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

[BellaSoleil]

Funny this should come up...Early last month when I was making my ADR's I saw Coral Reef listed as 2 credits. I called and asked my AAA agent, she said no, it's 1. When I called disney to make my reservations the CM told me it was 1 and didn't know why or where it was listed as 2...hmmmmmmmmm

If it's 2, I'm changing it. I like CR, but not that much...LOL

Also have another question regarding the fireworks. Someone here mentioned that in January they are at 7, but I just looked at the calendar posted in the link above....and it says 9??? Does anyone know for sure?

thanks
robin

Which fireworks?

Illuminations is always @ 9, Wishes is earlier because MK closes earlier. (On weekdays, I think later on weekends.) I could imagine that Wishes would be at 7 on a weekday and Illuminations would be at 9.

I sure wish MK would stay open until 9 on a week day in January!!!!

 

[jenjolt]

Most of you have mentioned the dining plan, is it even worth a party of 1 getting it?? I'm assuming I can do it a lot cheaper if I just pay my meals on my own. I'm actually considering buying the Disney gift cards and using those at the restaurants that way I don't even have to use my credit card on the trip and I can spread out the amount I'm taking with me that way come January my hubby won't completely freak out over the price (although after the 700.00 ticket he booked to hunt not sure he has any rights to complain LOL). BTW another question I have..I am going over MLK weekend...will crowds be a huge issue that weekend?? I have a ton of other questions but I'll spread them out I promise LOL

Jen

 

[sunshine43]

Ohhhh I didn't know there are fireworks in the MK also I just checked those are at 8

All is good , thanks

robin

 

[distherapy]

Most of you have mentioned the dining plan, is it even worth a party of 1 getting it?? I'm assuming I can do it a lot cheaper if I just pay my meals on my own. I'm actually considering buying the Disney gift cards and using those at the restaurants that way I don't even have to use my credit card on the trip and I can spread out the amount I'm taking with me that way come January my hubby won't completely freak out over the price (although after the 700.00 ticket he booked to hunt not sure he has any rights to complain LOL). BTW another question I have..I am going over MLK weekend...will crowds be a huge issue that weekend?? I have a ton of other questions but I'll spread them out I promise LOL

Jen

I do think MLK gets a bit crowded, but you'll be able to take advantage of things like single rider lines!

As for the dining plan, think about where you want to eat (and where you make your ADRs) and check out the menus (I use allears.net) and then do the math. It worked out for us last trip to do the Deluxe (we had a lot ot 2 credit meals) and we're planning on using it again for this trip. It all depends on how (and what and where) you like to eat!

 

[laurainsem]

Just an FYI: If anyone is looking for times of fireworks/parades, I found this great calendar listing the times as they stand now

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/jan09.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Oh my goodness! Sounds amazing! Tell me all about it!!!!!

It is amazing!! I don't even remember what it was made of but it was so good. That's the reason I am going back there!! I think it had some kind of chocolate crust, graham cracker flavored ice cream and a marshmallow on a stick! I should have taken a picture.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

The CM says CRT is still 2 TS and Coral Reef is still 1.

I'm super confused now! Come on, Disney... get it together!

I hate when we get conflicting info! For those of you going to Coral Reef - I would keep checking on that as the time gets closer. I find it hard to believe they would post it on their website if it wasn't true. Plus the CM's on the phone don't always have the most up to date info. But, like someone said - CRT isn't listed at taking 2TS's and that's definitely wrong. . .

 

[sarbah77]

This is the site I look at: http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...especific/eng/nontheme/tickets/2009Dining.pdf

It's Disney's brochure for those of us State-side, doing a dining plan. It doesn't show Coral Reef as 2TS credits. It also doesn't have a lot of DTD resturants, yet, either. I was told it could take up through November for the list to be finalized!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

This is the site I look at: http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...especific/eng/nontheme/tickets/2009Dining.pdf

It's Disney's brochure for those of us State-side, doing a dining plan. It doesn't show Coral Reef as 2TS credits. It also doesn't have a lot of DTD resturants, yet, either. I was told it could take up through November for the list to be finalized!

