If You Only Had ONE Visit to WDW, What Would You Do?

[Escape2Disney]

Hi WDW DISers!

Here's a short background on my question. We go to DLR at least once a year, and I have always wanted to go to WDW. Because of significant health issues, I'm not able to fly more than 2 hours a day, so getting there became a challenge. My awesome youngest daughter has talked me into a bucket-list road trip in the Spring of 2016, with the main goal being 7 days in WDW!

This will likely be my one and only WDW trip.


If one of your friends was a DLR vet and were going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to WDW, how would you suggest they spend their time? What are the special little things that most people miss? Which rides would you suggest to skip?

Keep in mind, I can only ride what a toddler can, so thrill rides are out.

Thanks in advance!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Take some time to just sit and enjoy being there, looking at the castle.
Book a pre park opening breakfast at MK.
Don't be afraid to meet Mickey or a princess!
Wear mouse ears, at least for a little while.
Eat in Cinderella's Castle. If not for the food, just the experience.
Ride it's a small world.
Ride Dumbo
Watch wishes. (my favorite was watching it through the tomorrowland terrace dessert party and on a boat)
If in budget, get a private wishes cruise. Watching wishes from the water on a private boat is really just breathtaking ~$300 though. Worthwhile splurge.
Do a character meal.
If you are into Disney history, look into a keys to the kingdom tour.
Make sure to do Kilimanjaro safari in AK.
Get to at least one MK rope drop to see the show.
Most of all don't rush, and just enjoy the magic!

 

[garjanjones]

Experience a dessert party

 

[DVCcurious]

Only one trip to WDW and you've done a ton at DLR?

My advice is to do the things at WDW you can't do at DLR. I'd spend very little time at MK, maybe just one day, two at the most. I'd probably do one full day and one evening.

Here's what I'd do at each of the parks and outside the parks:

Epcot: Spend two days here, one day really focus on World Showcase and the other day you can hit up everything in future world. There's a ton of stuff to do in The Seas pavillion, there's the Land Pavillion, and plenty of other stuff in Future World. World Showcase make sure to hit up all of the countries. This will take you a full day (they open at 11 and close at 9 and you should spend the entire day). Use a FP+ on Illuminations one night, then watch illuminations from another place around the lake for a different experience.

Hollywood studios: You probably need just a day here, especially since the main attractions are thrill rides you won't do. Watch the stage shows and enjoy the scenery but this is the lowest-value area for you (since you won't ride the three main rides there's not a heck of a lot to do here).

Animal Kingdom: Do one full day and then a second day where you leave about 5:00 PM and head to MK for the evening. Go to Rafiki's planet watch and pet the animals. Maybe watch a veterinarian perform a check up on an animal. Walk the trails and check out the Tigers, bats, and gorillas. Watch Flights of Wonder and Nemo and Lion King. Ride Kilimanjaro Safari's right at park open and then near park close to get a different experience. Mostly, just walk around and enjoy everything. Animal Kingdom has the most to offer from a "walking around and checking things out" perspective. It's my favorite park because it's just so unique and enjoyable/low stress.

Magic Kingdom: The park feels much more spacious than DLR, because it's like twice the size of DLR. It also has like 30% fewer rides. So twice the size with fewer rides....you'll be shocked how wide open it feels. You can ride the main rides to see the differences (peter pan WDW vs peter pan DLR etc). If you want to see characters you have to get in line at WDW. It's not like DLR where Mickey will just be walking around. If you want to see the characters you have to find where they are and get in line, it's a lot different. I'd focus on the real differences, like the parade and wishes. One night watch wishes from main street, then the next night watch wishes from the Polynesian beach.

Outside the parks: spend one evening watching Wishes and the water pageant from the Polynesian beach. It will be well worth it. Take a boat from MK over to the Wilderness Lodge and check out how awesome the resort is. Take the boat from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and get off at Beach Club and check out Beach Club and Boardwalk.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

AS DLR vets who love WDW too, our advice would be as follows:

1. Don't over emphasize MK: It is so similar to DL, yet strangely different, so while it is a must visit, it might not be your favorite park at first and you might feel out of place there if you are used to DL. Just go with it, and appreciate the shear size of it all.

