Premium Plan for One Night Just for the Tours, LaNouba, etc.??

[2ofUs]

Okay, so your wife gets a little nervous over water in Soarin' but she did the parasailing TWICE - and enjoyed it??? Wow, maybe I could do it then. Problem is, even looking at the picture you sent made my tummy a bit nauseous. I know, dumb, but there never the less. Ah, maybe it's my age. You know they say we grow wiser with age and take less risks. That's my solution, I'm claiming LIFE WISDOM!

 

[Dizney73]

Wow!!! Thanks for posting your Premium experience! Now, I really can't wait to head down to the World! We dubbed our trip " The Derriere in the Air Experience" since we scheduled parasailing 3 times in the 2 days! We want to be sure we get to do it in case of the weather! I may have to look into booking this plan with my family next Spring Break or summer!

 

[Leigha]

Wow Scott! How kind of you to post about your wonderful experience in such great detail! I am planning to do this on our trip to Disney in two years to celebrate my daughter's graduation. (I wanted to do it this year but decided to exhibit GREAT patience and wait!) Since I read about this a few months ago, I planned it out in my head and perfected the plan within a few days to fit my family. This means go, go, go!! In our great race to enjoy as much as possible, I've planned the Epcot Segway tour and then the FW Segway tour pretty much back to back. I know from doing the Epcot tour before that our legs will be pretty tired but do you think it is going to be too much?? Will I really regret it even after taking Tylenol in between? (Yes, I've already thought of that!) I'm willing to suffer some just to experience it all but don't want to kill us! The rest of the day doesn't really involve being on our feet that much with either horseback riding (since we're at FW) or perhaps I should do parasailing both days since you loved it so much. Has anyone done the horseback riding? Is it anything special?? I can see that I'm going to have to take another look at my plan and see when Cirque is dark so I can maximize the plan again. It looks like I need to throw in the MK viewing!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Okay, so your wife gets a little nervous over water in Soarin' but she did the parasailing TWICE - and enjoyed it??? Wow, maybe I could do it then. Problem is, even looking at the picture you sent made my tummy a bit nauseous. I know, dumb, but there never the less. Ah, maybe it's my age. You know they say we grow wiser with age and take less risks. That's my solution, I'm claiming LIFE WISDOM!

I understand you're feeling nervous so I will share the information they gave us when we asked about safety. They use 7 different chutes and they are cycled daily, and the one used is inspected at the end of the day. They also limit the lifetime of the chute to only four months. In addition the guide said that each chute is rated to at least 600 pounds and these are the same chutes used for parasailing in open water where they can reach greater height than the Disney excursions. They have to be safe - the Sammy Duvall employees have to please two masters - Sammy and Disney.

My wife's biggest concern was being dropped in the water. The guides stated that they have never had that happen. I did read one post on the review section of the board where a lady did get her legs in the water but that was because her husband on the boat "arranged" it. I am nicer than that .

I'm claiming wiser with age too.

Worn out
Incontinent
Sight going
Ears don't work to well either
Remember - remember what ??

Don't even ask me what expert means .

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Wow Scott! How kind of you to post about your wonderful experience in such great detail! I am planning to do this on our trip to Disney in two years to celebrate my daughter's graduation. (I wanted to do it this year but decided to exhibit GREAT patience and wait!) Since I read about this a few months ago, I planned it out in my head and perfected the plan within a few days to fit my family. This means go, go, go!! In our great race to enjoy as much as possible, I've planned the Epcot Segway tour and then the FW Segway tour pretty much back to back. I know from doing the Epcot tour before that our legs will be pretty tired but do you think it is going to be too much?? Will I really regret it even after taking Tylenol in between? (Yes, I've already thought of that!) I'm willing to suffer some just to experience it all but don't want to kill us! The rest of the day doesn't really involve being on our feet that much with either horseback riding (since we're at FW) or perhaps I should do parasailing both days since you loved it so much. Has anyone done the horseback riding? Is it anything special?? I can see that I'm going to have to take another look at my plan and see when Cirque is dark so I can maximize the plan again. It looks like I need to throw in the MK viewing!

We will try to answer your questions.

Two Segway tours back to back seems like it will be alot on your feet. If I was going to do it I would use two pairs of shoes, and maybe have some broken-in insoles for both. Give your feet time to breathe and relax after the first tour and then use the second pair for the second tour.

