January 20111...let's start planning

[brewhome]

Booked yesterday for POP 1/26-2/2 (FREE DINING) and got airfare today.

From Philadelphia to MCO for $200 RT each Southwest. Thanks to the DISers who announced they opened up the dates today!! We paid the extra $10 pp for priority boarding since we have 3 kids and need to make sure we are all together.

Can't beat the NO BAG fees either!!!!

I fly Southwest all the time, and since you have kids under age 4, you will get family boarding anyway, meaning you'll be able to sit together. Southwest boards in groups A, B and C based on your boarding pass letter - and I believe families can board between groups A and B, regardless of the letter on your boarding pass. It's probably too late to cancel the priority boarding for you... but thought I'd mention it for future reference. It may still be worth it to you to pay the extra $10pp just to get closer to the front of the plane.

Have a great trip!!

 

[kateybee]

Me, my fiance and our two kiddos (ages 7 and 4) will be heading down to Pop Century from January 5-15th. It's the first trip for all but me. (And it's been more than a decade since my last trip.) We're looking forward to it greatly- well me and the fiance at least. The kids don't know yet cause I have no desire to listen to them ask "How long now?" for the next three months!

 

[bellastella227]

We'll be there Jan 12-19 at AKV. Can't wait! It will be me, DH, DD5 and DS almost 2. We will be celebrating both of their birthdays in January as well as DS's first visit.

 

[*sarah*]

We will be at All Star Movies Jan 23-29. We stayed at POP last time and this time was either going to be POP again or CS. But I saw that Movies has a whole Toy Story building and the giant Buzz and Woody's so that's where we'll be. This trip is all about my son and he is obsessed with Toy Story, so I requested to be in the Toy Story building. He is 4 and should LOVE that.

 

[TheDreamsComeTrue]

Going 1-8 and staying at CSR with my two daughters, so excited

 

[jened]

We're going 1/10-1/15/10 and staying at WL. DH and I will be traveling with DSs 6 and 8.

Visited WDW in 1993 (off site), and as a family in 2007 and stayed at WL for the majority of the time and at All-Star Movies-Toy Story the final night. FYI--My DS 8 is ASD, and there was a sensory shock between WL and ASM lobbies and restaurants. The kids loved the Woody statue and Toy Story theme!

Staying at WL this time because we loved the calming time traveling on the boat, and the trail through the woods back to the room was a great way to calm down the kids. Very tranquil, safe place after a day of fun and excitement.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Hi all!
We're thinking maybe Jan 22-29 at POP. Went Jan 2009 and loved it, skipped Disney 2010 for a family (non-Disney) cruise with parents, which was fantastic, but we are SO having Disney withdrawals! We decided it is probably some form of neglect that our 4 yr old hasn't been to Disney at an age that he can remember, so we really need to take him, right! We'll also celebrate my hubby's 37th bday while there!
Look forward to planning and counting down with you all! (By the way, I was checking airfare, and it is currently cheaper WITH Disney than booking anywhere else. Adding 4 RT plane tickets from StL was less than $800 extra!! Add that to free dining (upgrade to DDP), and we're in!!!

 

[mullysisters]

I'm planning my first solo this time. No one has mentioned the gift card discount. $300 for a mod room. When I worked out GiftC vs 30% off room vs free dining the GC worked out to be the best deal for me. I guess thats because I'd be the only one eating
I was thinking i'd save by going Value but... being on my own, a mod might offer a nicer resort experience. I loved POP but have also stayed at CSR and POR.
The hot tub is nice for a solo trip and the lounge at POR was really relaxing after a day at the parks.
I'm learning alot about holidays and crowds on this thread, very useful, thanks

 

[Kazooie01]

Hey everyone,

We'll be at the Animal Kingdom's Kidani Village from 1/16-1/23. This will be our 5th January trip in a row. We love Disney in January! This will be our first trip without Joni but her brother and sister are coming for the kids as well (Mommy wouldn't have wanted it any other way). This is also our first trip as DVC members.

 

[A MK Family]

We just booked our next trip! It is kind of last minute in disney time lines.

But we booked the Poly from the 6-13th! And I was able to get all our fav ADRs (CRT, Ohanas, Chefs).

Hard thing is keeping it a secret as it is going to be the girls Christmas Presents - don't know how to do it yet but working on it.

I am a little worried though, we have been in October (Halloween) and March (spring break). I not sure what people's definition of cool and cold is. Will I need to back mittens and hats??