2. Do focus on what's unique: For us, this means we focus on Epcot, and World Showcase in particular. There's nothing else like it anywhere, except for maybe touring the world to see bits of each country. Don't spend a long time in line for a ride that is similar (or identical) to one you can experience in CA. Animal Kingdom is amazingly unique as well.

3. WDW includes the Resorts: For us, the time at WDW but outside of the parks is a huge part of the trip. We love exploring the different resorts and are amazed at how we can spend so much time there and never leave the "Disney bubble".

4. Embrace the transportation: Instead of viewing the transportation as the quickest way to get from one place to another, enjoy the trip, and consider making stops along the way. This is a foreign concept at DL, but at WDW you have so far to go that you may travel by monorail, boat, and bus in one trip. Stop and enjoy parts of WDW along the way. Learn the transportation options before you go so you know how to travel across the world.

5. Go for the Food: Eating at WDW is one of the major reasons we go there. There are so many great restaurant options that really are a big part of the experience for us, much more so than at DLR. It is worth going to a different hotel or theme park just to go to a special restaurant, and it is worth making reservations for them since a lot of other people have the same idea.

6. Realize you can't do it all: Especially in 7 days, you just won't be able so see and do everything. Pick your favorites, enjoy the down time, and don't try to cram too much in.

 

[TuneTownMagic]

OP, I really hope this will be a special and magical and memorable trip for you, something you will remember forever!

I would suggest doing something unique that you couldn't do at DLR, such as watching the MK fireworks from California Grill at the Contemporary resort (you can see it through the windows, that resort is right near MK) or doing a special tour if you can and are interested. I would make sure not to miss Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios, and Spaceship Earth at Epcot (my personal favorite!). The World Showcase is also going to be something very unique to WDW.

 

[ktlm]

Go to Allears.net and get in the dining section and look at all the menus and see what appeals to you. Biergarten at Epcot is our must do- there is a German band that puts on a show several times a day. It is a fun atmosphere. It is a German buffet and we always enjoy the food and desserts there. We go to both WDW and DL. We love DL and the only thing we really really miss while at DL is EPCOT, and especially the world showcase side. I would spend the time to take it all in.

I will say that compared to DL, WDW is huge. I would highly recommend renting an ECV for the week. There are places there (my in-laws got one from Walker Mobility), that will deliver them to your resort at the time you arrive, and come pick them up the day you leave. You can rent in the parks, but then you have to wait in line every morning, it isn't guaranteed you will get one as it is first come first served, and if you need it to get to and from transporation areas or around the resort you won't have it. I think it is better to rent for the week.

We love Philharmagic in the MK in Fantasyland. It is a very cute 3-d movie with a ton of Disney characters.

Hollywood Studios is very show heavy so it is a nice relaxing day. There is the Beauty and the Beast show, Little Mermaid Show, Indiana Jones Stunt Show and more. The Great Movie Ride is different than anything they have at DL, and it is tame enough ride-wise for you do do it.

I wouldn't go out of my way to go to DTD, as unlike DL where it is right there, it is about a 20-25 minute bus ride from a lot of places at WDW...but they are redoing some of it, so that may change by the time of your trip.

 

[WDIFanBoy]

It might sound weird, but I would totally have the best time just watching all the guests have a good time.

There's a story about one time when Walt was walking around Disneyland with one of his top Imagineers, and they were talking a lot about issues with the park when he suddenly stopped and looked around and smiled. The person he was with asked him what it was that made him smile. He replied, "Did you ever see so many people having so much fun in one place?" His dream had become a reality.

 

[Kristina4109]

Don't miss Wishes. I personally prefer the show "Remember...Dreams Come True" but Cinderella Castle is an absolute beauty at night, IMHO a lot more elegant than Sleeping Beauty's.

Stay on the monorail loop. If this is going to be the only trip, DO IT.

Snack your way around the world at World Showcase. Really amazing food at Les Halles in the France pavilion in particular.

Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage is a wonderful show at the Studios.

