VERY overwhelmed newbie!!!

[DJ Disney Kid]

WELCOME TO THE DISBOARDS!!! HI - MY NAME'S HEATHER AND I'M A
DISNEY-AHOLIC

YOU WILL BE FINE! IT IS OVERWHELMING AND FUN AND STRESSFUL (ONLY AT FIRST) BUT SO SO SO SO WORTH THE PLANNING!

I ONLY HAVE A FEW PIECES OF ADVICE

1. DON'T OVERSPEND ON YOUR ROOM - YOU'RE NEVER THERE!
2. DON'T MAKE TOO MANY ADR'S (AND I THINK THAT FOR '09 - YOU CAN ONLY BOOK THEM 90 DAYS OUT NOW INSTEAD OF 180 SO - YOU HAVE SOME TIME STILL)
3. TOUR GUIDE MIKE - HE IS AMA-A-A-A-AZING!!! HIS STRATEGIES CANNOT BE BEAT AND IT CAN ALSO BE VERY OVERWHELMIMG AT FIRST BUT, IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO INVEST IN IT - DO IT! YOU WON'T BE SORRY

ALSO - BY NO MEANS AM I AN EXPERT - BUT I KNOW A LITTLE AND IF YOU NEED HELP - PM ME ANYTIME!

Just a note or two, there has been no confirmation from Disney about the 90 day out ADRs. This was also confirmed on the Dis Unplugged podcast this week, as they contacted Disney directly for the information.

Also, Tour Guide Mike is way out of date and his site has not been updated in quite awhile. Theres some good information on there, but its not current.

 

[Big Vic]

I have been reading this site for a major part of the last 2 days and I am sooooo overwhelmed!!

DH will be running the WDW Marathon 2009 (mid January) but we can't even book for those dates yet...right? The "official" website says you can only book up to Dec 31, and I emailed the nice folks at Small World Vacations for a quote, and they said the same, although they can book a room-only now and change it to a package later.

BUT I'd better get on the ball with ADRs....right? (Seems funny to do that before we can even book the trip!)

There is so much to think about! DDP (or not)...park strategies...which resort do we want.....and oh yes I need to order a Baggalini and get an over-the-door shoe holder and dollar store ponchos and where did i see that spreadsheet for the ddp? and GardenGrocer and the crowd caclulator and geez I hope I get a PIN or a code or a pin-code and OMG, I think my head might explode!!

I forsee many many more hours on this site.

You can book a package through Disney World Sports Marathon Weekend Package

However, I don't believe you can get DDP.

Also, come say hello at the WISH (We're Inspired To Stay Healthy) portion of the Disboards WISH Walking and Running Club

Take care.

 

[2disneygirls]

Wow, thanks for all the great responses!

I am feeling slightly less overwhelmed now.

I think we have decided yes on the ddp, and we *had* almost decided against the Park Hopper option, to save a couple hundred bucks......but now I'm second guessing myself. Maybe we really do need the flexibility...

Big Vic, I did find where you could buy the marathon package, but as you said, there's no option for the ddp that way, so I think we'll wait. And thank you for the link the the WISH board...I'll pass that along to DH. I do not run, but I'm great at holding signs that say "Run Daddy Run" or "Daddy runs FAST!", swapping out water bottles, and rushing madly from spectator point to spectator point.