~*~The OFFICIAL 2014 Dates Thread - Come Join Us!~*~

[BearcatsFan]

Originally Posted by Aliceacc

How did I not know about this thread??

We're hoping to return to WDW in August 2014. We'll be celebrating our 25th anniversary, our son's 16th birthday, our older daughter's graduation from middle school and our younger daughter's graduation from elementary school, all between the middle of June and the first week of July.

If we can get the type of deal we want, we hope to return to the Beach Club and get the DDP. Otherwise, I'll look at the teacher's discount at the Dolphin.

to our group! Glad you found us and decided to join in!

That is a lot of celebrating for sure! I'll get you added to the list - once you get your details hammered out further, be sure to post them so I can get you updated.

In the meantime, jump on in and join the conversation!

[BearcatsFan]

Originally Posted by auprincess

We are still no closer to choosing a resort, either! I am ready to make a choice already, but it is so confusing, I don't know anything about off site! At first I thought Bonnet Creek, then I thought we would prefer a condo set up but in a hotel (so I have been looking at Caribe, Sheraton Vistana Villages, something else?); then I stumbled across Windsor Hills. The prices are GREAT! But I am already a bit bummed about staying off site, I'm afraid being in our own "house" might make it even more so. Decisions, decisions!!

Awww It can be confusing, I know. There are so many choices out there offsite, each with pros and cons, depending on what you're looking for.

You have to decide what is most important to you. Make a list of each of the hotels you're considering, with the prices and all they offer, then run down this list (it's what I'm using currently to figure out where we're going to stay offsite!):

1. How important are pools to you? Will one suffice (such as a community pool) or do you want multiple pools to choose from?
2. How important is having an onsite restaurant, concierge, etc.?
3. How much space do you need/prefer?
4. Are separate bedrooms or having personal space for everyone important?
5. How much does the theming/landscaping appeal to you?
6. Amenities - is having a full kitchen important?
7. Activities - what does each one offer as opposed to the other, which ones appeal to you and/or your children?
8. How close to WDW do you want to be? If you're planning other activities, how close to them do you want to be?
9. Price - once you figure out the other 8, which place best meets your needs that also fits into your budget?

Hopefully that will help you narrow it down some.

[auprincess]

Originally Posted by BearcatsFan

Awww It can be confusing, I know. There are so many choices out there offsite, each with pros and cons, depending on what you're looking for.

You have to decide what is most important to you. Make a list of each of the hotels you're considering, with the prices and all they offer, then run down this list (it's what I'm using currently to figure out where we're going to stay offsite!):

1. How important are pools to you? Will one suffice (such as a community pool) or do you want multiple pools to choose from?
2. How important is having an onsite restaurant, concierge, etc.?
3. How much space do you need/prefer?
4. Are separate bedrooms or having personal space for everyone important?
5. How much does the theming/landscaping appeal to you?
6. Amenities - is having a full kitchen important?
7. Activities - what does each one offer as opposed to the other, which ones appeal to you and/or your children?
8. How close to WDW do you want to be? If you're planning other activities, how close to them do you want to be?
9. Price - once you figure out the other 8, which place best meets your needs that also fits into your budget?

Hopefully that will help you narrow it down some.

Thanks for the tips, I have been doing that, kind of, but i like seeing it written out in black and white. I think I will print it off!! Pools are really important ~ we will be spending a lot of time there, since it will be June. A good chance the baby will still nap, so I can see part of our group going to a pool daily during naptime. The main thing I thought I wanted was a pool slide; but I do think I want it to be themed, well not themed, but just nice and tropical looking; but Windsor Hills has a slide, but the rest of the pool is just kind of meh, make sense? I like the look of Caribe; but it is pricey, although really, compared to when we stayed at Poly, it isn't (just compared to that $99 a night Windsor Hills has). Space is important ~ it is the main reason we will not be on-site. Ideally we would have a 2 bedroom, a kitchen (even though we won't use it much), but we could probably get by with a one bedroom and the girls could sleep on the pull out sofa; problem is, a lot of the hotel suites won't let 5 stay (unless I"m doing it wrong). We will have our own car ~ I don't want to be way far out, but if we aren't inside the gates that's okay.

[mamabear0222]

Can anyone tell me if you can go to a character breakfast at a WDW resort if you're not staying there? We are thinking of Chef Mickeys but wanted other options for Mickey.

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

[hsmamainva]

Originally Posted by mamabear0222

Can anyone tell me if you can go to a character breakfast at a WDW resort if you're not staying there? We are thinking of Chef Mickeys but wanted other options for Mickey.

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

Chef Mickey's is at the Contemporary. You could either drive to the resort and park (you can park there for up to 3 hours) or you could park at the TTC ($14 for the day...but you wouldn't have to move your car if you were visiting the Magic Kingdom that day) and take the monorail to and from the Contemporary.

