A bit unprepared. Opinions / expertise needed.

[Becky0216]

For someone who has been to DW so many times (day trips and week long stays) I seem to be struggling this year for our plans. We are only 18 days away from our next trip and I am not even finished planning. YIKES! Was hoping some of you awesome DIS people can shed some light on things for me so I can finalize my plans. I don't want to miss out on anything. We are a family of 5 ... 3 kids 11, 9 and 5. Visiting Oct. 1 to 8. POR Riverside.

1.) Animal kingdom: Is Rivers of light something that is now open? most of what I see is that it is delayed, but then I see reports on it opening end of summer. How about the park rides at night? And the tree of life projections. Are these still going? And are they part of my ticket or an added ticket event?

2.) HS: Everything Star Wars. I need info. lol. My 9yo boy is a fanatic and I would love to do all the Star wars offerings. Are they part of the ticket or an extra? What all is there to experience? I saw something about fireworks but only on my first night there.

3.) MK: Anything new to know about? Last visit was Nov 2014. I hear it is the parks anniversary on 1st. Is there extra happenings going on? Bad time to got there?

4.) Never stayed in POR before. Is there an easy way to get to MK from here? Staying in the Alligator rooms. Also, how well do room requests work? I see they are a distance from food area and am a bit stressed. my son has some issues that worry me. He has diabetes and I want to be close to main area in case of emergency. He is also claustrophobic and I hear the rooms are dim, not much lighting with the 1 window. Thoughts on anything I can do?



Any must do things with kids? We are looking into MNSSHP since my sis is military and joining us. She gets a discount I think. Is it worth it or just plain crazy?

I just feel like I am more lost this time and not sure why. I plan for friends all the time. I have never felt unsure before. Can't even get my dining figured out.

Thanks in advance.

 

[sharonabe]

I can't help with all of your questions, but perhaps I can get you and others started.

AK: Rivers of Light is not happening yet. It looks like the 1st and 2nd are the only late nights there. The other days AK closes at 7:30 and it's not quite dark at 7:30, so I'd try to make one of weekend days an AK day so you can experience the Tree of Life coming alive in the evening AND you can do an actual dusk safari. Besides I've heard EE at night is awesome.

HS: Sorry, I haven't kept up with the Star Wars stuff because it's just not consistent. If no one answers that part of your questions, you may want to make a new thread with just that, so people see up front you're looking for Star Wars help.

MK: Haven't seen any news for celebrating the anniversary this year, so you're probably good if you decide to do MK that day.

POR: Make a new room request when you check in and be sure to tell them of your concern for your son's diabetes. I'm sure they'll work with you. Have no idea about the claustrophobia, but any room I've ever stayed in at WDW had a fairly large window, so as long as you leave the curtains open, you should be fine.

Sorry, but there is no military discount for the MNSSHP in October. They only offered it on selected dates this year, and they were all in September.

 

[Hopefully]

For someone who has been to DW so many times (day trips and week long stays) I seem to be struggling this year for our plans. We are only 18 days away from our next trip and I am not even finished planning. YIKES! Was hoping some of you awesome DIS people can shed some light on things for me so I can finalize my plans. I don't want to miss out on anything. We are a family of 5 ... 3 kids 11, 9 and 5. Visiting Oct. 1 to 8. POR Riverside.

1.) Animal kingdom: Is Rivers of light something that is now open? most of what I see is that it is delayed, but then I see reports on it opening end of summer. How about the park rides at night? And the tree of life projections. Are these still going? And are they part of my ticket or an added ticket event?
Rivers of Light is not yet open and no new opening date has been announced yet. The AK is open until 7 PM in October. The safari is running until then and the Tree of Life Awakenings are occurring. There are also 2 "parties" in the AK

2.) HS: Everything Star Wars. I need info. lol. My 9yo boy is a fanatic and I would love to do all the Star wars offerings. Are they part of the ticket or an extra? What all is there to experience? I saw something about fireworks but only on my first night there.
Everything Star Wars is currently included. The new evening show is reported to be fabulous. It is a combination of video movie clips projected on the Chinese theatre and 2 nearby structures, lasers, fire and fire works all set to the Star Wars music score.

