January 2017 Trip and I don't have a clue as to what I am doing...

[lurpee]

I love Disneyland and DisBoards but feel completely lost with my upcoming trip. I feel as if I don't know how to do this anymore. I do have our hotel booked BWPPI I believe (the one with Captain Kidd's "attached"). So what do I need to do now?

If I remember right, restaurant reservations can't be made until 30 days out. I do know that we will want to do Blue Bayou, Ariel's Grotto, Breakfast with Minnie and BBB (obviously not for food). Last time we went was 10 amazing days in December 2012 for my oldest daughter's 5th birthday and a family reunion the weekend before (her bday is Christmas Eve). We had an amazing time. This year we are only doing four days in the park which has me bummed--how stupid and spoiled is THAT?! It is our only other child's 5th birthday this time.

At this point I think DH won't join us until the night of the 20th (while we are coming on the 19th). DD's birthday is the 23rd, which is our last day in the park and if DH arrives the night of the 20th. I am thinking about arriving as early as possible on the 19th so we can hang out at DTD that day and maybe do the pool (we're Oregonians ).

I heard that the PhotoPass+ can no longer be done by mail. Is there a way to do that outside of the park so we waste zero time once the park has opened?

Are there any threads that I need to be studying these days?

Thanks for any information, suggestions or help!

 

[tlovesdis]

Most restaurant reservations can be made at 60 days out. Not sure about BBB, might be 60 or 30.

Photopass + is now a one day item at $39 a day. No need to order it ahead of time, you don't need a pass anymore. Once you take your first picture, just keep the card they give you and use that everywhere you go. Then you download the pics with your phone onto your Disneyland app account and you can decide it you want to buy that days pictures or not.

Hope this helps a little!

 

[lurpee]

That does! The PhotPass+ sounds weird! lol I guess I don't like change. I am thinking about getting an annual pass because the following November will be my 40th birthday and maybe I'll go. It appears that PhotoPass+ might be included on that as well as the restaurant discounts...I'm going to try to figure that out mathematically. Thanks so much for the input! Just writing out my original post actually got the Disney Brain going a bit more. Thanks again!

 

[basketballmom]

I am a total nerd...when I first start planning a trip, I make a loose chart of days and things I want to accomplish. Which restaurant which day? What shows? What day for early entry? That sort of thing. While I don't plan hour by hour, I find that having a visual helps me fit in all the must dos.
I would also suggest downloading the disneyland app. It has a ton of information. Menus, wait times, characters, etc. Plus a park map.

 

[MommyLove]

Just writing out my original post actually got the Disney Brain going a bit more.

The same thing happened with me. Our last family trip was April 2014 when I started planning a mother-daughters trip and it seems like so many things changed since then and it was weird getting into planning mode again! Just check out the DIS every few days and see what people are talking about and there is usually really helpful info.

We've been in January. I think even as Oregonians, it will likely be too cold even for you to consider swimming in mid-January.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

This thread will update you on some of the changes since your last visit: List of changes since summer 2014.

 

[lurpee]

Thank you everyone! basketballmom, Thanks for reminding me! That's exactly what I did last time and that is definitely the starting point to figuring out the budget and getting psyched for the trip!

theluckyrabbit, Thank you for the link!

MommyLove, I will definitely do that. I guess that's how I learned everything before. But in December 2012 I "knew-it-all" (not quite) and now I feel like I barely know anything. I'm not sure about the swimming. December 2012 DH and then DD5 went swimming. I stayed in the hotel room with the baby

Thanks again everyone!