Is it December Yet?? Cancelled with a Heavy Heart!

[EeyoreJen]

WELCOME!!! How old is your daughter? You'll be there for Christmas.....I'd be a bit nervous about going during that time.....I'm not big on huge crowds, really hoping it will be low crowds when we're there. (but it is a dream of mine to be walking down Main Street on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day....so who knows...maybe one of these years).

Thank you!! My daughter will be 12 when we go. I figured she is old enough to enjoy it and deal with the crowds. I am TOTALLY nervous about the crowds! We are going to MK on Christmas because I can't imagine not being there. I'm sure you will get there one day



Jen

 

[DizNee Luver]

Thank you!! My daughter will be 12 when we go. I figured she is old enough to enjoy it and deal with the crowds. I am TOTALLY nervous about the crowds! We are going to MK on Christmas because I can't imagine not being there. I'm sure you will get there one day



Jen

What a magical way to spend Christmas!! Yes, I believe the 12 yr old will deal much better with the crowds then my autistic 5 yr olds......Hard to explain to them why we're not moving, getting their food RIGHT NOW, etc. But hopefully one day, when they get older & can function better in public, we'll get the opportunity to do this.

 

[kaoden39]

I think so........yay for you & next week!!!

We got Derek's flight to Orlando tonight......I tell you, waiting this late to book it really showed in the prices.....I almost passed out to see the prices had gone up by $300 on most of the flights we were looking at!! Luckily I found a Jet Blue flight for $300, still more than I had seen a month ago. Now to book a room & a one day ticket to the parks.....cause we're sending him out on Saturday night vs on Sunday. Paying for the day at the park was still cheaper then having him fly out on Sunday. He will check in for the Disney College Program first thing Monday morning (on the 11th).

I can't believe he'll be leaving on the 9th.....excited & sad!! (another reason I will make sure we go on this trip......I want to visit him in Florida)

Flying is so expensive. I am so excited for Derek and this big opportunity. I so understand being excited and sad at the same time.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Flying is so expensive. I am so excited for Derek and this big opportunity. I so understand being excited and sad at the same time.

I'm getting a little worried about getting flights for our trip times 7 !!!!

Its an amazing opportunity he's been given.....I really hope he enjoys every minute of it!!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Okay... I have NO idea why I haven't been getting updates on your thread... I guess I just figured you weren't updating!!

So I need a cliffnotes version of what is new... your thread moves way faster than mine!!

 

[EeyoreJen]

What a magical way to spend Christmas!! Yes, I believe the 12 yr old will deal much better with the crowds then my autistic 5 yr olds......Hard to explain to them why we're not moving, getting their food RIGHT NOW, etc. But hopefully one day, when they get older & can function better in public, we'll get the opportunity to do this.

And it will mean that much more when it does happen and it'll be so exciting too!!

 

[DizNee Luver]

Okay... I have NO idea why I haven't been getting updates on your thread... I guess I just figured you weren't updating!!

So I need a cliffnotes version of what is new... your thread moves way faster than mine!!

I think the 2 big things are my updated itinerary on page 31 and the news about Derek being excepted into the Disney College Program and starting June 11 to January 2.....but that part you probably saw on FB.

And it will mean that much more when it does happen and it'll be so exciting too!!

It definitely will!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Alright I went back and checked out your itinerary. Have you used any of the crowd predictor websites to choose which park to go to for the least crowds? Or hoping its just lower crowds that time of year?

Did you go with a dining plan?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Alright I went back and checked out your itinerary. Have you used any of the crowd predictor websites to choose which park to go to for the least crowds? Or hoping its just lower crowds that time of year?

Did you go with a dining plan?

I did check a few different crowd predictors and also which was the best park for each day......for the most part we went with their suggestions.....except for a couple days. They say that MK is the best park on party days......I didn't totally agree with that, as closing would be earlier & the crowd could start increasing at 7pm. We also wanted to try and book a Wishes cruise & the Wishes Dessert Party....so we need to do those on non-party nights.

As for the crowd preditions......."4" seems to be the average for the time we're there. I believe Saturdays run up to "7". We're going at a slower time, which helps too.

We had started with the plan for one TS, one CS & one Snack per day.....but after sitting down and looking at all the restaurants (and tons of character meals) we wanted to do.....we realized most of them were TS.....so we upgraded to the Deluxe Dining Plan!!

