1 Child and 10 Adults--A GG to Celebrate DD's 4th Bday :) TR Link is Posted

[Charlefours]

Congrats on 35 Days!!! Looking forward to seeing your 30 Day Countdown too!

Summer sure is flying by here too! Really can't believe it is August already - kids to back to school 2 days after we get back from Disney! Cut it a little close but oh well, that's just the way it worked out!

Congrats also on finishing up your summer classes! Too bad you only have a week or so break - hope you enjoy it though!

Karen

Hey Karen! I hope to get by your PTR today. I am slowly working on getting caught up on my threads. Your trip will be here so soon!! Two Weeks!!

Summer has flown by for us too. Lilian will actually miss four days of preschool while we are gone but we knew this will probably be the only year we will travel for her birthday while she is in school.

Thanks! Classes ended well (hopefully, still waiting on grades).

 

[Charlefours]

Yay! 35 days! Holy cow!!

Rides I wouldn't miss if skipped:
MK: Stitch-lame since it became Stitch!
EP: Honey I Shrunk the Audience-saw it once, never need to see it again!
DHS: American Idol-Hate the show, can't imagine the attraction to be any better!
AK: Conservation Station-The train broke down once and we were stranded there for hours and missed an ADR at Yak & Yeti!

It is insane!!!

I'm not planning HISTA either and I am not sure if we would make it to Captain EO either. Not planning AI either. Conservation station is most likely off the list for this trip too.

 

[Charlefours]

35 days????? That's almost just a month!

Let's see---What things am I not sad about missing at Disney?

MK---Stitch's Escape, Astro Orbiters, Hall of Presidents

EP---Universe of Energy, Honey I Shrunk the Audience

DHS---Lights!Motors!Action!, Backlot Tour

AK---Conservation Station ( I haven't been over there since 2001!)

Hi Michelle! Thanks for answering! I want to see HoP. We are history lovers and have not seen the changes.

Not sure about Universe of Energy, HISTA I don't even think will be up and running, which I am not sad about.

LMA I am not sure if the guys want to go see it but I am not planning. Other priorities with Lilian.

Conservation Station is probably off our list too. At least I am not planning it.

 

[Charlefours]

Well, I've only had that short day a long time ago so I'm practically a first timer which makes your questions difficult for me sometimes. Not this time though- one thing I will NEVER do and will NOT be sad about is Honey I Shrunk the Audience. I have a serious rodent phobia and the thought of it freaks me out.

I feel the same way Hope, though it is more of an issue with snakes with me. I am not planning it either.

 

[Charlefours]

Great updates! You are getting close. Love all the organization tools. I agree with Leanne on the parade watching spots since I use hers As for if I missed it it would not ruin my day
Never seen Stitch-don't want to
ditto with Honey I shrunk and Bugs
Ellen's Universe-unless I am napping-parts scared the girls

I will say we enjoyed the Conservation Station Saw Pocahantus and the cool vet area.

Hey Mary!

Thank you. I need to update my chart with the hours since MK has had additional hours added to it. Good to know you like Leanne's viewing spots too.

Stitch, HISTA and Bugs are off our list too. Universe and Conservation are very slight maybes at this point.

 

[KatMark]

I don't mind missing (and will skip if I'm allowed to get away with it):

MK -- Stitch and Laugh Comedy and Carrousel of Progress
Epcot -- Mission Space (will NOT do)
Studios -- Sounds Dangerous, Lights Motor Action
AK -- I can't really think of anything, but we've never done any of the shows there (hope to change that this year)

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

For me its:

MK -- Space Mountain
Epcot -- Mission Space - no flippin' way .. not even the non-spinny side
Studios -- Sounds Dangerous
AK -- EE yep, I am chicken!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Charlefours]

I don't mind missing (and will skip if I'm allowed to get away with it):

MK -- Stitch and Laugh Comedy and Carrousel of Progress
Epcot -- Mission Space (will NOT do)
Studios -- Sounds Dangerous, Lights Motor Action
AK -- I can't really think of anything, but we've never done any of the shows there (hope to change that this year)

Hi Kathy! The only thing that I may do on your list (besides the shows at AK) is CoP if there is time or we need to cool off!

 

[Charlefours]

For me its:

MK -- Space Mountain
Epcot -- Mission Space - no flippin' way .. not even the non-spinny side
Studios -- Sounds Dangerous
AK -- EE yep, I am chicken!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm with you on the thrill rides, I will take a pass and be with Lilian but DH and others like them and will go on them.

