First Timer Adventure with Carl, Ellie, and Russell - November 2016

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

Hi! Sounds like you are doing really well with your plans! I'm excited to hear more!

Disney Springs has a big Lego store, the World of Disney (huge Disney store), Once Upon a Toy, a Christmas store, Goofy's Candy Co, the World of Coke, to name a few. Also, you'll want to stop at the Marketplace Co-Op for yourself. It's awesome and has lots of Disney home items that are awesome!

Do you know about Special Diets at WDW? You let them know 30 days in advance what TS reservations you have, your allergies, and then ask for an allergy free menu for the QS locations. special.diets@disneyworld.com At the TS locations, let the CM know that you have special dietary needs and a chef will come out and let you know what you can have from the menu or make something for you. I know you said that he can have it cooked in stuff but just in case, you may want to shoot them an email.

Oooo! I've never even heard of the Marketplace Co-Op. I'm going to have to investigate this further

Thank you for all the valuable information. I will definitely have to let them know about Russell's allergies. I would hate for someone to give him ice cream, only for me to have to take it away from him. I'm such a mean mommy.

 

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

Friday and Saturday, November 11 & 12 – Resort Days –

Since the busiest days for the parks fall right in the middle of our trip, I thought it might be nice to have a 2 day resort break to lounge about. I may also take Russell to the Campfire Sing-a-long one of those days, but for the most part we are chilling at our resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

It’s the beginning of November, so the weather should be nice enough to swim in the heated pool. There’s also the campfire stories, night vision goggles, nighttime movies, animal watching, and other various activities they have at the hotel.

One of my biggest vacation regrets (it happens nearly every time I’m on vacation) is that I’m so busy doing various activities around town, that I don’t have time to really explore and appreciate what the resort has to offer. An excellent example of this is during our honeymoon. We were staying at the former JW Marriott at Ko Olina (which is now permanently closed… to make room for Aulani, the Disney resort, lol. I need to plan a trip “back” ). We ended up driving all the way around Oahu to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, where it was packed with people, the waves were knocking me around a bit that day, I cut my knee on some coral, and the snorkeling wasn’t very good. It wasn’t until the last day of our vacation that we realized that the best spot for snorkeling was right outside our hotel. No joke, that small beach area was amazing. I’m not falling in that vacation trap this time around. I will thoroughly enjoy the resort as well as everything else Disney has to offer.

I plan on 1 reservation each day in one of the AKL’s restaurants, but this is also where things get tricky. Carl’s only request the entire trip is to be able to watch his team, The Fightin’ Texas Aggies (WHOOP!), play football. It shouldn’t be an issue finding it on TV, since A&M is now an SEC school (as is Florida), but scheduling dining reservations is a problem. They haven’t released the TV schedule for the game. We likely won’t find out what time they are playing until the week before. So, to deal with the problem, I have booked lunch ADRs for Saana and dinner ADRs for Jiko for both days. When the schedule comes out, I will drop one of the Jiko ressies and one of the Saana ressies, if that makes sense.

I’m also somewhat torn on the Jiko/Saana/Boma. If you could only pick 2, which would you choose? They all look so good to me!

 

[crewsn]

Sounds like you are making good headway on your plans.

I haven't gotten my act together yet this year. I just keep waiting to hear more news on Animal Kingdom or the Star Wars fireworks first. Though that probably won't happen before 60 days at the rate things are going.

We will be back this November. We typically travel the week before Thanksgiving though this year with my son starting school it worked out better for us to travel the week after. So we will experience all the Christmas extras at Epcot this year. I am really hoping my boys will make it through the line for the Candlelight Processional and the show. I have us booked for the dining package right now. Fingers crossed.

The Indiana Jones show is a must for us as well on our HS day. I skipped it last trip and heard about it afterwards. Good luck on getting picked!

 

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

Sounds like you are making good headway on your plans.

I haven't gotten my act together yet this year. I just keep waiting to hear more news on Animal Kingdom or the Star Wars fireworks first. Though that probably won't happen before 60 days at the rate things are going.

