January 2013

[ImaDVCwannabe]

We did it for the first time last month and it was WONDERFUL! Everyone in my family said it was the best thing we did, the view was great, the food was great, and my Dad had said that it was worth the money just for the view and not be packed in with tons of other people during the fireworks. Even my DH who has a gluten allergy was well taken care of there.

The Buffet

Our view (without a zoom)

the fireworks

Below is the special plate that they brought out for him, filled with delicious GF goodies!

ETA: Word of warning this is not a great place to see the Electrical Parade. If this is something you want to see, make plans for another day to see it on the parade route.

Thanks for the great info. One last question. Are there places to sit or do you stand for the show?

Thanks again

 

[readytogotodisney]

Thanks for the great info. One last question. Are there places to sit or do you stand for the show?

Thanks again

When you enter the dessert party there will be a table with your families name on it, so there are assigned seats. After everyone eats, most will stand next to the railing for Magic, Memories and You show and the fireworks. If you do continue to sit your view will be blocked.

Plus there is an overhang to protect you from the weather and the table and chairs are set back about 10 ft from that railing.
I'm not sure how much of the fireworks you'd really see between those two things.

But I did want to say too, that the people along the railing, it's not crowded really. Everyone is pretty much lined up next to one another, it's not 5 or 6 people deep.

There is also a photopass photographer there during the whole thing. I'm excited to get our photopass CD in the next few weeks. When I do I can share some of those pictures as well.

 

[Faithful_Tink]

Wow, it's really hopping over here already! Lots of us excited and planning away...love it! Can you add us to the list? We'll be there Jan 5 - Feb 2 to celebrate 2 birthdays - oldest son will turn 10 and youngest will turn 3! We'll be staying offsite in Reunion.

Excited to start planning with everyone!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Wow, it's really hopping over here already! Lots of us excited and planning away...love it! Can you add us to the list? We'll be there Jan 5 - Feb 2 to celebrate 2 birthdays - oldest son will turn 10 and youngest will turn 3! We'll be staying offsite in Reunion.

Excited to start planning with everyone!

& added

Sounds like your going to have a great trip!! There are several of us celebrating birthdays on our trips. We are celebrating mine and our youngest DS's birthdays.

Jan 5 - Feb 2, your going to be there for almost a month. That's the kind of WDW trip I want.

Also, if you want (you don't have to) we have a secret FB group. It will just make it easier for us to give live updates to each other while we're in the parks.

 

[Faithful_Tink]

& added

Sounds like your going to have a great trip!! There are several of us celebrating birthdays on our trips. We are celebrating mine and our youngest DS's birthdays.

Jan 5 - Feb 2, your going to be there for almost a month. That's the kind of WDW trip I want.

Also, if you want (you don't have to) we have a secret FB group. It will just make it easier for us to give live updates to each other while we're in the parks.

Thanks!! Definitely the perfect place to celebrate birthdays!!

A 4 week vacation definitely wasn't in our plans or budget but when my parents offered to let us stay at their rental (at no charge to us), the impossible suddenly became possible!

Thanks for letting me know at the FB page, I'll have to check it out!!!

 

[Cin]

Hi Hi Hi!
Oh my goodness, page 15 already?!!! I thought I was the ONLY early planner for 2013. LOL, joining in too. For now I am hoping/planning on a late Jan 2013 trip.
I have pretty much gotten the hardest stuff figured out, choosing a resort and dining, based on previous experience. Now it's just a matter of time and money.
I LOVED my January trip so much this last time that now I am convinced it it THE BEST TIME to go ever. We didn't do fast passes and all waits were minimal to none.
I am sooo hoping for free dining next Jan!
I'm hoping for ADR's at:
Akershus
California Grill
'Ohana
Captain's Grill
Le Cellier
Chef's de France
Rose & Crown
Boma
Liberty Tree Tavern
Biergarten
Hubs is gonna love the giant beer in Biergarten. Did you see the size of that thing?!!!! Scary big. It's like a pitcher with a handle, stein shaped.

