*****Official October 2011 Thread*****

[NYEmomma]

Is anyone doing (or have done in the past) "welcome packages" for their LO? This is DD's first trip and I want to put together something from Mickey to be waiting for her when we get to the room.

So far I've got a Pluto stuffed animal (she's been wanting one), personalized MM ears, an autograph book that I made her & a sharpie, I want to try to get my hands on some WDW snacks to include as well (maybe I'll just grab them from the gift shop when we check-in and toss them into the gift bag)... I can't think of anything else though. Anyone have any ideas??

Oh, a letter from Mickey & Minnie, of course!

 

[KBCL]

Thanks for doing this

Disney Old Key West Resort 10/26 -11/3

Me, DH, DD (7), DS (10)

Can't wait to make ADR's!!!

 

[lmc318]

Is anyone doing (or have done in the past) "welcome packages" for their LO? This is DD's first trip and I want to put together something from Mickey to be waiting for her when we get to the room.

So far I've got a Pluto stuffed animal (she's been wanting one), personalized MM ears, an autograph book that I made her & a sharpie, I want to try to get my hands on some WDW snacks to include as well (maybe I'll just grab them from the gift shop when we check-in and toss them into the gift bag)... I can't think of anything else though. Anyone have any ideas??

Oh, a letter from Mickey & Minnie, of course!

I'm not necessarily doing a "welcome" package but I am putting together a goodie bag for the trip beginning on the plane. I stop into Target each week and check out the dollar section and I've been to Michael's and I'll go to the dollar store before we go. I've gotten pens, notepads, books, stickers - all Disney related. I got her princess bracelets and light up necklaces and wands for the parades. We got some pennies together for pressing pennies in the park (I read that only pennies made prior to 1982 are copper and they will turn out best). I'll add a little more as we get closer and some of it will be for the plane and some will be for the parks. I want to make sure she has plenty to keep her entertained and it's new for her so I don't have to buy a lot of expensive things in the parks!!!

 

[Pixiedust530]

Is anyone doing (or have done in the past) "welcome packages" for their LO? This is DD's first trip and I want to put together something from Mickey to be waiting for her when we get to the room.

So far I've got a Pluto stuffed animal (she's been wanting one), personalized MM ears, an autograph book that I made her & a sharpie, I want to try to get my hands on some WDW snacks to include as well (maybe I'll just grab them from the gift shop when we check-in and toss them into the gift bag)... I can't think of anything else though. Anyone have any ideas??

Oh, a letter from Mickey & Minnie, of course!

I am planning the same thing for my son for our trip. We are driving through the night so I am hoping to not need much as far as car activities for the drive down. He will have his portable DVD player & Leapster Explorer Game system so I will probably pick up a new Disney movie & Disney game before we go.

As for the Welcom package...I haven't gotten much yet, but I am working on making his autograph book, will also have an EPCOT passport as well. I think I will put a new T-Shirt in there, some glow sticks and light "wands" for the night activities. I am not sure what else would be good for the Welcome package. I would LOVE to hear other's ideas.

 

[Family Loves Disney]

Heading down from October 8th-15th! Staying at the Swan for four nights, then three nighs at a deluxe, just not sure which one yet. any and all opinions as to where to stay for our last three ngihts of our honeymoon would be appreciated!

Congrats on your upcoming wedding. I am adding you now.

 

[sjs314]

My ADR date is in a few weeks so I've been going on and picking same days of week and times I want for my ADR's just for weeks that are already available and I've had no problems getting them so..... I'm hopeful!!

Haha....I did the same thing before my ADR day!

I don't make my ADRs until next Friday the 22nd but after reading about you testing making yours I decided to run a test and I am glad I did.

I had all my places and times I wanted and had listed them in order of which ones I thought would be hardest to easiest to get.

Much to my surprise I ended up changeing the order of 5 moving them to the top of the list. Hopefully I will get the times I want by doing this.

 

[Family Loves Disney]

to all newbies! The list is up to date, please check to make sure the info is correct.

