Yup.....we really ARE going.......and SOON! - Matty's Wish Trip December 12-18, 2009

[maroo]

One thought... (HA! I guess this is one really long thought!)

GKTW has a limited number of video/digital cameras that can be used by Wish Families. These are FREE and they will take the pictures that you take and put them on a disc for you.

They also have disposable cameras that you can get for your children - free, of course!

And make sure to take a LOT of pictures using the Photopass Cards in all of the Disney parks. Take multiple pictures over multiple days. This will help make sure you get a GREAT picture of all you guys. Sometimes you will have eyes closed, a child looking away, etc and the more pictures you let them take the better your chances are of capturing a great one to keep for years and years to come.

After perusing every schedule I could find this is what I've come up with:

Thursday 10th: arrive late morning/early afternoon @ GKTW
do orientation and get acclimated to our new surroundings
check out ICE @ the Gaylord Palms
evening activities @ GKTW (6:30 - Winter Wonderland)

This looks fun! Your orientation will hopefully be at 3:00ish in the afternoon. They only have orienation a few times a day and it sort of depends on when the families arrive...

Friday 11th: 8:30 am Universal character photos @ GKTW
Univeral Studios/IOA - open til 6
evening activities @ GKTW (7:30 - Pirates and Princesses)

Looks great!

Saturday12th : 8 am horseback riding @ GKTW
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - MK open til 11

There will be a group of DISers from the Podcast board that will probably be wearing matching shirts that will be volunteering at GKTW that morning. Say hello to them if you see them and let them know that you are a DISer!

Crowd score is a 7/10 for the MK. This is a pretty high score, meaning there will probably be crowds that day. You will have the FOTL pass, so it may not make as big of a difference...but parades, dining, etc will be busy. Other days this week have a crowd score of 4/5? I will post those below in case you want to change anything around.

Sunday13th: Grinch character breakfast @ Universal
Universal Studios/IOA - open til 7
evening activities @ GKTW (7:30 - Candyland)

Woo Hoo! I am so hoping that the Gingerbread Man will be out at this party! How much fun!

Monday14th : 8 am Disney character photos at GKTW
Seaworld - open til 6
Family Night @ Farris and Fosters Chocolatiers (7 pm)

What is this chocolate thing you speak of???

Tuesday 15th: 8:30 am Nickelodeon character photos @ GKTW
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - Epcot open til 9

Crowd score is a 5, but Epcot is a park to avoid on the touringplans.com website - not sure why?

Wednesday 16th: check out of GKTW
check in to Nick Hotel
Magic Kingdom et al (to be determined) - HS open til 8
evening activities @ Nick Hotel

Crowd score is a 7 and DS is a park to avoid...I will post the whole list below...

Thursday 17th: Nick Hotel pools
MVMCP @ 7

Woo HOO!! I am excited that you guys will be there on the same night we will! I will PM you my information so we can hopefully at least meet up this night. Maybe I can help get the attention of a CM about that Gingerbread Man!

Friday 18th: leave open for last minute decision
depart to Boston 8:10 pm

This is great!






Anyone notice that I left out anything? Is there anything else going on at GKTW that I should know about? We will likely be in and out for meals during the day. I hate spending alot of money on food unnecessarily. I tripped upon the Grinch Character breakfast at Universal and thought it'd be a hoot! We took our 2 oldest to see the Broadway version of the Grinch in Boston last December and they (we) loved loved loved it. We have the movie, and books and plush..........too fun! Hopefully it won't be booked. I will call tomorrow.

Haven't called for the MVMCP for the 17th yet but I think that date is the best for us. It will give us one more day at MK beyond the 3 day park hopper and it will leave the trip on a real high. If anyone thinks the Thursday will be crazy busy though let me know. Tuesday is always a possibility.

I would call for those tickets soon - that day may sell out!