 

[Charlefours]

I am hoping to get thoughts from you all on navigating around the World.

Specific questions I have:
--how easy is it to drive from park to park?
--have any issues parking before at the parks or other resorts?
--should we drive to the parks the mornings we have ADRs? I am leaning towards this as I do not want to be late.

Here are my thoughts:

I think that anytime we have to be at another resort, and we are traveling from CSR, I figure we will drive. With being able to park at the other resorts for free, this just seems to be the best option rather than allowing an hour or longer to get from CSR to another resort on time.

I am worried that we will be late to our morning ADRs if we depend on the bus system. Unless you all think this will not be an issue, I will have us driving the mornings we have early ADRs or BBB. That means we will drive Monday, Tuesday, Thursday mornings to the EP, MK and AK respectively. Is this crazy? We will also most likely be driving Tuesday again to 1900 PF so we can rest until we have to be there for dinner.

What do you all think? Thank you for any and all advice you can give me. We have never experienced going to any other resorts nor have we eaten at any resort other than food court at the one we stayed at.

 

[dismagiclover]

We had our car for the first time this last trip and I loved driving to the parks. Parking was never a problem and the shuttles were usually right there. The only time we rode buses was to head to the Magic Kingdom in the afternoon and evening. This was mainly because I didn't want to mess with the monorail on the way home. I figured the bus would be easier. So I think driving to your early ADRs is the way to go.

 

[DrMomof3]

I never answered your "miss" question! It's amazing that several of the attractions on other lists are must-do things for us!!! Isn't that the joy of Disney???
My DH is very nostalgic about Carousel of Progress so we do it each time. My kids love, love, love Astro Orbiter. We really enjoyed the Conservation Station at AK as something a little educational and relaxing after rushing around so much. Etc...
My misses:
MK: Stitch. We rode it once and never again!
AK: The Bug Show (whatever it's called). We haven't done it but I know it'll freak my kids out!
Epcot: Definitely Honey I Shrunk the Audience. Totally outdated!
DHS: I don't have a "miss" but that's because we've never done a lot of the attractions due to size/time constraints!

Driving question: We've never had a car at Disney but I believe it would be great for everything except MK. I can't justify renting a car but I think it would be great to have a car!!! One of these years we'll do the autotrain....

Amanda

 

[Dancegrl624]

June 2009 was our first trip with no car and we just loved it! My DH loved just being able to hop on a bus and we didn't have to remember where we parked. For most early ADR's, if you tell the bus driver where you're going, they will sometimes take you right there (after they've dropped off the other guests). I love not having to worry about driving, but that's just me.

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I am hoping to get thoughts from you all on navigating around the World.

Specific questions I have:
--how easy is it to drive from park to park?
--have any issues parking before at the parks or other resorts?
--should we drive to the parks the mornings we have ADRs? I am leaning towards this as I do not want to be late.

Here are my thoughts:

I think that anytime we have to be at another resort, and we are traveling from CSR, I figure we will drive. With being able to park at the other resorts for free, this just seems to be the best option rather than allowing an hour or longer to get from CSR to another resort on time.

I am worried that we will be late to our morning ADRs if we depend on the bus system. Unless you all think this will not be an issue, I will have us driving the mornings we have early ADRs or BBB. That means we will drive Monday, Tuesday, Thursday mornings to the EP, MK and AK respectively. Is this crazy? We will also most likely be driving Tuesday again to 1900 PF so we can rest until we have to be there for dinner.

What do you all think? Thank you for any and all advice you can give me. We have never experienced going to any other resorts nor have we eaten at any resort other than food court at the one we stayed at.

Joe and I always drive.....everywhere actually. This will be the first time in a LONG time that we are not driving to MK. We'll just take the boat over. We like to be able to come and go and it seems so much easier to get places if we just drive. There is one notable exception.......The Grand Floridian! If you don't let them valet park for you, you have to walk from the parking in no-mans-land. It literally took us about 15 minutes to get from the parking lot to 1900 Park Fare. I got worried because we were so close to our ADR time.

 

[wlwilliams9]

I can't really help with the car thing because the last time we were at Disney with a car, I was a teenager with my parents and they did the driving!

We always use Disney transportation and have never had a problem, but we also never had early morning ADR's until last year when we stayed at the Poly and all of our morning ADR's were either a boat or monorail ride away!

I think if I had a car, I would drive to the early ADR's so I could sleep in an extra 1/2 hour!

