Anyone want to help plan trip/offer their expertise?

[nugov2]

We are planning our trip Sept 18-27th. I have a basic plan in mind, but would love to see how others would do it!

We plan on 5 WDW park days(still deciding on hoppers) and 2 days at Uni/IOA. We will be offsite, but have a room booked to get 60 days/180 ADR and also a Uni/IOA room booked for Express pass for our days. How would you arrange if we plan the following ADR's and Activities? We do plan to be there at RD for MK and will not do parks on the 18th, 19th or the 27th. Currently plan to do Uni on Sept 23-24th but we could flip that. There will be 4 adults and 3 kids(4, 8, 10). We will be celebrating ds's 5th birthday on the 25th...any place that is good at making a birthday special(I know we can order a special cake)?

MK 2 days
All other parks 1

ADRs Planned:
1900 Park Fare
BOG dinner ADR(though will try to snag a later adr and just do drinks/dessert as the menu doesn't appeal to us, but loved being in the castle with beast)
Akershus(dd doesn't want CRT and I'd rather do BOG)
Garden Grill
Tomorrowland Terrace
Fantasmic
Chef Mickey(27th on our last day before we head home if our flights can accommodate it)

Activities planned:
epcot seas tour(don't need park tickets so planning it on Sat. the 19th)
Pirate and Pals(thinking of doing this our last night with either AK or HS during the day...would rather do MK with TT our last day, but think it will be too crowded on a Saturday)
MNSSHP(maybe even the special dessert party if offered again)...maybe even twice if it is offered on the 19th.

We were in WDW the summer of 2013 so not their first trip and we did a bunch of CM then so I feel like these are a good mix of new and a couple of favorites from the last time(surprised dd opted out of CRT). I would love Sci Fi, but with only one HS day and planning fantasmic it might be too much sit down time so thinking we may have to skip it(or at this time a year is fantasmic a waste?).

I thought about parkhoppers in case they get bored at the other 3 parks, but thinking we have so much planned they might not be used. FP are important, but not overly concerned as it is a slower time of year and again not the first trip. Anna and Elsa are not a priority as nobody cares too much who we meet(but will schedule it if I can) and I plan on scheduling the tiered attractions with my parents, and youngest MB so we can get on the big headliners in one day no problem. So for example I will use their FP selections for Soarin and the older kids MB for Test Track and letting Dh take the older two on as none of the rest of us care about those rides.

TIA for any advice

 

[wfjny]

Well, here is my two cents, for whatever it is worth:

I am a huge fan of saving every cent I can. Today, for me that means we are vacation club members, which has allowed us to purchase annual passes ate a greatly reduced rate (I think $300 off per ticket). That also means that we purchase Tables in Wonderland (20% plus off most sit down meals). The AP also gets you 10% off a lot of merchandise. It also includes parking.

I mention these things in part because since you are planning out in advance, I would put together a spreadsheet and see what values there are. It MAY work out for you to purchase a single premium annual pass for one person. If you are staying off-site, this would pay for parking at the parks ($15/day). It would also enable you to purchase the TiW card, which may save you quite a bit on your ADRs. I think you need an AP to get the TiW, but for the $100 cost, the 20% you save with 4 adults and 3 kids, the TiW card may pay for itself at 1900 Park Fare alone.

Remember, after 3 or 4 days, each additional day only costs about $10 more (It has been a few years for me, so I would double check). While I totally understand planning down days, you may think about paying for tickets for those down days, and just going to the parks for a few hours, especially if you are considering not getting the park hoppers. But I do understand, $10 times 7 people per day adds up quick. But keep in mind, if you do the single AP, that person’s ticket would not cost any more, so now only 6 people with another day.

But that would also give you the possibility of say just going to HS for a few hours. If you do have the room booked, you can get those fast passes planned as well, so you can plan an evening only trip to HS for a Sci Fi dinner, quick FP+ for TSM, and then hit fantasmic.

Not much I can add to your activities list. Like I tell everyone, we go three or four times a year. I only have one rule, we must do something new each time. Recently that has been very easy, new rides and restaurants in fantasyland, the renovation of test track, etc.

One thought, apparently you can get a fastpass for lunch for BOG when you are just under 30 days out. Again, depending on your plans, that may open up a meal for you. If you have not done the new mine train, it is a must do, and again, i would try and get the FP+ for it as the line can normally be measured in hours.

