Looking forward to a crowd-free Disney Trip! **Update 9/4**

[SoonerGirl]

Wow! That is an awesome deal on airfare, I hope you can get something even close to that for September. I'm partial to SW myself, they don't fee you to death like some airlines, and doing the online check in 24 hours in advance I've never had a problem boarding early enough for all of us to sit together. Don double dips with Hilton Honors and SW points, and they build up fast since he travels so much. We've got two free flights, which we'll probably use for our anniversary in August

 

[photographymom517]

I understand what you mean about people talking to you as if you were old friends. It appears I have a face that people relate to. People have conversations with me all the time. I'm there, minding my own business in a line, and people turn around and struck conversations. It's weird sometimes lol And when I tell them I'm a teacher...oh well the conversation never ends. It seems they feel safe with a teacher lol It seems to automatically make me alright hehe

LOL...I know what you mean!!! People talk to me all the time, but its mostly because of Luke! I tell him that he has more friends than mommy does!

He makes friends at the post office, grocery store, on vacation, pretty much everywhere we go!

Wow! That is an awesome deal on airfare, I hope you can get something even close to that for September. I'm partial to SW myself, they don't fee you to death like some airlines, and doing the online check in 24 hours in advance I've never had a problem boarding early enough for all of us to sit together. Don double dips with Hilton Honors and SW points, and they build up fast since he travels so much. We've got two free flights, which we'll probably use for our anniversary in August

That's great that you can use the Hilton Honors & the SW points!!!

I wish we traveled more often so we could get better discounts, but the majority of our family lives around this area so we rarely travel for family functions or wedding or things like that. And neither of us have ever traveled for work, so we've never had deals on flights. I have some friends who use the Hilton program too! Its great!

I would honestly be happy with $200 off but if we can end up with a discount like the one I posted, it would be very, very awesome!!! I'm not counting on it because I just found this one by chance. I found it odd that they have it available until June 1st because you would think alot of people would be traveling between now & then...for Easter, Spring break, kids going home from college in May, traveling for summertime, etc. You would think they'd offer a discount that cheap during slower months

For now, I'm figuring on paying around $900-1100 (total for both ways) and if we end up with cheaper tickets, it will just be a bonus!!!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Thanks for that website on airfare deals Hope! I actually just signed up!

 

[photographymom517]

Thanks for that website on airfare deals Hope! I actually just signed up!

No problem Reese! You have Internet access at work, right? Just wondering because sometimes you have to check it five times a day to get the deal! LOL I got an email from them yesterday at 9am & the deal said that the seats were "scarse"...well they were joking because they were gone by around 10:30am when I checked my email!

The original deal posted at 9am was $159 round-trip via US Airways and the 10:30am was $169 round-trip via Continental...so not a big difference, but it showed me how quickly the deals go away! I couldn't have used the deal they sent me anyway because it was only good through summer AND wasn't non-stop & there's no way I'm going to take off & land twice on the way there & twice on the way back!

I just wanted to share that with you (and anyone else using AirFareWatchDog) because the deals go FAST!!! Make sure to check your email a few times a day if possible. I have no idea how I'm going to find time to check that often, but to save that much on airfare, I will try my best!

I hope you find something you can use as well!

 

[photographymom517]

Ok...so this is the LAST schedule I'm posting until after Friday when I make my ADR's!!!

I went through it last night & you should see my itinerary list! There are scribble marks & arrows all over it...its a mess!!! But at least I figured out a way to change a few things around. I had signed up last year for TouringPlans but just had the free account...so last week I signed up for the account that you pay for & get the park crowd levels, touring plans, etc. I actually made a few of my own touring plans last night & it was super fun! I don't want to have a schedule every single day we're at a park...but I think its good to have an idea of where you're going first & how many things you can do before lunch or the parade or whatever (estimation of course!)

After making the plans, it really gave me an idea of things we missed out on last trip & things that I definitely want to do first just so we don't miss out again!

I said to myself yesterday that I wouldn't post again without pictures. I want the update to be a little interesting, but here I go again...no pictures! Sorry guys! The next update will be on Friday or Saturday posting whether or not I got the ADR's we wanted...and then I promise to post a Disney picture filled update!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------​

So...here is my "new and FINAL schedule" (Promise!!!)

September 15 moves to September 16...Sept 17 moves to Sept 15...half of Sept 19 moves to the 18th...half of the 16th moves to 20th...

JUST JOKING!!!!

That actually is similar to what I moved...but I won't make you sit there & figure it all out yourself. I'm confused enough as it is, we don't need to confuse a million more people!

