New Year’s Family Fun PTR – 12 days, 12 people, 3 resorts - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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The one year we were there on New Year's Eve, we saw lines of three and a half hours (210 minutes) for Test Track. Soarin' wasn't open then. Epcot didn't fill to capacity, but it wasn't hugely fun in some parts, as it felt very crowded. People started staking spots for IllumiNations at around 4pm that day - the only reason we got a good view is the heavens opened around 7.30pm and it rained heavily all night after that, so the park emptied out.
The one year we were there on New Year's Eve, we saw lines of three and a half hours (210 minutes) for Test Track. Soarin' wasn't open then. Epcot didn't fill to capacity, but it wasn't hugely fun in some parts, as it felt very crowded. People started staking spots for IllumiNations at around 4pm that day - the only reason we got a good view is the heavens opened around 7.30pm and it rained heavily all night after that, so the park emptied out.
Yikes! Well, if the crowds are overwhelming we'll enjoy hanging out at the resort. I might revise my agenda for the day so that we have a very clear contingency plan. It's hard to know how the kids will react to large crowds.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
NYE is supposed to be insane at WDW--I think your Epcot plan sounds good though--it handles crowds better than the other parks. I'd be really tempted to go to the Studios--it's one of the only nights they have fireworks there!
I know it's a bit nuts to brave the NYE crowds, but I can't help thinking we are going to have a ball anyway! Got to try it once.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedisney247
NYE is supposed to be insane at WDW--I think your Epcot plan sounds good though--it handles crowds better than the other parks. I'd be really tempted to go to the Studios--it's one of the only nights they have fireworks there!
I'm interested in trying the Studios too! I think we'll play it by ear. Maybe we'll have dinner in Epcot, then take a boat over the the Studios in time for their fireworks.
New Year’s Day. And the day we move from the Swan to a 2-bedroom villa at Old Key West. I’d like to take advantage of our Epcot resort location by starting the morning at either Hollywood Studios or Epcot. We’ll make that decision in the AM depending on what transpired the night before.
This year, I am absolutely, positively not going to over pack. I don’t mind switching resorts, but I don’t want to spend 3 hours organizing and packing each time we move. We have an Owner’s Locker with sunscreen, toiletries, ponchos and other sundries, and at OKW and SSR we’ll have a washer and dryer… we should be fine with a few changes of clothes and some layers for warmth. So, I’ll throw everything into the suitcase and locker, hand it over to bell services to deliver to OKW (how great is it that the Swan will transfer to all Disney resorts! I called to double check), and head to a park.
By early afternoon, I’ll need to deal with reality, meaning groceries. We’re going to be in a villa with a full kitchen for eight nights and have 7 people coming to visit/stay with us (not all at the same time). That’s a lot of groceries. I can’t leave that to Garden Grocer or WeGoShop. I’m sure they are great, and we’ve used Garden Grocer before for a shorter studio trip with good results - but I want to be able to decide the broccoli looks terrible and pick out green beans instead, or choose a bottle of wine that is on sale, or pick up fresh strawberries that weren’t on my list but look too good to pass by.
Yes, I do plan to cook on this trip. And no, that doesn’t mean it won’t be a vacation for me. I work full time. Dinners are often thrown together quickly amid homework, baths, and “one last check” of my email. I love to cook and miss having time to do it well most weeknights. Cooking at Old Key West in a spotless kitchen while the kids and DH lounge around on the sofas or hit the pool sounds just right to me. We have quite a few restaurant meals planned, but I’m counting on at least 3 dinners in the villa plus all of our breakfasts and a few lunches. It's not a vacation for us if we don't have homemade cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies sitting around for noshing, so there will be some baking as well.
After much research on grocery delivery and rental car options, here is my plan. Take a cab from Old Key West to Winn Dixie. Mears fare calculator estimates this at $12. Shop. Call the cab company while I’m checking out. Load groceries in the cab and head back to OKW. Should be under $40 roundtrip including tip. Much cheaper than a 1-day rental car and I think less hassle.
DH and the kids may go to Blizzard Beach while I shop if it is not too cold. Remember we are from Maine, where the ocean rarely gets above 60 degrees and a hot day is 75 degrees. Heated water and 60 degrees outside will work for us.
We’ll have an early dinner at the villa and then head to the Magic Kingdom for Wishes. If we are feeling energetic, we’ll stay for part of extra magic hours. This is our last night of just our family. I’m sure we’ll be eagerly anticipating the arrival of grandparents … and also savoring our last bit of “just us” time.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
If you head to the parks fairly early on New Year's Day, you may find them pretty quiet. The one time we were down for New Year, that was our experience, as everyone had stayed up until midnight the night before, so people didn't start hitting the parks until about lunchtime.
It sounds like a good plan for groceries. I have groceries delivered for almost all our trips, but not for major cooking.
I think the grocery delivery services are perfect if you aren't doing major cooking. Great for beverages, snacks, and basic breakfast items and SO convenient. It's the meat and produce where I can't let go control.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
If you head to the parks fairly early on New Year's Day, you may find them pretty quiet. The one time we were down for New Year, that was our experience, as everyone had stayed up until midnight the night before, so people didn't start hitting the parks until about lunchtime.
That sounds like a great idea! I'm keeping this in my back pocket as a plan B if the kids are cranky on New Year's Eve.... skip the fireworks and then get up early and have quiet parks to enjoy.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
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