romantic couple with questions for hotel & dining

[havin'fun]

My husband and I are staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort for a convention June 16th-21st. His company is paying everything (within limits). We decided to stay an extra couple of days while we are there since we have never been to Disney World before. Unfortunately, we can't afford to continue the stay in the Contemporary so we are looking for another hotel for the last 2 nights. He'll be busy with the convention so we can't go to the parks until the last 2 days. We were thinking Magic kingdom & Epcot. Advice? We won't have a rental car, so we were thinking of staying at the Hilton or something else in the park which would also give us access to all of disney's buses and monorails, and extra magic hours. Obviously, we are looking for a more romantic stay (it is also our 7th Anniversary). Do you recommend any places to stay that are romantic, not inundated by children (love them, but there is a reason our 3 children are staying in Connecticut), and yet not too expensive (definately under $100)?

Also, does anyone know if we can purchase a disney dining plan while staying at the contemporary and still use it after we check out and move to the other hotel?

Lastly, any dining recommendations? We need something close to the Contemp for Sun & Mon (company pays $40 max per person). Tuesday is taken care of. I am planning on booking tickets for Arabian Nights for Thurs or Fri. That still leaves a few days open. Thanks for your help!

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

hmm- away from the kiddies, huh? well, we just booked 6 nights at pop century for 82$, and requested a non-preferred room- it's further away from the front, and the most populars are the 60s and 70s. we'll probably get the 80's again, like last time, and there was minimal, if any running from children up and down the hallways.. (note also, we went during the summer, so it was a big kid-friendly time), and it was great- it's not as nice as the contemporary, but it is still on the grounds, and has bus transportation, as opposed to monorail. also, for 82$ a night there's the all star resorts you could check into? good luck!!

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

go to www.wdwig.com, and click on DINING, which is towards the top of the second column, then from there, look ALLLLL the way to the left, and click on "THE MENUS," there, is a list of all the dining in disney, and you can search for things that are either in the contemprary, or right near it! if you scroll down on that page down to the contemporary, you can see what restaurants are in it.. i'd recommend the california grill.. but that's just me, and that's a whole other thread!!

 

[havin'fun]

Thanks for the link. I looked at the restaurants on Disney's website, but it doesn't give much information. And it seems as though most reviews I find talk about whether a restaurant is kid-friendly. The menus are helpful.

 

[Tink901]

I agree with ThunderMTexpert Pop is a nice resort there are kids but they aren't that loud and not as many as the Allstar. It's still on property and has a great decor. I've stayed in the 50's and 80's and have liked both locations. If you can get a deal Port Orleans is a lovely and romantic resort either riverside or french quarter.

Dining plan is only good from when you check in until midnight of the day of checkout and would only be valid for your Contemporary stay.

Kona Cafe in the Poly has a great breakfast menu. Awesome Hawaiian coffee. Whispering Canyon at the Wilderness Lodge is a good restaurant and you can take a boat from the Magic Kingdom to there.


Have a great trip!!!

 

[havin'fun]

I just booked the extra two nights at the Royal Plaza in WDW. I found a deal for $65/night for a Deluxe Tower Room. I'm super excited now. Thanks for your ideas on restaurants. I'm thinking the Ohana for dinner on Sunday and California Grill for Tuesday. So now I just need Wednesday and Saturday. I wish we could use the dining plan. Are you allowed to book it for just one day?

 

[MrOakie]

My wife and I stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort last August. It was our first trip to WDW, and we absolutely loved it. We paid the little bit extra for a preferred room location, but when we checked in, we were also upgraded to a king room with a water view. Very nice stay. It's a moderate hotel, but still on the affordable side. Definately worth looking into

 

[jayhjay]

I just booked the extra two nights at the Royal Plaza in WDW. I found a deal for $65/night for a Deluxe Tower Room. I'm super excited now. Thanks for your ideas on restaurants. I'm thinking the Ohana for dinner on Sunday and California Grill for Tuesday. So now I just need Wednesday and Saturday. I wish we could use the dining plan. Are you allowed to book it for just one day?

Glad you found a good rate. Just some feedback on the dining plan. In order to get the dining plan,you need to buy a Magic Your Way package (hotel and park). If you are getting a conference rate at the Contemporary, you can't get the package also, so no dining plan. I don't believe it is even offered at the Royal plaza as it has to be a Disney hotel, so the second part of your stay is out.

If you are booking Contemporary on your own (as opposed to a group or conference rate), you could book it as a package (lodging, dining, park). You only need to buy one day of park tickets. Then you could get the dining plan. But you have to pay for dining for all the nights you are staying on the package (at the Contemporary). So you could have 1 day of park tickets, but you'd have to get dining for each night of your stay on property. Does that make sense?

