How Early is Too Early to Plan??? - TR Link Added - 12/29

[eandesmom]

We did speak with MiL and FiL on Mother's Day. FiL has stated point blank to SiL that he isn't looking forward to going at all. We asked if they had any requests for meals... you know certain types of food or cuisines, buffet vs. entrée service, etc... FiL basically just laughed and said "you have to get reservations already???" and MiL just said that they're along for the ride and just want to do whatever we want. And here we are trying to make sure FiL has a good time, or at the very least isn't miserable... No pressure or anything.

Sigh. Book what you want (and I see you did), they are along for the ride.

Ok, in other news: DS has a power wheels tractor that he drives around at home. He's not a bad driver, but tends to start looking around and runs into things.

We had a birthday party for DD a few weeks ago, and he had a wagon behind his tractor pulling DD and his little cousins around. Unfortunately, having passengers behind him turned out to lead to some distracted driving. He managed to drive into the side of my Grandpa's car. Twice.

So what is the next logical step for a 4 year old's driving education???

You put him in the driver seat of a 300 HP tractor with a 30' cultivator behind it.

Ok first, I loved the real life update. I don't have visibility to that kind of life at all and it's pretty fascinating.

But wow...this really illustrates how different

Since I shared some farming updates earlier, we did get finished planting everything. We've been getting some timely rains so far and things are off to a good start. Right now we're applying nitrogen to the corn and getting ready to spray everything once we get that done. I spent some time this weekend putting nitrogen on. I don't mind doing it at all, but it is probably the most stressful job. First of all, it takes a lot of concentration. If you stop paying attention for just a little bit you run over corn. And secondly, the anhydrous ammonia that we inject to the soil that supplies the nitrogen... it is some dangerous stuff. If you come in contact with it, it can freeze/burn you on contact, and if you breathe the vapors it just takes your breathe away. Whenever I'm working with that stuff, I can "smell" it for the next few days even if I'm not around it. The fact that meth heads are always stealing this stuff to make their meth is enough to convince me that is some dangerous crap that I want nothing to do with.

Dude, that's some scary stuff. And then we all eat it???

ADR's Booked

• Arrival day - nothin' I think we're just going to make it a low key resort day, then swing over to DHS for the Osborne Lights. Probably FP+ TSMM, but otherwise just go with the flow.
• Sunday - Dinner at Garden Grill - The plan right now is to cancel this ADR and re-book GG for Candlelight Processional once that opens up.
  
• Monday - Breakfast at Tusker House - It has been a long time coming but we finally managed to slip this one onto the list.
  
• Monday - Dinner at Whispering Canyon - We can't miss an opportunity to visit our favorite resort and one of our favorite restaurants. I'm sure FiL will like the kind of food they have too.
  
• Tuesday - Dinner at Cinderella Royal Table.
  
• Wednesday - Dinner at Via Napoli. Was there even a remote possibility that this one would be left off???
  
• Thursday - Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine. No I'm not excited about this one at all. But it has Jake, Sofia, and is the only place to meet Doc McStuffins. Our kids love all 3 of them. At least it is hard to screw up breakfast, but if there's any place that can do it...
  
• Thursday - Late lunch/early dinner at Mama Melrose with a Fantasmic! package.
  
• Friday - We'll say goodbye with a dinner at Chef Mickey as we stop along the monorail ride from the MK to the parking lot on our way home.

As I've mentioned, I have had a hard time getting any input in our ADR choices. I just decided that since we're doing the Dining Plan I wanted to maximize the value of it and character meals seems to be a great way to do it. And if it means less time standing in lines to meet characters, even better.

Here's some reasoning on why I went with the choices that I did. We have basically made a habit of visiting Chef Mickey, Whispering Canyon and Via Napoli. They are virtually a lock to make the ADR cut for any of our trips. That just leaves the rest of the spots to fill in.

We decided that we'd like to do Candlelight Processional this year, and another character meal at Garden Grill seemed like a good way to do it. I can see us possibly changing the restaurant on this one when we get around to making that CP ADR later on though. Don't be surprised.

