*** OFFICIAL January 2013 Thread ***

[Marshay]

Hi All! Newbie here and SO excited to say that we are in the midst of planning our very first Disney Trip for Jan 2013!! I went a few years ago for an adults only mini trip. It was my first trip ever to Disney but man, was it amazing. Ive always wanted to take my babies and we are working hard to make that happen.

We are military and every time we have tried in the past, I either got pregnant or hubby deployed. Well, we just had baby #4 in October and deployment #5 is trying to stare us down so I thought, lets just do it now. Lets go.

Im trying to do as much research as I can and get all the tips and tricks. If you have ANY, I am open ears!! Our kids are 10,9,4,and almost 6mo. Ages will remain the same but the baby will be over 1 of course. This is a huge surprise for our kids. We aren't going to tell them until we are on the road. We'll make up some story about seeing my brother and sister in law in Atlanta just to get us half way and then lay it on them.

I can't wait to see their faces!!!!

1st -- Welcome to the DIS and to the January 2013 thread!!


Wow -- a first trip to Disney! So exciting and your kids are going to love it!

My best advice is:

a) before trip do some basic planning. Just comb through these threads (theme park, Disney for families,etc) and some other good non-discussion threads are Allears.net and mouseforless.com. Ask your kids what one thing they want to do in each park (watch youtube videos or Disney planning video).

Some basic planning about which parks you want to visit each day, what rides are important to your family, how fastpass works, the baby care centers, a general layout of the parks and where to eat will help.

You don't have to be a park commando, but having a basic plan will put you so much more ahead of everyone else.

b) on the trip, follow your basic plan but be flexible. Sometimes the kids get scared of a ride or the characters, kids fall down and hurt themselves and no longer want to do a ride, lines can ebb and flow, you get tired. If you can a good plan is to get to the park at rope drop (RD) or just after and tour the popular rides first...eat an early lunch and then go back to your room to rest, pool, playground, etc. Then eat an early dinner and go back to the parks for parades/fireworks and rides that aren't too crowded.

You're lucky in that January won't be too crowded ... but some of the parks may close early (5pm, 7pm)

c) after the trip, evaluate how your trip went and what you would do differently. WDW is huge and you can't do it all. That's what another trip is for (if you can). Make a scrapbook of your trip so your kids can enjoy your trip again, esp if it's a long time before you can go again.

If you have any specific questions, let us know! We're more than willing to help!

 

[Marshay]

Hi All! Newbie here and SO excited to say that we are in the midst of planning our very first Disney Trip for Jan 2013!! I went a few years ago for an adults only mini trip. It was my first trip ever to Disney but man, was it amazing. Ive always wanted to take my babies and we are working hard to make that happen.

Also, if you tell me your dates and resort, I'll add them to the front page.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Hi All! Newbie here and SO excited to say that we are in the midst of planning our very first Disney Trip for Jan 2013!! I went a few years ago for an adults only mini trip. It was my first trip ever to Disney but man, was it amazing. Ive always wanted to take my babies and we are working hard to make that happen.

We are military and every time we have tried in the past, I either got pregnant or hubby deployed. Well, we just had baby #4 in October and deployment #5 is trying to stare us down so I thought, lets just do it now. Lets go.

Im trying to do as much research as I can and get all the tips and tricks. If you have ANY, I am open ears!! Our kids are 10,9,4,and almost 6mo. Ages will remain the same but the baby will be over 1 of course. This is a huge surprise for our kids. We aren't going to tell them until we are on the road. We'll make up some story about seeing my brother and sister in law in Atlanta just to get us half way and then lay it on them.

I can't wait to see their faces!!!!

Congrats!!!
A first trip with your kids is such a special thing.
Are y'all going to actually stop at your brothers and sil's house on the way there? You just don't want this kind of reaction from them:
http://www.**************.net/2010/...children-react-to-disney-world-trip-surprise/
I still wonder what is so great about Dick's house that they would rather go there.

1st -- Welcome to the DIS and to the January 2013 thread!!


Wow -- a first trip to Disney! So exciting and your kids are going to love it!

