The *Official* February 2011 Thread - Happy Dance Time...The Park Hours Are Out!

[lilandvisma]

Mandy,

Yes, I'm in Findlay, OH. South of Toledo by about an hour. Where in Michigan are you? I am envious of your $144 fare from Detroit to MCO. I haven't seen that good of a rate for our dates. Is yours non-stop? I need to get serious about booking airfare, but so many of the airlines that I'm looking at, don't even have their Feb. dates posted! Crazy!!! Don't they know we need to PLAN! You'll be booking your ADR's soon! How exciting!!

Lori,
Trying to keep this surprise is HARD! My husband will not believe that I've been able to secretly save enough money for this trip (which remains to be seen, I guess!) I am planning in any spare moments that I have. The real hard part will be calling to make ADR's on all of those days once my window opens up. I'm not quite sure how I'll manage that one. We're staying in a timeshare off property, so I can't use the online service (at least I don't think I can).

My excitement is the other hard thing! I ordered a T-shirt for my husband that says "It's my birthday - I'm 50 and I'm going to Disney World!". I think I'm going to wrap that in a HUGE box with some disney helium balloons. When he opens it, the balloons will float out and then he will see the t-shirt and hopefully understand the surprise. I may come up with 20 other ideas before February.. but that's what I'm thinking now.

Anyone have any other ideas??

Anyway... that's my story..

It's so much fun to share this excitement with all of you! Thank you!!!

Hi Again!

I know Findlay, we've been through that area many times on our driving excursions NO MORE DRIVING this time lol. We are in the Midland/Saginaw area but will be flying out of Detroit Metro since airfare from MBS is outrageous. $144 through Delta, yup...roundtrip! Keep checking...I tried southwest but like you said they don't even give rates until about 6 months out which is seriously BAD for intense obsessive planners like ourselves right? haha

I LOVE the idea about the shirt and balloons I am waaay bad with keeping secrets so I think it's awesome that you can do such a thing! I'm such a blabber mouth. I think the best I ever was at that was when I found out I was pregnant with my son. I waited allll day until hubby came home from work to tell him lol, and even that killed me

Onto saving money, share some tips girl cuz I am trying to but dang it! I just love to spend it too much!!!

 

[BethR9]

lilandvisma, I was just going to comment to you that I'm also in the Michigan area and planning a trip for beginning to middle of February, 2011 and staying at POP and that I have a Lily also. Then I saw you're in the Saginaw/Midland area and talking about MBS. So am I!!!!! How crazy is this???

Beth

 

[lilandvisma]

lilandvisma, I was just going to comment to you that I'm also in the Michigan area and planning a trip for beginning to middle of February, 2011 and staying at POP and that I have a Lily also. Then I saw you're in the Saginaw/Midland area and talking about MBS. So am I!!!!! How crazy is this???

Beth

LOL, small world

My Lily will be going into THIRD grade this year...trying to figure out where time goes We are actually going down to celebrate her 9th bday

Now, are you planning on flying out MBS? Everything I checked was about double the price of DTW and since I have family down in that area anyway I figured I'd just fly out through there. I like MBS for its convenience and size but anymore the prices have just gotten ridiculous it seems.

Last year on the disboards I was chatting with a lady from Hemlock who's hubby actually worked in the same building with my hubby!

 

[lilandvisma]

Oh and since your local, I'm still waaaay perturbed about the Disney store going out of Fashion Square

 

[BethR9]

Nope, not out of MBS. It is crazy priced and no way it makes sense. We'll fly out of Flint most likely on Air Tran since they do non-stops and leave early mroning on the way out and late at night on the way home so really like getting those 2 extra days!

Super ticked that there isn't a Disney store at Fashion Square. I think the closest one is now in Detroit, right? Ugh!!!! The Disney store is perfect to get the little ones pumped up for a trip.

I could probably guess where your husband works.....

My Lily just turned 3.

Do you stay at home with your kids? I'd send you a PM but since I'm not up to 10 posts yet, I can't.

 

[lilandvisma]

Nope, not out of MBS. It is crazy priced and no way it makes sense. We'll fly out of Flint most likely on Air Tran since they do non-stops and leave early mroning on the way out and late at night on the way home so really like getting those 2 extra days!

Super ticked that there isn't a Disney store at Fashion Square. I think the closest one is now in Detroit, right? Ugh!!!! The Disney store is perfect to get the little ones pumped up for a trip.

I could probably guess where your husband works.....

My Lily just turned 3.

