*** New Official February 2013 Thread ***

[brobrosmom]

It's so bizarre the different perspectives! I used to think it was about touring b/c we are BIG on rope drop, but I think there are other factors as well. I'm a big planner and followed rope drop, avoiding EMH parks, TGM and easyWDW best days...but we still thought the crowds were pretty big once lunchtime hit. I will say that RD was great and we certainly got everything done we wanted, but since I went on my first trip in Sept. of 2008, I think each trip the crowds have grown, regardless of when we went. (Sept 2008, Oct. 2009, Jan. 2012, and Nov 2012)

It certainly wasn't like BUSY times at all, but it wasn't dead either. I took pictures as proof b/c I was shocked at certain times the amount of people in the parks! I knew people wouldn't believe me!

Granted, the first few hours after RD wasn't like this, but we are ALL DAY type people, so by afternoon at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb 2012, I saw crowds like this:

NOT dead. Luckily we get all our rides done in the morning, so this type of thing isn't a deal breaker, but still something I have to prepare for in my mind!

I check all the same websites....we are some serious planners!

Where are y'all staying on your next trip? We stayed at AKV and Boardwalk on our last trip. Previous to that trip it was only the campground and values. I have to say that I am in love with AKV Kidani Village. That is where we are staying in February. We became DVC members in January of last year and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions EVER!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I check all the same websites....we are some serious planners!

Where are y'all staying on your next trip? We stayed at AKV and Boardwalk on our last trip. Previous to that trip it was only the campground and values. I have to say that I am in love with AKV Kidani Village. That is where we are staying in February. We became DVC members in January of last year and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions EVER!

Oh so jealous of your DVC status!!! My dh and I stayed at AKL in November and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! We sat on that balcony for hours talking about buying in! We have stayed offsite and at PoP and in 3 weeks it's just a mother/daughter trip for us, so we're headed "home" to PoP, we spent our first visit there and so wanted to go back.

 

[moopdog]

I check all the same websites....we are some serious planners!

Where are y'all staying on your next trip? We stayed at AKV and Boardwalk on our last trip. Previous to that trip it was only the campground and values. I have to say that I am in love with AKV Kidani Village. That is where we are staying in February. We became DVC members in January of last year and I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions EVER!

Jumping in to ask you a question. We will be staying at AKL for the first time ever and I still have not gotten a straight answer - it seems to be split 50/50: DO WE NEED TO GET A RENTAL CAR?! We will be there from 1/31 to 2/9, so crowds should be decent. But I saw a thread recently that it's about a 40 minute ride to some locations, by bus

We don't mind a 15 or 20 minute ride, but 40 each way might put a damper on our moods by day 9. Cars are affordable right now but DH doesn't want the extra expense. What's your opinion?

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Well, that depends who you ask! I thought the buses were fine, my husband thought they took too long! I have a few more thoughts in my Nov 2012 trip report(link below)

 

[brobrosmom]

Jumping in to ask you a question. We will be staying at AKL for the first time ever and I still have not gotten a straight answer - it seems to be split 50/50: DO WE NEED TO GET A RENTAL CAR?! We will be there from 1/31 to 2/9, so crowds should be decent. But I saw a thread recently that it's about a 40 minute ride to some locations, by bus

We don't mind a 15 or 20 minute ride, but 40 each way might put a damper on our moods by day 9. Cars are affordable right now but DH doesn't want the extra expense. What's your opinion?

We stayed at the Kidani Village and I am guessing you are staying at Jambo House. Correct? We did not think the bus rides were bad at all and never did we have a 40 minute ride to any location! Now from seeing the bus stop at Kidani Village and the bus stop at the Lodge I will say that the Lodge had more people and was more crowded. I can't comment on how long the wait was for a bus.

We are driving to Disney in February and plan on using the buses even though we will have a car. I would say the farthest park is MK and you wouldn't want to drive there anyway. If you did, you'd have to park and then take the monorail or the boat over to the gates. It's just my opinion but I don't think a car is necessary. Of course as with all things Disney...you will get different views.

