Well imagine my surprise!June 2009 PTRw/pics 7/7 pg. 76 NEW TR started link on pg. 76

[Happydog]

Are the EMH days all "evening" or are you looking at the AM days, too? What about AM EMH at DHS, so you can get more in at the park before bigger crowds, then back later to see Fantasmic? Or not see Fantasmic, since, as tinkgurl said in her post, maybe rides will be less busy while everyone is seeing the show... Is your goal to see Fantasmic, or have more time in the park... AM EMH might be less "crowded" -- I thought the UG tour planning said that about EMH days -- that evening EMH tending to bring in more people than the AM?? We have the same dilemma. I am just going to bite the bullet on AM EMH days for MK and DHS, and hope not as many will get there that early... I have not looked at the UG tour plans yet, but I suspect we'll get the same recommendations...

 

[timandlesley]

you have me convinced to log into Touringplans, off I go after I post this ; )
For Deluxe, I say go for it! We're doing it 9 nights the first part of our AKL stay, we LOVED it last year, especially since you won't be able to try it again, it really is just awesome getting to experience all of the restaraunts!
As for HS, I am at a loss too, we are going on one Fantasmic night and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fantasmic but if it's a madhouse I'll do like you and do rides during it. My mom who was recently there said the finale of American Idol was on the same time as the first Fantasmic show which made the crowds for it less, so we'll see.
Lesley

 

[dddisrunner]

Awesome! I am excited to see where you are taking this! I think that if you sit down and think about what you really like at Disney World it will just come to you. Sorry I can't be more help in the advice department! I would suggest, though, going on an EMH day but only if you guys do like DHS. If it is not one of your favorite's than ask yourself if you would be heartbroken to miss it. Ultimately it is up to you, though.

Well I spent a lot of time today going through everything and will post the results soon! Thanks for joining us and posting!

Oh, you are so having my exact dilemma!!! Maybe, just maybe, they will change F! to every night and then, we won't have to worry about crowds.

I wish they would change F! to everynight too, but it doesn't look good!

If you read my Attraction of the Day yesterday for Toy Story Mania, you'll see that we were at DHS on Fantasmic day. This was the night we walked right on TSM during the 2nd Fantasmic! So I'd recommend going to DHS on Fantasmic night instead of EMH's night!

As for the Dining Plan, we love it! We get to try things that we normally wouldn't order. To us, it's well worth it!

Sounds good! I went back and read it in your report. Unfortunately I doubt there will be 2 F! but I think your advice would still work!

Are the EMH days all "evening" or are you looking at the AM days, too? What about AM EMH at DHS, so you can get more in at the park before bigger crowds, then back later to see Fantasmic? Or not see Fantasmic, since, as tinkgurl said in her post, maybe rides will be less busy while everyone is seeing the show... Is your goal to see Fantasmic, or have more time in the park... AM EMH might be less "crowded" -- I thought the UG tour planning said that about EMH days -- that evening EMH tending to bring in more people than the AM?? We have the same dilemma. I am just going to bite the bullet on AM EMH days for MK and DHS, and hope not as many will get there that early... I have not looked at the UG tour plans yet, but I suspect we'll get the same recommendations...

I think the evening EMH would be the lesser of the 2 evils, but I think I have it figured out!

you have me convinced to log into Touringplans, off I go after I post this ; )
For Deluxe, I say go for it! We're doing it 9 nights the first part of our AKL stay, we LOVED it last year, especially since you won't be able to try it again, it really is just awesome getting to experience all of the restaraunts!
As for HS, I am at a loss too, we are going on one Fantasmic night and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fantasmic but if it's a madhouse I'll do like you and do rides during it. My mom who was recently there said the finale of American Idol was on the same time as the first Fantasmic show which made the crowds for it less, so we'll see.
Lesley

If you do end up subscribing let me know and I can explain where the "missing parks" belong! I am going to post my new findings here in a minute!

 

[dddisrunner]

OK so I have spent alot of time today charting the park hours, extra magic hours, Fantasmic showings and Spectro and Wishes! The good news is Wishes is EVERY night during our stay but one and so is Spectro!! I actually found a day for DHS that has NO EMH and NO FANTASMIC so that is DEFINITELY a DHS day! Our other DHS days (2) 1 morning and 1 night are on Fantasmic days...I think they will be better then EMH days! I did have to change our dining a little bit because of the EMH's at DHS and for the very 1st time we are going to try a PM EMH at the Magic Kingdom with a day off scheduled the following day! I have always wanted to do that!! Magic Kingdom will be open until 1:00am that night!

