Crazy planners join in! The Unofficial January 2012 Thread!

[weaverlfc]

Six weeks by yourself?

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Yup, thats the plan. Maybe even a week or 2 longer.

 

[Terapin]

Six weeks by yourself?

~~~~~~~~

We are still trying to decide on a resort for our trip. My husband and I did WDW back in December of 2005 (before DD) and did a split stay at POFQ and the Polynesian. Because we are doing a Dream cruise after our WDW stay, we are definitely just doing a moderate resort. DH thinks the pirate themed rooms at CBR are pretty cool, but I am leaning towards a return to POFQ. We are also in the midst of meal planning. I definitely want to to the Hoop De Doo this time. I think DD will really enjoy it.

We did the Hoop De Doo once and really enjoyed it. The kids liked the bottomless ribs and the show was fun and well done. Corny, of course, but enjoyable. We were staying at WL so it was fun to ride the boat back to the resort.

 

[Terapin]

Yup, thats the plan. Maybe even a week or 2 longer.

Cool! That is awesome.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

So anyone have tentative plans based on last year's park hours and such? We will be staying off site so the EMH calendar affects us in a completely different way than it has in the past. Just waiting, impatiently ,for WDW hours to be released next month!!

 

[viluvsdisney]

We'll be there too...January 22 - 26. Any input on weather and crowds that time of year?

 

[Ginger Renae]

So anyone have tentative plans based on last year's park hours and such? We will be staying off site so the EMH calendar affects us in a completely different way than it has in the past. Just waiting, impatiently ,for WDW hours to be released next month!!

Ha - not yet! We are still trying to decide on where we are staying. We were looking at POFQ, but now I am looking into renting DVC points and staying at the Boardwalk or Beach Club.

 

[wyvernhero]

So I know, it is REALLY early to begin planning and bonding. But really, if we have to wait till 2012, why not dream a bit!

Anyone else out there like me daydreaming/nightdreaming about beautiful empty parks in 1 year 8 months (not that i'm counting or anything)?????? Please tell me i'm not alone and need to consider DIS rehab?!

If your a January 2012er, join me in chatting about the wonderful month of January. The cool weather, semi-empty parks, lack of hurricane worries, awesome codes... Aahhhh, January how I love you!

We are in! Even if we have to drive, stay off site, etc, we need it!

Since we went in January this year, our 2 year old has done nothing but talk non-stop about it. Some benefits we had:

- Almost no lines. Anywhere.
- We had no dining reservations (save the Harvest Grill), and we were able to get in anywhere we wanted, with very little if any waiting.
- The hotel was nice and quiet at night! (POR ftw!)

Granted, now that little one is three, and big one is now 11... we may have to stay offsite to defer some of the increased costs. Still going though, no matter what! I haven't worked 80 hours of overtime this last three weeks for nothing!


And the big one...
- Animal Kingdom, we went at rope drop straight to Camp Minnie Mickey. When the characters came out, our 2 year old was the only one there when everyone came out. She got 45 minutes of Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and the bunnies before another family came back there.

 

[LoriJune]

So anyone have tentative plans based on last year's park hours and such? We will be staying off site so the EMH calendar affects us in a completely different way than it has in the past. Just waiting, impatiently ,for WDW hours to be released next month!!

Oh heck yes! You should see my planning notepad, it makes my brain hurt. We'll be on site, but are not planning many early mornings so we are avoiding EMHs for the most part.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Ha - not yet! We are still trying to decide on where we are staying. We were looking at POFQ, but now I am looking into renting DVC points and staying at the Boardwalk or Beach Club.

Keep in mind that POFQ has been refurbed with QUEEN beds!! Although I wouldn't mind staying DVC!

Oh heck yes! You should see my planning notepad, it makes my brain hurt. We'll be on site, but are not planning many early mornings so we are avoiding EMHs for the most part.

I'm just a little nervous since they just completely changed the October park calendar and rearranged the EMH's and it's so late in the game for those folks. Like I said staying off site means we really should avoid EMH parks so we aren't negatively affected by them without have the benefit of using them. If we have all of our plans made and set and then they completely change the schedule a couple of months out it would be VERY frustrating!! I haven't thought about restaurants yet..we will probably stick with our good old stand-bys..maybe try a new one or two at the most....

Happy Planning!!

 

[Mickeyfan333]

In for January 2012! 1/14-1/21, have been planning this trip since August 2010 with in-laws! All-Star Sports and will probably do dxl dining so we can do a couple 2 credit meals and have dinner on arrival night and breakfast on departure day. Tentatively made schedule and possible ADR's....was so fun planning. Now just waiting for January hours and 180 day mark for ressies...getting so excited! 209 days to go!!

 

