Looking to create "This Magic Moment"

[LottieDah]

I posted this question on another part of the boards but I think I put it in the wrong place. So I'll try once more with feeling.

We have a trip coming up in November/December and I'm deep into planning. We scored free dining (which is a good value for us since we're staying at Pop) so I was planning to use some of the money we saved to plan one special activity. Keeping in mind that we can't afford anything super extravagant (ie Victoria and Albert's, fireworks cruises, etc), what extra special thing would you plan for a blissfully childless (lol) trip for two?

I've been tossing around all sorts of ideas... Bowling and dinner at Splitsville, dinner and entertainment at Raglan Road, one of the desert parties, Hoop-Dee-Doo... This is our first trip and I'm completely overwhelmed by the endless possibilities.

What have you done that you would recommend over everything else? (aside from the Christmas Party since we're already doing that)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Accident]

Something great that doesn't cost anything but will take an hour or two is seeing the holiday decorations at some resorts. GF, Contemporary both have nice gingerbread displays.. You can then catch the boat from contemporary and check out wilderness lodge which is very decorated every year and has the largest holiday tree. Whispering Canyon is also another unique dining experience to end your decoration crawl with lunch or dinner there.

There is also usually something at boardwalk and yacht club but the monorail + wl is the better choice if there is only time to do one. We usually duck out of MK or epcot and see them while we are in those parks for a break from the park.

When we traveled here, we only did checking out the resorts and the holiday party.. There is a lot of holiday all over the place and just being there is a great feeling and you don't really need to add more. Save the money and use it for something spontaneous.. you'll be at disney, that's really special on it's own...

Hoop-dee-doo is an experience you can't get anywhere else, if you want a longer dinner that's very worth it.

 

[2009CAN]

I would add Memory Maker if you haven't done so. Since you say childless trip, I'm going to ASSume you're going with a significant other. What a nice way to capture a nice trip with tons of nice pictures of the two of you.

 

[agavegirl1]

To echo Accident's post. If you enjoy eating or adult beverages, go for a monorail resort to with a stop for a treat at each of the Deluxe, monorail resorts. The decorations are lovely. Adding a "treat" will add to the cost but you were asking how to spend "saved" money.

 

[RLGNC]

Of the things you mentioned, I've only done Hoop-dee-doo, and I would highly recommend it. It's a really fun show and good dinner!

 

[boomgoesthemickey]

Dinner at boatrights followed up by a carriage ride at por.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Of the choices you mention, I would do Hoop Dee Doo. It's a lot of fun, great food and a great atmosphere. The WDW stables are right next door, so you can walk around and visit the horses as well. You could even combine this with the monorail tour PP mentioned. The decorations at GF in particular are gorgeous.

Raglan Road is a lot of fun as well! You may also want to consider a great meal at bluezoo (our favorite restaurant at WDW), followed by entertainment on the Boardwalk, mini-golf at Fantasia, Atlantic Dance Hall, JellyRolls, etc. - they are all within walking distance of each other and the Boardwalk in the evening is very romantic IMHO.

 

[Tomh]

I've never done the carriage ride at POR, but I did look into it a couple of times. It is a beautiful resort, the carriage ride certainly sounds romantic, and it isn't terribly expensive. Added bonus, after the carriage ride, you could take the boat from POR to Disney Springs, and wander around there, maybe enjoy dinner and a drink.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think I would treat us to an afternoon or evening of resort hopping to see the decorations. You can make that so special by adding a cocktail or two in the lounges along the way. Christmad time is so lovely that I don't think you need to add more to make it magical. I would also consider the candlelight processional if you have space in your dining plans. Again I would make that timeframe special by allocating time just to enjoy the holiday ambiance in Epcot

 

[WeCampDisney]

We have done HDDR many times while staying at the Fort. It is always fantastic. The food is delicious and all you can eat, beer and sangria included. This is the longest running dinner show in America for a reason. Make your reservations as early as possible and get tier one seating and you will be seated near the stage. Also, if you go in late November or in December the campground will be decorated for Christmas . Before or after dinner you can walk the short distance to a nearby camp loop and see the amazing decorations. The folks here go all out decorating their sites with lights, inflatables and more, much of it Disney themed. It is a very unique resort, especially at Christmas or Halloween. Go to YouTube and search Fort Wilderness Christmas. Also know this, you can watch Wishes from the beach here. The sound track is played through speakers along the beach and the boat dock. The best way to get there is by boat from the Magic Kingdom. What a truly magical evening, I am getting excited just telling you about it!

 

[NileNellie]

I'm going to go against the majority here and say skip Hoop de doo. We just went last month and while it was really fun and entertaining, it's more of a big family type place than a couple place. I'd go for the dessert party.

 

[Acedink]

Dinner at boatrights followed up by a carriage ride at por.

