Back from out first trip, thank you all.

[littlesos]

Well we're back from our very first trip to WDW, and I'd like to thank you all for your help with my very small amount of planning.

The trip got off to a nerve-racking start as we were flying on Sunday (the day the snows came down!). Luckily we had planned to spend the night at a travelodge, got there before the snow and were flying from Gatwick who didn't cancel any flights. It was a tense night though, wondering if the flights were going to be cancelled or severely delayed.

We stayed at Old Key West in a studio, which was great for the 4 of us, and much bigger than I expected. The only downer was night time road re-surfacing on the interstate which kept me awake an entire night, but they refunded the cost of that night and found us another room (2 bed apartment) for our last night there.

Parks were excellent, we never waited more than 10 minutes for any ride, but being Feb there were a few closed, and we did have more than our fair share of broken down rides, we got trapped on people mover and Buzz lightyear for about 20 minutes (DD did get a badge though for scoring 999,999, easy when you're stuck in front of a target for so long!!!), splash mountain and the river rapids both broke down, but came back online before we left, and rock n rollercoaster broke when we got to the front of the queue.

Weather was lovely, just one very cold day, but we had winter coats when we left the UK, so no problems.

I was disappointed with the food for children, neither of mine like hotdogs or macaroni cheese, so their choices were very very limited, but they weren't too bothered. We still had lots of credits left on the dining plan when we left, I'll know better next time.

All in all, we had a lovely time, thank you all for helping me to prepare, if I hadn't been here I wouldn't have known about advance booking (although we really didn't need to, changed our plans and got a lunch reservation for Arkeshus on the same day, and walked up to crystal palace for an unplanned breakfast.) Took advantage of prebuying the photopass and then hunted down every photographer we could find! got lots of magic photos, although I hate having my photo taken and can't bear to look at photos with me in them, at least my girls will have photos of us all together.

Rach

 

[joolz1910]

Glad you had such a great time. You sound just like me about photos - I loathe having my photo taken, which is why I have paid for photopass. At least there will be some evidence I was actually there! We are staying at OKW too - can't wait!

Where did you eat? I would be interested to hear your thoughts on your dining experiences.

 

[RDP]

Sounds like you had a great time, we had our fair share of broken rides on our last visit also! We also find the same issue with food for the children, there's only so much chicken nuggets you can feed them! Never the less we keep going back and love it more each year we go. Cant wait to make ADR,s for our next trip which includes the dining plan.

 

[littlesos]

We ate at
Crystal Palace - Lunch and breakfast
Chef Mickeys - Dinner
Tuskers House - Breakfast - Lovely
Arkeshus - Lunch (had to do with 2 daughters! wouldn't do again)
Sci Fi Diner - Lunch (wouldn't do again)
Garden Grill - Dinner
Mama Melrose - Dinner
Olivias - Breakfast

Cosmic Cafe - lunch
Wolfgang Puck Express - Breakfast (best counter service we found)
Liberty hall?
can't really remember the other quick service places.

To be honest we picked the table service places based on characters, so that the girls could meet lots. I wouldn't do most of them again. I wasn't impressed with the sci-fi diner, garden grill food was OK, but none of us was really very hungry.
My girls aren't picky eaters, but they like "grown-up" food. Of the few things they won't/can't eat are hot dog sausages, macaroni cheese and eggs so they had very few options in most places, buffet meals were better for them. When they had to chose from a menu they were stuck with pizza or chicken nuggets.
Mama melrose was good for all of us, the steak was delicious, and the girls had spaghetti bolognaise.

best place for quick service meals was epcot fantastic choices in the world showcase.

We struggled for breakfasts, very limited options in the parks for quick service, unless you like eggs (both my girls are intolerant of egg). Wolfgang puck was a life-saver their breakfasts were fabulous. Next time I'll pack cereal.

 

[RDP]

We ate at
Crystal Palace - Lunch and breakfast
Chef Mickeys - Dinner
Tuskers House - Breakfast - Lovely
Arkeshus - Lunch (had to do with 2 daughters! wouldn't do again)
Sci Fi Diner - Lunch (wouldn't do again)
Garden Grill - Dinner
Mama Melrose - Dinner
Olivias - Breakfast

Cosmic Cafe - lunch
Wolfgang Puck Express - Breakfast (best counter service we found)
Liberty hall?
can't really remember the other quick service places.

To be honest we picked the table service places based on characters, so that the girls could meet lots. I wouldn't do most of them again. I wasn't impressed with the sci-fi diner, garden grill food was OK, but none of us was really very hungry.
My girls aren't picky eaters, but they like "grown-up" food. Of the few things they won't/can't eat are hot dog sausages, macaroni cheese and eggs so they had very few options in most places, buffet meals were better for them. When they had to chose from a menu they were stuck with pizza or chicken nuggets.
Mama melrose was good for all of us, the steak was delicious, and the girls had spaghetti bolognaise.

best place for quick service meals was epcot fantastic choices in the world showcase.

