Hey guys. I had a few minutes and wanted to post a few notes:
- While we are staying on a DVC reservation, we are not staying in a DVC room. You can pay to have your points converted to ‘cash’ to use at any resort. Which is what the AMAZING reader did for us. We are in a regular cabin at Fort Wilderness which is why we have Mousekeeping everyday. DVC rooms do not get Mousekeeping everyday.
- We tip Mousekeeping $5 a day. I read that it is etiquette to tip $1 per person plus $1 extra. I like knowing that I am making someone’s day while I am at the parks. They do an AMAZING job cleaning our cabin.
- Jacob gets up at 5 am every single morning no matter what. If he goes to bed at midnight, he’s up at 5 am. Little booger.
- We checked Touringplans.com for the crowd levels. They were sooooooooo wrong about yesterday. But it’s fine. We changed our expectations and had a great time. I am reverting back to my plans I make when we go in May. Crowds were not as heavy as our first 2 trips, so following one of those original touring plans should be a breeze.
- We are going to the Magic Kingdom again Wednesday and Thursday. We want to see the Electrical Parade Thursday night. We were going to see it on Saturday but since the marathon is this weekend and Touring Plans was soooooooooooo off about yesterday’s crowd, we decided they will likely be off all week so I am going with my gut instead.
- Friday is Hollywood Studios (lunch at Sci Fi Dining) and Saturday is Animal Kingdom (breakfast at Tusker House. Just booked that reservation last night!)
- No we do not have the dining plan. I plan to post a lengthy post about that decision next week but basically I did the math and it was not the best option for us. It has been cheaper for us so far this trip to just pay for the meals out of pocket. We do not eat as much food as they give you on the dining plan. We were not eligible for the free dining promo they are running right now since we have a DVC reservation. :D
- The double stroller the kids are riding in is a rental from Touring Park Strollers. Emily was too large for our double umbrella so I gave it away last year. However with her just having her appendix out in November, I didn’t want her walking too much. So I looked into renting a stroller. Disney strollers are $31 a day! But I found this rental for about $120 for the week. However, I used my clout as a blogger and got it for FREE in exchange for review and advertising. Go me! I am so thrilled with this stroller. It is like the Cadillac of strollers.
- The weather is amazing. It is so comfortable that I have been wearing shorts to the park with a light jacket in the morning that I shed about 9:30. The weather is sooooooooo much better than when we have been here before.
- I have a WordPress App that I use to blog from the parks. The whole post takes about 5 minutes (from taking the pics, resizing them, writing the post and waiting for it to publish) and I either do it while I am walking behind my hubby to another ride or while we are standing in line. But my little boogers keep taking my phone over to watch tv shows I had added to iTunes before we left.
- We are having a great time. We have had a few meltdowns but that is just to be expected. Both kids can not do the thing they want to do at the same time. It just isn’t possible. As parents we just try to take a step back and try not to get stressed as we settle the kids back down.
- We are loving Fort Wilderness. It is so beautiful and peaceful. And since it is an older resort, it has close boat docks and bus stops. At the end of a day in the parks, that really matters!
- And yes I walk around the parks grinning to myself because I know I have 1000s of people waiting to hear about what we are doing in the park. I LOVE being a blogger. I always wanted to be popular in high school and this totally trumps that. I love you all so much! You make my life better. Seriously. I don’t know what I would do without all of you some days. I am so so so thankful that I decided to start a blog and I can form these friendships with all of you. You have all been there to help me through some tough trials over the past 6 months and I am forever grateful. :)
Gotta go wake up the hubby now to get ready to head to the Magic Kingdom! I want to run to the store this morning before we go and get me some inserts for my shoes. My feet are killing me!
So – if you know about touring plans, then I’m sure you have a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. The thing is immensely huge but so very helpful. Len Testa is the co-author for the Unofficial Guide, and he’s the one who came up with touring plans.
Also – have you heard of wdwtoday.com? Len Testa, along with 3 other guys have podcasts 3 days a week on all things Disney and even take listener emails. They are hilarious and full of helpful tips and trivia. They are currently up to episode 822! My husband and I used to download a bunch of episodes to the Ipod and listen to them on our twice yearly drives to WDW from Wisconsin.
Continue having a blast on your trip!
So glad you’re having fun! We used to stay at Fort Wilderness when I was growing up and I would love to stay there again sometime.
My 4 yr old also likes to get up at 5 am. Every single day. No matter what.
Your trip just sounds amazing! I can’t wait until my husband and I can go.
I think that is so nice of you to offer a cute D and B purse like that. I have subscribed to your emails and also liked you on FB. THANKS for the fun posts.