We have done horseback riding at Fort Wilderness before. It's ok, but nothing that will rock your world. If you are doing the Segway tour there what you see won't be that big of a difference. Or, as my beautiful wife stated, do things on this plan what you probably can't or won't do at home because of availability or cost. You can ride horses just about anywhere.

For those who are curious I ran the numbers afterwards. Pasting from Excel didn't work too well so excuse the funky formatting. Needless to say the package cost was waaaayyyy less than what it paid for !

Activity................................................Total Cost

Breakfast at Boma ................................$60.66
Fort Wilderness Segway tour .................$271.58
Tandem Parasailing - Wife and daughter. $207.68
Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue ............................$185.97

Epcot Segway Tour ...............................$303.53
Parasailing -Tandem and Single Deluxe ...$346.13
Ski Boat around Lake ............................$175.73
Jiko ......................................................$185.31

Six snacks ............................................$12.46
mugs ....................................................$36.00
Gift cards in lieu of La Nouba ..................$239.00

Grand Total ..........................................$2,024.03

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Hey Scott, I need a bit of advice from you only if you don't mind me asking. How much did you leave for the crews after your parasailings??

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Hey Scott, I need a bit of advice from you only if you don't mind me asking. How much did you leave for the crews after your parasailings??

After the first tandem we did the guide that books the excursions suggested $20, which is what we left. We left $60 the next day since we did the single and tandem deluxe and the ski boat.

We also tipped at Boma and Jiko. The tip is included in the price of the meal at Hoop-Dee-Doo. Prices listed in my previous reply were food + any adult beverage + tax.

I'm glad I brought the laptop. This is much easier to do with all the experiences still fresh in my memory.

Another item to add. As we were waiting to be seated at Jiko a number of guests and the guide arrived from the Wanyama Safari tour and dinner here at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I thought "would this be included in the package?" Sadly the answer is no. For an item to be included in a package it has to be available to all guests who book the package. Since the Wanyama Safara is only available to AKL and AKV resort guests it does not meet that requirement. Something to keep in mind for the future package(s) we will (!) book.

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Thanks Scott

 

[Dizney73]

We will try to answer your questions.

Two Segway tours back to back seems like it will be alot on your feet. If I was going to do it I would use two pairs of shoes, and maybe have some broken-in insoles for both. Give your feet time to breathe and relax after the first tour and then use the second pair for the second tour.

We have done horseback riding at Fort Wilderness before. It's ok, but nothing that will rock your world. If you are doing the Segway tour there what you see won't be that big of a difference. Or, as my beautiful wife stated, do things on this plan what you probably can't or won't do at home because of availability or cost. You can ride horses just about anywhere.

For those who are curious I ran the numbers afterwards. Pasting from Excel didn't work too well so excuse the funky formatting. Needless to say the package cost was waaaayyyy less than what it paid for !

Activity................................................Total Cost

Breakfast at Boma ................................$60.66
Fort Wilderness Segway tour .................$271.58
Tandem Parasailing - Wife and daughter. $207.68
Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue ............................$185.97

Epcot Segway Tour ...............................$303.53
Parasailing -Tandem and Single Deluxe ...$346.13
Ski Boat around Lake ............................$175.73
Jiko ......................................................$185.31

Six snacks ............................................$12.46
mugs ....................................................$36.00
Gift cards in lieu of La Nouba ..................$239.00

Grand Total ..........................................$2,024.03

Scott,
This is a great breakdown! I think I will plug some numbers into our plan and see where we stand. Obviously, I won't be able to know an exact cost for 2 of our dining experiences... but I can use a low price estimate to plug in for now.

Is there anything that you did not do on your premiuum plan that you wish that you would have added?

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Scott,
This is a great breakdown! I think I will plug some numbers into our plan and see where we stand. Obviously, I won't be able to know an exact cost for 2 of our dining experiences... but I can use a low price estimate to plug in for now.

Is there anything that you did not do on your premiuum plan that you wish that you would have added?

If there had been the time available possibly the Keys to The Kingdom or the Backstage Safari tours. I like the "magic behind the magic" stuff. My wife and I did the Steam Trains tour on a previous trip and had a blast, and would like to do that tour again someday.

I'm even starting to think about the next package trip. How about Hoop-Dee-Doo again, Brown Derby for an 11 am lunch one day , and California Grill for a late fireworks supper? Decisions, decisions, decisions ......

