September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[KellyWasHere]

LHarper - if you can't access the parts of TGM you wanted it for I would ask for my $ back. If you can't use something it makes sense I think.

If you are concerned about ADR day you can always make a few buffer reservations and then cancel them after you finalize your plans. That's what the canceled Sept ADR thread will be for

How many days of tickets do you have? Hopping? Water parks? As a group we should be able to help you plan your days!

ITA with this.

My Disney spreadsheet has 14 tabs.

That's what I'm talking about.

 

[L-Harper]

LHarper - if you can't access the parts of TGM you wanted it for I would ask for my $ back. If you can't use something it makes sense I think.

If you are concerned about ADR day you can always make a few buffer reservations and then cancel them after you finalize your plans. That's what the canceled Sept ADR thread will be for

How many days of tickets do you have? Hopping? Water parks? As a group we should be able to help you plan your days!

We have 10 days of Park Hopper tickets, we aren't going to a water park. We'll be at POP from the 7-14 on the Dining plan and then at AKL from the 14th to the 16th. We must see Wishes at least once and it would be nice to see Fantastmic too.

Some places we'd like to eat at are Tusker House for breakfast (I'm heavily debating this), Le Cellier for lunch if they don't change their menu, and some dinners at Coral Reef, Cape May Cafe, Raglan Road, Chef Mickey's, Ohana, and definitely Boma on our first night at AKL.

It'd be nice to have a down day mid-trip to go to DTD. I'm also really wanting to just enjoy AKL on the 15th, which is our last full day. A lot of people keep telling me that this is sort of not a great idea since they can't imagine not being in a park on their last full day. So, I don't know.

 

[L-Harper]

More info:

On ANY of this, please tell me if its just not going to work or if it'd work better a different way.

I definitely want 2 days at MK and only 1 day at DHS. Now, I'm not sure if we should do 2 days in Epcot or 2 days in AK. There is always the option of going to 1 park in the morning {making rope drop} and then go to a different park after our nap since we do have the Park Hoppers.

 

[disneydreamin247]

More info:

On ANY of this, please tell me if its just not going to work or if it'd work better a different way.

I definitely want 2 days at MK and only 1 day at DHS. Now, I'm not sure if we should do 2 days in Epcot or 2 days in AK. There is always the option of going to 1 park in the morning {making rope drop} and then go to a different park after our nap since we do have the Park Hoppers.

I can easily do AK in one day, most times a half day. Epcot usually gets more time because I like to have 2 dinners there. Also I must see Illuminations. I usually do a half day for Future World and another half day for WS.

 

[sjs314]

Working on my 2011 spreadsheet now and decided to revise something. I'm going to omit the daily parades and Illuminations. They're every single day at the same time. By now I think I should be okay with remembering them. We never see the parades anyway. I can't manage to stay in the park until 3.

I was debateing about listing the parades and IllumiNations too since like you mentioned they are the same time everyday and I plan on this trip to be back at the resort by 2pm each day for pool or nap time(Us old folks need our nap time too) since it will be the hottest times of the day

 

[sjs314]

More info:

On ANY of this, please tell me if its just not going to work or if it'd work better a different way.

I definitely want 2 days at MK and only 1 day at DHS. Now, I'm not sure if we should do 2 days in Epcot or 2 days in AK. There is always the option of going to 1 park in the morning {making rope drop} and then go to a different park after our nap since we do have the Park Hoppers.

I look at the per park crowd levels for each day MK is usually slowest on the day of events such as MNSSHP since it closes early 7PM. If you can go 2 days in am to midday you should be able to get a lot done.
For MSEP and Wishes viewing park hop there on a night they are showing.

DHS is best toured on a day that does not have Fantasmic! scheduled, again check the crowd levels for the day, if you want to see Fantasmic you can park hop there in the evening for that. What I am planning on doing is try to get an early lunch ADR Fantasmic Pkg then just hop back in the evening after having dinner at our resort and head to the reserved seating area.

Epcot is the love of my life I spend a lot of time there, but at the very least you need 2 partial days and 1 evening IMO there is just so much to see and do and eat too!

AK is always crowded and HOT no matter when I have visited it even the time I went the end of January, there is a lot to see and do but I have yet to stay there for longer than 3 or 4 hours and that includes usually stopping to eat.
Maybe since it is your first visit 2 partial days might be best, one early in the day and one later so you can catch the parade.

