**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[Kazooie01]

And the other thing is just realized that Kali River Rapids is actully closing the 23rd. I thought it would be closed our entire trip. So we could hit AK on Sat after we check in and make sure to hit Kali. The park is open till 7pm so we should have enough time for that and maybe a few things and still get us back to the resort at a decent time.

We get in the 21st too, I think we'll spend a bit of the day at AK in order to hit Kali River Rapids before it's refurb (I don't have a choice, my daughter thinks it's her ride, her name is spelled Kaili vs. Kali, close enough for her I guess ).

 

[Colleen27]

I had to switch our dates today, DH's job related stuff. We only had to push it back a week so not bad, we are there Jan. 29 - Feb 4th now. It gives more time to obessively plan

We are staying at the POP and when I called to switch reservations the only rooms they had left available were the preferred pool view rooms. We had requested a lake view room. Is it going to be noisy if we end up with a pool view room?

Probably not because swimming, especially at night, is so iffy in January. We were on the 3rd floor over the bowling pin pool on our March stay and it wasn't noisy at all, it was actually a wonderful location because when the kids wanted to swim despite cooler temps we had a short walk back to the room.

We'll be at Pop at the same time (Jan 24 to Feb 1 for us) so keep an eye out for a crazy DISer with a glow-in-the-dark stroller and a 10yo who wanted lime green feathers in her hair to match my LGMHs.

 

[dmbcanada]

A little disappointed about some of the refurbs going on during our stay:

• Dumbo
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Kali River Rapids

I know my DD(3) would have loved Dumbo.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

A little disappointed about some of the refurbs going on during our stay:

• Dumbo
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Kali River Rapids

I know my DD(3) would have loved Dumbo.

I am going over and make sure to ride Dumbo at least once this weekend and BTMRR as many times as I can Saturday and Sunday, because that is one of my favorites. Maybe it will be warm enough on our AK day to ride Kali.

 

[JD698]

A little disappointed about some of the refurbs going on during our stay:

• Dumbo
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Kali River Rapids

I know my DD(3) would have loved Dumbo.

I'm bummed about those too. One of my sons- the one who is not so into rides - would have loved Dumbo and his twin brother would have loved BMTR. I'm really bummed (probably more for myself) about the Main Street Electrical Parade not being held.

 

[PyxiiDustt]

Anyone else having the worst time focusing at work? I've been on the Dis all day. Can it be the weekend already?? I need to go to Disney World...

 

[JD698]

Anyone else having the worst time focusing at work? I've been on the Dis all day. Can it be the weekend already?? I need to go to Disney World...

Tell me about it. Me too!!! ALL DAY!!! I don't leave til the 29th - - it's gonna be a long month!!!

 

[dmbcanada]

Tell me about it. Me too!!! ALL DAY!!! I don't leave til the 29th - - it's gonna be a long month!!!

Ditto, the 29th seems like an eternity, especially in cold weather.

 

[harleys mom]

We will be arriving in 24 hours!!!!! We fly out late morning and should be pulling in to the Pop about now. We are moving to the Poly on Friday.
It should be an exciting Marathon weekend.

 

[dizneechic]

I am totally FREAKING OUT!!

One more sleep!!! AAAHHH!!!!

Trying to keep the secret today has been sooooo hard...with the girls home and under foot they have almost caught us doing something trip related so many times!!

I don't think I am going to be able to sleep tonight without drugs!!

How did you decide to announce it to them?

A little disappointed about some of the refurbs going on during our stay:

• Dumbo
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Kali River Rapids

I know my DD(3) would have loved Dumbo.

Kali will be open for us but we wont go on... we have gotten WAY too wet on there in the past, ponchos have never served us well. We save that one for our summer trips.

What I'm devastated over is Fantasmic being down for refurb. We've never taken the kids to see it (too late and we're early to bed folk) but told them last Jan when there we would take them next time. Unfortunately we didn't know when we booked it would be down, so it looks like it will have to wait for another year. Upside, the new Star Wars is open and my dd is finally tall enough for R&R so we'll have some new experiences still to look forward to in HS.