My best advice is:

a) before trip do some basic planning. Just comb through these threads (theme park, Disney for families,etc) and some other good non-discussion threads are Allears.net and mouseforless.com. Ask your kids what one thing they want to do in each park (watch youtube videos or Disney planning video).

Some basic planning about which parks you want to visit each day, what rides are important to your family, how fastpass works, the baby care centers, a general layout of the parks and where to eat will help.

You don't have to be a park commando, but having a basic plan will put you so much more ahead of everyone else.

b) on the trip, follow your basic plan but be flexible. Sometimes the kids get scared of a ride or the characters, kids fall down and hurt themselves and no longer want to do a ride, lines can ebb and flow, you get tired. If you can a good plan is to get to the park at rope drop (RD) or just after and tour the popular rides first...eat an early lunch and then go back to your room to rest, pool, playground, etc. Then eat an early dinner and go back to the parks for parades/fireworks and rides that aren't too crowded.

You're lucky in that January won't be too crowded ... but some of the parks may close early (5pm, 7pm)

c) after the trip, evaluate how your trip went and what you would do differently. WDW is huge and you can't do it all. That's what another trip is for (if you can). Make a scrapbook of your trip so your kids can enjoy your trip again, esp if it's a long time before you can go again.

If you have any specific questions, let us know! We're more than willing to help!

Just perfect advice!! The only thing that I would add is that since you'll have a baby with you, make sure you fully understand how the baby swap works. This way the older ones, can still ride the stuff that the younger ones can't.

 

[Marshay]

Are y'all going to actually stop at your brothers and sil's house on the way there? You just don't want this kind of reaction from them:
http://www.**************.net/2010/...children-react-to-disney-world-trip-surprise/
I still wonder what is so great about Dick's house that they would rather go there.

Just perfect advice!! The only thing that I would add is that since you'll have a baby with you, make sure you fully understand how the baby swap works. This way the older ones, can still ride the stuff that the younger ones can't.

Oh, that video is just great! I'm actually a believer in NOT surprising your kids with a trip to Disney but rather have the kids get involved in planning the trip before going. This gets them excited and makes them feel like they are a part of the trip.

Also, as the video shows, the kids expectations and hence desires were for Dick's house...not Disney and any change from that (even "going to Disney!!!") is not welcomed.

Anyway just my 2 cents.

I have seen other videos where the kids jump up and down ... but those are usually when the kids aren't told they are going to someone's house that they know.

oh, and yes, definitely use the baby swap/rider switch -- it is a life saver when you have multiple ages!!

 

[SandiKB]

Congrats!!!
A first trip with your kids is such a special thing.
Are y'all going to actually stop at your brothers and sil's house on the way there? You just don't want this kind of reaction from them:
http://www.**************.net/2010/...children-react-to-disney-world-trip-surprise/
I still wonder what is so great about Dick's house that they would rather go there.

That is great! Oh man, I wanna go to Dick's house, apparently it's better than Disney ROFL!!!!

 

[Marshay]

That is great! Oh man, I wanna go to Dick's house, apparently it's better than Disney ROFL!!!!

Dick must be feeling quite proud of himself!!

It's just funny how kids think -- here the mom thought she was doing this great thing ... I mean, what kid wouldn't want to go to Disney World??!!??

Obviously, her kids!

 

[SgtsWifeandmommyof4]

Ah ha ha ha. That video is fantastic! Sadly, I would totally expect the same response from our bunch but, with more confusion. lol However, after seeing that video, maybe we should stop to see them. Yikes! We have been telling them that we are saving bc we are going to take them, asking what they want to see and do there. We even let our 4yr old pick the suite at the Art of Animation resort. We just keep telling them that it wont be for a while bc we have to save up the money first. They have no idea that we have already picked dates and are planning the trip. I cant wait!

Thank you so much for the tips Marsha! I am open to all tips, tricks, hints, and suggestions. We are staying for 6 nights, 7 days and going to be making our reservations at the Art of Animation resort (Lion King suite). Check in is Jan 19 and checkout is the 25th.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Oh, that video is just great! I'm actually a believer in NOT surprising your kids with a trip to Disney but rather have the kids get involved in planning the trip before going. This gets them excited and makes them feel like they are a part of the trip.

