So this is what mid-life crisis feels like? Dec 2011 PTR

[momabaarjo]

Okay dis friends! I did a bad bad thing yesterday! I went on easywdw to compare their crowd calendar with touring plans and now I'm rethinking some stuff! Before I do this to myself... anybody have experience with both and like one over the other? Or does it honestly make a difference which recommendations you decide to follow for yourself?

What was in the water? I did the same thing too and am rethinking plans! Sorry no help on which is better, but I really like the reasoning Easy had for each day about each park. Really made sense to me...and I compared to TP and really when I looked at it deeper they really seemed to be pretty close (my plans are changing because I thought hey it is Christmas week what is the difference...but easy gave me some insight!)

 

[shocky5]

What was in the water? I did the same thing too and am rethinking plans! Sorry no help on which is better, but I really like the reasoning Easy had for each day about each park. Really made sense to me...and I compared to TP and really when I looked at it deeper they really seemed to be pretty close (my plans are changing because I thought hey it is Christmas week what is the difference...but easy gave me some insight!)

I changed some plans, too! I really thought what easy had to say did make sense and when I did compare closer, it all made sense to me! We shall only truly know when we are in the parks on the days we chose to be!

I will post new plans later - they didn't change too much - just swapped some park days with each other!

 

[shocky5]

Not much to report!

Totally bummed that I still have 3 more days before I can make ADRS. It's fun seeing everyone else get theirs done, tweaked, and so forth.. I'm ready to join in that action.

On a side note:

I just finished my class today! Will start back up in three weeks for summer school session. This will allow me to attend my boy's state baseball tournaments this weekend without having to think about what paper is due and when! One more step closer to being done and 3 classes away from Disney vacation!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Okay dis friends! I did a bad bad thing yesterday! I went on easywdw to compare their crowd calendar with touring plans and now I'm rethinking some stuff! Before I do this to myself... anybody have experience with both and like one over the other? Or does it honestly make a difference which recommendations you decide to follow for yourself?

Don't feel bad... we have both sets of crowd calendars listed on our official spreadsheet.

I have no personal experience with the easywdw crowd predictions, so I can't help there, but I do know there is a HUGE difference between the two sites.

After following TP last week, crap... two weeks ago I'm pretty confident in TP. My group decided to go against TP recommendations on the last two days and we noticed a HUGE difference... so should have stuck with TP, but who am I to argue with the majority??

Good luck with the state tourney! It's crazy, but a great experience!

I'm off to Relay for Life tonight. Believe it or not, my calendar is 100% open next week! That is, until the paper fills it up, but still!

 

[shocky5]

Don't feel bad... we have both sets of crowd calendars listed on our official spreadsheet.

I have no personal experience with the easywdw crowd predictions, so I can't help there, but I do know there is a HUGE difference between the two sites.

After following TP last week, crap... two weeks ago I'm pretty confident in TP. My group decided to go against TP recommendations on the last two days and we noticed a HUGE difference... so should have stuck with TP, but who am I to argue with the majority??

Good luck with the state tourney! It's crazy, but a great experience!

I'm off to Relay for Life tonight. Believe it or not, my calendar is 100% open next week! That is, until the paper fills it up, but still!

That's good to know someone that has followed them and can compare when they haven't. I'm going to take TP with us and use them for practice when it's the kids and I and then when DH comes, I will be a pro at it and he won't know we are secretly following a touring plan!

I will let you all know how tournaments go. Enjoy Relay for Life tonight! Ours is tonight as well but I will miss it. They host it at our high school track - huge event around here!

 

[momabaarjo]

That's good to know someone that has followed them and can compare when they haven't. I'm going to take TP with us and use them for practice when it's the kids and I and then when DH comes, I will be a pro at it and he won't know we are secretly following a touring plan!

Great Plan!

 

[shocky5]

Oh my goodness, friends! I don't think Monday is my friend today!

Several really exciting things happened this weekend! My 8yo DS's team took third in the state baseball tournament. Did such a great job!

My 10yo DS's team took second in the state baseball tournament. Also did a great job! They played their little hearts out.

My ADR's are done!!! Because of the state baseball tournament, I'd turned over the 'making of the ADR's' to the itinerary planning people at the polynesian. Had never used this before, was scared to do it because I actually enjoy the crazy chaos of 'making the call!' (sick and twisted, I know)

However, when I got up yesterday morning (my 180 day), I couldn't help it... jumped online just to 'check' and they were all sitting there with confirmation numbers and 6 out of 8 had the times we requested! And the other two were just off by 20 minutes.

I need to go pick up DD at the orthodontist so I will give you the lowdown later!!

 

[annmarieda]

Oh my goodness, friends! I don't think Monday is my friend today!

Several really exciting things happened this weekend! My 8yo DS's team took third in the state baseball tournament. Did such a great job!

