August planners, lets plan together!

[KristiMc]

How are the crowds the first week of August? My sister and her family are planning on going then for their first trip. I have always been in October and February.

 

[disnut1149]

We are going August 25 thru Sept. 3. I am also waiting for the hours to come out! We are staying at the ASMu. DD and her girls (both 12) and my grandson who is 2 now. We have tentative plans for the parks and the resturants we want to do. We will be on the dining plan.

First night is always Chef Mickey's
Tusker House - breakfast
Crystal Place - breakfast for Pooh
Hollywood and Vine - breakfast hoping for Handy Manny
Biergarten - Dinner
Cape May - Dinner
Teppen Edo - Dinner
Liberty Tree Tavern - Dinner
Mexico - lunch? just not sure yet

All these could change when the hours come out!!!

Hi Barb,
I'm glad to see you on the boards again. We'll be at Pop from 8/15 to 8/23. I can't believe we'll miss you again by two days!!! (Thanks for all the emails). We hope to be eating at:
Crystal Palace - breakfast
Donalds Safari breakfast
Coral Reef - Dinner
Ohana - Dinner
Mama Melroses - dinner, not sure yet
Akershus - lunch, (not for the food, but the princesses)
Can't wait for the August hours!!!
Joan

 

[DisneyBunny15]

I'm so excited for May just so I can finally see the August hours!!!! I've made a tentative plan, based on July's hours though.

We'll be at AKL 22-26 & BC 26-30

ADRs we're hoping to get:
-Le Cellier
-Mama Melrose
-Coral Reef
-Sci Fi
-Whispering Canyon
-Chef Mickeys
-Biergarten
-San Angel

Our back-ups: (hopefully we won't have to use)
Chefs de France
Tutto Italia
Narcossee's

 

[marciemi]

we have the exact same plans for Tues through Thurs!!!

Look for us - we'll be the ones in lime green!

 

[scrapbookmom5174]

For all of you veterans out there, would you please let me know about my initial plan. Any advice for a newbie would be most appreciated. We arrive on Monday afternoon and are staying at Windsor Hills.

Tuesday - AK
Wednesday - MK (take a mid-day break and then return)
Thursday - DHS - Lunch at Sci-Fi
Friday - Epcot - (take a mid-day break and then return)
Saturday - Breakfast at Chef Mickey then go to the beach
Sunday - ? (Dinner at 'Ohana)
Monday - ?
Tuesday - ?
Wednesday - MK (BBB for the girls and hopefully pirate for DS)

We want the kids to guide us to which parks to go to on the ? days. We might end up splitting up as a family, but that will be okay. DH, DS(10), and DD(10) are big museum, science, folks while DD(7) tends to get bored with a lot of that sort of stuff.

 

[scrapbookmom5174]

We travel in the summer and have found the 'neck coolers' to be absolutely necessary.
If you're not familiar with them, they are a cloth sleeve filled with gel beads. When wet, the beads swell. Over time, the water evaporates, cooling your body. We get ours from here:
http://www.badgersden.com/Store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=80

It sounds kind of crazy, but they really work. The one day we didn't have ours we melted.

Check out the Disabilities board too. They might have some tips for your mom. However, consider renting an ECV for her. The heat can be oppressive and exhausting. At least read the stickies on the Disabilities board before ruling it out.

The First Aid buildings in the parks are (I hear) great. They have cots and are air conditioned.

Our family has certain rigid rules:
1) One person stops for the bathroom, everyone goes.
2) One person drinks, everyone does.

This allows you (the one in charge) to monitor liquid consumption and output. Keeping hydrated is HUGELY important. If someone is not sweating or urinating in August in Florida it is a BAD thing.

Buy the little fans (battery powered). Simply keeping the air moving is helpful.

Keep your feet cool. The first day I wore my sneakers and socks. My feet got so hot that I had blisters all over the bottoms of my feet. They honestly looked scorched. The pavement is VERY hot. If you buy Tevas or athletic sandals, make sure you sunscreen the top of your foot.

If it gets so hot that people are miserable, take a break. Epcot is mostly indoor attractions, so you're out of the heat. AK is mostly outdoors. With no air movement.

My mom has similar problems. Make sure you mom realizes the difficulties and is willing to do what she needs to do to stay healthy. If she will not take care of herself, you'll need to monitor her and manipulate the group's movements to keep her safe. For example, spending time in Innoventions to cool off, rather than touring World Showcase outside.

I was wondering about these for our family. I have already bought our fans, but was thinking these might be a good idea. We live in a hot area, but don't have the humidity. Our days easily will be over 100 day in and day out. I think these will make the days more tolerable.

 

[scrapbookmom5174]

We are going in August!!!!

We are surprising the kids with our first WDW trip. My Mom is going too.

