Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[Meeko5]

When we went last year Halloween week it was HOT as hell - I'm hoping for awesome weather for this trip. Looks like average temp this week is mid 70s but can get into the 50s at night.

What kind of packing strategy are you guys using? We are flying SW so we have a total of 8 free checked bags

I definitely want to pare it down to 3 though, plus a carry on or two. Are you guys thinking jackets? Hoodies? How prepared for a freak cold snap should I be here? Haha

 

[MonaMN]

101 here too! Hooray!!

We typically check two bags for the three of us, then each have a backpack sized carry on.

 

[JamieOak]

When we went last year Halloween week it was HOT as hell - I'm hoping for awesome weather for this trip. Looks like average temp this week is mid 70s but can get into the 50s at night.

What kind of packing strategy are you guys using? We are flying SW so we have a total of 8 free checked bags

I definitely want to pare it down to 3 though, plus a carry on or two. Are you guys thinking jackets? Hoodies? How prepared for a freak cold snap should I be here? Haha

Great question. One I have thought about but haven't formed an answer too yet! But to expand on that question if I can...How do you handle needing a jacket/hoodie in the evening hours if you stay in one park all day? Do you carry the extra clothes in your park bag? We have park hoppers and most days I am planning to hop to another park in the evening hours. Mostly to take advantage of parks open late for EMH, but not wanting to be in that park all day. In those cases, we'll have a break and go back to our hotel and can change or take with us the cooler weather clothing.

 

[missnikki411]

I went this same week 2 years ago and I'm from Boston so I thought it was warm-high 70s-I wore a tshirt and shorts everyday. At night I did change into long pants on some nights. One night it rained and I bought a long sleeve shirt while I was there because I was soaked (tisk tisk the one time I didnt have the ponchos with me). But I was never "cold" during the trip. The days it rained for a while it was obviously chillier so I would bring a sweatshirt or raincoat in your suitcase. Hopefully the 10 day forecast before the trip won't predict any colder weather because I am a chronic overpacker and don't need an excuse to pack warmer clothes! It's funny because we got on the bus after it had rained last trip and they had the heat on and it was in the 70s outside, we were like WHAT?!? Guess that's cold for Florida

 

[Iowamomof4]

When we went last year Halloween week it was HOT as hell - I'm hoping for awesome weather for this trip. Looks like average temp this week is mid 70s but can get into the 50s at night.

What kind of packing strategy are you guys using? We are flying SW so we have a total of 8 free checked bags

I definitely want to pare it down to 3 though, plus a carry on or two. Are you guys thinking jackets? Hoodies? How prepared for a freak cold snap should I be here? Haha

Great question. One I have thought about but haven't formed an answer too yet! But to expand on that question if I can...How do you handle needing a jacket/hoodie in the evening hours if you stay in one park all day? Do you carry the extra clothes in your park bag? We have park hoppers and most days I am planning to hop to another park in the evening hours. Mostly to take advantage of parks open late for EMH, but not wanting to be in that park all day. In those cases, we'll have a break and go back to our hotel and can change or take with us the cooler weather clothing.

Great questions! We're flying down on SW but home on United, so we still have to pack somewhat light. I'm planning to bring a hoodie for everyone and a pair of lightweight gloves. We'll also each have a pair of jeans packed or other long pants. I'll be anxious to see what the weather is like Thanksgiving week though, in case I decide I need to add more cold weather gear. I guess we can either carry a backpack for stowing jackets and sweatshirts or we can rent a locker for the day if we don't want to carry things around. I'm hoping the weather forecasts are reliable at that time of year, hopefully that will help us know if we'll be needing to bring warmer clothes to the park or not each day.

 

[rere101399]

I'm no help with the packing. Since we're driving I have a feeling I will pack my mini van with our entire wardrobes. Then DH will roll his eyes and tell me it's excessive, I will compromise by finding 5 smallish items to remove so I can claim I pared it down, and we will head to Orlando with me sitting on top of a suitcase in the front seat

Seriously though for outerwear I will probably bring coats for the kids, plus a hoodie, a fleece and a vest. For DH and I will probably bring one fleece and one vest.

