willing to be their personal chaffeurs for the time.

So...does anyone think it would be a good idea to start doing a seperate thread on a head count.? I hate to start a new one on it but I dont want to wade thru a bunch of posts to find out. And a lot of ppl haven't said definalty or not. It would be a YES I AM DEFINATELY GOING TO BE THERE thread.

BW...dont want to step on your toes with the trip stuff, I am just really good at organizing events and I plan things well in advance so just in case something happens you have backup plans to well...fall back on. :D: Also what are the BLs' thots on what they want to do and such.
Do they even know yet????????

[Whazzup]

The reason there is free dining in September is to encourage guests to come since it's a slow time. Why is it a slow time? Most schools are back in session, but mainly because it's so damn HOT there in September, really miserable. Plus that's prime hurricane season which keeps a lot of folks away. Weather is much more predictable and comfortable in spring.

My personal opinion, for what it's worth (which ain't much) is that this is going to be a fun-filled but exhausting trip for the Bubble Ladies, without doing expensive backstage tours and so forth. Never having been to WDW, they will be thrilled and excited to see all the parks and meet all of you. Save your money and use a value resort (if you can even get one now) and just do the parks. Everyone wants to make sure the BLs have a magical time, but remember back to your first visit to WDW and what an overwhelming and incredible experience that was, just visiting the parks and staying at a Disney resort.

Since funds are limited, it might also be better to focus on reasonably priced table service or counter service meals, with a couple of character buffets, rather than dining in Cindy's castle or the Cali Grill, unless some individual is willing to pick up the dining tab for the BLs. WDW has such an array of interesting places to dine, that a fortune doesn't have to be spent to show the ladies a great time. And it's possible that more CMs and SGTers will join in if the meals are not too expensive.

I hope I haven't come across as too negative or miserly, it just seems that the SGTers should be able to treat the ladies to a marvelous adventure without spending a lot of money.

Now if it was ME coming to visit, I'd expect dinner at V&A's, a backstage tour at all four parks, a concierge room at the toaster, and personal valet service from Zazu every day. :D:

[vixen101485]

Now if it was ME coming to visit, I'd expect dinner at V&A's, a backstage tour at all four parks, a concierge room at the toaster, and personal valet service from Zazu every day. :D:

You dont want much do ya? :D: What no queenly robes and a sedan to carry you from attraction to attraction? LOL Hey if you're gonna ask, ask BIG!

That is why we like to go in Sept, crowds are so much more reasonable. This will be the first time I am going in the spring.

I agree with what you said about over whelming. We have to remember that they are not SG's who have never been to a Disney park, but from what I understand there is almost a culture shock when going from DL to WDW.
It is huge and even with 10 days they still will not be able to do everything.
That is the biggest piece of advice I give 1st timers. Take your time and dont try to do it all. WDW is not going anywhere.
I also think they will have fun just being there. The tours (unless there is one in particular, that they REALLLLLLLLLLLY want to do) can be skipped. Plus we would only be able to join for 2 tours, but can only afford the cheaper one, cause of Meghyn's age. I do want to do the Behind the Seeds, cheap and interesting (at least to me...lol)

Dining is a big cost. You saw my weird math at 4 in the morning LOL It is pricey. We are only doing one sit down this trip. Just one of those at say Chef Mickey's , for Donnie, Meghyn and I cost us about $100 and that is the buffet (including tax and tips) I dont even want to know what V&A's would cost.

I am all for saving money and being practical. :D:

[KidAtHeart]

For me, the only sit down Restaurant that is a 'must', is the Prime Time Cafe, and that's just because I have such a good time there. Budget's a big concern for me, too, as it is for everyone here, I think.

I agree that, even without extra tours and such, there is -so- much to see at WDW that you can easily fill your first 10 day trip and not have seen even half.