OFFICIAL Sept. 2009

[haleofafamily]

I'm starting to get excited Staying at the POP Sept 18 - 23 for our first trip to Disney to celebrate birthdays!! My DS's birthday is 09/19 and my DD's birthday is 09/22. Any advice for a newbie???

Welcome to the Dis

We Dissers are full of advice! Do you have any specific questions?

 

[T__y]

Welcome to the Dis

We Dissers are full of advice! Do you have any specific questions?

Not really... I have my ADR's. Everything else is booked (and paid for) too. I have the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. I've already started packing... I'm just really anxious, overwhelmed, and excited. This is our family first trip to Disney World...EVER(adults included) and even though we have a family vacation every year (sometimes two or three), this is the first time we are flying w/ the kiddos. I guess one question would be how much spending money to bring?? I've thought approx. $600 but I read on another board to budget about $400 - $500 for tips. So, should I adjust to $1K instead?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Not really... I have my ADR's. Everything else is booked (and paid for) too. I have the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. I've already started packing... I'm just really anxious, overwhelmed, and excited. This is our family first trip to Disney World...EVER(adults included) and even though we have a family vacation every year (sometimes two or three), this is the first time we are flying w/ the kiddos. I guess one question would be how much spending money to bring?? I've thought approx. $600 but I read on another board to budget about $400 - $500 for tips. So, should I adjust to $1K instead?

I can drop $2K easy in a week (December sales) just depends on my mood, and we don't have children.

Check out Allearsnet.com and look at the menu prices and you can figure out what you need for tips, that is what I did for our Dec trip last year, then I put that money in seperate envelopes with the restaurant name and our confirmation number, I was usually right and sometimes even added a little bit for outstanding service, which we had at most restaurants. We ate at 10 TS restaurants in Dec 2008 and with the extra surcharge, our tips were closer to $250 for 3 adults.

I always do up our Mousekeeping tip envelopes before we leave and just pull out one each morning and leave it on the bed or by the sink.

Suzanne

 

[spider0215]

At the 1 month mark, YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[j-jhall]

At the 1 month mark, YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am just ahead of ya!!

 

[Disneydonnam]

At the 1 month mark, YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATS Doris. 27 more days for us.

 

[haleofafamily]

Not really... I have my ADR's. Everything else is booked (and paid for) too. I have the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. I've already started packing... I'm just really anxious, overwhelmed, and excited. This is our family first trip to Disney World...EVER(adults included) and even though we have a family vacation every year (sometimes two or three), this is the first time we are flying w/ the kiddos. I guess one question would be how much spending money to bring?? I've thought approx. $600 but I read on another board to budget about $400 - $500 for tips. So, should I adjust to $1K instead?

I think it depends on how much you have to spend or are willing to spend. Even with 6 kids we would only spend this much if we were using our cash for food.

For a first timer all the gift shops can be overwhelming (alot of rides end in a gift shop) so now we set a spending limit for each child (and ourselves).

Also I shop at the Disney store in the mall and online before we go and take toys and things with us to give as surprises through out the trip. This is much cheaper than shopping at WDW

 

[1stvisit0909]

Welcome to the Dis! Are you finding all the info that you need? Hope your first trip is magical!

oh yes! Its already magical! We got in on the free ddp at the value resort...and then got the pin to do a free upgrade to a 1bdrm at OKW...WOW!! So we are beside ourselves. Its a suprise for the kids, and they are getting to have bfast with the princesses in Epcot, and dinner at Cindy's. I can't wait!

I'm trying to figure out how much tip money to take now.

 

[jmskinner]

oh yes! Its already magical! We got in on the free ddp at the value resort...and then got the pin to do a free upgrade to a 1bdrm at OKW...WOW!! So we are beside ourselves. Its a suprise for the kids, and they are getting to have bfast with the princesses in Epcot, and dinner at Cindy's. I can't wait!

I'm trying to figure out how much tip money to take now.

The magic begins. Great news on the upgrade. How many in your party? We normally end up spending about $15 per meal in tips and there are 3 of us.

Our first trip we told the DS how much money he had to spend, he could spend it all at once, a little each day, or any he didn't spend he could keep. He ended keeping half of it so he went to Wal-Mart when we got home.

We spent about $1000 that first trip. Buying lanyards and pins was the biggest expense. Something we didn't plan on doing, but got hooked. Hope you have a great trip, sounds like it is already off to a good start.

 

[wdwdork]

I always do up our Mousekeeping tip envelopes before we leave and just pull out one each morning and leave it on the bed or by the sink.