If it's open during your trip, Festival of the Lion King is not to be missed at AK. Same thing with Finding Nemo: The Musical.

 

[Asnell]

See the parades -- this may be a good use of some of your FP+, since you won't be going for the thrill rides.

Watch the water pageant one night from a beach in front of one of the MK area resorts.

Definitely stay onsite if you can afford it; the monorail area resorts and the Epcot area resorts are both very convenient to some of the parks -- it's lovely to take a monorail or boat instead of a bus to the park. (If you can't fly long distances and will never get to visit Hawaii, I would normally give a strong recommendation for staying at the Polynesian, but depending on the timing of your trip you may be impacted by the major construction they are doing. Check your dates against the construction timetable.)

Look into character dining or special event dining (like Hoop De Doo Revue or the luau.

Have a magical time!

 

[bek]

The most magical memories for me are the ones I stumble across.

During a Food & Wine festival, I ducked into the American Pavilion to get out of the rain. The Liberty Singers started a performance and they've become one of my must visits every time.

Another time my husband and I took our Main Street Starbucks outside around the corner. While we sipped our coffee, we heard the dance studio. It's now one of my favorite places to sit and drink coffee.

I think find a place to sit. Then wait to see what unfolds. If you're open to subtle magic, there's lots that will find you.

 

[Escape2Disney]

Thanks for all of the great replies! My notes are in red...

Take some time to just sit and enjoy being there, looking at the castle.

I can't wait to see the larger castle! I'm sure photos don't do it justice!

Book a pre park opening breakfast at MK.

I do this every trip to DLR at Plaza Inn. Is the one you're talking about a character meal?

Don't be afraid to meet Mickey or a princess!
Wear mouse ears, at least for a little while.

Characters and mouse ears are a MUST! I'll never be too old for either!

Eat in Cinderella's Castle. If not for the food, just the experience.

Which restaurant is in the castle?

Ride it's a small world.
Ride Dumbo

Are these different at WDW? I hear the queue is expanded at Dumbo.

Watch wishes. (my favorite was watching it through the tomorrowland terrace dessert party and on a boat)
If in budget, get a private wishes cruise. Watching wishes from the water on a private boat is really just breathtaking ~$300 though. Worthwhile splurge.

I like this suggestion! I think the cruise is out of our budget, but can you tell me more about the dessert party?

Do a character meal.

I was checking out the options for character meals. We'll likely only do two (because of the budget). Which would you suggest?

If you are into Disney history, look into a keys to the kingdom tour.

Ooohh, that sounds promising! Do you know if it's wheelchair accessible?

Make sure to do Kilimanjaro safari in AK.



Get to at least one MK rope drop to see the show.
Most of all don't rush, and just enjoy the magic!

A rope drop show?? Awesome!

Experience a dessert party

Is this the one at Tomorrowland Terrace mentioned by a PP? Is there more than one?

Only one trip to WDW and you've done a ton at DLR?

Yep! I've always said we'd do WDW "later". Unfortunately by the time I really focused on going, my health took a dive. That's part of the reason for this trip. My daughter convinced me that if we don't do this now, I may never go. The only delay now is saving up the thousands of dollars to pull this road trip off!

My advice is to do the things at WDW you can't do at DLR. I'd spend very little time at MK, maybe just one day, two at the most. I'd probably do one full day and one evening.

Here's what I'd do at each of the parks and outside the parks:

Epcot: Spend two days here, one day really focus on World Showcase and the other day you can hit up everything in future world. There's a ton of stuff to do in The Seas pavillion, there's the Land Pavillion, and plenty of other stuff in Future World. World Showcase make sure to hit up all of the countries. This will take you a full day (they open at 11 and close at 9 and you should spend the entire day). Use a FP+ on Illuminations one night, then watch illuminations from another place around the lake for a different experience.

Epcot is a huge draw for us! I'm not sure I could physically do a full day, so we may turn Epcot into a 2 1/2 day thing. I need a long mid-day break, or I'll get pretty sick. Is there anything that's only available mid-day? If not, we might do three mornings and two evenings.

