Starting to plan for tickets and ADRs for late January trip About This Page:

[Dlandmom2]

It's looking more and more like we'll be staying at the Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC) on International Drive near Publix. It's my first ever trip, and I'm so excited!

Ok, generally speaking, since I'm offsite and can't take advantage of EMH, I should be planning to go to the EMH park on the day after, right?

We're on the West Coast, so our internal clocks will be 3 hours behind at least for the first few days, so I'm thinking that I'll be making dinner ADRs for later in the evening the first few days. I just read some threads about being able to see the fireworks either before, during, or after dinner, but I don't think the January park schedule will be out when my 180 day window comes up next month. That being said, is there a general guide of when Wishes, Illuminations, etc., is shown so that I can try to plan my ADR's accordingly? I know I'd love to have some added entertainment during dinner, and I'm sure my kids will as well! I know it's not guaranteed, but if I can do my best timing-wise, I think everyone will be pretty impressed with my superior planning skills!

As far as tickets go, my husband just wants to do the single park tickets. He doesn't see the value in having parkhoppers, and trust me I've done my best trying to convince him the flexibility will be SO worth it! So if I'm "stuck" doing single park tickets, I'm thinking that I'm only going to purchase a 7-day ticket since we'll be there for 10 days/9 nights. We'll arrive too late the first day to enjoy a park, and we most likely won't have time on the last day either. I'm thinking we'll want at least one day during the stay to rest and not do any parks...maybe enjoy the hotel pool, etc. Of course that'll make planning ADRs harder since I'll have to make sure they're for the right park on the right day, lol!

Finally, if anyone's familiar with that Publix and the new HGVC, will I be able to walk to the market? I figure International Drive is pretty darn busy, but would I have any problems walking to the market to pick up a few things? I'm hoping we can get a car since I've heard that offsite shuttles can sometimes be unreliable or burdensome with tired kids. If I get enough responses here that having a car will really be worth it in the end, then maybe I can convince him!

Thanks in advance for all the help!

[janicelovesmickey]

just an fyi- the international drive is closer to universal, that being said, I think you should look into a car rental.
Also park hoppers are so worth it. when your staying that long, say one park is super crowded, and you just dont want to be there, its great knowing you can just go to the lesser crowded one.
the show times are pretty consistant, if you look at the december schedule they are pretty much the same times unless its the MVMCP going on... but since your going in january you wouldnt have to worry,

and when a park has evening EMH that is wise to go to it the next day

[Dlandmom2]

Thanks, janice! So how far away is it time-wise from that Publix (and I was told the HGVC is also near the Premium Outlets) to the parks, generally? It looks fairly close on a map, but I know traffic can be a bear there. On the HGVC website, it says 15 minutes from WDW, but somehow I don't believe them, lol!

I forgot to ask in my original post about the likelihood of walk up meals when I'm there. On a January weekday, how likely will it be that we can get walk up ressies for a TS? Which restaurants at the resorts are more likely to be available?

I'm going to make ADRs for the meals that we absolutely want to try and hope that we'l be in the right place and right time for them, but I'm thinking it's just gonna be really hard to plan what everyone will want 6 months ahead of time. I'm just hoping that late January will be slow enough that we'll be able to luck into some decent TS meals and not have to go CS the whole time, lol!

[janicelovesmickey]

that sorry I dont know, but you know everything on a map is an inch apart lol
oh well TS meals are unlikely I suggest you at least call at the 180 mark and
make the ADR's then you can always change them around afterwards
same with the resort sit down meals.

but since your going after the holiday madness, you may have a little more luck.
but just incase make them, then you can switch stuff around or change or cancel.

I am sure someone will let you know about the Publix question.
and the outlet malls. we went on our last day to the outlet mall but I dont know where it was or even the name of it, i think it was the one you listed.