Hydroguy's WDW Guide

[Tyggress]

OMG...I am pulling my hair out trying to find Hydroguy's "WDW Guide for DLR Vets".

I'm contemplating a trip to WDW, and I KNOW I've seen his thread for this over the years, but no matter how much I search, I keep getting directed to threads related to his DLR Guide for WDW Vets.

I AM a DLR vet...I'm completely lost on WDW....anyone have a link to the thread I need; I can't find it.

TIA!

 

[Spyral]

Here we go:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/an-introduction-to-wdw-for-dlr-vets.1332683/#post-16541636

edit: had wrong link

 

[Tyggress]

YAY! Thank you so much!

 

[Rubygoose]

I think he had one, but it's probably pretty outdated. We went to WDW for the first time in March, and here's a few pieces of advice I can give you:

Go in with an open mind - try not to compare the parks (although it will be in the back of your mind.)

WDW involves less walking overall, but you need to factor in a lot of time waiting for buses and other transportation.

Downtown Disney in WDW is HUGE and you can spend the whole day there. When we went it was still under renovation, so it was a big mess.

Do your research on FP+. I think there's a good thread on the WDW side of the boards by someone named Messa Boy (I think. I'll link it here after if I can find it.)

Make sure you have dining reservations or you may get pretty hungry!

Parkhopping isn't easy or necessary in WDW.

Animal Kingdom is a half day park - we were finished with it by about 2pm.

The CMs there don't seem to be as cheerful as the ones in DLR and if the DVC people try to give your kids stickers, just say 'no thanks' because they want to talk to you for 15 minutes and make you miss the bus!

The characters in WDW are a lot more scheduled than at DLR.

 

[Rubygoose]

Here's the FP+ link
http://www.disboards.com/threads/fa...ed-priorities-and-strategies-part-ii.3326057/

 

[Rubygoose]

Here's the thread you were looking for - keep in mind it's 10 years old.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/an-introduction-to-wdw-for-dlr-vets.1332683/#post-16541636

 

[HydroGuy]

Yep pretty outdated. I need to find some time to get it more current. But it will help.

Ignore all advice towards TGM - Tour Guide Mike - as that site has either disappeared or at best is no longer kept updated.

A newer WDW resource is EasyWDW that offers much of what TGM used to offer.

 

[figment_jii]

WDW involves less walking overall, but you need to factor in a lot of time waiting for buses and other transportation.

I don't know about this one...it may seem like less walking, but WDW also involves a lot of walking. For example, if you walk around Epcot's WS, is a little more than a mile. So, the steps can really mount up even in WDW. However, I do agree that you need to factor in a fair amount of time if you're going to rely on WDW transportation. The general rule of thumb is to allow at least 45 minutes per leg of the journey to get anywhere (it allows time in case you just miss the bus/boat/monorail).

Make sure you have dining reservations or you may get pretty hungry!

This I agree with completely. Unlike DLR, having dining reservations at WDW are much more critical. Reservations open 180-days in advance (on-site guests can make reservations for the first 10-days of their trip on that day). It's not uncommon for the most popular locations to be fully booked on the 180-day (or before). For information on foods, check out the Disney Food Blog.

Animal Kingdom is a half day park - we were finished with it by about 2pm.

I think this ones varies by family and group. I like Animal Kingdom and if you go and see all of the shows, attractions, character meet and greets, animal trails, etc., it'll take the full day to see the park. This is a park in transition (like DHS), so there is (currently) a fair amount of construction walls. Hopefully once they get things finished up, it'll be a full day park for more guests.

The characters in WDW are a lot more scheduled than at DLR.

If you family is into meeting characters, it's worth checking out Kenny the Pirate's website. You have to subscribe now to get the detailed information, but you can still get a sense of which characters you're likely to find and where.

 

[Tyggress]

Thank you everyone!
I read through the thread and did note some things that even I am aware are outdated.

I'm sure I'll peruse the WDW boards for advice as I start researching a trip; but honestly, being a DLR vet (several trips in my youth, and now an AP holder in SoCal who does both 1-day trips and 3-4 day vacation trips each year), I might be more interested in other DLR vets' opinions of WDW; you're likely to come from the same frame of reference and perspective as myself with regard to the differences and what to plan for.