Yep, that's the original one I printed out a month or so ago, until I saw the new one this weekend.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hello everyone. I'm a newcomer to these boards. I took the January 2009 poll on a different thread and I just looked over this board (too many pages to read through all of them!). We are going to WDW January 24th-31st. As I was looking over the pages, I thought I'd post what I saw everyone else post! Hope you don't mind!

Here's who's going on the trip: Me(26)
DH (25)
DD(almost 6)
We are surprising her with this trip. We went to WDW two years ago with my parents and little sis, but now it's just the three of us. She has no idea that we're going and we plan on keeping it that way. We are from Buffalo, so a trip to Florida at the end of January will feel wonderful!

We are staying off property at Horizons by Marriott (my parents have timeshares). It looks very kid friendly with a big pirate ship at the pool to play on. Hopefully, we'll be able to pull her away from it to go the parks!

Since we are staying off property, we do not have the DDP so my ADR's aren't as complex as everyone else's.
1/25 Princess lunch at Akershus- 11:20am
1/27 Hopefully lunch or dinner at T-Rex
1/29 Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic pkg - 4:30pm
That's it. Growing up, my family never really did sit down meals at the parks except for Alfredo's in Italy, but that is gone now. I know there is a new restaurant now, but it's probably not the same.

We are hoping that there will be a Pirate and Princess party while we are there. Just seeing pictures of it made me want to go to it. I've heard wonderful things about it is well. Sorry I rambled on so long. I'm sure that I'm driving my husband crazy with all my Disney talk. Most likely my sisters and parents too. At least I know I can go somewhere and discuss my plans with other Disney fanatics like me!

4 months is too long to wait!

 

[nala87]

Most of you have mentioned the dining plan, is it even worth a party of 1 getting it?? I'm assuming I can do it a lot cheaper if I just pay my meals on my own.

The Dining Plan is really only worth it if you would like a ton of sit down meals. There is a CS option, it's only two meals a day, but I find i can eat much cheaper then $30 a day for two CS meals. If you get dessert and entree (and maybe a side) with every meal then if may be worth it, but I save money not getting the dining plan.
One day i hope to be able to get it though...

 

[clori]

Hi. We are also going to Disney Jan 16-22 then doing the Disney Wonder cruise from Jan 22-25th. It is me, dh, dd8, dd4 and a single adult family friend (who dd8 will probably end up sharing a room with). We are staying at Pop Century. For now we are waiting to see if there are any great specials before deciding on the meal plan. We did it our last trip but thought it was too much food.

For this trip we figured less table service but still find that we want one daily so not surel For now we have several adrs. Basically if I could keep my AAA room discount and get the dining plan we would or if it at least included the mugs like the other meal plans do.

Sat. Hollywood & Vine lunch
Sun - Whispering Canyon Cafe
Mon - tusker house
Tues - Biergarten dinner, Coral Reef lunch just for friend and dd8
Wednesday - CRT breakfast without dh, Tony's Town Square dinner
Thursday - Chef MIckey's breakfast

The trip started out to give dd4 a time to enjoy Disney World since she doesn't remember it from her last trip at 1.5 but dh suggested a short cruise to end it. Dh doesn't usually make suggestions so I know he really wants to do the cruise.

 

[BellaSoleil]

Welcome Dancegrl624 and Clori!!!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Dancegrl and Clori!! I will get you added to our ever growing list!

 

[sharadoc]

Just an FYI: If anyone is looking for times of fireworks/parades, I found this great calendar listing the times as they stand now

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/jan09.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

Exactly - it's amazing how much info is available on the DIS. I have come across many folks on these boards who don't know that there is actual information on the website, not just discussion boards.