My 10yo DS's team took second in the state baseball tournament. Also did a great job! They played their little hearts out.

My ADR's are done!!! Because of the state baseball tournament, I'd turned over the 'making of the ADR's' to the itinerary planning people at the polynesian. Had never used this before, was scared to do it because I actually enjoy the crazy chaos of 'making the call!' (sick and twisted, I know)

However, when I got up yesterday morning (my 180 day), I couldn't help it... jumped online just to 'check' and they were all sitting there with confirmation numbers and 6 out of 8 had the times we requested! And the other two were just off by 20 minutes.

I need to go pick up DD at the orthodontist so I will give you the lowdown later!!

Congrats to your sons!! Very cool.

And congrats on getting the ADRs that you wanted. I can't wait to hear what you got.

 

[shocky5]

Okay, here are the one's we got....

Sat Dec. 17 6:30p Whispering Canyon

Sun Dec. 18 8:05a Crystal Palace
Sun Dec. 18 4:30p 1900 Park Fare

Mon Dec. 19 4:00p Sci Fi Diner

Wed Dec. 21 8:00a Tusker House
Wed Dec. 21 6:30p Boma's

Thurs Dec. 22 5:10p Cape May (asked for 5p)

Fri Dec. 23 5:55p O'hana's (asked for 5:30p)

**Now my questions for you all - on Dec. 22nd, we will be at Epcot and plan to walk over to Cape May for dinner. I think we will have the 'rides' done by then - will be a very busy day at Epcot (predicted to be) and we will mostly just be wandering WS and waiting for Illuminations. Good time to go or push back a bit?

On Dec. 23 - we will be at MK. I felt like the time we picked for O'hana's would give us a good dinner break from the park. Thoughts?? I know the crowds will be large by this point of our trip.

 

[annmarieda]

Okay, here are the one's we got....

Sat Dec. 17 6:30p Whispering Canyon

Sun Dec. 18 8:05a Crystal Palace
Sun Dec. 18 4:30p 1900 Park Fare

Mon Dec. 19 4:00p Sci Fi Diner

Wed Dec. 21 8:00a Tusker House
Wed Dec. 21 6:30p Boma's

Thurs Dec. 22 5:10p Cape May (asked for 5p)

Fri Dec. 23 5:55p O'hana's (asked for 5:30p)

**Now my questions for you all - on Dec. 22nd, we will be at Epcot and plan to walk over to Cape May for dinner. I think we will have the 'rides' done by then - will be a very busy day at Epcot (predicted to be) and we will mostly just be wandering WS and waiting for Illuminations. Good time to go or push back a bit?

On Dec. 23 - we will be at MK. I felt like the time we picked for O'hana's would give us a good dinner break from the park. Thoughts?? I know the crowds will be large by this point of our trip.

I think they look great! We have similar ADRS... I had to check cause I knew they were close. Our 18th we have Sci Fi and our 19th we have CP.

 

[shocky5]

I think they look great! We have similar ADRS... I had to check cause I knew they were close. Our 18th we have Sci Fi and our 19th we have CP.

How funny! We are reversed on those days/parks! I'm just happy to have them done, I feel good about them and I'm going to break down the day/evening plans with those worked in to them and let you all take a stab at them with your opinions!

 

[shocky5]

Okay, ADR's are made... I'm sure I will do some playing but I want to know your thoughts... Let 'em fly!!

We will arrive on the 16th, be at the resort about 10:30p. I know we should have probably stayed offsite the first night because of the late arrival but simplicity won out.

Sat 17:
Epcot - rope drop
This is a take it easy day. I'm going to try out a tp for the rides - that is what my kids love to do here. Anything else we fit in is 'bonus.' Plan on leaving the park around 5p.
6:30p Whispering Canyon Cafe - my one chance to see this resort at Christmas time.
After dinner - it's anyone's guess, but I see us either going back to our resort, the Poly, and hanging out and watch the water pageant and Wishes (will be regular Wishes - our one chance to see this one) from the beach... or if we are feeling super adventurous...hit MK to watch from main street.

Sun 18:
Magic Kingdom
8:05a Breakfast at Crystal Palace - this will put us in the park an hour early. I want some photo ops!!
4:30p 1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian - see the decorations as well as give us a break before....
7:00p MVMCP!!!
This entire day is devoted to the MK! I want to do as much as we can in the way of rides during the day so we can do the 'party stuff' that night.

Mon 19:
DHS - rope drop
4:00p Sci Fi Diner - dinner - considering changing this to lunch but undecided. Want to eat Starring Rolls for lunch, I think.

Tues 20:
Animal Kingdom - rope drop
No ADR's scheduled. Again, another lazy day - easy going, experiment with tp some. When the kids are ready to go, we will go. Might hit DTD at some point or tour some other resorts. DH will arrive this night as well so we want to be there to meet him!!

