2009 Discussion-We'll make time fly by!

[leahbeth]

Last I heard you could book ADR's through Feb 22. (Can still book Chef Mickeys and CRT and Victoria&Alberts at 180 days)

 

[ty&brenmom]

So how far in advance are the park hours posted? Would the EMH hours be posted at the same time?

Is this usually before prior to the 180 window where you can book your ADRs?

What do you veterans do? Do you wait until park hours / EMH are posted and then plan your ADRS? Or is it the other way around?

I am no where near a veteran, this is only my second trip and when we went in 2007 I waited for the park hours and then made my ADRs, it worked out okay, I think that is what I am going to do this year also, especially since we have to wait until Nov when the new system comes up (I think). The EMH hours are posted at the same time as the park hours (I believe). They are posted sometime around the 6 month mark.
I am going to try to go by Tour Guide Mike's suggestions, except we are going to do EMH's at night (it's so hard to get up in the mornings).
I wish there was some exact answer to this, I have a harder time deciding what time is a good time to made the ADR's for.

 

[Charin]

This is only our second trip, but we used the unofficial guide last time (Oct '07) and swear by it now. Basically, we took our best guess at what the hours would be and which parks would have EMH's, then decided which parks we would visit each day.

We then booked our ADR's based on those decisions. It's inperfect, but we figured we'd rather get ADR's and then reschedule later if our guesses were wrong.

This is basically what we did this time around, and you are right, it worked very well for us, we also used the unofficial guide, I even carried it with me to the parks. I was just wondering if we should try to take advantage as much as possible of morning EMHs (or not) which is something we did not do this time around.... I also would like to try and watch Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic which we (gasp) did not see this time around (we go VERY EARLY to bed so even taking naps and rests midday did not help us at all to keep it up, I know, kind of lame but we love to be in bed by 9:00pm....)

This next trip will be about experiencing things we did not do in the previous one, kind of filling in the holes (while still going to the favorites), and we might venture out to Sea World, Universal and Busch Gardens which is why we are going almost double the time...

Do you usually request buildings, is it a good idea, or should I leave it to "luck"? We did not request buildings at All Sport but were pleased with what we got, I guess because it was close to the parking lot, which is what was important to us at the time... This time around we might want to be closer to at least one of the pools... but we don't want to pay for a preferred room... I don't think we mind the walking that much anyway... ok, I am rambling now... sorry for that...Have a GREAT day.

 

[tikkipoo]

This is basically what we did this time around, and you are right, it worked very well for us, we also used the unofficial guide, I even carried it with me to the parks. I was just wondering if we should try to take advantage as much as possible of morning EMHs (or not) which is something we did not do this time around.... I also would like to try and watch Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic which we (gasp) did not see this time around (we go VERY EARLY to bed so even taking naps and rests midday did not help us at all to keep it up, I know, kind of lame but we love to be in bed by 9:00pm....)

We did EMH the first trip, and not on the second. The second trip I had my touring plans written on cards and got there when the ropes dropped and we got to do just about everything we wanted. Took a nap in the afternoon, went back to the parks for dinner and got to watch Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic. It all worked out very well. Don't know what to tell you about the whole sleep issue. I don't do a lot of that at WDW. Maybe on the nights that you do the special late night things, you could do a late start morning the next day to make up for it.

This next trip will be about experiencing things we did not do in the previous one, kind of filling in the holes (while still going to the favorites), and we might venture out to Sea World, Universal and Busch Gardens which is why we are going almost double the time...

Wow you are brave. I can just barely make it through one set of parks per trip... can't imagine doing both!

Do you usually request buildings, is it a good idea, or should I leave it to "luck"? We did not request buildings at All Sport but were pleased with what we got, I guess because it was close to the parking lot, which is what was important to us at the time... This time around we might want to be closer to at least one of the pools... but we don't want to pay for a preferred room... I don't think we mind the walking that much anyway... ok, I am rambling now... sorry for that...Have a GREAT day.

I figure if you don't really care about the walking, don't request a room. Just leaves it open to dissappointment. You don't want that to start your trip.

 

[Charin]

We did EMH the first trip, and not on the second. The second trip I had my touring plans written on cards and got there when the ropes dropped and we got to do just about everything we wanted. Took a nap in the afternoon, went back to the parks for dinner and got to watch Wishes, Illuminations and Fantasmic. It all worked out very well. Don't know what to tell you about the whole sleep issue. I don't do a lot of that at WDW. Maybe on the nights that you do the special late night things, you could do a late start morning the next day to make up for it.

for sure that could work next year. i think we had the expectation to do both the late nights and the early mornings (even though we just did one morning enh at ak we had three early am character breakfasts) so even with a midday ''break'' (mostly pool and little sleeping for the kiddos) was not enough and we felt ready to go by a certain time. again we plan to do what we missed so if that means getting up later (doing the sleepyhead tours instead) then so be it ! I am just planning on two character breakfasts- one with princesesses (which is best crt or akershus?) and perhaps Crystal Palace and I really think we wil function better if we sleep in just a bit more. let's see.

