It may be a little too eary to be this excited

[jbrostek]

I am probably thinking that its waaaaaaaaaaay to early to be this excited and giddy, but I cannot help myself. The multiple families I vacation with have all settled on our vacation plans for the end of 2014/start of 2015. With that done we now have our grand gathering setup and reservations set for FW. We will be arriving at the forth on January 4th and departing on the 17th!!!! I only hope that my trip down does not have any of the issues I had this year. But I will just make sure not to put off a repair that could bite me when I don't want it to.

 

[RandolphNY]

Never too early to be excited. I booked our trip almost 200 days out and my excitement was a struggle just waiting for day 180 to make restuarant reservations.

So hard to plan things out that far, but I knew where I wanted to be at 3 locations. (English pub at Epcot, Hollywood & Vine at Hollywood and Rainforest Cafe at Animal Kingdom). Add to this our meals at the campsite.

Finally, getting to the 60 day point and deciding on some fastpass options.

Now with 30 days to go, Hoping the weather will break to prep the motorhome in time.

Our plan is once we are on the road for 20 plus hours, that we will kick back and relax.

 

[jbrostek]

Since we travel in a group we handle meals in semi unique way. Breakfast and lunch is to each their own for the most part. I like to make big breakfasts for everyone once or twice on the trip but its more like a brunch since we all sit down to eat around 10-11. Dinners we each take a turn at making a meal everyone enjoys. I make some stuff everyone likes and most of it is easy crock pot meals, the other two families do the same.

But for eating out we usually start talking early and if we all like the idea of a place that usually has a hard to get reservation (like O'Hana) we book that as soon as everyone says ok. But most of our dinner reservations and food planning is made in the 30 days prior, or just then and there while at Disney.

We are not a highly structured group. We leave for the parks between the crack of 10 to 12pm. Come back around 5 to walk dogs and then head off to another park or dinner.

 

[JanL]

It is never too early as anticipation and planning is 50% of the fun!

 

[DCWarrior]

It is never too early as anticipation and planning is 50% of the fun!

I agree with this statement!!

 

[bama_ed]

jbrostek,

How do they set up a grand gathering these days? When you call the ressie line IIRC there are some early questions about how many people are in your party ("more or less than X"). Do you recall what the number is? And did they take all ressies from one person or give you a GG number for others to put on their reservations when they are made?

Update me because I'm completely lost on how they do GG's these days.

Bama Ed

 

[RVMH]

We too have reservations for January of 2015 and agree that the planning is a good part of the fun.... hope to see some of you then!

 

[John VN]

Just a heads up.....WDW Marathon Weekend will be taking place http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/

 

[jbrostek]

Planning is part of the fun, the hardest part is deciding on the timeframes. I am aware of Run Disney during our stay, its actually not that bad crowd wise and since we usually dont leave the campers until around the 11am hour we really don't notice it other then seeing all the participants proudly displaying their run disney madalions and the occasional person rapped in more ice packs then you would think possible.

Ed - For the grand gathering, you just have to request it as thats all I have had to do. We generally call our reservations in as a group (one person sets up at least 2 or more at the same time.) Then others that may be on the fence can call in and be linked. It does not always gaurentee we will be right next to each other, but we found that as long as we have the grand gathering setup we are at least no more then a site or two apart.

 

[jbrostek]

Funny how only 10 days after setting up reservations the 3 main families are already talking about who, what and where to go for the trip. We also put together a quick email to others that may be interested in going with us with the costs and grand gathering numbers.

I have already considered leaving NYE to spend a few days visiting a friend in NC for a day or two, but that is too early to guess.