Any WDW pros? (wanting DLR perspective) - update pg 3

[HydroGuy]

WDW has changed my perspective on dining. At DLR we usually make one reservation and other than that we wing it with food.

I would not go so far as to have every meal planned out at WDW, but I did make at least one ADR each day for lunch or dinner. We did not feel compelled to show up for each ADR but we had it if wanted it. WDW just has so many special places to eat. In May we got to visit Beaches & Cream for the first time and my kids loved it. They made me take them back a second time. Boma's was so-so for us, as was Annette's at DHS and Liberty Tree at MK. On the other hand we really liked Sci-Fi Dine-In and Mama Melrose at DHS, Rose & Crown at Epcot, and Flame Tree BBQ at AK. Whispering Canyon at WL was also a favorite.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

2 hours for a meal?! Yikes. Now I'm really glad we just did counter service. I can eat good food anytime.

Think about it in these terms - the Blue Bayou takes about 90 minutes/1.5 hours unless they are really trying to turn tables. Same difference!

 

[JaneJetson]

Think about it in these terms - the Blue Bayou takes about 90 minutes/1.5 hours unless they are really trying to turn tables. Same difference!

I never eat at the Blue Bayou.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Wow you got a lot done...I am impressed. I wouldn't cancel at the wave...it is new and I hear the food is yummy! Also great choice on the brown derby for dinner. We have to eat there at least once every trip, the food is amazing! I haven't gone back to read all the replies yet so I will and will come back if I have anything to add. I am excited for you guys...sounds like a fun trip!!

 

[jencav5]

You should take your dh to Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, since he's into sports. There's also the Richard Petty Driving Experience, if he's into Nascar.

Your dates are a great time to go. We've always gone at the end of October into early November. The weather is good and it's not too crowded. Do expect it to rain at least one day, though. It seems that it always rains on one day for us! It won't keep you from doing anything, though, and the temperature is still warm. I actually don't prefer to Park Hop at WDW. I save my money on that feature. AK usually closes at 5pm during this time, but we usually just visit it on the late entry day, so we can stay later. Then, a lot of times, we will eat at the Rainforest Cafe after closing, before heading back to our hotel. DHS & MK usually close around 7, but then you can visit DTD, dine at a resort, or just enjoy the resort you're staying at. EPCOT is the only one open late, and that is only until 9pm. Again, if you utilize your early/late entries, you can save a lot of travel time and enjoy the place you're at.

 

[Disney Dreams]

WOW!
You've done your homework! Great job!

Thanks! We've tried. Sooo much to take in!

Illumination is 99% at 9pm at night. So whenever night you're planning to watch that show make sure your dining is completed before then OR just do it on your EPCOT night.

Thanks for that! I think we're doing that for our anniversary night when we have no dinner plans and are just planning on sort of "free wandering" through Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT. Sound right?

Fantasmic we are thinking about on our first night when we have no official plans.

Sort of stuck on Wishes and Spectro as we aren't in MK any night that they take place. Sigh. Trying to decide whether to rearrange ADRs (AH!) or just park jump. This is one hiccup we are trying to figure out. AHHH!

If you decide not to do the Wave, try Cali Grill....

Thanks for the suggestion. We are still negotiating this one. hehe

I think you picked almost all my favorite dining places (Crystal Palace, Boma, Ohana bfast, and Tusker House) so you'll have a wonderful time .

YAY!

CP... take pics with the castle without anybody in front of it.

Great idea! Thanks!

1)...Kevin and John (on the podcast)...

What podcast is this?

My tip is to load a Disney gift card with exactly how much you want to spend on the special food items and wine. Use only that gift card...

Great idea! We could get in deep fast!r. You should give yourself an hour to switch parks (and then celebrate if it's less).

4) I would hang on to the Wave...

Thanks. This one is still in negotiation btw me & DH.

7) Remember to do the night-vision goggles down by the pool. There is an animal guide that has the infra-red binoculars and it is really cool.

Can you tell me more about this? Sounds interesting. Where? How? etc...

8) Get in a game or two of mini-golf at Winter Summerland.

We love mini-golf! Is this a special course?

9) Make sure you take a romantic walk around the World Showcase after Illuminations is over....

Cool to know. Going to have to stare at a map to figure that one out I think!