 

[brobrosmom]

Oh so jealous of your DVC status!!! My dh and I stayed at AKL in November and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! We sat on that balcony for hours talking about buying in! We have stayed offsite and at PoP and in 3 weeks it's just a mother/daughter trip for us, so we're headed "home" to PoP, we spent our first visit there and so wanted to go back.

We are definitely loving it. So far we've used our points in November to stay at Kidani Village and Boardwalk, in December for 2 nights at Aulani before a girls only Hawaiian cruise! (yes I was able to get DH to agree to this), and we have a a 2 bedroom villa booked at Kidani Village in February. I am also planning a June trip, an October trip, and a March 2014 DL trip. I never would have stayed at these places or made so many trips if it wasn't for the DVC membership.

In the past I would price out a villa or a deluxe resort and was like NO WAY am I spending that on 1 trip! I am cheap! But with the DVC we have budgeted monthly for the payment and even though I know I am paying a lot up front... it won't be bad once it's paid for. I know there are a lot of pros and cons with it but I think it depends on how you vacation. For us it really works!

 

[moopdog]

Well, that depends who you ask! I thought the buses were fine, my husband thought they took too long! I have a few more thoughts in my Nov 2012 trip report(link below)

Hahaha, well....that was a great TR, but SO big that I think I missed your comments on the bussing. I skimmed and skimmed and got caught up in your report & AMAZING pictures but no bus-related comments until the end when you thought you'd wind up with a car next time.

That's alright. I think I may just play the "wait & see" game. If it seems bad, we'll try to get one somplace down there - hopefully not paying a fortune, but prob will .

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hahaha, well....that was a great TR, but SO big that I think I missed your comments on the bussing. I skimmed and skimmed and got caught up in your report & AMAZING pictures but no bus-related comments until the end when you thought you'd wind up with a car next time.

That's alright. I think I may just play the "wait & see" game. If it seems bad, we'll try to get one somplace down there - hopefully not paying a fortune, but prob will .

Lol...I have a way of going on and on, so sending you to my TR probably wasn't the best idea!! Biggest issue was actually getting a bus MID-DAY back to the resort?? They just did not have many running. In the morning and evening we never waited and the rides were not bad...BUT, they pick up at Kidani first, so we had to stand a few times when a full bus would pull up.

 

[skater]

I'm going down the last week of Feb., and everybody has different opinions on some of our days too. I seem to be leaning toward easywdw - mostly because their opinion matches the days I want to be at each park . Hopefully it will work out. I've never been down that week, so I have little clue what it will be like, but he crowd numbers aren't too bad.

 

[tjknitz]

I'm going down the last week of Feb., and everybody has different opinions on some of our days too. I seem to be leaning toward easywdw - mostly because their opinion matches the days I want to be at each park . Hopefully it will work out. I've never been down that week, so I have little clue what it will be like, but he crowd numbers aren't too bad.

We are there the last week of Feb too! I've never been during this week - much less Feb. I'm hoping for low crowds. I'm following easywdw and tp - they both seem to be very similar so I'm hoping for the best!

 

[Kathymford]

If you are going soon, I would not stress over changing your plans. It is too stressful; this is vacation after all!! Just breathe!

Now, if you want to check for ADRs and it's easy, then do it. But don't stress!!

 

[Coyotesweat]

For the record, as of noon EST today (very low crowd day) the line for TSM was 45 min and fast passes were available then for 7:30 pm, so that would allow a bit of sleep-in time, but now at 12:36 EST no more FP left and wait of 60 min...

Rocknroller coaster is 80 min but still has fast passes for 1:35 pm, and ToT is only 13 min wait.

So other than TSM, you could definitely sleep in on a slow HS day and then get lots done.

