****August, 2012!!!****

[netnurse31]

Hmmmmmmmm ........ how about Park Hoppers vs No Park Hoppers --- What do you do and why??

Well, I guess we are in the minority here. We get park hoppers every time we visit. I am a compulsive planner while at home so I enjoy being able to do things on a whim while at Disney. I try to make Adr's based upon extra magic hours and the proximity to the park that will be opened the latest that night. Other than that, I leave the rest of the trip up to fate. We will generally plan our next day when we are back at the resort for the night. My "kids" are older so they go with the flow. Sometimes we will spend the morning at one park, go back to the resort, then head to a different park in the late afternoon.

My life is full of restrictions on the whole. When I'm on vacation, I love the complete freedom park hoppers afford us.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

You know, NetNurse, I actually thought not getting park hoppers would be in the minority. I'm very surprised at how this question is turning out. I totally can understand your point of view and if I had more funds, I believe I would get them too. Maybe someday.....

I want to thank everyone who is playing along with the questions of the day. This is fun. Looking forward to tomorrow's question. Who has one for tomorrow???

 

[wallawallakids]

Our last trip we didn't get PH but this trip we are getting them. We are staying at BWI, so that helped me make my decision because I thought we would like to eat dinner in Epcot a few nights and not necessarily spend the whole day in Epcot on those days. It seems easy to catch the Monorail back to MK from Epcot after dinner, or just spend the evenings in Epcot after spending the day at AK or one of the water parks. This is our first time trying them out though, so we will see!!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

We never go without hoppers! These past few trips (this on included) we've had APs so automatic hoppers but regardless, hoppers are a must. We are two adults, though, so it's very easy for us to hop around and we usually end up in Epcot every night!

 

[RetroCOTfan]

Hmmmmmmmm ........ how about Park Hoppers vs No Park Hoppers --- What do you do and why??

Well, I guess we are in the minority here. We get park hoppers every time we visit. I am a compulsive planner while at home so I enjoy being able to do things on a whim while at Disney. I try to make Adr's based upon extra magic hours and the proximity to the park that will be opened the latest that night. Other than that, I leave the rest of the trip up to fate. We will generally plan our next day when we are back at the resort for the night. My "kids" are older so they go with the flow. Sometimes we will spend the morning at one park, go back to the resort, then head to a different park in the late afternoon.

My life is full of restrictions on the whole. When I'm on vacation, I love the complete freedom park hoppers afford us.

This is a great point. With young kids, we don't do EMH. But I'm thinking once they are older and we do take advantage, we would be more inclined to get hoppers so we can go to the park we want all day, then the EMH park at night. Just one more thing to think about for those far-off future trips!

 

[donac]

We love PH. We love to go and not have to have a definite plan set up (Dh and I are both school teachers so we are on a set schedule 180 days a year).

We have an ADR for each day of our trip but I don't want to be held to that park since several of them are for Epcot.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I want to thank everyone who is playing along with the questions of the day. This is fun. Looking forward to tomorrow's question. Who has one for tomorrow???

I will start Saturday morning off with a new question (because I agree...this is a good way to pass the next three months!):

Do you venture off property to shop during your vacation?

If yes, what malls, outlets, or specific stores do you like to (or plan to) visit?

 

[taylor3297]

I will start Saturday morning off with a new question (because I agree...this is a good way to pass the next three months!):

Do you venture off property to shop during your vacation?

If yes, what malls, outlets, or specific stores do you like to (or plan to) visit?

Never venture off property to shop. Most of the stores off site we have here so no need. We have 2 different outlets malls within 45 minutes of our house.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

We never venture off property either! When i was a kid going with my family we used to but ever since DH and I started going together, it's all WDW. In fact, when anyone asks DH, "How was Florida?" His response is, "Wouldn't know! I didn't see it!"

 

[RetroCOTfan]

We never venture off-site, either. Normally we do ME and ride Disney transportation everywhere, so going off-site is not an option. Our next trip will be the first time we've had a car in quite a while, but we still don't plan on leaving property other than a first-day run to Wal-Mart for groceries. (I guess that counts as off-site shopping, but I think the intent of the question was shopping for souvenirs or "fun" stuff, not groceries.)

 

[cbeeindisney]

We never venture off-property either, I don't think I could imagine leaving to go somewhere else when there is so much to do and buy right where you are! I could spend hours in World of Disney in DTD and I intend to when we're there!

