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

[-Hope-]

ONE MONTH!!!

I love that your giving us a day by day break down of what you'll be doing in one month. I may have to steal that for my PTR.

 

[Charlefours]

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.

Thanks Jenny for the feedback. I am not sure if we will drive ALL the time but to the morning ADRs and when we are going from our resort to another resort so we do not have to leave as early.

 

[Charlefours]

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 Totally outdated!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

Yup, I love how you can tailor a Disney vacation to work for most any family's preferences.

We would use the autotrain too, but it is not convenient for us to use it. I don't want to drive our whole vacation (especially after the drive down) but I am a bit worried about the mornings and all the time it takes to transfer from resort to resort. Those times, I think we will drive.

 

[Charlefours]

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.

I cannot say I really want to drive everywhere (I don't and we won't) but I am obsessing over the mornings we have ADRs. I'm not sure quite what you mean about telling the bus drive where you want to go.

I had read that the buses are out an hour and half before the parks open for early ADRs and such but I am afraid we will miss them or not come at all.

 

[Charlefours]

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.

Good to know about GF's parking. I'm not sure if we will valet or not, so I guess if we are running behind we will.

 

[Charlefours]

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!

Too bad we don't have the luxury of the monorail or boat. Oh well, save that for another trip...

 

[Charlefours]

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).

Good to know Kathy! I am glad to have someone say how they navigated the MK situation. Ferry Boat from TTC to the park--I will remember that.

 

[Charlefours]

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!

I think we are honestly just going to have to wait to see how the buses behave from CSR. Then from there, make our decisions.

 

[Charlefours]

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 station this trip and we don't always do the 3 shows


We have do the CoP, we did last time and I thought it was interesting. It is a great place to cool off during the hot weather too. Not planning on riding MS either in EP--not for me. I also do not picture using doing the conservation station either.


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~

I think the only way I will be able to is to decide on case by case basis. Though I am pretty sure we will drive to the other resorts, since we will be traveling from CSR. Just seems like too much of a hassle to bounce around to get to another resort.

 

[Charlefours]

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.

I am definitely anticipating driving to the other resorts because it just seems easier (and less time consuming) than using WDW transportation.

Early morning ADRs...might try one and see how it goes.

 

[Charlefours]

ONE MONTH!!!

I love that your giving us a day by day break down of what you'll be doing in one month. I may have to steal that for my PTR.

Go right ahead

 

[Charlefours]

It is 30 DAYS until we leave for Disney today!!!!!

In honor of our countdown hitting 30 days, I would like to begin my countdown on DIS. During this countdown, I plan on highlighting what I am looking forward to on our upcoming trip. These will be presented in no particular order, but all mean something to me. Without further ado, here is the first thing on my list:

30. Coronado Springs Resort!!

While we enjoyed our stay at POFQ, I am looking forward to trying something new. The rooms have been remodeled recently and have queen beds—which will be nice! The pool looks exciting and gorgeous. We are looking forward to having time to just hang out at the pool throughout the week.

Detail Tour of CSR

And some beautiful pictures, courtesy of AllEars:

The Lobby and Fountain

The Rooms

The Pool and Slide

The Playground

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Woo Hoo for 30 days

 

[Charlefours]

This time next month, Friday September 9th, we will be on our way to Georgia. Having rested after arriving at my Dad’s, I hope we will be well-rested for our drive down to Georgia. My Dad will get home around 3:00 a.m., and then he will want to get cleaned up. I hope to be up prior to him getting home so I can get showered but that might depend on how sleeping goes the night before. I imagine I am going to be so excited and anxious that I will not sleep so well, but with getting up so early the day before perhaps I will.

Driving Day Two:

Goal is to be on the road no later than 4:00 a.m. My favorite donut place in my hometown does not open until 5:00 a.m. We will have to debate on Thursday if we are going to pick up donuts for the next day or if we will pass on them.

I have booked hotel rooms at Hampton Inn and Suites in Valdosta/Lake Park, GA. It is about 11 hours to drive down to there. I know it will be a long drive, but getting going in the morning as early as want should help. We will stop as needed, but hopefully we will be there around 7:00 p.m. which allow for about three hours of stops. Not a whole lot, but I am banking on Lilian going back to sleep when we leave, hopefully for about three to four hours before wanting to wake up at around her normal time.

DFIL, DMIL and DBIL will be checking into the same hotel (I booked their room too). Their drive will be different from ours as they are traveling via Knoxville. They have a bit of a shorter drive than we will, so I hope we end up into the hotel around the same time. If possible, we will eat dinner together and call it a night!

Our plan is to have a smaller suitcase for these last two days. The van will stay packed with our bigger suitcase and Lilian’s suitcase and the rest of the things. We will, obviously, be carrying our toiletries in and out, but that will not be bad.

The next day we will get up early and drive to DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Charlefours]

Woo Hoo for 30 days

Thanks Sophia!!!!!!!

 

[KatMark]

Well, I would put in 30 dancing men...but we are limited on the number of smilies we can use. So I'll just say:

for 30 days

 

[lexmas]

Wow, 30 days is starting to sound short! I love "what you'll be doing" and the insights to the exciting things. That playground looks like so much fun! That is a very long drive, but as long as everyone is happy in the car, it won't be too bad. Going back won't be fun, but at least going down you'll know that you'll be at disney soon!

 

[dismagiclover]

Love all the CSR pictures! I"m excited to hear your report from there.

 

[BabyEeyore]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!! ONLY 30 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!



And I adore the idea to post something you're looking forward to for this last month. You know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? You wouldn't mind if I flattered you by doing this in my PTR, would you?




No, really, would you mind?

 

[MommyMcQueen]

Congrats on 30 Days!!!

CSR looks REALLY nice! Love the theming of it and the rooms look beautiful. Hmmm..maybe have to think about going there for our next trip!

Hope your 11 hour drive goes well! You made me chuckle when you mentioned that you hope Lilian will fall back asleep early in the morining. We had a similar hope when we drove to Mall of America 2 years ago - we left at like 4am and we too hoped the kids would fall asleep in the car until like 7-8am. No Luck with that...even though it was dark out and car rides usually helped them sleep, they were wide awake the whole time. Got tired enough to nap when we arrived though...

Karen