August 24-30 Free dining trip report at POR

[ajk912]

I am going to have to do this in phases otherwise my computer will lock up from typing so much.

Day 1: We left VA at about 11pm, DH was super anxious to hit the road! So after driving all night, we got to POR around 11am on checkin day! That was awesome. I waited in line about 30 minutes but that was to be expected, since it was the first day of free dining. We got our tickets but not room keys, so we went to Magic Kingdom for a while. The bus came right away, we had no issues any days at all with bus waits, except for downtown disney day. We called the room at 3pm, and it was ready, so we headed back for a rest and to unload the car. Then, around 6pm, we went back to MK for more rides and Wishes. We didn't get parkhoppers, which was fine, it was so hot and the bus rides were still long enough (30 minutes sometimes) I wouldn't want to waste time hopping. For meals, we just ate CS today since I didn't make any ADRs since I didn't know what time we would get in. Even though we can be big eaters (and I didn't think the kids meal would be enough for my 9 year old) we still had plenty of food, and I only used 4 CS credits for several meals for the 5 of us! Up next, day 2!

 

[ajk912]

Day 2: Epcot!!!

So we woke up and hit the road, and immediately rushed back to ride Soarin and grab a fastpass to ride it again. All my kids LOOOOVEEED Soarin. They are 8, 7, and 4. Then we hit TestTrack, which they all loved, too. After that, we just did aimless wandering around the park and riding whatever/seeing whatever till our lunchtime ADR at LeCellier. BTW, we HATED LeCellier. We waited till about 3:10 to be sat, so about 40 minutes after we checked in, and the host kept trying to get us to do a dinner ressie instead (he promised he would get us in right away..umm..I was afraid of that, but it would have been nice!) I thought the filet meal was small and I actually left hungry. The cake seemed very storebought. I don't know..with all the hype, I wasn't impressed. I would have been a little peeved to pay the $150 OOP, but for the dining plan, it was ok.

After this, we roamed the park for a while and ended up hanging out all night till closing without a break (that's the energy you get when you first get to Disneyworld!!!) But, after a few days we weren't able to commando it anymore..but it was cool at first because we pretty much hit everything in Epcot in one day. The lines were very short, but it did rain pretty hard that evening.

OH, btw, I did see a Disser's stroller parked outside LeCellier, I wish I saw a body standing next to it to say hi! It was the "Royal Carriage 4" so I knew it was a Disser!!!!

Up next, day 3....

 

[tarobert]

Can't wait to read the rest. I've been wondering when the first free dinning trip report would show up. Did you exchange any of your TS to QS? How did it go if you did?


Tammy

 

[ajk912]

Can't wait to read the rest. I've been wondering when the first free dinning trip report would show up. Did you exchange any of your TS to QS? How did it go if you did?


Tammy

Nope, I had all my TS's planned out so I didn't want to change out any of those! I did remember seeing a sign in one of the CS places that you could change out- I was busy with my kids so I couldn't read the sign details. I think it was something like I TS converts to a CS and a snack maybe? A horrible conversion if you ask me!!!

 

[ajk912]

Day 3: Hollywood Studios!

We got up early and were at the park just after rope drop. For us, it seemed that if we got to the POR bus stop around 8am we almost always got to the park by 8:40 or so. So that worked out well for us! The POR busses were definitely running great in the morning, we almost never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus.

Let's see..so the park was packed this day (Tuesday!) not sure why..we deliberately avoided the EHM parks. We ran back and got a fastpass for Toy Story and then went and saw the Ariel show. After that, it was lunchtime, so we went to Prime Time Cafe for lunch. Our server didn't really get in the mom role, but that's ok. The food was good, not the best we had all week, but good. I had the pot roast. Our ADR was at 11:15 so we got right in, no wait. Oh, for dessert I had the brownie sundae which was yummy as long as I picked the popcorn off of it.

