Just booked....now the over planning begins (please help)

[apulk]

Just booked a "last minute" trip to WDW -- staying 7 nights at OKW 2 bedroom from Jan 16th -- 23rd. And just got a great deal on Southwest so we're basically set with the big stuff.....but now I need to plan the even bigger stuff

I say over planning because I really do try to construct that perfect schedule for each trip -- trying to balance everyone's desire to have time at the parks, time relaxing at the resort/pool and fitting in some meals during the day at well. All this without losing anyone in the process.

Since Disney went to the pay extra for Hoppers tickets we have used them. We are now for ticket purposes 5 adults and one child. We have not used them simply to save money. We have followed advice here and TGM (just re-subscribed) and found very good touring plans.

This year though....I'm wonder if we should do the hoppers. We have recently skipped the early open park and tried to avoid the crowds that way. With going in January without the Hoppers that could leave us with some short days.

What are your hopper thoughts these days?

Also -- if we can get a good deal -- I was thinking of renting a van the 2nd thru next to last days (pickup on property somewhere). What do you think of that? We did it last time we were there and it worked pretty well giving us more flexibility but with more $$$$.

Should I do hoppers over a car?

That's it for now.

 

[dizneyluv]

on what kind of park people you are. We spend alot of time in the parks and really liked the option of going to one in the a.m. and a different one in the p.m. That said we did spend whole days in just one park.

I would definitely hop during busy times but in January would consider not hopping if there were $$$ reasons.

Are you renting the van because you want to visit things off site or just to get around Disney better?

We always drive but if not I would probably choose hopping over a car (again personal preference).

And be sure the "planner" in the family has some fun too and doesn't worry about everyone else the whole time.


Take Care

 

[fla4fun]

Don't forget, you can add the hopper option at any time before the ticket reaches the 14 day expiration window or is used up. So you could try it without the hopper for a day or two and see if it works for you.

I do have to laugh at your idea of last minute. My idea of last minute is less than a week away (and yes, I've booked some trips four or five days out). I guess it's all in how you look at it.

 

[apulk]

We've done it both ways -- hopping and not and I admit I prefer the flexibility of picking one park that we "think" will be the lightest crowd in the morning then head somewhere else later. But....x6 that adds up.

I think I'm leaning toward the hopper idea this time though so that we can follow TGM's advice most day but still take advantage of the evening EMH's. We have avoided them every trip but I think in January we should be OK and that would give us more time in the afternoon to unwind at the resort.

On the car front -- it just seems easier to hop with one. We never drive to MK -- that always seems easier to take a bus but it does seem to save quite a bit of time and if we hop that is more reason to try to save time. But now we have double the expense.

We do know though that because of a number of factors -- we're really not going to do many sit downs which will save time. The only big one we're looking for is for my son's 16th birthday on the 18th and probably one character breakfast.

PS -- i jokingly said "last minute" because I am usually the one that while on the way home from our current WDW trip I am asking everyone when they would like to go next, where they would stay, etc.

 

[bzzymom]

The kids and I took a trip with my parents in 2005 staying AKL Jan 15-22. It was a wonderful time to go. We got the hoppers. We were traveling with DD when she was 11 months. What we did was get up early (when she did) go to a park (MK, MGM or AK) and then go back to the room mid-day. DD napped while DS (7) explored with resort with my dad or swam on the days it was warm enough. Then we went into Epcot in the late afternoons and spent the evening there. We also made the mistake of going to MK on MLK Jr day and it was packed. We hopped on the monorail and went to Epcot and had a better day. We were glad we had the flexibility to do that.

We may go to WDW around that time again in 2008. We would get hoppers again and do a similar schedule.