 

[DisneydaveCT]

I agree with Tink901. I would opt for Port Orleans. My preference is Riverside, the Bayou side. Enjoy your time.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We always try to do something 'romantic' while at the world. This time, I arranged with the Coral Reef for a diver to hold a sign up to my wife saying she was my perfect catch.

We dressed up and went on a "Date" at the California Grill".

And there is always Vickie and Al's at the Grand Floridian.

As for a resort. Get in the Magnolia Bend area of Port Orleans Riverside. It's more secluded (the Disney folk aim families with kids at Aligator Bayou) and nice for the romantic walk. Take a horse drawn tour of the resort.

Treat EVERY meal like a date and your love one will love you for it.

 

[TinkerBe11]

Fort Wilderness offers carriage rides. It's $35 for a 25 min ride. I just booked one for my boyfriend and I when we visit in August.

 

[TBLaube]

I have done both carriage rides and they are really nice. The Fort Wilderness one is a little more secluded going through the woods if you are looking for more privacy, but Port Orleans is really beautiful too.
WE thought it was definitely worth it and relaxing.

 

[Indy's Girl]

Also, though you may already know this, I don't think that the Royal Plaza qualifies for EMH. I could be wrong- someone will correct me if I am- but you will want to double check this if you were planning on using them, as you seemed to indicate you wanted to in an earlier post. Have a great trip!

 

[MrDroopy]

I've only heard good things about the Boardwalk Resort. Although my family and I never actually stayed there, we visited and it was gorgeous. Not to mention, the view when you exit the building is breath-taking as you look across the lake to see Epcot staring you straight in the face.

 

[spiceycat]

I just booked the extra two nights at the Royal Plaza in WDW. I found a deal for $65/night for a Deluxe Tower Room. I'm super excited now. Thanks for your ideas on restaurants. I'm thinking the Ohana for dinner on Sunday and California Grill for Tuesday. So now I just need Wednesday and Saturday. I wish we could use the dining plan. Are you allowed to book it for just one day?

you realize that the bus transportation is not WDW. one bus comes every half hour but it then goes to two parks. Epcot and Studios are okay.

but MK and AK - are pretty far apart. Nothing worst than being tired from the MK and having to ride all the way to AK then wait for people to show up, - then go all the way back to DD from AK - this takes around 30 minutes by itself.

It is faster to take to walk over to the CR and take the DD bus then walk back.

You can't get disney dinning when you are at Royal Plaza too. It doesn't get EMH - only the Hilton in DD gets this.

also doesn't get DME - so unless you drove or have a rental car - then you will need to get your own transportation back to the airport.

 

[Perrine]

I personnaly recommend NARCOSSEE'S one of the most romantic and "select" restaurant of WDW !
Everything is delicious and the place is very romantic (close to the lake) !

If you like mexican food, my second choice is SAN ANGEL INN for the very special atmosphere (I dont' explain you otherwhise you would not have the surprise.......... but really it's worthy !!)

and like many of you guys, CALIFORNIA GRILL because of the quality of food (salmon Hummmmmm !!!! and what about the deserts ??? I'm totally nut about their desserts !!

one more : OHANA : very different but in a polynesian resort I guess it's totally paradise !!!

Have a magical and romantic stay !!!

Perrine

 

[kimis]

My husband and I are staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort for a convention June 16th-21st. His company is paying everything (within limits). We decided to stay an extra couple of days while we are there since we have never been to Disney World before. Unfortunately, we can't afford to continue the stay in the Contemporary so we are looking for another hotel for the last 2 nights. He'll be busy with the convention so we can't go to the parks until the last 2 days. We were thinking Magic kingdom & Epcot. Advice? We won't have a rental car, so we were thinking of staying at the Hilton or something else in the park which would also give us access to all of disney's buses and monorails, and extra magic hours. Obviously, we are looking for a more romantic stay (it is also our 7th Anniversary). Do you recommend any places to stay that are romantic, not inundated by children (love them, but there is a reason our 3 children are staying in Connecticut), and yet not too expensive (definately under $100)?

Also, does anyone know if we can purchase a disney dining plan while staying at the contemporary and still use it after we check out and move to the other hotel?

Lastly, any dining recommendations? We need something close to the Contemp for Sun & Mon (company pays $40 max per person). Tuesday is taken care of. I am planning on booking tickets for Arabian Nights for Thurs or Fri. That still leaves a few days open. Thanks for your help!

Can you do the parks in the evenings? We love staying at Port Orleans Riverside. Also if you buy a park hopper pass you should try to see all four parks.

 

[spiceycat]

Can you do the parks in the evenings? We love staying at Port Orleans Riverside. Also if you buy a park hopper pass you should try to see all four parks.

boy I forgot how late the WDW parks are open in June - you are correct!!

considering they are there now I wonder if we will get a trip report?