Some silly questions...

[xyymom]

from a newbie.

What is WISHES?

There is no chance for my family to see fireworks/parades in October unless we go to MNSSHP, is that correct? Or are the parades during the day in those months? What months have nightly parades/fireworks? I wanted my kids to see WDW all lit up. We are planning MNSSHP though during our stay, so that will be our chance.

I'm looking at buying a Passporter. Is it worth it? We're staying offsite.

How much money would you budget/day for food? We'll be eating breakfast at the hotel each day and likely dinner most days if the parks close at 5pm? We are hoping to do Cinderella's breakfast (we'll go to the latest sitting so that will be lunch for us that day) and the ice cream social and perhaps one other character meal too. We'll likely enjoy some of the special snacks in the park, but will bring snacks & water with us each day too.

How much do you budget for souvenirs?

Thanks :0)

 

[cobbler]

Wishes is a fireworks display at the Magic Kingdom that happens at the Parks closing.

I am not sure about the schedule for October if you can only see it during the MNSSHP or not.

Food is really a ballpark thing, depending on how much you eat, if you do sit down or counter service. I usually plan around 75 for meals for a day without character dining for our family of 4. My youngest is 3 and can share with older son, me and hubby. That boils down to 25 a meal and about 8 a person. We do a couple big character meals but I budget that seperatly. We do Chef Mickeys and that is 9 for ages 9 and under and 16 each for me and hubby.

With souvenirs I don't budget that much because we try not to let the kids get wrapped up in all the knick knacks and stuff. I do allow them to get a lanyard and 2 pins of their choice as well as I get a pin for them that is the year we are there, our hotel pin and one other one if there is a special event going on.

 

[xyymom]

when is the new "lilo & stitch" ride going to be open, does anyone know?

Thanks! :0)

 

[cobbler]

Sometime this fall but I don't remember seeing any spacific dates. If anyone knows I would like to know as well.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by xyymom
There is no chance for my family to see fireworks/parades in October unless we go to MNSSHP, is that correct? Or are the parades during the day in those months? What months have nightly parades/fireworks? I wanted my kids to see WDW all lit up. We are planning MNSSHP though during our stay, so that will be our chance.

There is a daily parade at MK at 3pm, so there will always be a parade there. You can also see daily parades at Animal Kingdom and the Studios. Nighttime parades will probably only be during MNSSHP.

There are also fireworks 365 days a year at Disney. IllumiNations happens every night at Epcot, as does Fantasmic! at the Studios. Wishes will likely happen several times during your stay.

 

[GarrettJD]

Welcome to the DIS, xyymom!

I'm not sure of the schedule for the Magic Kingdom in October, but lately, they have shown the Wishes fireworks pretty much every night in the Magic Kingdom. The Spectromagic parade is usually shown only on a few days during the off-season, most of the time on Saturday, sometimes on Tuesday also. Disney will probably release October hours about 2 months in advance. Make sure to see Wishes and Spectro, they're terrific!

At Epcot there is a fireworks show called Illuminations that they run every night, usually at 9 pm. It's my favorite show at WDW, and if you like fireworks, you should set aside at least one night at Epcot to see it.

As far as other parades go, there are afternoon parades every day (usually) at the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM, and Animal Kingdom. They usually run about 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

I find the PassPorter well worth it! I've bought the last two editions, and I enjoy reading it and using it for keeping the planning together. The Unofficial Guide is also really good for realistic, consumer-oriented information. Some people find the Unofficial Guide to be negative, but I think it's great and full of great information. (Len Testa, who works for the Unofficial Guide, posts here from time to time.)

As far as Stitch, I've read around the internet that most indications point to a September/October official opening, with Cast Member/ Annual Passholder previews and soft openings starting a month or so before that. We'll get there a couple of months too early. Oh well. Always can go back

 

[xyymom]

There are also fireworks 365 days a year at Disney. IllumiNations happens every night at Epcot, as does Fantasmic! at the Studios.

Thanks! I thought I read that the hours were only until 7pm at the latest at that time of year!

 

[GarrettJD]

At Epcot, Future World is usually open from 9am to 7pm and World Showcase from 11am to 9pm. This can change, but it usually holds true.

 

[The Black Pearl]

I'm going to WDW in October and I just got off the phone with a Disney Rep. I was asking her about scheduling The California Grill in order to view the fireworks and she advised me that like most restraunts I have to book it 90 days in advance but went on to say that the fireworks/parade schedule won't be ready till approx. 60 Days prior( around the begining of August).!!!!

No Fair!!!!! I Want My View!!!!!


The Captain of The Black Pearl

 

[xyymom]

They really need to get this together Captain! It's making me crazy with my schedule trying to book PS' and plan days at parks when I have NO idea which nights will be showing Wishes, etc. I'm so frustrated

 

[trracers]

I feel the same way...I wrote them and this was the response...

Message:
I have made my hotel reservations for Sept 4-11th using the pay for 5 stay for 7 (although it was a whole lot easier to convince my husband using the pay for 4 stay for 7!!). In any regard, I have patiently been waiting for park hours and firework plans, etc as I know that Night of Joy is that week. I wonder if since you are going to require that dining reservations (such as Breakfast with
Cinderella) be made 90 days in advance, if you couldn't also be sure that park hours are up at least 90 days in advance also. It is quite difficult to plan an itinerary when you have no idea what parks you intend to visit on each day.

Will the park hours for September be posted soon?

They replied:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Theme park operating schedules for the period of your upcoming visit have not yet been determined or released. Operating hours are usually available 60 days in advance. We encourage you to visit the following address on our Web site closer to your actual arrival, to obtain updated operating hours information.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/index?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Which didn't really answer my question so I wrote....

I realize they are not available and that they will be posted, my concern is how am I supposed to plan for meals 90 days in advance when I have no idea what hours the park will be open or what days the special events will occur. Surely you can understand that not knowing pertinent information makes this very difficult. It seems that operating hours used to post 90 days in advance. Could you at least give an estimate as to what the hours will be and which nights will be fireworks night at MK, etc.

and got back:

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

We understand your concern, however, we do not have any way of predicting the hours of operations for the Theme parks or time schedules for parades and fireworks. We will forward your concerns to the appropriate area for their review. We realize this is not the response you were hoping for but we appreciate your understanding.

It is unrealistic of them to think that we can plan and reserve without knowing where we will be, when we will be there and how long we can stay....

Luckily, I am going the first week of September and I don't have to be too stringent on my PSs, but if it were any other time of year, I would be FRANTIC!

 

[The Black Pearl]

Oops! Let me try again!!

 

[The Black Pearl]

Originally posted by xyymom
They really need to get this together Captain! It's making me crazy with my schedule trying to book PS' and plan days at parks when I have NO idea which nights will be showing Wishes, etc. I'm so frustrated

Disney really does need to update its Parade/Fireworks scheduling to match its reservation policy ( I believe meal reservations also used to be made 60 days in advance).

I've given the "Wishes" problem some thought. Since we know that they do have fireworks on the nights of MNSSHP, If you made dinner reservations at either The Contemporary's California Grill or The Polynesian's Luau ( I don't know if Ohana has a view) you should still be able to see the fireworks without actually being in the park.

As to the parade................I'm still working on it

The Captain of The Black Pearl