DW virgins, what do you do?

[Elsaalltheway]

Your friends are lucky to have you as a guide. For anyone who really loves "Disney" I don't see how they couldn't love WDW. You could twist my arm and get me to say DLR has the edge over MK, but when you factor-in everything else, I say "No contest!"

I've always told people it usually depends on where you go first that will hold your heart. Even though my brother and I went to DLR we still love World more. There is just so much to do, inside and outside of the parks. That's why I'm taking two days down to show them what else is out there. I hope I do justice to what the parks have to offer. But it's kinda sad that HS isn't the park I remembered when I first went. could almost spend a whole day there. Now its just a shell of a park.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I know it's really easy for a repeat WDW guest to spend less time in both those parks, because repeat guests usually don't repeat all shows. But 1st time guests may want to go to all the shows. I would lean towards planning full days on both.
(DHS is a bit more difficult sell. TSMM is the same ride, just a different queue. But RnR and ToT (better at WDW) are a must. And the Indiana Jones show is fun.

I've been many times and there are still shows I haven't seen. I think the shows will be a play it by ear kind of thing. I do hope to get to see Lion King this time. I've heard its really good and I also want to see the Frozen show at Hollywood. I also have a few need to do's.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Your friends are lucky to have you as a guide. For anyone who really loves "Disney" I don't see how they couldn't love WDW. You could twist my arm and get me to say DLR has the edge over MK, but when you factor-in everything else, I say "No contest!"

Thank you. I love DW too, but usually I think the first park anybody has been to is their favorite. I think there is so much to do in the park and outside that a week may not be enough time. There are still places I haven't seen. One of these years I'm going to take the time to visit all the hotels.

 

[MHSweb79]

We have a few favorite QS restaurants:

BOG in MK (as others have said)
Flame Tree BBQ in AK, sitting next to the reflecting pool
Tangierine Cafe in Morocco (Epcot)
Columbia Harbor House in MK
Boulangeri Patisserie in France (Epcot)
Starring Rolls in The Studios
Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs
Wolfgang Puck Express in Disney Springs

I also like the make your own pasta at the Riverside Resort but not enough to make a special trip for. We like to stay at French Quarter so it's an easy walk or ferry ride.

 

[glassslippergirl]

You asked for recommendations for a nice dinner:

• Over-the-top-- what about the Highway in the Sky dine-around, like a progressive dinner that goes to Poly, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary for various courses riding on a dedicated monorail and was Chong Wishes at the end. Definitely a peak Disney experience, great for a rest day
• High-end-- California Grill. If you eat there, you can watch Wishes from Contemporary roof
• Unique but moderately priced-- eat at a restaurant in World Showcase, we like Restaurant Marrakesh or Hacienda San Angel
• Quintessential Disney-- Would these grown men appreciate a character meal? They are buffets, so good for big appetites

Recommendations for CS:
MK-- Columbia Harbor House
AK-- Flame Tree Grill
Epcot-- Sunshine Seasons (I used to love Electric Umbrella, but my last meal there was yuck-o-- undercooked flatbread)
Resort-- Contempo Cafe in Contemporary

I'd spend time at Epcot. Some rides may overlap, but Epcot is really a singular experience.

 

[Serrina89]

I think they would really appreciate you showing them the disney bubble. Take them to eat at the hotels (Kona Cafe ie for breakfast), water parks or mini golf on rest days. I am a DW vet who has gone to DL recently. I wanted to experience things that were different but a lot of the rides are somewhat different. Spending maybe only a day or a day and a half at MK. Pirates of the carribean is way better at DL and so is space mountain but sometimes it nice to experience that difference for yourself.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

We have a few favorite QS restaurants:

BOG in MK (as others have said)
Flame Tree BBQ in AK, sitting next to the reflecting pool
Tangierine Cafe in Morocco (Epcot)
Columbia Harbor House in MK
Boulangeri Patisserie in France (Epcot)
Starring Rolls in The Studios
Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs
Wolfgang Puck Express in Disney Springs

I also like the make your own pasta at the Riverside Resort but not enough to make a special trip for. We like to stay at French Quarter so it's an easy walk or ferry ride.

Thank you. I will put these on the list. The starring Rolls was going to go on my list too. AoA has a build your own pasta too that is really good.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

You asked for recommendations for a nice dinner:

• Over-the-top-- what about the Highway in the Sky dine-around, like a progressive dinner that goes to Poly, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary for various courses riding on a dedicated monorail and was Chong Wishes at the end. Definitely a peak Disney experience, great for a rest day
• High-end-- California Grill. If you eat there, you can watch Wishes from Contemporary roof
• Unique but moderately priced-- eat at a restaurant in World Showcase, we like Restaurant Marrakesh or Hacienda San Angel
• Quintessential Disney-- Would these grown men appreciate a character meal? They are buffets, so good for big appetites

Recommendations for CS:
MK-- Columbia Harbor House
AK-- Flame Tree Grill
Epcot-- Sunshine Seasons (I used to love Electric Umbrella, but my last meal there was yuck-o-- undercooked flatbread)
Resort-- Contempo Cafe in Contemporary

I'd spend time at Epcot. Some rides may overlap, but Epcot is really a singular experience.

