Anyone going to WDW in 2011 and getting excited?

[strawberrygirl]

We are going the wk before our late Easter next yr and i am getting so excited already I am searching even though they can't give any rates to me until Aug of this yr (don't understand why Disney leaves it so late). I am having problems figuring out with Easter being so late next yr and "state tests" being April, if the park will be crowded. Tourism Florida thinks it won't be as busy since Easter is later and most spring breaks will be over with. Anyways, we can't really change the dates we are going, so will go that time anyways.
Just wondering if anyone else plans this far ahead or if I am really crazy to be doing this so far ahead.

 

[rodeo65]

We're planning on January 2011 and I'm also really excited. We have a move in between now and then, so I have a couple of other things occupying my (few) non Disney brain cells but I'm still on here regularly thinking and dreaming. Not much planning yet but getting ideas anyway.

I have the same concerns over release on packages so I called last week. The CM I spoke to said I could book room only in order to book ADRs with +10 and then switch it to a package when they are released. If any PIN that pertains is released it will be added as well. She also said that since the ADR window is back to 180 she "thinks" they might release the packages in late June or ealy July this year. I'm crossing everything.

 

[tink1969]

Planning on going in 2011 for the March break. I know it will be busy....but who cares? It's Disney!

 

[strawberrygirl]

So glad that I am not the only one making plans to go to Disney World in 2011! My hubby thinks i have tunnel vision when I tell him that we must stay on the property. He wants to rent a house and a car....what fun is that??? I want the total Disney experience for a wk, then we will be going elsewhere in Florida and we can relax there.

I just have to decide if the meal plans are worth it.

The wait begins until the specials come out.

Thanks and so glad there are others the same as me.

 

[Clochette nordique]

Actually, I planned everything to leave Northern Ontario on April 23rd 2011, never realizing before last week it would be Easter. First time ever Disney. Yes, I too planned so far ahead (putting $ away monthly for 5 years to be ready since my dd lives with so many special needs: we need the Poly to be on the monorail.) Already booked DCL Dream in November 2009 for May 1st 2011. I wanted 8 days at the Poly to start with, then go "rest" a bit on the Dream to finish with Universal and SeaWorld. Easter is way too crowdy for us. So now, I don't know anymore. I wrote to our TA some days ago to see if we could change the reservations for the cruise, but I have my doubts. And she didn't answer back yet.

 

[candielips]

We too are going in 2011, but also going this year. We are hoping for 2 things this year:
1) to get Free Dining
2) to be able to book Bounceback for 2011

Our kids are quite young and we plan to visit every yr until they are a little older and want to start doing different things.

 

[strawberrygirl]

Wow, great that I am not the only one getting excited Heck, I want to start excersizing so I don't feel self concious in a bathing suit I also want to get the kids in shape so they are going to have to start walking this summer.
I hope the deals next yr will be good ones with Easter being so late. I am keeping my :fingerscrossed: that it will be quiter.

Hubby wants a one bedroom suite to be seperated from the kids, and I don't want to spend that money. So, thinking we might do 4 days at Pop and then the final 2 days at the Poly.

Is anyone thinking of the meal plans? I gotta research them to see if it is worth the money.

Thanks for replying and glad to meet everyone

 

[sjsjbrook]

I am planning for end of February 2011. I actually decided for the first time to stay off site and rent a car. We were able to get a great deal for the dreams villas, each kid will be able to have their own room, plus there is a ponderossa on the drive to the park .LOL

I have already booked the car, the spot, looking at getting tickets early before they go up in August. I just can't see the flights yet.

Did I mention how excited I am. My husband is just playing along, because after a difficult few months, it is making me happy and smlile. The kids are excited too.

My only issue is the fact that my teenager has no idea what courses she will have that semester yet. We may have to adjust a few things if she has all her hard courses then.

So glad to find others planning so far in advance.

 

[mickilee]

Another planner here. But for October or maybe Christmas. I am just starting the planning this weekend. Since I just found out about pay later.

 

[braddillman]

Just booked aeroplan flights from Halifax for February 2011. Nova Scotia has a double, 2-week break in Feb 2011, so we're going for 15 days (leaving the Friday before).

I was getting frustrated with aeroplan having nothing available for those dates, but just yesterday I found 3 seats together for 25k points each. I never expect to find more than that together so I booked them for DW and DDx2. DS and I would purchase air canada tickets on the same or compatible flights.

