October is here!!! A Semi-live TR!!! Our Oct 7-14 trip to the world!

[KathyM2]

Character meals are my favorite. I think the only reason you wouldn't want to do one is if its the same characters again (which it isn't) or if you have a child that could easily become overwhelmed or don't like characters.

Akershus is in the Norway pavilion, so the closest thing to it someone would want to do for RD would be Test Track or Mission Space. I know you said you wouldn't do Mission Space (I wouldn't either).

OK I will have to look at the Epcot map and see what's around to know where we should head for....You're right, 2 character breakfasts might be ok if they are different characters and also the atmosphere is a bit different...I will think about it. The only thing I'm thinking is if we cancelled Cape May we might be able to spend more time at DTD...because if we don't, we'll only have one evening there and part of that will be dinner...not sure that's enough?

Its in Norway So Test Track is closest.

I frankly wouldn't bother to Rope Drop either of these. It seems like quite the waist. I would either shoot for Soarin or Test Track. (If you are worried about motion sickness on soarin just ask for the bottom row. being able to look down at the edge of the screen helps)

That's good to know. I thought that Turtle Talk got crowded quickly though because it's such a small area? Maybe we'll run over to Soarin' asap and then back to Nemo...who knows...Thanks for the tip about the bottom row! I have ridden it before and I do know that it doesn't move that much and if I start getting queasy I just close my eyes for a sec and usually that helps because you realize you aren't really moving much.

 

[pkondz]

In any case I was excited about some of the items I saw on the menu...but...really it's all about the princesses. That's the real reason I wanted this ADR.

Who cares if the food isn't the best ever... Princesses! Hello!
If that's your focus, the food doesn't really matter anyway, right?
(We were just okay with the food.... but I'm more than okay with the wonderful memories and photos I got of the DDs with the Princesses.)

Its in Norway So Test Track is closest.

 

[ariane37]

Congrats on the BOG lunch We've done lunch there once and dinner many times, and are doing dinner again twice in Nov. It's one of our favorite TS's, I'm sure you'll enjoy lunch. Make sure you walk around all the rooms!

 

[kastoney]

Also.. @kastoney I'm a little scared if you have something to say about Akershus...(or was it BOG?). In any case I was excited about some of the items I saw on the menu...but...really it's all about the princesses. That's the real reason I wanted this ADR. I may cancel Cape May if we get that....Not sure if we need 2 character breakfasts.

First thing to know about me is I'm not a fan of character meals in general (insert ridicule here). We've done a few because I thought my daughter would like them, but for her she could care less if we do a meal or traditional meet and greets. And for me, I'm all about the food so mediocre food at high prices just doesn't sit well with me. I'd rather have a good meal at a signature restaurant, for what is usually not much more money.

So that is predominantly why I didn't care for Akershus. When the price was $25 for my four year old and the food nothing special it just didn't sit right with me. On the ladder their potatoes were good, but that was really the only thing I enjoyed. Know I'm in the minority on this one, so don't listen to little old me. Clearly you know you like character meals, so go where the princesses take you ; )

 

[KathyM2]

Who cares if the food isn't the best ever... Princesses! Hello!
If that's your focus, the food doesn't really matter anyway, right?
(We were just okay with the food.... but I'm more than okay with the wonderful memories and photos I got of the DDs with the Princesses.)

Well that's the thing...character meals are more about the characters. And for us, I'm just thinking that a breakfast with guaranteed characters might be better received than either waiting in a long line or using a FP+ for character interactions outside of a restaurant. And of course, the photos...and I that that sometimes the characters seem less rushed at character meals than outside...but who knows.

Congrats on the BOG lunch We've done lunch there once and dinner many times, and are doing dinner again twice in Nov. It's one of our favorite TS's, I'm sure you'll enjoy lunch. Make sure you walk around all the rooms!

Thanks!! We did lunch last time and we loved it. And that was why I was so excited to get it again because I know that DD would want to go back. But I do want to spend more time there looking around this time as well...and of course try the grey stuff lol

First thing to know about me is I'm not a fan of character meals in general (insert ridicule here). We've done a few because I thought my daughter would like them, but for her she could care less if we do a meal or traditional meet and greets. And for me, I'm all about the food so mediocre food at high prices just doesn't sit well with me. I'd rather have a good meal at a signature restaurant, for what is usually not much more money.