Mama Melrose was also fairly easy... We wanted to do a Fantasmic! package on that evening, and we've eaten at Mama Melrose before and enjoyed it. When I booked this was the only Fantasmic! ADR that showed as available that day so that helped with the decision.

Tusker House was added... I'm not really sure why. Probably because Kathy advised against it. Truthfully though, DW asked if we were going to try that breakfast at Animal Kingdom that we'd talked about before, and being that I was getting very little help with planning, I ran with it. It isn't perfectly ideal for our plans, but it will work.

Hollywood and Vine... the place DW and I swore we'd never go again. I don't know what I can say about it that I haven't already said.

Cinderella Royal Table - Well, none of us has ever been there. We have kids who seem to be interested in princesses. DD of course is into princess-y stuff, and DS is young enough that he enjoys them and isn't too cool for them yet, so we figured this is the time to go.

And the one ADR that I looked up, found availability for, stared at for about 10 minutes before clicking the back button... Be Our Guest. Let the flaming begin. It was hard to pass on, but it just didn't fit in with the other MK area ADR's we wanted. We'll eat lunch there, and I'm sure we'll eat dinner there eventually, but it just won't be this trip. We love the lunch menu/value, but dinner just isn't quite as appealing.

When the smoke cleared, we had more ADR's booked than we have Dining credits for. We'll be paying for some meals out of pocket, but we still might cut back on an ADR. We might consider dropping GG when we book the CP package and re-book at VN. I think this is a very real possibility. Although I still might keep that second VN ADR just to get another pizza later in the week. Yes, it is that good!!!!! But we are interested in eating at GG and I think our family will like that menu and the characters. We could go either way on this one.

I've done some calculations on expected meal costs, and as it stands now, we'll be paying for our CP meal, VN and H&V out of pocket. These break down to the least expensive meals for us. Even though the common logic that people spout says you never want to pay for a 2 TS credit meal with the dining plan, my calculator says differently. Even dividing the total cost of CRT by 2, it is the second most expensive meal on our list. If that doesn't justify using dining credits then I want to know what kind of math you're using.

And just so you know, here is the rundown from most expensive meal (per dining credit) to least expensive.

Chef Mickey
Cinderella Royal Table
Mama Melrose
Tusker House
Whispering Canyon
Garden Grill (2013 CP pkg price)
Hollywood & Vine
Via Napoli

Obviously, CRT is the overall most expensive meal and Garden Grill (based on 2013 CP prices) is second. Since both would count as 2 TS credits, I divided the total cost of each by 2 to compare the cost to each of the other 1 TS credit ADRs. That way I was comparing the dollar value that each of those individual credits would be covering.

I hope that makes sense. It does to me, but that doesn't mean anything.

As for VN being least expensive, we will likely just order a mezzo metro or a couple of smaller pizzas to share and drinks. It is always by far our cheapest table service meal. If someone is looking for an inexpensive Table Service meal out of pocket and they're traveling with at least 1 or 2 other people, this one is hard to beat!

I think your plans look really good. And it's funny, you never know on the princess thing. I thought in a million years my kids would not want to. And then Evan was uber jealous I ate there in May without him. Roller Coaster testing is wise, as is using up credits on character meals! If it were me...I'd probably can GG and use Via as my CP meal especially given the other character meals you have already.

 

[franandaj]

I've enjoyed your banter on other folks TRs and finally decided to come over and subscribe to your PTR. I caught up with your helpful links and think that your ADRs sound awesome! I'm so glad that you have finally been able to convince your wife that the obsession is valid and hopefully she is on board with your love of Disney. I'm just glad that our love of Disney is one thing that brought my spouse and I together.

I look forward to hearing about your planning and everything that happens once you get there! AoA is on our radar and I'm apprehensive but looking forward to the LM section.

It sounds like you work very hard in your farming and such. I post on my home garden on FB, but I can't imagine all the hardships and difficulties that can come from farming as a living! Kudos to you! And thank you for all your hard work!