 

[JamieOak]

Great questions! We're flying down on SW but home on United, so we still have to pack somewhat light. I'm planning to bring a hoodie for everyone and a pair of lightweight gloves. We'll also each have a pair of jeans packed or other long pants. I'll be anxious to see what the weather is like Thanksgiving week though, in case I decide I need to add more cold weather gear. I guess we can either carry a backpack for stowing jackets and sweatshirts or we can rent a locker for the day if we don't want to carry things around. I'm hoping the weather forecasts are reliable at that time of year, hopefully that will help us know if we'll be needing to bring warmer clothes to the park or not each day.

I actually didn't know renting a locker was an option. It's just me and my husband, so we won't have much. But I also don't want to have to carry a really large bag with us around the park either if we can avoid it. We are both pretty cold tolerant, living in Pennsylvania.

 

[Meeko5]

I'll have a double stroller so we can haul jackets and such with us.

But definitely would rent a locker if we weren't - much easier than going back and forth. I think I saw somewhere it's like $8 a day?

 

[BDFmom]

We are flying SW as well. For the three of us I'm planning on 2 checked bags with attire for all occasions..... hot and cold. We are coming from Rochester NY so I expect to have coats with us. Although in the past I've left the coats with Hubby in the car.

We'll have a change of cloths in out carry-ons with a bathing suit. The change of clothes is mainly so we can freshen up after travel without worrying about luggage delivery

We arrive at 3;20 pm on a direct flight!!

 

[Meeko5]

Light gloves and hats are smart, I didn't even think about that. Adding to my list for the kids

A Fleece and hoodie for everyone shouldn't take up toooo much space in the luggage. If it's colder than all that I'll probably cry and order winter coats from Amazon haha

 

[Meeko5]

Last trip we brought a whole medium sized suitcase FULL of snacks. And then ordered from a grocery delivery for stuff like yogurt, bread, PB and J stuff, drinks and fruit. I way overestimated the food situation. WAY. We were so full from the dining plan food we hardly touched any of the other food. It was so funny and also wasteful haha.

This trip I'm planning on using Amazon to deliver some non refrigerated drinks, breakfast things like pop tarts, granola bars and yogurt/applesauce pouches.

 

[JamieOak]

Last trip we brought a whole medium sized suitcase FULL of snacks. And then ordered from a grocery delivery for stuff like yogurt, bread, PB and J stuff, drinks and fruit. I way overestimated the food situation. WAY. We were so full from the dining plan food we hardly touched any of the other food. It was so funny and also wasteful haha.

This trip I'm planning on using Amazon to deliver some non refrigerated drinks, breakfast things like pop tarts, granola bars and yogurt/applesauce pouches.

This is also on my mind. We aren't on the dining plan (you may recall I have no ADRs yet! haha), and we have a 1-bedroom villa so a full kitchen at our disposal. We splurged more than needed on the room choice! But I'm debating how much to assume we will eat in the room and how much we will eat out. Right now I'm thinking of just cooking breakfasts because I'm not feeling the idea of a sit-down breakfast and I'm not a fan of grabbing some baked goods for breakfast. Then have some snacks available, but not planning any full meals in the room. Who wants to cook while on vacation?

This all effects my packing and my grocery order plans. We should have plenty of room in the bags to fit in some snacks that do not pose a hazard of opening and ruining other items.

 

[MonaMN]

We just pack those packaged bowls of cereal or oatmeal, cereal bars, raisins, applesauce, etc, then buy milk when we get there. We generally then eat lunch early (before QS places get really crowded). Then we can use the space from the breakfast foods for things we bring home. We used to bring more snacks, but we just didn't eat them that much when there are so many other goodies we wanted to eat!

 

[rere101399]

What do y'all think about raincoats? We all have a decent quality raincoat - can't decide if I want to bring them (and possibly lose them), or if I want to spend money on disposable ponchos which are also more annoying to wear in my opinion, but no big deal if you lose it.

 

[rere101399]

Ok so I think I've finally figured out how I want our days to go. I was so confused for so long, but after focusing on the trip all weekend and making several spreadsheets, I think what I'm planning makes sense (at least to me).

My one concern is if I have enough time allotted to MK. I also still need to add one more TS meal, probably Epcot or DS when I decide which evening we are doing those. If anyone has thoughts about the itinerary I would love to hear them!