So glad to hear y’all are having a great time!
We’ve only been to DW during October… I’ve wondered what the weather would be like down there during December and January…
We also rented the red double stroller for the kids when we went…we loved it and the kids loved it more!! The kids slept in it so well, which was so nice for us…we could keep going with our older son and the little two were able to sleep when they needed to…which made everyone happy!! I would highly recommend it over disney rentals any day!
I absolutely loved this post and I can’t wait to read about the meal plan debate. I am wondering about it being the best deal for us the next time we go, especially because I don’t know how many character meals we will do the next time.
We are DVC members. The dining plan thing irks me. I tried to convince my husband that we would be better off doing OOP, but we did a BUNCH of character meals this last trip. I still need to do my comparison to either prove him right or wrong. The fact that I gained 7#s on our trip should be enough reason right there!
Thanks for the update! I love living vicariously through your trip!
I love reading your blog and am especially enjoying following you on your trip! Thanks for all the great info and tips!! We will put some of it to use on our next trip in June! Enjoy!!!
I also rented a stroller this past summer, one of those sit and stands. It awas a lifesaver at the end of a long day at the parks!
I’m glad you’re having a great time. The cabins are great, aren’t they?! I love them and we’ll never stay anywhere else.
My feet were killing me to when we went down too….we had gotten a $200 gift card when we booked our trip so I used that to get myself a pair of the mickey crocs. I’m telling you, I’m not crazy about the style of crocs but my feet didn’t hurt at all after I started wearing them!
Thanks for all the wonderful pictures and updates while your on vacation.
Looks like everyone is having a great time…..wish I was there :)
So happy you are having a good time. I don’t know how you do it. I’m having trouble keep up with all your post….can’t imagine how you have the time to post them. Enjoy!
P.S. How did you download tv shows from iTunes? We bought my DD an iTouch for Christmas and we are trying to figure this all out.
I really enjoy reading your comments and seeing your pictures and being able to go to Disney “virtually” this week. The first time I went to Disney as an adult, we were there for two days, The second morning I went to a shoe store right outside Disney property and bought more comfortable, supportive shoes. I couldn’t find any shoes in Downtown Disney that I liked. Better shoes made for a much more enjoyable day for Day 2, especially at the end of the day. Have a great time : )
I always were my mickey mouse crocs or crocs flip flops and my feet never hurt! You should give it a try!!
I have been looking at FW cabins for our trip, but alot of people complain about the long walk to their cabin after being at the parks all day, since the cabins are really spread out – but I guess some are farther away than others. A lot of people recommend renting a golf cart, at like $60/day! I would be traveling with a 2 and 6 year old – any thoughts on if this would matter in terms of their age and walking? We like the space and bed situation with the cabins. Any ideas or feedback would be appreciated!
Please let me know about how the dining plan choice works. We are going on the Dream Cruise and the parks afterwards next Thanksgiving. My in-laws are paying for the parks and room but we have to pay for food. We have always found it cheaper to get the dining plan. My oldest daughter will be moving to adult prices and eats quite alot so I am thinking the dining would be better. Keep up the good work!
Can not wait to hear about the dining experience and the math! I was looking at the specials where they have Kids stay and play free – and was doing the math if it would be cheaper to take advantage of that or to get the dining plan, because you can’t do both! So I am very excited to hear about this! :) Hope you guys have a wonderful time
I would love to hear about your dining plans. We havent went to Dinseyland yet because my son has a food allergy. But reading your post.. I might be able to work arould that:)
Kara – My son has food allergies too (peanut and tree nuts) and Disney was terrific during our Sept trip when we had the regular dining plan. We are going again in a few weeks with just the quick service dining plan. It takes a little bit of prior planning especially since my son is only 4 but it is well worth it. I say go for it!
Glad you guys are having such a great time! I’ve been loving looking at the pictures you’re posting of the kids and all the fun things you’re doing :).
I can’t wait to read your decision about the dining plan later on. I’ve only used it once, and it was nice for that because a friend and I were having a girl’s weekend, but usually, just doesn’t seem necessary for the price.
I love reading your post about your trip! I
So glad you are having fun! You have a great attitude that inspires me!
So glad you’re having fun! I love living vicariously through Disney trip reports! Have fun at the Sci-Fi, we have lunch there every trip. :)
LOVING all of the real time tips and posts! Its so much fun! We are going on our first Disney trip in about a year so I’m trying to absorb as much as possible. Especially for this time of year. Thanks so much and have a great time!
