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

[eeyoreland]

Wow, just found this thread! We will be at WDW February 7-14. Split stay AKL and BC.

 

[Gina]

Hi all! Happy Wednesday! And welcome to the newcomers here!

Lynne, your changes sound good! DS and I love Chef Mickey's... But I decided we could only afford to do one big OOP meal, and we really wanted to go to 'Ohana again so that's what we're doing. But maybe if I have some sort of windfall between now and February, we can do CM too! I would like that. But I'm also holding aside OOP funds for the dessert party... Which Disney needs to hurry up and extend!! Sheesh... It's wildly popular, every CM acknowledges that, there's no reason why they *wouldn't* extend it unless there's some refurb to the venue planned that we don't know about. But that and MSEP are the two big "plan-around" events for our trip, and I really don't want to be rearranging my itinerary at the last minute. /rant off

Kristi ~ That's so cool that you did the flag/rifle thing!! When I watch the video of their recent competition, it's the color guard girls who really amaze me with their precision and synchronization. I would swing it around and knock someone out, or impale myself on the flag or something, lol. And I feel for your parents -- as expensive as band is, the fees for color guard are insane!! Yipes.

I'm so excited -- the band has arranged for a charter bus for parents, and my boss has given me his blessing to take next Tuesday off, so I get to go to San Antonio and cheer my son and the band on in person! DS said they're all really nervous... but that he's happy that I'll be up in the stadium somewhere, cheering him on.

What's crazy, though, is that they're not going to get back to the school until like 3-4am on Wednesday -- and have to be back at school at 7am!! Isn't that dumb?? But you know how it is -- kids being absent = no funding for the school, so there you go. Poor kids are going to be absolutely useless. I would let him miss a day, but he'll already be missing 6 for Disney. Luckily in high school they get out at 2:15, so I'm sure he'll come home and sack out.

Back to Disney... DS and I have been making a list of things we have missed on previous trips or have somehow never done/seen/eaten. At the top of our list is seeing the American Adventure at Epcot, taking pictures by our birth year signs at Pop, having one of those amazing-looking cupcakes from Starring Rolls, and ride the Jungle Cruise (which we have somehow missed the past 3 trips!)

So what's on y'alls list??


-gina-

 

[PoppyGirl]

My plans have changed: We are still going with my BFF, her DD and my DD Feb. 12-16. My DD and I will be staying (for FREE! ) at Bonnet Creek thanks to a friend of mine who gave us her timeshare. We were going to stay at POFQ. I'm still a little torn about it....but using the free time share means that all I'm paying for is food and airfare since we have leftover tickets from our December trip. BFF and her DD are staying at WL.

DD and I have ADR's for breakfast at Cindy's and at Cape May (have never eaten there before). We will eat at Boma (twice--WOOT) and Crystal Palace with BFF and her DD. I'm so excited!

 

[kriscar]

Back to Disney... DS and I have been making a list of things we have missed on previous trips or have somehow never done/seen/eaten. At the top of our list is seeing the American Adventure at Epcot, taking pictures by our birth year signs at Pop, having one of those amazing-looking cupcakes from Starring Rolls, and ride the Jungle Cruise (which we have somehow missed the past 3 trips!)

So what's on y'alls list??


-gina-

We have so many things to do for the first time or we missed last trip. It's a HUGE list! Other than the first time for restaurants (there are always going to be some of those b/c there are just too many!), here is some of the list:

--Illuminations. Neither of us have seen it!
--Pictures with Peter Pan. My friend's favorite character. We have never had our timing right in the past.
--Hopefully WISHES dessert party!
--Art of Animation..first for both of us.
--Festival of the Lion King. We both love NEMO so much and have heard great things about this show too.
--Giving Animal Kingdom a fair shot. I have only been twice and both times I was very underwhelmed. This time I'm going in with an open and educated mind. I have learned so many things about the park and feel better prepared..hopefully this time I will finally "get" this park.

 

[lamb616]

--Giving Animal Kingdom a fair shot. I have only been twice and both times I was very underwhelmed. This time I'm going in with an open and educated mind. I have learned so many things about the park and feel better prepared..hopefully this time I will finally "get" this park.

I've never been to AK and am also underwhelmed at the prospect of it. And it's funny b/c we are a HUGE zoo family. Before I started really planning this trip I was always *dying* to go to AK, but since learning more about it (as well as the other parks) I'm suddenly not very excited about it. I planned for it to be the first park we visit so that way we're not too disappointed after going to more exciting parks.

 

[mguilford1]

we have a reservation for le cellier on feb. 11 at 7:45. What is your favorite meal here? Also I can not eat pasta and we have a res. for tutto, has anyone ever had a substitution for pasta in Disney World. Maybe spaghetti squash or spinach? My husband LOVES pasta that is why we are eating at Tutto

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Finally! We booked our airfare- will give details soon......