The dining scares me...deciding where I want to eat 6 months ahead of time is crazy!

 

[figment_jii]

The dining scares me...deciding where I want to eat 6 months ahead of time is crazy!

I know what you mean! The one thing to note is that dining reservations do sometimes come open as people's plan change and they cancel ADRs. So even if you don't get it on your first try, keep trying until you get what you want. Good luck!

 

[Tyggress]

What are your not-to-be-missed dining adventures @ WDW?

 

[GatorChris]

I would consider myself a WDW vet, though I haven't been there since FP+ was implemented in 2013. Can't help you there. But I'll help you where I can.

Resorts
Definitely stay on-site at WDW. Deluxe's are usually very expensive (like DLH or GCH). I've stayed at all the moderates at once at AllStar Movies. I'll never stay at a Value hotel again after that stay. Mods are really good. Decently priced, much better bus-to-park service than Values, and are very unique in theming. Coronado is my fave (not a bad section there), followed by French Quarter, Caribbean Beach, and Riverside.

Dining
The Dining package is kinda cool to get as it allows you to not worry about price when you go to order. It's a voucher system based on meal, not money. And if they offer the free dining plan, go for that. The DDP gives you a snack, quick service meal, and table service meal for each night you stay. This sounds like a lot of food, but WDW is definitely better than DL in this category. Here's some of my table service favorites that you can get dining reservations for:

MK: Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony's Town Square Italian, Crystal Palace (charter meals with 100 Acre Wood gang)
Epcot: Teppen Edo, Akershus, Le Cellier (2 credits), and Biergarten
Hollywood Studios: Fantasmic Dinner Package at Hollywood&Vine, SciFi Diner (foods OK but experience is cool)
Animal Kingdom: Tusker House for character lunch w/Donald and the 4 others (Flame Tree BBQ is the best quick service meal at WDW)
Contemporary: Chef Mickey's character dinner (get this as soon as possible)

You will feel the Disney bubble at WDW if you stay at a Disney resort. It's just magical all the time. And it's so big, your subliminal mind knows that the big city isn't just on the other side of the gate. The parks are dropped in the middle of Florida forest and grassland, so it really feels like an escape. You'll love it.

 

[figment_jii]

What are your not-to-be-missed dining adventures @ WDW?

When are you going?

WDW has so many wondering dining options, both inside the parks, at the resorts, and in DTD. Like the DLR board, the WDW board has a food photo thread that fun to look at:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-food-pictures-part-v.3261913/

Figment (and I) went to WDW in October of last year (for Epcot's F&W Festival) and wrote up our dining adventures. They're in the food photo thread, starting with this post. These are my favorites...
MK: Liberty Tree Tavern (lunch), BOG (lunch or dinner), or CRT (more for the experience than anything)
Epcot: Le Cellier (lunch or dinner), Via Napoli (lunch or dinner), Rose & Crown (dinner), Les Chefs de France (dinner)
DHS: Sci Fi (lunch or dinner), HBD (lunch or dinner)
AK: Yak & Yeti (lunch or dinner)
DTD: Raglan Road (brunch, lunch, or dinner)
Resorts: 'Ohana (dinner), Boma (breakfast), Narcoossee's (Signature dinner), Flying Fish (Signature Dinner), Artist Point (Signature dinner), California Grill (Signature dinner)

 

[Tyggress]

I'm thinking Fall 2016 or Spring 2017....it's going to be awhile; will probably be a family trip (8 people, 6 adults and 2 kids), so coordination and funds will take some time.

 

[Tyggress]

I would consider myself a WDW vet, though I haven't been there since FP+ was implemented in 2013. Can't help you there. But I'll help you where I can.

Resorts
Definitely stay on-site at WDW. Deluxe's are usually very expensive (like DLH or GCH). I've stayed at all the moderates at once at AllStar Movies. I'll never stay at a Value hotel again after that stay. Mods are really good. Decently priced, much better bus-to-park service than Values, and are very unique in theming. Coronado is my fave (not a bad section there), followed by French Quarter, Caribbean Beach, and Riverside.

