1st Trip without "the kids"

[HannaBelle]

The hubs and I are taking our first solo trip to WDW next year from Saturday, February 27th through Sunday, March 7th. We are DVC owner’s at Bay Lake Tower and typically vacation at either DL or WDW every 2 to 3 years. We take advantage of the banking / borrowing to have the maximum amount of points for our stay.

I am having a hard time getting in to planning this trip. =(

We typically have 2 table service meals a day, one being a character meal and use both to rest and cool off or warm up! Since park hours are looking to be shorter than normal, I want to do 1 TS meal and 1 CS meal a day. The exception to this is the late start days we go to Epcot, we will eat breakfast at The Wave.

Here is what I think is true:
Top of the World Lounge is closed.
No fastpass reservations at all.
Dinning is booked 60 days in advance.
I have to get some kind of boarding pass to enter SWGE?

Correct?

I would love some input and/or suggestions on my plans.

Saturday, 02/27
Fly from DFW to MCO
Town car from MCO to BLT
Walk to MK, Bus to Art of Animation, check out the resort,
Skyliner to Epcot
Dinner at Biergarten in Epcot (We love Germany food and our kids don’t, so we are excited!)
Monorail to BLT

Sunday, 02/28
Monorail to rope drop at MK
Slowly soak up all of the magic in Fantasyland!
TS brunch or dinner? Our tradition is Crystal Palace, but it is closed at the moment
3:00 parade?
CS dinner at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square
Once Upon a Time Castle Projection?
"Happily Ever After" Nighttime Spectacular?

Monday, 03/01
Breakfast at The Wave
Monorail to Epcot rope drop
Focus on Future World
CS lunch at Sunshine Seasons
TS dinner at the Coral Reef Restaurant

Tuesday, 03/02
Bus to Animal Kingdom for rope drop
TS lunch at Yak & Yeti (family favorite!)
CS dinner at Flame Tree Barbecue (our DS hates BBQ, so this is a new one for us)

Wednesday, 03/03
Bus to Hollywood Studios for rope drop
Hit SWGE ASAP
CS at Docking Bay 7
Cocktails & Snacks at Oga’s
TS at Mama Melrose’s (family favorite!)
Wonderful World of Animation Show?
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular?

Thursday, 03/04
Monorail to rope drop at MK
TS lunch at Jungle Navigation Company (new spot to try!)
CS dinner

Friday, 03/05
Bus to Hollywood Studios for rope drop
TS lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (DH & I love it, kids hated it)
Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience?

Normally DHS is not a 2 day park for us, but DH is geeked about the Star Wars additions. Hopefully he will get his fill while we are there. He does not want to build a lightsaber or a droid.

Saturday, 03/06
Breakfast at The Wave
Monorail to Epcot rope drop
Focus on the World Showcase
CS lunch
Fireworks Dining Package at Rose & Crown?
Epcot Forever' Nighttime Spectacular?

Sunday, 03/07
Brunch at Chef Mickey’s (family tradition!)
Town car to MCO
MCO to DFW

 

[Rockbro]

Top of the World Lounge is closed.
No fastpass reservations at all.
Dinning is booked 60 days in advance.
I have to get some kind of boarding pass to enter SWGE?

1) No idea

2) Correct

3) Correct

4) Not to enter Galaxy, but yes for rise.

 

[No.1000]

Right now there are no nighttime shows/fireworks happening and no monorail to/from Epcot. Might be different by your trip, of course. My DH and I love our "no kid" trips. Much more laid back and we get to focus on what we feel like doing.

 

[HannaBelle]

Right now there are no nighttime shows/fireworks happening and no monorail to/from Epcot. Might be different by your trip, of course. My DH and I love our "no kid" trips. Much more laid back and we get to focus on what we feel like doing.

I hope it is more relaxed too!

I would love to do some of the nighttime experiences, but they all have a ?? b/c I know they are NOT scheduled right now.

