**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[maman_et_fille]

Congrats, that's so exciting! Let us know when you pick a resort! What are your dates?

January 16-20. We're really looking forward to it - planning to surprise our 5 year old at some point (not day of departure, though, she doesn't do well with last minute information) as she thinks no more Disney trips for quite some time.

EDIT: Just rented DVC points for an AKV studio (Jambo House). Yippee!

 

[maman_et_fille]

Does anyone know what time this building closes or the characters finish for the day? We stopped in here for the first time on our trip in May and loved seeing soo many of the characters in one spot but unfortunately it was close to the closing time (building/character not park) so we only got to see 1/2 of who was there before they all left for the day - but the kids were cool with it still. It never struck me to pay attention to the time for future visits

Check the Theme Park Strategies board . . . there are people on there with a LOT of knowledge about characterpalooza. I believe they start around 4:50 and offer up to 4 20-30 minute sessions (the 3rd and 4th sessions repeat the characters from the first two groups). It apparently varies a lot. And it's only on non-Fantasmic days (which is most of January in 2012!).

 

[okw19]

Does anyone know what time this building closes or the characters finish for the day? We stopped in here for the first time on our trip in May and loved seeing soo many of the characters in one spot but unfortunately it was close to the closing time (building/character not park) so we only got to see 1/2 of who was there before they all left for the day - but the kids were cool with it still. It never struck me to pay attention to the time for future visits

I'm not sure what time it ends, but I have heard the best time to arrive is right before 5. I can't wait to check it out!

January 16-20. We're really looking forward to it - planning to surprise our 5 year old at some point (not day of departure, though, she doesn't do well with last minute information) as she thinks no more Disney trips for quite some time.

EDIT: Just rented DVC points for an AKV studio (Jambo House). Yippee!

Aw, how fun to surprise your daughter! Congrats on renting points! I've heard good things about AKV!

 

[lledman]

January 16-20. We're really looking forward to it - planning to surprise our 5 year old at some point (not day of departure, though, she doesn't do well with last minute information) as she thinks no more Disney trips for quite some time.

EDIT: Just rented DVC points for an AKV studio (Jambo House). Yippee!

How cool, hope you have a wonderful trip. I'm such a blaber mouth, I could never keep something this big a secret for more than a minute.

 

[lledman]

Check the Theme Park Strategies board . . . there are people on there with a LOT of knowledge about characterpalooza. I believe they start around 4:50 and offer up to 4 20-30 minute sessions (the 3rd and 4th sessions repeat the characters from the first two groups). It apparently varies a lot. And it's only on non-Fantasmic days (which is most of January in 2012!).

I'm not sure what time it ends, but I have heard the best time to arrive is right before 5. I can't wait to check it out!

Thanks going to set a reminder on my phone calendar now for 4:30 to tell me to go there on our DHS day

 

[JD698]

January 16-20. We're really looking forward to it - planning to surprise our 5 year old at some point (not day of departure, though, she doesn't do well with last minute information) as she thinks no more Disney trips for quite some time.

EDIT: Just rented DVC points for an AKV studio (Jambo House). Yippee!

1/28-2/4 -- We're surprising our 6 year old boys who will turn 7 on this (our first) trip. Not sure when to tell them. Originally planned to surprise them at the airport but not sure how that will work with a 6AM flight. Might do it the day before we leave. Hard keeping this secret since July especially since I'm doing planning all the time. Had to tell them we are going when they are 8 years old so they won't ask too many questions now. LOL!

How are you spilling the beans???

 

[danimaroo]

Question for the day:

What do you do on your arrival day/night?

We arrive at 6:30 in the morning to MCO on the 19th, so I'm guessing around 7:30-8ish at Beach Club. The plan is to check-in, then our plans from there are based on whether or not there's a room ready for us (which I'm pretty sure there won't be, but you never know!)

If our room is ready, we'll go get settled in there, then probably take a nap. However, if we got some rest on our flight (it's a red-eye, but we went all out and got first class in hopes that we'll be able to sleep), we'll drop off our stuff and head out to do our original plans...

If our room is not ready (and we're planning on telling them we're okay waiting for a room that has a quiet pool view), we're going to go get breakfast either at the Boardwalk Bakery or Beach Club Marketplace, then head over to Epcot to hang out for awhile. After a few hours in Epcot, we're hoping our room will open up so we can get some sort of nap in before we grab the monorail to do our tradition of riding the monorail loop and visiting the monorail resorts. We did this last trip on our first day as it's a tradition for my husband.

