The Official October 2013 Trip Planning Thread

[kellyjeanie]

That is my greatest fear. DD16 almost 17 every time she leaves the house I'm nervous and if she calls when she is gone I get butterflies in my stomach exspecially when DS11 is with her. Now that she gets to be the transporter for him.

I'm sorry - I have some time before my kids start driving and I'm already nervous about it! I didn't mean to scare you, I was just kind of at how similar my story was to her daughter's.

 

[melissac]

Kids and driving is hard. We live in Northern WI so snow and ice are dealt with at least 6 months out of the year. Traffic is less then the city though. It is trying to get the kids to understand that if you come out of school and weather is bad leave car at school and TAKE THE BUS. Every 16-18 year olds favorite thing to have to ride the Yellow School Bus(LOL).

 

[Gabisgramma]

My daughter is 20 and when she was riding home with us that night she looked at me and said, "Mommy I almost died tonight" and I said, "I know." It still brings tears to my eyes as I type this. The good news is she also said that this is going to change how she drives from now on. (Even though she was not driving) She has always been good about her seatbelt, but she has had numerous speeding tickets and I know she texts and drives. We have had so many talks on this subject and like all kids she thinks that will never happen to me. So, if she has learned a lesson from this and is a safer driver from now on even if it was a scary painful lesson it was worth it. Our drive to the hospital was 45 min. also. We live 45 min southwest of Omaha.

 

[gterin1524]

I am late on finding this thread, but we will be at POR October 4-12. It will by myself, DH, DS7 and DD7. So excited!

 

[Gabisgramma]

I am late on finding this thread, but we will be at POR October 4-12. It will by myself, DH, DS7 and DD7. So excited!

How exciting! POR looks really nice. Is this your first trip? Are you going to do MNSSHP?

 

[gterin1524]

How exciting! POR looks really nice. Is this your first trip? Are you going to do MNSSHP?

This will be our fist stay POR. We have previously stayed at CSR. We definitely doing MMSSHP, just not sure what night yet.

 

[FigmentChick]

POR is a great resort! we have stayed there twice before and would have stayed there this time if my friend had not convinced me to upgrade! There is a great POR thread here on the DIS and website created by Andre Wiley. Very detailed and filled with info.

The food court is fabulous and my hubby and I just loved to walk around in the early mornings and evenings (very peaceful). Hope you have a great trip.

 

[scrappinannie]

We'll be there October 21-17 staying offsite at The Fountains Resort. Soooo excited!

 

[maurihart]

We are going on our first ever WDW trip Oct 14-19. Here's the details and I'd love to hear some feed back. No one else seems to want to talk about it quite as much as I do!

Leaving Sunday October 13 from the Jackson, MS area. We are driving and plan to drive about 8 hours before stopping for the night at a cheap hotel. Any suggestions on this??? We haven't booked that yet. Trying to find a Holiday Inn Express.

Monday October 14 ~ go straight to AK until about mid afternoon and then to hotel to check in and unpack a bit. ADR for 8:30 at Ohana. Hoping to see fireworks but on some of the schedules I've seen Wishes won't be that night so are there fireworks even if there's no parade? Kinda of confused about that, but not enough to change the ADR.

Tuesday October 15 ~ Studios for most of the day (maybe pool and a nap around 2 or 3) and 6:30 ADR at Sci-Fi hoping to maybe catch Fantasmic afterwards.

Wednesday October 16 ~ Epcot. No ADR that day, want to take advantage of our snack credits at the food and wine festival and then have a pool afternoon at the resort. We are staying at POR btw.

Thursday October 17 ~ MK early and hopefully we can hang most of the day there to get everything done. ADR at Rainforest Cafe around 7pm in DTD. Figured we would take the ferry that night to DTD from POR.

Friday October 18 ~ EMH at HS and then to Typhoon Lagoon or BB for waterpark day. ADR at House of Blues.

Saturday October 19 ~ EMH at AK to ride just a few things before ADR at Tusker house for 10:15 character breakfast and then heading home.