 

[exwdwcm]

My ADR date is in a few weeks so I've been going on and picking same days of week and times I want for my ADR's just for weeks that are already available and I've had no problems getting them so..... I'm hopeful!!

i did that too! and all of mine were available for the week before, so hoping i still have the same luck!

Is anyone doing (or have done in the past) "welcome packages" for their LO? This is DD's first trip and I want to put together something from Mickey to be waiting for her when we get to the room.

So far I've got a Pluto stuffed animal (she's been wanting one), personalized MM ears, an autograph book that I made her & a sharpie, I want to try to get my hands on some WDW snacks to include as well (maybe I'll just grab them from the gift shop when we check-in and toss them into the gift bag)... I can't think of anything else though. Anyone have any ideas??

Oh, a letter from Mickey & Minnie, of course!

not sure if i will do a welcome package- although i might this time since it is the first trip just the 3 of us. I will do a little package for the plane for sure with some activities to keep him busy. you can find some park merchandise online now at the disney store.com - i just ordered a crossover 40th anniv D&B purse! I did a huge basket for my parents one year and had it shipped there so when we checked in, it was at the front desk waiting. i had just visited Orlando on business a few months prior to our trip on business, so i had picked up some WDW snacks at DTD and some other things- i included sunglasses, sunblock, disney hats, snacks, pins, lanyard, autograph book, stickers etc. They loved it. I even had bought the refillable mugs to put in there.

 

[lmc318]

Hey do you all know if reservations made through AAA will show up on the Disney site? I tried putting my confirmation number in on the Disney site and it says it doesn't exist. I think I remember our agent on the last trip telling us their stuff doesn't show up with Disney until about a month prior to the trip, even though the reservation is confirmed and there is no problem. I ask because I don't know that I'll be able to do online ADRs without my vacation showing up through there. I don't mind calling, but it would be nice to use the Disney website to have everything in one place for planning. Any ideas?

 

[KayMouse]

For POFQ Oct 13- 19th! We may add another day, but we're waiting to see!

Hopefully I can FINALLY meet a few Disers while we are there

 

[KayMouse]

to all newbies! The list is up to date, please check to make sure the info is correct.

We're going to be at Disney during the same time frame!

Oh how the little things excite me!

Was wondering what day you were going to MNSSHP?

 

[KBCL]

Hey do you all know if reservations made through AAA will show up on the Disney site? I tried putting my confirmation number in on the Disney site and it says it doesn't exist. I think I remember our agent on the last trip telling us their stuff doesn't show up with Disney until about a month prior to the trip, even though the reservation is confirmed and there is no problem. I ask because I don't know that I'll be able to do online ADRs without my vacation showing up through there. I don't mind calling, but it would be nice to use the Disney website to have everything in one place for planning. Any ideas?

We booked throught AAA and my reservation does show on Disney site. Did you book within the last few days? maybe it is not updated.

 

[lmc318]

We booked throught AAA and my reservation does show on Disney site. Did you book within the last few days? maybe it is not updated.

We booked back in October, so I would think it should be there by now. I'll email my agent and ask. I'll let you know what I hear.

 

[exwdwcm]

Okay, i need help. I finally convinced DH to just let me book our airfare.

We've been struggling to find decent prices and the times we want. Usually i can get RT air from Dallas for about $250, but last year, it was $330! This year, a lot of the great times I want as $400 and up per person. no thanks. I finally found an Air Tran flight that works, but has a connection. We loathe connections, especially with a 3yo. But we might do it to save $$.

So my question is, i have two options for our flight from DFW to MCO- which one would you do- will the connection time on the first one be enough- i.e. what if our first flight is a little late---i guess we could always do standby on that next one that leaves at 7ish?

the second flight, arriving at 7ish is about $60 cheaper than the first. what to do? getting there at 6 would be nice though. we had planned on arriving much later originally, about 8:30 or 9. so that would give us time to even do DTD or dinner somewhere.