We struggled for breakfasts, very limited options in the parks for quick service, unless you like eggs (both my girls are intolerant of egg). Wolfgang puck was a life-saver their breakfasts were fabulous. Next time I'll pack cereal.

My Kinda ADR,s yum

We are going when the Food and Wine Festival is on this year, we plan to use our snack credits to purchase food around the stalls at World Showcase, this should provide us with some variety for ourselves and the kids (even if they are small portions!)

 

[joolz1910]

We ate at
Crystal Palace - Lunch and breakfast
Chef Mickeys - Dinner
Tuskers House - Breakfast - Lovely
Arkeshus - Lunch (had to do with 2 daughters! wouldn't do again)
Sci Fi Diner - Lunch (wouldn't do again)
Garden Grill - Dinner
Mama Melrose - Dinner
Olivias - Breakfast

Cosmic Cafe - lunch
Wolfgang Puck Express - Breakfast (best counter service we found)
Liberty hall?
can't really remember the other quick service places.

To be honest we picked the table service places based on characters, so that the girls could meet lots. I wouldn't do most of them again. I wasn't impressed with the sci-fi diner, garden grill food was OK, but none of us was really very hungry.
My girls aren't picky eaters, but they like "grown-up" food. Of the few things they won't/can't eat are hot dog sausages, macaroni cheese and eggs so they had very few options in most places, buffet meals were better for them. When they had to chose from a menu they were stuck with pizza or chicken nuggets.
Mama melrose was good for all of us, the steak was delicious, and the girls had spaghetti bolognaise.

best place for quick service meals was epcot fantastic choices in the world showcase.

We struggled for breakfasts, very limited options in the parks for quick service, unless you like eggs (both my girls are intolerant of egg). Wolfgang puck was a life-saver their breakfasts were fabulous. Next time I'll pack cereal.

We are also thinking of Akershus for the princess interaction, Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Mama Melrose and Olivia's. I think I will go for buffet restaurants too. My youngest 2 daughters will eat nuggets/pizza but not mac and cheese.

I'm going to do a Garden Grocer order before we leave to urchase cereal, milk etc because middle DD can't function without a big bowl of cereal in the morning!

 

[dixonsontour]

Thanks for taking the time to feedback - glad you had a great time.

If you do dining plan again with children under 10 a usueful bit of info to know is that the Qs credits are not split child and adult so you can use them for all adult meals if you wish.

What you usually can't do is order more adult meals than on the room card so 2 adult and 2 children can order 2 adult meals from a cashier. Nothing to stop you sharing or both of you lining up and ordering 2 adults meals each though.

 

[joolz1910]

Thanks for taking the time to feedback - glad you had a great time.

If you do dining plan again with children under 10 a usueful bit of info to know is that the Qs credits are not split child and adult so you can use them for all adult meals if you wish.

What you usually can't do is order more adult meals than on the room card so 2 adult and 2 children can order 2 adult meals from a cashier. Nothing to stop you sharing or both of you lining up and ordering 2 adults meals each though.

Definitely worth knowing!

 

[crabbie1]

DD didnt like the kids food so we paid for an adult ticket for her(extra£20) and she had the adult plan. I was advised on here to do this and noone questioned it. She did have a couple of kiddie picks but mainly adult. If you book the buffets as well as we are this year and paying OOP with TIW card they can eat what they want for the kids price. Glad u had a good time.

 

[littlesos]

Thanks for taking the time to feedback - glad you had a great time.

If you do dining plan again with children under 10 a usueful bit of info to know is that the Qs credits are not split child and adult so you can use them for all adult meals if you wish.

What you usually can't do is order more adult meals than on the room card so 2 adult and 2 children can order 2 adult meals from a cashier. Nothing to stop you sharing or both of you lining up and ordering 2 adults meals each though.

Yep, we realised that the QS credits weren't split. We had no problem ordering four adult meals (although this was too much food!) we just sat the girls down and went to the counter without them, never had a problem ordering 3 adult meals on one adult card. Luckily the girls didn't mind too much sharing a huge drink.

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes we find QS alot of food - we usually share 2 adult meals between the 3 of us (2 adults and a child)

Any plans to go back?

 

[janeyb]

Hi there,

You certainly picked the right dates! We're over here at the moment - arrived on the 9th Feb, then went on a 4 night cruise 12-16th Feb. Now, what I really should have done is research the dates first and go on the cruise last as this trip is turning into a complete nightmare and after spending 10k on it and planning it for 18 months as a special trip for my 40th Birthday, it's quite upsetting!!