Katie

 

[rscherrer]

Jumping in to ask you a question. We will be staying at AKL for the first time ever and I still have not gotten a straight answer - it seems to be split 50/50: DO WE NEED TO GET A RENTAL CAR?! We will be there from 1/31 to 2/9, so crowds should be decent. But I saw a thread recently that it's about a 40 minute ride to some locations, by bus

We don't mind a 15 or 20 minute ride, but 40 each way might put a damper on our moods by day 9. Cars are affordable right now but DH doesn't want the extra expense. What's your opinion?

we are staying off site, doing one park a day, so I rented a car at MCO and they are CHEAP ($100 total for the week- taxes and fees included). If you are on the fence, you might want to rent one as cheap insurance for your plans. i think they also have a lot of areas in the resort and DTD where you can rent for a couple of days, and they have cheap rates too (plus no airport fees). I know parking can eat some of that savings up, but the convenience once or twice can make it worthwhile. MHO

 

[Kathymford]

Finally at the 40 day mark!! One more day to be in the 30s. FINALLY feeling a little closer!

 

[MrToad1345]

Just hit 39 DTG today!!! My wife though is having second thoughts. She thinks its too much since we are going in April also. I could go everyday.

 

[Kathymford]

Just hit 39 DTG today!!! My wife though is having second thoughts. She thinks its too much since we are going in April also. I could go everyday.

Never too much!! hahaha.

 

[melissarose]

forecasts past 7 days should not be allowed. i know that the weather is likely to change before i arrive on feb 2, but so far it looks like a pile of crap, excuse my language lol.

 

[MrToad1345]

Never too much!! hahaha.

So I'm not crazy then!!

 

[pigletto]

Mrtoad, we've averaged a trip every 6-8 months for the last two years

We enjoy every one, and we don't regret it. We prefer to do it this way and shave money off the room/tickets/food where we can instead of one big blow out vacation once a year at the Poly or somewhere similar. We don't go out to eat much, save points for movie passes, and do a lot of fun low cost things around home so that we can spend our mad money on vacations. It's just what we love. So, I don't think anyone will think you're crazy here.
Now.. I do come home from every trip saying it will be the last one for a long time. It never is

Well I finally switched my room only ressie over to a package (Free Dining pin code) this morning. I had to change the dates a little too. I tried and tried to book it on the website but gave up after an hour of trying different things.
So I called and got through right away. I was so happy not to be on hold forever. Then the cast member I was working with could not get the pin codes to work and it became a 48 minute call to book a package

In the end though she booked us in a standard view Royal Room at Port Orleans which was great because it saved me 190 or so off the Garden View I was trying to book online. I couldn't see a standard so it's nice she found one for me.

I am all booked, all paid, online check in is finished AND all my dining reservations are made.

Now.. I wait. 39 days to go

You just know I am going to have to play with my Dining a little bit lol.

 

[Kathymford]

Mrtoad, we've averaged a trip every 6-8 months for the last two years

We enjoy every one, and we don't regret it. We prefer to do it this way and shave money off the room/tickets/food where we can instead of one big blow out vacation once a year at the Poly or somewhere similar. We don't go out to eat much, save points for movie passes, and do a lot of fun low cost things around home so that we can spend our mad money on vacations. It's just what we love. So, I don't think anyone will think you're crazy here.
Now.. I do come home from every trip saying it will be the last one for a long time. It never is

Well I finally switched my room only ressie over to a package (Free Dining pin code) this morning. I had to change the dates a little too. I tried and tried to book it on the website but gave up after an hour of trying different things.
So I called and got through right away. I was so happy not to be on hold forever. Then the cast member I was working with could not get the pin codes to work and it became a 48 minute call to book a package

In the end though she booked us in a standard view Royal Room at Port Orleans which was great because it saved me 190 or so off the Garden View I was trying to book online. I couldn't see a standard so it's nice she found one for me.

I am all booked, all paid, online check in is finished AND all my dining reservations are made.

Now.. I wait. 39 days to go

You just know I am going to have to play with my Dining a little bit lol.

I agree with you. We are on the twice a year plan right now. It also helps that we are DVC, but we sure blow through the points pretty quickly. This Feb trip is our first non-DVC trip. I'm sure one day it will change, but we love it so much. And we don't even have kids. lol. It's hard to explain to people, especially coming from the West Coast. But we manage. We save up enough AMEX points to pay for one set of flights, and pay cash for the other.

Very jealous of your pin code! I would love to stay at POR one day!!

Jealou