 

[hereforthechurros]

There’s no monorail to or from Epcot at the moment. Hopefully it will be back in time for your trip but hard to know.

We’ve done two parents only trips but found a quick weekend was plenty so I can understand a little hesitation with planning a whole week. Biggest payoff for us was actually relaxing by the pool with no kids to watch. And shopping without complaint. And of course cocktails whenever.

Nighttime shows remain a huge question mark. There are rumblings that one may be back in the next few months but nothing certain. Same with the daytime MK parade, no telling when that’s coming back.

 

[subtchr]

Buckle up...

The hubs and I are taking our first solo trip to WDW next year from Saturday, February 27th through Sunday, March 7th. We are DVC owner’s at Bay Lake Tower and typically vacation at either DL or WDW every 2 to 3 years. We take advantage of the banking / borrowing to have the maximum amount of points for our stay.

I am having a hard time getting in to planning this trip. =(

We typically have 2 table service meals a day, one being a character meal and use both to rest and cool off or warm up! Since park hours are looking to be shorter than normal, I want to do 1 TS meal and 1 CS meal a day. The exception to this is the late start days we go to Epcot, we will eat breakfast at The Wave.

Here is what I think is true:
Top of the World Lounge is closed.
No fastpass reservations at all.
Dinning is booked 60 days in advance.
I have to get some kind of boarding pass to enter SWGE?

Correct?

All correct except the last line. No boarding group to get into Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. The only virtual queue is for one attraction there, Rise of the Resistance. That is done in the app, at 7:00 am on the day you have a DHS park reservation. You must be quick -- boarding groups fill in literally seconds. If you don't get one at 7:00 am, most days they release another set at 2:00.

I would love some input and/or suggestions on my plans.

Saturday, 02/27
Fly from DFW to MCO
Town car from MCO to BLT
Walk to MK, Bus to Art of Animation, check out the resort,
Skyliner to Epcot
Dinner at Biergarten in Epcot (We love Germany food and our kids don’t, so we are excited!)
Monorail to BLT

We love using Magical Express, but a town car works, too.

Art of Animation is really cute, and while I am "young at heart" at Disney, I wouldn't take the time for this on an adult trip. Not sure how early your flight is, but I'd take the extra time at Epcot.

The monorail between Epcot and TTC is not running. So you'll have to take a bus back to BLT.

Sunday, 02/28

Monorail to rope drop at MK
Slowly soak up all of the magic in Fantasyland!
TS brunch or dinner? Our tradition is Crystal Palace, but it is closed at the moment
3:00 parade?
CS dinner at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square
Once Upon a Time Castle Projection?
"Happily Ever After" Nighttime Spectacular?

Why would you take the monorail to MK from BLT? Much quicker to walk.

There are no scheduled parades. Just random, cute, short character cavalcades throughout the day.

No nighttime shows at all (projection or fireworks)

Monday, 03/01

Breakfast at The Wave
Monorail to Epcot rope drop
Focus on Future World
CS lunch at Sunshine Seasons
TS dinner at the Coral Reef Restaurant

Bus to Epcot, no monorail.

The rest works, but Future World won't take the entire day. If you love Coral Reef, go for it.

Tuesday, 03/02

Bus to Animal Kingdom for rope drop
TS lunch at Yak & Yeti (family favorite!)
CS dinner at Flame Tree Barbecue (our DS hates BBQ, so this is a new one for us)

I prefer Satuli Canteen to Flame Tree, but it's a good choice, too!

Wednesday, 03/03

Bus to Hollywood Studios for rope drop
Hit SWGE ASAP
CS at Docking Bay 7
Cocktails & Snacks at Oga’s
TS at Mama Melrose’s (family favorite!)
Wonderful World of Animation Show?
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular?

Great plan up until the nighttime shows...which aren't happening. Read up on Rise of the Resistance boarding groups.

