September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[ThereYouSeeHer]

185 more days!!!

Does anyone know a good side/resource of where the most likely place to find certain characters is? My kids have a wishlist of who they'd like to see, and as I'm planning I want to be sure we account for trying to locate certain ones! Anyone have any tips? Websites?

Here is a character finder:

http://www.wdwinsiders.com/character_finder.php

Also, when in the parks, go to the Guest Relations desk and ask for a specific character. They will call the Character Hotline and let you know where they are that day and when. Or, you can call the general Disney number and ask as well: (407) 939-6244.

Please know that information given from any source can change. In one of our past trips, I was determined to find Mary Poppins. We went to her Supercalifragilistic breakfast at the Grand Floridian, and she wasn't there that day! They then informed us she would be at Magic Kingdom at a certain time. So we hurried it over there, only to find out she wasn't there that day either. Finally, we were given information that she would be at Epcot at a certain time. That third try was finally the correct information. So sometimes you just have to keep trying!

 

[april5675]

We added a day for our 4 year anniversary trip!!!! So excited!!!!

 

[pooh2007]

 

[pooh2007]

DH and myself will be there from September 24th until October 2. Celebrating my 44th birthday... Animal Kindom Villas - Kidani Village

 

[pinkle]

I keep missing out on all the chat, darn it!




So, DH sits down next to me last night and says "Hey, what about doing an IllumiNations cruise instead of Via Napoli and maybe splitting the cost?"

And I've decided against the Fantasmic dinner package. As much as I enjoy the show, I just don't want to spend that much time at DHS.

The cruise sounds great....I had no idea that was even an option....so it's a boat that sails around the lake during Illumninations???

Another vegetarian weighing in: I'm going with my carnivorous boyfriend, and was really tempted to try Ohana. However, we decided that it would be waaaay too much food for two people, and there were plenty of TS places to eat that had better veg options. Just my two cents!
The salad is great at O'Hana's and there veggies are good....we are BIG veggie eaters (I am not a veg. but I eat very little meat) and love O'Hana's

By the way, I found this review of Ohana helpful:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2494556&page=8

 

[dizziedupbaby0127]

A few things.... those caricature pictures are seriously ADORABLE!!! I so cannot wait to get one of each of us!!!

As for you not having Photo Pass Photographers out, I am SOOOO obummed about that. We have an 8:05 reservation at Crystal Palace on day and I'm really hoping to get a photo. Now I'm thinking I should see if I can get a reservation for 8:30 or so. I wanted to use a photo in front of the castle with no one else around for our Christmas card. Hmm....

Thank you! That was from my first trip in 2007, the last 2 trips we skipped getting one due to the price, but this year since it's our first trip with our DD we ARE GETTING ONE if I have to kill someone!

and I agree with the other poster, we had a friendly family offer to take our picture on Main st, and we took one for them! In my 3 trips to WDW we have always had people offer to take our pics and we offer back (we have tons of pics from Chef Mickeys thanks to a lovely family sitting next to us) and some of them are the best pics we have!! Just part of the Disney Magic! You could also ask any random cast member! One year we had a security guard take our picture as we were leaving MK for the night!

 

[L-Harper]

DH and myself will be there from September 24th until October 2. Celebrating my 44th birthday... Animal Kindom Villas - Kidani Village

to our group! I have you added to the first post!

If anything, you could maybe just ask someone else coming in early for their ADR to snap a picture of your family in front of the castle?

Thank you! That was from my first trip in 2007, the last 2 trips we skipped getting one due to the price, but this year since it's our first trip with our DD we ARE GETTING ONE if I have to kill someone!

and I agree with the other poster, we had a friendly family offer to take our picture on Main st, and we took one for them! In my 3 trips to WDW we have always had people offer to take our pics and we offer back (we have tons of pics from Chef Mickeys thanks to a lovely family sitting next to us) and some of them are the best pics we have!! Just part of the Disney Magic! You could also ask any random cast member! One year we had a security guard take our picture as we were leaving MK for the night!

Well, I changed our reservation to 8:25. We will still be in the park before it opens and we'll get an extra 20 minutes in the morning. I'm so excited either way!!!

 

[Smile4Me]

It looks like you are struggling with the same two things I am Fantasmic! and MNSSHP?