...One thing I couldn't have lived without was the refillable mug at our hotel (Port Orleans Riverside.) We used our mugs in the morning for breakfast at the hotel and then at night we'd get hot choclate after the parks. It was lovely.

Have read quite a bit about these. Definitely planning on getting them, especially since DH is a huge soda drinker! I have heard mixed things on where they can be re-filled. What was your experience with this?

Thanks for your overall comments about DLR / WDW. We agree re: MK. If it were up to DH, we would skip it completely. I am insisting on at least a half day and see how it goes.

....*I would try and match the nights you want to see all the shows in one park to the time you want to see the nighttime shows.

It truly feels like the biggest jigsaw puzzle I have ever done! Thanks for all the shows! Adding them to my "things to look into" list!

Thanks for all of your suggestions, including the sports stuff for DH. (Is it REALLY his anniversary too? hehe)

just a few questions.... Also Tusker House on Friday......If you are staying first at AKL, I would get that park completely done, and not head back after you switch to YC.

Couldn't get an ADR earlier in our stay for Tusker House. DH really likes breakfast food, which is why we are doing breakfasts, even though we have club level.

Daannzzz, OnePrincess, HydroGuy, YellowM.P., thanks for all the above. HydroGuy, thanks for your WDW for DLR peeps guide. Didn't know that one was out there.

KrissyM and jencave5, thanks for your suggestions.

I never eat at the Blue Bayou.

Aww, you really should! It's a wonderfully unique dining experience. LOVE the fireflies. hehe

EVERYONE:Thank you! I truly appreciate everyone's input. Scored a ressie at Chef Mickey today for the end of our visit. DH really wanted to eat there! Also booked the Wildlife Discovery Excursion at AK! REALLY excited about that!

If you have anything further to offer, loving the suggestions and ideas. Also appreciate the encouragement that I am on track. Feeling better now about having "the outline" made for us to just go and have fun.

Thanks all! I knew posting on this board would work better for me vs. the WDW board. You all rock!

- Dreams

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

What podcast is this?

What other podcast is there - the DIS Unplugged, of course!! The one that sponsors these boards!

Can you tell me more about this? Sounds interesting. Where? How? etc...

This is at AKL - your first hotel. It usually takes place after dark - you'll see it in the hotel "things to do" paper you get.

We love mini-golf! Is this a special course?

It's right next door to/in the parking lot of Blizzard Beach - you take their bus to get there. Open pretty late at night.

Cool to know. Going to have to stare at a map to figure that one out I think! ?

It's not hard. A lot people like to watch Illuminations between France and the UK - there's a great bridge there, as well as a plaza balcony over the water. Start from that point and go clockwise.


Hey - since you are a concierge guest at YC, I think that gives you the right to book the Concierge Sunrise Safari at AK. You should really look into it - it comes with Tusker House Breakfast and I have heard nothing but raves about it. It's really early, but you have the Safari to yourself with a private guide.

 

[cseca]

Thanks! We've tried. Sooo much to take in!


Thanks for that! I think we're doing that for our anniversary night when we have no dinner plans and are just planning on sort of "free wandering" through Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT. Sound right?

Fantasmic we are thinking about on our first night when we have no official plans.

Sort of stuck on Wishes and Spectro as we aren't in MK any night that they take place. Sigh. Trying to decide whether to rearrange ADRs (AH!) or just park jump. This is one hiccup we are trying to figure out. AHHH!


- Dreams

Sounds great!
Just be forewarned, any weekend of the F&W festival are CRAZY!!! I mean nutso... crazy lines... busy... so if you are a foodie and want to try all the booths laughing: )make sure that your EPCOT day is on a weekday. You'll be so much relaxed. If you go through the wine making booth and beer making booth they usually give out free samples... I've seen some people take (a lot of) advantage of that...

Wishes and Spectro are almost every night (unless they have special nights like NOJ, Grad Night, etc.). So one of the days you're planning to rest in the middle of the day, just park hop over to MK and do the parade and fireworks... I'm sure you'll find the time.
Oh depending on what time your Narcoossee's ressie is, you might be able to catch some fireworks through dinner.