 

[ImaDVCwannabe]

When you enter the dessert party there will be a table with your families name on it, so there are assigned seats. After everyone eats, most will stand next to the railing for Magic, Memories and You show and the fireworks. If you do continue to sit your view will be blocked.

Plus there is an overhang to protect you from the weather and the table and chairs are set back about 10 ft from that railing.
I'm not sure how much of the fireworks you'd really see between those two things.

But I did want to say too, that the people along the railing, it's not crowded really. Everyone is pretty much lined up next to one another, it's not 5 or 6 people deep.

There is also a photopass photographer there during the whole thing. I'm excited to get our photopass CD in the next few weeks. When I do I can share some of those pictures as well.

Great!! I think this will really help with my DH's hesitation. He was really worried that the kids wouldnt make it if they had to stand for the whole thing. So getting to sit down and enjoy their desserts before the fireworks will be nice and then having less people to contend with during the show will be awesome. Thank you so much for sharing this info. Once you get your photopass CD yes I would love to see the pics. Again thanks your awesome

 

[ImaDVCwannabe]

Only 20 more days and I'll be in single digit months. I'm so excited

 

[letthewookiewin]

Thanks!! Definitely the perfect place to celebrate birthdays!!

A 4 week vacation definitely wasn't in our plans or budget but when my parents offered to let us stay at their rental (at no charge to us), the impossible suddenly became possible!

Thanks for letting me know at the FB page, I'll have to check it out!!!

4 weeks at WDW sound amazing!! The only time of the year we could do that, with the DSs being in school, would be in the summer.

Hi Hi Hi!
Oh my goodness, page 15 already?!!! I thought I was the ONLY early planner for 2013. LOL, joining in too. For now I am hoping/planning on a late Jan 2013 trip.
I have pretty much gotten the hardest stuff figured out, choosing a resort and dining, based on previous experience. Now it's just a matter of time and money.
I LOVED my January trip so much this last time that now I am convinced it it THE BEST TIME to go ever. We didn't do fast passes and all waits were minimal to none.
I am sooo hoping for free dining next Jan!
I'm hoping for ADR's at:
Akershus
California Grill
'Ohana
Captain's Grill
Le Cellier
Chef's de France
Rose & Crown
Boma
Liberty Tree Tavern
Biergarten
Hubs is gonna love the giant beer in Biergarten. Did you see the size of that thing?!!!! Scary big. It's like a pitcher with a handle, stein shaped.

Sounds like you have some good ADRs planned. I thought I had mine all set for our June trip, and then I noticed that I don't have 'Ohana. The only way I can fit it in, is to get rid of T-Rex.

Only 20 more days and I'll be in single digit months. I'm so excited

Us too!!

 

[Faithful_Tink]

I am sooo hoping for free dining next Jan!
I'm hoping for ADR's at:
Akershus
California Grill
'Ohana
Captain's Grill
Le Cellier
Chef's de France
Rose & Crown
Boma
Liberty Tree Tavern
Biergarten
Hubs is gonna love the giant beer in Biergarten. Did you see the size of that thing?!!!! Scary big. It's like a pitcher with a handle, stein shaped.

Great ADRs!! And yes, DH and I have enjoyed those pitchers from Biergarten.

4 weeks at WDW sound amazing!! The only time of the year we could do that, with the DSs being in school, would be in the summer.

It will be a nice benefit to homeschooling!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Great ADRs!! And yes, DH and I have enjoyed those pitchers from Biergarten.



It will be a nice benefit to homeschooling!

Very true, but I just could never homeschool my DSs. I would end up in a paddy room of the nearest mental institution. I worked with a lady that her aunt homeschooled her children. She loved how, what ever they were learning about at the time (of course with in reason) they would take trips based on it. Like, when they were learning about the Civil War, they took a trip to Gettysburg. I saw her just before Christmas and she is homeschooling her children now. I don't see how she is doing it. Her oldest are about the age of mine (13 & 14). Plus now they have a new little girl that is less than 2 years old.

