The NEW Official November 2010 Countdown & Planning Thread ~ Come join us! (Part 1)

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I just wonder - for those that eat 2+ sit down meals a day... how the heck do you do it?? I usally eat a smaller breakfast and then snack thru the day, and then one good sit down early dinner - and i am stuffed.. i can't imagine eating 3 sit down meals a day!! LOL And i am assuming if you do it, you have the DDP, otherwise it must cost a ton also!! LOL

I often wonder this too. . . There is no way we could ever eat 3 TS's a day at WDW!! We wouldn't be able to walk!

DH and the kids usually do a light breakfast in the room (granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, etc), I usually don't even eat breakfast. Then we have an early (11-11:30am) CS lunch. And then we will do a TS for dinner. Except for once or twice a trip we will do a breakfast TS. On those days we will just get a snack in the afternoon and then do either a CS or a TS dinner.

 

[Caitsmama]

We always averaged $250 a day for food, drinks and snacks and we always had plenty left over.

What do you mean about this ?? Do you actually budget $250 PER DAY for food?! And you actually SPEND close to that amount???!

 

[Dsnymouse]

Joining in the fun!
We have never been to WDW while Christmas decorations are up. It's always been a dream of mine. We will be at WDW 19-26th, can I expect to see everything up by then? Can't wait!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Joining in the fun!
We have never been to WDW while Christmas decorations are up. It's always been a dream of mine. We will be at WDW 19-26th, can I expect to see everything up by then? Can't wait!

I think nearly everything, if not everything, should be up by then. We were there the second week of Nov last year and all the parks were decorated before we left on the 15th. The Castle Lights, MVMCP, and the Osborne Lights were up & running. The gingerbread house at the GF was almost finished, and set to be finished/open by the 16th. The resorts we not decorated yet. From what we heard their decorations would start going up the following week and everything would be fully decorated by Thanksgiving!

 

[Caitsmama]

I agree, we go for TG every year, and everything is up and ready! It's all beautiful!!

 

[Px4]

What do you mean about this ?? Do you actually budget $250 PER DAY for food?! And you actually SPEND close to that amount???!

Yeah, when paying out of pocket, that is what we budget for. If you think about it, really it doesn't take very much to hit that amount. We are a family of 4. 3 of us eat adult meals, sometimes all 4 because she won't eat Disneys kids meals. For example, we used to have a first day tradition of having breakfast at CRT then dinner at LTT, we were spending basically the whole days budget right there. We don't bring food or drinks or anything with us, so we pay for everything. We can easily drink $40 a day in water alone. $2.50 a water adds up! So, yes. Some days we easily hit $250 (or over). Other days, we will spend around $150. But we have never done less then $150 a day since the kids were old enough to discover character meals. It usually balances out over the week and we have money left over. But we always have it budgeted that high, just in case.

 

[sjs314]

Joining in the fun!
We have never been to WDW while Christmas decorations are up. It's always been a dream of mine. We will be at WDW 19-26th, can I expect to see everything up by then? Can't wait!

I was originally planning on going the week after TurkeyDay but then DH said he would like to go during F&W someday, so I compromised, switching to the second week in November so we can catch the end of F&W, keeping fingers crossed that some of the Christmas Decorations and Events might be up and running. If not I am already thinking about another trip next year

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We are budgeting about $700 for the week for food. I've gone over all the menus and have a pretty good idea of what we will order and added in extra for snacks and so on and that's the figure I came up with. That is with 5-6 TS meals. (One being breakfast)The DDP would cost us over $900 now since one of our boys in considered an adult. So we are going to try it paying OOP and see what happens!

 

[Caitsmama]

Yeah, when paying out of pocket, that is what we budget for. If you think about it, really it doesn't take very much to hit that amount. We are a family of 4. 3 of us eat adult meals, sometimes all 4 because she won't eat Disneys kids meals. For example, we used to have a first day tradition of having breakfast at CRT then dinner at LTT, we were spending basically the whole days budget right there. We don't bring food or drinks or anything with us, so we pay for everything. We can easily drink $40 a day in water alone. $2.50 a water adds up! So, yes. Some days we easily hit $250 (or over). Other days, we will spend around $150. But we have never done less then $150 a day since the kids were old enough to discover character meals. It usually balances out over the week and we have money left over. But we always have it budgeted that high, just in case.

Ok..... i guess if it's in your budget and you can afford that - then go for it! I however can't grip my thoughts around that kind of money.. LOL I usally go just me and 9 yr old dd, and for 9 days we spend about $300.
We eat a very low key breakfast in our room, snack for lunch - and a decent dinner (either CS or TS) - however I limit character /buffets to 1 or 2 per trip..
As i said, i am in no way trying to insult you or knock you (please don't think am! ) -- as mentioned, i have just never spent more than $300-$400 for a week trip, LOL b/c i am on a very strict budget - so to hear from the flip side just blows my mind!! We ordered from Garden GRocer in March when we went - what a great life saver that is for food money!!

That's why i think in 2011, when it's just me and dd going in our own room, i may do the DDP (the one with 1 cs and 1 ts meal) - to see how that goes.. if i go off of 2010 rates it is just over $400 for the week, and we will eat decent! If i do that - you can bet i will book more character meals.. But i am curious to try the DDP to see how much we eat vs just going for a reg. trip..

But, i guess if you are buying everything, and eating buffet or char. dinners -- it doesn't take much to add up.. I just don't do it that way..... so i just will have to live vicariously thru you!! LOL

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Keep in mind that your DD9 can get the DDP now very cheap. Something like $13 a day I believe. Once she hits age 10, it is an adult price. Something like $40 a day. The DDP was a great deal for us, until DS turned 10.