We will be back this November. We typically travel the week before Thanksgiving though this year with my son starting school it worked out better for us to travel the week after. So we will experience all the Christmas extras at Epcot this year. I am really hoping my boys will make it through the line for the Candlelight Processional and the show. I have us booked for the dining package right now. Fingers crossed.

The Indiana Jones show is a must for us as well on our HS day. I skipped it last trip and heard about it afterwards. Good luck on getting picked!

Disney is really taking their time on getting things out. I'm not even going to bother with the Animal Kingdom night stuff this go around. I know I'm going back, so I'll see it then.

Candlelight Processional sound amazing! Who is the narrator on the one that you booked?

 

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

Sunday, November 11 – Magic Kingdom, take 2

Because who goes to Disney World and only spends one day at the Magic Kingdom? For day 2 at this park, I will let Russell take the lead (I’ll just book dining and fastpasses). Here’s what I have booked so far.

1900 Park Fare @ 11:30 – *crosses fingers* Please don’t take away the eggs benedict. Please don’t take away the eggs benedict. Puuuuhh-leeeeeeease!

Be Our Guest @ 5:10 – I don’t know how I managed to snag this reservation (and at a normal time too), but I did. Russell loves Beauty and the Beast, so I’m excited for him to meet the beast.

Pirates and Pals Firework Voyage – I was considering the MVMCP, but I think DS might be too tired and grumpy to fully enjoy the Christmas party. Instead we’ll do the more low key fireworks voyage. I’m absolutely dressing Russell up as Peter Pan for this. I will probably also Disney bound as Smee.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

I plan on 1 reservation each day in one of the AKL’s restaurants, but this is also where things get tricky. Carl’s only request the entire trip is to be able to watch his team, The Fightin’ Texas Aggies (WHOOP!), play football. It shouldn’t be an issue finding it on TV, since A&M is now an SEC school (as is Florida), but scheduling dining reservations is a problem. They haven’t released the TV schedule for the game. We likely won’t find out what time they are playing until the week before. So, to deal with the problem, I have booked lunch ADRs for Saana and dinner ADRs for Jiko for both days. When the schedule comes out, I will drop one of the Jiko ressies and one of the Saana ressies, if that makes sense.

I’m also somewhat torn on the Jiko/Saana/Boma. If you could only pick 2, which would you choose? They all look so good to me!

I really don't think you can go wrong here. I've eaten at Boma and it's my favorite restaurant (non-signature) on Disney property. I haven't eaten at Jiko and Sanaa but I've heard that they are both really really good. I think it comes down to what kind of atmosphere you want. Boma is more relaxed and casual and the buffet allows you to go back and nosh on your favorites. Plus all the dessert you can handle! Sanaa brings you over to Kidani which has a very different vibe than Jambo house. This is a little bit more African with Indian mixed in. Jiko is a Signature restaurant so it's more upscale and pricier than Boma or Sanaa. It's cuisine is more New African.

But if it were me, I would do Boma and Jiko. Boma for fun and Jiko for what I hear is amazing food!

 

[ariane37]

So as far as the Jiko/Boma/Sanaa question, like @DexLabDeeDee said you really can't go wrong. We haven't eaten at Jiko but the majority of reviews are awesome and with the exception of one, we've enjoyed every signature we've been to. We did breakfast at Boma in January and LOVED it; dinner there a few years back and enjoyed it.
Now Sanaa is one of our favorite TS restaurants on property, and that includes our DS's 10 and 14. Besides amazing atmosphere the food is incredible. While lots of it is Indian-inspired and you definitely can get spicy and different, older DS is FAR from an adventurous eater and always finds something he enjoys. So I do agree it comes down more to what type of meal you want-more fancy, buffet, exotic for you and DH.

Congrats on scoring the BOG dinner That's another of our favorites and we're returning for dinner in Nov. for the 6th time.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

@ariane37 - Which signature restaurant did you go to that you didn't enjoy?

 

[ariane37]

@ariane37 - Which signature restaurant did you go to that you didn't enjoy?