So that is predominantly why I didn't care for Akershus. When the price was $25 for my four year old and the food nothing special it just didn't sit right with me. On the ladder their potatoes were good, but that was really the only thing I enjoyed. Know I'm in the minority on this one, so don't listen to little old me. Clearly you know you like character meals, so go where the princesses take you ; )

I know they aren't for everyone and they ARE certainly overpriced. I am just thinking it might be nice to not have to line up to see the characters. I agree though..paying a lot for crap food isn't great either lol. I just know I want to do ONE character meal...just not sure which one it should be...and princesses are the most important to DD..I do like hearing varying opinions though...makes me consider all the options.

 

[KathyM2]

Sadly...it's time for last day...Day 6 - Tuesday October 13th plans - MK

I like the idea of ending the trip with MK since I'm pretty sure even after visiting all four parks (a first for us to do all in one trip) that DD will still like MK best. So I want to have a chance to do anything we haven't yet covered on this trip.

I think the plan on this day will be to eat breakfast at POFQ and then head to the park. I think that whether or not we make RD will depend on how tired we are and how late we stayed at Epcot the night before. I think I will plan our first FP+ for around 10:30 and if we don't make RD it will not be a big deal. DD has seen the welcome show on our last trip...so while it would be fun to see it again, I will probably leave it up to her if she wants to rush to the park for it or not. And also, see how many rides we still hope to get in and if making the park at RD is really necessary. It is hard to feel like it's ever NOT necessary because I know how much more you can get done in that first 1 1/2 hours compared to later in the day...but at the same time...if we are just too exhausted from the trip...not sure how important it is here. Another thing we will sort of have to play by ear I guess.

I don't actually have much of a "plan" yet for this day. Shocking I know lol. The thing is...on this trip, since we have the MNSSHP and also another couple hours on arrival day at MK..in addition to this last day...it's hard to predict what rides we'll have gotten in and what we'll want to do again. Personally I could ride PP over and over and over and never get bored of it...but do I need to FP it every time we go to MK? I don't know....and HM I love...but it doesn't usually need a FP.....so...anyway..I guess I will have a wish list for FP+ for this day...but it all depends what other FP+ times I'm successful in getting the other days we are there...and if we get any rides in on arrival day and during MNSSHP too...so...this is going to be a hard one to plan...

What I DO have planned for this day is...AN ADR for lunch at BOG!! Yaaaayyyyy! So really looking forward to that.

After lunch...we'll see how we feel...if we made RD...then we may be tired and ready for a break after lunch...we may head to the hotel and start packing and then maybe DTD or pool or something in the afternoon...not sure. I also am not sure if I should plan a dinner on this day because I'm not sure where we will be...I may have to wing this one as well.

So there you have it...last day plans....

And really...there isn't going to be much more planning (unless I start second guessing lol) on this PTR because the day after this is sadly...departure day. Our flight leaves around 11am so there won't be any park-ing on that day...probably just a quick breakfast at POFQ before hopping on the ME. (

So I guess now I have to...wait until FP+ booking day in early August....and probably go through my ADR's a million times and make sure I've made the right choices.

I still have a request in with **dining reservation helpful services that is not to be named...to try to get a pre-park opening ADR breakfast at Akershus...but am torn about that one...anyway...I will cross that bridge if I get it.

 

[pkondz]

I don't actually have much of a "plan" yet for this day. Shocking I know lol.

What I DO have planned for this day is...AN ADR for lunch at BOG!!

So I guess now I have to...wait until FP+ booking day in early August....and probably go through my ADR's a million times and make sure I've made the right choices.

Hey! I did an entire commentary with nothing but emojis!
What a time saver.

 

[SarahDisney]

It is hard to feel like it's ever NOT necessary because I know how much more you can get done in that first 1 1/2 hours compared to later in the day...but at the same time...if we are just too exhausted from the trip...not sure how important it is here.

I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm not a big RD person in general (I'd rather show up late and keep going until the park closes, but I know that doesn't work for most people).
Yes, you can get a lot done in those first few hours. But if you're exhausted, you won't enjoy it as much. Definitely play it by ear, see how you feel and how much you have left to do. If you've already done all of the attractions you like and it's just a matter of doing things for a second time, you may not need RD. If you have a lot that you still want to do, you may want to make the effort to do it. It's really a decision you can't make until you're actually there and see how things are going.

