Hi, I'm new.. and need some advice

[carolinamom24]

Hi, from North Carolina..

I just found this place and wish I had found it sooner.. As I have been searching thru the site - I have gathered some great information.. thank you all so much.. This place is wonderful!! So, with that said.. I was hoping that I could get some feedback and advice on the schedule that my husband & I put together.. I would greatly appreciate and Thank you all in advance..

I will be traveling with my DH, DS6 and DD4 to Disney World from 11/15-21, staying at POFQ and scheduled ADR. This is will be our first trip to Disney and I want to make it memorable!

11/15 - We plan to be in AK for the day. My family isn't too excited about the dining there so, we scheduled dinner at Teppan Edo. What time do you think we need to leave AK to get to Epcot? And how do we actually travel there?

11/16 We will be in Epcot all day and scheduled dinner at Askerhaus. My DD is a die hard fan of Sleeping Beauty. I know it was mentioned that Princesses are subject to change.. But I am sooo counting on her to be there or my DD will be crushed. Has anyone recently visited Askerhaus for Dinner?

11/17 Breakfast at Ohana at 7:45am. We will be spending the day at Hollywood Studios. I am assuming that we are going to have a very early start especially, if we use the Disney transportation. Does anyone know what time it starts running? Or do you think we should just take a cab from POFQ to make it easier on us, especially with the kids? And do you know the cost?

11/18 MK today with the BBBotique with DD and then Lunch at CRT followed by Spectromagic and Wishes Fireworks.. Could you tell me the best location for us to watch the evening show?

11/19 MK again and then Dinner at Chef Mickey. The park is offering extra magic hours.. so if they open at 8am.. what time can you actually get there and linger? We want to get a head start and hit the popular rides..

11/20 MK again to revisit our favorite rides & then to Epcot for dinner at Biergarten. I have read some reviews that this is a fun place for kids.. But my DD is somewhat of a picky eater. Do you think I should be overly concerned with the menu or not worry because the entertainment is going to out wiegh it? Also, I heard that at MK, a lucky family get selected to open the park with Mickey on his train. Has anyone heard of this or been selected and how do you get choosen?

So, that's it.. Would love to hear advice, suggestion or needed revisions.. Thanks again! Melinda

[WeLuvDiz]

Welcome to the boards Melinda, I hope this helps:
1) I STRONGLY suggest at least 1 to 1.5 hrs to get from AK to Epcot because the WDW busses do not run between parks, so you will have to take one bus to a resort then transfer to another bus or monorail to EPCOT. It would be alot faster (15min)and easier to take a taxi which are available out by the bus stops.
2)The current price for Ohana is $18.99 for adults and $10.99 Child(3-9)
3)The best place to view WISHES is from anywhere an Main St, get a seat 45 min before viewing.
4)You can enter MK at approx 7:30a with the rope drop at 8:00am then alot of rides are open for you 1 hr. before the general public is let in.
5)There is a 10 min. show at the train station in MK before the rope drop, to be "picked" for family of the day you just have to be in the right place at the right time, there is no special way they pick you.
Hope this helps a littleHave a GREAT VACATION you and your family are going to LOVE WDW.

[greengeen]

WDW buses DO run between parks and yes, there is a bus from AK to Epcot. You can find transportation information like that on WDW's website. For example, the transportation page for AK:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/par...ransportation/

[JohnnyB2]

Hi & Welcome to the DISboardsQuestion #1 you can take a bus to the YC & BC walk through the hotel entrance and straight out the back to Crescent lake, turn left on the path. turn left just before the bridge and enter the WS through the International Gateway. Total walk time 12 min. Make sure you have park hoppers included on your park tickets

[Metro West]

[carolinamom24]

Wow.. this is great information.. Love it here.. Thanks so much guys!!

Oh and I have another question. If I have the Dining Plan, how do the meals get applied to your account? Do I show my room key???

And, I have a extra reservation that will not be covered by my meal plan. So, when I am paying -do I indicate which meal will be charged against my meal plan and which will be paid against my Disney Rewards Card? Obviously, from the reservations I listed I would choose the less expensive meal (Ohana).. Do you know if Ohana accepts the Dinsey Reward Card for payment? Thanks! Melinda

[Pakey]

Welcome.