Hollywood studios: You probably need just a day here, especially since the main attractions are thrill rides you won't do. Watch the stage shows and enjoy the scenery but this is the lowest-value area for you (since you won't ride the three main rides there's not a heck of a lot to do here).

I'm all about shows! If there are a lot, I'll probably watch them while DD is riding coasters.

Animal Kingdom: Do one full day and then a second day where you leave about 5:00 PM and head to MK for the evening. Go to Rafiki's planet watch and pet the animals. Maybe watch a veterinarian perform a check up on an animal. Walk the trails and check out the Tigers, bats, and gorillas. Watch Flights of Wonder and Nemo and Lion King. Ride Kilimanjaro Safari's right at park open and then near park close to get a different experience. Mostly, just walk around and enjoy everything. Animal Kingdom has the most to offer from a "walking around and checking things out" perspective. It's my favorite park because it's just so unique and enjoyable/low stress.

This sounds like so much fun!

Magic Kingdom: The park feels much more spacious than DLR, because it's like twice the size of DLR. It also has like 30% fewer rides. So twice the size with fewer rides....you'll be shocked how wide open it feels. You can ride the main rides to see the differences (peter pan WDW vs peter pan DLR etc). If you want to see characters you have to get in line at WDW. It's not like DLR where Mickey will just be walking around. If you want to see the characters you have to find where they are and get in line, it's a lot different. I'd focus on the real differences, like the parade and wishes. One night watch wishes from main street, then the next night watch wishes from the Polynesian beach.

You can watch fireworks from the BEACH! Fantastic! It sounds relaxing. DD is mildly autistic, and really doesn't like the loud "bang" of fireworks. Maybe watching from the beach would be a better option.

Outside the parks: spend one evening watching Wishes and the water pageant from the Polynesian beach. It will be well worth it. Take a boat from MK over to the Wilderness Lodge and check out how awesome the resort is. Take the boat from Epcot to Hollywood Studios and get off at Beach Club and check out Beach Club and Boardwalk.

It sounds like there isn't a shortage of stuff to do!

AS DLR vets who love WDW too, our advice would be as follows:

1. Don't over emphasize MK: It is so similar to DL, yet strangely different, so while it is a must visit, it might not be your favorite park at first and you might feel out of place there if you are used to DL. Just go with it, and appreciate the shear size of it all.

To be honest, I'm a little intimidated by the size of everything. I will just go with it though!

2. Do focus on what's unique: For us, this means we focus on Epcot, and World Showcase in particular. There's nothing else like it anywhere, except for maybe touring the world to see bits of each country. Don't spend a long time in line for a ride that is similar (or identical) to one you can experience in CA. Animal Kingdom is amazingly unique as well.

We've been reading a lot about Epcot. I think this is what we're looking forward to the most. How much time do you usually spend in this park?

3. WDW includes the Resorts: For us, the time at WDW but outside of the parks is a huge part of the trip. We love exploring the different resorts and are amazed at how we can spend so much time there and never leave the "Disney bubble".

We hope to explore the hotels, but are actually staying offsite. A very generous friend is letting us use their condo for a week to cut costs. While I'd love to stay onsite, we couldn't do this trip without cutting a few corners.

4. Embrace the transportation: Instead of viewing the transportation as the quickest way to get from one place to another, enjoy the trip, and consider making stops along the way. This is a foreign concept at DL, but at WDW you have so far to go that you may travel by monorail, boat, and bus in one trip. Stop and enjoy parts of WDW along the way. Learn the transportation options before you go so you know how to travel across the world.

I'm really nervous about the transportation! About a year ago, I read a lot of hateful posts about people in wheelchairs and on scooters on buses. I'll be in my power wheelchair, and would hate to have any animosity.


5. Go for the Food: Eating at WDW is one of the major reasons we go there. There are so many great restaurant options that really are a big part of the experience for us, much more so than at DLR. It is worth going to a different hotel or theme park just to go to a special restaurant, and it is worth making reservations for them since a lot of other people have the same idea.


I'm excited about the food options, and will be reading any and all reviews I can get my hands on! What are some of your favorites?

