***October 2012 Thread*** MNSSHP + Food & Wine - Does It Get Any Better?

[Sarahlynn]

I really appreciate all the suggestions!

We're going to to switch rooms in order to get free dining. If we were paying for our own trip, it would be worth $629 dollars for the theme park view rooms - we don't get to Disney every year and waking up to see the castle first thing is a We Won the Lottery! moment for us. Plus, with a child with special needs (easily overwhelmed, needs breaks) and a one-year-old who can't nap in the stroller and usually goes to bed at 6:30 PM (though he will stay up later in the excitement of Disney) I will be spending a fair amount of time in the room.

(I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the kids alone in the room to go down to the 4th floor to see the fireworks, but am really happy to know about that option, so that if the baby's still awake we could slip down there together. Fireworks from farther away are less overwhelming for my 8-year-old, anyway.)

But this is my in-laws' trip and they're paying for everything - I'm just doing the planning - so I think I'll go for economics and get the cheaper rooms plus free dining.

Thanks again!

(Note: We saw the Electric Light Water Parade from our theme park room last time as it came across the 7 Seas Lagoon. Maybe it doesn't always do that?)

 

[rcraw45425]

I really appreciate all the suggestions!

We're going to to switch rooms in order to get free dining. If we were paying for our own trip, it would be worth $629 dollars for the theme park view rooms - we don't get to Disney every year and waking up to see the castle first thing is a We Won the Lottery! moment for us. Plus, with a child with special needs (easily overwhelmed, needs breaks) and a one-year-old who can't nap in the stroller and usually goes to bed at 6:30 PM (though he will stay up later in the excitement of Disney) I will be spending a fair amount of time in the room.

(I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the kids alone in the room to go down to the 4th floor to see the fireworks, but am really happy to know about that option, so that if the baby's still awake we could slip down there together. Fireworks from farther away are less overwhelming for my 8-year-old, anyway.)

But this is my in-laws' trip and they're paying for everything - I'm just doing the planning - so I think I'll go for economics and get the cheaper rooms plus free dining.

Thanks again!

If it will make you feel better the rooms on both sides are identical. You may want to request a room farther away from Chef Mickeys if you have little ones with noise issues. When we stayed BL side we didn't notice it but I've seen others complain. Another thing we always do is bring our Sleep Mate white noise machine. It knocks put everything!!

 

[Melissa8905]

I can't wait!!! Our first MNSSHP and our first stay at the Polynesian!

 

[Amunet]

I can't wait!!! Our first MNSSHP and our first stay at the Polynesian!

Yay!! I'm very jealous of you staying at the Poly! Our first MNSSHP as well ^_^ Will you also be attending Food and Wine?

It'll be me, my husband, and my wonderful friend and TA. Maybe her daughter too, but we aren't sure.

No RR for us, but I did request the mansions section. We stayed in a brand new refurbed one last year and it was just SOOO beautiful! Plus I'm from down the bayou, so the AB section doesn't really do it for me. Are you going to the Halloween Party? We have a group of 24 on the 28th!!

Awe that sounds like a nice little party ^_^ It will just be me and my husband for this one.

I requested the mansions section as well ... PLUS if a RR opens up lol. I'll be calling this week sometime to find if any open up

I'm not huge on the decor for AB, it's quaint but just not my thing.

We are planning on it! We don't have our tickets because we need to make sure that we can get the days off work. But yes, we very much plan on going to the Halloween Party on the 28th as well ^_^

Woh, 24 people?! Like a meetup?

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Yay!! I'm very jealous of you staying at the Poly! Our first MNSSHP as well ^_^ Will you also be attending Food and Wine?



Awe that sounds like a nice little party ^_^ It will just be me and my husband for this one.

I requested the mansions section as well ... PLUS if a RR opens up lol. I'll be calling this week sometime to find if any open up

I'm not huge on the decor for AB, it's quaint but just not my thing.