Wow you are brave. I can just barely make it through one set of parks per trip... can't imagine doing both!

wow, you think it is to much? i hope it isnt but perhaps it is. lets see, we were thinking of doing 4 to 3 days in wdw parks plus 2 days in the waterparks and 1 day in dtd including disney quest. then 1 day universal and 1 to 2 days in sea world. BG we will visit a couple of days earlier or later when we are in Tampa with relatives. so in orlando we have around 9 days of activity but I was seeing it as 6 days of parks and 3 slower days (dtd and waterparks). we plan to spend 10 nights. I guess we will need a week to recuperate afterwards! I guess I will layout the entire plan and share it with dh as well and see what he thinks too.

I figure if you don't really care about the walking, don't request a room. Just leaves it open to dissappointment. You don't want that to start your trip.

that is good advice since we certainly dont want dissapoitment or bad surprises. question- can I request a preferred building even if I am not paying for it? (knowing it will not be guaranteed) or are my chances better if we request a standard room of our preference? what would you recommend in terms of being near the parking lot / pool (any) / elevators?

thanks for your insight!

 

[Hollyster2]

Hi!
We just booked a trip for July 2009. Seems far away, but the planning and anticipation is the part I like the most!

 

[aeronboy]

question- can I request a preferred building even if I am not paying for it? (knowing it will not be guaranteed) or are my chances better if we request a standard room of our preference? what would you recommend in terms of being near the parking lot / pool (any) / elevators?

thanks for your insight!

Personally, I would highlight the fact that your children are young and request a quiet room (they know that this means away from pools, elevators, etc.) as close to the main building as possible. As long as you go in knowing that they will do the best they can, and you are ok with what you get, this should work fine. When we stayed in a family suite last year, we requested a room in a quiet location because the kids were 3 and 6, and that was exactly what we got. No guarantees, but I prefer to let them know my preferences. wait, I just used prefer twice in one sentence. I need more coffee

 

[aeronboy]

OH How I undertand, I have been planning for this trip since before we left Disney in March of 2007 - and now I am under 6 months
Now if only Disney would post the park hours for march

The March hours are finally up!! Check it out at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...alendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=20090301

 

[tikkipoo]

Just got my park maps! I ordered them on Ebay I might be actually getting my ressies this weekend, if DH gets on the ball!

 

[sandym718]

Not going in March, but excited the hours are up.....b/c then May's are that much closer!! !

 

[miprender]

Southwest just posted they will be added airfare from 3/7-5/8 in November. I can't wait that long to see how much my airfare is going to be for Easter vacation. It's killing me.

Glad that the March hours are out. Just have to wait one more month for April.

 

[ty&brenmom]

The March hours are finally up!! Check it out at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...alendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=20090301

It is like Christmas around here!! I screamed when I saw this (and then cursed school and work for making me miss the moment that the March hours were posted)

Now the fun planning can begin

 

[tikkipoo]

It is like Christmas around here!! I screamed when I saw this (and then cursed school and work for making me miss the moment that the March hours were posted)

Now the fun planning can begin

I imagine it is only we that can understand your dissappointment in missing that moment.

 

[tikkipoo]

This weekend we will be sitting down with my MIL and G'MIL (and possibly more) to discuss our WDW family trip. I am trying to compile a list of questions along with a "brocure" of sorts to bring along. I would feel even better if I could just do a power point presentation on our vacation planning, but I don't have the proper equiptment.(Yes, I know I'm ridiculous and they will think so too - but I have a problem and they know that about me and love me anyway)
Anyway, throw me a few suggestions of things I might be missing to ask or to show them. We are planning on going in October 09 and staying at POR - I think. I will be in charge of planning the entire trip for everyone.

Thanks and have a magical day!

 

[lmillercrew]

How long are you going to be there? Ages range of people going? Anybody going, besides you, that have gone before?

 

[tikkipoo]

How long are you going to be there? Ages range of people going? Anybody going, besides you, that have gone before?

We are going Sat-Sat 8 days 7 nights.
Ages range is 5,11 25-35, 55-60 & 77... Big range!
One set has been in the last 5 years or so, otherwise, not since the 80's.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I year from today I will be at Walt Disney World




Sorry had to celebrate a little!

 

[tikkipoo]

Way to go Mrs Grumpy!
A little bit longer for me!

 

[TyRy]

I year from today I will be at Walt Disney World




Sorry had to celebrate a little!

OH MY GOSH - I didn't realize it until I read it, but one year from today starts a trip with a bunch of my friends and family for my (gulp! ) 40th birthday!!

We'll see you there!

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I year from today I will be at Walt Disney World




Sorry had to celebrate a little!

No Need to apologize Mrs Grumpy.

Doesn't feel GOOD to reach that milestone?

HAPPY BELATED ONE YEAR TICKER!!!!!!!