Help me plan our trip

[cakesnkids]

We will be at the Fort for the first time from Oct 24-29. I am SO overwhelmed with extra magic hours, character things, kids, campfires, and not so spooky halloweens that I can't manage to get things together. Someone HELP this firsttimer.

 

[Gillian]

What's giving you the most trouble? It's really not so bad. PLanning is half the fun!

I personally find there is a lot of information to organize. For this past trip I did 2 things. The first is a spreadsheet, which I always do. I have a column for each day of our trip, with many rows for anything I might need to know that day - park hours, which parks have EMH, which park(s) we plan to go to, any ADRs I've made and the confirmation #s, etc. it sounds nutty, but it is wonderful to have everything in one place!

I put stuff into the spreadsheet as I plan. It really helps me!

The other thing I started this year was a binder. I took a 3 ring notebook and filled it with stuff I printed out from various sources - driving directions from AAA, my spreadsheet, info from Tour guide mike & others, and some blank paper for notes.

If you're considering TGM, just be aware that it's a TON of information and even more overwhelming. Helpful, but only if you plan to read a lot, take notes, make printouts, etc.

 

[kmccain]

I would by a Passporter. It tells you about everything and helps you determine whether you want to do it or not.

It also is a planner so you can keep track of what you want to do and when.

I have used it on my last 2 trips and I it a great help in planning. If you need or what more information, come on back and post the question. There are a lot of very Disney Educated people here too.

I got mine from my local AAA office.

Have fun planning, it is amost as fun as going!

 

[LMC]

I love MNSSHP! I think it is a great value for your $$$. You can get in as early as 4pm so I would recommend resting early in the day then going to the park. You get free strollers that night and a free photo. These were all in the past of course and subject to change but watch closer to October and you'll see discussions on these topics. Not sure about face painting. My sister said it was free halloween night but I don't know. If you want dinner in a sit down restaurant in the park make sure you get a priority seating. Some counter services will be open late but not all.

 

[TinkerbellTris]

There are lots of things you can do to prepare.I started planning our trip 2 years ago. They except dining ressies up to a year or so in advance. I made all mine 6 months ago for our trip in June 06. I also made my mind up back in Feb. about any tours, and specialty cruises and they book those like 90 days in advance. You actually have to call 90 days to the date in advance when they open to reserve these things. I have 2 books i used plus i got a binder to keep all my notes and confirmation numbers. Also I kept all important numbers for disneyworld on hand in the binder so I never had to look for them. It helps to see all the options they have, decide what you want to do, budget out what you got, and make ressies asap. Figure out what restraunts you would like to visit and book them now. We learned a valuable lesson in October 2002 about dining, if you don't have a ressie you probably won't get in to eat. Plus a lot of the fast food places,.... the food was terrible! So we chose very wisely this trip.

 

[cakesnkids]

Food we don't have to worry about, b/c that will all be cooked by me, with the exception of MAYBE doing HTDR.
I got the EMH schedule, but can't quite figure out how it is to be read, are the times on it park hours, then the parks will be open before/after that (different parks, different times, different days)
Where do I get a passporter? Someone tell me what that is. We haven't done tour guide Mike..I am very good at the organization part..but I'm afraid we're gonna miss something.

 

[cakesnkids]

Ok, also, if you had to choose between doing MNSSHP on the 26th (EMH in Magic Kingdom that day from 8am-9am) or the 27th, EMH Epcot till midnight...which would you do? The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is going on during that time too, how will that affect us?

 

[OK GRUMPY]

I really enjoy the MNSSHP. I have been twice. Its something that grown up and kids will enjoy. that is also a good time to go to Fort Wilderness!! Have Fun!!

 

[cakesnkids]

Ok, I think I have a grip on it now. A great friend (and diser) helped me with this this afternoon. Going to do MNSSHP on the 26th, that way we can nap on the 27th, do a split day and end with Epcot b/c of the midnight hour...I have four days of passes, which park should we do two days at? We're gonna do epcot and mgm in one day, b/c we have SMALL kids, and I don't know that they'll be keen on those parks as much. We have one Animal Kingdom freak, and one ride fanatic...then a two year old.