3.) MK: Anything new to know about? Last visit was Nov 2014. I hear it is the parks anniversary on 1st. Is there extra happenings going on? Bad time to got there?
Nothing is yet announced for the Anniversary, although I would plan on it being extra crowded on that day. As always the closer to Rope Drop you arrive the better to get busy popular rides in with less wait

4.) Never stayed in POR before. Is there an easy way to get to MK from here? Staying in the Alligator rooms. Also, how well do room requests work? I see they are a distance from food area and am a bit stressed. my son has some issues that worry me. He has diabetes and I want to be close to main area in case of emergency. He is also claustrophobic and I hear the rooms are dim, not much lighting with the 1 window. Thoughts on anything I can do?
Only way to MK from POR is by bus. You can book and pay for an "Preferred Room" if you need to be near the main building and near the food court. Those are the closest rooms. After that it is all by request and never guaranteed. If dim is a problem, can you bring some kind of light for your room? I don't know what else you could do beyond requesting a corner room (never guaranteed) but you need to decide which is most important to your family and request that first. I think booking a preferred room for guaranteed closeness to food and then requesting a corner room is the best you can do



Any must do things with kids? We are looking into MNSSHP since my sis is military and joining us. She gets a discount I think. Is it worth it or just plain crazy?

I just feel like I am more lost this time and not sure why. I plan for friends all the time. I have never felt unsure before. Can't even get my dining figured out.

Thanks in advance.

See Answers above
If you have more POR questions go to the Resorts Forum and look for their thread, tons of info and lots of friendly helpers there

 

[yulilin3]

For someone who has been to DW so many times (day trips and week long stays) I seem to be struggling this year for our plans. We are only 18 days away from our next trip and I am not even finished planning. YIKES! Was hoping some of you awesome DIS people can shed some light on things for me so I can finalize my plans. I don't want to miss out on anything. We are a family of 5 ... 3 kids 11, 9 and 5. Visiting Oct. 1 to 8. POR Riverside.

1.) Animal kingdom: Is Rivers of light something that is now open? most of what I see is that it is delayed, but then I see reports on it opening end of summer. How about the park rides at night? And the tree of life projections. Are these still going? And are they part of my ticket or an added ticket event?

2.) HS: Everything Star Wars. I need info. lol. My 9yo boy is a fanatic and I would love to do all the Star wars offerings. Are they part of the ticket or an extra? What all is there to experience? I saw something about fireworks but only on my first night there.

3.) MK: Anything new to know about? Last visit was Nov 2014. I hear it is the parks anniversary on 1st. Is there extra happenings going on? Bad time to got there?

4.) Never stayed in POR before. Is there an easy way to get to MK from here? Staying in the Alligator rooms. Also, how well do room requests work? I see they are a distance from food area and am a bit stressed. my son has some issues that worry me. He has diabetes and I want to be close to main area in case of emergency. He is also claustrophobic and I hear the rooms are dim, not much lighting with the 1 window. Thoughts on anything I can do?



Any must do things with kids? We are looking into MNSSHP since my sis is military and joining us. She gets a discount I think. Is it worth it or just plain crazy?

I just feel like I am more lost this time and not sure why. I plan for friends all the time. I have never felt unsure before. Can't even get my dining figured out.

Thanks in advance.

for everything SW at DHS check out the first page of my thread (link in signature) if after reading you still have questions feel free to ask them there.

 

[Grym]

Correction to some information above:

Animal Kingdom is open until 8:30pm for your nights. So there will be after dark offerings (Tree of LIfe, etc.). Rivers of Light is not scheduled yet though.

