October 25, 2008 Western DD

[Aneille]

Okay I asked my 6 year old. She said her favorite was Boardwalk and Beach Club. The rest were kind of lumped together, but there were things she liked at each of them.

I remember when I had to choose the first time I was so overwhelmed. Now I've been to enough to know that for the most part, all of them would make a great vacation.

If you are planning on only going to Magic Kingdom that day I would stay at the Wilderness Lodge. If you are going to Epcot or MGM I would pick Beach Club or Boardwalk since you can walk to Epcot and MGM or take a ferry.

If you are planning on Animal Kingdom for sure on Sunday I would stay at the Animal Kingdom. Its a short ride on the bus to the park. I liked Animal Kingdom and even when we don't stay there we spend an evening there eating at Boma's, playing on the playground, watching the animals etc.

As far as the moderate go, we are spoiled and haven't stayed in one yet. But I've heard great things about Port Orleans Riverside. And if were to try a moderate that is the one I would try first.

 

[Aneille]

The other thing I wanted to mention that my kids brought up this morning, is the hayride.

They loved the Haunted Hayride last year at the Wilderness Campground. We may do it again. Without giving away secrets my 4 year old was involved in the act and it really made it special for them.

It was scary but not too scary. Just scary enough for young kids and probably not very scary at all for kids over 9+ but would probably but them on edge. At times I felt on edge because I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. My kids looked nervous, my 4 year old looked very very nervous at times (due to her involvement) but it was a blast.

 

[LovableGluttons]

Ok you know who you are, we were talking about transfering our reservations to other companies to get more OBC's, you told me about cruisecompete.com, ok now who are you cause they said whoever referred me gets $50 extra OBC! I think i know who it was but im not sure so speak up!

<cough> <cough> el cheapo here.....


How do they give that extra $50 OBC? Do I need to go re shop my reservation over there?

You KNOW I'd do it!

I love free Bahama Mamas!

 

[mommy2777]

<cough> <cough> el cheapo here.....


How do they give that extra $50 OBC? Do I need to go re shop my reservation over there?

You KNOW I'd do it!

I love free Bahama Mamas!

its only if you already had a reservation with them, i thought ya did, besides i didnt move mine, i was gonna be on the same deck, i was gonna cost a little more for the upgrade, but he was gonna take a $100 off and then give me $50 for refering my neighbors (rob + missy) and i would have broke even without a OBC. SOOOOO i decided to keep my original ressie and keep my $50! lol would had a SLIGHTY better room with no OBC

 

[mommy2777]

I LOOOOOOOVE the Bahama Mamas 2, and the Love Connection (its a layered frozen drink that i hope they still make) but at the melting pot they made me a love martini and it was FAB!

 

[mommy2777]

until we are in the 100's! woohoo!

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

Greyhound meeting went well. We should hear something in the next couple of days re: which dog might be right for us.

Off to the local performing arts place tonight to see Jugu: Thunder Drums of China. So we won't be at chat.


We love the Beach Club. Great pool, close to 2 parks, so many dining options. We honeymooned there.

Stayed at the Contemporary in 2006. Tower with MK view. Awesome, especially watching the fireworks from the balcony. There was quite a bit of noise from the concourse area/Chef Mickey's. And the shallow square sinks in the bathroom are a little weird.

AKL is where we stayed before both of our other cruises. Last fall had a savannah view. Neat to just look out and see the animals, especially once the workers were gone, and the animals felt comfortable returning.

Staying at the MCO Hyatt this year. Cheaper, and convenient. Plus, we can get a later flight down. DW will save some vacation time this way. Never thought we'd stay there, but are looking forward to it.

Sean

 

[dizzi]

Aneille- we are in the same boat with excursions- we will have our 5yr old son and 3yr old daughter with us. She will be a newly turned 3 as her birthday is at the end of September. Sure hope we can get her potty trained by then so we can go in the pools!!!!

Dizzi- since you seem to know the Disney parks so well, could you give us some pointers on the things not to miss with the ages of our kids? Neither my husband nor myself have been to Magic Kingdom since we were in high school. We probably wont be getting autographs from the characters because they will all be on the cruise. Thanks for any input. We are also going to the Animal Kingdom when we get back from the cruise.

