Trying to Plan but getting confused/overwhelmed About This Page:

[tink305]

Hi. Havent posted in ages. Ihave planned a trip for 12/13-12/21. Could really use some help please. Its myself 47,dh 55,dd15, ds 16 and ds17. I personally have been to wdw many times. Have taken dd and 16 yr old. Thi is our first family trip. Staying at POR. This is our/my first christmas trip. So excited .But confused. We just moved down to Fla last month. So we will be getting ap.But got fd so already have 2 days tix. Trying to plan days and adrs. I wanna go to MVMCP,CP and Fantasmic. For CP we are leaning toward the 14th for Olivia Newton Joh. That day also is our anniversary. There is a few days during our trip where the narrator isnt available yet. Ok so. For Cp i think we are going to do early show and lunch @ Via Nap. Im trying to mix it up with old and new. Seems like more old than new. Wasthinking about 13th and mcp? But thats our arrival date. Had chosen late lunch at cp? BUt also thinking about trying Turf Club (new) and going another day. Figured we would see osbourne as we are in HS for Fantasmic. Probalbly going to do either 50s or Sci. Both repeats for me and dd.
Im hoping that the plus dining will be good for us. Im not interested in qs and have done deluxe. Love it but so expensive. Was thinking bout getting TIW to supplement. Im so behind with adrs and im getting nervous about being locked out. Oh also got 'ohana also repeat for me and dd.
Hwo would you plan this? I look forward to any and all input. Thanks!

[aliceinwdw]

First things first, I would make a calendar of the days and park hours so you can have an idea of where you will want to be on what day and when. That usually helps me when making my ADRs.

Next thing, make those ADRs! You might have a hard time getting those hard-to-get reservations this may days past your 180 day mark; however, that's a great way to be "forced" to try something new!

Also, I would look into buying your tickets for any special events that you want to attend, like MVMCP, pretty soon. Normally, I would avoid heading to the party on my arrival day, but usually the closer you get to the actual holiday, the busier the parties become. So if you think you and your family can last the night, go for it!

As far as the Candlelight Processional, doing it for your anniversary sounds perfect! It's a nice way to do something special in keeping with the time of year and yet celebrating why you're there in the first place! Plus, if it's a narrator you're looking forward to seeing, it's totally an added bonus.

For the Tables in Wonderland card, it's great for families who prefer to get appetizers and/or alcoholic beverages with their meals -- at least that's what the DH and I do, and we find that the savings are pretty great.

Hope that helps a little bit! And don't be worried! We're all here to help.

[tink305]

Hi thanks so much for the reply. I totally agree with u about not going to a park the first day. Then again im used to driving from ny not the other side of fla lol. Ok, for some reason tried to post before it wouldnt go? Anyway, with the DDP i have mostly dinner and lunches i think . Here is what i have so far. The breakfasts we chose are boma and wcc. Have never tried them. Im not a big breakfast fan honestly. Like i said i chose crystal pal the night or early dinner for party. But have turf club as a backup. I hear its great. I have 50s and scfi. Have tried both. In epcot, garden grill never tried. And via napoli. DD who is picky liked it last yr. Oh and 'ohana dinner. Anything you would change or add honestly.
I also have another idea. I am scheduled for 12/13 to 12/21. I was thinking that i would shorten the trip to 12/19? With all this being said. Oh and will be skipping ak. Just didnt thril me. How many days in each park and ideas for adrs other than what i have. With the exception of myself, no fish eaters. Ive eaten in many places in the last 3 yrs. I find it harder with more people planning this. Being everyone is so different in their tastes.

[I Lov Mickey Mouse]

I would go to the New BE Our Guest in the new fantasyland in MK. It wont be open when I go, but they will be taking Res. for the holidays.

[I Lov Mickey Mouse]

Also you living in Fl. watch for them to extand the discount for you after Sept. 30.

[tink305]

Oh i forgot al about it. It should be open when we are there. Im even open to the qs. Looks really nice. Im thinking another in mk might be cosmic rays. Good variety. HS probably skip qs. I would love to try AOA as well. EP is going to be a different story. Cant figure out what to choose there lol.