Dining
The Dining package is kinda cool to get as it allows you to not worry about price when you go to order. It's a voucher system based on meal, not money. And if they offer the free dining plan, go for that. The DDP gives you a snack, quick service meal, and table service meal for each night you stay. This sounds like a lot of food, but WDW is definitely better than DL in this category. Here's some of my table service favorites that you can get dining reservations for:

MK: Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony's Town Square Italian, Crystal Palace (charter meals with 100 Acre Wood gang)
Epcot: Teppen Edo, Akershus, Le Cellier (2 credits), and Biergarten
Hollywood Studios: Fantasmic Dinner Package at Hollywood&Vine, SciFi Diner (foods OK but experience is cool)
Animal Kingdom: Tusker House for character lunch w/Donald and the 4 others (Flame Tree BBQ is the best quick service meal at WDW)
Contemporary: Chef Mickey's character dinner (get this as soon as possible)

You will feel the Disney bubble at WDW if you stay at a Disney resort. It's just magical all the time. And it's so big, your subliminal mind knows that the big city isn't just on the other side of the gate. The parks are dropped in the middle of Florida forest and grassland, so it really feels like an escape. You'll love it.

Thank you for the tips!
Since we'd be going as a family of 8, with in-laws, we'd likely look for a 2-BR suite at a deluxe and split the cost between the three core families, making it more affordable.
As for Fantasmic!, I would probably skip it based on reviews. I am IN LOVE with the show at DL, and I fear the WDW version would be a disappointment to me; PLUS, I would look to do rides and experiences I can't get at DL.

 

[figment_jii]

I'm thinking Fall 2016 or Spring 2017....it's going to be awhile; will probably be a family trip (8 people, 6 adults and 2 kids), so coordination and funds will take some time.

Oh...if you go in the Fall you can experience Epcot's Food & Wine Festival (usually September to early November) and Halloween at WDW (mid-September through October). WDW has an amazing Halloween Party (Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party), which is a lot of fun (pricey, but fun). If you go in the Spring, you could experience Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival or Star Wars Weekends at DHS (depending on when you go).

As for Fantasmic!, I would probably skip it based on reviews. I am IN LOVE with the show at DL, and I fear the WDW version would be a disappointment to me; PLUS, I would look to do rides and experiences I can't get at DL.

DHS' version has a better seating set up (stadium seating), but I agree that the show at DL is much better (Peter Pan sequence, dragon, Mark Twain!). I would make an effort to see MSEP (the "original" version of the electric light parade), IllumiNations (unique to WDW), and Wishes (although, with the new Disneyland Forever, it makes Wishes less of a priority for me).

It's also worth checking out HydroGuy's DLR Guide for WDW Vets because it talks about some of the rides that are unique to both resorts (Section 7).

 

[Tyggress]

I would make an effort to see MSEP (the "original" version of the electric light parade), IllumiNations (unique to WDW), and Wishes (although, with the new Disneyland Forever, it makes Wishes less of a priority for me).

I LOVED the MSEP when I was a kid and SO miss it! It would definitely be a fun, nostalgic thing for me to see that again!

 

[Winnowill]

We were there for eight days in April, 2014, so we experienced the first version of FP+ (three per day, period, and only in one park). We saw most of the shows and we had the dining plan, so we experienced that, also.

I agree that the DLR version of Fantasmic! is superior, but being able to sit down for it is nice! IllumiNations is terrific. Disneyland Forever kind of puts Wishes to shame, though. Not that Wishes isn't good - nobody does a fireworks show like Disney, period. But Disneyland Forever is just amazing.

 

[HydroGuy]

What are your not-to-be-missed dining adventures @ WDW?

This question has so many equally valid responses. Looks like you have gotten a couple already. My personal thoughts are of course guided by the group I am with which is usually some of my kids (all young men in the teens and early 20') and sometimes my DW.

At MK:
BOG (very hard to get reservations for)

At Epcot: So many good choices! Here are some we especially like:
Le Cellier
Via Napoli
San Angel

At DHS:
Sci-Fi Dine-In (we ALWAYS dine here - one of our few not-to-be-missed)
Brown Derby

At AK:
Rainforest Cafe (my family loves RFC)
Flame Tree BBQ

WDW outside the parks:
Beaches & Cream (we ALWAYS dine here - usually just for ice cream for us - at the BC/YC)
Shula's Steakhouse (at the Dolphin - we just got to try this for the first time in May and we all agreed it was incredible)
Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue (dinner show in FW)
Whispering Canyon (at WL)