Does anyone have a favorite Disney resort that you like staying at for the kids? We are thinking of staying at one of the resorts on the Saturday we get back from the cruise. We can play all day at the resort and then on Sunday go to Animal Kingdom. I heard there is one that has a lazy river. Is that one nice? Is there a pool there as well?

AHHHHHH MAGIC KINGDOM!!!!!!
For your ages of children i would have to say......The 2 areas you want to hit the most are TOON TOWN and FANTASY LAND!
WITHOUT a DOUBT!
ARE you going before or after the cruise?

Either way..with all the eother things they are going to do you dont want to spend morning until night right?
In fantasy land you have

Cinderella Castle...which you may want to do lunch at but make sure to make an ADR!
"it's a small world"...is grat for all age kids but especially for your age kids
Peter Pan's Flight...lovely scenery inside
Mickey's PhilharMagic...this is a cute 3d show
Storytime with Belle..this is a hidden show which i didnt find for several visits and not too many people show up but it is GREAT! Belle tells the story and their is interaction with her!
Snow White's Scary Adventures ????? maybe my DD was afraid of this for soem time!
Cinderella's Golden Carousel
Dumbo The Flying Elephant
Ariel's Grotto...even though they may be ont he cruise...i dont know if Ariel is their with her FINS on! This is a great picture area and has some REALLY COOL water play areas.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh..FUN FUN FUN
Mad Tea Party....might be too much for 3 year old but maybe not!

and in TOON TOWN!

Mickey's Toontown Fair
Minnie's Country House.minnies very own house GREAT PICTURES!
Mickey's Country House...mickeys house
Donald's Boat...play area
The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm...LITTLE PEOPLES coaster!

Other than these i wold say hit
Country bear jamboree....great show for little ones
Buzz Light year and Astro Orbiter

That should fill up a nice day for you!

Animal KINGDOM has 2 GREAT SHOWS and 2 Othr shows if your kids like Animal shows!

As for On Property.........We loved ALL STARS But they just have a normal pool!

 

[dizzi]

Dizzi- you have gotten me very worried about not being prepared when I enter Magic Kingdom. I have been online all night now looking up maps and explanations of attractions. I have a lot of work to do!!!

I think there is nothing better than having down on a 4x7 laminated card what you are going to do.
Why have to think abotu it once you get in there.

Why not have a plan instead of looking around with your thumb...up your ....nose?

it has just always been our way.......and our kids have grown to need it!

 

[dizzi]

Halloween Magical Cruise
( or Halloween On The High Seas! )


10 / 25 / 2008
Roll Call

************************************



We currently have
67
Dis Families Sailing with us for a total of
197
people making up our one big DisFamily!


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************************************


Halloween On The High Seas

Fool of the Month Award goes to:

dizzi!!!
For making everyone think She
Had canceled their cruise!


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]​

​

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EHum...clearing throat!

Let me take this opportunity to say thank you ever so much for allowing me the opportunity to FOOL you.

Thanks to my children for making me a parent who wants to take DISNEY trips

Thanks to MY DH for earning enough money,

Thanks to ALL OF you for subscribing to this WONDERFUL THREAD!!!!!

And to all my fans out there.... on the balcony DONT JUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

​

 

[mommy2777]

where IS evryone 2nite? im all alone, guess i'll go

 

[laurelk]

I'm here! but now everyone else is gone.

Dizzi, I am a planner too and our first trip to WDW/Wonder in 03 was close to a military assault in terms of preparation. We were travelling with another family whose mom was equally anal about the whole thing. We had all the reservations, all the shows, all the Princess meals. It was perfect!

Then, three years ago we went to D'land in L.A. I even invested in the special park planning software to plan the perfect crowd-avoidance route around the Magic Kingdom. It was July 4. We were in the first group on Dumbo at something like 7:15am. So far...perfect. We'd hit all the major kiddie rides by about 9:30, at which point my older daughter (only about 6 or 7) inquired when we were going to ride the 'fun' rides (keep in mind that she had been fully consulted on the list of rides) so I chucked the schedule and we just wandered around like normal tourists. We still managed to have fun! By 11:30 my younger daughter was crashing, and we walked back to the Grand Californian and had a nap, just as the day crowds were still thronging in.

