*OFFICIAL* July 2010 Thread! It’s Hot. It’s Crowded. AND WE LOVE IT!

[SRUAlmn]

There are no evening EMHs that night? The week before (the 14th) shows evening EMHs at DHS. I always thought it was the same week to week on which parks had EMH. I would double check on that.

Boma is yummy. I would hope they wouldn't give you a 4:30 time and then not be open! You should be ok for those "early bird specials".


On a related note, how are evening EMH in July? Does anyone have experience with them? We are thinking of doing AK's late hours but I'm worried about crowds. Any advice would be appreciated.

I think it is the same from week to week, but I'm looking on wdw.com and it's not showing anything for the night of July 21.

We have done PM EMH in July every night of every trip for the past 3 years. They are great! They do get pretty busy, especially in the MK, but about 1/2 way through things really clear out, and it's so much better heat-wise Just make sure you have bug spray/wipes. If you're going to be on a boat or near water, you'll need it!!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

So I'm looking at our Boma ADR time of 4:30 on Wed, July 21, and I have a couple questions.

From what I can tell, as of now, there are no PM EMH that evening. We planned on going to AK that morning (fairly early, if not rope drop) and then coming back to AKL to 'freshen up.' We can normally knock out AK in about 5-6 hours, so we should be back to AKL around 2-3:00.

Since there are no PM EMH that night, we wanted to eat and get to another park with enough time to enjoy the evening (Epcot is open until 9 and MK until 10.)

So we made our ADR for 4:30 so we could eat and be on our way, and hopefully at a park no later than 6:30-7:00.

I know times change as you get closer to the summer, but are there really no PM EMH that night? Secondly, Boma lists dinner as starting at 5:00, but the online ressie system gave the option of 4:30 so I guess they're anticipating opening earlier that night? I feel like such a senior citizen eating dinner at 4:30 (we'll just call it a late lunch) (no offense to actual senior citizens, love ya! )

Hmm, that is odd. It seems like it should be at DHS that night but the official calendar is not showing it.

It is such an odd time. Can you make it an even earlier lunch? Like 3:00? Or do they not open until dinner? I'd go to Epcot and just stroll around WS. OR, is it just you and DH or kids too? If it's just adults, what about going to Jellyrolls or Raglan Road or something?

 

[tinkerbell60]

Hi, I am Samantha - Can I join in the planning fun? Our dates are July 21 - August 3. 13 nights of Disney fun! I conveniently had to extend our trip due to ridiculously high airfares on certain dates My DH will have to miss out on a couple days of the trip at both the beginning and the end, but I am excited to be there with my 3 kids - DS (13), DD (9) and DS (2). I took them to Disney by myself over Easter and we had soooo much fun, they were all very well behaved for me! This trip is a little over the top especially seems as we just went, but I am desperately trying to hold on to my children's childhood, it will all be over way too soon and I want to make as many awesome family memories as possible!

We are staying club level at the Beach Club from 7/21-7/25 and we are not planning on going to parks those days! We are going to do SAB, DTD, and various other things we have never ever done. We have never stayed at an Epcot area resort so we are looking forward to exploring. Then we check into a 1 bedroom lake view at BLT for 5 nights with deluxe dining - we stayed here last year and loved it! The deluxe dining is to keep my DH happy Finally, on 7/30 we check into a Savannah view room at AKL! Am keeping my fingers crossed that a club level room opens up for us here! We have never stayed here either, but I picked it for my animal loving toddler Disney really scored when they sent us a 40% pin code this year! LOL!

Had my dining reservations done at the 6 month mark, but I have changed and changed and changed them so now they resemble nothing like what I originally booked!! The online system is way too convenient!

Looking forward to counting down with everyone!

Welcome! I have added you to the list on page 100 - make sure I have your stays/dates entered correctly. Sounds like a great vacation!

 

[SRUAlmn]

Hmm, that is odd. It seems like it should be at DHS that night but the official calendar is not showing it.

It is such an odd time. Can you make it an even earlier lunch? Like 3:00? Or do they not open until dinner? I'd go to Epcot and just stroll around WS. OR, is it just you and DH or kids too? If it's just adults, what about going to Jellyrolls or Raglan Road or something?

