Please keep your arms, legs and antlers in the vehicle at all times. *2 UPDATES! 1/16

[mom2mek]

Jen, yes this happens every night at 6:30! That's nice of you to offer to save us a spot in line! That might work. I'm wondering though, if they start to let you in and we aren't there yet, what would they do? Still let us in when we get there? It sounds like it, since MOnica said they didn't start letting people in until 6:50 and we would be there by then.

Ugh. I agree about the first show thing though...it really would be the best one to go to.

Are we gonna try for the 2nd parade? In Frontierland or somewhere else?

Tentative:
4:00/4:30 - arrive (where should we meet up with you Jen?)
4:30 - 6:30 - rides/shopping
6:30 - line up for Twas and/or watch castle lighting show
7:00 - 7:30 - Twas
7:30 - 9:00 - rides/characters/hot cocoa and cookies
9:30 - Fireworks (from where - Michelle's new spot? Rose Garden Gazebo? Main St?)
10:30 - Parade (Frontierland/Liberty Square?)
11:00 - 12:00 - rides/hot chocolate/cookies

Tweak away...

2 weeks ladies!

Sara

 

[Poohtigeey]

The blog on Allears tried it our way and barely made it to the Twas show, and got yucky seats. They recommended not trying to do both. I have heard that the last show is not crowded because most people w/ kids have left by 11:15. Therefore we would not have to stand and wait as long. I'd rather not try to rush over for yucky seats or hop in line w/ Jen or have her try to save seats. With that said I don't care about seeing the actual lighting of the castle.

I would rather not sit on Main Street for the parade. I HATE that fake snow and Main Street in crazy busy the whole party. They don't check bracelets until you are crossing into lands or getting on rides so I think day guests tend to stay, and hang out on Main Street. We got a great spot in Frontierland 20 minutes before the 8:15 parade.

Our schedule worked well last year because we got everything done, then had the rest of the night to ride rides and not worry trying to time the ride/line to get somewhere.
7:00 Twas
8:15 Parade
9:30 fireworks
Then you can ride rides the rest of the night. It worked very well for us. After the parade we walked to the castle and staked out a spot in front for the fireworks. It really is the best place to see the fireworks and while waiting we can get our Photopass pics in front of the castle.

With all of this said. I am fine w/ going w/ the flow and just gauging the crowd and deciding then what we want to do.

 

[mom2mek]

I'll go with the flow too. I can miss the castle lighting since I saw it last year (since I'm guessing I'm the only one who really is in question here - Michelle – will you be catching it the following weekend? And Jen - you will catch it earlier in your trip, right?), so that's fine with me. I don't want to rush everyone to the Twas show. Really, I'll be fine....


I thought we had already talked about doing the 2nd parade as it is more recommended as far as crowds.... Did I miss something? No worries - either way...definitely from Frontierland!

If we saw the 2nd parade, we would have the entire time from arrival around 4:30 (or so) until 9:15 (or so) for the fireworks to do tons of stuff. No worries about getting anywhere by a certain time until 9 or so. Then the 10:30 parade from Frontierland, followed by whatever we didn't do earlier.

Like you said Monica, we can just gauge it on what we see crowd-wise!

I.e…if the rides are empty early on because everyone is setting up for the 1st parade and then the fireworks, then it might be a good idea to do the rides first, fireworks, and 2nd parade. But if the rides look crazy earlier in the night, then we could try for 1st parade, followed by rides. We didn't do the 1st parade at MNSSHP because the rides were dead at the time, total walk-ons. After the 1st parade was over, some areas where we were finishing up in....got flooded with people. And we were leaving those areas! Woo-hoo!

But without kids with us, it might just be a whole other thing...we will have such freedom!

2 weeks from today we will be at Animal Kingdom!

Sara

 

[Poohtigeey]

I'm just going by our experience last year. When we crossed over to Frontierland around 7:45 it was empty so there was no reason to wait for the later parade.

 

[mom2mek]

I don't care either way....I already know I'm gonna feel so much more relaxed not being there with a crowd of people I have to lead around, no stroller, no sippy cups, no arguments to settle...(well, I hope not anyway)!

