First Family Trip Planners Thread for WDW Newbies!

[HalloweenNut]

Well wishndreamer? Are you back yet? Looking forward to hearing out all about your trip. We had a great trip at the end of April. I'm certainly glad I put the time in and did the amount of planning that I did. We had a wonderful week, everything went as planned (for the most part) and we had a ton of fun! For anyone interested I've just finished up a full trip report - the link is in my signature below.

emksmama: it's not possible to do too much planning - seriously! My wife thought I was going a little crazy leading up to our trip but by the end of the first day she realized how important it was and was thanking me for being so organized. We certainly wouldn't have had nearly as successful a trip that's for sure. Plan on a character meal - lots of fun and the best way to greet the characters without waiting in long lines. Our favourites were Crystal Palace and 'Ohana but we're not focused in on the princesses.

 

[WishnDreamer]

A week ago today. And came home to extra jump rope practices, soccer games & practices, & backed up work. Sooo, I checked out what was going on around here but hadn't responded at all. We had a blast! I am going to head over & finish reading your trip report. Never got to because we were packing up & heading out. I am trying to decide about doing one myself...
Of course, everything thought the trip was too short and wants to go again. Maybe again someday, but if we ever do it would be Christmas to see the decorations, I think.
I will let everyone know if I get a trip report started and I will come back to let you know about how it went. I have an appointment, 2 soccer games, and a jump rope workshop to get to this morning!

 

[HalloweenNut]

A week ago today. And came home to extra jump rope practices, soccer games & practices, & backed up work. Sooo, I checked out what was going on around here but hadn't responded at all. We had a blast! I am going to head over & finish reading your trip report. Never got to because we were packing up & heading out. I am trying to decide about doing one myself...
Of course, everything thought the trip was too short and wants to go again. Maybe again someday, but if we ever do it would be Christmas to see the decorations, I think.
I will let everyone know if I get a trip report started and I will come back to let you know about how it went. I have an appointment, 2 soccer games, and a jump rope workshop to get to this morning!

No pressure now!! I know how it goes - getting back in the routine was hard for us as well. Glad to hear everyone had a great time.

 

[loafer74]

Questions of the Day So Far

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates?
Me 37 , DW 30 , DS 13 , DD 8 and DS 5. Leaving in 3 days , last day of school here and cheap flights

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick?
If you haven't made your ADRs yet, what are you planning & when is your 180 day mark?
No ADR's made , eat offsite alot and counter service

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there?
If you have not yet chosen, are you looking at offsite or on? What are your choices narrowed down to, if any?
Staying in an offiste Condo, 3 bedrooms 2 bath with a pool and 5 minutes away from Animal Kingdom. Price was key and the size of the room

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin?
N/A

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise?
No

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?
Flying United and renting from Avis

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie?
Classic: Fox and the Hound
New :Lion King

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc?
No

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World?
College Graduation for DW

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them?
Mickey Mouse and Woody , not too long , too many rides to ride

10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning?
Reading every book I can get my hands on , Easywdw , DISBoards and Mousesavers.com

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far?
Carrying your own water , Body Glide or similar products and the best days to go to what park

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which 1 are you most looking forward to?
Yes and looking forward to MSEP

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade?
Yes we are

14. Arrival day plans
Sleep , shop for breakfast foods and water , and hit the pool

15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park?
Expedition Everest
Tower of Terror
Splash Mountain
Soarin

16. What are your plans for souvenir money?
Each child has gift cards

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks?
camo hiking packpack

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day?
Backpack full of water and snacks and rain ponchos

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward?
No

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at?
Whatever is handy

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can).
Tentative plan
2 days MK , 2 Days HS , 1 Day AK and 1day Epcot

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf?
No

23. What's been your favorite part of planning?
Getting the children involved and listening to them talk about going

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned?
No havnt thought about it

 

[Pesky]

Still here even though mine is eons away.

