Tuesday, August 30, 2011
100 Days Until Disney!
In honor of 100 days away from Disney, I'm watching "My Yard Goes Disney" that I Tivoed off HGTV. They are doing a yard with a Custom Mickey Shaped Pool. My only question is how much would that cost to do in my new house?! I have to have one. One of the Ears is a Hot Tub. I mean what more would you want in your backyard?!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Planning
People often make fun of me for my (sometimes) obsessive planning. Especially when it comes to Disney. But when you've been as many times as I have you understand that you have to be a planner!
In most places when you call 4 months out for reservations, you pretty much can book what you want. Disney is not that easy sometimes. I called yesterday for reservations Dec. 9 - Dec. 12. Out of 7 Disney Vacation Club resorts, there was only 1 hotel that met my room criteria and date range. I was a little bummed that I couldn't get my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th choices. Fortunately, I was able to get on a wait list for my 1st and 2nd choices if they become available. *Fingers Crossed*
When I started looking at booking dinner reservations, I ran into the same problems. Again, I get made fun of for making dinner reservations but you have to understand Disney to realize that making ADVANCED dining reservations is a must! Most places that I wanted to eat at were already completely booked up. I was able to get a couple reservations at odd times - not really times that families with children would want. Disney allows you to make reservations 120 days in advance. You may be thinking that no one does this. I promise you, they do! I'm talking being on the computer at 12:01 am, 120 days before your vacation begins. I know this because, I confess, I have done this before. And the popular restuarants will be completely booked, so planning is a must if you want to get everything you want out of your vacation.
Not everyone can plan vacations so far in advanced like my family does- we are already planning the 2012 Disney Vacation and have booked the 2013 Disney Cruise! But if you can look at your families' advanced calendar, try to book as far in advanced as possible. It will let you have the optimal vacation experience!
Disclaimer - if you can't plan in advance - and I have done those spur of the moment trips (for me, that would be 4 weeks in advance!) - you still will have a wonderful time. You will be in The Happiest Place in the World!
In most places when you call 4 months out for reservations, you pretty much can book what you want. Disney is not that easy sometimes. I called yesterday for reservations Dec. 9 - Dec. 12. Out of 7 Disney Vacation Club resorts, there was only 1 hotel that met my room criteria and date range. I was a little bummed that I couldn't get my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th choices. Fortunately, I was able to get on a wait list for my 1st and 2nd choices if they become available. *Fingers Crossed*
When I started looking at booking dinner reservations, I ran into the same problems. Again, I get made fun of for making dinner reservations but you have to understand Disney to realize that making ADVANCED dining reservations is a must! Most places that I wanted to eat at were already completely booked up. I was able to get a couple reservations at odd times - not really times that families with children would want. Disney allows you to make reservations 120 days in advance. You may be thinking that no one does this. I promise you, they do! I'm talking being on the computer at 12:01 am, 120 days before your vacation begins. I know this because, I confess, I have done this before. And the popular restuarants will be completely booked, so planning is a must if you want to get everything you want out of your vacation.
Not everyone can plan vacations so far in advanced like my family does- we are already planning the 2012 Disney Vacation and have booked the 2013 Disney Cruise! But if you can look at your families' advanced calendar, try to book as far in advanced as possible. It will let you have the optimal vacation experience!
Disclaimer - if you can't plan in advance - and I have done those spur of the moment trips (for me, that would be 4 weeks in advance!) - you still will have a wonderful time. You will be in The Happiest Place in the World!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Art of Animation
Where to stay is probably the 2nd biggest decisions that you make when planning your trip to Disney, only after when to go. I will have several blogs about hotels since I have stayed at 70% of the hotels in Disney. Now that is impressive if I do say so myself!
Two years ago, when two of my best friends and I (and my precious niece SJ in the womb) went to Disney for Christmas, we stayed at Disney's Pop Century Resort. Pop Century is a value level resort. Value Resorts are the more inexpensive resorts on property. You still get the Disney experience, but the rooms are smaller and the resorts are much larger. We were overall pleased with our stay there, but one morning Laurelee and I went and looked at the back part of the resort.
A little history lesson - Pop Century's buildings are dedicated to different decades. Originally, when the resort was built there was going to be 2 sections the Classic Years and the Legendary Years. The Classic Years, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s and the Legendary Years were to be separated by a lake called the Generation Gap. The Classic Years opened, but the economy turned sour and the Legendary Years was started but never completed...Now back to my story
Laurelee went to the back part of our building, which overlooked the ruins of the Legendary Years. Disney is normally very clean and put together. Any construction or unfinished business is usually blocked from view as to not tarnish the reputation of Disney. The Legendary Years were an exception the rule. I was horrified at the building across the Generation Gap. And being the Disney fan I am, I was a little appalled. I should have taken a picture.
Anyway, last year Disney announced that they would finally be finishing the Legendary Years, but with a different spin. Instead of the Legendary Years, it will be called Disney's Art of Animation Resorts. The rooms will be all family suites. This is a great addition to the Disney Family because rooms that accommodate larger families, or families that just want a little more space, have been on the more expensive end of the spectrum. Art of Animation will be a Value Level "Suites" Resort!