-------------------------------------------------------------------​

Wednesday September 14 -- Arrival Day

* Hoping to get an early flight before 10am
* Hoping to get to BC resort by around 1:45-2:30pm
* Will either put our stuff in the room if its ready or leave carry-on bag at resort
* Explore resort or swim
* Dinner at Captain's Grill @ BC 6:30pm

Thursday September 15 -- Epcot

* Breakfast at Boardwalk Bakery or BC Bakery
* Walk over to Epcot
* Lunch at Chefs de France 11:30am
* Dinner at Garden Grill 6:30pm

Friday September 16 -- Hollywood Studios
(this entire day just moved from the 15th & stayed the same)

* Eat breakfast at Starring Rolls Cafe (hopefully by 9am)
* Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine In around 11:30am
* Countdown to Fun parade 3pm
* Dinner at QS (probably Fairfax Fare)

Saturday September 17 -- Magic Kingdom

* Crystal Palace breakfast at 8:30am
* Lunch at QS Cosmic Ray's
* See new Memories show
* Watch afternoon parade
* Hopefully stay for night parade & fireworks

Sunday September 18 -- Animal Kingdom
(this day is the same except dinner)

* Arrive at AK around 8-8:15am
* Tusker House breakfast 8:30am
* QS at Yak & Yeti or Tamu Tamu around 12:30noon
* 3:45 Jammin Jungle Parade
* Park closes at 5pm
* Dinnner at Kouzzina around 6:30pm

Monday September 19 -- Downtown Disney

* Breakfast in room or QS
* Photo Session 10am
* Leave for DTD after changing
* Lunch at Earl of Sandwich around 11:30am
* Dinner at Teppan Edo 6pm
* Watch Illuminations at Epcot

Tuesday September 20 -- MNSSHP

* Cape May Cafe breakfast 8:30am (might make a little later so we can sleep in)
* Free afternoon (probably explore BC or Boardwalk -- want to ride SeaRaycers!)
* Eat QS at Boardwalk or BC
* Leave for MK around 3-3:30pm
* MNSSHP 4pm-midnight

Wednesday September 21 -- Epcot

* Breakfast at Boardwalk Bakery or BC
* Lunch at QS (Morocco/Germany)
* Dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel 6pm

Thursday September 22 -- Hollywood Studios
(this day is exactly the same)

* Leave for DHS (no specific time!)
* Eat breakfast @ QS (will be Starring Rolls for me again!)
* Lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe 11:30am
* Dinner at QS at either DHS or BC

Friday September 23 -- Departure Day (BOO!!!)

* Breakfast at Boardwalk or BC (maybe even Epcot!)
* Check out of resort by 11am
* Head to park or swim
* Meet ME 4-6pm depending on flight time

We have 11 table service meals on this schedule & I was thinking about getting rid of 2 since we'll only have 9 TS credits, but I think I'm just going to leave them. The only one I can see us not going to is Teppan Edo on our DTD day. If we end up staying at DTD longer than just 4-5 hours, we'll eat QS at Wolfgang Puck & cancel Teppan Edo.

I also said that I didn't want to make 2 ADR's on the same day but I did twice. On our AK day, we eat at Tusker House for breakfast and then Kouzzina for dinner. I really think this will be fine though because we'll be hungry after a long day at AK. We usually leave after the 3:45pm parade & by the time we get back to our resort, we're hungry. The only day that concerns me a little is our Epcot day. We eat at Chefs for lunch and then Garden Grill. But again, I think as long as I make GG a later dinner and Chefs an early lunch, we should be fine. Also, Epcot is our 1st full day at Disney & we don't eat much on our arrival day because of our nerves from the flight! I know you aren't supposed to do it, but I might make 2 ADR's at Captain's Grill. If we don't make it to dinner due to our flight (since I have no idea what time it is yet!) or because we aren't hungry, I want a back-up for that restaurant. I really want to eat there!

My only disappointment with my schedule is that I really wanted to eat at Kona and Ohana. I haven't mentioned Ohana but I'm obsessed with the Poly resort & their food/decor!!! I've never been but the resort is beautiful & the food looks delish! I guess I have to leave something to do next trip though, right?

The next time you hear from me will be Friday after I make ADR's (other than trying to catch up on my subs this week!)

This is my final schedule. I looked it over yesterday a million times & I AM SURE THIS TIME!!!

Since you've had to endure my million changes, I will share a secret with you! I wasn't even going to write it down anywhere just in case my husband sees it (but he doesn't read the DIS boards so I should be ok here!)

