PART THREE! *December 2012 Roll Call* Holidays, FLE & MVMCP!! A very, merry thread!

[discookiemonsta]

Anyone ever feel like they are planning too much? I'm afraid it's too structured. I know we can cancel an ADR up to the day before.

We will be at Disney for 2 weeks. I have most of my park days planned out (we have 10 day park tickets/no hoppers) and all of my ADR's made.

I have exactly 14 ADRs (some breakfast/one or two lunch/some dinner) so I feel pretty comfortable with my ADR schedule. Some days we have 2 ADRs, some days only 1 ADR and some days no ADRs scheduled.

What I feel like I'm planning too many of are the amount of park days. Technically we will only have 13 full days, with 10 day park tickets available, which wasn't too bad because we'd have 3 'free days', but now I ordered tickets for MVMCP so that will be one less day that we are using a regular park ticket. I really don't want to waste even one day of our tickets, but that would mean 10 days at parks, 1 MVMCP and only 2 'free days'

Since our trip is pretty long, I don't know if we'll be worn out at the end of the trip with only 2 'free days'

The biggest issue I have with going at Christmas time is this: during such a busy time it is almost a necessity to have a well laid out plan, ADRs booked etc. At least you have something to work with and can always be trimmed down (cancel ADRs, do less park time etc...)

Am I making any sense?

 

[QueenElinor]

I wish we could use it all for Disney but there are the normal bills that have to be paid. The good thing though is that paycheck #4 is while we're in Disney. So that helps as long as we don't go overboard.

DH is the head of the systems department at one of the local universities's libraries. They always have a library and systems holiday party there. The only time his department and the director of the library get together for a party is for the superbowl.

One of DH's employee's always holds a superbowl party. However, this year I believe another co-worker is going to be holding it since he just moved into his new house. So it's more of an open house/superbowl party.

DH works for a large medical clinic at one of their smaller branches, and his department used to have a really nice party, which was a lot of fun. However, now they just have a special lunch that people do in shifts down at the main hospital, very impersonal. So the other doctor at his office chips in and we host. A lot of the excess work is my doing, though, because I rent "real" plates, napkins, etc. But people love that it so it's worth it.

 

[ksromack]

are thinking about Disney 24/7 We haven't had any dreams yet of our trip. I probably wont until after we get back.

Right now, I'm realizing that DH has 3 paychecks (bi-weekly) before we go, the first one being this Wednesday. Disney seems further away when I say next month. It feels much closer now when I say 3 paychecks

I have both of our paychecks "spoken for" already.......on my iPhone calendar I have listed what each check will be paying for....none of which are scheduled for "savings". Of course house payment, electricity, water bill, car payment, car insurance........I'm fairly sure we'll be eating ramen noodles the week before we leave I still have to upgrade to the DxDDP, buy our La Nouba tix, 2 day hoppers at Universal/IOA, and PP+. Then I'll be getting $500 worth of WDW gift cards to cover our oop beverages/tips. I sort of would like to get a little more than that to cover toys for us while we are there as well as a few christmas presents for my nieces/nephews but I don't want to overbuy on the gift cards. I suppose if I were to accidently overpurchase gift cards they would have to be used for maybe paying off a future trip? Now that would be a shame if I accidently overpurchased those, wouldn't it?

I also sent out the first edition of my "countdown newsletter" to the family! I'm sending one every Monday (this one was basically an introductory newsletter). The kids loved it!

You see, we always used to do a countdown of little plastic Disney toys (about the size you'd get from a Happy Meal) and would put one up each day until we got to put up this big Mickey statue. It's amazing how many of these little toys we had- I think we started about 40-50 days ahead of time.

Anyway, can't do that very effectively with two of them gone, and they're all older anyway so a bunch of little toys may not have the same appeal any longer. Plus, there is stuff they really do have to know, since the college kids have to get out there on their own. Amazingly, the planes are timed to arrive at almost the same time as ours from Montana, but we all know how that can go awry!

The next edition will contain info on their flights, ME and the YC, with lots of pictures and bad jokes. I'm just happy they don't think Mom is a little wacky, or if they do they aren't saying so....

