PTR for the planning obsessed....Updated 11/5 We're home now.

[MRYPPNS]

How are you getting along with TGM? I find I'm not using it as much as I should

We're getting along better... it's just hard to find some stuff.

Great itinerary!!

If you do outlets, maybe do them after you kind of see what merchandise is in the parks. So Thursday?

I was thinking that too or maybe even Sunday morning. If I plan the ADR dinners right I can just switch around the activities once we get there depending on our mood and the waether.

 

[jordanyosh]

Is Mike worth it?

 

[MRYPPNS]

Is Mike worth it?

I don't think it would be for you....it's borderline for me. He hasn't posted his best park days for October yet and I'm betting that they will be the same as mine. The website navigation is difficult at best...and there is so much material that I find little things that are out of date all over the place. I personally feel that if you have to pay for it, it should throughly updated, unlike allearsnet or wdwinfo. Next year I think I will just stick with my subscription to touring plans dot com.

 

[Native NYer]

We're getting along better... it's just hard to find some stuff.

I don't think it would be for you....it's borderline for me. He hasn't posted his best park days for October yet and I'm betting that they will be the same as mine. The website navigation is difficult at best...and there is so much material that I find little things that are out of date all over the place. I personally feel that if you have to pay for it, it should throughly updated, unlike allearsnet or wdwinfo. Next year I think I will just stick with my subscription to touring plans dot com.

I find TGM difficult to navigate also. And the forums aren't helpful at all. I don't know why I stressed waiting for the August best park days to be released because they seem similar to his pics from 2007.

And nothing seems to be personalized except the section that tells you when to call for ADRs.

How is touring plans dot com? I've never used that site.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I find TGM difficult to navigate also. And the forums aren't helpful at all. I don't know why I stressed waiting for the August best park days to be released because they seem similar to his pics from 2007.

And nothing seems to be personalized except the section that tells you when to call for ADRs.

How is touring plans dot com? I've never used that site.

There is hardly anything in the forums...I was attempting to research MNSSHP and found a thread it was 2 pages long and half of it was from the fall of 2007.

I agree that nothing is personalized... I guess I thought it was because he refers to it as your Automated Vacation Planner.

Do you read the Unofficial Guide? If you do you might like touring plans...check it out because almost all of it is free and if you have the latest book you can unlock more. I use it for the best days...out about 9 months in advance (they do updated when needed) and I use the make your own touring plans tool.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sounds like a great itinerary so far -- lots of shopping and rest!

I had planned on doing the outlets, but then chickened out of venturing off Disney property. I might try again in June!

 

[Native NYer]

There is hardly anything in the forums...I was attempting to research MNSSHP and found a thread it was 2 pages long and half of it was from the fall of 2007.

I agree that nothing is personalized... I guess I thought it was because he refers to it as your Automated Vacation Planner.

Do you read the Unofficial Guide? If you do you might like touring plans...check it out because almost all of it is free and if you have the latest book you can unlock more. I use it for the best days...out about 9 months in advance (they do updated when needed) and I use the make your own touring plans tool.

I do have the Unofficial Guide. I'm going to check out the site this week.

Thanks for the info Heidi!!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Sounds like a great itinerary so far -- lots of shopping and rest!

I had planned on doing the outlets, but then chickened out of venturing off Disney property. I might try again in June!

I have the addresses in my binder if you want them....you can be my test rat...or would it be a test mouse since it's Disney?

 

[jordanyosh]

Thanks for the info Heidi.

I never thought of paying for information. I like to figure it out on my own and if I'm wrong I do make some notes for the next trip.

I'm usually pretty good at guessing the best days to visit parks. Now if I could just start getting there at rope drop...

 

[Charleston Princess]

I have the addresses in my binder if you want them....you can be my test rat...or would it be a test mouse since it's Disney?

Are they the same ones that are on allears? Those are the ones I have. If you have different ones, definitely PM me. I will be your test rodent in June!

 

[chcmama]

Here’s my DIS thread of the week:
Live from WDW for 9 days, the Nicki and Todd dining review with a ton of PICS!!!! By MickeyNicki

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1771361

I've been reading that thread too and loved it. Your itinerary looks great!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Hello, coming out of lurkdom because of guilt . I have read along, but haven't posted until now. I think it is because you could have chosen to come during the time we were there, but chose not to . I wonder why ?

This is a great pre-trippie, I go back and forth all the time on whether or not to do TGM. I love your "DIS thread of the week" idea. The dogs are adorable and your son is gorgeous. Great idea about the toaster and I have decided we are going the breakfast in the room thing too. Have I forgotten anything? If so, I am sure you will let me know. Will you ever forgive me for not posting?

 

[KathyRN137]

So that left me with one plan…guess what plan…yup that's right….after all that work I ended up with the exact same Itinerary as I posted before.

But, you feel sooooo much better about it now, don't you!!

Personally, I'm always torn about how to end the trip. Sometimes I think its harder to leave when the last day is the MK...I always cry! (Hopeless DIS-Nerd.)


Kathy

 

[MRYPPNS]

Are they the same ones that are on allears? Those are the ones I have. If you have different ones, definitely PM me. I will be your test rodent in June!

