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

[Hmom]

Has anyone seen Toy Story 3 yet? Heard it did $109 million this weekend. My family wants to go, but we are going with friends this afternoon to see Karate Kid, so we'll have to wait until next week. My DS11 really wants to go, which kind of suprises me. This brings me to a QOTD: What is your favorite Disney movie? I would probably have to say Mary Poppins.

Toy Story 3 was fun. We went last Friday to the drive-in. Also saw Marmaduke. DS loved Marmaduke, mostly because of all of the dogs. He wasn't so crazy about Toy Story 3, but I am sure we will end up with it on DVD soon.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

QOTD
Livearent Trap (Haley Mills) grew up in the 60s
Classic:Jungle Book (loved Baloo) and Peter Pan (loved Tink)
ModernOTC (love rugged men even though I married a Teddy Bear! Shh!)

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

We went to karate Kid and we liked it. Especially DS11, he is working on his 2nd degree balck belt, so he loved all the cool moves. I was impressed with how much Jaden Smith must have trained, that boy was in amazing shape and did some really cool moves! The whole family is palnning on Toy Story 3 next week. And then The Last Airbender.
Anyone else or their kids read The Kingdom Keepers series? Really cool for Disney fans!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Has anyone been to (or going to) Universal?

I have never been - nor am I now - interested in going outside of WDW when we are down there. But DS11 has become a big Harry Potter fan over the past 6 months or so. . . So you can see where I am headed with this - he wants to go to the new HP World. I know very little about Universal. Pretty much nothing actually. Are there 2 parks? Is HP in one of them or is it a 3rd park? How far from WDW is it? Could we cover it in one day while staying at WDW?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[alexensmom]

Has anyone been to (or going to) Universal?

I have never been - nor am I now - interested in going outside of WDW when we are down there. But DS11 has become a big Harry Potter fan over the past 6 months or so. . . So you can see where I am headed with this - he wants to go to the new HP World. I know very little about Universal. Pretty much nothing actually. Are there 2 parks? Is HP in one of them or is it a 3rd park? How far from WDW is it? Could we cover it in one day while staying at WDW?

Any help would be appreciated.

I would also love any feedback on this. DD is also obsessed with HP and esp the Weasley twins. She is begging to go when we are at WDW, but Im not sure how much time we would need to allow or if it would make the week too hectic. Thanks!

 

[rgmills25]

Has anyone been to (or going to) Universal?

I have never been - nor am I now - interested in going outside of WDW when we are down there. But DS11 has become a big Harry Potter fan over the past 6 months or so. . . So you can see where I am headed with this - he wants to go to the new HP World. I know very little about Universal. Pretty much nothing actually. Are there 2 parks? Is HP in one of them or is it a 3rd park? How far from WDW is it? Could we cover it in one day while staying at WDW?

Any help would be appreciated.

We are planning on going to Universal just to see the Harry Potter stuff. There are two universal parks and the Harry Potter world is in the Islands of Adventure park. We're just planning on spending one day there. Renting a car early and getting there when it opens. We have little kids who still use car seats, otherwise we would be tempted to take a cab because I've heard the parking is around $30. I'm not sure how far from Disney it is, but I know it's not too far.

Would also love feedback from others who have been.

 

[sjs314]

Has anyone been to (or going to) Universal?

I have never been - nor am I now - interested in going outside of WDW when we are down there. But DS11 has become a big Harry Potter fan over the past 6 months or so. . . So you can see where I am headed with this - he wants to go to the new HP World. I know very little about Universal. Pretty much nothing actually. Are there 2 parks? Is HP in one of them or is it a 3rd park? How far from WDW is it? Could we cover it in one day while staying at WDW?

Any help would be appreciated.

I have not been to Universal in years, since the 90's , back then it was only one park and we went there two days during one of our stays at WDW, from what I gather now it is two parks and with HP which is a park in itself it is basically 3 parks now , so I would think to do and see everything you need at least 3 days if you have never been there before.
It's not too far from WDW we drove the two years we visited US but I understand it is totally different now with the Hotels on Property, back then you had to park in a lot.
I had decided to go back next year but DH wants to go back to Montana next year

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We've only been to US in Hollywood but the kiddos are wanting to go to see HP World.

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

My DS11 and I are both huge HP fans and definitely want to see HP world, but I think we might wait until next year. This year I think it will be crazy busy at Thanksgiving and we buy AP's every other year and use them for two trips and this is the year I have to buy them, so next year it will be an inexpensive trip. I think it will cost around $250-$300 for a family of 4 for a day. I am sure if you mainly want to see HP, you could do it in a day. I think there are only a few rides and then all the shops, etc.

 

[sjs314]

My DS11 and I are both huge HP fans and definitely want to see HP world, but I think we might wait until next year. This year I think it will be crazy busy at Thanksgiving and we buy AP's every other year and use them for two trips and this is the year I have to buy them, so next year it will be an inexpensive trip. I think it will cost around $250-$300 for a family of 4 for a day. I am sure if you mainly want to see HP, you could do it in a day. I think there are only a few rides and then all the shops, etc.

When I commented last night and said about needing 3 days that was for the entire park, but I do think Cyndi is right one day should be enough if going just to see HP, I considered dropping one of our Epcot days to go see HP or when we added a day to our trip, but then when we dropped the day due to the high air fare to come home on a Sunday visiting HP just sort of faded away this year.

 

[Trackey79]

Has anyone been to (or going to) Universal?

