*The OFFICIAL February 2012 Thread!*

[Leader of the Pack]

Welcome!!

We arrive at POFQ the day after you! Have you stayed there before? Its amazing!

Yes we have stayed at POFQ previously and think it's a great resort.

We also use bus service to the parks and boat service to DD and give them high ratings.

 

[wdwislife]

Hi, Everyone! Just joined the board and am so excited!

We just booked our trip for Feb. 25th -Mar 3. We're staying at POP.

Hi all,

Our group will be at POFQ 2/4 - 11, 2012. so far there are six in group. Reading DIS and planning, planning, planning.

Welcome to both of you!

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Hello all you February planners!
I knew I could find you!

We are planning our trip for Feb 5-11/12!
DS and I will be celebrating our birthdays while we are there We're planning to stay at AKL with a savanah view, something DS and I have always wanted to do. DH would rather stay on the monorail or walking distance to EPCOT, but it's not his birthday

I've already started to run the numbers to see what the best deal for us would be, if a deal is offered! I'm Disney OCD...what can I say? I guess I'd like to see the 4/3free deal, only b/c we would then stay for 7 nights instead of 6....even though FD would save us a little more. I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone's adr's, and all the other magical things your planning!

 

[cjsteiger]

We have yet to make our room reservations yet kind of waiting to see if there will be a deal if not we'll probably stay in a family suite at All Star Music. We really love the cabins at FW but just don't feel like paying that unless we get a deal. Do have my tentative schedule and my flight booked

Thur. 2/16 8:40pm out of Philly arrive 11:16 FL haven't yet picked the hotel but somewhere near IOA

Fri & Sat at IOA/US

Sun 19 Kennedy Space Center Staying somewhere there.

Mon 20 Taking the kids on an Airboat ride near KSC, then mini golf and to Disney Resort

Mon 20 to 26th at Disney

Flight home at 2:55pm arriving at 5:30

Now I just need to figure out all the other details. I love planning. Been reading travel books.

 

[bluechic03]

Hello all you February planners!
I knew I could find you!

We are planning our trip for Feb 5-11/12!
DS and I will be celebrating our birthdays while we are there We're planning to stay at AKL with a savanah view, something DS and I have always wanted to do. DH would rather stay on the monorail or walking distance to EPCOT, but it's not his birthday

I've already started to run the numbers to see what the best deal for us would be, if a deal is offered! I'm Disney OCD...what can I say? I guess I'd like to see the 4/3free deal, only b/c we would then stay for 7 nights instead of 6....even though FD would save us a little more. I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone's adr's, and all the other magical things your planning!

Welcome! We will be there 2/4-2/11 and are thinking of switching from BLT to AKV at our 7 month marker...I LOVE AKL and the animals! My mom's bday is 2/8 and DS is 2/9 so we are celebrating bdays too!

Good luck with the discounts

 

[Shunasee]

Only 2 more months and room rates will be out.

I was talking to DH this past weekend, and I think we are going to eat at all new places this next trip. There are so many I want to try, but at the same time, there are 2 that we just *loved* last trip.

What is everyones favorite TS?

 

[wdwislife]

What is everyones favorite TS?

We LOVED the Hollywood Brown Derby and the Kona Cafe on our last trip, and we will be doing them again!

I've got a rough draft kind of list of the ADRs I want to make in my PTR. Link can be found in my signature!
SHAMELESS PLUG hahah.

 

[ErinASB]

Going in Feb 2012 to celebrate my big 4-0!

My bday isn't until March, so we're really going a month early. Just didn't want to fight the spring break crowds.

Staying at POR FQ 2/9-2/16. This trip will just be my husband, mom, and MIL. Never stayed at POR FQ before and are really looking forward to it!

Pretty sad that our trip is still months and months away and I've already got my hotel reservations in place and itinerary rollin'! My MIL is a picky eater, so trying to make sure the places we want to eat still have stuff for her. So far, looks like we are good to go!

We'll end our trip at Universal (2/16-2/18), but Disney was the reason for going. DH gets big brownie points because the trip was his idea!
In fact, he may possibly want to go back more than I do!

Erin

 

[wdwislife]

Going in Feb 2012 to celebrate my big 4-0!

My bday isn't until March, so we're really going a month early. Just didn't want to fight the spring break crowds.

Staying at POR FQ 2/9-2/16. This trip will just be my husband, mom, and MIL. Never stayed at POR FQ before and are really looking forward to it!

We'll end our trip at Universal (2/16-2/18), but Disney was the reason for going. DH gets big brownie points because the trip was his idea!
In fact, he may possibly want to go back more than I do!

Erin

welcome! you've been added we'll be spending time at Universal too! Though disney has my heart, we hit US/IoA on every trip.

 

[damren]

subbing

 

[Shunasee]

welcome! you've been added we'll be spending time at Universal too! Though disney has my heart, we hit US/IoA on every trip.

How many days would you alot for IOA? We have never been and I really would like to check out Harry Potter. We used to be BIG coaster people, but as we have aged, DH has toned down.

***about TS we have never had the Brown Derby or Kona. I am hard pressed to not eat at Mama Melroses again, it was my favorite from the last trip

 

[Star Wars mom]

So glad I found this thread! We'll be at the World February 22 to 29. Our "traveling group" includes me and hubby, and our two sons. We'll be spending February 25 through 29th at our home resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge. We'll be in Jambo House Club level. Our first three nights will be in another resort. Hopefully we'll get Old Key West, but our seven month booking window hasn't opened yet, so no guarantees. We have never tried Old Key West, but have been told its great. Can't wait to try it!

