Yes, we can be bribed. PTR *NEW UPDATE 05/22 - SO CLOSE I CAN'T EVEN FUNCTION

[Madonna3]

My top fave resorts are:
Grand Floridian
Yacht Club
Port Orleans

My least fave are:
Any of the All-Stars
Saratoga Springs
CBR

So with that said, we're going to be staying at CBR!! Makes sense, right?

I'm not saying I had bad trips at CBR, there's just nothing about the resort I like. I think the theming is cheesy, the rooms are not well decorated, and the resort is too far spread out with lousy transportation options.

However, give me a "ok" passholder rate and then knock $75 a night off that in the form of a gift card and well, you have my attention.

See, it was never my intention to take a trip in the first place. However, I had scheduled a day trip on June 3rd to catch ROL through the dinner package and I started looking at hotel rooms to extend that to a weekend. Then the whole CBR fiasco thing started where they announced they were closing down the food courts, bars, and main shopping area starting in May. They were going to just put up random grab n go areas around the resort and felt that was going to be good enough. The community disagreed. People called to complain or switch. Some people were offered $25/night off, others got $75/night, and others got to move resorts at no extra charge. Then Disney got beat up for that and decided to just offer everyone $75/night across the board including new bookings up until March 16, 2017. So, I talked to hubby, let him know we could actually do a whole week for a reasonable rate and use their $75 gift card to pay for expense that we'd charge to the room - like food. So, in our minds, Disney kinda gave us a free dining plan.

We ended up booking 05/28-06/04 to overlap the plans I had already made for AK on the 3rd.

Then, the Dis announces their 20th anniversary party. COOL!! We sign up for that!

Now, this trip got more exciting. Then today the announcement comes that during our week, AKL is staying open until 1am. Details are still fuzzy about that, but we're hoping we'll be able to take advantage of some 1am closings.

So, we're staying at CBR. We're probably not going to like it, but with so many other exciting things going on, how can we not find a way to enjoy ourselves?

Intros are next.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Looking forward to your trip almost as much as you are!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Joining in - been following along regarding the CBR issues so interested in your experience there

Also will want to say "hi" at the DIS 20th as I will be there as well

 

[Madonna3]

Whew, had to dig this out from the way, way yonder below...


Ok so, intros.


First, there's me.


I am on the left pictured with my girl-crush, Ashley. This was taken a very inebriated night at JellyRolls a few weeks ago.

I work in Mental Health Hospital Administration by day and I dream Disney by night all the time. When little kids say, “I’m going to grow up and move to Disney”, this is one little girl who actually did it. I knew I wanted to do it at age 16, so I started college in NY, went to undergrad in Florida which was my first attempt at manipulating my parents so I could try and find work in Florida and stay here. It didn’t work out. So I finished undergrad and moved back to NJ for a bit and then made my final move to Florida in 2005 and finished grad school – twice. By then, I was able to integrate a little better and I had a job down here so here I stayed. Finally! I was close to the MOUSE! My first move to Florida landed me in Tampa, which was only 45 minutes away, but Tampa is a really crappy place to live (sorry if you live there) and I found my roots about 2.5 hours SW of the World.

Then there’s my man-crush. My BFF. My soul-mate. My partner in crime. My husband - Jason


He originally hails from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. We’re completely night and day, but yet somehow so very compatible. He wants to play in the snow and I want to play in the sun. He actually moved here from Canada for me after he talked mad trash about “who would want to live in Florida?” and “Disney sucks”. He now owns two DVC contracts with me, so guess who got the last laugh? – I’m still laughing.

Here are more pics of us (Somewhat gratuitous, but also so people can find us at the DIS meets)

These were taken at our SUPER SEKRIT VOW RENEWAL AT GRAND FLORIDIAN (they didn’t know about it)



Then here’s us playing in the parks (Remember, he said “Disney sucks”)



But, we’re actually a trio. However, our son Michael will not be joining us on this adventure. Sorry buddy!



Next: How this Trip even came about.

 

[missangelalexis]

Joining in! Looking forward to hearing more about this upcoming trip

 

[Madonna3]

OK, so I mentioned briefly that the $75 gift card offer got me to book, but there's a little more to it than that. I blame @PuppyJonathan.

I'm pretty active over on the Rumors and News Thread and on the CBR thread talking about the construction and happenings over there, PuppyJonathan mentioned the woes he was having in getting Disney to give him accommodation for the sudden construction announcement. He wasn't having much luck. So, I helped him write an email to Disney to envoke their empathy and give him some sort of compensation. Well, it worked. He kept talking about his dates at the end of May and for some reason I ended up looking at similar dates. I think I was trying to get a sense of what I should tell him to ask for compensation when I noticed how reasonable the rates seemed and that if people are really getting $50-$75 off a night, then it really is more than a good deal. This was before they were offering them to everyone and I thought man, "I almost wish I had a booking" and then BAM! Disney goes Oprah on gift cards.



