It's an Original Disney Movie 2017 Countdown! UPDATE 08/20!

[LanaBear-ox]

For those who follow this thread - go to my new one as we aren't going ahead with our 2017 trip anymore...
But thank you for following on this one.



Click here for link​

 

[BudgieMama]

Following! Congratulations on your engagement, and on planning your first WDW trip!

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Following! Congratulations on your engagement, and on planning your first WDW trip!

Thanks for joining in BudgieMama! I look forward to sharing more updates in the future

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Following along! Your going to love planning for WDW!!

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Following along! Your going to love planning for WDW!!

Thanks! I can't wait, especially this time next year when I can book the hotel & tickets!

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Keep an eye out around the end of April next year. That's when the offer comes out. Until 9th July, I believe they were offering free breakfast with Value resort bookings. Not sure if the $200 gift card is included, the gift card has now dropped to $100 and isn't included with the Value resorts.

BUT....this year Memory Maker was free, and maybe (fingers crossed)it will be included again next year. Sounds like you are the sort of person who may like MM!

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Keep an eye out around the end of April next year. That's when the offer comes out. Until 9th July, I believe they were offering free breakfast with Value resort bookings. Not sure if the $200 gift card is included, the gift card has now dropped to $100 and isn't included with the Value resorts.

BUT....this year Memory Maker was free, and maybe (fingers crossed)it will be included again next year. Sounds like you are the sort of person who may like MM!

I thought they came out quite early on in the year for the hotel deals, I know this years deal runs out tomorrow for free dining I'm sure? Not 100% but then I read something book by November! Well we get married in March so hopefully because we are having a reasonable cost for our honeymoon to Madrid in Mid-March we can snatch up a deal and book it with a deposit then save for the next year. Come October next year I'll be hunting for plane prices and book them too.

I saw MM was available for free, hopefully will be the same next year but despite if it's free or not I'd get it. Being the first trip there is no way I could afford individual ride photos etc so I think to us it will be worth it (considering we only got 1 ride picture and that was it in DLP!) If there's a free gift card then I'll take it but if not hey-ho just one of those things

Edit - My bad, the free breakfast has finished but there is still the free dining for Moderate and upwards!

 

[BudgieMama]

The first (and best) deals for WDW are normally released late April (23rd April this year) for the following year. That deal ended on 9th July. That's the full works package: free dining, $200 gift card and free Memory Maker.

They've now released the next deals, which are available until 20th October. That's free dining plus $100 gift card, but I think no Memory Maker. They then normally release a free dining only offer for the last month or two (October-November time). If you know your dates, be in the first booking window!

We booked last year's trip in September 2013, so got a $100 gift card, but we didn't know until then that we would be going (spending some inheritance money). We've got the better deal this time round

 

[LiquidSunshine]

As @BudgieMama says, make sure to be in the first window for the best deal which is available to book between mid/late April and July. After that the deal reduces.

But I am nearly certain that Value Resorts (POP, All Stars etc) only had free breakfast included rather than one of the dining plans, however, you can upgrade and pay for for one of the dining plans.

The current deal for Value resorts for 2016 bookings only include half price tickets & memory maker. The Quick Serve dining plan is an additional £811.72.

Also it is worth adding that booking direct with Disney has a low deposit of £50pp.

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Thank you

I'll be putting a deposit down next April, I also think for a first time trip, even if we can upgrade to QS it will take the pressure off. I'd then pay OOP for TS and Character Breakfasts

 

[LiquidSunshine]

The QS seems ideal for us. 2 quick serve meals, 1 snack & a refillable mug.

We ate at plenty of places last year that were QS counters, so the 2 meals each day will be sufficient. Some are big servings. The refillable mug is great. We bought ours last year and were so handy. The only thing is you can't use them in the parks, but this wasn't an issue. I didn't fancy carrying them about anyway.

We missed out on the dining plan last year, so it will be nice to have it next year.

We do plan to try some of the TS restaurants as well.

 

[LanaBear-ox]

To DDP or not to DDP
“Venture outside your comfort zone. The rewards are worth it.” – Rapunzel



This is an argument I have with myself all the time, as I suppose most people do. I have previously said there is a 99% chance we will have it, ONLY if I can justify paying it..

Okay so here are some restaurants I think we will like/love. Of course, it is our first time so have nothing to compare it too but on future trips I hope we would try lots of different and keep a few as a tradition.



ADRs Broken Down into Separate Parks

Magic Kingdom

Be Our Guest (Dinner)
The Crystal Palace (Breakfast)

Epcot
Via Napoli (Lunch or Dinner)
Garden Grill (Dinner)

Animal Kingdom
Rainforest Cafe (Lunch)
Tusker House (Breakfast)

Hollywood Studios
50's Prime Time (Lunch)
Sci Fi Dine In (Lunch)

Other
Chef Mickeys (Breakfast)
T-REX (Dinner)


Well when the hotel is booked in 8 months time, we will re-visit...

​

 

[LiquidSunshine]

We did T-Rex cafe and it was fantastic. But for the life of me I can't remember what I had! (I will have a look at the menu & get back to you). I do remember the food being delicious!

We dropped in on our first Sunday at WDW, had no reservation and only had to wait about 10mins for a table.

We didn't do a lot of TS restaurants, mostly QS as we wanted quick & convenience as we ended up doing a lot more than anticipated. We thought we would need to take more breaks during the afternoons, but found we were having too much fun to stop!

 

[LanaBear-ox]

An Original Disney Movie Countdown!
To Laugh Yourself is to Love Yourself - Mickey Mouse


So what does this mean I hear you ask?

As of today, there's 111 weeks till we will fly out. This means I will be watching at least one Original Disney film per week, on a Thursday. Some weeks I will have to watch two as I can't watch one that week i.e. when I'm on honeymoon - as much as I would love to.. I've already done a list for what films I will be watching, but you'll just have to wait and see...

Let's Begin!

​

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Week One of Movie Marathon
111 Weeks To Go


The Lion King
"Correction, I know your father" - Rafiki

To kick off the first week of many, I chose my all time childhood favourite - The Lion King.
I never understood why my mother cried so much during this film.. I admit it.. I cried but not even when Mufasa died! I cried at the end when Simba was walking up to the top of Pride Rock and roared and when he hugged Rafiki..

I'm really looking forward to the show at Animal Kingdom (hopefully it will still be there)

I'm ready for the next film now! ​

 

[sara1215]

I love the idea of watch a Disney film per week. Since I have little kids, we watch a lot of Disney movies but I want to dig out some we haven't watched in a while. Yesterday we watched Hercules!

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Good idea

 

[LanaBear-ox]

I love the idea of watch a Disney film per week. Since I have little kids, we watch a lot of Disney movies but I want to dig out some we haven't watched in a while. Yesterday we watched Hercules!

Thank you, I haven't watched a lot for a while, only the very recent ones that have been released but none of the classics since my childhood. I love Hercules, especially Pegasus!

Good idea

Thanks

 

[BibbitybobityLu]

Following along! Congratulations on your engagement! I love your Disney movie idea! Makes it sound so much better saying "I've got 111 Disney movies to watch before my trip" rather than "I've got 111 weeks!"

 

[LanaBear-ox]

Following along! Congratulations on your engagement! I love your Disney movie idea! Makes it sound so much better saying "I've got 111 Disney movies to watch before my trip" rather than "I've got 111 weeks!"

My thoughts exactly! but thank you for following along