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

[tammythetwinsmom]

Looking at those "magical" hours too and finding that if we want to do the spectro magic parade at mk then we will miss fantasmic at HS we have 3 girls 5 and 7 which would you do?

 

[susieq76]

I've gone several years with the Brazilian tour groups- and they're not that bad at all (not 1/2 as bad as when we went with the cheerleaders there ). The worse "problem" we had was the constant chants & singing on the bus- not an issue on the way there, but at Midnight on the way home with three little boys sleeping on the bus- I am so not in the mood for a loud, feet stomping, clapping chant in another language! They are pretty well supervised and just kids- in a large group!

 

[doryandnemo]

Hello and Welcome!! Glad you decided to join us!

It seems that we have a lot of "lurkers" out there! The last time I looked we had something like 830 posts and over 10,000 views!

Anyway, glad you are here Doryandnemo! Jan 21-27 are my dates too! Do you plan to stay at the Yacht Club again or try something else??? Happy Anniversary (early)! My DH and I (and the kids!) just celebrated our 10th anniversary at WDW in May!

Feel free to jump in and ask us anything and share your plans and ideas! Don't be shy - we aren't!!

Thanks for the welcome! We actually stayed at CSR last time and loved it! We want to try something new this time but I am really unsure of where to try. I was all set to try POR but now that Pleasure Island is closing it does not really seem worth it. (I really wanted to take advantage of the boat to and from DTD)
So I am looking for suggestions!
I am not opposed to a value resort. I just don't know which one and it is just my husband and I so we don't really need LOTS of kid friendly stuff. My dream would be maybe to do a split stay so I could stay a night or to at WL.
OK snowbirds...which resort do we try!?

 

[susieq76]

Doryandnemo- we'll be at POR during the same time you may be there! The boat still goes to DTD- Goofys Candy shop, shopping, Raglan Road, ect are all still there! I'm hoping for a date night with DH at the bar at Raglan Road!

 

[coffeehousemom]

Morning Snowbirds!!!


Well while trying to keep my sanity last night. DD had 5 of her friends over for Hannah Montana 3-D concert slumber scared: I worked on my ADRS. Nothing is set till I call in but so far looks like: sun 11th Whispering Canyon
mon 12th Coral Reef tue 13th Tusker House am wed 14th Ohana am Sci Fi drive in Thu 15th Cape May am Fri 16th Teppon Edo. That's as far as I got before I had to go watch the "girls" version of a Hannah concert.

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

Good Morning, Snowbirds!

Is it January, yet?


Hoping to hear that packages come out next week! I want to get this party started!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

I need some advice and guidance from those of you who have been to WDW in January! I thought I had my plans all made but now I am beginning to question my plan and if I should rework it. As you can see from my signature we will be in WDW (POFQ) from 19th - 29th.

Plan #1 - involves doing one park per day with no mid day breaks but several "rest days" throughout... no hopping, no emh's, make RD for each day and finish before supper time (6 day MYW w/ 3 full rest days)

Plan # 2 - involves emh's, park hopping, and mid day breaks!

tues Jan 20th Epcot am emh @8 so be at Epcot from 8 - 1pm mid day break dinner at O'hana and then be at MK until close @ 8pm.

wed jan 21 - DHS from 9 - 1 with lunch @ 1230 @ 50's PTC, mid day break at resort, AK pm emh from 4 - 8pm

thurs jan 22 - MK am emh from 8 am until 1pm mid day break @ resort Epcot from 5pm (WS TS supper somewhere - maybe Biergarten) until close to see Illuminations

Fri Jan 23 - rest day - no parks, sleep in, veg out, maybe do some shopping swimming if nice check out resort playgrounds etc dinner @ DTD?

Sat Jan 24 - DHS am emh 8am - 1pm back to resort, rest supper @ Chef Mickey's?

Sun Jan 25 - Epcot 9am - 1pm , rest possible P&PP night?

