A Winter Escape to the Enchanted Forest-PTR January'13:Updated 1/19 Last Day Plans

[Chocolab23]

After calculating multiple options and dining costs, I figured out that the following would save us the most amount of money. We have booked a MYW Package for AoA through the Stay/Play/Dine Promotion with a 4-day Parkhopper Pass and paying for an upgrade to a full dining dining plan (from the quick dining plan).

Friday January 25th, 2013: Arrive at MCO 9:30pm. Check in to AoA.
Saturday, January 26th: DHS for morning and lunch, Epcot for afternoon and dinner.
Sunday, January 27th: Magic Kingdom
Monday, January 28th: Animal Kingdom
Tuesday, January 29th: Magic Kingdom, Depart MCO at 6:15pm

It's a relatively short stay. Our priorities will be to explore New Fantasyland as much as we can, and to try to go on the new Test Track!

Funny, we're going to MK on Sunday too !

Welcome!! I see that from your sig that you'll be celebrating your bday!

Excited to read more about your plans. It's the best place to celebrate!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Funny, we're going to MK on Sunday too !
Excited to read more about your plans. It's the best place to celebrate!

I'm expecting MK to be a bit crowded on Sunday but should still be a lot of fun visiting New FL!

Who are you traveling with to celebrate your b-day?

 

[solana131]

It appears our area avoided the brunt of the storm although there are still power outages and downed trees. Thinking about our neighbors up north who were more severely impacted. Feeling very fortunate this morning.

Glad to hear this. I was thinking about you guys. It looked like that area got it pretty bad. Glad it went north of you and south of me! I feel bad for those people in the middle...but also feeling pretty lucky today.

 

[Marshay]

Welcome and thanks for following!! The LK Suites looked great too. It was a tough choice. I'm looking forward to touring the entire AoA resort during our stay.

I got to tour AoA in July when my daughter and I went for our birthdays and stayed at Pop Century. Oh, it is a WONDERFUL resort!!

We too, debated on LK or FN ... but my girls like the LK movies better so we decided to go with that.

But really, you can't go wrong!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Glad to hear this. I was thinking about you guys. It looked like that area got it pretty bad. Glad it went north of you and south of me! I feel bad for those people in the middle...but also feeling pretty lucky today.

Found out this morning that one of the trees on the side of our house was partially uprooted and is leaning against the house and roof. But other than that, we're okay. Will get some help from a tree service to get the tree removed.

I got to tour AoA in July when my daughter and I went for our birthdays and stayed at Pop Century. Oh, it is a WONDERFUL resort!!

We too, debated on LK or FN ... but my girls like the LK movies better so we decided to go with that.

But really, you can't go wrong!

Our DD6 is going through a phase right now where she doesn't want to watch movies with any menacing villains, so between Scar and Hyenas, she's wanting to stay away from LK even though I tried ensuring her that only the good guys were in the room. Finding Nemo was a little easier to convince her since there are no real villains in it.

My plan is to walk around on our arrival night with my camera and take lots of pics of the resorts and soak in the atmosphere!

 

[Chocolab23]

Good to hear you guys are safe up there!
I'm traveling to the world with my parents and younger brother

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Good to hear you guys are safe up there!
I'm traveling to the world with my parents and younger brother

Sounds like a fun trip!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Here are the current ADRs and dining plans for our trip. I really had to restrain myself since I usually like to get food-happy on these Disney trips!

Saturday January 26th:
Breakfast - Landscapes of Flavor
Lunch - Counter Service either in DHS or Epcot, leaning somewhere in Epcot
Dinner - Le Cellier: Had a great experience for a lunch during our last trip when I had their burger. This time, I want the Filet Mignon.

Sunday January 27th
Breakfast - Chef Mickey's: As counter balance for the princess meal in the evening. It'll be FIL's first time. The rest of us tried it two trips ago and liked meeting the Fab Five in one sitting.
Lunch - Be Our Guest (Counter Service): If I can't get dinner, at least would like to have lunch.
Dinner - 1900 Park Fare: Can't wait to meet the Tremaines again! Food was just so-so last time.

Monday January 28th
Breakfast - Landscapes of Flavor
Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ Counter Service
Dinner - Boma: My favorite from our last trip. Soooo goooooood!

