Maybe going again!

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 01:47

finngirl

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Maybe going again!

I'll give you a bit of recent history, just to put this in context......

We've been to WDW a few times, but it had been 14 years since our last trip when we went in May. This time it was just DH and me - no kids! It took me a bit to convince him to go - he was worried it wouldn't be the same without our son, and that we would be disappointed. Well, it wasn't the same, but we had a great time. He's told everyone how much fun he had, everything we saw and did, until I suspect they wish he would just shush!

Anyway, today he told me that since he still had a couple of weeks vacation to use up, he'd like to go back in the fall. This year!!! We had talked about maybe the fall of 2013 for our next trip, so I was completely surprised! Of course I said yes! yes! yes!

Now we have some decisions to make, and maybe you all could help us decide. I'm thinking October - maybe around the 9th? That is right after our (Canadian) Thanksgiving, and I believe after your Columbus day. Is this a good time weather wise? I know if we went in September we could get free dining, but the one year we went in September, I remember a lot of rain. Any pros and cons you can point out would be appreciated.

Next is where to stay. We love POR, and that would be my first choice. But, if we decide we need to budget a bit more this time, what do you think about Pop Century? Has anyone stayed in both? I know Pop would be not as nice, but I think it's nicer than All Star Music? We stayed there twice, and it was OK, but I'm not eager to go there again. If we have to budget, I think it would be better to try somewhere new.

Finally, the airline. For my fellow canucks, would you give Air Canada a try? We flew with them in May, and spent the 6 weeks before we left worrying about strikes. It's my understanding they come out of mediation sometime in August, and heaven only knows what will happen then. It's convenient for us to fly AC, since we can catch a connecting flight from London to Toronto. Does anyone have any inside info as to the state of affairs with the pilots? Do you think they will be legislated back to work if they do strike? I really don't want to worry the whole month before we go again, but I don't want to spend the extra to fly West Jet if we don't have to. Let the dithering begin!

Sorry this is so long. I think I'm still in shock!

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 02:44

Jessi5989

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You're coming back!!!

Ok, so October is an amazing time to come down here. It can get hot, but usually doesn't get as hot as the summer. And it doesn't rain as much as it does in the summer.

And you'll have the Food & Wine Festival going on at Epcot, which is awesome! ...so maybe if you go with the budget hotel, you will have lots of extra money to spend on food!

And I've never really stayed on property, so I can't offer an opinion on that, but I haven't heard anything bad about Pop. And while its still a value resort, it's nicer than the All Star Resorts. It also has its own bus. I don't know when the Little Mermaid wing of the Art of Animation hotel opens, but if that opens before your trip, you guys could stay there! They have mostly family suites, but the Little Mermaid wing will be regular rooms.

Sun, 06/10/2012 - 04:29

Ollie

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I am just delighted for you!

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 11:02

DisneyDee27

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Congrats on your return trip
The Pop Century is awesome! I love the PORFQ but have stayed at the pop more often than not. It's my go to value resort and you'll find that people love the Pop. If you decide to go in October The Little Mermaid section of the Art of Animation will be open and it's been right on price point as the Pop or All Stars.
The Pop is a beautiful resort with fun icons. everything is centrally located. I've stayed in standard rooms and preferred and enjoy both. My only issue is the beds. They are doubles and NOT queens like in POR they are comfortable just not big You can request a king sized bed and that was fantastic. There are now mini fridges in all the resorts and wifi too, so that's a step up.
The Pop has it's own buses and a very yummy food court, the pools are fun and the bartenders are too
I would say if we're staying at a value it's been the Pop 6 out of 10 times. It truly is a fun resort, and if you're going in October for the Food and Wine fest it's very close to EPCOT so but wait times are very short
The weather in October is awesome. Lovebugs aside it really is my favorite time to go "home."
Dee

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 11:23

MrHub

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Hey Finngirl congrats on going back! Glad your hubby caught the " WDW For Grownups" bug! You'll love it in Oct. and the F & W Festival is a great experience. Weather wise, hey you can never tell what its going to do reallly, best to be prepared for anything, but that dosen't really matter now does it, "you'll be back in Disney"

Sun, 06/10/2012 - 12:41

evilduckqueen

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That's great news!!!

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 13:08

JoAnn C

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Yay!!! I love Pop Century. I've never been in October. I have been going in November, the week before Thanksgiving. The weather has been perfect, not too hot but hot enough to enjoy the pool. I would imagine the weather in October would be great. The Halloween party will be going on in October too.

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 13:52

finngirl

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Thanks everyone. I feel like I've won the lottery!

I've been looking at the Art of Animation - you are all right, the standard rooms will be open by then. It's kind of hard to get a sense of distance from the map though. The Little Mermaid rooms are at the far end of the resort, and I'm not sure how far a walk that would be to the buses. DH does not like walking a huge distance for that, since we walk so much in the parks, and, you know, we're old now! (Well, he is anyway - I'm not admitting to being anything over 45! ) That's why he likes POR - we've always been lucky, and had really convenient rooms in the mansions. We will see what the budget says.

We are hoping we can get his work schedule, flight schedules, and reservations all co-ordinated. I could be packed tomorrow!

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Sun, 06/10/2012 - 14:03

salejune

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How awesome is that!!! I've never stayed in the Pop Century but did stay in the Movie Value Resort back in 2002. I think that Disney does a great job no matter what resort you stay in.. I just love the Disney theme throughout. I did look at the Art of Animation online and the place looks fab!