I'll just post 'em here in case anyone else needs them:

Disney's Character Premiere
Orlando Premium Outlet
8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando 32821
Hours M-Sat 10am to 11pm
Sun 10am to 9pm

This mall has a Taco Bell and other small restaurants in a food court


Character Premiere Mall #1
Character Warehouse Mall #2
Belz Factory Outlet
5401 W Oakridge Rd Orlando 32819
(located across from I-4/Kirkman Rd)
Hours M - Sat 10am to 9pm
Sunday 10am to 6pm

This mall doesn't have much in the way of food either

I've been reading that thread too and loved it. Your itinerary looks great!

I'm not too far into it but I like dinning reviews with the right combo of description and pictures and ones with restaurants I'm planning on going to are even better. I loved reading her review of O'hana because I was worried about it with the menu changes.

Hello, coming out of lurkdom because of guilt . I have read along, but haven't posted until now. I think it is because you could have chosen to come during the time we were there, but chose not to . I wonder why ?

This is a great pre-trippie, I go back and forth all the time on whether or not to do TGM. I love your "DIS thread of the week" idea. The dogs are adorable and your son is gorgeous. Great idea about the toaster and I have decided we are going the breakfast in the room thing too. Have I forgotten anything? If so, I am sure you will let me know. Will you ever forgive me for not posting?

<Cue the band> Tracy !!!
Oh the Guilt back and forth!! We'll be there in November...just start your vacation a little earlier...Bill won't mind will he?

The two main things about the best park days with any of the guides is (1) you start at rope drop and (2) that you avoid extra magic hours as much as possible.

Are you going to have groceries delivered to your room for breakfast stuff? If we weren't getting a car I would be doing that. I'm also think of shipping a box down like Kathy does.

 

[MRYPPNS]

But, you feel sooooo much better about it now, don't you!!

Personally, I'm always torn about how to end the trip. Sometimes I think its harder to leave when the last day is the MK...I always cry! (Hopeless DIS-Nerd.)


Kathy

You're right I do...leave no stone unturned...is that the saying?

I read about your eyes....as someone who is blind as a bat (I've worn contacts since I was 15...glasses since 5th grade) I'll suggest getting a pair of perscription sunglasses to have with you at the parks (you can get a cheapish pair from Walmart or Lenscrafters) you'd be amazed at the difference.

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi,

so glad that after all that hard work your still set w/ the same itinerary....now why wasn't it that easy for me???

now FW info:

sorry I know some Diser sent me a nice link about the FW but I don't have it saved anymore...but here is some things I wrote down..you may know this already but,

Tri-Circle Ranch: where big horses are..the ones that pull the carriages and such at MK too

Petting Farm open till sunset

Pony rides till 5 pm, (this might not be up to date?) $3.00 + tax per rider, parent walk child through trail

Horse drwan carriage rides $30 tip not includede begin at 6 pm can time w/ Wishes fireworks make ADR 407 wdw play cancel 24 hr advance

Hayride 45 min trip $8 per A $4 per child
at Pioneer Hall 7 pm & 9:30 no resservations

Meadow Trading Post take orange or yellow bus

Nightly campfire at 8 pm
bring towels or blankets to sit on or keep warm

hope some of that helps. check the resorts threads for more answers or a FWD offical thread, know the Poly has one!

got to go pick up Mae from preK

 

[MRYPPNS]

Hey Scrappie-do...thanks for all the info...I'm thinking about calling the resort (FW campground) directly a few weeks before the trip to get dates and times and $$ for their activies...

 

[MRYPPNS]

This is my 500th post!
Will there be cake and balloons to celebrate???​

 

[mrsksomeday]

<Cue the band> Tracy !!!
Oh the Guilt back and forth!! We'll be there in November...just start your vacation a little earlier...Bill won't mind will he?

The two main things about the best park days with any of the guides is (1) you start at rope drop and (2) that you avoid extra magic hours as much as possible.

Are you going to have groceries delivered to your room for breakfast stuff? If we weren't getting a car I would be doing that. I'm also think of shipping a box down like Kathy does.

We can't go in November any earlier .

I go back and forth on shipping a box down, there are things Bill needs that would be nice to ship not carry with us so we will see if I get the courage to do the shipping thing. As for the breakfast stuff? I think we might get some groceries, I want fresh fruit, apples, oranges, etc and Bill wants Mountain Dew. That is his only complaint about Disney, the Coke products .

 

[MRYPPNS]

I was just going to write that I probably wouldn't ship anything that I couldn't replace at Wal-Mart if the box went missing...then it occured to me that I should probably just go to walmart on the first day to buy that stuff and save the shipping money. I was only going to ship diapers, swimmie diapers, beach toys for Liam, some dry goods and the $3.88 toaster.

Kathy...what do you ship down??

Tracy...how's your back today?? I've pulled my back a couple times now since I've had DS...trying to load him and the car seat in the SUV.

I'm lucky that I'm a Diet Coke addict...goes well with WDW. Sea World has Pepsi products...have you and Bill been to Sea World yet? I bet you would love it.