I don't actually have much of a "plan" yet for this day. Shocking I know lol. The thing is...on this trip, since we have the MNSSHP and also another couple hours on arrival day at MK..in addition to this last day...it's hard to predict what rides we'll have gotten in and what we'll want to do again.

What, no crazy minute-by-minute plan? How will you survive?
I think that once you've spent a day (or more) at the park, it's hard to plan those additional days. So I totally get not having a plan.
Also, if you make FP+ in advance and then decide you don't need them, you can change them while you're there, either on the app (I don't remember if Canadian smartphones will work in the US) or at the park same-day. We've found decent availability on some of the more popular rides even a day or two before, so if after MNSSHP you realize that you don't need one of your last-day FP+, you can change it and hopefully still get something decent.

What I DO have planned for this day is...AN ADR for lunch at BOG!! Yaaaayyyyy! So really looking forward to that.

Yay! I'm really excited for you. We've never done lunch, but we love dinner, and people seem to enjoy lunch, so I really really hope you guys like it!

I also am not sure if I should plan a dinner on this day because I'm not sure where we will be...I may have to wing this one as well.

You can always make a last-minute ADR. You probably won't be able to get the most popular ADRs, but there definitely are some still available day-of, so if you decide that morning that you want a sit-down dinner, it should be doable.

 

[ursalita]

Just got caught up again! Congrats on the BOG ressie. I have to start googling to find out what *********** is. It will be good to know the next time I'm planning a trip.

I know you've already gotten a lot of good advice about MNSSHP on arrival day. I just thought I'd share that we did this when we went in 2013. I think my reasoning at the time was that we wouldn't have a full day in the park so it made sense to buy the tickets to the party which includes admission to the park rather than pay for a whole park day. We definitely didn't get a lot out of it that day partly because we were tired from traveling but mostly because I didn't do much research beforehand. I think we would have had a similar experience had we done it on another day. Just my 2 cents.

 

[KathyM2]

Hey! I did an entire commentary with nothing but emojis!
What a time saver.

 

[KathyM2]

I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm not a big RD person in general (I'd rather show up late and keep going until the park closes, but I know that doesn't work for most people).
Yes, you can get a lot done in those first few hours. But if you're exhausted, you won't enjoy it as much. Definitely play it by ear, see how you feel and how much you have left to do. If you've already done all of the attractions you like and it's just a matter of doing things for a second time, you may not need RD. If you have a lot that you still want to do, you may want to make the effort to do it. It's really a decision you can't make until you're actually there and see how things are going.

Yup, I think you are right. I will probably put in FP+ for things that we likely would have no problem doing again but if we've already done them we can change or skip them. And you're right, if we are exhausted...we won't enjoy anything so that's kind of important to consider.

What, no crazy minute-by-minute plan? How will you survive?
I think that once you've spent a day (or more) at the park, it's hard to plan those additional days. So I totally get not having a plan.
Also, if you make FP+ in advance and then decide you don't need them, you can change them while you're there, either on the app (I don't remember if Canadian smartphones will work in the US) or at the park same-day. We've found decent availability on some of the more popular rides even a day or two before, so if after MNSSHP you realize that you don't need one of your last-day FP+, you can change it and hopefully still get something decent.

Yeah, Canadian smartphones will indeed work in the US...except we pay through the nose for roaming data fees. A few picture uploads and my phone bill usually ends up well over $100 for that month. So I have to use real restraint to only upload while in wifi - which also, I know there is wifi in some places and in the parks at times...but I found it spotty at best when we were there in March. But yes, if needed, assuming the receptions is ok, I "can" change around FP+ on a whim. That's good to hear that you have gotten some availability only a day or two before. We are planning MNSSHP on day 2, so we would know probably 3 days before our next MK day if we may want to switch things around...so hopefully that will be feasible, and I'd try to do it from wifi.

Yay! I'm really excited for you. We've never done lunch, but we love dinner, and people seem to enjoy lunch, so I really really hope you guys like it!
You can always make a last-minute ADR. You probably won't be able to get the most popular ADRs, but there definitely are some still available day-of, so if you decide that morning that you want a sit-down dinner, it should be doable.

I'm excited too! We actually did get in to BOG lunch on our trip in March so I have had it before...but we liked it so much I knew I definitely wanted to go back...plus I think DD would be dissapointed if she didn't get to see inside the Beast's castle on this trip.

Good point on the last minute ADR idea...I may even have a better idea a day or two before and can see what I can get. I was also thinking we could go to eat at one of the monorail resorts or something as well depending on how long we end up staying in the MK that day.

