This time, I walk!!!
- Thread starter AnnieDan_Artlover
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AnnieDan_Artlover
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- Aug 8, 2007
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No, don't worry... could've been worse.
Because I wanted to make even more sure that other options were not possible, I checked with what would it look like going for a combo FWF and Halloween instead...
Of course, the point is kinda moot since we want to go at least once during Holidays decoration/festivities and another time for Halloween and FWF... so it would just put the order vice-versa, going this time in October and the next, in a few years, in December...
I still checked.
What was bugging me was, a free DDP is now offered for canadian guests arriving before the end of Sept 2012! Of course there is also one THIS Dec., so it's possible there will be the same offer for next Dec. but we can't be sure.
I wanted to do number crunching (and I hate maths!)
Here's the deal :
be it October or December, more or less the prices are the same.
Our plan right now, to save money AND get a resort we really like, is renting DVC points, buy 2 APs and the DDP.
If money is shorter than we thought or if we can't get the points to BLT, we will go with AKL instead.
To get free DDP... we need to get a room going through regular Disney paths, so no DVC renting. And it would have to be a moderate or deluxe resort to get the DDP with table-service credit (packages with a value resort only give you the quick-service plan).
Which means we would need to settle for a resort we don't like as much, in the cheapest of moderates... and it would still cost more than renting DVC points!
To get the free DDP we ALSO need to buy regular day-tickets, we can't just use an AP. Meaning it would cost us about 300$ more in park admission.
Depending on how much we end up paying the DVC points, it would cost us from 300$ to 800$ more to stick with our initial plan.
So... is BLT and the AP discounts worth that amount?
I'll have to give the info to Mama (in the name of 100% transparent process... to sound like an administrator!
)
But I think she'll deem it worth it. After all, she's willing to pay more to drive, and not drive in the dark, and so on...
But reminding ourselves that we could also go with AKL... no monorail but still much cooler than a moderate... and even paying a LOT for DVC points... we would end up not paying a cent more than the whole Moderate-free DDP plan!
Only thing now is I'm still doubtful of the DDP. Last time we were wondering... and Mama wants to try it... me too... I feel it might be fun not to worry about price in signature places, for example (altough since we don't eat lots of meat and no seafood whatsoever we're never in the higher price bracket!)... But I'm not sure it will be worth it in the end...
I'm thinking "too much food and divided in a way that may not fit us". But then... we'll see if we try!
Before we buy the DDP though I'll take out my 2008 Passporter and check out the old info, maybe I even have most of the receipts! It will help with the decision...
DDP is worth 82$ for us 2... we figure we'd pay around 100$ each day without it... if it turns out in 2008 we spent less than 80$/day, the DDP isn't worth it.
Plus, last time it took us more than half the trip to figure out the dishes were way too big for our appetites and we were better off ordering each our appetizers and sharing the entree (or vice-versa), and not ordering dessert at all... or sharing in the very least!
I'll go fetch the binder right now!
Because I wanted to make even more sure that other options were not possible, I checked with what would it look like going for a combo FWF and Halloween instead...
Of course, the point is kinda moot since we want to go at least once during Holidays decoration/festivities and another time for Halloween and FWF... so it would just put the order vice-versa, going this time in October and the next, in a few years, in December...
I still checked.
What was bugging me was, a free DDP is now offered for canadian guests arriving before the end of Sept 2012! Of course there is also one THIS Dec., so it's possible there will be the same offer for next Dec. but we can't be sure.
I wanted to do number crunching (and I hate maths!)
Here's the deal :
be it October or December, more or less the prices are the same.
Our plan right now, to save money AND get a resort we really like, is renting DVC points, buy 2 APs and the DDP.
If money is shorter than we thought or if we can't get the points to BLT, we will go with AKL instead.
To get free DDP... we need to get a room going through regular Disney paths, so no DVC renting. And it would have to be a moderate or deluxe resort to get the DDP with table-service credit (packages with a value resort only give you the quick-service plan).
Which means we would need to settle for a resort we don't like as much, in the cheapest of moderates... and it would still cost more than renting DVC points!
To get the free DDP we ALSO need to buy regular day-tickets, we can't just use an AP. Meaning it would cost us about 300$ more in park admission.
Depending on how much we end up paying the DVC points, it would cost us from 300$ to 800$ more to stick with our initial plan.
So... is BLT and the AP discounts worth that amount?
I'll have to give the info to Mama (in the name of 100% transparent process... to sound like an administrator!
)But I think she'll deem it worth it. After all, she's willing to pay more to drive, and not drive in the dark, and so on...
But reminding ourselves that we could also go with AKL... no monorail but still much cooler than a moderate... and even paying a LOT for DVC points... we would end up not paying a cent more than the whole Moderate-free DDP plan!
Only thing now is I'm still doubtful of the DDP. Last time we were wondering... and Mama wants to try it... me too... I feel it might be fun not to worry about price in signature places, for example (altough since we don't eat lots of meat and no seafood whatsoever we're never in the higher price bracket!)... But I'm not sure it will be worth it in the end...
I'm thinking "too much food and divided in a way that may not fit us". But then... we'll see if we try!
Before we buy the DDP though I'll take out my 2008 Passporter and check out the old info, maybe I even have most of the receipts! It will help with the decision...
DDP is worth 82$ for us 2... we figure we'd pay around 100$ each day without it... if it turns out in 2008 we spent less than 80$/day, the DDP isn't worth it.
Plus, last time it took us more than half the trip to figure out the dishes were way too big for our appetites and we were better off ordering each our appetizers and sharing the entree (or vice-versa), and not ordering dessert at all... or sharing in the very least!
I'll go fetch the binder right now!
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Yeah... I hate maths. I don't suck at it, I was in enriched math classes for 4 out of 5 years in high school... I just don't like them.
Soooo... I did the MATH.
Looked through my 2008 Passporter, and indeed, all the receipts WERE there! I added up everything for each day and figured, in 2008, we spent an average of 96$ a day in food (all snacks included, even the ones we would buy at the resort convenience store... but I forgot to take the small grocery we did into account though).
So our idea of 100$/day in food wasn't too far away from the reality!
Of course, some days cost less than 50$ and others over 150$.
I noticed that what happened was, some days we had no ADRs (back then I had to twist Mama's arm to have so many as we did! Now she gets it and wants one each day).
Those days, especially if we were in parks with few restaurant choices, we would end up eating 2 QS meals.
We often went to the resort food court for breakfast and late-night snacks.
So I talked with Mama and altough we would love to not worry at all with menu item cost and (mostly) about gratuity... we don't think it would be worth it.
Hopefully next trip I remember and don't have to go through all the math again!
And then... I re-checked the price of 2012 DDP... and learned I had done all my math thinking (don't ask me how), that it would cost us 82$/day... when in fact it would cost 103$/day!!!
Even figuring out a price increase in menu items from 2008, and lets say some prices I had from 2008 receipts didn't include gratuity (I think they did though)... I don't think it brings us OVER 103$/day!
And let's not forget that since we would have to use a few "double-credits" for signature meals, we'd have to find a way to use our remaining credits, probably splitting a credit and buying an item or 2 OOP.
AND we are sure we'll do the afternoon high tea at the GF again, and this is not included in the DDP.
So we won't be going with the DDP after all.
And we may not end up spending LESS than we would with it. But not more either, and we won't have to think about it.
With the AP we'll have some discounts... and I'll buy the TIW card to max out the discounts. It had been worth it last time... and it pays for itself.
Plus... staying at BLT DVC resort, and having our car, we'll have a small fridge and a microwave... and being very close to our 2 favorite parks (MK & EPCOT) it could be possible to go back to the room to eat a quick meal... Unlike in 2008, when staying at POFR, where it would take over 1hr to go back to our room... and then another 1hr to go back to a park... The new nus system was implemented and was a mess, and if the bus stopped to POR on the way to our resort (they always are together on the same bus), it would add 20min. I'm betting 20min is all it will take to get back to our BLT studio from MK!
And having the car to get some groceries and a microwave on top of the fridge, it will make it possible to have some nice quick meals... and we'll be able to bring back doggiebags of leftovers!!! (wasn't sure, just checked : unless a buffet or all-you-can-eat, we actually can!).