 

[Caitsmama]

Oh, i know.. once she hits adult price, i won't do it. LOL

 

[jmc318]

Going down for Jersey week for the third time from 11/1 - 11/7. We are two families of 5 each with kids 10, 7, and 3 each. Excited because we are splurging with a 40% off Pin and staying at BLT 2Brs! Can't Wait.

Using TGM again but as we are arriving 11/1 may have an issue making ADRs as the hours and Green/Red days may not be posted by then. Still hoping!

 

[Px4]

As i said, i am in no way trying to insult you or knock you (please don't think am! )

No, I didn't take it that way at all! If I were only going with my youngest DD, she and I could save a fortune! She is super picky and doesn't eat much. She would be happy with a egg or pancake for breakfast and Caseys mini corn dogs every day for dinner! lol BUT.... my DH is a healthy eater as I say. He is a big guy, but not fat. His job keeps him in shape, but also makes him hungry all the time. And my oldest DD just turned 10, but is 5'6" 1/2 and wears a size 10 in shoe. A good 5in taller then the next tallest kid in her class. And has no signs of slowing down! She is a linky bean pole, but she is super active in several sports, so she eats all the time too. Between her and my DH, they eat us out of house and home! So its required for them to have atleast 2 good meals a day. I wish I had their metabolism -- and energy!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Going down for Jersey week for the third time from 11/1 - 11/7. We are two families of 5 each with kids 10, 7, and 3 each. Excited because we are splurging with a 40% off Pin and staying at BLT 2Brs! Can't Wait.

Using TGM again but as we are arriving 11/1 may have an issue making ADRs as the hours and Green/Red days may not be posted by then. Still hoping!

You must be so excited to stay at BLT!!

She would be happy with a egg or pancake for breakfast and Caseys mini corn dogs every day for dinner! lol !

Sounds like both my kids! We have to hit Casey's EVERY trip for those darn mini corn dogs!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I often wonder this too. . . There is no way we could ever eat 3 TS's a day at WDW!! We wouldn't be able to walk!

DH and the kids usually do a light breakfast in the room (granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, etc), I usually don't even eat breakfast. Then we have an early (11-11:30am) CS lunch. And then we will do a TS for dinner. Except for once or twice a trip we will do a breakfast TS. On those days we will just get a snack in the afternoon and then do either a CS or a TS dinner.

That's exactly what we do!! I need to get those menus online and see what it would cost us...we usually spend (on the ticket they give you) at least $100 per night at our TS dinners!!!! I don't know if ds10 would order off of it or not if we weren't doing the dining plan...which of course bumps him to adult. So...other places, can go as high as $180!! Which is about what we spend for the ddp each day...so for us if that is how we are going to eat(at a different country each night), at this point it makes sense for us to stay on it.....I look at it like that paid for dinner and we got a free lunch and snack!!!! We just do granola bars for the morning anyway.

 

[WAHkoMom]

We did DDP last time we went, but that was in 2007 and then the TS meal included an appetizer (no longer for adults) so it was a lot of food and we felt spoiled! At that time, both our kids were under 10 and the childrens DDP was SO worth the money. Now they're both 10+, so we'd have to pay for 4 adults and I know my DS (10) will want to eat off the kids menu so that just makes it a deal-breaker. We're looking into whether we'd save money by buying one annual park pass (we save $100 as DVC members) and get a TIW card for $75. This gets us 20% off at lots of restaurants, including alcohol.

I started a spreadsheet, but I haven't figured out if it's worth it yet or not.

The fun is in the planning!

 

[monorail girl]

Hi! Joining in too My family and I will be there Nov.13-20 at the Poly Its almost ADR time

 

[MODisneyfan]

I often wonder this too. . . There is no way we could ever eat 3 TS's a day at WDW!! We wouldn't be able to walk!

DH and the kids usually do a light breakfast in the room (granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, etc), I usually don't even eat breakfast. Then we have an early (11-11:30am) CS lunch. And then we will do a TS for dinner. Except for once or twice a trip we will do a breakfast TS. On those days we will just get a snack in the afternoon and then do either a CS or a TS dinner.

This is my parents first "real" time at disney. Usually we would stay off site when I went with school and even when I worked there they only stayed onsite for 2 nights and then went to another resort off site. So this is going to be a change for then. To have the magic around 24/7!!! I think that iit is going to be magical. ( sorry the smiley was looking at me like her wanted on the page.. LOL) As for the 3 meals a day. I don't know if it is going to be worth it or not but we are going to find out. I have been to Disney ALOT and my parents a couple of time so I'm thinking that this time we are going to slow down a little (LMAO) and take it slow so we are able to get everything in and not be rushed. I it usually a slower time of year so I am hoping that the lines are not that bad so we are able to get on the things that we want to and get FP's for those that the lines are to long.

anywho I just went into no where land there I think. Anyways, I think that we are just going to go and have what fills us up and move on. But if we are to full then we will forgo the Deluxe plan next time.

 

[MODisneyfan]

OMg I just noticed that I am past the 7 months mark!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

and I know my DS (10) will want to eat off the kids menu so that just makes it a deal-breaker.

That's what I am dealing with too. . . We had free dining last November and DS10 ordered off of the kids menu the whole week. I would have been pretty upset if I had paid the adult DDP price for him. So, until he eats a whole lot better the DDP is out for us.

Hi! Joining in too My family and I will be there Nov.13-20 at the Poly Its almost ADR time

YAY ~ Less than a month until my ADR day!!