I do want to do some sort of Disney character meal IF at all possible at this late date. The Alice in Wonderland Tea Party thingy looked cute (albeit expensive). The kids make cupcakes and have a tea party themed lunch. My kids love that movie. My younger one wouldn't be able to go (still not potty trained) so he could hang with us (it's only for kids, no adults). I've heard mixed reviews though. Anyone have any experience with this one?

I have never had any experience with it...but one thing I have learned about "reviews"...is that they can't really be trusted...if you think your kids will enjoy it, I would go for it! Call the ADR line and see if they have availability...you may just get lucky! 407-WDW-DINE.

None of the others jump out at me. I wouldn't be interested in many of the character dinners..................so expensive and there are soooooo many people I'm sure the interaction is limited, if at all. Maybe a breakfast if I could find one. We go to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania every year (sometimes more than once) and ALWAYS do character dining so I wouldn't be heartbroken if we didn't get one. Although they like all the Disney characters none of them are all out CRAZY for any particular one and we will see them at GKTW and throughout the parks anyway. Maybe if they had a character meal with Lightening McQueen and his pals or Sully and Mike. Now THAT they would flip for! Truth be told my Matty is a real closet Elmo nut. He knows that most people would think he's too old for Elmo but, secretly, he loves him. I always tell him not to be embarrassed. Heck, I'm 47 and I love him too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok, let me know what you think. I'm all ears (better yet, eyes)

Pamela

Ok...here are the crowd scores and info from touringplans.com

This is actually a paid subscription, but I will post them here for you since this is a wish trip - hopefully I won't get flamed.


Date crowd score best park worst park
Fri, 11 Dec '09 4 DS EP
Sat, 12 Dec '09 7 EP DS
Sun, 13 Dec '09 4 AK EP
Mon, 14 Dec '09 6 EP MK AK
Tue, 15 Dec '09 5 AK MK EP
Wed, 16 Dec '09 7 MK EP DS AK
Thu, 17 Dec '09 5 AK MK EP DS
Fri, 18 Dec '09 5 DS EP


These determinations are made by using lots of statistics that I don't understand...but they have been true for my trips...when I got to a park to avoid, it is usually quite a bit more crowded than the "best" park.

Of course, you are on a wish trip - so the lines won't be as much of an issue...but the parades, walking around, etc will be better with fewer crowds.

Right now your Disney park days are:

Saturday the 12 The best park here would be Epcot
Tuesday the 15 Best park here would be AK or MK
Wednesday the 16 Best park here would be MK/EP

Of course...you have to get DHS in there, too...This is a logic problem, really.

Anytime you have a crowd score of 4 or 5, the crowds should be lower anyway.

Anyway...I hope that helps you.

 

[StefaniLyn]

Your schedule looks great, and with Maroo's direction there isn't much for me to add. However, I think Mayor Clayton's birthday party is typically on Saturday evening and from what I heard, you don't want to miss that!

 

[maroo]

Your schedule looks great, and with Maroo's direction there isn't much for me to add. However, I think Mayor Clayton's birthday party is typically on Saturday evening and from what I heard, you don't want to miss that!

Very good point!

 

[pipersmom]

Still following along..you're so organized..I'm normally a slacker when it comes to planning, but once we get our dates I'm going to go into uber-planning mode!

Ohh..I wanna know about the chocolate thing too..yum!

 

[Momofwishkid]

Im with everyone else anxiously awaiting to fing out about this chocolatier thing.

 

[pacrosby]

Maroo,....

My, you are just the fountain of knowledge aren't you

Free disposable cameras for the kids? Really? Oh, they will love that. Re: those video/digital cameras that are available for the adults to borrow. You say limited availability. Do you know what limited means? We of course will bring our regular camera but our video camera is a bit of a dinosaur (can you say........a bit big?). It works fine but isn't the most convienent. I suppose we should bring it in case the ones they have there are already taken. My husband is one of the few men who is not into electronics and gadgets etc (and I couldn't care less). Heck, we don't even have a flat screen tv LOL

Interesting about the "crowdometer". It's good information to have for planning. Yes, we definately DO have to fit in Hollywood Studios (that's DS right?)........at LEAST one day, crowded or not. As I mentioned above those characters will really tickle my kids fancies. That parade is a MUST MUST MUST MUST DO! And, we're ok with crowds. We may not get to Disney World all that often (ok, barely ever) but we are amusement and water park afficionados and the short season up here results in our parks being pretty darn packed all the time. No worries there.

