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

[lilandvisma]

Well, my friends DH's lost his job so now they will most likely no longer be traveling with us. STINKS because the more the merrier when traveling to Disney. I can't get ANY of my family to go with us either I've been trying to get my sister to go for YEARS and she still won't budge. Oh well, their loss. Anyway...We will probably be adding a few more days onto our package as DD#1 is simply dying to go to universal...but how would we get there! If we are flying in and relying on Disney transportation, I'm trying to figure out ...do we rent a car? Do they have taxis? LOL, guess I'll have to search the boards. Anyway, we will most likely be extending our trip now. I should be excited about things but I'm still bummed about my friend and her family not being able to come along....dang this economy!!!

 

[pdxJolene]

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

AWESOME! I'm super glad to hear that.

 

[BethR9]

Thanks about the calendar feature!

I didn't know to click on the date to get more information.

 

[Sherrkel]

Well, my friends DH's lost his job so now they will most likely no longer be traveling with us. STINKS because the more the merrier when traveling to Disney. I can't get ANY of my family to go with us either I've been trying to get my sister to go for YEARS and she still won't budge. Oh well, their loss. Anyway...We will probably be adding a few more days onto our package as DD#1 is simply dying to go to universal...but how would we get there! If we are flying in and relying on Disney transportation, I'm trying to figure out ...do we rent a car? Do they have taxis? LOL, guess I'll have to search the boards. Anyway, we will most likely be extending our trip now. I should be excited about things but I'm still bummed about my friend and her family not being able to come along....dang this economy!!!

Sorry to hear about that; I know what you mean about traveling with a group ; it is a lot of fun (some confusion and general caos, but fun!).
The Universal board has a thread regarding transportation from your resort to Universal; I've been reading lately as we're considering a side trip there on our next trip.

Have fun planning!

 

[lilandvisma]

one more day closer to Disney!!!!

 

[o2bnoz]

LOVE the way you think, Lilandvisma!!!!

I am still in obsessive planning mode. I seriously think that by the time we leave, I will have every single detail planned, including what we'll wear each day and every morsel of food we'll eat!! Someone STOP ME!!!!!

OK, so I need some honest opinions about Fantasmic. I have never done it. And as you all know, in Feb, there are only 2 days of Fantasmic each week. Those, of course, are the days that DHS is the most crowded. So, it makes the most sense to go somewhere else during the day and just go to DHS for Fantasmic. HOWEVER, I've heard that you have to wait 60-90 minutes. I've also read, recently, that the show just isnt worth it

So, I would really love to know your thoughts. We will be at Disney parks for most of our trip, but I am planning to go to Seaworld one day (my son loves this sort of thing!). Seaworld now offers a second day admission with their one day ticket (so wouldn't that be a 2 day ticket???) But anywho... the days that I have tentatively planned for Seaworld are the Fantasmic days, because they just happen to be the best days to avoid the Disney parks.

One of the days at SW we will be doing their Luau dinner, but the other day we could come back for Fantasmic if you feel it's worth it. I sure wish there was some way to get a reserved seat, other than the dinner packages.

The other issue for me, if we're at SW during the day and then go to Fantasmic at night, is that I would then have to pay TWO parking fees for the day. For some reason that extra $15 just rubs me the wrong way! (kinda funny considering the amount of money I'm spending on everything else!)

Please tell me what you think... you February people seem very knowledgeable and helpful! Gotta love it!!!

Oh,and although my nazi planning has a very rigid schedule, it CAN be changed... I don't want you to think I'm completely NUTS!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

lol O2bnoz! You crack me up. I am an obsessive planner too- DH really wants to see Fantasmic so- I am breaking down and trying to book a Mama Melrose Fantasmic package since we will be on the dining plan...... sorry I couldnt be of more help. I am already freaking out about how busy DHS will be that day!

 

[shopn24seven]

Just curious. We are from So. Jersey.

 

[fitmom3]

We are from Ontario, Canada. My kids think it is so cool that they will be in another country. They think we are going in March...LOL...won't they be shocked!

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Almost time to make ADRs- I would love to hear where you are planning to eat, and when!!!