Tuesday January 29th
Breakfast - Kona: Two words. Tonga Toast!!
Lunch - Columbia Harbor or Peco Bills
Dinner - at the airport

I'm still trying multiple times a day to see if I can get us an ADR for a dinner at Be Our Guest but considering how popular this ADR is right now, I'm not very optimistic.

I was also wondering if it breakfasts from Landscapes of Flavor can be "carried out" to our rooms. If so, I could get up earlier than everyone else and bring the food to our room.

Finally, I would like to try to get us a Wishes Dessert Party for Sunday night. We really enjoyed it last time. I've been reading on the boards about rumors that they are refurbishing the Terrace and that it may or may not be available for January.

For the first time, I don't have any before-the-park-opens ADRs. And there you have it! Miraculously, I have not made any changes to the ADRs in over a month and a half! Unless BoG becomes available, I don't foresee any changes.

 

[Zuzu03]

Hey Dave! So cool that you're going again in January! We used to have those NEA days in October and DH and I would steal away for a long weekend, but they took them away from us (probably because so many teachers like me didn't use them for professional development!), so no more of that! hahahaha! Can't wait to see what you think of the Cars section of AoA - it looks so much like your pics from DLR! Your ADRs look great, I love Le Celllier too (not just because I'm Canadian - LOL) and their filet mignon is definately delicious!!!! I'm also anxious to hear how the new Test Track is!!!! Crossing fingers for you to get ADRs to Be Our Guest - that would be awesome!!!

Oh and the Scare and Share looks like so much fun! Love the SR-71, brings back memories of living in Omaha at SAC headquarters with my first DH - he was a continuous photoprocessor who developed the film taken from it. It's a beautiful (and cool) aircraft!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Day 0: Friday, January 25th - Travel Day

This past week, I booked DFIL's flight for him so our travel plans are pretty much set now. Myself, DW, DD and DS will be flying out of Reagan National on US Air at 7:25pm putting us in MCO at 9:40pm. This was the cheapest flight I could find AND since the Reagan National is only a 15-20 minute drive from our house, decided to go with US Air rather than our usual favorite, Southwest Airlines.

DFIL will be flying out from Columbus, OH and arriving in MCO 3 hours ahead of us around 6:30pm. We have a minivan reserved through Dollar. I think we're going to ask him to pick up the rental and check-in at AoA, then come pick us up at curbside. Hopefully, this way, the kids can get some more sleep and less time at MCO and at the AoA lobby!

After putting the kids to bed, I plan on touring the AoA resort for an hour or so with my camera to explore the other parts of the resort!

Day 1 AM: Saturday January 26th

Disney Hollywood Studios

I'm planning on trying something new for us. Visiting a park on an EMH day. This day, DHS is having Morning EMH starting at 8am. The idea is to maximize our TSM time!

It'll be an early start for us. I'll get up earlier than the rest of the family so that I can get some food from the food court and bring it back to the room. They'll let me do this, correct?

I'm hoping to be out the door by 7:10am and arrive at DHS gates by 7:30am via our minivan. Our kids are usually up and about by 6:30am on most days, so don't think this should be too much of an issue for them. For DW and DFIL, it may be a bit more taxing. For me, I usually run on very little sleep during a Disney vacation!

At park opening, we'll head over to TSMM. If the FP machines are open, then will pull FP for the whole group, then get in the stand-by line. I'm hoping that we can go on TSMM three times back to back to back using the stand-by line during that first hour. TSMM was one of our kids' favorite rides from last time so hoping to maximize the number of times we can go on this.

Next, I'll send DW and DFIL over to Star Tours. DFIL reeeeeally liked this one last April. DD, not so much. I don't expect her to be up for it this time. Since I got to go on ST a couple of times last month at DLR, I am willing to stay with the kids and get in line for Woody and Buzz's Meet and Greet at 9:00am.

From there, we'll fit in a showing of Muppet Vision, FP ride on TSMM, and Mike and Sulley Meet and Greet before a 10:30 showing of Disney Jr. Live. Since we only have a half day at DHS and trying to fit in rides for the grown-ups as well, we'll have to do a lot of split-ups among the group. Sooo, while DW and DFIL goes in with the kids for Jr. Live show, I'll head over to ToT to ride on the stand-by line while getting FPs for DW and DFIL. ToT is by far my favorite at DHS and I am actually looking forward to getting in the stand-by line so I can get a better look at the theming of the hotel lobby! If the stand-by wait for ToT is less than 15 minutes (I doubt it but you never know), then will attempt a single rider line for RnRC.