Anyway, just a few things to think about. We are headed back in 10 days ourselves, as we have a very long (5 day) weekend from school.

 

[nugov2]

Thanks for the tip on the season pass. We actually did that last year when we went to Dollywood and found buying one of their SP was worth it for all the discounts. I will figure it out and see if we would come out ahead.

Do you get discounts on MNSSHP, the snorkeling at Epcot and pirate and pals? I may get the 7 day MYW tickets and just skip 5 day hoppers. It is actually $30 cheaper and then if we decide to go for a half day we can and don't have to worry about hopping. We weren't really trying to save money by skipping the days, I just thought the kids might be wiped, but I guess if we just did like you said and popped in to HS for dinner and a few rides it is worth it. Good advice...thanks!

I'm kinda surprised that the crowd calendar seems to be similar(based on the sept 2014) to what we experienced in June for crowds. I thought it would be slower.

 

[mort1331]

Well, here is my two cents, for whatever it is worth:

. That also means that we purchase Tables in Wonderland (20% plus off most sit down meals).

It would also enable you to purchase the TiW card, which may save you quite a bit on your ADRs. I think you need an AP to get the TiW, but for the $100 cost, the 20% you save with 4 adults and 3 kids, the TiW card may pay for itself at 1900 Park Fare alone.



From my understanding, the TIW is only available to florida residents or DVC members, not AP holders. DVC gets a $25 discount to bring it down to $100 and the cardholder has to be present and pay for the meal.
Sorry to be a downer, but APs do get 10% off at some places and free parking.
We dont use hoppers, but if your planning on dining at epcot a few times then they might be worth it. For the almost the same amount instead of hoppers you could get the waterparks and more options. This would give you options if they get board, and a change in pace from the heat.

 

[csjordan]

Well, here is my two cents, for whatever it is worth:

. That also means that we purchase Tables in Wonderland (20% plus off most sit down meals).

It would also enable you to purchase the TiW card, which may save you quite a bit on your ADRs. I think you need an AP to get the TiW, but for the $100 cost, the 20% you save with 4 adults and 3 kids, the TiW card may pay for itself at 1900 Park Fare alone.



From my understanding, the TIW is only available to florida residents or DVC members, not AP holders. DVC gets a $25 discount to bring it down to $100 and the cardholder has to be present and pay for the meal.
Sorry to be a downer, but APs do get 10% off at some places and free parking.
We dont use hoppers, but if your planning on dining at epcot a few times then they might be worth it. For the almost the same amount instead of hoppers you could get the waterparks and more options. This would give you options if they get board, and a change in pace from the heat.

We are Annual Passholders 2 years in a row now. AP are eligible for the TIW at $100. I am the owner of the TIW 2 years in a row. So, yes, AP's are eligible for TIW.

 

[Jkpark]

I went around that week this past 2014. We did Animal Kingdom, Chef Mickey's and Pirates/Pals on our last night - worked out great! And Saturdays at MK that last week are nuts bc there is a MNSSHP the night before and after, and many families are avoiding sat night crowds at Food & Wine.

Remember you can upgrade tickets there. So if you start with 5 day non hoppers and decide to hop or go a 6th day - you can upgrade then.

 

[mort1331]

My bad, just checked the TIW site and as my wife tells me everyday,,I am wrong.
But thats great news for you. Its a wonderful program and we use it every year. Just check the site and the black out days/weeks.

 

[eyehartdisney]

From my understanding, the TIW is only available to florida residents or DVC members, not AP holders. DVC gets a $25 discount to bring it down to $100 and the cardholder has to be present and pay for the meal.
Sorry to be a downer, but APs do get 10% off at some places and free parking.

Wrong.

Straight from the TIW website:

Savor the flavors of some of the Walt Disney World® Resort restaurants you love! Join Tables in Wonderland which boasts a buffet of benefits. It’s the ultimate food lover’s feast, exclusive to Florida Residents, Disney Vacation Club® Members and Annual/Seasonal Passholders.