Mon JAn 26 - AK am emh 8am - 1230 with lunch @ RFC AK ? if not too tired stay; if too tired or park too crowded return to resort for rest,

Tues JAn 27 - brunch @ boatwright's? maybe go to DHS for part of day? go mini golfing @ Winter Summerland

Wedn JAn 28 - MK 8am brekkie @ CP MK 9am - 1, mid day break supper @ 1900 park fare back to MK until close

Thursday - DME to MCO @ 830 am flight @ 1130am

I haven't quite worked out ALL the details yet but was just wondering if you experts thought this might be a doable thing? Is it too much for first timers? ( i have actually been 3x as a teeneager but not since 1994) is it necessary to do hopping in January? My hubby has never been, is totally clueless and really has very little interest in planning so I need some expert opinions! He is also not thrilled with having to spend the extra $200 for the option of hopping, but I am hoping for the possible "canadian code" Please tell me what you think!

 

[trixiequilts]

I feel so bad for all of you waiting to hear about package prices! We're renting points for DVC so we don't need a package. It seems like the Snowbirds have had to deal with so many unknowns! I'm most interested in the dining plan...changes and cost. But the waiting and unknowns are just the price we organized people have to pay for being able to plan (or in our case not plan) ahead! Keep up the good work everybody, it will work out in the end!

 

[trixiequilts]

Okay, I just had to do this about my last post! It's pretty hilarious that I'm being the voice of reason, when usually I'm the one who is like this...

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

January Snowbirds!

Backinoz ~ Dec 23-Jan 14 ???
Towers5 ~ Dec 28-Jan 9 POP
Ccfmioa ~ Dec 30-Jan 8 ASMo
Disneysuncat ~ Dec 31-Jan 11 WL
Maplemouse ~ Jan 1-5 ???
Tink1978 ~ Jan 1-7 POFQ
Laumau ~ Jan 1-7 WL
4girls2sets ~ Jan 2-9 SOG
Miabellarose ~ Jan 3-11 ASMu
Amreli ~ Jan 3-11 ASMu
Wuzefelix ~ Jan 3-15 POP
Peanut1 ~ Jan 4-10 AKL
Simzac ~ Jan 4-10 OKW
Snykymom ~ Jan 4-11 CSR
Missmagnolia ~ Jan 4-12 ???
Tigerlovinggrandma ~ Jan 4-20 POFQ
Ehm1129 ~ Jan 5-16 ASMo
Kaos928 ~ Jan 6-12 POP/POR
Rhonda7011 ~ Jan 7-14 BWV/BC
Peach3es ~ Jan 8-16 POP
Aussieangel ~ Jan 8-20 WL
Rockonthemoon ~ Jan 8-18 ???
2Disneygirls ~ Jan 9-17 ASMo
Coffehousemom ~ Jan 10-17 ASMo
Ginaluvsdisney ~ Jan 10-18 POFQ
Gillettes ~ Jan 10-19 POFQ
Ethansmommy ~ Jan 11-16 WL
Lovemy2boys ~ Jan 11-21 AKL
Eve700 ~ Jan 12-???
Mindyluvsmickey ~ Jan 12-19 Poly
Adais ~ Jan 13-21 AKL
Tropigal ~ Jan 16-23 offsite
Kiteri ~ Jan 16-24 FW
Mommy2emmamaddie ~ Jan 16-25 ???
Drakes ~ Jan 16-26 ASMo
Sixisenough ~ Jan 17-24 AKL
Hrsmom ~ Jan 17-24 BWV
Disneyspaz ~ Jan 17-24 SSR
Jenkh ~ Jan 17-31 BWV/AKV
Spokanemom ~ Jan 17-31 POP
Splashmtncrew ~ Jan 18-24 WL
Susieq76 ~ Jan 18-26 POR
GPA1015 ~ Jan 18-30 POP
Northerndisneygirl ~ Jan 19-29 POFQ
Sharadoc ~ Jan 19-30 ASMu
Laurainsem ~ Jan 20-??? ???
Katiebugsmom ~ Jan 20-29 BCV
Heimlichfan ~ Jan 21-25 OKW
Doryandnemo ~ Jan 21-27 ???
Momof2disneyboys ~ Jan 21-27 CBR
Trixiequilts ~ Jan 21-28 AKL
Minniemom09 ~ Jan 21-28 POFQ
Kazooie01 ~ Jan 21-28 ???
Disneygroders ~ Jan 22-25 POFQ
MickeyNicki ~ Jan 22-26 Poly
Cinderellamom123 ~ Jan 22-Feb 1 Cabins
Debbieandroo ~ Jan 23-28 POP
Petuniamilz ~ Jan 23-30 Offsite
Chime ~ Jan 23-30 CBR
Carrousel35 ~ Jan 23-30 POFQ
Ppan77 ~ Jan 24-29 Poly
Jnykly ~ Jan 24-30 ???
Billysmommy ~ Jan 24-31 BWV
Gourmetgirl ~ Jan 24-31 WL
Remmy ~ Jan 24-Feb 7 POP
Natalie89 ~ Jan 25-Feb ? AKL
Meggybear17 ~ Jan 27-Feb 3 POP
Tammythetwinsmom ~ Jan 29-30 SSR
Echo29 ~ Jan ??? CSR
Tinkerbelluk ~ Jan ???
Lukenick1 ~ Jan ???
Trissy ~ Jan ???
Kimis ~ Jan ???
Jaksil ~ Feb ??? WL/AKL