Are the ADR for Cape May and 'Ohana for breakfast? If so then all looks good. but if they are for Dinner I would suggest the Cape May for your DHS day and 'Ohana for your MNSSHP.
The earliest dinner ADR at both is 5pm and can take up to 2+hours to eat get to the theme park afterwards

Not sure if you will have a car during your trip or using Disney Transportation it could take even longer.

MNSSHP and the extra hours at DHS are what I was having problems scheduling around. Cause I've never been to evening ones there, wish I could go to a water park that morning and know I could get on TSM that night without an insane wait, and not have to do the dash that morning..unless we went there did some rides and grabbed some fast pases and bounced to hte water parks and came back! HEY! Both the ADRs at Cape May and Ohana are dinner. My Bf isn't big on the big sit down breakfasts, he'd rather get right to the parks. I suggested going to a restaurant closer, but we decided if we can get a 5 p.m. ressie at the buffet we might have a little more control on how long our meal would take. He doesn't want to feel rushed when we go to Ohana and so thats why we decided on it later in the week. Do you think it would be worth switching Cape May and Whispering Canyon-to be closer? We will be relying on Disney transportation the whole trip.
Thanks for your input!

Love your adr's. Mine are going to be kid aprroved.

Thanks Kelly! We've done some character meals before too. In fact my bf isn't real big on character interactions unless they are at meals or there are really short lines! (like not more than 5 families in front of us!) I always have my eyes open,,,and if I really want the picture he'll wait with me. That's what love is right?

 

[basketkat]

That is awesome because that is where we are staying!! I thought it would be a fun way to keep a memory from our first trip down to WDW.

Oh good!!! Everytime I saw it they were right outside the food court...by the pressed penny machines!

 

[heatherbynum]

You're welcome! If you go to the Wild Bunch Kids Zone section on the Rainforest Cafe website you'll see a link that takes you to kids rewards calendars. Just help your kids either complete one of the calendars, read, etc before your trip, and you can bring it in for a 99 cent kids meal with purchase of adult entree

Landry's owns both Rainforest Cafe and T-rex so the coupons will be honored at both locations. There is also the option to sign up for the Safari club if you live near a Rainforest Cafe (have to go to the restaurant to sign up) and you can get coupons, etc for Rainforest cafe/T-rex.

I think we are definitely going to try T-rex on our DTD day!

I was going to sign up but then seen the price to join was $15.00. It wouldn't be worth it to me, I don't think.

 

[heatherbynum]

That is what my girls are doing this year PL. I'm hoping to make it around 4 or 430 the evening we are goingto MNSSHP. I'm hoping like last year they have it 3 nights so we can go Thursday instead of Friday. That would work better for us.

Does anyone know the specific's on PL. I do know even with a costume it comes in alot cheaper than BBB.

This post is where I got the info I needed about it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2428848

 

[maleka23]

I have a Grand Gathering planned for September 5-13 at Pop Century. Mainly celebrating mine and my husband's five year anniversary!!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Those pics are great. Is that the dress that comes with the package? It is GORGEOUS!! DD got an ariel dress for her bday so we are going to use that.

Well, my planning is slowing down right now as I am pretty sure the transmission just went yesterday. So I am not feeling mega thrilled right now. Oh well, better now then when driving to Disney right?

Ha! No, definitely not a dress that was purchased at BBB. That is a custom created by Servane Barrau. She's a designer in Canada. My DD is quite the fashionista. All of her Disney sets are always custom boutique.....and.....well, so are most of her regular outfits for that matter too. lol. Luckily I've made lots of designer friends in the past few years. Wish I could sew, but I can't. Just got a sewing machine for Christmas, but it will be years before I figure it out.

 

[MikellaCinderella]

I booked the Around the World on a Segway tour for my dh. Now the hard part is waiting until Father's Day to tell him about it. I'm not good at keeping these kind of secrets! He will be going with my cousins dh and I think they will love it!

That segway tour sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

ok so just a little FYI, if you are planning on meeting Rapunzel and Flynn, get in the line ASAP, like AT rope drop, do not pass go, do not collect $200, (or a fast pass) go to the line!!! however one person in the group can stand in line while the others go do stuff......

Thanks for the FYI! Definitely two characters that my DD wants to meet! Do you know where they are located inside MK?