I'm just so happy that you get to go back! Have fun and let us know how things work out!

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Mon, 06/11/2012 - 01:57

Jess

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Mon, 06/11/2012 - 13:24

Mase

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Very cool! AoA looks like a lot of fun. I shall say you shall have a most excellent adventure!

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Mon, 06/11/2012 - 15:53

finngirl

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Well, it's for sure! I booked our flights last night, and got a great deal. $400 LESS than what we paid in May! We will be there Oct 9th-16th. I would have loved to stay longer, but the discounted airfares wouldn't work for a longer stay.

Now we just have to decide on the resort. I am leaning towards AoA, just because it will be brand spanking new. The only negative might be the walk to the buses - it looks like the Little Mermaid rooms are way in the back. I did ask one of the "live chat" guys, and he thought it would be about 10 minutes max, even if we walk very slowly. I still think we might give it a try - this is a "bonus" trip, and I don't mind helping the budget along by not staying at POR.

Now if Disney would just add in free dining, I would really feel like I've won the lottery!

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Mon, 06/11/2012 - 16:08

DisneyDee27

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finngirl wrote:

Well, it's for sure! I booked our flights last night, and got a great deal. $400 LESS than what we paid in May! We will be there Oct 9th-16th. I would have loved to stay longer, but the discounted airfares wouldn't work for a longer stay.

Now we just have to decide on the resort. I am leaning towards AoA, just because it will be brand spanking new. The only negative might be the walk to the buses - it looks like the Little Mermaid rooms are way in the back. I did ask one of the "live chat" guys, and he thought it would be about 10 minutes max, even if we walk very slowly. I still think we might give it a try - this is a "bonus" trip, and I don't mind helping the budget along by not staying at POR.

Now if Disney would just add in free dining, I would really feel like I've won the lottery!

Congrats,
I'm going to miss you by 4 days. We get in on the 20th. I'm staying at the Pop during that trip.
Dee

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Mon, 06/11/2012 - 16:46

finngirl

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DisneyDee27 wrote:

finngirl wrote:
Well, it's for sure! I booked our flights last night, and got a great deal. $400 LESS than what we paid in May! We will be there Oct 9th-16th. I would have loved to stay longer, but the discounted airfares wouldn't work for a longer stay.

Now we just have to decide on the resort. I am leaning towards AoA, just because it will be brand spanking new. The only negative might be the walk to the buses - it looks like the Little Mermaid rooms are way in the back. I did ask one of the "live chat" guys, and he thought it would be about 10 minutes max, even if we walk very slowly. I still think we might give it a try - this is a "bonus" trip, and I don't mind helping the budget along by not staying at POR.

Now if Disney would just add in free dining, I would really feel like I've won the lottery!

Congrats,
I'm going to miss you by 4 days. We get in on the 20th. I'm staying at the Pop during that trip.
Dee

We were thinking POP, until I realized that the Little Mermaid rooms would be open when we went. Too bad we will miss you - it would be fun to meet some of the people I "chat" with here.

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Mon, 06/11/2012 - 18:22

Kris1971

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We're just missing each other too. I'm going to be arriving the day your leaving. I'll be at POFQ with my niece and nephew. And DisneyDee, I'm just missing you too. I'm leaving the day you are arriving. Bummer. Would have been cool to get a group picture.

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Tue, 06/12/2012 - 00:08

RobynPrincess

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Ooooh you'll be there when we will (as will most people visiting pretty much anytime in oct lol) yay for October, it's our absolute fav time of year to go!! Xxxxxxx

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Tue, 06/12/2012 - 02:06

finngirl

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RobynPrincess wrote:

Ooooh you'll be there when we will (as will most people visiting pretty much anytime in oct lol) yay for October, it's our absolute fav time of year to go!! Xxxxxxx

I'm so glad to hear that! We have never gone in October, so I wasn't sure I'd made a good choice. Once he announced we were going again, DH left it up to me to plan.

I wish we could stay for MUCH longer, but DH is only semi-retired, not fully retired, and his boss wants him to actually show up for work.

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Diana

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Wed, 06/13/2012 - 13:07

finngirl

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Update!

We booked our package last night, and POR it is! I was OK with anyplace, as long as it was on site, and we really looked hard at both Pop and A of A. But in the end, we just love POR, and decided that since we saved a bundle on the flights, we could indulge again.

I am also hopeful about free dining. I know Disney doesn't usually announce fall plans until late summer, but my best friend got a pin yesterday for dining, but it excluded the middle 2 weeks of October. What's up with that? She also got a pin this spring, before they announced their summer specials. So I am hoping that is a forecast that there will be free dining again this fall.

We have no idea why she got 2 pins in one year - they haven't been for 12 years! And she hasn't been cruising the sites or logging in to WDW either. I sure wish they'd send ME a pin!

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Thu, 06/14/2012 - 12:41

Kristen K.

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Whoo hoo! Congrats! How fun that you're going back! I'm sure that everything will work out just fine. There may not be free dining though because it's the beginning of Food & Wine Festival. What a fantastic time of year for you to be going!

Thu, 06/14/2012 - 13:29

finngirl

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Kristen K. wrote:

There may not be free dining though because it's the beginning of Food & Wine Festival. What a fantastic time of year for you to be going!

I'm not counting on free dining, but it sure would be a bonus!

We are really looking forward to the Food and Wine Festival, and trying foods we might not ordinarily have. I think I will pack "expandable" clothes for both DH and me!

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Diana

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