But wait! I still had 27k points left over, and another search yielded there was still another seat left on the same flights. Huh? Maybe they released another seat after we took the last 3 on that flight, or something. Who can figure out air canada? Anyway, we managed to get 4 aeroplan seats for 100k points, and paid cash for the last one. WooHoo!

If aeroplan came up short, our next plan would've been flying out of Portland, ME (a 9-hr drive for us), as it is say, 1/2 the price to 1/4 the price - huge savings.

Next we found a minivan for $269/wk, with a 24-hrs-prior cancellation policy, and booked that. If find something better we can switch.

Last we need a place to stay. We always stay at The Fountains on I-drive, where we own a timeshare. I think we only have enough points for about 9 or 10 days, so we haven't decided what to do for the balance. We could borrow points or pay cash to make the whole stay there, or we could split the time with another resort. Maybe onsite at universal (we're planning to get an Orlando FlexPass, no Disney this trip), but it looks pricey. DW is looking at houses.

 

[strawberrygirl]

sjsjbrook: What are those dream villas like? I am still new to the Florida scene. Hubby has been talking about houses but I want to stay on Disney.

If I have my choice of airlines, it won't be with Air Canada (hope I don't offend anyone). West Jet is better for me. But I will go with whoever Airmiles puts me with

I hear so many things about when to go to Disney and when not to. When we went to Disney land 3 yrs ago, we waited for the wk after Easter and thought we were smart. But, when we arrived at customs they said it looked like everyone was doing the same and Easter was not very busy for them So, I don't think it really matters and with the US economy, you never know.

I might drive my hubby though by the time our holidays come next April. He is glad that I am planning it but still he gets frustrated it is soo far ahead. Oh, well.......it is fun for me and it gives my brain abit of a break from the kids. Speaking of which...I am baking chocolate chip cookies...anyone want any?

 

[mrtr62]

We are planning April 2011 and I am really starting to get excited and think I am going to drive my DH crazy. We went to Disney April 2009 for 1 week and we stayed at CBR with the DDP for 1 week. We have a 5 year old who loved her first visit and totally proved that 4 was not too young for Disney. It was an amazing trip and we left thinking about the next trip. My parents spend April in Florida so we spend a week with them after our Disney time to relax on the beach.

I am hoping for a great deal but am also intrigued by the Point Buying for DVC. Has anyone done that?

How are you all planning to book? I am not wanting to use a TA that I did last time because I want to be on top of my dates to make the ADR's.

I am so glad I am not the only person already thinking about this... We are going to drive from southern Ontario we did it last time and it wasn't bad at all... I had always said I would only fly and know I am hooked on the driving...

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

We are planning a trip the first week of May 2011, but because Easter is so late, I'm afraid of the crowds. We have only gone in Sept,Jan, and early Dec so we have never experienced high crowds. We are considering changing to Sept again instead, but I don`t know if I can wait that long. Our plans are to stay the first 3 nights off site rent a car, and go to both Sea World and Aquatica, and shop for a day, then return the car. Then stay on property for 8 to 10 nights. We are going to book the Dolphin, but if we get a pin in the meantime, then we will book the Boardwalk and get the dining plan. We got a pin recently for 20,30,40% off, but it`s only till December and we won`t have enough cash by then.

 

[strawberrygirl]

We are going in April too and my daughter will be 5 yrs old and my son will be 9 yrs old (turning 10 within 2 mths of going-yeah, still child rates ) Glad to hear that it isn't that young.

I think we are going to go with FairyTale TA because they are in Ontario and being in the West, they will have the jump on the deals that even the control freak that I am, won't be able to do. I will drive the poor woman insane so I hope I have one with lots of patience.

I would rather drive...trust me, the 5 hr flight is already giving me the willies-ick. But we are too far away. Will rent a car while we are down there and spend time on the Gulf coast. I don't know what we will do though from good Friday to Easter Monday. I don't want to be in Disney during that time. Any suggestions, because I have to book that soon. I am totally what to do during that time.

I am still hoping that the middle to the end of April will be abit quieter with Easter being so much later and many schools in the USA getting out so much earlier than they do in Canada. But, we don't have much of a choice either.

I just hope there are some really good deals for April!!

 

[mrtr62]

Okay what is fairytale TA?? If they can find a deal I need them too!!

In 2009 we did a week at Disney and left the Friday before Good Friday. The crowds were fine. I am planning the same thing in 2011 and hoping to get leave Disney the week before Good Friday and then head to the beach. Our travel agent told us to stay away from the week before and after Easter. I am also wondering with easter so late what it will be like.