6. Realize you can't do it all: Especially in 7 days, you just won't be able so see and do everything. Pick your favorites, enjoy the down time, and don't try to cram too much in.

Very, very true! It's weird knowing this will be my only trip. I'm going to have to make some decisions about what to do and what to leave out, then just go with the flow.

OP, I really hope this will be a special and magical and memorable trip for you, something you will remember forever!

Thank you! I hope it will be too!

I would suggest doing something unique that you couldn't do at DLR, such as watching the MK fireworks from California Grill at the Contemporary resort (you can see it through the windows, that resort is right near MK)

Ah! So we can see the fireworks from the beach and from the restaurant? Decisions, decisions!

or doing a special tour if you can and are interested. I would make sure not to miss Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios, and Spaceship Earth at Epcot (my personal favorite!). The World Showcase is also going to be something very unique to WDW.



I'm really interested in the tours! Do you have a favorite?

Go to Allears.net and get in the dining section and look at all the menus and see what appeals to you. Biergarten at Epcot is our must do- there is a German band that puts on a show several times a day. It is a fun atmosphere. It is a German buffet and we always enjoy the food and desserts there. We go to both WDW and DL. We love DL and the only thing we really really miss while at DL is EPCOT, and especially the world showcase side. I would spend the time to take it all in.

I love Allears! We've started looking at the menus, but got a little overwhelmed with the choices. I'm sure we'll go through it a few times before deciding. I can't wait to check out the world showcase!

I will say that compared to DL, WDW is huge. I would highly recommend renting an ECV for the week. There are places there (my in-laws got one from Walker Mobility), that will deliver them to your resort at the time you arrive, and come pick them up the day you leave. You can rent in the parks, but then you have to wait in line every morning, it isn't guaranteed you will get one as it is first come first served, and if you need it to get to and from transporation areas or around the resort you won't have it. I think it is better to rent for the week.


I will have my power wheelchair, but it's good to know who rents them in case something happens with mine.

We love Philharmagic in the MK in Fantasyland. It is a very cute 3-d movie with a ton of Disney characters.

That sounds like fun!

Hollywood Studios is very show heavy so it is a nice relaxing day. There is the Beauty and the Beast show, Little Mermaid Show, Indiana Jones Stunt Show and more. The Great Movie Ride is different than anything they have at DL, and it is tame enough ride-wise for you do do it.

Nice! I'm glad to hear there are so many shows in that park! I'll have to look at the times they are offered to be sure I can fit most of them into the day.

I wouldn't go out of my way to go to DTD, as unlike DL where it is right there, it is about a 20-25 minute bus ride from a lot of places at WDW...but they are redoing some of it, so that may change by the time of your trip.

That's good to hear. I'm perfectly fine with skipping DTD.

It might sound weird, but I would totally have the best time just watching all the guests have a good time.

That's one of my favorite things about DLR too!

There's a story about one time when Walt was walking around Disneyland with one of his top Imagineers, and they were talking a lot about issues with the park when he suddenly stopped and looked around and smiled. The person he was with asked him what it was that made him smile. He replied, "Did you ever see so many people having so much fun in one place?" His dream had become a reality.

It's good he was able to see his impact on the world!

Don't miss Wishes. I personally prefer the show "Remember...Dreams Come True" but Cinderella Castle is an absolute beauty at night, IMHO a lot more elegant than Sleeping Beauty's.

Stay on the monorail loop. If this is going to be the only trip, DO IT.

Unfortunately we'll be staying offsite. It was either that or shorten the trip.

Snack your way around the world at World Showcase. Really amazing food at Les Halles in the France pavilion in particular.

Are there enough healthy snacks and CS locations to eliminate TS locations all together? At DLR, we do primarily TS locations because most everything else is really tough on my tummy. When I picture the WS, I imagine eating a little something from each country. Is that possible?

Beauty and the Beast: Live on Stage is a wonderful show at the Studios.



If it's open during your trip, Festival of the Lion King is not to be missed at AK. Same thing with Finding Nemo: The Musical.

