January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part I !!!

[Laumau]

I bought a travel journal today! It's pink with a soft leather cover and I'm going to decorate it with a big Minnie Mouse sticker. I think I'll put our pre-trip report in it too. It'll be interesting to see how closely we end up following it.

 

[Laumau]

Oh, and I wanted to add that I really enjoyed the resort part of the DVD. It was nice to see all the resorts since we probably won't have time this trip to visit any of them- except the Contemporary since we're going to Chef Mickey's. It was a nice scout for our second trip!

 

[MissMagnolia]

Where did you see that Tutto was closing? It is a fairly new addition to WDW (not there in 2006) and seems very popular (expensive, but popular). I can't imagine they are refurbishing already!

 

[trixiequilts]

I read it in The Complete Walt Disney World 2008 by Julie and Mike Neal. "Plans call for the place to close again in mid-2008, with a brand new eatery debuting later in the year."

 

[MissMagnolia]

Hmmm...I have an ADR there for 1/10 and they did not say anything about it closing. Maybe plans changed??

 

[2disneygirls]

Hey, Miss Magnolia, so do I! See you there!!

 

[MissMagnolia]

Hi 2disneygirls - ours is for 6:45 p.m. We have a group of nine, so I guess that is why it was our only choice of time!! Amazing that the options are limited even at 180 days out.

 

[debbieandroo]

I just got wind of this thread - I'm a snowbird, too!

Two friends and I are going to the world for the first time - Jan 23-28. I, too, am getting a little frazzled at all the planning ideas and am staying up way too late reading the DIS boards! But I love this kind of thing! And am happy to meet some others who love it too!

My trip started as a lark - one of the two friends said casually - hey, ya wanna go to WDW? I said - okay, - didn't know you would be into going there, [we're all no-kids 40somethings - disney at our age?]. He got another friend involved. I then checked out a couple [okay, maybe a few more than a couple!] of guidebooks from the library, through them found this website and a bunch of others, signed us up to get the planning dvd and the cute little maps of the parks and viola! I'm totally obsessed!

Funny thing is, I'm so glad for y'all 'cause I think the two I'm going with are completely oblivious. I've figured out that they might know Mickey lives there but not much else. I think I'll work it to my advantage - make my plans/adrs/etc. then just tell the others what we're doing. I've already gotten pre-approval from one of them to be the chief planner and he's the control freak of the bunch. How lovely it will be to be the queen of my disney universe...until one of them rebels and I might have to meet up with one of my disboard friends....

It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out...and if we're all still friends when this is over!

 

[amreli]

[/COLOR][/FONT]


Tutto Italia, in Epcot.......we're eating there our first night. DH needs pasta the night before the marathon!

I actually wasn't too thrilled with the H&V description, so your input has convinced me against it. I was only considering it for the Fantasmic pkg but I think now I won't worry about that....and stick with Prime Time! Have you eaten there? Tell me you liked it!

We're doing the same .. we booked 50's Prime Time instead of waiting to do a Fantasmic package. I think it'll be fine in Jan getting seats. At least I'm hoping so.

 

[2disneygirls]

Hi 2disneygirls - ours is for 6:45 p.m. We have a group of nine, so I guess that is why it was our only choice of time!! Amazing that the options are limited even at 180 days out.

Ours is at 5:30....tomorrow I'm calling for Chef Mickey's ~ I've gotten everything else I've hoped for so far, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[amreli]

I saw on another thread that the Jan hours are up.. no clarification on there yet on which EMH's are morning and which are evening. Just an FYI for anyone watching this thread that may not have seen the others.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...alendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=20090101

 

[2disneygirls]

Ooooh....thanks, amreli, I have NOT seen the others!!!

 

[simzac]

DW and I will be at OKW from Jan 4th thru the 10th. We love going in January as this will be our 4th trip that month.

 

[trixiequilts]

Amreli-who's the greatest Snowbird tonight??? You are! I hadn't seen it either! Now I have to compare the hours to the 37th draft of my itinerary.

 

[miabellarose]

Wow!!! Amreli, thank you for letting us know about the hours. Disney has been slacking, and wouldn't you know it, the only day I don't check for the hours, it's posted I'm going to have to check my schedule to see if any changes need to be changed.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Wow! This thread moves fast! I go to work for the day and I'm behind 3 pages! I can't keep up with you guys!


So now that i have all of my ADR's set up, I have a few questions. We are trying some places that are new to us. ADRs are as follows:
1/12 Ohana ~ new
1/13 Crystal Palace ~ new
1/14 Le Cellier
1/15 Sci-Fi ~ DS and DH's first time
1/16 Chef Mickey ~ new
1/17 quick service only
1/18 Kona

Do you have any feedback about Ohana, Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's? I've read lots of good things about them but am anxious to hear what the Snowbirds think.

 

[Laumau]

Woo hoo!

It looks like AK opens early the day we're going! I hope I'm interpreting the calendar correctly anyways.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[MissMagnolia]

Thanks for the heads up on the park hours!! My guesses were pretty close to right on with the exception that I thought Sunday would be late EMH for DHS/MGM (can't call it Hollywood Studios quite yet). My ADRs should not be affected unless Spectromagic isn't showing on my MK days. Where do they list that information?? I have found it in the past, but now I can't seem to locate on which website I found it.

Is anyone avoiding MK on Mondays? I saw a thread that recommended this, but I just can't see it making a difference in January. What do you think? Also, I see that MK has EMH on Sunday, so that may have an impact.

 

[Laumau]

Thanks for the heads up on the park hours!! My guesses were pretty close to right on with the exception that I thought Sunday would be late EMH for DHS/MGM (can't call it Hollywood Studios quite yet). My ADRs should not be affected unless Spectromagic isn't showing on my MK days. Where do they list that information?? I have found it in the past, but now I can't seem to locate on which website I found it.

Is anyone avoiding MK on Mondays? I saw a thread that recommended this, but I just can't see it making a difference in January. What do you think? Also, I see that MK has EMH on Sunday, so that may have an impact.

We're going to MK on Monday, Jan. 5. On the Touring Plans website (Unofficial Guide) it was named as the best park to go to on that particular day.

I clicked on the date in the corner of the monthly calendars and it linked to the daily schedule for that date- it had the parades and times. Very cool!

 

[MissMagnolia]

MindyluvsMickey:
We love Crystal Palace. We eat here on every vacation (ADRs set for lunch on 1/5). We have eaten breakfast and lunch - I am partial to lunch since there is more variety among lunch items, although both are excellent. CP has Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore - who can resist that silly ol' bear??

We have eaten at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and have it scheduled again for 1/9. I have not heard raving reviews for dinner, but we really enjoyed the breakfast. We saw Chef Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, and Dale. It was great. The only thing I don't like is the photo they take of you when you enter in front of a plate and then come around to the tables to sell you an overpriced photo package. I am a pushover, so it is uncomfortable saying no...so I always purchase it. This time I think I will refuse the group photo.