After that, DH and I split up (trying to do HS in a day) and he went and did Indiana Jones and the other stunt show and I did Playhouse Disney and Beauty and the Beast with the girls. After that, we got together for the movie ride and the parade and Toy Story together..by then it was around 6pm, so we ate dinner in the commissary (burgers and chicken nuggets) and then we wanted to stay for Fantasmic, but with the heat we were tuckered out. So we just went back to the hotel around 8pm.

I know it stinks, when you consider Fantasmic was ONLY 30 minutes later..but the lines and the crowds of people trying to leave the park is SOOO claustrophic..I did NOTTT like leaving the park as it was closing at all!!!

Coming soon..day 4!

 

[ajk912]

Day 4: Where shall we go?

So the kids were itching to do Test Track and Soarin again, so since our ADR wasn't in a park this day, we gave them a choice: Epcot or MK. I was hoping for MK, but I lost out in the family vote. So we woke up early and made it for rope drop. Before 11am, we hit Soarin twice, Test Track twice, and had fastpasses for both for the afternoon. Very productive morning! Then, we wandered around the rest of the park (especially World Showcase) till 3:30 or so when it was just getting TOO hot and muggy.

Since we had ADRs at Chef Mickey's, we left the park then and rode the monorail for a while to cool off. The kids and I rode up front with the driver, which was cool. We walked around Contemporary till our ADR time at 5:05, and since dinner starts then we got to see the Chef Mickey's rope drop which was cute. We loved Chef Mickey's, and was probably the best meal (definitely top 2!) that we had all week. How can you go wrong with prime rib and salmon? We didn't wait at all, and the character interaction was awesome! Loved the photo package, too, and a great deal for $32.

After this, we went to Downtown Disney for a while. This was the only time all week we had transportation issues, it took 45 minutes to get there. Downtown Disney was PACKED. We didn't stay long, it was claustrophic with that many people. So we headed back (it was already 10pm anyway!) and made it an early night, since Animal Kingdom was coming the next day!!!

 

[ajk912]

Day 5: Animal Kingdom

Since we definitely noticed how IMPORTANT it is to get the park RIGHT away (for temperature reasons and crowd levels) we were at the bus stop at 8am to be at the park by 8:45. We saw the rope drop show which was cute, then we went over and did the safari ride which was fun. Then we got fast passes for Everest, and then it was time for our breakfast ADR at Tusker House. Tusker House was great, but a little underwhelming compared to Chef Mickey's. My youngest daughter was chosen to dance around the dining room with Daisy in the "parade" which she loved. The food was good, and the service was good.

After this, we rode some more rides (especially Everest!) and then by then it was getting really, really hot so the girls and I went back to the hotel for the afternoon. The guys stayed. Since it was day 5 and all..we decided to just hang around the resort for the evening.

Coming next, day 6, last day, boohoo!!!

 

[ajk912]

Day 6: Last day: Magic Kingdom!!!

So, it's our last day! Of course, we have to hit rope drop so we did and did most of fantasy land, Splash Mountain, Buzz lightyear..omg, I don't even remember what else..most of the park it seems..by our 12:15 CRT ADR. The girls had on light sundresses with their princess dresses over them, and they were putting their princess dresses on and off all morning. I bought them some cheapie crowns from Party City, and did their hair up with glitter hair spray, and they LOVED it.

Then came CRT, and they LOVED eating with the princesses. I did, too. I always wanted to do that when I was a kid. Loved the CRT photo package, too!

After that, we did Big Thunder Mountain a few times, did the 3pm parade, and then went back to the resort for the evening to swim, shop at the gift shop, eat dinner, and relax before the long drive home. It was a great week!

 

[ajk912]

Summing up:

We had SUCH a great time! We loved the dining plan and not having to worry about paying for meals and the cost or anything like that. I loved just having to carry around money for tips and that is it! August was HOT though, I was kind of shocked by that..the heat just zaps you of your energy! I live in VA, so I am no newbie to hot days..but this was REALLY REALLY hot..especially at Animal Kingdom (not my favorite park, too dang claustrophic!) I am not sure if we would go back again in August..the hurricane season is stressful! But, not sure what choice we have with the kids' school schedules..Christmas break is usually out, and I don't want to deal with June or July crowds..we'll see!