Is it too planned out? I know I might have to change a few things. My kids are all a bit older DS12, DD9 and DS5 and the youngest is a trooper. We will bring a stroller with us in case he needs a nap. I don't want to feel overscheduled but I want to have a plan!!! And we will have our minivan with us so I'm hoping to drive to most parks each day to avoid bus lines. I want to go to some parades, but don't feel like I need to stress about them. I think if we see one or two short ones we are good in that area. Also we have the normal dining plan and hope to do cereal or muffins in the room every morning before heading out. Finally, one last thing, none of the kids are into princesses or anything. DD9 is "toobig" for that s we didn't try to get any of those kinds of ADRs. Mine all love toy story, nemo, lion king, disney junior, cars, etc.

 

[arubia]

This is our first trip to Disney and we picked October because we heard it had smaller crowds. The crowd predictors I've looked at have started to go up since i booked and I'm getting worried. We are planning Oct 16-22. Does anyone know how bad that time if year will really be?

 

[jska482]

We are going on our first ever WDW trip Oct 14-19. Here's the details and I'd love to hear some feed back. No one else seems to want to talk about it quite as much as I do!

Leaving Sunday October 13 from the Jackson, MS area. We are driving and plan to drive about 8 hours before stopping for the night at a cheap hotel. Any suggestions on this??? We haven't booked that yet. Trying to find a Holiday Inn Express.

Monday October 14 ~ go straight to AK until about mid afternoon and then to hotel to check in and unpack a bit. ADR for 8:30 at Ohana. Hoping to see fireworks but on some of the schedules I've seen Wishes won't be that night so are there fireworks even if there's no parade? Kinda of confused about that, but not enough to change the ADR.

Tuesday October 15 ~ Studios for most of the day (maybe pool and a nap around 2 or 3) and 6:30 ADR at Sci-Fi hoping to maybe catch Fantasmic afterwards.

Wednesday October 16 ~ Epcot. No ADR that day, want to take advantage of our snack credits at the food and wine festival and then have a pool afternoon at the resort. We are staying at POR btw.

Thursday October 17 ~ MK early and hopefully we can hang most of the day there to get everything done. ADR at Rainforest Cafe around 7pm in DTD. Figured we would take the ferry that night to DTD from POR.

Friday October 18 ~ EMH at HS and then to Typhoon Lagoon or BB for waterpark day. ADR at House of Blues.

Saturday October 19 ~ EMH at AK to ride just a few things before ADR at Tusker house for 10:15 character breakfast and then heading home.

Is it too planned out? I know I might have to change a few things. My kids are all a bit older DS12, DD9 and DS5 and the youngest is a trooper. We will bring a stroller with us in case he needs a nap. I don't want to feel overscheduled but I want to have a plan!!! And we will have our minivan with us so I'm hoping to drive to most parks each day to avoid bus lines. I want to go to some parades, but don't feel like I need to stress about them. I think if we see one or two short ones we are good in that area. Also we have the normal dining plan and hope to do cereal or muffins in the room every morning before heading out. Finally, one last thing, none of the kids are into princesses or anything. DD9 is "toobig" for that s we didn't try to get any of those kinds of ADRs. Mine all love toy story, nemo, lion king, disney junior, cars, etc.

Awesome advanced planning! You might read about busses if you haven't already. We used and loved them from values, but my cousin stays on prop but drives as you suggested. She says it takes a long time to get to park w/parking and the rest of the process to get to the gates....whereas bus drops u at gate. Just something to think about.

 

[fizbobunny]

Mauri - Driving to the parks is much much faster. Our last trip was with extended family and we got back to the room much quicker than they did (they took the bus). However, this is not true for MK since you park at TTC and have to take the ferry or monorail over.

For days at MK with no parade or fireworks listed, this means that is a MNSSHP (Halloween party) night. There will be fireworks that night, but I think it is later than the usual time. I think 9:30 ish. However, with an 8:30 ADR you will still be in the restaurant so unless you get a rare window seat you will miss out.

 

[fizbobunny]

Mauri - I think you should go to MK on your arrival day instead of AK. I really think you do not have enough MK time scheduled. There is so much to see and do there that one partial day is not enough.

Also welcome! I live just north of Gulfport. We stopped in Lake City, FL for our last trip. Lots of hotel choices there. We chose the Fairfield do our son could swim in their indoor pool. There is a great restaurant there called Mikes. There is not many choices between Tallahassee and Lake City.

 

[Sydnerella]

Monday October 14 ~ go straight to AK until about mid afternoon and then to hotel to check in and unpack a bit. ADR for 8:30 at Ohana. Hoping to see fireworks but on some of the schedules I've seen Wishes won't be that night so are there fireworks even if there's no parade? Kinda of confused about that, but not enough to change the ADR.
.

