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

[lilandvisma]

I just don't like the thought of planning out for everyday we are there where to eat and doing that 6 months before. That sounds crazy to me!

But if we're going to do a couple of character meals, then we could upgrade and save a bit of money that way and then use the TS credits leftover for QS. I know it sounds crazy that way but like I said, we don't plan our meals for a whole week when on vacation. We go with the flow for that.

Southwest flights are out now. It would save us some money but then we'd have to go down the night before or the night we get back (hotel) plus the extra gas from up here and it's not a direct flight. But our bags would be free. Yep, we'll fly out of Flint on Air Tran most likely. Non-stop flights and awesome times!

Beth

I hear ya on that. I used to be that way but now with three kids (well four if you count DH ) it just makes more sense for us.

I've never flown out of Flint...It makes me nervous to think about it! Is it scarey there? I'm just so afraid of Flint (this coming from a girl who was born and raised in Detroit!).

 

[BethR9]

Scary at Bishop? Oh goodness no! We've flown out of there many many times and so have family and never ever had a problem. It's not like right in the heart of Flint. It's just past Miller Road and there's like nothing around there. The parking there is perfect, easy and cheap. Air Tran has direct flights also so we love that. We get into Orlando at 9:30 am and don't leave until 8:30 pm so you really get full days almost on your arrival and departure days. Those will be long days but the day we arrive, MK is open until 11 pm so I don't think we'll go to MK until later anyways so we should be rested. I don't plan on being able to ride a ton of rides our first day there but just want my daughter to "be" there. If we get to ride rides, well, then our vacation started out fabulous!

Beth

 

[lilandvisma]

Thanks for the info on that Beth

DH just suggested DRIVING again and I just about choked on my tea! I will never EVER drive to FL again LOL.

 

[marcyinPA]

Mandy I contacted you via FB


I'm debating whether to book flights or not. . . . $189 one way PP doesn't look too bad at all. The "sale" that runs through to Dec is $139 so that's about as low as it can go, and that's not even guaranteed. This is our ideal departure city with a great time schedule (10am departure both ways) From Buffalo, it's a bit cheaper (by about $600) but there would be more travelling . . . Oh and we ARE saving $800 because of the 40% discount so I'm really tempted too book the $189. . .

When we found out my DS15 was going with the band, I looked into airfare. I could have gotten $145 R/T on AirTran out of Allentown (our small, local airport) instead of our normal Philly (which is over an hour on a good day). The band said not to book until they had their dates firm. Well, two months later, the dates were firm (same dates as originally thought), but the airfare went up to $235 R/T. I went ahead and booked it, because it's still cheap for flying out of ABE. Knowing that I could have had it cheaper, though, makes my stomach hurt a little bit!

I am happy, though, not to have to drive to Philly. ABE is about 10 minutes from my house. I guess I'm paying for convenience!

 

[lilandvisma]

So from what I'm reading...Flint would be about the same (roughly $830 after taxes for 4 passengers and PJ will sit on mommas lap) and non stop with a departing flight at 6 am, arrival at MCO at 9ish and returning flight offered at like 8 pm with an arrival back at Bishop at 11...which means we'd most likely get home around 2 probably?? That really may be the best way to go for us as well...for some reason I have always flown out of DTW. I just wish MBS would offer some more reasonable rates here!! Grrrr....

The only place I am familiar with in Flint is Miller road so that might be a good thing then

I don't know too much about the busses that go to and from the airport, how long does it typically take to get to your resort once you arrive at the airport?

 

[lamb616]

Hello, thought I would join in here so I'd have others to chat with about our upcoming trip. DH is already tired of hearing it, lol. We're going 2/24-3/5 with our 3 & 7 year old. This is our first family trip to WDW. Last time me & DH have been there was 1999!

 

[o2bnoz]

Lamb616... WELCOME!!!!

Finally someone else who will be there when we are!!!

I'm taking my DH and DS on a surprise bday trip for my DH from 2/26-3/9. My husband hasn't been there for 34 years!!! And even then, he was there for a very hot day in August, only to MK, with his family (when he was a 16 year old boy) which was NOT a magical time! I'm really hoping that he will be thrilled with this trip and that he'll understand my obsession. I'm nervous about the possibility that he won't!

I love to plan surprises, but I'm not good at "receiving" surprises, so I'm hopeful that he will be. So many things to contemplate!

Anyway... where are you staying, what are you planning as far as meals, days at which parks, etc.. If you want me to post the best days for which parks (from touringplans.com), let me know, I'm happy to share that with you!

GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE!!

