OFFICIAL April 2012 DISers! 2 months and counting!

[auprincess]

All these plans look good!! I have to say, I love coming on the board and seeing so many posts from the April group ~ means our trips are coming up soon!! I am making a plan in my head, but don't have it written out yet. The first 2 days, I'm going against easywdw and touringplans, just because I can't not go to MK on our first day!! It's hard enough that we are going to be there on Saturday (14) and not going to a park. So the 15th we'll be at MK and the 16th at DHS (the girls really enjoy the dance party that is only during evening EMH and we don't have park hoppers). Hopefully it won't be too bad since we will have a plan in place for touring the park (and have a second MK day planned). This is actually the first year I've ever looked at these two sites when planning my days and things have worked out fine, granted, it was a lower crowd season, but I'm really hoping with a good touring plan we'll see what we want to see!!

Oh, and I forgot who posted the list of things to bring...one thing I would add is ziploc bags!

 

[Ikeifer]

Yes that worries me too. Went mainly with Easy WDW.

 

[blackacex2]

My wife and I honeymooned in Disney in 2010, went back in February of 2011 (too cold!), and have a trip planned in April 2012 14-21st for our second anniversary. Probably our last trip for a while since we are planning to get pregnant this year! We are both 26 years old and not foodies and never drink (although we may have a glass of wine just because it's vacation). We are staying offsite at Bonnet Creek (although it's basically on site!)

To do something different we will also be visiting seaworld and universal for a day (never been to either!). Suggestions on where to eat at those parks would be nice. Here is our vacation schedule.

Saturday (arrival day)- O'hana at 8:00 PM for dinner in the Polynesian

Sunday- Seaworld all day (no ADRs yet)

Monday- Breakfast at BOMA 10 AM in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Magic Kingdom Park Day after.

Tuesday- Anniversary Dinner at 8 PM at Bistro de Paris in Epcot. Epcot park day

Wednesday- Garden View Tea Room Grand Floridian at 2 PM. Hollywood Studios Afternoon+ Fantastmic. No ADRs

Thursday- Relax, visit downtown disney. No ADRs planned yet.

Friday- Universal Studios All Day. No ADRs planned yet.

Saturday- Be at MCO by 1 PM to go back to long island.

What would you change or add? What do you think of Bistro for an anniversary dinner? Would LOVE your input on our food choices and vacation schedule!

 

[momtwoboys]

Blackacex2 looks good! When at DTD try out WPE for lunch its very yummy, or if you want sandwiches Earl of Sandwich is good too! We love Ohana too, we are eating there on our MK day. Never done Bistro jealous!!!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I have loved all the resorts we have stayed at except CR. I am not the relaxing type, possibly where younger son gets the ADHD?? BUT AKL is by far the most relaxing places we have ever been too at WDW! I actually sit by the pool and stare at the foliage, and the music that is played OH MY! Try it, you will love it. The down day will now be a 1/2 resort day at AKL, and head to Epcot mid day. I also think Josh's comments, walk around the parks are HILARIOUS! So this is what we have come up with:

April 11th land MCO at 9:14 Lunch at Mara/Pool enjoy resort. Dinner Boma 5pm
April 12th MK L Pecos Bill. Dinner Ohana 5pm Wishes
April 13th AK L Tamu Tamu Dinner Yak n Yeti 5pm
April 14th Epcot L World Showcase. Dinner Teppan Edo4:50 (going to brave it again) Illumin. 9pm
April 15th DHS L ? Dinner Cape May 5pm Fantasmic 8:30
April 16th relax at resort/swim. L Mara. Epcot late afternoon Dinner??????
April 17th MK with Lunch at LTT?? OR AK with dinner at Tusker??
April 18th MK L columbia HH. Dinner Crystal Palace 5pm
April 19th Epcot L Le Cellier. D World Showcase
April 20th DME 8:00 for 11:00 flight home!

Looks good? Any advice on Dinner for the 16th? OR which park for the 17th?

We are on school vacation this week so I am finalizing our plans, ordering our tickets, making sure we are all set with our ADR's.