Wed 21:
Animal Kingdom - AM EMH - somewhat worried about this but one of the parks DH wants to go to and this was the best predicted crowd day of the 3 if we are going to go back to Epcot and MK as well with him.
8:00a Tusker House
6:00p Boma's
We've never stayed at AK very late - usually leave after the parade and that should give us plenty of time to get to Boma's from there. Then we will go wherever DH wants to go after dinner!

Thurs 22:
Epcot - rope drop!! This is when I'm going to use a tp without DH realizing I'm using a tp! Hope he is ready to run for fastpasses when I say "GO!"
5:10p Cape May Cafe - chance to visit Beach Club, eat some good seafood, and take a break from Epcot before going back to find a watch spot for Illuminations.

Fri 23:
Magic Kingdom - rope drop and our final full day! We will again be secretly using tp to maneuver this park. No ADR's until dinner.
5:55p 'Ohana - I think this will give us a good break and we can go back to MK after dinner for the evening festivities. Want DH to see the Christmas parade and holiday Wishes since he will miss them at MVMCP. Then I saw Epcot was open until 12:30p... perhaps if we have enough juice, we can go back there and ride some of our favs!

Sat 24:
NOTHING PLANNED. Let the kids sleep in, and pack up and catch a ride back to the airport around 11a. Considering making a reservation for breakfast at Kona's or 'Ohanas.... thoughts? We've never eaten at Kona's and this will be our third stay... but I've heard they are slower? Or what about Chef Mickey's for breakfast?

 

[annmarieda]

Okay, ADR's are made... I'm sure I will do some playing but I want to know your thoughts... Let 'em fly!!

We will arrive on the 16th, be at the resort about 10:30p. I know we should have probably stayed offsite the first night because of the late arrival but simplicity won out.

Sat 17:
Epcot - rope drop
This is a take it easy day. I'm going to try out a tp for the rides - that is what my kids love to do here. Anything else we fit in is 'bonus.' Plan on leaving the park around 5p.
6:30p Whispering Canyon Cafe - my one chance to see this resort at Christmas time.
After dinner - it's anyone's guess, but I see us either going back to our resort, the Poly, and hanging out and watch the water pageant and Wishes (will be regular Wishes - our one chance to see this one) from the beach... or if we are feeling super adventurous...hit MK to watch from main street.

Sun 18:
Magic Kingdom
8:05a Breakfast at Crystal Palace - this will put us in the park an hour early. I want some photo ops!! I love that I have heard about doing this. I never would have thought to before spending so much time on Dis. Now, I too have an early morning ADR... hoping to get some good pics too.
4:30p 1900 Park Fare - Grand Floridian - see the decorations as well as give us a break before....
7:00p MVMCP!!!
This entire day is devoted to the MK! I want to do as much as we can in the way of rides during the day so we can do the 'party stuff' that night.

Mon 19:
DHS - rope drop
4:00p Sci Fi Diner - dinner - considering changing this to lunch but undecided. Want to eat Starring Rolls for lunch, I think.If you want Starring Rolls, keep in mine their sandwiches sell out...so you have to get there early

Tues 20:
Animal Kingdom - rope drop
No ADR's scheduled. Again, another lazy day - easy going, experiment with tp some. When the kids are ready to go, we will go. Might hit DTD at some point or tour some other resorts. DH will arrive this night as well so we want to be there to meet him!!

Wed 21:
Animal Kingdom - AM EMH - somewhat worried about this but one of the parks DH wants to go to and this was the best predicted crowd day of the 3 if we are going to go back to Epcot and MK as well with him.
8:00a Tusker House
6:00p Boma's
We've never stayed at AK very late - usually leave after the parade and that should give us plenty of time to get to Boma's from there. Then we will go wherever DH wants to go after dinner!

Thurs 22:
Epcot - rope drop!! This is when I'm going to use a tp without DH realizing I'm using a tp! Hope he is ready to run for fastpasses when I say "GO!"
5:10p Cape May Cafe - chance to visit Beach Club, eat some good seafood, and take a break from Epcot before going back to find a watch spot for Illuminations.

Fri 23:
Magic Kingdom - rope drop and our final full day! We will again be secretly using tp to maneuver this park. No ADR's until dinner.
5:55p 'Ohana - I think this will give us a good break and we can go back to MK after dinner for the evening festivities. Want DH to see the Christmas parade and holiday Wishes since he will miss them at MVMCP. Then I saw Epcot was open until 12:30p... perhaps if we have enough juice, we can go back there and ride some of our favs!