 

[Oliquig]

HI! I will be headed to WDW February 4th-11th, staying offsite. We will be a large extended family party, and a house makes more sense for us. We won't be telling my 10 yo niece until Christmas, she will turn 11 the day after, so it will be a big gift, that we will be leaving six weeks later.

I've been trying to pre-plan ADRs, since trying to see what everyone will agree to isn't easy.

So far I think I will reserve:

Whispering Canon Cafe
Rose & Crown
Coral Seas
Wishes Dessert Party
Sci-Fi Diner
1900 Park Lane

All the rest will be CS, except I think I will book another dinner at a resort, just haven't decided where. Any ideas would be gratefully accepted!

 

[dbug209]

We will be going Feb 27-March 1 celebrating some birthdays. It will be my husband and my 2nd visit and our DDs 1st trip!!!! The grandparents are coming also. Staying at AKL!!

 

[ChocoKat]

We will be going to celebrate our anniversary... right now we are thinking GF starting to plan and trying to figure out logistics since it is my turn to organize the trip

 

[wdwislife]

HI! I will be headed to WDW February 4th-11th, staying offsite.

We will be going Feb 27-March 1 celebrating some birthdays. It will be my husband and my 2nd visit and our DDs 1st trip!!!! The grandparents are coming also. Staying at AKL!!

We will be going to celebrate our anniversary... right now we are thinking GF starting to plan and trying to figure out logistics since it is my turn to organize the trip

So glad I found this thread! We'll be at the World February 22 to 29.

You've all been added!

 

[Mamasmurf227]

Got our customized maps in the mail today.

I've seen a couple of you mention the 7 month mark? Can someone fill me in?

Also, we're trying to be realistic with our budget for this trip and are planning on staying at POP. We feel its a good choice for us, BUT, I would love (and I'm sure the kids would be thrilled) with staying at AKL and having a savannah view-even if we just did it for one night. But, I'm hesitant to spend the money...and then not have any animals in sight.

I'll venture to look around some of the AKL threads, but if anyone has stayed there...have you seen a lot of animals? What about in the colder months?

 

[ChocoKat]

Got our customized maps in the mail today.

I've seen a couple of you mention the 7 month mark? Can someone fill me in?

Also, we're trying to be realistic with our budget for this trip and are planning on staying at POP. We feel its a good choice for us, BUT, I would love (and I'm sure the kids would be thrilled) with staying at AKL and having a savannah view-even if we just did it for one night. But, I'm hesitant to spend the money...and then not have any animals in sight.

I'll venture to look around some of the AKL threads, but if anyone has stayed there...have you seen a lot of animals? What about in the colder months?

We love AKL and we try to stay there once a year (we do stay at Pop often for short trips and love it as well!)
We were there the very first week of February staying in Savannah rooms and saw plenty of animals!
I would only spend money on this resort if you are planning on taking one or two days away from the parks to just enjoy the pools and relax. There are plenty of activities for the kids to do during the day as well and the animals do come out the most during feeding times.

Depending where you are placed you will get animals during nap time or around sunset, etc they try to rotate them around so everybody will get to see them.

We have had standard view rooms (parking lot view, still very pretty rooms), pool view, and savannah view, loved all of them. Some people say the resort is a bit too dark for them, but I find that relaxing and different from the typical FL fare so I enjoy it greatly.

If you are just going to use the resort to sleep, I would save my money and stay at Pop since you won't get as much use of the facilities otherwise.

 

[Shunasee]

I was thinking of adding a couple of days to the trip to hit IOA and Harry Potter. We have not been over there, but would like to atleast see Harry Potter.

I am afraid that if we have 10 days, we may not have enough time to hit IOA.

The first time we stayed at POFQ, my husband bonded with one of the bartenders at Scat Cat's. Our last trip, they bonded even more, and are planning a day of fishing when we go out in February. Which I am totally okay with. I figure I can go over to the spa at the GF for a few hours and have a WAY mello day. Plus if the weather permits, I get a pool day!

On to the real questions...

Would the best way to get from POFQ (home sweet home) to IOA be the Mears Shuttles? I looked on their website and could not find a price that would be from the resort to the park.

Also, we do enjoy the coasters, but is IOA worth it? The tickets are horribly exepensive (maybe I am just suprised at the price, as we have AP's), and I would hate to feel like I am wasting the money just to see Harry Potter

Thank you!!

 

[Star Wars mom]

Quote: "I've seen a couple of you mention the 7 month mark? Can someone fill me in?"

Hey Mamasmurf227, I just wanted to tell you the 7 month mark is only applicable to Disney Vacation Club members. We can make reservations at our home resort (ours is AKL) 11 months in advance. But we can't book any other resorts until 7 months in advance. So I have to wait before I can book the other resort in my split stay.

As for staying at AKL, I would recommend doing it for one night. Our first stay there was just one night -- it was enough to decide if we liked it or not. I've stayed at AKL during January and May and I would say I saw equal amounts of animals both times. Disney is strategic about placing feeding stations and other "treats" for the animals up near the rooms so you will see animals at some point during the day. Like the previous poster said, there are tons of things to do at AKL -- everything from decorating cookies with the staff at the resort restaurant to watching the animals on the savanna with special night vision goggles. I hope you get a chance to check it out.