So... here are some money saving tips that will help us keep that at 100$/day or lower... on average... and will let us eat at those higher end restaurants and eat what we want without a care.
Knowing the real price of 2012 DDP made the decision so much easier!
Soooo... I did the MATH.
Looked through my 2008 Passporter, and indeed, all the receipts WERE there! I added up everything for each day and figured, in 2008, we spent an average of 96$ a day in food (all snacks included, even the ones we would buy at the resort convenience store... but I forgot to take the small grocery we did into account though).
So our idea of 100$/day in food wasn't too far away from the reality!
Of course, some days cost less than 50$ and others over 150$.
I noticed that what happened was, some days we had no ADRs (back then I had to twist Mama's arm to have so many as we did! Now she gets it and wants one each day).
Those days, especially if we were in parks with few restaurant choices, we would end up eating 2 QS meals.
We often went to the resort food court for breakfast and late-night snacks.
So I talked with Mama and altough we would love to not worry at all with menu item cost and (mostly) about gratuity... we don't think it would be worth it.
Hopefully next trip I remember and don't have to go through all the math again!
And then... I re-checked the price of 2012 DDP... and learned I had done all my math thinking (don't ask me how), that it would cost us 82$/day... when in fact it would cost 103$/day!!!
Even figuring out a price increase in menu items from 2008, and lets say some prices I had from 2008 receipts didn't include gratuity (I think they did though)... I don't think it brings us OVER 103$/day!
And let's not forget that since we would have to use a few "double-credits" for signature meals, we'd have to find a way to use our remaining credits, probably splitting a credit and buying an item or 2 OOP.
AND we are sure we'll do the afternoon high tea at the GF again, and this is not included in the DDP.
So we won't be going with the DDP after all.
And we may not end up spending LESS than we would with it. But not more either, and we won't have to think about it.
With the AP we'll have some discounts... and I'll buy the TIW card to max out the discounts. It had been worth it last time... and it pays for itself.
Plus... staying at BLT DVC resort, and having our car, we'll have a small fridge and a microwave... and being very close to our 2 favorite parks (MK & EPCOT) it could be possible to go back to the room to eat a quick meal... Unlike in 2008, when staying at POFR, where it would take over 1hr to go back to our room... and then another 1hr to go back to a park... The new nus system was implemented and was a mess, and if the bus stopped to POR on the way to our resort (they always are together on the same bus), it would add 20min. I'm betting 20min is all it will take to get back to our BLT studio from MK!
And having the car to get some groceries and a microwave on top of the fridge, it will make it possible to have some nice quick meals... and we'll be able to bring back doggiebags of leftovers!!! (wasn't sure, just checked : unless a buffet or all-you-can-eat, we actually can!).
So... here are some money saving tips that will help us keep that at 100$/day or lower... on average... and will let us eat at those higher end restaurants and eat what we want without a care.
Knowing the real price of 2012 DDP made the decision so much easier!
swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Every time I run numbers on the dining plan, I come out ahead not buying it. Our family doesn't eat as much as is covered. Also, the last trip and our upcoming one, I have gotten a PIN for 40% off a Deluxe. Sometimes they make those offers to the general public (35-40%) and you can't do that with the free dining plan and I won't pay for the dining plan.
If you don't do the dining plan, you could pre-load a debit/credit card and use it like the dining plan, without having to worry about credits, or even if the venue accepts the dining plan. That's if you like the dining plan because it's prepaid and you don't have to budget while you're there.
If you don't do the dining plan, you could pre-load a debit/credit card and use it like the dining plan, without having to worry about credits, or even if the venue accepts the dining plan. That's if you like the dining plan because it's prepaid and you don't have to budget while you're there.
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Going through my Passporter I'm seeing, everyday, this "Notes for next time" which I took. I also took notes on the side...
I didn't finish my 2008 TR and I wouldn't do it all over again either... but I think I just HAVE to make a list here of the main tips I gave to myself (and all of us!)
Sorry it won't be organized except by when I figured them out!
(I wanted to put this as a new thread or some sort of sticky, but I can't see how or where, so... too bad! Maybe someone with the knowledge will just make a copy-paste of the info and add it to some thread... hopefully keeping the source in the process... hint hint
)
Stay at a monorail resort
Taking into account the fact that buses were awful because of the implementation of the new system... and that I was in a wheelchair which made things complicated... and it's easy in the monorail.
But even with an all-figured-out bus system and no wheelchair, I still stand by that : POFQ bus stop, for example, is always the furthest of all (values being often on the other side of the bus station)... and 5 stops on the way back from a park takes a very long time! ...and if the bus stopped at POR first (same bus as POFQ), it would add up 20min!
So monorail resort = no hassle, faster transit time.
Unlike what other people will tell you, unless maybe in peak season... it's not necessary to wait 30min. or more after Wishes before leaving.
The crowds were not much different than during the day, of course there was a lot of people moving all the same way and using the same transportation... but we didn't end up waiting more than usual for the bus and even with the wheelchair didn't feel stuck in a sea of people.
You can NOT get in CRT or Tusker House more than 10min earlier than your ADR.
If you show up more than 10min before your ADR time, they'll just tell you to go and come back...
Just looking at the schedules I noted I remember how angry I was at how SLOW Mama was and how everything was in general, due to me being in a wheelchair, Mama being slow AND the buses... The best time we did was taking 90min to get somewhere, with an average of 2h30min!!!
No wonder why I remember us being late at the parks and being angry (and having breakfast receipts from the resort food court time stamped past 10am) while Mama remembers waking up before 9am!
So what's the tip?
Take all the time you need to sleep... go to bed when you need to and don't wake up super early if it does nothing for you. Follow your rythm. If you have enough time and not enough energy, like us, don't worry, the parks are open for more hours than you can handle!
Prepare all you can before you can go to bed and set a goal for when you want to be in the parks. For example, if you're slow in the morning, prepare your coffee with everything but the water (duh), choose your clothes, make sure your bag is packed, etc. Take your shower or bath at night so in the morning all you have to do is use some water in your hair if needed (you might wear a hat and ruin any hairdo anyways!). As for the time goal, if you have decided to be at MK at rope drop, for example, you'll make it! You may not be in such a hurry to "make it" if your goal is just to "be in AK by 10am" but it will still help more than no goal at all.
No matter why, do NOT do more than one ADR in one day.
You'll end up wasting food and regretting because you were in "that" restaurant but were not hungry enough to eat what you wanted. Even if the ADRs are breakfast and dinner, it's still a lot of time spent in sit-down restaurants. You may need the break, but you can also sit down to eat at a QS and take small breaks for snacks throghout the day. Having 2 ADRs in one day makes it stressful (you have to make it!) and we basically just didn't like it.
DO book an ADR for each day!
It forces you to really sit down and eat at least once a day. I know, I JUST said you could always sit down at QS and for snacks. But you don't always HAVE to or WANT to. So if you don't... well at least you'll have that sit-down ADR. And it's clear that sitting down for a TS takes more time and is a more relaxing meal than a QS.
And don't think you can just wing it and say "we'll go to a TS everyday but won't book anything so we're free to decide". That's what Mama thought... and that's why some days we have eaten only snacks and QS and why one evening in particular (not even a particularly packed day!) we went to 3 EPCOT restaurants before a CM called a 4th one and found us a place.Not fun. We were tired, we were hungry, and we had to walk around WS twice before we finally could sit down to eat!
A fridge in your room is a must
Even if you're in an on-site moderate, you can rent a mini-fridge (well, you could in 2008!) and the price was worth it! Even better if you're in a studio with a microwave on top, or, of course, in a villa on or off-site with a full kitchenette! But with a fridge you can have milk, juice and soft drinks. For breakfast and late-night snacks, we didn't regret one second having a grocery delivered with MILK and some meal-replacing Boost, among other stuff. When having breakfast in the parks or at another resort, a Boost would make sure I'm okay until I really eat... and eating a gingerbread Mickey was so much better with milk!
It's worth it to eat the breakfast in your room
Either go to the resort food court and bring back the food, eat snacks or use things you can keep in your room... Of course it's even more worth it if you have a wheelchair. It was very complicated to eat at the foodcourt or any buffet, as Mama had to come with me and we'd put things in my plate on my knees and then she'd bring me to my table and would have to go again for herself. So instead I'd tell her what I wanted and she would go to the foodcourt alone and bring everything back. We would save frustration and time that way.
