*** The Official July 2014 thread, join us won't you? ***

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Your story brought tears to MY eyes! That is absolutely awesome! That's the Disney Magic at work.

It still brings tears to my eyes. My DS has gotten much better, but we are slightly worried with the changes that were made to their GAC's that we have always had and used. We don't know what to expect. Since we aren't sure what will happen, we are just gonna try to go with the flow on this trip and not try to do any form of commando touring.

Here's what I'm thinking for now, but I'm open to suggestions!

July 6: arrive at BC, settle in, eat in villa

July 7: EPCOT--lunch around the World, dinner at Coral Reef (like the appetizers and desserts--not thrilled with the entrees). Open to dinner suggestions at EPCOT!We have found some good ones that we like, Teppan Edo (Japan), Le Cellier (Canada), and La Hacienda (Mexico)

July 8: Resort Day. Maybe Beaches n' Cream lunch. Dinner in villa.

July 9: MK--dinner at 'Ohana (absolute favorite food!) YUM!!!

July 10: Resort Day. Breakfast at Cape May Café. Maybe lunch at Hurricane Hannah's. Dinner in villa. We have never done breakfast here but we are doing dinner here this time.

July 11: Hollywood Studios--Lunch TBD (Pizza Planet, Backlot, ABC Comm.). Dinner at Mama Melrose's (Fantasmic Package).

July 12: Resort Day/Re-visit park of choice. Thinking of booking dinner at Cape May Café or somewhere Downtown Disney.

At DTD we found a lovely place we are going back to, Raglan Road. Such yummy goodness and lots to choose from too!

I think that room-only resorts are pretty typical during the summer months. I'm crossing my fingers. We've got Beach Club Villas booked, but there's NO WAY we can do it without a discount! We're not getting the dining plan this time. Instead, we're putting the dining plan money toward the villa instead of getting the standard room. I promised my hubby that we would have more RESORT time this year (I have been known in the past as the "Park Nazi").

We aren't doing the dining plan either. We are taking that money and just ordering what we want. I know I won't eat all that food and can just do appetizers for some meals or share with my DD sometimes.

DisneyMomFanatic: That story is very touching. And I take this opportunity to tell you that you are a great mom. Never doubt it

Thank you very much. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it and others I know I have done things right. But it is not easy at all and wouldn't wish it on anyone. And, I know I have a mild Autistic child, it could be so much worse. I am grateful and blessed and I know it!

 

[Ferrentinos]

Just pulled out my times guides from last July... wonder how much will be the same? My 180 days is coming in 11 days... feeling the crunch to make some serious decisions!

 

[yce22princess]

We just switched from the Grand to the Contemporary.....dates still the same. Getting excited about being able to make ADR's soon!!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

We just switched from the Grand to the Contemporary.....dates still the same. Getting excited about being able to make ADR's soon!!

I will switch you on the front page! Are you in the tower or in the wing? We stayed in the tower a few trips ago and absolutely LOVED it!

 

[Ferrentinos]

Anyone thinking about doing an Illuminations cruise? I know it can be expensive and there are only 3 of us... maybe someone else is looking for us to fill up their boat and offset their costs???? Let me know if you're thinking about it... we won't do it alone but maybe with another family?

 

[think-like-tink]

Where are you guys getting the crowd level info?

 

[lindseyach]

I have never posted but I am in deep planning our first trip! My husband and I are celebrating our birthdays down there and very excited! We are staying July 14th -19th. We are staying in the cabins at fort wilderness. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! We are starting to get a plan to get our ADR by the 15th.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

I have never posted but I am in deep planning our first trip! My husband and I are celebrating our birthdays down there and very excited! We are staying July 14th -19th. We are staying in the cabins at fort wilderness. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! We are starting to get a plan to get our ADR by the 15th.

to the July thread! I will get you added to the front page with your information. And if you need any help just ask, we have many repeat visitors on this thread. Just remember that everyone has an opinion, but you shouldn't let that stop you from doing what you want and how you want to do it. I always read what they say and then weigh my options about what they said especially when it comes to opinions about the restaurants and whether they like it or not.

I did stay in the cabins a long, long, long time ago with my family when I was about 15 or 16 yrs old.(that would have been about 1986) WOW, now I feel old. There were 6 of us staying in there and it was crowded, but it should be nice and comfy with just the 2 of you. I keep wanting to go stay there again, but have yet to convince DH. Maybe someday.

 

[lindseyach]

I should add we are going with our three kids! 7/5/3 are their ages when we go!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

I should add we are going with our three kids! 7/5/3 are their ages when we go!