I think relaxing your arrival day is a good choice.
You already have MK twice maybe AK on 17th since you said you enjoy AK- right?
If you were looking for an Epcot restaurant for 16th- I'd say Le Chefs (b/c of Remy) and we really like the food. Or skip Illum. on the 14th and eat at Rose & Crown to watch Illuminations on the patio. We did this in August for the first time and it was one of our best nights!!your plans look good though.

Deb

 

[ddluvsdisney]

My wife and I honeymooned in Disney in 2010, went back in February of 2011 (too cold!), and have a trip planned in April 2012 14-21st for our second anniversary. Probably our last trip for a while since we are planning to get pregnant this year! We are both 26 years old and not foodies and never drink (although we may have a glass of wine just because it's vacation). We are staying offsite at Bonnet Creek (although it's basically on site!)

To do something different we will also be visiting seaworld and universal for a day (never been to either!). Suggestions on where to eat at those parks would be nice. Here is our vacation schedule.

Saturday (arrival day)- O'hana at 8:00 PM for dinner in the Polynesian

Sunday- Seaworld all day (no ADRs yet)

Monday- Breakfast at BOMA 10 AM in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Magic Kingdom Park Day after.

Tuesday- Anniversary Dinner at 8 PM at Bistro de Paris in Epcot. Epcot park day

Wednesday- Garden View Tea Room Grand Floridian at 2 PM. Hollywood Studios Afternoon+ Fantastmic. No ADRs

Thursday- Relax, visit downtown disney. No ADRs planned yet.

Friday- Universal Studios All Day. No ADRs planned yet.

Saturday- Be at MCO by 1 PM to go back to long island.

What would you change or add? What do you think of Bistro for an anniversary dinner? Would LOVE your input on our food choices and vacation schedule!

Bistro sounds like a great anniversary dinner.
Try Emeril's restaurant at City Walk at Universal. It was Excellent!!!

 

[figmentswife]

Here is my take on both - They are guessing based on past crowds & occupancy at Disney resorts - With that said, I like easywdw better. We paid for touringplans for our October trip and found it to be incorrect most days - however it was WELL worth the money for the lines app.

I am looking at both for this trip, but I may be going closer to easywdw because I like that Josh updates is calenders - don't see that happen as much on touringplans. So I feel as though Josh is more accurate or at least closer.

 

[momtwoboys]

Yeah for Easywdw!!!!!!!!!Yes we really enjoy AK, just hoping that 2 full days at MK will be enough. But I guess with BTMR down, it will be easier to get most done in 2 days? Chefs looks good for the extra Epcot day, never have we done more Epcot than MK!?! Is that legal? Its making me feel guilty. But that Monday the 16th MK is NOT recommended. THanks to all the April Disers that have been entertaining me today

 

[pwdebbie]

thanks Dave! We are staying at AKL, and our dinner at Boma is for 5pm. We arrive at MCO at 9:14 am, which means we will have been up since 4:15 am. This is the main reason we were straying away from entering a park that day. Might stick to it. Having lunch by the pool and relaxing before our studio is ready might be the way to go. The next day we are planning on MK, and we are a RD family Thanks for the advice! We might use our day we were planning on a resort day to do 1/2 day at a park after all. Thought I had it all figured out

Reading this gives me a totally different perspective on things. I didn't know you were staying at AKL. I can see being able to hang out there all day. Nice areas to stroll and see the animals. Especially since you'll have been up since the wee hours of the morning and you have a son with special needs. I withdraw my suggestion of AK on your arrival day! I think your plans sound good.

 

[momtwoboys]

I value everyone's suggestions!! Yes pwdebbie we are sticking with staying at the resort on arrival day. It will help us settle for the next 10 days

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I've never used easywdw. My DH has always used touringplans, but since I'm doing most of the planning this year I like easywdw so much more.
Thanks for the info.!! His calendar is so easy to read- hense the name
I'll have to check the differences between the 2 later.

 

[figmentswife]

I've never used easywdw. My DH has always used touringplans, but since I'm doing most of the planning this year I like easywdw so much more.
Thanks for the info.!! His calendar is so easy to read- hense the name
I'll have to check the differences between the 2 later.

There is usually a BIG difference in the 2 - example: end of April on touringplans at level 8 and easywdw is at an average of 5.