I made a plan A and plan B dining schedule! Have any of you read the ADR threads on the restaurant boards? People are reporting wait times of OVER 2 hours to make there ADR'S and then it taking up to an hour to make 10 reservations! Supossedly, this is due to the launch of the new ressie system! If your ADR'S fall after 5/26 then you need to be connected to a CM who is trained on the new system and right now there aren't many who are! Man, I sure hope that changes over the next few weeks!!

I will post our new dining soon.....


Diane

 

[Trentmom]

glad that everything is coming together and you are slowly figuring it all out

 

[Happydog]

I made a plan A and plan B dining schedule! Have any of you read the ADR threads on the restaurant boards? People are reporting wait times of OVER 2 hours to make there ADR'S and then it taking up to an hour to make 10 reservations! Supossedly, this is due to the launch of the new ressie system! If your ADR'S fall after 5/26 then you need to be connected to a CM who is trained on the new system and right now there aren't many who are! Man, I sure hope that changes over the next few weeks!!

I will post our new dining soon.....
Diane

I am so worried that this whole ADR thing is going to be a great big mess.. I am glad I can't make reservations for another 15 days, but boy I do hope they figure it all out, I agree! Looking forward to seeing what you came up with -- I liked SSR, btw.. I can't remember if you had been there before, sorry, I will go back and re read!

Are you getting lots-o-snow where you live? Snow days for teachers...

 

[lmillercrew]

I hope that it doesn't take me that long to make two ADR's! I just want to eat breakfast before park opening!! That's all I ask.

 

[morgtroy]

That's great touring plans already has their days up. I did TGM and was starting to get worried I wouldn't get the best days before I had to make the dining plans.
Love reading your planning. I think you will really like SSR, it's so laid back and relaxing.
Best of luck on the dining ressies, here's pixie dust that you'll get a great CM and get all your desired times.
Oh yeah, way to go on the points on your Visa, it always surprises me how fast those build up. Gotta love "free money."
Can't wait to read more, especially with your deluxe dining plans. We're trying some new places on our upcoming trip. Bad for the diet, but great fun trying new places.

 

[IluvXU]

So tell me about Touring Plans... maybe I need that to help me make some decisions too. I am glad hours are out... but cannot believe Fantasmic is that few and far between!

 

[Happydog]

So tell me about Touring Plans... maybe I need that to help me make some decisions too. I am glad hours are out... but cannot believe Fantasmic is that few and far between!

I just saw your post, so I just thought to share -- (Hope that is okay ) Just go to the website and you can see what they "offer" Touring Plans.com It is included if you buy the Unofficial Guide to DW 09 version, but I think it is 8.95 otherwise, I have found it helpful for touring plans, strategies in the park, etc. It is similar to TGM, I guess. Never tried anything like this before, so I don't know yet if it is "worth it" I only have it b/c it came with the book. Check it out!

 

[dddisrunner]

glad that everything is coming together and you are slowly figuring it all out

Thanks Kelly! Planning shouldn't be this stressful, it is suppose to be fun!

I am so worried that this whole ADR thing is going to be a great big mess.. I am glad I can't make reservations for another 15 days, but boy I do hope they figure it all out, I agree! Looking forward to seeing what you came up with -- I liked SSR, btw.. I can't remember if you had been there before, sorry, I will go back and re read!

Are you getting lots-o-snow where you live? Snow days for teachers...

Glad to hear you liked SSR we are excited to try it!! Yes, we had a snow day today we got about 12 inches! More on that soon!

I hope that it doesn't take me that long to make two ADR's! I just want to eat breakfast before park opening!! That's all I ask.

Me too With 2 ressies to make I am sure you will get what you want!

That's great touring plans already has their days up. I did TGM and was starting to get worried I wouldn't get the best days before I had to make the dining plans.
Love reading your planning. I think you will really like SSR, it's so laid back and relaxing.
Best of luck on the dining ressies, here's pixie dust that you'll get a great CM and get all your desired times.
Oh yeah, way to go on the points on your Visa, it always surprises me how fast those build up. Gotta love "free money."
Can't wait to read more, especially with your deluxe dining plans. We're trying some new places on our upcoming trip. Bad for the diet, but great fun trying new places.

