Last Week of Sept Gang! 119 DISers so far! Whew!

[!@#$%]

I'm actually fairly angry and/or worried that it'll be busy. I choose this time of year every year BECAUSE it's not busy and now that there's free dining (which we don't do) it's becoming more and more upsetting that I'm hearing about how so many people are going durring this time. Last year the lines were a little more then usual so I hope it doesn't change THAT much....but I'll be kind of upset if I feel like I'm there in the middle of the summer....

I know that I shouldn't care because I'M IN DISNEY WORLD!! but I hate Disney when it's busy so it won't be a very good time if I have to be shoulder to shoulder with people constantly (esp. since it costs me months and months of being broke just to go )

I know I'm being negative but I'd rather be pleasantly suprised when I get there (if it's not that busy) rather than dissapointed because it's packed.

There was a recent thread devoted ONLY to how crowded it will be this week. A Disney veteran got on and said for everyone to just take a deep breath and calm down. He said EVERY year he goes this time of year, and EVERY year Disney has some new way of trying to fill the parks during this time period, and its ALWAYS low attendance.
Look at the facts. WE are here because WE are disney ADDICTS... but WE are the MINORITY!!! Most families at Disney (except during Mousefest) are just regular families who know NOTHING of the strategies and planning. MOST families will STILL take their vacations when they get them at work... spring, summer, holidays, and MOST families will NOT miss the first few weeks of school to go trooping around WDW.
Last year we went the 3rd week of Sept we walked up to BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN, and rode the roller coaster at 12:00 LUNCH TIME on a SATURDAY 3 times in a ROW on the FRONT SEAT get this... WITHOUT GETTING OFF!!! Darn, it just dont get any better!!!

 

[briar*rose]

There was a recent thread devoted ONLY to how crowded it will be this week. A Disney veteran got on and said for everyone to just take a deep breath and calm down. He said EVERY year he goes this time of year, and EVERY year Disney has some new way of trying to fill the parks during this time period, and its ALWAYS low attendance.
Look at the facts. WE are here because WE are disney ADDICTS... but WE are the MINORITY!!! Most families at Disney (except during Mousefest) are just regular families who know NOTHING of the strategies and planning. MOST families will STILL take their vacations when they get them at work... spring, summer, holidays, and MOST families will NOT miss the first few weeks of school to go trooping around WDW.
Last year we went the 3rd week of Sept we walked up to BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN, and rode the roller coaster at 12:00 LUNCH TIME on a SATURDAY 3 times in a ROW on the FRONT SEAT get this... WITHOUT GETTING OFF!!! Darn, it just dont get any better!!!

Ahhh...thank you....I needed someone to calm me down and pop my negativity bubble haha....I'm just freaking out unnessecarily......I tend to do this when it gets so close hehe....thanks again for placing my head firmly back on my shoulders. I GOING TO DISNEY IN 35 DAYS!!!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

There was a recent thread devoted ONLY to how crowded it will be this week. A Disney veteran got on and said for everyone to just take a deep breath and calm down. He said EVERY year he goes this time of year, and EVERY year Disney has some new way of trying to fill the parks during this time period, and its ALWAYS low attendance.
Look at the facts. WE are here because WE are disney ADDICTS... but WE are the MINORITY!!! Most families at Disney (except during Mousefest) are just regular families who know NOTHING of the strategies and planning. MOST families will STILL take their vacations when they get them at work... spring, summer, holidays, and MOST families will NOT miss the first few weeks of school to go trooping around WDW.
Last year we went the 3rd week of Sept we walked up to BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN, and rode the roller coaster at 12:00 LUNCH TIME on a SATURDAY 3 times in a ROW on the FRONT SEAT get this... WITHOUT GETTING OFF!!! Darn, it just dont get any better!!!

Boy I hope you are right. I took 2 grandsons out of a week of Kindergarten and a week of pre-school (during their first month in school) so that we could evade the crowds. I went once in Summer and decided I would never do that again. I love WDW, but it really makes me crazy when it is way crowded. I don't expect to have the parks to myself (I only wish ), but I plan to go at this time so we can get on rides without an hour wait. Lets just keep our fingers crossed for low attendance and NO HURRICANES!

P.S. Thanks for all of the updating!