Thank you for your feedback. We are going to get together on Thursday and go over all of this at dinner. I'm not sure what each will want, but I'll bring all of these up to them.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I think they would really appreciate you showing them the disney bubble. Take them to eat at the hotels (Kona Cafe ie for breakfast), water parks or mini golf on rest days. I am a DW vet who has gone to DL recently. I wanted to experience things that were different but a lot of the rides are somewhat different. Spending maybe only a day or a day and a half at MK. Pirates of the carribean is way better at DL and so is space mountain but sometimes it nice to experience that difference for yourself.

Thank you. I was wondering where to split the days. And nights. Seems like one really isn't into the shows, even the night shows. I put my foot down on that. I'm sorry you can ride the ride but I need my Wishes, Star Wars fireworks and Illuminations.

 

[AshleeH]

Thank you, I don't know how commando we will be. I know we will be doing multiple parks a day. I know I'm also getting an ADR for lunch at BOG. We have the quick service meal right now. I have only eat at quick service myself except Beirgarten. If you had to eat just one table service meal where would you eat. I am bringing that up to them to have one really nice meal.
And I think thats a great goal to visit all the parks in one day. I think you can do it....

It really depends what you like. We loved Kona and Be Our Guest for dinner. Cape May Cafe is a favorite (it's a seafood buffet). I've got many places on my list for our trip - I haven't eaten at any of them, but they are highly recommended frequently: Boma, 'Ohana, Yachtsman, etc. Boma is probably the one I see recommended most frequently - I have it on my list to get a breakfast and dinner ADR there for my husband and myself .

 

[danikoski]

Personally, for a sit down, TS, in a park with uniqueness, and relatively cost effective, I would choose Tusker House in AK. The lunch and dinner buffet are awesome, with unique African food, but also some stalwart favorites. My husband and a friend's husband both love this restaurant. Like love. My mom, who is not the world's most adventurous eater, requested the breakfast at Tusker for our trip next month. Yes, there are characters, but you can interact with them as much or as little as you want.

I'm also a big fan of Hoop Dee Do Revue...It's a show, but also all you care to eat, and it's corny but fun. Although, I believe DL has or had a similar meal and show...I missed it when I was there in 2007.

For QS, you've gotten a pretty good list. I also really like Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion. I'm also a fan of the Yak and Yeti QS. The menu is simple but tasty. And the gelato shop in France rocks, and the ice cream sandwiches made out of giant macaroons or brioche buns are a snack credit but could be a meal unto themselves.

 

[disnut8]

We never miss Flights of Wonder at Animal Kingdom. It's just my husband and me in our early 50s but this is a must. We've taken people as young as five and as old at 75 and everyone has left with a smile.

I would also caution you to make sure the two men understand that Disney World is much larger than Disneyland so, other than the twenty minute walk from the Studios to Epcot, all other park to park visiting needs to be done via boat, bus or monorail. You can't just walk across the street and be at another park.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

It really depends what you like. We loved Kona and Be Our Guest for dinner. Cape May Cafe is a favorite (it's a seafood buffet). I've got many places on my list for our trip - I haven't eaten at any of them, but they are highly recommended frequently: Boma, 'Ohana, Yachtsman, etc. Boma is probably the one I see recommended most frequently - I have it on my list to get a breakfast and dinner ADR there for my husband and myself .

I hope you get your ADR. I'll write these down and give them to my friends for suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Personally, for a sit down, TS, in a park with uniqueness, and relatively cost effective, I would choose Tusker House in AK. The lunch and dinner buffet are awesome, with unique African food, but also some stalwart favorites. My husband and a friend's husband both love this restaurant. Like love. My mom, who is not the world's most adventurous eater, requested the breakfast at Tusker for our trip next month. Yes, there are characters, but you can interact with them as much or as little as you want.

I'm also a big fan of Hoop Dee Do Revue...It's a show, but also all you care to eat, and it's corny but fun. Although, I believe DL has or had a similar meal and show...I missed it when I was there in 2007.

For QS, you've gotten a pretty good list. I also really like Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion. I'm also a fan of the Yak and Yeti QS. The menu is simple but tasty. And the gelato shop in France rocks, and the ice cream sandwiches made out of giant macaroons or brioche buns are a snack credit but could be a meal unto themselves.

I didn't see Yak and Yeti on the QS meal plan for 17 when I last checked, but I'll check again. I've done Sunshine Seasons and I will admit I love their cuban sandwich, but was a bit disapointed in the last one. I'll put down Tusker. I've also heard many good things about that. Thank you.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

We never miss Flights of Wonder at Animal Kingdom. It's just my husband and me in our early 50s but this is a must. We've taken people as young as five and as old at 75 and everyone has left with a smile.