That night is likely a party night. You would need to buy MNSSHP tix to see the parade and FW from MK of course. but following or perhaps during dep. how fast you eat dinner, you could see Hallowishes FW from the Poly. I read the beach is a great place from which to watch them which is probably what you mean/hoped to do.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[fizbobunny]

Arabia - October is less crowded than other times f the year. The parks are rarely empty though so don't expect that. Lines will be in the 10 minute range for most rides, but the headliners will see longer lines. I recommend easyWDW crowd calendar. They have also recently released touring cheat sheets which will be useful for daily touring.

 

[colinsdad]

I'm doing a Dad/Daughter solo trip (yes my DIS name is colinsdad, but that was before we had kiddo #2!). I've done 4 solo trips with Colin, so now its time to have some Disney time with my DD5.

We're doing a split stay at Art of Animation and Swan from October 14th to the 21st.

October is the best time to go to Disney IMO. We will be doing the MNSSHP, and Epcot FWF. Can't wait!!!

 

[jska482]

It was MK my cousin was referring to. I wasn't sure if it was like that with all parks. Good to know....we've never driven

Are you saying that they have fireworks after MNSSHP, so only those w/tickets can go? I'm just wondering because we planned our trip around MK...we aren't going to MNSSHP, but we want to see fireworks. It appears MK is closing at 7 on 10/3 indicating MNSSHP day, so we are going to MK on 10/4-10/5 specifically to see fireworks 10/5. I know it's confusing...I appreciate any input!

 

[katielafave]

It was MK my cousin was referring to. I wasn't sure if it was like that with all parks. Good to know....we've never driven

Are you saying that they have fireworks after MNSSHP, so only those w/tickets can go? I'm just wondering because we planned our trip around MK...we aren't going to MNSSHP, but we want to see fireworks. It appears MK is closing at 7 on 10/3 indicating MNSSHP day, so we are going to MK on 10/4-10/5 specifically to see fireworks 10/5. I know it's confusing...I appreciate any input!

Check easywdw .com. They have everything broken down by day including hours, parades, events, etc. I have found it very helpful for our planning.m

 

[fizbobunny]

It was MK my cousin was referring to. I wasn't sure if it was like that with all parks. Good to know....we've never driven

Are you saying that they have fireworks after MNSSHP, so only those w/tickets can go? I'm just wondering because we planned our trip around MK...we aren't going to MNSSHP, but we want to see fireworks. It appears MK is closing at 7 on 10/3 indicating MNSSHP day, so we are going to MK on 10/4-10/5 specifically to see fireworks 10/5. I know it's confusing...I appreciate any input!

Yes, on MNSSHP nights only those with tickets can watch the parade and fireworks from inside the park. There is a party for 10/4 so you will have to leave MK by 7pm. You can go to the TTC or Poly to view the fireworks from there. It is the party fireworks called Hallowishes which started at 9:30 last year.

10/5 You should be good to go since there is no party.

The good news is 10/4 should have very low crowds since it's a party night. Great time to tour MK.

 

[maurihart]

Mauri - I think you should go to MK on your arrival day instead of AK. I really think you do not have enough MK time scheduled. There is so much to see and do there that one partial day is not enough.

Also welcome! I live just north of Gulfport. We stopped in Lake City, FL for our last trip. Lots of hotel choices there. We chose the Fairfield do our son could swim in their indoor pool. There is a great restaurant there called Mikes. There is not many choices between Tallahassee and Lake City.

I really plan on staying at MK ALL day Thursday. I do want to get there super early and stay for as long as we possibly can ~ maybe until it closes and then go straight to dinner. I guess in my head I'm thinking AK will be more easy going and a good start day because a) not sure what time we'll get there and b) I know my DH will want to spend a little time at the resort getting settled before dinner. BUT, we have park hoppers so if we could do AK early and have lunch there, we could go to MK for a few hours after that. I'm also looking at squeezing a few extra park hours in Friday afternoon after the water park at whatever park they really loved the most. But, I don't want to feel obligated to that because they might be worn out and we'll need to pack and get ready to leave the next day. Might be a thing where one of us takes the older kids and one takes the little one back for a nap. But, thanks for the advice!! DH keeps saying we need to do two days at MK too. Don't know where he is getting this info from because he has done no research. He just wants a picture in front of the castle. LOL!