Thank you for sharing with us. We are all Disney addicts together and love all things deals. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Enjoying all the great photo’s and useful information for my trip later this year!
im glad you are having a wonderful time with your family. i also want to thank you for this blog. i am a single working mom supporting my dd on my own. the tips and coupons you post on your blog make life for us so much less of a struggle. my daughter and other family members are amazed at how much money i save. i cant tell you enough how much i appreciate this blog and all of the hard work you put into it.
You own the tiara Kristin!!!! I’m another one that loves having a DVC membership. You should take a tour while you’re there. If you figure out what you spend each year on your trip(s) and see how affordable having a DVC membership is, you’d convert. Once you learn the tricks and how to plan the right weeks, it more than pays for itself and you’ll be vacationing for a very long time!
My “inside” info (not Touringplans) says Sat is better than Thurs for MK. It rates Thurs as a worst choice…but who knows?
I’m glad you are having a great time! You and your family deserve a break after the past few months
I love your blog! It’s nice because it combines two things that are dear to my heart – Disney and couponing. I just started couponing about 6 months ago when I came across your site and I am completely addicted now. And at Christmas it was a huge help – I was able to get games, movies, toys, etc. for all of my little cousins without breaking the bank. I literally got them all double what I got them last year, but spent less than half! Amazing! Anyway, thanks for keeping us posted on all things Disney World right now. It looks like you guys are having a great time…I’m vacationing vicariously through you ; )
I live about 30 minutes away from disney and was so thrilled to find your blog..while my couponing to disney pays for my annual passes for my son and I its a great feeling to know im not the only 30 year old who LOVES going to disney…thanks for helping me save for disney and my savings account as well have a great time!!!!!
Way to go on stroller score, a nice stroller makes all the difference. We actually bought one off Craigslist before we went, just because I wanted one that they could sleep in, if needed.
Sounds like you guys are having a blast! Loving the pics, can’t wait to read all your posts about it!
so glad you’re having a great time! all the updates make me feel like i’m with you at the park!! keep on having a blast!!
Kristin~ I LOVE your blog! I check it several times a day & have gotten sooo many great deals thanks to u! I also appreciate how open & sharing u are. Thanks for being “real” & sharing your life experiences with us readers!!!
My daughter has the same sleeping problem. It doesn’t matter what time she goes to bed she is up at 6:30. I guess I should be glad it isn’t earlier :) Thanks for all your posts. I have to admit the thought of planning my own Disney trip is a little overwhelming.
Your blog is great! Thanks for keeping us entertained while you are at Disney.
I love your site. I just came across it last week. Our family is planning our first trip to Disney World this coming April. Your tips and suggestions are going to help save us time and money on our trip. It will also allow us to make the most of our trip by know where, when and what to go to and to avoid. Thanks so much for the time you commit to this.
I’m so glad that you are having a nice time! I can’t wait to see more pictures! How did you like the lights at Hollywood Studios? We went in November and we thought they were breathtaking! :)
I am so glad you are having a great time! I love your website so much I visit it several times a day I get so excited seeing all your updates! Thank you very much for everything you do I am so glad ya’ll are having a great time! Do well deserve it! Enjoy I hope you have a safe trip!
I love the chic chat AND the deals!
Keep the park updates coming. :)
Thank you for all your posts. We are skipping a Disney trip this year after going 4 out of the past 5 years. So I am really enjoying experiencing your trip with you.
I don’t think having the dining plan when you’re staying at the cabins would make much sense since they have kitchens. Great deal on the stroller! Your kids are probably more comfortable anyway, as the WDW ones are pretty small. I had heel spurs a few years ago and bought Dr. Scholl’s gel inserts for heels, and they work great!!
I love your blog too! I remember back when your FB page had *only* 8000 fans, and a few were whining that they wanted less chit chat and “just stick to the deals”. Think how much different your life (and all of ours!!) would be if you had listened to those few dissenters!
Go – Homecoming Queen! You need to buy a tiara now and wear it in the parks!!
I look forward to seeing where you are at Disney every morning, thanks for sharing your journey! Oh, and ps…I’d totally make you Homecoming Queen, complete with Mickey ears. :)
Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us! Makes a really nice break for me at work, when I can “visit” for a few minutes in between projects.
Thanks for all the comments and explanations of things that are going on with your trip. You are so thoughtful!
ENJOY your day!
Glenda
I love hearing about your trips to Disney. My daughter just turned 4 — we plan to take her to Disney when she’s 5. Hoping that will cut down on the meltdowns. haha Have a great time and don’t stress too much!
Impressed about the stroller connection. Great job!
Lots of good info! Keep having fun- we’re enjoying along with you!
We appreciate it so much! Glad you are having a blast!!
Wow! I have so much to learn about Disneyland.