Just got caught up again! Congrats on the BOG ressie. I have to start googling to find out what *********** is. It will be good to know the next time I'm planning a trip.

I know you've already gotten a lot of good advice about MNSSHP on arrival day. I just thought I'd share that we did this when we went in 2013. I think my reasoning at the time was that we wouldn't have a full day in the park so it made sense to buy the tickets to the party which includes admission to the park rather than pay for a whole park day. We definitely didn't get a lot out of it that day partly because we were tired from traveling but mostly because I didn't do much research beforehand. I think we would have had a similar experience had we done it on another day. Just my 2 cents.

It's Dis*ey Din*ing B*ddy...(hopefully THAT doesn't get me in trouble lol). It has been helpful...though you have to be patient...which...since many of us have our trips planned to the minute 5 months in advance...we Dis'ers clearly are NOT patient lol...so it's hard lol. but...worth it I think.

As for doing MNSSHP on arrival day...yeah I am just thinking I could do without the stress of worrying about delays etc on our flight and stuff affecting our party time. However...I also had a thought that if all goes really smoothly and we get to POFQ extremely earlier than we thought...I wonder if it isn't sold out for that night if they'd let us change it on the spot...that's something to consider. But then I'd have to rethink our plans for the following day...I guess I could always plan a "back up day 2 plan" now lol Because changing our plan on the fly and then having to rethink the next day might totally stress me out on the day of lol.

 

[KatMark]

Somehow I missed this...I'm here now and I'll be back.

 

[KatMark]

Okay...I'm pretty caught up (but doubt I remember everything).

That's too bad about only two flights, but you have to do what you have to do.

I miss you by four days...we arrive on the 18th.

I've never stayed at POFQ...but my best friend, when she does a moderate, loves it.

Your plans sound great so far.

I should be able to stay more caught up now that I found you.

 

[KathyM2]

Somehow I missed this...I'm here now and I'll be back.

No worries!! Nice to have you around!!!

Okay...I'm pretty caught up (but doubt I remember everything).
That's too bad about only two flights, but you have to do what you have to do.
I miss you by four days...we arrive on the 18th.
I've never stayed at POFQ...but my best friend, when she does a moderate, loves it.
Your plans sound great so far.
I should be able to stay more caught up now that I found you.

Yeah...the flight options weren't great. Funnily enough....because of that...I was...for a few minutes...toying with the idea of maybe taking the late night flight the night before...and then staying in a cheap offsite hotel for one night...just to be able to get to WDW earlier? But then there would be no ME...so I'd have to get us from the airport to cheap offsite hotel, then from cheap offsite hotel to POFQ...but I may still do the math and see if it's switchable...etc....just to get one more full day in...

I'm glad your friend likes POFQ...I have heard a lot of good things about it...at least things that "I" consider good...like it's relatively small and quiet...like those.

No worries about staying caught up lol...I find whenever I do "catch up" it's only a matter of minutes before I'm behind again...what can you do...sadly we can't just sit on the DIS 24/7 lol..as fun as that would be

 

[KatMark]

What about a "cheap" room at Disney World and then you could use ME? Perhaps there is a deal and you could get a room at one of the values?

 

[KathyM2]

What about a "cheap" room at Disney World and then you could use ME? Perhaps there is a deal and you could get a room at one of the values?

Now this is why they pay you the big bucks lol...I will look into it...the only thing is I think Free Dining might be on while we are there so not sure if anything is available...but it's might be worth asking...I guess I would price out the cost of a cheap hotel plus a cab from the airport and see if that's still less than a night at a value...they will move your bags for you too, right? Hmmm food for thought.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

It is hard to feel like it's ever NOT necessary because I know how much more you can get done in that first 1 1/2 hours compared to later in the day...but at the same time...if we are just too exhausted from the trip...not sure how important it is here.

I also am not sure if I should plan a dinner on this day because I'm not sure where we will be...I may have to wing this one as well.

There is nothing wrong with Winging it. Especially on your last day.

 

[NJlauren]

I think a little winging it is good for the soul! I would never suggest doing it for a whole trip but for the last day I think its a nice way to end the trip!

 

[kastoney]

Ya know I'm not gonna steer you away from an unplanned day. Sounds like a great approach to me

 

[ariane37]

Nothing wrong with an unplanned day! We always have a couple loosely planned days every trip End up being some of the best ones!