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

[Monny2AE]

Oh, believe me, we are SO not alone. I know there are people who are into even more over-planning. I actually have TWO binders - one for the trip/drive down and one for Disney World. I haven't taken pictures of my bin, but maybe I'll try to do the binders to post here! Plus I have a Passporter, Birnbaum's Guide, Kid's Guide and one other one (can't remember which) to read, too. Marked things with a Sharpie, too

Hey now! Is that a poke at those of us who are crazy over our bins? I have to admit I have 2 bins and a binder now. I can't help myself!

I love the Fairy Godmailer idea! We're arriving on January 19, so if anyone would like a postcard mailed to them on or after that date, I'd be happy to help. I promise, I'm not a stalker or anything!

I would love to organize a Fairy Godmailer list for those of us interested. My dates are Jan 24-31 so I can't really mail them for anyone on here unless you're going the beginning of Feb. I would love to find someone to mail some to my kids somewhere around the 16th. I'd be willing to pay through paypal to cover the cost of the stamps and postcards. Anyone know how much postcards roughly cost in WDW?

Okay okay my dear snowbirds,

I keep hearing talk of Tour Guide Mike. As a first time WDW visitor, do you think his services are worth 20 bucks?

Who's Tour Guide Mike? Is he like Tour Guide Barbie! Sorry we watched Toy Story today, couldn't resist!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

Shelly, Shelly, she's the best !!

NDG - are they doing something special for Chinese New Year in the restaurant? My little Mulan fan would probably love that - I hadn't thought of going there for dinner on that day. I do plan to be at Epcot, thinking that there will probably be a traditional dragon parade and firecrackers. Dinner could be really cool.

I am not sure yet, but trying to find out! I thought I read something somewhere about something going on but now Iam not sure My DH is so into Chinese culture and when we found out that Chinese New Year was going to fall on a day we were already going to be in Epcot, I asked hime if I should try for an ADR @ Nine Dragons......his response was " YES PLEASE!" This is the first he has shown any interest in planning this trip at all so I got on the phone right away and got us an ADR for JAnuary 26th @ 630pm!

I shall continue to try and find out what if anything is planned for Chinese New Year in Epcot

 

[trixiequilts]

Oh, believe me, we are SO not alone. I know there are people who are into even more over-planning. I actually have TWO binders - one for the trip/drive down and one for Disney World. I haven't taken pictures of my bin, but maybe I'll try to do the binders to post here! Plus I have a Passporter, Birnbaum's Guide, Kid's Guide and one other one (can't remember which) to read, too. Marked things with a Sharpie, too

I'd love to see your binders. Plural.

 

[jenjolt]

Okay okay my dear snowbirds,

I keep hearing talk of Tour Guide Mike. As a first time WDW visitor, do you think his services are worth 20 bucks?

I have used Tour Guide Mike for 3 out of the 4 Disney trips I have taken and I have never been disappointed with his advice!!

My binder is full of information from his site..and the sad truth is, at this rate I'm going to need a lot more ink and a bigger binder...Wal Mart here I come LOL

 

[jenjolt]

Hey guys quick question and I know I'm not asking this is the right place but I figure you will forgive me and help me out..but how far in advance can you plan a Disney Trip. I really want to see the World at Christmas, would now be too far in advance to at least book my hotel reservation for Christmas 2009??

 

[sharadoc]

I'd love to see your binders. Plural.

I swear by this weekend I will be posting photos of the bin and the binders.

Monny2AE, absolutely NOT a poke at the Bins-ers. I have one myself, as a matter of fact tonight I added laundry detergent, toothpaste, hand cream. The bin's already getting full, believe me. I may be starting on bin 2.

'Night all. See you in the AM!

 

[laurainsem]

Hey guys quick question and I know I'm not asking this is the right place but I figure you will forgive me and help me out..but how far in advance can you plan a Disney Trip. I really want to see the World at Christmas, would now be too far in advance to at least book my hotel reservation for Christmas 2009??

Holy smokes, I don't think it's too early! I started planning this trip in August 07. My family thought I was nuts, but now they are understanding why. My sister says if this pastor gig doesn't work out I should look into being a travel agent!

Thanks for the info on Mike. I think I may invest in his site. The more advice, the better!

 

[laurainsem]

I just HAD to post one more time tonight as I saw this was my hundredth post!

My sister and I just finished watching the Jon and Kate plus 8 at Disney World. It got us both sooo excited for Disney, and even more excited we won't be toting along 8 children!

 

[trixiequilts]

Yay! 100th post party!!!​

 

[peach3es]

Gooooood Mooooorning, Snowbirds! (said ala Robin Williams style! )

I am in desperate need of some opinions here. HELP!

