First timers, HELP planning please

[Caltha]

This is our First ever trip to WDW in January, and I thought once I booked our rooms and got tickets, everything was done, we would just go and take everything as it comes. We are on holidays, why make plans, I thought.

BUT after reading this forum, there so much planning and reservation etc to be done. I can't believe it. Lucky I came across this forum before we left.
So, I need some help. We arrive {by plane} at 3.30pm on the 6th January, in the middle of some Marathon I hear. What time can I expect we would get to WDW resort?? We have a booking at ASMu Family Suites. So we will need Dinner reservations somewhere I take it. First meal where do people suggest?? Maybe a character dining to get into the swing of things?? Oh, by the way we have three children tagging along.
So then, how do you get on with dinner reservations in the theme parks when they close at 5.00pm in Winter months?? And if we went to a theme park, our ticket would have to cover that day,but we would use it apart from dinner??? I was just going to get a 7 or 8 day pass because we are planning on going to Universal studios for 2 days and seaworld one day. But then we would have to watch where we eat those nights, do you need theme park ticket to eat dinner there after it closes?? And how do we get to the other parks from WDW, is there a shuttle service to them??
Love to hear some suggestions. PLEASE.
What else do I need to plan and pre-book apart from some more Food reservations.

 

[brentalex]

Welcome and I hope you have a great trip. I can't answer all your questions, but will try to help some. If you are taking the Magical express to the hotel, I would estimate it will take about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to get to the hotel. The time will be a bit different if you are getting there some other way.
What we like to do if we arrive close to dinner time is to explore the hotel and eat there, rather than try to get someplace else. If the parks are closed, then the restaurants will also not be seating anymore people. You can get a seating close to when it closes, but once closed you can't get in. Also, if you want to eat at a restaurant in a park, you do need to use your ticket to get in, and will use a day up off the ticket. There are many nice restaurants at some of the deluxe hotels, including some character dining ( chef mickeys at the contemporary is very popular). Getting from hotel to hotel is not all that easy if the parks are closed, because it usually means taking a bus to downtown disney and then changing to the other hotels bus. If a park is open, it is usually faster to take the bus to the open park and switch to the other resorts bus. If you are renting a car, then this does not matter.
There are no shuttles between disney and the other theme park areas, universal and seaworld. You can take a taxi, or reserve a towncar service to take you.
I am sure others will have more suggestions. have fun

 

[Taja]

If you haven't stayed at that resort before, you might want to explore your resort and plan to have a counter service meal that evening at the resort, then perhaps head to DTD or the Boardwalk, if everyone is still going strong. Otherwise, you'll probably want to make a dinner ADR at one of the deluxe resorts for around 7 p.m.--which might be a bit late if your children are young. That would allow for flight delays, travel time to your resort, and travel time to the resort of choice for dinner.

Or--if there is a restaurant everyone likes at DTD that fits the budget, you could make an ADR there for about the same time. It would eliminate transferring on WDW transportation if you won't have a rental car.

 

[Pooh Friend]

Welcome to the boards! I am also going in January and would be happy to help with whatever I can. I am also going at the end of the marathon and from what I have heard not to worry as the hotels are booked up, but not the parks. Many people just come to run the marathon and not stay or come for a short stay. Remember, it is the #1 least crowded time of the year. Disney often offers special events to help fill the parks up at these least crowded times.

For January, the only park closing at 5pm is Animal Kingdom, and they generally close at that hour all year long except for the EMH. MK closing at 8pm, Epcot closing at 7pm (World Showcase at 9pm), MGM closing at 7:30pm. Some parks are also opened later on the weekends. If the extra time in the park on your first day is worth it to you, I would get a pass for that day. If not, I would go with the other suggestions and have a leisurely orientation to your hotel and eat there. Also, don't worry about the kids in tow, you are in the happiest place on earth! There will be kids in all the restaurants.

As far as any other suggestions, don't worry, have 1/2 the fun planning your trip, and read, read, read there are tons of information and it takes some time digesting it all! No matter what you are in Disney and you are going to have a wonderful time!

