New here(not to Disney) Going to Ireland

[JudyWI]

Hello!

New to this forum. Please forgive and correct me if I've done something wrong.
I tried to wade through FAQ's...
Although I've been to WDW about 10 times, I just now discovered this
AbD board!

Going on the Emerald Isle trip in early Sept.
Reading the posts about it and all the other destinations has me planning and calculating for further adventures!

Hopefully, I will learn my way around these boards and be able to offer tips and reports myself soon!

Judy in Wisconsin

 

[inkkognito]

Welcome! I am new here myself (new to the ADB board, although not to DIS). I share your excitement as we just booked the Hollywood/Disneyland ABD for April. Please stick around and share a trip report when you return. There are so few reports on ABD trips...it has been so hard to find info!

 

[stenogoddess]

I just wanted to say welcome to the Dis. And also please post a trip report! I want to book the London/Paris trip and am desperate for more ABD info in general. Who know, Ireland may be in my future one day too.

Hey Barb, cheating on DCL? You better do a trippie too. I was pulling for the trip you're going on, but DH wants London/Paris with a side to Disneyland Paris. Who can argue with that, right?!

 

[InstImpres]

Welcome! I am new here myself (new to the ADB board, although not to DIS). I share your excitement as we just booked the Hollywood/Disneyland ABD for April.

What date are you going? I am looking at this trip too. (The first one offered)

 

[minniebeth]

Welcome!
You will enjoy the DisBoard!
I would SOOO love to hear about your trip!
We would love to do this one to Ireland with our family, but would love to hear all about it first!!!
Enjoy!

 

[inkkognito]

What date are you going? I am looking at this trip too. (The first one offered)

Cool! Us too...same date! (April 8). Hopefully we will see you there.

 

[ppiew]

We did the London/Paris with addon to DLP last year. It was great! You will not be disappointed. Somewhere on here is a trip report I wrote, I don't think the trip has changed much so if it is helpful please use it. We are going on Imperial Cities on August 23 and I am very excited!

 

[Greenday]

Hi there,

You will have a great time - but then again I'm biased!

Being a local, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have about the best place on earth (WDW coming a close second). LOL.

 

[JudyWI]

Hello,
Thanks for offering yourself to answer questions.
I'm so looking forward to getting to Ireland!
My question is just a general one...
Any idea how much we should budget for the
meals we do have to get on our own?

We are coming to Dublin a day early so we figured somewhere between 6 and ten meals for the whole ABD trip. Lunches and dinners. Neither of us are big eaters and we can't drink alchohol so no need to consider the price of a pint or a cup of Irish Coffee... (I wish it were a possibility, but sadly, not ).

Thanks for any rough idea you may have regarding food budget.
Regards, JudyWI

 

[inkkognito]

Greenday, we're not doing the Irish ABD (at least not yet...hoping to in 2009), but we have a layover in the Dublin airport this weekend on our way to Barcelona for the Disney repositioning cruise. Any tips/hints/suggestions?

 

[Greenday]

Hi Judy,

It really depends on what and where you intend on eating!

A good guide to what food etc costs in good restaurants is www.menupages.ie there you can read reviews of restaurants in certain locations, types of cuisines and get a good idea of price. You can save a good deal by going out to dinner on an Early Bird menu, and you can expect to pay between €20 - €25 for a good early bird menu with 3 courses. Early birds tend to be between 5 - 7pm Monday through Thursday.

If you would like to give me an idea of the general area you will be staying in, i'll do my best to recommend a restaurant nearby and/or a good location to visit. I see you're staying in Dublin at the start of your ABD, are you going straight to the Westin Hotel or are you staying elsewhere first?

InkKognito -
As you arrive for your layby, we'll be departing to WDW!!!!
How long is your layby? If it's longer than 5 hours, I may have just the thing for you to do!

 

[inkkognito]

Greenday, just checked our schedule...only two hours and VERY early in the morning (5 a.m. to 7 a.m.).

Have a safe journey to my part of the world...we live literally next door to WDW in Celebration, Florida! If you happen to have a car, I recommend a drive over here if you need some "down time." We have some restaurants, a run-through fountain for the kids, movie theater, and rockers where you can relax in front of the lake with a coffee from Starbucks or a spot of tea from Sherlock's. Have a great visit!!!!

 

[MJGirl]

Welcome! I am new here myself (new to the ADB board, although not to DIS). I share your excitement as we just booked the Hollywood/Disneyland ABD for April. Please stick around and share a trip report when you return. There are so few reports on ABD trips...it has been so hard to find info!

What date are you going? I am looking at this trip too. (The first one offered)

Okay folks, I'm looking at the Hollywood/Backstage Magic tour on August 12, right before the Westbound Panama Repo cruise. I expect detailed trip reports from the both of you!

 

[Greenday]

Well Ink I think you will have your hands full so.