I'm planning the Behind the Seeds Tour for our Epcot day. I think I'm going to try to reserve it on the 15th around 4:30 or 5pm. Then we'll be in Future World already when we need to get to Garden Grill at 6:30pm. Does anyone know if the tours are at specific times? Only mornings or only afternoons? I have the number to call but haven't looked up info other than I've read about it on other DIS reports! I'm excited about it because its my husband's favorite ride...he loves going through that greenhouse! I told him that I planned a surprise for him but I'm keeping it a secret until our trip...I'm not telling him until after our lunch at Chefs

 

[SoonerGirl]

You could always eat an early dinner at Kona before MNSSHP

The info portion of the DISboards says that the Behind the Seeds tour runs daily about every 45 minutes from 9:45 until 4:30, so your plan to reserve it for 4:30 should work! Here's the link if you want to check it out further http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm This says to make reservations at the desk in the Land pavillion, and you can do that, but I know I made mine over the phone before our trip.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

No problem Reese! You have Internet access at work, right? Just wondering because sometimes you have to check it five times a day to get the deal! LOL I got an email from them yesterday at 9am & the deal said that the seats were "scarse"...well they were joking because they were gone by around 10:30am when I checked my email!

The original deal posted at 9am was $159 round-trip via US Airways and the 10:30am was $169 round-trip via Continental...so not a big difference, but it showed me how quickly the deals go away! I couldn't have used the deal they sent me anyway because it was only good through summer AND wasn't non-stop & there's no way I'm going to take off & land twice on the way there & twice on the way back!

I just wanted to share that with you (and anyone else using AirFareWatchDog) because the deals go FAST!!! Make sure to check your email a few times a day if possible. I have no idea how I'm going to find time to check that often, but to save that much on airfare, I will try my best!

I hope you find something you can use as well!

It is an awesome site!!! I will definitely be using that site for future trips since I already have my airfare for Sept. I haven't got any emails from them yet other then the one when you sign up? DO you get all deals for everywhere? I said I only wanted to be shown deals to Orlando and San Fran. Now here's a question, if you do get a deal, do you purchase thru airfarewatchdog or the actual airline?

Ok...so this is the LAST schedule I'm posting until after Friday when I make my ADR's!!!

I went through it last night & you should see my itinerary list! There are scribble marks & arrows all over it...its a mess!!! But at least I figured out a way to change a few things around. I had signed up last year for TouringPlans but just had the free account...so last week I signed up for the account that you pay for & get the park crowd levels, touring plans, etc. I actually made a few of my own touring plans last night & it was super fun! I don't want to have a schedule every single day we're at a park...but I think its good to have an idea of where you're going first & how many things you can do before lunch or the parade or whatever (estimation of course!)

After making the plans, it really gave me an idea of things we missed out on last trip & things that I definitely want to do first just so we don't miss out again!

I said to myself yesterday that I wouldn't post again without pictures. I want the update to be a little interesting, but here I go again...no pictures! Sorry guys! The next update will be on Friday or Saturday posting whether or not I got the ADR's we wanted...and then I promise to post a Disney picture filled update!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------​

So...here is my "new and FINAL schedule" (Promise!!!)

September 15 moves to September 16...Sept 17 moves to Sept 15...half of Sept 19 moves to the 18th...half of the 16th moves to 20th...

JUST JOKING!!!!

That actually is similar to what I moved...but I won't make you sit there & figure it all out yourself. I'm confused enough as it is, we don't need to confuse a million more people!

-------------------------------------------------------------------​

Wednesday September 14 -- Arrival Day

* Hoping to get an early flight before 10am
* Hoping to get to BC resort by around 1:45-2:30pm
* Will either put our stuff in the room if its ready or leave carry-on bag at resort
* Explore resort or swim
* Dinner at Captain's Grill @ BC 6:30pm

Thursday September 15 -- Epcot

* Breakfast at Boardwalk Bakery or BC Bakery
* Walk over to Epcot
* Lunch at Chefs de France 11:30am
* Dinner at Garden Grill 6:30pm

Friday September 16 -- Hollywood Studios
(this entire day just moved from the 15th & stayed the same)

* Eat breakfast at Starring Rolls Cafe (hopefully by 9am)
* Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine In around 11:30am
* Countdown to Fun parade 3pm
* Dinner at QS (probably Fairfax Fare)

Saturday September 17 -- Magic Kingdom

* Crystal Palace breakfast at 8:30am
* Lunch at QS Cosmic Ray's
* See new Memories show
* Watch afternoon parade
* Hopefully stay for night parade & fireworks

Sunday September 18 -- Animal Kingdom
(this day is the same except dinner)

* Arrive at AK around 8-8:15am
* Tusker House breakfast 8:30am
* QS at Yak & Yeti or Tamu Tamu around 12:30noon
* 3:45 Jammin Jungle Parade
* Park closes at 5pm
* Dinnner at Kouzzina around 6:30pm

Monday September 19 -- Downtown Disney

* Breakfast in room or QS
* Photo Session 10am
* Leave for DTD after changing
* Lunch at Earl of Sandwich around 11:30am
* Dinner at Teppan Edo 6pm
* Watch Illuminations at Epcot