I sat with TourGuide Mike's site last night and began some serious schedule planning. I realized that I made good park choices for every day but one, our Epcot day. So, I swapped out our "free" morning. A good Epcot day was the Saturday of our trip, so we'll spend the morning/early afternoon there and then head to Grand Park Fare for our 4:45 reservation and that's it for the day. The day that's a RED day according to Tour Guide Mike (because of EMH in the morning), we'll enter Epcot for our Akershaus reservation at 4:35pm and watch Illuminations that night. I'm trying to plan the late nights carefully. We've only got 2 scheduled. We're not doing Fantasmic. It just doesn't interest me.

So, here's my question. Specto is not happening any day we are scheduled to be in the parks! And I wasn't thinking too much about it until I read TourGuide Mike's review. He says it's a must-see. My kids love lights and parades, so I figure I better schedule it in.

Our first day we only have a dinner reservation scheduled at O'Hana. And only because I heard O'Hana was fun and we didn't know when we'd be arriving, etc. But, it looks like we'll be staying overnight the night before with family in Kissimmee. So, we'll have a whole day to settle into our hotel and we'll already be rested after the drive or flight down.

Soooo....I'm thinking we'll hang with family for the morning, try for an early check-in at POP, and possibly head to the MK late afternoon. Here's my dilemma. Will my kids freak if they don't really get to ride rides the first day in MK? I mean, MK is listed as a red day that day because of extra magic hours, so it's likely going to be crowded. I thought I'd change from O'hana to Crystal Palace (which we have reserved for the following day), change my Crystal Palace reservation to Tony's Italian Restuarant for the following MK day. I thought we could eat around 4:30pm, as we had planned at O'Hana's, and then we could catch Spectro at 7pm. We would not catch Wishes that night, as that's scheduled for our last night at the parks.

What would you do? Does that plan sound good to you? I'd like to change my ADRs now so I know if it's even possible. I just can't decide if that's a good idea. Is Spectro something we must see? Do your kids like it?

Sorry for all the serious questions! I was driving myself (and consequently, poor, patient Scot) crazy last night! Then I thought, "I should ask the experts and my warm and fuzzy Snowbird friends! "

Help stop the insanity!

 

[MAGGIED]

We may stay at a hotel just outside of the airport. That getting up with the children at 3:30am is for the birds!

We are only 20 minutes from the airport (on a good day)... not knowing what the weather will be like I guess I should plan for longer... the parents of my sons friend who is going with us offered to drive both ways to the airport... which is great... no parking of the car....

 

[MAGGIED]

Good morning snowbirds!

This trip can't get here fast enough for me! I'm already looking at the possibility of going again in Jan 2010! This was supposed to be a one time thing. We'll see about that!

I hope you are all having a great day!! I'll check back in later on.

That is soooooooo funny..... I told my husband back a few years ago that we would only be going once so we had to do it big.... now we are on trip # 26 or #27 (not sure)... so I can't use that excuse anymore.... We have a lot of people comment to us on why we always go to Disney.... here is what we tell them... it has everything we want in a vacation... nice accomodations, great food, golf, swimming (not the beach - yuk.. don't like sand in my toes), theme park attractions, a nice spa and transportation.... try pricing that all out at other places and Disney is reasonably affordable.... at least that's what I tell DH...

 

[MAGGIED]

Okay okay my dear snowbirds,

I keep hearing talk of Tour Guide Mike. As a first time WDW visitor, do you think his services are worth 20 bucks?

YES YES YES.... after 20 something trips we never "do Disney" without TGM... his best days are worth the money alone....at least in my opinion....also I think if you click on his link there is a discount... not sure how much as I get the renewal rate....TGM can be a little overwhelming at first... there is so much information... but it is worth it... the way I look at it - you are spending thousands of dollars on a trip.... another $20 for GREAT information is a drop in the bucket....

 

[trixiequilts]

So, here's my question. Specto is not happening any day we are scheduled to be in the parks! And I wasn't thinking too much about it until I read TourGuide Mike's review. He says it's a must-see. My kids love lights and parades, so I figure I better schedule it in.

Our first day we only have a dinner reservation scheduled at O'Hana. And only because I heard O'Hana was fun and we didn't know when we'd be arriving, etc. But, it looks like we'll be staying overnight the night before with family in Kissimmee. So, we'll have a whole day to settle into our hotel and we'll already be rested after the drive or flight down.

Soooo....I'm thinking we'll hang with family for the morning, try for an early check-in at POP, and possibly head to the MK late afternoon. Here's my dilemma. Will my kids freak if they don't really get to ride rides the first day in MK? I mean, MK is listed as a red day that day because of extra magic hours, so it's likely going to be crowded. I thought I'd change from O'hana to Crystal Palace (which we have reserved for the following day), change my Crystal Palace reservation to Tony's Italian Restuarant for the following MK day. I thought we could eat around 4:30pm, as we had planned at O'Hana's, and then we could catch Spectro at 7pm. We would not catch Wishes that night, as that's scheduled for our last night at the parks.

