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

[petals]

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.

I don't use the crowd predictors either. I go by the park hours and whether they have extra magic hours or not. We don't normally stay on property so I avoid parks that have extra magic hours and tend to pick the parks based on what day they're open the longest. I've never noticed huge crowds and longest wait time (excluding peter pan and toy story) we've ever seen has been 25 minutes.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

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.

Thank you!!!! I think so too. We shall see what Disney offers! (they really need a little smiley with his fingers crossed looking hopeful )

OHHHHH ok I think I was understanding that wrong. So at 180 days, you are able to book for 10 days after? I'm really not sure why this is confusing me so much. It seems pretty logical .

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!

Yay how fun!!! I'll PM you our dates. That would be so fun if we were there at the same time!

TIW is an interesting option. I'll definitely admit that I am not a fan of the dining plan, but I get it as a "if you can't beat them, join them" sort of approach. I'd love to not have to be "tied" to credits and this and that.

I'm definitely hoping the 2012 discounts are released soon! Usually August, right? Well, the packages were released early...(again, a good spot for that fingers crossed smiley )

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.

Hi, welcome!!!!

Thanks!!! I think I'm FINALLY starting to understand the really-not-very-complicated dining booking process.

Have you been in December before? The decorations and other holiday touches are wonderful!

Congrats on booking the trip

Thanks!!!!

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!

Thanks!!! Hahahaha I know what you mean! It does start to take up a bit of that extra free time you had!

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

Thanks!!!

I'm hoping it is a good tactic! Deluxe dining is definitely a TON of food, but well...Wingnut and I love our food!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

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!).

Thanks!!! Hahaha now let's just hope that a good discount comes out! But I am happy with the plan as it is right now too!

Yeah, I can definitely see how the dining plan would add up with kids added too! 10 seems like a strange age cut off to me, I'd think that 12 or so would make a bit more sense (seems like I'm always reading that people's kids still like to eat the kid food at 10). But I guess everyone is different! Are you able to do the 180 + 10 online? (I feel so silly asking these questions! But I just haven't ever booked a trip over the 180 day window! )

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.

IT SO IS!!!! Now that it's booked, I'm like "ahhhh, we're going back!"

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

YOU LEAVE SO SOON!!!! How exciting is that!!!! If for some reason I don't tell you again (which I totally will), have a fantastic trip!!!!

I have a good feeling about POFQ. Everyone seems to praise it! If we are able to switch around with discounts, that would be fun too, but I am definitely happy with POFQ as well!

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

Thanks!!! It definitely is!!!

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

Thanks!!!!

Hahahaha do you know how much I want to do that M&G?!?!?! I was reading that the line is around 45 minutes, and I just have absolutely no idea how I will ever convince Wingnut that this is a priority! It definitely doesn't sound like something we can casually meander over to!

You absolutely MUST post that picture! I promise there will be no eye-rolling on my end! Just envy here!

I don't use the crowd predictors either. I go by the park hours and whether they have extra magic hours or not. We don't normally stay on property so I avoid parks that have extra magic hours and tend to pick the parks based on what day they're open the longest. I've never noticed huge crowds and longest wait time (excluding peter pan and toy story) we've ever seen has been 25 minutes.

That's what I usually go by too. I only go to the parks with the EMH's if we definitely want to partake in the extra hours. That's around the wait times we've usually experienced (but we usually go during quieter times anyway).

As a side note, why does Peter Pan get SUCH long lines? I know it's a classic, and it is a cute ride, but I always get off that ride feeling a bit underwhelmed.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thanks!!! Hahaha now let's just hope that a good discount comes out! But I am happy with the plan as it is right now too!

Yeah, I can definitely see how the dining plan would add up with kids added too! 10 seems like a strange age cut off to me, I'd think that 12 or so would make a bit more sense (seems like I'm always reading that people's kids still like to eat the kid food at 10). But I guess everyone is different! Are you able to do the 180 + 10 online? (I feel so silly asking these questions! But I just haven't ever booked a trip over the 180 day window! )

I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya!

Ugh, having two kids ten and older now has really added an enormous amount of money to our Disney total. It's insane that they consider a ten year old an adult, no way would either of mine be able to eat an adult size portion meal. Ridiculous.

I've been able to book online with the 180 + 10, no problem. You should be fine and I hear that they now have a more streamlined, updated system for adding food allergy information as well.

 

[JessicaKnits]

Hooray for being booked! So exciting!

 

[Merida]

Hi, welcome!!!!

Thanks!!! I think I'm FINALLY starting to understand the really-not-very-complicated dining booking process.

Have you been in December before? The decorations and other holiday touches are wonderful!

The thing that I disliked most about booking dining is the fact that it opens at 7AM EST. We're in Colorado and none of our dining is so important that I would consider getting up pre-5 AM 6 months in advance. Especially since I keep changing my mind on where I want to eat!

We actually went last year the day after Thanksgiving (my boyfriend's family is in Florida, so we seem to mix holidays and Disney a lot). The decorations were up and were really pretty, there were just so many people. I wish we could do a January trip, but we both have to work around school.

