January 2010. . . Anyone else going???

[stitchaholic]

i would love some of those spreadsheets, i have been using excel and white paper, how boring

 

[lizzyb]

Is anyone here ordering a cake?

 

[LoveKermit]

So, besides ADRs, what planning do you all do? Do you really put the rides/attractions in some sort of order? What happens to you if it doesn't work?

Last year I thought I had left the camera at MK the day before. There were tears, yelling, etc. until I realized I dumped it in the box of kid-stuff to "hide" it. Well, it was well-hid and we were about 30 minutes late to DHS. But, was it really a big deal? No.

I definitely have an idea of what we might do when and some of that is dictated by our ADRs. But we are always up for different ideas or if mother nature or naptime throws in a curveball.

How planned are all of you?

 

[LoveKermit]

Is anyone here ordering a cake?

Probably not this time, but I did last year. Why?

 

[lizzyb]

Probably not this time, but I did last year. Why?

I want to get a personalized cake but last time I called (last year) I got the run around. Just looking for some advice on how to approach this.

 

[Jazzygirl72]

So, besides ADRs, what planning do you all do? Do you really put the rides/attractions in some sort of order? What happens to you if it doesn't work?

Last year I thought I had left the camera at MK the day before. There were tears, yelling, etc. until I realized I dumped it in the box of kid-stuff to "hide" it. Well, it was well-hid and we were about 30 minutes late to DHS. But, was it really a big deal? No.

I definitely have an idea of what we might do when and some of that is dictated by our ADRs. But we are always up for different ideas or if mother nature or naptime throws in a curveball.

How planned are all of you?

I usually am total commando, super planner...and I've been there countless times! LOL!
I think it depends on the time of year you go. Last year I went during THE busiest time so I needed the touring guides. They were invaluable. We were exhausted but we did manage the wall to wall people who where there.
There was a day where the touring plan didn't really work so we deviated from it and it was fine. I also resigned myself to the fact that there's always next time!
This time I will bring touring plans again but I am going to gauge the crowd levels and see if I really need them. I find overall though they help with the "must-sees".
I keep a small binder with all my stuff in it so I always have what I need on hand.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

So, besides ADRs, what planning do you all do? Do you really put the rides/attractions in some sort of order? What happens to you if it doesn't work?



How planned are all of you?

Last year, we were total commandos! It was our first time there as a family and I had no clue really what to expect from a January trip! We were just so excited to be there we wanted to do everything all at once! This time, were are a little more loosely planned!

I am a planner! I admit it! I also like to have a an idea of what's happening next! I DO NOT LIKE SURPRISES! I like toknow what I am getting myself into! So with that, I am trying to take it a little more relaxed this time!

Here is our plan thus far -

January 25th - Arrive @ POFQ via DME ~ 1pm
- check in, settle in, explore a bit, maybe grab a bite to eat
- ~3ish, grab a bus to MK
- goals for this night are as follows - FP Space, see Tiki birds & Philharnagic, Ride Tomorowland speedway, Pirates and Big Thunder, grab some chow @ Pecos Bill's and Watch Wishes!

January 26th - DHS @ RD - goals for the day - TSM, Star Tours, Muppets, ToT, RnRc, Animation Tour, Lunch @ SciFi, and Parade! Anything else will be a bonus! We plan to leave after the parade!

January 27 - Epcot @ RD - goals for the day - Soarin', TT, M:S, Universe of Energy Turtle Talk w/Crush, Spaceship Earth, some of WS including the American Adventure and the Chinese Acrobats. Lunch@ SS, supper @ Le Cellier - again anything else is a bonus!

January 28th - AK @ RD - goals - Triceratops Spin, Safari, Primevil Whirl, Kali, EE, FOTLK, lunch at Flame Tree, maybe parade depending on time as we have an ADR @ DTD @ 6:30pm! More is bonus!

