Need opinions please, planning a trip with a first timer!

[dlm1017]

Okay, have a short trip planned for end of April, would arrive on Thursday night, so we have a full Fri-Sat and Sun (will fly back Monday after-noon) it will just be us two girls, my step-mom and myself. I figured I would give her a “small” dose of Disney to see how much she likes it (and maybe plan a longer trip for the whole family) So with that said I need some advice...

We will be staying in a studio on my points. What is available right now is OKW, AKV or SSR. Which would you pick? With any that I do pick I will probably waitlist for BWV because I want to be able to walk into Epcot for the garden festival. (She loves gardening so that is one of the main reasons for going this time of year) I have stayed at SSR and AKV, but never at OKW, so if my waitlist does not come through which one would you think a newbie would prefer?

We will definitely be going to Epcot and MK. But I don’t want to overwhelm her so I am not sure if we will do DHS or AK. Do you think we should? Or should we try to do a split day for each? Just to get a taste? Epcot has EMH on Friday and MK on Sunday so that leaves SAT open.

Not sure about adding the dining plan yet, but she is a foodie she will pretty much eat anything but I know she loves fish ( I do not eat seafood) any recommendations for dining?

I am thinking about the behind the seeds tour, any thoughts on this? It is reasonable only 18$ pp and I might get a discount being a DVC member. What about the segway around epcot?

Anything else I am forgetting? Again, I don’t want to overwhelm her but I am so excited to show her what I love about Disney so any help planning for a first timer would be welcome!!

Thank you!
Dana

 

[Kidanifan08]

The OKW studio would be nice, since there are two queen beds. It's a nice laid back resort. The OKW studios are the largest studios of the DVC resorts. The point values are the lowest. There are no elevators, so if climbing stairs will be an issue for either of you, you may want to avoid this resort.

The bus ride from AKV to Epcot is not bad and the buses stop first at Kidani, so they are generally empty when you get on. Sitting on the balcony watching the animals is very entertaining and relaxing. It's a very impressive resort for newbies. The restaurants at the resort are all great. This is our favorite resort, although we loved BLT and are looking forward to BWV next week !!!

We are not big SSR fans, so I don't have an opinion about that resort. I think doing a WL for BWV sounds like a great idea. You would have your best chance doing a WL for a preferred view, rather than standard, since the majority of the rooms are in the preferred view category. Since you can have two WL's, you could do both categories, or do a WL for a studio at another resort.

 

[allshookup]

DH & I just did a short weekend away not long ago & we chose SSR because you have the living area with the couch folded up, but if you'd both rather have a bed, go with OKW. I would chose either one to be close to DTD. That's a great place for a first timer to get a taste of Disney shopping, dining, etc.

I suggest California Grill for a nice dinner & you can go out on the observation deck & watch Wishes. Also afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian is a must do for my DD & I so I'm sure you & your Step-mom would really enjoy it.

We don't normally do the dining plan, but for just a couple of nights we did do the deluxe dining plan & it was soooooo nice since it was just DH & I and we really enjoyed all of our sit down meals. It was a LOT of food, so we wouldn't do it for more than 2 or 3 nights.

 

[crisi]

I'd go with VAKL. I think its a very "wow" resort - something she won't experience anywhere other than Disney. If you stay there, you can skip AK, and MK and Epcot would make a fine first trip.

Flying Fish is excellent for seafood if you don't mind spending a bit more.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Of those 3 resorts, I would also pick AKV because of the animals. Last year DSis & I stayed there for the Flower Show, and we got to see & do everything we wanted to at the F&g show while staying there, and we had the added attraction of the animals!

I've done behind the seeds tour and really enjoyed it, and learned a lot. When I go on the Land ride, I look at things differently than I used to.

Our family enjoys seafood at Fulton's, and someone has already mentioned the Cali Grill. The salmon at Artist Point is especially good, but I think many of Disney's restaurants really do a good job with salmon.

Bobbi