November 2012 Code Watch!!

[Smileybug]

Right now it is 11 with a max of 15.

Ohana's would be fun for a large group - we did that before. Other than that is too much of a hassle trying to please everyone. Since I am was put in charge of booking rooms I don't need the stress of ADRs too.

With 21 how do you determine who wants to eat with who and where and when? lol

With there being so many in our group we are each planning our own trips. We are divided between 4 resorts. And as of right now only planning a couple of meals all together. I know we will be having "mini" meets all through the week. There is a group of us that always go the same time of year. And this year ...... it just caught on.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

wow...either y'all are veeeeery brave, or have a lot of people you get along with in your family! If I knew 21 people outside of my 5 were coming from my family, I would back out!
It would definitely be a nightmare,...especially as they would all want/expect me to plan and tend to it all, then they would complain. No doubt about it....I would be the lady yall put pics of up here on the boards as 'the crazy lady we saw on our trip'! Laid out on a park bench or the sidewalk with a migraine.... but I don't think we could even find 21 people in our family who would all agree to even go the same month anyway!
I forget who asked about WL, but it is a very nice and relaxing place to stay..and it sounds convenient for your mom too,..probably easier for her to just hop on the boat and meet you...and I love love love the Disney boats,..we boat anywhere we can!!! It's another little piece of relaxation heaven
orangecat~the week you are talking about will be the week we are going..3rd time in a row! Just go into it knowing the first part is gonna be busy-lots of events winding down...by Sunday it's a lot better..we either do HS or MK that Sunday...Monday at Epcot is usually pretty good-no one is there after the F&W that weekend...By the Sat before Thanksgiving it picks back up-Sat is getting more crowded but doable, and Sunday is really crankin' up--we have been leaving on that Sun and trying to squeeze in some MK before our flight, but this year we are just gonna leave later on Sat afternoon... As far as swimming, most pools are heated, or should be. We swim every year-it probably seems colder to us than you since we are from Texas, but it's fine for us, so you should be A-OK!!

 

[Smileybug]

Any ideas on what you are thinking? Or are you waiting to see if FD comes out first?

I don't think I am thinking. Thats the problem. I just haven't been able to wrap my head around this yet. I'll get it though.

 

[Smileybug]

wow...either y'all are veeeeery brave, or have a lot of people you get along with in your family! If I knew 21 people outside of my 5 were coming from my family, I would back out!
It would definitely be a nightmare,...especially as they would all want/expect me to plan and tend to it all, then they would complain. No doubt about it....I would be the lady yall put pics of up here on the boards as 'the crazy lady we saw on our trip'! Laid out on a park bench or the sidewalk with a migraine.... but I don't think we could even find 21 people in our family who would all agree to even go the same month anyway!
I forget who asked about WL, but it is a very nice and relaxing place to stay..and it sounds convenient for your mom too,..probably easier for her to just hop on the boat and meet you...and I love love love the Disney boats,..we boat anywhere we can!!! It's another little piece of relaxation heaven
orangecat~the week you are talking about will be the week we are going..3rd time in a row! Just go into it knowing the first part is gonna be busy-lots of events winding down...by Sunday it's a lot better..we either do HS or MK that Sunday...Monday at Epcot is usually pretty good-no one is there after the F&W that weekend...By the Sat before Thanksgiving it picks back up-Sat is getting more crowded but doable, and Sunday is really crankin' up--we have been leaving on that Sun and trying to squeeze in some MK before our flight, but this year we are just gonna leave later on Sat afternoon... As far as swimming, most pools are heated, or should be. We swim every year-it probably seems colder to us than you since we are from Texas, but it's fine for us, so you should be A-OK!!

Well, the only reason this is going to work is we are all plannng our own trips. What we are doing is planning to be in the same park on each day. and only a couple of meals are planned together. Then the rest of it is however we run into each other. One family member has asked that we do matching shirts though. I guess we could be our own tour group. I wonder who will carry the flag. I am actually looking forward to it. Probably because we are the only ones staying at the WL. Two families are at AK, one at Pop and the rest are at POFQ.

