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

[LJD2143]

i know that weather is a fickle element in all vacations and i don't expect anybody to be able to correctly forecast the middle of Oct weather (specially in the middle of June), but i am curious as to what the average high and low for the week of
Oct18 - 26. Everything i have read says high's of 85; is that correct. Just trying to figure out if I need a shopping trip to find some cute tank's.

For the past 5 years we have mainly been there at the end of September - and let me tell you, it's been HOT, HOT, HOT! Temps mostly in the 90's I'd say.

I'm so looking forward to this trip at the end of October - even if it's just 5-10 degrees cooler. It should be perfect!

 

[sjs314]

For the past 5 years we have mainly been there at the end of September - and let me tell you, it's been HOT, HOT, HOT! Temps mostly in the 90's I'd say.

I'm so looking forward to this trip at the end of October - even if it's just 5-10 degrees cooler. It should be perfect!

We had been booked for end of September, but I finally convinced DH to change to end of October. I read too many people talk about the high humidity and high temps. Just keeping my fingers crossed now for good weather in October

 

[stephielela]

I didnt mind the weather in late September last year, but it was a little warm during the peak of the day. I am curious to see what the end of October is like.

 

[attain]

Congrats on the pin, even if it wasn't the one you wanted! My DS loves Pop, we were there last fall for our MNSSHP trip, (TR is in my signature). It's newly refurbished, so it's really nice!.

We really like Tusker House at Animal Kingdom for breakfast. We have also done Chef Mickey's. I love Crystal Palace, it could be a good way for your DS to get to know some new characters?

Sorry your Father's Day plans didn't turn out!

Thanks! I looked at your TR and it was very helpful, thanks! I've made some dining reservations, I'm hoping my almost 3 year old will enjoy as much as your son did!

When I called to make reservations for Tusker House, the CM offered to help me figure out what other meals we wanted with our DDP meals. After getting off the phone, I realized some of them won't work. I have only cancelled one so far because I'm still not 100% sure on what we will be doing and I don't want to give us the timeslot until we have decided. My biggest concern is that we have Coral Reef booked for the only night that Fantasmic is showing while we are there. We haven't seen the show for the last 3 or 4 trips, so we'd really like to make this one. And I keep hoping they will add another day or two of the show so we can see it another night and keep our reservation as it is. Anyway, here is my current list. I will eventually be narrowing it down to only 6 meals.

I think my DS will do better with breakfast or lunch than dinners. In case he gets cranky as the day goes on, I'd like to be free to return to the hotel and not miss an ADR. Comments/Suggestions welcome!

10/16 (arrival day) @ 6:40pm - 1900 Park Fare
10/17 @ 8:30am - Tusker House
10/18 @ 11:55am - Liberty Tree Tavern (probably will cancel)
10/18 @ 5:20pm - Liberty Tree Tavern (MNSSHP night, so will probably keep this one)
10/19 @ 12:05pm - 50's Prime Time Cafe (One of DH good memories from before we met and I've never had it.)
10/19 @ 6:20pm - Liberty Tree Tavern (probably will cancel - we really like LTT, can you tell? )
10/20 @ noon - Nine Dragons (DH favorite)
10/20 @ 7:35pm - Coral Reef
10/21 @ 9:15am - Crystal Palace (will probably cancel, especially if I can get Chef Mickey's)

Looks like a lot, but the green ones are the only ones I'm set on right now. I'd like to move Coral Reef to 10/17 or 10/21 and switch CP to CM on 10/21. After writing all of this out, I'm beginning to think my DH is correct and I'm going crazy. This is supposed to be a vacation, right?

 

[ociana]

What is YES i have seen it in many posts

YES is the Youth Education Services program offered by Disney. It's a half day class in the parks for school age kids and their parents that is low cost, educational and comes with discounted park tickets. They have a website where you can get info and enroll. It's at http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/

We are attending one during our trip (10/21) for Production Arts and Sciences at DHS. I expect it to be a blast!

 

[JoanneDisFan]

YES is the Youth Education Services program offered by Disney. It's a half day class in the parks for school age kids and their parents that is low cost, educational and comes with discounted park tickets. They have a website where you can get info and enroll. It's at http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/

Can you just buy tickets to the YES, or do you need a package through them? I've already booked our pkg and mostly paid it off, but would love to add a YES activity for my DD.

 

[sjs314]

Thanks! I looked at your TR and it was very helpful, thanks! I've made some dining reservations, I'm hoping my almost 3 year old will enjoy as much as your son did!

