VERY overwhelmed newbie!!!

[2disneygirls]

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.

 

[patches07]

A big . Have fun on the DIS. You will get alot of info, and good luck to your DH.

 

[klineyqueen]

Relax!!!! It is overwhelming...but please....please....don't forget that Dising is supposed to be FUN!!!!! Welcome to he group and take it one thing at a time.

 

[Aliceacc]

HI and welcome!

You're right; it is totally overwhelming.

Next year's rates should be out in 2 or 3 weeks. So decide now on your first and second choices for resorts, so you'll be good to go.

As to ADRs, I'm under the impression that the plan is changing, down to 90 days. From what I've read, during mid August you'll be able to book up to Jan 15th, but bookings after the 15th will be delayed. I'm not sure what your dates are, so I would get together my list of favorites and alternates and be prepared to be flexible.

Here's a bit of what I've learned : http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715551

 

[Natalie_89]

welcome to the boards! good luck to ur DH

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[BethEJo]

WELCOME!!
..and we dont want that head exploding - kabooooom!!! but seriously, it'll all be fine planning is just as good as going on the trip - enjoy every minute and dont get too stressed out

Beth x

 

[Natalie_89]

i agree plannin the trip is alot of fun...

 

[Laumau]

Oh yeah, in the same boat here. This is our first ever trip to WDW. At first I was completely overwhelmed. My neighbor gave the the Unofficial Guide which I read cover to cover and which lead me here. It took me a few days to get my head around it all and now it's a lot of fun planning and dreaming and surfing the boards!

One thing I'm trying not to do is look at too many pictures and/or read trip reports- I want to be surprised when I get there and not overly exposed if YKWIM.

I'm also waiting for the hours to be posted and waiting to buy our tickets and dining plan. I already booked our room and have made our dining reservations.

Welcome!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Wow...you've only been reading for two days and you got most of it down already. I think it took me months before all that information seeped into my brain! You'll be fine. It's a bit overwhelming, but from the sound of things you have a handle on it. Have fun!

 

[byoung]

Glad to have you aboard!

 

[dawgfan]

Welcome to the Dis!

 

[GoofyBaby]

to the DISboards! There is tons of information here and it's very easy to get overwhelmed, so just take it a little at a time. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need. And, as others have already said, have fun! That's what DISing is all about!

 

[HonnyDipp]

to DIS! These boards are so helpful! Good luck to you DH and happy posting!

 

[mytwinklestar]

Welcome!!! Try not to get TOO overwhelmed - you should be enjoying this part - the planning - as much as the trip. I find great joy in planning and preparing for our Disney trips. I hope you will find the same. Sounds like you have a lot of research done already. Relax... enjoy the ride. You are in for the time of your life! Have a great trip!!!

 

[kaylajr]

Welcome to the DIS

There is alot of Great info here so yes it can get overwhelming....
take your time spend time reading and asking questions and you will soon
be a Disney Pro....

 

[churchpilot]

With your delightful attitude you will do fine here on the DIS and with planning your trip. I also have run into roadblocks trying to plan a trip for February. I was also told by Small World that I could book room only. I will try again in August. I hope it doesn't go down to 90 days because I am way too excited! Good luch to DH in his trot around Disney and have fun!!!

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

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.

DDP is good if you plan to eat at alot of sit down restaurants. If you are going to do mainly counter service, such as hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza, its not worth the extra money.

Park strategy is usually based on extra magic hours ( this is pretty much how the crowd calculator works ). If you get up early and get to the park thats having extra magic hour in the morning ( that means the park opens one hour early for people staying at a Disney hotel. ), you can get a few attractions in without much of a wait. The drawback to visiting the park with extra magic hour mornings is that the park will generally be the busiest park of the day as many people don't go from park to park. They go to the early morning hour and stay there all day, plus you have just the regular crowd of people to go along with that. If you are not a morning person, setup your schedule to make sure that you don't visit the park with extra magic hour mornings and you should hit less crowds and lines.

Extra magic hour evenings are always good and get better the later it gets. Alot of little ones can't last past 9pm, so the park starts to thin out quite a bit and you can get in quite a few rides.

My suggestion would be to get park hoppers. Visit a park in the morning until about 2pm. Go back to your resort until about 5pm ( this way you avoid the hottest part of the day ), then head out to whatever park is having evening extra magic hours. The park hopper passes are more expensive, but does give you the option of switching parks if you arrive at one and its jam-packed for some reason.

As far as which resort, they are all wonderful. I've visited most of them except the value resorts. Its really just personal preference in themeing. One thing I would check on before you book any resort is whether or not there is any rehabs going on. Sometimes the pools are down for months at a time, or there is construction of some sort.

To check for a pin code, just visit the link below and keep checking it every day or couple of days so you know when the code goes up so you can call Disney and give it to them so you get a discounted rate on your room / package.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1748002

Lastly, you are correct, you can't book January 2009 yet, but you can make your ADR's as soon as you are 180 days out from your first day of arrival.

Any other questions, just private message me by clicking on my name.

 

[M&N]

Welcome.
Don't panic.

You've come to the best place for help. Keep reading and asking questions. Take lots of notes and keep organized.
But most importantly---have fun planning.

 

[rusafee1183]

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!