Yes, yes....MVMCP on the 17th and I just ordered the tickets right before starting this (are you a fan of Dory on Nemo? "We did it..... We did it.........oh yeah yeah yeah" - and yes, I do have the inflection and the dance going as I say it) Sooooooo very excited! Your post did panic me a bit so I immediately picked up the phone to call and order and fortunately there were tickets still available. So, yes I agree, we will definately have to connect so I can thank you in person for all the fabulous advice and support you've provided (and I've been only here for what? Less than a week?)

Oh yeah, one more thing. Re: the photopass. Is that something I get when we are there? I know I've heard it referred to here and there as I've been perusing other threads but I don't recall the specifics?



Pamela

 

[pacrosby]

Okay, I know what you're talking about. I've never had that kind, but I imagine that there is some type of memory in your camera and if so there has to be a way to get the memory to communicate with a computer. Either a card you can remove and plug into a card reader, or a place to plug a USB in. Not that you have much time before you leave...but you could take it to a photo store and ask them if they know.

I'd have to do just that. I have NO idea what you are talking about and, truth be told, I don't think my dh would be much help either LOL

This is what happens when you get old and stubborn and refuse to keep up with the technological advances in society!

Pamela

 

[pacrosby]

Your schedule looks great, and with Maroo's direction there isn't much for me to add. However, I think Mayor Clayton's birthday party is typically on Saturday evening and from what I heard, you don't want to miss that!

Yeah, I did notice but it was the only night that a park was open really late - MK is open until 11. I thought it would allow us more time to enjoy the parks (crowded or not) seeing that other nights they close kind of early. My kids would have NOOOOOOOOO problem riding 'It's a Small World' at 10:45 at night LOL

I'm sure EVERYTHING at GKTW is terrific. I want to do it all!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone know the particulars of Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party? What it actually entails? I'll have to make a judgement call on this one.

Pamela

 

[pacrosby]

Still following along..you're so organized..I'm normally a slacker when it comes to planning, but once we get our dates I'm going to go into uber-planning mode!

Ohh..I wanna know about the chocolate thing too..yum!

OMG....I'm generally so disorganized and fly by the seat of my pants no matter what the occasion (ok, except of course for my wedding) that this could not be more out of character for me. My husband is getting the biggest kick out of my sudden transformation. This is such a wonderful once and a lifetime opportunity though (kinda like my wedding). I said this before but it's worth repeating "there ain't no do over on this one". I'm going to do my best to make sure it's done right!



ok, ok, the chocolate thingy. So many of you asked!!!!! Do we have some chocolate lovers in the group??????? I actually read about this place on the boards here somewhere. It's called Farris and Foster's Fine Chocolates (or something very similar) and they are located in Orlando. They, of course, sell chocolates but they also have chocolate parties. On Monday nights they have what they have dubbed a Family Night where for 25 bucks a family (up to 6) can come in and make their own pound of chocolate (can make more than a pound for an additional cost). They suit you up in aprons and hats and let you go at it. I thought that it would be really fun and the kids could use holiday molds and perhaps make some to take home to their grandparents (yeah right...................do you really think we'll get out of there without eating it all) I'll find the website and come back and post a link (now that I know how to do that I'm so proud of myself!)

Pamela

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/ (there it is)

 

[pipersmom]

OMG....I'm generally so disorganized and fly by the seat of my pants no matter what the occasion (ok, except of course for my wedding) that this could not be more out of character for me. My husband is getting the biggest kick out of my sudden transformation. This is such a wonderful once and a lifetime opportunity though (kinda like my wedding). I said this before but it's worth repeating "there ain't no do over on this one". I'm going to do my best to make sure it's done right!


