January 2013

[Marshay]

Thanks for kind welcome. We are planning to do a different type of trip this time - no parks!! Not sure if we can really do that but I've just begun the planning. We always do lots of resort hopping so that will take a lot of time. I've done the Segway Tour at Epcot, but if DH can get down to the weight limit, I'd like to do the one at Fort Wilderness. We also are thinking mini golf, parasailing, rent a boat, rent bikes, tea at Grand Floridian, Luau, Mickey's BBQ, Jelly Rolls, a pub crawl through the resorts, bowling at DTD and a movie or two. Sounds like a busy week without hitting the parks at all.

I'd love to know if any of you have ever done a trip without parks and if you have any suggestions for other activities. As you can tell, my kids are grown so it's just the two of us.

Yep, DH and I did a no-parks trip when we stayed at AKL in November about 10 years ago. It was one of our favorite trips, surprisingly!

We slept in, walked around the resort (AKL is great to do that at with all the animals and decorations in the lobby areas), used the pool a lot, and did lots of shopping.

We explored DTD a lot, ate a restaurants and lingered for drinks or dessert which was nice since we didn't have to rush to get back to the parks for parades/rides.

We went over to GF and ate at Narcoosee, watched EWP and Wishes. One day we just explored GF, Poly and Contemporary while taking the monorail around to each resort. Then we went to TTC and got on the monorail to Epcot and just didn't get off. (so we could say we WERE in Epcot, albeit for just 1 minute!).

We did take the Segway tour at FW and loved it too! (althougth that was a different trip).

Other great things to do: balloon ride at DTD, explore the next resort you'd like to stay at, do a DVC tour if that's an interest at all, DisneyQuest, taking the smaller boats to WL/Poly/CR/GF just for the boat ride (once again, you don't have to get off), or over at BC/YC you can do the same. Explore Boardwalk, rent bikes at favorite resort (or one of those surrey ones over at Boardwalk), movie nights at the various resorts, etc.

As you said, you'll find so much to do outside the parks, you won't really miss the rides/shows!

 

[Disneyhayes]

Was invited over to this thread. We are going in January again. We went 09/11 and then in 01/12. I just don't think I could talk my husband into 2 trips again that close. We are going to be taking out niece this trip too. It's going to be her first trip to WDW. I tried to talk her mom into going with me and my youngest but she's pregnant and the baby will only be 4 months at that time. We are going to be staying at AoA or POFQ. Haven't decided. It will probably come down to cost where as it should come down to space.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Was invited over to this thread. We are going in January again. We went 09/11 and then in 01/12. I just don't think I could talk my husband into 2 trips again that close. We are going to be taking out niece this trip too. It's going to be her first trip to WDW. I tried to talk her mom into going with me and my youngest but she's pregnant and the baby will only be 4 months at that time. We are going to be staying at AoA or POFQ. Haven't decided. It will probably come down to cost where as it should come down to space.

& added

I didn't notice dates, but that could be from being super tired. I spent 9 hours today driving my in laws around DFW trying to get him a MRI. I even went to the Dallas Cowboys hq to get him one done. Yeah, they need to pay more attention to their loby. One couch had a used snotty tissue on it and there was a cup of half drank coffee on a table left by someone.

 

[Morningstar2807]

Can some please help me if we get to WDW on the 12th of January when can I start booking our ADRs? And can you guys recommend some good places to eat at in each park? Not looking for fancy or anything its going to be DH, DD5 and me. And what times are good if you plan on trying to watch the parades and night shows? I am a first timer at this, so I need all the help I can get! Thank you in advance!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Can some please help me if we get to WDW on the 12th of January when can I start booking our ADRs? And can you guys recommend some good places to eat at in each park? Not looking for fancy or anything its going to be DH, DD5 and me. And what times are good if you plan on trying to watch the parades and night shows? I am a first timer at this, so I need all the help I can get! Thank you in advance!

You can make your ADRs on 7/16/2012. Here is a link to the ADR calculator here on the DIS. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/pscalc/dispscalc.html

At Epcot a must do for our family is Biergarten. For DHS we enjoyed the Sci-Fi Drive-In. At CR we like Chef Mickey's and at the Poly we like the character breakfast. We haven't done a lot of places. I know we've eaten at CS, but none of them stand out enough for me to remember the names. This June, we are eating at a lot of TS since we'll be on the DlxDDP.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Can some please help me if we get to WDW on the 12th of January when can I start booking our ADRs? And can you guys recommend some good places to eat at in each park? Not looking for fancy or anything its going to be DH, DD5 and me. And what times are good if you plan on trying to watch the parades and night shows? I am a first timer at this, so I need all the help I can get! Thank you in advance!

