Has anything changed since 1991?

[diputs]

The last time I went to Disney was in my senior year of High School way back in 1991. Has anything changed since then?

This is my first "vacation" (not including unemployment time) in 8 years and I decided to take a solo photography trip to "the happiest place on earth" from 11/25 until 12/2

1) I booked my hotel at CBR through Expedia to save a lot of money. Will I be able to get a meal plan when I arrive?

2) My flight lands at midnight. Should I take the DME or get a taxi? Can I even take the DME since I did not sign up through the Disney website.

3) In 1991, we would just eat when we wanted. I keep seeing posts about making reservations. Do I need to make reservations to eat?

4) I am lactose intolerant, and try to be as gluten free as possible. Are there any specific restaurants that cater to this? Any vegan, vegetarian, or other health conscious options at Disney? (Last time I went, I could eat anything)

5) How long would it take me to get from MK to CBR and back to MK? Same with Epcot to CBR to Epcot? I am trying to figure out if I can leave the camera equipment back at the hotel and get it later in the day (I want to take night shots) or whether I should get a locker at the parks and store it there.

6) As a solo traveler, should I do Ridemax, or TGM, or is it easier to navigate the park as a solo?

7) If you are solo, do they let you ride the rides alone, or do they pair you up with someone?

8) Anyone visiting from 11/25-12/2 that would want to meet for lunch?

9) My initial intention was to just wing it, but then I started reading this site, and it seems like I need to plan everything out.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

P.S. Is it better to post this in a different forum. Some questions are about solo, but it's mostly general questions.

 

[ccudmore]

Has anything changed since then?
1) I booked my hotel at CBR through Expedia to save a lot of money. Will I be able to get a meal plan when I arrive?

2) My flight lands at midnight. Should I take the DME or get a taxi? Can I even take the DME since I did not sign up through the Disney website.

3) In 1991, we would just eat when we wanted. I keep seeing posts about making reservations. Do I need to make reservations to eat?

4) I am lactose intolerant, and try to be as gluten free as possible. Are there any specific restaurants that cater to this? Any vegan, vegetarian, or other health conscious options at Disney? (Last time I went, I could eat anything)

5) How long would it take me to get from MK to CBR and back to MK? Same with Epcot to CBR to Epcot? I am trying to figure out if I can leave the camera equipment back at the hotel and get it later in the day (I want to take night shots) or whether I should get a locker at the parks and store it there.

6) As a solo traveler, should I do Ridemax, or TGM, or is it easier to navigate the park as a solo?

7) If you are solo, do they let you ride the rides alone, or do they pair you up with someone?

8) Anyone visiting from 11/25-12/2 that would want to meet for lunch?

9) My initial intention was to just wing it, but then I started reading this site, and it seems like I need to plan everything out.

I'll give it a whirl.
Has anything changed? Oh yeah - tons. Including one entire new park (Animal Kingdom). The list of what has opened and closed since that time is very long. But the basic feeling remains.

1. Not sure about this one. Everyone seems to buy the meal plan ahead of time.
2. If you take DME you'll have to pick up your own luggage and bring it with you. They don't collect luggage after 10pm. I'd suggest taking DME anyways if you've never taken it before. It's a great way to get into the Disney mood.
3. Highly recommend reservations for sit down meals. If you don't make reservations chances are you'll have to eat at counter service places, eat at off times, or wait a long time for a table. At this relatively late date you're probably not going to be able to get a reservation at many of the most popular restaurants. You can now make reservations up to 180 days ahead of time and many places book up on the 180 day mark.
4. Most sit-down restaurants will cater to special dietary needs. But not counter-service. So it's even more important to get reservations at sit-down restaurants.
5. Not sure. Someone else can answer.
6. At that time of year you should be able to navigate fairly well without a detailed touring plan. However the same rules apply regardless of whether you're solo or not - get there early, do the big rides early, use the fast pass.
7. For the rides that have single rider lines (Everest, Rockin Coaster, Mission Space) they pair you up with someone. They use people from the single rider lines to fill empty seats. On other rides, it all depends on how many seats there are in a row. For something like Dumbo, you'll probably go alone but for Small World, you'll probably be put in a row with other people.
9. Part of going solo is that you can do what you want when you want and be more spontaneous.. I'm going on a solo trip next week and have a rough plan of where I want to be when, but I don't plan it out anywhere as detailed as I do when I take my kids.

