1st timer with a couple of questions

[mist]

Hello All, I've gathered some great information from here thanks, but there's a couple of things i could do with a little help on as we have never been to DLRP before. We are a family of 5 (2 adults & 3 kids 16,13,12) and are arriving on oct the 26 for 5 days. I was planning on buying annual passes upon our arrival as you get a 20% discount. Would it be a very busy time with long queues on a Sunday afternoon to try and buy annual passes, or would it be a better idea to buy one day passes on the Sunday at the hotel and get the annual passes the following day? (hope this makes sense)
Secondly my DD will be 17 during our visit there, any suggestions as to a good restaurant to go to to celebrate her birthday. Thanks

 

[hildasmuriel]

Hi and welcome.

We arrived on a Sunday in late October last year and bought our APs with little delay. I would certainly get them on your first day and NOT wait as the sooner you get your pass, the sooner you start saving.....10% on all your food, 20% off purchases in shops........and with 5 of you, that could be a lot!

For the birthday meal - it all depends on whether your 17 year old feels quite mature (Walts would be good then) or if she would like to mix with characters in which case Cafe Mickey is the more noisy and boisterous option, while Inventions is the more expensive choice.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi mist . Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome to DLP DIS board

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here, DIS posting guidelines can be found here.

I agree for a birthday choice depends whether a character meal would be the best choice

 

[FiFi Rose]

If you do find you can't get your AP on your first day they give you the value of your day pass off the price of your AP when you upgrade. Cafe Mickey is great for a birthday. Ask for a table inside the main restaraunt though cause they have opened a new extension where you're a bit away from all the action.

 

[mist]

Thanks for the quick responses, my DD is like most 17 year olds in thinking she's very mature but I think I might try to book a birthday lunch in cafe mickeys. I'd think she'd enjoy it and I'm sure the younger girls would. Can somebody tell me what are the opening times for phoning to make reservations please.

 

[Danauk]

I'm not sure of the opening times (they keep changing them so best to ask when you ring really!) The number to phone form the UK is: 00-33-1-60-30-40-50. They will answer in French but do speak English so don't worry about the language.

 

[ghockley1981]

Me and my girlfriend (27 and 31) loved Cafe Mickey so that would be good to go for. If she wanted a more mature but still playfull meal then the Rainforest Cafe would be a good bet. No character interaction but the surroundings itself would make it special for her and enjoyable for the kids.

The Guest Relations Office ( to the right of the main turnstyles at the very end ) was never busy when we were there. I would think it would be best for you to get them straight away. But be prepared to have 30 minutes out to pay for these and then get the passes done at the Passport Office.

Don't forget you can go inside the Disney hotel and at 4 they have character interaction in the reception there.

Glenn

 

[cap'njack.]

We went on the 5th. Guest Relations was dead at 5pm although there was a queue to buy tickets at the normal windows. Inside the park we went straight to the AP office and had about a 30 minute wait.

The only problem we had was that the gave us Goofy 5 as our ticket number and I didn't realise that Goofy (although written as Goofy) was said as 'Dingo' so we almost missed our spot

 

[mist]

Excuse my ignorance but do I go to the ticket booths or to the guest relations office to get annual passports. Also can anybody give me some guidance about good times to to eat at, I know everybody is different but as we have never been here before I'm finding it difficult to get a feel for this. We plan to have a good breakfast each morning but after that what do people normally do. i.e. get lunch and then eat their main meal at night or vice versa or indeed do both. Thanks

 

[bonjovikitten]

Hiya mist!
Definitely got to guest relations to get you annual passes, head to the right past the ticket booths, trust me you'll see it. When we went in summer we ate in the evening, this time (we are going next week) we will eat at lunch most days. Just depends where you want to eat. If in the park i would suggest lunch, disney village/hotels maybe tea time. Really its whatever suits you as a family.

Claire xxx

 

[Ware Bears]

Go to Guest Relations. If you go to the normal ticket booths it's hit and miss whether the CM is fully clued up on APs. Guest Relations will sell you temporary APs, once you're in the park make your way over to the Annual Passport Bureau where they will issue you with permanent APs.

We eat a good breakfast and then usually have one table service meal a day. If it's in the evening we'll grab a snack from a counter service place during the day. If we're eating a table service meal at lunchtime then we may buy a snack in the evening if we start feeling peckish. Some days we have eaten our main meal in the afternoon (ie. 2.30pm or 3pm) so don't need anything before or later.

Disney Village restaurants are very busy in the evening once the parks have closed so it's worth leaving the park before closing time if you're eating at one of them, unless its Cafe Mickey or The Steakhouse as you can make resrvations for them.