OK, I am addicted to your blog!!! lol I keep your site minimized on my pc at work ALL day! I keep opening it up to read the new posts in between files… Thank you so much for all of the wonderful updates, information & tips. It keeps me happy to read about others trips in between mine. :) Good luck with the shoe inserts & sore feet!
Aww you make my heart melt. Your such a sweet person to care about us so much. I love how personal, happy, and fun your blog is! As long as you blog Im here :)
I’m loving following your vacation. I’m glad you guys are having so much fun. I had to chuckle about Jacob waking up at 5am. My 16-month-old usually wakes up at 6am no matter what, though there are exceptions. Jacob’s probably quieter when he wakes up, though. :-)
Touring Plans was not right all when we went in October because they failed to note there was a Monday off school in Florida the week of Halloween. I’m so glaad I went with my gut instead.
I agree 100% on using the double stroller. Even if Emily didn’t have her appendix out, it saves on their little legs. We used the stoller until my son was looking ridciulous riding it in! Thanks for your great posts! I love following your day!
Thank you for your Disneyworld posts!, and your site in general. I always drink my morning coffee and smile while reading all the fun your having on your trip with your family!…we have a Disney vacation planned for september, and it makes me even more excited to visit your site, your hard work and tips really help us all, thank you again soooo much! You gotta a friend in a small Idaho town! Magical memories, to you and yours! Keep having a fun trip, God Bless!
I was so glad to find thi blog, i will use the touringplans.com for our next trip in May . You almost have me convienced to get a phone set p like you, not sure yet. Enjoy your day. Love the posts
Sounds like you are having a wonderful, which is completely deserved!!!
Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Enjoying reading about your trip. I am trying to convince my husband to let us go back in May. For insoles, I broke down and did the foot mapping thing at Walmart. I bought the $50 Dr. Shcolls inserts. Best investment ever. I walk all the time at work and used them on my last 2 Disney trips. No sore feet and no blisters!
Kristin, it is wonderful to hear you so happy. Disney really is magical and healing for the soul. You should write them about your story! Your blog is a pleasure to read, and I’m so glad you decided to do it, too.
P.S. I was popular in high school and it wasn’t all that great. You’re right, this totally trumps that!
So glad that you guys are enjoying your trip!! You are so fabulous to let us live vicariously through you and feel like we are there!! :)
Kristin, thanks for all the great information and sharing your trip with us. And I’m so glad you and your family are having such a fun time. You guys really deserve it. Thank you!
Also, I have a recommendation for you on insoles for your shoes. It’s too late for this trip but for your next trip, you should buy a pair of Croc silver insoles. They cost $19.99 but they are so worth it. I developed plantar facisitis over a year ago and I did not think I would be able to make it Disneyland in the summer. But I did thanks to my Croc insoles. Believe me your feet will feel the difference and be grateful to you. (I know I sound like a commercial, huh?) But I’m very serious. There is a big difference between Croc insoles and those other insoles sold in stores. And the Crocs are #1 in my book! You can email me if you need more info. Take care!
Thanks for the updates! I’ll be especially interested to hear what you have to say about Tusker House…I have one too many dining reservations for our upcoming trip and have to cancel one, and that was the one I was thinking of cancelling. Let us know!
Thanks so much for taking the time out of your vacation to blog! We are making the trip to Disney in March and this will be the first trip with our little one. I am anxious about all of the details but your posts really help! Enjoy your vacation!
I stayed at Fort Wilderness several years ago and LOVED it! I’m glad your having a great time!
This is really wonderful information! Thanks for taking the time to write this out and share it with. I hope your feet get to feeling better! I’m looking forward to seeing what the day has in store for you and your family at WDW. Enjoy the parks today and your cabin tonight! :)
I love your blog so much. I look at it at least 3 times a day and even go to it on my phone when I am needing my fix..lol Know that we need you just as much as you need us. I love your site and wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you so much for being you!
What a great post! I love that youre able to adapt your plans around the crowds. So many people get so flustered. Enjoy your time at Sci Fi Dine In – its my favorite!
It’s so fun reading your posts everyday. I always feel like I’m right there at WDW with you. A question about the resort… are you using the bus system that runs within Ft. Wilderness or just walking to the Disney boat/bus stops? That’s one thing that always scared me off from staying there, having to ride a bus to catch a bus to the parks. Enjoy your MK day!
Wow…. I love that you decided to blog. Your blogging made it possible for me to go to Disney this past year! Keep up all the great work and a big hug to you!!!
Glad your having fun!! I have been finding myself to take time to look up your blog(which is marked on my favorites) to see what yall are doing and all he fun yall are having!!