 

[disneyyes]

ScottOKW2K,

Thanks for the vicarious Disney Magic! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! I'm one-third of Dizney73's "Girls Only" trip in July and can't WAIT for the Parasailing, boating, Segway, Cirque, and everything else! We are Three Desperate Disney Dames who have the most EXTREME form of Disney addictiveness! I'm also in the process of planning a January trip (gotta have more than one trip on the horizon, right?) and I REALLY hope I can book a one-night Premium or Platinum package in the middle of my January stay.

I'm just curious . . . how did you go about booking Port Orleans for 2 nights with the two separate packages? Did you have to call for 2 separate reservations, making the first night room-only and the second night Premium Plan? If so, how did you arrange it so that you would not have to pack up and move to another room?

 

[Dizney73]

If there had been the time available possibly the Keys to The Kingdom or the Backstage Safari tours. I like the "magic behind the magic" stuff. My wife and I did the Steam Trains tour on a previous trip and had a blast, and would like to do that tour again someday.

I'm even starting to think about the next package trip. How about Hoop-Dee-Doo again, Brown Derby for an 11 am lunch one day , and California Grill for a late fireworks supper? Decisions, decisions, decisions ......

Ooooo... I think that sounds like a very nice meal plans!!! I also wanted to do the Backstage Safari tour but then we couldn't fit in tubing... so next time!

 

[Dizney73]

ScottOKW2K,

Thanks for the vicarious Disney Magic! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! I'm one-third of Dizney73's "Girls Only" trip in July and can't WAIT for the Parasailing, boating, Segway, Cirque, and everything else! We are Three Desperate Disney Dames who have the most EXTREME form of Disney addictiveness! I'm also in the process of planning a January trip (gotta have more than one trip on the horizon, right?) and I REALLY hope I can book a one-night Premium or Platinum package in the middle of my January stay.

I'm just curious . . . how did you go about booking Port Orleans for 2 nights with the two separate packages? Did you have to call for 2 separate reservations, making the first night room-only and the second night Premium Plan? If so, how did you arrange it so that you would not have to pack up and move to another room?

And this is going to be one amazing Girls only Premium trip!!!Only 48 more days, I think! and can you believe that I will be doing the family trip for 9 nights in less than a month???? That's the life!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

ScottOKW2K,

Thanks for the vicarious Disney Magic! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! I'm one-third of Dizney73's "Girls Only" trip in July and can't WAIT for the Parasailing, boating, Segway, Cirque, and everything else! We are Three Desperate Disney Dames who have the most EXTREME form of Disney addictiveness! I'm also in the process of planning a January trip (gotta have more than one trip on the horizon, right?) and I REALLY hope I can book a one-night Premium or Platinum package in the middle of my January stay.

I'm just curious . . . how did you go about booking Port Orleans for 2 nights with the two separate packages? Did you have to call for 2 separate reservations, making the first night room-only and the second night Premium Plan? If so, how did you arrange it so that you would not have to pack up and move to another room?

The first night was room only, and the second night was the package night. When I checked in for the first nights stay I made them aware that I would also be staying the next night on a package and would like to stay in the same room. They said "no problem" and all I had to do the next morning was go to the desk and get the keys and other items for the second nights stay. I did do on-line check in for the first night but not the second - I reasoned that it would be best to set this up face to face.

The room keys performed their last duty today . I used the one day admission from each key + the remaining gift card balance after some shopping + the DVC discount to renew our annual passes. After all was applies I only had to pay a little over $730 at checkout for 3 15 month ap's. Felt pretty good !

 

[2boysnme]

We did the premium for 2 days/1 night in May and did basically as planned. Just me and my husband so we crammed a lot in.

Wed- drove down, stayed off site
Thurs- 7:00 check in at Pop
8:15 Keys tour at MK
1:30 rode rides for 2 hours at MK
4:30 drove to POP, got ready for evening
5:30 Picture session at Beach Club
6:00 dinner at Yachtsman
7:30 viewed and picked up pics
9:00 Cirque

Friday- 7:00 fishing excursion
9:20 breakfast at WCC
11:30 Fort Wilderness Segway Tour
2:30 parasailing
3:00 skiing
4:00-5:30 sea racer and wave runner
snack at Contemporary
Showered by the pool at Contemorary (no hot water)
7:30 Hoop

We both had a great time and hope to do this again in the future.