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Let's see where everybody is eating!

Towers5
Dec 28 - 1835 Spoodles
Dec 29 - 0835 Spoodles / 1610 La Cellier (CLP)
Dec 30 - 0900 Donald's Tusker House
Dec 31 - 1545 Mama Melroses (Fantasmic)
Jan 1 -1840 1900 Parkfare
Jan 2 - 1830 Kona
Jan 3 - 0830 PSD / 1830 Coral Reef
Jan 4 - 1850 Wave (may change this one not sure)
Jan 5 - 0830 Chef Mickey's
Jan 6 - 1830 Marrakesh
Jan 7 - 0830 Ohana
Jan 8 - 1725 50's PTC


Laumau
Jan 1: Chef Mickey's 5:45 p.m.
Jan 2: Boma 4:00 p.m.
Jan 3: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 4:55 p.m.
Jan 4: Liberty Tree Tavern 4:20 p.m.
Jan 5: Mama Melrose 3:55 p.m. Fantasmic
Jan 6: Artist Point 6:30 p.m.
Jan 7: Crystal Palace 9:30 a.m.


Missmagnolia
Jan 5: Crystal Palace 11:30 a.m.
Jan 6: Princess Storybook Breakfast 10:15 a.m.
Jan 7: Donald's Safari Breakfast 8:10 a.m./Boma 6:20 p.m.
Jan 8: 50s PTC 11:20 a.m.
Jan 9: Chef Mickey's 7:20 a.m./Kona Cafe 5:20 p.m.
Jan 10: Tutto Italia 6:45 p.m.

Koas928
Jan 6 Trail's End Buffeteria 7pm
Jan 8 Sci-Fi 12pm / Coral Reef 7:30pm
Jan 9 Tusker House 12pm

peach3es
Jan 8: O'Hana 5:00pm
Jan 9: Crystal Palace 5:10pm
Jan 10: 1900 Park Fare 4:45pm
Jan 11: Boma 5:40pm
Jan 12: 50's Prime Time 4:40pm
Jan. 13: Princess Storybook Dinner, Norway, 4:35pm
Jan. 14: Liberty Tree Tavern 4:45pm

Susieq76
Jan 17- 6:45 pm O'Hana
Jan 18- 8:30 am Chef Mickey's / 5:55 pm- California Grill
Jan 19- 8:20 am O'Hana / 6:00pm- Coral Reef
Jan 20- 8:00am Donald's Safari / Hoop Dee Doo (not booked yet)
Jan 21- CRT (not booked yet) / 6:00pm- Narcossees
Jan 22- 8:40am Cape May Cafe / 4:45pm- Sci Fi
Jan 23 8:10am 1900 Park Fare / 6:00pm- Yachtsman
Jan 24 8:05 am Crystal Palace / 5:55 pm- Le Cellier