Hope some of these answers help.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I can answer a few questions....

The last time I went to Disney was in my senior year of High School way back in 1991. Has anything changed since then?

This is my first "vacation" (not including unemployment time) in 8 years and I decided to take a solo photography trip to "the happiest place on earth" from 11/25 until 12/2

1) I booked my hotel at CBR through Expedia to save a lot of money. Will I be able to get a meal plan when I arrive?

No you can not purchase the dining plan when you arrive. It must be purchased at least 72 hours in advance and if you booked a room only reservation through Expedia, you can not add it at all.

2) My flight lands at midnight. Should I take the DME or get a taxi? Can I even take the DME since I did not sign up through the Disney website.

Personally at midnight - I'd take a cab. But then again, I hate waiting at airports.

3) In 1991, we would just eat when we wanted. I keep seeing posts about making reservations. Do I need to make reservations to eat?

If there is somewhere you have your heart set on, yes make a reservation. If you are trying for mostly sit down lunches at less popular places, you should be okay to walk up. There are also many great counter service places which of course are first come, first served.

4) I am lactose intolerant, and try to be as gluten free as possible. Are there any specific restaurants that cater to this? Any vegan, vegetarian, or other health conscious options at Disney? (Last time I went, I could eat anything)

I'd ask this over on the restaurant board. There are lots of people with similar restrictions who would be in a better position to help you out.

5) How long would it take me to get from MK to CBR and back to MK? Same with Epcot to CBR to Epcot? I am trying to figure out if I can leave the camera equipment back at the hotel and get it later in the day (I want to take night shots) or whether I should get a locker at the parks and store it there.

Get a locker and store it there. However, be aware that they may not allow you to bring in certain camera equipment. Check out the official disney site for restrictions.

6) As a solo traveler, should I do Ridemax, or TGM, or is it easier to navigate the park as a solo?

Only if you want to be tied to a plan - that's what these things provide - a detailed plan of what to do when.

7) If you are solo, do they let you ride the rides alone, or do they pair you up with someone?

It depends on the ride and how busy they are.

8) Anyone visiting from 11/25-12/2 that would want to meet for lunch?

There is a big thread where you can also post your dates - might have a bit of luck there.

9) My initial intention was to just wing it, but then I started reading this site, and it seems like I need to plan everything out.

It depends on what you want - if you want to see as much as possible of WDW, then yes, I consider a plan a great thing. If you have many special events or "must do's" that are scheduled at specific times, then yes, a plan is a necessity. However, if you just want to see what you can of WDW and take some great pictures, a plan may not be a necessity.

I would however check out the park hours in advance. Look at what rides or shows are in each park that you would like to do or see and take note of these. I'd check out the restaurants to see which ones will be okay for you.

I'm not sure you need a "plan" but you at least need a good "idea" of what you're going to do.

Oh, and a lot has changed since 1991.

 

[cbg1027]

The last time I went to Disney was in my senior year of High School way back in 1991. Has anything changed since then?

This is my first "vacation" (not including unemployment time) in 8 years and I decided to take a solo photography trip to "the happiest place on earth" from 11/25 until 12/2

1) I booked my hotel at CBR through Expedia to save a lot of money. Will I be able to get a meal plan when I arrive? I'm not sure, but I highly doubt it.

2) My flight lands at midnight. Should I take the DME or get a taxi? Can I even take the DME since I did not sign up through the Disney website. Again, don't know for sure, but I doubt it. Plan on a taxi.

3) In 1991, we would just eat when we wanted. I keep seeing posts about making reservations. Do I need to make reservations to eat? If you want to eat at Table service places, 90% of the time you will need a reservation. You can make them www.disneyworld.com

4) I am lactose intolerant, and try to be as gluten free as possible. Are there any specific restaurants that cater to this? Any vegan, vegetarian, or other health conscious options at Disney? (Last time I went, I could eat anything) No specific restaurants, but Disney is pretty good about working with dietary restrictions. You might be too close to your trip dates, but they can send you a form you fill out and return detailing your restrictions that they then forward to any restaurants you have reservations at. Or just ask to speak to a chef when you go, they can usually accomodate lactose-intolerance pretty easily without advance notice. I just went with my Grandma who is the same way and we didn't really have any issues. The servers are genereally knowledgeable about the ingredients and when they're not sure the chef can answer.

