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

[jrasmom]

I'm interested to see what those of you who are going the same week as me are doing each day too. We don't have ADR's and I've kindof thought about which park we'll do each day but I haven't decided for sure yet.
I'll have to go back and read through all the posts but I thought I had already.

 

[dolphindan1]

We're doing Chef Mickey's on the 13th but our ADR isn't until 7:55. I'm still hoping something will open up for an earlier time. I see you're coming from SC. We are from NC. Our arrival is the 13th also but leaving on the 20th. Where are you staying?

We are staying in a 3 bedroom at Bonnet Creek Resort...What about yall...Year we are from SC about 30 minutes north of Charleston

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I am so very far behind and my memory is not as good as it once was and it was not that good back then either so please forgive.

My heart goes out to the mother who lost her son. I would love to hear about him and who he was. Sharing such with others is not only a soothing way to heal but it reminds the world of what has been lost and might have been and to be grateful for the time he had with us.

Momof2DisneyBoys, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. I love history. I love reading the different views of history and in my lifetime there have been many versions of the same eras.

I love school starting because that means I get to go back too and I miss my kids. I go in feeling badly and they improve my mood instantly and I forget all my aches and pains. I love the ornery ones the most. Shhh, don't tell them.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Trackey79]

Unfortunately we may have to change where we are staying and may even have to stay off property In the last few months we have had to buy a washer and dryer, a A/C for the house, a fridge and a stove! Needless to say this killed my Disney budget. First I resigned myself to giving up the dining plan and now even with a room discount I am afraid we are looking at staying off property, which I am afraid I am bit spoiled for . However, I am still getting to go at this point so I can't complain a whole lot, but that's not the point! I probably would have thought about scrapping the whole thing until I could afford to do it the way I want, BUT the whole point of this particular week was to get out of town and try not to think about the anniversary that will happen that week. AND I have already bought the tickets, so the biggest unavoidable expense has already been handled. Sorry to whine so much, I'm just really sad about having to go off property! Oh well, what can you do right?

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Trackey79, I am sorry that you are not getting the trip of your dreams but I can tell you that, often, what we plan and what we get might be different but it often turns out for the best.

It is far better to go the way you are, and be able to go at all, than to come home to copious bills that will make you regret having taken the trip at all.

Sometimes a room on site can be as cheap or cheaper than off site. Are you sure that you have figured correctly? Remember to take into account having to pay for parking and even a bit extra for the convenience of staying on site.

I hope to see you in the parks.

Slightly Goofy

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

I was out earlier trying to get some of my Disney "gifts" for the kids when there are stars on the countdown calendar and I found a couple of cool ones I thought I'd share. I found some of those Mickey decorated candies that you put on cupcakes, and Mickey cupcake wrappers, and a set of Disney sprinkles that had Mickey head shapes. I got a box of cake mix and a thing of icing and I bought a Mickey bag to put it all in. The best part will be when the kids make the cupcakes themselves (my DS11 wants to be a chef!)
I also got Disney kooky pens which I can hook on my bag and use for autographs and I found small yellow tins that are clear on the top. I put Mickey stickers on them and filled them with red M&Ms. These two will go in small bags along with a coupon I printed for a Mickey shaped ice cream.

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

Trackey79- I too am sorry you might have to change your plans, but atleast you can still go. Our first trip was on a really tight budget, but we had a great time (I remember we even shared one of the refillable souvenier mugs between the 3 of us!)
I did want to mention to check the Swan and Dolphin. If you book it directly (and not through Disney) they have really low rates. My FIL just booked rooms for us from tues to sat of Thanksgiving week (which is premium rates at the Disney resorts) and he paid $159 for the first room and $119 for a second. You don't get Magical express and you can't do the dining plan, but everything else is the same.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

cyndiloveswalt, you are one fun mom. Sounds like a lot of fun. I am a grandma but I buy small Disney things to hand out to the children I meet when I am at DW. Last year I had Valentines with Disney pictures that moved when you shifted the card and it was one of the favorite things I ever found and so easy to carry. Could not find any for this year but have lots of other things. Extra special things for the children who are celebrating a birthday or are caught doing something very nice though.

Trackey79, is there not a code out for room only that you could use? What is your family configuration? If you could get free dining it could well be a whole lot cheaper than staying off site, especially if you have children. Bet someone would run the numbers if you gave your information.