Do you stay at home with your kids? I'd send you a PM but since I'm not up to 10 posts yet, I can't.

I've never ever flown out of Flint...I think I would be scared to lol. I grew up in Detroit so at least I'm more familiar with that area. As far as TDS goes the closest one is at Great Lakes Crossing, but its VERY nice and my family lives in Rochester Hills so we tend to stop by the mall there whenever we visit

Ah, 3 years old! My Violette is 3 as well and goodness is she a handful lately! She is princess obsessed of course and just about every day I get told that she wants to go to Disney World on her bus and that it's on it's way to come and pick us up! LOL, don't I wish!

And I took off from work for the baby, we have a just turned 3 month old son as well. I don't really consider it work, I teach dance and that starts up again next month. I'm more than ready to get back into shape and see all the students. Extra $$, some sane time for me doing what I love I had to leave in the middle of the dance year for this past season since I had complications with my little guy. Thank goodness we made it to term though! covenant took good care of me along with my OB.

 

[lilandvisma]

So everyone! What's going to be your MUST do's ? Any favorite places to eat? What are you anticipating the most ???

Our must do's this time --
At MK we MUST see the fairys and Tink since we didnt have the patience to wait in line last time

We MUST get a good view for Wishes since we didn't really get a great view before!
And I'm looking forward to getting DS first haircut on main street!

At AK we have to get a good view of the parade, see The Lion King show and meet Pocahontas. At HS we need to see the parade and find MICHAEL WYZOWSKI since we only met sulley last time. Ummm...And at Epcot, not much we haven't seen but riding test track is a must

Food wise I am hoping to try LeCellier and CRT for the girls. DD#1 loves Kona and so do we, she has requested her bday dinner be there! Ohana is a must do and so is Crystal Palace. We are wanting to try France in Epcot and HDDR as well.

I'm just really looking forward to spending a week with my family. I can't wait to take the girls back and have PJ see everything for the first time too!

 

[MDDisneyDevotee]

Update for us:

We just added two days at DVC Vero Beach from 2/25 - 2/27 (hoping to catch that shuttle launch plus we've been wanting to try Vero since we joined DVC).

Also we were able to switch out 2/27 - 3/6 ressies from AKV - Kidani to Beach Club Villas this morning.

 

[MDDisneyDevotee]

So everyone! What's going to be your MUST do's ? Any favorite places to eat? What are you anticipating the most ???

Our must do's this time --
At MK we MUST see the fairys and Tink since we didnt have the patience to wait in line last time

We MUST get a good view for Wishes since we didn't really get a great view before!
And I'm looking forward to getting DS first haircut on main street!

At AK we have to get a good view of the parade, see The Lion King show and meet Pocahontas. At HS we need to see the parade and find MICHAEL WYZOWSKI since we only met sulley last time. Ummm...And at Epcot, not much we haven't seen but riding test track is a must

Food wise I am hoping to try LeCellier and CRT for the girls. DD#1 loves Kona and so do we, she has requested her bday dinner be there! Ohana is a must do and so is Crystal Palace. We are wanting to try France in Epcot and HDDR as well.

I'm just really looking forward to spending a week with my family. I can't wait to take the girls back and have PJ see everything for the first time too!

Speaking of the good view for Wishes, has anyone done the Wishes and Dessert thing? We tried to book it for our September trip but it was filled. We may try again for the Feb trip.

Our must dos will probably be:
1. Ride the new Star Tours
2. Try the wood-fired pizzas at the new Italy place if it's not open when we go in September.
3. Spend time at Stormalong Bay at the Beach Club
4. Ride Midway Mania as many times as the rest of the family will put up with

 

[fitmom3]

This will be our first trip with the kids!!! We plan on purchasing a 4 day pass. We will visit MK twice, Epcot and MGM ( is that what they call it?)..we will probably lounge around WH on the days off...I hope the weather is nice. We don't plan on spending too much money on food. We will eat at the condo. I really don't enjoy eating out with the kids....but my mom is coming so maybe dh and I can get out ONE night. I would also like to check out DD.

Lori

 

[tinacaplan]

February 19-26 at CSR!

 

[pdxJolene]

Hey everyone! We officially decided on feb 6th to the 19th for our trip! We also decided we'll be staying at pop. We considered a mod but decided it just isn't worth the money since we'll be spending most of our time in the parks.

We also decided to go through a travel agent, small world travel. Anyone use them before? I just don't want to wake up at 4 am to make my adrs! Haha!