 

[firsttimemom]

If you are on the fence about the following, I'd suggest dropping the ohana brunch (the review on the podcast was not very positive). I've heard amazing things about the brunch at Boma (their dinner is one of our favorites). We had a great experience at the Tusker House brunch at AK- soo yummy!

The podcast review of lunch at the living seas was similarly disappointing. Might I suggest having lunch walking around the F&W booths and moving your anniv. dinner to Chefs de France?

We'll be at WDW the 5th- 9th, also celebrating our 12th anniversary

Your trip sounds fantastic. I hope you have a great time!

 

[tofubeast]

Hey Dreams!!

Welcome to the other Disney coast! I think most of the "meat" of this topic has been said already...but just wanted to give you my 2 cents on dining!

We really like the 50's Prime Time at the Studios. Yummy food, fun atmosphere and the service was just too much fun.

Fave character meal... Crystal Palace at MK. The food was great. Such a fun place.

Best "foodie" meal for us was at Le Cellier in Canada. Yum yum...and oh yeah yum!

I did a TR for our WDW trip last Oct. Link is in my bio if interested.

Have a great time at WDW. You know I grew up with DL. Even though I went to EPCOT in 1990, I didn't get to fully do the WDW experience. I have now gone a couple times, and it is so much fun. As a Disney nut, you will love the immersion of it all. Once you are on property... it is all Disney. My fave park there is EPCOT. While I strongly like MK, my heart will always be for DL. You will have a lot of fun comparing!! Can't wait to hear your take.

Do a TR!



Danielle "Space"

 

[heatherbelle]

I've been to WDW 4 times, and I am looking at going to your park in LA.

Of your food options, I would drop the Crystal Palace. You can pick up a nice filling snack at the Bakery on main street, for half the price. Try the apple turnovers.

There are two must do's that aren't spoken about much for eating.

One is the Wilderness Lodge resort, going to the Whispering Grand Cafe. You could pop on the boat from the MK for lunch and then go back to the MK later. This is a fun restuarant and you have to take part. The little kids get to ride around on wooden horses and the adults have a part to play in the goings on with the resturant staff. You do need a very good sense of humour here and not to be shy! Try asking for Ketchup! Or drinking all of your soda. They bring a gallon jar out as your refil!!

A secret and fantastic place to eat with a buffet to eat, is at the Wilderness Camp ground. A bit of a pig to get to, as you have to go to the outpost to park the car and then take a bus to the settlement so allow at least half an hour before your ADR. I think we paid around $52.00 for 2A and 1 Ch and will go here again and again. This was our best bargin.

My favourites were in no particular order:

Boma's - Dinner (now been here twice). The breakfast is suppose to be fab too.
Cape May - had breakfast - Characters
Chef Mickey's - Breakfast - loads of characters
Beaches and Cream -- This is at the Beach Club - nice burgers and if your really hungry ask for a Kitchen Sink!!!!!

Most disappointing - Hollywood and Vine at MGM. Now called HS. Yours is a good choice for this park, but I have a young DS and he wouldn't have liked the food.

As you are at the Beach Club, you will be able to walk to Epcot to see the fireworks and you can see the taller ones from the boardwalk. The bakery on the boardwalk is also good.

You can tell I've just had the dining plan for the first time and it was free, so tried loads of different things. Soooooo much food.

Hope this helps.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for all the input above. We have been working on pulling all the pieces together and AHH! that ticker down there has switched from exciting me to stressing me out.

Here's our plan. Thoughts????

Day 1
- Arrive on red eye. Hang at AKL watching animals while relaxing at viewing area until our bodies decide they are ready to face the day. LOL!
- Lunch at Le Cellier Steakhouse
- No plans all day. Fantasmic at night.

Day 2
- Breakfast at Boma (AK)
- Spend the day at AK
- Dinner wherever the spirit moves us.