I will then add that the cabin makes a whole lot of sense then! But your kids are much younger and probably smaller than we were when we stayed. We were 2 parents, 3 teens, and a grandparent. But I will also say that even though we were slightly crowded, we had tons of fun!

I sent you a private message.

 

[lindseyach]

Awesome I am so excited! It's the first time for all
Of us so I am bit overwhelmed. Trying to figure out the places to eat and see in the time frame we are there. Everything from stroller rentals to packing is on my mind lol. And I just checked out the message thanks for the info!

 

[ksopal23]

Hello all. Going to be in disney in beginning of july. Can't wait!

 

[Princess Michele]

Where are you guys getting the crowd level info?

I don't know about Jessicavoet but I have been using the crowd calendar at www.easywdw.com. We used it for our Thanksgiving 2012 trip and had good experiences at the parks. We don't do the early morning EMH's so it works for us.

There is also www.touringplans.com which you need to pay for in order to see their crowd levels in advance. When I looked at them last time their information changed repeatedly prior to our trip which would have made planning and ADR's difficult.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Hello all. Going to be in disney in beginning of july. Can't wait!

to our group! we are getting big, but still a very friendly group! If you would like to give my your exact dates and where you are staying, I can officially enter you on the front page. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns and maybe we can help you out! Glad to have you on board!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Awesome I am so excited! It's the first time for all
Of us so I am bit overwhelmed. Trying to figure out the places to eat and see in the time frame we are there. Everything from stroller rentals to packing is on my mind lol. And I just checked out the message thanks for the info!

I will tell you what we normally do, maybe that might guide you in how you can start. We decided if we want to do counter or table service at particular parks. Decide if you are doing partial or full days at the parks. then we pull up the menus and ask the kids if there is anything on the menu they like. My DH and I look at the menus and see what we are interested in. (even though the menus change about 2 times a year, if they have a few things we like, they probably still will if it changes). Once we have our list (way more than we will go to) we offer it to the kids to decide.

Now for you, since you have younger ones, you can see the menus and see what your kids will or won't eat at certain restaurants (if you have picky eaters). If they will eat everything or most things on the kiddy menu, then go with what atmosphere or setting you want to see or try.

Hope that helps and I have eaten at a bunch of places too. We try to do something new each trip, at least one.

Are you doing the dining plan? and if so, which one?

 

[PopArtGal]

We just switched from the Grand to the Contemporary.....dates still the same. Getting excited about being able to make ADR's soon!!

Have you stayed there before?

It's our favorite resort by far.

 

[lindseyach]

We are on the deluxe dining plan.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

We are on the deluxe dining plan.

Having been on it 2 times, once in summer and once at the holidays, I am going to make a suggestion. It is only a suggestion. Don't do too many buffets! we found in the heat, we don't eat as much as we normally do. If you aren't trying to save the most money, and will eat 3 meals a day, you will be full and over full from about the second day on. We never went into a meal hungry from our 2nd day on. If you are willing, try the signatures and another meal during the day. Plus with your snack credits, we supplemented our meals like that. Tell me what you are thinking and I will tell you what we did, tried or found did or didn't work. I don't want you to have a bad experience this trip.

 

[anjalee6]

Having been on it 2 times, once in summer and once at the holidays, I am going to make a suggestion. It is only a suggestion. Don't do too many buffets! we found in the heat, we don't eat as much as we normally do. If you aren't trying to save the most money, and will eat 3 meals a day, you will be full and over full from about the second day on. We never went into a meal hungry from our 2nd day on. If you are willing, try the signatures and another meal during the day. Plus with your snack credits, we supplemented our meals like that. Tell me what you are thinking and I will tell you what we did, tried or found did or didn't work. I don't want you to have a bad experience this trip.

I know some people don't like the deluxe plan, but we love it. We do what you said as advice though. We only do two meals a day using a signature 2 credits for dinner. We find that it works much better this way. Three sit down meals a day was a little much for us, although sometimes we do three if we do a character breakfast in the morning. We use our snack credits the other days for breakfast and still end up having some leftover. We bring them home to enjoy.

 

[think-like-tink]

Having been on it 2 times, once in summer and once at the holidays, I am going to make a suggestion. It is only a suggestion. Don't do too many buffets! we found in the heat, we don't eat as much as we normally do. If you aren't trying to save the most money, and will eat 3 meals a day, you will be full and over full from about the second day on. We never went into a meal hungry from our 2nd day on. If you are willing, try the signatures and another meal during the day. Plus with your snack credits, we supplemented our meals like that. Tell me what you are thinking and I will tell you what we did, tried or found did or didn't work. I don't want you to have a bad experience this trip.

I would like to know how you worked the dining plan. We were on it once and I don't think we understood really. I felt we still had to pay...