January 29th - 805am ADR @ LTT - hopefully done by 9 for RD! Goals - Dumbo, PP, Pooh, Haunted MAnsion, First raft over to TSI for paintbrush! Barnstormer, CoP, TTA, want to find the wishing well, eat a dole whip and have a family picture taken with The Big Cheese himself! Want to see the parade and shop on Main St too!

January 30th 1025am ADR @ 'Ohana - explore Poly after eating, then head to Epcot! Goals - see anything that we feel we have missed out on! Watch wishes after supper @ Biergarten @ 615pm!

January 31 8am ADR @ 1900 PF, then Monorail to MK! Stay until about 1pm and do whatever we feel we have missed out on. POFQ for the afternoon (naps will be in order) return to MK for PM EMH!!! We plan to watch wishes for the last time and then close the park at 11pm! RIDE RIDE RIDE as much as we can!!!

Feb 1 - DME picks us up at 945am


So that is the general layout of what our trip looks like this year! We will definitely be at the PArks for RD and hit the headliners first and use FP as much as possible but after that we will just relax and do things as we want to!

 

[drakes]

I made my final payment and booked my ME last night
It's official... now on to more planning, I still have some ADR's to sort out, whihc I was going to do after my 45 day mark and see how many people have cancelled.

Rope Drop - never done it- tried to last year for DHS and the line up was so long on Brazilian tour groups we were late in because of it. I don;t think my breakfast ADR's accomodate Rope Drop, we're either already in the park or may be en route. This is what I mean about ADR planning. I am also hoping as we won't be doing bug thril rides (DD doesn't like them) that our touring plan may be more relaxed (other than fantasyland- I expect chaos here and must plan my FP accordingly)

I also have to admit I never want to plan another surpirse trip again, planning with the family is half the fun!

 

[Monny2AE]

Kim- You are definitely the planner! I haven't even totally decided what parks we're going to on which days.

I'd like some cake advice too! I was thinking of ordering one for DH's birthday dinner. I think there's a cake thread somewhere on here.

 

[Monny2AE]

I made my final payment and booked my ME last night
It's official... now on to more planning, I still have some ADR's to sort out, whihc I was going to do after my 45 day mark and see how many people have cancelled.

Rope Drop - never done it- tried to last year for DHS and the line up was so long on Brazilian tour groups we were late in because of it. I don;t think my breakfast ADR's accomodate Rope Drop, we're either already in the park or may be en route. This is what I mean about ADR planning. I am also hoping as we won't be doing bug thril rides (DD doesn't like them) that our touring plan may be more relaxed (other than fantasyland- I expect chaos here and must plan my FP accordingly)

I also have to admit I never want to plan another surpirse trip again, planning with the family is half the fun!

Congrats on the final payment! I'm missing the fun of planning with my kids too. It's fun to do it once at least but I don't think I could do this again. At least after they find out on Christmas, I'll have the next 28 days to be giddy with them!

 

[drakes]

Congrats on the final payment! I'm missing the fun of planning with my kids too. It's fun to do it once at least but I don't think I could do this again. At least after they find out on Christmas, I'll have the next 28 days to be giddy with them!

Oh, I know, I can't wait to see how excited our kiddies will be! I know my dd will have a ton of questions ( where, how, when etc.) She won't be able to sleep. I want to make a countdown - but not sure which one yet!

Ok- I am officially getting panicked thinking how much planning I have to do - the OCD in me, I think because of the surpirse I have planned less. I have my binder next to me at all times and never have to time to add to it. Then I think of the past trips - 2007 we did minimal planning and had a great time, 2009 commando planning and it was less magical than 2007 (was that because it wasn;t the first trip, was it because of the Dlx DP and we ate all the time, was it because I knew the little secrets so no surprises for me ) I obsessions of a Disney Planner!

 

[Monny2AE]

Found the cake threads... lots to read!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=30801088#post30801088

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=30801085#post30801085

 

[LoveKermit]

Thanks Monny, I wasn't going to find the links, but let everyone know they were there.