 

[jbmom]

More info:

On ANY of this, please tell me if its just not going to work or if it'd work better a different way.

I definitely want 2 days at MK and only 1 day at DHS. Now, I'm not sure if we should do 2 days in Epcot or 2 days in AK. There is always the option of going to 1 park in the morning {making rope drop} and then go to a different park after our nap since we do have the Park Hoppers.

We do 2 half days at AK just because its so hot. It seems like there isn't a lot of AC there. We spend a lot of time at Epcot, World Showcase is not something we want to do in the heat of the day so we usually do a few countries each time we are there. I agree, don't go to DHS on a Fantasmic day if you can help it.

 

[L-Harper]

We may actually just skip Fantsmic! all together... I'm not real enthused about it anyway. Thoughts?

 

[sjs314]

We may actually just skip Fantsmic! all together... I'm not real enthused about it anyway. Thoughts?

I have not myself seen it yet, but I know some have mentioned certain parts are a bit intense for younger children? Maybe someone else can shed some light on seeing Fantasmic!

 

[L-Harper]

I have not myself seen it yet, but I know some have mentioned certain parts are a bit intense for younger children? Maybe someone else can shed some light on seeing Fantasmic!

I'm also not sure how well my boys would sit through a show without being able to move too much, especially when its so late. Decisions! Decisions!

 

[MamaJessie]

We have 10 days of Park Hopper tickets, we aren't going to a water park. We'll be at POP from the 7-14 on the Dining plan and then at AKL from the 14th to the 16th. We must see Wishes at least once and it would be nice to see Fantastmic too.

Some places we'd like to eat at are Tusker House for breakfast (I'm heavily debating this), Le Cellier for lunch if they don't change their menu, and some dinners at Coral Reef, Cape May Cafe, Raglan Road, Chef Mickey's, Ohana, and definitely Boma on our first night at AKL.

It'd be nice to have a down day mid-trip to go to DTD. I'm also really wanting to just enjoy AKL on the 15th, which is our last full day. A lot of people keep telling me that this is sort of not a great idea since they can't imagine not being in a park on their last full day. So, I don't know.

First question - what about enjoying AKL on the 14th? You'll be checking out of one hotel and checking into another anyway so instead of rushing around that might be a good idea to use that day as a down day so you don't feel pressed for time. I would definitely go with that as your Boma night too, not just because it would be a good down day but it would be the last time you could use the DDP

More info:

On ANY of this, please tell me if its just not going to work or if it'd work better a different way.

I definitely want 2 days at MK and only 1 day at DHS. Now, I'm not sure if we should do 2 days in Epcot or 2 days in AK. There is always the option of going to 1 park in the morning {making rope drop} and then go to a different park after our nap since we do have the Park Hoppers.

Do you plan on park hopping? I know you have the 10 day park hoppers on your package, but do you plan on hopping? The price difference is big enough that if you don't plan on using them it might be something to consider now before you've paid it all off.

I am a park hopper so I love it, but I only spend a few days at the parks. With a full on schedule hopping too might just become exhausting.

We may actually just skip Fantsmic! all together... I'm not real enthused about it anyway. Thoughts?

I felt like the Fantasmic crowd was something like the Walmart at 5am on Black Friday crowds. DH and I tried to find seats when we only had the two little ones and people verged on growling. I know now it is because they staked out their seats hours and hours ahead of time. So then we finally manage to find this tiny little space to squeeze, kids on laps, and my son HATED it. He was three at the time and cried and we left. I am not planning on doing it again anytime soon. Maybe when your kids are older, but with little ones I would definitely pass.

I am actually going to write down your days / EMH / ADR plans because I am bored and don't feel like washing the pan with the burnt sauce on the bottom

PLEASE don't feel like you'd hurt my feelings if you disagree with every single thing I have said. Everyone tours the world differently and I am just offering my two cents

 

[MissLiz]

I've seen Fantasmic! multiple times and I do love it, but we have skipped it the past few times.

The problems with it are this, for us:

-dining options at DHS....as in, there aren't any that we are interested in so we'd have to eat somewhere else early and then hoof it over to DHS

-crowded, crowded...there is always a line early to get into the theater and then you have to sit and wait on stone benches for an hour before the show starts

-"black clouds of death"...it never fails, when we schedule F!, we get to DHS and the black storm clouds come rolling in. We've had downpours, lightening, etc that has ended up cancelling F! after we had been waiting for a long time.