We are planning on it! We don't have our tickets because we need to make sure that we can get the days off work. But yes, we very much plan on going to the Halloween Party on the 28th as well ^_^

Woh, 24 people?! Like a meetup?

You can come hang out with us!! It'll be great, Ive only actually "met" four of the group! And yes, it's a bunch of peeps who met here on the DIS, and formed a planners group for last year, stayed friends, and are doing a meet up at the party!

 

[lauran cameron]

I just released (2:47AM EST) a Le Cellier @ 8:15 PM ADR for 10/28 we decided to do lunch on 10/31 instead @ 1:35 PM...so keep an eye out I know most days are completely booked already!!!

 

[AnjieNet]

Our extended family of nine will be staying at POP 10/20 - 10/27. Is anybody else ticked off that they removed the one and only MK late EMH on 10/22?

The MK late EMH on 10/22 has already been added back in on the TA calendar.

http://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/DTA-Domestic/pdf/ParkHours/WDW_Operating_Calendar_oct.pdf

 

[Scrapmomsyr]

I'm taking my DS (9) at the end of October. Just couldn't resist the great discount with free dining.

We've never been in October before - most visits have been at the beginning of December or in the summer. Looking forward to seeing the Halloween decorations. Now just have to decide if the MNSSHP is going to be part of our visit. Hmmm....

 

[mom2jms]

Hi all! New to DisBoards and visiting Disney for the first time with my kids, ages 7,5 &2

I've been a few times before and the last time was with my husband in 2003.

We are going meet my dad and sister and are all staying at Pop Oct 21-27

I'm so excited and in the itinerary stages right now. I've been trying to get my reservations done for meals and planning out the parks, etc.

Just wanted to say hi.

Also, I've heard that you can rent (from off site and it's cheaper) strollers. Anyone know the site?

Or any info on must not miss restaurants?

 

[ginerjenny]

we'll be at csr 10/24-10/30

 

[carmie3377]

Just booked a couple weeks ago. We weren't planning on a trip to WDW this year cause we just moved out of state and we are surprising the kids next March for a Fantasy cruise for their birthdays. But, hubby found a conference at The Contemporary the week of Columbus Day. Since the kids already have 2 days off of school that week, we decided to just pull them out the other 3 days and make a vacation out of it! We are also bringing our nephew for his very first trip to WDW, actually very first vacation ever! I was on the fence for MNSSHP but when we decided to bring my nephew, I knew we just had to do it! I want to make this trip so special for him.

Anyway, it'll be me, DH, DD13, DS6 and DNephew 6. We are staying at the Contemporary 10/5-11 and then moving over to the Poly from 10/11-13. I have always wanted to try both of those resorts but never have cause I can't justify the price when we own DVC. However, DH's work is picking up the tab on the Contemporary due to continuing education and Disney is extending the conference rate over to the Poly for after the conference. Can't pass up $199/nt at the Poly!

DH will be in conference all day for the first several days but will get to join us in the evening. Then on Thursday and Friday, he'll have all day with us. Can't wait. This is our shortest countdown ever

 

[lauralarissa]

45 Days to go!!! All paid off and in the home stretch!!! Can't wait til our 1st October trip!! Usually we go in June so this should be a nice change of pace for us. I just wish DD5 would figure out what she wants to be for the PARTY. She wants to keep changing her mind! DS12 wants to be the headless horseman but I told him IDK if that was allowed. Does anyone know if he would be able to wear that costume? You can't see his face at all.

 

[budafam]

40 days to go!!! Only 13 days away from my DD's 4th birthday getting to tell her about our mother/daughter surprise trip! I keep saying that I'm going to slow down on the next trip but I think I have more planned for this one than any other before. Yikes!

 

[Stitch407]

Oh, I finally found you all.