Here was my cake experience--

We had an ADR at Flying Fish. This was DH's bday dinner. DMIL is celiac (no flour), so I wanted a flourless chocolate cake so she could partake. I followed the steps on the cake thread. I eventually talked to the dessert chef at Flying Fish (it felt like celebrity to me). She wanted me to know it would not be made in a flour-free kitchen (MIL is not anaphylactic) and we settled on the saying on top.

They were on top of things at the front desk and the cake came out amazing. DH didn't have a clue. And DMIL was excited to also get a piece of cake for once.

Good luck. Don't stop until you talk to an actual person!

 

[LoveKermit]

Maybe I'm spoiled. DH and I have been there quite a bit. I don't know everyone's exact definition of commando either. DH and I went together the first time in 2000. He was used to go commando--MK open-to-close. My parents and I always go back to the room at some point (and we never stayed on site), cleaned up, ate dinner and then went back to the park. I'd call this semi-commando. Not all day, but plenty done while there, only a couple hour break.

I have DH sold on this. We've been the week before Christmas, spring break a couple times, last year was Oct for F & W and MNSSHP and August. This year, with Jan, will be the least crowded time we've been in many years. We also have a 3 yo. We go on how long for FP, how long standby, "need" to ride the ride (had to ride EE in 2007), etc. If we miss something, we know we'll be back.

I missed Sp Mtn in 2005, I was preg. So, I got to ride first in 2007. He had his rider swap. When he went back, it was closed (and he checked several times). So, we both went on in 2008. He was disappointed in '07, but there was a next time.

That's our philosophy. But maybe if I listed it out like Northern Disney Girl, I'd find my list fairly commando. But we have few "musts" (though different ones now with DD).

 

[lizzyb]

I find those cake threads have soo much turn around I had a hard time getting answers on there last time. Last year I felt like they were pushing me to just get on of those cakes at the restaurant which is not what I wanted. I don't want to spend a fortune on a cake but I definately dont want some generic frozen sarah lee cake.

I am a planner too. I have most of our plans complete. Just going to make our final payment next week.

 

[LoveKermit]

I find those cake threads have soo much turn around I had a hard time getting answers on there last time. Last year I felt like they were pushing me to just get on of those cakes at the restaurant which is not what I wanted. I don't want to spend a fortune on a cake but I definately dont want some generic frozen sarah lee cake.

Call the restaurant directly. Those numbers should be on the cake thread in the first couple posts. That's about all you need to know.

Keep us posted.

 

[psindone]

Hey Jazzygirl, when you go to the Tequila Bar in Epcot be sure to bring your party hat. It is really, really good. The drinks as well as the snacks! We have been there twice, it can get really crowded on the the weekends so try to go during the week. I'm going down on New Years day, a short stay only 4 nites, but I will take what I can get.

 

[Jazzygirl72]

Psindone, thanks! I am very excited for it!
We get there on Thurs, Jan 14. My general plan was to do EPCOT on Friday since it's evening magic hours. So I'm not sure if we'll go in a bit later or not. I have dinner ressies around 7 at Rose & Crown. So not sure if I should start early and work my way around WS from the tequila bar OR go after dinner and hang there for a while. LOL! It will be a Friday night so not sure. I have read that it gets quite crowded and it's best to sit at the bar and talk to the bartenders. I do have open plans for the Monday so a double visit may not be out of the question!

 

[TinaMcTeer]

Is anyone here ordering a cake?

I am ordering a cake for my DS 5th bday at Wcc. Contempereary bakery is going to do it and it is going to be awesome. Mickey Mouse Club theme with painted Mickey statue on top. I am so excited. I am sure he'll love it.

 

[lizzyb]

I am ordering a cake for my DS 5th bday at Wcc. Contempereary bakery is going to do it and it is going to be awesome. Mickey Mouse Club theme with painted Mickey statue on top. I am so excited. I am sure he'll love it.

Hope you don't mind me asking the cost.