But clearly, an ADR or 2 as breakfasts are ALSO worth it. We are definitely going back to Kona Café for breakfast in 2012!
You don't need to go early for the Flower Power concerts (not the later ones anyways).
We got there as one was starting and had plenty of room!
Go early to your wheelchair spot between Italy and Germany for IllumiNations in EPCOT to get a good spot.
Change viewing spot if you're on the right side (facing the parade) for the Jammin' Jungle Parade in AK (at it's path's start in Harambe, anyways... )
It's hard to do Wishes with the second Spectromagic
....do they still do 2 runs of the old-new Main Street Electrical Parade?
To be honest I took that note but can't remember why and maybe it had to do with special w/c seating.
TS restaurants's last seating is 15min before park closing time
Keep that in mind if you don't have an ADR and plan to try a TS for late dinner... It can make for a very peaceful dinner... if you don't mind feeling you're bothering people who want to finish their workday!
It's not as hard or time-wasting to zig zag between lands in AK
In ticketed evens at MK (P&PP in 2008, MVMCP in 2012):
Try to get the most info you can from the DIS as the info given on site is scarce and often vague.
Nap in the afternoon if needed, eat before you get there, and get there 15-30min before it starts OR Sleep in that morning and get in the park 1-2hrs before the start of the event to eat in peace.
Mama wouldn't listen to me last time and we ended up going around in circles to find a place to eat that was ok and had to settle for Casey's corner (we love it but wanted a bit healthier that time), all that made for being really ready to start enjoying the event 1-2 hours after it started and not having made a late morning and no real nap, we had to leave quite early because we were too tired. Made up for a very frustrating evening.
If in a wheelchair, check beforehand where the w/c entry is before waiting in line (either ask or send someone of your party). You could end up standing in line for a while before a CM tells you the w/c can't enter that way and you have to go elsewhere and wait again...
Check for tickets before leaving the room
We had to go back to POFQ once we had made it all the way to DTD by boat because we had forgotten the La Nouba tix for that evening... we lost 1hr just travelling back.
DTD Virgin Megastore:
The store doesn't hold Disney parks CDs, but they have a lot of Disney soundtracks, DVDs and books!
If you have a right to a discount (AP discount for example), don't forget to use it right away because even if it IS possible, going back with the receipt to get a credit is much harder and very complicated (and time you could be spending having fun!)
They won't deliver next-day to your resort... it can be over 48hrs!
Give yourself plenty of time between La Nouba show and dinner (or vice-versa) for transportation!
DTD is not a small place...
DO the mother's day brunch in EPCOT
It cost, but it's definitely worth it! And they have stations for the kids to prepare cupcakes and keep busy, sooo beautiful, and special characters! It was our most peaceful meal of the whole trip.
In 2008 it was incredibly hard to find though. Make sure you know your way and where it is on the map before you get there, because CMs might not be of any help (they were not for us)
The WS lagoon boat doesn't save time compared to walking around.
Do NOT go to Whispering Canyon Café
We didn't want to go but it was part of the Backstage Magic Tour.
Unless you're into that sort of thing, it's not fun (the rest of the BMT with us didn't find them funny at all, either annoying or just plain stupid).
It's very noisy and the food isn't good.
Do NOT do the Backstage Magic Tour
It may have changed since 2008, and I know it was different when we did it from reviews I had read of people doing it not that long before... but :
It's disappointing unless you intend to go work at WDW. You really feel like you're a new CM and they are giving you orientation day! We didn't get to see the Xmas decorations in storage, we didn't see that much backstage (not worth 200$/person!) and what we saw, plus the info we got, was more about how it's like for CMs, where they wash their clothes and where they hang out in the utilidors and what they have to do to get a job and so on. And of course, how great an employer WDW was...
If you have trouble with stairs and walking for a long time, do NOT take it. They said it was accessible if you told in advance of the w/c. But it turns out you use a tourism bus to get from one place to the other, and each time you have to get on and off (stairs!). If I had needed to, they would've taken the time to load me and unload me... but I didn't, and they wouldn't even wait for me, so I can't imagine if they took the time to do the full accessible stuff. In one place I had to leave my w/c and walk up stairs to be able to see anything interesting. I don,t call that "accessible, just mention in advance". I call that "we can let you join, but you won't get the full tour and you'll slow everyone down and they WILL make you feel bad for it.
At one point the CM doing the tour took an elevator with most of the others before we could reach them and we were left not knowing which floor to go to. And I know I said Mama is slow, but that wasn't the reason. The bus driver would still be unloading my w/c from the luggage compartment and before I'd be able to even sit in my chair the others had all started with that section of the tour and walked away!
Don't run around in circles for 10min before asking for directions and don't assume that "maybe" it's that way. If you're not sure, the parks are too big to just take a chance, especially if you're going to an ADR or to meet someone. ASK.
If you're into photography, take a special moment to go to AK with your camera and your best zoom lense and do the trails, the safari (early morning or late afternoon are the best) and do just that. Don't lug all the equipment around for the whole time when you just want those pictures. Do the rides another time.
CRT is worth it.
Atmosphere is great, food is good.
GET a refillable mug at your resort.
We paid for ours in the first day of our trip we were so thirsty!
Things I would do again :
Special ticketed event
Shows
Fireworks
Parades
Chefs de France
Anandapur Yak & Yeti
Things I would NOT do again:
-Take an early morning plane... you need to be at the airport way too early, you lack sleep and are way too tired to appreciate your first day even if you get there in early afternoon!
-Go back to the resort mid-day unless it's very close to the park (and maybe not even then, we'll have to see how it goes at the BLT). It takes way too much time out of your day.
-Tusker House
-Spoodles
-Yorkshire County fish n chip
-Flame-Tree BBQ
Wow, I learned a LOT in 2008!
I still have some stuff to go through from that trip but I have to sleep a bit first, and I figure this post is plenty long enough!
I didn't finish my 2008 TR and I wouldn't do it all over again either... but I think I just HAVE to make a list here of the main tips I gave to myself (and all of us!)
Sorry it won't be organized except by when I figured them out!
(I wanted to put this as a new thread or some sort of sticky, but I can't see how or where, so... too bad! Maybe someone with the knowledge will just make a copy-paste of the info and add it to some thread... hopefully keeping the source in the process... hint hint
)Stay at a monorail resort
Taking into account the fact that buses were awful because of the implementation of the new system... and that I was in a wheelchair which made things complicated... and it's easy in the monorail.
But even with an all-figured-out bus system and no wheelchair, I still stand by that : POFQ bus stop, for example, is always the furthest of all (values being often on the other side of the bus station)... and 5 stops on the way back from a park takes a very long time! ...and if the bus stopped at POR first (same bus as POFQ), it would add up 20min!
So monorail resort = no hassle, faster transit time.
Unlike what other people will tell you, unless maybe in peak season... it's not necessary to wait 30min. or more after Wishes before leaving.
The crowds were not much different than during the day, of course there was a lot of people moving all the same way and using the same transportation... but we didn't end up waiting more than usual for the bus and even with the wheelchair didn't feel stuck in a sea of people.
You can NOT get in CRT or Tusker House more than 10min earlier than your ADR.
If you show up more than 10min before your ADR time, they'll just tell you to go and come back...
Just looking at the schedules I noted I remember how angry I was at how SLOW Mama was and how everything was in general, due to me being in a wheelchair, Mama being slow AND the buses... The best time we did was taking 90min to get somewhere, with an average of 2h30min!!!
No wonder why I remember us being late at the parks and being angry (and having breakfast receipts from the resort food court time stamped past 10am) while Mama remembers waking up before 9am!
So what's the tip?
Take all the time you need to sleep... go to bed when you need to and don't wake up super early if it does nothing for you. Follow your rythm. If you have enough time and not enough energy, like us, don't worry, the parks are open for more hours than you can handle!
