'Planning' help - new ideas needed please!?

[alibeau]

Hi Guys!

Well, we finally booked and are returning to WDW in Feb 2010. We are going for 18 nights from 15th Feb through to the 5th of March Flying VA UC (booked one seat using my points ) and are staying in a villa on Emerald Island

I have a couple of questions I wonder if you could help me on please?

We arrive on the 15th which is President's Day and so our first week if I am correct is President's Week. We really prefer the parks to be quiet hence we go in Feb so my question is, are we best to avoid the Disney parks completely during our first week and perhaps so IOA, US, Seaworld etc instead or will they all be busy??

We found on our last trip that although we enjoyed the parks we found ourselves walking around saying 'we went on that ride last time', 'we did that last time' and we didn't feel the need to get on all the 'best' rides. So now that the girls are a bit older (6 & 4) we would like to try some different stuff - still do the parks but go later and see the fireworks etc....

So my next question is - what 'different' stuff can we do? Fireworks shows? Cruises?

We saw the Fantasmic (I think) show before we had the kids but would like to go back and see that next time - is there some type of dining experience we can do??

Anyhoo - I am hoping for some GREAT ideas from all you experts and look forward to your replies

Happy New Year

Ali

 

[scojos]

i totally understand where you are coming from, my asd son loves the repetition but want to do something different next time
some of the things we are considering-
1. pony riding at the disney site (my dd is too young to do the "proper riding that we wouldlike to do)
2. Dh is a train nut, so he is going to do the steam train tour.
3. We are going to try some of the "better" restaurants on site, not sure yet between jiko and the steakhouse HOWEVER, if i give u smoking dh has promised to take me to victoria and alberts
4. we are going to spend as much time as possible at the water parks, we were there last year during TS fay, so missed out on them
5. disneyquest - havent been since our first trip, so have planned an after noon there.
6. eat (well snack) my /our way around the world!
7. dh is going to drink his way around the world while i take the kids to do the new kmpossible stuff at WS.
8. aquatica (ok not disney but a new thing for us)

there are loads of other things, silly really, new off site restaurants (can you tell me are obsessed with food, lol) visit celebration, see the water pangent for the first time, which thefireworks from the beach at the poly....
hope this gives you some ideas
tracy

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Some other things to do:-

Take a walk round the Boardwalk before you go into Epcot - get the boat across to the San & Dolphin hotels & play Fantasia Crazy Golf. It's fun to hire a surrey bike too (if not a bit like hard work!) - and cycle round.

You can also hire a boat at the Boardwalk or from DTD or GF (perhaps many places!) - this is also quite relaxing. We booked a character breakfast at Y&BC and then went out of the hotel & rented a boat.

If you are staying in a villa - you could spend a few hours round the pool before going out later for lunch, then hitting the park of your choice.

One year my DD went to the GF for a 'cooking club' - all the kids made a pudding then brought it out for the adults to try once they had finished. She enjoyed this, and got an apron and chef hat as a souvenier.

Have a great trip

 

[wicket2005]

Sea World has a few backstage tours.

 

[scojos]

Sea World has a few backstage tours.

my dd is obsessed with polar bears, whilst i understand she wont be able to pet one, do you know if there are any that involve the artic bit? i ve looked and the onlyone i can see she istoo young for... any ideas?

 

[wicket2005]

It may be that your daughter is too young yet, not looked at the minimum age, there is one that does go behind the Arctic exhibits and ends up feeding a penguin.

 

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

The "Keys to the Kingdom" backstage tour at MK is really good. Also the segway tours they do at Epcot and Fort Wilderness (though you may need to find some baby sitters to do either of those, thinking about it!).

Go to Celebration town for a half day - its really pretty!

Hire a surrey bike at one of the moderate resorts and go for a nice bike ride around the lake.

I think I've seen on some trip reports Disney now do some sort of "pirate cruise" for children.

Go to the Beach Club at night and watch a film around the pool, on the big screen!

Have you watched the Electrical Light Parade at night from the Polynesian beach?

 

[jtlover]

We have been this time of year and the only time to avoid the parks is the weekend of Presidents Day. I dont know when this falls around that date but that time is busy.

February is a lovely time as the weather is usually warm but not too hot so easy for getting round the parks

 

[jtlover]

Have you considered bibbidi bobidie boo (cant spell it) as it is fantastic for little girls as they have their hair and make up done and if you want to splash the cash, they can get one of the outfits too. This is at both the castle MK and DTD. My daughter did this when she was 15 and still loved it

Also at MK in the evening they have the water pageant around the hotels in the seven seas lagoon. That is really nice and the children will like that as there is music too. You can see this from the beach of Polynesian or at Grand Floridian and it doesnt cost anything as you dont have to go on the park to see it. It usually starts around 9.00 p.m. and finishes around 9.45 p.m. at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[tink too]

When DD was 5, she did the Wonderland Tea Party in the GF. Alice and the Mad Hatter visited with them and played games and there was a "tea" party of course. It lasted about an hour and a half and allowed me to wonder the grounds of the GF and relax a little.

We also took part in an Illuminations Cruise share - a great way to have the experience without having to pay the full whack on your own. That was a great way to see the show!

 

[alibeau]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the ideas I'll also do a bit more research over the next few days

There are a couple of 'ideas' I have seen mentioned on here but can't seem to find the threads? Could anyone tell me more about the fantasmic dining experience and also the nemo one and how I would go about booking them, do I just ring through to reservations as I did to book out last character meals? Would I need to book in Feb? as our whole day to day 'planner' is going to be based on the weather ie if it's a warm day it'll be a pool day, not so warm off to the parks....

Also, which are the best fireworks shows and where are they. In the past we have literally done a lap ot two of the parks and then home so we really haven't done any of the extras that the parks themselves have to offer iyswim

Thanks again and sorry for the waffle

Ali

 

[Paul (tigger fan)]

Hi,

Dont know if you have kids, but our kids are doing a pirate adventure/cruise (they are 5 and 10) leaves from the dockside Grand Floridian and also Port Orleans Riverside just booked it as an extra for our trip next week it was $80 for the two of them and that includes lunch and they are away all from 9.30 - 12.30. might be something worth looking into.

My wife and daughter did the Princess tea as suggested by someone else also the bibbety bobbety boo boutique and loved both.

Enjoy your holiday

Paul

 

[Tinks1984]

The Fantasmic dining package is booked through Disney dining reservations.

There are different places where you can dine, Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose, Brown Derby are just a few of them. I'm unsure of the others though.

You basically book in a dining reservation on an evening when the Fantasmic show is playing and then you'll be given a time slot to eat. Once you've eaten, you'll be given a pass for VIP entrance to the first showing of Fantasmic for that evening.

VIP basically means that within the amphitheatre there is a designated seating area in which you get to sit. It does offer good views, but if you get there early enough anyway, you'll be able to sit elsewhere if there's better seating available.