 

[smile4stamps]

I did check a few different crowd predictors and also which was the best park for each day......for the most part we went with their suggestions.....except for a couple days. They say that MK is the best park on party days......I didn't totally agree with that, as closing would be earlier & the crowd could start increasing at 7pm. We also wanted to try and book a Wishes cruise & the Wishes Dessert Party....so we need to do those on non-party nights.

As for the crowd preditions......."4" seems to be the average for the time we're there. I believe Saturdays run up to "7". We're going at a slower time, which helps too.

We had started with the plan for one TS, one CS & one Snack per day.....but after sitting down and looking at all the restaurants (and tons of character meals) we wanted to do.....we realized most of them were TS.....so we upgraded to the Deluxe Dining Plan!!

Sounds like you made some good choices!

I do agree with the MK being less crowded on party days. The reason behind that is most people at WDW do not have Park Hoppers so with the shorter hours at MK they will choose to go a different park.

I used Touring Plans in May '09 and had great success with it. This time I am following them again except I somehow scheduled my AK and DHS days on the reverse of the recommendations. Oh well.. Will just have to deal with it and we will have Park Hoppers so if it gets to crowded for us we can just go to another park! I tried switching them to the recommendations but as of now I can't get the Tusker House reservation I want if I were to switch.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Sounds like you made some good choices!

I do agree with the MK being less crowded on party days. The reason behind that is most people at WDW do not have Park Hoppers so with the shorter hours at MK they will choose to go a different park.

I used Touring Plans in May '09 and had great success with it. This time I am following them again except I somehow scheduled my AK and DHS days on the reverse of the recommendations. Oh well.. Will just have to deal with it and we will have Park Hoppers so if it gets to crowded for us we can just go to another park! I tried switching them to the recommendations but as of now I can't get the Tusker House reservation I want if I were to switch.

Well I guess that does make sense.....with the girls, closing early times really aren't a bad thing....but like I mentioned in the last posting....we have a few "Wishes" things we want to do & that can only be on non-party days. We're using our non-park day to do the party....so we actually are getting an extra day....kind of!!

We decided against park-hoppers....with our big group & all the stuff we have to carry for the twins....we figured it would be too much work to switch parks...so we'll just do one park per day.

I think with a little below average crowds predicted, even going to the least favored park will still be ok!!

 

[smile4stamps]

Well I guess that does make sense.....with the girls, closing early times really aren't a bad thing....but like I mentioned in the last posting....we have a few "Wishes" things we want to do & that can only be on non-party days. We're using our non-park day to do the party....so we actually are getting an extra day....kind of!!

We decided against park-hoppers....with our big group & all the stuff we have to carry for the twins....we figured it would be too much work to switch parks...so we'll just do one park per day.

I think with a little below average crowds predicted, even going to the least favored park will still be ok!!

I'm doing the same thing for my party day. We are going to be there 14 days but I am only getting my hubby the 10-day PH. (To get him more days he would need an AP and I don't see him going for that!) By having a partial rest day on the party day we can use the party tickets to get into the park at 4 and still get 8 hours in!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I'm doing the same thing for my party day. We are going to be there 14 days but I am only getting my hubby the 10-day PH. (To get him more days he would need an AP and I don't see him going for that!) By having a partial rest day on the party day we can use the party tickets to get into the park at 4 and still get 8 hours in!

We're hoping by having an easier morning, the twins will do better for staying up. Hopefully they'll be able to nap in their strollers too. We're going to go see a few of the resorts we're not eating at to see their Christmas decorations & edible displays. I think we have 4 to go see, lunch & then back to the resort to swim, relax, etc.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I bet the resorts are so pretty at Christmas time. Especially the Grand Floridian. They are pretty enough without. I think our favourite resort ended up being the Poly. If we had the $$, we would definitely stay there.

I think your choice of a non-park hopper ticket is a good one. Especially with the little ones. It's a lot of work going from one park to the other.

 

[BDL]

I bet the resorts are so pretty at Christmas time. Especially the Grand Floridian.
.

