Adult Visit --Please comment

[Emm]

(I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'm sure it will be moved if it isn't.)

My SO and I have been discussing what we will do during our first "no kids" trip to the World. We only have 3 and 1/2 days, and we are interested in doing romantic, "grown up" things for a change. This looks to be our plan so far. I would particularly like suggestions about things to do/see, restaurants and/or entertainment that we may have never enjoyed before.

Day 1 (Wednesday): Arrive in the afternoon and check in to Dolphin. Spend the afternoon swimming in the resort pool, walking on the Boardwalk, etc. Around 6 or 7 pm, shower and get ready for dinner. We have 9:20 reservations at the California Grill. I figure that we should aim to be there around 9, but that there is no point in being earlier (and having to wait longer). What do you all think? (Wishes will be at 10. What are the odds that we can be seated before the fireworks?)

Day 2 (Thursday): Go to Epcot in the morning but switch off to DS in the afternoon. We have reservations for a late lunch at the Sci Fi Dinner Theater and will be lining up for Fantasmic around 7 for a 9 pm show. I'm looking for a counter service in HS where we can get tasty food that we can take into the Fantasmic theater with us. Suggestions?

After Fantasmic, we figure we will get back to the resort and then head for Jellyrolls, which I have heard a lot about but never been in. Would it be too late to arrive there around 10 pm?

Day 3 (Friday): Go to MK in the morning and Epcot in the afternoon/evening. I have reservations for dinner at the Moroccan restaurant (my SO is looking forward to the belly dancers). After dinner we'll watch Illuminations (if we feel like it) and/or head back to the resort and then the Boardwalk. Besides Jellyrolls, what's a good place for two 50-somethings to enjoy the evening out?

Day 4 (Saturday): We'll probably go to AK in the morning (or is that a bad idea on a Saturday?) and do either Epcot or HS in the evening (maybe both, if the boat ride is not too slow). Any suggestions for a special dinner and/or other event on our last evening at WDW?

(The next morning we have time only for breakfast at the resort and heading to the airport.)

Thanks.

 

[joecavalier]

Hi Emma! That's funny because I am in the same situation. My DGF and I (late 30's) are coming down for a 4 1/2 day surprise birthday vacation (she doesn't know it yet) and I started having my doubts midway through the planning... I even started this thread when I had a bit of a meltdown lol.

But I got through it and now I am so excited to revisit the magic of WDW. One plan I have is to book an Illuminations cruise one of our nights there (May 18th - May 22nd) They are rather pricey, but if you're planning to be at WDW the same days we are, we would love to share!!

Good luck planning, you're going to have a BLAST!!

 

[Emm]

Hi Emma! That's funny because I am in the same situation. My DGF and I (late 30's) are coming down for a 4 1/2 day surprise birthday vacation (she doesn't know it yet) and I started having my doubts midway through the planning... I even started this thread when I had a bit of a meltdown lol.

But I got through it and now I am so excited to revisit the magic of WDW. One plan I have is to book an Illuminations cruise one of our nights there (May 18th - May 22nd) They are rather pricey, but if you're planning to be at WDW the same days we are, we would love to share!!

Good luck planning, you're going to have a BLAST!!

Yeah, I know we will have a great time. I'm not anxious; I just enjoy planning.

Luckily for me, my SO and I aren't interested in the long-line rides. We're mostly interested in the atmosphere and in doing some things we didn't get to do in the past because we were on "family" trips--for example, Jellyrolls. So I am asking the other "grown ups" on this forum for tips.

As for the Illuminations cruise, the real trick is to get one at this late date. I notice that, like me, you have put your name down on the Illuminations cruise thread. We will be there a little later than you, but even if we wanted to share, I would be very surprised if we could get a reservation. (Unless someone cancels--are you calling Disney every day?) Our best bet is for someone who has booked to have a couple of extra spaces on their boat. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Good luck on your trip.

 

[Floydian]

Day 1: If you have 9:20 reservations, it shouldn't be a problem getting seated in time. I don't make reservations often, but when I have, I've always been seated within about 10 minutes of the time.

Day 2: I would check on the Fantasmic Dinner Package. It is a set price, and doesn't include the Sci-Fi, but allows you reserved seating for the show so you can avoid your planned 2 hour wait in line.

Also, 10pm is just about right for Jellyrolls. I've been there at 9pm and seen it empty, and been there at 11pm to find it standing room only.

Day 3: Sounds good. I like the atmosphere at Morocco too. I'm not much of an evening out person, but I always enjoy World Showcase and Boardwalk at night. Just strolling and sitting and relaxing and drinking...

Day 4: AK on a Saturday should be fine if you get there early. The boat takes a good 30 minutes to go between EPCOT and DHS. For a nice dinner, you could try the places at the Swan/Dolphin. I've only been to Shula's (very good, but not worth the price...imo) and Bluezoo (also very good, and worth every penny). I've heard good things about Kimonos too, but am not much of a sushi person.

 

[Emm]

Thanks, Floydon. I hope you are right about the 9:20 reservations. I have visions of people who had 8:30 reservations refusing to leave until after the fireworks and holding up everything.

As for the Fantasmic Dinner Package, that was our first choice (with Hollywood and Vine) but all of them (even Brown Derby which was our last choice) were booked for that night, so we opted for a late lunch (and Sci Fi seemed like a show in itself) and eating lightly while waiting in line for Fantasmic and then going for a fun time on the Boardwalk.

Thanks for the feedback about the S/D dining places. We may try Bluezoo.