 

[KatMark]

Mark and I drive to all of the parks, including MK, and to Downtown Disney. I am not a fan of buses and trains (having taken them for 35+ years for my job) and Mark enjoys driving. We are always there before rope drop so we don't have to worry about the tram (and at the MK we just hop on the ferry boat after we've walked from our car to the TTC).

 

[BippityBoo]

OH this is a hard question!! We drove for the first time last vacation. We parked the car when we checked in and used the bus and the boat to get to the parks, resorts, etc. Everything worked out great. We were there during a VERY slow time, though.

We did drive to the AK on our last day (checkout day). It was extremely easy to park and the tram was right there. We got on and went to the park. It probably saved us 10-15 minutes rather than waiting for the bus. I have to say, I personally felt that the overall "magical feeling" of being at WDW was lost when we drove. Being on the bus or monorail and driving up to the park makes it so fun. Also, not having to worry about driving there yourself and truly relaxing letting Disney do the work. When you drive to the park yourself, it is a reminder that you are in a theme park and not a magical world

With that said, I can see your hesitation for important ressies like BBB. I guess just play it by ear to see if the buses are late when you arrive. It might just be great to get an early start regardless. HTH!

 

[mousescrapper]

I leave you with another question (you know me, I LOVE questions):
I have asked what one thing you would not miss in each park. This next question should be much simpler: what one thing are you not sad if you skip (crowds and lines do not count )?

Hi didn't realize you had posted this....

I love answering all your good pondering questions

MK...I intentionaly skip Stitch and COP...but my older kids are interested in COP this yr...so we may do it...as well we skip Astro Orbitor & Country Bears...I don't dislike Robinson Treehouse...but don't do it each time either, for our trip in Nov...we plan to skip most of the above and have Laugh Factory and TSI on the if time list (the kids are not pleased w/ LF on this list...but the line is rough)

EP...we have skipped Innoventions due to time many trips....but I think there alot of cool things in there...I personally skip Mission Space (though I told DH I'd do the green side ONLY w/ him next yr during our anni trip...since I'll be "ditching" home several times for the thrill rides I also don't mind skipping Malestrom in Norway or the movies...but would like to see them w/out kids in tow

DHS...all for skipping the Animation Tour "talk" but love going inside to find the characters and let the kids look at the computer stations...I will skip the afternoon parade and have never seen the Stunt action show (although Nathan would love to, time wise it just never works for us. We also generally skip the Backlot Tour but will do it this upcoming trip

AK...I plan on skipping the Train to the Conservation station this trip and we don't always do the 3 shows

I am hoping to get thoughts from you all on navigating around the World.

Specific questions I have:
--how easy is it to drive from park to park?
--have any issues parking before at the parks or other resorts?
--should we drive to the parks the mornings we have ADRs? I am leaning towards this as I do not want to be late.

I wish I could help you on this...the only time we drove was w/out kids in '95 and once there we just used Disney transportation but didn't really have any TS ressies....


I like your thoughts...I guess just give it a try and you may have to tweak it as you go...also look on the transportation boards

J~

 

[Charlefours]

Driving Day 1

This time next month, we will be on our first leg of our drive. We will be leaving our home in Michigan to drive to my Dad’s home to stay the night (and pick him up for the next day).

Here are our plans for Driving Day 1:

Wednesday, September 8th we will have the car completely packed up, besides last minute toiletries, pillows and snacks. We hope to be on the road between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. Ugh! I know it will be an EARLY morning but we are leaving at that time so we can get to my Dad’s at a decent time and so we will all be tired to go to bed early this evening. We will be getting up early on Friday too.

If we leave by 4:00 a.m., we should be to my Dad’s about 2:00 p.m. with stops. Along the drive down, we will stop for lunch and at rest areas to stretch our legs. I'm sure we will stop for coffee as well.

My Dad works from 4:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. so he will head off to work shortly after we get there. We will eat dinner, play and relax before an early bedtime. If Lilian is wired, one of us will stay up with her and sleep in the car for the first part of the drive. Whichever one of us gets the most sleep, will start the drive down to Georgia.

Tomorrow is our actual 30 days so I will be back with Driving Day 2 plans as well as begin my countdown here on DIS!!!!

 

[jenny105]

I've never had a problem driving anywhere in WDW. We relied on bus transportation completely last year and it almost made us late for our Hoop Dee Do. It took us over an hour to get there! Definitely drive to your ADRs if they aren't in the park.