2009 Discussion-We'll make time fly by!

[arkansas mom]

Arkansas Mom -- I'm tempted to go without DH sometime too .... but don't know if I have the heart to do it. It wouldn't be a true "family" vacation without him .... but .... sometimes I think it would just be easier than having to deal with his grumpiness at times! Maybe someday.......

Maddie2, The first time we went w/o him, I cried for about half a minute when he dropped us off at the airport and then he went on to work. But honestly, he isn't happy there (at WDW). And he knows we adore it. So it's all good. Heck, we're all together 50.5 other weeks in the year!

I have a grumpy as well but he does love Disney . I am going with my two girls DD12 and DD9 (will be ten by then) in July without him. I get a lot more vacation than he does. At first I was really looking forward to the time way alone with the kids. They are good travellers but now I am thinking it might be a bit lonely. I might have him come for part of the trip if he can't come for all of it.

He is really handy to have around to run for fast passes!

Oh, Candizfan, I'd love it if my DH was a fan. But as long as DS is on board, we're good. We don't get lonely really. We do call DH a couple of times a day and send him text messages and photos. And sometimes at night we'll upload a few photos and email him. I'm sure he's at home thinking, "Thank God they didn't drag me there again and I'm not standing in that long line--but I'm glad they're having a ball!" And I feel like it's "our thing"--DS and me--we share Disney World. He does lots of fun stuff with DH all year, but WDW is our time!

I do miss having a fast pass runner though! At first I missed having him around for a lot of those little things--especially airport stuff. But when they came out with Magical Express, that took care of a lot of "Mom and kid on their own" stresses! That's the thing! Disney World takes such good care of you while you're there with them, it's easy to be on your own!

 

[arkansas mom]

We just got back a few weeks ago and I am so ready to start planning our next trip to WDW. It looks like it will be sometime in 2009 for us too. We are thinking possibly March when DH's school has spring break but won't know dates until the school calendar comes out.

That's the worst!!!! Waiting on other people to get their schedules worked out so you can plan your vacation!!!! Come onnnnnn with the school calendar already! I'm tempted to sit in on a school board meeting in hopes of catching an early glimpse of next year's calendar in the making!!! "Oh look at Lori, so interested in the school goings-on. How civic-minder of her!"

 

[arkansas mom]

OK, I started doing some preliminary itinerary planning today!! That's the fun part!

You win! You're the first to actually post a tentative itinerary! Although, admit it, we've all got one going in our heads!!!!
I think about it when I'm trying to fall asleep! I go through entire days in my mind. Plotting out when we go to which parks, and where we'll eat. I actually start with airport day and work my way through the whole trip. Do I dare put it in writing? How fun! I want to see everyone's "09 Anticipation Itinerary"!!!!!! Seriously, is it too early to sign up for Tour Guide Mike? I love his suggested park days chart--that helps so much with my imaginary itinerary!

 

[candizfan]

candizfan..... I completely know what you mean! You're right about the fast passes, etc. We'll probably fly Allegiant (which lands at Sanford), so we'll have a rental car .... and he IS better at driving in the WDW craziness ..... yes, certainly there ARE reasons to take him along .... maybe I should do a pros/cons list .... J/K!!

All 4 of us will be going in 2009, I was just thinking for future .... since he has already said that 2009 is our (or maybe just "his") last Disney trip.

My Grumpy would go every single time if he could. He does enjoy it. At least he is understanding when I can go but he has to stay.

If your Grumpy says it would be his last trip, did you say "Ah we are going to miss you coming along."

Vacations should be fun and maybe there is some place he wants to go that you don't want to go. I have never understood why people think they always have to go on vacation together for every single trip. That time away can be a good.

 

[sandym718]

You win! You're the first to actually post a tentative itinerary! Although, admit it, we've all got one going in our heads!!!!
I think about it when I'm trying to fall asleep! I go through entire days in my mind. Plotting out when we go to which parks, and where we'll eat. I actually start with airport day and work my way through the whole trip. Do I dare put it in writing? How fun! I want to see everyone's "09 Anticipation Itinerary"!!!!!! Seriously, is it too early to sign up for Tour Guide Mike? I love his suggested park days chart--that helps so much with my imaginary itinerary!

LOL! I think about it when trying to go to sleep too!! I don't know how soon you can sign up for TGM? I thought his park days chart was very helpful also.

LMBO about the school board meeting!!

 

[arkansas mom]

Vacations should be fun and maybe there is some place he wants to go that you don't want to go. I have never understood why people think they always have to go on vacation together for every single trip. That time away can be a good.

Amen, Sista!

 

[arkansas mom]

LOL! I think about it when trying to go to sleep too!! I don't know how soon you can sign up for TGM? I thought his park days chart was very helpful also.

LMBO about the school board meeting!!

I think I might do a little research on behalf of the '09ers. Off to TGM...

 

[candizfan]

I think I might do a little research on behalf of the '09ers. Off to TGM...

I have always been too cheap to sign up for TGM. Enjoy!

 

[arkansas mom]

Well, alrighty, then. You can sign up as soon as you decide to go. And so I did!
I love me some TourGuideMike! What a catch he would be for some Disney Lovin' girl. Of course he's probably already married, or partnered, or whatever.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Here is our rough schedule for September 12 - 22, 2009

Sun - MGM
Mon - MK
Tues - Epcot
Wed - AK
Thurs - MGM
Fri - MK (hopefully MNSSHP)
Sat - AK
Sun - Epcot
Mon - MK

Meals:
Liberty Tree Tavern
Crystal Palace
CRT
Garden Grill
San Angel Inn
50's Prime Time
Sci-Fi
Chef Mickeys
Tusker House - Breakfast


Thats a lot of character meals for two adults I know but we love them!

