Some Final Thoughts
Crowds - averaged at a level 6 the week of Mar 4-10, 2018. I thought this was a great time to go crowd wise as it was right before all the spring breaks started. Also it was great not having to worry about party nights and super crowded MK nights as a result!
Weather - too cold IMO, but I like it HOT! I want to leave the hotel in shorts and a tank top and not have to layer at all. There was only 1 day that I wore shorts.
Cell Phone & Battery Usage - We took 2 extra battery chargers with us to the parks as my phone would drain in the morning. However, before we left home I did not check all the charging cables and the ones we took to the park were not good! So make sure you check your cables before leaving home! Also, we have unlimited data on our phones (Sprint) and I'm glad we did because anytime we tried using the WiFi it was slow. We didn't have that experience on previous trips as I thought the WiFi was just fine. But perhaps it's because of more people using their phones in the park trying to get fastpasses.
Next Trip - When we got home and I realized we drove 1900 miles just to get to WDW, I looked up on the map and it's only 1,800 miles to
Disneyland! I wanted to make that our next trip in August 2019 so I started doing some research. But then I realized Star Wars Land will probably be open by then at DLR, causing lots of crowds. So we were thinking we might wait until 2020 to try DLR. Plus our youngest would be 5 by then and we might be able to go stroller-less. I tentatively have my heart set on returning to WDW in late 2019 before Star Wars Land opens so here are the options:
- Late August would work well with baseball schedules and perhaps they will still offer Free Dining. I would love to stay at Art of Animation in a Cars Family Suite but rumor has it that will be excluded from free dining this year. However, my kids would miss the pool slides and I would miss the hot tub.
- Another option would be to get connecting rooms at All Star Sports (theming is perfect for my kids), we could maybe get free dining and just upgrade 1 of the rooms to the regular DDP, thus giving us TS meals for just half our stay, which is PERFECT! I honestly hate having a TS meal every day. (Plus all the tips you pay for)
- Staying offsite at Wyndham Bonnett Creek - can get these for about $1,000 for a week. Or my in laws are Wyndham owners and might could book something for us. However, we would get NO EMH which we love, plus would have to pay for parking.
- Staying offsite at Hilton Buena Vista Palace, if they continue the EMH perks. After resort fees, parking fees, and Disney parking fees this would cost of $300/night. But they have a beautiful pool which we would love. We would probably have to offset the high cost of the hotel and NOT get parkhoppers.
I really despise going during party season. I would like to go maybe the 1st week of November before they start the Christmas Parties as that would be great weather. However, rates onsite are higher then and there is no free dining offered. Plus, it's a big week for DVC so the chances of renting points at Boardwalk during that time would be slim.
So many decisions! Another dream of mine is to get an AP one year that would over maybe a late August and an early August trip the following year. Then in between take 2 special trips with just 2 kids each for their birthdays...just with mom!
But on top of all that we love to travel other places...but it's hard to find the time for a long trip since we own our own business and the kids play sports, so getting away more than once a year for over a week can be tough. Plus, DH and I need some time to get away on our own too! We did Mexico for his 40th bday last year and it was so relaxing.
I think after I see what happens with the free dining that is supposed to drop tomorrow, then I might just take a break from Disney research for a while. I feel like I am so torn over when/where the next trip should be that I get upset about it and it's at least 16 months away, haha! It literally consumes me sometimes and it's not always healthy as I find myself checking disney updates before reading my Bible in the morning! We are going to Gulf Shores this August for a big family trip with my parents and sisters and their families so I have that to look forward to!
Anyhow, thanks for following along, if you have any tips or insight on what we should do next, let me know!
Our family would like to visit San Antonio, Smoky Mountains, Colorado...and one day do Colonial History stuff, Charleston, Savannah, DC, etc...but some of those need to wait until the kids are a bit older.