3R:

Anybody with news from SNGS?

2 of my DD'S friends received notification for interview. (Mainstream)

We're back and finally have time to share our experiences. Wish to thank all for the valuable sharing to make this a memorable trip. Our trip is from 17-29 Dec - the busy period. We went to Universal first, followed by Disney. Overall, the rides at Universal are more exciting for the tweens. Our favourite is the Forbidden Journey.


Some things to share for Universal:
1. Stay at on-site hotel for Express Pass. For one-night stay, you get 2-day Express pass, valid on the day you check in and the day you check out. Other than Forbidden Journey and Escape from Gringotts, other rides have Express Passes. We went for 3 days and did the above 2 rides and Minion at the beginning of each day.

2. Consider getting the annual pass for 1. The hotel rate will be cheaper. Too bad i discovered this too late. I could have saved USD200 using this method, but everything has already been paid for and I didn't want to go through the hassle of cancelling and re-booking my reservation. Do refer to this for detailed explanation.
http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universa ... -discount/

3. Universal Dining Plan - Quick Service $19.99 per adult
Consist of:
One quick-service meal (main course and non-alcoholic beverage)
One snack
One additional non-alcoholic beverage

Do work the sums first before buying the plan. If main course > $12 and snack > $4, this will help us save some money on food. We used the plan at Three Broomsticks and Leaky Cauldron. Butterbeer counts as a snack.
http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/dining-plan/

4. Get the interactive wands!

luvtravel:

:thankyou: Dnls_mum

For Fantasmic Lunch package at Mama Melrose - also must pay separate too ?

Dining credits can be used for Fantasmic Lunch package. A pity it started to rain before the Fantasmic show that day. Only a short 5 min segment was shown.

lexis:

They won't reveal the top class, but you will be able to tell next year cos all the Academic Award winners (top 3 girls from the p2 classes) will go to that class.


It's harder to tell which are the 2nd and 3rd classes at p3 , cos at p3, SNGS also accepts transfer students (who are typically the top in their schools at p1/2, or have a very good CCA record in SNGS niche areas).

Think things are done differently this year. I have noticed that the top 3 girls from 2 different P2 classes going to 2 different P3 classes next year. Not sure how many \"top\" classes there are, but teachers have been telling us that there are no top classes.

Puzz...zzle:

dino3112:

May I ask, which level is your gal in? The syllabus should be the same for all schools right? Just that the topics are taught in different sequence? Cos in the end, everyone is sitting for the same paper?

The school would be introducing supplementary classes for science and maths starting next year.... to reinforce the concepts taught using experiments and handson stuff. Why not wait and see how it goes?

Hi ! may I know that's for which level?

From the circular given to parents, supplementary classes will be for P4 to P6 students, Mon and Thu in Terms 2 and 4.

Sel69:

Dear tinker_bel,

For airport transfer from MCO to USO, I book with Happy Limo. Rate is quite reasonable. Hopefully, they are reliable. Reviews from Mousesavers have been pretty ok.

As for car rental, I believe Avis and Hertz do include LDW in their quotes. My understanding is that there is no excess for LDW in the US which means that you are fully covered in the event of a loss or damage to the rental car. This is quite unlike that in Australia where you will need to pay the excess amount upfront and the insurance will cover the rest. Hope I understood it correctly.

Cheers

I see! My only car rental experience was in Perth this Mar. Back then, I remembered having to compare the excess reduction for various companies when getting CDW. For US, really cannot find such information. :thankyou:

Publica:

Hi Sel69,


You can book all your FP+ on your 60 day mark throughout the duration of your stay. Do log in exactly at 12pm to secure all your FP+ as the popular ones run out very quickly.
I could not get FP for parade, Anna and Elsa and seven dwarf mine train on my first MK day. I got them on my 5th day. So of you are also looking for these popular FP, do schedule them towards the end of your visit and book them first.