Here's what I am thinking:

Feb 5th Arrive: Dinner at The Plaza
Feb 6th: Dinner at Mama Melrose
Feb 7th: Dinner at Garden Grill
Feb 8th: Breakfast at Crystal Palace, Dinner at Ohana
Feb 9th: Dinner at Kona
Feb 10th: My BIRTHDAY! Dinner at Le Cellier OR The new Mexican restaurant
Feb 11th: Breakfast at Donald Safari, Dinner at Boma
Feb 12: go home

 

[pdxJolene]

Almost time to make ADRs- I would love to hear where you are planning to eat, and when!!!

Here's what we've got... Though this is from memory (paper work at home in my planning binder ) and may change, as DBF hasn't gone over anything with me yet...

Arrival day (Wed Feb 9th)
(We'll be taking a red-eye flight tuesday night)
Breakfast- CRT
Lunch- CP
Dinner- Ohana

Thur Feb 10th
Lunch- Mama Melrose
Dinner- Planet Hollywood

Fri Feb 11th
Lunch- Coral Reef
Dinner- Teppan Edo

Sat Feb 12th
Breakfast- Chef Mickey's
Lunch- ESPN
Dinner- Narcoossee's

Sun Feb 13th
Lunch- Plaza
Dinner- WCC

Mon Feb 14th
Lunch- Sci-fi
Dinner- Yachtsman Steakhouse

Tues Feb 15th
Lunch- Yak & Yeti
Dinner- Jiko

Departure day (Thur Feb 10th)
Breakfast- Kona Cafe

We'll be on the DXDP

 

[BethR9]

Just curious and I know I'll probably get all varied answers but I thought I'd ask on this thread since it's specifically for February.

Do you guys get park hoppers for travel in February? The reason I ask is because my thinking is if a park isn't that busy, you can ride lots of rides and then hop over to another park and do some things there. And since I'm assuming February isn't as busy, the parks shouldn't be THAT crowded.

But going on that thought, if the park isn't busy, why not just stay there all day and do things over and over again since you can? Whereas, if it was packed, with park hoppers you could try another park (again, assuming Feb isn't that busy of a time).

So what do you fellow February travelers do or think you're gonna do for your upcoming Feb trip? park hop or not?

Thanks!

Beth

 

[lilandvisma]

LOVE the way you think, Lilandvisma!!!!

I am still in obsessive planning mode. I seriously think that by the time we leave, I will have every single detail planned, including what we'll wear each day and every morsel of food we'll eat!! Someone STOP ME!!!!!

OK, so I need some honest opinions about Fantasmic. I have never done it. And as you all know, in Feb, there are only 2 days of Fantasmic each week. Those, of course, are the days that DHS is the most crowded. So, it makes the most sense to go somewhere else during the day and just go to DHS for Fantasmic. HOWEVER, I've heard that you have to wait 60-90 minutes. I've also read, recently, that the show just isnt worth it

So, I would really love to know your thoughts. We will be at Disney parks for most of our trip, but I am planning to go to Seaworld one day (my son loves this sort of thing!). Seaworld now offers a second day admission with their one day ticket (so wouldn't that be a 2 day ticket???) But anywho... the days that I have tentatively planned for Seaworld are the Fantasmic days, because they just happen to be the best days to avoid the Disney parks.

One of the days at SW we will be doing their Luau dinner, but the other day we could come back for Fantasmic if you feel it's worth it. I sure wish there was some way to get a reserved seat, other than the dinner packages.

The other issue for me, if we're at SW during the day and then go to Fantasmic at night, is that I would then have to pay TWO parking fees for the day. For some reason that extra $15 just rubs me the wrong way! (kinda funny considering the amount of money I'm spending on everything else!)

Please tell me what you think... you February people seem very knowledgeable and helpful! Gotta love it!!!

Oh,and although my nazi planning has a very rigid schedule, it CAN be changed... I don't want you to think I'm completely NUTS!

hahaha "nazi planning"....I SOOOO feel that way too lol

NOTHING wrong with that right?

And sorry. You simply MUST do fantasmic. I am not much of a show going person (i'm like the commando must see and do everything type that thinks some shows waste too much time). Fantasmic was just awesome! It's true you do have to wait a bit if you want great seats but to us it was SOOO worth it. The effects were great and my kids LOVED it, DH and I LOVED it...we spoke with several families during our wait (believe it or not I'm really not the social/friendly type either LOL) so that helped kill some time. Oh and I ate a HUGE extra chocolatey brownie with chunks of white chocolate mixed into it....OMG that was awesome. I remember not sharing either...lol..OK, sorry for the rambling! Bottom line, fantasmic is a must do for us and I highly recommend you see it. I have a ton of pics, let me know if you'd like me to post em

 

[lilandvisma]

We are from Ontario, Canada. My kids think it is so cool that they will be in another country. They think we are going in March...LOL...won't they be shocked!