We'll regroup at Fairfax Fare for a quick snack/lunch for the kids. May send off DFIL for a single rider line on the RnRC. DW has no interest in this ride since she gets queezy after any coaster rides that flips you over.

We'll take the kids to see a 11:30 showing of Beauty and the Beast then I'll take them over to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground while I send off DW and DFIL for ToT with their FPs. By 1pm, we'll be heading out the gates for Epcot!

I've been playing around with this morning's touring plans for awhile now and trying to see if there's a better way of accomplishing our two priorities: At least three if not four rides on TSMM for the kids and get all of the adults on ToT at least once. RnRC for myself and DFIL would definitely be a bonus! Wish we didn't have to rush through DHS like this but with only four days in the Parks, this seemed like the best way to fit DHS in by taking advantage of AM EMH. Hopefully, we'll be headed out the door before the crowd level peaks for the day!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Hey Dave! So cool that you're going again in January! We used to have those NEA days in October and DH and I would steal away for a long weekend, but they took them away from us (probably because so many teachers like me didn't use them for professional development!), so no more of that! hahahaha! Can't wait to see what you think of the Cars section of AoA - it looks so much like your pics from DLR! Your ADRs look great, I love Le Celllier too (not just because I'm Canadian - LOL) and their filet mignon is definately delicious!!!! I'm also anxious to hear how the new Test Track is!!!! Crossing fingers for you to get ADRs to Be Our Guest - that would be awesome!!!

It was such a bonus that we could find this sliver of time off for the kids to go to WDW! Once I started laying out our touring plans, the greedy part of me wished I had a couple of more days. But the I just keep reminding myself that we're lucky even to be going at all and visit the New FL!!

I've been reading preview reviews of BoG's lunch experience, and I think even just having lunch will be enough for us! Can't wait! Oh, and the thought of filet mignon at Le Cellier just made me drool. Doesn't help that I'm really hungry right now.

 

[auprincess]

That sounds like a full day ~ and it only takes you through lunch, lol!! It really does sound like a good plan though. Can't wait to hear about BoG. I have been reading about it, and I'm hoping by the time we go it will be a little easier to get a ressie. Although, the more I read, the more I think I'll be fine just going for lunch.

CAn't wait to hear your Epcot plans! Will your DD do ToT? If the Cast Members see your DS (who I guess is not tall enough for ToT or RNRC), you can also get a rider swap. We learned that these do not have a time expiration slot posted on them like FPs do. So someone could actually ride an extra time. Just a thought!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

That sounds like a full day ~ and it only takes you through lunch, lol!! It really does sound like a good plan though. Can't wait to hear about BoG. I have been reading about it, and I'm hoping by the time we go it will be a little easier to get a ressie. Although, the more I read, the more I think I'll be fine just going for lunch.

CAn't wait to hear your Epcot plans! Will your DD do ToT? If the Cast Members see your DS (who I guess is not tall enough for ToT or RNRC), you can also get a rider swap. We learned that these do not have a time expiration slot posted on them like FPs do. So someone could actually ride an extra time. Just a thought!

We LOVE the Rider Swap passes! For our last trip, we used it for Star Tours, ToT, Soarin', Splash, and EE. So we'll definitely be using the system again for this upcoming trip since DS will only be about 36-37 inches tall by then! I think DD will be ready for Test Track this time along with BTMRR.

After posting the day 1 AM plans this morning, I've been thinking more and more about the day to day itinerary. About an hour ago, I pulled the trigger and did a complete overhaul of the itinerary! I usually do this at least once during each of my trip plannings but I just didn't feel comfortable going to a park with an EMH 3 out of the 4 days. With this new arrangement, we'll be visiting all four parks on non-EMH days. Plus, I was able to find ADRs for all of the restaurants I had previously reserved for and adjusted the dates accordingly, including Le Cellier!!

Sooooo, now I have to re-do the hour to hour touring plans and scrap everything I posted so far.