When I called to make reservations for Tusker House, the CM offered to help me figure out what other meals we wanted with our DDP meals. After getting off the phone, I realized some of them won't work. I have only cancelled one so far because I'm still not 100% sure on what we will be doing and I don't want to give us the timeslot until we have decided. My biggest concern is that we have Coral Reef booked for the only night that Fantasmic is showing while we are there. We haven't seen the show for the last 3 or 4 trips, so we'd really like to make this one. And I keep hoping they will add another day or two of the show so we can see it another night and keep our reservation as it is. Anyway, here is my current list. I will eventually be narrowing it down to only 6 meals.

I think my DS will do better with breakfast or lunch than dinners. In case he gets cranky as the day goes on, I'd like to be free to return to the hotel and not miss an ADR. Comments/Suggestions welcome!

10/16 (arrival day) @ 6:40pm - 1900 Park Fare
10/17 @ 8:30am - Tusker House
10/18 @ 11:55am - Liberty Tree Tavern (probably will cancel)
10/18 @ 5:20pm - Liberty Tree Tavern (MNSSHP night, so will probably keep this one)
10/19 @ 12:05pm - 50's Prime Time Cafe (One of DH good memories from before we met and I've never had it.)
10/19 @ 6:20pm - Liberty Tree Tavern (probably will cancel - we really like LTT, can you tell? )
10/20 @ noon - Nine Dragons (DH favorite)
10/20 @ 7:35pm - Coral Reef
10/21 @ 9:15am - Crystal Palace (will probably cancel, especially if I can get Chef Mickey's)

Looks like a lot, but the green ones are the only ones I'm set on right now. I'd like to move Coral Reef to 10/17 or 10/21 and switch CP to CM on 10/21. After writing all of this out, I'm beginning to think my DH is correct and I'm going crazy. This is supposed to be a vacation, right?

We switched resorts last week and I have been changeing and tweeking ADR's ever since. No you are not crazy just like the rest of us you want to have the perfect plan and it sure is a lot of work. I bet I spent more hours planning this trip than the hours we will actually spend in Disney

As far as your son and doing better at breakfast I can not shed any light on that subject since my youngest was 9 the frist time we went to WDW but I do want to caution about characters. Not all kids love them. Some are terrified.
When my youngest was 3 we went to chuck e cheese, his older brother who was 13 at the time was bugging to go for the video games. Well as soon as my younger 3 yr old saw chuck e cheese he freaked started yelling "big ears, big ears" and hid under the table I have often wondered if we had been at disney what his reaction would have been when he saw the characters.

 

[srauchbauer]

YES is the Youth Education Services program offered by Disney. It's a half day class in the parks for school age kids and their parents that is low cost, educational and comes with discounted park tickets. They have a website where you can get info and enroll. It's at http://www.disneyyouth.com/individual-enrollment/

We are attending one during our trip (10/21) for Production Arts and Sciences at DHS. I expect it to be a blast!

thanks so much for the information - unfortunately there aren't any that Kate would like when we are visiting the kingdom. Do you know if they add more when October gets closer?

 

[iteach7th]

We will be making our 4th October trip this year to WDW - provided that we get some sort of discount. If no discount - then it's either to the beach or mountains.

I noticed the discussion on weather and the link to wunderground. If you notice on the history - back several years ago, there was a big dip in temp for Orlando where the high was in the mid to upper 60's and low in the 40's. We were in Magic Kingdom that day and almost froze!

Since every day that week had been tank top weather, I didn't think to check an updated weather forcast. On our Oct. trips - every morning always started out chilly but by 9 - 10:00 the weather warms up and by mid-day it is hot! It was so cold that day in the park that we bought 2 jackets ($70 each that I would NOT have bought otherwise!) and traded them back and forth. Several times, I almost went back to the room to get everyone's jackets but it was our last day and I didn't want to give up one minute of the magic. When the sun went down - we were huddled together watching the parade and fireworks freezing. We left the next morning and as we loaded up the van - the temp was 40 degrees !

Needless to say -this year will include tank tops, shorts and at least one outfit for each person in case the temp drops again. And - if I miss the forcast and we get get to a park and it doesn't warm up - I'll sacrifice an hour to make the run back to the room before we go through another day like that !!

 

[lmc318]

I think my DS will do better with breakfast or lunch than dinners. In case he gets cranky as the day goes on, I'd like to be free to return to the hotel and not miss an ADR. Comments/Suggestions welcome!

