September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[MamaJessie]

Looks like so much fun MissLiz!! Your family is beautiful and your quick visit sounds like the most awesome surprise ever!!

 

[KellyWasHere]

Those pictures are great MissLiz! Sounds like a really nice little vacation.

Well, I had our itinerary planned, then TGM recommendations came out (first time using TGM) and it changed things. So here's my tentative plan:

Sunday (9/11) - arrive around noon. Early dinner at DTD, T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe. Play around at resort (Pop Century), relax.

Monday (9/12) - Epcot. Midday break? Stay for Illuminations? It's been over 10 years since I've seen Illuminations, and don't know if young kids generally enoy it?

Tuesday (9/13) - DTD for shopping around noon. Early dinner at WCC around 2:30, then take boat to MK for MNSSHP, arriving at 4.

Wednesday (9/14) - Late start at HS for a short day.

Thursday (9/15) - Epcot. Lunch at Chefs de France. Leave early evening.

Friday (9/16) - 8 am reservation at CRT. Magic Kingdom.

We are renting a fridge, so all breakfasts, except CRT obviously, will be in the room. I'm afraid this will not be enough MK time, so I'm still mulling it over. Please let me know if you have any opinions on it!

Also, we check out on Friday, can we leave our car parked at Pop Century until the end of the day and use the buses?

 

[L-Harper]

Thank you everyone for your insight. I'm not really sure what we should do then. We probably won't have an ADR that night. Maybe we'll just eat at Pop then head over to MK for Wishes. I'm not sure...

MissLiz- I'm so glad you had a great time! Your girls are too adorable!

KellyWasHere- I mistyped. I meant my oldest son. He is 3.5 years old. He has been obsessed with "grand finale fireworks over Cinderella's Castle."

 

[MamaJessie]

KellyWasHere- I mistyped. I meant my oldest son. He is 3.5 years old. He has been obsessed with "grand finale fireworks over Cinderella's Castle."

Oh that makes way more sense!!

 

[MissLiz]

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. We did have a fantastic time and we really enjoyed Saratoga Springs. It's a beautiful resort and the CMs are super friendly.

I was a little sad that we missed both IllumiNations and Wishes, but after going all day, it was just too hard.

I usually try to coordinate the girls quite a bit, but the Eeyore picture was about as close as I was able to coordinate on such short notice.

Now, to get on with the September planning. Right now, we have a few ADRs that we know we want to try for, but I can't get a schedule in my head. Plus, we aren't quite sure which restaurants we want to try this time.

 

[Smile4Me]

Looks like so much fun MissLiz!! Your family is beautiful and your quick visit sounds like the most awesome surprise ever!!

Agreed! Glad you had a great trip and enjoyed Saratoga Springs!

 

[JoBird]

I was just admiring how far she has come the other day.....

Awwww, your Tink is moving along nicely. Back to square on for mine.

We booked southwest! I like that bags are included and it's direct. $1300 ouch!

Congrats on booking airfare!!! Gone are the days of $39 nonstop flights on SW. ugh.

Well, I had our itinerary planned, then TGM recommendations came out (first time using TGM) and it changed things. So here's my tentative plan:

Sunday (9/11) - arrive around noon. Early dinner at DTD, T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe. Play around at resort (Pop Century), relax.

Monday (9/12) - Epcot. Midday break? Stay for Illuminations? It's been over 10 years since I've seen Illuminations, and don't know if young kids generally enoy it?

Tuesday (9/13) - DTD for shopping around noon. Early dinner at WCC around 2:30, then take boat to MK for MNSSHP, arriving at 4.

Wednesday (9/14) - Late start at HS for a short day.

Thursday (9/15) - Epcot. Lunch at Chefs de France. Leave early evening.

Friday (9/16) - 8 am reservation at CRT. Magic Kingdom.

We are renting a fridge, so all breakfasts, except CRT obviously, will be in the room. I'm afraid this will not be enough MK time, so I'm still mulling it over. Please let me know if you have any opinions on it!

Also, we check out on Friday, can we leave our car parked at Pop Century until the end of the day and use the buses?

Hi- I just looked at your plans comparing them to TGM. I think they look good. I think the main problem you might find is the heat in the middle of the day inside the parks.
On Tuesday you won't be getting up early b/c of going to MNSSHP that night, so on Monday evening, I'd probably try to stay at Epcot as late as possible.
DHS on Wednesday is a good choice, no Fantasmic crowds.

I don't see why you couldn't leave the car parked at Pop for Friday while you are in MK. You don't want to drive over there? Do you usually take the busses once on property?