5) How long would it take me to get from MK to CBR and back to MK? Same with Epcot to CBR to Epcot? I am trying to figure out if I can leave the camera equipment back at the hotel and get it later in the day (I want to take night shots) or whether I should get a locker at the parks and store it there. It would save quite a lot of time to rent a locker. MK-CBR will probably take at least a 2 hour chunk out of your day, round trip, if you're relying on Disney transportation. CBR - Epcot you could do in less. It's not so much the actual travel time between the locations, it's when the bus comes, which is every 20-30 minutes.

6) As a solo traveler, should I do Ridemax, or TGM, or is it easier to navigate the park as a solo? I dont have experience with RideMax or TGM, but I highly recommend www.touringplans.com and/or the Unofficial Guide to WDW.

7) If you are solo, do they let you ride the rides alone, or do they pair you up with someone? Either could happen.

8) Anyone visiting from 11/25-12/2 that would want to meet for lunch?

9) My initial intention was to just wing it, but then I started reading this site, and it seems like I need to plan everything out. You don't need to plan EVERYTHING. But I would make reservations for any Table service meals you want. If you don't want to follow an actual plan, touringplans.com has a recommended attraction times list.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

P.S. Is it better to post this in a different forum. Some questions are about solo, but it's mostly general questions. You might get more responses if you post this in the Theme Park Attractions and Strategies forum

Have a good trip!

 

[FozzieFan]

1) I've never booked through Expedia, but I know that the dining plan has to be purchased in advance for all guests. I'm guessing you have a room only rate, which means no dining plan.

2) Again I don't know how you would sign up for Magical express, but if you can use it, it's always a good option. At that time you'll need to get your own bags, and I'm sure you won't have to wait long for a bus because they won't have many people coming in.

3) Yes and no. If you NEED to eat at a certain restaurant try to get a reservation now. If you're ok winging it, when you get to the park in the morning go directly to guest relations and see what they have available for dining reservations. They normally have a few options. You may have to be creative in terms of times and you may not get the most popular places but you'll get in somewhere.

4) The sit down restaurants will absolutely be able to help you. The counter service restaurants should be able to answer simple questions such as if an item contains milk. They absolutely have vegetarian options at most counter service restaurants. I loved the veggie wrap I got at Starring Rolls in DHS and you can't go wrong at the Tangerine Cafe in Morocco.

5) When you're depending on Disney Transportation travel times can vary greatly. I'd say MK to CBR you could do in an hour (15 min wait for the bus, 10 min drive, 15 min wait, 10 min drive, 10 minutes to get your stuff). Epcot to CBR would be 45.

6) I've been on one solo trip. I'm going again in December. I used unofficial guide when I went the first time and beyond their best park picks I didn't really use it beyond that. I find that you can get SO MUCH more done as a solo traveler because you only have to answer to yourself. Because you haven't been there in a while and A LOT has changed, I would suggest you at least take a look at something before you go.

7) Sometimes you ride alone (Mansion, Buzz) sometimes you don't (Pirates, GMR, RNRC) I like that though you get to meet lots of people... and single rider lines really cut down on your wait time on rides where they exist.

8) Depends, what's for lunch? I'll be in the World from 12-1 to 12-4

9) You don't need to plan EVERYTHING if that's not your personality. It's so NOT my personality and I've survived a few trips. If you want to do table service, that does need to be thought about, but there are ways to wing it if you're willing to be ok with not eating at character meals and the favorites. I also tend to have a basic plan of which park I want to start with on each day, if I find that I'm done early or it's crowded and I want to hop, that's the joy of being there solo !!!

I hope you have a GREAT TRIP

 

[diputs]

Thanks for the comments

 

[tigz9299]

I'm doing a solo on the 26th and 27th,,do them frequently....

 

[tigz9299]

Are you m/f..how old..??? I'm 53/married..a frequent solo visitor to WDW,,I am always looking for some company.got all day Friday available..big fan of Casey's for lunch...actually,it's the 1st thing I do when I go to the Magic Kingdom...