As for crowds..the crowds were very light in the mornings up until lunchtime or so. Then they started picking up. The ride waits weren't that bad, 20 minutes or less for most of them. The bus lines were long, but they were moving fast most of the time. We only waited more than 20 minutes for a bus once. I keep forgetting how big the park was..it did take a while to get from point A to point B, but that's just because it's a big park!

Port Orleans Riverside was huge..if we go back to that resort, I will definitely ask to be closer to the main building. After walking all day at the parks, I didn't really want to trek .5 a mile to the main building for drinks/food/etc. Very pretty resort, though!

As for restaurants, I was worried about crowd levels, but we only waited more than 20 minutes to be sat one day (at Le Cellier, 40 minute wait there). So that was awesome! The restaurants were crowded but that's what happens when they book up 6 months in advance! We had a great time, will definitely go back someday!

Thanks for reading my trip report!

 

[Tinkster1126]

I'm really enjoying your TR...i was there at the same time!! We were in the same park on Aug 24 - MK and Aug 25 - HS. Did you get to see the rainbow at MK ? it was truly magical!

 

[ajk912]

I'm really enjoying your TR...i was there at the same time!! We were in the same park on Aug 24 - MK and Aug 25 - HS. Did you get to see the rainbow at MK ? it was truly magical!

YES! I LOVED that rainbow, in fact, I just printed out my picture of it! It really made my day, actually! Did you see Michael Phelps on Friday at MK? That was awesome, too!

 

[MamaOfTwoPrincesses]

Hey, I know you! Great trippie!

Colleen

 

[got2luvtink]

Just read your tr. Great report! I've been looking for a report that covers free dining, as I will be going soon

 

[marianas00]

You are a true commando! Thanks for the report.

 

[eeyoregon]

Can you believe how quickly it comes and goes??? We got back Saturday and I am in a complete funk. Suitcases are scattered everywhere. I have done ZERO laundry and feel like I can't get enough sleep.

Took the kids school shopping today...go back to work Wednesday...OH bother.

OP: I was wondering about your choice to use the WDW transportation vs. driving your car?? We normally do WDW transportation exclusively but because we had a few off-property nights we rented a car and I think I will forever do the car thing. I LOVED the feeling of freedom and how quickly we zoomed from place to place and at the end of a long day I didn't have to cram into a hot, stinky over-crowded bus...just hopped on the breezy tram and right to the car.

TTFN

 

[staticgirl50]

Great report! I think I may change my ADR for La Cellier!

 

[ajk912]

Can you believe how quickly it comes and goes??? We got back Saturday and I am in a complete funk. Suitcases are scattered everywhere. I have done ZERO laundry and feel like I can't get enough sleep.

Took the kids school shopping today...go back to work Wednesday...OH bother.

OP: I was wondering about your choice to use the WDW transportation vs. driving your car?? We normally do WDW transportation exclusively but because we had a few off-property nights we rented a car and I think I will forever do the car thing. I LOVED the feeling of freedom and how quickly we zoomed from place to place and at the end of a long day I didn't have to cram into a hot, stinky over-crowded bus...just hopped on the breezy tram and right to the car.

TTFN

I would have preferred to drive, because sometimes it did take an hour to get from point A to point B (understandably!!!) but DH didn't want to be the driver, and I didn't want to be the driver..so we ended up taking busses. I hate driving in parking lots and not knowing where I am going (and my GPS isn't very helpful on Disney property, it seems!) and DH was looking forward to not having to drive for a week. So it was the busses by default! There were a few times I was VERY tempted to drive, though!

 

[SunnieRN]

Sounds like you had a great time! You saw/did a lot in each park. Thar's great. Thanks for sharing!