 

[PoohsFan1]

A little disappointed about some of the refurbs going on during our stay:

• Dumbo
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Kali River Rapids

I know my DD(3) would have loved Dumbo.

The only one that we are all bummed about is Big Thunder Mountain. There are only a few rides that we will ride over and over and over and over again until we are dizzy....BTMRR, Space Mountain, and EE. Well, I guess we will be heading over to Tomorrowland first thing after RD instead.

Quick question....I know that Snow White is due to close permanently some time soon, but don't know exactly when. We would love to ride it while we are there one last time and say good bye to a classic and family favorite. So if anyone of you lovely DISers could help me out, I would greatly appreciate it .

 

[JD698]

Trying to keep the secret today has been sooooo hard...with the girls home and under foot they have almost caught us doing something trip related so many times!!

We are surprising our boys too. How are you doing it? We leave at 6am on Sunday the 29th and plan on having them sleep at my parents on the Friday night before that so we can pack everything up. When we bring them home on Saturday - the packed suitcases will be in the Living Room with envelopes on top with their names on them. Each envelope will have a "boarding pass", a welcome letter and not sure what else!!!

 

[danimaroo]

Quick question....I know that Snow White is due to close permanently some time soon, but don't know exactly when. We would love to ride it while we are there one last time and say good bye to a classic and family favorite. So if anyone of you lovely DISers could help me out, I would greatly appreciate it .

I think you'll be safe with Snow White, at least until the new ride is open in the Fantasyland expansion. I'm expecting it to be open when we go in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed it will be (I really think it will because I feel like we would've heard something by now about when it's closing if it were to happen that soon).

 

[carebee21]

What do you all bring money for? Like things that you actually need physical cash for, that you can't charge or use a key to the world with?

I want to take as little real cash as possible, but I don't want to end up not having enough, so I'm trying to make a list of what I need money for...

So far I have tips (airport sky cap, maid and bell desk, etc) toll roads and a roll of quarters for the laundry machine (yes, I know they have a bill changer, but everytime I went to use it on our first trip, it never worked and the front desk didn't have enough quarters, so it's just as easy to take with me.) Is there anything else I'm not thinking of?

 

[danimaroo]

What do you all bring money for? Like things that you actually need physical cash for, that you can't charge or use a key to the world with?

I want to take as little real cash as possible, but I don't want to end up not having enough, so I'm trying to make a list of what I need money for...

So far I have tips (airport sky cap, maid and bell desk, etc) toll roads and a roll of quarters for the laundry machine (yes, I know they have a bill changer, but everytime I went to use it on our first trip, it never worked and the front desk didn't have enough quarters, so it's just as easy to take with me.) Is there anything else I'm not thinking of?

We are bringing a certain amount of cash for tips at our sit down meals (we are on DDP for 10 days) and for tipping in general (luggage stuff, housekeeping, etc.)... Our laundry is free (we're using my in-laws DVC points) but that's about it! Otherwise we are going to pay for everything else on our cards.

 

[tommygirl79]

I am totally FREAKING OUT!!

One more sleep!!! AAAHHH!!!!

Trying to keep the secret today has been sooooo hard...with the girls home and under foot they have almost caught us doing something trip related so many times!!

I don't think I am going to be able to sleep tonight without drugs!!

Oh my goodness! I can just imagine how you are feeling!! I'm sure I will be having the same feelings about this time next week!

My DD6 really wants to do Kali since she just got brave enough to do it in May ... and my youngest wants to go too. I'm undecided...I really don't want to get wet with 70 degrees...so have to pack smart with ponchos and spare clothes.

For whatever reason or another, we have never ridden Kali! I really want to, but I just don't know if the weather is worth going or not!

A little disappointed about some of the refurbs going on during our stay:

• Dumbo
• Big Thunder Railroad
• Kali River Rapids

I know my DD(3) would have loved Dumbo.