On the plus side, I love the show, I love the music, and it does kill me every time we miss it. I just can't get a schedule going where it works for us.


Also, we usually do a few days at Epcot because it does get tiring, plus it's got the most restaurants. We usually only do a long morning at AK. We get there at opening (sometimes EMH) and stay until about 1 or after lunch.

I have gotten to the point that I decide where we are starting the day and where we are ending the day and whatever happens in between, happens. If we start the day at one park and either get cranky or do everything that we wanted, we move on.

 

[L-Harper]

First question - what about enjoying AKL on the 14th? You'll be checking out of one hotel and checking into another anyway so instead of rushing around that might be a good idea to use that day as a down day so you don't feel pressed for time. I would definitely go with that as your Boma night too, not just because it would be a good down day but it would be the last time you could use the DDP



Do you plan on park hopping? I know you have the 10 day park hoppers on your package, but do you plan on hopping? The price difference is big enough that if you don't plan on using them it might be something to consider now before you've paid it all off.

I am a park hopper so I love it, but I only spend a few days at the parks. With a full on schedule hopping too might just become exhausting.



I felt like the Fantasmic crowd was something like the Walmart at 5am on Black Friday crows. DH and I tried to find seats when we only had the two little ones and people verged on growling. I know now it is because they staked out their seats hours and hours ahead of time. So then we finally manage to find this tiny little space to squeeze, kids on laps, and my son HATED it. He was three at the time and cried and we left. I am not planning on doing it again anytime soon. Maybe when your kids are older, but with little ones I would definitely pass.

I am actually going to write down your days / EMH / ADR plans because I am bored and don't feel like washing the pan with the burnt sauce on the bottom

PLEASE don't feel like you'd hurt my feelings if you disagree with every single thing I have said. Everyone tours the world differently and I am just offering my two cents

OH MY GOSH!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!! Seriously, thank you SO much for helping me! I really don't think it would be too exhausting for us to park hop since we plan on going back to POP for breaks mid-day most days anyway. It sounds like the 9th and 10th are the absolute best days for us to go to MK, but they don't have the Main Street Electrical Parade or Wishes on those nights. The best night for that is Monday the 12th since MSEP is at 8:00 and Wishes is at 9:00.

I'm not opposed to going to AK on the 14th. I'm really up for whatever. I just really want some good time at AKL to enjoy the amazement of it.

 

[L-Harper]

OH MY GOSH!!! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!! Seriously, thank you SO much for helping me! I really don't think it would be too exhausting for us to park hop since we plan on going back to POP for breaks mid-day most days anyway. It sounds like the 9th and 10th are the absolute best days for us to go to MK, but they don't have the Main Street Electrical Parade or Wishes on those nights. The best night for that is Monday the 12th since MSEP is at 8:00 and Wishes is at 9:00.

I'm not opposed to going to AK on the 14th. I'm really up for whatever. I just really want some good time at AKL to enjoy the amazement of it.

I just re-read what you wrote. Yes, we could enjoy AKL on the 14th. I'm honestly up for whatever.

 

[MamaJessie]

I have more questions already..

I know you have ten day tickets and are there for ten days so does that mean you want to go to a park every day, including arrival day, departure day and a "down" day? If so, what times would you be able to go to the parks on your first and last days?

 

[L-Harper]

I have more questions already..

I know you have ten day tickets and are there for ten days so does that mean you want to go to a park every day, including arrival day, departure day and a "down" day? If so, what times would you be able to go to the parks on your first and last days?

We haven't booked our flights yet, so really... I have no idea on that. I think we'll get in around 2:00 or so. Ideally, it would be FANTASTIC to maybe do Chef Mickey's for dinner and go watch Wishes. I just don't know if it'd be too much on our travel day. I'm sure we'd have to wake up around 5:00am that day. On our departure day, I don't think we'll be planning too much. We may hit AK for a ride on the safari if we can squeeze it in. On the first down day, I don't think we'll be hitting a park, but who knows. We may. I was thinking to plan it where that day we go to DTD to eat dinner at Raglan Road. If we wake up that day and decide to hit a park, I still want that option.

 

[L-Harper]

I've seen Fantasmic! multiple times and I do love it, but we have skipped it the past few times.