Have you tried wearing Crocs? I loved mine at Disney, and you don’t have to wait to break them in, it might be worth the investment, happy touring!
I love that y’all are having fun-can’t wait to see that stroller!
PS 5am wakeup-arghhhhhhhhh!!! : )
Oh, & another thing that is well worth the cost – the DVC. #64 Renee & I should probably both be on DVC’s payroll! It is soooo worth it. My In-laws live in Sarasota, & my husband & I are both in the medical profession (Orlando frequently hosts medical conferences), so we decided to invest 7 years ago when our son was only 1yo. It’s been an absolute 100% win for us! We’ve been to WDW 1-2 per year since – our membership has more than paid for itself! We even combined our points with my sister’s points last year & did an 11-day trip for my whole family (16 people) for my dad’s 80th birthday & my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary!!! We would’ve never been able to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience without DVC!
I love your website. It is such an inspiration. It makes me think if she can do it than I can do it too. Almost everyone has something they spend money on that they can save. Although I just got outta the hospital about 3 weeks ago,so my husband will say we can’t buy anything. He will say we need to pay that bill(no health insurance either). I say pay what we can and not put our lives on hold. So it will be hard to save for a trip like this with him around hounding me about the bill. We live about and hour and a half away from Disney. It is always nice though to stay in Orlando and enjoy all that there is in Orlando. Plus I love the theme parks. Even though we live so close,money is always the issue. But reading your site gives me hope. Have fun and be proud of what you’ve accomplished.
I have always wondered what the Wilderness was like. Are you liking the cabin? Is it easy to get to the parks from there?? I think I will have to do some research that might be fun for our next trip. Thanks for your blogging. It makes me feel as if I am there now. Have a magical day!
you are so sweet. thank you for all the blogging that you do. I’m glad you are having a great time.
Try icing your feet at night. I have extremely flat feet, & even with my orthotics, my feet KILL me after walking all day. I’d put icepacks on my insoles & sleep with my feet on a pillow. By morning, they’d feel much better. Also, a tip for next trip – if your walking/tennis shoes are worn regularly & are more than 6 months old, invest in some new ones a month or 2 before your trip to break them in. It’s WELL WORTH the cost!
Kristin for Homecoming Queen! :)
Thank you for the stroller tip. I might have to keep that in mind when we go.
Thanks for this! I have been thinking of you guys so much and have been so excited to read your posts and view the pics. I love the ones of Little Jacob zonked out, they are both such cutie pies! I can’t wait to hear how you did with eating in the parks and saving money over the dining plan. I agree with you, we did the quick service last year and it was WAY too much food, we cashed in 18 snack credits after checking out and took them home with us. Continue to enjoy your peaceful break and know you are being prayed for! <3
I’m so glad you’re having such a great time! Your comment about high school is hilarious! Totally cracked me up. I’d love to hear about breakfast at Tusker House. We’ve never been there before. Enjoy your time away!!
I’m having so much fun checking your site everyday to see what you guys have done that day! I would really like to know what you do to save money for eating in the parks! I’m glad your having fun!
I was glad you wrote this. Checked you this morning and imaged being there.
So fun to read all of this and get excited about our trip one month from today whoo hoo!!!!!
In tears right now — so happy for you! Hope your feet feel better though!
OMG, I love how you got the stroller for free in exchange for reviews, you’re so resourceful ITS AWESOME, keep up the amazing work and thank you for sharing your tips with us :)
would love to seepics of the inside of cabins. (or did i miss that post?-
Love the Tusker House. My husband’s favorite restaurant (so far!)
So glad you and your family are enjoying yourselves on your vacation Kristen. Maybe we will see you this weekend. My hubby and I might head over there with the kiddos on Saturday
Every morning, I take my kids to school and come back home to check and see what Kristin is doing at DW. I am living through you. Thanks!! Have a great day!!
I am soi glad I found your site! I have loved following your trip!
Just wanted to comment about the shoe inserts, I have been using the Dr. Scholl’s arthritis relief inserts and have noticed a HUGE difference! I used them at WDW last month and it was wonderful. In past trips (either with cheaper inserts or no inserts, but the same Skechers style shoe) by the end of the second day my feet hurt so bad I would be in tears! This trip it was our last day before my feet hurt anywhere close to that (though not bad enough to make me cry. lol) Hope you found some that help!
So glad you all are having a great trip! Hopefully some inserts will make your feet more comfortable. :) I’ve been going back and forth on geting touringplans for our trip at the end of the month- we only have 3.5 days in the park and have decided to skip AK this time, so I’m hoping we will be ok without it. (?!) Keep posting those wonderful photos, it’s making me so excited for out trip!
