A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/12) New Thread Begun on TR Board!

[KathyRN137]

Great job on evaluating the trip for cost savings! I think you made some good cuts that won't affect your trip too much. I have only done the ME once on our couples only trip, but it worked like a dream.

Ok, that Disney Food Blog...Oh my goodness! I had not seen that before! I know I will be hitting the Starring Rolls on my next trip to try one of those Butterfinger Muffins! Whoo doggy!! Thanks for posting that!

Sara

Don't they look absolutely decanent?
For those of you who missed it: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2009/10/05/you-wont-believe-this-snack-butterfinger-muffin/

I love the blog's sub-title: Food is a Theme Park!


Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

Plans look good, we are going to be in Epcot on the 6th too. I already had that planned I am not stalking you, I promise .

 

[KathyRN137]

Plans look good, we are going to be in Epcot on the 6th too. I already had that planned I am not stalking you, I promise .

Kathy

 

[MRYPPNS]

A few comments for you in RED

Here's the new itinerary, with changes noted in pink:


Friday, 10/30

Arrive MCO ~ 10:45pm, check into Kidani Village


Saturday, 10/31

Breakfast at Boma / Resort time, swimming, etc.
Magic Kingdom, MNSSHP 4pm - 12am
*Turn clocks back one hour!

You would not believe how many people know about the 4pm opening time....get there early/on time! I'm still worried about you going on Halloween night.

Sunday, 11/1

Sleep in, Animal Kingdom until 5pm.
Evening: Resort time or Downtown Disney


Monday, 11/2

Disney Studios: Lunch, Play & Dine
Dinner, 50's PTC
Fantasmic

Everyone is still going straight for TSM for the first hour in the morning.....TOT and RNRC are walk-ons.
Tuesday, 11/3



Comments? Suggestions?


Kathy

 

[jcc0621]

Wow! Great tip... thanks Janet! We're checking in very late... I'd better pack the pajamas and toothbrushes!

and anything else you think you would need for that first day!

I got the flu shot once and got so sick!

Me too, but I makeJjimmy get it!

Here's the new itinerary, with changes noted in pink:


Friday, 10/30

Arrive MCO ~ 10:45pm, check into Kidani Village


Saturday, 10/31

Breakfast at Boma / Resort time, swimming, etc.
Magic Kingdom, MNSSHP 4pm - 12am
*Turn clocks back one hour!


Sunday, 11/1

Sleep in, Animal Kingdom until 5pm.
Evening: Resort time or Downtown Disney


Monday, 11/2

Disney Studios: Lunch, Play & Dine
Dinner, 50's PTC
Fantasmic


Tuesday, 11/3

Magic Kingdom: Breakfast, Crystal Palace
Dinner, Chef Mickey's
*No SpectroMagic scheduled, hoping that will change!


Wednesday, 11/4

Epcot, Future World
Epcot World Showcase: Dinner, Le Cellier
Illuminations and Evening EMH


Thursday, 11/5

Sleep in, resort time, swimming, etc.
Dinner, `Ohana with Tracy & Bill, followed by Wishes!


Friday, 11/6

Morning: OPEN
Afternoon: Epcot
Dinner, Biergarten


Saturday, 11/7

Animal Kingdom
~ 4:30pm "Goodbye, WDW!"
Depart MCO 7:45pm


*************************************

Comments? Suggestions?


Kathy

Looks great!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Your itinerary looks really, really fun .... I wish I was going with you. The tweaking out of the park hoppers looks like it will be a great decision.

Going back to the ME for a minute, and I'm sorry if you've already talked about this, but since you're arriving at MCO after 10pm ... factor in that you're collecting your own luggage at baggage claim and bringing it with you on the ME bus.

Oh, I'm so looking forward to your trip report! I hope Disney Time slows to a crawl for you when you are down there!

 

[KathyRN137]

A few comments for you in RED

Yes, the "secret" is out regarding the party starting at four! I'm prepping the kids be stressing that we'll be doing rides early and party stuff late i.e. the second HalloWishes and the second Boo to You Parade.

If ride queues get scary, we can use Billy's GAC. I figure that most families with younger children won't be able to make it much past 10pm, so perhaps it will get a teeny bit less crowded after that?