 

[ilovejack02]

I am going also in January for the first time ever! I thought get the rooms booked and im good to go. But boy have i learned a few things since then. I bought Unofficial guide to WDW w/ kids and the Walt Disney Birnbaums guide last year it has been a great beginning help and its easy to flip through and find something fast. The 2007 guides come out in Oct i believe and you might want to pick them up then. As far as planning meals I got on the official WDW site and found calender for Jan 07 and the what park is having extra magic hours . I then bought a nice calender with space for writing that fits in my purse. I put all that info on it and then hubby and sat and decided what times of day to eat, and what days we wanted to take a breaketc. I got here on DIS boards and read restaurant reviews and then made Adavanced reservations. It took a couple of days to do it and a little stress but it is all done and now i dont have to worry about a thing. You are right about it being a holiday and why plan BUT i didnt want to miss a character breakfast or miss something special like Grand Adventures in Cooking for my little one or spa time for me because i didnt make reservations.

 

[44disney]

Unless a nice sitdown dinner is important to you, I would suggest just relaxing at your resort -- look through the gift shop, if it's a warm day maybe go to the pool, and get everything ready for the next day at the parks. You can eat at the food court at the All Stars (not great but adequate).

If you want to do a little more, take the bus to downtown Disney and check out the shops, and eat counter service at Earl of Sandwich (delicious, and a good value, too -- check out menus at www.allearsnet.com).

If you rent a car and really want a sitdown dinner, try Boma's at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is pretty close to the All Stars. Arrive just a little early and you can look at the animals on the savannah, plus it is a gorgeous hotel and lobby. Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary (character meal) and O'hanas at the Polynesian are also great family choices if you have a car (or are willing to take a taxi -- it would take too long using the Disney buses), and then you can take a monorail ride after supper (for free) before heading back to your resort.

One last thing -- be sure to buy a guide book ahead of time (I love the Unofficial Guide and the 2007 edition comes out next week) and study it -- you will save a lot of time if you know what you are doing!!!

Have fun!!!

 

[kimberh]

Did you get your tickets booked through Disney with the room? If you did, you might want to consider the Disney Dining Plan. If you are the type of family that is going to eat at least one Table Service ( set down meal or character meal per day) this is a must. You will save a lot of money on this plan. You didn't say if your children were boys or girls. 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian has a Character dinner with Cinderella and Prince Charming. The Fairy Godmother is there too. The food is really good. On the day that we go to the Animal Kingdom Park we have a ADR for Boma's at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It continues the theme for the day and the lodge is worth a tour. Just take the bus from AKP to AKL. When you get finished eating ask what is the easiest way to get back to your resort. It will probably be to go to a park and get on the bus to your resort there, but they will be happy to tell you. When we eat at O'hana's at the Polynesian, I find out what time the fireworks are going to be at Magic Kingdom and I make my ADR for 1 hr give or take before that. They pipe the music into the restaurant and Jimmeny Cricket comes on the speaker. It is really a nice effect. If it is cold outside, it is a very nice way to see the fireworks and eat at the same time. At MGM we always do a Fantasmic package at Mama Mel Rose. You will go into a separate entrance to be seated for the Fantasmic show and will not have to wait in a line. There is a Character dinner with a Fantasmic Package too at Hollywood and vine. Some do not like the food but check out the restaurant reviews for yourself. The Boardwalk has a lot of activity on it and some good restaurants. Cape May's is a good Character Breakfast and a great dinnner buffet. You can go to the dining finder on Disney's Website and it will tell you about the restaurants and what characters are at what restaurants. In Magic Kingdom, the Crystal Palace is a good Character Buffet and Liberty Tree Tavern is a very good Character Dinner restaurant. The list is endless. I hope this has helped to get you off to a good start. We have been in Jan before and it can be cold and it can be nice. Bring some warm clothing or you might be paying $50.00 for a sweatshirt. I have done this but we were miserable. Teeth chattering.