Gina- I sent you a message via facebook

 

[Gina]

Allison ~ I got your message in FB -- I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to answer it yet, but I had no time last night and it's so cumbersome trying to type all that on my phone here since I can't access FB at work. I'll answer soon, I promise! I'm so sad I won't get to meet you and your family, though.

Regarding AK... We've given it two shots, and now just refuse to give up precious Epcot or MK time to it. It's horribly laid out and always crowded, I think they pipe in heat from Africa for realism, and it's just "eh." Yeah, "nahtazu"... I get it. But really, it just is. It would be different if city zoos were still full of cages and such, but pretty much all big zoos are just like AK now. Big open enclosures, lots of detail and theming, etc. There's just no big draw for me there, but that's just my little opinion.

Le Cellier... My favorite meal WAS the maple bbq filet, but it's no longer offered. Last time we did the regular DDP I just had the plain filet, and it was good, but not worth the 2 TS credits it will soon cost. But I would be pretty happy with a meal of nothing but cheese soup and pretzel sticks there.

 

[Marlynmik]

Now I'm considering skipping AK as well . . . I can go to a zoo anytime close to home. We are very short on time and skipping AK would be awesome, we'd be able to do DTD, resort hop and hang out at the pool.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Gina- I was so bummed too I really wanted to meet you and your son I didnt want to post the date change on here until you saw it first

After he couldnt get the time off for the week we wanted to were ready to say forget the February trip idea- until last night when I was able to book nonstop round trip flights for the exact times we wanted (11am arrival at MCO, 7pm departure our of MCO) for.... $140 a person!!!! WHAT? How could we pass that up

and so- we booked the flights, and called Disney to change our dates and now we are going February 2-February 11th. We still get the free dining offer, and got to stay a few days extra since the days are all in value season and the flights were so cheap.

So- now we have to replan ADRs and park days for the 2nd-11th- let the fun begin- luckily I still had a few key places reserved from the original dates (5-12) so I can still have ohana one night and Le Cellier on my 30th bday

 

[lamb616]

interesting about Animal Kingdom... I thought I was the only one that wasn't enamored with it (granted I've never been there so my opinion doesn't count for much).

 

[Shunasee]

Gina - sending good thoughts your way for your sons comp! I will keep it in my thoughts. Comp is hard and then school the next morning, not nice at all.


Hope everyone is doing good.


Has anyone done the Undiscovered Future World Tour in Epcot?

I booked it as a surprise for DH, but the reviews I have read are really mixed. We are not up to par on WDW as our home park is DLR. But I thought it would be a different view.

I keep checking on Wishes, if I hear anything I will post right away!!

 

[Gina]

Gina - sending good thoughts your way for your sons comp! I will keep it in my thoughts. Comp is hard and then school the next morning, not nice at all.


Hope everyone is doing good.


Has anyone done the Undiscovered Future World Tour in Epcot?

I booked it as a surprise for DH, but the reviews I have read are really mixed. We are not up to par on WDW as our home park is DLR. But I thought it would be a different view.

I keep checking on Wishes, if I hear anything I will post right away!!

Thanks Kristi!! I'm so excited that I get to go watch it. Some of these bands are seriously amazing -- the competiton is stiff. I honestly would fall out of my stadium seat if they made it to finals that night... But just to make it to State is a big honor, and everyone is way excited. I've griped and complained about the giant chunk of our lives that has been taken up by band, being the clueless newbie band parent, but I can see now how all the hard work and endless practices have paid off.

I'm sorry to keep rambling about this!! Seriously, someone just tell me to shut up.

I have never done any of the special WDW tours, but the Undiscovered Future World one is the one I really would love to do!! I've never read any reviews for it... what do people say about it?

 

[Ron Nelson]

Hello everyone,
Looking at changing from All Stars to a different resort due to the cheerleading competition does anyone agree in doing this?

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

When are you going Ron? And YES! I recommend switching since the groups stay at the all star resorts (However, they DO NOT stay as a group at Pop)

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Does anyone know the last time the full list of who is going when and where was updated? If you all would like I can try to go back and try to update it for us- unless its been done recently or someone is already working on it

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Ron- just saw that you are going the 13-16th -
is this the competition you are talking about

http://uca.varsity.com/Nationals.aspx

Check out their registration brochure and you can see what their schedule is and where they are staying so you can try to avoid the crowd

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Ron- just saw that you are going the 13-16th -
is this the competition you are talking about

http://uca.varsity.com/Nationals.aspx

Check out their registration brochure and you can see what their schedule is and where they are staying so you can try to avoid the crowd

 

[Marlynmik]

Well that just totally blows, the cheerleaders will be having a huge party at DHS on our DHS day (which we can't change because of Fantasmic and no park hoppers)

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

ugh Lynne! I am so sorry Hopefully you wont notice it too much! what are your dates again?