They're only open for dinner. The reason we decided on Boma is because we really wanted to try it, and this night seemed like the best option since there's no EMH that night, so maybe we could eat and explore the resort a little? I don't know... we've eaten at Raglan Road before and really liked it, but this trip will be shorter than previous ones, so I kind of want to avoid spending too much time at DTD. It's just DH and I, no kids.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Have you used Ridemax before? I was thinking about it - is it really useful and an advantage?

I've only used Tour Guide Mike before, which was excellent...very accurate! But you have to read through lots of different vacation articles to plan your itinerary. I didn't mind that at all as I enjoy doing that, but it means you need some time (I think at least a few weeks before you go) to plan your park days. Ridemax is very cool...you type in which attractions you want to see, times for your dining if you want to add that, you can type in afternoon breaks if you want, and you even have options for fastpass, like whether or not you have a person willing to separate from the group to get a set of FPs. It plans everything minute to minute, literally! Really fun, but this is my first time exploring it, so I don't know how accurate it is from experience just yet. However, I have seen some excellent reviews of how accurate it is. It literally will tell you walking time from one attraction to the next, minutes waiting, plus minutes to actually do the ride or attraction! So say, for example, it's 11:07AM and it takes 3 minutes to walk to your next attraction from your current location. It will put you at the new attraction at 11:10. Then if you have a wait of 7 minutes, it will put you getting on the ride at 11:17. Then if the ride takes 3 minutes, it will put you at 11:20 to start walking to your next attraction! It includes all of that!!

 

[sully dad]

Did you get all your questions answered about Buena Vista Suites? We stayed there in March, so if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Thanks - overall yes, I think we're covered. Were you happy with commute times to parks? (We are renting a car, not relying on hotel shuttle). I've yet to hear any real negatives about this hotel, was your experience good? I was hoping to sneak next door to the more impressive pool at Caribe, but I hear you're not allowed, true?
Thanks!!

 

[tinkerbell60]

Thanks - overall yes, I think we're covered. Were you happy with commute times to parks? (We are renting a car, not relying on hotel shuttle). I've yet to hear any real negatives about this hotel, was your experience good? I was hoping to sneak next door to the more impressive pool at Caribe, but I hear you're not allowed, true?
Thanks!!

First, we had good experience overall. When we arrived at 2:00 pm our room was not ready, and the girl at the front desk was in training, she suggested we come back in an hour - fair enough, we went and had lunch, and about 90 minutes later it "still wasn't ready" - well, DH got a little upset and they found a room that was ready, it was directly across from an elevator and I was a little worried but it was not an issue. The first girl was not very friendly, but it could be because she was new. This was our ONLY issue the whole stay. You are correct - you are not supposed to use the pool at the Caribe. The breakfast buffet is very, very good. The staff there is very nice - they clean up your dishes promptly. There are two sides with identical offerings so if one side is lined up, try the other. The one closest to the entrance does back up. We thought the commute time was fine. The trick is, do not drive through DTD (unless that is the only place you are going). When you exit the hotel, turn right and go straight - this will take you directly to Epcot or if you continue further, the MK. If you are going to DHS or AK, there will be a marked exit ramp. If you are going to DTD, exit the hotel and take a right at the first light. DTD will be a left turn after you pass under I-4. They gave us a coupon for 15% off in their restaurant, so look for that. The laundry facilities are limited, so if you need to do laundry, that might be an issue.

Hope that helps!

 

[Oz!]

okay, just came across this thread

we are going in July, from the 6-13. We are staying at the All-star sports. My DW and I will be celebrating our 15 Wedding Anniversary on July 8 at Shula's. This will be the first time that we are taking our DS's (11,7) to Shula's.

Our ADR
7-Rainforest AK
8-shula's
11-Hoop de Do
12-Prime time
13-Chef Mickey's breakfast

 

[tinkerbell60]

okay, just came across this thread

we are going in July, from the 6-13. We are staying at the All-star sports. My DW and I will be celebrating our 15 Wedding Anniversary on July 8 at Shula's. This will be the first time that we are taking our DS's (11,7) to Shula's.

Our ADR
7-Rainforest AK
8-shula's
11-Hoop de Do
12-Prime time
13-Chef Mickey's breakfast

Welcome!! I have added you to the resort list on page 100 - we will be at AS Sports the exact same time as you! Are you requesting a certain building? I am not sure what to do. I have thought about requesting one of the football buildings.