WOW! Great post! I LOVE touring plans and Mike as a combo! We are thrilled to be trying deluxe dining especially with the imposed "holiday dining surcharge" during our stay!

So tell me about Touring Plans... maybe I need that to help me make some decisions too. I am glad hours are out... but cannot believe Fantasmic is that few and far between!

Hey Laura! Touring plans is GREAT...you can actually plug in your dates for each park and it makes a touring plan for you plus they have ones that are geared to girls, boys, tweens, 2 day plans, emh plans, etc. totally worth $8.95. I think coupled with TGM you can't go wrong!

I just saw your post, so I just thought to share -- (Hope that is okay ) Just go to the website and you can see what they "offer" Touring Plans.com It is included if you buy the Unofficial Guide to DW 09 version, but I think it is 8.95 otherwise, I have found it helpful for touring plans, strategies in the park, etc. It is similar to TGM, I guess. Never tried anything like this before, so I don't know yet if it is "worth it" I only have it b/c it came with the book. Check it out!

Of course it is OK!

 

[dddisrunner]

OK so what is a PTR with no changes Well remeber when I said we booked POFQ! Scratch that! We are now booked at SSR for the 20th! I know, I know, I am CRAZY! We thought it was best not to have to move and DVC was able to link our ressies together which means we get to stay in the same room for all 12 nights! I also added deluxe dining to our SSR stay....that is MAJOR FOOD PORN coming your way!! We also added regular dining to our Boardwalk Villa stay for 7/2-7/5!! AND I added Magical Express and put in our requests for our Boardwalk stay and confirmed our requests for our SSR stay! PHEW!!!!!!!! I am glad to have that done!!

WE HAD A SNOWDAY TODAY!!!


I thought I would share our fun snow day with you all!! We ended up with just about 12 inches of snow!!


It was still snowing when we took this picture...

Here are the boys in their underlayers...

Here they are READY...Ralphie's brother Randy style!! (A Christmas Story) Our favorite X-mas movie!

Our backyard!

Our landscape lights completely buried!

Standing in the snow drift....

Two tired kids after helping mom and dad shovel!

continued in the next post!

 

[dddisrunner]

An exhausted Bryan ready for some sledding fun!!

Matthew getting ready...

Erics turn...

Together and BACKWARDS!

Two TIRED boys tredging up the big hill!

The payoff after a long, snowy fun afternoon!!

All in all a GREAT day! It took Bryan and I 2 hours to shovel ourselves out!! I was happy for the workout though...now I don't have to endure Jillian's DVD or the treadmill!


I will post our updated dining in the next day or two! Can't wait to see what you all think!

Diane

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a fun snow day!!! Love the sledding pictures!

Not having to move rooms is a big plus!

 

[HockeyMomR]

Thanks for heads up regarding hours, I have my spreadsheet w/ hours and preferred days now completed(thanks to touring plans, I decided to forgo TGM this year). Looking forward to calling about ADRs, not. We will be at YC June 20 - 27. Maybe we will see you!!

Love the snow pics, we had about 7" here in Maryland, my older boys also loved their snow day and sledding!

 

[Trentmom]

Looks like you all had a blast.


I think we got about 9 inches. My husband said 5 inches

So he outside now to figure it out for sure



Deluxe Dining sounds good...Can't wait to hear your full report and see some food porn on that

 

[disneyhockeymad]

your snow day looks like alot of fun! I can't believe how much snow you got!!

 

[Happydog]

Loved the snow pix! And we have the same kiddo shovels! The sledding looked like it was great fun!

 

[IluvXU]

Well you finally got some snow....I am sure the boys enjoyed it! I don't want to see any around here until next December! BTW... I need Touring Plans advice!

 

[kaysmommie]

Hi Diane,
Love the snow pics, my kids are so jealous. Tom though doesn't miss shoveling that snow at all. Looks like the kids had a blast! Glad you got another day off . Congrats on switching to Saratoga! I thought that was a better idea. is it hard to link the ressie together?? I think I'm going to do the same thing and book SSR for our first night too. It will be much easier than moving again. Your park plans look great. i was trying to find a day for HS with no EMH and no Fantasmic but could only come up with a PM EMH day to go there, which will probably be busy .