SplashMtncrew
Jan 18- 1900 Park Fare 7:05pm
Jan 19- Tony's 5:45pm
Jan 20- Chef Mickey's 8:30am / Le Cellier 6pm
Jan 21- HDDR 7:15pm
Jan 22- Sci Fi 5pm
Jan 23- Whispering Canyon Cafe 8:30am


Sixisenough
Jan 18 B-Bomas
Jan 19 D-Mama Melroses Dinner Package
Jan 20 B-1900 Park Faire
Jan 21 D-Coral Reef
Jan 22 D-Sci Fi
Jan 23 D-Cape May Buffet
Jan 24 B-Norway Princess Breakfast


Spokanemom
Jan 18 Planet Hollywood
Jan 19 No Clue
Jan 20 Crystal Palace 10:25 am
Jan 21 Donald's Breakfast 10:30 am
Jan 22 Sci-Fi 5:20 pm
Jan 23 Goofy's Breakfast 8 am / Teppan Edo 6 pm
Jan 24 Water Park &/or DTD day. Would like to try T-Rex.
Jan 25 50's PTC 5:35 pm
Jan 26 WCC Breakfast (Told to call & book on Oct 15) / Chef Mickey's 5 pm
Jan 27 Can't decide on Coral Reef or Le Cellier (Oct 15?)
Jan 28 CRT Breakfast (can call on Aug 1) / Hoop Dee Doo Review (Oct 15?)
Jan 29 Safari Celebration Dinner (can call on Aug 2)
Jan 30 Favorite Park Day, totally winging it here. All CS.

Jenkh
Jan 19 - 50's Prime Time 1:05pm
Jan 20 - Le Cellier 7:30pm
Jan 21 - Cap N Jacks 8:10pm
Jan 23 - Narcossee's 8:00pm
Jan 24 - Jiko 7:20pm
Jan 25 - Sci Fi 5:55pm

Momof2disneyboys
Jan 21 - 1900 Park Fare
Jan 22 - Mama Melrose Fantasmic
Jan 23 - Tusker House
Jan 24 - Plaza Restaurant
Jan 25 - Kona Cafe
Jan 26 - will try for LeCellier!
Jan 27 - will depend on flight home

Trixiequilts
Jan 21: 1900 Park Fare
Jan 22: Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Jan 23: Tusker House / 'Ohana
Jan 24: Le Cellier
Jan 25: Boma / Chefs de France
Jan 26: Will try for Teppan Edo
Jan 27: Chef Mickey's

Kaitebugsmom
Jan 22 - Yachtsman Steakhouse 7pm
Jan 24 - Brown Derby Lunch 12pm
Jan 26 - Want Boma for Dinner
Jan 27 - Want Askerhaus for Lunch
Jan 28 - Want Nine Dragons for Dinner

Debbieandroo
Jan 23 - Le Cellier 6:55
Jan 24 - Whispering Canyon 8:45
Jan 25 - Boma 5:45

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Is it January, yet?

I WISH!!!

 

[trixiequilts]

Well while trying to keep my sanity last night. DD had 5 of her friends over for Hannah Montana 3-D concert slumber scared:

Were the girls disappointed in the 3-D effects? We had seen it in the theater and thought it was great. Last night we were extremely bummed because the 3-D didn't look right. My DDs just quit watching.

 

[Laumau]

I need some advice and guidance from those of you who have been to WDW in January! I thought I had my plans all made but now I am beginning to question my plan and if I should rework it. As you can see from my signature we will be in WDW (POFQ) from 19th - 29th.