 

[afwdwfan]

Like your adr's. They sound good. If your adr's are like mine they may change more than once.

Oh, I'm sure something will change. That's what I hate about making ADR's 180 days out, before they even set park hours. Something always changes that kind of makes us second guess or want to change an ADR here or there.

Sigh. Book what you want (and I see you did), they are along for the ride.

I think they'll be fine. My biggest fear is that MiL will finally start doing her research about a month before the trip and stumble across someplace she really wants to go when it is too late to do anything.

Ok first, I loved the real life update. I don't have visibility to that kind of life at all and it's pretty fascinating.

But wow...this really illustrates how different

That's how I learned to drive. And it was completely safe. In middle of a wide open, flat field with nothing in it that he could hit. And my hand was never any more than a few inches from the wheel.

Dude, that's some scary stuff. And then we all eat it???

Well, we eat the corn. The anhydrous ammonia is just a delivery system for the nitrogen that the corn needs to grow. Once it is injected into the soil and absorbed it is harmless. In the tank though, it is part liquid, part vapor stored under pressure and as it is released through the valves it cools. Fast. It is very similar to liquid nitrogen used for cryogenics or to make dippin dots in that sense.

It differs though that it is NH3 rather than pure nitrogen. This is where it gets the ammonia part of the name. What we apply is 82% nitrogen. We inject it into the soil and it basically reacts with oxygen to harmlessly become nitrogen and water. You just don't want to come in contact with it before this transformation happens.

When it is all said and done, the corn needs about 150 - 170 pounds of N per acre to produce a decent crop.

I'm no chemist, but that's the basic way it works.

I think your plans look really good. And it's funny, you never know on the princess thing. I thought in a million years my kids would not want to. And then Evan was uber jealous I ate there in May without him. Roller Coaster testing is wise, as is using up credits on character meals! If it were me...I'd probably can GG and use Via as my CP meal especially given the other character meals you have already.

I'm kind of leaning towards doing VN for CP. The only thing keeping me on the fence is that we've never been to GG and I always want to try someplace new!

That is kind of funny about Evan. I guess you make a good point. We never really know. CRT might become one that we have to do again. Who knows?

I've enjoyed your banter on other folks TRs and finally decided to come over and subscribe to your PTR. I caught up with your helpful links and think that your ADRs sound awesome! I'm so glad that you have finally been able to convince your wife that the obsession is valid and hopefully she is on board with your love of Disney. I'm just glad that our love of Disney is one thing that brought my spouse and I together.

Yeah, I've seen you around in a few different places. Glad you stopped by.

The key, of course, is baby steps. It has taken a long time to get to the point that we're at now.

I look forward to hearing about your planning and everything that happens once you get there! AoA is on our radar and I'm apprehensive but looking forward to the LM section.

I'm sure we'll enjoy it. I, personally, loved POP when we stayed there, so I'm expecting this to be similar, but with better theming. I think my expectations are realistic. The only downside I see to it is the higher price tag for basically nothing more than better theming.

It sounds like you work very hard in your farming and such. I post on my home garden on FB, but I can't imagine all the hardships and difficulties that can come from farming as a living! Kudos to you! And thank you for all your hard work!

Thank you! It is something I've grown up with and something that I never want to change. It does make for some long hours in the spring and fall especially, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[afwdwfan]

QUICK QUESTION

I was listening to some WDW Today podcasts over the weekend and they were bashing the quality and value of food from Via Napoli recently. I've not seen or heard anything about it going downhill in any recent TR's. I just wondered if anyone has heard, seen or knows anything about it?

Not that it matters, we're still going there. But I'm definitely kind of curious about it now.


Also, I'm working on doing an update about our weekend in Cincinnati with the kids. Hopefully sometime in the next couple of days. I had a guys weekend this past weekend camping at Sparta Kentucky to attend the Nationwide Series race Friday night and the Sprint Cup race Saturday night. It was a good time, but now I'm playing catch up. And this week we're dealing with wheat harvest here at work. Thankfully, we don't raise wheat on our farm, but our county fair is also going on this week and I have to be there just about every evening for some event or another. Well, I'll get an update done at some point. At least this week or next. Two weeks from now we'll be in Gatlinburg!