 

[LaDonna]

I know last time I went I was able to find some free crowd calendars with each day and best park days, I can't seem to find any now for November except for the easywdw site and its not posted there yet. Does anyone know of any? I want to start planning my days, although i'm sure they'll probably change, but I need some sort of idea of what ADR's I want to look for for what days before May. Will Disney's hours etc be posted by then too?

 

[Smileybug]

I know last time I went I was able to find some free crowd calendars with each day and best park days, I can't seem to find any now for November except for the easywdw site and its not posted there yet. Does anyone know of any? I want to start planning my days, although i'm sure they'll probably change, but I need some sort of idea of what ADR's I want to look for for what days before May. Will Disney's hours etc be posted by then too?

I don't know of any other free ones.

 

[OrangeCat04]

Thanks for the helpful responses everyone! I'm very excited, I have a feeling we are going to like November

 

[Smileybug]

Thanks for the helpful responses everyone! I'm very excited, I have a feeling we are going to like November

I agree with you.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

La Donna...We are probably gonna have to wait a while for the free sites to have updated park hours, I have been looking back at easywdw, just looking at that week from last year--not too much will change. Maybe some Fantasmic! times, but the majority will stay the same..you could always pay for a diff site, but they will probably have the info at the same time. And if you go when it's a slow week, you won't have to be so exact until the actual park times come out...that's what I usually do.

 

[LaDonna]

Hmmm I wonder what park would be least crowded on Thanksgiving day?

 

[Happy Mom2]

Hi everyone! Well, today was my first full day back at work. Can I just say that I didn't like it one bit? I actually had to work, and it really got in the way of my DIS-ing!! And the drive home... crazy nut jobs on the road! I don't want to go back! Seriously though, I did ok.

Someone asked about crowd levels and calendars/schedules. Disney releases park hours approximately six months in advance... right around the time to make ADRs. It's best to have a general idea of the ADRs you want and on what day, then make minor changes once the park hours are released. As for projected crowd levels, easywdw probably won't publish theirs until the park hours are released. Touringplans.com has theirs published, but it is a paid site. You can google a discount code, and it's very reasonable, and so worth it. Several of us use them. I think you'll find it worth the money, and if not, I think they have a money back guarantee. Just be aware the touringplans will probably make some minor changes to their calendars once Disney releases theirs.

EXWDWCM - I lived in Las Colinas in 2001/2002. I worked in Las Colinas too so all I had to do was take a 5 minute drive down MacAuthur, and I was at work. Oh, how I miss DFW! I think I can remember enough of the surface roads to get me around. What I can't remember GPS will have to handle.

We should arrive at Love Field by 11am, and I think we will grab lunch, go to the Sam Moon, then head straight to the American Girl store. I'm sure we will spend all afternoon there, and I'll probably make dinner reservations at their bistro. I'm not sure how the food will be, but DD will love it just because it is AG. I'm sure I'll survive. I'm thinking I'll find a hotel in the Grapevine area, and hit the mall the next day. I'll be sure to get a hotel with a pool so when my wallet is exhausted, we can go back to the hotel to swim and relax. We'll find somewhere fun for dinner. Oh... or the Blue Goose. Oh, how I used to love that place... at least I think that was name. Then the next day, we'll head home. What's a good place for breakfast on a Saturday morning? I don't think I was ever up early enough for breakfast on a weekend back in those days. I know I keep saying it, but thank you so much for all your help. I talked to my DFW friends the other day and the next mentioned 635!

Smileybug - I think I would plan buffets or family style restaurants like O'hana's for that big of a group. No way I want to deal with orders! It sounds like your group is going to have a great time. I don't think DH and I have that many family members combined. Each year we have a combined family Christmas with his family and mine are a total of 11, including DBIL's girlfriend and our dog!! I'm an only child and only grandchild. My kids are the only grandchildren on both sides.

Mommyof3princesses - Been missing you lately!!

AND A BIG WELCOME to all the newbies!!!

 

[ThreeAngels]

Welcome, newcomers! This thread has just gotten way too busy for me to keep up with posting, but I've been reading faithfully.

I apologize for yet another question, but I promised DH I would ask you experts. This is re: the possibility of free dining for a Thanksgiving trip if you check-in by the Thursday before....