Slightly Goofy

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

SlightlyGoofy- My DS6 sure would love to run into you in the parks! That is so sweet and special that you do that. And that is the little kind of things that happen at Disney that make it so magical!

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

We have been trying to iron out details now for the trip and I am getting more and more excited about it.

I need to fix my ticker since things are going to be slightly different now.

We added the 2 days at the end of the trip at AKV and we will be doing the YES program for our boys on the first morning we arrive. They are doing the "How things move" class. They are looking forward to that. We also will be having 10 day park hoppers instead of the 3 days and one MVMCP. I hate we are going to miss the Christmas party since we have never done one but to add 2 more nights to the trip plus get 10 day hoppers good for the whole trip it is worth it.


My (soon to be) 4 year old has autism so we are really hoping that he will do well with this trip. He had a hard time with certain things last year so we have been talking to him a lot and showing him certain things in pictures and shows to get him more used to it all. He seems to get more and more excited about it so we have high hopes for that.


Here are our plans thus far...


Nov 12th- arrive early, check in @ Riverside - head over to the MK for the class for the boys- head back to POR to hopefully get into our room and take a short nap - head to Epcot for a late lunch at Rose and Crown.


Nov 13th- this will be a full MK day with the emh that night. Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch.


Nov 14th- some DTD time, maybe Wolfgang Puck Express for lunch. MK night.


Nov 15th- HS for the most part this day. Lunch at Sci Fi.


Nov 16th- Epcot. Doing Passport and "eat around the world" this day.


Nov 17th- AK for most of this day. Early dinner at Rainforest Cafe.


Nov 18th- MK mostly for this day. Lunch at Whispering Canyon.


Nov 19th- Epcot day. Pick a Pearl for me from the boys. Chefs de France lunch this day.


Nov 20th- MK and DTD day. 1900 Park Fare breakfast.


Nov 21st- MK possibly for an hour or so. Drive home this day.



Since we have hoppers I am sure we will hit other parks here and there for certain things. We will also set aside some time for spending at the resorts and such so we will play a lot of that by ear.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

TheDisneyBunch, my husband is the one who is autistic. I wish they had a button that could be worn so people would understand that they are not misbehaving just thinking differently. Disney is pretty good at such though. Do you know about GAC's to help getting through the park a bit easier? I make sure my husband gets lots of sleep and no sudden surprises. We go so often that he is comfortable there but sometimes I have to take matters in hand and folks do not understand that as much as they do with someone correcting a child. BTW, I need to fix my 'ticker' too but am not talking about the countdown one.

cyndiloveswalt, and I would enjoy meeting her as well. The kids at our Community Center that I volunteer with enjoy hearing stories about the kids I meet on my trips and wish they could be with me. So do I. Reminder to self, buy lottery ticket and hope for the best.

Slightly Goofy

 

[ksueboo]

I got several Disney things done today. We are at 79 days!!!! Wow!
I downloaded the epcot passport available here on the DISboards and printed it off for my 12 year old. It is really cute! I cant believe I was able to print it all out correctly, haha! I think he really wants to take his autograph book, but he also feels too "old" to do that so the passport was a way to make him something different than the 3 younger kiddos. I also stopped by Home Depot and picked up some Mickey Heads to make our countdown calendar. I still need to stop by on another day and pick up a few more to make 38 (our count down start). The Home Depot Paint lady was giving me the look and making me feel guilty for taking paint sample cards, so I left with what I had. I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong, but then again, if everyone came in daily and took 25 Mickey paint sample cards I might give them the eye too!
I also bought a Mickey Mouse hard cover journal at Target that my youngest will use as her autograph book!
Hope everyone is having a great week. To those who are suffering, my thoughts and prayers go out you.

 

[Trackey79]

Trackey79, I am sorry that you are not getting the trip of your dreams but I can tell you that, often, what we plan and what we get might be different but it often turns out for the best.

It is far better to go the way you are, and be able to go at all, than to come home to copious bills that will make you regret having taken the trip at all.

Sometimes a room on site can be as cheap or cheaper than off site. Are you sure that you have figured correctly? Remember to take into account having to pay for parking and even a bit extra for the convenience of staying on site.