Tuesday September 20 -- MNSSHP

* Cape May Cafe breakfast 8:30am (might make a little later so we can sleep in)
* Free afternoon (probably explore BC or Boardwalk -- want to ride SeaRaycers!)
* Eat QS at Boardwalk or BC
* Leave for MK around 3-3:30pm
* MNSSHP 4pm-midnight

Wednesday September 21 -- Epcot

* Breakfast at Boardwalk Bakery or BC
* Lunch at QS (Morocco/Germany)
* Dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel 6pm

Thursday September 22 -- Hollywood Studios
(this day is exactly the same)

* Leave for DHS (no specific time!)
* Eat breakfast @ QS (will be Starring Rolls for me again!)
* Lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe 11:30am
* Dinner at QS at either DHS or BC

Friday September 23 -- Departure Day (BOO!!!)

* Breakfast at Boardwalk or BC (maybe even Epcot!)
* Check out of resort by 11am
* Head to park or swim
* Meet ME 4-6pm depending on flight time

We have 11 table service meals on this schedule & I was thinking about getting rid of 2 since we'll only have 9 TS credits, but I think I'm just going to leave them. The only one I can see us not going to is Teppan Edo on our DTD day. If we end up staying at DTD longer than just 4-5 hours, we'll eat QS at Wolfgang Puck & cancel Teppan Edo.

I also said that I didn't want to make 2 ADR's on the same day but I did twice. On our AK day, we eat at Tusker House for breakfast and then Kouzzina for dinner. I really think this will be fine though because we'll be hungry after a long day at AK. We usually leave after the 3:45pm parade & by the time we get back to our resort, we're hungry. The only day that concerns me a little is our Epcot day. We eat at Chefs for lunch and then Garden Grill. But again, I think as long as I make GG a later dinner and Chefs an early lunch, we should be fine. Also, Epcot is our 1st full day at Disney & we don't eat much on our arrival day because of our nerves from the flight! I know you aren't supposed to do it, but I might make 2 ADR's at Captain's Grill. If we don't make it to dinner due to our flight (since I have no idea what time it is yet!) or because we aren't hungry, I want a back-up for that restaurant. I really want to eat there!

My only disappointment with my schedule is that I really wanted to eat at Kona and Ohana. I haven't mentioned Ohana but I'm obsessed with the Poly resort & their food/decor!!! I've never been but the resort is beautiful & the food looks delish! I guess I have to leave something to do next trip though, right?

The next time you hear from me will be Friday after I make ADR's (other than trying to catch up on my subs this week!)

This is my final schedule. I looked it over yesterday a million times & I AM SURE THIS TIME!!!

Since you've had to endure my million changes, I will share a secret with you! I wasn't even going to write it down anywhere just in case my husband sees it (but he doesn't read the DIS boards so I should be ok here!)

I'm planning the Behind the Seeds Tour for our Epcot day. I think I'm going to try to reserve it on the 15th around 4:30 or 5pm. Then we'll be in Future World already when we need to get to Garden Grill at 6:30pm. Does anyone know if the tours are at specific times? Only mornings or only afternoons? I have the number to call but haven't looked up info other than I've read about it on other DIS reports! I'm excited about it because its my husband's favorite ride...he loves going through that greenhouse! I told him that I planned a surprise for him but I'm keeping it a secret until our trip...I'm not telling him until after our lunch at Chefs

Plan look great... Hey schedules are meant to be changes right??? WOW!!! Your ADR day is this Friday??? Time sure is flying by!

 

[stephielela]

I would say go ahead and make any possible ADR's you might want on Friday. That way if plans change again you are covered! You can always cancel later and give some last minute trip planner some luck!

That's exciting about the tour. My mom LOVES that ride, I know she would like to do the tour. I am going to add it to our 2013 list!

Plans ARE meant to be changed! That's why I am running 3 different scenarios! I just hope one of them pans out!!

 

[Megablocks]

Awww, that's such a nice surprise for your husband! I love that ride as well!

I can't believe your ADR day is this Friday. You have so many good eats! I'm dying to try TH for breakfast, I have heard absolutely nothing but good things about it. I'm hoping that if we go next year, I can add it to my wish list. I want to eat there sooooo badly!

 

[Mindy5767]

Wow... I had a lot of catching up to do. Now... think about this... you only had to plan your ADR's... now imagine planning and reserving times, 180 days out for your rides, shows and character greetings!! Imagine showing up at the park and finding you can't go on a certain ride because its "booked" for the day... well Disney is working on bringing that to us.

You made the right decision about DisneyQuest and the Water parks. My DS19 loves Disney Quest, so does DD22. During our Thanksgiving 2010, my DN14 and my DS19 went off by themselves and spent hours and hours at DQ. They had a great time, but when I looked over the brochure that he brought back, that had more details on the exact rides, I knew it was not for myself or DD8. It does have things for the younger kids, but its really a teen/young adult paradise. The video game generation.