Prepare all you can before you can go to bed and set a goal for when you want to be in the parks. For example, if you're slow in the morning, prepare your coffee with everything but the water (duh), choose your clothes, make sure your bag is packed, etc. Take your shower or bath at night so in the morning all you have to do is use some water in your hair if needed (you might wear a hat and ruin any hairdo anyways!). As for the time goal, if you have decided to be at MK at rope drop, for example, you'll make it! You may not be in such a hurry to "make it" if your goal is just to "be in AK by 10am" but it will still help more than no goal at all.
No matter why, do NOT do more than one ADR in one day.
You'll end up wasting food and regretting because you were in "that" restaurant but were not hungry enough to eat what you wanted. Even if the ADRs are breakfast and dinner, it's still a lot of time spent in sit-down restaurants. You may need the break, but you can also sit down to eat at a QS and take small breaks for snacks throghout the day. Having 2 ADRs in one day makes it stressful (you have to make it!) and we basically just didn't like it.
DO book an ADR for each day!
It forces you to really sit down and eat at least once a day. I know, I JUST said you could always sit down at QS and for snacks. But you don't always HAVE to or WANT to. So if you don't... well at least you'll have that sit-down ADR. And it's clear that sitting down for a TS takes more time and is a more relaxing meal than a QS.
And don't think you can just wing it and say "we'll go to a TS everyday but won't book anything so we're free to decide". That's what Mama thought... and that's why some days we have eaten only snacks and QS and why one evening in particular (not even a particularly packed day!) we went to 3 EPCOT restaurants before a CM called a 4th one and found us a place.Not fun. We were tired, we were hungry, and we had to walk around WS twice before we finally could sit down to eat!
A fridge in your room is a must
Even if you're in an on-site moderate, you can rent a mini-fridge (well, you could in 2008!) and the price was worth it! Even better if you're in a studio with a microwave on top, or, of course, in a villa on or off-site with a full kitchenette! But with a fridge you can have milk, juice and soft drinks. For breakfast and late-night snacks, we didn't regret one second having a grocery delivered with MILK and some meal-replacing Boost, among other stuff. When having breakfast in the parks or at another resort, a Boost would make sure I'm okay until I really eat... and eating a gingerbread Mickey was so much better with milk!
It's worth it to eat the breakfast in your room
Either go to the resort food court and bring back the food, eat snacks or use things you can keep in your room... Of course it's even more worth it if you have a wheelchair. It was very complicated to eat at the foodcourt or any buffet, as Mama had to come with me and we'd put things in my plate on my knees and then she'd bring me to my table and would have to go again for herself. So instead I'd tell her what I wanted and she would go to the foodcourt alone and bring everything back. We would save frustration and time that way.
But clearly, an ADR or 2 as breakfasts are ALSO worth it. We are definitely going back to Kona Café for breakfast in 2012!
You don't need to go early for the Flower Power concerts (not the later ones anyways).
We got there as one was starting and had plenty of room!
Go early to your wheelchair spot between Italy and Germany for IllumiNations in EPCOT to get a good spot.
Change viewing spot if you're on the right side (facing the parade) for the Jammin' Jungle Parade in AK (at it's path's start in Harambe, anyways... )
It's hard to do Wishes with the second Spectromagic
....do they still do 2 runs of the old-new Main Street Electrical Parade?
To be honest I took that note but can't remember why and maybe it had to do with special w/c seating.
TS restaurants's last seating is 15min before park closing time
Keep that in mind if you don't have an ADR and plan to try a TS for late dinner... It can make for a very peaceful dinner... if you don't mind feeling you're bothering people who want to finish their workday!
It's not as hard or time-wasting to zig zag between lands in AK
In ticketed evens at MK (P&PP in 2008, MVMCP in 2012):
Try to get the most info you can from the DIS as the info given on site is scarce and often vague.
Nap in the afternoon if needed, eat before you get there, and get there 15-30min before it starts OR Sleep in that morning and get in the park 1-2hrs before the start of the event to eat in peace.
Mama wouldn't listen to me last time and we ended up going around in circles to find a place to eat that was ok and had to settle for Casey's corner (we love it but wanted a bit healthier that time), all that made for being really ready to start enjoying the event 1-2 hours after it started and not having made a late morning and no real nap, we had to leave quite early because we were too tired. Made up for a very frustrating evening.
If in a wheelchair, check beforehand where the w/c entry is before waiting in line (either ask or send someone of your party). You could end up standing in line for a while before a CM tells you the w/c can't enter that way and you have to go elsewhere and wait again...
Check for tickets before leaving the room
We had to go back to POFQ once we had made it all the way to DTD by boat because we had forgotten the La Nouba tix for that evening... we lost 1hr just travelling back.
DTD Virgin Megastore:
The store doesn't hold Disney parks CDs, but they have a lot of Disney soundtracks, DVDs and books!
If you have a right to a discount (AP discount for example), don't forget to use it right away because even if it IS possible, going back with the receipt to get a credit is much harder and very complicated (and time you could be spending having fun!)
They won't deliver next-day to your resort... it can be over 48hrs!
Give yourself plenty of time between La Nouba show and dinner (or vice-versa) for transportation!
DTD is not a small place...
DO the mother's day brunch in EPCOT
It cost, but it's definitely worth it! And they have stations for the kids to prepare cupcakes and keep busy, sooo beautiful, and special characters! It was our most peaceful meal of the whole trip.
In 2008 it was incredibly hard to find though. Make sure you know your way and where it is on the map before you get there, because CMs might not be of any help (they were not for us)
The WS lagoon boat doesn't save time compared to walking around.
Do NOT go to Whispering Canyon Café
We didn't want to go but it was part of the Backstage Magic Tour.
Unless you're into that sort of thing, it's not fun (the rest of the BMT with us didn't find them funny at all, either annoying or just plain stupid).
It's very noisy and the food isn't good.
Do NOT do the Backstage Magic Tour
It may have changed since 2008, and I know it was different when we did it from reviews I had read of people doing it not that long before... but :
It's disappointing unless you intend to go work at WDW. You really feel like you're a new CM and they are giving you orientation day! We didn't get to see the Xmas decorations in storage, we didn't see that much backstage (not worth 200$/person!) and what we saw, plus the info we got, was more about how it's like for CMs, where they wash their clothes and where they hang out in the utilidors and what they have to do to get a job and so on. And of course, how great an employer WDW was...
If you have trouble with stairs and walking for a long time, do NOT take it. They said it was accessible if you told in advance of the w/c. But it turns out you use a tourism bus to get from one place to the other, and each time you have to get on and off (stairs!). If I had needed to, they would've taken the time to load me and unload me... but I didn't, and they wouldn't even wait for me, so I can't imagine if they took the time to do the full accessible stuff. In one place I had to leave my w/c and walk up stairs to be able to see anything interesting. I don,t call that "accessible, just mention in advance". I call that "we can let you join, but you won't get the full tour and you'll slow everyone down and they WILL make you feel bad for it.
At one point the CM doing the tour took an elevator with most of the others before we could reach them and we were left not knowing which floor to go to. And I know I said Mama is slow, but that wasn't the reason. The bus driver would still be unloading my w/c from the luggage compartment and before I'd be able to even sit in my chair the others had all started with that section of the tour and walked away!
Don't run around in circles for 10min before asking for directions and don't assume that "maybe" it's that way. If you're not sure, the parks are too big to just take a chance, especially if you're going to an ADR or to meet someone. ASK.
If you're into photography, take a special moment to go to AK with your camera and your best zoom lense and do the trails, the safari (early morning or late afternoon are the best) and do just that. Don't lug all the equipment around for the whole time when you just want those pictures. Do the rides another time.
CRT is worth it.
Atmosphere is great, food is good.
GET a refillable mug at your resort.
We paid for ours in the first day of our trip we were so thirsty!
Things I would do again :
Special ticketed event
Shows
Fireworks
Parades
Chefs de France
Anandapur Yak & Yeti
Things I would NOT do again:
-Take an early morning plane... you need to be at the airport way too early, you lack sleep and are way too tired to appreciate your first day even if you get there in early afternoon!
-Go back to the resort mid-day unless it's very close to the park (and maybe not even then, we'll have to see how it goes at the BLT). It takes way too much time out of your day.
-Tusker House
-Spoodles
-Yorkshire County fish n chip
-Flame-Tree BBQ
Wow, I learned a LOT in 2008!