That being said, it doesn't save you 20%. It saves you from having to tip. It automatically adds an 18% gratuity to the bill, and then saves you 20% off that. So, essentially, it's a pre-paid gratuity card. For AP holders, the cost is 100 dollars, and it is used for every sit-down restaurant you have planned. (5) So if you are going to tip over 20 dollars per meal, then it is worth it.**

I do agree with a previous poster about moving the BOG res to just being a fastpass, but that is only available to onsite guests, and the lunch meal does not include beast.

I also agree with your daughter about Cindy's. It's over priced, over rated, and hurried. You'll have a much better time with Akershus, but if you have any big eaters, I suggest you make a breakfast reservation, as the dinner food was good, but the portions were laughable. Yes, it is a partial buffet, but only if you consider a cold meat sandwich to be an acceptable option for a buffet. (And crackers! Seriously, disney?)

As far as sci-fi goes, it's good, but I'd much rather do 50's prime time. The food is great. I actually re-ordered the meatloaf this time around because it was that good. You could do the tune-in lounge, which is basically like a quick service to this restaurant, so much less time sitting, but it doesn't include the atmosphere of 50's. (I've been 3 times to 50's and none of my waitresses have been in character. Maybe because it's 3 adults going? I don't know.)

Your AP would save you 15% off the price of tours, all tours, and the MNSSHP. But I would double check on that bit about not needing a ticket to get in the aqua seas tour... it takes you inside the park, and that would be very unusual for disney to not force you to pay for a ticket. When I went, I was an AP holder, so I don't know for certain.

Let me do some math for you. An Annual pass can purchase up to 3 tickets at a discounted rate in addition to their own, and last year's savings were 4 dollars. So you save 16 dollars there. (Double that, if you go multiple days. And I recommend it, especially if you are doing the villians soiree. Pick that day to see the shows, the parade, and the fireworks, and the other day to do trick or treating, dance parties, and m&gs.)

You save 15 dollars off each day's parking, that's 75 dollars right there. And if you're booking a room solely for the extended booking time, you will in all likelihood save money that time of year on the room. We'll say 20 dollars a night for however long you booked that.

Do you have plans on returning next year to disney? If so, I would highly recommend getting APs for everyone, and vacationing a week earlier. If you have overlapping vacations (within 366 days of each other) you will be breaking even on the cost of tickets. I have not done the math, but it is pretty widely touted that if you are in the parks more than 10 days in a calendar year, you break even on the cost of tickets. Then you have the benefits of free parking, etc.

**some of the restaurants you listed say they do not include gratuity in their bill, but it says "May not" YMMV.

 

[nugov2]

Wrong.

Straight from the TIW website:



That being said, it doesn't save you 20%. It saves you from having to tip. It automatically adds an 18% gratuity to the bill, and then saves you 20% off that. So, essentially, it's a pre-paid gratuity card. For AP holders, the cost is 100 dollars, and it is used for every sit-down restaurant you have planned. (5) So if you are going to tip over 20 dollars per meal, then it is worth it.**


I do agree with a previous poster about moving the BOG res to just being a fastpass, but that is only available to onsite guests, and the lunch meal does not include beast.

I also agree with your daughter about Cindy's. It's over priced, over rated, and hurried. You'll have a much better time with Akershus, but if you have any big eaters, I suggest you make a breakfast reservation, as the dinner food was good, but the portions were laughable. Yes, it is a partial buffet, but only if you consider a cold meat sandwich to be an acceptable option for a buffet. (And crackers! Seriously, disney?)

As far as sci-fi goes, it's good, but I'd much rather do 50's prime time. The food is great. I actually re-ordered the meatloaf this time around because it was that good. You could do the tune-in lounge, which is basically like a quick service to this restaurant, so much less time sitting, but it doesn't include the atmosphere of 50's. (I've been 3 times to 50's and none of my waitresses have been in character. Maybe because it's 3 adults going? I don't know.)

Your AP would save you 15% off the price of tours, all tours, and the MNSSHP. But I would double check on that bit about not needing a ticket to get in the aqua seas tour... it takes you inside the park, and that would be very unusual for disney to not force you to pay for a ticket. When I went, I was an AP holder, so I don't know for certain.

Let me do some math for you. An Annual pass can purchase up to 3 tickets at a discounted rate in addition to their own, and last year's savings were 4 dollars. So you save 16 dollars there. (Double that, if you go multiple days. And I recommend it, especially if you are doing the villians soiree. Pick that day to see the shows, the parade, and the fireworks, and the other day to do trick or treating, dance parties, and m&gs.)

