We must return to the magic!! But where? And when?!

[afwdwfan]

I'll be honest... I'd go with May 1 - 9. To me, low crowds are more important than anything. I really feel like, if it was me, using one more day of vacation is worth it to have less crowds than you'd see the week of Memorial Day.

Also, for the other choice, I'm not sure you'd want to be there for the 24 hour party. First of all, it will probably just make the park more crowded and it would otherwise be during the day. And you'll want to be in the park that night instead of resting up for the drive, which would be fine to a point. But as you said, it is a 20 hour drive, so you'll need to get some rest before you head out.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

I'll be honest... I'd go with May 1 - 9. To me, low crowds are more important than anything. I really feel like, if it was me, using one more day of vacation is worth it to have less crowds than you'd see the week of Memorial Day.

Also, for the other choice, I'm not sure you'd want to be there for the 24 hour party. First of all, it will probably just make the park more crowded and it would otherwise be during the day. And you'll want to be in the park that night instead of resting up for the drive, which would be fine to a point. But as you said, it is a 20 hour drive, so you'll need to get some rest before you head out.

Yeah you're right..! The 24 hour party would be super fun, but I guess once I think about it, how long would we really be there? It would be tiring either after a long drive or the last day of vacation...even with naps!!! And I don't particularly love crowds..

Alsooo these would be the dates we'd be getting back on Mothers day..which, to DBF isn't as important as birthdays...he's really big into birthdays haha

See, this is why I ramble and write PTR! You guys always help me!

 

[Surfinpiratee]

330 days away...

How do those who go once a year (or even less often) do it!?!? Blahh..I'm going to go crazy!!!!!

But I guess between now and New Years will go pretty quick...
Summer just always goes quick
Camping next weekend
Then like, 2 weeks later its the 4th
Camping again endish of July
DBFs brothers wedding in August
My birthday in September
Then it's Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and then New Year!

Then I'll just have January-April to wait impatiently!

I guess if I think about it...last year I started planning my trip in June 2013 for my January 2014 trip...so that like...almost the same thing..

 

[afwdwfan]

How do those who go once a year (or even less often) do it!?!? Blahh..I'm going to go crazy!!!!!

It isn't easy... My trip is still over 6 months away and I'm already feeling depressed over how long I'll probably have to wait to plan another one.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Hello everyone! Just thought I'd give an update about what's been going on lately with my planning!

First, I have about 41% saved of what I need for my trip!!!

Okay, second, my Mom told me she wanted a 'quote' of how much a trip to Disney would be for her!!! This is both very exciting and kind of stressful, so maybe you guys can help me

So Billy and I were going to do a split stay, between a value and deluxe. But if my Mom comes we might do 2 rooms at a value then a villa. We just don't want to spend too much and neither does my Mom...sooo I'm stumped lol​

 

[MidnightParade]

Wow! 41% already? Thats awesome!

I would suggest running the numbers on the Disney website but also take into consideration possible discounts for the dates you are considering by looking at the historical data. Spread sheet to help keep it clear. Pricing can change sometimes depending on when you run the numbers.

Also, something to consider is maybe renting DVC points. We are going through Davids. But make sure you read through the rental process. You can not cancel or move around your dates once you commit, which could make it a no go option for you. I'm not sure how other DVC rental sites are like or if you try to do it direct. But it gives you the villa options, for a cheaper rate then Disney.

good luck, let us know how it goes!

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Hello!!!!!!
Sorry I haven't updated in a while! There isn't too much to update, but now there is!!
I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!

We are planning to go to Disney in MARCH. It's so soon!
Billy's brother and sister-in-law (my bosses!) want to take their kids to Disney in March! So we would just go the same time as them, since I'd be off work anyway (I nanny their kids) So YAYYYYYY!!!

I'm pumped.

Time to get in super planning mode!!!!!​

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow... that means a lot of changing of plans.

I just hope they don't intend for you to work during this trip!

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Oh my gosh....no one get mad at me. But my tentative dates keep changing. BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE (okay like, 3 things) :
1. I know we will be going "soon". Like, around the dates I've talked about.
2. We will be going for 7 nights
3. 3/4 nights will be at POP/AoA/POFQ, and the other 3/4 will be spent at a deluxe. Probably Wilderness...possibly the Poly?