I still have some stuff to go through from that trip but I have to sleep a bit first, and I figure this post is plenty long enough!
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Mama asked for the budget total this morning, she had not kept score... and she was flabbergasted... in a bad way!
In fact, she had started saying how it was too much... and the number she gave me wasn't even as high as I had said... her brain had stopped listening at some point!
See, in her mind, our 2008 trip cost 6000$. It cost around 8000$.
So in her mind, she wanted a 5000$ trip or max 6000$. (I still don't get how she thought we could pay the same or LESS for 10 days MORE?!
)
So when she realized that, with the plan as it is right now, it would cost around 9000$... She put on the breaks, hard.
We could, technically, afford it. The money is there. But she doesn't want to spend as much on a single trip. And I agree.
So we have to cut at least 2000$.
I have a few ideas and I have to do some more math (ARGH)...
So I've been online for a few hours already, and everytime I answer a question 2 more pop up and I'm now with spreadsheets open and half a dozen web pages (so I don't forget).
So far it seems, in general, it's going to be about 4 days less in WDW, leaving on Saturday the 15th instead of Tuesday the 18th, so we also save the weekend price.
Even if the en-route motels ask more on the weekends too, 90$ instead of 80$ will still be cheaper than 200$/night (well, the equivalent of) in WDW!
We'll also forget Mama's beloved Hampton Inns (I exaggerate of course) and will go to the cheaper motels that are recommended here. So we could save about 100$ there. Mama feels hundreds of bucks savings are not much worth it and it's not enough... but they add up!
We'll also look at our food thing... We figured 100$/day for the whole trip. But it will probably be less than 50$ while driving... and we plan to stick to QS in Universal.
Maybe doing that we'll be able to save enough to keep TS ADRs each day in WDW.
If not, we'll have to skip that.
And of course we'll do a grocery to save on snacks and breakfast, and will use doggiebags, as I noted yesterday, to save a bit more.
I still need to figure out if it'll be enough or if we'll need to eat TS only once every 2 days, or 2 days out of 3.
And I need to check if you can get discount price on APs (both Universal and WDW)...
For now I just can't seem to find a list of the basic Universal AP benefits/discounts.
Here on the DIS the only lists are for the 2 more expensive APs... and nothing except the price for the basic one.
Looks like another day of frolicking in the DIS!
In fact, she had started saying how it was too much... and the number she gave me wasn't even as high as I had said... her brain had stopped listening at some point!
See, in her mind, our 2008 trip cost 6000$. It cost around 8000$.
So in her mind, she wanted a 5000$ trip or max 6000$. (I still don't get how she thought we could pay the same or LESS for 10 days MORE?!
)So when she realized that, with the plan as it is right now, it would cost around 9000$... She put on the breaks, hard.
We could, technically, afford it. The money is there. But she doesn't want to spend as much on a single trip. And I agree.
So we have to cut at least 2000$.
I have a few ideas and I have to do some more math (ARGH)...
So I've been online for a few hours already, and everytime I answer a question 2 more pop up and I'm now with spreadsheets open and half a dozen web pages (so I don't forget).
So far it seems, in general, it's going to be about 4 days less in WDW, leaving on Saturday the 15th instead of Tuesday the 18th, so we also save the weekend price.
Even if the en-route motels ask more on the weekends too, 90$ instead of 80$ will still be cheaper than 200$/night (well, the equivalent of) in WDW!
We'll also forget Mama's beloved Hampton Inns (I exaggerate of course) and will go to the cheaper motels that are recommended here. So we could save about 100$ there. Mama feels hundreds of bucks savings are not much worth it and it's not enough... but they add up!
We'll also look at our food thing... We figured 100$/day for the whole trip. But it will probably be less than 50$ while driving... and we plan to stick to QS in Universal.
Maybe doing that we'll be able to save enough to keep TS ADRs each day in WDW.
If not, we'll have to skip that.
And of course we'll do a grocery to save on snacks and breakfast, and will use doggiebags, as I noted yesterday, to save a bit more.
I still need to figure out if it'll be enough or if we'll need to eat TS only once every 2 days, or 2 days out of 3.
And I need to check if you can get discount price on APs (both Universal and WDW)...
For now I just can't seem to find a list of the basic Universal AP benefits/discounts.
Here on the DIS the only lists are for the 2 more expensive APs... and nothing except the price for the basic one.
Looks like another day of frolicking in the DIS!
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
No wonder... with all that going around it circles!
I'm still going to go on, would it be just so I can vent and keep score.
As I said last time, we had to shrink the trip down a bit and take some decisions... but it wasn't too bad.
We'll leave on November 24th, right after Thanksgiving... I know, the roads will be full of people going back to wherever after their family get-togethers... but at least it doesn't seem that the hotels' prices will be high and high traffic on the highways isn't too big of a hassle.
We'll stick to cheap (but still clean...
) motels on the way.
(that's 2 nights)
We cut one Universal day, for starters.
I had decided with 4-day, thiking that, people usually say it takes 2 whole days, and knowing we can be slow, and my health is unpredictable, so we should double it.
But looking at it all again I figure... maybe not that much. Plus, it won't be the funnest time for Mama as she doesn't do rides and except WWoHP it's not very whimsical parks... and it will be the beginning of the trip, my health should still be fine, we'll have driven with pelnty of breaks so I shouldn't be tired...
So 3 days it is.
We still will do 3 nights though, to keep the "Stay more, save more" discount, instead of staying at an Orlando motel on our arrival. It will also ensure us with the express passes for every one of our park days (I figure as a on-site guest, you only get those for each night you spend on-site!) and save us the hassle of switching hotel after our first day in the park. So we'll get at Universal on Nov 26th in the evening, and spend our last day in the parks on Nov 29th.
I also looked into the tickets pricing... I had thought we should get one annual pass, and one set of tickets... having read here on the DISthat, if you stayed 3 nights or more, on-site, it was worth it to take the AP.
BUT... maybe the info is outdated... Because first of all I noted that the prices listed on the DIS are not what is listed on the Universal site. Either it's outdated or they're based on a discount I'm unaware of... (we're talking about a 50$ difference or more).
And then... what I didn't realize at first is that the only AP which gives the room discount is the highest priced one, the Premier AP. As a non-FL resident, it cost 399$ (plus tx!).
It does give you a good discount on the room (up to 30%, but cannot be combined with any other discount), a discount on food and merchandise (10% pretty much everywhere) and 15% on the park tickets.
I did the math : Premier AP, and everything else with discounts VS 2 sets of tickets and everything else without discount (well, the "stay more save more" for the room)
...and it turns out we would pay about 70$ more with the AP!
We would get all-access club in City Walk... which we probably wouldn't use... we'd get some bottles of water (not worth 70$), the food and merchandise savings are less than 20$ since we plan on eating for cheap and don't plan on buying many souvenirs...
So... Our first night in Disney will be on Nov 30th, with no Disney park time planned that day. Unless we feel we've had enough of Universal and split the day between the 2 parks.
We cut a few days in WDW, as I thought we'd have to, and will leave in the morning of Friday Dec 14th... so we save by not spending a weekend-priced night on-site.
Most motels don't really increse their prices on weekends... and even when they do, the price difference is minimal compared to WDW!
We'll again sleep in cheaper motels along the way and will get home in the evening of Sunday Dec 16th.
Cutting those days, cutting those weekend-priced days, mostly... deciding to stay in cheaper motels and to stick with QS on the road and in Universal, and using the DVC facilities (fridge, microwave) and a grocery for most breakfast and late-night snacks... we not only were able to make a big budget cut of over 1500$, but also keep our once-a-day TS in WDW... and keep WDW to a full 2 weeks!
And stick with BLT DVC.
To cut more dough we could've switched to AKL... but we really wanted that monorail.
So now it's final, Mama's got at the info and gave the definitive OK.
And since she wants to spread the expenses over the year, we'll start making ressies soon, and the DVC will be in less than 2 months... so it's pretty much settled... FINALLY!
Overall trip :
Nov. 24th Leaving home! (am). Driving to somewhere around Harrisburg, PA
Nov. 25th Driving to Greensboro, NC where I'll have dinner with my dear friend Becca aka dreamer17555 (would've preferred on the way back, but we'd get there too late at night... unless you'd really prefer seeing me after the trip... we could always do breakfast... but we'd have a bit less time to chat, plus wouldn't it ruin the TR?)