Okay, as demented as this sounds..woohoo..found another one just like me!


ok, ok, the chocolate thingy. So many of you asked!!!!! Do we have some chocolate lovers in the group??????? I actually read about this place on the boards here somewhere. It's called Farris and Foster's Fine Chocolates (or something very similar) and they are located in Orlando. They, of course, sell chocolates but they also have chocolate parties. On Monday nights they have what they have dubbed a Family Night where for 25 bucks a family (up to 6) can come in and make their own pound of chocolate (can make more than a pound for an additional cost). They suit you up in aprons and hats and let you go at it. I thought that it would be really fun and the kids could use holiday molds and perhaps make some to take home to their grandparents (yeah right...................do you really think we'll get out of there without eating it all) I'll find the website and come back and post a link (now that I know how to do that I'm so proud of myself!)

Pamela

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/ (there it is)

Okay, on the website now, and for $25 we are sooooo doing that if we can! Piper would have an absolute blast! Thank you for letting us in on it!

 

[maroo]

Maroo,....

My, you are just the fountain of knowledge aren't you

You are so sweet. Not really. Just have lots of time on my hands.

Free disposable cameras for the kids? Really? Oh, they will love that. Re: those video/digital cameras that are available for the adults to borrow. You say limited availability. Do you know what limited means?

I have heard that they have 5 of them. But most families either don't need it or don't even know it is available. I have never heard of a family that needing one not having one available to them.

We of course will bring our regular camera but our video camera is a bit of a dinosaur (can you say........a bit big?). It works fine but isn't the most convienent. I suppose we should bring it in case the ones they have there are already taken. My husband is one of the few men who is not into electronics and gadgets etc (and I couldn't care less). Heck, we don't even have a flat screen tv LOL

Hehe. I don't have a flat screen either. Both of mine are boxes!

Interesting about the "crowdometer". It's good information to have for planning. Yes, we definately DO have to fit in Hollywood Studios (that's DS right?)........at LEAST one day, crowded or not. As I mentioned above those characters will really tickle my kids fancies. That parade is a MUST MUST MUST MUST DO! And, we're ok with crowds. We may not get to Disney World all that often (ok, barely ever) but we are amusement and water park afficionados and the short season up here results in our parks being pretty darn packed all the time. No worries there.

You guys are going to be just fine, then! I really have never been bothered by the crowds...well, except two nights...and I just went back to my room. lol But you will be fine.

Yes, yes....MVMCP on the 17th and I just ordered the tickets right before starting this (are you a fan of Dory on Nemo? "We did it..... We did it.........oh yeah yeah yeah" - and yes, I do have the inflection and the dance going as I say it)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dory! You MUST see the Nemo Show in the AK...it is wonderful.

Sooooooo very excited! Your post did panic me a bit so I immediately picked up the phone to call and order and fortunately there were tickets still available. So, yes I agree, we will definately have to connect so I can thank you in person for all the fabulous advice and support you've provided (and I've been only here for what? Less than a week?)

Sorry...Didn't mean to scare ya! And yes...Did you get my PM? Private message? Check your private messages...if you didn't, post here...I am pretty sure I sent you some info about how to get in touch with me.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Re: the photopass. Is that something I get when we are there? I know I've heard it referred to here and there as I've been perusing other threads but I don't recall the specifics?

And I think I PM'd you about this, too.


Pamela

 

[maroo]

Yeah, I did notice but it was the only night that a park was open really late - MK is open until 11. I thought it would allow us more time to enjoy the parks (crowded or not) seeing that other nights they close kind of early. My kids would have NOOOOOOOOO problem riding 'It's a Small World' at 10:45 at night LOL

I'm sure EVERYTHING at GKTW is terrific. I want to do it all!!!!!!!!!! Does anyone know the particulars of Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party? What it actually entails? I'll have to make a judgement call on this one.

