Nothing is more inevitable than "Change".............especially planning a WDW vacation
In the month that I've been writing this portion of the blog I've stressed being flexible in your planning, because things will change................well I couldn't have been more correct!
Let me explain:
1. Disney decided.......during the week of 02/17/14, that the Epcot Food & Wine festival will begin on Sept 19th, one week earlier than usual.
2. The park hours were released for September (note I'm referring to the hours released on TouringPlans.com).
3. I read some WDW dining reviews.........?
Doesn't seem like a lot............ but OMG....the impact? Here's what's changed in our plans:
Monday (Arrival Day)
Nothing changed, in fact things got a bit easier. On Monday we're planning on checking in and heading over to Hollywood Studios for the "Fantasmic Dinner Package". What made it easier is that day is Evening Extra Magic Hours at HS. Closing time is 9:30pm and Fantasmic is scheduled for 8pm, this gives more time to get on the Rock&Roller Coaster and maybe even Toy Story Mania!!!!
Tuesday (Day 2 and Magic Kingdom Day)
The Sept calendar for Sept 16th has the MK closing at 7pm.........you know what that means............Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!!!! Really excited about this, although we kinda anticipated this one. The details around the days plans aren't really changing based on this but our evening plans are being impacted. In doing some research I found this great article on the MNSSHP at the DisneyTouristBlog.com. Got a ton of great tips on attending the party. So reading this article we're contemplating the timing of our BOG reservation (I'm so confident on getting one...hmm ). Probably going go to dinner earlier than we originally thought. Also altered our lunch plans in that we've decided to skip the Liberty Tree Tavern and will have lunch back at the Wilderness Lodge.
Wednesday and Thursday (Day 3 and 4)
I've combined these two days of our trip because they are the days most impacted by change. Day 3 was originally schedule to be a half day at HS with travel adventure and Day 4 was scheduled to be Epcot day with Donna and I attempting to "Drink Around the World".
A couple of things happened here........First, Disney announced that the Food & Wine Festival would start a week early on Sept 19th and that got us thinking about "extending" our vacation by 1 day. After "contemplating the ifs..." we decided against an extra day.........just couldn't make it work. But then the Sept calendar came out and "low and behold" Epcot is having "Evening Extra Magic Hours" on Wednesday! What that means is Epcot is open until 11pm. Our DAW would have 2 extra hours to be completed. How could we turn that down. So what that means is Thursdays Epcot Plan is now Wednesdays plan and Wednesdays HS plan is now Thursdays HS plan.
There are several other slight changes. For example, breakfast on Epcot day will be earlier than originally planned and conversely breakfast on HS will be a bit later than originally planned. The breakfast locations stay with the park just the times get adjusted.
We've become flexible on lunch at the Coral Reef on Epcot day..........reviews haven't been good........I'll make the ADR but that could change.
These changes also move our second rest afternoon to Thursday instead of Wednesday. I like this better than the originally planned back to back rest days of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here's a positive for HS day, in my mind, our plans for dinner on this day are for the California Grill so we can watch the MK fireworks from the CR. Well the MK fireworks are scheduled for 9pm on Thursday. This gives us some ADR flexibility with dinner........which means more choices and perhaps a longer rest afternoon!
Change can be good..........for those who like to nap by the pool!
Friday (Departure Day)
Our departure day isn't really changing other than the fact that Animal Kingdom has "Morning Extra Magic" hour. So we can schedule breakfast earlier and get more time in the park before we head home. Or.........we could schedule a later breakfast (remember our 3rd Goofy breakfast at the Tusker House). The big deal will be worrying about a hangover is gone for our final day! That problem is now on Day 4 and HS................oh........yeah "Tower of Terror" day!
Ok.........so it's not perfect........but whatever is. :-)
So............
So as I've always said things will change over time in planning your WDW vacation. Don't let this overwhelm you..........embrace the change!
When you begin planning with more than 250 days until you vacation, change is going to happen. Anticipate it and have alternate plans in the "back" pocket! As I write this post we're 198 days until our vacation, the only thing I can guarantee is things will change!
Recently I've read a lot of posts on the boards where many bemoan all the planning that is required for a WDW vacation. While some planning can never be avoided the type of planning
I (and many others) do is not required. In fact "not planning" is a way of planning. It all depends on your perspective.
I do this planning to keep me engaged in my vacation. You see I booked this Sept 2014 vacation in October of 2013. That meant I had more than 300 days before I'd be visiting my favorite vacation spot. That's a long time............so to keep it in my mind I read, I view, I plan. That's me...........if it's not you that's "Ok" too! If it's not fun for you........if it stresses you out........don't do it,..................otherwise have fun with it!