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates? Me, dh, dd(4 now) and ds(2). We will definitely be going in October, probably 2016, for WDW. For the WDW trip, we've had various people start to think about joining us, especially my sister and her family, but I'm not planning on anyone but us for now. We are going to DLR December 2013 and that will be the kids' first Disney experience and looks like my ILs will be coming with us then (they live about 2 hrs away). Chose the October date because there is a fall break then and the crowds aren't horrific that time of year. Plus I love the idea of seeing the Halloween decorations and the party. December next year was easy because we can combine it with celebrating Christmas at the ILs.

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick? No. I'd heard 180 days out so think I would be a bit premature!


3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there? DLR trip: looking at VGC and renting some points. ILs want to stay onsite and that seems the most reasonable. WDW trip: hopefully WL! Love the idea of bunk beds for the kids and the location seems great.

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin? No idea yet.

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise? YES! Sort of. Kids know we will go "one day". Next year I'll do a treasure hunt right before we leave with the final clue at my ILs' house. I think for the WDW trip, I'll give them a joint bday gift in the summer and that will tell them about the trip.

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there? Flying, likely boat, monorail and bus system

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie? Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast (but there are a lot of the new ones I really like).

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc? We'll do BBB and Ariel's Grotto at DLR. I hope the kids will still want to do stuff like pirates by the time we go, although thinking DD may be out of the BBB stage.

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World? No. Just first family trip there.

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them?
DD right now -- ANY of the princesses. All of the princesses. Oh and Sally and Jack Skellington. She's got a goth streak in her. DS -- Mickey and Minnie right now and any Cars character. I'll be curious about how that might change in the next year or so. Me -- pretty much any of them but especially Mary Poppins. I don't think we'll wait too long honestly because the kids won't have that kind of patience and by the time we hit WDW, not sure how much they will want to wait. I think DH would be most excited to meet the mickey bar vendor.

10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning? Besides DISboards, **************.net (that dude is ON), MouseSavers and MiceAge

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far? Jump on that 180 day on the dot for desired ADRs, have a plan with prioritizing and be prepared to ditch the plan

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which 1 are you most looking forward to? As they will likely change in the next few years, I'll wait and see what the board raves about first!

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade? We'll see if the kids are interested. I'm not a huge parade person.

14. Arrival day plans. It'll depend on the arrival time. I was kind of hoping to squeeze in Hoop De Doo Revue that night.

15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park? MK-Splash Mountain (never been on MK's version), AK-Dinosaur, DHS-Toy Story, Epcot-Fast Track

16. What are your plans for souvenir money? We're saving change now and will see where we are. I figured I will let the kids decide if they want cold hard cash or a GC.

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks? Backpack. I always use one and found it to be the easiest. Provided you don't pack to hike Mt. Everest or anything.

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day? Wallet, water, ponchos, camera, phones, sunscreen, swimmer's towel, extra socks, mini first aid kit (I still remember being stung by a bee in line for HM there).

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward? Definitely planning on photopass and our own pics and videos.

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at? No idea yet

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can). Yes. I'm eyeing a 10 day visit but not sure how we will break them up. I figured 2 days in each park at least but we'll be flexible.

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf? Downtown Disney, yes. Not sure about the others.

23. What's been your favorite part of planning? Everything! There is a reason I start so early. DH has honestly been impressed with how much I've learned from these boards.

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned? No

 

[Auntie Liz]

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates? I am going with my BFF Robin. Our trip is Nov 27 - Dec 4. I won airline tickets at the Employee Christmas party for my work!!

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick?
If you haven't made your ADRs yet, what are you planning & when is your 180 day mark? Our ADR day is this Thursday!!!!!!!!! We are very excited about being one more step closer to our once in a lifetime dream trip!! Planning on trying to get ADR for Coral Reef, LeCellier, Cinderella's Royal Table, Hoop De Doo, Ohana, Artist Point, Mama Melrose. Whew!

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there? We are staying at the Poly CL. My last big vacation was Hawaii and my husband and I loved it. My Aunt stayed there 20 years ago and STILL talks about what a magical resort and trip it was!

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin? No

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise? No

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there? Flying in from Oregon, and enjoying Magic Express and Disney transportation all they way!

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie? Cinderella and Enchanted

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc? Robin's birthday is Nov 30th, so planning some big surprises for her on that day. (Her birthday was always forgotten as a child! ) Any suggestions??