 

[KatMark]

QUICK QUESTION

I was listening to some WDW Today podcasts over the weekend and they were bashing the quality and value of food from Via Napoli recently. I've not seen or heard anything about it going downhill in any recent TR's. I just wondered if anyone has heard, seen or knows anything about it?

Not that it matters, we're still going there. But I'm definitely kind of curious about it now.


Also, I'm working on doing an update about our weekend in Cincinnati with the kids. Hopefully sometime in the next couple of days. I had a guys weekend this past weekend camping at Sparta Kentucky to attend the Nationwide Series race Friday night and the Sprint Cup race Saturday night. It was a good time, but now I'm playing catch up. And this week we're dealing with wheat harvest here at work. Thankfully, we don't raise wheat on our farm, but our county fair is also going on this week and I have to be there just about every evening for some event or another. Well, I'll get an update done at some point. At least this week or next. Two weeks from now we'll be in Gatlinburg!

I just read a review on Via Napoli (don't recall whose report) and they gave it outstanding reivews.

Sounds like a fun weekend. And love visiting Gatlinburg.

Happy 4th.

 

[glennbo123]

Your ADRs look pretty good to me. Hopefully Hollywood and Vine works out well. It's all about the characters. In that vein, I've never eaten at Chef Mickey's and what I've seen in reports doesn't get me too excited, but a lot of people love it.

I predict that Whispering Canyon will be your favorite meal, and I'm sure that Kathy'll back me up on that.

No, I haven't seen anything about Via Napoli quality slipping recently. But I haven't been on the boards too much for the last week+.

 

[KatMark]

I predict that Whispering Canyon will be your favorite meal, and I'm sure that Kathy'll back me up on that.

Only if it were breakfast, Glenn.

No, I haven't seen anything about Via Napoli quality slipping recently. But I haven't been on the boards too much for the last week+.

Yes, you are a couple updates behind on mine (although I'm very slow with the updating myself).

 

[franandaj]

I just read a glowing review of Via Napoli from about mid May. Service and food were excellent. It's been over a year since I ate there, but we loved it then and wouldn't hesitate to go back. It's owned by the Patina Group which is started out in LA with fancy restaurants at places like the Music Center, Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. They have spread to Disney in Anaheim, Las Vegas, NYC and WDW. Their food is always spectacular at every location that I've been to (and I've been to quite a few).

 

[afwdwfan]

I just read a review on Via Napoli (don't recall whose report) and they gave it outstanding reivews.

Sounds like a fun weekend. And love visiting Gatlinburg.

Happy 4th.

Thanks. And we had a great time.

Your ADRs look pretty good to me. Hopefully Hollywood and Vine works out well. It's all about the characters. In that vein, I've never eaten at Chef Mickey's and what I've seen in reports doesn't get me too excited, but a lot of people love it.

I just heard an episode of WDW Today where Matt Hochberg and AJ from the Disney Food Blog both said that H&V has really been stepping up the food quality lately. I hope that is the case.

I predict that Whispering Canyon will be your favorite meal, and I'm sure that Kathy'll back me up on that.

I just read a glowing review of Via Napoli from about mid May. Service and food were excellent. It's been over a year since I ate there, but we loved it then and wouldn't hesitate to go back. It's owned by the Patina Group which is started out in LA with fancy restaurants at places like the Music Center, Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. They have spread to Disney in Anaheim, Las Vegas, NYC and WDW. Their food is always spectacular at every location that I've been to (and I've been to quite a few).

Thanks for the info. I knew they were owned by a third party, but that was about the extent of my knowledge about it. We've been to VN twice and absolutely love it. It is a place that we feel the need to visit every trip and will until it disappoints.

 

[afwdwfan]

Ok, apology time. I'm sorry.