Suzanne

How much do you normally tip per day to Mousekeeping? I was planning on $5-$10 per day.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

UPDATE on Sept Illuminations:
This is from the previous mentioned thread about Illuminations closing


'Just to reiterate: "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" is NOT ending on August 31. It IS running through September. It's missing from the calendar at disneyworld.com due to a glitch, which isn't uncommon for that site. If you visit the Epcot September calendar posted on the UK site, you will see ROE being performed every night:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw...&date=20090901
So to paraphrase Mark Twain: The rumors of ROE's death have been greatly exaggerated.'


Plus I was finally able to get in touch with someone at WDW and she confirmed that Illuminations WILL BE showing in Sept.

Sorry to upset anyone - at least now I know how much I would miss Illuminations!

What a relief! Thanks!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

How much do you normally tip per day to Mousekeeping? I was planning on $5-$10 per day.

There are only 2 of us, so I tip $3/day. When we would take mom and my cousin's daughter, I would leave $5/day. I see no need to tip $10/day, that is more of what I would tip Bell Services for helping with my bags.

Suzanne

 

[wdwdork]

There are only 2 of us, so I tip $3/day. When we would take mom and my cousin's daughter, I would leave $5/day. I see no need to tip $10/day, that is more of what I would tip Bell Services for helping with my bags.

Suzanne

We have a family of 5 so I'll plan on $5/day. Thanks for the info!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Wow your organization and dedication to keeping this updated is amazing. Very impressive.

We will be there 9/2-9/7 staying at ASMu.
Celebrating:extra days off work i managed to sneak my way into last minute!lol nah no celebration for us this time, just an impromptu trip to satisfy my craving for some magic.

 

[Tatalee]

This will be my very first WDW trip (and my first post on the board!) We arrive on Sept. 24 and will be leaving on Oct. 3 - staying in the All-Star Music Resort. It's exciting for me to see how many other people will be down there at the same time!

As the days fly by, our small party of 3 gets even more and more excited! First trip for this 27 year old, my 18 year old sister, and 6 year old son. We have a rough outline of the things that we want to do (and all of our ADR's done) but if anyone has any suggestions (especially for 6 year old little boys who make a gagging noise when we start to discuss anything too 'princessy') I'd love to hear them!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I'm starting to get excited Staying at the POP Sept 18 - 23 for our first trip to Disney to celebrate birthdays!! My DS's birthday is 09/19 and my DD's birthday is 09/22. Any advice for a newbie???

We're staying at POP 9-12 to 9-23. We are also are celebrating 2 birthdays! They are also on 9-19 and 9-22! Wow, what a coincidence!

My DD will be ten on 9/19 and my DM will be more than 10x? on 9-22!

So ya around the pool.

My advice, request (by fax 4 days before ) the 50's building facing the lake. We've had this location the last 2 years and love it.

Have fun!

 

[utkscvol1]

We're staying at POP 9-12 to 9-23. We are also are celebrating 2 birthdays! They are also on 9-19 and 9-22! Wow, what a coincidence!

My DD will be ten on 9/19 and my DM will be more than 10x? on 9-22!

So ya around the pool.

My advice, request (by fax 4 days before ) the 50's building facing the lake. We've had this location the last 2 years and love it.

Have fun!

We'll be there @ the same time. We've got 2 dd's 9 and 13. Maybe we'll see you guys around the pool.

Do you guys know if there are any rooms facing the lake that are preferred?

 

[haleofafamily]

This will be my very first WDW trip (and my first post on the board!) We arrive on Sept. 24 and will be leaving on Oct. 3 - staying in the All-Star Music Resort. It's exciting for me to see how many other people will be down there at the same time!

As the days fly by, our small party of 3 gets even more and more excited! First trip for this 27 year old, my 18 year old sister, and 6 year old son. We have a rough outline of the things that we want to do (and all of our ADR's done) but if anyone has any suggestions (especially for 6 year old little boys who make a gagging noise when we start to discuss anything too 'princessy') I'd love to hear them!

Welcome to the Dis!
Hope you love WDW and have a magical trip!
Do you have any specific questions? I could give you a list of my boys favorite at every park if you would like. Let me know.

 

[Tatalee]

haleofafamily I have so many questions! We booked through a TA, so I've spent the last few weeks trying to get as much information as I can (since our TA is on vacation and I wasn't sure how much Disney could help me with since we didn't book with them directly), and now I've got all the background stuff sorted - and finally able to focus on the fun stuff!

Our main focus of the trip is the MK (we've planned to spend three days there in total), and so far all I know of for sure is that he's excited about the Pirates of the Caribbean. If you could let me know what your boys like - that would be wonderful! We're going to MK, Disney Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom Thanks again for your help!

 

[Kristinluvsdisney]

Got all my Mickey mail. Only 1 more month.