We are going to MVMCP on the 30th I think... all th research i have done says that both early December and Early November are great times to go... I did see that November is not value season with Disney so to me meant that they can get the higher amount on the rooms so it may be a little busier...
Thank you...I actually have had the WORST day ever!!! Your comment actually made me feel SOOOO much better!!! So THANK YOU!!!
We might not get to attend MVMCP at all...we might have to wait to go until January. Or we might have to go sometime in early to mid-December. I was stressing MAJORLY because I thought December would be crazy! I'm really concerned about how my DS will react with the large crowds. I thought November would be lower crowds & easier on him. Now that I read your comment, I feel a lot better! I am happy to hear that early December has low crowds as well! Maybe I can even get a cheaper deal.
This is another reason I was stressing! We might not have final dates for our trip until AFTER I have to make my ADR's or maybe not until September or October...so I am obviously completely stressing!!! I had my meals pretty much planned out & don't want to miss out on them. I really want to do the character dining for my son & will cry if I can't get into Coral Reef! My biggest concern is that I won't get to see the Christmas decor at all the resorts which is why we were planning a vacation at this time of the year! I might not ever get another chance to see Disney at Christmas time!
I actually cried...does that mean I'm officially obsessed with Disney planning?
Anyway, my DH won't know because his job is a PITA if you know what I mean. He isn't allowed to request off time for vacations, he just has to go whenever he's laid off or at the end of a job. Its such a pain! I didn't get to have any sit-down meals last vacation because we didn't know until about a month before when we were going...so obviously all the good dining was already filled up. It was just a kinda "wing-it" type of vacation because we had nothing planned ahead of time. I'm a planner & an organizer so this was great for me to be able to plan everything for this time around! I do not like chaos especially on vacations! lol Oh well...hopefully by June I will find something out & will be back on track!
hey! i just found your ptr, and am subbing! we are going in decmeber, the middle-ish, hopefully 11-17, but probably a bit later. i have a son who will be a littel over 2 1/1 as well! we went last august and had a blast! as far as the stroller thing goes, i wouldn't bring anything bigger than an ubrella stroller. my mom got ds a maclaren on salelast christmas and it was perfect. its is a TON of walking, as you know, and my son is not good at holding hands, and staying close by, so there is no way i would go without a stroller in any kind of crowd. plus he inevitably gets tired and wants me to carry him when it's the least convenient. i have found it really nice to have the stroller at the airport, so that i can keep him in one place while collecting stuff from security etc. renting a stroller just seems so expensive, especially in the parks!
i'm trying to talk my family into doing a photo session as well, i still need to look into the pricing!
Hi & WELCOME!!!
We actually may have to change our dates for our trip, so I might be there around the same time as you. If we change, it will probably be December 8th through the 17th.
Its nice to hear your son is the same age as mine! It will be great to share tips & advice with you!
You are completely right about the stroller. I am frustrated about it because I don't want to bring the full-size stroller but my son is already too heavy for his umbrella stroller. I will have to research the MacLaren strollers. I think their weight limit may be more than the one I have...that would be great to have. I'm planning to search yard sales this summer so hopefully I can find something at a great bargain!
You are right about the crowds...my son is just starting to hold our hands while walking in public. He does very good with it BUT if he sees something that interests him, he will run to it as fast as his little legs will carry him!
I don't want that to happen at Disney. Its hard enough to keep up with him in our yard let alone in a huge park with tons of people! I completely agree! I wouldn't ever go to the parks without a stroller. A lot of people don't like them, but I actually didn't have many problems with the Disney strollers & thought they were very convenient. I just didn't like that they don't recline. It was hard holding him in the 80 degree temperatures for an hour while sitting on a bench! I know they are expensive but we just liked the convenience of not having to bring our own & take it on the buses. We are getting a rental car this time, so maybe we will bring ours & just put it in the trunk of the car. I haven't decided 100% yet what to do. Thank you for all of your suggestions!
I can give you a website to use for the Private Photo Session. I personally think the best deal is the CD because you get all of the photos on the CD plus you get to chose from 3 packages.