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World? Robin's birthday and I am going to be debt free this summer!!

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them?
Mickey and Minnie!!

10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning? DWD and allears!

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far? Plan! Go Debt free/no credit card use, and be flexible!!

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which 1 are you most looking forward to? I have never seen Fatasmic yet, so looking forward to that.

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade? No

14. Arrival day plans We arrive at 6:30 PM, so we plan to get checked in, scope out the room really quick and then go to dinner at Artist Point and check out Wilderness Lodge. I am planning for reservations at 8:45 to give us time in case of any issues traveling. Any thoughts on this???

15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park?
Everest ride
Soarin'
Space Mtn
Toy Story

16. What are your plans for souvenir money? I am saving 250. per month for the trip. Hope to have 1000. for the week for souvenirs and any extras.

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks? My Vera Bradley hipster. Since we have CL, will send any purchases to our room.

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day? Camera, lip balm, water

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward? We are HUGE scrapbookers, so going to pre purchase the photopass CD and take lots of pics on our own.

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at? Fish and Chips one in Epcot!! I was told not to miss it!

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can). AK, one day, Epcot, 2 days, MK 2 days and HS one day

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf? Just DTD. We have tickets to Cirque du Soleil and then will have dinner there as well.

23. What's been your favorite part of planning? The anticipation of it all, and meeting all of our goals saving money for the trip!!

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned? Not yet. Any suggestions??

 

[Morningstar2807]

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates?

Going Jan. 12-17 2013 with Dh 29 and DD 5. I wanted a month when it might be slower and after Christmas so we can surprise our DD!

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick?
If you haven't made your ADRs yet, what are you planning & when is your 180 day mark?

Yes! O'hana, 1900 and both princess places!

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there?
If you have not yet chosen, are you looking at offsite or on? What are your choices narrowed down to, if any?

AOA little mermaid because she is my DD's favorite princess!

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin?

Don't know yet but I think I will

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise?

Some what....my DD knows we are saving and planning but doesn't know when!

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?

Plane, then the Magical Bus and plan on using the bus system.

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie?

Swiss Family and Beauty and the Beast

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc?

Bippity Biology is book and thinking about either the firework dessert party or the fireworks cruise

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World?

Nope

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them?

I don't know about how long I will wait but I know I want to meet Belle and Mary Poppins and DD wants to meet Ariel and the rest of the princesses! DH isn't into Disney like we are..but I guess I would have to say Buzz Lightyear


10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning?

Mouse ears and dis

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far?

Plan, charts and stick to your plans! Lol

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which 1 are you most looking forward to?

I plan to try and see them all and I would have to says Wishes! DH loves fireworks!

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade?

Planning on it

14. Arrival day plans?

Animal Kingdom and Wishes at night!

15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park?

Ak- safari
MK- new fantasyland
Epcot- World Showcase
HD- ?

16. What are your plans for souvenir money?

Been saving all quarters..so far over $300 and asking for Disney gift cards for Christmas

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks?

Small sling message bag

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day?

Don't know yet camera for sure

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward?

Yes and scrapbook and photo album

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at?

Whatever looks good

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can).

MK- 2 days
Epcot- 1 day
AK- 1 day
HD- 1 day

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf?

The day we leave plan on visiting Downtown Disney

23. What's been your favorite part of planning?

Everything so far

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned?

Hoping for fireworks dessert party at MK

Sent from my VS920 4G using DISBoards

 

[tianna26]

We are planning on going most likely the first week of June 2013. it will be me , my mom, lil bro 9. sister, and my niece 2. It will be all of out first times at WDW we are vets at dl tho. We are trying to surprise my lil bro he has no idea. we are basically looking around for the best deals right now & plan on booking in the next couple of weeks. I am super excited already & I never get excited over anything. I cant wait to see my brothers face when he finds out. we are still thinking of ways to surprise him.

