Too early to plan for 2012, or am I just bored??

[homeschoolmomof4]

for one they cant get the most out of the trip. there will still be lots of things kids so young couldnt do. Not to mention, they are not likely to remember it.

Really? I went in 1973 or 1974 for my first time(4/5years old) and I still remember bits and pieces of it. The Haunted Mansion scared the poo out of me, but I fell in love with IASW. My grandmother even bought me a record of the music for the ride. My now 11 year old still remembers his first trip from when he was 5 and in fact remembers more details than myself. He fell in love with Disney and now wants more than anything to be an Imagineer. I don't think that you can completely write off how much enjoyment or how many memories are made at Disney based on age.

 

[letthewookiewin]

We were considering the end of 2011 but have decided to wait until my youngest is a bit older so 2012 it is. Based on what I have read on weather and crowds we are thinking October, but could change slightly based on discounts. I thought I was crazy planning so far in advance, glad I'm not the only one!

Our last trip was October 8-13, and we loved that time of year. It was enough in the morning to need a fleece pullover with our t-shirt, and shorts. Then it would warm up and we would just tie the pull over around our waists. It did get a little warm when we were at MNSSHP, but that was just b/c of the costumes. I was in a full length gown dressed as the Blue Fairy. Right now my oldest son is really into playing football. Which is the only reason we would do October again.

Really? I went in 1973 or 1974 for my first time(4/5years old) and I still remember bits and pieces of it. The Haunted Mansion scared the poo out of me, but I fell in love with IASW. My grandmother even bought me a record of the music for the ride. My now 11 year old still remembers his first trip from when he was 5 and in fact remembers more details than myself. He fell in love with Disney and now wants more than anything to be an Imagineer. I don't think that you can completely write off how much enjoyment or how many memories are made at Disney based on age.

I couldn't agree more. My first trip with my family was in 1981. I was 5, and depending on the time of year we went, my sister was 3. We both remember a fair amount from that trip. It was that first trip that made me fall in love with anything Disney. The thing that I remembered most was that the Snow White ride was closed down. I made it my mission in life to get back to WDW and ride that ride. When I went in high school, I couldn't talk any of my friends into to riding it with me, and I would have gotten in trouble if I was caught alone. When I went back with my hubby for our 5th wedding anniversary trip (we met at the MK), I finally got to ride it. We didn't take our boys until they were 5 & 6, but that was not by my choice. My hubby, who didn't want to deal with small children at WDW, and finances made it that way. I truly wish that I could have taken them at a younger age. If we lived by the theory of not doing anything with children b/c they are too young to remember there are a lot of things the parents would miss out on. First birthdays, first Chirstmas, watching your toddler hunt for Easter eggs on wobbly legs. Sometimes it's not just about the children 100% remembering it, but building experiences as a family. Honestly, I think that the youngest age you should take a child to WDW is whatever age you feel comfortable with your child going at.

 

[Montana Minnies]

We are planning on going in January of 2012, my DH wants to be there for his birthday (the girls and I have gone for ours so he think it is about time to be there for his ). I know we will be staying at BLT, other than that we don't have any sort of plans yet.

We're planning on January 2012 (most likely a Grand Gathering) and September 2012. I'm going to hold off on any real planning though until at least late spring!

We are planning on going in Sept of 2012 we was planning on going in 2011 but then we find out i was pregnant so we want to wait until the baby is at least a year old so we will have 4 kids when we go 7,6,2,1 lol OH LORD HELP US lol

My sister and other family members are planning on a January 2012 trip. I am planning on going solo in Sept. 2012. I know I will probably change my mind about a number of things before I actually go, but it is something to look forward to. I've never gone in September before. The last time I went it was Nov. 27-Dec. 4, 2009. Before that we always went during the summer months since my sister is a teacher. I understand September crowds are less, but it is still hot. When we went in 2009 it was so much cooler and we really enjoyed the Christmas Decorations & festivities.

 

[BDL]

My question about planning now is, to what extent can you start planning?

I went to the Disney site for a potential trip in Dec 2012, and it won't take any kind of res. after Dec. of 2011. Would I be able to start locking things in place with AAA or is it that I should just rough draft and brain storm until the res tools are opened up?

By the way, anyone know if an "Official December 2012" thread has started? I went to Disney in Dec this past year, and the Official December 2010 thread was worth its weight in gold.

 

[letthewookiewin]

My question about planning now is, to what extent can you start planning?