Plan #1 - involves doing one park per day with no mid day breaks but several "rest days" throughout... no hopping, no emh's, make RD for each day and finish before supper time (6 day MYW w/ 3 full rest days)

Plan # 2 - involves emh's, park hopping, and mid day breaks!

tues Jan 20th Epcot am emh @8 so be at Epcot from 8 - 1pm mid day break dinner at O'hana and then be at MK until close @ 8pm.

wed jan 21 - DHS from 9 - 1 with lunch @ 1230 @ 50's PTC, mid day break at resort, AK pm emh from 4 - 8pm

thurs jan 22 - MK am emh from 8 am until 1pm mid day break @ resort Epcot from 5pm (WS TS supper somewhere - maybe Biergarten) until close to see Illuminations

Fri Jan 23 - rest day - no parks, sleep in, veg out, maybe do some shopping swimming if nice check out resort playgrounds etc dinner @ DTD?

Sat Jan 24 - DHS am emh 8am - 1pm back to resort, rest supper @ Chef Mickey's?

Sun Jan 25 - Epcot 9am - 1pm , rest possible P&PP night?

Mon JAn 26 - AK am emh 8am - 1230 with lunch @ RFC AK ? if not too tired stay; if too tired or park too crowded return to resort for rest,

Tues JAn 27 - brunch @ boatwright's? maybe go to DHS for part of day? go mini golfing @ Winter Summerland

Wedn JAn 28 - MK 8am brekkie @ CP MK 9am - 1, mid day break supper @ 1900 park fare back to MK until close

Thursday - DME to MCO @ 830 am flight @ 1130am

I haven't quite worked out ALL the details yet but was just wondering if you experts thought this might be a doable thing? Is it too much for first timers? ( i have actually been 3x as a teeneager but not since 1994) is it necessary to do hopping in January? My hubby has never been, is totally clueless and really has very little interest in planning so I need some expert opinions! He is also not thrilled with having to spend the extra $200 for the option of hopping, but I am hoping for the possible "canadian code" Please tell me what you think!

I'm not an expert- I've never been to WDW before but just wanted to say that we're doing plan #1. We only have 7 days- 6 really, so I figured we would just do a park a day, finish early with an ADR, and go back to the resort. We don't have the luxury of a day off. My neighbor did it back in Sept '07 with her 2 young (very young) children and she said they did great. My older two may want to do an evening of EMH with DH but otherwise we won't really take advantage of those. I do have one late-rising day built in but that's about it. We're driving so if we do need to take a break it shouldn't be too difficult. Luckily the heat won't be a factor either.

We're still buying parkhopper because the first day we'll be doing both Epcot and MK.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Plan #1 - involves doing one park per day with no mid day breaks but several "rest days" throughout... no hopping, no emh's, make RD for each day and finish before supper time (6 day MYW w/ 3 full rest days)

Plan # 2 - involves emh's, park hopping, and mid day breaks!

I would go with plan #1 !

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Thanks for the welcome! We actually stayed at CSR last time and loved it! We want to try something new this time but I am really unsure of where to try. I was all set to try POR but now that Pleasure Island is closing it does not really seem worth it. (I really wanted to take advantage of the boat to and from DTD)
So I am looking for suggestions!
I am not opposed to a value resort. I just don't know which one and it is just my husband and I so we don't really need LOTS of kid friendly stuff. My dream would be maybe to do a split stay so I could stay a night or to at WL.
OK snowbirds...which resort do we try!?

I would recommend CBR! If you've read through all of our ramblings here you already know that it's my favorite!!

White sand beaches, hammocks by the lake, watching IllumiNations from the beach, great and huge food court, nice CM's, good housekeeping, beautiful resort, island, and bridge, awesome tropical feel, Caribbean music playing everywhere quietly!

 

[heimlichfan]

Ooh! Ooh! I want to join!!!! Can I join even if I'm not totally official????

We are tentatively going January 21-25... it depends on my DH's doctoral classes. We're aiming for the 21-25, but it that doesn't work, we will be going February 4-8.


Here's my current plan regardless of when we're going:
OKW - there will be 6 of going including DH's parents who have never been to WDW!
Park hopping + dining - pending new dining prices
Food we will be enjoying no matter what - Dole Whips, Figaro Fries, Le Cellier

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Ooh! Ooh! I want to join!!!! Can I join even if I'm not totally official????

We are tentatively going January 21-25... it depends on my DH's doctoral classes. We're aiming for the 21-25, but it that doesn't work, we will be going February 4-8.