See the parades -- this may be a good use of some of your FP+, since you won't be going for the thrill rides.

Oh wow! There are FP+ options for parades?? How does that work? Are there seats or roped off spots?

Watch the water pageant one night from a beach in front of one of the MK area resorts.

What's the water pageant?

Definitely stay onsite if you can afford it; the monorail area resorts and the Epcot area resorts are both very convenient to some of the parks -- it's lovely to take a monorail or boat instead of a bus to the park. (If you can't fly long distances and will never get to visit Hawaii, I would normally give a strong recommendation for staying at the Polynesian, but depending on the timing of your trip you may be impacted by the major construction they are doing. Check your dates against the construction timetable.)

I wish I could! This trip will take a total of 7 weeks since I have to limit my time in the car as well. That makes for a very expensive adventure! I really wanted at least a week at WDW, so we have to stay offsite to offset the costs.

Look into character dining or special event dining (like Hoop De Doo Revue or the luau.

That sounds like so much fun! I'll look those up!

Have a magical time!

Thanks!!

The most magical memories for me are the ones I stumble across.

During a Food & Wine festival, I ducked into the American Pavilion to get out of the rain. The Liberty Singers started a performance and they've become one of my must visits every time.

Another time my husband and I took our Main Street Starbucks outside around the corner. While we sipped our coffee, we heard the dance studio. It's now one of my favorite places to sit and drink coffee.

I think find a place to sit. Then wait to see what unfolds. If you're open to subtle magic, there's lots that will find you.

That sounds so relaxing and fun!

 

[Asnell]

FP+ can be used for special reserved viewing areas for the parades and fireworks. They usually aren't posted until a few days in advance -- maybe a week. They'll gain you admission to a roped-off area without many people in it, in a prime viewing location. Since you'll be in a wheelchair, it sounds like this may be a perfect viewing option for you to get a really good look at these events.

The water pageant is sort of a floating light parade that makes its way around the Seven Seas Lagoon each night. It's been around forever, so think quaint and sweet rather than an amazing aquatechnic display. ;-)

It passes in front of the beaches of each MK area hotel. The usual schedule is (I think) the Polynesian at 9, Grand Floridian at 9:15, Wilderness Lodge at 9:30 or 9:45, Contemporary at 9:45 or 10. If you're likely to watch the fireworks from outside the park one night, this can be done in combination. For instance, if you're watching fireworks from the beach in front of the Poly, the parade would happen right before or right after (on a 9pm fireworks night; that timing can vary from 8pm to 10pm or more). If the Poly's construction is still happening when you go, you could watch both from the waterfront at the Grand Floridian. Or watch from the 4th floor viewing balcony at the Contemporary, then make your way lakeside for the water pageant.

 

[Escape2Disney]

That's AWESOME! At DLR, the area around the shows can get so congested, it's claustrophobic. It's nice to know the FP+ can be used. Are they allowing FP+ when staying offsite?

The water show sounds like it is cute! We'll be sure to see it in conjunction with the fireworks. Maybe we'll do the luau, followed by the water pageant and fireworks. The luau is at the Polynesian, right?

You all are really helping me to wrap my head around the options! Thanks!

 

[indimom]

EscapeToDisney, make sure you pop over to the DISabilities board so they can advise you on the best places to watch parades. There are quite a few handy stickys you can read for tips and advice.
I know there are designated wheelchair locations and you may not have to use use a FP+ if you watch parades/shows from those locations. There are rules about how many family members can accompany you, but I'm not certain how many people you are traveling with. That board will have all the info you could ever need.
You can also get information on bathrooms, accessible rooms at resorts, first aid in the parks, handling the various transportation options, and other information you may find helpful in planning your trip.

I will second most of what other posters have already said.
I'd spend a minimum of two days at Epcot. This is our favorite park.
AK has always been a full day park for us. Don't miss Festival of the Lion King and the Nemo show. They are both awesome!
DHS is another full day, maybe two. Several good shows and if you don't mind occasional spins with a touch of g-forces as it swings from screen to screen, TSMM is a really fun ride. (I wasn't sure how rough of a ride you can handle?)
Even though it has similarities, I bet you would still enjoy two days at the MK. Lots of tame attractions, new Fantasyland, etc.