That was also the trip when I learned that, despite two Disney parks just steps away, my DDs prefer the hotel pool. Since then, we've vacationed out in Palm Desert at a resort with a fabulous pool, a man-made beach and lots of nice people that bring cocktails to my chaise lounge. The girls are in heaven there.

Moral here: you never really now how it will go...until you go...

 

[laurelk]

We stayed at Wilderness Lodge and really, really loved it. We were doing a lot a Magic Kingdom and it's such a nice boat trip. We never waited long (but then, we were up and out pretty early for the character meals).

Oh, DON'T MISS the park opening at MK! Honestly, I didn't even know it existed until our first day in WDW, we had to be there early for breakfast, and we saw the whole thing. The characters arriving on the train...coming around the bend...the dancers...I was crying. It was fabulous. It was my DD's first day, of her first Disney trip. Dare I mention again how perfect that trip was? Sigh....

BTW, if you're stuck in Orlando aiport just ride the monorail around! We told our kids it was their first ride...it was great....

 

[laurelk]

And, thank you to Dana for chatting with me this afternoon! Sorry I am not better versed in chat room etiquette and such... you were nice to put up with me!

 

[mommy2777]

he had just got home from work, hes a painter for his own comp.

 

[mommy2777]

has anyone found out abou bringing frozen water bottle in their coolers? it was brought up on the other thread but no-1 ever answered.

 

[Midwest Cruisers]

You guys have been INCREDIBLY helpful! What wonderful advice from hotels, restaurants to what to do at MK. We definitely want to try a character breakfast and therefore will book early so we can get to the park opening!!!

I cant wait to see the reaction on our kid's faces. We went on a Disney Cruise last year and they LOVED it. Cant wait until they see the actual park!

We are playing it by ear. If we cant get through what we want in a day at MK, we may end up coming back on our return trip after the cruise instead of going to AK. It is just so hard to know what you can get done when it is your first time with kids so young!

We are usually very organized prior to traveling as well. When we went to Italy I had a 3inch binder with detailed information of every stop and where we were going as well as a 1 inch binder I carried with us each day regarding that days events. Magic Kingdom is just so unknown to us since we havent been there in years!

Thank you, thank you, thank you again for your favorite suggestions!

 

[dizney-cruiser]

did everyone see they released the dates for MNSSHP? in case you missed it they are:

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

2008 Dates!

September 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30
October 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, & 31

Tickets on sale May 1

Pricing to be announced.

Many nights sell out in advance, especially Halloween Night.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

I think we are going to go on the 23rd

 

[dizzi]

The 23rd or the 24th for us.

We could make it to the 23rd if that is what everyone decides on.

We would have to take our kids out of school that day but it is not a big deal since it is only a half day.
We may even drop them off to get the credit for being there and then just turn around and pick them up. That way we could still be in Orlando by 1ish

Last year we ended up timing things just right and we started getting ready for the evening at noon with our costumes and painting our faces and everything to be able to leave the hotel and get to the Mk parking lot to get to the tram to get to the monorail to get to the gate to get to the dinner we were having with DIS friends at 4pm.

So if we decide on a dinner again together.....................the 23rd could be a little harder for us but we would make it work. We would just have to have everything ready since i dont know if we could get in a room so early to get ready.

But on the flip side the 23rd could be better since it is such a late night and you have to get up early to get to the ship, as we want to be better than tenth car in line this time!!

But if we do go up a day early what would we do on FRIDAY!!!!!!!????????? MORE PLANNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Aneille]

Midwest Cruisers - ToonTown opens later than the rest of park. So remember that when you are planning. And when they open it, Goofy rides the first ride on the Barnstormer. Be prepared for the families running to get in line for that.

We got there about 25 minutes early one time to see if my kids could ride with Goofy. They came out and it was crazy. All of a sudden my then 5 year old takes off sprinting(we didn't know she was going to run but adults were running!) with my then 3 year old following. My DH chases them down and I guess my 5 year old got there first but was turned away because she didn't have an adult! By the time my DH got to the line she missed the first train and they got on the second. They loved seeing Goofy though. My DH was kind of bummed the DD's didn't get to ride since they ended up riding alone anyway. He rode behind them!

We haven't tried to ride with Goofy again but my kids want to. They want Dad to run with them so they don't get turned away again!

I was shocked seing everyone sprinting but my DD's loved it!