I have never been to a Disney waterpark since River Country in the early 80's. That was one fun park!! I'll always miss it. My older kids spent some time during our July 09 trip at both TL and BB. They loved it. But if I were staying at BC, I wouldn't bother. Its got all the water park fun you need and your son will not know the difference or miss the larger park. He can only use a small amount of the water parks anyway. Most of the attractions are for bigger kids.

You were right on about the way we use our hoppers. We use them to take advantage of EMH's and to repeatedly enter EPCOT. We will often choose to eat at EPCOT even if we're in another park. Many years ago, all tickets were hoppers. Then they came up with the "Magic Your Way" to reduce the price of tickets and everything was added as ala carte. They also didn't expire as I recall. Of course, in the very beginning when there was only one park, there were ride tickets and actual admission was free. That's when you had the A, B, C, D and E ride attractions. I don't actually remember doing it that way, but we must have since we did go there twice before there was an EPCOT. The first time probably was in 73ish? My DH stayed at the CR less than 3 months after it opened with WDW in January 72.

I also am one of those people that people talk to. My kids are ALWAYS rolling their eyes... "mom... you talk to everyone"!

I would love to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. We're planning to take DD8 on it sometime in the future. She LOVES that ride. We have to ride it over and over. She is fascinated with growing fruits and veggies and with all things cooking. She loves food network. Her favorites are cupcake wars, Chopped, and Iron Chef. She also loves Good Eats and Unwrapped. She may be the one who ends up loving the Food & Wine show. They have all the cooking expos during that time.

I'd also like to try the horseback riding at Ft. Wilderness. The child has to be 9, so this summer... we can do it!

 

[photographymom517]

You could always eat an early dinner at Kona before MNSSHP

The info portion of the DISboards says that the Behind the Seeds tour runs daily about every 45 minutes from 9:45 until 4:30, so your plan to reserve it for 4:30 should work! Here's the link if you want to check it out further http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/tours.htm This says to make reservations at the desk in the Land pavillion, and you can do that, but I know I made mine over the phone before our trip.

You know Michelle, its so funny you mention eating at Kona prior to MNSSHP because I was thinking about that too!

THANK YOU soooo much for the info on the tour! I was really hoping you would see my post & if you didn't, I was going to ask you! I knew that you did the tour on your trip & would have the info! Thanks for the link! I do think I'll call the tour number and see if I can still book over the phone. I'd rather do that to keep it a surprise, but I'm sure if I have to book at the pavilion, I'll think of a reason to go there by myself for a little while!

 

[photographymom517]

It is an awesome site!!! I will definitely be using that site for future trips since I already have my airfare for Sept. I haven't got any emails from them yet other then the one when you sign up? DO you get all deals for everywhere? I said I only wanted to be shown deals to Orlando and San Fran. Now here's a question, if you do get a deal, do you purchase thru airfarewatchdog or the actual airline?

Plan look great... Hey schedules are meant to be changes right??? WOW!!! Your ADR day is this Friday??? Time sure is flying by!

Hey Reese!!! I KNEW someone would ask me that & I wouldn't have the answer!!!

I'm not sure if you purchase through the website or the airline. I wanted to research that today & never found the time. I'll let you know if I figure it out! This is just a guess but I think you book via the airline's website

When you sign up for the emails, you only get the deals for whatever you put in (so if you put Orlando & San Fran, you will only get deals for those 2 destinations).

I got 2 emails in one day & none since that. It's actually fairly annoying because I've been trying to find more time to check my email...and everytime I check it, there's nothing in my inbox from airfarewatchdog! Don't they understand that we have other things to plan, not just airfare???

I'm seriously wasting valuable DIS time checking my email for airfare discounts!!!

Yes my ADR date is this Friday!!!! I am sooo excited! I'm glad that I changed the schedule around because I fixed a few things I wasn't too sure of with the first few copies. LOL

 

[photographymom517]

I would say go ahead and make any possible ADR's you might want on Friday. That way if plans change again you are covered! You can always cancel later and give some last minute trip planner some luck!

That's exciting about the tour. My mom LOVES that ride, I know she would like to do the tour. I am going to add it to our 2013 list!

Plans ARE meant to be changed! That's why I am running 3 different scenarios! I just hope one of them pans out!!

That's what I did last trip...I had about 5 different scenarios but 2 were just "back up plans" if the first 3 didn't work out

I just found my planning binder from last trip & am so disappointed that I barely used it. It took alot of time & effort to make the pages for it & then I took it to Staples to have it bound with the plastic wire. I lugged it around the airport, on the plane, to all the parks, etc. and I honestly never once looked at it!

