Childfree (by choice) Disney Lovers!

[BearcatsFan]

How did I miss this thread?

Hello! DH and I are 45 and 39, and CFBC. We have always been lovers of all things Disney - went there on our honeymoon and many times before and since. Planning another trip there this coming September and we can't wait!

It will be our very first MNSSHP - busy hammering out ideas for costumes and planning ADRs. Anyone else do MNSSHP and if so, did you do the whole couple costume thing or just to each his own?

Look forward to getting to know everyone here!

 

[CurlyJo224]

How did I miss this thread?

Hello! DH and I are 45 and 39, and CFBC. We have always been lovers of all things Disney - went there on our honeymoon and many times before and since. Planning another trip there this coming September and we can't wait!

It will be our very first MNSSHP - busy hammering out ideas for costumes and planning ADRs. Anyone else do MNSSHP and if so, did you do the whole couple costume thing or just to each his own?

Look forward to getting to know everyone here!

Oh yeah! DH and I always do MNSSHP!

We've done the couple costume thing, but with my husband's build, it doesn't always work well. We were both pirates the first year, and that was fine. Two years ago, We went as Buzz Lightyear and Jessie from Toy Story. He wasn't too keen on the Buzz thing, but he was a good sport about it. His usual costume is his custom made Jedi Knight costume, and I go with either the pirate thing, or more recently my Jessie costume.

One thing that trips me up with costumes (literally) is that it's hard to find ladies' costumes that you can ride rides with. You've got either the long dresses, or more commonly, the little short Spencer's looking costumes, that I would not be comfortable in, especially at Disney. Hence, my usual pirate costume.

Edit: Whee! My 500th post, and it's about one of my favorite subjects on one of my favorite threads!

 

[BearcatsFan]

I have noticed that with the costumes. Someone on another thread was asking me why didn't I want to go as "slutty Elmo" this year LOL Seriously though, I can't find a single pre-made costume that covers all my parts enough for the Disney set!

 

[zima-cheryl]

It will be our very first MNSSHP - busy hammering out ideas for costumes and planning ADRs. Anyone else do MNSSHP and if so, did you do the whole couple costume thing or just to each his own?

We did our first MNSSHP last year & loved it! Would go again in a heartbeat.

Our 'costumes' were t-shirts from cafe press. Mine says "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult". I actually got a lot of comments & chuckles.
DH got on that had a zombie warning sticker on it. We just couldn't see doing the whole costume thing. And really it doesn't matter the crowd is a total mix so what ever you decide you'll fit right in.

I would suggest that you take the day off & relax. Sleep in, have a nice lunch & maybe some pool time then head into the park around 4p. That is when they started letting folks w/the party tix in (our party officially started @ 7p). Crowds were thinning out so we got to ride everything we wanted, had time to get candy & see the 1st parade. Unfortunately I ran out of steam before the end of the evening so we didn't stay for the 2nd one. Next time we will know better & I'll either sleep late or get a nap before the party.

The parade is worth seeing. Be sure to allow yourself time at the start of it to see the headless horseman & don't miss the grave diggers from the Haunted Mansion. They were the best group in the parade I thought.

 

[zima-cheryl]

So did anyone else catch that Bistro de Paris added a kid's menu?
While never an age limit (like V&A's) the lack of a kid's menu sort of implied it. I'm disappointed they added one.

We still plan to try it. But I have lower expectations now than I did before.

 

[BearcatsFan]

We did our first MNSSHP last year & loved it! Would go again in a heartbeat.

Our 'costumes' were t-shirts from cafe press. Mine says "Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult". I actually got a lot of comments & chuckles.
DH got on that had a zombie warning sticker on it. We just couldn't see doing the whole costume thing. And really it doesn't matter the crowd is a total mix so what ever you decide you'll fit right in.

I would suggest that you take the day off & relax. Sleep in, have a nice lunch & maybe some pool time then head into the park around 4p. That is when they started letting folks w/the party tix in (our party officially started @ 7p). Crowds were thinning out so we got to ride everything we wanted, had time to get candy & see the 1st parade. Unfortunately I ran out of steam before the end of the evening so we didn't stay for the 2nd one. Next time we will know better & I'll either sleep late or get a nap before the party.