Mickey is also at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom...just to give you another option for him.

[mamabear0222]

I heard he was at the Polynesian too which is why I was curious about being able to dine there

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

[auprincess]

Originally Posted by mamabear0222

Can anyone tell me if you can go to a character breakfast at a WDW resort if you're not staying there? We are thinking of Chef Mickeys but wanted other options for Mickey.

Sent from my Samsung S3 using DISBoards

Yes, you can! We've done a few Mickey character meals: Chef Mickey's (at the Contemporary); Tusker House (at Animal Kingdom); and O'hana (at the Poly) ~ Tusker House was by far our favorite!! YOu also can see Daisy there ~ she can be hard to find in the parks!

[hsmamainva]

Originally Posted by auprincess

Yes, you can! We've done a few Mickey character meals: Chef Mickey's (at the Contemporary); Tusker House (at Animal Kingdom); and O'hana (at the Poly) ~ Tusker House was by far our favorite!! YOu also can see Daisy there ~ she can be hard to find in the parks!

I've heard great things about Tusker House, too! It's definitely on our 2014 trip ADR list!

[SAT887]

Originally Posted by hsmamainva

Chef Mickey's is at the Contemporary. You could either drive to the resort and park (you can park there for up to 3 hours) or you could park at the TTC ($14 for the day...but you wouldn't have to move your car if you were visiting the Magic Kingdom that day) and take the monorail to and from the Contemporary.

Mickey is also at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom...just to give you another option for him.

Or valet your car for a few more bucks and you can walk to MK

Isn't Mickey at 'Ohana too?

[Aliceacc]

Originally Posted by SAT887

Cary is very nice from what I can tell. My DH recently got in touch with an old friend who is also helping us with locations - he has suggested a few areas south of Raleigh. We are looking at the entire Raleigh metro area - we want to cut down on commuting (DH mostly) and our employer has about 12-14 locations. I understand on the whole money house thing! That's what we've been doing! In the past year we finished 1/2 the basement, renovated our bathroom and kitchen. We are done (minus a coat of paint on the outside. We hope to get down there this year. Our realtor seems hopeful too. Its nerve wracking though! I feel like I need all the planets in alignment to have this all work out! Sell house, job transfers....

We have friends who lived in Cary. They LOVE it!!!

[Aliceacc]

Originally Posted by BearcatsFan

to our group! Glad you found us and decided to join in!

That is a lot of celebrating for sure! I'll get you added to the list - once you get your details hammered out further, be sure to post them so I can get you updated.

In the meantime, jump on in and join the conversation!

Thanks for the warm welcome... particulary welcome on a cold, dark, snowy morning!

We'll probably go the very first week of August. We're both teachers who return to school before Labor Day (unusual on Long Island, but it's the way both our schools work.) So going early in August gives us a bit of time to recover before school starts.

In the meantime, I vacation vicariously through friends and coworkers who are going. One of the teachers at work is taking his family for the first time next week (February break, school is closed.) He's gotten a LOT of advice on the basics. (Fastpass, ropedrop, Photopass, character meals.) So at least I can Disney Dream, even if we're still a year and a half away from a trip.

[BearcatsFan]

Originally Posted by Aliceacc

Thanks for the warm welcome... particulary welcome on a cold, dark, snowy morning!

We'll probably go the very first week of August. We're both teachers who return to school before Labor Day (unusual on Long Island, but it's the way both our schools work.) So going early in August gives us a bit of time to recover before school starts.

In the meantime, I vacation vicariously through friends and coworkers who are going. One of the teachers at work is taking his family for the first time next week (February break, school is closed.) He's gotten a LOT of advice on the basics. (Fastpass, ropedrop, Photopass, character meals.) So at least I can Disney Dream, even if we're still a year and a half away from a trip.

How much snow did you end up getting? I haven't had the TV on this morning yet and I've been wondering.

I do a lot of vicarious vacationing myself. Mostly here on the DIS!

[Aliceacc]

I just spent 2 hours shoveling.

According to the yardstick my daughter stuck into the sidewalk, we got 12 inches. The drifts are quite a bit higher though.

[BearcatsFan]

Originally Posted by Aliceacc

I just spent 2 hours shoveling.

According to the yardstick my daughter stuck into the sidewalk, we got 12 inches. The drifts are quite a bit higher though.

I feel for ya. Hope you don't have plans to go anywhere today and if you do, that you stay safe.

I'm so ready for Spring. I have daffodils poking up out of the ground already.

[Aliceacc]

To be honest, the ONE form of exercise I really love is shoveling snow. I had a blast, and will go out again when my friend across the street comes out.

I had hoped to take the kids sledding. But the governor is on TV right now, begging people to stay off the roads. So I think we'll stay home today and go sledding tomorrow instead.

As to plans... just some quizzes to grade. And lots of playing in the snow!