Itinerary Planned Around PS

[aubriee]

I just finished making all my PS for my solo trip in May. The only problem is I'm currently booked at POP, but am trying to rent DVC points. If the DVC points come through, I will need to move my trip either back or forward a day and will be doing a Fri-Sat at POP and Sun-Thurs at BWV. Anyway here's my current itinerary. I'll be eating most breakfasts in my room to save time. I also have the DDE. Alot of PS I know, but I like having my days planned out, plus with the celebration going on in May I feel safer knowing I have PS. I may not (probably won't) keep them all. By the way, you now have to give a credit card guarantee at Akershus' for all three meals(just like CRT) so if I cancel that one or Mama Melrose's I'll have to give 48 hour notice.

What do you think?

Sat. 5/14
Shop DTD
L-Earl of Sandwich
D-6:30pm Bomas

Sun. 5/15
8:30am Sedgway Tour
L-12N Marrakesh
D-6:30pm Biergarten

Mon 5/16
8:30am Backstage Safari Tour
L-Tusker House
D-5pm Rainforest Cafe

Tues 5/17
L-11:30am Le Cellier
D-7:10pm Rose & Crown (patio for Illuminations?)

Wed 5/18
8:30am KTTK Tour
L-Columbia House (included with tour)
D-Pecos Bill

Thurs 5/19
L-12N Sci-Fi
D-4:30pm Mama Melrose Fantasmic Pkg.

Fri 5/20
L-12N House of Blues
D-6:00pm Akershus

Sat 5/21
B-8:25am Crystal Palace
L-2:30pm Tony's Town Square (patio for 3pm parade?)

 

[disney queen]

the 3 behind the scenes tours you have scheduled are awesome!! they are our top 3. enjoy!

 

[dimoe]

You can see the fireworks from mama melrose?
Diane

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You might want to reconsider Restaurant Akershus. Effective April 10 it will have Princesses at all three meals which is why they want a guarantee. Probablt before you leave for WDW there will be reports here and a menu on Debbie's board of what they are changing to. I know there will be changes as I have talked to the General Manager of Akrershus.

 

[henrylovespooh]

The restaurant picks look great, and I have to say that I am so jealous of your trip! I can't wait for my kids to get older so we can do some of the tours. They sound fabulous!

Have a great trip.

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

My DF wants to do the Segway tour on our honeymoon, can you tell me anything about it (cost, length, if we get to ride rides on the tour)?

 

[aubriee]

dimoe-- you can do the Fantasmic Pkg at Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose, or Hollywood Brown Derby. It gets you a free voucher for the reserved seating section in the Fantasmic Theater. We did it at Hollywood & Vine in January. The seats are on the right side of the theater, but it guarantees you seating and saves you having to wait in line for two hours. You wind up on the side where the exit is so when it's over you're the first group out.

Cheshire Figment--At first the CM had a hard time booking Akersus and then said he had tried to book it under the old name and it was no longer called Restaurant Akershus, but Princess Storybook (something). Sorry, I forgot. Anyway, he said with all three meals now having princesses they required a credit card guarantee. He said it was the same restaraunt and the food would be the same, but instead of a buffet everything would be served family style for all three meals. He also said the price would remain $19.99 for dinner with a $10.00/adult deposit being billed to my credit card just like CRT and it had the same 48 hour cancellation policy as CRT.

Future Ashley Dukes--My understanding of the Segway tour is that it lasts two hours and tours start at 8:30 and 9:30 everyday. You spend 45 minutes-1 hour learning to ride it, then two guides take you single file out through the different countries. They take you through obstacles, down hills, and over obstacles and you get about 15 minutes free time at one of the countries to either get off your Segway or to play around on it. Other than the 15 minutes free time you are standing on the segway the whole time. No riding of rides. Bring your camera, because they take pictures of the group as well as individual pictures. It costs $80.00, but with an AP you get it for $68.00. I believe I read somewhere that if you have AAA you can also get a discount. If you're leaving in 85 days you would need to call pretty quick though. The number is 1-407-939-8687. You can book tours up to a year in advance. I booked mine about a month ago. However I called just a few days ago and changed the Segway tour from 9:30 to 8:30 and they still had spots then. They only take ten people for the Segway tour. If using Disney transportation you would need to catch the Character dining bus which picks guests up early at all hotels.