Thanks for all the kind words, everyone. We did have a fantastic time and we really enjoyed Saratoga Springs. It's a beautiful resort and the CMs are super friendly.

I was a little sad that we missed both IllumiNations and Wishes, but after going all day, it was just too hard.

I usually try to coordinate the girls quite a bit, but the Eeyore picture was about as close as I was able to coordinate on such short notice.

Now, to get on with the September planning. Right now, we have a few ADRs that we know we want to try for, but I can't get a schedule in my head. Plus, we aren't quite sure which restaurants we want to try this time.

Welcome back!! Thanks for the TR and pictures. Your mini trip sounds like it was wonderful!! Just what you needed to hold you over till Sept!!
The pics of the girls are too cute- the baby in her "adorable" shirt is just that...... Adorable!!!

 

[KELLY]

Thank you everyone for your insight. I'm not really sure what we should do then. We probably won't have an ADR that night. Maybe we'll just eat at Pop then head over to MK for Wishes. I'm not sure...

MissLiz- I'm so glad you had a great time! Your girls are too adorable!

KellyWasHere- I mistyped. I meant my oldest son. He is 3.5 years old. He has been obsessed with "grand finale fireworks over Cinderella's Castle."

My girls after the flight and all the travel are just about done for the 1st day. We will probably head over to DTD and eat at T-rex it is a tradtion now. LOL If not we will probably just hang out at pop. We are there for 9 nights so there isn't a rush to get everything done.

This year we don't get in til 330 in the afternoon but we have to leave the house at 7am. It makes for a long day.

 

[JoBird]

I was hoping you guys would be able to help me with my plans. On our very first day/night is where I need help right now. I'm confused! I'm not sure what time we'll be getting in yet because I haven't booked our flights. I'm guessing mid-day though. Here is my plan:

-Check into Pop Century
-Pick up the fridge {from Krystal's Pop Swap}
-Head straight to Magic Kingdom
-Hopefully make the parade by 3:00
-Lunch or snack, depending on when we make it in, at Main Street Bakery
-Tour around MK
-Dinner 'Ohana {I'm thinking around 6:30)
-Wishes at 9:00

Is this too much to do on the first day?! Also, is it too much to try to squeeze 'Ohana in? Our main goal on our first night is to watch Wishes. This has been the 1 consistent thing my DS1 has been most excited about for a few months.

The problem with being new to Disney is that I have NO idea how long things actually take. I plan on posting each of my days for critique once I get them laid out if you all will help me.

Okay my take on it, just my experience in taking my kids....

What are your plans the next day? What time do you *think* you will be getting up the morning you leave from home?

I never sleep very well for a few days before the trip. And the kids? Forget it. They are bouncing off the walls. And the adrenaline rush we'd been running on crashes for us always always always.... as soon as we get to the park if we do that the day we arrive.


And so we force ourselves to stay and keep going to see the fireworks b/c we are so excited.

If you stay at MK for the fireworks the first day, then take the busses back to the hotel, it could be 10 pm+ by the time you get to the resort. You bathe the kids and get them straight and put down... it's nearing 11:30.

If you get up early the next morning for an early ADR or rope drop...... you've started a vicious "tired" cycle for your trip that is hard to get out of. Each day snowballs until you have meltdown city to deal with.

It's super hard to not go to the parks as soon as you get there.
But seriously-- if it were me, I'd check in, check out the resort, maybe even let the kids go for a swim to get out some of that energy. Go to DTD for a couple of hours for an EARLY- 5 pm -- supper, then be back at the hotel no later than 8.

Then start the next day rested and ready to go.
Because you always underestimate just how tired you are b/c you're living on excitement.
And it is so tiring just being in the parks. Factor in the heat and it's a done deal. Plus, it takes a lot longer than you think it will a lot of times to go anywhere or do anything.


Okay... that's just my opinion and experience. You may find that when you get there it's different for you guys.

 

[MissLiz]

L-Harper -- I agree with everyone here. When DD was younger, we would usually get to our resort at about 1pm and head to MK for the 3pm parade, but we would only spend enough time there to do a few rides and eat dinner before heading back for a fairly early night.

We drive down, so at that point, we would get up at 4:30am and try to be on the road by 6am. By about 6pm, we'd all just be zombies.