Congrats, Publica! FP+ booking is another exciting phase. Hope to secure those as well. Any problems with FP+ at Epcot and HS? Soaring, toy story, tower of terror, etc?

tiredmama:

I am so stressed... all of you are booking already done with ADRs and have touring plans in mind... I have been so bz with my dad's illness and home stuff.. that all the planning has halted.. is it really too late to do any ADRs ? so many rest to choose from ??? we not into character dining... did that before at the LA Disneyland ... shd I still go for ADRs ? I think my FP window is not out yet... and I haven't done any planing for USS :-(((((
Anyone staying at wdw same time as me... will be onsite from 2nd Dec to 8th Dec (check-out)... keep all the good ideas coming... I will be referring to them when I have time !! Thanks

Hope things are better for you and family now. For Universal, not much planning required. We plan to follow the touring plans from
http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/touring-plans/

As for ADR, as what SanChar shared earlier, search for ADR using:
http://disneydvcresale.com/diningSearch.php

This is a faster tool to search for a range of dates at one go. Can always check whenever you are free to see if slots are available. I believe more ADRs will pop out nearer the dates as people finalize their plans and cancel the reservations.



For airport transfer from MCO to Universal, it is possible to just flag a taxi there for a family of four? Or better to book airport transfer beforehand?

We are thinking of car rental for the last 3 days for shopping and Kennedy Space Centre (or take a package with bus). For Avis/Hertz, they do include LDW in their quotes. Is it sufficient to have LDW coverage? In case of accident, what is the max amount that we are liable?

:rahrah: Same here! Managed to find a Fantasmic! Package (lunch at Mama Melrose) 2 days ago via the dining search link. :thankyou:

Hi dnls_mum,


Thanks for your sharing of the various character dining. Managed to get Tusker House, CP and Akershus at reasonable timing and 1900 early dinner. No chance for Chef Mickey and CRT. Have managed to change my reservation to moderate resort, with top-up of $400, as compared to $300 for upgrading the dining plan alone. Thanks for your great advice!

Hi Sel69,

I am also trying to book Fantasmic! Dining Package, but the dates for Nov and Dec are all greyed out. Wonder why?

Hi tinker-bel,


I am also going to follow the 3 days plan from orlandoinformer too. I will feedback if it is doable since my plan is from 4 - 8 Dec.

To check avail dining, you can use this website.
http://disneydvcresale.com/diningSearch.php

I did have a weird timing dining @ Crystal Palace 3.30pm dinner!

http://disneydvcresale.com/diningSearch.php

Yes! Do feedback about the 3-day touring plan. Thanks for the link for dining, really useful!

Hi tinker_bel,

Regular dining plan works better if you prefer sit-down dinners and also some character dining like Crystal Palace or 1900 Park Fare. If you can secure the dining reservations, it might be worthwhile upgrading from quick service to regular dining plan. We personally like the table service and are looking forward to dining there again!

By the way, we were at Magic Kingdom on 21 Dec last year, it was really very crowded. It may be good to plan your MK visits early on your trip. It is also generally less crowded on days with Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party scheduled.

Enjoy planning!

My first day at WDW is 21 Dec. That's the earliest I can visit MK. It seems like MVMCP is over on 19 Dec?
Other than Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, any other good recommendations?

If you want the regular dining plan with your free dining, it is more worth it to book a moderate resort than to book a value resort then get the quick service and pay to upgrade to regular dining plan.

Great tip! I will have to check if there are any available rooms. Free dining only available in CBR and CSR this year. Any idea which one is better?

Hi dolly23,


We are taking ANA. Delta wasn't on my radar then but it seems that price is quite ok for certain dates, ard $2200 to 2400 per pax. We love free & easy trips so that we can take our time to explore the place. One day at Universal and one day at Disney are simply not enough.

Once the dates are firmed, decide on how many days do you want for Universal. I chose the easy way out by booking the vacation package (hotel+ theme parks tickets) through Universal website.
One good website to research is:
http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/

As for WDW, think there are more experts around who can advise you.


I plan to follow the 3-day touring plan from:
http://www.orlandoinformer.com/universal/touring-plans/

Anyone planning that as well? Can feedback whether that sounds reasonable / doable?

I am now considering whether it is worthwhile to upgrade the quick dining to the regular plan for table service restaurants for dinners. There are some places available at weird timings. (e.g. Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare)

Hi SarChar,


I wish I could go there early dec, but we are unable to take leave during that period. All the popular ADRs were unavailable, so I went for quick service dining/Pop Century instead. As my DDs (and I) were keen to stay in Little Mermaid room in AOA, we will be doing a split stay with 2N there.

I am also fearful of the Christmas crowds, tell myself not to set too many targets (no of rides) to achieve. Hope to get the FP+ rides and other rides will be bonuses. Luckily, my DDs not into Character meet and greet, other than Frozen. (Hard to get too, I know).

You going to Universal too?