Counting the days...

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Sat, 02/02/2013 - 17:38

mikesteffen

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Posts: 81

Counting the days...

Later this month we due to check in at Pop Century for an 11 night stay to begin our 9th trip to WDW. This will be our first trip with just the wife and I.

I have our schedule all planned out and based it around the Extra Magic Hours. We have a 10 day base ticket and planning 3 days each at Magic Kingdom and Epcot, and 2 each at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Then one day in the middle for Downtown Disney, Mini Golf, Disney Quest and laundry.

I purchased a subscription to Touringplans.com and spent a great deal of time working over the plans but I'm not sure that I want to follow them. I figure the plans are good and all, but I am fearful that they will be to constrictive and wondering if we would enjoy spontaneity more. We are planning more than enough days to get everything done without pushing.

The wife and I are at an age where we have to be careful how much we push ourselves, so we are planning to push hard during the Extra Magic Hours, but take it slow the rest of the time.

We did not purchase a dining plan, even though people say that the dining plans save money, when I crunch the numbers it doesn't add up to a savings. Planning 2 character breakfasts, Crystal Palace and Chef Mickeys. Then also have reservations at Rainforest Cafe, Fulton's Crab House, Planet Hollywood, 50's Prime Time and The Plaza. Then the rest are counter service.

Trying to get a reservation for Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Desert Party but there never seems to be anything open, even though I have been checking 5 times a day.

We are not renting a car, going to use all Disney transportation including Magical Express.

We bought the Photopass+ and I am trying to talk the wife into not dragging the camera around all the time. In the past it seems like we always wind up dragging to much stuff around and I am hoping to pull back from that a bit. Maybe not even drag the rain gear around.

Looking forward to checking out the new Test Track and Fantasy Land. Not looking forward to Splash Mountain being closed.

I may try to sit down and post a daily report.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 18:59

Kristen K.

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Posts: 23803

Whoo hoo! Sounds like a great plan!

I have a touring plans subscription, but I don't use the Touring Plans myself. I generally use it for the Lines app and pre-planning. Once I get in the park I like to just go wherever.

Sat, 02/02/2013 - 20:51

Vettelover

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Posts: 4658

Sounds like a great plan.

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Sat, 02/02/2013 - 23:40

Sally-Ann

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Posts: 912

We used the touring plan option last year and it works fabulously. You can skip things and rearrange and also build your own plans and the queue time you save is worth it. If you build your own plans you can fit your own dining options in and schedule the time you need. We did change things as we couldn't bring ourselves to walk across parks and back again when we did their plan but overall found it worked great.

We have discussed the dining plans and for the two of us we decided it wouldn't be economical. We are going to buy Tables in Wonderland as it will save money overall ( but we always tip high when paying). We also purchased photopass + which we saved mega on. We ended up with over 200 photos! Will do it again this year too. Have a fabulous time but don't feel that using touring plans will constrict you as you can just customize it.

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Sun, 02/03/2013 - 01:57

mikesteffen

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Posts: 81

Sally-Ann wrote:

We used the touring plan option last year and it works fabulously. You can skip things and rearrange and also build your own plans and the queue time you save is worth it. If you build your own plans you can fit your own dining options in and schedule the time you need. We did change things as we couldn't bring ourselves to walk across parks and back again when we did their plan but overall found it worked great.

We have discussed the dining plans and for the two of us we decided it wouldn't be economical. We are going to buy Tables in Wonderland as it will save money overall ( but we always tip high when paying). We also purchased photopass + which we saved mega on. We ended up with over 200 photos! Will do it again this year too. Have a fabulous time but don't feel that using touring plans will constrict you as you can just customize it.

Yeah, I am not wanting run back and forth across the parks either. So I was using their system to just set up my own plan from scratch. But I am curious what you say about it saving queue time. How is any time saved versus just wondering the park?

Also if you don't mind my asking, what is Tables in Wonderland?

Sun, 02/03/2013 - 03:02

MrHub

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Posts: 9503

Mike, Tables in Wonderland is for Florida residence , DVC & Passholder only. It gets 20% discount on food and alcoholic drinks.

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Sun, 02/03/2013 - 03:28

mikesteffen

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mrhub wrote:

Mike, Tables in Wonderland is for Florida residence , DVC & Passholder only. It gets 20% discount on food and alcoholic drinks.

ok, thanks

Sun, 02/03/2013 - 07:40

Sally-Ann

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Posts: 912

mikesteffen wrote:

Sally-Ann wrote:
We used the touring plan option last year and it works fabulously. You can skip things and rearrange and also build your own plans and the queue time you save is worth it. If you build your own plans you can fit your own dining options in and schedule the time you need. We did change things as we couldn't bring ourselves to walk across parks and back again when we did their plan but overall found it worked great.

We have discussed the dining plans and for the two of us we decided it wouldn't be economical. We are going to buy Tables in Wonderland as it will save money overall ( but we always tip high when paying). We also purchased photopass + which we saved mega on. We ended up with over 200 photos! Will do it again this year too. Have a fabulous time but don't feel that using touring plans will constrict you as you can just customize it.

Yeah, I am not wanting run back and forth across the parks either. So I was using their system to just set up my own plan from scratch. But I am curious what you say about it saving queue time. How is any time saved versus just wondering the park?

Also if you don't mind my asking, what is Tables in Wonderland?

I think it saves time because they have studied the foot fall of people over years and have people in the park a lot of the time. They seem to know how and where people want to go and do go and what time of day is busiest. The odd day we didn't use it we did seem to wait to get on rides longer. My DH was sceptical last year about how it would work but was convinced once we had done it.

Mr Hub thank you for answering the TIW question and apologies I forgot there are restrictions on who can buy it.

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Sun, 02/03/2013 - 07:48

mikesteffen

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Posts: 81

Sally-Ann wrote:

mikesteffen wrote:
Sally-Ann wrote:
We used the touring plan option last year and it works fabulously. You can skip things and rearrange and also build your own plans and the queue time you save is worth it. If you build your own plans you can fit your own dining options in and schedule the time you need. We did change things as we couldn't bring ourselves to walk across parks and back again when we did their plan but overall found it worked great.

We have discussed the dining plans and for the two of us we decided it wouldn't be economical. We are going to buy Tables in Wonderland as it will save money overall ( but we always tip high when paying). We also purchased photopass + which we saved mega on. We ended up with over 200 photos! Will do it again this year too. Have a fabulous time but don't feel that using touring plans will constrict you as you can just customize it.

Yeah, I am not wanting run back and forth across the parks either. So I was using their system to just set up my own plan from scratch. But I am curious what you say about it saving queue time. How is any time saved versus just wondering the park?

Also if you don't mind my asking, what is Tables in Wonderland?

I think it saves time because they have studied the foot fall of people over years and have people in the park a lot of the time. They seem to know how and where people want to go and do go and what time of day is busiest. The odd day we didn't use it we did seem to wait to get on rides longer. My DH was sceptical last year about how it would work but was convinced once we had done it.

Mr Hub thank you for answering the TIW question and apologies I forgot there are restrictions on who can buy it.

Ok, thank you. Perhaps I should have another look. Like you said we can always skip stuff we don't want.

Sun, 02/03/2013 - 14:27

disneydoc

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Joined: 06/27/2012

Posts: 2415

Mike, your plan sounds wonderful. I am also "at an age" where I try to remember that I cannot blow it out at both ends. I am focusing more on my upcoming trip on trying some table service and character meal places that I have blown by in the past, and will probably just enjoy whatever park is around those this time. Thanks for sharing your plans.