 

[UndercoverMama]

Only 20 more days and I'll be in single digit months. I'm so excited

I like the way you think, much more exciting

 

[ImaDVCwannabe]

I like the way you think, much more exciting

Totally I will make the numbers look better any way I can

 

[letthewookiewin]

Totally I will make the numbers look better any way I can

What I like to do when I have a countdown is to celebrate every time my countdown gets smaller by 25 days.

We are having a great weekend!! Friday night we got our taxes done. For a bit, we thought we were going to have to pay $3,500. Nope, we are getting that back. My DH and I almost passed out. I actually had to go to the bathroom and splash water on my face. Well once H&R Block takes their fees out, we're getting about $3,100. Our June trip, with DlxDDP and staying at the Pop only has $3,000 left to pay it off. It looks like we're going to WDW for sure in June!!! After the taxes, the DH and I had a date night and went to the Cheesecake Factory and had some great chicken and shrimp gumbo and then saw "The Lady in Black". Then today, we went and looked at the minivan, and my DH let me get it. It's a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country that only had 1 owner and 45K miles. I love it!! I always name my cars, and named this one Audrey. Chrysler makes me think of the Chrysler building in New York city, which makes me think of New York. That made me think of movies made in New York, which leads me to one of my favorite movies "Breakfast at Tiffany's". On the movie posters for that movie, Audrey Hepburn is wearing a black dress. So, the car is named Audrey. I told the DH that I had thought about naming it Elvira, but decided against it. If it was a black Mustang convertable, it would totally be Elvira.

 

[Diegosmom]

I think I am joining in lol...

We just did our first family trip to Disney in Jan and had an amazing time...We loved it. DH says he wants to go back but not until DS is 7 or 8...he is currently 4 (almost 5) and we would probably go back in Jan so that is like 3 years...DS and I talked and decided that was unacceptable lol...we want to go back NOW...lol...Hubby is not a huge vacation person and DS and I have gone and done things without him so hubby would be totally fine with us taking our own trip...So DS and I want to go back in Jan. We have invited my sister but Jan is not a good time for her for work so she decided Oct would be better...Food and Wine ...nice we can do that but that means 20 months away...yeah still too far away for DS and I lol...so I think we might do 2 trips next year ...1 in Jan and 1 in Oct.

Dates will be determined by DS school schedule. We have applied for our year round school option. If he gets in to that he will have an extra week off in Jan (after new years) and will also get first 2 weeks in Oct. So we would pick when he has that time off...If he doesnt get in to the year round school (or he gets into the magnet that we applied for) then I will pull him out of school and we will do prob last week of jan and then sometime in oct (probably beginning) or possible beginning of Nov (food and wine and maybe a Christmas party). I am ok pulling him out twice because it will actually be 2 different school years...

If we do end up doing the 2 trips then we might end up buying annual passes but that might mess up free dining (if it is offered) although we could do free dinning in Jan and then upgrade at end of trip to annual passes but then when sissy comes no free dining (of course if it is offered) and we would love to use our snack credits for food and wine)...another idea was YES tickets for 1 or both trips. I know DS would love it and makes tix prices very nice...

We drove this last time but if it is just DS and I we might fly instead...or fly for Jan and then drive for oct...

Ok so as you can see no solid plans lol...but I'm in...

 

[readytogotodisney]

Ok so as you can see no solid plans lol...but I'm in...

Yay for another January trip planner! And two trips none the less! Lucky, I've always wanted to do F&W festival, but we always go in January!
Maybe sometimes down the road I'll get to go.

 

[Marshay]

I think I am joining in lol...

We just did our first family trip to Disney in Jan and had an amazing time...We loved it. DH says he wants to go back but not until DS is 7 or 8...he is currently 4 (almost 5) and we would probably go back in Jan so that is like 3 years...DS and I talked and decided that was unacceptable lol...we want to go back NOW...lol...Hubby is not a huge vacation person and DS and I have gone and done things without him so hubby would be totally fine with us taking our own trip...So DS and I want to go back in Jan. We have invited my sister but Jan is not a good time for her for work so she decided Oct would be better...Food and Wine ...nice we can do that but that means 20 months away...yeah still too far away for DS and I lol...so I think we might do 2 trips next year ...1 in Jan and 1 in Oct.