Dumbo hurts a bit but BTMRR is the one that just about did in our trip for our dates. It's one of the few rollercoasters that DD10 really loves, but with free dining during this time and some other factors at home, it was now or not until October. We are ready to go back NOW!! Going to try to encourage DD10 to finally get the guts to ride Space Mountain. We'll see!

We will be arriving in 24 hours!!!!! We fly out late morning and should be pulling in to the Pop about now. We are moving to the Poly on Friday.
It should be an exciting Marathon weekend.

How excited you must be! Have a great trip!!!!!

What I'm devastated over is Fantasmic being down for refurb. We've never taken the kids to see it (too late and we're early to bed folk) but told them last Jan when there we would take them next time. Unfortunately we didn't know when we booked it would be down, so it looks like it will have to wait for another year. Upside, the new Star Wars is open and my dd is finally tall enough for R&R so we'll have some new experiences still to look forward to in HS.

Fantasmic being down was a major bummer to us as well! We have missed it due to weather the past 3 trips and it's one of my favorites! Oh well, just another reason to go back again sooner rather than later!

 

[Diegosmom]

What do you all bring money for? Like things that you actually need physical cash for, that you can't charge or use a key to the world with?

I want to take as little real cash as possible, but I don't want to end up not having enough, so I'm trying to make a list of what I need money for...

So far I have tips (airport sky cap, maid and bell desk, etc) toll roads and a roll of quarters for the laundry machine (yes, I know they have a bill changer, but everytime I went to use it on our first trip, it never worked and the front desk didn't have enough quarters, so it's just as easy to take with me.) Is there anything else I'm not thinking of?

I am bringing pennies and quaters for the penny press...

 

[Colleen27]

What do you all bring money for? Like things that you actually need physical cash for, that you can't charge or use a key to the world with?

I want to take as little real cash as possible, but I don't want to end up not having enough, so I'm trying to make a list of what I need money for...

So far I have tips (airport sky cap, maid and bell desk, etc) toll roads and a roll of quarters for the laundry machine (yes, I know they have a bill changer, but everytime I went to use it on our first trip, it never worked and the front desk didn't have enough quarters, so it's just as easy to take with me.) Is there anything else I'm not thinking of?

We only carry a very small amount of cash, mainly for assorted tips - skycaps, housekeeping, bell services on our check-out day (we don't check bags so they don't handle them at check-in). I don't do laundry on vacation so that's not a factor, and the KTTW or debit card can be used just about everywhere else. Even the airport parking lot takes plastic now.

We'll take about $100 cash and the kids will have an M&M minis container of pennies and another of quarters for their pressed penny machines. That's about it. In a pinch we can always hit the ATM, but it has never come up in the past and we usually go home with a bit of that cash still in our pockets.

 

[Meriweather]

Almost time here too.
packed today...........whew. That was hard!!
Got mani/pedi..............BFF says she can't concentrate at work either. She hasn't been in 5 years.

These next two days are going to be the longest since everything is mostly done.
Just need to grocery shop (for the family :rotfl) and clean the house.

Saturday morning off to the airport, meet BFF at stop over in Dallas. And then OKW here we come!!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

How did you decide to announce it to them?

We are surprising our boys too. How are you doing it? We leave at 6am on Sunday the 29th and plan on having them sleep at my parents on the Friday night before that so we can pack everything up. When we bring them home on Saturday - the packed suitcases will be in the Living Room with envelopes on top with their names on them. Each envelope will have a "boarding pass", a welcome letter and not sure what else!!!

We are going to sit them down for breakfast and while they are eating come into the room with Disney music playing with our mickey ears on and ask each other what do we want to do today...then I will either hand their mickey ears to them or place them on their heads and ask them what they want to do today....then we will tell them what we are REALLY doing today. The most hilarious thing is tonight we were all snuggling in our bed and the Disney commercial came on and DD 7 said I REALLY want to go to disney tomorrow! AHAHAHA!!!!! We almost DIED!! I can NOT wait!!