 

[petals]

As a side note, why does Peter Pan get SUCH long lines? I know it's a classic, and it is a cute ride, but I always get off that ride feeling a bit underwhelmed.

No idea but it always seems to be 45 mins long and when you think you're nearly there you go around the corner and there's a massive queue still in front of you (We only learnt fast passes were free last year though )

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya!

Ugh, having two kids ten and older now has really added an enormous amount of money to our Disney total. It's insane that they consider a ten year old an adult, no way would either of mine be able to eat an adult size portion meal. Ridiculous.

I've been able to book online with the 180 + 10, no problem. You should be fine and I hear that they now have a more streamlined, updated system for adding food allergy information as well.

Thanks Molly!!!

Ugh, how frustrating. I mean, an adult can barely eat their adult portions on the dining plans (particularly DDxP), how do they expect 10 year olds to do it???

Oooh the new allergy system sounds good! I will definitely let you know how it works out!

Hooray for being booked! So exciting!

Thanks!!!!

The thing that I disliked most about booking dining is the fact that it opens at 7AM EST. We're in Colorado and none of our dining is so important that I would consider getting up pre-5 AM 6 months in advance. Especially since I keep changing my mind on where I want to eat!

We actually went last year the day after Thanksgiving (my boyfriend's family is in Florida, so we seem to mix holidays and Disney a lot). The decorations were up and were really pretty, there were just so many people. I wish we could do a January trip, but we both have to work around school.

I thought that dining reservations opened at 6 am online? I know it's 7 on the phones. I'm on EST, so 6 isn't really a huge stretch for me, but I can't imagine I would be first on line booking if I were in a different time zone!!

Wingnut keeps telling me the same thing, why am I wanting to book the reservations first thing, I'm just going to to keep changing them. (I know, he's right. But there's something exciting about that first round of ADRs!)

I can definitely see the day after Thanksgiving being busy! We had gone in mid-December, so the crowds were really light (but we left on like the 21st, and it was starting to get busy at the check-in counter as we were leaving!)

No idea but it always seems to be 45 mins long and when you think you're nearly there you go around the corner and there's a massive queue still in front of you (We only learnt fast passes were free last year though )

That Disney line wizardry gets me every time!!! I think Peter Pan is one of the best examples of that...you think you're close...and then you go around the side of the building...twice. I definitely only use FastPass for that line! Aren't they great?

 

[petals]

That Disney line wizardry gets me every time!!! I think Peter Pan is one of the best examples of that...you think you're close...and then you go around the side of the building...twice. I definitely only use FastPass for that line! Aren't they great?

I know. Plan of action for Fantasyland get peter pan fast passes see everything else. Ride Peter Pan boats with fast passes

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I know. Plan of action for Fantasyland get peter pan fast passes see everything else. Ride Peter Pan boats with fast passes

That is exactly my usual Fantasyland plan too! Except you neglected the part where I loiter around the entrance to Peter Pan for around 7 minutes impatiently tapping my toe waiting for my FastPass time to ripen.

 

[tankgirl427]

I used Touring Plans when I went over Labor Day last year, I liked it because I really didn't wait in any line (minus the horrible evening EMH at MK).

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thanks Molly!!!

Ugh, how frustrating. I mean, an adult can barely eat their adult portions on the dining plans (particularly DDxP), how do they expect 10 year olds to do it???

Oooh the new allergy system sounds good! I will definitely let you know how it works out!

Ugh, honey don't get me started on the whole ten year old adult thing! So dumb.

Let me know how the allergy reservations work, it's supposed to be a marked improvement.

I thought that dining reservations opened at 6 am online? I know it's 7 on the phones. I'm on EST, so 6 isn't really a huge stretch for me, but I can't imagine I would be first on line booking if I were in a different time zone!!

They do, at least that's what I recall.

Wingnut keeps telling me the same thing, why am I wanting to book the reservations first thing, I'm just going to to keep changing them. (I know, he's right. But there's something exciting about that first round of ADRs!)

Oh I know how that is! I get ridiculously excited over making them and then I tweak as the months go on...

That Disney line wizardry gets me every time!!! I think Peter Pan is one of the best examples of that...you think you're close...and then you go around the side of the building...twice. I definitely only use FastPass for that line! Aren't they great?

Peter Pan is the worst! I think the second worst is Jungle Cruise. It's deceptive, isn't it??

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I used Touring Plans when I went over Labor Day last year, I liked it because I really didn't wait in any line (minus the horrible evening EMH at MK).

I can imagine over a holiday weekend a crowd predictor would be helpful, I usually go during quieter times, but I'm sure over Labor Day any help with the lines is appreciated!

Ugh, honey don't get me started on the whole ten year old adult thing! So dumb.

Let me know how the allergy reservations work, it's supposed to be a marked improvement.

They do, at least that's what I recall.

Oh I know how that is! I get ridiculously excited over making them and then I tweak as the months go on...