Nov. 26th Final driving day, down to Orlando and our room at Universal Loews Royal Pacific Resort (I'd rather go to Hard Rock Hotel, but the PR is cheaper and still good... plus it's just for 3 nights)
Nov. 27th 1st Universal park day!!!
Nov. 28th Universal
Nov. 29th Last Universal day and transfer to Bay Lake Tower DVC for our first night in the World!
Nov. 30th 1st day in WDW parks
Dec. 13th Last day in WDW parks and last night in BLT
Dec 14th Leaving WDW
(am) Driving to somewhere around Florence, SC
Dec. 15th Driving to somewhere around Harrisburg, PA
Dec. 16th Final driving day, back home in the evening. Trip over.
Total on the road : 6 days (4 nights)
Total in Universal : 3 days (3 nights)
Total in WDW : 14 days (15 nights)
Overall : 23 days (22 nights)
And overall budget (approx. of course) : 7500$
We're hoping if the cost isn't much less, it'll be because gas and BLT were lower and we spent more on souvenirs and food! haha
I'm still going to go on, would it be just so I can vent and keep score.
As I said last time, we had to shrink the trip down a bit and take some decisions... but it wasn't too bad.
We'll leave on November 24th, right after Thanksgiving... I know, the roads will be full of people going back to wherever after their family get-togethers... but at least it doesn't seem that the hotels' prices will be high and high traffic on the highways isn't too big of a hassle.
We'll stick to cheap (but still clean...
) motels on the way.(that's 2 nights)
We cut one Universal day, for starters.
I had decided with 4-day, thiking that, people usually say it takes 2 whole days, and knowing we can be slow, and my health is unpredictable, so we should double it.
But looking at it all again I figure... maybe not that much. Plus, it won't be the funnest time for Mama as she doesn't do rides and except WWoHP it's not very whimsical parks... and it will be the beginning of the trip, my health should still be fine, we'll have driven with pelnty of breaks so I shouldn't be tired...
So 3 days it is.
We still will do 3 nights though, to keep the "Stay more, save more" discount, instead of staying at an Orlando motel on our arrival. It will also ensure us with the express passes for every one of our park days (I figure as a on-site guest, you only get those for each night you spend on-site!) and save us the hassle of switching hotel after our first day in the park. So we'll get at Universal on Nov 26th in the evening, and spend our last day in the parks on Nov 29th.
I also looked into the tickets pricing... I had thought we should get one annual pass, and one set of tickets... having read here on the DISthat, if you stayed 3 nights or more, on-site, it was worth it to take the AP.
BUT... maybe the info is outdated... Because first of all I noted that the prices listed on the DIS are not what is listed on the Universal site. Either it's outdated or they're based on a discount I'm unaware of... (we're talking about a 50$ difference or more).
And then... what I didn't realize at first is that the only AP which gives the room discount is the highest priced one, the Premier AP. As a non-FL resident, it cost 399$ (plus tx!).
It does give you a good discount on the room (up to 30%, but cannot be combined with any other discount), a discount on food and merchandise (10% pretty much everywhere) and 15% on the park tickets.
I did the math : Premier AP, and everything else with discounts VS 2 sets of tickets and everything else without discount (well, the "stay more save more" for the room)
...and it turns out we would pay about 70$ more with the AP!
We would get all-access club in City Walk... which we probably wouldn't use... we'd get some bottles of water (not worth 70$), the food and merchandise savings are less than 20$ since we plan on eating for cheap and don't plan on buying many souvenirs...
So... Our first night in Disney will be on Nov 30th, with no Disney park time planned that day. Unless we feel we've had enough of Universal and split the day between the 2 parks.
We cut a few days in WDW, as I thought we'd have to, and will leave in the morning of Friday Dec 14th... so we save by not spending a weekend-priced night on-site.
Most motels don't really increse their prices on weekends... and even when they do, the price difference is minimal compared to WDW!
We'll again sleep in cheaper motels along the way and will get home in the evening of Sunday Dec 16th.
Cutting those days, cutting those weekend-priced days, mostly... deciding to stay in cheaper motels and to stick with QS on the road and in Universal, and using the DVC facilities (fridge, microwave) and a grocery for most breakfast and late-night snacks... we not only were able to make a big budget cut of over 1500$, but also keep our once-a-day TS in WDW... and keep WDW to a full 2 weeks!
And stick with BLT DVC.
To cut more dough we could've switched to AKL... but we really wanted that monorail.
So now it's final, Mama's got at the info and gave the definitive OK.
And since she wants to spread the expenses over the year, we'll start making ressies soon, and the DVC will be in less than 2 months... so it's pretty much settled... FINALLY!
Overall trip :
Nov. 24th Leaving home! (am). Driving to somewhere around Harrisburg, PA
Nov. 25th Driving to Greensboro, NC where I'll have dinner with my dear friend Becca aka dreamer17555 (would've preferred on the way back, but we'd get there too late at night... unless you'd really prefer seeing me after the trip... we could always do breakfast... but we'd have a bit less time to chat, plus wouldn't it ruin the TR?
)Nov. 26th Final driving day, down to Orlando and our room at Universal Loews Royal Pacific Resort (I'd rather go to Hard Rock Hotel, but the PR is cheaper and still good... plus it's just for 3 nights)
Nov. 27th 1st Universal park day!!!
Nov. 28th Universal
Nov. 29th Last Universal day and transfer to Bay Lake Tower DVC for our first night in the World!
Nov. 30th 1st day in WDW parks
Dec. 13th Last day in WDW parks and last night in BLT
Dec 14th Leaving WDW
(am) Driving to somewhere around Florence, SCDec. 15th Driving to somewhere around Harrisburg, PA
Dec. 16th Final driving day, back home in the evening. Trip over.
Total on the road : 6 days (4 nights)
Total in Universal : 3 days (3 nights)
Total in WDW : 14 days (15 nights)
Overall : 23 days (22 nights)
And overall budget (approx. of course) : 7500$
We're hoping if the cost isn't much less, it'll be because gas and BLT were lower and we spent more on souvenirs and food! haha
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Yup.
I'm already thinking about food!
In fact, sometimes I wonder if I'm more excited about the rides, the atmosphere... or the food!
I just made a list of all the places we want to try (well, most of those are "I" since Mama doesn't do the DIS)... and we have a problem.
We want to do only one TS a day... we'll be in the World 14 days... and so far I have 21 TS meals on the wish list... and only 7 QS.
Of course having only 7 QS isn't too problematic. You can always tolerate going to any available QS, you can go twice to one you liked and you can also go back to the hotel room and use the previous day leftovers...
But it means we'll have to CHOOSE from our list of TS.
It'll already be hard not to go back to all the places we loved (we'll only do repeats to our very top favorites from 2008, which were Chefs de France, Portobello, Kona Café, Yak&Yeti and the High Afternoon Tea at Grand Floridian's Garden VIew Lounge... we also loved Hollywood & Vine, but I'm not sure it's up there as worth not going to a new place).
Choosing items on the menu will be hard enough... we really will have to go back a 3rd time to finish trying all the restaurants and be able to go back to other places to finally try other items on the menu!
(altough I already know I'm going to eat pretty much the same at Chefs de France!)
Most of the restaurants we want to go are in EPCOT... (simple: almost all of the WS ones!) Lucky we'll be in a monorail resort!
I want to try Boma and Jiko at AKL, and Ohana at the Poly (not the show though).
I want to try Citricos and maybe Narcoosees... and of course, staying at BLT, the California Grill and maybe the Wave too...
Soooo... we'll need to sit down and make decisions, but of course we have over 6 months to do that, hahaha!
I realized I'll have to do the ADRs myself this time... waking up early to call and everything. (yuk).
I'm not too worried, as I know how it works (well, I'll need a refresher course but I know I'll be fine). It's mostly waking up early that'll be a bother...
Last time we booked through Dreams Unlimited, and loved them, but going with renting points... we're on our own!
I'm already thinking about food!
In fact, sometimes I wonder if I'm more excited about the rides, the atmosphere... or the food!
