Lurker Finally Posts--Free Dining Tempts

[mousebit]

Though I never post I have been using these boards as my #1 source of good Disney planning info for well over a year now. Two very magical trips and a cruise later I find myself needing your opinions. I promised DGD10 a trip this spring as reward for making honor roll all year, but could not work out our schedules. I originally said NO WAY would I go in August--heat, hurricanes & crowds--NO WAY! Now this free dining comes along & I think... wellll, maaaaybe (with good planning!) My thought is that we could do XMH in am, then late breakfast (she loves this and there are still some characters she'd like to dine with , then afternoons pool & nap, & maybe back to the parks in the evening. Does this sound doable? Any other ideas? THANX!

 

[bicker]

It is surely do-able, but there are some things to keep in mind. First, that time of year, the park hours start getting a little shorter, especially the further you get into the time free dining is offered. You basically either have the big crowds or shorter hours; one or the other. Second, if you really will apply this strategy to avoiding heat and humidity, your time in the parks will be very short, as it often gets hot by mid-morning and stays hot until just before dinnertime.

It all depends on you. I just cannot enjoy myself with the heat and humidity, so applying your strategy I just wouldn't get enough hours in the park to make it worthwhile.

 

[mousebit]

Your advise is always so helpful. I guess it is mostly a personal preference thing, but it certainly is no bargain if we're miserable the whole time and I, too, am not fond of the heat. Trying to decide if we can come up with enough "cool" things to do-pools, water parks, DQ, restaurants, etc.-that we won't miss that time in the parks so much. Anybody got any more "stay cool" ideas?

 

[Lizzybee]

We were there last August and we will be there again this August (both times thanks to free dining). Some tips for the heat that we used are:
1) You got it already, Early EMH, especially at MK. I went to AK once for early EMH and it was insane, but I think maybe because that was the Saturday before Easter and there are few rides open than at MK.
2) The stores towards the front of MK and MGM are connected. So you can walk straight thru in the a/c and without crowds. The "buy me this buy me that" is the a non issue b/c my kids have alloted spending money.
3) The coke stands give free ice water. Some people don't like the taste but we thought it was great and I only drink bottled water at home (maybe the heat made me desparate lol)
4) If it gets too hot/crowded at midday you can try two things...go back to the hotel and swim and come back later around dinner time when it starts to cool a bit or find an indoors place to eat CS's have a/c too. It was also really pleasant to have a lunch ADR or early dinner to sit and relax in the cool for awhile.
5) Many rides have shaded and/or air conditioned lines. When you are hot look for those. Philharmagic, Soarin', Buzz Lightyear, Star Tours and I'm sure plenty of others have indoor a/c lines.
6) Don't push it too far, if you must rest then rest. Don't try to "tough it out" if you are hot, tired, thirsty, meet your needs and/or those of the others with you and then continue on a few minutes behind but much more comfortable.
Good luck and have a blast!

 

[mousebit]

Using your great ideas and a good plan, I think we're going to go for it! Free dining is just too much fun to resist! (Can you tell how much I love to eat? Especially at WDW!) Hey, if we do nothing all week but eat and relax at the pools or water parks--how bad can that be? Now I just need to figure out which CS restaurants have a/c. Anybody know where I can search?

 

[kaybird]

Go for it!

We have been in August many times, with the boys we usually made our TS ADRs for the hottest part of the day. Nothing more relaxing than dining in style in the beautiful air conditioned restaurants. We take our time, and because we are eating anyway, don't feel that we are wasting prime park time. Having used this plan for a long time, we rarely needed to go back to the room. (This has also worked a number of times with rain