I sure wish I knew where all those disney happy meal toys went......I used to buy them in duplicate all the time when the kids were little. I shudder to think I may have thrown all that stuff away. They would make sure perfect ornaments for my smallish tree at WDW during our trip!

I'm headed to Target today for some pre-trip purchases. Just getting to go to Target alone is exciting, there are some things I miss now that I live in NYC. Going to Target or Wal-mart on a whim is one of them. Now it takes planning.

We sat down and planned out the rest of our ADRs on Thursday night. I feel like I'm going to do nothing but eat and not have time for anything else. I've been told that this will not be our only Disney trip so it's ok if we don't do "everything".

Anyone ever feel like they are planning too much? I'm afraid it's too structured. I know we can cancel an ADR up to the day before.

I have a lot of ADRs scheduled too but hey, it's vacation.....eating is a hobby of ours I think I've gotten most of the stuff we'll need on our trip. Already packed the baggie of carry-on sized liquids (3oz or less).

DH and I are coming December 13-17 to celebrate our 10th anniversary! I am SO excited to have an adults only trip. We are doing the CP package and MVMCP too. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I haven't been to the World around Christmas since I was a kid!

Awesome way to spend an anniversary! We'll be there Dec 9-17th and will be celebrating our 11 year anniversary. What resort will you be staying at?

All NEW Post #3!

Head on over there to learn about:

mom2travel

and

SAT887

SAT887: Your picture is not in the PM. Care to resend to me?

Can't wait to read about our latest group of friends!

 

[discookiemonsta]

DH and I are coming December 13-17 to celebrate our 10th anniversary! I am SO excited to have an adults only trip. We are doing the CP package and MVMCP too. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I haven't been to the World around Christmas since I was a kid!

Welcome

We are also arriving on the 13th and will be celebrating our 10th anniversary as well

We will be travelling with our two little girls though....an adult only trip like yours sounds like heaven!!!

 

[ksromack]

We will be at Disney for 2 weeks. I have most of my park days planned out (we have 10 day park tickets/no hoppers) and all of my ADR's made.

I have exactly 14 ADRs (some breakfast/one or two lunch/some dinner) so I feel pretty comfortable with my ADR schedule. Some days we have 2 ADRs, some days only 1 ADR and some days no ADRs scheduled.

What I feel like I'm planning too many of are the amount of park days. Technically we will only have 13 full days, with 10 day park tickets available, which wasn't too bad because we'd have 3 'free days', but now I ordered tickets for MVMCP so that will be one less day that we are using a regular park ticket. I really don't want to waste even one day of our tickets, but that would mean 10 days at parks, 1 MVMCP and only 2 'free days'

Since our trip is pretty long, I don't know if we'll be worn out at the end of the trip with only 2 'free days'

The biggest issue I have with going at Christmas time is this: during such a busy time it is almost a necessity to have a well laid out plan, ADRs booked etc. At least you have something to work with and can always be trimmed down (cancel ADRs, do less park time etc...)

Am I making any sense?

I understand what you are saying, but just because you use a park day at one park doesn't mean you have to spend all day there. You will definitely see everything in all the parks so I don't think you will need a full day each day. You can go back to your resort and rest, swim, go to DTD to shop, play miniature golf......lots to do that won't require the energy that time in the park will require. I'm jealous you have so many days to get it all done I'm cramming all of mine in 8 days at the parks I just played around a little bit with with touring plans just to see if I'm being realistic with what I hope to accomplish each day....and it doesn't look good for our MK days The touring plans don't even have the new FLE in there and I'm thinking that will take a couple hours alone. Maybe not....... We'll have ONE very full day at MK (rope drop to MVMCP) but I can't count on all of that time because I know I'll have to get in line for the 7Dwarfs fairly early. Of course we WILL be able to ride some rides during MVMCP (a few during the first parade maybe)? AK day is totally good. EE wasn't even built the last time we went to WDW....it was in the process of being built then. I don't feel the need to do the trail OR ride Kali River Rapids......not sure I want to get that wet on a park day in December. We'll have to leave AK probably as soon as we're done with our lunch at Yak and Yeti........