 

[Micka Mouse]

I have always been too cheap to sign up for TGM. Enjoy!

okay, explain.....who/what is Tour Guide Mike, and what are we paying for ? Lots of money or a little bit? Worth it?

Am I EVER going to get all this down? I learn something new every day !!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Well, we thought we were going with my parents this October. Now we will have to wait until October of 09. How do I do it? OK, the benefits are that I have longer to save, therefore we can stay a couple of extra days and do a deluxe. It is just sooooooo far away. Anyone else feeling like this these days, or have you already gotten passed it and are excited to be going??

 

[Micka Mouse]

Anyone planning on July '09? {{{C'mon Sandy, you know you want to change your dates }}}

I've settled in for a night of planning. We have a storm coming in late tonight til tomorrow am, so no school for me! If I could nail down how many days we're going to spend visiting DH's dad, then I could figure out what we're going to do when.

I would really like to do this: Leave on July 6 {{{dates are very flexible}}}, get to Madeira Beach on the 7th to visit DH's dad, and stay for 4 days. Leave for Orlando on the 11, and stop at Sea World before we check in at poly. Do you think that's feasible? Is Sea World more of a whole day thing? Or can we get away with 5 hours (or less...dh will be tired). Maybe we can go to Sea World during our stay. Is there a bus that takes you there? 5 days seems enough to do the parks and Sea World, no?

I talk too much! My actual question is this: How much time do you spend at Sea World?

Coming up next: Dining "MUST'S" {where you just HAVE to dine}

 

[sandym718]

I'm no help at all with Sea World, I've never been to that one. We used to have one here near Cleveland, and you could definitely do most everything in 5 or so hours, but I think the Orlando one is different!

Now, dining, I can sure chat about, LOL!!

No July for us, we'll be in full t-ball swing then, plus enjoying the short time of nice weather we actually get here, LOL!

 

[POOHLUV69]

I think we're still sticking with Aug 2009. I did get the 40% email for several dates this year. Too bad we won't be able to use them, here's to hoping for next year.

 

[arkansas mom]

okay, explain.....who/what is Tour Guide Mike, and what are we paying for ? Lots of money or a little bit? Worth it?

Am I EVER going to get all this down? I learn something new every day !!

Basically, he's a tour guide. He makes a living escorting people (who must be wealthy!) around WDW. He knows the place inside and out and has studied the patterns of attendance and developed a system for beating the crowds.
He claims that even if you go during the busiest season, follow his plan and you'll have minimal wait times. This is the plan he sells at the website. It costs about $20-$25.
You sign up. Plug in your dates and what you want to do. It offers up info on what's going on at that time and then--the part I love--it gives you specific suggestions on what parks to visit on which days during your stay. It will actually give exact dates and why you should and should not visit each park. It ranks the parks from his first suggestion for a particular day to the one you should avoid at all costs on a particular day. The reasoning behind each suggestion always makes sense.
In my experience (I've used him 4 times now) he's always right! It makes it a no-brainer for me to look at his charts and say, "Hmmm. Looks like this is the day we should do MK with an evening at MGM. This day we'll do Blizzard Beach and then...". And then I plan out ADR's around that.
He releases the dates about 4-6 months out I believe. Could be wrong. He looks at all the info such as park hours, EMH's, historical patterns...
If you use the link (ad) at the top of the parks board you'll get a discount!

 

[arkansas mom]

Well, we thought we were going with my parents this October. Now we will have to wait until October of 09. How do I do it? OK, the benefits are that I have longer to save, therefore we can stay a couple of extra days and do a deluxe. It is just sooooooo far away. Anyone else feeling like this these days, or have you already gotten passed it and are excited to be going??

I'm past that. I have little twinges of it now and then. But then I think about all the time I have to plan. In my opinion, that's part of the fun! DS and I spent an hour talking about it when I put him in bed last night. That's the best!

 

[Maddie2]

My actual question is this: How much time do you spend at Sea World?

We went to Sea World last April and DS9 LOVED it! 5 hours would not have been enough for us, he wanted to see EVERYTHING. There are lots of great shows and plenty of exhibits, etc to see, as well as a few rides (not a ton). One day was enough -- unless you also plan to go to Discovery Cove.

Arkansas Mom ..... in talking with my DHGrumpy, it looks like he may spend 6-7 days with us in WDW and then the boys and I will stay an additional 4-5 days. Sounds like a win-win situation to me! The planner in me wants to sketch it all out -- whereas he has already said "that we wouldn't be spending the next 12 months talking about it" !!! Can you believe that? Good thing I have all of you here to plan and talk about it with!!

mickey2minnie1 --- I feel your pain! I am sorry that your trip is being postponed, but like you said, now you'll have more time to save $$ and that always makes things go better! I know that it's difficult to psyche yourself into that though. I love coming to these boards, but sometimes I think it makes it all the more difficult to wait when you read about all the fun everyone else is having! Know what I mean?

Mrs Grumpy (hey, that should be MY name!) -- your schedule looks great! Fun, fun, fun!

Has anyone ever gone in January or February? I've read about some of the attraction closings for refurbishments -- that certainly is a drawback for going off-season. Some of our favorites are closed right now and likely would be next January as well, I am guessing. Maybe if we overlap into February, some of them would be reopened by then?

POOHLUV69 -- Lucky you to have received a code!!! Oh, I WISH we would get one!!

 

[katieloubear]

We are planning for October of 2009...I just got off the phone with the disney rep and he said could start actaully booking 499 days out....

 

[arkansas mom]

Here's what I'm thinking about booking early...
If you book early,won't that keep you from getting any codes mailed or emailed to you? If they already know you're going, why would they send you a code?
On the other hand, I wanna book NOW!!!!!!!!