I went to the Disney site for a potential trip in Dec 2012, and it won't take any kind of res. after Dec. of 2011. Would I be able to start locking things in place with AAA or is it that I should just rough draft and brain storm until the res tools are opened up?

By the way, anyone know if an "Official December 2012" thread has started? I went to Disney in Dec this past year, and the Official December 2010 thread was worth its weight in gold.

You can book your room at around 495-499-ish days out. It would be a room only ressie, not a package. Instead of paying the $200 down, you'll have to pay for one nights stay at the current rate at whatever resort you pick. Then after the packages come out that cover Dec. 2012, you just change it over to a package. I did this for a trip that we had planned for May 2010 that later got canceled. I just can't remember the exact days out, but I'm really thinking it's just below the 500 mark.

When in December did you go? What did you think about WDW in December? For us it's between going in November for my oldest son's bday and December.

 

[BDL]

You can book your room at around 495-499-ish days out. It would be a room only ressie, not a package. Instead of paying the $200 down, you'll have to pay for one nights stay at the current rate at whatever resort you pick. Then after the packages come out that cover Dec. 2012, you just change it over to a package. I did this for a trip that we had planned for May 2010 that later got canceled. I just can't remember the exact days out, but I'm really thinking it's just below the 500 mark.

When in December did you go? What did you think about WDW in December? For us it's between going in November for my oldest son's bday and December.

Thanks a lot Wookie. That's a good tip. Plus, if I can play my cards right, I can lock my trip in prior to 2 rate changes.

We went in the 2nd week in Decemeber and stayed at the POR. It was AWESOME!!! We arrived the next to last day of the Pop Warner tournament, so that wasn't an issue. The decorations at the parks and resorts are breath taking. We took 1 morning just to check out all the lobbies of the resorts on the monorail. Well worth the time and the trip.

I had planned and booked this trip 10 months in advance. I was able to get tickets for MVMCP and book a dinner combo for the Candlelight Processional. Both of which are a must. And then being at MGM (I can't call it Dis Hollywood), we were there when the Osbourne lights started for that evening and just stayed there in wonder for a good hour.

If you have the means I can't recommend going to WDW for this time of year ENOUGH (it was awesome). But if you are planning for Nov, I think that these things start up at sometime between the 2nd-3rd week of the month.

Here's my trip report if you wanna take a look.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=39339363#post39339363

Thanks again for the tips.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

for one they cant get the most out of the trip. there will still be lots of things kids so young couldnt do. Not to mention, they are not likely to remember it.

Really,

I remember the first time I went to Disney, I was about 5... that would over 30 years ago. I remember EVERY time I went to Disney as a kid.

I took my oldest to Disney 10 years ago....she was 5.. she remembers every single second.. She still talks about it.

I would say below 4 is tough, just for their stamina, but they and you can still have fun.

I disagree entirely... Happiness breeds happiness... period.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

We might be going in May 2012 - mostly because my DD is graduating HS - but also we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary at the same time - so definately a possibility - I'm still not sure exactly what e can actually plan or book yet - seems TOO far away...plus I don't want to lay any $$ out if we end up not going

 

[BDL]

We might be going in May 2012 - mostly because my DD is graduating HS - but also we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary at the same time - so definately a possibility - I'm still not sure exactly what e can actually plan or book yet - seems TOO far away...plus I don't want to lay any $$ out if we end up not going

If you cancel at least 45 days out, and hold off on further payments til that point, you will only lose the $200 deposit.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I know it sounds crazy, as I really should focus on our trip coming up in 41 days!!! But, I am already planning to have our first Disney Christmas in 2012. DH just says...here we go again....

 

[letthewookiewin]

I know it sounds crazy, as I really should focus on our trip coming up in 41 days!!! But, I am already planning to have our first Disney Christmas in 2012. DH just says...here we go again....

I would love to be at WDW for Christmas. I have noticed that the last couple of years Edward James Olmos has been the narrator for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. My family loved Battlestar, and I just love him. If I knew that he was guaranteed to be there on those dates, I would book the trip to cover those dates just based on that.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Thanks a lot Wookie. That's a good tip. Plus, if I can play my cards right, I can lock my trip in prior to 2 rate changes.

We went in the 2nd week in Decemeber and stayed at the POR. It was AWESOME!!! We arrived the next to last day of the Pop Warner tournament, so that wasn't an issue. The decorations at the parks and resorts are breath taking. We took 1 morning just to check out all the lobbies of the resorts on the monorail. Well worth the time and the trip.