Pamela

Mayor Clayton's Birthday Party ... It is fun, I am sure... That is the one party we actually saw (if you have not read my TR about Lauren's trip...it was a TRIP!)...I don't know what to tell you.

Chocolate would win out for me every time. But no clue what your kids would want?

 

[pacrosby]

ok.....I'm back AGAIN! We don't have internet access on our home computer (see, I keep telling you all) so I can only research and post when I have dh's work computer (and I can pirate off of someone's wireless sssshhhhhhhh). Once in a while (like yesterday) he can leave it for me all day but generally it's only at night. Thus, I have to research, request AND respond all in a matter of a few consecutive hours. My poor little chickens. It's going to be tough for them the next few weeks without their momma after 7pm



I researched the Alice and Wonderland Tea Party and nixed that idea after finding out that parents are KICKED OUT OF THE ROOM How mean is that?!!! How can you take fantabulous pictures of your precious kiddos having so much fun if you CAN'T stay in the room?!! Blasphemous (sp?)!!! Anyways so now I'm rethinking some character breakfast. The 1900 Park Fare (is that right?) has that Supercalifragi...whatchamacallit breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter PLUS Tigger and ooh! That'd be cool. Of course at this point it appears it's all booked So what do I do? Keep checking for cancellations?

DH and I also conferred and decided a couple of reservations at not-so-expensive fun themed restaurants might be worth thinking about. The food is honestly less important than the surroundings (I could eat Rice Krispies and a banana morning, noon and night and even better if life-sized cut-outs of Snap, Krackle and Pop were all over the walls/ceilings and floor LOL). That Sci-Fi Diner looked like a place my kids would love. Anybody have any thoughts? Any other places you know of that really appeal to kids?

Pamela

 

[pacrosby]

ok, just emailed to request reservations for the Holiday Grinch and Friends character breakfast at Universal for Sunday 12/13!!!!! This is TOO much fun I am crossing all of my appendages for the next 72 hours (that's how long they suggest it could take for them to get back to me) Universal has some hilarious counter service restaurants too..................Circus McGurkus and Monsters Cafe. Definately will be on our must do stops for a little snack while we are there!

Pamela

 

[maroo]

ok.....I'm back AGAIN! We don't have internet access on our home computer (see, I keep telling you all) so I can only research and post when I have dh's work computer (and I can pirate off of someone's wireless sssshhhhhhhh). Once in a while (like yesterday) he can leave it for me all day but generally it's only at night. Thus, I have to research, request AND respond all in a matter of a few consecutive hours. My poor little chickens. It's going to be tough for them the next few weeks without their momma after 7pm



I researched the Alice and Wonderland Tea Party and nixed that idea after finding out that parents are KICKED OUT OF THE ROOM How mean is that?!!! How can you take fantabulous pictures of your precious kiddos having so much fun if you CAN'T stay in the room?!! Blasphemous (sp?)!!! Anyways so now I'm rethinking some character breakfast. The 1900 Park Fare (is that right?) has that Supercalifragi...whatchamacallit breakfast with Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter PLUS Tigger and ooh! That'd be cool. Of course at this point it appears it's all booked So what do I do? Keep checking for cancellations?

DH and I also conferred and decided a couple of reservations at not-so-expensive fun themed restaurants might be worth thinking about. The food is honestly less important than the surroundings (I could eat Rice Krispies and a banana morning, noon and night and even better if life-sized cut-outs of Snap, Krackle and Pop were all over the walls/ceilings and floor LOL). That Sci-Fi Diner looked like a place my kids would love. Anybody have any thoughts? Any other places you know of that really appeal to kids?

Pamela

I would do three things on the reservation for 1900 Park Fare...

1. Call the ADR line every day...sometimes twice a day...407-WDW-DINE. Make sure to tell them you are a Wish Family that just recently got your dates.