If you ever consider February again, avoid Presidents week and in particular the parks during Presidents weekend! (weekend just gone). We were at Epcot on Monday and the queue for Soaring by 11am was 3 hours and 20 minutes! Luckily, knowing Disney well, my husband ran on ahead when the gates opened and got fast passes, then me and my DD's rushed to meet him. We walked straight on, then rode it again with FP's before 10am!

The Finding Nemo show was a complete waste of time and we could only actually see 10% of the stage. We were shown to seats which were at the back on the same level as the seats in front, not raised at all. When we stood up in front of the exit doors, security appeared and moved us. My husband was furious and asked how they could possibly think that was acceptable after they'd let us queue for 30 minutes prior to the show and think that a 5 year old child would be happy just hearing the show and not actually seeing it?

Every single show has been a washout. They have crammed erveryone in so much that you can't even see the stage, something which has never happened to us before We have been to DW during most months of the year, including Christmas.

Free Dining is a complete waste of time as although you get CS meals, there is nowhere to sit in the restaurants - people are sitting on the floor outside with food on their laps!! I refuse to let Table service meals ruin our trip by making us be in a park, which is as busy as Christmas, just for the sake of yet another very average meal, so we are cancelling them so our days aren't completely ruled by them and then if you even try to make another same day booking at a different location there isn't one opening ANYWHERE in disney World, something we've never had trouble doing before! We are having to go off site to eat at the moment.

I have certainly learnt my lesson, I just don't want you to think about booking February again and it coinciding Presidents week and the parks full to capacity. Stick to the dates you booked this year!!

Jane.

 

[dixonsontour]

Hi there,

You certainly picked the right dates! We're over here at the moment - arrived on the 9th Feb, then went on a 4 night cruise 12-16th Feb. Now, what I really should have done is research the dates first and go on the cruise last as this trip is turning into a complete nightmare and after spending 10k on it and planning it for 18 months as a special trip for my 40th Birthday, it's quite upsetting!!

If you ever consider February again, avoid Presidents week and in particular the parks during Presidents weekend! (weekend just gone). We were at Epcot on Monday and the queue for Soaring by 11am was 3 hours and 20 minutes! Luckily, knowing Disney well, my husband ran on ahead when the gates opened and got fast passes, then me and my DD's rushed to meet him. We walked straight on, then rode it again with FP's before 10am!

The Finding Nemo show was a complete waste of time and we could only actually see 10% of the stage. We were shown to seats which were at the back on the same level as the seats in front, not raised at all. When we stood up in front of the exit doors, security appeared and moved us. My husband was furious and asked how they could possibly think that was acceptable after they'd let us queue for 30 minutes prior to the show and think that a 5 year old child would be happy just hearing the show and not actually seeing it?

Every single show has been a washout. They have crammed erveryone in so much that you can't even see the stage, something which has never happened to us before We have been to DW during most months of the year, including Christmas.

Free Dining is a complete waste of time as although you get CS meals, there is nowhere to sit in the restaurants - people are sitting on the floor outside with food on their laps!! I refuse to let Table service meals ruin our trip by making us be in a park, which is as busy as Christmas, just for the sake of yet another very average meal, so we are cancelling them so our days aren't completely ruled by them and then if you even try to make another same day booking at a different location there isn't one opening ANYWHERE in disney World, something we've never had trouble doing before! We are having to go off site to eat at the moment.

I have certainly learnt my lesson, I just don't want you to think about booking February again and it coinciding Presidents week and the parks full to capacity. Stick to the dates you booked this year!!

Jane.

Sorry you are struggling with crowds.

I think US holidays sometimes take UK visitors by surprise. I like touringplans.com as it gives busyness out of 10 and sometimes shifting your dates by a few days can make a big difference.

Eating wise - you may have better luck at the resorts. Guest services or conceirge should be able to help aswell with adr's.

 

[wayneg]

Free Dining is a complete waste of time as although you get CS meals, there is nowhere to sit in the restaurants - people are sitting on the floor outside with food on their laps!! I refuse to let Table service meals ruin our trip by making us be in a park, which is as busy as Christmas, just for the sake of yet another very average meal, so we are cancelling them so our days aren't completely ruled by them and then if you even try to make another same day booking at a different location there isn't one opening ANYWHERE in disney World, something we've never had trouble doing before! We are having to go off site to eat at the moment.

Very surprised you could not find anywhere to sit to eat CS meals, we will only eat inside with seating, even Xmas we have had no problem, just sometimes have to hover over a table until someone leaves.
Park restaurants can get booked up but always availabilty at some of the resorts, I see the res system is down again so that won't be helping you.
We did Presidents week last year but avoided Disney.

