**The Official January 2012 WDW Thread**

[tommygirl79]

I'm going to burst and blab it out to DH on a date tonight if I don't tell someone so here it is...

I took off 2 nights of our FD stay at CBR and changed them to Wilderness Lodge for the final 2 nights of our stay. We have been to Disney many times but have NEVER stayed at a deluxe and Wilderness Lodge is our dream! They have a 35% off room only deal so I kept the 8 day park hoppers on the CBR. With the discount, the room is actually a wash, so basically all we are paying extra is for our meals the extra 2 days instead of free dining.

I am going to try and work it so that everything can be moved over during the day and surprise them all when we walk into WL to eat at WC that night. Soooooooo excited!

DH got a huge new job earlier this month and I wanted to congratulate him somehow (and I get to benefit as well this way!)

Phew, okay thanks, now someone else knows! How am I ever going to keep all these secrets until the actual moments???

 

[Meriweather]

We're here now for our Dec. trip.........with DH.
I keep telling BFF it is the trial run for our trip in Jan

We're at VWL and it is gorgeous........well, all the decorations every where are.

If anyone needs any info, I'll do my best to answer.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Wow -- you are going to be at Disney before you know it!

As for the extra credit -- I am a money conscious person so there is just no way I could do a CS when I coud get a TS instead.

Where are you eating already?

How about a breakfast buffet or even just a regular breakfast meal when you have a late lunch planned or an early dinner?

We are going to go to a breakfast buffet (H&V at DHS) for our first time at 10am on an EMH. I figure we'll get 2 hours in the park riding a bunch of rides and by 10am we'll need a break anyway and my girls want to see the new Jake.

I scheduled it late so it'll really be like an early lunch for us. We'll collect some FPs prior to our meal so then after breakfast hopefully the timing will work out to do the FPs ... if not, then we'll do the Animation Academy or see characters until we leave at noon. (DHS is always a short day for us).

Some other "off-beat" TS that we enjoy: Kona, Trail's End, Grand Floridian Cafe. I also heard good things about Olivia's (OKW) and Turf Club (SSR) in case you'd want to check out those resorts, too.

Then there is always the restaurants on Main Street in MK...I don't consider them a good use of a TS credit since they aren't expensive but they are better than doing a CS ... and can offer up a break in the parks.

Hopefully something there helped you!

I am thinking like you that I don't want to waste a TS credit on a CS meal.


Ok, here is what I have: This will use 8 TS credits and we will have 9 credits. The rest of the trip from 1/11 thru 1/14 will be the Regular DDP and we have 4 TS credits and I have reservations for all 4 of those.


1/7 LTT 12:30pm
1/7 HDDR 8:30pm

1/8 LeCellier 1:15pm

1/9 Akershus 8:20am
1/9 Biergarten 6:20pm

1/10 Cape May Cafe 7:35am
1/10 Garden Grill 5:35pm


Regular DDP starts

1/11 Tusker House 8:25am
1/11 Yak & Yeti 4:45pm (I have a Landry's gift card for this one)

1/12 Chef Mickeys 7:05am
1/12 Wishes Dessert Party 7:20pm (paid in full)

1/13 Rose and Crown 7:50pm

1/14 Crystal Palace 9:50am

 

[jandkmom]

How about Ohana? That's our favorite for breakfast and dinner!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

How about Ohana? That's our favorite for breakfast and dinner!

I like that idea, but the breakfast is too close to lunch for me and there are no dinner reservations available. If I could move my Le Cellier reservation to a little later in the lunch time slots I could pick another breakfast.

My problem is that DH is so picky, I guess I am just going to have to book something and if he eats he eats and if he doesn't too bad . My problem is that eveyrthing looks so good I can't make a decision.

 

[Marshay]

I am thinking like you that I don't want to waste a TS credit on a CS meal.


Ok, here is what I have: This will use 8 TS credits and we will have 9 credits. The rest of the trip from 1/11 thru 1/14 will be the Regular DDP and we have 4 TS credits and I have reservations for all 4 of those.


1/7 LTT 12:30pm
1/7 HDDR 8:30pm

1/8 LeCellier 1:15pm

1/9 Akershus 8:20am
1/9 Biergarten 6:20pm

1/10 Cape May Cafe 7:35am
1/10 Garden Grill 5:35pm

Ok, here's some things I would do...see if you like them.