Thursday, 03/04

Monorail to rope drop at MK
TS lunch at Jungle Navigation Company (new spot to try!)
CS dinner

Again, walk, don't monorail. Love that restaurant, enjoy!

Friday, 03/05

Bus to Hollywood Studios for rope drop
TS lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater (DH & I love it, kids hated it)
Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience?

Normally DHS is not a 2 day park for us, but DH is geeked about the Star Wars additions. Hopefully he will get his fill while we are there. He does not want to build a lightsaber or a droid.

No Fantasmic. Good plan for 2 days here to give you 2 chances for Rise of the Resistance.

Saturday, 03/06

Breakfast at The Wave
Monorail to Epcot rope drop
Focus on the World Showcase
CS lunch
Fireworks Dining Package at Rose & Crown?
Epcot Forever' Nighttime Spectacular?

No monorail to Epcot, no fireworks. Rose and Crown still good!

Sunday, 03/07

Brunch at Chef Mickey’s (family tradition!)
Town car to MCO
MCO to DFW

 

[HannaBelle]

Buckle up...


All correct except the last line. No boarding group to get into Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. The only virtual queue is for one attraction there, Rise of the Resistance. That is done in the app, at 7:00 am on the day you have a DHS park reservation. You must be quick -- boarding groups fill in literally seconds. If you don't get one at 7:00 am, most days they release another set at 2:00.



We love using Magical Express, but a town car works, too.

Art of Animation is really cute, and while I am "young at heart" at Disney, I wouldn't take the time for this on an adult trip. Not sure how early your flight is, but I'd take the extra time at Epcot.

The monorail between Epcot and TTC is not running. So you'll have to take a bus back to BLT.



Why would you take the monorail to MK from BLT? Much quicker to walk.

There are no scheduled parades. Just random, cute, short character cavalcades throughout the day.

No nighttime shows at all (projection or fireworks)



Bus to Epcot, no monorail.

The rest works, but Future World won't take the entire day. If you love Coral Reef, go for it.



I prefer Satuli Canteen to Flame Tree, but it's a good choice, too!



Great plan up until the nighttime shows...which aren't happening. Read up on Rise of the Resistance boarding groups.



Again, walk, don't monorail. Love that restaurant, enjoy!



No Fantasmic. Good plan for 2 days here to give you 2 chances for Rise of the Resistance.



No monorail to Epcot, no fireworks. Rose and Crown still good!

subtchr, you rock! TY for all of the details...

I am most sad about the monorail to Epcot. I love the monorail, it is one of the things that I love about stay at Bay Lake Tower. It is faster to walk to the MK, but the monorail is nostalgic for me!

 

[DSLRuser]

subtchr, you rock! TY for all of the details...

I am most sad about the monorail to Epcot. I love the monorail, it is one of the things that I love about stay at Bay Lake Tower. It is faster to walk to the MK, but the monorail is nostalgic for me!

I am sure in a week, the opportunity will present itself to do a monorail trip.

One thing about the current park operation rules that I hope continue for a long time.....is with no fast pass+....there is very little need to "plan" your day. In september, we just knew what park we were going to and where we needed to be for dinner, and rolled woth it.

We had so much more fun. I hope fastpass+ never comes back. (but i know it will as a paid ad on)

Trips without the kids are great. Nice to be able to do what you want without trying to compromise for the kids sake.

 

[SarahD112]

My husband and I planning a trip without kids too, and we wanted to go at the end of February. What we’ve decided is that it will be better to wait. We have a friend who took his grandkids a few weeks ago, and who goes all the time, and he said the magic is gone. No smiles, no excitement, no magic. Even the photographers would just say “stand over there”. He said his young grandkids had a good time, but for an adult, you can definitely see all that is missing. And without the shows, open restaurants, meet and greets - the lines are really long. So although it’s killing me...but no EMH, no park hopping, no dining plan, no fast pass and all the restrictions - we will wait.