@DexLabDeeDee Cali Grill I shouldn't say we didn't enjoy it; we didn't hate it. But we didn't feel there was anything special enough about it to return and think we've had better meals at non-signatures. Definitely prefer the other sigs we've been to-Yachtsman, Citricos, Narcoossee's, even HBD. However you can't beat the view of Wishes from CG which was breathtaking! And many, many people LOVE CG so it's definitely a personal thing

 

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

I really don't think you can go wrong here. I've eaten at Boma and it's my favorite restaurant (non-signature) on Disney property. I haven't eaten at Jiko and Sanaa but I've heard that they are both really really good. I think it comes down to what kind of atmosphere you want. Boma is more relaxed and casual and the buffet allows you to go back and nosh on your favorites. Plus all the dessert you can handle! Sanaa brings you over to Kidani which has a very different vibe than Jambo house. This is a little bit more African with Indian mixed in. Jiko is a Signature restaurant so it's more upscale and pricier than Boma or Sanaa. It's cuisine is more New African.

But if it were me, I would do Boma and Jiko. Boma for fun and Jiko for what I hear is amazing food!

Such tough decisions! I originally settled on Saana and Jiko because my son loves butter chicken and it’s over in Kidani. We will be taking the kiddo to Kidani at some point because that’s where the splash pad is. We aren’t big meal eaters; we are more snackers and plate sharers. Plus, we were originally planning on going to Tusker House for the AK day.

Buuuut… Boma sounds sooo good. People keep telling me how good it is too. We aren’t doing Tusker House on our AK day anymore (for now; my plans change constantly), so I may have to change one of the ressies to Boma. Or I could figure out a way to go to all 3, but I don’t know where I’d put it.

 

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

So as far as the Jiko/Boma/Sanaa question, like @DexLabDeeDee said you really can't go wrong. We haven't eaten at Jiko but the majority of reviews are awesome and with the exception of one, we've enjoyed every signature we've been to. We did breakfast at Boma in January and LOVED it; dinner there a few years back and enjoyed it.
Now Sanaa is one of our favorite TS restaurants on property, and that includes our DS's 10 and 14. Besides amazing atmosphere the food is incredible. While lots of it is Indian-inspired and you definitely can get spicy and different, older DS is FAR from an adventurous eater and always finds something he enjoys. So I do agree it comes down more to what type of meal you want-more fancy, buffet, exotic for you and DH.

Congrats on scoring the BOG dinner That's another of our favorites and we're returning for dinner in Nov. for the 6th time.

Glad to hear about BOG! I keep seeing bad reviews for it. I’d keep it anyway. If I ended up not liking the food, I can always fill up on snack food afterwards at the Pirate and Pals thing. Plus, the atmosphere can’t be beat.

Sad to hear about Cali Grill. I initially had it in my plans because we all love sushi, but then changed my mind.

 

[LINZ-MCKINZ]

Monday, November 14 – Epcot Day – It’s also the last day of the Food & Wine Festival. I’m betting that there will be more people trying to take advantage of that and less people on the rides. Hopefully my bet pays off.

This day is going to be tricky with the Fastpasses for me. The tiered thing is throwing me off. I’m probably going to have to fastpass the frozen ride, then rope drop test track, then book it over to soarin’. I’d really like to do all 3 without an insane line. I would also like to see Joy and Sadness and Baymax. I know they can can get a bit of a line (Joy and Sadness especially).

As far as ADRs go, I’m not too sure about the first 2 reservations. Most likely, they will be dropped. The last one, however, is as firm as an ADR can possibly get for me.

Akershus @ 8:05am – Might be nice to have a head start at Epcot, but this might be princess overload after CRT. I might see how Russell feels about it post CRT.

Via Napoli @ 11:50 – I’m always down for yummy Italian food.

Biergarten @ 6:45 – This is one where I take one for the team. I’m really not a fan of German food. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I hate it because I can usually find one or 2 things that are just okay, but it’s just not my thing. My boys, however, LOVE German food.

We used to live right by a German place that they wanted to go to every Saturday – when the accordion player would be there. DH and DS loved the place. We moved away a year ago and that is one of the things DH has said he missed the most. Biergarten sounds like the old place on steroids. I know this would be a huge hit for them. I’m sure I can just fill up on salad and pretzel bread.

I would do lunch because it’s cheaper, but the boys 2 favorite items (sauerbraten and rouladen) are the only 2 items offered at dinner and not at lunch.