Any WDW Questions?..Fire Away!

[medman1025]

Hey, guys! We just came back from an 11-day trip to WDW, and I would LOVE to answer any questions you have...we did everything at all 4 parks, ate at almost every signature restaurant (and many other table service) and stayed at three onsite hotels (1 value, 1 mod, 1 deluxe). Fire away, folks!

 

[DisCookie]

Was this your first WDW trip? Did you do hoppers or the waterpark extras? I'm going for a week next month and still trying to decide on what tickets to get. Did you stay at WDW the entire time?

Ever been to DL/CA? How does it compare? What were must sees in each park, what would you pass on?

 

[medman1025]

Hi there. No, I have never been to California, but we are going to DL/DCA next December as well as a return trip to WDW. I felt that the park hopper option was totally unnecessary (particularly for a first timer)...it takes a fair amount of time to get from one park to the other. We were there from December 9 through 19 and never waited in line for a single thing, except for Astro Orbiter in MK, and even that was only 20 minutes of waiting. The advice to offer (even if you've heard it before) couldn't be more emphasized by me more clearly -- YOU HAVE TO GET TO EACH PARK WHEN THEY OPEN! The second piece of advice -- YOU HAVE TO USE FASTPASSES! Yes, fastpasses mean that you may have to walk back and forth between sections of the park, but being able to avoid any line wait time for 10 days of parks was the result, and we didn't mind walking a bit more (burned off some of that creme brulee - lol). If you get to the parks when they open, you'll be astonished what you can do within the first hour or two, and also how many fastpasses you can obtain...remember, get another fasptass as soon as you can - each ticket tells you when you can. The rides you've heard of really are the must-dos...almost every attraction at WDW offers something unique, and it's hard for me to think of anything that's not a must-do. Especially since you have a week of being there, you'll surely be able to do everything at least once -- we did almost everything 4 to 5 times. We didn't do any water park additions because we didn't have time AND we were staying at three different WDW hotels that had great pools (AKL, Coronado, and Pop), so I can't tell you much about that -- I do know when we were there only Blizzard Beach was open for the season. If you want to know anything else, please feel free to ask -- we did A LOT there and ate at almost every signature restaurant as well as saw every hotel, ride every ride, AND (are you ready for this??) - we always got at least 8 hours of sleep....I know, right?...I'm telling you, get there when they open and be diligent with the fastpasses, and you'll be good...it's worth the extra walking!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Hi there. No, I have never been to California, but we are going to DL/DCA next December as well as a return trip to WDW. I felt that the park hopper option was totally unnecessary (particularly for a first timer)...it takes a fair amount of time to get from one park to the other. We were there from December 9 through 19 and never waited in line for a single thing, except for Astro Orbiter in MK, and even that was only 20 minutes of waiting. The advice to offer (even if you've heard it before) couldn't be more emphasized by me more clearly -- YOU HAVE TO GET TO EACH PARK WHEN THEY OPEN! The second piece of advice -- YOU HAVE TO USE FASTPASSES! Yes, fastpasses mean that you may have to walk back and forth between sections of the park, but being able to avoid any line wait time for 10 days of parks was the result, and we didn't mind walking a bit more (burned off some of that creme brulee - lol). If you get to the parks when they open, you'll be astonished what you can do within the first hour or two, and also how many fastpasses you can obtain...remember, get another fasptass as soon as you can - each ticket tells you when you can. The rides you've heard of really are the must-dos...almost every attraction at WDW offers something unique, and it's hard for me to think of anything that's not a must-do. Especially since you have a week of being there, you'll surely be able to do everything at least once -- we did almost everything 4 to 5 times. We didn't do any water park additions because we didn't have time AND we were staying at three different WDW hotels that had great pools (AKL, Coronado, and Pop), so I can't tell you much about that -- I do know when we were there only Blizzard Beach was open for the season. If you want to know anything else, please feel free to ask -- we did A LOT there and ate at almost every signature restaurant as well as saw every hotel, ride every ride, AND (are you ready for this??) - we always got at least 8 hours of sleep....I know, right?...I'm telling you, get there when they open and be diligent with the fastpasses, and you'll be good...it's worth the extra walking!

See, we are completely the opposite! We are not early risers. I have several major sleep disorders, one of them being narcolepsy, so I need at least 9 hours to function. We usually get up earlier than we do at home, but still not early enough to get there by rope drop on most days. We still don't wait b/c of using the fastpasses properly. The fact that they technically don't expire until day's end, helps us a lot. We like to stack them until we are at that side of the park instead of crossing the parks repeatedly, or to use later in the day. We absolutely love late night EMH's. The ambiance of the parks is unbeatable, and ride waits are nonexistent. We have a blast, and have found that for us it was so much easier than crossing the parks repeatedly to use our fastpasses right when the time came up when they could be used. To each their own I guess. We did the park crossing on our first trip, and I was exhausted beyond belief. The second trip was so much better being that we understood fastpasses this time.

