Hi! Your story is pretty similar with mine! I started out planning for a solo trip, but then my bestie agreed to come along! Isn't it the best feeling?
Oh and I'm going one month after you, first week of February! Do share about the tour groups situation once you're there
It is the best feeling!!!
And will do! Honestly I remember a TON of tour groups there both times I went in July so I assume they're going to be around every month of the year. I'm hoping with the marathon they won't be too prominent during my trip!
Apparently, July, Jan and Feb are the peak times for the infamous South American tour groups, and honestly it scares me off a bit! LOL. At least we won't melt in the heat
Can't wait to hear the rest of ur planning!
I didn't know that DisneyQuest vouchers were now included in packages?!
Now for the gamechanger: my trip may no longer be solo!!! One of my closest friends will most likely be joining me once she verifies it with her schedule and other commitments. I've never been to WDW with people other than family so I'm excited for what is to come!
The ones that are staying include:
Tuesday, January 7--Via Napoli dinner
Wednesday, January 8--Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney dinnerDo you have thier card?
If you are not aware of it you can get a card from this company. It costs 25 dollars to get it but you get a 25 dollar GC for signing up so really its free and you get another 25 dollar GC for your birthday plus everytime you eat at one of their resturants you get points and every 250 points you get another 25 dollar GC they own many other places including Bubba Gumps It is the Landry's select club if you are interested. Sorry for the highjack
Did you book through Disney directly? Or a travel agency?
I booked our trip through Disney and if that's the case, it would be really cool if they included the voucher in our package too!
I've done solo at WDW and yes I did have fun but having someone to share it with is 38475439857 times better!
The ones that are staying include:
Tuesday, January 7--Via Napoli dinner
Wednesday, January 8--Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney dinnerDo you have thier card?
If you are not aware of it you can get a card from this company. It costs 25 dollars to get it but you get a 25 dollar GC for signing up so really its free and you get another 25 dollar GC for your birthday plus everytime you eat at one of their resturants you get points and every 250 points you get another 25 dollar GC they own many other places including Bubba Gumps It is the Landry's select club if you are interested. Sorry for the highjack
Thanks for reading! Actually someone else earlier in my PTR already brought it up! I'm definitely doing it especially since we'll probably eat at Yak and Yeti as well plus a lot of restaurants in downtown Baltimore (where I'm from) are Landry's owned.
) I anticipate one of us will spend the night at the other's house, unless we agree to both meet somewhere in the airport...I guess this is the one detail that I haven't yet worked out 
) which is GREAT because the last time I flew out of BWI I saw two MICE (and no, not Mickey and Minnie) running past the McDonald's cashiers and into the seating area. At the time McDonald's was the only place open that early in the morning for breakfast, but needless to say I'm never eating there again 
and just nurse the darn jetlag Aaaah good plan! And you're so lucky to already have park hours and schedule! Us February people are still biting our nails off in anticipation, while speculating hundreds of conspiracy theories, of course
After the dozens of hours flight (SHUDDER), I'm planning to do a nice TS meal at a resort
Low crowd levels, recommended park, I'm game! We'll definitely be in MK a lot throughout the week but this is our main rope drop day so obviously the headliners are the must dos. I've actually never ridden Splash Mountain, but I don't know what the odds will be that it will A. be open or B. won't be too cold to ride. 
I'll never forget when my mom rode it with me in 2009. She screamed bloody murder to me throughout the ride (I really hope the kids on it had been exposed to curse words before my mom otherwise I would feel even worse). She ended up having a full blown panic attack and a dad of two kids riding behind us had to help me get her off and onto a bench. A cast member approached us and asked if we needed medical assistance which my mom declined (she is prone to panic attacks, unfortunately, but luckily we know to just let it run its course and she'll be fine). The ride itself was fun, the aftermath not so much, but it's a noteworthy Disney memory nonetheless! 
My mom never really liked it and only took me because it made me happy (thanks, Mom! ) but I know if she ever goes to Disney with me again she'll never want to eat at Rainforest Cafe when there are so many other options that you can't get elsewhere. I guess one of the goals of this trip is to do everything my mom would not want me to do. 
I can't complain about a Disney shopping spree. 
I may be in college but I wear more Disney clothes than the average elementary schooler does. No shame.
Never have shame for Disney clothing!
Lucky you for the discounts! I've been hunting for Disney shirts around my town, but haven't found good ones yet. Uniqlo has something that are close enough, but the designs are limited and it's kinda pricey. Poo.
On dining, at one point (when I was contemplating TS), I was also torn between Tusker House and 1900. I'd go for 1900's only for the Stepsisters, but they're only available for dinner. While I heard dinner at 1900 is so loud, messy, and the food aren't as better as breakfast. But at breakfast, they only have boring Alice. Oh the dilemma...
Whatever meal you pick, you DO get to check out the beautiful Grand Flo, tho
). I've seen mixed reviews about it, but since I don't have anything to compare it to, I'm sure I'll enjoy it! My family has gone to it multiple times, so it must be good if they return almost every year! 