Also, as the video shows, the kids expectations and hence desires were for Dick's house...not Disney and any change from that (even "going to Disney!!!") is not welcomed.

Anyway just my 2 cents.

I have seen other videos where the kids jump up and down ... but those are usually when the kids aren't told they are going to someone's house that they know.

oh, and yes, definitely use the baby swap/rider switch -- it is a life saver when you have multiple ages!!

Our upcoming June trip is a secret from the boys. Well they know we are going on a vacation, but they think it's just to Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center. We are doing that, just after the WDW part of the trip. I would love to tell the boys about the whole trip, but the DH won't let me. I think that part of the reason is that our youngest DS will talk about it a lot around our nephew and our nephew really really wants to go to WDW b/c he's never been, but his parents won't make the effort to take him. I did break down and tell the youngest DS that we were going to have dinner at Ragland Road in DTD since we had to spend the night in Orlando on the way to Cocoa Beach. Then again, I may be fooling myself that they know nothing at all about it, since my fil has joked several times about "using that money that we used to pay for our Disney World trip and use it to send him some where on vacation instead."

That is great! Oh man, I wanna go to Dick's house, apparently it's better than Disney ROFL!!!!

I know. Dick must have the greatest house ever. Maybe we should have told our DS that we were going to Dick's house in June. That way they would have been super excited to go to WDW b/c they don't know of anyone we know named Dick.

 

[Marshay]

Ah ha ha ha. That video is fantastic! Sadly, I would totally expect the same response from our bunch but, with more confusion. lol However, after seeing that video, maybe we should stop to see them. Yikes! We have been telling them that we are saving bc we are going to take them, asking what they want to see and do there. We even let our 4yr old pick the suite at the Art of Animation resort. We just keep telling them that it wont be for a while bc we have to save up the money first. They have no idea that we have already picked dates and are planning the trip. I cant wait!

Thank you so much for the tips Marsha! I am open to all tips, tricks, hints, and suggestions. We are staying for 6 nights, 7 days and going to be making our reservations at the Art of Animation resort (Lion King suite). Check in is Jan 19 and checkout is the 25th.

Yeah, I think you are doing it smart --having the kids get involved!!

Our upcoming June trip is a secret from the boys. Well they know we are going on a vacation, but they think it's just to Cocoa Beach and Kennedy Space Center. We are doing that, just after the WDW part of the trip. I would love to tell the boys about the whole trip, but the DH won't let me. I think that part of the reason is that our youngest DS will talk about it a lot around our nephew and our nephew really really wants to go to WDW b/c he's never been, but his parents won't make the effort to take him. I did break down and tell the youngest DS that we were going to have dinner at Ragland Road in DTD since we had to spend the night in Orlando on the way to Cocoa Beach. Then again, I may be fooling myself that they know nothing at all about it, since my fil has joked several times about "using that money that we used to pay for our Disney World trip and use it to send him some where on vacation instead."

I know. Dick must have the greatest house ever. Maybe we should have told our DS that we were going to Dick's house in June. That way they would have been super excited to go to WDW b/c they don't know of anyone we know named Dick.

Another smart way to do it! Having the kids know about part of the trip and actually doing that part, too!!

 

[hsmamainva]

I think with a January trip, you could very easily do a Christmas surprise.

I've seen some adorable surprise Christmas vids!

One of my favorites is where the kids all unwrap suitcases and, after all the toy-giving, they can't figure out what the deal is with something as boring as a suitcase...until they open them up and each one has a "We're going to Disney World!" paper inside of it.

You could also get a big box with Disney helium balloons inside of it, so when they open it up, out fly balloons with Mickey & Minnie and maybe a "We're going to Disney World!" paper is attached to a string.

Another adorable video has a little girl getting a backpack full of Disney items (movies, t-shirt, coloring books, etc.) and her mom asks here where they should take all of that stuff and then she tells her they're going to Disney.

We're planning on putting our kids' Disney theme park tickets in their Christmas stockings and that's how they'll find out we're going! It's only 10 days from Christmas morning until we leave for our trip and...let me tell you ... there's nothing like a Disney countdown to really get kids excited!