Does anyone else mess around with touring plans just to get an idea of what is realistic to accomplish during their park days? It's just me and dh.....I've been walking every day to build up stamina. Dh HAS NOT. I already told him, "Don't make me leave you behind because you can't keep up with me".

 

[SAT887]

I understand what you are saying, but just because you use a park day at one park doesn't mean you have to spend all day there. You will definitely see everything in all the parks so I don't think you will need a full day each day. You can go back to your resort and rest, swim, go to DTD to shop, play miniature golf......lots to do that won't require the energy that time in the park will require. I'm jealous you have so many days to get it all done I'm cramming all of mine in 8 days at the parks I just played around a little bit with with touring plans just to see if I'm being realistic with what I hope to accomplish each day....and it doesn't look good for our MK days The touring plans don't even have the new FLE in there and I'm thinking that will take a couple hours alone. Maybe not....... We'll have ONE very full day at MK (rope drop to MVMCP) but I can't count on all of that time because I know I'll have to get in line for the 7Dwarfs fairly early. Of course we WILL be able to ride some rides during MVMCP (a few during the first parade maybe)? AK day is totally good. EE wasn't even built the last time we went to WDW....it was in the process of being built then. I don't feel the need to do the trail OR ride Kali River Rapids......not sure I want to get that wet on a park day in December. We'll have to leave AK probably as soon as we're done with our lunch at Yak and Yeti........

Does anyone else mess around with touring plans just to get an idea of what is realistic to accomplish during their park days? It's just me and dh.....I've been walking every day to build up stamina. Dh HAS NOT. I already told him, "Don't make me leave you behind because you can't keep up with me".

I've come to realize that with the kids - nothing is realistic!! However I do know if its me and a fellow adult we can cover A LOT of ground... You have a lot of ADR's though which I think add to to the time - however I am betting you can get quite a bit done - especially on MVMCP or EMH nights....

 

[QueenElinor]

....
Does anyone else mess around with touring plans just to get an idea of what is realistic to accomplish during their park days? It's just me and dh.....I've been walking every day to build up stamina. Dh HAS NOT. I already told him, "Don't make me leave you behind because you can't keep up with me".

It may be just me but I think touringplans.com is very unrealistic on their times when it comes to things that are not rides- shows, ADRs, the World Showcase, etc. The ride times are fun to play with, though.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Been working since this morning. During a little break I got most of my Christmas decorations for my room. I cannot find the Disney window clings anywhere though. Disney Store, Dollar Tree and Walmart dont have them. Does anyone know if Target has Christmas decorations out yet?

 

[My2Qtz0205]

Been working since this morning. During a little break I got most of my Christmas decorations for my room. I cannot find the Disney clings anywhere though. Disney Store, Dollar Tree and Walmart dont have them. Does anyone know if Target has Christmas decorations out yet?

Target does have out their Christmas decs.

 

[ksromack]

Good morning, fellow DISers. I'm up early to go donate platelets. I go every 2 weeks. Not a lot of fun being hooked up to a machine for 2 hours but it makes me feel good. And a bonus - each time I go I earn points that I can redeem in their online store. For all of 2011 & 2012 I've earned enough points to get about $130 in Wal-Mart gift cards which will be used (you guessed it) for supplies shopping at the store near WDW on our upcoming trip. Every dollar counts when it comes to WDW!!

That's a good thing to donate. Can't put a price on helping someone out in need of blood products. I'm such a wimp. My blood pressure is fairly low all the time and I have wimpy veins so for me to donate even just a units of blood is a fiasco.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Target does have out their Christmas decs.

Thanks!!