After our little monorail tour, we're going to Magic Kingdom to do some rides, then we have an ADR at Crystal Palace, then hanging out in MK til it closes at 8pm. From there we'll head back to our room and get some rest so we can be ready for Day 2, spending the morning in Animal Kingdom, afternoon in Hollywood Studios, dinner at Cape May, then maybe some EMH in Epcot!

Cannot wait for this trip!

 

[Charitycase20]

Question for the day:

What do you do on your arrival day/night?
QUOTE]

We're hoping to get in and settled at camp by 2pm at the latest. Make a run to Wal-mart for perishables (we're eating at camp mostly) and if time is still on our side, maybe DTD and then the campfire movie and marshmallows at FW. My DD has requested fireworks every night so we're thinking about watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Parade from Clementine's beach.

 

[lledman]

My DD has requested fireworks every night so we're thinking about watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Parade from Clementine's beach.

We've done this before - very nice

 

[maman_et_fille]

1/28-2/4 -- We're surprising our 6 year old boys who will turn 7 on this (our first) trip. Not sure when to tell them. Originally planned to surprise them at the airport but not sure how that will work with a 6AM flight. Might do it the day before we leave. Hard keeping this secret since July especially since I'm doing planning all the time. Had to tell them we are going when they are 8 years old so they won't ask too many questions now. LOL!

How are you spilling the beans???

It is SO hard keeping the secret! I really don't yet know how we're going to tell her - definitely not for Christmas. One of our main reasons for putting this trip together is so she can meet Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates - she loves that show and was Izzy for Halloween. I'm hoping to come up with something good that goes with the Jake/Pirate theme - we booked the Hollywood and Vine breakfast that he's part of now, and I have a feeling we'll plan the Disney Junior "live" show at DHS too. Maybe I could have Jake send her an email? Thank goodness I have a little more time to figure it out!

 

[ladyfoundhertramp]

question of the day (well night)

Where have you found the best character interaction????

The Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Faire breakfast was the best!! He was sitting with us, making fun of DH..just an all around perfect character interaction!

 

[tommygirl79]

Question for the day:

What do you do on your arrival day/night?

For us it depends on what time we arrive. This time, we may not arrive until late evening, but we have a late reservation at RFC and then will check into CSR or vice versa, depending on our arrival time.

We always drive to Lake City the night before and stay over. We always stay at the same exit. Wake up early, breakfast at the same McDonald's everytime, drive to Disney with a stop at Publix on the way in for in room breakfast options, check-in, lunch at the resort food court, then off to MK to soak in Main Street for a bit. Then head straight to Mickey's Philharmagic and It's a Small World. Take our time meandering for awhile and just enjoying being "back home". Then it's a quick hop on the monorail for Chef Mickey's first supper reservation of the night, and back to MK for Spectro and Wishes. Ahhhh - I can't wait!!

 

[keypooh90]

January 16-20. We're really looking forward to it - planning to surprise our 5 year old at some point (not day of departure, though, she doesn't do well with last minute information) as she thinks no more Disney trips for quite some time.

EDIT: Just rented DVC points for an AKV studio (Jambo House). Yippee!

Yay! Congrats!!!! We love, love, love AKV! We've stayed there 6 times total and it's definitely our home away from home!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Excited! Just got off the Wyndham website and I was able to upgrade us from a one bedroom to a two bedroom at Bonnet Creek! I know the girls will be happier with a bed of their own instead of sharing a pull out couch!

 

[Marshay]

Is there an updated list of everyone Dis name, resort and dates that they are going in January?

I looked on the first post but that's not updated. Just trying to find names of folks that might be there the same time as me.

 

[okw19]

Is there an updated list of everyone Dis name, resort and dates that they are going in January?

I looked on the first post but that's not updated. Just trying to find names of folks that might be there the same time as me.

I was thinking about this too. I think there will be a lot of us down there the same week.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Is there an updated list of everyone Dis name, resort and dates that they are going in January?

I looked on the first post but that's not updated. Just trying to find names of folks that might be there the same time as me.

I haven't seen one here, but there is a list started on the facebook group, come join us.

 

[readytogotodisney]

I haven't seen one here, but there is a list started on the facebook group, come join us.

Can you post a link to the group? I searched for it, but couldn't find one.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Can you post a link to the group? I searched for it, but couldn't find one.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/114514775327290/

Try this link, if it doesn't work you can be added by ash-n-brensmom

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Can you post a link to the group? I searched for it, but couldn't find one.

You can find me on Facebook by adding me as a friend because you need to be friends with someone in the group to be added! So look me up:
Kara McCarville Wheeler...request me as a friend...put a message on the friend request so I know you are looking for the Jan group and are not just some crazy stranger trying to be my friend...it happens..

The more the merrier in that group...everyone is welcome!!!