I just made a list of all the places we want to try (well, most of those are "I" since Mama doesn't do the DIS)... and we have a problem.
We want to do only one TS a day... we'll be in the World 14 days... and so far I have 21 TS meals on the wish list... and only 7 QS.
Of course having only 7 QS isn't too problematic. You can always tolerate going to any available QS, you can go twice to one you liked and you can also go back to the hotel room and use the previous day leftovers...
But it means we'll have to CHOOSE from our list of TS.
It'll already be hard not to go back to all the places we loved (we'll only do repeats to our very top favorites from 2008, which were Chefs de France, Portobello, Kona Café, Yak&Yeti and the High Afternoon Tea at Grand Floridian's Garden VIew Lounge... we also loved Hollywood & Vine, but I'm not sure it's up there as worth not going to a new place).
Choosing items on the menu will be hard enough... we really will have to go back a 3rd time to finish trying all the restaurants and be able to go back to other places to finally try other items on the menu!
(altough I already know I'm going to eat pretty much the same at Chefs de France!)
Most of the restaurants we want to go are in EPCOT... (simple: almost all of the WS ones!) Lucky we'll be in a monorail resort!
I want to try Boma and Jiko at AKL, and Ohana at the Poly (not the show though).
I want to try Citricos and maybe Narcoosees... and of course, staying at BLT, the California Grill and maybe the Wave too...
Soooo... we'll need to sit down and make decisions, but of course we have over 6 months to do that, hahaha!
I realized I'll have to do the ADRs myself this time... waking up early to call and everything. (yuk).
I'm not too worried, as I know how it works (well, I'll need a refresher course but I know I'll be fine). It's mostly waking up early that'll be a bother...
Last time we booked through Dreams Unlimited, and loved them, but going with renting points... we're on our own!
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
I just discovered that I could buy a 3-day adult pass (park-to-park) for Universal with my Airmiles!!!
I don't think we'll be able to gather enough points in one year to pay for both, but hey! It's still a 160$ "discount"!!!
I don't think we'll be able to gather enough points in one year to pay for both, but hey! It's still a 160$ "discount"!!!
swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Just FYI, you get the expresspass for the duration of your stay at Universal. We stayed 1 night and got 2 days of expresspass (day of check-in and day of check-out). Even taking it slow, I really think you only need 2 days at Universal. There is not really that much at IOA, other than Harry Potter. You will probably spend more time at USO.
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Hi!
I was beginning to think I was so boring and mind-changing that you all had deserted me.
Really? Just 2 days?
Well then we'll just leave one day later (or earlier? I'll check if it would mean a cheaper trip that way... or if Mama would prefer same dates but one more night in the World instead).
But the most important news is knowing that you get the express pass for each day and not each night! Ah ha!
Then we will probably stay at a motel en route... and probably a bit before getting to Orlando, since it'll be a 10hrs drive back from Becca's. (but then we'd get to Universal later in the morning and it might cut too much in our time there a bit too much).
OK... and here I was thinking the plan was settled! haha
Option 1- Same dates, same everything, except we save money by spending our 1st Orlando (or near) night in a motel and just 2 nights in Universal (and use the CAA discount)... and if we have had enough of 2 days to do everything, we just leave for WDW in the morning of the 29th instead of just to change hotels at night, and the heck with the 3rd day tickets we paid (maybe we can resell them?).
Option 2- Leaving on the 25th instead of the 24th, arriving in Orlando a day later, doing our first night in a motel (same as option 1) and buying only 2-days tickets, doing 1 night at Universal, getting in WDW as planned, on the evening of the 29th.
Option 3- Leaving on the 24th as planned originally (was there ever a truly original plan?), spending 1st night in motel (as option 1), only 1 night in Universal and 2 days in the parks then moving on to WDW on the 28th... and leaving WDW on the 13th and getting back home on the 15th instead of the 16th.
Option 4- Using the same dates (nov. 24th to dec. 16th), a bit like Option 1... but we plan it that way and buy only 2 days tickets and make ADRs in WDW for Nov. 29th. which we consider a WDW day.
Did I forget an option?
Mama will have to decide on staying with pretty much the same budget or cutting a bit by cutting a day on either end.
Thanks Susan, useful as always!
I was beginning to think I was so boring and mind-changing that you all had deserted me.
Really? Just 2 days?
Well then we'll just leave one day later (or earlier? I'll check if it would mean a cheaper trip that way... or if Mama would prefer same dates but one more night in the World instead).
But the most important news is knowing that you get the express pass for each day and not each night! Ah ha!
Then we will probably stay at a motel en route... and probably a bit before getting to Orlando, since it'll be a 10hrs drive back from Becca's. (but then we'd get to Universal later in the morning and it might cut too much in our time there a bit too much).
OK... and here I was thinking the plan was settled! haha
Option 1- Same dates, same everything, except we save money by spending our 1st Orlando (or near) night in a motel and just 2 nights in Universal (and use the CAA discount)... and if we have had enough of 2 days to do everything, we just leave for WDW in the morning of the 29th instead of just to change hotels at night, and the heck with the 3rd day tickets we paid (maybe we can resell them?).
Option 2- Leaving on the 25th instead of the 24th, arriving in Orlando a day later, doing our first night in a motel (same as option 1) and buying only 2-days tickets, doing 1 night at Universal, getting in WDW as planned, on the evening of the 29th.
Option 3- Leaving on the 24th as planned originally (was there ever a truly original plan?
), spending 1st night in motel (as option 1), only 1 night in Universal and 2 days in the parks then moving on to WDW on the 28th... and leaving WDW on the 13th and getting back home on the 15th instead of the 16th.Option 4- Using the same dates (nov. 24th to dec. 16th), a bit like Option 1... but we plan it that way and buy only 2 days tickets and make ADRs in WDW for Nov. 29th. which we consider a WDW day.
Did I forget an option?
Mama will have to decide on staying with pretty much the same budget or cutting a bit by cutting a day on either end.
Thanks Susan, useful as always!
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Well, I started reading PTRs and momabaarjo inspired me to take on pre-trip Disney activities to get in the mood (having over a year to go is noooo problem!).
Of course there are no kids involved in this, and I don't see Mama taking scissors and glue and make an inka mask to watch The Emperor's New Groove... And as much as I love crafts, I didn't see myself making it either.
I'll focus on creating nice DISigns for the trip instead... Mousekeeping enveloppes (if we get the BLT we won't have to use as many, but still a few!), some thank you cards, T-shirts/tank-tops and so on.
I'm a creative person and love that kind of stuff!
Pretty sad my tank tops turned out pretty bad last time, as they were too stretchy (well, that's my guess anyways).
I had thought, though, that we could, like mamabaarjo, do the movie night idea : watching a Disney (and sometimes Universal) movie and cook themed food accordingly.
Once again, being us, and being only us with dad, who won't be on the trip and doesn't care, I didn't see us making very special cake decorating or shaping ice cream to make it look like characters... I'd love it, and I must say I wish I had those kinds of projects when I was a kid! But my health being what it is, it would just be a lot of time spent for so little.
It's not like when you do the work and get to involve kids that get to be creative, and then get to see the looks on their faces when they see the result, and all the joy they get out of eating those special things!
As adults lacking magic (especially my parents, I must say, even Mama), we just see the extra work and how fast it gets eaten!
I still think making a few Disney recipes would be fun, and it would create some diversity in our menu!
But when I suggested the idea to Mama, she said "Do you see in my face how un-enthusiastic I am?" with a small smirk. The idea left her totally cold.
So in other words, I can still watch the movies, and ask her to join me, and sometimes she might, but most of the time I'll watch the movies alone.
And she'll be glad that I'm taking the responsibility of finding menu ideas those nights... but she won't care much, won't get excited about it, and it won't make her excited about the trip any more.
What does get her excited is talking about the trip and stuff we will do and that's it.
I also decided, to help with the Disney spirit, to finally get my 2008-trip stuff out and make that scrapbook.
Yup. It's still shrinkwrapped, I still haven't done anything, not even organized the pictures!
Now that I have the space to do it, a whole room just for crafts... I shall get on to it!
Of course there are no kids involved in this, and I don't see Mama taking scissors and glue and make an inka mask to watch The Emperor's New Groove... And as much as I love crafts, I didn't see myself making it either.