I was just saying that I thought we already talked about doing the 2nd one - ..maybe I'm confused with something else?

I'll miss the castle lighting...I'll do the first parade....whatever....no big whoop!




Sara

Michelle/Jen - you want to add any thoughts here?

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Two weeks from now we will be at Epcot! (Maybe not quite this early - but getting ready for Epcot anyway!)

I'm willing to go with the flow at the party too. I guess we can figure it out when we see the crowd levels. We kind of have an itinerary in our heads for both scenarios (1st parade or 2nd parade) so we can decide on the fly. My only request is that we see the parade!

I really need to get going on my shirts......

 

[mrsksomeday]

Hello ladies!! You must be so excited!! It is so fun to get to meet people from the boards. I am still bummed out that I didn't get to meet Michelle, hopefully next time maybe?

 

[mom2mek]

OMG Michelle! So do I! I have ordered a couple of shirts, but they aren't here yet. My Target didn't have any red in my size!

But I did buy a travel size toothpaste today!

I had to go to Walgreens today in between dance classes, so I picked some up - always makes it "real" that I'm going somewhere that apparently isn't able to accomodate full size toiletries!

I was listening to my Candlelight Processional CD today that my mom got me last year! Do they sell a party CD with the MVMCP music? I really want that if they do! There was another CD I read about on a trip report and I couldn't find it in October! It had the music from all four parks. I have to go find it in her report so I can write down the name!

I also started list-making today while I was sitting in the dance floor lobby! Not too much of a start, but a little! I've got a lot of work to do! (The list I started was a "food to bring from home" list! So, what do I need? I've got bottled waters, diet coke, coffee, bagels, snacks, gum, pina colada/margarita mix, .....feel free to add to it...

Sara

 

[princessjv]

I'm down to just days girls! Can you believe it?

As for where to meet...? Should we try to connect via phone earlier that day> Is the POP at all on your way from your house? If so, would it be a bother to pick me up? If it is, no problem at all! We could meet either inside the gates or out.

I read all of the party planning stuff. If we can make the first show, that is my preference. As for the parade, I am with hitting which ever is least crowded.

I am decorating for Christmas now... and most of tomorrow, as well as having an early Thankgiving/b-day dinner for my "dad" and dd. We had Cinderella here last night. She came for my dd's friend party. It was fun, although she was no where near as good as the REAL Cinderella...s.

 

[Poohtigeey]

JEN!!!!!!! How excited are you?!! Have you exchanged info w/ Michelle? I lost track of time and didn't realize you are leaving before Thanksgiving. Woo Hoo!!! See ya next Thursday!!!!!

I just wanted to come over and do a banana dance! Can you believe the time has almost come?! Let me tell you, the nerves are setting in for me flying alone! I don't even know what to do!LOL!! So I check in on line. Then what? What does that accomplish if I have to check my bag anyway? Too bad MK doesn't serve alcohol! I'm gonna need a drink by the time I arrive!!!

Sara, as for the grocery list. I drink regular coke since you're taking orders! If you take care of the basics, Michelle and I could swing by a Panera and get some bagels there. YUM! Now that I won't be working I won't have the opportunity to swing into Panera on Sunday mornings for asiago bagels. I need to pick up some gum too. I had trouble w/ my ears last time I flew. I just realized that I will have to leave my house with the kids at 7:30 that morning. That'll be fun! I still haven't told the kids I'm going somewhere. Not sure how Hunter's going to take it. I won't tell him about going to Disney, because I think he'll be upset enough. Or maybe he'll surprise me and say, "See ya mom!" He'll be jealous that I get to fly though.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

I can always go to Panera in the morning before my drive to WDW. Just let me know what kind of bagels you all like! There is one right near school so I could go after I drop Sam off.

Sara - we need to get together on our food list. Maybe it would be easier for me to bring the parishable stuff since I have a shorter drive? Let's make a list! Woo Hoo!

Do you guys think we'll have enough time to go to Beaches & Cream on Thursday afternoon? If not, we can always just get settled in the condo and maybe eat somewhere around there? Maybe we can try Beaches & Cream and see how the wait is? I know sometimes the wait can be long (but I've never been there so maybe not) and I'm sure we want to try and get to the party as close to 4 as possible to maximize our MK time! Whatever you guys think is fine with me!

