101 Questions

[Shmily1]

Aarya ss, I feel your excitement!!

Where to stay? I've not stayed off-site, but there are smoking areas at all resorts. I think the Swan and Dolphin still have smoking and I know they have awesome beds!!! The beds were so comfortable my DH didn't like the getting up early to go to the parks. The pluses to this are the location of the Swan and Dolphin. They are within walking distance to the Boardwalk (lots of fun there), Epcot, and DHS and have all the Disney transportation. The negatives are you can't get the dining package deals staying there.

Where to eat? Rainforest cafe is great! Even at DTD, it is still a good place to go. (We don't miss that stop!) Coral Reef is great!! We went there in July for the first time and we loved it. Crystal Palace is also a great buffet and it has characters too!

What to do? Can't help you with Universal. I've never been there. Too much to do at Disney and I'm not willing to sacrifice any Disney moments! DTD is fun for a while, but you can only be there so long. DQ was ok,but not sure I would spend many Disney moments there either. I did like the Cheesecake Factory though!! The water parks are awesome. I know Blizzard Beach will be closed while you are there, but you will enjoy Typhoon Lagoon alot!! So... I would say, priorities for me would be MK, Epcot, DHS, AK, TL, Boardwalk, DTD, then anything offsite.

Good luck and enjoy the excitement! Don't worry about work... it will be there when you get back!

 

[vacationwoman]

Someone enlighten me on a smart way to locate a post here… I posted something about the Rainforest Café a week ago, but can’t seem to find it…

Lots of rambling actually… Does everyone know that Disney has altered its value season for December? It now ends on December 15, 2007… which effectively means that the Disney also realizes that crowds shall be colossal after Dec 15… I’m going Dec 09 to 21… Shudder!
I had asked in a previous post for various opinions on the Rainforest Café? According to our touring plan, we shall be in Africa around lunch on Dec 13… does Rainforest, at AK, merit the walk to & fro to the entrance, to pick up where we left off?… we are late dinner eaters, bout 9pm, so I cannot make a dinner reservation… and the RC at DTD has terrible reviews so I’d rather not eat there… Suggestions?
Also, just to let all know that Confisco Grille, at the IOA, no longer takes reservations… have reserved Mythos tho…
Have also made the ADRs for Liberty TT, Tony’s TS, Hollywood Brown Derby, & Marrakech… can you see me patting my own back … and this from someone who was not keen to make ADRs to begin with…
On a personal note… I’m getting to the stage where my Disney obsessed brain no longer feels like working… at my job, that is… it’s been 15 years since I last visited… and I’m becoming increasing delirious… so any calm down tips shall also be appreciated…. Maybe I’m asking at the wrong place tho…

First a thought about your hotel. We have always stayed on site in all the years we've been going to WDW, but--- since the new no smoking rooms went into effect this year we will not stay at a Disney resort again.
That being said you could stay at the Swan or Dolphin in the Epcot area and they are on Disney property even though they are not Disney owned.
They have smoking rooms and you could then use the WDW transportation instead of cabs. You can even walk to Epcot, WS and MGM from there. They are deluxe hotels and have the best beds and several restuarants.
The designated smoking areas at the Disney resorts are not really convenient for when your spending time in the room or early morning and late at night.
The smoking areas in the parks are excellent and plentiful.

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

When we went for our honeymoon in 2005, we (I especially) hadn't been to WEDW since I was 10 (before Epcot was even open)...so everything was new to me. At that time we went for 7 days/ 6 nights and did WDW and SW (1 day). We found it to be enough time, primarily because we ran ourself ragged with EMH and utilizing everything we could to get the most time in the parks. We even managed to fit in DTD. We did not do the water parks however. This past April, we did another 7 day trip (I am not allowed to take off more than 1 week periods) we did WDW, 2 days at Universal (which I had never been to) and 1 day at SW. That was not enough time. So I would say that with a 12 day trip, you could get your fix with everything you have planned.

My wife and I take our time and look at everything, so if we can do it, I'm sure you could too. Good luck!

 

[aarya_ss]

Just to thank all the posters, for great & 'wise' suggestions... the voice of experience & all that... no, but seriously, i've read all that everyone has to say several times & made alterations with the plan.... so thank you! 35 days & counting it down...