I am super excited to make a pre-trip report, as it has now been almost a full year since we were "back home" at out Disney Vacation Club...and we miss it desperately! Hope that by making this trip report, we can maybe satisfy the Disney cravings, and make some friends! We also will try, on the trip, to answer questions that I have been scouring the boards for since we have never been in November (weather, crowds, ect).
First up, I am Doc Ang and I am 44 and the one who started the Disney bug between us. I am married (legally now) to DW Evil Eva, 54, and we were legally married in California in September 2014, and again married in Disney World with family in October 2014 (wasn't yet legal in Florida at that time), though we have now been together 24 years.
Here's us going to MNSSHP in 2013.. Nothing like riding rides in a costume!
Here are the nuts and bolts of the trip:
When : Monday November 9- Sunday November 15, 2015
Where: DVC Polynesian Studio (standard view- used up all out points on the wedding and then some- and these are our 2016 points)
Why : Need our Disney addict fix, did October the last 2 years, wanted Christmas this year, but still wanted Food and Wine...this week had it all!
Other info: We actually own our DVC at Animal Kingdom, but really like staying at the Boardwalk so you can walk to EPCOT and DHS. We are staying at Poly because it is new, and on the monorail, and looks sweet!
I almost always tour "commando"style, trying to get in everything possible, up early and staying late, and we are always so exhausted from our "vacations" that getting home to work is a rest. I want to try to do it different this time and try to go slower (not sure I can), and stop to smell the roses. This makes Eva happy as she is now 54 and recently diagnosed with Lupus and Hemicrania Continua.... (a rare condition of a continuous headache in one specific spot on her head every single day. It has been about 16 months since the headaches started, and I think she has only had about 10 days in the past year that she hasn't had a headache. Lately the headaches are tolerable and only at about a 2 out of 10 on her current meds. Someday we hope the headaches will just disappear as surprisingly as the came on). But she loves Disney too,and if I push, she will follow.
OK- So, I am an overplanner. I want to make sure we get maximal fun an dont miss anything....I am so like Clark W Griswald it isnt funny! Just about the funniest movie series ever (just the ones with Chevy Chase, not the other Cousin Eddie straight to video ones)...They are so happy at the onset.....
Travel/Arrival: Arrival MCO 1030
I, like Clark, have us leaving on the earliest flight possible...530am, so we arrive at MCO at 1030 to ensure the maximal amount of fun time. There are not may direct flights from our city of San Antonio, Texas to Orlando, only Southwest, and it doesn't arrive until midafternoon, so we will connect through Houston. We have done both the Magical Express and done the rental car thing, but Eva really likes having the rental car so we can jump from park to park and not wait for a bus... she hates the bus. So we are renting a car this time- I got it using our Costco discount and actually Hertz was the cheapest...that never happens! Now I just have to remember to bring quarters for the toll booths.
By my calculations, we should be able to get to the Polynesian resort by Noon at the latest. Our biggest error almost every time we go to Disney is that I rely on eating once we get in the parks, and inevitably we starve until like 4-5pm when I finally let us stop and get something.
I have tried to remedy this by making a Kona Cafe reservation for 1230pm while we likely wait for our room to be ready. If you have never eaten here, then I encourage you to try! It is right by the monorail platform at Poly upstairs, and they have fantastic chicken wings and coffee, and rarely a wait (or need for reservation). Once done eating, if our room is ready we can head there. If not, we can sashay directly over to The Magic Kingdom where I have made some fast pass appts already for the late afternoon. Rest of the day is MK and checking out Trader Sams at the Resort (I do not have a dinner ADR... see, trying not to plan everything!).
We will also either make a Garden Grocer order or stop at the grocery store on our way to the World as we like to pick up wine/alcohol and snacks and breakfast foods so we can not waste time eating breakfast out of the room...also, we like to splurge on at least 1 meal a day in a really nice place, so it helps keep it on the cheaper side.
And that is Day 1.
For the rest of the trip, I have compiled crowd information from The Unofficial Guide to Disney World, and cross referenced it with kennythepirate.com, undercover tourist, and easy WDW to try to make the best plan of attack. We generally try to split the day between at least 2 parks- we go to park number 1 early, hit the rides fast and hard until about 1pm when it gets crowded, then head to the resort to rest for a few hours while everyone else is at the parks. Then we return to a different park in the evening while the crowds head to dinner. It has always really worked well.
Heres the overall plan for the week: Day Park Meals Events/Other
Monday 11/9/15: MK Kona Cafe- Lunch Trader Sams
Tuesday 11/10/15: DHS- Day Brown Derby Bar- Lunch
MK-night Artist Point- Dinner @530 Mickeys XMas Party
Wednesday 11/11/15 EPCOT- Day Garden Grill -lunch
MK (possible) California Grill- (during Wishes)
Thursday 11/12/15 MK- Day Keys to the Kingdom MK Tour (830a-130ish)
DHS- evening To see Osborne Lights
EPCOT- night Yachtsmans Steak- Dinner EPCOT open until 11
Friday 11/13/15 EPCOT- Day F&W event -Alex Guarnaschelli - Food Network Downtown Disney The Boathouse- early dinner Hanger Bar at some point
Sat 11/14/15 EPCOT- Day The Parisian Breakfast @ France
DHS- afternoon
Victoria and Albert's for dinner
So this is the plan so far. We have been unable to get a be Our Guest ADR so far, but we have been there for both lunch and dinner in the past, so its ok. I would like to work in a ressie for Morimotos Asia restaurant open in DD somewhere too, but just not sure right now.
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We're in DHS on the 10th as well, and Epcot on the 13th!