As for the TSM Stampede(!), once again, I will be grateful for the use of the GAC... there is no way that I want to risk getting caught up in a frenzied crowd with Billy in tow! This is exactly the kind of situation for which the GAC is intended.

My plan is to head over to Sunset for R&RC/Tot first.

and anything else you think you would need for that first day!

Great point! I will be mailing our Halloween costumes to the resort ahead of time... they are just too bulky to cram into suitcases. The party is the next day, so that's another bit of safety net right there!

But then I just read....

(con't.)

 

[KathyRN137]

Your itinerary looks really, really fun .... I wish I was going with you. The tweaking out of the park hoppers looks like it will be a great decision.

Going back to the ME for a minute, and I'm sorry if you've already talked about this, but since you're arriving at MCO after 10pm ... factor in that you're collecting your own luggage at baggage claim and bringing it with you on the ME bus.

Oh, I'm so looking forward to your trip report! I hope Disney Time slows to a crawl for you when you are down there!

Hmmm! So if we arrive at MCO late we take our luggage with us? I like that!
(But I'm still packing an overnight bag, just in case!)

Funny comment about "Disney Time"... time never seems to slow down at Disney, does it?!

Thanks!


Kathy

 

[Dreamer & Wisher]

Great job on the cost cutting measures. We haven't ever purchased Park Hopper tickets and we haven't ever missed having them either.

Good Idea to ship your costumes ahead of time to the resort. I am going to pack mine in a Sterilite container.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Mickey_mom is right about ME since you are arriving so late. Do not put the yellow tags on your luggage, pick it up at baggage claim and take it with you to the ME location .

 

[eandesmom]

Your plans look great!

and OMG the food blog....it really would have been better if I didn't know about that. It is now bookmarked of course.

Arriving after 10pm you CAN use ME to delivery your bags but I wouldn't advise it as either they will come in the middle of the night while you are asleep or after you'd like them in the am. It's just as easy to take them with you, that's what we did. The nice thing is MCO is not crowded at that hour so it goes quite quickly, your longest wait will be for the bus to fill up before it will leave.

If you take them with you, you won't have to worry about when they will arrive in your room.

ME filling up is relative mind you, just based on other flights coming in.

 

[milouster]

[Second: Park Tickets

Typically we like to get Park Hoppers; its just nice to have the flexibility. I can save $56 per person by purchasing 7-Day non-park hoppers. I currently have two days on my itinerary scheduled for hopping... that can be always be tweeked.

Pro: Saves $225
Con: 1) Will have to do DHS all day on a Fantasmic Day, and 2) Will have to move one of my ADRs.

On the positive side, Disney has been adding more showings of Fantasmic throughout the month of October. If the trend continues through the first week of November, DHS should not be quite as crowded on Fantasmic days.


Kathy,
We just got back from a week in Disney last weekend.....and this was the first year that we too did not go with Park Hoppers. And, honestly......it was no big deal AT ALL. We did two days each in MK and Epcot, and one day each at Studios and AK. Other than the fact that you will have to "tweak" the ADR situation, I think you will be fine without the hoppers.

Melissa

 

[KathyRN137]

Great job on the cost cutting measures. We haven't ever purchased Park Hopper tickets and we haven't ever missed having them either.

Good Idea to ship your costumes ahead of time to the resort. I am going to pack mine in a Sterilite container.

Changing our itinerary was easier than I thought!

Mickey_mom is right about ME since you are arriving so late. Do not put the yellow tags on your luggage, pick it up at baggage claim and take it with you to the ME location .

I'm so glad I mentioned that... I don't like the thought of waiting for our bags!

Kathy,
We just got back from a week in Disney last weekend.....and this was the first year that we too did not go with Park Hoppers. And, honestly......it was no big deal AT ALL. We did two days each in MK and Epcot, and one day each at Studios and AK. Other than the fact that you will have to "tweak" the ADR situation, I think you will be fine without the hoppers.

Melissa

That's great to hear!

Sooo, when's the TR going to begin?!

Your plans look great!

and OMG the food blog....it really would have been better if I didn't know about that. It is now bookmarked of course.