 

[queendisney]

we arrived this time last year and it was totally empty, no probs with getting seats etc, none of the rides we went to were closed and none broke down on us Either we were lucky or you have been unlucky! We wouldn't go that time of year again though because the weather was far to up and down and I don't want to have to carry a jacket about with me
It obviously does show what just a few days can make when you book though!

 

[janeyb]

So sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread! I just wanted to warn about crowd levels during Presidents Wk-end!

Unfortunately the resort hotels are just as bad for dinner reservations, or have been, maybe it will start to ease up a little towards the end of the week! I spent almost 45 minutes yesterday morning with the concerige here at Animal Kingdom and he couldn't find me one dinner reservation anywhere in any park or resort between the hours of 4.30pm and 8.30pm!!!! Even he was totally amazed!

WayneG - Counter service meals are starting to ease up now thankfully! That was a great idea avoiding Disney last Feb during Presidents week. That's what we said also, if we came again in Feb. Although saying that on Monday (presidents day itself) we came down Vineland Avenue and it took 45 minutes to do 1/3 mile distance we needed to get onto the I4!!!! Everyone was queing to go into the outlets!! Went to the Florida Mall yesterday and it was lovely and quiet.

I don't think all the offers Disney are offering are helping! I've seen that they're offering Florida residents 3 day tickets for $99.

We had an amazing day on Tuesday as I refused to spend my 40th in the parks so we took off to Anna Maria Island which was was beautiful. Whilst there I heard two shop assistants in a beach shop talking and saying that they've never known it as busy as it was this early in the season! Maybe this year is a bit of a fluke.

I think we've just been unlucky and doing all the wrong parks on the wrong days to fit around some of the ADR's we've kept!! Even the pool here at the AKL is freezing as the heating is broken!!!! This will definately be a trip we'll look back on and laugh about! I'm just happy to be here, just having to do things differently and spend less time in the parks. I love the AKL so I'm enjoying spending more time in the resort.

Jane.

 

[dixonsontour]

Glad you are making the best of it - would love to spend my birthday at AMI.

Nice to hear feedback - sounds like it may have taken disney by surprise. I know at peak times they usually operate a system of not letting you sit until you have food at a QS.

 

[littlesos]

Sorry that you had lots of crowds. I used touring plans (advice from on here) to look at my dates, and to pick the parks to visit on each day. We purposefully avoided presidents weekend. We arrived on Superbowl Sunday and left just before the presidents day weekend. Planning which park on which day meant that we could book out ADRs although I did make a few mistakes, like booking earlyish lunches. Big mistake for us, we had to eat breakfast (girls would have complained if they didn't get mickey waffles/pancakes) by the time we had finished there was only a couple of hours till lunch!!! Luckily this only happened twice.

I did notice that the first few days we were there we could virtually walk straight onto any ride, when the UK half term hit things did get a little more crowded, but it wasn't unbearable.

I would definitely do Feb again, a choice between dodgy weather and crowds, the weather wins every time for me, I hate it when it's crowded, I get stressed and stroppy!!!!

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

We ate at
Crystal Palace - Lunch and breakfast
Chef Mickeys - Dinner
Tuskers House - Breakfast - Lovely
Arkeshus - Lunch (had to do with 2 daughters! wouldn't do again)
Sci Fi Diner - Lunch (wouldn't do again)
Garden Grill - Dinner
Mama Melrose - Dinner
Olivias - Breakfast

Cosmic Cafe - lunch
Wolfgang Puck Express - Breakfast (best counter service we found)
Liberty hall?
can't really remember the other quick service places.

To be honest we picked the table service places based on characters, so that the girls could meet lots. I wouldn't do most of them again. I wasn't impressed with the sci-fi diner, garden grill food was OK, but none of us was really very hungry.
My girls aren't picky eaters, but they like "grown-up" food. Of the few things they won't/can't eat are hot dog sausages, macaroni cheese and eggs so they had very few options in most places, buffet meals were better for them. When they had to chose from a menu they were stuck with pizza or chicken nuggets.
Mama melrose was good for all of us, the steak was delicious, and the girls had spaghetti bolognaise.

best place for quick service meals was epcot fantastic choices in the world showcase.

We struggled for breakfasts, very limited options in the parks for quick service, unless you like eggs (both my girls are intolerant of egg). Wolfgang puck was a life-saver their breakfasts were fabulous. Next time I'll pack cereal.

Your trip sounds brilliant Can I ask what dining plan did you purcahse? The characters restuarants sound great.

 

[dixonsontour]

Your trip sounds brilliant Can I ask what dining plan did you purcahse? The characters restuarants sound great.

It was the DDP (disney dining plan) - you get 1 Table service meal, I Quick service meal and 1 snack per night of your stay.

I think the OP got it free as they stayed at Old key west - disney Uk were offereing free ddp for alot of 2012 at certain resorts.