 

[gigi1313]

thats my thinking too!!!
I thought when I heard the pool was closed that we wouldnt have ANY troubles getting in. We called 3 times a day for the next 4 days. No reservations. I always mention that they might have to call guest services. Some are quick to let me know they know ways around that. One method is They try booking it WITHOUT the free DDP to see if it will take. It never does that way either.
GET THIS... Out of curiousity, I had them check the moderates. NO MODERATES EITHER!!! NO Animal Kingdom Lodge either!!! I know they allote (?) a certain amount of rooms for the package. Apparently the package is just booked solid.

I have a feeling its gonna be REALLLLLLY crowded that week..... I hope I'm wrong.

my bit of advice...
don't "suggest" that they might have to check w/GS, tell them politely but firmly to put you thru to GS... then, explain that you would like to honor your Free DDP ressie and simply switch resorts... you may have better luck!

re: crowds... the sites that offer crowd level charts have most of sept at 4s adn 5s (out of 10)... so i'd say hakuna matata

 

[!@#$%]

My son is autistic. He has what they call "low muscletone". It simply means he cant take long durations of exercise. He can go wide open for a while, but burns out quickly. When we get to the parks, he assumes "WDW mode", which means WALK AS SLOW AS DIRT!!! No matter how slow we walk, he walks MUCH slower. Every 10 minutes were having to look back and yell for him to keep up. We tried a wheelchair once, but while it was great, we got lots of bad looks when he would be escourted to the front of the line and then BOUNCE up out of the chair and jump all around. (I fully understand the bad looks and comments; Id think the same thing probably) So when it gets REALLY crowded, its REALLY bad for us. As it gets easier for him to get left behind and lost. He wont let us hold hands, because he knows we are trying to hurry him along. It just makes things "difficult". So for our sake I hope I'm right too. The DDP was a HUGE hit, so I expect it a LITTLE more crowded than last year, but I dont expect it to be really crowded.
See you all there!!!

 

[sconnell]

I just bought a stroller bag on ebay!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I have a different point of view. Since only people who knew about the Free Dining were able to get on the deal and since a large amount of those people are DISers it will not be 'crowded' as we will all be together at the place we love best.

A crowd of friends is not near as crowded as a crowd of strangers and even if some of the people are not DISers (gasp) we all share a love of the mouse and if we do not get to do EXACTLY what we might want at any given moment there will always be something else to do and we well might like it even better. I am a go with the flow kind of gal.

BTW, do ya mean that all that work I did last night in marking major categories with color shading and formatting to make it easier to read was for naught??

If anyone would like a fully formated copy of the listing just send me your email and I will do my best to send you one.

See you all soon!! Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

What a great attitude slightlygoofy. I do agree that all of us that are disers are friends and I don't mind sharing the parks with my friends.

 

[momimouse27]

I had been reading this thread and got so worried yesterday...I started looking over my plans. In doing so, I realized that I had messed all the days up and had to redo everything Well, long story short I had to redo almost all of my ADR's and I thought I wouldn't get anything I wanted. Well.....I got all of them! I even got O'hana even though its a little late at 9:15. It made me feel so much better- About the crowds, about the restaurants being packed, etc. I hope I have made some of you feel a little easier too.

I agree with the other DISer who said that most people don't strategize and plan like we do. And most people would never take their kids out of school for Disney. Hopefully that will leave the park to us!!

 

[Nemontinksmom]

First post....first time to Disney, Sept. 23-30 at WL! Can't wait!!

 

[triplefigs]

I had been reading this thread and got so worried yesterday...I started looking over my plans. In doing so, I realized that I had messed all the days up and had to redo everything Well, long story short I had to redo almost all of my ADR's and I thought I wouldn't get anything I wanted. Well.....I got all of them! I even got O'hana even though its a little late at 9:15. It made me feel so much better- About the crowds, about the restaurants being packed, etc. I hope I have made some of you feel a little easier too.

I agree with the other DISer who said that most people don't strategize and plan like we do. And most people would never take their kids out of school for Disney. Hopefully that will leave the park to us!!

I agree. I checked almost every resort from Value to Deluxe yesterday for Sept 23-30. Most all hotels (not the GF or ASMo) had availability in ALL categories- from standard to even concierge. I'm now thinking it won't be as crowded! I do think it will get worse towards the end of the week as the F&W people come in, but it still will be FABULOUS! I'm so excited!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

KarlaG4Kids, I ain't no saint.

It took me a couple of decades as well as several trips to DW to gain that attitude.

I truly do feel a bit bad for the families who are making their first trip and are on a tight budget and time table. Those people get a pass from me but some who are able to go often and want everything their way?? Poor folks, they will never be happy, anywhere, not just DW.