We're a mostly QS family but I do like Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom, it's a buffet with Pooh characters. We've only done breakfast here, and if you can get an ADR for BEFORE park opening you can get some great shots with your family on a nearly empty mainstreet!

In Epcot I have always wanted to try Garden Grill, and La Hacienda. But I've had Nine Dragons (Chinese) and La Cantina De San Angel which were both good. We mostly do QS in Epcot.

And for HS and AK we've only do QS now, but the new menu at Mama Melrose at HS looks really good! We have done 50's Prime Time and Sci-fi and never one were all that impressive to us. They weren't bad, but they also weren't anything special to bring us back.

As for times to eat around parades/fireworks, in MK the fireworks are usually at 8pm, Mainstreet Electrical Parade is usually at 7pm (but not every night), Magic Memories and You is 15 min before the fireworks. And daytime parade is at 3pm.
In Epcot Illuminations is always at 9pm, and there is no parade.
In AK the only parade here is at 3:45pm
In HS the only parade is at 3pm, and if they have Fantasmic it's usually at 6:30 and sometimes 8pm.

But check the January calender when it comes out, because the evening parades/fireworks for MK does change depending on when you'll be there. The January TA calender will probably be out mid June.

I would plan on being done with any meal about 45 minutes before the parades/fireworks start so you can get a good spot and you're not rushed. And most TS meals take about an hour, maybe 1.5 hours if you're doing a character meal.

HTH!

 

[miss_nik_nik]

We're a mostly QS family but I do like Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom, it's a buffet with Pooh characters. We've only done breakfast here, and if you can get an ADR for BEFORE park opening you can get some great shots with your family on a nearly empty mainstreet!

HTH!

For this trip, I want to try and get a crystal palace reservation before the park opens, but we will be relying on Disney busses to get us there. Any tips? It just makes me nervous that we will miss the reservation

Last time we did a keys to the kingdom tour. Waited for a bus 90 minutes in advance and ended up running to meet to check in. I wish each bus stop had a board that showed you when the next bus would be arriving. I know the buses have gps tracking on them, so it would just be taking it one step further and would put my mind at ease. Btw we were staying at CBR and will probably staying there again in jan

 

[pkf4bucs]

Can some please help me if we get to WDW on the 12th of January when can I start booking our ADRs? And can you guys recommend some good places to eat at in each park? Not looking for fancy or anything its going to be DH, DD5 and me. And what times are good if you plan on trying to watch the parades and night shows? I am a first timer at this, so I need all the help I can get! Thank you in advance!

Here are a few of the places we have enjoyed while at Disney.....

MK: Caseys Corner (QS): its has dogs and the fixings
Pinnochio Village Haus: (QS) burger, pizza etc.
Tortuga Tavern: (QS) mexican. If you can catch it open

HS: 50's prime time (TS) good southern flair food, fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf etc
Backlot express (QS) burgers and such

EPCOT: Coral Reef: (TS) steaks and seafood. Nice atmosphere
Akershus in Norway: (TS) ate here for breakfast. Had the princesses and the food was good.
Teppan Edo in Japan: (TS) Hibachi style
Le Cellier in Canada: (TS) steak place. heard they went to 2 credits though.
Lotus Blossom in China: (QS) chinese....duh!
Boulangerie Patisserie in France: pastries, GREAT snacks (a must EVERYTIME we are there)

Ft Wilderness: Hoop-Dee-Doo. BBQ with a great show. 2 credits

Wilderness Lodge: (TS) Whispering Canyon...... BBQ, steaks, etc. Alot of kid interaction. Ask for ketchup

Coronado: Peppertree Market: (QS) you can get a ribeye dinner for only a quick service credit. There are other stations as well. We go here for lunch alot while at disney. Just get it to go to avoid the 10% upcharge. You can eat outside on the tables.

There are alot of other places we have been but these are the ones that stick out the most for use. I am hoping to get Ohana's in Jan. as we havent tried that place yet.

 

[PixieTrio]

Does anyone know when the rates for the following year are available and how soon reservations can begin to be made?

 

[letthewookiewin]

Does anyone know when the rates for the following year are available and how soon reservations can begin to be made?

I think with in the next couple of months. Hopefully before our 180 day out comes up to make ADRs.

 

[readytogotodisney]

Does anyone know when the rates for the following year are available and how soon reservations can begin to be made?

In the past years, they've release the following years rates in August. However last year was really early in June.
But you can still make your reservations if you call. They'll book your room only at the highest rate of 2012, but when 2013 prices come out they will adjust your rates. Then you can change your room only reservation to a package as well.

 

[mickeyplanner]

I like this website to figure out when I can made ADR's. Park hours for January should be released on the Disney website sometime the first week in July. BUT you can see park hours for January about two weeks earlier then that if you look at the Travel Agent site.