Friday, 10/14

depart DFW 12:11pm, arrive Atlanta 3:15
depart ATL 4:31pm, arrive MCO 6pm

OR
depart DFW 12:11pm, arrive Atlanta 3:15pm
depart ATL 5:50pm, arrive MCO 7:21pm


The return flight is at 8pm and arrives dallas at 9:47, on Saturday, 10/22 but it is NON STOP. it is the only non stop i see at a decent price (<$300), so we plan that. i worry it is late, but we will plan to sleep in that day and not check out until 10:30 of the room, so we are well-rested before we become 'homeless' until we leave for the airport probably about 5:30 or so.

so which flight should i take. the first one that is $60 more (total) or the second which gets in later and gives us more connection time (although not sure we need that much, even if it is a different terminal?)

 

[lmc318]

Okay, i need help. I finally convinced DH to just let me book our airfare.

We've been struggling to find decent prices and the times we want. Usually i can get RT air from Dallas for about $250, but last year, it was $330! This year, a lot of the great times I want as $400 and up per person. no thanks. I finally found an Air Tran flight that works, but has a connection. We loathe connections, especially with a 3yo. But we might do it to save $$.

So my question is, i have two options for our flight from DFW to MCO- which one would you do- will the connection time on the first one be enough- i.e. what if our first flight is a little late---i guess we could always do standby on that next one that leaves at 7ish?

the second flight, arriving at 7ish is about $60 cheaper than the first. what to do? getting there at 6 would be nice though. we had planned on arriving much later originally, about 8:30 or 9. so that would give us time to even do DTD or dinner somewhere.

Friday, 10/14

depart DFW 12:11pm, arrive Atlanta 3:15
depart ATL 4:31pm, arrive MCO 6pm

OR
depart DFW 12:11pm, arrive Atlanta 3:15pm
depart ATL 5:50pm, arrive MCO 7:21pm


The return flight is at 8pm and arrives dallas at 9:47, on Saturday, 10/22 but it is NON STOP. it is the only non stop i see at a decent price (<$300), so we plan that. i worry it is late, but we will plan to sleep in that day and not check out until 10:30 of the room, so we are well-rested before we become 'homeless' until we leave for the airport probably about 5:30 or so.

so which flight should i take. the first one that is $60 more (total) or the second which gets in later and gives us more connection time (although not sure we need that much, even if it is a different terminal?)

I say go with the shorter connection time. I think that's enough time to get from one plane to the next and it should be the same terminal. The only positive of the second one is the ability to get dinner between flights, but you know something always happens. My DD would eat earlier than that anyway, so I'd probably have something packed on the flight for her already. I don't know how your DS is.

 

[Parla]

Hey do you all know if reservations made through AAA will show up on the Disney site? I tried putting my confirmation number in on the Disney site and it says it doesn't exist. I think I remember our agent on the last trip telling us their stuff doesn't show up with Disney until about a month prior to the trip, even though the reservation is confirmed and there is no problem. I ask because I don't know that I'll be able to do online ADRs without my vacation showing up through there. I don't mind calling, but it would be nice to use the Disney website to have everything in one place for planning. Any ideas?

Mine showed up. I actually wasn't expecting it to because it didn't last time. But there were no online ADRs last time. I just typed it in for fun a few days after booking the trip last month and it showed up. I was so excited to see Donald telling me how many days until we would arrive at AKL.

depart DFW 12:11pm, arrive Atlanta 3:15
depart ATL 4:31pm, arrive MCO 6pm

OR
depart DFW 12:11pm, arrive Atlanta 3:15pm
depart ATL 5:50pm, arrive MCO 7:21pm

I would want to get there as soon as possible but connections that are less than 90 minutes make me nervous. We got stuck on the tarmac for more than 2 hours in New York once and had to pay out of pocket for a hotel because we missed our connection. They may have covered it but we had switched from American Airlines to Delta since American Airlines didn't have the staff to cover their flights at the time. Delta basically told my husband that since we hadn't originally booked with them it was our loss. Not sure how airlines usually handle it when you miss the connecting flight because you are sitting in one of their planes. Just made me really nervous for future flights.

 

[Family Loves Disney]

We're going to be at Disney during the same time frame!