[tink305]

Yes we just moved down here from NY early july. Oh really? When u say extend the dates for us what do u mean. Here is something else i did. Being we are 5 originally i reserved 2 rooms at the pop. But when i did the numbers with wdw cm i found it came out a lot less expensive to have all 5 in the room at POR. Ok, so its going to be a lil tighter but for the amount of money im saving like about 1000 i believe i think we can deal with it. I am still tossing around the idea of shortening the trip though. Oh and another perk of the mod was the fact that the reg ddp came with it. Where as the qs came with the pop. So that would be 2 rooms and have to upgrad to at least the ddp. I really wish i could do dxdp.Yes its a lot of food i know. But with 5 people,3 being teenagers we will probably go thru a lot of food lol.But to upgrade it is crazy money wise.

[808boneplayer]

I would make sure you get the ADR's taken care of. Our last trip to the world, we weren't on it for our ADR's and we payed the price. This upcoming trip we learned our lesson and made sure we got everything.

Other than that, I would have to agree with what has been said so far.

~TRavis

[tink305]

Thanks. I do have some ressies. This is what its looking like so far. They are all very subject to change if need be.
12/13 arrival. @ POR. I booked Crystal Palace for a early dinner/late lunch. THis was if we were to do MVMCP. Im rethinking this one. Usually i drive from NY but we are living in Fla now.We wouldnt normally run to a park the first day. I also have Turf club on the back burner. Ive always heard nice things about it. Seems like there is something for everyone no matter how picky. 12/14 Would normally be the first park day. Its always been tradition for me since a kid to go to MK and run to small world lol. But this may be our first epcot day. Planning CP pkg with via napoli. Enjoyed eating there last yr. The narrator is Olivia newton john., love her. But its also our 18th anniversary. We will also be celebrating my oldest sons 18th bd. I also have on the 15thTurf again if we were to go to CP first day. That is for dinner. Then on the 16th i have both 50s and sci fi. Have eaten in both. Actually twice for 50s. Liked it. Only reason i would go back again is cause my dh and ds havent gone there. I think they would like it. I also wanna do fantasmic. No pkg. I would do mama again. But we are eating at VN. So its basically same food wise to a point. Oh and on 12/17 have WCC for bk. Never been there. I also have another sci fi for 12/19. . Oh anda few more. "ohana forearly dinner. Then here is another new one for me, garden girll 12/18. Boma breakfast on 12/15. I have been really considering T rex Kona is another one i love..See my ressies are all over the place. This is whats confusing me. Im very flexible. So up for change. Just keep in mind i want to do MVMCP,CP and F!. Plan on seeing osbourne as well.
I am also getting tiw card to supplement. So if anyone can help plan day by day i would be grateful. Usually im great at planning. But ive only planned for 2 or 3 at the most. And when i started staying on property in 09 it was only 90 days out for adrs i believe. If anyone has suggestions for CS as well thats great. I wold like to do a character meal. I know cm is the ultimate in character meals. Have been there 3 times. I think im cm out lol. Food was so so. Oh heres another biggie. I was actually considering cutting trip down to the 19th just not sure if i wanna. So far all the help has been great. I just wish i could nail this down day by day with meals both cs and ts. Is thereany u would pay oop with tiw. Thanks so much for all the input. Sorr if this was lengthy and confusing.

[tink305]

Heres one more question i forgot to ask. How long would u stay at disney for? Should i go from 12/13-12/21 or cut it back to the 19th? How many days in each park. I will be getting fla res ap's. So it come s with the ph i was told. TY

[aliceinwdw]

If trying to eat at new places is a big factor, then that's what I would plan for. If DH and DS haven't been before, then everything will be new for them, so eat where you really want to eat (especially if they're not picky ).

As far as how long to go? Um, IMO, the longer the better! But, if you're getting the Florida Resident AP (yes the APs have "built-in" PH), I'm assuming you then plan on coming back within the year? If so, then if cost or time off, etc. is a factor now, then shortening the trip because you'll be back again relatively soon isn't such a bad idea.

For how many days for each park, generally, if time allows for it, I like 2 days for MK, 2 days for Epcot, and 1 day each for DHS and AK. That to me is a nice pace for each park without feeling rushed or like you're missing anything -- and it allows for a TS meal for dinner each day.

Also, how long is your drive to WDW -- being that you're now living in Florida? Driving a couple hours and then hitting the party that same night as your check-in isn't so bad since, to me, traveling by air is a bit more tiring and that's why DH and I usually chose to skip any events for the same day we check-in.