Advice for my parents

[Cmbar]

My parents just informed me that they have booked a reservation for Dec 30 and 31st. Well actually my dad said "would you be upset if we spent New Years eve at Disney?"" I was like WHAT??? I am so jealous. Anyways they asked me what they could do if they didn't want to actually go into the park.

Turns out my cousin's daughter is in some kind of gymnastic meet and they had extra rooms at CBR for 129.00 a night. I thought that was good for those two days of the year, right?

Anyways, Have any ideas about how they could spend those two nights at Disney without getting park passes. Anything special for New Years? I know they could go to the Hoop Dee Doo but I am sure it is booked solid. Any other great suggestions for this couple in their 60's!

Thanks for any advice

 

[cleo]

They are smart for not going into the parks that day.

Have they considered going over to the Gaylord Palms resort to see ICE? It's an amazing experience, well worth seeing and without the crowds they'll encounter in the parks.

Pleasure Island and Citywalk both have NYE events but unless they want to be shoulder-to-shoulder they may want to skip it. Dixie Stampede might be a good choice for a dinner show. Sleuths is another fun dinner show, geared more toward adults. I'm not sure if they have a special NYE show or not.

If they want to stay right on property, Downtown Disney during the day and the Boardwalk resort in the evening should be fun (tell them to try Raglan Road...and order the Bread Pudding! To die for!!) and would attract a more family-oriented crowd.

If they really want to go all-out, Champions Gate has a fabulous restaurant, Zen, with The Zen Experience. Dining at it's finest, and if they do it 'right' the meal could take up a good portion of the evening!

 

[wendy1974]

They could go over to the Contemporary or the Polynesian resort and watch the fireworks. I'm sure ADRs are all taken but there's no harm in calling the California Grill or Polynesian to see if there are any dinner times left.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Just tell them to go and RELAX. And politely remind them as they leave that they had better behave because you're not posting bail!

 

[Goofy4]

Being a party of 2 may significantly reduce the the walk-in wait time at the resort restaurants. Not having ADRs may not be a problem.

How about Cirque du Soleil? http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cirque/cirque.htm
Also probably a sell-out, but you never know.

 

[Eeyore2003]

Blue Zoo at the Dolphin might be a really nice special dinner and then New Year's at the Boardwalk. Wonder if they do anything special. If they really want to be in a crowd and celebrate, I would head to DD. Dinner at Fultons or the nicer Wolfgang Puck and then just walking around enjoying the atmosphere. If we were there for New Year's, (ages 51 and 52), I know that's what I'd do. Just to "soak in" the fun. If they don't like it, they can always leave.

Another idea might be shopping and enjoying DD during the day, and then plan a late dinner at one of the nicer places. I guess I'd do Blue Zoo and then walk around the Boardwalk. Also, they can see the fireworks from Illuminations at 9:00 from the walking path to EPCOT from the Boardwalk or BC.

California Grill might be nice and fun too. For someplace quiet and delicious, I'd pick Artist Point.

 

[WDWNicole]

I would try Hoop-de-Do Because you never know. We went on New Year's Eve last year and had no trouble getting a reservation. For 2 it might be easy.

 

[Eeyore2003]

If they don't want to spend quite as much on dinner, I would suggest one of our "not to be missed", the Grand Floridian Cafe. We have eaten there several times and no one has EVER had a less than delicious meal, and the Chocolate Fondue with Orange Ganache, is......well.....my mouth is watering!!! Lovely atmosphere, great service, delicious food, and not quite as highly priced as the ones I mentioned above. They could easily take the bus to MK and then the monorail to the GF.

Another idea, is catching a movie at DD during the day too. I know we never have time to get to the theater and when we take one of our "relaxing" type vacations, DH and I often just walk in a choose one that's starting. Last time we even "got wild" and did ANOTHER one, just like we had all the time in the world!!! Gotta love "forgetting it all"!!!

 

[cleo]

Oooh! Another idea! We keep saying we're going to 'restaurant hop' when we don't have our boys with us, stopping at various restaurants for the 'best of the best'.

So far we rate Portabella Yacht Club as the best Appetizer, with their Portabella Mushroom (add a glass of their house-made Sangria and you're in heaven!). Fulton's Crab House has the best Entree in their Crab Claws (though we could argue 'best Entree' for hours! There are so many fantastic choices), and Raglan Road has...by FAR...the best dessert in their Bread Pudding. I know, I know...bread pudding sounds awful. But try it. Your eyes will roll back in your head and you'll make unavoidable 'yummy' sounds.



Could make for a fun evening!

 

[GGOOFY1]

We like to have a nice dinner at Beach Club and hang out on the Boardwalk..always something happening

 

[Cmbar]

Thank you all for your suggestions!! I noticed no one mentioned the Aloha Spirit at the Poly. Too Crowded or maybe not worth the $$? Any recommendations on this dinner show? I think they kinda want to go over to the Poly or GF or one of the hotels to see what is decorated and such.

Again thanks for any and all advice

 

[Goofy4]

Thank you all for your suggestions!! I noticed no one mentioned the Aloha Spirit at the Poly. Too Crowded or maybe not worth the $$? Any recommendations on this dinner show? I think they kinda want to go over to the Poly or GF or one of the hotels to see what is decorated and such.

Again thanks for any and all advice

That thought occurred to me... I asked my in-laws if they were interested last trip, but they thought they would just rather rest that day (our first) -- I think they would have enjoyed it.

I listened to some of the show from nearby and the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves.

 

[Goofy4]

Breakfast at the Kona Cafe would also give them a reason to check out the Poly.

 

[iliketoby]

Absolutely the Hoop-Dee-Doo if it is available. You can also take a carriage ride at Ft. Wilderness.

The Poly Luau is a good bet if they really like hula-girls and fire dancing. The story itself is stupid, but the rest of it is pretty good.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede is fun, although it isn't mentioned much here. Whispering Canyon Cafe (at the WL) for a meal is a hoot!

You can ride the monorial for just the cost of parking. It goes to the Magic Kingdom and right through the Contemporary. If you transfer, you can ride one that loops through Epcot.

A trip to a hotel just to look around.

IMHO, you should try to get them to go to a park. It's crowded, yeah. But, still, if they're going to BE there anyway, what the heck? Better crowded than no experience at all.