With my AP, I saved $30.45 on the three tours I'm taking. With the meals I've got scheduled the only one I'll have to pay full price at is Pecos Bill's. I've looked at the menus on allearsnet and figured items I would probably eat. Between my AP at House of Blues and Rainforest and the DDE at the others, I should save about $50.00 (and that doesn't include drinks). Not a bad savings for one person and I get to eat at places my son and GD didn't want to try on our January trip.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Cheshire Figment--At first the CM had a hard time booking Akersus and then said he had tried to book it under the old name and it was no longer called Restaurant Akershus, but Princess Storybook (something). Sorry, I forgot. Anyway, he said with all three meals now having princesses they required a credit card guarantee. He said it was the same restaraunt and the food would be the same, but instead of a buffet everything would be served family style for all three meals. He also said the price would remain $19.99 for dinner with a $10.00/adult deposit being billed to my credit card just like CRT and it had the same 48 hour cancellation policy as CRT.

Sorry but the person I talked to has the title of "Area Manager Restaurants" on his business card and is the direct supervisor of Akershus. The current price for the "Princess Storybook Breakfast" is $21.99. He told me lunch would be $2.00 or $3.00 higher than that, and the dinner price had not yet been set but it would be a few dollars more than lunch.

The person at Dining was correct in that there will no longer be a buffet. According to the manager the waiter will bring a "tower" of three plates with appetizers to the table, with refills of all or part as desired. Just as now, you would order small plates of the hot foods from the kitchen in as much variety as you want.

I hate saying this, but according to a friend who works in the Orlando Reservations Center, Disney has four other call centers, three out of state. There is a possibility that you might have gotten someone in Kansas City who may never have even been to WDW.

 

[Tamickey]

I think your itinery looks great, timing and locations look pretty reasonable. We love Sci-Fi & Mama Melrose. Allow some time for RC shop, the animal stuff is great for non-mouse (forgive me Mick) souveniours. Have a great time!

 

[aubriee]

Disney needs to get their act together and let everyone know what's going on. People are supposed to book PS at 90 days out, so we need to know what's available. I told the CM I wasn't interested in the Princesses and even hesitated over booking it. He assured me it was the same food for the same price. I wonder how he knew to charge my credit card for $10.00? Oh well, I would still like to eat there, but if the price goes up too much or the food changes, I'll just cancel. There should be some reviews out before I leave. There are too many other restaraunts in EPCOT to sweat it. We have better Mexican food here in Texas and I'm not interested in Japanese or Chinese. I've heard bad reviews on the Coral Reef. How are the restaraunts in France? Any other suggestions?

 

[aubriee]

I just called to double check what happened re: my Akershus PS. I got a very nice CM who says she does only restaraunt dining and La Nouba seating. She double checked my PS and said she had no idea why the CM yesterday told me he was going to charge my credit card $10.00. She said he may have just been inexperienced. They do require a cc and will charge $10.00 if you don't show up. Anyway she told me they did know the price for the new Princess Dinner and it went from $19.99 to $27.99 effective in April. Since I wasn't really interested in the Princesses anyway and wanted a quiet meal, I just cancelled it. She asked if while I had her on the phone if I wanted to check the rest of my PS to make sure they were right. It's a good thing we did because she found I had two PS for the Rose & Crown on the same night at 7:10 and 7:50. I have no idea where the 7:50 came from, as I had originally asked for 7:30 and was offered just 7:10.

Thanks Cheshire Figment!!!