You save 15 dollars off each day's parking, that's 75 dollars right there. And if you're booking a room solely for the extended booking time, you will in all likelihood save money that time of year on the room. We'll say 20 dollars a night for however long you booked that.

Do you have plans on returning next year to disney? If so, I would highly recommend getting APs for everyone, and vacationing a week earlier. If you have overlapping vacations (within 366 days of each other) you will be breaking even on the cost of tickets. I have not done the math, but it is pretty widely touted that if you are in the parks more than 10 days in a calendar year, you break even on the cost of tickets. Then you have the benefits of free parking, etc.

**some of the restaurants you listed say they do not include gratuity in their bill, but it says "May not" YMMV.

So here is my math:

Basic AP 634(think we will skip hoppers and just do 7 or 8 day tickets($345 8 day MYW vs $366 5 day Hopper)
TIW 100
Total 734

I figured about $387 in savings between the 15% off on tours(pirate and pals and epcot seas and MNSSHP(only one planned for now, but would be more if we do 2 days) and the meals we have planned(came to about 1020 for the meals...some tweaks will probably be made). This doesn't include my parents as I'm not sure if they are doing everything we are. My cost for a 7 day MYW ticket would be $334 so I am saving that cost and about 105(15 x 7) on parking will be saved. So that brings the savings to $826 so after pass and TIW the savings is $92 and that doesn't include any other added meals, my parents savings and souvenir savings. Does this seem right? If so I guess I should get the AP


If I already booked and paid for the room would they credit me?


We definitely won't go back again. Dh isn't a fan of WDW, but is humoring me with another trip this soon. He wants to travel other places.

I loved CRT, but dd wants to meet other princesses so I'm okay skipping(it is a lot to pay for 5-7 people when I'm the only one who wants to go). I don't want BOG for lunch b/c I really loved our experience there with the Beast. It was so much fun and since dd is passing on CRT I really want a castle experience. My dd isn't really into the princess scene, so I think she is just humoring me Most of our meals will be breakfast...I have picky eaters and for the most part that has something for everyone and my little guy isn't tired and cranky in the morning, so better for character interaction!

Sci Fi is for my dad...we skipped it last time so he really wants to do it.

Does Fantasmic seem worth it this time of year?

I did double check on the epcot tour and it does say no ticket required...maybe because it is 3 hours with check in time? Not sure, but it definitely says it.

Thanks to everyone for all the help. I have been many times to WDW(only 2nd time with the family though) and it is just such a big trip to plan. At least the Uni/IOA is much easier to handle. Only one CM to do and the onsite perks with express pass make the rides a lot easier to manage.

 

[eyehartdisney]

Fantasmic is the same year round, but if you're talking about the dinner package, I went the same time last year and they wouldn't even take my FP for it... they said it wouldn't be filled anyway. YMMV.

And you said you would do 7 or 8 day tickets, but you only want to be in the world 5 days... why? You can't hold the tickets for another time (the option to do so is grossly over priced) and you can't use the extra ticket to go in another park on the same day.

Yeah, if the reason you want BOG is beast, definitely secure that res. It's a great atmosphere, even for just desserts, but you know that already. Have you had a chance to eat in the west wing yet? Beasts picture changes to the prince every 15 minutes (Listen for the thunderclap) and the rose sheds petals. It's dark in there, though, so that might affect young diners. And if it makes you feel any better, Akershus is the only place you're going to get a picture with Belle in her ballgown, or autographs in her ballgown. She does Enchanted Tales with Belle, but that is not a traditional meet and greet, and it will be exceptionally rushed.

Your math seems pretty close to accurate, but there is a cap on how many tours you can buy per AP. You should check that before buying. Is anyone there a florida resident? The price of annual passes will lower.

And the sci-fi thing, Keep in mind your party is large and won't be seated together. They can only fit 2? 3? in a car, and the booths face the movies... which are just clips. The food is about on par with applebee's. I can see why some people like the place, but it was probably my least favorite restaurant I've been to in the parks. This is all personal opinion, of course.

And if you book and pay for a room, you absolutely can get credited back. Everything is refundable up to 30 days before your trip (Pretty sure that's right. Might be 45. Check on that.)