LOL, I remember being that way too. Growing up in Detroit, MI my mother would often drive over to Windsor...sometimes just to buy veggies/fruits from a stand on the side of the road or to go to the mall there. I always thought it was neat to say we went out of the country. I wish I could surprise my kids but I'm no good at keeping secrets

 

[lilandvisma]

Almost time to make ADRs- I would love to hear where you are planning to eat, and when!!!

Here's what I am thinking:

Feb 5th Arrive: Dinner at The Plaza
Feb 6th: Dinner at Mama Melrose
Feb 7th: Dinner at Garden Grill
Feb 8th: Breakfast at Crystal Palace, Dinner at Ohana
Feb 9th: Dinner at Kona
Feb 10th: My BIRTHDAY! Dinner at Le Cellier OR The new Mexican restaurant
Feb 11th: Breakfast at Donald Safari, Dinner at Boma
Feb 12: go home

yummy I LOVE discussing disney food

We had originally planned on the following...however, I am not so sure we are going to go deluxe now, even though it probably makes the most sense to do so.

Arrival day, 2/2--Magic Kingdom, lunch @ Cosmic Rays or LTT, dinner @ CP
2/3--AK-Tusker House BF, Kona Dinner
2/4--Ohana BF then Epcot, DD#1's 9th bday--Coral Reef lunch, LeCeiller Dinner OR LeCeiller lunch and Akershush or GG dinner...it's her call and she can't make up her mind lol...all she knows is that she loves steak
2/5--DTD, lunch at Pucks, HDDR dinner show
2/6--HS, lunch at SciFi, Dinner at MM hopefully the dinner package
2/7--MK, lunch @ CRT, dinner @ Ohanas
2/8--Epcot, Akershush BF, early dinner in France

thats 18 credits if we were on the DxDP...
2/9
2/10

 

[lilandvisma]

Just curious and I know I'll probably get all varied answers but I thought I'd ask on this thread since it's specifically for February.

Do you guys get park hoppers for travel in February? The reason I ask is because my thinking is if a park isn't that busy, you can ride lots of rides and then hop over to another park and do some things there. And since I'm assuming February isn't as busy, the parks shouldn't be THAT crowded.

But going on that thought, if the park isn't busy, why not just stay there all day and do things over and over again since you can? Whereas, if it was packed, with park hoppers you could try another park (again, assuming Feb isn't that busy of a time).

So what do you fellow February travelers do or think you're gonna do for your upcoming Feb trip? park hop or not?

Thanks!

Beth

Three kids of various ages = no parking hopping here. Too time consuming, esp since we are planning on doing the deluxe dining & the thought of going back and forth with three in tow now doesn't sound thrilling lol. Now, if it were just DH and I, I would be all for park hopping for sure! I think when you throw kids into the mix it just complicates things. But that is just my opinion I like to stay in one park per day and plan around that.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Mandy- we will hopefully see you at DHS on Sunday! We want to get the fantasmic package at Mama Melrose too

I am pretty sure you can take a bus called MEARS that will take you from disney to universal- I wanna say its around $25 per person.....

 

[lilandvisma]

Mandy- we will hopefully see you at DHS on Sunday! We want to get the fantasmic package at Mama Melrose too

I am pretty sure you can take a bus called MEARS that will take you from disney to universal- I wanna say its around $25 per person.....

Thanks...I need to look into that bus

And how neat would that be? I actually met a fellow dis member while waiting for SciFi ressies last year. We were amazed at how many people seemed to think they would be able to just walk up and eat there w/o a ressie Of couse WE know better than that, thanks to these boards lol.

 

[pdxJolene]

We won't be park hopping unless they add some more late night mk hours. We decided that since its our first trip there will be plenty for us to do in each park, and were planning dinner at the resorts after the park closes most days. Plus I always collect fast passes in the am for afternoon and evening, that wouldn't work if we hopped

If they add a couple more nights where mk is open 3+ hours after the other parks (like last year) we may upgrade.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Jolene- It looks like you are eating at some awesome places! We arent doing hoppers either.