Assuming budget is not a major issue, I would schedule some sit-down meals. It's a nice break from the heat and there are some really great restaurants. I've forgotten the name, but we really enjoyed the character meal at the Grand Floridian with the Evil Stepsisters. They were awesome! We also love Boma and eating at the World Showcase in Epcot. Some of the meals are cheaper at lunch and that's the best time to avoid the heat as well. If you do sit-down, make sure you book well in advance.
We usually stop by Downtown Disney a couple times during every trip. We love to window shop.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

To be honest, I'm a little intimidated by the size of everything. I will just go with it though!

Yes, that's the way to go. Realize that WDW is huge and that just means there's more area to explore. Specifically in MK, the size is impressive to see because it is so similar to DL and yet bigger, but as another poster mentioned has fewer rides. It is something to see, but wouldn't be my primary park for you.

We've been reading a lot about Epcot. I think this is what we're looking forward to the most. How much time do you usually spend in this park?

Our trips are different because we park hop quite a bit, but cumulatively we spend a few days of each trip at Epcot. With World Showcase and Future World it really is two parks in one, so I would say 2 days minimum, and you might plan on a third day (or partial day) to fill in what else you want to see.

We hope to explore the hotels, but are actually staying offsite. A very generous friend is letting us use their condo for a week to cut costs. While I'd love to stay onsite, we couldn't do this trip without cutting a few corners.

I understand. While staying onsite is a huge part of the fun for many of us, it can't happen all the time. To make the most of an offsite stay I would emphasize that you are still free to explore the different hotels and ride the Disney Transportation. You can take a break at the resorts without going to a room, many have nice relaxing places to hang out and sit for a bit.

I'm really nervous about the transportation! About a year ago, I read a lot of hateful posts about people in wheelchairs and on scooters on buses. I'll be in my power wheelchair, and would hate to have any animosity.

ECVs are a fact of life in Disney transportation, and most guests have no problem with them. Take your time and you'll get where you need to go, and anyone who has a problem with it is wrong. I don't expect you'll see much animosity, loading ECVs on buses is very common, fast, and efficient.

I'm excited about the food options, and will be reading any and all reviews I can get my hands on! What are some of your favorites?

Mmm, dining recommendations... Some of our best experiences have been with:

Pre Park Opening Breakfast at Crystal Palace This is a character meal buffet with the characters from Winnie The Pooh. We loved getting in before MK opened, and the food and service were really great too.

Yak and Yeti at AK We tried this for the first time last trip and enjoyed it a lot. They have gourmet quality Asian dishes. We did lunch, but dinner looked great too, but AK does close earlier than other parks.

Akershus Princesses in Norway This is another character meal that we really enjoyed, not just because our daughter got to meet multiple princesses, but because the food was excellent. It has a cold buffet first but then you choose your plated meal from a menu, and our entrees were excellent.

Trail's End Buffet at Fort Wilderness This is one of our favorites, although it might be a little out of the way for you there are boats from MK to FW. It has home style BBQ food, and some of the best pork ribs I've had. It is also a good value by Disney standards.

Very, very true! It's weird knowing this will be my only trip. I'm going to have to make some decisions about what to do and what to leave out, then just go with the flow.

Yes, and with some research ahead of time you will see what is worth it to you. Keep in mind it is your vacation, so do whatever you want. I do think it makes sense to not spend a lot of time on the rides that you can see at DL, and there are plenty of unique things to spend time on.

 

[Asnell]

It's nice to know the FP+ can be used. Are they allowing FP+ when staying offsite?

You can definitely use FP+ while staying offsite. The only difference is that on-site guests are able to choose their FP+ at 60 days before their visit, while you will be able to reserve yours 30 days in advance. Still, reports are that FP+ are available for just about everything at that point, as long as you don't have your heart set on meeting Anna & Elsa from Frozen.