I agree about the dining plan. I would rather have the %off pin code. I go to all earsnet.com and figure out where we are going to eat and about how much the cost is and it is always cheaper for us to not go on the dining plan.
Anyone interested in DVC or has questions just email me! I don’t work for them but would! I LOVE the membership so much!
Kristin and family~I am truly excited that you all get to take this trip, to reconnect with one another after an even that you will never forget. I love seeing your posts everyday, as it keeps me in the Disney spirit until my next trip. I am so glad that you decided to be a blogger too. :-) You are such a wonderful person, with a giving heart. Thank you. :-)
Kristin,
You are QUEEN of all BLOGS! You have also helped me in so many different ways! With that said, I am soooo happy for you to be able to have a great time and get excited about sharing all your wonderful news with us!
Did not know about DVC being so flexible. Can’t wait until my next trip and it will be at least another year:( (Just got back a couple months ago)
Enjoying each comment and post…keeping note for our ‘future’ trip…yes part of our Disney Savings went to replace our furnace in Dec…but we are Debt free and the Disney Savings will rebuild…we will get there!!!!! In the meantime…enjoying your joy!!!!
It’s funny about the “High School” popularity thing. I used FB all the time and old friends (and some new ones) think I’m so funny. I keep thinking “I’m exactly the same as I was waaaay back when…..you just didn’t know it!” I would love to blog – I just don’t seem to be dedicated enough to it (yet??). Thanks for sharing your secrets with us!!
Awesome!! Soooo glad I found this blog a few weeks ago but I might be addicted! Lol! I think I check about 60 times a day! Haha I love Disney and I love good deal!! Couponing to Disney groupie here! ;)
Just think, some of those popular girls peaked in HS and you had it to look forward to! Enjoy your trip as wel all enjoy hearing about it!
Great post!! I’m glad you post from disney, it makes me feel closer to the magic (and a little jealous lol) :)
My kiddos haven’t even left for school yet and her I sit reading about your day. I am addicted to being at Disney Virtually! I can’t wait to see where we are going next. lol I do say you should be homecoming queen and your man KING!
Enjoy your day and hope your feet feel better with those inserts. Don’t you know to walk alot in your shoes before you go… That is a rookies mistake, I am kidding you.
I can’t wait for our family to return, I think we my try to go and even take the kids out of school once their dad gets back from deployment but that is down the road. I just know I LOVE DISNEY! My husband had never been has a child, his first time was with my boys when we took them in 2007 and 2008.
Hi Kristin,
Glad you are having fun! How can you not in Disney?? Wanted to mention the Sci Fi. Not sure if you’ve been there. We went a couple of years ago. I loved it. My kids liked it (I think they were 6 and 9 at the time) but were a little scared of some of the B movies on the big screen (giant monsters and stuff). Just wanted to give you a heads-up in case your kids get scared too.
I love that this brings you so much joy! Thanks for all the information. Can’t wait to read more.
We did the character breakfast at Tusker House last April and LOVED it! We drank about a million glasses of whatever juice they serve… :)
We, too, look foward to reading your posts. Because we all can’t be there at the same time, its like we are enjoying it through you! Now, I wonder if I can skip paying the college payments for awhile and go to WDW! LOL
Have a magical day!
Love reading about your Disney adventures, I can’t wait to take my little girl!
So glad you’re having nice weather. We left on Jan 9 for our trip last year and as our luck would have it, Florida was having record lows at the time. Of course, coming from PA, it didn’t feel THAT cold to us, but I would have liked to wear shorts and t shirts. It was funny to see all the Florida residents bundled up in coats, hats and gloves in 50 degree weather though. Where we come from, that’s just light jacket weather. :-)
Thanks for keeping us posted. It almost makes me feel as if I’m there enjoying all the magic.
Love reading these posts! They give us such great information for when we go back to the parks. We were there in October and I would have LOVED to have known about the stroller rental from somewhere else. Wow, that would have made our trip dramatically different as the Disney strollers were ridiculously uncomfortable!! Thank you for your wonderful information!!
I look forward to reading your blog everyday and I’m thankful that you decided to do it to. You are the only blog that I read every single day. Have a fantastic day!
Have a great day Krisitin! I’m with Sara, I’d vote you Homecoming Queen too!! You have brightened my day each day this week. I look forward to a full de-briefing when you return!!
Thanks for the great information. I’ll be on the lookout
for some shoe inserts before our trip later this month.
I am loving your updates! It’s like we are there with you:) I discovered your blog earlier this year, and it has quickly become one of my favorite Disney “go to” blogs. Now I’m reading every day! Enjoy your travels!! And get those inserts for your shoes…totally worth it!!