Here's the info from the Stitch Kingdom website:
"Disney Resorts Private Photo Shoot - You can arrange for private 30 minute photo sessions with a Disney's PhotoPass photographer at the Grand Floridian, Beach Club, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge (Saratoga Springs is no longer offered). The sessions includes around 40 photos (limited only by time) taken around the picturesque resorts and their beaches. Please note that as of September 1, 2008, Portrait sessions at the resorts are a separate entity from the Disney's PhotoPass system in the theme parks. While both Parks and Portraits use the same system for their photos, they are separate products. There is also a new pricing structure in place, which is as follows:
Disney's PhotoPass Portrait Session Photo Package - For a price of $49.95, you will get your choice of one of the following packages: (A) 8x10 (2), 5x7 (3); (B) 5x7 (2), 4x6 (4 sets of 2); (C) 5x7 (7). You will be able to choose the pose for each print, so you can have up to five different poses for Package A, up to 6 different poses for Package B and up to 7 different poses for Package C
Disney's PhotoPass Portrait Session PhotoCD - For a price of $99.95, you will get your choice of photo package as explained above plus all of the photos on a PhotoCD.
Note you will not be able to enhance the photos on the Portrait Session PhotoCD, but you will be given a PhotoPass ID to use on disneyphotopass.com to make any desired edits/enhancements and future purchases.
Reports from guests who have participated in the photo sessions are overwhelmingly positive, although guests are under no obligation to make a purchase if they are not satisfied with the photos. Available times are seasonal, starting daily at 8 am until 7 pm or sunset, whichever comes first. Call 407-824-1700 to make reservations up to 30 days in advance or for additional information."
I hope that helps you!!!
Girl, you are not crazy!!! Disney planning is an obsession!!!
See, I think I am of the minority here... While I liked MVMCP, I have to say that I was not that impressed with the party.
MNSSHP is so much better, anyway, MVMCP is definitely worth doing once I will say that. We are still up in the air about going or not... Devon and I have both been to it, but his friend and his mom have not, so we will see.
I will say that I think that it is wise to attend the party earlier in your trip before you plan to go to MK, then that way, what ever you do not get to do at the party, you can hit up right away your full day at MK.
THANK YOU!!! Actually, even though you may be the minority, I have heard others say that the MVMCP is not worth the extra money. While I do have my heart set on going to the party once in my life & am afraid I might not get another opportunity to do so, I still would be happy just seeing the lights & resort decor. The main thing I want to show my son is the fireworks & the parades, so I can still see those without going to MVMCP. We are also able to see EPCOT's fireworks from the pool at our resort, so that will be great on our free days! I'm just hoping we will still be able to go in December. If we aren't able, I feel a lot better after reading your comment because I know that its not the end of the world! lol
You are right as well about the timing as well. I definitely am changing it (if we get to attend the party) to go to the MVMCP at the beginning of our trip and our MK day towards the end. That way, we will be able to ride the rides & go to the shops at MK that we didn't go to at the party! I don't know why I didn't think of that before! Thanks for the advice!!!
I am so intrigued by the Vinylmations--I guess I need to see them in person to figure them out. Cute things from
Disney Store!!
On our last trip, I had no idea what Vinylmations even were! I saw a display of them, I think it was in Fast Track at EPCOT?? After I got back from my trip, I started researching them a little bit & now I love them & collect them!
Whenever you buy them, you don't know which one you are getting! I think thats half the excitement! You just buy a little box & inside there is a silver sealed package that includes a little card & the Vinylmation. Most Vinylmations cost around $9.95-$13.95 at the parks (just to give you an idea).
Once you start collecting, if there is a particular one that you have to have, you can always go onto ebay. They will cost more but you will know ahead of time which one you are getting. IMO, I think that ruins half the fun of Vinylmations! I love getting the little box & guessing which one it will be & then opening it to find out!
How exciting! I ordered 2 Vinylmations for myself because I started collecting them, a Christmas stocking (it was on sale) for my DS, the 2010 scrapbook set, and a 2010 collector's spoon for myself. It was like Christmas day!!! 
Somehow just seeing that email put me in a good mood! 