Dates will be determined by DS school schedule. We have applied for our year round school option. If he gets in to that he will have an extra week off in Jan (after new years) and will also get first 2 weeks in Oct. So we would pick when he has that time off...If he doesnt get in to the year round school (or he gets into the magnet that we applied for) then I will pull him out of school and we will do prob last week of jan and then sometime in oct (probably beginning) or possible beginning of Nov (food and wine and maybe a Christmas party). I am ok pulling him out twice because it will actually be 2 different school years...

If we do end up doing the 2 trips then we might end up buying annual passes but that might mess up free dining (if it is offered) although we could do free dinning in Jan and then upgrade at end of trip to annual passes but then when sissy comes no free dining (of course if it is offered) and we would love to use our snack credits for food and wine)...another idea was YES tickets for 1 or both trips. I know DS would love it and makes tix prices very nice...

We drove this last time but if it is just DS and I we might fly instead...or fly for Jan and then drive for oct...

Ok so as you can see no solid plans lol...but I'm in...

Hey, Diesgosmom!! Saw you in the Jan 2012 thread.

DH and I were so pleasantly excited about our Jan trip (of course the unusually warm weather helped a lot) that we are now even more excited about Jan 2013!!

I think January is the secret best time to go!!

 

[letthewookiewin]

I think I am joining in lol...

We just did our first family trip to Disney in Jan and had an amazing time...We loved it. DH says he wants to go back but not until DS is 7 or 8...he is currently 4 (almost 5) and we would probably go back in Jan so that is like 3 years...DS and I talked and decided that was unacceptable lol...we want to go back NOW...lol...Hubby is not a huge vacation person and DS and I have gone and done things without him so hubby would be totally fine with us taking our own trip...So DS and I want to go back in Jan. We have invited my sister but Jan is not a good time for her for work so she decided Oct would be better...Food and Wine ...nice we can do that but that means 20 months away...yeah still too far away for DS and I lol...so I think we might do 2 trips next year ...1 in Jan and 1 in Oct.

Dates will be determined by DS school schedule. We have applied for our year round school option. If he gets in to that he will have an extra week off in Jan (after new years) and will also get first 2 weeks in Oct. So we would pick when he has that time off...If he doesnt get in to the year round school (or he gets into the magnet that we applied for) then I will pull him out of school and we will do prob last week of jan and then sometime in oct (probably beginning) or possible beginning of Nov (food and wine and maybe a Christmas party). I am ok pulling him out twice because it will actually be 2 different school years...

If we do end up doing the 2 trips then we might end up buying annual passes but that might mess up free dining (if it is offered) although we could do free dinning in Jan and then upgrade at end of trip to annual passes but then when sissy comes no free dining (of course if it is offered) and we would love to use our snack credits for food and wine)...another idea was YES tickets for 1 or both trips. I know DS would love it and makes tix prices very nice...

We drove this last time but if it is just DS and I we might fly instead...or fly for Jan and then drive for oct...

Ok so as you can see no solid plans lol...but I'm in...

& added. I put you in the undecided with Cin. I promise it's not the notty-corner. Just a place to put ya until you have decided on dates.

Our last trip was in October and we loved it!! We didn't visit a single F&W booth though.

 

[Hermacdady]

Update! So I bought 5 plane tickets this weekend for jan 5-12 to Orlando! Four for me, my wife, son and daughter. And one for my sister who is paying me back. Only 280 a ticket! The next day they went up to 330, so already getting some Disney magic! I have already gotten approved for time off work also, so now just waiting for our dates to be able to book our hotel. P.S. we are staying at All Star Music!

 

[DVCMAUREEN]

I can't wait for my next trip to WDW! As of right now, I'm booked at BWV 1/11-1/17. I hope to add 1/9 and 1/10 at VWL, but we'll see what happens at 7 months. Doing the Goofy challenge (1/2 marathon followed by marathon) and looking forward to it. Haven't started thinking about ADRs yet.