 

[Caltha]

Thank-you to everyone for the great advice, I am starting to get a clearer picture of to expect. I do like the idea of staying put on the first night and just get a feel for our resort, rather than rush off to a Dinner reservation. Thank-you for that advise.
But now, I am now thinking of changing our resort reservation, to Animal Kingdom Lodge as we can all fit into one Deluxe room with Bunk beds, don't know what to think. One room at AKL v's Family suite 2 rooms at ASMu. I know it extra at AKL but it is not as expensive as I first thought, and just within our budget. But I have heard so many mixed reveiws about the AKL being too far away from everything else. But, i do like the idea of Deluxe.
And Yes, we will do the DDP for sure.

 

[BlindTyldak]

Thank-you to everyone for the great advice, I am starting to get a clearer picture of to expect. I do like the idea of staying put on the first night and just get a feel for our resort, rather than rush off to a Dinner reservation. Thank-you for that advise.
But now, I am now thinking of changing our resort reservation, to Animal Kingdom Lodge as we can all fit into one Deluxe room with Bunk beds, don't know what to think. One room at AKL v's Family suite 2 rooms at ASMu. I know it extra at AKL but it is not as expensive as I first thought, and just within our budget. But I have heard so many mixed reveiws about the AKL being too far away from everything else. But, i do like the idea of Deluxe.
And Yes, we will do the DDP for sure.

This is something to keep in mind: the month prior, ASMo's pool will have been closed for refurbishment. Word is it has a MAJOR leak and needs an almost complete overhaul. If there's any delays, ASMu could be pretty packed. For that reason alone - not to mention the uniqueness of AKL - I'd lean toward that.

One you may not have thought of, and I'm not sure how it prices in comparison, but have you checked the suites at CSR? That mod has a lot of the same amenities as a deluxe, and the busses there are very efficient.

 

[splashmtnman]

We are staying at AKL 11/28-12/7 our first time at AKL. We have had dinner there and it was wonderful. I think any WDW resort is going to be great. We also thought about the distance but I have heard the atmosphere there makes up for any downside. As for all star resorts we stayed at movies and liked it fine. Last year we stayed at CBR and it was great also. I had heard it was kind of far from some of the parks but we never noticed. We did travel to AKL and it didn't seem to take all that long. The DDP is a must we had it last year and it worked out great. Again I think any resort you stay at is going to be fine, you just get more options at the deluxe resorts. The pool is usually nicer too.

 

[Caltha]

As we will be there in January I don't think the pools will be a deciding factor for us, as we won't be spending much or ever no time at the pools. Food and Travel and noise and rooms are my concerns.

 

[kimberh]

We love AKL, it is my husband's favorite.

 

[Caltha]

Well, I have decided to change my booking and go with the AKL.
Now can anyone who has stayed there before tell me is there a great spot to have a room. Should I put a request in to have a room in a particular spot. Not to far from the bus, with three kids walking, or a great view in particular.
Don't want to spend all this extra money then find we are in a shocking spot in we get there.
Thanks

 

[Caltha]

I just went to check out the resort maps on this site. There is not one for AKL, there is a map of every other Disney resort but not AKL. Am I right??

 

[kimberh]

What view did you book? I booked 3 Savannah view rooms for last Nov. I made the reservation in July. They put 2 of my rooms over the pen where they take the Sick animals. It was a horrible view!!!! Couldn't see anything!!! I had stayed at AKL 4 times,always had a decent view, and on this trip I had taken my married children. I called the front desk immediately, ( I am not a complainer) this was Thanksgiving Night, there was nothing that night but they moved us the next night. I have read on other post to request the watering hole. I have just learned this, but it makes sense. The animals have to drink. It is a fairly large hotel and in Jan it should not be full but there were sections on the ends not lit up at all when we were there on one trip. Which makes sense, keeps the housekeeping in the same halls. The pool area is really beautiful and African. The Sanannah is all around the hotel. You will see the animals as you walk down the halls. They have CM's trained on the animals to talk to you about them. It is a great hotel. We do love it. Even a pool view is good from what I have heard but the Savannah is the best, just don't get over the pen.