 

[cbeeindisney]

Oh and I didn't add my dates, add me to the list of early planners and anxious vacationers...my DBF and I are going Aug. 14-21, staying at POP

 

[PoohsFan1]

Do you venture off property to shop during your vacation?

Nope because we never have a car....Disney Transportation all the way Baby!!!! . When we go to Disney it is strictly Disney because we like to be immersed 24/7 in the magic, it just doesn't feel that magical outside of Disney property....please no flames for those staying off site . However, on our trip in June 2013 we are going to be doing a first and drive (from Suburb of Chicago to Orlando), and since we will have a car then, then maybe, just maybe, we will venture offsite for a bit....but that is still to be determined .

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I was a little late to the party so I missed all the ADR talk at 180 days out. Do we have a list going somewhere of where everyone is eating?? In past "montly" threads I've been part of, we've kept lists and many of us were able to meet up at restaurants. I would volunteer to do it if anyone is interested.

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Just stopping by to say I'm here! And I'll be in the World for TWO WHOLE WEEKS in August!!!! From the 15th-23rd we'll be at our home resort, AKV- Kidani Village, and then from the 23rd-28th we'll be at the Boardwalk Villas! I can't WAIT!!! Hope you all have a magical trip! And to answer the question previously posted, nope! Never offsite to shop! Downtown Disney has everything that I need.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

lol, quite obviously I am the lone wolf when it comes to making shopping part of our vacation .

Our 2009 trip we were 100% onsite.....used Magical Express and Disney transportation exclusively. Shopped at DTD and the parks only.

Our last trip, we stayed offsite and had a rental vehicle. Shopped at the Orlando Premium Outlets, the Florida Mall, and a dozen other stores along the way. Our teen son was in heaven and we got some amazing deals. Of course, the US has way more stores (and WAY better prices) than we have here in Canada, and with our dollar above the US dollar at the time, it made it even more worthwhile.

DH decided we would never be without a car (and restricted to 100% onsite) ever again. Particularly after seeing the price difference for licensed Disney merchandise between the onsite stores and the I-Drive stores . They definitely take advantage of their captive audience.

Some of our favourite shopping places.........House of Hoops (for our basketball-lovin' son) and the M&M Store at the Florida Mall. We also loved the sports stores at the Outlet Malls.......Reebok, Adidas, and Underarmour .

 

[ginny_lynn]

This is our firt time going, not sure i we will be shopping offsite yet, we are driving so we have the car, however no idea where to go or how to get there! Although Gia makes it sound like a good idea for us!

 

[ginny_lynn]

Okay, I have gone and done it....I have changed our reservations.....We wil now be arriving at WDW 08/22/2012 and staying at ASMU for 4 nights in 2 rooms, with room only reservations. We are then changing to POP Century 08/26-09/01 with FREE DINING! with 7 in our party and being allowed to pick up ark tickets 3 days prior to the package beginning this made most sense to us and saved $$$. Plus my neice wants to stay at ASMU and mom wants to stay at POP so they both get what they want.

Now the question is.....do we upgrade to DDP??? If we do our reservations and character meals will be a SURPRISE for the kids as they think we are not doing any....going to see what reservations are available

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Do you venture off property to shop during your vacation?

If yes, what malls, outlets, or specific stores do you like to (or plan to) visit?

As for my family, we rely on Disney transportation throughout the entire trip, so we stay on property. Back when we did stay at a Howard Johnson's on I-4, we loved to shop at all those little souvenier shops and eat at other restaurants. It was one of our trips that I discovered the Golden Corral buffet....OMG!!!! I love that place. We don't have one here in Maine. I would love to have a car for one day while there. I'm just worried I would get so lost! And they have more than 2 lanes in Orlando. I think I'd freak out trying to drive. But if some nice fellow Dis'er would like to take me and my family shopping, we wouldn't say no!!

 

[PoohsFan1]

O.k....It is my turn to ask a Question of the Day

Do you purchase the DDP, if so which one do you purchase?

We always purchase the DxDP because we love to eat at Disney . We also do a ton of character meals and Signature meals so it makes sense for us. We (at least the DDs and I) love getting apps and desserts too. It also gives us a reason to sit down as a family and talk about what we have done or what we are going to do.