I have put countless hours into planning this thing. I really think I'd be ashamed to know how many... but I've had so much darn fun doing it!

I have lots of lists... packing list, shopping list, garden grocer list, time line of what to do and when to do it... you name it- its most likely been considered as part of this trip!

We are staying off site. My dh couldn't handle a week of sharing a room with the kids. We have a 3 bedroom condo and will eat most of our meals there.

I plan to make ADRs for breakfast at Akershus Hall and Chef Mickey's. We may hit up Le Cellier for lunch one day and dh and I may sneak in a casual date at Whispering Canyon Cafe. I'd like to go to T-Rex our first night there.

I'm just chomping at the bit now for TGM to list the green parks for the 8th through the 15th.

It sounds like our families have a ton in common. It is our first trip as a family (I am quite sure I am the one most excited in all of family). I have waited for 20 years to get to WDW. DH has promised twice and backed out before, but this time there is no backing out. I have planning like crazy, reading everything I can get my hands on (plus ordering a ton of stuff - pins to trade, T-shirts, fanny packs, Guide books for the kiddos, etc....).

We too are staying off-site in a 3 br townhome because DH doesn't do well with all of us crammed into one room (okay - I think we all will rest better with some breathing space) and we will be eating most of our meals in the condo as well. We are going to fit T-rex in as well for DS(10).

 

[GAN]

We were there last August too, in the middle of "Fay"-it was great! We walked right on to most rides-the longest wait we had for anything was 10 minutes. Granted, we did wear our ponchos a lot, but our moods faired better in cool and rainy than they usually do in hot and sunny. We were there before the free dining, so that kept the crowd levels a bit lower, too. We're heading back this August-4th to the 11th. Can't wait.

Wait times were very good -MK on the Tuesday the storm really hit was dead empty, which we took full advantage of. The rain that day was actually light compared to the rest of the week. The cooler weather was welcoming, but after 4 days of ponchos we had enough.

 

[kidsrfun]

My dh and I are going to be there in August / September also! We're there for 8/22 - 9/5! Can't wait!! Staying at the POP, getting free dining, and taking advantage of the military ticket discounts!! Since this is our 25 year anniversary trip, and our first time ever at disney without the kids, I'm trying not to overplan. We'll be spending 6 days in the parks, one day each at US, IOA, and SW, and heading to MNSSHP for our last evening. Other than that, we're going to relax. Mini golf, carriage ride, sitting by the pool, reading my kindle, BW, DTD, check out the resorts, water sprites, etc. Hopefully a real relaxing vacation!

Just waiting for hours to come out. It's tough to plan ADRs since we'll also be there into Sept and those hours don't come out until June! Just going to have to do my best and know that if I have to change ADRs later that I'll propably not get my first choice. Doesn't matter that much. This trip is about us! Not the food

Our first choices are:

Teppan Edo
LeCellier
Rose and Crown
Wave
Narcoossees
O'Hana
Kona
Chef Mickey's
Yachtsmans Steakhouse
50's Primetime
Tusker House
Whispering Canyon

I'm already starting to buy things and put them away in my suitcase. Personal care products, a sundress for our dinner at Yachtsmans, and so far I've bought 3 pairs of comfy sandals that I'll break in and then pack away. Still need to buy one more pair! I also bought 2 vera bradley hipsters and a hey's travelmate! I think my ds and dil are buying me one for mother's day too! lol I'll have bags and sandals to match any outfit!! I've never brought more than one bag or pair of shoes! I guess I'm just so happy to get away with my dh that I want everything to be perfect!

As for the weather, we've gone many times at the end of August since schools in our area don't start until after Labor Day. We understand how hot and humid it is. We're always at the parks for rope drop, stay until noon or 1, then go back to the hotel to rest and head back out later for the evening. We also bring spritzer bottles with fans and drink lots of water!We also understand the rain! We've been there for tropical storms and I was there with my nephew the year that hurricane francis went thru. Disney closed the parks one day and we were stuck in our rooms for the whole day. We had a cooler full of food and just watched videos and played on the computer for hours! It was actually a nice day to rest! The best part was that the days before and after the hurricane were great in the parks! Almost empty! We went on and off rides with little or no wait. i don't know if it was worth having the hurricane come thru, but it was definitely a plus!

See you all there!!

 

[kmadams]

I was there at the same time last year dropping son off at Disney College. It rained all day for 4 days straight. I was wondering how anyone could be enjoying the parks?


We too were there during the first part of Faye last year. We had a great time at AK, no lines for anything at all. When we arrived at the park we asked a CM if EE was open. His answer was that it would be up and running "as long as the duct tape held!"

 

[RCBlackburn]

Going August 8-15 for our first family trip! Have many character meals on our ADR list - but really hoping for CRT on my dd's bday!!!