Either add Kona for dinner over at the Poy on 1/8 and then either go to MK, Epcot or just watch the parade and EWP from the Poly beach (if not too cold).

or

Skip either Biergarten or Garden Grill and then add a Signature dining on that night instead. You'll end up having to do CS for the night that you skipped but that's just one time.

Not sure of availability but maybe do Narcoosee or Cali Grill if you'll be over in the MK area ... or try one of the restaurants on the Boardwalk if you'll be in the Epcot area.

I know we are probably in the minority, but we LOVE Cinderella's Royal Table! Our lunch was fantastic in May and we are doing it again in Jan. If you haven't eaten there, give it a try for dinner on 1/8 (if avail). Just don't let them rush you -- enjoy and savor that you are dining in the castle and engage the princesses in conversation.

One other thought is to pick a place where you really enjoy the apps and desserts ... and focus on picking those as your main foods and consider the entree as a bonus.

No matter what you guys do, you'll be eating well. It's obvious food is a priority so enjoy it!

 

[Marshay]

Two other thoughts ... how about Teppan Edo? The food is fine, probably the same as you can get in your hometown, but it is always a neat dining experience and breaks up the "typical sit-down".

Or Coral Reef. Another restaurant that offers a bit more with looking at all the fish, etc.

With that many restaurants in one week, you might want to choose some that do something "extra".

Ok, one more thought (you got me on a roll now, rethinking my own dining...

Via Napoli and just order pizza. Once again, it's better than your usual CS but you prob won't be eating pizza at any of the other places.

Ok, now I'm hungry...

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

My brain is so tired, I am going to have to try again tomorrow. I just don't want to give up my Le Cellier reservation...argh.

That is an MK night, Evening EMH and the last night Dumbo and BTMRR are open, but I am open to the Boardwalk since that is where we are staying, Epcot because we will probably cut throught there to Mk, and anywhere on the way to MK.

I went with GF Cafe, but that could change.

 

[carebee21]

I'm going to burst and blab it out to DH on a date tonight if I don't tell someone so here it is...

I took off 2 nights of our FD stay at CBR and changed them to Wilderness Lodge for the final 2 nights of our stay. We have been to Disney many times but have NEVER stayed at a deluxe and Wilderness Lodge is our dream! They have a 35% off room only deal so I kept the 8 day park hoppers on the CBR. With the discount, the room is actually a wash, so basically all we are paying extra is for our meals the extra 2 days instead of free dining.

I am going to try and work it so that everything can be moved over during the day and surprise them all when we walk into WL to eat at WC that night. Soooooooo excited!

DH got a huge new job earlier this month and I wanted to congratulate him somehow (and I get to benefit as well this way!)

Phew, okay thanks, now someone else knows! How am I ever going to keep all these secrets until the actual moments???

You must have incredible secret-keeping powers I would burst with both of the secrets you're keeping! But I'm sure their reaction will be so worth it!

 

[carebee21]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

I can't wait to hear the responses. We're going to have people who leave at the beginning of the month who will be packing and so much other fun stuff, since we're all so close

This month I'm going to be searching for window clings (or something similarly easy) to hang in our windows. I'll be scouring our Disney outlet for any pins, t-shirts, etc. Since I can't pack (we need our suitcases when we go "home" for Christmas) I'm going to start making a list and pulling things we won't wear now (bathing suits, shorts). And I really need to buy a new pair of tennis shoes and start breaking them in, so they're nice and comfy by the time we do lots of walking in Disney.

 

[ppony]

What are you doing to prepare for next month's trip?:

I'm jumping on the Wii Fit every other day and hopfully every day. So far I've only managed every other day. I'm extremely Pooh sized and I'm used to being able to push a stroller to sort of help deflect some weight but we're going w/o the kids this time so I'm on my own power. What will I do w/o all those breaks that I used to have to take to wait w/ our youngest as everyone else rode?!?! I don't want to slow DH down too much.

 

[Weluvdisny]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

I bought my dramamine today!