The problems with it are this, for us:

-dining options at DHS....as in, there aren't any that we are interested in so we'd have to eat somewhere else early and then hoof it over to DHS

-crowded, crowded...there is always a line early to get into the theater and then you have to sit and wait on stone benches for an hour before the show starts

-"black clouds of death"...it never fails, when we schedule F!, we get to DHS and the black storm clouds come rolling in. We've had downpours, lightening, etc that has ended up cancelling F! after we had been waiting for a long time.



On the plus side, I love the show, I love the music, and it does kill me every time we miss it. I just can't get a schedule going where it works for us.


Also, we usually do a few days at Epcot because it does get tiring, plus it's got the most restaurants. We usually only do a long morning at AK. We get there at opening (sometimes EMH) and stay until about 1 or after lunch.

I have gotten to the point that I decide where we are starting the day and where we are ending the day and whatever happens in between, happens. If we start the day at one park and either get cranky or do everything that we wanted, we move on.

Yeah, this surely doesn't make me want to see Fantasmic! this time. Eh, we can see it next time if we want to.

 

[meachell13]

L-Harper... I almost feel like we are the same??? Very similar in so many things for our Disney trips..... My kids are basically the same ages when we travel so I will be curious how our experiences compare when we get home.

We are going 9/8-9/14 at All Star Movies...(we were going to stay at the POP but I just liked the Big Character Deco throughout the resort a little more)

Here is what I am planing to do so far....

9/8 MCO 11:17 hoping to be at the resort and eating lunch by 1pm Then heading to MK...After dinner thinking about staying for Electrical Parade is kids are still hopping.
9/9 - Crystal Palace, maybe a feel rides at MK then going to Epcot till after lunch...Back to Hotel to swim and nap? Then DTD for dinner and some shopping.
9/10 - AK all day then I want to check out AKL for a possible future trip and eat CS dinner..back to resort to swim before bed
9/11 - DHS..thought about Fantasmic but I think that is a lot of time to kill waiting around like that so we might hang around or possibly go to EP for Illuminations? - Dinner Cape May
9/12 - Epcot till dinner (Teppen Edu) and then over to MK for Wishes and parade
9/13 - sleep in!! DTD, swim in the afternoon and hoping for MNSSHP that night. Our last night so we will stay up as late as I can with the kids b/c we will be going back home first thing the morning....

Don't steal my ressie ideas completely though b/c you get a day before me!!

 

[L-Harper]

L-Harper... I almost feel like we are the same??? Very similar in so many things for our Disney trips..... My kids are basically the same ages when we travel so I will be curious how our experiences compare when we get home.

We are going 9/8-9/14 at All Star Movies...(we were going to stay at the POP but I just liked the Big Character Deco throughout the resort a little more)

Here is what I am planing to do so far....

9/8 MCO 11:17 hoping to be at the resort and eating lunch by 1pm Then heading to MK...After dinner thinking about staying for Electrical Parade is kids are still hopping.
9/9 - Crystal Palace, maybe a feel rides at MK then going to Epcot till after lunch...Back to Hotel to swim and nap? Then DTD for dinner and some shopping.
9/10 - AK all day then I want to check out AKL for a possible future trip and eat CS dinner..back to resort to swim before bed
9/11 - DHS..thought about Fantasmic but I think that is a lot of time to kill waiting around like that so we might hang around or possibly go to EP for Illuminations? - Dinner Cape May
9/12 - Epcot till dinner (Teppen Edu) and then over to MK for Wishes and parade
9/13 - sleep in!! DTD, swim in the afternoon and hoping for MNSSHP that night. Our last night so we will stay up as late as I can with the kids b/c we will be going back home first thing the morning....

Don't steal my ressie ideas completely though b/c you get a day before me!!

It does sound like we are very similar. Wanna hear something else funny?! I see that you are from Jackson, MI. Let's just say that I live very close to you. I don't want to say where I live on here, but I can just say the Lansing area. Crazy!

 

[meachell13]

It does sound like we are very similar. Wanna hear something else funny?! I see that you are from Jackson, MI. Let's just say that I live very close to you. I don't want to say where I live on here, but I can just say the Lansing area. Crazy!

Yes that is crazy! I'm not 'in' Jackson but close by...My closet 'big city' lol It looked like you were thinking about making Wishes the same night we are, maybe we will see each other!