Again, I like easywdw for getting the crowd levels per day, and touringplans for the lines app while in Disney.

 

[Lisha428]

blackacex2---if you're looking for somewhere to eat at Seaworld I recommend Shark Reef (I think that's the name). I've eaten there twice and it's amazing. It's basically a restaurant on the other side of their huge Shark Tank display. Ask for a table next to the tank and the sharks literally swim by your face as you eat...very cool atmosphere! I don't think you can make ADR's but you can put your name on the list for lunch or dinner when the park opens (do it early and not during the lunch or dinner rush), that's what we've done in the past and have not had an issue getting in. Have a wonderful anniversary trip!!

 

[Kathymford]

I LOVE easywdw. Not just for the crowd calendars, but the blogs entries where Josh walks through the parks detailing wait times and new updates are extremely helpful in planning. I also like the way he outlines the reasoning behind the crowd calendar ratings. I try to use it in conjunction with Touringplans, but if there are vastly conflicting opinions, I usually go with easywdw.

I"m glad you mentioned this! I was looking at both this time too (used touring plans in Oct), and started to get confused when they had conflicting "best parks." sigh. Actually, for my week, there was only one or two days that were COMPLETELY contradicting. I think i will try easy wdw this time.

To do something different we will also be visiting seaworld and universal for a day (never been to either!). Suggestions on where to eat at those parks would be nice. Here is our vacation schedule.

Saturday (arrival day)- O'hana at 8:00 PM for dinner in the Polynesian

Sunday- Seaworld all day (no ADRs yet)

Monday- Breakfast at BOMA 10 AM in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Magic Kingdom Park Day after.

Tuesday- Anniversary Dinner at 8 PM at Bistro de Paris in Epcot. Epcot park day

Wednesday- Garden View Tea Room Grand Floridian at 2 PM. Hollywood Studios Afternoon+ Fantastmic. No ADRs

Thursday- Relax, visit downtown disney. No ADRs planned yet.

Friday- Universal Studios All Day. No ADRs planned yet.

Saturday- Be at MCO by 1 PM to go back to long island.

What would you change or add? What do you think of Bistro for an anniversary dinner? Would LOVE your input on our food choices and vacation schedule!

If you're Harry Potter fans, you HAVE to eat at Three Broomsticks. No ADRs, but we had hardly any wait for lunch when we went in Oct. I'm a HP freak and am considering paying those prices just to visit Potterville again...

Or skip Illum. on the 14th and eat at Rose & Crown to watch Illuminations on the patio. We did this in August for the first time and it was one of our best nights!!your plans look good though.

Deb

Is there a some kind of seating package for Illuminations like there is for Fantasmic? When we went in Oct, we were sitting in the worst spot, so I really want to try again. I've heard mixed successes regarding being able to eat/watch from the patio and Rose & Crown. How did you request this?

I am so excited to see everyone so excited. It just mean's we're all THAT much closer to our trips!!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I"m glad you mentioned this! I was looking at both this time too (used touring plans in Oct), and started to get confused when they had conflicting "best parks." sigh. Actually, for my week, there was only one or two days that were COMPLETELY contradicting. I think i will try easy wdw this time.

Is there a some kind of seating package for Illuminations like there is for Fantasmic? When we went in Oct, we were sitting in the worst spot, so I really want to try again. I've heard mixed successes regarding being able to eat/watch from the patio and Rose & Crown. How did you request this?

I am so excited to see everyone so excited. It just mean's we're all THAT much closer to our trips!!!

One thing's for sure - if I see both sites list the same park as least recommended, than I usually try to avoid that park as much as I can for that day.

No, there is not a dining-seating package for Illuminations like there is for Fantasmic. Another restaurant that is known for its Illumination views is La Hacienda which is all indoor seating but has large windows by the lake with decent views.

Other options become more pricier. There's the Illuminations Cruise which takes off from Yacht Club Marina and can seat up to 10 people. The pontoon boat "parks" right below the bridge between UK and France for Illuminations and from what I've read, as long as the wind direction doesn't bring the smoke towards the boat, you have a great view of the show. There are threads on DIS where people are looking to share a boat and defray the cost if you're interested.