This trip, I know I will definitely need a list of all our ADR's to carry with me at all time. I also want to make a list of things we'd like to do & things that we absolutely HAVE to do! We missed out on so much last trip! I think it will be more efficient for me to carry around a few important papers rather than a giant binder full of things I'm not going to take the time to look through! LOL

Yes!!! Definitely plan that tour with your mom! She will love it!!!

I know its highly frowned upon but I do think I'm going to make the Captain's Grill and Teppan Edo ressies twice if possible. I will cancel them in a few months, I just want to make sure I get the flight times I think I'm going to get.

 

[photographymom517]

Awww, that's such a nice surprise for your husband! I love that ride as well!

I can't believe your ADR day is this Friday. You have so many good eats! I'm dying to try TH for breakfast, I have heard absolutely nothing but good things about it. I'm hoping that if we go next year, I can add it to my wish list. I want to eat there sooooo badly!

I'll make sure to take lots of pictures during the tour for you to see!

Definitely put Tusker House on your list for your next trip!!!! I agree with you, I've heard nothing but great things about it! Most people I talk to have it on their list of top 3 character meals!!!

 

[photographymom517]

Wow... I had a lot of catching up to do. Now... think about this... you only had to plan your ADR's... now imagine planning and reserving times, 180 days out for your rides, shows and character greetings!! Imagine showing up at the park and finding you can't go on a certain ride because its "booked" for the day... well Disney is working on bringing that to us.

You made the right decision about DisneyQuest and the Water parks. My DS19 loves Disney Quest, so does DD22. During our Thanksgiving 2010, my DN14 and my DS19 went off by themselves and spent hours and hours at DQ. They had a great time, but when I looked over the brochure that he brought back, that had more details on the exact rides, I knew it was not for myself or DD8. It does have things for the younger kids, but its really a teen/young adult paradise. The video game generation.

I have never been to a Disney waterpark since River Country in the early 80's. That was one fun park!! I'll always miss it. My older kids spent some time during our July 09 trip at both TL and BB. They loved it. But if I were staying at BC, I wouldn't bother. Its got all the water park fun you need and your son will not know the difference or miss the larger park. He can only use a small amount of the water parks anyway. Most of the attractions are for bigger kids.

You were right on about the way we use our hoppers. We use them to take advantage of EMH's and to repeatedly enter EPCOT. We will often choose to eat at EPCOT even if we're in another park. Many years ago, all tickets were hoppers. Then they came up with the "Magic Your Way" to reduce the price of tickets and everything was added as ala carte. They also didn't expire as I recall. Of course, in the very beginning when there was only one park, there were ride tickets and actual admission was free. That's when you had the A, B, C, D and E ride attractions. I don't actually remember doing it that way, but we must have since we did go there twice before there was an EPCOT. The first time probably was in 73ish? My DH stayed at the CR less than 3 months after it opened with WDW in January 72.

I also am one of those people that people talk to. My kids are ALWAYS rolling their eyes... "mom... you talk to everyone"!

I would love to do the Behind the Seeds Tour. We're planning to take DD8 on it sometime in the future. She LOVES that ride. We have to ride it over and over. She is fascinated with growing fruits and veggies and with all things cooking. She loves food network. Her favorites are cupcake wars, Chopped, and Iron Chef. She also loves Good Eats and Unwrapped. She may be the one who ends up loving the Food & Wine show. They have all the cooking expos during that time.

I'd also like to try the horseback riding at Ft. Wilderness. The child has to be 9, so this summer... we can do it!

Oh Mindy!!! I honestly don't know what to say about the reserved times for character greetings, rides, and shows

I am sooo upset over it! I finally get things figured out with the "regular system" and learn something new every trip! I Disney and want to enjoy my time there! I don't want my vacation to feel like a schedule!!!

I know that most DIS-ers love the planning & ADR's...and I'm an obsessive planner myself, but I am getting soooo stressed out about ADR's! When we go on vacation, we like to just do whatever. In "regular life" I am a HUGE planner! I have post-it notes everywhere, schedules, daily planners, journals, etc! My former boss told me that I had a problem with OCD & needed help (she was my best friend but she was serious! lol) I'm just different when it comes to vacation. When we're hungry, we just like to look around & say "hey that place looks good" and eat there. There's no way that would work at Disney. I think their ADR system is great & works effectively...but it stops with dining. People make dinner ressies in their everyday life...for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. People don't go to a park & schedule what time they ride certain things & see shows! Its just crazy.

I can't imagine planning a Disney trip & determining what time (over 6 months ahead of time) I will want to ride Haunted Mansion or Splash Mountain! Seriously ?!? I mean, think about it...we'll have to get a list of how long every show & ride is. And what if you are on one side of the park & the ONLY ride available is on the opposite side? Those parks are big for adults, let alone toddlers & poor parents pushing strollers with multiple kids in it!