As for must dos... ALL the trill rides (I'm most excited for EE and RnRC!) TSMM and fantasmic (doing the mama melrose dining package)

I can't wait!!

 

[mommy2mac]

Yay! We have almost the same days

Coming from MI in FEB I think that ANY weather would have to be better than home.... However, mid 70's and clear skies minus any whining from the children sounds LOVELY lol.

I couldn't agree more! We are from WNY so ANY weather that does not include snow, snow or more snow is WONDERFUL! We went last year for the first time ever to Disney in February and had an awesome time! I honestly can't wait to get back there!

 

[robeck]

One of our must-dos this time is the aqua seas tour at Epcot. I did it last Feb and it's awesome! We rode the Breathless II after dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse last year and that was almost as good, but that's not an option this time. We did the Segway Tour at Epcot last year but we're not doing that again. I definitely over booked last year and we're going to play it more by ear this time. I'm hoping to book concierge lagoon view again at poly but I'm waiting to see the package rates first.

 

[BethR9]

This is probably a dumb question, but how do I find out what parks are doing what "shows" when we are there next February? Does Epcot do fireworks every night? What about MK? What about the various parades at MK and the other parks?

Are there links someone could post with this information?

I'm trying to think about our nights there...

Thanks.

Beth

 

[free2div]

have used them the last 3 trips to Disney. They are GREAT

 

[naturegirl]

You guys are making me feel negligent. It's on our calendar to go and I even made reservations so that we definitely have a place to stay. Other than that, I haven't even thought about it in about a month.

 

[lilandvisma]

This will be our first trip with the kids!!! We plan on purchasing a 4 day pass. We will visit MK twice, Epcot and MGM ( is that what they call it?)..we will probably lounge around WH on the days off...I hope the weather is nice. We don't plan on spending too much money on food. We will eat at the condo. I really don't enjoy eating out with the kids....but my mom is coming so maybe dh and I can get out ONE night. I would also like to check out DD.

Lori

After dinner with my 3 year old last night I am actually starting to rethink our original plan of deluxe dining. It's like you can never really come to relaxing with the kids. At least it feels that way for me! MGM= Hollywood Studios now, they changed it a while ago but I still call it MGM too And def. recommend that you and your DH get a night out!!! DD is LOTS of fun, even with the kids!

February 19-26 at CSR!

Yay! Another FEB member

Hey everyone! We officially decided on feb 6th to the 19th for our trip! We also decided we'll be staying at pop. We considered a mod but decided it just isn't worth the money since we'll be spending most of our time in the parks.

We also decided to go through a travel agent, small world travel. Anyone use them before? I just don't want to wake up at 4 am to make my adrs! Haha!

As for must dos... ALL the trill rides (I'm most excited for EE and RnRC!) TSMM and fantasmic (doing the mama melrose dining package)

I can't wait!!

I hear ya on the whole $$$ thing. With my kids being so young the Value resorts fit for us at the moment. When DH and I go in OCT by ourselves we are going to either do a mod or deluxe.

I couldn't agree more! We are from WNY so ANY weather that does not include snow, snow or more snow is WONDERFUL! We went last year for the first time ever to Disney in February and had an awesome time! I honestly can't wait to get back there!

Ugh, I totally hear ya! I think we'll be pleased no matter what the weather is like in FL in FEB

One of our must-dos this time is the aqua seas tour at Epcot. I did it last Feb and it's awesome! We rode the Breathless II after dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse last year and that was almost as good, but that's not an option this time. We did the Segway Tour at Epcot last year but we're not doing that again. I definitely over booked last year and we're going to play it more by ear this time. I'm hoping to book concierge lagoon view again at poly but I'm waiting to see the package rates first.

That sounds great! Happy Planning!!

 

[lilandvisma]

You guys are making me feel negligent. It's on our calendar to go and I even made reservations so that we definitely have a place to stay. Other than that, I haven't even thought about it in about a month.

LOL....some of us are the obsessive type. I fit right into this category, happily

 

[lilandvisma]

This is probably a dumb question, but how do I find out what parks are doing what "shows" when we are there next February? Does Epcot do fireworks every night? What about MK? What about the various parades at MK and the other parks?

Are there links someone could post with this information?

I'm trying to think about our nights there...

Thanks.

Beth

You can for sure plan out your nights there now that the park hours are up You can find the scheduled times of the shows, parades, fireworks, etc.. via disney website...

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/

Click on the park you want and it will have the calendar, then just click on the days you are going to see the times for the fireworks, etc..