2. Go online on the dining website and also check for a reservation. You can also try different size parties...for example: If you have 2 people that want to go, you can try to reserve for 4 - sometimes they have a 4 top available and no 2 tops. If you have 7 people, you may need to split your reservation into two parties of 4? I know...that equals 8...but it is hard to find a 3 person table.

3. PM me this information: restaurant, # adults, # of children, each child's age, date you want the ressie (with alternate dates) and approximate time and I have a few folks that are willing to get on the dining website often and alert me if there is one available...then I can alert you.


Sci Fi...sounds fun! Another hard to get ressie, though...you may need to PM me that info, too. And try the above steps.

 

[StefaniLyn]

ok, ok, the chocolate thingy. So many of you asked!!!!! Do we have some chocolate lovers in the group??????? I actually read about this place on the boards here somewhere. It's called Farris and Foster's Fine Chocolates (or something very similar) and they are located in Orlando. They, of course, sell chocolates but they also have chocolate parties. On Monday nights they have what they have dubbed a Family Night where for 25 bucks a family (up to 6) can come in and make their own pound of chocolate (can make more than a pound for an additional cost). They suit you up in aprons and hats and let you go at it. I thought that it would be really fun and the kids could use holiday molds and perhaps make some to take home to their grandparents (yeah right...................do you really think we'll get out of there without eating it all) I'll find the website and come back and post a link (now that I know how to do that I'm so proud of myself!)

Pamela

http://www.farrisandfosters.com/ (there it is)

Ohhhh . . . that is so tempting. I may need to arrange a few dates on our trip to make this happen. Hmmmmmmm. . . . Thanks for sharing!

 

[pacrosby]

Finally got dh's computer. What nerve of him, making me wait so long

I spent this morning trying to iron out some of the details on my tentative schedule; flipped a few things. Of course I came up with more questions! Here goes.......

Re: rope drops: I've heard alot about them. Are they worth it? What time would we have to leave GKTW to make it (let's say, for example, park opens at 9:00). Is it worth missing a character photo op at GKTW (since that is generally what it would mean). Are we just as likely to see the characters and get good interaction/photo ops in the parks?

Re: Nick Character photo ops: Anyone know who the characters are? I greatly limit my kids' time spent in front of that channel. I think the only characters they are intimately familiar with are the kooks from Fairly Oddparents and that ridiculous SpongeBob nut and his pals I actually HATE that SpongeBob show but find the manner in which they have configured the characters to be rather hilarious. I mean a talking sponge with appendages???? Who EVER thought of that?

Anyone know the true drive time between GKTW and parks (from door to turnstile)? Is it reasonable to even consider coming back to GKTW for a lunch break or is likely to eat up too much time? Did I read that you can get a boxed lunch to take with you for the day? Could you take such a thing into the park?

Is actual Park Hopping within a single day worth it? How much time is it likely to take to go from one park to another? I know the monorail goes btw MK and Epcot but btw the others you have to drive don't you? Seeing that operating hours are reduced at this time of year would too much time be lost?

Do we need a whole day to tour AK? A 1/2 day? 3/4 of a day? 1/3? 2/3? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh you get the idea

I'll be back!

Pamela

 

[yinyanggirls]

Good questions! I'll be reading the answers with interest.
Also, thanks for passing along the Chocolatier's info. If we have time, my kids would love that.

 

[pacrosby]

Good questions! I'll be reading the answers with interest.
Also, thanks for passing along the Chocolatier's info. If we have time, my kids would love that.

Hey Melissa!

Do you have PTR? I just realized that I don't have you as one to try and keep up with

Pamela

 

[yinyanggirls]

Hey Melissa!

Do you have PTR? I just realized that I don't have you as one to try and keep up with

Pamela

Thanks far asking, but NO, not yet. I have been trying to hold off until I have dates. We're looking at April so there will be plenty of time to follow along! And since you'll be back by then, you'll be oh-so-helpful.