 

[discookiemonsta]

I understand what you are saying, but just because you use a park day at one park doesn't mean you have to spend all day there. You will definitely see everything in all the parks so I don't think you will need a full day each day. You can go back to your resort and rest, swim, go to DTD to shop, play miniature golf......lots to do that won't require the energy that time in the park will require. I'm jealous you have so many days to get it all done I'm cramming all of mine in 8 days at the parks I just played around a little bit with with touring plans just to see if I'm being realistic with what I hope to accomplish each day....and it doesn't look good for our MK days The touring plans don't even have the new FLE in there and I'm thinking that will take a couple hours alone. Maybe not....... We'll have ONE very full day at MK (rope drop to MVMCP) but I can't count on all of that time because I know I'll have to get in line for the 7Dwarfs fairly early. Of course we WILL be able to ride some rides during MVMCP (a few during the first parade maybe)? AK day is totally good. EE wasn't even built the last time we went to WDW....it was in the process of being built then. I don't feel the need to do the trail OR ride Kali River Rapids......not sure I want to get that wet on a park day in December. We'll have to leave AK probably as soon as we're done with our lunch at Yak and Yeti........

Does anyone else mess around with touring plans just to get an idea of what is realistic to accomplish during their park days? It's just me and dh.....I've been walking every day to build up stamina. Dh HAS NOT. I already told him, "Don't make me leave you behind because you can't keep up with me".

Yes, we will definitely have enough park time! We love MK so we'll be spending most of our time there. We will spend at least 2 days in Epcot and 1 day in AK. We are spending at least 1 full day at DHS. Our last full park day, we will decide on either Epcot/MK or DHS. We actually plan all of our park days around PM EMHs. We love to spend a few hours in the afternoons outside of the park, either in our room, at the pool, DTD....and then head back to the park for EMH. To me there's something magical about the parks at nighttime, especially MK!!!

A few trips ago (we were at Disney 6 days and it was far too short!) we figured out that we like longer trips where we have lots of opportunities/days for each park. That way we don't feel rushed at all (unless of course it's our last day and we have to do all of our favorites just one more time or else) and we never follow a touring plan inside of the parks. This time for MK the first thing we'll do is head to FLE where I'm sure we'll spend at least half a day!
We just go with the flow, see which lines are the shortest, which rides our girls want to do etc. With little kids, there are a lot of rides we have to do numerious times each time we are in MK, but there are also some bigger rides that we never go on because they have no interest in them.

We will still have a lot of downtime outside of the parks...DTD, pooltime, resort hopping, all those ADR's we have planned, mini golf, hanging out at the resort....

LOL, I love what you told your Dh about leaving him behind...sounds just like me...nobody in my family can ever keep up with me

 

[taaren]

It's American. It was originally made in Louisiana, I don't know where it is made now.

Thanks, good to know. I just saw "Bordreaux's" and figured French Canadian or something. Pharmacist from Lousiana makes equal sense. Wikipedia says its migrated to Indiana.

So I turned out to be sicker than I thought. Fortunately I have nothing to so this morning but catch up on a scary number of pages.

Feel better! I wish I could say I didn't have other stuff to catch up on ... DH came back a week before me, and I came home and the refrigerator still needs to be cleaned out (apparently there were some blackouts while we were both gone), groceries to be gotten, unpacking/repacking for the next trip, cleaning to do ... list goes on, so I knocked out about 2/3 of it before settling in to DIS this morning.

It may be just me but I think touringplans.com is very unrealistic on their times when it comes to things that are not rides- shows, ADRs, the World Showcase, etc. The ride times are fun to play with, though.

This is good to know. When I get my new phone next week I'm going to subscribe to touringplans and start playing with it. I also need to start to try to realistically figure out transportation plans within the World but those nuts and bolts aren't the fun part of planning so I've been putting it off.


Ordered my Rewards Card from my Disney Visa yesterday, along with a Landry's Select card so I can have a $50 credit at T-Rex Cafe for $25. List of Disney related things to do is getting shorter ...

 

[taaren]

1. mom2travel

Why did you choose December? Have always wanted to see WDW at Christmas so jumped right onto the train when my parents mentioned they "might" go.

That's great, definitely a train I'd jump on, too if my folks said they might go ...

