Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[MonaMN]

Yup - we have gotten Memory Maker for both of our WDW trips. We love the ride photos and videos, and we don't really do professional photos at home, so I don't feel bad about spending the extra $$.

 

[CCxmas]

I'm late to the party (and late planning). My husband (29) and I (31) are going to Universal 11/25-11/27 and Disney 11/28-12/4 for a belated Honeymoon. It is his first trip ever and my first trip as an adult. Currently we are booked for a 1 bedroom villa at the Boardwalk Inn.

Oh and I have no ADRs made yet! The date happened in the middle of a 2 week illness for me and I just started trying to get some daily plans made. We really aren't too worried about where we eat though and are not on the dining plan. We didn't want any of the really popular places our character meals. I'm more concerned about good touring plans to avoid long lines as much as possible.

Try touringplans.com if you want to try and avoid long lines. You can customize your plans for breaks, meals, times in park and specific rides on your MUST list.

 

[heath92681]

Let's talk photo pass - do you guys always purchase it? I went back and forth about it last year and didn't do it, because I'm a hobby photographer and was underwhelmed by the quality mostly. But my kid LOVED to look at the ride photos and videos so I am bummed not to have those after the fact. We really didn't do but 1 character meet, and probably will only do 1 or 2 this time too.

I took a lot of my own pics, but other than family selfies (ussies? Haha) I only have like 2-3 good pics of me with the kids and 1 really good family pic that was taken by a PP photographer with my camera. I'm considering it this year, but still can't quite get over the cost and whether we will use it enough to make it worth it other than ride pics.

Thoughts?

We've done it the past two trips. Two years ago we split with our friends since they were traveling with us. Last year we decided it was well worth it to buy it again. We got so many great photos. It was really nice not to have to worry about carrying our big camera (which we did 3 trips ago and was a pain!). It was also nice not having to adjust the camera for the lighting for the inside character meets. We did do a lot of character meets, and the interaction the photo pass photographers captured was great. Even without the characters though, I think it was worth it so we could all be in the photos. We will definitely be purchasing it again this year. When the trip is over, it's really nice to have those photos forever.

 

[Iowamomof4]

In the grand scheme of things, memory maker isn't all that expensive. I really haven't considered *not* getting it. I hope we get more photos this time, but we got quite a few last time and I really enjoy the ride videos.

 

[jlundeen]

The alternative to pre-purchasing MM before your trip, is to go ahead and purchase any individual Photo Pass pictures taken by the photographer that you like. Of course, even if you only want a few of them, it will probably end up costing close to what you would have pre-paid for all of them.

 

[JamieOak]

Try touringplans.com if you want to try and avoid long lines. You can customize your plans for breaks, meals, times in park and specific rides on your MUST list.

Thanks, I actually have already gotten a membership there and poked around a bit. But it's time to get back on and start some serious planning! Great suggestion!

 

[Iowamomof4]

Thanks, I actually have already gotten a membership there and poked around a bit. But it's time to get back on and start some serious planning! Great suggestion!

They also have a reservation finder in case you end up wanting to eat somewhere that isn't currently available. I think many of us are using it and have had good success with it.

 

[JamieOak]

They also have a reservation finder in case you end up wanting to eat somewhere that isn't currently available. I think many of us are using it and have had good success with it.

I did not know that, but did see a reservation finder mentioned earlier in this thread while I was skimming but wasn't sure where to find it. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Meeko5]

ok those doing a split stay - does it matter which trip I add the flight info for DME on? this having 2 reservations nonsense is really making things more difficult than it should be in my head. I also now will have 2 sets of magicbands according to MDE, so since I'm surprising the kids with this trip I'm choosing 2 different colors for everyone so they can have their pick haha. That should be fun for them!

 

[heath92681]

ok those doing a split stay - does it matter which trip I add the flight info for DME on? this having 2 reservations nonsense is really making things more difficult than it should be in my head. I also now will have 2 sets of magicbands according to MDE, so since I'm surprising the kids with this trip I'm choosing 2 different colors for everyone so they can have their pick haha. That should be fun for them!

I just let the cast member on the phone take care of it. They had everything linked anyway. We didn't have any issues. We did the same thing with magic bands last year, and we will probably do it again. I'm going to get a purple one this year

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

We are taking one half day to go to Wilderness Lodge to check out decorations, then walk over to Ft Wilderness for dinner and stay to take a "sleigh" ride to see the Christmas decorations there.
We are also doing Poly for dinner one night, so will check that out. And doing a split stay at Beach Club, so will see all 3 of those resorts while there.

 

[heath92681]

We are taking one half day to go to Wilderness Lodge to check out decorations, then walk over to Ft Wilderness for dinner and stay to take a "sleigh" ride to see the Christmas decorations there.
We are also doing Poly for dinner one night, so will check that out. And doing a split stay at Beach Club, so will see all 3 of those resorts while there.

A sleigh ride sounds fun!

 

[Meeko5]

We are taking one half day to go to Wilderness Lodge to check out decorations, then walk over to Ft Wilderness for dinner and stay to take a "sleigh" ride to see the Christmas decorations there.
We are also doing Poly for dinner one night, so will check that out. And doing a split stay at Beach Club, so will see all 3 of those resorts while there.

Adopt me pleeeeeease?!

 

[Meeko5]

I just let the cast member on the phone take care of it. They had everything linked anyway. We didn't have any issues. We did the same thing with magic bands last year, and we will probably do it again. I'm going to get a purple one this year

Maybe I'll suck it up and just call and have them do it. We used a TA last year so this is all new to me!

 

[kellyjeanie]

We got Memory Maker last time and it was so great. They got way better photos than I did at the M&Gs, was so nice not to have to worry about trying to get the shot. Ride photos were nice too. I'm leaning towards getting it again. My friend is going at the same time, I'm hoping she'll decide to split it with us.

 

[heath92681]

Maybe I'll suck it up and just call and have them do it. We used a TA last year so this is all new to me!

Anytime I need to I try to call in the evening. Usually no wait

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Adopt me pleeeeeease?!

Lol! Unfortunately, it's just 2 nights at Beach Club. Not that I'm sure I won't love CBR, but you just can't beat that BC location! I would have loved to stay there longer, but yeah, not in my budget.
I am pretty excited about the sleigh ride myself!

 

[Melwhit16]

We bought memory maker for the first time this visit. We have a group of 13 so I think it will be worth it. I didn't know that I would be the only one who could download the photos though. Guess I will be organizing things after the trip too

 

[CCxmas]

Lol! Unfortunately, it's just 2 nights at Beach Club. Not that I'm sure I won't love CBR, but you just can't beat that BC location! I would have loved to stay there longer, but yeah, not in my budget.
I am pretty excited about the sleigh ride myself!

We're staying at BC but at a conference rate. Otherwise we would not be staying there. It's beautiful and convenient to Epcot/HS but so expensive!!

 

[pigletgirl]

Just booked the dessert party during MVMCP! Excited to experience this!