 

[mom2mek]

I can't believe I leave a week from tomorrow!

I'm really planning on being in Orlando by 1:00, so I think we will have time to try for B&C. I'll go straight there, so if I'm ahead of you, and it looks busy, I will just put our name down and hope you get there soon! I think we're gonna need something to eat, so we might as well try for there. If we are running later than we expect (flight delays, traffic, getting lost...) then we will just wing it. Hopefully I won't get lost....I have got a list of all the directions that I'm gonna need, plus I will have the Tom Tom. I'm gonna try to switch it from a girly voice to a nice sounding man with a british accent! Gotta have something to entertain me on the way down, right? )

I will add the coke to the list Monica. What else? Do you guys carry bottled water into the parks? I do usually, because of the kids, but I'm not sure of the bag I will be carrying and whether or not I will have the room to carry some. I will be so less cluttered with stuff (yay), but I'm thinking of getting some of the little bottles. Always better than $3 ones in the park!

I ordered our buttons (sorry, I forgot to do that last week) so I hope they come in time. It said delivery between the 2nd and the 4th, so if they come on the 4th I will already be gone. I hope they come in time!

My shirts I ordered came today...hopefully I can get my transfers printed this weekend and iron them on (without the kids seeing)!

Monica, you will be fine. If you check in online and get your seat assignment and print your boarding pass, you will just go to the desk to check your bag. Then you head to security! Don't bring PopTarts! For some reason they were suspect with me! LOL! Then just head to your gate and relax!

Hey! I saw on Steve Soares' site that the Twas show was going on during the day this week, but I have a feeling it is only for T-giving week and it will probably go back to just at the parties after this week. Drat! That would have been nice! If we were able to see it at 5:45, we wouldn't have to worry about it during the party! I'm pretty sure it will go back to normal, but I'll be checking on Sunday anyway! LOL!

Checked the weather today....lookin' good...lookin real good!

Sara

 

[Poohtigeey]

Checked the weather today....lookin' good...lookin real good!

Sara

Which site did you check cause Accuweather wasn't looking great. High of 65 on Thurs, 50s for the party. Fine by me. 69? on Friday, Rain on Saturday. We'll go w/ yours! However I'm sure it will change 10 times before Thursday is actually here!

 

[mom2mek]

Which site did you check cause Accuweather wasn't looking great. High of 65 on Thurs, 50s for the party. Fine by me. 69? on Friday, Rain on Saturday. We'll go w/ yours! However I'm sure it will change 10 times before Thursday is actually here!

I was checking on weather.com, but it only goes as far as the party day, which has a high of 72 and a low of 52! I think that sounds great! I don't like the rain on Saturday that you are talking about. No, No, No!!!

Like you said, a lot can change!

Sara

 

[princessjv]

Okay girls... I am too excited to sleep! I leave today!

hey, I'll invite myself along to B&C. Give me a call if you decide to go and I will try to get my tush over there. Girls, I am really excited to hang out with you for the evening!

Well, I am all packed. I just need to weigh the bags tomorrow to ensure they are not too heavy. I packed my antlers and red shirt.

Monica, I have both Sara and Michelle's info. We will have to exchange info at the party... or the girls can pass mine to you.


See you next week! Have a fabulous Thanksgiving! Safe travels everyone.

 

[Poohtigeey]

Yay Jen!!!!! DISing at 1:30am? You were excited!

OMG!!!! Can you believe it's almost time?! I am so excited!!

 

[Poohtigeey]

One week from RIGHT NOW we will be on Expedition Everest or hitting the 10:00 Nemo show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, Hunter knows, and he's not happy.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

One week from RIGHT NOW we will be on Expedition Everest or hitting the 10:00 Nemo show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, Hunter knows, and he's not happy.

I can't believe it! It seemed like the time would never come and now it is right around the corner!! I really need to get going on my shirts, and packing too! Woo Hoo!!!!

Sam only knows I'm driving to the airport in Orlando - she assumes I'm flying somewhere from there.....

 

[mom2mek]

Just popping in to say:



I can't wait girls!

Sara

 

[Poohtigeey]

5 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!