I had no idea you could trade in DVC points for regular rooms. That’s very interesting. Makes the program even more flexible. Maybe, one day, when I hit the lottery I’ll become a DVC member.
So glad to hear you guys are having a good time! I dream about going back to Disney World all the time…so I really enjoy living my dreams through your pics and notes!! :) And love, love , LOVE the tips too. Now go have a magical day!
So glad you all are having such a good time. Thanks for the notes this morning. I LIVE for the updates everyday!!! I feel like I am there.
I am one of those crazy Marathoners and I arrive today and will be going over to the campfire for s’mores. We aren’t staying there though, but I like to do something Disney when I arrive. Another reason it may be crowded is some schools may still be on winter break (this was the case with Canadian schools a few years ago when I went). Still a great time though. Main Street Electric Parade is my favorite :)
So good to hear all about things. Glad you are having a great time.
Take care of those feet!
I am so glad that you are finding blogging so rewarding. I am sure that is why you are so good at it. Have a wonderful day with your family!!
I am so happy everything is working out for you. Great deal on the stroller… I wouldn’t expect anything less from you. :) I am sure they will get a lot of business just by you mentioning them. I am thinking of booking a trip for end Sept- first week of Oct. Looking at your pictures makes me want to do it even more. I also agree you would be voted prom queen! :)
Enjoy the rest of your trip. You deserve it!
I’m glad your family is having fun. I wish I could be there with you.
Glad you are having a great time. We love Ft. Wilderness; there are some great things to do there. I am glad it warmed up for you also; the weather is beautiful.
Thanks for the info on the crowds. I will keep that in mind. We plan on going in the off season to avoid the crowds but I will be sure to bring your (or mine) touring plan!
Awesome recap, so glad you guys are having fun!
Thanks for blogging about your trip. It is so fun to follow your magical experiences at the parks. Not as fun as being there ourselves, but the next best thing. :)
So glad your enjoying your trip! We appreciate all the information you provide on a daily basis!
Good morning!! Isn’t it always a good morning when you can wake up and say “I’m at Disney World!!” I am so glad you are having a blast. Meltdowns can be expected at any age (even with DHs sometimes!) and I’m sure you deal with them great! Your precious babies look like they are having a blast and I know you are enjoying watching their excitement.
On a different note, hopefully, you won’t see any effects of the marathon. It’s usually the weekend around my birthday and of course I had to spend that milestone 40th b-day at the World (it was the same day as the big marathon). I did see runners on the paths at POR and some on the buses with their numbers on, but other than that, I never saw them in the parks. That day, we were at MK and it was so not crowded that we rode everything and some things multiple times, had left for DTD for lunch and was all done in the park before 7 pm! That’s the kind of days I’m wishing for you :)
Thank you so much for sharing your life with us! We appreciate all you do for us and feel like your family is our family too. To us, you are the most popular girl at this school! (BTW, I bet you have more friends than the girl that was the popular one in your HS!)
Just to clarify how DVC points work…you can use your points at any Disney resort, not just designated DVC ones. But if you do you pay a $95 fee for each reservation. We would never pay the nightly rate if converting to cash was an option. Our annual dues are less than $700 a year, for 200 points. That would only be about 2 nights in some Disney resorts. Last year we stayed 11 nights total!
Hopefully our next trip will be with our grandsons. Thanks for the tips. Enjoy your day. Curious to know where the kids favorite places to eat are.
I love hearing all the tips about Disney and the surrounding areas. I do take advantage of them. Any way to get Fort Wilderness on a cheap rate? I’m dying to stay there one day.
Just a little insider secret: even Disney makes incorrect predictions about crowd levels. And I’m not talking one or two thousand but rather ten thousand lol. Glad you guys were able to switch your plans up and have fun. Hubby and I don’t usually go to Disney this time of year. We will probably go again in about a week or so when the crowds from college students still on break die down and there’s less people in town from the marathon. :-)
Great tips! WDW is just too big to do it without learning from other people. It helps so much! Hope your feet feel better – that makes a huge difference in your day!
TouringPlans admitted on FB yesterday they were wrong for both WDW and Disney Land. They blamed it on HS for the crowds with you. I usually travel the end of Sept/early Oct and they have always been right, except for our last day (a non-holiday Monday) of our last trip. MK was a zoo that day. We didn’t get to do as much as we planned, but we were still at MK. How can you complain?
We’re thinking about staying in the cabins on our trip this summer so I’m enjoying your reviews. Are you going to the campfire this trip?
Glad you like the cabin. Is it like one big room, or is there a separate bedroom?