I have been DIS before, but this is my new profile

I was at WDW last year for two weeks in October 9-22 and loved it. I went to MNSSHP too, and I'm a Disney Geek in general, so if you have any Q, I might be able to answer.

a few suggestions:

I am not a doctor and you should consult a doctor before making any medical/health decisions......Saying that, I was in a party of 5 last year and was the only one who didn't get a head cold, and I got the flu shot before I left. In fact, I got it early, because the flu shot can make you feel like you have the flu for a bit. I'm getting it before my next trip too I was the only one who didn't get sick, but my little cousin did the first night we were there! And it made for a hard first day, since she couldn't do much and had a fever. Oh, and I took vitamin C everyday.

I brought ten travel packets of Wet Ones wipes, which I find at Walmart for a $1, in yellow or red pouches, they fit in a purse. I have also found them at Walgreens. Between the 5 of us, we used all ten packages. Trust me, buy them, I am always the only one who does, and then everyone bums them off me, which I why I have to buy so many extra.

Yes, I am a germaphobe, but I'm the only one who didn't get sick, and yes I still bring it up to them when we talk about our trip

And I personally don't think MNSSHP is worth the price, I think SWW is 10X better and you don't even have to pay extra for it! But, that's my own opinion. I had fun, but we were disappointed. I'm not doing it ever again, except maybe in DL, because they have NBC overlay ride.

 

[Stitch407]

And rent a stroller!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disney's suck and I always feel bad for the kids who have to sit in those hard plastic ones, plus many sites have them cheaper than Disney's!


And don't wear ridiculous uncomfortable costumes! You're going to be sweaty and tired, wearing something hot and itchy is just stupid I wore a pink power ranger t-shirt, did my hair and makeup up nice, but wore jeans and sneakers. I was fine, my Cousins skimpy fairy costume didn't work out so well for her, especially her flats (shoes) left many blisters.

Ps. I live in florida and wear waterproof makeup year-round. I like maybelline waterproof mascara and Makeup Forever is a brand name and their Aqua line is waterproof. Don't wear oily makeup.

 

[daizieduck]

I buy the packs of Wet Ones too. They are great for freshening up. Poor quality wet restroom paper towels just don't cut it!!!

 

[peeputt]

What is SWW?
Star Wars Weekends?

 

[smitch425]

What is SWW?
Star Wars Weekends?

yep

 

[AndreaA]

Very, very new here, but so excited that I have booked our trip for October 12-20th!

We (DH, twin 3-yr-old sons and I) will be staying at the Art of Animation Cars suites from Friday through Sunday and then moving to a one bedroom villa at Wilderness Lodge for the rest of our stay.

I've already made some ADRs, and am pondering stroller rental (one double or two singles?) and full itineraries. I am now addicted to the various trip-planning sites like Touring Plans and Easy WDW.

Now I just need to get a pile of anti-anxiety meds for the flights...

 

[Stitch407]

Very, very new here, but so excited that I have booked our trip for October 12-20th!

We (DH, twin 3-yr-old sons and I) will be staying at the Art of Animation Cars suites from Friday through Sunday and then moving to a one bedroom villa at Wilderness Lodge for the rest of our stay.

I've already made some ADRs, and am pondering stroller rental (one double or two singles?) and full itineraries. I am now addicted to the various trip-planning sites like Touring Plans and Easy WDW.

Now I just need to get a pile of anti-anxiety meds for the flights...

I would personally suggest one double stroller. Mostly because youre going to have enough trouble keeping up with one stroller, much less two. I would only suggest two for someone who has maybe older disabled children and/or people with three or more kids. When you go ride rides or even enter certain pavillons at Epcot, you'll have to leave them in a sea of strollers in a designated stroller parking area, and Disney cast members will freely move your strollers around as a they please within that parking area if they need to, to make more room for more strollers, so they may not always be where you leave them. I would suggest tying a bandana on it/them or tying a balloon to it, to the handle, so you can easily recognize it, especially if it looks like every other rental in the sea of rentals.

You also have to think about how much strollers slow you down, because they do a lot actually.