 

[lamb616]

Thanks, I am also a compulsive planner so I already have Touring Plan and TGM memberships. I spent many, many months coming up with the *perfect* combination of favorable crowd levels, weather, and prices (ok, so prices are not *that* great for our week, lol. But I am more concerned with crowds and weather). We are staying at ASMU Family Suite. I was psyched to get the free dining the other day because I was planning to pay for it anyways.

I have been obsessively getting our itinerary hammered down and I've made lots and lots of changes but I think this is pretty much it since once I make our ADRs next week, I don't want to deal with changing them.


Thurs. ~ arrive afternoon. DTD/T-Rex for dinner (package doesn't start 'til tomorrow, so can't use any of the meal plan credits and T-Rex isn't in the meal plan anyways so works out good)

Fri ~ Animal Kingdom - Tusker House for breakfast ****

Sat ~ Epcot - Askerhus for breakfast *****

Sun ~ MK (opens early) stay 'til 1:00ish, go back to hotel for nap, then back to MK for CRT and Wishes fireworks

Mon ~ Free day. Back to Epcot if we really need a lot more time there, otherwise just mini-golf or something and then Epcot for dinner @ Coral Reef

Tues ~ H.S. - lunch @ Hollywood & Vine

Weds ~ MK Day 2 ****

Thurs ~ Universal

Friday ~ Universal

Sat ~ leave early afternoon


***need to figure out a place for dinner for two of these nights as I have 2 TS credits left

 

[Marlynmik]

Welcome Lamb 616! Your itinerary looks great. . . I wish I could have more days

We booked our ADRs!! Here's what our itinerary looks like:

Thurs (10): arrive around 1pm - Epcot and maybe DTD
Fri (11): BF at Crystal Palace and all day at MK (Wishes from MK or our balcony)
Sat (12): all day at MK again and dinner at CRT (Wishes from MK or our balcony)
Sun (13): BF at Chef Mickey's, HS all day, Fantasmic dinner package at Mama Melrose's
Mon (14): AK all day (no more TS left )
Tues (15): early flight home

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Welcome Lamb- your plan looks great

Lynne- Love your ADR's. We will be in the MK on Sat the 12th too! Our flight arrives that day (thats our plan anyways- havent booked flights yet) so we plan on heading to the MK for dinner at Crystal Palace and then watch the parade and fireworks before heading back to the hotel.

For those of you who will be there on Valentine's Day- which park are you going to, and are you eating anywhere special?

 

[BethR9]

I think we will be at MK on the 12th also when our flight arrives.

I think we'll be in Epcot for V day. Still planning that though...

Beth

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Oh maybe dis meet up at MK on the 12th?

Beth-have dinner with us at Le Cellier!!!

 

[BethR9]

Allison, what type of food is at Le Cellier? Are you guys doing park hoppers?

I haven't looked into any of the TS meals cause I just always thought we would do the QS. Now my mom's trying to convince us that we need to upgrade and I just don't know what to do! I will NOT plan out every day what restaurant I will eat at. I will plan 1 or 2 character meals but other than that, nothing. I just really wonder if we do that if every single sit down restaurant will be booked and if we can't us TS credits for QS, what would we do? We like to decide what to eat on that day. So if we want steak, we'll go for that. Or Italian, whatever.

Any one have experience with going in February and how the restaurants are?

Also, does CRT take 1 or 2 TS credits?

Thanks!

Beth

 

[lamb616]

Also, does CRT take 1 or 2 TS credits?

Thanks!

Beth

It's 2 credits

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Le Cellier is a Canadian Steakhouse- its one of the hardest restaurants to get into- though I had no trouble booking it for our February trip. Its 1 TS credit and its in Epcot. The dis has all the menus posted (counter service and table service) here-

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

you can search by location. We dont park hop- just seems like a waste of time to us- esp. with little ones. Another TS I would recommend is Ohana- its in the Polynesan and served family style- another really hard one to get into (meaning if you want to eat there better make ressies now) We eat at Ohana on our MK day and just take the monorail over (which the kids love). I totally get you not wanting to have to be so scheduled which the disney dining plan kindof forces you to be. Normally in February from what I have heard you dont really need to make too many reservations however- now that Free dining and all the discounts were announced I would recommend making them. There is no penalty for most places if you dont make it (you can always call day of and say you wont be coming)

Lets see- what else?

Character meals-
Crystal Palace inside Magic Kingdom is great if your little one likes Pooh and friends. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner- Nice because you dont have to leave the park to eat

Chef Mickeys is a fun experience. The food was so so.

CRT was awesome for the experience- however you can see the princesses and get the photo package included at Akershus in Epcot for one table service......both reuire a credit card to hold your spot- if you dont show they will charge you $10 per person (must cancel 24 hours in advance to not get charged)

I could go on and on lol

Needless to say- we LOVED the dining plan for the most part. At times its a bit restrictive though and if you are more of the go with the flow type of family it may not be for you.