I did this with my wife last year. It was a surprise since my parents were taking our daughter for the night. I had a Mears town car pick us up from our resort (roughly $20) and take us to POR. We had the carriage ride around the property, and then took the ferry to Disney Springs, and had dinner at one of the restaurants (we did Paradiso).
If you take Disney transportation to a park and then hop off to the POR bus you could save the cab/towncar fare, and then it would just be the carriage ride and dinner. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Shula]

I'm also voting for a carriage ride at Riverside and then a boat ride to Disney Springs to stroll. Riverside is gorgeous in the evening. One of my favorite sounds in all of Disney World is the clip clop of the horses. I've never done the carriage but have always wanted to.

Have you checked into how much more it would cost to stay at Riverside? We have stayed at All Star Movies and Pop and the difference between value and moderate is well worth it, especially for an adult trip. It's where we stayed the first time we went sans kids and it became our favorite resort with or without the family.

 

[boomgoesthemickey]

I've never done the carriage ride at POR, but I did look into it a couple of times. It is a beautiful resort, the carriage ride certainly sounds romantic, and it isn't terribly expensive. Added bonus, after the carriage ride, you could take the boat from POR to Disney Springs, and wander around there, maybe enjoy dinner and a drink.

it was very romantic we did it right after dusk and remains one of the highlights of our last trip. Its one of the thing that we're going to miss staying at beach club this coming october.

 

[Tomh]

it was very romantic we did it right after dusk and remains one of the highlights of our last trip. Its one of the thing that we're going to miss staying at beach club this coming october.

It is something that is on the list of things to do. Unfortunately, it won't happen for us this upcoming trip in August, as we are staying off site, and don't really have time to go visit POR. Someday in the future we will get to it though!

 

[Sevey13]

I'm doing the Marceline to MK tour next week (OMG MY TRIP IS NEXT WEEK!!!!!) with my mom. We live on opposite sides of the country and meet up in the parks every two years. This will be our third trip together so I wanted to do something extra special this time around. This is shorter than Keys to the Kingdom with less backstage time, which is fine because she's only there for four days and I didn't want the tour to eat too much into park time. Others may have more details, but you get in the park well before rope drop for some photo ops on an empty Main Street, which would be great with the decorations for Christmas when you're there, then some history on Walt and how his ideas and ideals flow through the park, some rides on classic attractions (Carousel of Progress and Haunted Mansion are often mentioned in the reports I've read) before a trip backstage for one of them (HM is the one I hear most often). A nice taste of the backstage area with a mix of history and trivia, very reasonably priced.

We did Hoop-De-Do last time. It was just the two of us and I must have been one of the first to make an ADR, because we were literally the front and center table right in front of the stage. It was a great show, the server was great, tons of food, and we spent about 30-45 minutes wandering around the stables right next door before we started. I'd recommend that to if a tour isn't your forte.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I posted this question on another part of the boards but I think I put it in the wrong place. So I'll try once more with feeling.

We have a trip coming up in November/December and I'm deep into planning. We scored free dining (which is a good value for us since we're staying at Pop) so I was planning to use some of the money we saved to plan one special activity. Keeping in mind that we can't afford anything super extravagant (ie Victoria and Albert's, fireworks cruises, etc), what extra special thing would you plan for a blissfully childless (lol) trip for two?

I've been tossing around all sorts of ideas... Bowling and dinner at Splitsville, dinner and entertainment at Raglan Road, one of the desert parties, Hoop-Dee-Doo... This is our first trip and I'm completely overwhelmed by the endless possibilities.

What have you done that you would recommend over everything else? (aside from the Christmas Party since we're already doing that)

Thanks in advance!

I haven't been, but we will also be there in November/December. One of the things I considered was a carriage ride a FW after dinner at WL (mainly to see their decorations).

It's on the website, you may want to check it out!

I also agree with the Deluxe resort hopping idea. We are staying at CR, but will have breakfast at GF, dinner at WL, and Ohana at Poly (for you I would recommend cocktails at Trader Sam's- adult only at night). I've never been at Christmas time and those resorts all look beautiful!

 

[AngiTN]

Don't know if they'll bring it back now that Osborne Lights are gone but DH and I really enjoyed the Holiday D-Lights tour a couple years ago.
I loved a bit of the behind the scenes info on what is involved in decorating the parks and resorts, at all times of the year, not just Christmas.
But the Osborne Lights were a significant portion of the tour and without them, not sure what they'll do. They could possibly take you around the monorail resorts? Just guessing.
Anyway, if it's there I'd consider it

 

[Robo]

I've been tossing around all sorts of ideas... Hoop-Dee-Doo...!

Hoop!

 

[BebopBaloo]

Carriage ride at POR all the way! Ours was in the rain and it was still so pleasant. I felt bad for the driver though :/ It wasn't raining very hard at least.. Boatwright's is very good. I would request a table toward the back as it is noisier toward the front of the restaurant.