Happy Planning!

 

[Morningstar2807]

Hi all! I am a very excited newbie planning our first trp to WDW for January 12-17! Planning on stay in the LM room at AOA!
DD5 knows that we are planning on going but does't know when, so for Christmas I am going to wrap luggage up with some disney outfits, homemade autograph book and a few other things!

I am so looking fo to this trip, being able to finally say we can go, instead of I wish we can go is a great feeling!

 

[Marshay]

Hi all! I am a very excited newbie planning our first trp to WDW for January 12-17! Planning on stay in the LM room at AOA!
DD5 knows that we are planning on going but does't know when, so for Christmas I am going to wrap luggage up with some disney outfits, homemade autograph book and a few other things!

I am so looking fo to this trip, being able to finally say we can go, instead of I wish we can go is a great feeling!

I can't wait to hear reports on the LIttle Mermaid rooms -- they sound wonderful!

Your DD5 will get a great Christmas present!! That is great and still gives him time to process it! He'll be so excited!

I'll add you to the first page.

 

[Marshay]

I think with a January trip, you could very easily do a Christmas surprise.

I've seen some adorable surprise Christmas vids!

One of my favorites is where the kids all unwrap suitcases and, after all the toy-giving, they can't figure out what the deal is with something as boring as a suitcase...until they open them up and each one has a "We're going to Disney World!" paper inside of it.

You could also get a big box with Disney helium balloons inside of it, so when they open it up, out fly balloons with Mickey & Minnie and maybe a "We're going to Disney World!" paper is attached to a string.

Another adorable video has a little girl getting a backpack full of Disney items (movies, t-shirt, coloring books, etc.) and her mom asks here where they should take all of that stuff and then she tells her they're going to Disney.

We're planning on putting our kids' Disney theme park tickets in their Christmas stockings and that's how they'll find out we're going! It's only 10 days from Christmas morning until we leave for our trip and...let me tell you ... there's nothing like a Disney countdown to really get kids excited!

Happy Planning!

Yep, I agree -- a Christmas surprise works great for a January trip!

I think that's the best thing to put in a Christmas stocking -- yay!

 

[danimaroo]

I can FINALLY officially post here! Whew. I mean, we knew we were going in January 2013, but it was a matter of making it official before I wanted to actually post in this thread. Glad I waited, too, since our dates changed!

We'll be staying from January 18th-January 27th! We're hoping to book at BCV again (this last trip got us hooked on BC!), though we're currently booked at OKW as that's our home resort.

I am absolutely thrilled to be going back in January as it's our favorite time of year to go! This will be our third January in a row.

However, our FIRST January going over MLK Jr. weekend. Anyone have any opinions on this? We usually go the week after but this year because it's a bit later, and we needed to use up a ton of of banked DVC points, we're opting for a week earlier.

Is MLK weekend as bad as some people make it out to be? Our plan is to try to hit the parks early that weekend, leave during the crazy periods and take it easy at the resort, then go back again later in the evening.

OH and also, if anyone is going around the same time we are and needs someone to do a PP share with, please let me know! We did one last trip and it worked out fantastic!

So excited to be posting in this thread!!

 

[we3are1]

Ok so a conference that has just been approved in my work budget is scheduled for January 2013 and I have been approved to take a little vacation time before and after the conference to enjoy DW
So I need to save as much money as possible.
Here are the details:
Conference is 1/15 - 1/19
We are planning on arriving 1/12 and staying through 1/20
I was planning PC but looks like AofA might be a little cheaper UNLESS free quick dining pops up.
Is AoA really less expensive than PC if not staying in family suites? Will Cars rooms be open by them - not sure my 12 yr old son would want to stay in Little Mermaid.
When will January open for reservations?
We are driving from VA so transportation to the conference is not an issue. I would really like to get the quick dining package so we can pay ahead and less cash to take, plus my work budget will cover many of my meals.
Also probably going to need an EVC for husband.

Sorry for all the questions but been 3 years since we got to go to DW. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!!