 

[lilandvisma]

Thanks, I am also a compulsive planner so I already have Touring Plan and TGM memberships. I spent many, many months coming up with the *perfect* combination of favorable crowd levels, weather, and prices (ok, so prices are not *that* great for our week, lol. But I am more concerned with crowds and weather). We are staying at ASMU Family Suite. I was psyched to get the free dining the other day because I was planning to pay for it anyways.

I have been obsessively getting our itinerary hammered down and I've made lots and lots of changes but I think this is pretty much it since once I make our ADRs next week, I don't want to deal with changing them.


Thurs. ~ arrive afternoon. DTD/T-Rex for dinner (package doesn't start 'til tomorrow, so can't use any of the meal plan credits and T-Rex isn't in the meal plan anyways so works out good)

Fri ~ Animal Kingdom - Tusker House for breakfast ****

Sat ~ Epcot - Askerhus for breakfast *****

Sun ~ MK (opens early) stay 'til 1:00ish, go back to hotel for nap, then back to MK for CRT and Wishes fireworks

Mon ~ Free day. Back to Epcot if we really need a lot more time there, otherwise just mini-golf or something and then Epcot for dinner @ Coral Reef

Tues ~ H.S. - lunch @ Hollywood & Vine

Weds ~ MK Day 2 ****

Thurs ~ Universal

Friday ~ Universal

Sat ~ leave early afternoon


***need to figure out a place for dinner for two of these nights as I have 2 TS credits left

Yay for compulsive planners !

ADR's look great. My girls were 7 and 2 on their first trip and loved Tusker House and Akershus. The food and character interaction at both places was awesome and the food was YUMMY We have BF at tusker planned and Dinner at Akershus this time, can't wait to go back!

If you need to use two more credits still you have a lot of possibilities, esp at Epcot! For your day at AK there is Yak & Yeti, a lot of ppl really like this place, though I've only had counter service there it was really good. OR you could try Boma after your day there as well.

Epcot has sooo many great places for food! There's the Garden Grill with Chip n Dale, France, Italian, LeCellier (dinner takes two credits now though). Just depends on what you are looking for. On your MK day you could try Crystal Palace. We have been there for lunch and breakfast but I preferred lunch. This time we are trying dinner. I found the buffet VERY good and they pretty much have something for everyone there plus pooh n friends as well. Don't think your kids would be disappointed there at all!

And the monorail resorts are easily accessible from MK too. You could try Ohana, Kona Cafe, Chef Mickeys, etc...Just depends on what you are looking for more. I will tell you that my girls both LOVED Kona for whatever reason? I think it had something to do with the desserts

 

[lilandvisma]

And ITA with Allison about the free dining having a dent in the ADR's now. I easily got into LeCellier *before* FD was announced for Feb. CRT is just as "hard" to get into as well...I'm pretty sure these will book up fast now that FD has been extended.

 

[lamb616]

Thanks! As I re-read my plan (which I do all day long ), I think I should just book something for our 2nd MK day on Weds. and forget about scheduling a dinner for Friday or Sat. since we'll already have a breakfast booked on those days. I don't want to OVER-schedule us. Then we'll have 1 TS meal left which maybe we can use to walk-in some place at some time (not sure if that is even remotely possible) or maybe we'll find some place that will let us use our TS credit for a CS meal. if not, it won't be the end of the world if we don't use it since it was free anyways! (well, almost free. We are paying to upgrade from QSDP to Reg. DDP)

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Lamb- try Ohana if you can get in on your MK day! Or Kona, or Wave lol- possibilities are endless

Mandy- Thankfully Le Cellier isnt 2 credits for dinner UNTIL March 1!!! So we will be some of the last people to enjoy it before the increase- WAHOOO!

Has anyone ever been on the pirate and pals cruise? I am thinking about doing something like that this trip....

 

[Gina]

I have to say, once DS and I did QS dining for the first time in December, I got hooked. It was really, really nice to not have to worry about ADR's here there and everywhere, and just eat when and where we felt like it. And we both looooooove those snack credits! But I definitely echo the recommendations for Ohana -- LOVE that place. Might even pay OOP to go there in February.

I would totally be up for a mini-meet with anyone else who'll be there when we will! But MK on Saturday is usually something to avoid... and the per-park-crowd-level rating for that day is the highest for MK for that whole week, except for the following Saturday since it's getting close to President's whatever.

Allison ~ Le Cellier for Valentine's Day sounds so perfect!! I didn't even realize that Valentine's Day fell during our trip. I've been single too long, I think. LOL


-gina-