Guests staying offsite can make their dining reservations 180 days ahead, as well (onsite guests have a slight advantage in being able to make reservations for the length of their stay, while you will only be able to book 180 days in advance exactly). That means you may not get a table at Be Our Guest or Cinderella's Royal Table, but most other things should have availability, especially if you're flexible on time.

 

[Asnell]

The water show sounds like it is cute! We'll be sure to see it in conjunction with the fireworks. Maybe we'll do the luau, followed by the water pageant and fireworks. The luau is at the Polynesian, right?

Yes, the luau is at the Polynesian, on one side of the resort and near the water. Doing it in conjunction with the fireworks and water pageant sounds like a perfect night.

You can reserve the luau 180 days in advance, just like the rest of your dining.

You also asked if the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party is the one someone mentioned for viewing fireworks, and it is. You go an hour before the fireworks, eat a ton of desserts, and then watch the fireworks show from the terrace. It's expensive for dessert but gets you a nice viewing area and sounds like a fun experience (full disclosure -- I have not done this but am reading up on it in order to decide whether to reserve it for our upcoming trip).

Another dining experience you may want to consider is one of the restaurants at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Boma is their African-inspried buffet, and Sanaa offers a mix of Indian and African food overlooking part of the savannah and animals. Either one would be a unique experience to WDW and unlike anything you've done at DL. In fact, all of AK park will be very new to you -- don't miss the Safari ride if you are able to transfer to the vehicle. It's a toddler-friendly ride, and really unique among Disney's offerings, in that it has real animals, not a programmed animatronic experience.

Good luck with all the planning! I'm sure it will be an amazing trip.

 

[Escape2Disney]

You can definitely use FP+ while staying offsite. The only difference is that on-site guests are able to choose their FP+ at 60 days before their visit, while you will be able to reserve yours 30 days in advance. Still, reports are that FP+ are available for just about everything at that point, as long as you don't have your heart set on meeting Anna & Elsa from Frozen.

Guests staying offsite can make their dining reservations 180 days ahead, as well (onsite guests have a slight advantage in being able to make reservations for the length of their stay, while you will only be able to book 180 days in advance exactly). That means you may not get a table at Be Our Guest or Cinderella's Royal Table, but most other things should have availability, especially if you're flexible on time.

Thankfully, we don't want to see the frozen characters since we can do that at DLR. Thanks for the reservation tips!

Yes, the luau is at the Polynesian, on one side of the resort and near the water. Doing it in conjunction with the fireworks and water pageant sounds like a perfect night.

You can reserve the luau 180 days in advance, just like the rest of your dining.

You also asked if the Tomorrowland Terrace Dessert party is the one someone mentioned for viewing fireworks, and it is. You go an hour before the fireworks, eat a ton of desserts, and then watch the fireworks show from the terrace. It's expensive for dessert but gets you a nice viewing area and sounds like a fun experience (full disclosure -- I have not done this but am reading up on it in order to decide whether to reserve it for our upcoming trip).

Another dining experience you may want to consider is one of the restaurants at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Boma is their African-inspried buffet, and Sanaa offers a mix of Indian and African food overlooking part of the savannah and animals. Either one would be a unique experience to WDW and unlike anything you've done at DL. In fact, all of AK park will be very new to you -- don't miss the Safari ride if you are able to transfer to the vehicle. It's a toddler-friendly ride, and really unique among Disney's offerings, in that it has real animals, not a programmed animatronic experience.

Good luck with all the planning! I'm sure it will be an amazing trip.

Thanks for the clarification about the luau and fireworks on the beach. It sounds like something we could do on our first night before the parks! We will absolutely be choosing either Boma or Sanaa for one of our few TS meals. Looking at the menus, they are right up our alley!

 

[mummabear]

I would recommend:
-Watching Wishes from Poly Beach (also recommend the Wishes Dessert Party)
-Eating at CRT, I know it is a Character meal but it is beautiful and awesome to be in the castle.
-Watching Main St Electrical Parade (you may have already seen it at DL but it would have been awhile)
-Staying on-site
-Characters in flight (DTD)
-Characterpalooza (Check out www.kennythepirate.com)

Have fun