 

[Becky0216]

Thanks for responses.
I looked through the SW post. It is very long, and my computer doesn't load DIS very well so it moves at a snail pace. I don't have enough time to look through all messages. I see the main one. And that is some great info. My main question... Is it all included in my ticket? (except the dessert party).
Same for Animal kingdom at night.

Bummer about the MSSHP. That sure makes my mind up. I can't afford the over $500 for my family of 5 plus my sister. So looks like we have new plans to make.
Will look into POR page. and thank you for the info on Rivers of light.

 

[yulilin3]

Thanks for responses.
I looked through the SW post. It is very long, and my computer doesn't load DIS very well so it moves at a snail pace. I don't have enough time to look through all messages. I see the main one. And that is some great info. My main question... Is it all included in my ticket? (except the dessert party).
Same for Animal kingdom at night.

Bummer about the MSSHP. That sure makes my mind up. I can't afford the over $500 for my family of 5 plus my sister. So looks like we have new plans to make.
Will look into POR page. and thank you for the info on Rivers of light.

yes, like PP said everything at DHS is included except the dessert party. No need to read through all the pages since the first page is up to date with show times.
AK as well, everything included, you'll get the Tree of Life awakenings for the last hour of the park, it awakens every 10 minutes

 

[alliecat523]

Yes, the options you mentioned are included in your ticket. If you want to do Jedi Training Academy, you need to get there early to sign up as its limited.

You can ride Star Tours, meet Chewy and Kylo Ren as well as see Jawas and the Storm Troopers.

 

[Becky0216]

Oh gosh. I missed the responses. I only saw the main response back underneath., Sorry.

 

[Babsy]

POR still accepts faxed requests, I believe. I would send a fax about a week before and request a room as near as possible to the food court as well as a corner room. The corner rooms have 2 windows so they are much brighter inside. Explain why you are making these requests.

FYI: If the extra $$ are possible, you could change your booking to a preferred room at POR which would get you as close as possible to everything. The AB preferred room locations are really convenient!

 

[ammag]

Star Wars: photo ops in front of the AT-AT and there is a speeder bike right across from star tours, fun for a photo. Tatoine traders is a great shop, but get s so crazy crowded, if Watto's grotto is open I suggest heading over there, if it is convenient.

 

[CatPack]

Just in response to POR. The Alligator Bayou rooms are the only ones that have the Murphy bed and accommodate 5 people. So, unless your family is using 2 rooms, this section of the resort is the only option.

 

[yulilin3]

Star Wars: photo ops in front of the AT-AT and there is a speeder bike right across from star tours, fun for a photo. Tatoine traders is a great shop, but get s so crazy crowded, if Watto's grotto is open I suggest heading over there, if it is convenient.

Watto's closed with the rest of streets of america

 

[ammag]

Ok darn

 

[berryinDC]

3.) MK: Anything new to know about? Last visit was Nov 2014. I hear it is the parks anniversary on 1st. Is there extra happenings going on? Bad time to got there?

4.) Never stayed in POR before. Is there an easy way to get to MK from here? Staying in the Alligator rooms. Also, how well do room requests work? I see they are a distance from food area and am a bit stressed. my son has some issues that worry me. He has diabetes and I want to be close to main area in case of emergency. He is also claustrophobic and I hear the rooms are dim, not much lighting with the 1 window. Thoughts on anything I can do?

I just feel like I am more lost this time and not sure why. I plan for friends all the time. I have never felt unsure before. Can't even get my dining figured out.

3) Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire is a new show since your last trip to MK.

4) I've stayed in the Alligator rooms @ POR and they are a bit on the dark side, especially in the back by the bathroom and 2nd bed. The walk to the food court can be long (but pretty). POR still accepted faxed room requests as of our last trip in 2015, so I think that's your best option if you can't afford a preferred room. If an additional light would help, I would pack a small one.

I feel like trip planning is unusually challenging this fall because Disney keeps changing their minds, or releasing information much later than usual. That's probably contributing your stress and confusion. It sure it to mine!