I didn't get a post done about our Kings Island trip done before we left for vacation in Gatlinburg. So now I still owe you all a post from that and then another from our Gatlinburg trip. I need to get my hands on DW's camera sometime because I've got like 2 pictures from the whole thing.

Also, if I'm reading your TR or PTR, I'll get caught up sometime. Maybe. I haven't logged on to the Disboards since July 11. So I'm just a little bit behind. I might have a little bit less to comment on as I'm trying to read through and catch up. You're welcome, Kathy.

I'll share a couple of teasers from our Gatlinburg trip though. We traveled with DW's extended family. This includes MiL and FiL who will be going to Disney World with us. MiL organized and planned our entire Gatlinburg trip, so I made every effort to be the model guest on this trip and keep my opinions of everything inside. Ok, DW, SiL and I may have had a few conversations about things, but other than that...

First lesson... there will be no date night for DW and I at Disney World. Even if it is offered, I will refuse it. We (all the "grown up kids" left the children with the grandparents, great grandparents, great aunts and uncles for one night on our trip. It was 5 adults and 5 kids in a 7 bedroom cabin. Feed them, play with them, put them to bed. Simple, right? We were told to have fun, enjoy the evening, don't worry about the kids. Then about 2 1/2 hours into our evening DW starts getting texts asking when we'll be back and saying that they should have set a curfew.

We had a fun evening, but in the end, totally not worth the drama.

From my understanding, it wasn't even that they had any trouble with the kids. They managed to get all the kids in bed and asleep. But MiL was upset that we were out late and they couldn't go to bed. The kids are all on the same floor with doors that open to a common hallway with a baby monitor. But whatever...

Second lesson... when traveling with a group of 18, always have an itinerary. Ok, it wasn't a lesson for me, but I think we made a few converts to this line of thinking in the family. SiL and I were talking about that one night. We spent a lot of time sitting around deciding what to do and by the time we decided... Well, lets just say that arriving in downtown Gatlinburg to see the aquarium at around noon is pretty much the same thing as showing up at MK at around that time. SiL and I are both pretty much type A and it was driving us nuts. We actually started planning the next Gatlinburg trip and a future Disney trip for our 2 families sometime down the road.

DW is starting to get on board with my overplanning for Disney because she's done the trip without plans and seen how much it helps. I'm pretty sure she's on board with the idea of planning for future Gatlinburg trips also, because due to the wasted time sitting around waiting on people to get up, get ready, decide where to go, we only had a couple of hours one afternoon to go to the pool and she didn't get her spa time, which was the one thing she really wanted to do.

However, MiL and FiL are going to be in for a huge shock. As I said, Gatlinburg was MiL's trip and they just like to sleep in and go with the flow so... I'm pretty sure I'll just go ahead and cancel the Tusker House breakfast ADR, and I'm thinking about changing H&V to an ADR for 4 and just telling them to meet us at the park whenever they get ready.

 

[KatMark]

UGH! That sounds awful with the lack of plans, a curfew, etc. You'd be better off putting the kids in one of the Disney kids' clubs to get your evening out. I don't know how people go on a vacation and NOT plan ahead of time unless it is a beach vacation and all you are doing is going to the beach every day.

I'm glad your wife is starting to see the light.

And I caught your little print to me...very funny!

 

[jedijill]

My inner planner is twitching! Traveling with family is definitely a learning experience. Sorry things were so crazy but at least you found out now and not in Disney.

I agree with Kathy...put the kids in the Kids Club (or pay for me to fly down and babysit! ) and have your date night.

Jill in CO

 

[amandaw]

Oh my!! I'm sorry to hear about some of the experiences during y'all's Gatlinburg trip.

First off, the date night....YIKES! That's just ridiculous. I just don't even understand why they were texting your DW, needing y'all back. I say make a reservation at one of the kids clubs while in Disney so y'all can still have a date night. On our 2012 trip, we put Reid in the Neverland Club @ Poly so we could eat @ Citricos. It was awesome! He had a fantastic time and we had a wonderful (& quiet) meal. He wanted to go back there during that same trip.