It really is breath taking in there. On our "check out the ressorts' decorations" day, we entered the Grand Floridian via the monorail. So we were on (I believe) the 2nd floor. As we move towards the lobby, you can already see the Christmas tree that goes from the floor of the lobby to almost the ceiling. Then when you get to the railing, and look down at the lobby, you get to see the life sized gingerbread house. But, once you get to ground level and start looking up, you are just in awe.

BTW: They have PhotoPass photogs there to take your pic in front of the tree and the gingerbread house. These are from out PhotoPass

 

[DizNee Luver]

I bet the resorts are so pretty at Christmas time. Especially the Grand Floridian. They are pretty enough without. I think our favourite resort ended up being the Poly. If we had the $$, we would definitely stay there.

I think your choice of a non-park hopper ticket is a good one. Especially with the little ones. It's a lot of work going from one park to the other.

We're really excited to be going at this time. I've seen pics & specials about the elaborate decorations & gingerbread/chocolate displays.....so this was a must to see on the trip!!

I'd love to stay at the Poly......our other love is Hawaii....I've been twice & Mike's been once. When we went as a family in 2003, Mike & I renewed our wedding vows on the beach.....it was awesome!! So we love the tropical feel and can't wait to see this resort!! I'd do family portraits here if that hadn't gone way up in price. It used to be done by the photopass photographers.....you could do a private session for pretty cheap.....now it's done by an outside company & an hour long session is like $350.....I think not!

I just couldn't see us lugging everything around. We really don't plan on leaving the parks once we arrive. I know we should take the afternoon break, but if we do that....we might not get back. Luckily the girls still like their strollers....just hoping they'll be able to nap in them. If they can sleep a little, we'll be ok. The girls aren't big on the rides, but we will try them on some......so if they're napping....we still can continue on and not feel like we're missing out on doing something.

 

[DizNee Luver]

It really is breath taking in there. On our "check out the ressorts' decorations" day, we entered the Grand Floridian via the monorail. So we were on (I believe) the 2nd floor. As we move towards the lobby, you can already see the Christmas tree that goes from the floor of the lobby to almost the ceiling. Then when you get to the railing, and look down at the lobby, you get to see the life sized gingerbread house. But, once you get to ground level and start looking up, you are just in awe.

BTW: They have PhotoPass photogs there to take your pic in front of the tree and the gingerbread house. These are from out PhotoPass

Oh that's wonderful that they have PhotoPass there!! YAY!! LVE your pics.....you both look so happy & in love!!!!

I'm very excited to see the Gingerbread house!!!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

We're really excited to be going at this time. I've seen pics & specials about the elaborate decorations & gingerbread/chocolate displays.....so this was a must to see on the trip!!

I'd love to stay at the Poly......our other love is Hawaii....I've been twice & Mike's been once. When we went as a family in 2003, Mike & I renewed our wedding vows on the beach.....it was awesome!! So we love the tropical feel and can't wait to see this resort!! I'd do family portraits here if that hadn't gone way up in price. It used to be done by the photopass photographers.....you could do a private session for pretty cheap.....now it's done by an outside company & an hour long session is like $350.....I think not!

I just couldn't see us lugging everything around. We really don't plan on leaving the parks once we arrive. I know we should take the afternoon break, but if we do that....we might not get back. Luckily the girls still like their strollers....just hoping they'll be able to nap in them. If they can sleep a little, we'll be ok. The girls aren't big on the rides, but we will try them on some......so if they're napping....we still can continue on and not feel like we're missing out on doing something.

How cool that you renewed your vows in Hawaii! I'd love to go there. Especially now that Disney has a resort there. But of course it's a pretty penny to stay there. Hawaii looks so beautiful though. The Poly sure does give you a nice taste of it.

To get from park to park on the bus, you have to get on a bus to a resort, then get off and wait for another bus to take you to the next park. The buses only go to resorts from the parks. We found that kind of silly that there wouldn't be a bus to take you to the other parks from the park you are at.

I guess from MK you could take the monorail to the main station, and then just catch another monorail to Epcot, but that's still a lot of work with kids.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Hello

We are going at the same time as you - so excited!!

What resort are you staying at?

Jen

We are staying at BWI...our first time staying there!

Where are you staying?

 

[DisneyStitch626]

We are in the early stages of thinking about a December 2013 trip to DL. We want to take Seth, and I am not ready to stop going on Disney trips yet!