Look for the large woman who always lets kids go ahead of her and has the 'Slightly Goofy" smile, that's me!!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I agree. I checked almost every resort from Value to Deluxe yesterday for Sept 23-30. Most all hotels (not the GF or ASMo) had availability in ALL categories- from standard to even concierge. I'm now thinking it won't be as crowded! I do think it will get worse towards the end of the week as the F&W people come in, but it still will be FABULOUS! I'm so excited!

Last year we visited WDW at the same time. Free dining was going on, F&W was in Full swing, as was MNSSHP. Crowds were completely manageable. There were MANY instances where we walked onto attractions with less than a moment's wait, and even some where they allowed us to ride again (and again) without leaving our seats.

I have a feeling those folks who are within driving distance may be booked for the holiday weekend of October 7,8, 9. I do believe the restaurants will be booked... but the parks themselves will be fabulous!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

KarlaG4Kids, I ain't no saint.

It took me a couple of decades as well as several trips to DW to gain that attitude.

I truly do feel a bit bad for the families who are making their first trip and are on a tight budget and time table. Those people get a pass from me but some who are able to go often and want everything their way?? Poor folks, they will never be happy, anywhere, not just DW.

Look for the large woman who always lets kids go ahead of her and has the 'Slightly Goofy" smile, that's me!!

Well slightlygoofy, I will look for you if you look for me. The large women with 2 very young grandsons dragging her and their grandpa along! It will be a challenging week!

 

[tcmsu]

My DW and I are taking the family and arriving on 9/30. We are staying at POFQ for 6 nights with Free Dining. This is a suprise trip for the kids and will be the first trip for everyone except me, who was lucky enough to have parents make multiple trips when I was little....We were originally planning on going next year, but the Free Dining saved us a bunch of $$ because we were planning on purchasing it anyway because my DW and DD eat gluten free (no wheat in case you're wondering), and it's easier to eat at table service restaurants than CS. Wow is this coming quick....

 

[sconnell]

OH MY! Today is my family's 1 month Dance!

 

[jrasmom]

30 days to go!!


When do final documents usually arrive? We haven't received ours yet and I'm antsy/anxious to see some "proof" that we're really going! ​

 

[!@#$%]

I would think you should have already gotten them. When did you actually PAY for it? It should be a week or two after that. It usually is for us at least. They usually send out confirmation papers anytime you book, or change your reservations, and after any payments. I have a stack of about 20 pages!!! several payments and 1 resort change.

 

[!@#$%]

First trip huh? Oh boy... Your gonna have FUN!

Heres my must do list:

Illuminations... The #1 favorite part of our trip

Jungle cruise... Do it at NIGHT!!! Thats when the Disneyheads are usually on it, and its more festive.

Soarin.... they say its better with no shoes on.... (they tell you to kick off any loose shoes and lay them down in front of you.)

Maelstrom - short but fun

Boat ride to any resort or Downtown Disney

Tower of Terror

Mickey's Philharmagic

And I cant WAIT to try Everest!!!

 

[jrasmom]

First trip huh? Oh boy... Your gonna have FUN!

Heres my must do list:

Illuminations... The #1 favorite part of our trip

Jungle cruise... Do it at NIGHT!!! Thats when the Disneyheads are usually on it, and its more festive.

Soarin.... they say its better with no shoes on.... (they tell you to kick off any loose shoes and lay them down in front of you.)

Maelstrom - short but fun

Boat ride to any resort or Downtown Disney

Tower of Terror

Mickey's Philharmagic

And I cant WAIT to try Everest!!!

I paid in full on May 30th!!! I'll have to call later today (have to wait until hubby is home from work so I can leave the 3 kids and TRY to find peace & quiet while I make the call!!!)

We're are definately planning to do Illuminations and Soarin, and most likely Wishes (maybe Spectro too).

Pardon my ignorance but at the moment the Jungle cruise is escaping my brain...is that the ride to Tom Sawyer Island or something different? And is Mickey's Philharmagic the same as Fantasmic? I THOUGHT I'd studied so hard and was ready and I think I've failed! I've got to cram some more!

and we HAVE to go to Downtown Disney for the Lego store for the 9 yr. old LOL! Plus someone said there is a souvenir store there that has stuff for like $10 and under? I know we'll spend some money BUT I also thought that might be a place to look first

Thanks for all your help!!

Now I'm worried where my documents might be, gonna make that phone call!!