Just Back From 2 Weeks & Major Lesson Learned

[Esmeralda]

Hi everyone! We just got back from 2 magical weeks at WDW (also Universal and Busch Gardens). I'll be posting restaurant reviews on the Restaurants Board and reviews of the Grand Floridian and the Animal Kingdom Lodge on the Resorts Board.

We used early entry every day, went to MNSSHP, hit all the parades and fireworks, & went on about 98% of the attractions at each park.

I worked on this trip for an entire year, so if you have any questions for this compulsive planner, feel free to ask! Even with all the planning, there were changes that came up. Mainly, all due to transportation problems. I had scheduled 30 minutes in transporting to different parks, resort restuarants, Dowtown Disney etc. but practically every time we went ANYwhere it took an hour. We were late to many reservations due to waiting on buses and all the stops along the way. The worst time was when we waited an hour and 5 minutes at The Boardwalk on our way to MNSSHP (along with a horde of other angry, hot, anxious people like us). So, definitely for our next trip I will allow 1 to 1-1/2 hours in the itinerary travel time. (Or take taxis like my mom suggested!)

Anyway, it was a wonderful vacation and I can't wait to go back!

 

[punkin]

Glad to hear you had a good time. Personally, I always rent a car. It makes life much simpler if you have to resort hop. I have a question about ee. Did you find it at all helpful at AK. That's the only one I'm not sure I'll do.

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

I'm so glad to hear that transportation problems didn't ruin your trip. I've sort of adopted the attitude over the years that, hey, it's public transportation, you're gonna wind up waiting for it. In most cases, I've been very, very fortunate. But tehre are the occasions where you wait for a bus which fails to show up, or get on a bus which isn't going where the driver assured you it was. I try to roll with the punches as best I can.

Glad to hear you had a great time. can't wait to read more about your trip on the other boards!

Richard (also a compulsive planner)

 

[Esmeralda]

punkin (that's my dogs nickname, BTW!),
Yes, I definitely think it was worth going early to AK. You can just really feel the crowds in that park. We went straight to the safari and got FastPasses for it (because that's where everyone else headed as well), went on ITTBAB with no line, spent some time with the Pooh characters in the greeting area, caught the Safari with no wait (which by then had a LONG line), and went through the Pangani Forest Exploration, all during that 1st early hour. But we try to do everything at each park, so it's really up to you and what you want to accomplish.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I am NOT a compulsive planner, but I wish I were! I just discovered these boards a few weeks ago and I have learned so much, but I'm in overload now. I hadn't even thought about priority seating and checking which attractions would be closed due to refurbishment. I don't like over planning a vacation, I like to be free, but I'm afraid I'll miss something if I don't plan at all.

I am TWO DAYS til Disney and I haven't made any PS or booked the Fantasmic dinner package. If I book a PS I will feel tied to it and if I change my mind later I will feel bad missing it. I have weird anxieties

I would LOVE to know how you planned your trip to fit all those activities in! How are the crowds right now, I've heard that it's not that bad, then I've heard that it's horribly crowded.

D4D

 

[punkin]

ARF ARF, just call me fido
I read your GF report on the resort board. Sounds great, but we'll be at AKL next month...did you like that as well? We'll be doing sunrise safari so I think we can skip the safari ride (besides I think they give you free FPs to ride it after the sunrise safari).

 

[Esmeralda]

Don't worry, punkin, we also love the AKL! The African theme is great - I'm just a complete Disney nut so I missed the Disney feel. AKL is fantastic with activities (both for kids and adults). They will give you a list when you check-in but it doesn't have times - you have to check the board for that. There's one in the lobby and one downstairs between the 2 restaurants. My dad and I did the Culinary Tour which was really interesting. You get to talk to the chefs and learn about African cuisine and wine. There's activities for kids like bead making, crayon rubbings in the lobby (fun for adults too!) and other crafts. There's also storytelling and night vision goggles.

You will love it there! We got upgraded to a pool view which also ended up having a view of the Savannah. Another thing we loved about the AKL is that all rooms are accessed through one building.

