***Official Jan 2018 Thread****

[mrsa1993]

We are going for a "Christmas Present" trip January 20-27. On our previous trip two years ago, we were able to get a rental van (I have four kids) for under $350 total. I get inflation, but I can't seem to find anything that will fit 6 people from a credible renter for a reasonable price, and I stalk sites almost daily.

If you are a member, try Costco. I usual rent through Costco and have never paid much more than about $140 for a minivan rental for a week in Florida and California.

 

[ministrychick77]

24 days to go!! Got our Magic Bands & luggage tags..
Can't wait to be able to start packing. Not excited for the flight though..

 

[MamaJessie]

Looking forward to so many firsts this trip!!

First date night at Disney (woo hoo!!)
First split stay
First time at AoA
First time at AsMu
First time all 7 of us are going together (oldest DD went with school last year so this is her first trip with our youngest)
First time seeing Pandora!
First time trying Kona
First time at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts

I LOVE that as many times as we have been now there is always something new to see and do!

 

[k8Davies]

First time seeing Pandora!
First time trying Kona
First time at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts

These are first time things for me as well - That's what I always when people say "You're going again?" (in that tone, you all probably know and have heard that tone) and I'm like yeah as there is always something new to see and do.

Also side note, it's our work Christmas party tonight (I know right who has a party on a Monday, just cruel as I have meeting all day tomorrow so can't book it off) I am wearing my Christmas Mickey Ears and my light up string lights I got in HS last year as the battery still works lol

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

Looking forward to so many firsts this trip!!

First date night at Disney (woo hoo!!)
First split stay
First time at AoA
First time at AsMu
First time all 7 of us are going together (oldest DD went with school last year so this is her first trip with our youngest)
First time seeing Pandora!
First time trying Kona
First time at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts

I LOVE that as many times as we have been now there is always something new to see and do!

These are first time things for me as well - That's what I always when people say "You're going again?" (in that tone, you all probably know and have heard that tone) and I'm like yeah as there is always something new to see and do.

Also side note, it's our work Christmas party tonight (I know right who has a party on a Monday, just cruel as I have meeting all day tomorrow so can't book it off) I am wearing my Christmas Mickey Ears and my light up string lights I got in HS last year as the battery still works lol

I feel the same way! This will be our 3rd trip as a family (since 2014). Every trip has been different and new things to experience.

First time at All Star Movies.
First time eating at Liberty Tree Tavern.
First time seeing Happily Ever After.
First time seeing Pandora.

It will also be my husband and kids' first time seeing Rivers of Light or AK at night, but I saw with my bff on our girls trip in February.

 

[DISfirstTimer]

Have you tried Auto Slash? It was recommended on these boards and also blogs. You sign up and they constantly check. I have used it twice and had excellent results!

Thanks. I just used this this morning and saved $25. I'll keep watching!

 

[DISfirstTimer]

When do I need to customize my Magic Bands by for January 28th vacation? We are gifting our kids Disney for Christmas and I wanted to be able to let them personally choose their band colors. Will I be ok to wait until Christmas or day after?

 

[jannalynn_11]

Thanks. I just used this this morning and saved $25. I'll keep watching!

Great news! They check frequently and send you an email when they find something. I have also found that as your trip gets closer, they are able to find more deals!

 

[jannalynn_11]

When do I need to customize my Magic Bands by for January 28th vacation? We are gifting our kids Disney for Christmas and I wanted to be able to let them personally choose their band colors. Will I be ok to wait until Christmas or day after?

Yes, you should be good. We check in 1/27, and on MDE it says customize by 12/27. If you go sign into MDE and click on "MagicBands and cards", it should tell you 12/28.

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

When do I need to customize my Magic Bands by for January 28th vacation? We are gifting our kids Disney for Christmas and I wanted to be able to let them personally choose their band colors. Will I be ok to wait until Christmas or day after?

I go January 24 and have to customize by December 24. So, you should be fine to wait. If you go on My Disney Experience and select customize it will give you the date.

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

When do I need to customize my Magic Bands by for January 28th vacation? We are gifting our kids Disney for Christmas and I wanted to be able to let them personally choose their band colors. Will I be ok to wait until Christmas or day after?

I go January 24 and have to customize by December 24. So, you should be fine to wait. If you go on My Disney Experience and select customize it will give you the date.

 

[Herding_Cats]

When do I need to customize my Magic Bands by for January 28th vacation? We are gifting our kids Disney for Christmas and I wanted to be able to let them personally choose their band colors. Will I be ok to wait until Christmas or day after?

Yes, you should be good. We check in 1/27, and on MDE it says customize by 12/27. If you go sign into MDE and click on "MagicBands and cards", it should tell you 12/28.

It's 30 days before your arrival/check-in day. Looks like you will have just enough time to wait until Christmas.

