Strangely Cold Feet? (Speaking Metaphorically)

[LaWa]

Originally Posted by DizneyNutz

Definately stay with the WL in December. We have stayed there 4 times in December and will be back in 3 weeks. We love having our own vehicle (personal or rental) at our disposal, but I will say our first trip we parked our vehicle upon arrival and never started it again until we left. So for your first trip you will probably want to rely on Disney transportation once you get on site. We have never used ME so I can't really comment on that. I know you are going to love it.

Multi-quotes are easy. On the bottom of the thread you are quoting where you hit the quote button, hit the button to the right of quote instead (multi quote) and then go to the next thread and do the same thing. On the last thread you want to include hit the quote button and when it comes up they should all be included.

Thank you so much for the tip! I think I got it now. (Only takes me a few times to learn something new.)

I do think we'll just rely on Disney for transport once we get to our resort. My dh's family is all down in Florida. Besides my inlaws will have to drive to us if they want to see us!! I think we will pass on the ME. When I get to the airport, I just want to go. With my luck, we'll be waiting forever for a bus. Can you PM me your car service info?

Originally Posted by sherry8253

Lawa it sounds like you have made an excellent choice for you first disney trip. You will love the WL, especially during the holidays. We visit the WL everytime we go to Disney and when we enter the lobby I always ask my DH why didn't we just stay here. I think they have a flag family each day. It may be something your family would enjoy doing. From what I have read, you can ask if there is an opening for one of your days when you check in. If you are interested, hopefully someone here on the boards will have some details for you. Wishing you and you family a super great trip.

I've heard about the flag family. We're very patriotic, and it would be a great experience for my kids to have. I also hear the view from the roof is really nice. I love sitting in hotel lobbies and reading. I hope to do that frequently during my trip. Also just staring at the Christmas tree is fun. That and we're hoping for some pool time. That would truly be magical.

I do hope to do a trip report. I'll keep Cold Feet in the title so you can find it if you want.

Thanks to everyone for the support and encouragement. This Disney thing is quite an adventure.

[tinkerdorabelle]

Originally Posted by dreambound

FYI, I've gone 1st week in December twice now. Worried myself silly about crowds twice. But I used TGM and UG's crowd calendar, with very loose touring plans. VERY loose. Walked on everything, Fastpassed the rest (and those waits were never very long unless it was midday, and even then, it was only Test Track, Soarin, and Splash Mountain that had waits of about 30 min.)

Oh, and each year there were reasons to be worried, including fully-booked resorts. Well, it sure didn't show in the parks! We had a fantastic time. You will too!

Meg

How was the weather that time of year? We'll be heading down second week of Dec this yr first time that time of yr. Can't wait to see all the X-mas decorations.

[DizneyNutz]

Originally Posted by tinkerdorabelle

How was the weather that time of year? We'll be heading down second week of Dec this yr first time that time of yr. Can't wait to see all the X-mas decorations.

This wasn't quoted to us, but I will give you our input since we have been there several years in a row at this time. We have learned that you MUST plan for both warm and cold weather depending on what mother nature throws at you! We have arrived for a 5 night stay and it be 84 degrees upon arrival in the early morning and experience it being 34 degrees the morning of our departure. So I would suggest looking at the long range forecast before leaving your destination, because it is entirely possible you may need some cold weather clothes even being in Florida.

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

You are going at the MOST Magical time of year. Since you all have never been, I can relate. I planned our first trip (1997) while DH was doing a military tour of duty in Bosnia. When he came home on leave we went to the World and it was amazing. I was so nervous because I had planned for so long. Now there is so much more info available to us out here. Keep reading these boards. They have helped me grown and discover new things about WDW. WL is my absolute favorite resort. Stayed there once with my mom. The tree is amazing, and look at the schedule for children's activities, and if the group is there doing holiday carols with handbells it is a fantastic show! I go to the World every year so I typically stay at the values or at SOG since DH is active duty military. I always try to see what discounts are offered. I do hope to stay at WL again someday though because I think it is the best. If you are spending an evening at the hotel be sure to go down to the beach area to see the Electric Light Pageant that goes by around 9 or 9:30 pm each night. The festivities, lights, snow on Main Street, and snow at DHS for the Osborne Spectacle of Lights. So much to see and do. Just remember that you can always go back because it is truly impossible to do it all in one trip. Good luck and have a wonderful time.