 

[tianna26]

Bump

 

[jamzmama]

I'm afraid even thinking through this answer it got lengthy so apologize in advance if this is lengthy. My response is basically what lamb616 said with some expansion.
Personally, I am spending tons on this vaca and we will probably never go back (though my secret hope/goal is for my kids to sort of beg my DH and then plan a Christmas trip, teehee). I am planning with the idea that we won't go back in mind. I am also planning with the mentality that we can't do it all, but I want to do everything we can.

With that in mind, I want to DO as much as possible and not WAIT as much as possible. If you visit touring planning sites, you will learn there are generally 3 sets of people. There are those who planned and go to the rides that develop long lines first and therefore don't wait too long to go on the ride, getting those attractions out of the way early, not waiting 50+ minutes later for a 5-10 minute ride. Those rides are not necessarily the popular ones but could be slow loaded, low threshold rides.
Then there are those who just show up and go from 1 ride to the next in order or look at the map and say "what do you want to do next?" and when you get to that ride there's a long wait. So you either wait or wander to another ride that hopefully doesn't have a long wait.
I realize it's WDW and I may have to wait for SOME things, but if I can plan a little beforehand AND be flexible once I'm there, I believe I can see more with less waiting, which I know will keep my entire family happy. Then we will have more time to relax and will have definitely gotten more for our money.
I guess it's the difference between waiting 30+ minutes and doing 6 rides or 15 minutes each and doing 12 is the way I look at it. Which 1 would your family be happier with during the day?
I was told at easywdw that once you have planned like this you start to learn the rides, which 1s you need to do early, so you can adjust your plan accordingly "on the fly" so to speak, in the park should something go wrong, ride shut down, etc. You don't have to be running from place to place or crisscrossing. You can make a plan that accounts for not wanting to do that. It's all up to what's best for your family because it's your plan.
One last thing I forgot to mention learning the best way to incorporate FastPass into your plan.
Sorry for my longwinded and opinionated response. I've been accused of being opinionated in the past! I just think as much $ as we're all spending we should get the most out of it and allow for the most leisure time as possible to recoup for the next day. It's amazing how much you can enjoy and then have pool time too.
PS.If you're interested in seeing my plans, could post them for you.

I'm interested in seeing your plan please. I'm a first timer with a family of 6 : me, dh and 4 dd's ages 14, 13, 8 and 6. This may be the first and last trip for my kids so I'm trying to do as much planning as I can to make the most memorable trip (and enjoyable too) for them. We're going June 8-15 2013 so I have some time but i want to be equipped with whatever information I can get by the time our 180 day is here. We're staying offsite btw at WBC.

 

[twinklestar22]

I'm currently planning my first WDW trip. We are booked on borrowed Boardwalk Villa DVC points for Feb 5-10 2013. We just need to book our flight and order the DDP. I already made some ADR's and now I'm trying to plan our itinerary.

WDW has been my dream since I was a child and I've never had the opportunity to make the trip. Growing up, my family didn't have much $ and my father was terrified of flying so we only vacationed locally. I wanted to go to WDW for my honeymoon but my husband refused b/c he thought it was only for kids and he is not a Disney fan.

It has been really difficult for us to save for this trip (even though our rooms are paid for) and I am excited beyond words. My daughter is 8 years old and has never been on a vacation. I can't wait to watch her have the time of her life!

 

[twinklestar22]

Ooops! I didn't realize this was a cut and paste...

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates? My 8 yearold daughter and my husband. Feb 5-10. I don't want to go to Florida in the Summer! I hate the humidity.

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick? Yes. So far Dinner ADR's FF/CRT/TE/CR and Ohana Breakfast
If you haven't made your ADRs yet, what are you planning & when is your 180 day mark? Already passed.

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there? Staying at Boardwalk Villas on my sister's DVC points. Chose resort on location and family reccomendations. It was also the best use of the points we were given.

If you have not yet chosen, are you looking at offsite or on? What are your choices narrowed down to, if any? Would have loved to have stayed at Poly or BLT, however they were not the best choice for us.

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin? Yes

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise? Yes, we plan on suprising our daughter at Christmas!

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there? Flying. Will use Magical express, bus, boat and possibly a cab ride or 2.

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie? Hard to say.