If you want to post your ADR times - then you can see if anyone else is eating at the same time/place as you. Nikki will update those - you can see her list on page 103.

Happy Anniversary!

 

[Oz!]

we are staying in a preferred room...(it came with the pin code offer)
i do not know what the preferred room buildings are??
we stayed in the baseball building last June.

 

[tinkerbell60]

we are staying in a preferred room...(it came with the pin code offer)
i do not know what the preferred room buildings are??
we stayed in the baseball building last June.

That is nice! The preferred buildings are in Surf's Up...... how was the baseball building? We will have a car, so the bus stop is not an issue - but I do like being "close" to the main building for drink refills....

 

[sully dad]

First, we had good experience overall. When we arrived at 2:00 pm our room was not ready, and the girl at the front desk was in training, she suggested we come back in an hour - fair enough, we went and had lunch, and about 90 minutes later it "still wasn't ready" - well, DH got a little upset and they found a room that was ready, it was directly across from an elevator and I was a little worried but it was not an issue. The first girl was not very friendly, but it could be because she was new. This was our ONLY issue the whole stay. You are correct - you are not supposed to use the pool at the Caribe. The breakfast buffet is very, very good. The staff there is very nice - they clean up your dishes promptly. There are two sides with identical offerings so if one side is lined up, try the other. The one closest to the entrance does back up. We thought the commute time was fine. The trick is, do not drive through DTD (unless that is the only place you are going). When you exit the hotel, turn right and go straight - this will take you directly to Epcot or if you continue further, the MK. If you are going to DHS or AK, there will be a marked exit ramp. If you are going to DTD, exit the hotel and take a right at the first light. DTD will be a left turn after you pass under I-4. They gave us a coupon for 15% off in their restaurant, so look for that. The laundry facilities are limited, so if you need to do laundry, that might be an issue.

Hope that helps!

Wow!
Great tips. Thank you so much!

 

[awaldo]

Not sure if I mentioned this before - but our dates are the same, but we are now booked into the WL. Got some sort of deal that our TA found that included a $750 gift card. Which you pay for a good portion of, but still netted out about $100 less.

 

[Oz!]

That is nice! The preferred buildings are in Surf's Up...... how was the baseball building? We will have a car, so the bus stop is not an issue - but I do like being "close" to the main building for drink refills....

long walk in the heat and you are tired from the day at the park!

 

[jstarcze]

Will be at BWV July 26-30. I have the following ADR's
July 27th - Shula's
July 28th - Tokyo Dining
July 29th - Il Mulino

 

[Mom2Elliot]

Typing all this out makes me realize just how much weight I am going to gain on this trip!

7/23 Cape May Breakfast 10:55 am (OOP)
7/25 Chef Mickey's 10:40 am
7/25 CRT 5:35 pm
7/26 Crystal Palace 8:05 am
7/26 Grand Floridian Cafe 5:20 pm
7/27 Donald's Safari Breakfast 8:00 am
7/27 Kona Cafe 5:40 pm
7/28 Ohana 7:30 am
7/28 Rose and Crown 12:00 pm
7/28 Tutto Italia 6:15 pm
7/29 SciFi Cafe 11:15
7/29 The Wave 5:00 pm
7/30 1900 Park Fare 8:10 am
7/30 LeCellier 11:45
7/30 Boma 4:55 pm
7/31 Liberty Tree Tavern 11:30 (OOP)
8/1 Boma Breakfast 8:20 (OOP)

I am bummed I couldn't fit in Garden Grill - we did that another time and my little one loved it. We are not getting park hoppers (have to save $$ somewhere!!) Really wish we could get into Epcot just to eat

 

[Oz!]

dont worry about gaining weight. Remember you are on vacation and you will walk it off!!!

 

[Mom2Elliot]

dont worry about gaining weight. Remember you are on vacation and you will walk it off!!!

I had better do a LOT of walking! Don't think that will be a problem at WDW, though!

 

[tenaseewalker]

Sorry if this has already been mentioned. I didn't have time to read all 104 pages of this thread but this is just A FYI.. Has everyone heard about ESPN Rise Games held at The Walt Disney World Resort. Expected to host 13,000 students July 17th thru July 29th.. Just thought I let everyone know of this event.

 

[tenaseewalker]

Oh yeah! We will be at OKW July 18th -31st