1. Although busses do run from park to park, I too would suggest catching a bus to Yacht Club/Beach Club from Animal Kingdom. The bus to these resorts is often shared but both resorts are right next to one another so as long as you get off the bus at the Yacht Club or Beach Club resort, it's going to be the fastest way to get to Teppen Edo. As the PP said, just walk through the hotel lobby (it's a straight walk from the entrance to the back), go out the sliding doors, keep walking straight towards the lake, turn left on the pathway and it will take you straight to the International Gateway entrance to Epcot. The walk from Beach Club to International Gateway is 5 minutes, Yacht Club would be a few minutes more but not much. Once you are inside Epcot, you would take the first right over the bridge to France and onto Japan. This is a much faster way than taking the bus to Epcot and having to walk all the way through Future World and then around the World Showcase.

2. Personally, for your early morning breakfast with Stitch at the Poly, I would take a cab. Cabs run +/- $20 for most areas within WDW; we have used them many times. Just go to bell services at your hotel and request one; there is usually one or more already there.

If you do not want to take a cab, the best route for you will be to take a bus to Magic Kingdom and then walk to the monorail and take the monorail to the Poly. I believe the transportation starts running 2 hours prior to the park (MK) opening.

Enjoy your vacation.

[kwitcherkicken99]

11/15 - What time do you think we need to leave AK to get to Epcot? And how do we actually travel there?
If you are bussing, plan at least an hour. If you are driving, at least half that. Where are you staying? It may be faster to bus to Swan/Dolphin, Beach or Yacht Club and take a Friendship into the International Gateway... (drops you off in the World Showcase by France/England-ish)

11/16 Has anyone recently visited Askerhaus for Dinner?
I haven't been to Akerhaus personally but Aurora has been known to pop up in the France pavillion during the day, so keep your eyes peeled (she my favorite too!!!)

11/17 Breakfast at Ohana at 7:45am. Does anyone know what time it starts running? Or do you think we should just take a cab from POFQ to make it easier on us, especially with the kids? And do you know the cost?
Busses should be running, but I personally would taxi it - I'm not a morning person... We did a ressie at 7:50 and didn't have to wait for a table. We were in and out pretty quick and had great interaction with the characters - they spent a lot of time with us.

11/18 Spectromagic and Wishes Fireworks.. Could you tell me the best location for us to watch the evening show?
Seek out Robo - he has great maps. A lot of people will pack in down Main Street. A popular spot is in front of Casey's. You will be able to see both from the same spot. Plan to start "parking" in your spot 30-45 min ahead of time.

11/19 MK again and then Dinner at Chef Mickey. The park is offering extra magic hours.. so if they open at 8am.. what time can you actually get there and linger? We want to get a head start and hit the popular rides..
If you are planning to be there for rope drop, at least 30-45 minutes before scheduled park opening. Keep in mind it takes a good amount of time to get to the gates with public transport. Have you considered booking Crystal Palace for breakfast? An early enough ADR and you can get in the park before it opens!

11/20 MK again to revisit our favorite rides & then to Epcot for dinner at Biergarten. I have read some reviews that this is a fun place for kids.. But my DD is somewhat of a picky eater.
Go over the menu on allears.net. It's a sample menu, but it will give you a good idea of what they'll be serving. Remind your picky eater that the German food is exactly what we eat here, it's just prepared different. Spaetzle are little noodles (soooo good) and they have carved meat stations at dinner. Salads, sausages, potatoes, veggies. She should be able to find something!

http://allears.net/menu/men_ger.htm

Tell her that veal (Schnitzel Wiener) is pork (if she eats pork), chicken, etc... I think if you can explain out the menu without explaining the menu, you'll be in good shape.


If I have the Dining Plan, how do the meals get applied to your account? Do I show my room key???
Show your Key to the World (KTTW) card and they should have asked when you made the ressie... just tell the server.

I have an extra reservation that will not be covered by my meal plan. So, when I am paying -do I indicate which meal will be charged against my meal plan and which will be paid against my Disney Rewards Card?
Once you exhaust your dining credits OR you've booked a restaurant that isn't on the DP, you will just have to pay out of pocket. If you have booked all places that take DP, and would rather pay OOP, just tell them you aren't on the DP for that meal.

HTH!