January 20111...let's start planning

[Bostonterrierlover]

We are going Jan. 2nd to the 8th and will be staying at Kidani Village! There will be five of us. I can't believe it's almost about time to make ADRs!!

 

[Jen12573]

Now that I've seen the tentative park hours for January 2011 (thank you LSUfan4444 on the Theme Park Strategies board) http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf
I may change the dates of our trip to arrive in WDW after MLK Day. In the past we've traveled to WDW for the 3v3 soccer tournament, but I don't think the kids are planning to play in it this year, so we can adjust our dates to miss MLK Day.

Happy planning!

 

[CrystalCastle]

Now that I've seen the tentative park hours for January 2011 (thank you LSUfan4444 on the Theme Park Strategies board) http://www.disneytravelagents.com/S.../pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_jan.pdf
I may change the dates of our trip to arrive in WDW after MLK Day. In the past we've traveled to WDW for the 3v3 soccer tournament, but I don't think the kids are planning to play in it this year, so we can adjust our dates to miss MLK Day.

Happy planning!

Thanks for posting that link to the Jan park hours.

Happy planning to you too!

 

[Bostonterrierlover]

When do they typically take down the Christmas decorations in January?

 

[highnmighty217]

Where do we go from here! I am in the beggining plannig for a Jan 2011 trip. I remember everyone mentioning looking into buying packages in June/July. Where do you find this info?

 

[Jen12573]

DH and I are booked for Jan. 15-22 because we normally go to WDW for the 3v3 soccer tournament over MLK weekend. Now that the kids may not compete in it, we're considering changing our dates to arrive a week later - Jan. 22-29. When we go over MLK weekend, the parks are crowded until around 1PM-ish on that Monday, but the rest of the week the wait times are short for rides, and the parks are relatively empty.

Have you traveled during that last week in January? If so, how are the crowds? Is there anything that goes on that week that could cause crazy crowd levels at the parks? Thanks for helping me decide!

 

[studentmom]

Where do we go from here! I am in the beggining plannig for a Jan 2011 trip. I remember everyone mentioning looking into buying packages in June/July. Where do you find this info?

Hi! I remember when we were planning our first trip that I was so overwhelmed with everything. These boards (and wdwinfo.com) were a big help. So is allearsnet.com for info, menus, and pics of the hotels. I also bought a copy of The Passporter's Walt Disney World, which was (is) so informative. Many of us our trying to book our packages by June or July so that we can make our priority seating arrangements (dining). If you are staying in a Disney hotel, you get to book before those who are staying off site. I know things have changed since I was last at wdw, but it use to be that you could book your priority seatings 180 days in advance, but I've been reading that now it is 180 days + 10? . That's a new change (I think), so I'm trying to learn about that myself, lol. Anyhow, I hope this helps.

 

[tjk2004]

Hi everyone! I just found this thread... we're planning our very first trip to Disney in January. I believe we'll be arriving on 1/3. Of course we haven't booked anything yet as the prices aren't out for the packages and I don't want the hassle of booking a room and then canceling. I know it's all about getting the ADRs but I've been doing some checking and "practicing" on the online ADRs website and there are still dates/times available for Nov. and Dec. for a few I want so I figure I'll be okay for Jan.

I'm super overwhelmed with it all and I've been obsessed with this board for the last few weeks! DH is getting tired of my obsessing already.

I think we're going to try to stay at CSR. DH wants to try POP but I don't have a ton of interest in that so we'll see what we come up with. I just want to get something booked so I can move onto planning other parts of the trip! Looking forward to planning along with everyone else!

Jodi

 

[TinkPearl]

We are going January 22-29th!! I've been planning this trip since we came back from our last one (in Feb 2009 ) So, I'm super excited to make our ADRs and book everything!

 

[amiemac78]

HI! I just made our room reservations today. We are going Jan. 22-30 and staying at Caribbean Beach Resort in a pirate room. It will be me, DH, DD-12 and DS-6. We were going to go MLK week because DS's birthday is the 19th, but decided on the next week since I have read crowds are generally lower. Can't wait to make dining reservations and hoping for a great discount.

 

[mom2t]

Going down the last week in January. Went 3rd week in 2008 for my son's 1st trip. Will return with him, DH, and my parents at SS for 2 bedroom with I hope 40% discount. I've been going since the 1st year it opened.

 

[kanderson89]

When do they typically take down the Christmas decorations in January?

I was there Jan 3-10 last year, and some decorations were still up in the MK in the early part of the week. Xmas tree in Wilderness Lodge and Osbourne lights still up until mid-week. It still felt festive but as the week went on, you noticed fewer and fewer decorations.

 

[kanderson89]

Making ADRs today!! Hoping for 1900 Park Fare breakfast, Crystal Palace character breakfast (under repair last year), Jiko for dinner, Biergarten dinner, Chefs de France dinner. All will be new for us except for Park Fare breakfast. Maybe going off site on a day to meet friends.

We'd also like to do a couple behind the scenes tours but don't know if you can also book those 180 days in advance.....anyone know? Guess we'll call and find out.

 

[kanderson89]

Got all my ADRs and two behind the scenes tours! Am so excited!!

 

[Tiana]

.

 

[CrystalCastle]

Got all my ADRs and two behind the scenes tours! Am so excited!!

Congrats on the ADRs!!!! Where did you find info on the tours? I'd love to do a tour while I'm there. Thanks!

 

[kanderson89]

Congrats on the ADRs!!!! Where did you find info on the tours? I'd love to do a tour while I'm there. Thanks!

Well, a couple different spots:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tours-and-experiences/
and then allears.net and some of these boards for reviews of them.

Last year, we did Dolphins in Depth and had a great time and wanted to do more. So this year we signed up for the Magic behind the trains and the Backstage safari. There is an extra cost but it's fairly reasonable.

 

[dmoore718]

We are going January 26-Feb 3. My middle daughter will be turning 4 on the 1st so hoping for a special meal that day. We have decided on POP since it will be our last time at a value with 3 kids (once youngest is 3, we will either do POR or rent DVC pts.) We have also decided on QSDP since we don't think the kids will be up for a TS meal everday, they are still fearful of most characters, and not sure how the 18 mo. old will be. We were there this same week in 2009 and it was chilly most day, rained 1 whole day (that was a BUMMER!) but the rest of the time it was great. We didn't mind the cold, we just all layered and did laundry as we needed our jeans more days than we thought. The crowds were low and we rode everything we wanted to. We always skip HS on Fantasmic days because the crowds are higher and the kids probably wouldn't make it that late anyway. We will probably do 1 TS meal OOP for DD's birthday, but not sure. I'm thinking either Ohana for dinner or just a character breakfast. They love the princesses but are picky eaters so not sure they would eat the food at Askershus? It's a dilemma that I'm happy to have. In 2009 we had the 4/3 deal plus a $200 GC that we used for our TS meal and some souvenirs....that was the best deal I ever had!! We loved the QSDP for our family at this stage.

Happy Planning!!! BTW: great post on the Park ours for Jan 2011!!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Just made our ADR's! Yippee. The new online reservation system is so much better than the old one.

 

[Jen12573]

I just made my first ADR for January 15 (190 day glitch) - 50s Prime Time Cafe at 6:30PM! YAY!