This week the Disney Blog just released some pictures of the inside of the rooms. The Resort will be open in 2012 and I'm sure will fit into a lot of people's budgets.
D23 Expo
Time has rolled around again and it is the weekend of the D23 Expo. What is that? D23 is an exclusive club for the elite Disney fans. I was a member for their first year - about 3 years ago, but the annual Dues are expensive so I decided to save my money and forgo my membership.
But one of the most exciting things that D23 does is the annual D23 Expo. It is a giant convention of Disney! New, exciting information on the Parks, movies, actors, merchandise, anything you can think of. It's a 3-day weekend that is all about Disney. I have longed to go since they announced the first Expo. But it is always in Anaheim, CA. To take a weekend jaunt to CA would be great a hike, so for now I can only hope that one day it will be in Florida and I can attend.
If you would like to visit the website and see what is going on, click on this link http://d23.disney.go.com/expo/index.html?int_cmp=SOC-intDPFY11Q3DisneyParksToysAndGamesAtD23Expo27-07-11@0003
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
12 Months of the Year...365 Days of Disney
One of the biggest questions, and first hurdles of planning a trip to Disney, is when to go? Frankly, I don't think there is a bad time to go. It just depends on your family's schedule. Both of my parents are teachers, so we always "had" to go in the summer.
Now I love the summer in Disney! It's hot and there are a lot people to "people watch"! I have been in June and July and I think that June is a less crowded than July and less rainy. There are many schools that are not out yet in early June so we have found the first two weeks of June to be less crowded than the rest of the summer. The weather during the summer is hot with a 80% chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Don't like that deter you. They last about 15 minutes and then it's sunny again!
Will the lines be long? Yes and no. The popular rides will be busy. Be prepared to wait 40+ minutes for those rides. But you can easily find rides that will have 10 - 15 minute ride.
While the summer is busy, it isn't the busiest season! I would not recommend going the week before Christmas and the week in between Christmas and New Years. I was in Disney the day after New Years a couple of years ago and I was shocked at the length of the lines. I'm talking like 3 hours for The Haunted Mansion! Easter is also another super busy holiday.
But during the off times of the year, Walt Disney World does a great job at hosting some great events to entice you attend. In the Spring, EPCOT hosts the Flower and Garden Show. It is absolutely beautiful. EPCOT plays home to many character topiaries. The weather is warming up and sometimes can already get into the high 80s, low 90s, but the rain is not bad yet.
In the Fall, especially around Halloween, Disney has Mickey Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is where Magic Kingdom closes early and for a special-priced ticket, you can go in and Trick-Or-Treat with the characters as well as ride the rides. The weather during the Fall is great. Not as hot, but the nights are still warm.
Besides the summer, I personally love the Christmas season. I've found the week after Thanksgiving, first week of December to be a great time to go. The decorations are up, but the crowds are in a lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The weather is descent. Most of the times I've been it has been in the mid 70s and 60s at night (which is actually chilly!) I have been 3 years in a row now to view the Christmas decorations and I don't think I can get in the Christmas Spirit without some Disney!
I think it is sometimes about your perspective. If you go into Disney knowing that you will have to wait, it's not that bad. If you go in thinking that you are going to get on every ride, then be prepared to be disappointed.
But anytime you pick, it will be wonderful.
Now I love the summer in Disney! It's hot and there are a lot people to "people watch"! I have been in June and July and I think that June is a less crowded than July and less rainy. There are many schools that are not out yet in early June so we have found the first two weeks of June to be less crowded than the rest of the summer. The weather during the summer is hot with a 80% chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Don't like that deter you. They last about 15 minutes and then it's sunny again!
Will the lines be long? Yes and no. The popular rides will be busy. Be prepared to wait 40+ minutes for those rides. But you can easily find rides that will have 10 - 15 minute ride.
While the summer is busy, it isn't the busiest season! I would not recommend going the week before Christmas and the week in between Christmas and New Years. I was in Disney the day after New Years a couple of years ago and I was shocked at the length of the lines. I'm talking like 3 hours for The Haunted Mansion! Easter is also another super busy holiday.
Besides the summer, I personally love the Christmas season. I've found the week after Thanksgiving, first week of December to be a great time to go. The decorations are up, but the crowds are in a lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The weather is descent. Most of the times I've been it has been in the mid 70s and 60s at night (which is actually chilly!) I have been 3 years in a row now to view the Christmas decorations and I don't think I can get in the Christmas Spirit without some Disney!
I think it is sometimes about your perspective. If you go into Disney knowing that you will have to wait, it's not that bad. If you go in thinking that you are going to get on every ride, then be prepared to be disappointed.
But anytime you pick, it will be wonderful.
Monday, August 15, 2011
School Days are Here Again :(
School is back in session and there is one thing that I'm missing right now...
That's right! Cinderella's Castle. School time is always so sad for me because it signifies the end of summer and the end of vacation. There is only one cure for that - time to plan the next trip! As I start to plan my next trip, please email me if you have any questions about planning your trip. I have a lot of Disney information up in my head so ask away!
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