Day 3
- Breakfast at 'Ohana (Polynesian)
- Day at MK (ride IASW, my favorite ride, even though I know it's different than DL, but ours has been closed sooooo long!)
- Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table (MK)

Day 4
- Day at DHS
- Dinner at Brown Derby (DHS)
- Fantasmic (again) if we want hehe

Day 5
- Day at EPCOT
- Lunch at Coral Reef (EPCOT)
- Dinner at The Wave (Contemporary) - still in negotiation btw me and DH LOL

Day 6 - 10 year anniversary!
- Breakfast at Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House Restaurant (AK)
(Get picture at The Tree with no people before the park opens! )
- Day at AK or EPCOT
- Dinner at Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian)
- Illuminations
- Wander around EPCOT at night (with a stop at the Eiffel Tower - we got engaged at the real deal 12 years ago)

Day 7
- Breakfast at Chef Mickey's Fun Time Buffet (Contemporary)
- Day at whatever Park we didn't get enough of
- Wishes and Spectromagic
- Dinner at Akershus - The Princess Storybook Dining - thinking about canceling

Day 8
- Half day doing whatever.
- Fly home.
- Never eat again.

Post Day 1
- Pick up DPup (our kid) who has no clue he's being left behind
(Anyone want to start a pool on how many times I call to check on him? )
- Sleep all day! no, seriously.

We also booked the Wildlife Discovery Excursion at Animal Kingdom and I am toying with the Dolphin interaction tour.

Other "to dos" - wandering aimlessly through DtD, pin trading, lots of picture taking, gazing out at the animals at AKL and the water at YC relaxing, oh, yes, and Hubby gets time at ESPN zone.

On list: refillable mug (is it true it's now good at ALL resorts?), photopass, pin trading, and anniversary buttons!

So..... What are we missing? Getting those pre-trip butterflies. DH says, "It's all set. Just pack." After 10 years, he should SO know better.

Thanks everyone for your help, tips, and ideas. They were all helpful. We soooo want / need this to be a wonderful vacation. Things have been sort of rough lately and we made a deal to forget about everything (including $ LOL) for 8 wonderful days, escape from reality, and enjoy "us."

Thoughts? Thanks!
- Dreams

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Looks like a good plan.

You have good options on your anniversary - I would stay at AK for the day and then take the bus straight from AK to Narcoosees and then monorail back to Epcot - see if you can get the pilot's cabin on the way from TTC to Epcot on the way back. Wear your Anniversary buttons!

You'll have to keep an open mind and let us skeptics know how your CRT and CR meals went. Not to sound negative, but there's a lot of "Never Again" opinions on the board for both those places - including a really bad review from the Pod Squad for CRT in the last two months or so. On the other hand, I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the food at Akershus for the Princess dinner, so that could be a keeper.

I might move the Wave to Day 3 and eat dinner there instead of CRT - it's a lovely walk under the monorail pylons to the Contemporary. (Although looking at your schedule again, Akershus doesn't make much sense for Day 7, if you want to catch Wishes and Spectromagic. That could be the Wave day.)

Make sure you allow plenty of time and tummy room to Eat Around the World! I'm not sure if you have enough in your schedule!

 

[Disney Dreams]

Thanks YellowMP for the above. We will look at your comments and our schedule.

CRT - I have been told (and have accepted) that the food is not going to be that great... but I HAVE to eat in the Castle. I mean, come on.... how often can I have THAT opportunity? Yeah, I know - the whole princess thing vs $$$. I'm a hopeless romantic, what can I say? LOL

Anyone else have any other thoughts?

DH and I are getting excited! Life is rough right now... we really need this fun trip to just forget about everything but us for a few days.

- Dreams

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Thanks YellowMP for the above. We will look at your comments and our schedule.

CRT - I have been told (and have accepted) that the food is not going to be that great... but I HAVE to eat in the Castle. I mean, come on.... how often can I have THAT opportunity? Yeah, I know - the whole princess thing vs $$$. I'm a hopeless romantic, what can I say? LOL

I'm totally psychic - I knew you were going to say that! We all have to do that once and get it out of our system! I almost put something to that effect in my reply but thought it was better not to assume motive!

True confession - I did it on my very first trip in 1989. I had to, same as you! Went with boyfriend at the time, as a 23 yr old. The food was okay, then - prime rib was their speciality. I thought the room was nice, the waitstaff had on really bad modifed medieval costumes, and all I can remember of the view was the carousel. The princesses walked the room - I hear they don't do that anymore. It was cheesy, but we had fun. Don't forget to take your tiara. They have some nice ones for $10 at the parks these days - you should be able to get one at BBB or Tinkerbell's Treasures.

