A Stringbean, a Wingnut, and a plan! (A January '12 PTR) TRIP REPORT STARTED!! 1/16!!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Luv your Epcot Fathers day story. My pic for fathers day on facebook was my daddy and me riding Cinderella's carousel together when I was ten!

Thanks!! Aww, that's so sweet!!

So, I swear on my Disney Vacation I checked for park hours last night on Disneyworld.com and they were most definitely not there! I am off to stalk them now!

Here's the link to stalk:

http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf

The Disney site is updated much slower than this site. I'm not sure why they're showing the 2011 hours now, they were showing 2012 a few days ago. Maybe they're updating them.

 

[Nermel9]

Yay for park hours!! There's nothing like finally getting to plan out your Disney days!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Yay for park hours!! There's nothing like finally getting to plan out your Disney days!

It's like Disney trip planning Christmas!!! The gift of EMH days!

(And that's one less website to obsessively stalk! )

 

[MeMom]

I've never used Touring Plans or any of the crowd predictor websites. We usually go to Disney at slower times of the year, so crowds aren't a huge issue. I just kind of go with what makes sense for us. Do their predictions work well?

Not to be negative, but just to share with you, since you asked: We have never paid for or used any kind of touring guide from anyone/anywhere, but rather like you, we use our own Disney sense. I was reading a thread on the podcast board a few days ago where it seemed like the majority of people said the touring plans did not help them. They were very disappointed in the crowds they found at some points. Maybe for first-timers, they could be good, but as for us, I think we do pretty well on our own.

 

[Jennifer48]

Ahhhh its in my head now!!

"A-G-L-E-T thats an aglet! Tying the world together!!"

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Not to be negative, but just to share with you, since you asked: We have never paid for or used any kind of touring guide from anyone/anywhere, but rather like you, we use our own Disney sense. I was reading a thread on the podcast board a few days ago where it seemed like the majority of people said the touring plans did not help them. They were very disappointed in the crowds they found at some points. Maybe for first-timers, they could be good, but as for us, I think we do pretty well on our own.

I don't think you're being negative, I think you're just being honest!! I really feel the same way, I think Disney sense and experience are the best planning tools. I'm sure that the crowd-predictor sites are useful for some people, but I've honestly never even thought about using them.

Ahhhh its in my head now!!

"A-G-L-E-T thats an aglet! Tying the world together!!"

Hahahaha I knew you'd start singing it!!! I swear, this has to be in the top 10 of most catchy songs ever.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Hmmm. You learn something new every day, they say. Now I feel bad for under-appreciating the aglet. Even now, my computer is telling me that it's misspelled. That's just mean.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Hmmm. You learn something new every day, they say. Now I feel bad for under-appreciating the aglet. Even now, my computer is telling me that it's misspelled. That's just mean.

Hahaha your computer is obviously not a Phineas and Ferb fan!! Although, aglet is definitely a real word. Wikipedia says so too!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Well, as of around a half hour ago, our trip is officially booked!!!!!!!!!!!

We will be going in January, and we are booked at Port Orleans French Quarter. Wingnut and I agreed that we would book POFQ for now, and then when we get to see what kind of discounts Disney is offering, we will revisit the resort decision and see what's best then.

We are doing the deluxe dining plan, and I am very excited to be able to book the ADR's. I noticed on the site that they now have what day you are able to start booking them, and that is 180 days. Is Disney no longer letting people with resort reservations book at 190? I know that was the case awhile ago, wasn't sure if I could do that anymore.

One more for the road:

 

[Nermel9]

Yay, congrats on booking your trip! I think waiting to see what discounts are out there before deciding if you can do a deluxe resort or not is a good idea!

I'm pretty sure you can still do 180 +10 ADR's...as far as I know, you could never actually book 190 days out, people just thought you could since you could book for 10 days into your trip once you hit 180 days. But I could be wrong, but I tried to book at 190 days, just for fun and it didn't work.

 

[tankgirl427]

Cool! That's where we are booked for too! When are your dates? Maybe we'll be at the resort at the same time! I'm starting to think about not doing a dining plan and picking up a TIW with my annual pass in October so we can eat everywhere we want to, but Not have to feel like we both have to have a dessert or something. But I'm waiting to see if there are any discounts as well. Hurry up 2012 discounts!

 

[Merida]

I read your past two reports and have been lurking in this one, but thought I'd finally join in. Congrats on your booking! We booked for December 2011 recently and could do reservations at 180+10 days ahead.

 

[petals]

Congrats on booking the trip

 

[Joyciemc]

Woohoo for booking!

Not that I want to wish away my life, but I can't wait to be able to start planning our 2012 trip!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Congrats on booking!! I think your "wait-and-see" approach is a smart one...as is Deluxe Dining! Mmmmm.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Fantastic booking news! I think you and Wingnut are playing it smart too...wait to see if a fab discount comes out and then rebook! Good plan.

As far as the touring plans/crowds websites...I've subscribed in the past but mostly because I wanted to avoid parks with EMH or something similar. But it is pretty much common sense though.

Deluxe dining is so fabulous, unless you have two kids aged ten like I do! Then it's freaking expensive! But for you guys, it'll be perfect, particularly for those signature meals. I'm pretty certain you can still book at 180 days for all of your dates (the plus ten perk!).

 

[MeMom]

Well, as of around a half hour ago, our trip is officially booked!!!!!!!!!!!


One more for the road:

It is such a great feeling to have a new trip booked!
It makes dealing with every day things a little more bearable when you know there is a Disney carrot dangling a little way down the road.
The closer it gets, the better you feel.

We leave early Friday morning - like 1-2 a.m., so I'm pretty much floating through this week.

 

[MEK]

Congrats on booking POFQ. I know you will love it! It really is so cute and so super easy to negotiate!

 

[kmrein]

Congrats on booking! That's always such an exciting day.

 

[Jennifer48]

for booking!!

Btw, I'm going in August and the main priority is to have my picture taken with P&F. I'll be sure to post it when I do since you are the only one I know who will appreciate it without rolling their eyes at me