 

[Dizney73]

We did the premium for 2 days/1 night in May and did basically as planned. Just me and my husband so we crammed a lot in.

Wed- drove down, stayed off site
Thurs- 7:00 check in at Pop
8:15 Keys tour at MK
1:30 rode rides for 2 hours at MK
4:30 drove to POP, got ready for evening
5:30 Picture session at Beach Club
6:00 dinner at Yachtsman
7:30 viewed and picked up pics
9:00 Cirque

Friday- 7:00 fishing excursion
9:20 breakfast at WCC
11:30 Fort Wilderness Segway Tour
2:30 parasailing
3:00 skiing
4:00-5:30 sea racer and wave runner
snack at Contemporary
Showered by the pool at Contemorary (no hot water)
7:30 Hoop

We both had a great time and hope to do this again in the future.

Glad to hear that you had a Blast! OOOOO... so there are showers by the pool at the Contemporary. I was hoping there would be? Are there any hairdryers there in the shower area?? (there are at Animal Kingdom). Wow... that will save us from going back to POP to get ready for our lunch at Fulton's! Are there any tips you can offer?

 

[let'sgo]

We did the premium for 2 days/1 night in May and did basically as planned. Just me and my husband so we crammed a lot in.

Wed- drove down, stayed off site
Thurs- 7:00 check in at Pop
8:15 Keys tour at MK
1:30 rode rides for 2 hours at MK
4:30 drove to POP, got ready for evening
5:30 Picture session at Beach Club
6:00 dinner at Yachtsman
7:30 viewed and picked up pics
9:00 Cirque

Friday- 7:00 fishing excursion
9:20 breakfast at WCC
11:30 Fort Wilderness Segway Tour
2:30 parasailing
3:00 skiing
4:00-5:30 sea racer and wave runner
snack at Contemporary
Showered by the pool at Contemorary (no hot water)
7:30 Hoop

We both had a great time and hope to do this again in the future.

Someone remarked that if you planned to go fishing, you will get smelly from the fish. Did you find this to be true?

Also, should you wear a bathing suit for the wave runner? Do you get wet? When I called and asked they told me you didn't have to, but I would feel better if someone who actually went would let me know.

Looks like you had a real good schedule! I have booked a premium pkg and have been looking at options for filling up the days.

 

[2boysnme]

There were no hair dryers at the pool bathroom at the Contemporary and there was not hot water in the shower, but it saved us lots of time by not having to go to POP. It was so hot outside and we were sweating so I didn't miss the hot water.

I guess it depends how much fishing you are doing. I didn't really fish- my husband did. I was just a long for the ride. He did not smell fishy.

If you want to fish ask for pick-up at the Contemporary. It is impossible to make it to Fort Wilderness at 7:00AM. For us it was nice having our car at the Contemporary so we could go get our clothes for dinner after all of the water activities.

We did wear our suits because we spent most of the afternoon on the water. We would have been fine without them on for the wave runner and sea racers but have a change of clothes just in case. The wave runners only let you ride in a real small area-about the size of 3 football fields. After 30 minutes we were bored.
We could go to the lagoon on the sea racers but they are much slower.

 

[Dizney73]

There were no hair dryers at the pool bathroom at the Contemporary and there was not hot water in the shower, but it saved us lots of time by not having to go to POP. It was so hot outside and we were sweating so I didn't miss the hot water.

I guess it depends how much fishing you are doing. I didn't really fish- my husband did. I was just a long for the ride. He did not smell fishy.

If you want to fish ask for pick-up at the Contemporary. It is impossible to make it to Fort Wilderness at 7:00AM. For us it was nice having our car at the Contemporary so we could go get our clothes for dinner after all of the water activities.

We did wear our suits because we spent most of the afternoon on the water. We would have been fine without them on for the wave runner and sea racers but have a change of clothes just in case. The wave runners only let you ride in a real small area-about the size of 3 football fields. After 30 minutes we were bored.
We could go to the lagoon on the sea racers but they are much slower.

Thanks for the shower tip. Did you have to book the Sea Racers ahead of time or could you just do that if you had some spare time? Not like we have any spare time in our plan but... JUST in case!!!!

 

[Leigha]

Since the other poster hasn't responded yet I'll say that we rented the water mice two years ago at the GF and had no problem just walking up and doing it. HTH