Hi Mona - we'll be there the same time - at CBR - where are you from in Texas?

Cindy

 

[RCBlackburn]

I haven't read through any posts yet, but remember the FREE ICE WATER available at all counter service restaurants...no purchase necessary! Just bring some flavor mixers for taste!

Are you serious? Free Ice Water at all counter service restaurants???

 

[tomu570]

Add us to the list of August planners. We'll be there 8/14 - 8/23. We really love going in August because it's less crowded, costs less, and we don't have to pull the kids out of school. For this trip we have 2 adjoining rooms at the POP. We've never stayed at this resort before so we're crossing our fingers. My family of 5 were very cramped in a single room at POR last August so we're hoping to spread things out a little.

So far i've I based my itinerary on July's EMH's just incase my ADR window opens before August hours are released. Slow day at work I guess. Anyway....

We were down during TS Fay last August as we and practically walked onto everything without waiting. It was great. The only downside was that we all looked like drowned rats in all our Photopass shots. I guess we won't be framing many of those. And I prepaid for the CD too. Rats!!

But like I said in a previous post, I'd rather be wet in an empty park than be sweltering in a packed on one. Unfortunately my DW did not share the same sentiment.

 

[RCBlackburn]

I was wondering about these for our family. I have already bought our fans, but was thinking these might be a good idea. We live in a hot area, but don't have the humidity. Our days easily will be over 100 day in and day out. I think these will make the days more tolerable.

Hi - we buy these water misters from Walgreens - they are clear on the bottom and you pump the bottom and then press the mist button - it creates a fine mist of water wherever you aim it. They are AWESOME and very refreshing - you don't even have to put cold water in them!!! No batteries and they're small so you don't have to worry about carrying a water bottle/fan all day long.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi everyone,

We're going August 16-25 at All-Star Music in a family suite and free dining! We'll driving from Pennsylvania, just north of Delaware.

We are not major TS folks, but we hope/plan to do the following:

Cape May Cafe - breakfast and dinner
1900 Park Faire - dinner
Plaza - lunch/dinner
Boma - lunch/dinner
Sci-Fi - lunch/dinner
Crystal Palace - breakfast (maybe)

We have 9 nights, so we may be trading some TS for CS. We don't want to do that much planning

We are bringing cooling scarves, misters and wet washcloths. Plus, fanny packs since backpacks will be too hot. We hope to spend time at Blizzard Beach and do some mini golf.

This will be our second trip this year, last time was in January. Hoping for a 40% discount bounceback for January 2010 for a 1BR villa!!!

Nice to meet you all.

 

[MeandMyBoys]

DH, the 3 boys and I will be staying at BWV August 22-29. DH is a teacher, so he's limited to traveling during school breaks and the summer. We went to Disney during August in 2005 & 2006, and we swore we'd never do it again because of the heat! We went in April of 2008 and while the weather was much better, the crowds were not. DH had wanted to spend two weeks in Hilton Head, SC, this summer to celebrate his 40th birthday (beginning of August), but I asked him if he'd consider one week in HH and one week in WDW. I was shocked when he said yes!

We're driving down from NY. We're leaving on 8/21 (DS #3's 8th birthday - nothing like spending your birthday in the car, but he's on his way to Disney) and we'll stay overnight near the Georgia border (Port Wentworth). We'll have the week in Disney (celebrating DH and DS#3's birthdays) and then we'll spend a week in HH before returning home. DH and the boys go back to school late (9/8), so we're able to take advantage of a less crowded time to travel.

I'm hoping that this year I will not end up having to carry all 3 boys' water misting fan bottles (the full-size ones). Last time we went in August, I seemed to be the one stuck carrying all the stuff!!

 

[disneyjunkie]

Anyone have any information on the firework cruises changes?

I heard they go into effect this summer, but can't find details on just what the changes are.

 

[bittersk]

I am going Aug 14-21 with my mom and sister. We don't really have a plan yet. This will be my 9th trip down there and my sister's 11th or 12th. My mom has been there well over 30 times. The only thing we are really planning in our ADR's since we have the dining plan.

We are staying at POP so if anyone would like to meet up or hit up a park together let me know!! Just pm me!! And the hours should be out in a few short days! YAY!!

 

[rutgers1]

We are going from August 8 to 23, splitting our stay between the Boardwalk, Saratoga Springs and Universal (Hard Rock). It will be myself, my wife, and our 2 children (boys, ages 7 and 9), and if anyone wants to split an illuminations cruise with us, send me a message. I never considered the illuminations cruise before because I figured it was too expensive, but splitting it would bring the price down to a manageable number.

 

[tlenzendorf]

Add us to the list of August planners. We'll be there 8/14 - 8/23.
QUOTE]

We're going the exact same days