As for the newbie maybe surprising her kids - we did that sept 09 with our 9 yr old son (he is in the autism spectrum). We knew if we told him while we were planning, he would only talk about that, making school especially hard. I was also worried about our 12 hour drive to DW. So I made little gift packages (mostly from the dollar tree) to open each hour as we drove with hints for our trip (flip flops, disposable camera, autograph book, etc.) He was so thrilled with each present that he only worried about each hour in car so he could open the present. Finally 30 minutes before we got to DW we had to stop for lunch just to get him to guess where we were going. The surprise and gifts were a great plan. Hope you have a great time!

PS We are in VA too - Chesterfield, just SW of Richmond

 

[cajunprincess]

However, our FIRST January going over MLK Jr. weekend. Anyone have any opinions on this? We usually go the week after but this year because it's a bit later, and we needed to use up a ton of of banked DVC points, we're opting for a week earlier.

Is MLK weekend as bad as some people make it out to be? Our plan is to try to hit the parks early that weekend, leave during the crazy periods and take it easy at the resort, then go back again later in the evening.

OH and also, if anyone is going around the same time we are and needs someone to do a PP share with, please let me know! We did one last trip and it worked out fantastic!

So excited to be posting in this thread!!

DH and I went this past January and left the Saturday of MLK weekend. That Friday night was crazy at MK. I'm sure it only got busier that weekend.

and I have to ask what is a PP share? LOL

I've been lurking over this board with the hopes that my DH will let us go back to Disney and go run the half marathon (that's some motivation to get in shape right there!).

Anyone know when they will start letting us normal folks book for January?

 

[we3are1]

ok so my conference is 1/15 - 1/19. I was planning for us to stay another night and hit the parks that evening and maybe a little pool play before we leave on Sunday morning. If the crowds are that bad for MLK weekend should we just leave right after the conference ends Sat. morning? We are arriving before the conference 1/12 to have a little extra fun.

 

[cajunprincess]

ok so my conference is 1/15 - 1/19. I was planning for us to stay another night and hit the parks that evening and maybe a little pool play before we leave on Sunday morning. If the crowds are that bad for MLK weekend should we just leave right after the conference ends Sat. morning? We are arriving before the conference 1/12 to have a little extra fun.

The crowds are heavier, but an extra day in disney is still an extra day in disney

 

[readytogotodisney]

We'll be staying from January 18th-January 27th! We're hoping to book at BCV again (this last trip got us hooked on BC!), though we're currently booked at OKW as that's our home resort.
We're booked at OKW right now too, but also looking to jump ship as soon at the 7 month window rolls around! We stayed at BCV on this years trip, but this year looking to go back to BLT and BWV!


However, our FIRST January going over MLK Jr. weekend. Anyone have any opinions on this? We always go over MLK weekend, and honestly the weekend will be busy, but nothing crazy! Saturday and Sunday will be busy, then on Monday it starts to drop off. By the Wednesday you'll be walking on rides!

Is MLK weekend as bad as some people make it out to be? Our plan is to try to hit the parks early that weekend, leave during the crazy periods and take it easy at the resort, then go back again later in the evening. This is what we always do too. Usually on Saturday night we head to DTD.

OH and also, if anyone is going around the same time we are and needs someone to do a PP share with, please let me know! We did one last trip and it worked out fantastic! I would join the January 2013 Dis group on FB and create the PP there. PP's are not to be spoken about on the Dis.

So excited to be posting in this thread!!

 

[readytogotodisney]

DH and I went this past January and left the Saturday of MLK weekend. That Friday night was crazy at MK. I'm sure it only got busier that weekend.

and I have to ask what is a PP share?

I've been lurking over this board with the hopes that my DH will let us go back to Disney and go run the half marathon (that's some motivation to get in shape right there!).

Anyone know when they will start letting us normal folks book for January?

PP = sharing a photopass, but it's frowned upon at Disney, (so say the least) and so it's not to be spoken about on the Dis.

They should start opening up booking online sometime this summer. In years past it's always been August, but last year was early in June. So maybe next month? But you can call and book your room only now. They'll quote you a price for the highest rate of 2012 and then will adjust your prices once 2013 comes out. Then you will be able to switch to a package as well.