Arriving after 10pm you CAN use ME to delivery your bags but I wouldn't advise it as either they will come in the middle of the night while you are asleep or after you'd like them in the am. It's just as easy to take them with you, that's what we did. The nice thing is MCO is not crowded at that hour so it goes quite quickly, your longest wait will be for the bus to fill up before it will leave.

If you take them with you, you won't have to worry about when they will arrive in your room.

ME filling up is relative mind you, just based on other flights coming in.

I figure we'll either be the only ones on the bus or we'll have to wait like 45 minutes for other guests! I'd better pack some snacks...

The Food Blog is dangerous!


Kathy

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Yes, the "secret" is out regarding the party starting at four! I'm prepping the kids be stressing that we'll be doing rides early and party stuff late i.e. the second HalloWishes and the second Boo to You Parade.

If ride queues get scary, we can use Billy's GAC. I figure that most families with younger children won't be able to make it much past 10pm, so perhaps it will get a teeny bit less crowded after that?

There is going to be two HalloWishes on Halloween? When are they doing the 2nd one???? You'd be shocked how many families are still there late! Aisling was still WIDE awake at Midnight last year! She would have stayed all night if we had let her!!! Definitely plan to use the card.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Your new itinerary looks great. And you have a nice amount of down-time planned for Ed.

You guys are going to have so much fun at MNSSHP. It was two years ago this weekend we were there. Columbus Day 2007. The party was so much fun.

(I'll post a couple pictures from our MNSSHP for you later - I wasn't posting face pictures back then so I don't have any in photobucket right now...)

I agree with the others - it will be easier for you guys if you collect your own luggage.

 

[princesskelz]

The plans look great!
Our plane leaves BWI at 7:00 AM!!!! but it does mean we get about a full day in.

18days!!!

 

[irish dancer]

Congrats on trimming some expenses!

We've used ME without any problems. I too recommend you collecting your bags before checing in at ME, otherwise who knows how late you'd get your bags.

We dropped PH option a few trips ago, it is just too great an expense to justify. We actually have come to like touring that way, much easier if you've accumulated some fast passes during the morning.

Since you're already shipping a package down, have you given any thought to sending your liquids (toiletries) too and then flying with only carry on bags? That is what we've done the past two trips and it was GREAT not having to wait for bags after the flight.

 

[joy13]

Looks like you didn't have to change too much in your itinerary - so that's good!

 

[KathyRN137]

There is going to be two HalloWishes on Halloween? When are they doing the 2nd one???? You'd be shocked how many families are still there late! Aisling was still WIDE awake at Midnight last year! She would have stayed all night if we had let her!!! Definitely plan to use the card.

Whoops, made a mistake! Sorry, there are two parades but only one HalloWishes!


7:00 pm: MNSSHP Officially Begins

All Night: Trick-or-Treating, Character Meet & Greets and Mickey's Toontown Fair: 7 p.m. - Midnight

7:45 pm: Villain's Mix & Mingle, in front of the Castle
8:15 pm: Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
9:00 pm: Villain's Mix & Mingle, in front of the Castle
9:30 pm: Happy HalloWishes! (Fireworks)
9:45 pm: Goodnight Mickey, from turnstile side of train station
10:05 pm: Villain's Mix & Mingle, in front of the Castle
10:30 pm: Mickey's Boo-To-You Halloween Parade
10:45 pm: Goodnight Mickey, from turnstile side of train station
11:15 pm: Villain's Mix & Mingle, in front of the Castle
12 am: MNSSHP Ends


Sorry for the confusion!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Your new itinerary looks great. And you have a nice amount of down-time planned for Ed.

You guys are going to have so much fun at MNSSHP. It was two years ago this weekend we were there. Columbus Day 2007. The party was so much fun.

(I'll post a couple pictures from our MNSSHP for you later - I wasn't posting face pictures back then so I don't have any in photobucket right now...)

I agree with the others - it will be easier for you guys if you collect your own luggage.

Wow... seems like that was only yesterday! I'd love to see your pictures!

A-ha, you noticed the generous amount of "resort time" huh?

The plans look great!
Our plane leaves BWI at 7:00 AM!!!! but it does mean we get about a full day in.

18days!!!

Ooh, your new siggie is creepy!


Kathy