So Billy's brother probably isn't going anymore. So I'm going to have to talk to him and his wife and see if I'm able to take days off? I only work three days a week, and she makes her own schedule (kind of) so I would think it wouldn't be a problem....especially since i'll be letting them know at least 4-10 months ahead of time.....

Which brings me to my next item of agenda!
There's now many different dates I'm able to go...some of which include dates in 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Okay so one of the possible dates are over Thanksgiving!!! SO SOON. It's not really my first choice, but Billy's SIL has that Weds and Fri off around Thanksgiving! So I'd just be asking off 1 Monday. So yay! I'm also not sure if Billy would be okay not being with his family over Thanksgiving? However, he "doesn't like" Thanksgiving. only because he doesn't eat most of the food... *sigh* So he might not mind? I mean...he's going to Disney...lol

2. Another time would be over our Anniversary which is Dec 2. I WOULD LOVE TO GO THEN. Because we live where it's cold and our Anniversary is...ya know...December 2nd...it's cold and we can never think of anything to do. So all we do is go out to dinner or breakfast and maybe see a movie, which is GREAT and all, but I mean if Disney is an option... But I can only go this time if it's okay for me to 'take off' that week. FINGERS CROSSED.

3. Get ready for this one....and DON'T FREAK OUT. But Billy's SIL takes the week between Christmas and New Years off...SO, I was thinking about being there over New Years.... I KNOW. We would go a few days before New Years, to a few days after New Years. But again, this time is ONLY if she'd prefer me to go during a time she's already off work...and if that's the case, my first choice is Thanksgiving (lower prices and crowds and slightly warmer temps!!) Unless Billy doesn't want to go over Thanksgiving...which I really don't think he will because for holidays, we're always with one of our families or the other...so there's some holidays one of us doesn't spend with our family anyway, sooo

4. Okay, moving on from that scare! My final dates I'll talk about for today is over Valentines day!!! That would be fun!! But these dates are also if I'm able to 'take off'.

Now other dates/months include,
beginning of March
"spring break" in March if Billy's SIL wants me to go while her oldest is out of school? in case she wants to take her somewhere or something?
First week of May
Memorial Day week

So there you have it!!! All my confusion of dates in a post!
Any thoughts on some of my possible dates?​

 

[afwdwfan]

All I've got to say is that I think Thanksgiving looks like a winner to me if you can get him to agree to it.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

All I've got to say is that I think Thanksgiving looks like a winner to me if you can get him to agree to it.

I just asked him!! Let's see what his answer will be! (I texted him)

 

[Surfinpiratee]

YOU GUYS.
I'm so pumped. So here's the game plan:

The plan is to go over New Years!!! Now last year we went Jan 3-9, and it was fun! Pretty low crowds, low rates. But it was COLD for a few days. Mostly because that's when it was like -40 degrees up here haha. So, I understand it could be different. So the next trip we were going to go a different time. BUT. 1. This time we will be there celebrating New Yeas, like, how fun is that?! 2. My boss/Billy's SIL already takes off days around that time period. 3. I want to surprise Billy, and we already discussed that I was paying for both of us for our next trip. So he's definitely not expecting us to go at this time. I've been talking about how I want to go in May, so he won't be expecting it when I say we're going in December!!! 4. He keeps talking about how much he wants a vacation and how much he wants to go to Disney again. So yeah!

So I already talked to my boss about New Years and we're going to look at a calendar so she can take days off around my trip!!!
​

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Alright folks!
So there are a couple different variations of dates I'd be able to go. But I'll just focus with one at a time. So please bare with me through my rambling, but it's Disney planning rambling! So it makes it okay!!!

So this update will focus on Monday, December 29 - Monday, January 5

Sunday, December 28: I figured we'd start the drive around 10am. We can really leave anytime between like, 9am and noon. Leaving at 10 will get us there about 8am. It's dumb because Google maps and all those sites say it only takes about 18-20 hours to get there. It took us 22 hours last January. We didn't hit any traffic at all...so I don't know how combining our less than 10 minute gas stops could add like 3 hours...but whatever. lol. So I will plan on it taking 22 hours I suppose!