The worst thing about our room is that they've rigged the thermostat to not go below 68 degrees. It was quite warm in the room which made sleeping a little uncomfortable. (I like a cold room so I can snuggle under the covers!)

 

[SamSam]

D4D, If you book a PS and you find it isn't going to work for that day, just call and cancel. I like to make PS's, but I also like to feel free to 'go with the flow' on vacation. If I find that a PS isn't going to work out I just call and cancel so I free up that time slot for someone else. Have a great trip!

 

[LvsTnk]

Sorry to hear about your transportation issues, we seem to use our rental car more and more each trip.

 

[hockey mom]

Did I read on another post that you also went to Universal and if that is the case definetly rent a car next trip. We love the freedom having a vehicle gives us.

 

[antmaril]

We ALWAYS rent a car when we're at WDW. I can't imagine being dependent on a bus - I just want go where I want, when I want - IMHO, of course.

Glad you had a good time!

 

[stink]

How long did it take you to take the monorail at the GF,transfer to EPCOT monorail and be at the EPCOT gate ?

 

[Maxwell]

The boardwalk continued to have terrible bus service. This is not acceptable for a Deluxe Resort!

 

[Lori of the Lodge]

Ducky4Disney:

I leave Saturday morning, so looks like we'll be in "the World" at the same time.

Regarding Priority Seating, I don't like to over-schedule my vacation either but I think you should go ahead and schedule a few PS for any "special" restaurants that you will be disapointed if you miss.

Please, learn from my mistake...
Last year my mother & I looked forward to having afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian, but we didn't know which day we wanted to go, so we figured we'd just "chance it". (I had no idea it was so popular) Well, on the day we decided to resort-hop and finally made it over to the GF the tea was totally booked for the entire afternoon and we were a little disapointed.

This year I made an Afternoon Tea PS for us. If something comes up and we have to cancel, that's fine...but at least we have the opportunity, ya know?

We also have PS for California Grille. We are hoping to time it right and see some fireworks over the castle.

 

[MikeD]

Esmerelda:

I have three kids (11, 7, and 5) and thinking about going to Universal for one day in early December. We usually just do Disney but since kids are older think Universal may be worth the time.

How did you get to Universal from GF?
What do you recommend at Universal?
Is Universal worth the $?

Thanks

 

[Straitlover]

MikeD, if you're only going for one day, I would choose Islands of Adventure over Universal. I went on 10/8, and personally, there wasn't enough there, esp for kids your age, that I thought was worth spending $51+ on. Shrek, Indy and MIB were great, but Jimmy Neutron and Twister were just OK. Granted, I did not go in the Nickelodeon thing, so I can't comment on it. Other than that, I don't remember much for small kids. Spongebob, Dr Suess and all that stuff is at IOA.

I will say, though, that I also enjoyed the Extreme Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice Graveyard shows very much, but I still don't think the day was worth the $51 I paid at AAA for my ticket.

 

[Badger Brent]

We also have gone to the rental car when at WDW. We really find it handy to do downtown area. Those times when someone's not feeling well, the easy access to car is nice. Just depends on how much MORE you want to spend on a already expensive trip!!

 

[Mic]

I have to agree about the bus service from the BWV to MK...it stinks worse than a dead mouse(according to my teen daughters who suggested killing Mickey while waiting for a bus). The first 2 busses that pulled up to the bus stop heading to MK were completely full when they arrived at the BW(having reached capacity at the first 2 stops), and a man waiting with us said he thought the bus drivers were taunting us. I do not have a patient family...if we had relied solely on bus transportation for the entire trip, it would have been ugly! I decided to use the bus on a few occassions when half of our party did EE at MK(or attempted to), and in the evening because I was afraid to move my van out of the itty-bitty parking lot for fear the Illuminations-watching non-BW guests would take all the spots. My daughters once walked to MGM to catch a bus to the Contemporary in order to get to MK in less than an hour.

 

[Curly Q]

Glad you enjoyed yourselves!! How were the AKL busses?

 

[Maxwell]

This is why we always walk to the SWAN to catch our buses. At least we know we will get a seat. I have to laugh when we arrive at the BW and the hordes of people waiting who willnot get on. We used to be those people. NO MORE.