So, I called hubs and I said, "What if you could stay at CBR for a week for a total of about $1050, but you get $525 back as a gift card that we could use on dining making the CBR portion of the stay really more like $525.00. He said, "what's the catch?" and I said, "You have to stay at CBR and pretend to like it". We went back and forth with it for a while. At the time, I had NO idea about the DIS anniversary celebration thing. I mean, I saw it on a banner at the top of my browser, but I didn't actually pay any attention to it. So, then I pulled the trigger on the booking and I announced it in the CBR thread that I was talking about over on Rumors and News. Well, then I got asked if I would be attending the DIS events and I went, "what?" Then I clicked on the banner ...



So, I place urgent, panicked call to hubby at work explaining about the party and all the events and it's only about $260 for us to attend everything and "Do you wanna, huh? Do you wanna? Do you wanna do it? Should we do it? We should do it. And so, we're doing it.

So, with that this trip went from, "Yeah. we'll book and maybe we'll cancel" to


"WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY DURING THE DIS MEET"

 

[katt789]

I'm in!! We'll be down May 27-June 5th! Not super planning to be at any of the dis meet up stuff but perhaps we'll run into each other!!
Ahahahah I LOVE the "what's the catch?" "stay at CBR and like it!"

Like, I don't like that resort at all...I've stayed twice, thinking giving it a second chance would be a good idea and it just reminded me why I didn't like it! LOVE Port Orleans!!

 

[Madonna3]

Joining in! Looking forward to hearing more about this upcoming trip

Ty for following along!

 

[Madonna3]

I'm in!! We'll be down May 27-June 5th! Not super planning to be at any of the dis meet up stuff but perhaps we'll run into each other!!
Ahahahah I LOVE the "what's the catch?" "stay at CBR and like it!"

Like, I don't like that resort at all...I've stayed twice, thinking giving it a second chance would be a good idea and it just reminded me why I didn't like it! LOVE Port Orleans!!

For $525 for a week, I'll find something to like. I'm hoping the update will pique my curiosity again.

We're not going crazy with plans. We're more opportunistic. If there's something going on and we're there -cool. If we're bored and can just join in then awesome. I do hope to bump into a few people, however.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Wow I can't believe this is all my fault

 

[Madonna3]

Wow I can't believe this is all my fault

It is, sir!! If I didn't write that letter I wouldn't be in this mess! I hope you're happy

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Joining in - will be fun to follow along with your planning for your trip and for the DIS party!

good point about having different pictures so we know what each other look like - definitely would be different spotting you without your sunglasses you have in your avatar picture

sides note: Not sure if you are patreon or not, but Pete agrees with your sentiment of CBR so that is something you can chat about with him at the party

 

[Golfjbc89]

joining in the fun as well! wish i could have been that flexible and taken the deal because it sounds too good to be true!

 

[Madonna3]

Joining in - will be fun to follow along with your planning for your trip and for the DIS party!

good point about having different pictures so we know what each other look like - definitely would be different spotting you without your sunglasses you have in your avatar picture

sides note: Not sure if you are patreon or not, but Pete agrees with your sentiment of CBR so that is something you can chat about with him at the party

I'd welcome the conversation. I am actually *really* looking forward to this rehab because I dislike CBR so much that it could only get better.

joining in the fun as well! wish i could have been that flexible and taken the deal because it sounds too good to be true!

We thought it was too. I've checked my booking like 3 times just to make sure they don't cancel it because it's so inexpensive.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I'd welcome the conversation. I am actually *really* looking forward to this rehab because I dislike CBR so much that it could only get better.

i agree - I think there are things going for it (the pool, etc.) so a really nice rehab could make it a really nice resort (assuming that rehab comes with top notch service, etc., not just physical)

 

[Madonna3]

Update – My hubby is a big jerk.


So, we have some plans. Not like a lot, but some. We had some restaurants that were must-do’s for us that we have either never done before (if you can believe that) or really want to return.

I really like the Festival of Fantasy parade but

1. hate queuing up for it more than an hour in advance just to get a nice spot
   
   -and-
   

b) the spot I usually get is at the Train Station so I’m always up high

Therefore, I decided to try the Festival of Fantasy Parade dining package.

Now, I am having some reservations about this because I believe that the TIW discount DOES NOT apply for this and that means I am paying a 20% premium to get a spot for the parade. Hmm. Not sure I really want to do that.

That got me thinking about Tiana’s Riverboat Cruise. The only problem with this is timing. It’s available either on our arrival day or the same day I have a BOG reservation. I considered canceling the BOG reservation once I found out that the Rose cups are available at Gaston’s, but the same day I learned that, I also learned they sold out at Gaston’s. Still our only purpose for a reservation that day is so I can get a cup and a cupcake. Sorry, to anyone who is upset by that, but it’s the only way to get my fave cupcake. So I was thinking we could dip into BOG, get my cup and cupcake and book it on over to Tiana’s Riverboat Party.