I hope to see you in the parks.

Slightly Goofy

You are right and I am very thankful we can at least take the trip even if we end up having to stay off property. I am still trying to work it out and I am looking into ALL of our options, so I still have hope hehe! Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[Trackey79]

To all that posted well wishes and ideas for me thanks!

I think I may have it figured out. We had considered camping before, but discounted it because we didn't want to have to carry all that stuff with us and we are borrowing my sister's car (her can hold all six of us and our suburban does not need to do a long haul trip) and is not feasible for carrying so much stuff.

Well, long story shortened a bit, I figured out I can use the AP discount to get a campsite, ship down our camping gear ahead of time and still save a considerable amount of money. Our last camping trip there (Jan of this year) was ruined by a lot of rain BUT in Nov we really should not have much to any rain to contend with. As well, one of our favorite trips down there was during the week of Veteran's Day and we camped the whole time!

So, I think this is the route we will go. We are giving up having the indoors to rest our heads at the end of the day, but we get to stay on property, we have air mattresses, a portable heater and A/C (so we should be fairly comfortable), a smaller tent that is a changing room and holds a porta potty and we enjoy camping so it should all work out okay. YEAH!!!

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

Here are our plans thus far...


Nov 12th- arrive early, check in @ Riverside - head over to the MK for the class for the boys- head back to POR to hopefully get into our room and take a short nap - head to Epcot for a late lunch at Rose and Crown.


Nov 13th- this will be a full MK day with the emh that night. Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch.

Maybe we'll see you these two days! The 12th is our Epcot/someone's 28th Birthday celebration day and the 13th is our Epic MK day of Epicness (we're trying to stay from rope-drop to as much as the EMH as possible, with Dinner being our only break from the park)

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

Trackey79- I'm glad you got it figured out. Sounds like it wiil be a lot of fun.
Just got back from a PTA budget meeting, what fun!

 

[Marshay]

Wow, Trackey, that is great that you guys are still going to be able to stay on property and that you enjoy camping! I can't wait to hear how it goes.

 

[Trackey79]

Trackey79- I'm glad you got it figured out. Sounds like it wiil be a lot of fun.
Just got back from a PTA budget meeting, what fun!

Thank you! I am so happy we will still be able to stay on property!!!

 

[Trackey79]

Wow, Trackey, that is great that you guys are still going to be able to stay on property and that you enjoy camping! I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Thanks. I will definitely post a report!!

 

[DisneyBoundinDec]

I was sitting here reading all the posts about school and sports starting up again for a new year, a big smile on my face filled with the memories of my own DS's.

I recall the relief of the school year starting anew and the running back and forth mine played little league baseball and lil pal basketball, winter baseball, then of course there were the cub and boy scout meetings, never a free weekend and of course my DH worked so many hours he hardly ever was able to make the games or activities unless they happened to fall on a Sunday his one day off.

I evny you all now that I am older , I had always thought I would have grand babies to be running after but it is not to be it seems.

Enjoy these times no matter how hectic they seem now one day you will look back fondly on the memories

Now I am a bit embrassed, I did not mean to come off sounding so pitifull, it's just a hard week for me Sunday was 13 months since my DS passed away and Saturday is his b-day, spending today with my other DS did not help as we reminiscented while we were out

Thank You for your kind words

don't feel embarrassed.. I can't even imagine.. in fact like a PP said, we would love to hear all about him..

Unfortunately we may have to change where we are staying and may even have to stay off property In the last few months we have had to buy a washer and dryer, a A/C for the house, a fridge and a stove! Needless to say this killed my Disney budget. First I resigned myself to giving up the dining plan and now even with a room discount I am afraid we are looking at staying off property, which I am afraid I am bit spoiled for . However, I am still getting to go at this point so I can't complain a whole lot, but that's not the point! I probably would have thought about scrapping the whole thing until I could afford to do it the way I want, BUT the whole point of this particular week was to get out of town and try not to think about the anniversary that will happen that week. AND I have already bought the tickets, so the biggest unavoidable expense has already been handled. Sorry to whine so much, I'm just really sad about having to go off property! Oh well, what can you do right?

I am glad that you have it all figured out! Camping actually sounds really cool! and it will be nice and cool out too, can't beat the weather!