I have never been - nor am I now - interested in going outside of WDW when we are down there. But DS11 has become a big Harry Potter fan over the past 6 months or so. . . So you can see where I am headed with this - he wants to go to the new HP World. I know very little about Universal. Pretty much nothing actually. Are there 2 parks? Is HP in one of them or is it a 3rd park? How far from WDW is it? Could we cover it in one day while staying at WDW?

Any help would be appreciated.

We were initially planning to go to US also, but it would end up costing us close to $450 for one day! I can tell you though that it is not to far from Disney. (I went one time back in 2000 - got a comp ticket from the Renaissance.) It was neat but kind of reminded more of a fair then a theme park. I am sure it has changed a lot since then though.

 

[Px4]

We have a few days to play with while we are there, so we are leaving the chance of going to WWoHP open. We are going to monitor the crowds first. We all really want to go. HP is HUGE in our house! Its even bigger then Twilight, which is saying alot since I have tweenage girls! LOL

 

[Px4]

Forgot to mention. We have decided, if we arrive to late on Sat to go to the parks, we are hoping to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at DTD. It comes out the day we leave! I have not -not seen a HP on opening day since the 2nd one!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Good morning everybody!

Thanks for all the thoughts on HP. . . I guess what I am basically trying to decide is if it will be worth it to give up one day at WDW and spending the money to go there. . . And will it make the week seem even more rushed? WDW is always the fastest week of the year anyway!

Oh I just don't know!!


We would probably take a cab if it isn't that awful far. I think it might be cheaper than renting a car for the day and paying for parking.

 

[sjs314]

Good morning everybody!

Thanks for all the thoughts on HP. . . I guess what I am basically trying to decide is if it will be worth it to give up one day at WDW and spending the money to go there. . . And will it make the week seem even more rushed? WDW is always the fastest week of the year anyway!

Oh I just don't know!!


We would probably take a cab if it isn't that awful far. I think it might be cheaper than renting a car for the day and paying for parking.

I think I read that Mears does shuttles from the resorts to US to, not sure what would be more convient, we went the two years we drove down to Florida.

I would like to stay on US property the resort they have that resembles Venice has caught my eye but it is so expense, I have signed up to the US sites hopeing they might send out deals like Disney but probally not until all the HP hype dies down some...maybe 2012?
Our trip this year is too short to try and head to US, DS and Ddil are talking about going to SeaWorld for a day but if they do DH and myself are not going.

Last year my other DS and wife went to Miami for a day and DH and myself spent the day at Epcot WS (our favorite Park) had lunch at Biergarten and enjoyed the alone time as I am sure my DS and wife did too.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I think I read that Mears does shuttles from the resorts to US to, not sure what would be more convient, we went the two years we drove down to Florida.

I would like to stay on US property the resort they have that resembles Venice has caught my eye but it is so expense, I have signed up to the US sites hopeing they might send out deals like Disney but probally not until all the HP hype dies down some...maybe 2012?
Our trip this year is too short to try and head to US, DS and Ddil are talking about going to SeaWorld for a day but if they do DH and myself are not going.

Last year my other DS and wife went to Miami for a day and DH and myself spent the day at Epcot WS (our favorite Park) had lunch at Biergarten and enjoyed the alone time as I am sure my DS and wife did too.

Yes, I am worried that no matter what day we would go to HP it would be crowded, being that it just opened up this year. . . Maybe we should wait until next year. . .

I was just thinking that for the amount of money we would spend to go to HP, we could do MVMCP instead! So the kids and I just watched the videos on the WDW website and want to do that now. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pa...al-events/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/



I suppose some other crazy idea will pop into my head tomorrow!!

Okay, going to check out MVMCP some more. . .

Is anyone going the very first night - Nov 8th??? That is the only night that we could fit it in without having to change any plans around. Could do the 11th or 12th, but would have to move some things around. . .

Do you think the 8th will be extremely crowded/popular because it is the first night it is offered?

 

[sjs314]

We are going Nov 8th the first night, already bought the tickets so no turning back now, it is our arrival day so I have my fingers crossed our room is ready early so DH can nap or else just look for the Grumpy Old Man at the MVMCP, I thought of buying him a Grumpy shirt but he said he won't wear it (Party Pooper) so I bought one for me for the trip

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We are going Nov 8th the first night, already bought the tickets so no turning back now, it is our arrival day so I have my fingers crossed our room is ready early so DH can nap or else just look for the Grumpy Old Man at the MVMCP, I thought of buying him a Grumpy shirt but he said he won't wear it (Party Pooper) so I bought one for me for the trip

My DH has 2 Grumpy shirts!!

 

[mousescrapper]

Anyone else or their kids read The Kingdom Keepers series? Really cool for Disney fans!!

I bought the series for my DS (11) and I believe he read all 3 so far...I will have to get his "review" but I know he must of liked them since that is like all he did for a week

I want to read them too before we go...he said he read before reading the series some clues to what the fiction story tells can actually be found on property...


Speaking of BOOKS.....


for a new QOTD (if no one has asked this yet....) What is the current Disney guide book you are reading or which one is your favorite and how about a why?

I'm actually thumbing through two

Unofficial Guide: The Color Companion Walt Disney World-this is a nice condensed version of the "disney bible" and I love the pictures

The Complete 2010 Walt Disney World 2010 the definitive Disney handbook by Julie and Mike Neal- I've only just begun this one...but I really like how it is set up, ton's of pictures, has hour by hour wait charts, fun finds, and more

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Just got home from Toy Story 3!! Awesome!


As for the QOTD ~ Believe it or not, I've never read a Disney Guide book.

I do enjoy reading my Celebration magazine though! http://www.celebrationspress.com/