Sat 24:
NOTHING PLANNED. Let the kids sleep in, and pack up and catch a ride back to the airport around 11a. Considering making a reservation for breakfast at Kona's or 'Ohanas.... thoughts? We've never eaten at Kona's and this will be our third stay... but I've heard they are slower? Or what about Chef Mickey's for breakfast?
I have never been to either for breakfast. Dinner, yes... and I plan to go again in December.

All in all I think those are some darn good plans!

 

[shocky5]

All in all I think those are some darn good plans!

Thanks, Ann! The only thing I'm stuck on right now is my dining time at Cape May's. Wondering if I should push it back to 6ish or just leave it as is... This is our Epcot day, going to be a busy day for WDW as a whole... is earlier better for a dining reservation than later? Meaning, less wait time to be seated? Or am I suffering from 'paralysis by analysis?'

 

[annmarieda]

Thanks, Ann! The only thing I'm stuck on right now is my dining time at Cape May's. Wondering if I should push it back to 6ish or just leave it as is... This is our Epcot day, going to be a busy day for WDW as a whole... is earlier better for a dining reservation than later? Meaning, less wait time to be seated? Or am I suffering from 'paralysis by analysis?'

I think the waiting depends no the restaurant... I don't know that any one besides Coral Reef and Le Cellier have made me wait very long. Oh, I guess Tony's has too...

As for the time... I think your current time is good. That will give you lots of time to eat and leisurely get back to Epcot for illuminations.

 

[shocky5]

I think the waiting depends no the restaurant... I don't know that any one besides Coral Reef and Le Cellier have made me wait very long. Oh, I guess Tony's has too...

As for the time... I think your current time is good. That will give you lots of time to eat and leisurely get back to Epcot for illuminations.

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to hear!!! I'm leaving them alone! I went ahead and booked a breakfast at 'Ohana on the day we leave... it will be Christmas Eve... feel like we should have some sort of meal before hopping the plane home... But not venture too far from resort so we don't feel rushed transporting back and forth. It will be fun - the kids will love the characters and we've had it before and it was good food.

Now, the next step in planning begins... Christmas shopping and getting prepared so that I don't have to do 'much' when we get home but enjoy the holidays. Hope to stretch out Christmas shopping over the next few months - have never done it this early - but I want extra $$ on hand come December for our trip!

 

[momabaarjo]

Now, the next step in planning begins... Christmas shopping and getting prepared so that I don't have to do 'much' when we get home but enjoy the holidays. Hope to stretch out Christmas shopping over the next few months - have never done it this early - but I want extra $$ on hand come December for our trip!

I have made out my list of what little Christmas shopping I am going to do this year, which is not much since this trip is going to be it. Mainly some new clothes (which I have already started as summer sales happen) and some stocking stuffers which will be travel items to keep kids entertained on the flight (if we make it that far...dang airfares).

 

[veggiemama]

getting caught up on your PTR. I have gotten way behind!!

I like your ADR and trip plan so far. You are a lot farther ahead then me. I realized that though I had figured out what parks and where we wanted to eat I have not even looked at what TIME to book are meals at

 

[shocky5]

I have made out my list of what little Christmas shopping I am going to do this year, which is not much since this trip is going to be it. Mainly some new clothes (which I have already started as summer sales happen) and some stocking stuffers which will be travel items to keep kids entertained on the flight (if we make it that far...dang airfares).

Tammie - we aren't going to do a lot of shopping for the kids either. Maybe a couple of things but the usual clothes and stocking stuffers. I will have to mostly shop for parents, neices, nephews (we draw names), siblings (draw names). So it's not too bad. Considering purchases from WDW! But then I wonder about shipping the gifts back or trying to get them home on the plane. T-shirts would be easy enough though!

getting caught up on your PTR. I have gotten way behind!!

I like your ADR and trip plan so far. You are a lot farther ahead then me. I realized that though I had figured out what parks and where we wanted to eat I have not even looked at what TIME to book are meals at

Thank you! It's funny - I still find myself reviewing and tinkering... It's a neverending vicious cycle, I've decided!!!

 

[shocky5]

Somebody... please stop the madness!!!

So... I made some modifications to our trip today. I downgraded our room. We are still going to stay club level, but have a regular garden view room as opposed to a theme park room. Knocked over $1k off the price. I've been battling this but the more I think about it, the more I consider the fact that I really could use a new dining room set for our new house and this would get it paid for.

One of these days... I'll go back to Disney and stay theme park view. I just couldn't justify doing it... the kids and I will be around the resort mostly in the evenings but they won't want to be in the room - they will want to be outside barring the weather is okay to do so. If it gets too chilly, we can enjoy fireworks, etc. from the concierge lounge.

And also, (Jenn - don't kill me) but I threw in Chef Mickey's on our Tuesday evening of Animal Kingdom. We've not ever been... I may cancel between now and then... but I would like to go 'just once.' I'm going to keep my eyes on the reviews. If it continues to go down, then it will be easy enough to cancel.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!