I would also caution you to make sure the two men understand that Disney World is much larger than Disneyland so, other than the twenty minute walk from the Studios to Epcot, all other park to park visiting needs to be done via boat, bus or monorail. You can't just walk across the street and be at another park.

Thank you. I will keep that in mind. I've only seen the Fliights of Wonder once myself. And I am going to try and do all the parks and the ways to get there. Using the Monorail and boats.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[danikoski]

I didn't see Yak and Yeti on the QS meal plan for 17 when I last checked, but I'll check again. I've done Sunshine Seasons and I will admit I love their cuban sandwich, but was a bit disapointed in the last one. I'll put down Tusker. I've also heard many good things about that. Thank you.

The Yak and Yetis QS is called Yak and Yeti Local Foods Café, and based on WDW website, should be a QS dining credit.

I would say for unique features, rides and restaurants AK and Epcot are going to be the two parks to be the most different from DL and DCA, and with Pandora opening, AK should be pretty cool.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

The Yak and Yetis QS is called Yak and Yeti Local Foods Café, and based on WDW website, should be a QS dining credit.

I would say for unique features, rides and restaurants AK and Epcot are going to be the two parks to be the most different from DL and DCA, and with Pandora opening, AK should be pretty cool.

I agree with Pandora. I hope to go there one evening when its all lit up. I'm thinking of swapping AK and HS for two days just to flip flop them to make sure we get everything in and then spend a day and a half at each Hollywood and Magic Kingdom. I think we should be able to get it all.

 

[Catvondita]

So excited for you! I'm a creature of habit so I have a few things that I need to do. First I have to do the Magic Kingdom Sandwich, so I start my first day at MK and end my last day with it and see Wishes both times. Epcot always has to be my second day. I'm not sure which time frame you are planning on going with but there's a chance Pandora might be opened. For me, if its closed I usually do a half day at Animal Kingdom. I find there aren't a whole lof of rides there are mainly a lot of walking so I try to do the Safari, Festival of the Lion King, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur. If Pandora is open you'll want the full day. For Hollywood Studios you don't really need a full day but you should still check it out. There are some great rides like Toy Story Midway Mania and Tower of Terror. I would end the evening at HS with Fantasmic as I've heart the Star Wars fireworks are lack luster. I know you have two rest days scheduled but I would try to limit the rest day to just one. There is so much to do at Disney World and Magic Kingdom and Epcot alone I believe are worth extra visits. One thing I do is if I want to rest I'll do a half rest day. So sleep in relax at the hotel/ pool and spending the evening at a park.

Also want to add some must do's for us like Mickey's Philharmagic at Magic Kingdom as our first stop. It sets you up on your disney vacation Also a tradition is we always have Lunch at Biergarten in Epcot. Its a buffet style restaurant set up to look like Germany outside at night. There's a fake moon as you dine and a stage for some performances. Hope you have a great time!

 

[Shellyred8]

I'm a WDW vet that just went to DL for the first time back in Nov. Here's my feedback/suggestions:
1. Take them to as many fireworks shows as you can get in. DL's fireworks shows don't even come close to those at WDW (I'm not ripping on DL, they have their reasons for not doing as many fireworks).
2. We made an extra effort to ride as many rides as possible that were the same between the two parks. Here's our thoughts on which ones were better. I would skip the ones that are better at DL or about the same.
a. Rides better at DL: Space Mt, Big Thunder Mt, POTC
b. Rides better at WDW: Haunted Mansion
c. About the same: Under the Sea, Star Tours, Toy Story Midway Mania
3. We always love going to the Festival of the Lion King and the Indiana Jones shows.
4. Everything is bigger at WDW. Allow some time to just take things in.
5. Take them to the Boardwalk. We love just walking around that area, especially at night.
6. Animal Kingdom will be a totally new concept for them. Many people consider this a 1/2 day park, but you might want to allow more time there, if they like that kind of thing.
7. Take them on the Monorail. It's a totally different experience at WDW. Perhaps do the resort loop and stop at each of the resorts to check them out.
8. If they like boat rides, take a few of those when possible. I would especially recommend the ferry ride from TTC to MK. I always love that view. And the anticipation of seeing the castle as we approach!
9. The Rail Road was down when we were at DL, but we did get to see the train. The trains at WDW are bigger and I think the ride is probably longer. You might want to take them on that.

Have fun!!!

 

[bookgirl]

Illuminations, Wishes, and any other 'nighttime' shows that aren't shown in DL (I never did get to see the DL version of Fantasmic so I couldn't tell you if it different but I do like Fantasmic! at DHS).

Rock n Roller-coaster and I think the ToT in DHS is better than DL

AK has Expedition Everest and Festival of the Lion King is a great show. (though they might think Dinosaur is a poor substitution for Indiana Jones but it has a different feel)

Test Track (again similar to Radiator Springs but different enough that they might enjoy it) just to design their own car. It's pretty fun.