And I sooooo agree about itineraries. This past weekend, we visited my aunt & uncle who will be coming to WDW in Oct with us so we could do some trip planning. My aunt & I were talking about how frustrated we were in March when ALL of the family was with us and no one could agree what to do and my sister would NEVER be on time for when we had agreed to leave for stuff. Traveling with family who operates differently from us Type A people is very difficult.

 

[glennbo123]

Wow, sounds like lessons have been learned! You go Andy! Get your sister-in-law on board and run with it.

I think this summed up the whole post!:

I'm thinking about changing H&V to an ADR for 4 and just telling them to meet us at the park whenever they get ready.

Booyah!

 

[ddstratton]

Oh, my. I'm almost afraid to read about your Gatlinburg trip. We just went there in March (have been several times), and the crowds weren't too bad. But we've been there in June, and I about went nuts...

 

[afwdwfan]

UGH! That sounds awful with the lack of plans, a curfew, etc. You'd be better off putting the kids in one of the Disney kids' clubs to get your evening out. I don't know how people go on a vacation and NOT plan ahead of time unless it is a beach vacation and all you are doing is going to the beach every day.

I wouldn't call it awful. I mean, we had a great time and good memories made. But these are the biggest lessons learned.

I'm glad your wife is starting to see the light.

And I caught your little print to me...very funny!

Yet I still had to make a coffee comment. Sorry, I just can't resist.

My inner planner is twitching! Traveling with family is definitely a learning experience. Sorry things were so crazy but at least you found out now and not in Disney.

Well, we make this trip every other year. However, there were additional people invited this year and our group size literally doubled from last time. Usually, it works out fine, but this year it was just chaos getting everyone on the same page with no prior plan.

I agree with Kathy...put the kids in the Kids Club (or pay for me to fly down and babysit! ) and have your date night.

Jill in CO

I can't even afford to fly us down. I don't think we can use the clubs anyway. DD is only 2. Date night isn't a must do, so whatever happens happens.

Oh my!! I'm sorry to hear about some of the experiences during y'all's Gatlinburg trip.

It was a good trip overall. We just had some incidents to learn from.

First off, the date night....YIKES! That's just ridiculous. I just don't even understand why they were texting your DW, needing y'all back. I say make a reservation at one of the kids clubs while in Disney so y'all can still have a date night. On our 2012 trip, we put Reid in the Neverland Club @ Poly so we could eat @ Citricos. It was awesome! He had a fantastic time and we had a wonderful (& quiet) meal. He wanted to go back there during that same trip.

I think we might look at doing that some later trip when DW and I go with the kids. This time though, I don't think we can use the clubs anyway with DD just being 2.

And I sooooo agree about itineraries. This past weekend, we visited my aunt & uncle who will be coming to WDW in Oct with us so we could do some trip planning. My aunt & I were talking about how frustrated we were in March when ALL of the family was with us and no one could agree what to do and my sister would NEVER be on time for when we had agreed to leave for stuff. Traveling with family who operates differently from us Type A people is very difficult.

Wow, sounds like lessons have been learned! You go Andy! Get your sister-in-law on board and run with it.

She and her husband are both on board with it. I know we'd have a great time with them. We weren't planning on going in 2015, but I think they want to go that summer. Might just have to see what we can do.

I think this summed up the whole post!:

Yeah, if DW would just be on board with it. Maybe the better option would be to just leave the ADR alone and show up with 4 and tell them the other 2 couldn't make it if they don't get up and moving.

Oh, my. I'm almost afraid to read about your Gatlinburg trip. We just went there in March (have been several times), and the crowds weren't too bad. But we've been there in June, and I about went nuts...

It wasn't bad. I mean, we've been there in mid July before and it has been fine. But then again, we also had a smaller group and got to places before mid day.

 

[franandaj]

Yikes! Around the Holidays I'm always envious of those who have families to spend it with, especially on the ones where my parents spend with my sister's family. But then there are these times I hear about when there are so many folks with such varying levels of planning, I feel blessed that the only folks in our family we ever travel with are my parents.