If it's only 2 hours, you will only have time to go through duty-free before you get back on your flight. For a full list of all the duty-free stores and the specials that are on offer go to http://www.airportshopping.ie/retail/store/dutyfree.asp?airportid=dublin

Celebration is a lovely part of Florida, you are so lucky. This is our second trip, so I just can't wait - we've hired a car of course so will do a good bit of travelling around.

 

[JudyWI]

Greenday, thanks so much for the menu site!
It will be of great help.

Yes, we are headed to the Westin for that first day. Keeping it simple.
We will be exploring that area of the city while we adjust to the time difference. I think we found a couple of possiblities already from your menu list and our maps!

Hope you have a grand time at WDW! Pish... what am I saying? Of course you will!

 

[Greenday]

The Westin is a lovely hotel. Really centrally located & the rooms are gorgeous. You're right beside Trinity College. If it's not on your ABD itinerary, make sure you drop in to see the Book of Kells, and also take a look at the architecture in Trinity. It's an amazing place and there is loads to see in there.

The good thing about being so centrally located is that there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. And of course if you get homesick, there is a Starbucks just 3 mins walk around the corner.

Glad to hear that website was of some help to you!

 

[Tig-girl]

Greenday, pleased to meet you. I wandered over here to this thread because DH are planning our first trip to Ireland next year. I couldn't be more excited as I have always wanted to go, being 1/2 Irish It'll be just the two of us coming, and I'm not sure about the Dis Adventure because DH is dead set against a "tour", where you are on a strict schedule. He wants to rent a car and drive around on our own. My problem is I'm just not sure where we want to go! Is it an easy drive around the west coast, and is there much to see? My dream is the sheep crossing the road, the thatched roof cottages, the pubs, the people, the old castles..........that's what I want to see. Any suggestions you can give would be greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoy your trip to WDW! We have 29 days to go.

 

[Greenday]

Hi guys!

Just back from WDW, arrived in Dublin Airport at 5am this morning so I'm a bit zonked. I promise I will post back later with information on a self guided tour & tips/good websites etc.

TTUL8R!!!!!

 

[bekkiz]

Not Greenday But my DH and I did a self guided tour in April of 2006. We found it quite easy to drive around, and really liked the idea of seeing things at our own pace.

Here was our basic itenerary

Day 1: arrive in Dublin early in the morning, picked up the rental, checked into the hotel (Bewley's Ballsbridge) and rode around on the Hop On/Hop Off bus all day

Day 2: Visited Brú na Bóinne (ancient Irish sites), the Hill of Tara and countryside. Stopped at Guiness Storehouse on the way back to the hotel

Day 3: Checked out, drove to Powerscourt Esate (probably one of my favorite places we visited), drove through the Wicklow Mts, ended up in Kilkenny and stayed the night there

Day 4: Drove to the Rock of Cashel, drove to Kenmare to stay the night

Day 5: Drove the Ring of Kerry, overnight back in Kenmare

Day 6: Drove to Dingle and toured the Dingle Penninsula, stayed overnight in Dingle

Day 7: Drove to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, stayed the night in Ennis

Day 8: Departed from the Shannon airport mid morning for home

I'm happy to give any more detail or hotel recs, if needed, but I felt like this was a very doable plan even for two people not used to driving on the wrong side of the road I felt like we got a good variety of scenery. It was just wonderful!

 

[Tig-girl]

Not Greenday But my DH and I did a self guided tour in April of 2006. We found it quite easy to drive around, and really liked the idea of seeing things at our own pace.

Here was our basic itenerary

Day 1: arrive in Dublin early in the morning, picked up the rental, checked into the hotel (Bewley's Ballsbridge) and rode around on the Hop On/Hop Off bus all day

Day 2: Visited Brú na Bóinne (ancient Irish sites), the Hill of Tara and countryside. Stopped at Guiness Storehouse on the way back to the hotel

Day 3: Checked out, drove to Powerscourt Esate (probably one of my favorite places we visited), drove through the Wicklow Mts, ended up in Kilkenny and stayed the night there

Day 4: Drove to the Rock of Cashel, drove to Kenmare to stay the night

Day 5: Drove the Ring of Kerry, overnight back in Kenmare

Day 6: Drove to Dingle and toured the Dingle Penninsula, stayed overnight in Dingle

Day 7: Drove to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, stayed the night in Ennis

Day 8: Departed from the Shannon airport mid morning for home

I'm happy to give any more detail or hotel recs, if needed, but I felt like this was a very doable plan even for two people not used to driving on the wrong side of the road I felt like we got a good variety of scenery. It was just wonderful!

Wow...sounds like you did ok driving around yourselves! What month did you go, and did you find it hard to decide where to stay each time you drove somewhere new, or did you already have reservations in various places? Was the cost reasonable? I'd probably have a million questions I could bug you with!