Some advice, please?

[eeyore29]

DH & I are taking a 4-day weekend trip to WDW in September, and since we only have 1 day in each park, we're gonna try to squeeze all the major things in that we each want to do. To help figure the 'itinerary', I'm asking for some expert advice on the following:

1. What is the best place (that we can sit) to see Spectromagic and then WISHES too? I was thinking upstairs at the train station? Also, does anyone have any idea if either of these show up good on video tape?
2. We're not real fancy diners (burgers & fries are ok by us, plus we don't have $50-100 to spend on each meal), but I would like to stop by a few of the nicer places, just to see what they're like. Does anyone know if we can stop by them and get just a side dish to split or a dessert, or do you have to do the whole works? We're more likely to eat at a food court or back at our hotel. If we can just pop in for a side dish/dessert, what would y'all recommend?
3. Since September's not quite as busy as June (our last visit), would you recommend a dinner package for Fantasmic? We'll probably be at MGM on a Saturday (9/25), so would the line be too outrageous if we wouldn't do a package? It doesn't matter where we sit cause they're all good seats, I would just prefer that we wouldn't have to wait in line forever before the show. We did a package last time with Hollywood & Vine which was a little pricey for our wallets, but it seemed worth it cause we could walk right into the show 30 minutes before it started. DH got sick from the food, but he'll just stay away from whatever the seafood was that he had if we go there again since it's the lowest-priced choice for the package.
4. Since DH got sick from Hollywood & Vine, I had to go on TOT by myself; I won't be going on it again cause I didn't like the darkness/dropping. If I didn't enjoy that ride, do you think I'll enjoy Rockin' Roller Coaster or Mission: Space?
5. How many rides can you usually tackle in the 1 hour early entry? Are there usually lines in that hour, or can you pretty much walk right onto the rides that are open early for that hour?
6. Any really neat, out-of-the-way/not-well-known things that we should check out at POP?

Ok I'll stop now, sorry for such a long bunch of questions. Any advice y'all can provide will be greatly appreciated... have I mentioned how much I love this site?!?!?! I don't know what I'd do without it!!
Thank you all so much!!

 

[jeancbpugh]

Originally posted by eeyore29
4. Since DH got sick from Hollywood & Vine, I had to go on TOT by myself; I won't be going on it again cause I didn't like the darkness/dropping. If I didn't enjoy that ride, do you think I'll enjoy Rockin' Roller Coaster or Mission: Space?

I don't enjoy ToT because I hate dropping but I love RnRC. I haven't tried Mission Space yet.

 

[eeyore29]

I'm kinda leaning away from RnRC & toward Mission Space cause RnRC looks too fast & wicked, but we'll be sure to keep that in mind. Does anyone else have any advice?

 

[pampam]

We have just had dessert at Prime Time and Sci Fi- no problem.

If you watch Wishes near the castle you will be able to see Tinkerbelle fly to Tomorrowland.

We did a Fantasmic dinner package once but our seats were no better than when we just do Fantasmic without the dinner package. Judge for yourself if the park seems busy or not.

I don't care for TOT but love Mission Space. I've never bothered with RnRc. If you want to do a lot of rides in early entry, I would suggest you go to RnRc, get a fast pass, do ToT, then use your fastpass for RnRc, or similar. I doubt you will do not much more than 1 or 2 rides in 1 hour. Of course, there again, it depends on how busy the park is.

 

[eeyore29]

Thank you all again so much for all your wisdom & insight!
Only 1 more month to go!

 

[Auntmeme]

Last October we went DH hated mission space. We never did rnrc.

We love both prime time & sci fi. Prime time def has better food, try the PB shake - fantastic & the smores for dessert. Share everything way too much to eat!
We watch Spectromagic over by Splash mountain, get there early for front row seats. Pictures came out great don't beleive we taped it. It is awesome!

Saw Fantasmatic a few years ago and had to get there about 40 min early to get decent seats. The worst part is getting out once it is over. You can go in, get seats and send dh out to get some dinner to go. Eat in your seats while waiting, much less $$ than package.

During ee there are only certain rides open. You can do them all if you & dh are efficient, no lollygagging Be there first thing!

Be by the castle for wishes Have a wonderful trip!

 

[tiggerrifficheidi]

I don't want to discourage you from Mission: Space, but don't go if you get motion sickness. It does a really good job of simulating gravity and weightlessness, but it does it through centripetal or centrifugal force (I'm not sure which...maybe both)...layman's terms...spinning round and round. You won't be aware of it, because you'll be in an enclosed "spacecraft," but I'm a helicopter pilot and I got a little queezy after the ride. However, I love RnRC! Yes, the coaster is in the dark, but it is does not have an eerie set up like ToT.

Also, I would not worry about having only an appetizer or dessert at a nice restaurant. It's your vacation! I would recommend some of the resort restaurants...California Grill at the Contemporary (They have great flatbreads, which are on their appetizer menu, but can actually fill you up, and their creme brulee is awesome!) Or hit one of the fancier park restaurants for lunch to try it out. Also, the Afternoon Tea at the GF Garden View Lounge was a great experience for DH and I. It CAN be expensive, but take a look at the menu on one of these sites before hand and go just for some tea and their SCONES! I got the recipe. It's a great treat!

I haven't done the FDP, but we're trying it Labor Day. I would guess that late Sept should be good enough to avoid the long lines you saw in June, but who knows.

As far as EE, it really depens on how fast you can move. DH and I can get alot done in MK and AK, but we've never tried it at MGM. If you're early risers anyway, go ahead and try it. If the park gets too crowded before lunchtime, switch to one of the non-EE parks that day.

HAVE FUN!

Heidi

 

[eeyore29]

I knew y'all would help us out! I can't believe our trip is only 24 days away! We still haven't gotten our itineraries ironed out but with all the help I get from DIS-ers I'm sure we'll be fine! Whatever we miss this time...there's always next time!
Later gators!