 

[nugov2]

Fantasmic is the same year round, but if you're talking about the dinner package, I went the same time last year and they wouldn't even take my FP for it... they said it wouldn't be filled anyway. YMMV.

And you said you would do 7 or 8 day tickets, but you only want to be in the world 5 days... why? You can't hold the tickets for another time (the option to do so is grossly over priced) and you can't use the extra ticket to go in another park on the same day.

Yeah, if the reason you want BOG is beast, definitely secure that res. It's a great atmosphere, even for just desserts, but you know that already. Have you had a chance to eat in the west wing yet? Beasts picture changes to the prince every 15 minutes (Listen for the thunderclap) and the rose sheds petals. It's dark in there, though, so that might affect young diners. And if it makes you feel any better, Akershus is the only place you're going to get a picture with Belle in her ballgown, or autographs in her ballgown. She does Enchanted Tales with Belle, but that is not a traditional meet and greet, and it will be exceptionally rushed.

Your math seems pretty close to accurate, but there is a cap on how many tours you can buy per AP. You should check that before buying. Is anyone there a florida resident? The price of annual passes will lower.

And the sci-fi thing, Keep in mind your party is large and won't be seated together. They can only fit 2? 3? in a car, and the booths face the movies... which are just clips. The food is about on par with applebee's. I can see why some people like the place, but it was probably my least favorite restaurant I've been to in the parks. This is all personal opinion, of course.

And if you book and pay for a room, you absolutely can get credited back. Everything is refundable up to 30 days before your trip (Pretty sure that's right. Might be 45. Check on that.)

We are there 10 days total. 2 days at Uni/IOA and 3 days that we didn't plan parks, but when the PP suggested popping into a park for dinner and a show or a couple of rides late in the day, I figured the extra cost to go from 5 to 8 is minimal and actually drops if we skip the hoppers(I originally thought about 5 day hoppers).

Maybe I'll just have DH and my dad do a boys night and do Sci Fi and my mom and I can do a girls night with my dd. Nothing about Sci Fi is appealing to me.

I was talking about the dinner fantasmic package...maybe we should skip it.

 

[eyehartdisney]

I would wait on adding days to your tickets. You can do that when you get there, as long as there is a day left on the original ticket.

 

[nugov2]

I would wait on adding days to your tickets. You can do that when you get there, as long as there is a day left on the original ticket.

That is probably the best bet. I am thinking of this as a park day schedule and then depending on flight times we can possibly add on to those days as well as one day in the middle of the trip to rest or pick another park. Last time my kids were happy to have off days, so it is possible it will be the same this time as the heat/rain will be similar to when we went in June.

Friday: fly in (if I can snag a BOG might hit MK late)
Saturday: HS (fantasmic)
Sunday: MNSSHP(hopefully schedule will be similar and will be offered this day)
Monday:EP(akershus)
Tuesday: Free Choice (1900 PF) (pirate and Pals)
Wednesday: Uni/IOA(character breakfast/dinner either day depending on schedule)
Thursday: Uni/IOA
Friday: AK(Tusker House)
Saturday: MK (Tomorrowland terrace)(and possible CM breakfast if can't do Sunday)
Sunday: Fly out possible park if late flight(CM meal)

The only thing I am trying to figure is the snorkel at EP. They only offer it certain days and it is looking like it might be a pain to schedule. I am thinking that and pirate and pals in the same day might be too much(even if we skip 1900 PF) and the pirate and pals is for everyone where the snorkel is only 4 out of the 7. Decisions, decisions

Of course the kids keep going back and forth on meals so things can change, but I am thinking based on crowds the park days should probably stay the same.

 

[eyehartdisney]

I would try for a midweek MNSSHP. The crowds are lower, and you get more done. Keep in mind that you can enter the parks at 4pm (earlier than the 7pm party) so you might just not need a ticket for that day at all. Something else to consider, if you don't want to do the seas tour, you could get your entire party into the Pirate's League for less than 4 of you going on that tour. Do that before the pirate and pals fireworks thing... it will be very cool. Bonus points if mom gets the pirate with a beard

Are you guys planning on dressing up? If not, Pirate's league is good choice for your MNSSHP, too. It leads to cool pictures such as...

(Albeit I didn't do it in this picture, I'm a huge pirate fan, and got a halloween costume made for myself.)

As far as waffling on the character meals, I think you've picked the best ones