For those who may not know, look at the bottom half/tan band across the top of the message boards page. It lists DIS Home, Theme Parks, Resorts, etc. etc. Click on one of those topics and it takes you to a WORLD of info. (pun intended)

I know I can share with all of you, my "family". Sometimes I get annoyed at some of the posts on these boards, because it's obvious that people don't do any research, either on the web or books, and just jump in here and ask questions. Sometimes they could even get their answer if they scroll through a couple pages of the message boards. I want to say - READ FIRST!!!!!

Another peeve - people who don't preview their posts and see all the mis-spellings in their posts, especially the titles. I want to proofread their posts for them, or grade them like a teacher It's especially annoying because there is an editing function, so folks could fix them later.

No offense, I just get impatient because most of the time I'm sneaking a read at work. Ah well, everyone is special in their own way I must be a Grumpy today.

 

[kaos928]

We are from Buffalo, so a trip to Florida at the end of January will feel wonderful!

Horray Buffalo Watch out PAers NY is catching up! Ok not really

PS I really hope Coral Reef doesn't go up to 2 TS! I might just do it anyway though

Also... has anyone in the first have of January booked a package with the QSDP? I remember reading somewhere that they weren't offering until like the 12th but it doesn't say on their website I was wondering if they might let me book it if I called.

 

[Monny2AE]

I have done the Fairy Godmailer! Well, I should say that I have received from a Fairy Godmailer! I never got in on one of those Fairy Godmailer threads because I never wanted to give out my children's names and our address to a stranger. But when we went in May 2007 I was in a May planning thread (we still chat today!), just like this one. We chatted and all got to know each other quite well. Then several of us went again in May 2008. Well one of the girls had to go in April 2008, so she offered to be my Fairy Godmailer! I felt comfortable doing this since we had chatted for over a year and I saw pictures or her and her family and some of the other people from the thread had actually met her in WDW. So she sent each of the kids a post card from their favorite character! They were thrilled. And yes, DS9 checked the post-mark to be sure I hadn't sent it from home!

So maybe you could get someone on this thread who is going a few weeks before you to do it!

Giving out my children's info to just some random stranger worries me too which is why I didn't post on the Fairy Godmailer thread. I would definitely be interested in doing something with people on this board if anyone else is interested.

Just an FYI: If anyone is looking for times of fireworks/parades, I found this great calendar listing the times as they stand now

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/jan09.cfm?requesttimeout=1000

Helpful thanks!

Hello everyone. I'm a newcomer to these boards. I took the January 2009 poll on a different thread and I just looked over this board (too many pages to read through all of them!). We are going to WDW January 24th-31st.

We'll be there the same exact dates!

Horray Buffalo Watch out PAers NY is catching up! Ok not really

PS I really hope Coral Reef doesn't go up to 2 TS! I might just do it anyway though

Also... has anyone in the first have of January booked a package with the QSDP? I remember reading somewhere that they weren't offering until like the 12th but it doesn't say on their website I was wondering if they might let me book it if I called.

I have it but I'm not going until the 24th. When I called they said it wasn't effective until Jan 11th. I am dying to read some reviews of it but I guess I won't be until just before I go and then it's too late to cancel it if everyone says it stinks. What to do?

 

[laurainsem]

Okay, silly question. What is the QSDP?

 

[nala87]

Okay, silly question. What is the QSDP?

Quick Service Dining Plan-You get two CS meals/day for $30 I believe.

Okay, so I may have just witnessed a miracle!!!!!
My DH said he would think about going to Pleasure Island with me in two weeks for the closing!!!!!!!!!!
I have to do a bunch of stuff for him, including camping/fishing this weekend, but it would be worth it to go to FL! I'll keep you all posted!

 

[distherapy]

Okay, so I may have just witnessed a miracle!!!!!
My DH said he would think about going to Pleasure Island with me in two weeks for the closing!!!!!!!!!!
I have to do a bunch of stuff for him, including camping/fishing this weekend, but it would be worth it to go to FL! I'll keep you all posted!

Yay! good luck!!!