And DH and I are on our last final push to try and get a better time for the
5k!!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

Everything!! We leave on the 5th and it's a surprise for our DD's so I will try to get as much done before school lets out. I just found out that they are going to be staying at my cousin's for NYE weekend....DH and I both have to work all weekend. That's a load off my mind because not only will they have a blast with their cousin, but when I am not sleeping (I work midnights) I can pack!

 

[BenA81]

i should probably pay for the rest of our trip's balance :|

 

[okw19]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

Let's see, so far this month I have purchased a few new sweatshirts to take down with us and I also bought a small crossbody bag to carry the essentials in. It'll fit my camera, wallet, phone, hand sanitizer and anything else I may need to carry on me. (Like some Vinyls to trade )

The only preparation I will do this month is make a list of things to pack. Can't pack our clothes yet, that'll wait til January. Most other things are taken care of. Already have PP CD pre-ordered for my share group and most of our plans ready.
I do need to go to Sam's or Target to pick up some pre-packaged snacks for DD to have down there.

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

Oh man! Lots of stuff! Or well, my mom and my cousin Mandy are busy doing lots of stuff! All together, ten of us are going! My parents, my little sister, me, my older sister Hannah and her husband Keith, and then my cousins Robbie and Mandy and their baby girls, Payton and Brennan! Becky, Payton and Brennan don't know about it yet, it's a surprise!

 

[Marshay]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

I can't wait to hear the responses. We're going to have people who leave at the beginning of the month who will be packing and so much other fun stuff, since we're all so close

Ok, for some reason I just can't seem to finalize our plans this trip.

1) So I'm hoping to actually nail down our parks and have backup plan if it's too cold to watch parades or really warm so we can get some pool time in. Once schedule is planned at a high level, move my ADRs if I need to, then I need to purchase DVC AP and see if our meal choices will make the TiW card worthwhile.

2) Pack kids "surprise" travel bag for the train (happy meal toys, coloring books, etc).

3) Look for great before/after Christmas deals on Disney stuff.

4) Update packing list for winter-time.

 

[PoohsFan1]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

I am going to start to buy all the vanity items, get out all of the warmer weather clothes (you never know what the weather is going to be like), make piles in my room of all the things we are taking, luckily the girls are getting clothes for Christmas so they will be good with that but DH and I will need some new clothes so I have to go shopping for that.

 

[OziJo]

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

We leave Jan 4 so with one month to go today I still have to order my international sim cards and organise a hire car for the first 4 days of our trip. I also want to and make some Mousekeeping envelopes and begin packing. I bought myself some new walking shoes so I have been wearing them in while doing the groceries and Christmas shopping. DD1 needs some clothes to take with her that are sensible so I have to take her clothes shopping. One month to go and so much to do! Where has the time gone?

 

[Colleen27]

It's been about a month or so since I posted the lime green mickey head DH and I very poorly put together for our Jan group of Disers to wear on our park bags. Does anyone have any other ideas for a group mickey head? I wanna be able to put our dis names on them and hang them on our bags so we are clearly identifiable! Any input or ideas?

I've got nothing. I put together a snowflake design that came out okay, but not quite what I was looking for, and every other design I tried to work out ended up too busy. I think I'm going to do something a little different this year, inspired my my DS13's duct tape adventures... I found lime green duct tape and I think I'm going to do my tags that way. Last trip, the photo tags came off their ribbons when they got wet despite my packing-tape "lamination" and duct tape will be much more weather-resistant.

This is the snowflake I came up with. I can upload the blank if anyone is interested, but like I said I'm not real happy with the design. I like yours better!

New Question of The Day: What Are You Doing This Month To Prepare for Your Trip?

I can't wait to hear the responses. We're going to have people who leave at the beginning of the month who will be packing and so much other fun stuff, since we're all so close

We're going later in January so really this month is just about picking up some odds and ends in between preparing for the holidays. Most things will wait until after Christmas, when things (hopefully!) slow down around here!

I am keeping an eye out for some snow/winter themed window clings as I'm out doing holiday shopping, I ordered the EL wire kit to deck out DD3's stroller (lime green, of course), and I'm making sure things like swimsuits and sandals still fit. I'm also working on finalizing our ADRs and other plans (and entertaining the thought of yet another resort change This one is all DD3's fault!) but the word "final" is one I use rather generously. Odds are I'll keep making minor changes until a week or so before the trip when I print out my plan cards.