There's also the Illuminations Dessert Party which is different than the Wishes Dessert Party in that it is a private catering service. I think the minimum number of people you will need is 10. The final price will depend on the size of your party as well as the location - there are several options. I think the cheapest option I've seen for 10 people comes out to be comparable to an Illuminations Cruise.

 

[momtwoboys]

blech after my kids took at look at the "extra day" on the Mond 16th being Epcot, they want to go to MK!! Don't they know that it is a RED day! Why on earth though? It does not have EMH hours? ughhhh

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

blech after my kids took at look at the "extra day" on the Mond 16th being Epcot, they want to go to MK!! Don't they know that it is a RED day! Why on earth though? It does not have EMH hours? ughhhh

I think the reasoning behind Monday and MK is that a lot of people get into town on Saturday evening or Sunday for their week long vacations and the first park they want to hit is MK!! I'm sure there is a more complicated answer but it does make sense.

 

[wakica]

it kinda scares me that touringplans and easywdw do not match up?! Yikes. Oh well, I see some of our days cross, be sure to wave hello if you see us

I havn't checked this out for sure but when i posted that I was using them someone piped in and said to be careful b/c one of them based their days on which park had the emh so maybe check into that before you go with your choice of days b/c it'll make the world of difference. For us offsite people you will probably want to avoid the emh b/c we can't get in for it and it will be a popular day for that park bc of it. For those that are onsite and want to get up and take advantage of emh then it's all great. So just look into it b/c i'm sure i heard one of them reccomends emh days.

My wife and I honeymooned in Disney in 2010, went back in February of 2011 (too cold!), and have a trip planned in April 2012 14-21st for our second anniversary. Probably our last trip for a while since we are planning to get pregnant this year! We are both 26 years old and not foodies and never drink (although we may have a glass of wine just because it's vacation). We are staying offsite at Bonnet Creek (although it's basically on site!)

To do something different we will also be visiting seaworld and universal for a day (never been to either!). Suggestions on where to eat at those parks would be nice. Here is our vacation schedule.

No suggestions for you but i just wanted to say we LOVE Universal!! Actually we are just floriday theme park junkies in general so we will be doing WDW, both Universals, SeaWorld and busch this trip. You will LOVE it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmOs...xt=C35aa0e7ADOEgsToPDskKG1MMISULnE2IGJDECdP38

And here is part 2 of telling the kids......not sure that anyone has even watched part 1.

I saw it CUTE!! now i'm off to see part 2!

 

[bigsis1970]

"Originally Posted by figmentswife
April 27 - Arrival Day - Resort Day
April 28 - Animal Kingdom - Dinner at Garden Grove
April 29 - Hollywood Studios
April 30 - Epcot
May 1 - Magic Kingdom
May 2 - Magic Kingdom
May 3 - Epcot
May 4 - Magic Kingdom
May 5 - Animal Kingdom
May 6 - Hollywood Studios
May 7 - Epcot

- wakica- We have a few days when we may be in the same parks...
Apr 28 is also our full AK day so we will be there between 8 and 8:15am

May 3rd might possibly be a repeat of Epcot for us - late aft/eve for Ill

May 4th might be out repeat MK day - late aft/eve

May 5th we will be Ak but no chance of running into you b/c we are there LATE in the day to run the EE 5K challenge. Start time is 9:30 pm a bit late but we are really looking forward to enjoying this park and EE in the dark"


Hi I'll be there the same time as you guys..It's my hubs first trip ever! my plan looks like this
April 29- late morning May 2nd - Conf at Yacht and Beach Club
afternoon May 2nd Move to Pop & wait for hubs to arrive then go to HS for rest of the day
May 3rd is our MK day with a late breakfast at Crystal Palace
May 4th will be our AK Day with early breakfast with Donald then a late Dinner at Ohana - hope to catch Wishes
May 5th is our Epcot day
and we hope to leave the evening of May 6 so we'll spend the am and early afternoon at MK again

 

[Ikeifer]

I saw it CUTE!! now i'm off to see part 2! [/QUOTE]

Thank you Kid from part 2(my daughters best friend who lives with us during school days) was supposed to be in part 1 but got the flu.