We will all seriously need to have an extremely detailed plan of where to go & when to go! And don't forget to rush your family through dinner so you make it on time to see Finding Nemo!

Everytime I think about it, I think of a new "negative" to this idea...but never once have I thought of a good one! The absolute ONLY positive that I see is with the character greetings. We skipped so many in June just because of the long lines. So I think it would be ok to have a sort-of "fast pass" system for ONLY the most important characters. I can see having it for Mickey or Minnie, but only during busy seasons. And say a new movie is released & a character is super popular...have a fast pass for that character for maybe 4-5 months & then it stops. I can't see it being a permanent thing. I think I'll cry if it is

Yes, I do love my Nintendo Wii but I am not into the "stay in a video arcade for hours upon hours" thing!

When I think of Disney Quest, I think of taking trips as a child. I swear my little brother was a magnet for arcades!!! And once he found one, he wouldn't leave...for hours and hours and hours. Actually, speaking of him, he's 22 years old & he just stayed awake for 26 hours straight playing Call of Duty Black Ops! I'm serious...but I just don't get it!

I definitely think we'll get more use out of the pool at BC than we would a water park. It will be great when Luke is a teenager to go to the waterpark...I can just see him & his dad riding all the different slides & rides while I go down the lazy river over & over & over again!

That's MY kind of fun at a waterpark!

My parents do the exact same thing that you do with the park hoppers! They use them mainly for EMH's! Oh and yes I do remember the old tickets!!! My mom actually took a few of them with her on their 2010 trip! Yes, she still has some left! She has the ones with no expiration date...but I told her to save them for a trip when they want to only go to Disney for a weekend or less than 3 days. If she used those expensive passes on a long trip, it would be a waste since you always start with 3 day passes & then the 4th-10th are cheaper. A few of the CM's were in shock that she still had them!

I used to roll my eyes at my mom for talking to everyone...now I talk to everyone just like she did...and then I explain to them how I used to roll my eyes at my mom for doing the same thing!

WOW! I have sooo much in common with your DD8!!!! She loves all of my favorite shows!!! I've watched Iron Chef for yeeeears! My favorites now are all the shows dealing with cakes & cupcakes!

 

[Megablocks]

I would cry if that scheduling thing ever happened, too. Although, hopefully they will figure out what the guests want and it it won't happen for a long, long time, or ever. Or, if it does, that there's only so many people who can schedule rides and stuff, and leave plenty of room for those who choose not to and want to be more flexible (like my family.) Ugh!

On a lighter note, I definitely laughed when you said that your brother played CoD: Black Ops and stayed up for 26 hours doing so! Both my brother and my boyfriend are huge gamers. My brother is an assistant manager at GameStop so he gets a discount, plus he gets to sign out games to play, and Charles has recently discovered that he can find games for super cheap on Amazon, and get Amazon credit for reserving some games. Our friend is an assistant manager at another GameStop closer to our city (my brother's is like 20+ minutes away and in a sketchy city), so she keeps him informed of any special perks you get for reserving games, or any special trade-in deals. I don't understand how he can sit and play a game for hours, and he doesn't understand how I can sit and read for hours. Last year, when the third Kingdom Keepers book came out, we were in Target on the day it was released and I saw it -- I was freaking out b/c I wanted it soooo badly and I had no idea if my preordered copy had come yet. Then, when I got home and found it had been delivered, ALL I wanted to do was to read it. Charles laughed at the whole thing, but when I told him to imagine a game he had preordered that he was really, really excited about, he got it.

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

Well, all of the different versions of your schedule look good! Since you're headed to Magic Kingdom before park opening, your only Disney transportation option is the bus since you'd have to walk through Epcot to get to the monorail. For future planning, I'd say it's about 40 minutes from Beach Club to Magic Kingdom via the monorail, depending on wait times at each stop and walking time from the International Gateway to the front of Epcot.

I think you'll really enjoy the Behind the Seeds tour and it will be a great surprise! I made our reservation over the phone so you should still be able to.

If you're talking about the same new memories show that I'm thinking about, the show is at night, about fifteen minutes before Wishes. I'm thinking of the one with pictures projected on the castle. That show is definitely worth seeing!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hey Reese!!! I KNEW someone would ask me that & I wouldn't have the answer!!!

I'm not sure if you purchase through the website or the airline. I wanted to research that today & never found the time. I'll let you know if I figure it out! This is just a guess but I think you book via the airline's website

When you sign up for the emails, you only get the deals for whatever you put in (so if you put Orlando & San Fran, you will only get deals for those 2 destinations).

I got 2 emails in one day & none since that. It's actually fairly annoying because I've been trying to find more time to check my email...and everytime I check it, there's nothing in my inbox from airfarewatchdog! Don't they understand that we have other things to plan, not just airfare???

I'm seriously wasting valuable DIS time checking my email for airfare discounts!!!