Peter Pan is the worst! I think the second worst is Jungle Cruise. It's deceptive, isn't it??

I will definitely let you know how the allergy form is now. On the last trip, I got all confused and emailed an allergy form to somewhere in the vast Disney internetland, and nobody got it. This time, I'm hoping to do it a bit better!

I'm thinking I'll be changing our ADRs...hmm...at least 10 times.

We actually tend to start with the Jungle Cruise, so I've never been in that queue longer than 2 minutes! Does that one have lots of hidden twists too? Hahaha another one is the Great Movie Ride, if you've never ridden it before, when the queue goes all the way on the side of the building, throughout the costumes...AND THEN back and forth and back and forth and back and forth in the movie room.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Only a few more days left until I am able to make our ADRs! The plan at this point looks good (for a first draft).

Wingnut mentioned to me that this time he really wants to visit Jellyrolls (we've never actually made it inside, despite the fact that on our last two trips we were staying within a convenient walking distance to the place [Yacht Club; the Swan]). I agree, I'd love to visit there. I love a fun piano bar. But now I'm eyeing the ADR plan again...

Otherwise, things have been pretty quiet - I feel like we're in one of the Disney Planning Holding Patterns, not much we can really do for a little bit.

But, who would I be if I were to find NOTHING to do Disney related????

Not your resident Stringbean, that's for sure!

Souvenir shopping??? Yes, please!

I first saw these featured on the Disney Food Blog (a daily must-read for me - if you don't already read this blog, you SO should!) and knew INSTANTLY that they had to be mine.

I scoured the Internet, and found...nothing.

The next morning, I tried again, and found them! Needless to say, they were purchased momentarily after!

Want to see the latest Disney addition to our household??



A bit closer (although I think the pictures might be clearer in the blog post!)









They did say that these are toothpick glasses...



Meh.



That seems to fit a bit better!

 

[Nermel9]

Love the "toothpick" glasses! Can't wait to see what ADR's you end up with!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

BWAHAHAHAHA!! Toothpick glasses!?! You can never have enough "toothpick glasses!"

I know what you mean--I always shop when I'm in the planning holding pattern. Of course, I always shop when I'm in the full throes of planning, as well...

We keep saying we want to try Jellyrolls, as well, but we've never made it. We had a babysitter with us on the first trip and were just too tired to ever get there! Last trip we were on our own, PLUS I was pregnant (again. as usual.), so no go. This time we probably won't make it, either, as we're spending our date night at EMH. But who knows. Maybe we'll have more than one date night.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Love the "toothpick" glasses! Can't wait to see what ADR's you end up with!

Haha thank you!!! Looks like things are going to be staying the same for a bit...photos from Flying Fish caught Wingnut's eye last night, but nope, he wants to stick with the plans as is!

BWAHAHAHAHA!! Toothpick glasses!?! You can never have enough "toothpick glasses!"

I know what you mean--I always shop when I'm in the planning holding pattern. Of course, I always shop when I'm in the full throes of planning, as well...

We keep saying we want to try Jellyrolls, as well, but we've never made it. We had a babysitter with us on the first trip and were just too tired to ever get there! Last trip we were on our own, PLUS I was pregnant (again. as usual.), so no go. This time we probably won't make it, either, as we're spending our date night at EMH. But who knows. Maybe we'll have more than one date night.

I agree!! They're very cute, I'm excited about the new designs Disney has been making!

Hahaha same here! But I feel like I'm slightly worse about the Disney shopping when the trip is farther away!

That's pretty much the same thing that happened to us, we were literally OUTSIDE of the place one night, but then were just like "meh, let's sit on this bench instead" . I'm really hoping we'll build up a lot of determination to go for this trip! I'm SO positive once we walk through the door we'll love it! Hope you get to go too!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

First off, Happy 4th of July!!



(If you pretend that the green Mickeys are blue, this makes a lot more sense. Also, for my lactose-intolerant friends, this is coconut milk "ice cream", which is very coconutty and tasty (albeit a tad more pricey than other non-dairy frozen confections made with soy or rice)).

Wingnut and I took another look at our dining plans, and started arranging our days, leading to an ADR addition to the plans!

(I'll give you a hint. I haven't been to this restaurant since I was a kid, and when packing to move into the apartment, I found a glowing sparkly frisbee from the last time I was there.)

Anyone?

Anyone else have a sparkly glowing frisbee from

Sci-Fi Dine-In??

Wingnut and I are pretty excited about going here. To say that he adores the B-movies from the 1950's is a huge understatement. So the previews are a huge draw for him, and I enjoy watching them as well. I also think the atmosphere of Sci-Fi is really fun, as much as I am not a huge fan of the whole "sharing a car with another group of people" thing. But I can get past that (she says while sitting on her couch at home )...

 

[Nermel9]

Sci Fi is so much fun! The food isn't the best, but I love the atmosphere there!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

We're trying SciFi this trip, too! My husband oldest daughter are big B-movie fans, so they picked it. Looks fun!