The parade is worth seeing. Be sure to allow yourself time at the start of it to see the headless horseman & don't miss the grave diggers from the Haunted Mansion. They were the best group in the parade I thought.

Thank you so much for all the great advice. I had heard about the grave diggers but don't know what to expect. We're so excited!

 

[peachiepie]

We're doing MNSSHP this year, still thinking about costumes though (halloween isn't very big over here)...thinking about going as Ghostbusters, but that's the only idea we've got at the moment!

 

[mrcymbalplayer]

Anyone out there remember the Disney Institute? (Now Saratoga Springs)
Now that was Disney for adults. I miss that place even now.

 

[zima-cheryl]

Anyone out there remember the Disney Institute? (Now Saratoga Springs)
Now that was Disney for adults. I miss that place even now.

We never had the opportunity to stay there.
I have to say our favorites to date have been Boardwalk & Animal Kingdom Lodge. Both for different reasons.

Next trip will be the Contemporary. We are slowly working our way through all the different resorts.

 

[CynBeth]

The CR was the first ever resort I stayed in as a kid. My husband and I are thinking about going in Dec 2013 and doing a split stay between CR and WL.

 

[LillsnJills]

Just joined the board after a few weeks of lurking. My partner (Jill, 36) and I (Lilly, 40) are CFBC and have been together for about nine years now. Of course, it's a bit easier for us to remain CFBC, but

I've been a Disney "liker" for pretty much my whole life, visiting the World more times than I can count as a child (my parents were older and always wanted to spend the two week Christmas break in Florida). But we always stayed off site, and that was long before all the other parks sprung up. We're talking back in the day when you still had to have individual tickets for the rides. It's easily been twenty years since I last visited.

Jill, otoh... she's a Disney fanatic. While she's only been three or four times, she's all about every other aspect of the Disney universe. She last visited in 2007, when a friend of hers won a stay at AK at work, and took her along as her guest. Ever since that trip, she's been unable to stop thinking about it, and has been dying to go back.

I've been hesitant, to say the least, if for no other reason than we ARE CFBC and my idea of a great vacation would not involve going to a Mecca of the under 10 set. But she finally convinced me, and we have our trip booked for this September, after all the kids are back in school, so there should be fewer around.

We're staying at AK with free dining that we upgraded to DxDP and have ADRs set for Jiko, Bistro de Paris, Le Cellier and Fulton's Crab House, among others. Hopefully with them being 2 credits each at dinner, that too will mean fewer kids.

 

[franandaj]

Just joined the board after a few weeks of lurking. My partner (Jill, 36) and I (Lilly, 40) are CFBC and have been together for about nine years now. Of course, it's a bit easier for us to remain CFBC, but

I've been a Disney "liker" for pretty much my whole life, visiting the World more times than I can count as a child (my parents were older and always wanted to spend the two week Christmas break in Florida). But we always stayed off site, and that was long before all the other parks sprung up. We're talking back in the day when you still had to have individual tickets for the rides. It's easily been twenty years since I last visited.

Jill, otoh... she's a Disney fanatic. While she's only been three or four times, she's all about every other aspect of the Disney universe. She last visited in 2007, when a friend of hers won a stay at AK at work, and took her along as her guest. Ever since that trip, she's been unable to stop thinking about it, and has been dying to go back.

I've been hesitant, to say the least, if for no other reason than we ARE CFBC and my idea of a great vacation would not involve going to a Mecca of the under 10 set. But she finally convinced me, and we have our trip booked for this September, after all the kids are back in school, so there should be fewer around.

We're staying at AK with free dining that we upgraded to DxDP and have ADRs set for Jiko, Bistro de Paris, Le Cellier and Fulton's Crab House, among others. Hopefully with them being 2 credits each at dinner, that too will mean fewer kids.

Welcome! My partner and I are CF too, and as you say it IS easier! We prefer to travel at times when there are less rugrats as well, but we also find that with our dining tastes and other preferences we rarely run into the kids, except of buses and on the rides. We spend a lot of time doing the shows and not so exciting rides that don't draw the kids.

As I look back you are eating at a lot of signature restaurants, so yes there are less kids. Also the more exotic (Jiko, Bistro, etc) you will find less kids as they hopefully don't offer chicken tenders!