I had planned and booked this trip 10 months in advance. I was able to get tickets for MVMCP and book a dinner combo for the Candlelight Processional. Both of which are a must. And then being at MGM (I can't call it Dis Hollywood), we were there when the Osbourne lights started for that evening and just stayed there in wonder for a good hour.

If you have the means I can't recommend going to WDW for this time of year ENOUGH (it was awesome). But if you are planning for Nov, I think that these things start up at sometime between the 2nd-3rd week of the month.

Here's my trip report if you wanna take a look.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=39339363#post39339363

Thanks again for the tips.

Np and thanks for the link to the TR, I will read it now. I really want to see the Osbourne lights. I just hope my DH lets me do all the Christmas stuff they have. When we talked about going in December before, he was already complaining about how he wasn't going to do a bunch of the Christmas stuff. My solution was to just let him go back to the room and play World of Warcraft while the DS's and I did things.

 

[BDL]

Np and thanks for the link to the TR, I will read it now. I really want to see the Osbourne lights. I just hope my DH lets me do all the Christmas stuff they have. When we talked about going in December before, he was already complaining about how he wasn't going to do a bunch of the Christmas stuff. My solution was to just let him go back to the room and play World of Warcraft while the DS's and I did things.

You won't have to con him to get the MVMCP tix. Show him my trip report and let him see how I walked right onto Pirates, Haunted Manshion, Space Mtn, Thunder Mtn.

That alone was worth the added expense. If you don't mind missing the 1st parade of the night, and catching the 2nd, it's like having an extra magic hours with even FEWER people in the park.

 

[letthewookiewin]

You won't have to con him to get the MVMCP tix. Show him my trip report and let him see how I walked right onto Pirates, Haunted Manshion, Space Mtn, Thunder Mtn.

That alone was worth the added expense. If you don't mind missing the 1st parade of the night, and catching the 2nd, it's like having an extra magic hours with even FEWER people in the park.

That was the easiest thing to get him to agree to. We went to MNSSHP on our last trip and we had a blast. The main thing he is against is resort hoping to see the Christmas decorations. Hopefully, we will be able to stay at the WL again, so we won't have to hop to see that. I did give in and tell him that as long as we can see the WL and the GF, I would not have to hop to see the others.

 

[BDL]

That was the easiest thing to get him to agree to. We went to MNSSHP on our last trip and we had a blast. The main thing he is against is resort hoping to see the Christmas decorations. Hopefully, we will be able to stay at the WL again, so we won't have to hop to see that. I did give in and tell him that as long as we can see the WL and the GF, I would not have to hop to see the others.

Once again... I can help you out here. Just get an early morning ADR for Kona at the Polynesian. Then just ride the monorail to the next 2 resorts (GF & Contemporary). There is no leg work involved. This is what we did. Lots of pictures from the GF lobby.

When your done with the Contemporary, you can choose to go where you want. TTC, MK or Epcot. And from those points, you can hit any of the parks or hop on the busses or water taxis to check out more resorts.

All this is done with minimum effort and minimum time.

 

[RachaelA]

That was the easiest thing to get him to agree to. We went to MNSSHP on our last trip and we had a blast. The main thing he is against is resort hoping to see the Christmas decorations. Hopefully, we will be able to stay at the WL again, so we won't have to hop to see that. I did give in and tell him that as long as we can see the WL and the GF, I would not have to hop to see the others.

DH didn't want to resort hop to see decorations either when we went last month. I ended up forcing him to go to GF (and he thought the gingerbread house was awesome). We also hit up AKL to eat and that allowed us to see the tree there. I don't feel like we missed out on a lot.

 

[letthewookiewin]

DH didn't want to resort hop to see decorations either when we went last month. I ended up forcing him to go to GF (and he thought the gingerbread house was awesome). We also hit up AKL to eat and that allowed us to see the tree there. I don't feel like we missed out on a lot.

We want to do the DlxDDP, so one way that I'm trying to get to the resorts that I want to see, is to plan ADR's as those resorts. If we don't get the Dlx DDP, I will just hide his World of Warcraft authenticators and won't give them back until I see every resort that I want to see.

 

[BDL]

If we don't get the Dlx DDP, I will just hide his World of Warcraft authenticators and won't give them back until I see every resort that I want to see.

Be careful wookie. Those Warcraft people are hardcore. I've seen heroine addicts go through less withdrawal than a Warcraft person seperated from his realm

 

[MagicKisses2]

Just checking my tracker! Still seems so far away.

 

[RachaelA]

Just checking my tracker! Still seems so far away.

Looks like we're arriving on the same day as you guys!