2. SAT887
Brief background about your upcoming trip (include dates): Nov 30th to Dec 8th. First night at AKL Jambo 1 br value with MIL, Dec 1st-8th OKW Grand Villa!! The trip includes DH, Me , my two daughters, my mom, my mother in law and fingers crossed a surpise set of visitors, my DH’s sister and husband!! We haven’t told MIL this yet (they haven’t committed 100% due to work, military and school) however the anticipation of that alone is killing me, we haven’t seen them in 6 years due to many reasons. Biggest being for most of that time they lived in CA.

Here's hoping your DSIL and DBIL are able to go! What a great surprise! And how did I miss that you'll be in an OKW Grand Villa?! You're going to do a TR and post pics of that right?

 

[SAT887]

Here's hoping your DSIL and DBIL are able to go! What a great surprise! And how did I miss that you'll be in an OKW Grand Villa?! You're going to do a TR and post pics of that right?

Haha no problem! We stayed in one last year and it was amazingly spacious!! A great value as well.

 

[BDL]

Phewwwwwwwwwww!!!!

Due to work and other things... I was 18 pgs behind. All caught up now.

By the way, the Santa cans are back and out now. Also, Home Depot has their Christmas decorations are out.

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[1stvisit0909]

ordered a rain cover and hood for my DSLR - which means I AM taking it, and it won't rain, since I'm prepared, right?

 

[ksromack]

So I turned out to be sicker than I thought. Fortunately I have nothing to so this morning but catch up on a scary number of pages.

Ugh. I hope you are feeling better!

Great to know! I have been wondering whether you need a ticket to even drive to the resorts (I know I'm showing my newbie-ness)! We'll be there Christmas Week and would love to see all the gingerbread houses that others have mentioned on their TRs. Though, since it'll be the busiest time of the year we may encounter some problems. Oh well, all part of the adventure!

Hi there! I can't wait to see the Christmas decorations at the resorts as well. I've been once during the holiday season and stayed at WL.....but we didn't get the chance to see the other resorts...nor did I even THINK to do so! This will be a special trip indeed!

Happy Saturday everyone

My husband has only been gone for 4 days and will be gone for another 10 days, but he may regret that decision considering how bored I am and I cannot control my Disney spending habbit when I am bored

So, I was up way too early and far too bored this morning for my own good (and the good of my credit card)

I ended up buying tickets for MVMCP (December 18th) I may keep this is a surprise from the girls and my husband, hahahahahaha!

See, I had been contemplating attending the party on our arrival day, but with that being a travel day I didn't want to risk it and I didn't want us to get worn out at the beginning of our vacation. So this morning I started researching the party dates and realized that for the 18th we had no park plans and only a Trail's End reservation, which I have now changed to our arrival day evening.

Just so hard to sit and wait, counting down the days...54 today!!!! without spending time tweaking plans, adding more plans, rearranging ADR's, charging more Disney to the CC etc.

This will be our first MCMVP too. I cannot wait...oh, and it's all your dh's fault for being gone.

Been working since this morning. During a little break I got most of my Christmas decorations for my room. I cannot find the Disney window clings anywhere though. Disney Store, Dollar Tree and Walmart dont have them. Does anyone know if Target has Christmas decorations out yet?

Target does have some Christmas items out but I haven't seen Disney clings either. They do have MM red/green battery operated Christmas lights

 

[ksromack]

By the way, the Santa cans are back and out now. Also, Home Depot has their Christmas decorations are out.

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

What is this, Santa cans? I'm sure I need it

 

[Tltorrez]

I'm headed to Target today for some pre-trip purchases. Just getting to go to Target alone is exciting, there are some things I miss now that I live in NYC. Going to Target or Wal-mart on a whim is one of them. Now it takes planning.

We sat down and planned out the rest of our ADRs on Thursday night. I feel like I'm going to do nothing but eat and not have time for anything else. I've been told that this will not be our only Disney trip so it's ok if we don't do "everything".

Anyone ever feel like they are planning too much? I'm afraid it's too structured. I know we can cancel an ADR up to the day before.

How many ADRs do you have? We generally do less than one TS meal per day. While we do love to eat, I rarely plan ADRs during park time.