[dkbnyc]

i'd ditch the town car and go with ME. Keep your room at WL

[dreambound]

Originally Posted by tinkerdorabelle

How was the weather that time of year? We'll be heading down second week of Dec this yr first time that time of yr. Can't wait to see all the X-mas decorations.

Fabulous but all over the place. We were able to swim when we arrived, and the nighttime temps dipped into the 30's on our last two nights. MVMCP was VERY Christmassy! On our second trip, we camped for part of it, so we were in the 30's in tents at Fort Wilderness in the 30's! We tend to have long trips (9-13 days) so we start out warm and get colder as it goes.

Packing for that time of year is tricky (which is why I love villas...washer and dryer in the room!) We wore everything from shorts to winter jackets.

Layers are best! MOST days we needed hoodies in the morning and then by midday we were in shorts and tees, then as the evening wore on we'd put our long sleeved shirts and hoodies back on.

I actually love the temperature variations that time of year because we get the best of both worlds...crisp Dec. nights for a Christmas atmosphere, and warmer temps for a Florida vacation.

Meg

[portocall]

Not just you at all. I have been doing the same type things down to thinking of cancelling the trip. Thankfully, we are going with another family so the fact that I didn't want to let them down kept me from doing anything crazy. Now, two weeks out, I am excited, overwhelmed with the amount to do to get ready, but excited. Hope you find the same happens to you. For me, it just didn't seem real until the Disney Mail finally arrived last week.

[patsfan101]

There are so many great options that I totally understand your nervoulness! Personally, we love having the towncar rather than DME, and its not a lot of money. We never do park hoppers, but others always do hoppers. The more you ask, the more different opinions you will get!

Go with what you've already decided, then amybe do something differently next time! (Yes, there will be a next time, we ALL proof of that )

[thesupersmartguy]

Hi LaWa,

Congratulations on your first trip! Wherevere you stay, however you get there it will still be a Magical trip. I have visited Disney more times then I can count, and tried just about everything in the book and I will say you have planned out the ideal trip. WL is beautiful this time of year, as is the GF and AKL. Keep the Town Car, I have used both ME and a Town Car before and the TC does get you there faster and stress free. As far as tickets go, if you plan on spending the whole day in 1 park, PH is useless.

Thanks for sharing.

Super.

[LaWa]

Originally Posted by DizneyNutz

This wasn't quoted to us, but I will give you our input since we have been there several years in a row at this time. We have learned that you MUST plan for both warm and cold weather depending on what mother nature throws at you! We have arrived for a 5 night stay and it be 84 degrees upon arrival in the early morning and experience it being 34 degrees the morning of our departure. So I would suggest looking at the long range forecast before leaving your destination, because it is entirely possible you may need some cold weather clothes even being in Florida.

Thanks, DizneyNutz! We will pack well. We will be coming from the great white north - Chicago. So we will have some cold gear with us. I just hope it is not unseasonably cold all day. I remember a Christmas in Florida when it was 35 all day. We were so sad. We like layers.

Originally Posted by KSG'sDisneyMem

You are going at the MOST Magical time of year. Since you all have never been, I can relate. I planned our first trip (1997) while DH was doing a military tour of duty in Bosnia. When he came home on leave we went to the World and it was amazing. I was so nervous because I had planned for so long. Now there is so much more info available to us out here. Keep reading these boards. They have helped me grown and discover new things about WDW. WL is my absolute favorite resort. Stayed there once with my mom. The tree is amazing, and look at the schedule for children's activities, and if the group is there doing holiday carols with handbells it is a fantastic show! I go to the World every year so I typically stay at the values or at SOG since DH is active duty military. I always try to see what discounts are offered. I do hope to stay at WL again someday though because I think it is the best. If you are spending an evening at the hotel be sure to go down to the beach area to see the Electric Light Pageant that goes by around 9 or 9:30 pm each night. The festivities, lights, snow on Main Street, and snow at DHS for the Osborne Spectacle of Lights. So much to see and do. Just remember that you can always go back because it is truly impossible to do it all in one trip. Good luck and have a wonderful time.