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc? I already have an ADR at CRT and I want to make an appt at BBB earlier that day.

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World? Just our first trip!

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them? My daughter wants to meet all the princesses and fairies. I will wait for as long as she can stand it.

10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning? All Ears, Disboards, Mousesavers, Disney website.

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far? Account for travel time, don't try and do it all in one trip, make ADR's.

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which 1 are you most looking forward to? All but Fantasmic if possible. I just don't know if we'll be at DHS at night. I really want to see the electrical parade and Wishes. Since we're staying near Epcot, I'm sure Illuminations will be the easiest for us to see.

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade? Def. the Pixar Parade. Maybe Dream along with Mickey.

14. Arrival day plans, So far it depend on when we get to our resort. We should be there around noon but can't get to our room until 4. Plan on going to either Epcot or MK for a few hrs before dinner at FF. Then def Epcot for Illuminations afterward. Maybe we'll check out the Boardwalk too.

15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park? MK: I have always wanted to go on the Dumbo ride, like on the commercials. Also Space Mt and Small World. EP: Soarin', Test Track. DHS: Tower of Terror. Not going to AK this trip. Maybe next time.

16. What are your plans for souvenir money? Not sure yet. It depends on how much I can save.

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks? Backpacks/small purse

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day? Water, camera, some snacks, Autograph book.

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward? Not sure about photopass yet. Bringing camera and video recorder.

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at? plan on eating and drinking my way thru WS!

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can). MK, EP, DHS. No time for AK.

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf? Staying at Boardwalk. I would like to visit DD if there is time. No waterpark as it will be Feb.

23. What's been your favorite part of planning? Just aquainting myself with all WDW has to offer

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned? Not yet. Any suggestions?

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

I just stumbled across this, hope it's not too late to chime in!!

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates? DBF. He's never been before and I have only been once, when I was 8! Dates- 9/18-9/26 We chose those dates because our anniversary of 6 yrs together is the 20th!

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick?
If you haven't made your ADRs yet, what are you planning & when is your 180 day mark? Planning BOG, 1900 for dinner, Akershus, maybe V&A? 180 is 3/22

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there?
If you have not yet chosen, are you looking at offsite or on? What are your choices narrowed down to, if any? AoA Little Mermaid! We needed to stay at a value, and AoA seemed to appeal the most. Looking forward to the great themes!

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin?Probably

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise?No

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?Flying from Napa, CA. We will use Disney transportation

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie?Classic- Sleeping Beauty, New- Up, I know it's Pixar

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc?Not really. V&A is a big extra if we can do it. We both work in the food industry so it would be really cool to be able to go.

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World?Anniversary!

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them?Fav character- Belle? I don't think DBF has one, this trip is more for me lol. We won't be spending time waiting for characters.

10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning?easywdw.com

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far?Plan ahead, get there early, don't over plan

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which 1 are you most looking forward to?Yes to all. I think I'm most excited about Illuminations because I've never been to EPCOT at all.

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade?Yes to all but Move It and Pixar Pal's

14. Arrival day plansArrive early in the morning, we will be flying overnight from CA. DTD and mini golf at Fantasia Gardens. Early night.

15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park?MK-Pooh, IASW, Buzz, PotC, Splash AK- Safari, Dinosaur, shows HS- ToT, RnRC, TSM, Star Tours EPCOT- World Showcase

16. What are your plans for souvenir money?We have a jar started for change, everything will go on gift cards most likely.

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks?A camelbak with pockets

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day?Bag, sunglasses, ponchos, itinerary cards, sun block, advil, water, cell phones, tickets, gift cards, camera

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward?No, we will use our own camera. I hope to out together a photo album

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at?Probably more than one! Cosmic Rays, Sunshine Seasons, Yak&Yeti, Starring Rolls?

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can).In no order: 2-MK,2-EPCOT,1-AK,1-HS,1-Universal IoA

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf?DTD and maybe Boardwalk. Fantasia Gardens minigolf.

23. What's been your favorite part of planning?Reading other touring strategies

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned?No

 

[jamzmama]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question but I can't find anything about this subject. What forms of payment do they accept at counter service restaurants in Disney? Is it strictly cash only?