If we change our reservation to check in on Thursday 11/15 instead of Saturday 11/17, and free dining does not happen, can we change our ressie back to checking in on Saturday without any penalty/repercussion? I want to change to Thursday, but DH thinks we'll get screwed out of money somehow. We really cannot afford two extra days at Yacht Club if there is no free dining......

Advice please! And THANKS!

 

[mydisneyobsession]

La Donna...We are probably gonna have to wait a while for the free sites to have updated park hours, I have been looking back at easywdw, just looking at that week from last year--not too much will change. Maybe some Fantasmic! times, but the majority will stay the same..you could always pay for a diff site, but they will probably have the info at the same time. And if you go when it's a slow week, you won't have to be so exact until the actual park times come out...that's what I usually do.

I get so much use out of Touring Plans, I think it's well worth the expense!

Also, Tour Guide Mike has been in the parks the last few weeks, so I think his site will be getting some much needed updating. I think he said he's working on touring plans with young kids during Holiday weeks... right up my alley for sure!

 

[dazednconfused]

My oh my!! This thread seems to be on fire! So many posts and so many people!

Threeangels,
We had FD in 09, but we checked in a few days after Thanksgiving. Not entirely sure if the promo included Thanksgiving or not. My TA checked with WDW about a possible PIN attached to my ressie... No such luck. Soooo, I'm back to playing the waiting game.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

Welcome, newcomers! This thread has just gotten way too busy for me to keep up with posting, but I've been reading faithfully.

I apologize for yet another question, but I promised DH I would ask you experts. This is re: the possibility of free dining for a Thanksgiving trip if you check-in by the Thursday before....

If we change our reservation to check in on Thursday 11/15 instead of Saturday 11/17, and free dining does not happen, can we change our ressie back to checking in on Saturday without any penalty/repercussion? I want to change to Thursday, but DH thinks we'll get screwed out of money somehow. We really cannot afford two extra days at Yacht Club if there is no free dining......

Advice please! And THANKS!

I usually try to book for as long as I would possibly want to stay, because I'm never quite sure how airfare will work out. Once my flights are booked, I often end up removing a day from one end or the other. As long as you watch your "paid in full" date, you should be able to remove any days you want to without penalty. I wouldn't hesitate to add a few days on to the reservation during the planning stages to give yourself some wiggle room! The days may not be available to add later.

 

[Smileybug]

Good morning ya'll.

 

[NJRA]

So happy to find this tread! We're planning a WDW trip for Nov 10-19 2012 and are really hoping for Free Dining to be announced it would make our trip MUCH more affordable. Fingers crossed we get some pixie dust our way

 

[jennjenn527]

I booked by telephone about a month ago for the week after Thanksgiving. Do ya'll think that ruins my chances of getting a pin? Should I cancel my reservation for now just to see? I did all the "tricks" and my husband got a free dining pin but its only good until end of June. He got that pin before I booked. I got a Disney Destinations email today and got all excited but it was just a suggestions for you on your upcoming trip. Now I am second guessing myself for making reservations so early.

 

[mydisneyobsession]

I booked by telephone about a month ago for the week after Thanksgiving. Do ya'll think that ruins my chances of getting a pin? Should I cancel my reservation for now just to see? I did all the "tricks" and my husband got a free dining pin but its only good until end of June. He got that pin before I booked. I got a Disney Destinations email today and got all excited but it was just a suggestions for you on your upcoming trip. Now I am second guessing myself for making reservations so early.

From what I can tell, the marketing department doesn't know or care if you have a reservation. I am a "book way in advance" kind of person, and I have very often received PINS when I already have a reservation on the books. I wouldn't cancel that reservation... but if a PIN does come along, you may need to be flexible to take advantage. For example, there may not be room available at your current resort under the promotion, so you may have to a different room category or resort, etc.

I can also say for certain that getting a PIN has never actually saved me any money... instead, it's always been an irresistible invitation to upgrade!

 

[SILLYANDI]

I'm on watch for a November pin... running the Wine & Dine Half Mary.

Me too! My cousin from TN is meeting up with me there. ONly a few days til we get to sign up! WHEW HOO! I'm working on the coast to coast challenge..