Hubby seems on board with this plan. While I am explaining it, he keep reiterating back to me that it will be good to have a nice lunch and some ice cream and watch the parade. It takes him saying this a few times before I say,

“wait, what are you talking about? Are you talking about having lunch in the room before we head out to the party? I was going to just do a late breakfast”

He says, “so there’s no food with the party?”

I say, “no. It’s just ice cream and snacks. Hence the “ICE CREAM SOCIAL” in the name of the event

He says, “so wait a minute, you want to pay $100 for ice cream. Ice cream, Maria. $100”

So I responded, “NO! Not when you put it like that!”

Yeah, he kinda ruined that for me, but last night he changed his tune and now he wants to do it. What do I do? Tony’s or Tiana’s?

 

[Madonna3]

i agree - I think there are things going for it (the pool, etc.) so a really nice rehab could make it a really nice resort (assuming that rehab comes with top notch service, etc., not just physical)

There's nothing about it I have ever really loved. I even find the pool "meh". The lake water is sooo "brown" that I don't feel like I am in a Caribbean place. It is so spread out from the main center and I think the check in area being separate from the main area is dumb. All that being said, I have never had any problems there or not "liked" my stay the few times I stayed there. I just don't like the resort itself.

I am really looking forward to this trip however. I am actually very excited about the "parking lot quick service" areas. It will be SO NICE not to have to go ALL THE WAY to Centertown, but just out to the parking lot. I have always stayed in Martinique to be close to the bus stops and the main food area and now that it will be closed, I don't have to do that and I hope to land a spot in Jamaica. I am also relieved to hear there will be a pool bar set up so we can enjoy some drinks at the resort itself. I'm interested in what the breakfast buffet will look like. I think I might like the resort under construction than I ever did in the past.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Update – My hubby is a big jerk.


So, we have some plans. Not like a lot, but some. We had some restaurants that were must-do’s for us that we have either never done before (if you can believe that) or really want to return.

I really like the Festival of Fantasy parade but

1. hate queuing up for it more than an hour in advance just to get a nice spot
   
   -and-

b) the spot I usually get is at the Train Station so I’m always up high

Therefore, I decided to try the Festival of Fantasy Parade dining package.

Now, I am having some reservations about this because I believe that the TIW discount DOES NOT apply for this and that means I am paying a 20% premium to get a spot for the parade. Hmm. Not sure I really want to do that.

That got me thinking about Tiana’s Riverboat Cruise. The only problem with this is timing. It’s available either on our arrival day or the same day I have a BOG reservation. I considered canceling the BOG reservation once I found out that the Rose cups are available at Gaston’s, but the same day I learned that, I also learned they sold out at Gaston’s. Still our only purpose for a reservation that day is so I can get a cup and a cupcake. Sorry, to anyone who is upset by that, but it’s the only way to get my fave cupcake. So I was thinking we could dip into BOG, get my cup and cupcake and book it on over to Tiana’s Riverboat Party.

Hubby seems on board with this plan. While I am explaining it, he keep reiterating back to me that it will be good to have a nice lunch and some ice cream and watch the parade. It takes him saying this a few times before I say,

“wait, what are you talking about? Are you talking about having lunch in the room before we head out to the party? I was going to just do a late breakfast”

He says, “so there’s no food with the party?”

I say, “no. It’s just ice cream and snacks. Hence the “ICE CREAM SOCIAL” in the name of the event

He says, “so wait a minute, you want to pay $100 for ice cream. Ice cream, Maria. $100”

So I responded, “NO! Not when you put it like that!”

Yeah, he kinda ruined that for me, but last night he changed his tune and now he wants to do it. What do I do? Tony’s or Tiana’s?

I know someone who did the Tiana's ice Cream party and really liked it - was just nice to get away and they did eat a lot of ice cream/desserts.

never really hear a lot of good things about Tony's (not sure if you have personal experience there) but the thought of paying a 20% premium to eat there doesn't sit super well with me

 

[missangelalexis]

I have heard the ice cream party is fun but not the best view of the parade. So if you are doing it for a view, I'm worried you'd be disappointed. I would search for some reviews of people who have done it to get an idea just to be safe!

never really hear a lot of good things about Tony's (not sure if you have personal experience there) but the thought of paying a 20% premium to eat there doesn't sit super well with me

I agree with this as well!

 

[Madonna3]

I know someone who did the Tiana's ice Cream party and really liked it - was just nice to get away and they did eat a lot of ice cream/desserts.

never really hear a lot of good things about Tony's (not sure if you have personal experience there) but the thought of paying a 20% premium to eat there doesn't sit super well with me

I have heard the ice cream party is fun but not the best view of the parade. So if you are doing it for a view, I'm worried you'd be disappointed. I would search for some reviews of people who have done it to get an idea just to be safe!



I agree with this as well!

Well both options have advantages and disadvantages for me, obviously. Yes, we've had dinner at Tony's before and actually enjoyed ourselves and therefore, our view of Tony's is positive. The problem I have is I am going to have to pay full price for this vs using my TIW card had I just booked there for lunch and not this "package".

A few people have showed me what my view would be like from the boat and you're right, it's not great.