I used TourGuide Mike website last year and followed it to a tee and it was perfect for crowd predictions.

Also I highly recommend the food plan. The deluxe was way more food then we needed but we did all the dinner shows which were worth 2 meals and It was nice to not worry about anything other then what time for our ADR. I just found that the character dinners and shows and meals were all part of what made the Disney experience so amazing for us as a family.

I went in 2009 because I thought my daughter would love it because she is a girly girl. I had no idea how much all 3 of us would enjoy it and watching the magic through her was awesome... We are not "Disney" people we don't wear Mickey mouse clothing (well a 5 year old does) but we love what Disney offers and the whole package that you get when you go on a vacation there....

I am addicted to the planning of the trip (actually any trip) I love to plan and I am a control freak as well... I had laminated copies of the tourguide Mike schedules attached to the stroller so with maps and our ADR #s and times so at anytime we could quickly refer to the plan... Oh yeah CRAZY!!!

 

[fivebyfive]

I will drive the poor woman insane so I hope I have one with lots of patience.

I am addicted to the planning of the trip (actually any trip) I love to plan and I am a control freak as well... I had laminated copies of the tourguide Mike schedules attached to the stroller so with maps and our ADR #s and times so at anytime we could quickly refer to the plan... Oh yeah CRAZY!!!

Ok, someone has to explain this to me. I just don't understand why people who love to do their own trip planning and/or know that they will drive their TA 'in sane' even bother to use one?

TA is one of the lowest paid professions out there (I think the average is $30,000 for a full time agent). Unfortunately whether you ask them 1 question or 1000, they still get the same small pay. Of course, the good TA's always work late hours and holidays. So the pay is pretty much crap when you think about it.

I always use a TA, but I get the answers for my Disney obsession from the DIS. I'm sure my TA could care less about my park touring ideas or what shoes I plan to wear to the parks. I have you people to care about that for me!

The way I see it, is that you only use a TA because you NEED one. You know; someone who answers your questions about WDW, can watch for deals for you or make your ADR's because you are too busy with soccer practise and/or ballet classes. I just don't understand why people USE a TA to drive them crazy??? That just sounds cruel to me.

 

[mrtr62]

I am happy to not use a TA if it works out better which is why I was looking for alternatives to booking in my first post. I would love to hear from someone who has done it themselves and didn't have any hassles or problems. I think we are all on the DIS boards to learn more and are the best people to do our own ADR bookings which I did for the last trip.

I am not against getting a good deal though and found last time the only way to get the Carribean Beach and not the Value on the buy 4 get 3 free for the times I wanted was to go through a TA who pulled some strings and got it for me by playing around with difference carriers. I wasn't able to book it myself through the Disney website.

 

[strawberrygirl]

mrtr62:it looks like we are going at the same time as you are.

I don't want to do this solely myself. I used a TA and did some of the bookings myself for my trip to Disney Land. This time, not being familiar with the area, I want a TA to guide me along. I will do some of it myself as well. It is exciting doing it both ways.

 

[mrtr62]

My sister was in a position before where she booked a trip to Austrailia with her boyfriend. Because they booked through a TICO covered TA they were eventually able to get there money back where the people who booked direct with the carrier were not able to. My sisters boyfriend paid cash for his trip and the only way he was able to recoop it (because he didn't have the credit card insurance) was because he was with a TA.

I am not sure what we are going to do because I am pretty sure that Disney isn't going to go out of business.

Strawberry girl it does look like the same time... We will have to keep swapping planning idea's.

 

[fivebyfive]

Thanks guys, you both answered my question. Your reasoning for wanting to use a TA make sense to me. I especially agree with Strawberry girl in that when not being familiar with the area, to use someone who has expertise. The first Disney cruise I took, my TA was a godsend!!!

Like I said, I always use a TA (love that I have ONE person to ask questions to who knows Disney, oppose to calling CRO and getting 10 different answers)

I guess I just couldn't understand the comments of 'driving a TA insane' - although I totally get what you mean . I've also seen many posts on these boards how people will go with the TA who responds to their inquiry the fastest, I don't get that either. I'm not sure how speed equals excellent service, but I digress...

I use my TA for TA 'stuff', such as pricing, discounts, ADR's etc. but I refer elsewhere for the details, as I'm an obsessive Disney planner and I don't think it fair that they have to be involved in all of that.