Next up is planning for ADR Day!!!
In the month that I've been writing this portion of the blog I've stressed being flexible in your planning, because things will change................well I couldn't have been more correct!
Let me explain:
1. Disney decided.......during the week of 02/17/14, that the Epcot Food & Wine festival will begin on Sept 19th, one week earlier than usual.
2. The park hours were released for September (note I'm referring to the hours released on TouringPlans.com).
3. I read some WDW dining reviews.........?
Doesn't seem like a lot............ but OMG....the impact? Here's what's changed in our plans:
Monday (Arrival Day)
Nothing changed, in fact things got a bit easier. On Monday we're planning on checking in and heading over to Hollywood Studios for the "Fantasmic Dinner Package". What made it easier is that day is Evening Extra Magic Hours at HS. Closing time is 9:30pm and Fantasmic is scheduled for 8pm, this gives more time to get on the Rock&Roller Coaster and maybe even Toy Story Mania!!!!
Tuesday (Day 2 and Magic Kingdom Day)
The Sept calendar for Sept 16th has the MK closing at 7pm.........you know what that means............Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!!!! Really excited about this, although we kinda anticipated this one. The details around the days plans aren't really changing based on this but our evening plans are being impacted. In doing some research I found this great article on the MNSSHP at the DisneyTouristBlog.com. Got a ton of great tips on attending the party. So reading this article we're contemplating the timing of our BOG reservation (I'm so confident on getting one...hmm ). Probably going go to dinner earlier than we originally thought. Also altered our lunch plans in that we've decided to skip the Liberty Tree Tavern and will have lunch back at the Wilderness Lodge.
Wednesday and Thursday (Day 3 and 4)
I've combined these two days of our trip because they are the days most impacted by change. Day 3 was originally schedule to be a half day at HS with travel adventure and Day 4 was scheduled to be Epcot day with Donna and I attempting to "Drink Around the World".
A couple of things happened here........First, Disney announced that the Food & Wine Festival would start a week early on Sept 19th and that got us thinking about "extending" our vacation by 1 day. After "contemplating the ifs..." we decided against an extra day.........just couldn't make it work. But then the Sept calendar came out and "low and behold" Epcot is having "Evening Extra Magic Hours" on Wednesday! What that means is Epcot is open until 11pm. Our DAW would have 2 extra hours to be completed. How could we turn that down. So what that means is Thursdays Epcot Plan is now Wednesdays plan and Wednesdays HS plan is now Thursdays HS plan.
There are several other slight changes. For example, breakfast on Epcot day will be earlier than originally planned and conversely breakfast on HS will be a bit later than originally planned. The breakfast locations stay with the park just the times get adjusted.
We've become flexible on lunch at the Coral Reef on Epcot day..........reviews haven't been good........I'll make the ADR but that could change.
These changes also move our second rest afternoon to Thursday instead of Wednesday. I like this better than the originally planned back to back rest days of Tuesday and Wednesday.
Here's a positive for HS day, in my mind, our plans for dinner on this day are for the California Grill so we can watch the MK fireworks from the CR. Well the MK fireworks are scheduled for 9pm on Thursday. This gives us some ADR flexibility with dinner........which means more choices and perhaps a longer rest afternoon!
Change can be good..........for those who like to nap by the pool!
Friday (Departure Day)
Our departure day isn't really changing other than the fact that Animal Kingdom has "Morning Extra Magic" hour. So we can schedule breakfast earlier and get more time in the park before we head home. Or.........we could schedule a later breakfast (remember our 3rd Goofy breakfast at the Tusker House). The big deal will be worrying about a hangover is gone for our final day! That problem is now on Day 4 and HS................oh........yeah "Tower of Terror" day!
Ok.........so it's not perfect........but whatever is. :-)
So............
So as I've always said things will change over time in planning your WDW vacation. Don't let this overwhelm you..........embrace the change!
When you begin planning with more than 250 days until you vacation, change is going to happen. Anticipate it and have alternate plans in the "back" pocket! As I write this post we're 198 days until our vacation, the only thing I can guarantee is things will change!
Recently I've read a lot of posts on the boards where many bemoan all the planning that is required for a WDW vacation. While some planning can never be avoided the type of planning
I (and many others) do is not required. In fact "not planning" is a way of planning. It all depends on your perspective.
I do this planning to keep me engaged in my vacation. You see I booked this Sept 2014 vacation in October of 2013. That meant I had more than 300 days before I'd be visiting my favorite vacation spot. That's a long time............so to keep it in my mind I read, I view, I plan. That's me...........if it's not you that's "Ok" too! If it's not fun for you........if it stresses you out........don't do it,..................otherwise have fun with it!
Next up is planning for ADR Day!!!