I have heard such great things about WL. We plan on spending about two days just enjoying the resort. (I say that now - I'll be the one waking the kids up begging to go back to the parks.) And although I keep trying to plan it in, DHS is really tricky to get to. Maybe on a F! free night. I'm dying to do the Tower of Terror. And since everyone keeps telling me, I better be blown away by the Osborne lights.

Originally Posted by dkbnyc

i'd ditch the town car and go with ME. Keep your room at WL

Still up in the air about this one. Actually a family member offered to pick us up and shuttle us to the WL. I think they just want to see the tree.

Thanks all!
LaWa

[LaWa]

Originally Posted by dreambound

Fabulous but all over the place. We were able to swim when we arrived, and the nighttime temps dipped into the 30's on our last two nights. MVMCP was VERY Christmassy! On our second trip, we camped for part of it, so we were in the 30's in tents at Fort Wilderness in the 30's! We tend to have long trips (9-13 days) so we start out warm and get colder as it goes.

Packing for that time of year is tricky (which is why I love villas...washer and dryer in the room!) We wore everything from shorts to winter jackets.

Layers are best! MOST days we needed hoodies in the morning and then by midday we were in shorts and tees, then as the evening wore on we'd put our long sleeved shirts and hoodies back on.

I actually love the temperature variations that time of year because we get the best of both worlds...crisp Dec. nights for a Christmas atmosphere, and warmer temps for a Florida vacation.

Meg

Thanks, Meg! I'll keep an eye on the weather. We have family down around Orlando. They can fill us in too. I love cool weather at night. And anything will be warmer than Chicago at Christmas!

Originally Posted by portocall

Not just you at all. I have been doing the same type things down to thinking of cancelling the trip. Thankfully, we are going with another family so the fact that I didn't want to let them down kept me from doing anything crazy. Now, two weeks out, I am excited, overwhelmed with the amount to do to get ready, but excited. Hope you find the same happens to you. For me, it just didn't seem real until the Disney Mail finally arrived last week.

I really wish my girlfriend was going with her family. Just not in the cards financially. That would be so much fun.
Part of me thinks I should start planning ahead and packing. Like that is going to happen. My dog gets so nervous when we pack it's not even funny to do this to her.

Originally Posted by patsfan101

There are so many great options that I totally understand your nervoulness! Personally, we love having the towncar rather than DME, and its not a lot of money. We never do park hoppers, but others always do hoppers. The more you ask, the more different opinions you will get!

Go with what you've already decided, then amybe do something differently next time! (Yes, there will be a next time, we ALL proof of that )

When you look at all of the choices and decisions you have it is very overwhelming. It will be nice and relaxing to book our second trip to WDW. We'll either want everything the same or change it entirely!

Might swing a family member to pick us up. But who knows? Can you PM me your town car place? I've seen some - I just don't know if they are good.

Originally Posted by thesupersmartguy

Hi LaWa,

Congratulations on your first trip! Wherevere you stay, however you get there it will still be a Magical trip. I have visited Disney more times then I can count, and tried just about everything in the book and I will say you have planned out the ideal trip. WL is beautiful this time of year, as is the GF and AKL. Keep the Town Car, I have used both ME and a Town Car before and the TC does get you there faster and stress free. As far as tickets go, if you plan on spending the whole day in 1 park, PH is useless.

Thanks for sharing.

Super.

Maybe I'll ditch the hoppers to justify the town car. (Don't you get to the point where the amount of money spent just doesn't even matter? What's another $100? I don't mean this to sound crass, but overall, it's a very small amount compared to the total spent.)

If we don't do hoppers, we won't do DHS at all or see Illuminations at night. Does this seem worth it?

Crazy - going crazy.....

LaWa

[katrocity]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who freaks out. We too are doing our first trip with our boys - twins 7 yr old - December at CR. Once I got the date and restort booked, I was fine, but now I'm totally freaked about ADRs and which park which day.

My DH laughs at me and says I need to just let it happen, but I'm a planner and he doesn't understand how crazy it is to try to get the reservations at the restaurants we want. Phew!

Then just our luck the day we wanted to go to MK is the day of the Christmas parade. Uuuuuugh had to switch that all around.

I think I finally almost have all of the ADRs set. THen I just remembered I need to request the room we want. LOL! Aaaaaaah.

: )

Kate