Here's my current plan regardless of when we're going:
OKW - there will be 6 of going including DH's parents who have never been to WDW!
Park hopping + dining - pending new dining prices
Food we will be enjoying no matter what - Dole Whips, Figaro Fries, Le Cellier

Of course you can join! WELCOME!

I will put you down for Jan 21-25, and you can let me know if that changes!

We look forward to chatting and planning with you!

 

[coffeehousemom]

I think Morgan was but she is spoiled used to true 3D Muppets 3d shrek3d etc. The other girls were happy with it. I watched about 5 minutes of it w/o the glasses was awful put them on & it was so so. Then I wised up went upstairs & started DIS'ing.

OT I hope that the new HSM3 is good getting real tired of Hannah cant' wait to get back to the other favs.

 

[KatiebugsMom]

I need some advice and guidance from those of you who have been to WDW in January! I thought I had my plans all made but now I am beginning to question my plan and if I should rework it. As you can see from my signature we will be in WDW (POFQ) from 19th - 29th.

Plan #1 - involves doing one park per day with no mid day breaks but several "rest days" throughout... no hopping, no emh's, make RD for each day and finish before supper time (6 day MYW w/ 3 full rest days)

Plan # 2 - involves emh's, park hopping, and mid day breaks!

tues Jan 20th Epcot am emh @8 so be at Epcot from 8 - 1pm mid day break dinner at O'hana and then be at MK until close @ 8pm.

wed jan 21 - DHS from 9 - 1 with lunch @ 1230 @ 50's PTC, mid day break at resort, AK pm emh from 4 - 8pm

thurs jan 22 - MK am emh from 8 am until 1pm mid day break @ resort Epcot from 5pm (WS TS supper somewhere - maybe Biergarten) until close to see Illuminations

Fri Jan 23 - rest day - no parks, sleep in, veg out, maybe do some shopping swimming if nice check out resort playgrounds etc dinner @ DTD?

Sat Jan 24 - DHS am emh 8am - 1pm back to resort, rest supper @ Chef Mickey's?

Sun Jan 25 - Epcot 9am - 1pm , rest possible P&PP night?

Mon JAn 26 - AK am emh 8am - 1230 with lunch @ RFC AK ? if not too tired stay; if too tired or park too crowded return to resort for rest,

Tues JAn 27 - brunch @ boatwright's? maybe go to DHS for part of day? go mini golfing @ Winter Summerland

Wedn JAn 28 - MK 8am brekkie @ CP MK 9am - 1, mid day break supper @ 1900 park fare back to MK until close

Thursday - DME to MCO @ 830 am flight @ 1130am

I haven't quite worked out ALL the details yet but was just wondering if you experts thought this might be a doable thing? Is it too much for first timers? ( i have actually been 3x as a teeneager but not since 1994) is it necessary to do hopping in January? My hubby has never been, is totally clueless and really has very little interest in planning so I need some expert opinions! He is also not thrilled with having to spend the extra $200 for the option of hopping, but I am hoping for the possible "canadian code" Please tell me what you think!

First let me preface my reply, that I am an amusement park commando, married to one and have turned my DD3 into one. So I am a plan #2 person and beyond like staying in the parks all day kind of person and happily hop from park to park.....that being said, you need to work that plan that is best for you and your family. But if a goal of yours is to try and max out EMH time, park hopping will be a must.


FYI - I am a January Snowbird veteran and have gone the past 3 years. There is a change in the EMH on the 25th and 26th to take note of. DHS evening EMH are on Sunday 25th (this is usually MK's night in the past) and the MK PM EMH is on Monday 26th (again historically this has been DHS's). I believe this change stems from a possible press event surrounding the opening of the American Idol attraction at DHS. Also I do not see any indications that P&P parties will be happening. MK closes at 7PM for event parties and MK is scheduled til 9PM on the 24th and 25th and then 8PM the rest of the time we are there. So it is not looking good for a P&P party to be happening in January. What a shame, I have been to 2 of them now and love them!!

Hope this helps!