 

[Megg0823]

We took our youngest at 18 months and 2 years (turned 3 during our trip)... You are going to have a blast! Best advice: Don't try to do it all and see it all. Go at your own pace and enjoy. Take a break if you need to. When is your child's birthday? Just trying to judge if they are newly two or will be closer to 3? My almost 3 year old enjoyed the kidcot stations at Epcot.

He turns 2 Jan 20th. We will be in Magic Kingdom for his birthday! The plan right now is to keep him on schedule as much as possible. I scheduled FastPasses early morning or late afternoon so we can go back to the hotel mid-day everyday. I have us going for 2.5 days in Magic Kingdom (0.5 day is our departure day), 1 day in Epcot, and 2 days in Animal Kingdom. I wanted to make sure we had time to do the things we REALLY want him (and us, FoP, yes please!) to experience without over-doing it.

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

He turns 2 Jan 20th. We will be in Magic Kingdom for his birthday! The plan right now is to keep him on schedule as much as possible. I scheduled FastPasses early morning or late afternoon so we can go back to the hotel mid-day everyday. I have us going for 2.5 days in Magic Kingdom (0.5 day is our departure day), 1 day in Epcot, and 2 days in Animal Kingdom. I wanted to make sure we had time to do the things we REALLY want him (and us, FoP, yes please!) to experience without over-doing it.

No better way to spend a birthday! Hope your little guy has a great time. We are spending my oldest's 12 birthday in AK on the 27th of January.

 

[caribbeandream]

These are first time things for me as well - That's what I always when people say "You're going again?" (in that tone, you all probably know and have heard that tone) and I'm like yeah as there is always something new to see and do.

I know and have heard that tone before! There is always a new experience at Disney. This trip is our first stay at the Grand Floridian, DS13's first visit to EPCOT, my sister's first visit to HS and AK. And that is not even counting all the new rides, parades and shows at MK.

 

[MickeyPretzels]

x

 

[MamaJessie]

Im so pumped, we're doing so much fun stuff this trip. The Star Wars VR experience, plus The Edision *should* be open by the time we're down. I booked the Caring for Giants tour, plus im so happy to go back to Pandora. It was such a surprise to me how much i loved it (i was a CYNIC before hand) and i cant wait to be there again. Im so excited, but my husband is giving me grief because we have our 2 week honeymoon first, and im talking more about this disney trip haha

DH and DS are trying out the Star Wars VR too

I feel the same way! This will be our 3rd trip as a family (since 2014). Every trip has been different and new things to experience.

First time at All Star Movies.
First time eating at Liberty Tree Tavern.
First time seeing Happily Ever After.
First time seeing Pandora.

It will also be my husband and kids' first time seeing Rivers of Light or AK at night, but I saw with my bff on our girls trip in February.

Oh I forgot about Happily Ever After in my list of firsts! We were actually there the first night, but literally the moment the show started my toddler got sick all over herself and I had to run off and wash her. That was the day we learned she cannot have too much dairy or she will throw up

Magic bands are out for delivery. Every time I hear a car in the neighborhood I am like "IS THAT IT??! ARE THEY HERE??!!' lol

 

[wehrengrizz]

When do I need to customize my Magic Bands by for January 28th vacation? We are gifting our kids Disney for Christmas and I wanted to be able to let them personally choose their band colors. Will I be ok to wait until Christmas or day after?

I see that everyone has chimed in with my same response, but I'm excited to see so many people with the same-ish dates as me! I'm not sure how we're going to make it through the rest of Christmas present opening....because I'll be wanting my kids to immediately:
--customize magic bands
--select BOG lunch options
--finish out the FP+ situation (since DH & I are letting them choose at least some haha)

1/27-2/3 at AoA! <3

 

[DisneyObsessed87]

DH and DS are trying out the Star Wars VR too



Oh I forgot about Happily Ever After in my list of firsts! We were actually there the first night, but literally the moment the show started my toddler got sick all over herself and I had to run off and wash her. That was the day we learned she cannot have too much dairy or she will throw up

Magic bands are out for delivery. Every time I hear a car in the neighborhood I am like "IS THAT IT??! ARE THEY HERE??!!' lol

Oh no! That is terrible! At least you get a do over and a chance to see it again.

Yay for your magic bands almost being there! Gahhh. Wish mine were on their way but still have awhile.

 

[TheCakePopLady]

Our magic bands were on hold because they didn’t have a valid shipping address. No one notified us or anything. I kept checking the app to see if they shipped and it just kept saying they were being personalized and shipping would be updated soon so i called this morning because I’m an impatient freak and the lady was like “they’re on hold because we don’t have a valid address” (which is weird because the address in my account is valid). So i was like “was i notified?” And she’s all “no they would just sit on hold until 5 days before your trip then be shipped to Resort”. Ummmmm nooooo! That’s part of my kids surprise!! I gave them another address to ship to!

Hopefully they’ll ship soon!