 

[medman1025]

Another excellent point! I really think obtaining fp's is the key, and I was Shocked at how many people there just didn't do it. At three separate occasions, we had done everything in the park 3 or 4 times already and were trying to just give our fp's to random people...and NO ONE wanted them! I swear they looked at us like we were handing them kryptonite- lol! We were astonished how many people just wouldn't do the fp's at all or didn't get it. However you do it, use those fastpasses, people...or you'll be the one I internally laugh at as I'm whizzing right by you in the fp line while you're cattle-calling through the regular one. And, seriously...as someone who has done the line-waiting thing at many other parks -- it ALWAYS dampens the ride experience (no matter how good it is) by remembering how long you waited in line -- make the ride memories as positive as possible -- USE...THE...FASTPASSES. If you don't, I will

 

[MaddieC]

Okay, a few questions here.
1. Do you need a park hopper for downtown disney?
2. We are thinking about staying at Coronado so I have a few questions for that.

• Is it good hotel for kids?
• Is it hard to get there for an afternoon break?(like does the busing take long)
• Do you recomend a travel agent?
• Which is better Coronado or Port Orleans French Quater for a family of four including a 14 and 6 year old?
• Does room service count as a counter service meal for the plus dining plan?
• Is tennis available at Coronado?
• Do the rooms have tables like to eat breakfast?
• Does the conventions affect Coronados atmohsphere? (does that make sense?)

3. Do you think a child using swimmies could handle the waterpark?
4. Favorite restuarants? (Kid friendly)
5. Was Animal Kingdom Lodge better then Coronado? (dont think it is in our price range tho )

Sorry for the long list
Thanks!

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Okay, a few questions here.
1. Do you need a park hopper for downtown disney?
2. We are thinking about staying at Coronado so I have a few questions for that.

• Is it good hotel for kids?
• Is it hard to get there for an afternoon break?(like does the busing take long)
• Do you recomend a travel agent?
• Which is better Coronado or Port Orleans French Quater for a family of four including a 14 and 6 year old?
• Does room service count as a counter service meal for the plus dining plan?
• Is tennis available at Coronado?
• Do the rooms have tables like to eat breakfast?
• Does the conventions affect Coronados atmohsphere? (does that make sense?)

3. Do you think a child using swimmies could handle the waterpark?
4. Favorite restuarants? (Kid friendly)
5. Was Animal Kingdom Lodge better then Coronado? (dont think it is in our price range tho )

Sorry for the long list
Thanks!

The only thing I can answer is number 1 and you do not need a ticket at all to do DTD

 

[Momofthreemen]

Let's see if I can answer a few
2. In our experience Disney transportation average is 15 min drive. Bus comes about every 10-15 min. Most we have waited for a bus anywhere is 45 min at downtown Disney.
*As far as using a Travel agent make sure they are an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and then there should be no cost to you. They can be great at getting you the best deal. They are notified to all specials and are there to make things easy on you. they can do the whole trip for you. You tell them what you want and they will do everything they can to make it happen. On the other hand you like doing research and learning about Disney and you have a lot of time you can do it yourself.
* Personally I like Port Orleans. With that said every resort has it's special appeal.
*room service usually is 2 sit down meals on the dinning plan. Suggestion Have someone go to the food court and bring breakfast back. Then it is only one counter service.
*Vollyball is available at coronada springs but I don't think tennis is available at either resort mentioned.
*The rooms have the two chair small table. Plenty of room for two people to eat.
*In my opinion a convention is the same as having a full resort.
3.They have kid areas the water parks that are safer for little people using swimies.
4.There are so many restaurants most are kid friendly... Crystal palace at MK winnie the pooh characters, buffet meets just about everyones taste..Ohana's at Polynesian has kid games. Dis boards have great restaurant information with menus.
5. Animal Kingdom is my absolutely favorite. If it is the budget so worth it but if not I haven't found a resort I don't like.
My suggest is to relax and feel the magic. Don't stress and just enjoy the Magical experience.

 

[MaddieC]

Thanks!

Will the new Fantsyland be open by the end of August this summer?

 

[mreid1974]

Okay, a few questions here.
1. Do you need a park hopper for downtown disney?
2. We are thinking about staying at Coronado so I have a few questions for that.

• Is it good hotel for kids?
• Is it hard to get there for an afternoon break?(like does the busing take long)
• Do you recomend a travel agent?
• Which is better Coronado or Port Orleans French Quater for a family of four including a 14 and 6 year old?
• Does room service count as a counter service meal for the plus dining plan?
• Is tennis available at Coronado?
• Do the rooms have tables like to eat breakfast?
• Does the conventions affect Coronados atmohsphere? (does that make sense?)

3. Do you think a child using swimmies could handle the waterpark?
4. Favorite restuarants? (Kid friendly)
5. Was Animal Kingdom Lodge better then Coronado? (dont think it is in our price range tho )

Sorry for the long list
Thanks!

I do suggest using a Disney Travel Agent or specialist! There are many good ones. They will help you plan anything you want. And give some great tips. I use Magical Memories Travel.

Most restuarants are kid friendly. But i do suggest Chef Mickeys for a good kids experience

 

[GoofyPredsFan]

Hi! Ok, I've debated making ADR's or not because I don't like having to plan everything around the meal time. But some of the restaurants (especially in Epcot) make me rethink that. What were some of your favorite Epcot sit down restaurants?

 

[MaddieC]

One of my favorites is definatly 50's prime time cafe. It is so much fun for the whole family! I highly recommend it.

 

[willowsnn3]

My best advice is to read the disboards faithfully!!! There are forums for just about any question you have. If you ask on the wrong board it will be transferred to the right one. I have learned so much & saved a whole lot of money and time in the parks from topics on this board.