Hey Kristin, Glad to hear your family is having an excellent time!
Congrats on your TH ressie, a family favorite for us. As well as Sci Fi, love the burgers and onion rings there. I also love the spinach and artichoke dip, yum-O!
Have a great 2 days at MK, my favorite park!
Hope you enjoy your trip! I’m itching to go back!
We were at Disney last week and I went and got inserts at Walmart on our second day. It helped a little, but you really can’t make your feet happy with all that walking. While at that local Walmart, I noticed they have a huge Disney section. That is where we got our lanyards to hold our tickets, pins, keys and fastpasses. They had a ton of stuff and it was all less than at the park. We also picked up a case of water there and would put a couple of bottles in our backpack every day that my precious husband and I would take turns carrying. It was where we would stuff our jackets when it got warm. I pray you have a wonderful day and that you find more blessings around you.
I am so thankful for you also. Your website is so enjoyable and you got me soooooo many great deals this past Christmas! Enjoy Disney!
Kristin, you are a sweet, lovely person. We have been having so much fun over here watching your trip online! Have a wonderful day today – I know you will :).
Glad you are having a great time and the weather has been good! We are leaving on Friday to come down. Have you done the Campfire at night? We are not staying there but we planned to visit Ft Wilderness and try the Campfire sing along.
LOVE LOVE LOVE your posts, I feel that I am in the middle of the action there. I check in all through the day to see what you guys are doing….My hubby thinks I am slightly crazy,( but then I heard him telling someone how I follow this blog about saving money and how much we have put away for our trips!)
Amazing blogger you are…I don’t know if you know that you inspire us, with your enchantment with Walt Disney World, by blogging to your readers, taking us with you as each new Disney adventure awaits, daily. Your posts capture the magic, the words and the pictures, bring us there in spirit…Walt Disney World, should make you a honorary ambassador, for connecting us all and helping us rediscover the “kid” in ourselves…as I read your blog, it brought back the warm, happy memories, of when I was a kid standing at the the huge castle at Magic Kingdom,, not long after it opened (1971 or 1972) …thank you, for helping me rediscover the “kid” in me :-D
Thanks to you for all the excitement! It is like being there myself!
Eesh, that’s not good…you’re just getting started and your feet already hurt!! I hope the insoles help. If not, you need to get a foot rub at the Grand Floridian spa! : ) Aaaah that sounds good. Speaking of stores, I love the little trading post stores in Fort Wilderness. Always such cute stuff in there and the atmosphere is so neat! One day at Fort Wilderness, we just took the whole day to stay away from the parks and we played bingo at poolside, we played shuffle board and rented the boats, we played on the playground and did all the fun things at the campground followed by the campfire program at night. That was a great day and we laughed all day it seemed! I love that place.
Can’t wait to see what today brings you! Have fun!
Wish I had known Sunday that you were going to need inserts. I could have brought you a pair to DTD from my stockpile!
I have found those crowd projections to be so wrong most of the time.You are correct just to go with your gut and past experience.
Enjoy your day!
Love to hear about what you are doing, where you are going and how much you paid! Thanks for encouraging my love of Disneyworld when I know it will be almost a year before I can get back. :)
So glad to hear you all are having a good time! Wishing I was there right now :)
Kristen, I absolutely wait to see what you have written next. I played the 2 videos (you are going to Disney, and You are staying at FW) for my Hubby, I must say we were both misty eyed. It is so awesome that you are here, and that the weather is cooperating for your visit. (Last week wouldn’t have been as nice for your family) The stroller deal ROCKS! Everytime we go, we see those all over the parks. Also…I am going to second Sara’s vote for you ….Homecoming Queen it is! Have a Magical Day today!
Do you have coupons for those inserts? lol
Glad everything is going great! I was wondering about the cash conversion to other Disney resorts do you know if your reader would be interested in selling & doing this again, we are very interested?
Here’s to having a great day and perfect weather. Thanks for the little updates, I look forward to hearing the pluses and minuses to both trips and your comparisons so that I may better plan our trip and budget accordingly (like the dining plan, rooms, etc.)
I think I am going to vote you homecoming queen! :) Touringplans is usually so dead on, I will have to speak to my people about this. HA! It makes me so happy that you are having such a great time! Thank you for all you do, you are truly an amazing family! I am enjoying and coveting every minute of your trip!
Glad you are having fun-hope you find the inserts.
Hi, So glad to hear you are having a great time! I absolutely LOVE your site, I visit at least 3 times a day. I can’t wait for our trip in May, we are planning a HUGE suprise for our daughters, Disney Dream Cruise and Disney World at the end of the trip, any advice? Thanks again for your site!!