Monday, December 29: Arrival Day. Probably before noon. Hopefully we'll be able to rest in our room for a bit then head to Magic Kingdom! It's open until 1am, but who knows how long we'll stay there! Wishes is at 9pm, and MSEP is at 10:15 and 12:15.
Fast Pass: 7 Dwarfs, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear. (obviously this depends on what's available, this is just an idea)

Tuesday, December 30: Epcot in the morning. Has EMH at 7am. Fast Pass: Test Track, Maelstrom, Nemo
Magic Kingdom in the evening. Open until 3am with EMH. I basically just really want to see the NYE fireworks tonight since it won't be AS crowded.

Wednesday, December 31: Hollywood Studios for the day! Fantasmic at 6:30, 8, 10pm. Open until 2am with EMH. NYE fireworks at midnight.
Fast Pass: Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Toy Story.

Thursday, January 1: Animal Kingdom for the day, I think... Open 9am-5pm. I think this way we can just relax the rest of the day.
Fast Pass: Dinosaur, Kilimanjaro Safari, ?

Friday, January 2: Rest day and DTD day!

Saturday, January 3: Epcot all day? 9am-9pm. Illuminations at 9!
Fast Pass: Soarin, Spaceship Earth, Maelstrom.

Sunday, January 4: Magic Kingdom all day! Open 9am-9pm, so hopefully we can make the welcome show! Wishes at 9pm, MSEP at 8pm.

So there you go! There's a potential plan for our most likely day!

 

[MarbleBob]

New Years Eve in DHS. How cool is that!!! Looks like a fun itinerary.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Alright, so Billy came up with a suggestion for our departure time (don't worry! this trip is still a surprise to him, but we're always talking about "next time we go to Disney") He suggested that we leave after sleeping for a few hours, so anytime between midnight and 3am? That way we'll arrive at Disney about bedtime. And we'll never be driving "over night" which is what we want!

So I'll now be doing 2 different itineraries for each set of dates. This itinerary is still for the dates December 29-January 5

Monday, December 29: Arrive in Disney, probably sometime after 11pm, so we would just go straight to bed.

Tuesday, December 30: Epcot in the morning. Opens at 7am with EMH. Then Magic Kingdom at night! Open until 3am. MSEP at 7pm, NYE fireworks at 11:50pm. Wishes at 8:30pm if we choose to watch.
Fast Pass: Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, Splash Mountain.

Wednesday, December 31: New Years Eve! Hollywood Studios all day! Open until 2am with EMH. Fantasmic 6:30, 8, 10pm. NYE fireworks at midnight.
Fast Pass: Toy Story, Star Tours, Muppet.

Thursday, January 1: New Years Day! Animal Kingdom for most of the day, Open 9am-5pm. Epcot in the evening. Open until 9pm, Illuminations at 9.
Fast Pass: Test Track, Nemo, Spaceship Earth.

Friday, January 2: DTD, rest day!

Saturday, January 3: Epcot all day? Open 9am-9pm, Illuminations at 9.Fast Pass: Soarin, Maelstrom, Nemo?

Sunday, January 4: Magic Kingdom all day! Open 9am-9pm. I WILL SEE THE WELCOME SHOW. MSEP at 8pm, Wishes at 9pm.
Fast Pass: Thunder Mountain, 7 Dwarfs, Pirates.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Ahhhh! 2015 rates are finally out!!!
So now we're like....100% sure we're going the end of January!!!! YAY! NO NEW YEARS CROWDS!
Now to decide on where to stay! Since we're doing a split stay to be able to stay at a deluxe, but save money and not stay the entire time, there's so many combinations!!!

 

[MidnightParade]

Happy to hear end of January! That week after Christmas is killer! Must get the most out of your trip!

Happy planning!!!

 

[Belle_princess]

Yea for no New Years crowds! My friend and I might be at Disney the end of January! We haven't booked yet because I'm waiting for discounts. Maybe we will see you!