In some respects my Mom does me to shame! I remember a weekend trip to their house last year where I was so busy the week or two before we didn't have time to plan any meals or activities other than my HS reunion was Saturday night and we would arrive Saturday afternoon. We had little time to freshen up before the evening and rushed out to get there. The next morning she sat me down over my morning coffee and wrote down the plans for dinners for the next three days, what restaurant we would go to on our "night out" and what activities we had planned for the daytime, whether it was nothing, shopping, visiting old haunts. She just had to know what the plan was for the next 3-4 days while we were there. Hilarious!

I think you definitely need a vague plan for any trip, with the idea that it can always be changed on the fly. When you have that many people it's like herding cats to get them to agree when they are all sitting around. Someone needs to take charge and "hold the flag" whilst the rest follow. (Brazilian Tour Group Example)

Yeah, if DW would just be on board with it. Maybe the better option would be to just leave the ADR alone and show up with 4 and tell them the other 2 couldn't make it if they don't get up and moving.

I think this is the best plan. Nobody but us needs to know what you are planning. I know that my father moves slowly and when we were at WDW, we missed breakfast at WPE because he wouldn't get up and ready.

I do my plans in an Excel Spreadsheet that looks like a calendar with three rows for Morning, Afternoon and Evening. I have loose plans like Parks, ADRs and other plans in there. Maybe print up something like that and give it to everyone and tell them, "This is what we are doing, you're welcome to join us if you want to try and keep up."

As far as TRs go, I've been crazy busy for as long as you have been gone, so you haven't missed much on mine. There's also easy links in the second post for quick catching up!

 

[eandesmom]

First lesson... there will be no date night for DW and I at Disney World. Even if it is offered, I will refuse it. We (all the "grown up kids" left the children with the grandparents, great grandparents, great aunts and uncles for one night on our trip. It was 5 adults and 5 kids in a 7 bedroom cabin. Feed them, play with them, put them to bed. Simple, right? We were told to have fun, enjoy the evening, don't worry about the kids. Then about 2 1/2 hours into our evening DW starts getting texts asking when we'll be back and saying that they should have set a curfew.

We had a fun evening, but in the end, totally not worth the drama.

Most definitely not. Kids club!!! OR consider a lunch date out, or afternoon, or even an early rope/drop or breakfast without the kids.

\Second lesson... when traveling with a group of 18, always have an itinerary. Ok, it wasn't a lesson for me, but I think we made a few converts to this line of thinking in the family. SiL and I were talking about that one night. We spent a lot of time sitting around deciding what to do and by the time we decided... Well, lets just say that arriving in downtown Gatlinburg to see the aquarium at around noon is pretty much the same thing as showing up at MK at around that time. SiL and I are both pretty much type A and it was driving us nuts. We actually started planning the next Gatlinburg trip and a future Disney trip for our 2 families sometime down the road.

Ummmmm

Let it go.

Folks that want to sleep in on vacation, are going to sleep in. Unless they are disney park commando people...or type A want to be busy people, it will always be a clash. If you let go of the idea of all leaving together and just find ways to meet up at certain points, you will all be happier. Yes, it will mean more texting. Yes, you will really need to make sure phones are charged but this way no one will totally have to give up things that are important to them.


It's impossible to herd that many at once, it is actually easier on all to simply meet up later. It will drive you nuts either way but if it's not important to them to do, try not to let that impact your experience. Easier said than done, trust me, but worth the effort.

 

[Leshaface]

Yeah, getting the texts during date night would have made me not want to have any more date nights. That really stinks What about Kids Club? I've heard great reviews! But who knows?! Maybe your IL's will be so worn out from the parks that they'll insist on taking the kids back to the room?!

Aw man no more TH?! I actually made an ADR because of your recommendation, along with Phil's (I think Phil. Can't remember now.)

 

[LuvEeyore]

I am trying to be patient as I wait and not eat popcorn. I am waiting to hear about Kings Island. I am going there on August 7 when I visit family.