I would say:

A) go to MK for the late afternoon/early evening just to get a taste, but then leave before the fireworks

B) just do the Ohana ADR

C) wander around the resort and get an early night

 

[KELLY]

I'm thinking of upgrading our resort to a moderate. More than likely either POFQ or CBR. Still on the fence not sure if it is worth the extra 750.00 for the 9 nights ? Maybe they will re-release FD for my dates since I pulled a duh and thought we weren't going this year. LOL

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

Should I put down my birthday on our reservations or would it be pushing it? I turn 40 (same as WDW) this year in June. I already have on our reservation that we are celebrating our anniversary even though it is in October this is our anniversary gift to each other. June to Sept - that might be a stretch wouldn't it?

 

[L-Harper]

Okay my take on it, just my experience in taking my kids....

What are your plans the next day? What time do you *think* you will be getting up the morning you leave from home?

I never sleep very well for a few days before the trip. And the kids? Forget it. They are bouncing off the walls. And the adrenaline rush we'd been running on crashes for us always always always.... as soon as we get to the park if we do that the day we arrive.


And so we force ourselves to stay and keep going to see the fireworks b/c we are so excited.

If you stay at MK for the fireworks the first day, then take the busses back to the hotel, it could be 10 pm+ by the time you get to the resort. You bathe the kids and get them straight and put down... it's nearing 11:30.

If you get up early the next morning for an early ADR or rope drop...... you've started a vicious "tired" cycle for your trip that is hard to get out of. Each day snowballs until you have meltdown city to deal with.

It's super hard to not go to the parks as soon as you get there.
But seriously-- if it were me, I'd check in, check out the resort, maybe even let the kids go for a swim to get out some of that energy. Go to DTD for a couple of hours for an EARLY- 5 pm -- supper, then be back at the hotel no later than 8.

Then start the next day rested and ready to go.
Because you always underestimate just how tired you are b/c you're living on excitement.
And it is so tiring just being in the parks. Factor in the heat and it's a done deal. Plus, it takes a lot longer than you think it will a lot of times to go anywhere or do anything.


Okay... that's just my opinion and experience. You may find that when you get there it's different for you guys.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is what I needed to hear. The part I bolded hit me the most. I guess I didn't really think about how long it'd really take to get back from the fireworks and finally in bed. My boys would not handle that well after being up super early to make our flights. I was just so excited for us to go see Cinderella's Castle, but she'll have to wait.

Do you want to help me with my 10 day plan?! Hmm? I know you want to!

I honestly feel like I have no idea what I'm doing right now...

 

[L-Harper]

I am really debating on buying a subscription for Tour Guide Mike. Pros and cons?

 

[L-Harper]

I am really debating on buying a subscription for Tour Guide Mike. Pros and cons?

Well, I didn't wait for all of you to reply... I just subscribed.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Well, I didn't wait for all of you to reply... I just subscribed.

I have used it in the past but don't find it all that necessary now. I go for 10 days and September is pretty low crowds. I like to use Touring Plans instead, and it's cheaper.

 

[L-Harper]

I have used it in the past but don't find it all that necessary now. I go for 10 days and September is pretty low crowds. I like to use Touring Plans instead, and it's cheaper.

So did I just waste my $19?

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hello September friends

So much to catch up on here. I hate when work gets in the way of DISing!!

to all the newbies!

Thanks for sharing about your trip MissLiz! Great pics!

LHarper -- Like others have said, that looks like a lot on your first day! But you know your family better than anyone and know what they can/can't handle. Just keep in mind - WDW is way more exhausting than you think!

I would either do like Jo said and forget about MK/Wishes the first day or you could check out the resort when you get there, take a swim, let the kids nap for a few hours, and then head out to MK later. That might work out as well. And just remember - if you don't want to be waiting in a long line for a bus after Wishes, head out the second it is over and get to your bus stop ASAP. That's what we do and we are back to the resort in no time!

I've never subscribed to TGM. We never travel during busy times. We just avoid EMH and avoid certain parks on certain days and all works out well.

 

[pinkle]

I have used it in the past but don't find it all that necessary now. I go for 10 days and September is pretty low crowds. I like to use Touring Plans instead, and it's cheaper.

So, what is 'touring plans'??? as for EMH do you ind it is better to go the day after????
next question.....ADR's I really want to do one downtown restaurant, has anyone tried Raglan Road??? Was thinking of doing WPC but I haven't read great things!!!

 

[disneydreamin247]

So did I just waste my $19?

No! lol you've never been before so you have no idea what to expect. We're vets. We have a multitude of trips under our belts. My almost 7 year old has gone so many times that he knows all the ins and outs of the parks, has his own Disney planning binder, selects a few of our ADRs, and plans a couple of days on his own! For us, we don't need it. For you, it will probably be a big help.