 

[auprincess]

I should have known you knew about the rider passes, lol! I knew about them, but just didn't realize how lenient they were. We really enjoyed them last trip ~ especially since the fastpass time was enforced. Sometimes we would get them in the morning but not use them until much later. I'm sure that's cheating, but sometimes you just don't want to ride SM 2 times in a row (at least I don't)!

 

[Marshay]

We LOVE the Rider Swap passes! For our last trip, we used it for Star Tours, ToT, Soarin', Splash, and EE. So we'll definitely be using the system again for this upcoming trip since DS will only be about 36-37 inches tall by then! I think DD will be ready for Test Track this time along with BTMRR.

After posting the day 1 AM plans this morning, I've been thinking more and more about the day to day itinerary. About an hour ago, I pulled the trigger and did a complete overhaul of the itinerary! I usually do this at least once during each of my trip plannings but I just didn't feel comfortable going to a park with an EMH 3 out of the 4 days. With this new arrangement, we'll be visiting all four parks on non-EMH days. Plus, I was able to find ADRs for all of the restaurants I had previously reserved for and adjusted the dates accordingly, including Le Cellier!!

Sooooo, now I have to re-do the hour to hour touring plans and scrap everything I posted so far.

Too funny! I was just thinking to relook at my schedule, too.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I should have known you knew about the rider passes, lol! I knew about them, but just didn't realize how lenient they were. We really enjoyed them last trip ~ especially since the fastpass time was enforced. Sometimes we would get them in the morning but not use them until much later. I'm sure that's cheating, but sometimes you just don't want to ride SM 2 times in a row (at least I don't)!

I'm don't remember seeing any time window on the Rider Swap pass, so don't think it's cheating if you come back at a later time to use it. We ended up using it as soon as the first group was out in order to save time and not have to trek back to the attraction across the park.

Too funny! I was just thinking to relook at my schedule, too.

I don't know why I always have a change of heart like this .
When I do realize that I want to rearrange the park days, I have this moment of panic because now I have to try to rebook all of the ADRs to correspond with the right parks and I don't know if the new ADRs will be available. Fortunately, for January it's a lot easier to find ADRs!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Well, I knew this was going to be inevitable. As I eluded to in a previous post, I had a sudden change of heart about how I had assigned the park days. I've done this at least once during the planning stages of every WDW trip. Here's what I had originally planned.

What was really bothering me about the old plan was that we were going to be visiting DHS, MK, and AK on EMH days which I have avoided in the past. At first I thought this was going to be necessary since we didn't have as many days to visit the parks for this trip and it would give us an extra hour or more for some of the parks. But as I worked on the touring plans for each park, the relatively higher wait times and crowd levels that EMH days usually brings were starting to hamper how much I wanted to see and get done.

Soooooo, went ahead and changed most of the days up. Fortunately, I was able to find ADRs for all of our originially planned restaurant plans on the new dates. Here's what the park days and dining plan looks like now.

Saturday, January 26th: Breakfast at AoA Landscape of Flavors
Animal Kingdom (9am-6:30pm)/ Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ
Boma ADR at 7:00pm

Sunday, January 27th: Breakfast at AoA Landscape of Flavors
Disney Hollywood Studios (9am-1:15pm)
Lunch/Snack at a QS in DHS
Epcot (2pm-7:00pm)
Le Cellier ADR at 4:45pm

Monday ,January 28th: Chef Mickey's ADR at 7:30am
Magic Kingdom (9am-8pm) w/ afternoon break
Lunch at Be Our Guest
1900 Park Fare ADR at 4:30pm
(Trying to get Wishes Dessert)

Tuesday, January 29th: Kona ADR at 7:30am
Magic Kingdom (9am-3:00pm)

I'm going to try really hard not to make any more sudden drastic changes!

 

[solana131]

Looks like a good revised schedule....hope you get the Dessert Party. I really really enjoyed the party we went to in July.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Subbing on ... I thought your PTR title was lovely...

We're doing a shortish trip beginning at the end of the month... 5 days, 4 nights...

it doesn't make it easier... it makes it harder because there are so many choices and such little time...

Your plans look good though... and all the pictures of AoA look awesome...

I'm a huge Ghostbuster's fan...so that wholel event looked like so much fun...

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Looks like a good revised schedule....hope you get the Dessert Party. I really really enjoyed the party we went to in July.

We enjoyed the Dessert Party a lot during our last visit. Just to have that reserved space to sit down and relax made all the difference for the kids!