I thought about taking my girls during our January trip, but opted out. They won't know they are missing anything at the castle - since they are little and it's not obvious and we are doing lunch at Norway.

I thought of another fun thing for you guys to do - rent the Water Mice at the Poly. My husband and I did this (pre-kids) and had a blast! You can get up pretty close to the abandoned Discovery Island and maybe even see the alligators.

I would also look at the non-scuba diving experience at The Seas. We did one of those in Hawaii and it was great! You would be in the big tank like the divers only they have better control over your air and stuff. You don't have to be a certified diver to get almost the same tank experience.

We have also done the Segway Tour of Epcot/WS. If you do the 7:45 am one, you are literally the only folks in the park besides the CMs. It is so peaceful and a lot of fun. The Segways are really easy to use.

I know you know the most important thing is to have fun and Stay out of the Damn Lakes!!!!! (Not sure if you listen to the DIS Podcast, if you do, then you get it!)

 

[Disney Dreams]

Forgot to mention Segway tour. That is on my "if we have time" list. DH doesn't want to do it, so it would be an activity for me if we split up for a few hours. TBD. Thanks again for your thoughts.

Still open to other comments / feedback. Thanks all!

 

[cseca]

Forgot to mention Segway tour. That is on my "if we have time" list. DH doesn't want to do it, so it would be an activity for me if we split up for a few hours. TBD. Thanks again for your thoughts.

Still open to other comments / feedback. Thanks all!

We'd done the EPCOT segway tour and it was AWESOME!
I'd want to do the offroading one but I don't think they would let pregnant woman on it...

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We'd done the EPCOT segway tour and it was AWESOME!
I'd want to do the offroading one but I don't think they would let pregnant woman on it...

Funny story - I was actually 5 months along with my oldest when I did the Epcot one. I figured it was my last chance for several years!!!!

The CM who took my reservation sad it was okay - that one of the instructors was pregnant, but the guys who did my tour apparently never got told about me. One of them asked me if I was feeling okay, since I rubbed my belly at one point back in Italy. I told them I was 5 months along and they almost freaked, but kept their composure in true Disney fashion! Apparently someone made a boo-boo in booking me!

In the end, they were fine with it, since they saw how it was almost second nature for me to drive one. I almost bought one when we came home from that trip!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Note regarding Friday: We have become aware that we going during the Food and Wine Festival. We got engaged 12 years ago at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France and it has sort of become our logo. We are thinking about having no official dinner plans on Friday, going to France at EPCOT, having a moment at the Eiffel Tower, and snacking our way through the evening with the F & W festival.

Sounds awesome! They have some great "snacks", definately a fun thing to do!

Shows, Parades, etc.
I love them, DH can take them or leave them. I know of the following:
* Spectromagic
* Wishes
* Fantasmic (my favorite at DL!)
* Illuminations
Are we missing anything? How do we do all of this with dinner reservations?

All of those shows are a MUST in my opinion. Do you know there are afternoon parades too (at least at MGM and AK)? Many people rave about the AK parade. There are various shows as well. I didn't care for the afternoon show at MK. The Lion King show at AK was pretty cool though. There are many more-but some are mainly enjoyed by kids.

Where is the time to just wander around and enjoy the parks if we are rushing from reservation to reservation? Is brunch in one park and dinner in another a huge mistake? AHHHH! This is where I get overwhelmed and would love some input!

Check out Tour Guide Mike's website. You pay to join but there's LOTS of great info! It's worth it.

Have a great time!

 

[cseca]

Funny story - I was actually 5 months along with my oldest when I did the Epcot one. I figured it was my last chance for several years!!!!

The CM who took my reservation sad it was okay - that one of the instructors was pregnant, but the guys who did my tour apparently never got told about me. One of them asked me if I was feeling okay, since I rubbed my belly at one point back in Italy. I told them I was 5 months along and they almost freaked, but kept their composure in true Disney fashion! Apparently someone made a boo-boo in booking me!

In the end, they were fine with it, since they saw how it was almost second nature for me to drive one. I almost bought one when we came home from that trip!

OMG! You must've not shown a lot in 5 months
That's awesome...
If everything goes well I'd be around 6mths which is going to be a little hard to hide...
Wasn't it a blast tho?

Dreams, you've got to do it if you have the chance. It's so fun!