What would you do? Does that plan sound good to you? I'd like to change my ADRs now so I know if it's even possible. I just can't decide if that's a good idea. Is Spectro something we must see? Do your kids like it?

Sorry for all the serious questions! I was driving myself (and consequently, poor, patient Scot) crazy last night! Then I thought, "I should ask the experts and my warm and fuzzy Snowbird friends! "

Help stop the insanity!

Spectro is causing me some grief right now, too. I hadn't really thought it was a must-do, until DD9, who reads my guidebooks, said she really wants to see it.

I don't think it would be a big deal for my kids to not do rides the first afternoon in the park. There's going to be so much to see and check out that I'm thinking they'll be fine with that. In fact, that's my plan on the first day...hotel, monorail, MK to look around, 1900 Park Fare dinner and then Wishes, either in the park or at the Poly. Your kids' feelings will probably totally depend on how you present it your them. Maybe focus on meeting the characters or finding yummy snacks that day instead of the rides. Or say you're going to wait to do rides the next day (or whenever) so the lines won't be so long. Do you kids even know what's available to do? What they don't know won't hurt them, right?

 

[trixiequilts]

YES YES YES.... after 20 something trips we never "do Disney" without TGM... his best days are worth the money alone....at least in my opinion....also I think if you click on his link there is a discount... not sure how much as I get the renewal rate....TGM can be a little overwhelming at first... there is so much information... but it is worth it... the way I look at it - you are spending thousands of dollars on a trip.... another $20 for GREAT information is a drop in the bucket....

Do you think his information is better than the Unofficial Guide?

 

[sarbah77]

So I'm starting down the path to some probably minor surgery...

...is it bad of me to hope hope hope that it's very soon and not near Disney? Because I don't want it getting in the way of my Disney trip. Thanksgiving? No big deal. Christmas? Not going anywhere (...but cutting it a little close to Disney! ).

I don't have any real solid information yet, but I suspect it'll be laprascopic and up to a week's recovery time. BUT IT MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH MY VACATION (okay by me to miss work!).

I'm not sure I have the right attitude...

 

[trixiequilts]

So I'm starting down the path to some probably minor surgery...

...is it bad of me to hope hope hope that it's very soon and not near Disney? Because I don't want it getting in the way of my Disney trip. Thanksgiving? No big deal. Christmas? Not going anywhere (...but cutting it a little close to Disney! ).

I don't have any real solid information yet, but I suspect it'll be laprascopic and up to a week's recovery time. BUT IT MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH MY VACATION (okay by me to miss work!).

I'm not sure I have the right attitude...

I don't see anything wrong with your attitude at all! Makes sense. How soon will you know?

 

[peach3es]

Spectro is causing me some grief right now, too. I hadn't really thought it was a must-do, until DD9, who reads my guidebooks, said she really wants to see it.

I don't think it would be a big deal for my kids to not do rides the first afternoon in the park. There's going to be so much to see and check out that I'm thinking they'll be fine with that. In fact, that's my plan on the first day...hotel, monorail, MK to look around, 1900 Park Fare dinner and then Wishes, either in the park or at the Poly. Your kids' feelings will probably totally depend on how you present it your them. Maybe focus on meeting the characters or finding yummy snacks that day instead of the rides. Or say you're going to wait to do rides the next day (or whenever) so the lines won't be so long. Do you kids even know what's available to do? What they don't know won't hurt them, right?

Thanks, Trixie! Actually, my kids know there are rides, but have no concept of what Disney is. I think you are right~~there is so much to take in, that if we did Crystal Palace and looked to see if we could ride maybe just one ride, that would be find. I hear Spectro is really something. That should make them happy!

Anyone else have an opinion about this? I'd love to hear other's perspectives too!

 

[sarbah77]

I don't see anything wrong with your attitude at all! Makes sense. How soon will you know?

Well, dealing with the hospital... I could get a call today, I could get a letter in the mail tomorrow saying my appointment is Monday. Tuesday, the doctor looked at some test results and said "yeah... that's gotta go" and immediately called a colleague, who agreed I should come in and see her. The referral was then sent to Managed Care.

Anyway, I think I'll probably call the Managed Care office today and see what's going on. I'm going to be on vacation Tues-Sun of next week and the last thing I want is the aforementioned letter. It's a matter of seeing the surgeon, making a decision for the best course of treatment, and then scheduling. Frankly, the sooner the better... and not so it gets in the way of Disney (dang it!! )!

 

[trixiequilts]

Thanks, Trixie! Actually, my kids know there are rides, but have no concept of what Disney is. I think you are right~~there is so much to take in, that if we did Crystal Palace and looked to see if we could ride maybe just one ride, that would be find. I hear Spectro is really something. That should make them happy!

Anyone else have an opinion about this? I'd love to hear other's perspectives too!

You mean mine isn't enough???