Yes my ADR date is this Friday!!!! I am sooo excited! I'm glad that I changed the schedule around because I fixed a few things I wasn't too sure of with the first few copies. LOL

Ha Ha Ha!!! I figured it out... You click on the dela that you get inyour email and then it tells you what website to go to get that deal (there is a lick for it)... It's actually pretty simple ans have gotten a few deals already, but you are right... THE DEALS GO FAST!!!

Only a few more days till you can make your ADR's!!! I'm confident you will get everything you want!

 

[photographymom517]

I would cry if that scheduling thing ever happened, too. Although, hopefully they will figure out what the guests want and it it won't happen for a long, long time, or ever. Or, if it does, that there's only so many people who can schedule rides and stuff, and leave plenty of room for those who choose not to and want to be more flexible (like my family.) Ugh!

On a lighter note, I definitely laughed when you said that your brother played CoD: Black Ops and stayed up for 26 hours doing so! Both my brother and my boyfriend are huge gamers. My brother is an assistant manager at GameStop so he gets a discount, plus he gets to sign out games to play, and Charles has recently discovered that he can find games for super cheap on Amazon, and get Amazon credit for reserving some games. Our friend is an assistant manager at another GameStop closer to our city (my brother's is like 20+ minutes away and in a sketchy city), so she keeps him informed of any special perks you get for reserving games, or any special trade-in deals. I don't understand how he can sit and play a game for hours, and he doesn't understand how I can sit and read for hours. Last year, when the third Kingdom Keepers book came out, we were in Target on the day it was released and I saw it -- I was freaking out b/c I wanted it soooo badly and I had no idea if my preordered copy had come yet. Then, when I got home and found it had been delivered, ALL I wanted to do was to read it. Charles laughed at the whole thing, but when I told him to imagine a game he had preordered that he was really, really excited about, he got it.

I know what you mean! I HAVE to have some flexibility on my vacations! I know I've said it before but I'm obsessed with planning & organization...and I still couldn't take it if I have to plan every little detail of my trip! That would take all the fun out of vacation!!!

I won't talk about that anymore because last night I had a huge headache & was way too tired & I think I wrote an entire novel to Mindy about the fast pass system! I'm sure you've all heard enough from me!

That's too funny about Charles & your brother!!! I just don't understand boys & gaming...LOL...but I'm exactly like you. I love to read & scrapbook & no one gets it when something new comes out & I'm sooo super excited!

That's awesome that your friend and your brother work for Game Stop so they know what's coming out & have access to the current releases & rentals!

 

[photographymom517]

Well, all of the different versions of your schedule look good! Since you're headed to Magic Kingdom before park opening, your only Disney transportation option is the bus since you'd have to walk through Epcot to get to the monorail. For future planning, I'd say it's about 40 minutes from Beach Club to Magic Kingdom via the monorail, depending on wait times at each stop and walking time from the International Gateway to the front of Epcot.

I think you'll really enjoy the Behind the Seeds tour and it will be a great surprise! I made our reservation over the phone so you should still be able to.

If you're talking about the same new memories show that I'm thinking about, the show is at night, about fifteen minutes before Wishes. I'm thinking of the one with pictures projected on the castle. That show is definitely worth seeing!

Glad that you thought all of my schedules were good! Do you think I changed my mind enough?

I'm really happy with my final schedule & hope that everything works out with the ADR's. I'm stressing a little more than I thought I would over it. I just keep thinking that last June, I planned our entire trip in less than 3 weeks & still got all our ADR's (although we only scheduled 4 last trip & this time I have 11 or 12).

See, this is why the DIS boards exist!!! Sometimes when planning, I know something but I completely forget it because I'm too busy worrying about some other aspect of my plan! I am soooo glad that you mentioned about Epcot...I completely forgot to add in the time it would take to walk to the front of the park to get on the monorail! Oops!

I also knew that the only form of transportation running before park opening was the buses, but of course I forgot to figure that into my planning! Its amazing how I can help other people plan things & get all the little details correct...but when I plan my own trip, I tend to miss so much! I think I stress over it because my husband thinks I'm obsessed with Disney which equals "I should know everything" and I really don't!

I just worry about planning a "perfect trip" and the truth is, our trips turn out better on the days when nothing is planned! Funny how that works, isn't it?

Yes I agree...I think I can still book Behind the Seeds over the phone because I went onto the Disney site under the Tour section & it provided the phone number for booking! I'm so glad that so many people recommend it! I know my husband will be super excited about it because I told him the other day that Garden Grill overlooks Living with the Land & he was really happy to hear that!!!

I was talking about the new Memories show. I'm looking forward to seeing it. Thanks for letting me know its 15 minutes before Wishes! I think I remember reading that on someone else's trip report now that you mention it!