Oh how the little things excite me!

Was wondering what day you were going to MNSSHP?

It's a Small World (punn intended, lol), isn't it?!

We are planning for Sunday, Oct. 16th.

 

[jfugina]

Adding myself to the October thread. We will be at AKV - Kidani from 10/9 through 10/15. We always drive, and stay in Orlando the night before so we can maximize our "on property" time.

Our ADR window opened up on Tuesday, and I started making a plan on Wednesday so I could get the dining thing done. This is our 7th trip to WDW, so I know the ropes, and each trip I try to focus on adding ADRs for places we've never tried before, while revisiting some past favorites. And holy cow! I had no idea my choices would already be so limited, 179 days out! Anyway, here is what our plan is, centered around EMH and ADRs.

Sunday: check in early, and hope that our room is ready. Even if not, the plan is to hang out at the pool at Kidani. With Columbus weekend, trying to hit a park right away doesn't seem that appealing. Plus, we'll be right there when our room does become ready. We have ADRs at 1900 Park Fair that evening, and will head to MK after dinner for EMH. 1900 PF is a repeat for us, but the last time was 4 years ago, so it will be just like new to our DD8 and DS4.

Monday: Water park. No idea how bad the water parks get on the holiday, but we've never been to either of the water parks, and the kids already know that this is the trip where we splurge for the extra tickets. Then we head to DHS for dinner at Sci Fi (new one for us) and EMH. DH has a terrible time getting beyond the shops the first time in any park, so I figured DHS for an evening will get him over his shopping needs and won't slow us down when we go later in the week and are actually on a mission.

Tuesday: Breakfast at Whispering Canyon, hopefully done in time for MK rope drop. We have one objective: Tangled meet & greet. Past that, we ride whatever doesn't have a crazy wait, have a late CS lunch, and head back to Kidani. That evening, the kids check in to the kids club, while mom and dad head back out to EPCOT to eat our way around the world. EMH probably make the scene a little crowded, but without bored kids in tow, it should be more tolerable.

Wednesday: DHS rope drop. This is the day we're on a mission. In 7 trips, we've NEVER done TSM. We're not necessarily upset about that, but it's time to see what the fuss is about. The other thing we missed out on last time, was that DS was finally old enough for Jedi Academy, but they'd changed the rules, and all of the slots had been handed out HOURS before. So we'll split up and get TSM FPs, and the other half gets slots for the kids in Jedi Academy. Other important things to accomplish are meeting Phineas and Ferb (hopefully still there) and catching Lightning McQueen in the stunt show. Wednesday night dinner is back at the resort - Boma is another new one for us.

Thursday: There are a few things the kids like to do at EPCOT, so we'll spend the afternoon there. We have ADRs for a late lunch at one of the Mexico restaurants. Once the kids have had enough of EPCOT (it won't take long), we'll head over to MK for the MNSSHP. We didn't finish our villain hunt last year, and plan to pick up where we left off.

Friday: after sleeping in, we head water park #2. The kids will head back to the kids club that evening while DH and I have a quiet dinner at Narcoosees.

Saturday: Check out, load up the van, and head to Animal Kingdom. We need to be hitting the road back by around 5 anyway, so we can stay till close and still be on the road at a good time.

Well, that's the plan! Based on Touring Plans, I think I've got the right parks on the right days. Aside from a few key things, we're hoping to not kill ourselves this trip and actually get some relaxing in.

 

[Parla]

Our ADR window opened up on Tuesday, and I started making a plan on Wednesday so I could get the dining thing done. This is our 7th trip to WDW, so I know the ropes, and each trip I try to focus on adding ADRs for places we've never tried before, while revisiting some past favorites. And holy cow! I had no idea my choices would already be so limited, 179 days out!

How were your choices limited? Were there restaurants that you weren't able to get?

 

[KayMouse]

It's a Small World (punn intended, lol), isn't it?!

We are planning for Sunday, Oct. 16th.

That's the day we were planning on going as well

Maybe we'll run into each other! I'll make sure to wear a lime green Mickey Head lol!