You'll have a great time, especially if you enjoy the adult beverages and locations where they serve those. Again most are CF! You might also consider some things like the wine tasting at the AKL and the culinary tour. You must visit the Ditch for tequila tasting!

I'm sure you will love it!

 

[dgbg100106]

Welcome! My partner and I are CF too, and as you say it IS easier! We prefer to travel at times when there are less rugrats as well, but we also find that with our dining tastes and other preferences we rarely run into the kids, except of buses and on the rides. We spend a lot of time doing the shows and not so exciting rides that don't draw the kids.

As I look back you are eating at a lot of signature restaurants, so yes there are less kids. Also the more exotic (Jiko, Bistro, etc) you will find less kids as they hopefully don't offer chicken tenders!

You'll have a great time, especially if you enjoy the adult beverages and locations where they serve those. Again most are CF! You might also consider some things like the wine tasting at the AKL and the culinary tour. You must visit the Ditch for tequila tasting!

I'm sure you will love it!

Alison that is describing David and I, CF and loving to travel when other children are in school and away from us, We love to eat and drink and don't want the small one around us when we do...

 

[zima-cheryl]

But she finally convinced me, and we have our trip booked for this September, after all the kids are back in school, so there should be fewer around.

The other nice thing about traveling that time of year is in general the crowds are much lighter and usually there are deals that time of year (free dining, room discounts, etc) because they are trying to entice people into the resorts & parks.

Did you use a TA to book your trip? If not you may want to since a good TA can be invaluable in helping track/apply new deals as they come out for you. Or if you are super-organized & have the time you could monitor things & do it yourself.

 

[Darkfirewolfe]

Just joined the board after a few weeks of lurking. My partner (Jill, 36) and I (Lilly, 40) are CFBC and have been together for about nine years now. Of course, it's a bit easier for us to remain CFBC, but

I've been a Disney "liker" for pretty much my whole life, visiting the World more times than I can count as a child (my parents were older and always wanted to spend the two week Christmas break in Florida). But we always stayed off site, and that was long before all the other parks sprung up. We're talking back in the day when you still had to have individual tickets for the rides. It's easily been twenty years since I last visited.

Jill, otoh... she's a Disney fanatic. While she's only been three or four times, she's all about every other aspect of the Disney universe. She last visited in 2007, when a friend of hers won a stay at AK at work, and took her along as her guest. Ever since that trip, she's been unable to stop thinking about it, and has been dying to go back.

I've been hesitant, to say the least, if for no other reason than we ARE CFBC and my idea of a great vacation would not involve going to a Mecca of the under 10 set. But she finally convinced me, and we have our trip booked for this September, after all the kids are back in school, so there should be fewer around.

We're staying at AK with free dining that we upgraded to DxDP and have ADRs set for Jiko, Bistro de Paris, Le Cellier and Fulton's Crab House, among others. Hopefully with them being 2 credits each at dinner, that too will mean fewer kids.

I know how you feel - your reason is the exact reason why me and my partner haven't been on a cruise yet.

But to try to address some of your concerns. My partner and I are also CFBC and have been together 13 years this October. We always really liked Disney stuff and I had some of my best childhood vacations in the park, but we had not gone as adults. Then we decided to go in 2009 and we had the MOST FANTASTIC TIME! We have gone every year since (we even both have Disney tattoos now).

Disney to me - while yes there are children around, is still a wonderful time for adults. We rarely get annoyed by children (there have been a few instances) in the park, when we often get annoyed by the children at home. Also, all of the places you've selected are heavy on the adult time. But there is so much for adults to do - in addition to the parks, there's all sorts of things to do. My partner and I enjoy some of the kiddy things - like character breakfasts and the Kim Possible missions, but we also always have afternoon tea and take some to sit and absorb the resort. AKL is a fantastically beautiful resort. We enjoyed just sitting watching the animals for hours. BTW - Jiko was the best meal I've had on property yet!

We've never been in September, but any time school is in session is a great time to go. OH! and you can always drink around EPCOT for a fun adult experience.

Let us here on the board know if you need any suggestions or help! I know you'll have a great time!

 

[LillsnJills]

As I look back you are eating at a lot of signature restaurants, so yes there are less kids. Also the more exotic (Jiko, Bistro, etc) you will find less kids as they hopefully don't offer chicken tenders!