Right now it shows Jan 2012, but once they release Jan 2013, the link will be updated.

Thanks for the links, we will be at BLT January 2-8, 2013. I believe when we made our DVC reservation they told us our dining window will open up on July 4. I will check out the link you provided. We have trip over Labor Day booked and planned and now I am able to start focusing on the January 2013 trip. I can't wait for the January calendar to be posted then the planning can begin.

Has anyone booked airfare yet?

 

[letthewookiewin]

Thanks for the links, we will be at BLT January 2-8, 2013. I believe when we made our DVC reservation they told us our dining window will open up on July 4. I will check out the link you provided. We have trip over Labor Day booked and planned and now I am able to start focusing on the January 2013 trip. I can't wait for the January calendar to be posted then the planning can begin.

Has anyone booked airfare yet?

& added

We haven't book airfare, but we will probably drive, like we are going to in June.

 

[Marshay]

Thanks for the links, we will be at BLT January 2-8, 2013. I believe when we made our DVC reservation they told us our dining window will open up on July 4. I will check out the link you provided. We have trip over Labor Day booked and planned and now I am able to start focusing on the January 2013 trip. I can't wait for the January calendar to be posted then the planning can begin.

Has anyone booked airfare yet?

We made our Autotrain reservations in February for our Jan 2013 trip! But the AT has the cheapest prices generally at 11 months out and only gets more expensive...plus they are refundable if a cheaper price comes out!

 

[readytogotodisney]

Has anyone booked airfare yet?

Not yet, but we always fly SW because of my Dad's frequent flyer miles. They won't open fares up for January until probably sometime in July or August.

 

[mickeyplanner]

I am also intrigued with Autotrain, but I can't seem to figure out how to make it cost effective for us.

We typically fly SW too, so I should mark my calendar for July to make dining reservations and book airfare.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Just wanted to let y'all know that I will be out of pocket from tomorrow until about Sunday night or more than likely Monday. My DH had said that he didn't want to go out and see his grandmother. Now that she is getting worse (barely wants to get out of bed, and has started talking to her late husband) he wants to go out badly. We are leaving the DS at home with the fil, bil, and sil and I am going with him and the mil to see her. He's such a huge softy (had to take a day off work when he hit and killed a beaver) that I want to be there for him if he needs me. Actually, the other day when he hit an owl that was sitting in the highway, he just went home and went right to bed. If anyone new pops up, and complains about not being put on the list before I get back, just assure them I will get it done on Monday. The last couple of times that I went with my mil and fil, I took my laptop with me. I had to b/c of school work. No school work means that I'll leave the laptop at home. Y'all have a good weekend!! By the time I'm back here, we will all be 4 days closer to our January 2013 trips!!!!

 

[SandiKB]

Just wanted to let y'all know that I will be out of pocket from tomorrow until about Sunday night or more than likely Monday. My DH had said that he didn't want to go out and see his grandmother. Now that she is getting worse (barely wants to get out of bed, and has started talking to her late husband) he wants to go out badly. We are leaving the DS at home with the fil, bil, and sil and I am going with him and the mil to see her. He's such a huge softy (had to take a day off work when he hit and killed a beaver) that I want to be there for him if he needs me. Actually, the other day when he hit an owl that was sitting in the highway, he just went home and went right to bed. If anyone new pops up, and complains about not being put on the list before I get back, just assure them I will get it done on Monday. The last couple of times that I went with my mil and fil, I took my laptop with me. I had to b/c of school work. No school work means that I'll leave the laptop at home. Y'all have a good weekend!! By the time I'm back here, we will all be 4 days closer to our January 2013 trips!!!!

 

[ButterflyJen]

Hugs to you, honey!

 

[letthewookiewin]

Thanks y'all. We got back yesterday, but I was so tired that I didn't even look at the laptop. When we went to visit his grandmother on Friday and Saturday, she didn't look good at all. I don't think she knew who my DH was and he said that he wished he had come and seen her when she knew who he was. We ended up not staying with her all day on Saturday like we planned. One of the DH's cousins had left her child there so she could go do some shopping. Well it was either me leave the house or me give that boy what probably would have been his first spanking in his 8-9 yr old life. He was just driving me nuts. Plus DH's grandmother's ex-hubby showed up and I can not stand that man. As soon as he walked in the door, we walked out. It was better that way, DH would have punched him if we were in the same house as him any longer than that. Then we went over to see her again yesterday before we left. OMG what a difference a day made. She didn't want her pain meds the night before, and she was so alert. She knew who we all were and was talking in full sentences and laughing. My DH just kept telling her, "I love you Mammaw" and she would say, "I know and I love you too David." She even attepted to give him a hug, but she just couldn't lift her arms up enough. Even though we didn't get much sleep, I am so glad we made the trip.