This is the exact reason we're booking mostly breakfasts and early (5PM) dinners. We figure our DD, who will be 3 when we go, will do better at breakfast and eating right after nap. If she has a melt down in the park, we can just take her back to the resort for a rest, but we're keeping our chances low that she'll melt down at the restaurant - although it could still happen.

 

[Downey Family]

And it's called Resort Changeritis.

We're switching to WL. Still same dates of 10/21-10/27. Need a few more posts so I can PM this info to our wonderful host of the thread.

MNSSHP - 10/21

 

[stephielela]

Just FYI, I did some research in my past PTR's and I found that FD was anounced on or around July 6 for the dates after September last year. I know because that's when I switched our December reservation to FD! So that's not too far away, and I will be keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Family Loves Disney]

I am so sorry again. Meant to post last week, but Justin had a doctor's appt daily last week and after driving to and from the children's hospital in north Atlanta, I was exhausted after getting home. I am super busy this week too, with work stuff. I promise I will get caught up with the list next week, both kids will be at Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps and dh is going to camp with Justin, so I will be alone all week.

to all the newbies to the thread. I hope everyone has welcomed you all with open arms. This group is great! If you want your info on the list, please PM me.

Gotta go make dinner, hope you all have a great night.

 

[Family Loves Disney]

And it's called Resort Changeritis.

We're switching to WL. Still same dates of 10/21-10/27. Need a few more posts so I can PM this info to our wonderful host of the thread.

MNSSHP - 10/21

That is too funny. to the thread.

 

[Nicole786]

Joining in!! My brother and I will be there October 1-9th! Can't wait!

 

[sjs314]

Just FYI, I did some research in my past PTR's and I found that FD was anounced on or around July 6 for the dates after September last year. I know because that's when I switched our December reservation to FD! So that's not too far away, and I will be keeping my fingers crossed!

That is good to know

And it's called Resort Changeritis.

We're switching to WL. Still same dates of 10/21-10/27. Need a few more posts so I can PM this info to our wonderful host of the thread.

MNSSHP - 10/21

We just changed last week to WL and almost the same dates as you, 10/19-10/25 here and going to MNSSHP on 10/21 too!

 

[sjs314]

That is too funny. to the thread.

Sent you a pm!

 

[attain]

We switched resorts last week and I have been changeing and tweeking ADR's ever since. No you are not crazy just like the rest of us you want to have the perfect plan and it sure is a lot of work. I bet I spent more hours planning this trip than the hours we will actually spend in Disney

As far as your son and doing better at breakfast I can not shed any light on that subject since my youngest was 9 the frist time we went to WDW but I do want to caution about characters. Not all kids love them. Some are terrified.
When my youngest was 3 we went to chuck e cheese, his older brother who was 13 at the time was bugging to go for the video games. Well as soon as my younger 3 yr old saw chuck e cheese he freaked started yelling "big ears, big ears" and hid under the table I have often wondered if we had been at disney what his reaction would have been when he saw the characters.

Thanks for helping me feel normal...at least in DisWorld!

We spent 4 hours in MK back in April and were able to let DS meet Mickey and Minnie. We didn't know how he would react, but he recognized both, called them by name and was very interactive. After that experience, I hope he will be the same in October. But who knows, 2 year olds are known for changing their minds!

This is the exact reason we're booking mostly breakfasts and early (5PM) dinners. We figure our DD, who will be 3 when we go, will do better at breakfast and eating right after nap. If she has a melt down in the park, we can just take her back to the resort for a rest, but we're keeping our chances low that she'll melt down at the restaurant - although it could still happen.

Good luck to us both! Right now my Coral Reef ressie is 7:35pm is the latest and I'm hoping it is a good night. Our other two diner ressie's will be much easier with the 5:20pm the night of our MNSSHP (planning an easy park day + nap in hotel) and the 6:40pm our arrival day. I'm ok sticking my head in the sand at this point and just hoping for the best!

 

[bellebookworm9]

Southwest has dropped a ton of fares-our return flight is now $80! Trying to get it changed now...

 

[Pixiedust530]

Southwest has dropped a ton of fares-our return flight is now $80! Trying to get it changed now...

Southwest is actually running a promotion for 72 hours only! Fares must be purchased by June 23. $40 one way for flights 0-450 miles, $80 one way for 451-1250 miles, $120 one way for 1251+ miles.

Promotional rates not available for flights on Fridays or Sundays!

For all of you that have been waiting to book your airfare....THIS may be your chance! Possibly prices you can't beat!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!