Thanks for the welcome, FranandAJ! Yes, that's what we were hoping, that splurging on the signature places would give us a bit of peace and quiet to enjoy dinner and hopefully avoid a bunch of whining and screaming because kids are up past their bedtime and are extra tired from being dragged around the World all day.

You'll have a great time, especially if you enjoy the adult beverages and locations where they serve those. Again most are CF! You might also consider some things like the wine tasting at the AKL and the culinary tour. You must visit the Ditch for tequila tasting!

Neither of us are big drinkers, tbh, though we very much enjoy wine, so even though we're on the DxDP, we'll pay oop to enjoy good wines with our meals nightly. And though I only occasionally drink beer (and she doesn't like it at all), I'm looking forward to trying some of the foreign offerings at Epcot (which is my favorite of the parks and where I'd probably spend most of my time, in World Showcase, given my choice). The wine tasting at AKL sounds great, and we'll probably attend, unless we end up one of the other parks for the day.

 

[LillsnJills]

Alison that is describing David and I, CF and loving to travel when other children are in school and away from us, We love to eat and drink and don't want the small one around us when we do...

Yep, same here. I have nothing against children, per se, but if I'm trying to enjoy an upscale meal and a bottle of wine, I don't want the mood ruined by shrieking kids running around unattended/ignored by their parents.

 

[LillsnJills]

The other nice thing about traveling that time of year is in general the crowds are much lighter and usually there are deals that time of year (free dining, room discounts, etc) because they are trying to entice people into the resorts & parks.

Did you use a TA to book your trip? If not you may want to since a good TA can be invaluable in helping track/apply new deals as they come out for you. Or if you are super-organized & have the time you could monitor things & do it yourself.

Oh, believe me, the lighter crowds are a key reason we're going in September. Jill researched crowds on a day by day basis and that's how we came up with the week we'll be going!

We didn't use a TA, but we keep an eye out for any new deals that come along. We were able to update our reservation to get the free dining that's just been offered (upgraded to the deluxe plan for less than $500). I'm pretty satisfied with the value of the trip and like the idea of not really having to worry about keeping on budget for the dining (wine and tips are oop, of course, but that's pretty doable).

 

[LillsnJills]

I know how you feel - your reason is the exact reason why me and my partner haven't been on a cruise yet.

Disney to me - while yes there are children around, is still a wonderful time for adults. We rarely get annoyed by children (there have been a few instances) in the park, when we often get annoyed by the children at home. Also, all of the places you've selected are heavy on the adult time. But there is so much for adults to do - in addition to the parks, there's all sorts of things to do. My partner and I enjoy some of the kiddy things - like character breakfasts and the Kim Possible missions, but we also always have afternoon tea and take some to sit and absorb the resort. AKL is a fantastically beautiful resort. We enjoyed just sitting watching the animals for hours. BTW - Jiko was the best meal I've had on property yet!

We've never been in September, but any time school is in session is a great time to go. OH! and you can always drink around EPCOT for a fun adult experience.

Let us here on the board know if you need any suggestions or help! I know you'll have a great time!

Yeah... I don't think I'd be willing to try the cruises. Being at a theme park is one thing, but trapped on a boat that's geared towards kids? Nope, can't do it.

But I agree, I think we'll be too focused on having our own good time to really let the kids that are around bother/annoy us. And even if they do, we can get away from them easily enough, and ultimately we don't have to take them back to the hotel with us

We're both *really* looking forward to our dinner at Jiko. I've heard such amazing things about it, and she's been wanting to go since her last trip, when her friend didn't want to pay "that much" for a meal there. The only place I'd like to try even more than that would be V&A's but.... Yeah, not this trip

 

[Bunless]

I have to speak up for the cruises!!!

If you are child-free by choice, Disney Cruise is the way to go.
I am serious!
Do late dining, hang out at the Cove Cafe and Pool and the adult entertainment options... and of course the gym and spa!
There are hardly any kids to be seen when you do that.

The last two summers we've gone on a Holland America cruise, which is supposed to be the haven for the elderly. Never once did I get in the pool it was so over run with kids. Kids in the gym (why is your little darling in her dress and sandals on the treadmill while you laugh?), kids in the lounges.

Disney knows how to keep kids and adults separate, believe me.