Also we had hoped to experience the slow season of the park but I now realize we will be there for the Marathon. Is it busy in the parks during this weekend? We have never been waited under 15 minutes for a ride....

 

[kanderson89]

We went last year over Marathon weekend (was at end of our trip instead of beginning like yours) and it was just fine in terms of crowds. I watch for EMH and then go to the opposite park and it's great. Never waited longer than 15 minutes except for Toy Story Mania in which we did get a fastpass for about an hour later.

Last year was very cold, tho. Highs of only 40s (maybe 50 one day) but I think it was a fluke of a year. Hoping for better this year. I would recommend a variety of layers and clothes. Yes, mittens and hats.

We just booked our next trip! It is kind of last minute in disney time lines.

But we booked the Poly from the 6-13th! And I was able to get all our fav ADRs (CRT, Ohanas, Chefs).

Hard thing is keeping it a secret as it is going to be the girls Christmas Presents - don't know how to do it yet but working on it.

I am a little worried though, we have been in October (Halloween) and March (spring break). I not sure what people's definition of cool and cold is. Will I need to back mittens and hats??

Also we had hoped to experience the slow season of the park but I now realize we will be there for the Marathon. Is it busy in the parks during this weekend? We have never been waited under 15 minutes for a ride....

 

[tjk2004]

We finally booked our flights last night!!! It seems so much more real now. We didn't get great prices on flights but they were cheaper than when I looked last week so we booked. Now I need to decide which stroller company to rent from, find a new piece of luggage, and start making my "list" of things to pack! I'm really nervous... this is our first trip and I just want things to go smoothly. I'm also worried that it's going to be too overwhelming for our daughter. She'll be 4 in December, and for whatever reason, she can get really overwhelmed in certain situations.

Here we go!

 

[QTnursestudent]

My family made our first WDW trip last January. I participated in the Half Marathon.

Let me tell you: it was COLD! On that Saturday, it was 28 degrees with snow flurries. I honestly don't think it got into the 40's by much the whole week we were there. They were selling winter hats like hotcakes! It was a horrible shocker to this South Texas family!! But, I'm crossing my fingers and toes that January 2011 will be milder. Surely it won't happen again this year. (If so, I'm moving to the Wine&Dine Half in October!!)

As far as the crowds, they were mild. Even during the marathon weekend. We spent several hours going from The Tower of Terror to the Rock'n'Roll RollerCoaster and back and many times we walked right on the rides. I think the longest we waited in line was for Test Track and it was abou 25 minutes.

So, besides last year's extreme temperatures, early January is a wonderful time to go to WDW from our experience.

 

[Rags]

Booked two rooms with general 40% code at Wilderness Lodge Jan 11th thru 14th!!!!

 

[A MK Family]

Thanks for all your comments!

I will be 23 weeks preggers so the whole idea was not to sweat in lines. We live in Ontario, Canada so we like to escape the cold and leave our toques and mittens behind...but as long as we are out of the snow and freezing rain we will be thrilled.

We have always been when FP and RD were a must, so due to me lugging around # 3 I was hoping this would be a little more relaxed

Is it too early to say it is 72 days away

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Never, it's NEVER too early!

 

[RFrank9504]

We are booked for Jan 17~21 at FW in a cabin. We've never done anything like this we usually stay in a reg hotel room, but this resort looked very winter rustic-I'm so excited!

 

[iixheartxyouxox]

Booked my flight this week..going from jan 4-8th!..i was going to stay at pop but now im almost positive im staying at POR...decided to splurge haha cant wait!

 

[tloveswdw]

We are booked for Jan 17~21 at FW in a cabin. We've never done anything like this we usually stay in a reg hotel room, but this resort looked very winter rustic-I'm so excited!

We LOVE the cabins So nice to have a real kitchen, porch, and little extra leg room!

 

[tloveswdw]

Thanks for all your comments!

I will be 23 weeks preggers so the whole idea was not to sweat in lines. We live in Ontario, Canada so we like to escape the cold and leave our toques and mittens behind...but as long as we are out of the snow and freezing rain we will be thrilled.

We have always been when FP and RD were a must, so due to me lugging around # 3 I was hoping this would be a little more relaxed

Is it too early to say it is 72 days away

Went this summer, (early June), pregnant with number 5. Had a great time, I am sure you will really benefit from the cooler weather.

Have fun!