 

[patriciaofoz]

1.Who are you going to Disney with? When are you going and how did you choose your dates?

My husband, my in-laws, my cousin and her husband (who are flying in from Australia). We are going during the week of Christmas 2012. We always go somewhere for Christmas and it just happens, they had $79 airline specials direct from our town to Orlando, so that decided WDW for us

2. Has anyone made ADR's yet? Did you get what you wanted? What did you pick? If you haven't made your ADRs yet, what are you planning & when is your 180 day mark?

We made ADR's to Cape May Cafe (for our character dining), Trail's End (for our Christmas Lunch), Restaurant Marrakesh (for our family dinner) and Fulton's Crab House (for a dinner just with my husband).

It was really hard to pick which restaurants to eat at. Luckily we managed to get a reservation to all of the places we shortlisted. I personally wanted to go to Cinderella's Table, but nobody else did

3. What resort or hotel are you staying at? How did you decide on it & what are you most looking forward to there? If you have not yet chosen, are you looking at offsite or on? What are your choices narrowed down to, if any?

We are staying offsite.

4. If you are staying onsite, will you do online checkin?

N/A

5. Are you keeping your trip a surprise?

No.

6. How will you get to Walt Disney World and how do you plan to get around once you're there?

We have rented a car for our entire Florida trip (heading to Miami & the Keys before WDW).

7. What is your favorite classic & new Disney movie?

Aladdin, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc, Cinderella, The Lion King, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs

8. Do you have any little extras planned for your trip? Bippity Boppity? Pirates? etc?

No.

Are you celebrating anything special while you are at Disney World?

No.

9. Which character is each of your family members (including) yourself most excited to meet at Disney World? How long are willing to wait to meet them?

I hope we get to meet characters at Cape May Cafe for breakfast.

10. What websites or other resources have you found helpful during your planning?

Disboards mainly and specific blogs dedicated to WDW.

11. What are the top 3 tips you've learned during planning so far?

Tips about Fast Passes, how to get to restaurants and where to stand/sit for the fireworks.

12. Are you planning to see Main Street Electrical Parade, Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic? Which one are you most looking forward to?

I have been told that the Electrical Parade is a must-do. We're not set on any, so we'll see which ones we get done.

13. Are you planning to see Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, Move it Shake it parade, Dream Along with Mickey castle show, Pixar Pal's Countdown to Fun, or Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade?

No.

14. Arrival day plans

We get in the Miami part of our vacation the evening before our first day so we intend to do Rope Drop at MK for our first day. We have a 5-day Park Hopper so we know we can jump around as we please. And we intend to stay away from MK on Christmas Day (as per other's advice).


15. Which attractions are you looking most forward to at each park?

EVERYTHING. As a first-timer, I don't really know what to expect, so I will be taking everything in. The rest of my group aren't too set on anything either. But their favorite park is Epcot.

16. What are your plans for souvenir money?

All I want are a pair of Mickey ears, a shirt to remember the trip by, a Christmas ornament for the collection and I want a cute pair of mittens. And a magnet from each park

17. What kind of bag, if any, are you taking to the parks?

I am a believer of crossbody bags. Keeps both hands free for a camera and a drink.

18. What are you planning to take to the park each day?

My wallet, my camera, a spare pair of slippers or sandals (to change into halfway through the day) and packets of snacks some I don't get grumgry along the way

19. Are you purchasing any photopass products? How will you document your trip afterward?

No.

20. What counter service restaurant do you think you will eat at?

Not sure.

21. Are you visiting all 4 theme parks? How many days each? Order them by favorite for us (if you can).

A day each at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios with a spare day to go back to all 4 in one day if we really wanted to.

22.Will you visit Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? Either waterpark or both? How 'bout minigolf?

Yes, we are heading to the ESPN Club on Christmas Day to watch the Heat vs. Thunder basketball game.

23. What's been your favorite part of planning?

Reading all the trip reports and anticipating all the memories we will be making ourselves!

24. Do you have any special goodbye planned?

No, but I'm all ears to find out different ideas for one!