11/27
-check-in, explore hotel, wait for room to be ready and walk to MK
-would love to snag a CM or CP ADR for this first evening! Looking daily

11/28
-go to HS for EMH
-try to get in TSM before 9:05 ADR at H&V
-QS lunch at HS or just snack and eat an early QS dinner at second park
-afternoon at MK or Epcot (thoughts?)

11/29
-go to AK for EMH
-QS lunch at AK
-DS or Epcot afternoon (thoughts?) with QS dinner there

11/30
-go to MK for EMH
-BOG 9:40am
-afternoon break/nap at hotel
-CM dinner 6:25pm (will cancel this if can get a CM ADR for check in day)
-possibly back to MK for wishes

12/1
-late start day
-Ohana 9:40am
-Epcot or DS (thoughts?)
-4:55pm H&V holiday dine (DH doesn't want to eat at H&V a second time but I kind of don't want to miss the holiday dine so I'm keeping this for now)

12/2
-go to MK for EMH until 10am then walk back to CR for check out

 

[heath92681]

Last year it was hot the entire time we were there. The year before, it was cooler and rainy one or two days. I only packed a lightweight hoodie for each of us both years. I also packed ponchos just in case. That's my plan for this year as well. I will reevaluate the week before depending on the weather forecast. Gloves and hats never even crossed my mind! I ditched our boots/coats in the car right before we walked into the airport!

As far as food goes, I am going to pack a few snacks and then use Amazon Prime Now for anything else we need. On the dining plan, we really didn't need too much else!

 

[Iowamomof4]

Ok so I think I've finally figured out how I want our days to go. I was so confused for so long, but after focusing on the trip all weekend and making several spreadsheets, I think what I'm planning makes sense (at least to me).

My one concern is if I have enough time allotted to MK. I also still need to add one more TS meal, probably Epcot or DS when I decide which evening we are doing those. If anyone has thoughts about the itinerary I would love to hear them!

11/27
-check-in, explore hotel, wait for room to be ready and walk to MK
-would love to snag a CM or CP ADR for this first evening! Looking daily

11/28
-go to HS for EMH
-try to get in TSM before 9:05 ADR at H&V
-QS lunch at HS or just snack and eat an early QS dinner at second park
-afternoon at MK or Epcot (thoughts?)

11/29
-go to AK for EMH
-QS lunch at AK
-DS or Epcot afternoon (thoughts?) with QS dinner there

11/30
-go to MK for EMH
-BOG 9:40am
-afternoon break/nap at hotel
-CM dinner 6:25pm (will cancel this if can get a CM ADR for check in day)
-possibly back to MK for wishes

12/1
-late start day
-Ohana 9:40am
-Epcot or DS (thoughts?)
-4:55pm H&V holiday dine (DH doesn't want to eat at H&V a second time but I kind of don't want to miss the holiday dine so I'm keeping this for now)

12/2
-go to MK for EMH until 10am then walk back to CR for check out

Well... HS has morning emh on 11/27, AK morning emh on 11/28, Epcot has pm emh on 11/29, and then MK has pm emh on 11/30. So, I'm a little confused.

 

[rere101399]

Well... HS has morning emh on 11/27, AK morning emh on 11/28, Epcot has pm emh on 11/29, and then MK has pm emh on 11/30. So, I'm a little confused.

You're kidding?!?!
Omg! Ok I seriously never should have let DH set up my spreadsheets with the basic park hour info, etc.

 

[Iowamomof4]

You're kidding?!?!
Omg! Ok I seriously never should have let DH set up my spreadsheets with the basic park hour info, etc.

Ruh-roh, didn't mean to get him in trouble!

November calendar

December calendar

Those are the TA calendars which are updated monthly. They should be updated by the end of this week again. Otherwise you can also check the park hours on Disney's website. It used to be that the TA calendars were the most accurate but lately, Disney has been updating the hours on their website more so now I have to check both.

EDIT: My apologies if you already know all about the TA calendars.

 

[rere101399]

Thanks, yes, I had saved them and showed him where to reference them when formatting the spreadsheets. Ahhhhh!!!
I will be going back and doing it all over myself. Maybe after a margarita.