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Thank you! That was from my first trip in 2007, the last 2 trips we skipped getting one due to the price, but this year since it's our first trip with our DD we ARE GETTING ONE if I have to kill someone!

and I agree with the other poster, we had a friendly family offer to take our picture on Main st, and we took one for them! In my 3 trips to WDW we have always had people offer to take our pics and we offer back (we have tons of pics from Chef Mickeys thanks to a lovely family sitting next to us) and some of them are the best pics we have!! Just part of the Disney Magic! You could also ask any random cast member! One year we had a security guard take our picture as we were leaving MK for the night!

I've asked a few random CM's to take photos for us, and sometimes other families will offer as well. I'm kinda shy and have a hard time ASKING a stranger for stuff like that, lol. We've had a lot of photopass photos taken through the years, but I've only opted to purchase a few. lol. My camera takes very good photos, so unless I want to buy the "magical" ones with the special effects, I usually don't purchase any.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Hi all!! Hope everyone is having a Magical day! Last night I stayed up till 1am making autograph and passport books for the 5 little girls I am traveling with. Used our talented DISigners , placed my order thru artscow and paid. Only to wake this morning to an email refunding my money and saying I used copyright things. OMG I hear everyone on here talk about ordering from them. I am crushed. I ordered 10 books. I might just have to print them myself. So that was my less then magical start to my day! But on a positive note....I get to make our ADR's in 11 days!! Can I get a whoot whoot.....LOL Well I am off to walk with my friend and releave my stress.

 

[mickeymouseclubhouse]

I was going to sign up but then seen the price to join was $15.00. It wouldn't be worth it to me, I don't think.

If you don't want to join the Safari club you can still use the 99 cent kids meals calendars

 

[sjs314]

MNSSHP and the extra hours at DHS are what I was having problems scheduling around. Cause I've never been to evening ones there, wish I could go to a water park that morning and know I could get on TSM that night without an insane wait, and not have to do the dash that morning..unless we went there did some rides and grabbed some fast pases and bounced to hte water parks and came back! HEY! Both the ADRs at Cape May and Ohana are dinner. My Bf isn't big on the big sit down breakfasts, he'd rather get right to the parks. I suggested going to a restaurant closer, but we decided if we can get a 5 p.m. ressie at the buffet we might have a little more control on how long our meal would take. He doesn't want to feel rushed when we go to Ohana and so thats why we decided on it later in the week. Do you think it would be worth switching Cape May and Whispering Canyon-to be closer? We will be relying on Disney transportation the whole trip.
Thanks for your input!

It looks judgeing by TA Calendar DHS EMH pm being on a Sunday, which is also a Fantasmic Night , I would think and looking at Touring Plans per park crowd calendar that Sundays are the busier F! day/night because of the pm EMH. I do not normally do EMH, only have once at Epcot late January and for a slow time of the year seemed like everyone went to Epcot that evening.

To me Cape May makes sense on the night you plan on going to F! since you can walk or take the boat to DHS after your meal.

As far as 'Ohana I am planning on it for the night we do MNSSHP , not planning on rushing since it is just DH and Myself and we mainly are going for the Parade and Hallowishes, so no hurry to get there before 7 pm, we are not going for the characters. Planning another half day (Morning) in MK for rides we can not do on MNSSHP.

It should in theory take less time for transportation from WL to MK, if you switched to WCC since they have the boat and the only transportation option from Cape May to MK is the bus, but I honestly can not recall how long it took when I stayed there.

I so love planning but it can get very stressfull when planning ADR's.

 

[KELLY]

This post is where I got the info I needed about it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2428848

Thanks so much.

Hi all!! Hope everyone is having a Magical day! Last night I stayed up till 1am making autograph and passport books for the 5 little girls I am traveling with. Used our talented DISigners , placed my order thru artscow and paid. Only to wake this morning to an email refunding my money and saying I used copyright things. OMG I hear everyone on here talk about ordering from them. I am crushed. I ordered 10 books. I might just have to print them myself. So that was my less then magical start to my day! But on a positive note....I get to make our ADR's in 11 days!! Can I get a whoot whoot.....LOL Well I am off to walk with my friend and releave my stress.

Sorry you spent so much time in the books to not get them.

Happy St. Patrick's day everyone!