[Jhondy]

My friends and I will be going Jan 4th-Jan 11th. We will be staying at Boardwalk!!! I'm super excited to be able to walk to EPCOT!

I'm a bit nervous about crowds as this is over marathon weekend and I've been getting mixed messages about whether crowds are bad or not. Also trying to figure out how I will pack. I know a bit early but I'm hoping it's not too cold. Then again, I live in WI so as long as the weather is not too much in the negatives I think I'll be ok.

 

[Ginger Renae]

We just made reservations at the Old Key West Resort. We considered the Boardwalk Inn because it's so close to EPCOT, but DH really liked the ambiance of OKW. Being as I am the one "driving" this vacation, I figure letting him pick out the resort was a nice thing to do...LOL

Next up - deciding on dining!

 

[Jhondy]

I wish I could start booking dining but since I can't afford to buy the dining plan quite yet, I'm just looking at which restaurants I'm going to try and choose. Hopefully it won't be too hard to get ADRs as it gets closer to Jan.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I wish I could start booking dining but since I can't afford to buy the dining plan quite yet, I'm just looking at which restaurants I'm going to try and choose. Hopefully it won't be too hard to get ADRs as it gets closer to Jan.

All you need is your resort reservation to book ADR's for up to 10 days of your stay at the 180 day mark of your countdown. ..and you don't need a reservation to be able to book any ADR you want at the 180 day of each night you are staying...does that make sense? What I am trying to say is ANYONE can make an ADR at the 180 day mark...so you don't need a resort reservation and you DEFINITELY don't need to buy the dining plan in order to make an ADR!

 

[Jhondy]

All you need is your resort reservation to book ADR's for up to 10 days of your stay at the 180 day mark of your countdown. ..and you don't need a reservation to be able to book any ADR you want at the 180 day of each night you are staying...does that make sense? What I am trying to say is ANYONE can make an ADR at the 180 day mark...so you don't need a resort reservation and you DEFINITELY don't need to buy the dining plan in order to make an ADR!

I know but I'd like to have the dining plan figured out first. Cause we are still deciding if we are going to do the plan or not. If we don't do it then we won't be eating at nearly as many sit down restaurants. The other problem is I'm still trying to figure out who is all coming. The problem of planning a trip with friends is everyone is so up in the air. They all want to come but it all comes down to money. So I can plan where I'd like to eat but no ADRs for me till I have a final count and whether we are doing the plan or not.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I know but I'd like to have the dining plan figured out first. Cause we are still deciding if we are going to do the plan or not. If we don't do it then we won't be eating at nearly as many sit down restaurants. The other problem is I'm still trying to figure out who is all coming. The problem of planning a trip with friends is everyone is so up in the air. They all want to come but it all comes down to money. So I can plan where I'd like to eat but no ADRs for me till I have a final count and whether we are doing the plan or not.

Gotcha That is a pickle..it's definitely much easier when it's only the 4 of us to worry about...good luck with all your planning!

 

[MademoiselleKel]

January 1st-7th, 2012! 191 days away. So pumped!!
Getting together with everyone going on the trip tomorrow to figure out what restaurants to make ADR's for and book our stay at the Boardwalk

 

[CrystalCastle]

ADR time is approaching for me! I can't wait!

Just booked another trip for late Sept./early Oct. too!!! So now I have that to distract me from my big trip in January.

 

[Ginger Renae]

I am anxiously awaiting my 180 day mark for dining reservations! This trip we are planning table service meals at Akershus (DD is into princesses right now), Le Cellier, Biergarten, 'Ohana, and 1900 Park Fare for the Cinderella dinner. I hope the step sisters are there as I hear they steal the show!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I am anxiously awaiting my 180 day mark for dining reservations! This trip we are planning table service meals at Akershus (DD is into princesses right now), Le Cellier, Biergarten, 'Ohana, and 1900 Park Fare for the Cinderella dinner. I hope the step sisters are there as I hear they steal the show!

We really liked the step sisters at 1900 Park Fare...they were better than Cinderella and Prince Charming for our family for sure!
I am making ADR's on July 9th and I will be at work when it comes on-line. I work midnights and hopefully my boss will be very understanding and let me take a few minutes to go in back and take care of everything. I know Jan isn't a hugely busy time of the year but I think with Xmas break running late there will be a lot of ADR's gone at the beginning of our week from the holiday left overs. So far I have mostly lunches on my list so I think that will make it easier for me to get what we want. These are the restaurants I hope to get:
The Plaza, Via Napoli, The Wave (although I think that one will be for dinner), LeCellier, and Sci-Fi.