I'll focus on creating nice DISigns for the trip instead... Mousekeeping enveloppes (if we get the BLT we won't have to use as many, but still a few!), some thank you cards, T-shirts/tank-tops and so on.
I'm a creative person and love that kind of stuff!
Pretty sad my tank tops turned out pretty bad last time, as they were too stretchy (well, that's my guess anyways).
I had thought, though, that we could, like mamabaarjo, do the movie night idea : watching a Disney (and sometimes Universal) movie and cook themed food accordingly.
Once again, being us, and being only us with dad, who won't be on the trip and doesn't care, I didn't see us making very special cake decorating or shaping ice cream to make it look like characters... I'd love it, and I must say I wish I had those kinds of projects when I was a kid! But my health being what it is, it would just be a lot of time spent for so little.
It's not like when you do the work and get to involve kids that get to be creative, and then get to see the looks on their faces when they see the result, and all the joy they get out of eating those special things!
As adults lacking magic (especially my parents, I must say, even Mama), we just see the extra work and how fast it gets eaten!
I still think making a few Disney recipes would be fun, and it would create some diversity in our menu!
But when I suggested the idea to Mama, she said "Do you see in my face how un-enthusiastic I am?" with a small smirk. The idea left her totally cold.
So in other words, I can still watch the movies, and ask her to join me, and sometimes she might, but most of the time I'll watch the movies alone.
And she'll be glad that I'm taking the responsibility of finding menu ideas those nights... but she won't care much, won't get excited about it, and it won't make her excited about the trip any more.
What does get her excited is talking about the trip and stuff we will do and that's it.
I also decided, to help with the Disney spirit, to finally get my 2008-trip stuff out and make that scrapbook.
Yup. It's still shrinkwrapped, I still haven't done anything, not even organized the pictures!
Now that I have the space to do it, a whole room just for crafts... I shall get on to it!
swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Well, everyone's experience is different. But I'll share ours.
Chris and I LOVE Disney and WDW (obviously). We also love thrill rides and Harry Potter. So when we went to WDW last year in September, I added a day on so we could visit WWOHP. Here's how we did it.
Tuesday morning: Fly in early to Orlando, town car to Hard Rock Hotel. Check in, dump luggage, grab our park tickets and head to IOA. Your hotel room key IS your express pass. So even after you check out, it works until the park closes that night.
We bee-lined it for WWOHP, took it all in and took a few photos at the entrance and by the Hogwarts Express, then straight to Forbidden Journey. There was a posted wait of like 20 minutes. You need more time than that to navigate the queue and take it all in. So it was pretty much a walk-on.
Then, if I remember, we rode Duelling Dragons twice - once for each side. Walk-on. Then we explored all of Hogwarts, probably had a butterbeer, etc., then headed through the rest of IOA (we had never been before), via Jurassic Park (we watched the movie again right before we went), then Hulk (which turned out to be my favorite rollercoaster in the world). We used our room key to ride it like 6 times in a row, a couple of times in the front seat. (Caution: lockers are only free for approximately the duration of the posted wait time. We spent a small fortune on the lockers because we left our stuff in them while we rode 50 times. Well, ok, not 50 but you get the point.)
Then we might have gone back and ridden FJ again - I don't remember. Then the last thing we did before leaving the park was ride the 3 water rides. We knew we'd get wet, and we did. Very wet. Then we trucked back over to our hotel, showered and went to dinner at Margaritaville. (I think the park closed at 6pm that night.)
The next morning, we went back to IOA, rode FJ again, had a beer at Hogs Head Pub, and lunch at Mythos. Then Spiderman and a few more goes at Hulk, then over to USO. At USO, we hit all the big ones (Rip Ride Rock-It was closed for maintenance - boo). We did MIB, Simpsons, Jaws, Mummy, Disaster, Horror Make-up show, ET, had lunch somewhere, a couple of other attractions and shows, Mummy one or two more times, and we were done. It was about 4pm and we looked at each other and said "are you ready for some Disney magic?" Seriously, it is not the same at US/IOA. You will notice a difference in the team members' attitudes, cleanliness of the parks, etc.
I wouldn't say we were walking very fast anywhere. The Express pass (room key) did come in handy, as we walked right on everything. But I realize we may have been faster getting around than you and Mom will be. But it will be Nov/Dec and I doubt you will want to do the water rides. I also bet you won't do the thrill rides like Hulk and Mummy over and over again like we did. I really won't be surprised if you are "done" by the end of the second day. Especially if the parks close later than 6pm like they did for us.
So that's my story
(Oh, and I will add the only two things we didn't do that I wanted to do were Ollivander's and Rip Ride Rockit. The line was always about 20 minutes for Ollivander's and we just didn't feel like waiting, knowing what was going to happen inside (there are lots of Youtube videos out there).
Chris and I LOVE Disney and WDW (obviously). We also love thrill rides and Harry Potter. So when we went to WDW last year in September, I added a day on so we could visit WWOHP. Here's how we did it.
Tuesday morning: Fly in early to Orlando, town car to Hard Rock Hotel. Check in, dump luggage, grab our park tickets and head to IOA. Your hotel room key IS your express pass. So even after you check out, it works until the park closes that night.
We bee-lined it for WWOHP, took it all in and took a few photos at the entrance and by the Hogwarts Express, then straight to Forbidden Journey. There was a posted wait of like 20 minutes. You need more time than that to navigate the queue and take it all in. So it was pretty much a walk-on.
Then, if I remember, we rode Duelling Dragons twice - once for each side. Walk-on. Then we explored all of Hogwarts, probably had a butterbeer, etc., then headed through the rest of IOA (we had never been before), via Jurassic Park (we watched the movie again right before we went), then Hulk (which turned out to be my favorite rollercoaster in the world). We used our room key to ride it like 6 times in a row, a couple of times in the front seat. (Caution: lockers are only free for approximately the duration of the posted wait time. We spent a small fortune on the lockers because we left our stuff in them while we rode 50 times. Well, ok, not 50 but you get the point.)
Then we might have gone back and ridden FJ again - I don't remember. Then the last thing we did before leaving the park was ride the 3 water rides. We knew we'd get wet, and we did. Very wet. Then we trucked back over to our hotel, showered and went to dinner at Margaritaville. (I think the park closed at 6pm that night.)
The next morning, we went back to IOA, rode FJ again, had a beer at Hogs Head Pub, and lunch at Mythos. Then Spiderman and a few more goes at Hulk, then over to USO. At USO, we hit all the big ones (Rip Ride Rock-It was closed for maintenance - boo). We did MIB, Simpsons, Jaws, Mummy, Disaster, Horror Make-up show, ET, had lunch somewhere, a couple of other attractions and shows, Mummy one or two more times, and we were done. It was about 4pm and we looked at each other and said "are you ready for some Disney magic?" Seriously, it is not the same at US/IOA. You will notice a difference in the team members' attitudes, cleanliness of the parks, etc.
I wouldn't say we were walking very fast anywhere. The Express pass (room key) did come in handy, as we walked right on everything. But I realize we may have been faster getting around than you and Mom will be. But it will be Nov/Dec and I doubt you will want to do the water rides. I also bet you won't do the thrill rides like Hulk and Mummy over and over again like we did. I really won't be surprised if you are "done" by the end of the second day. Especially if the parks close later than 6pm like they did for us.
So that's my story
(Oh, and I will add the only two things we didn't do that I wanted to do were Ollivander's and Rip Ride Rockit. The line was always about 20 minutes for Ollivander's and we just didn't feel like waiting, knowing what was going to happen inside (there are lots of Youtube videos out there).
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
Wow, I've been away for too long!
So many things to catch on...
First off, update on "getting in Disney mood" stuff... well not one meal prepared so far, started to organize my 2008 scrapbook... only to realize I need to make Christmas cards this year and I have about a month left, sooo... the Disney scrap stuff went back in the drawers and I made a trip to the scrap store for Xmas items... OMG I need to keep the heck outta that place! The smallest bag cost me 175$!
I better make damn good Xmas cards...
Thanks to Swwake's input
we decided on (final final final... hopefully )
Only 1 night and 2 days at Universal, but adding the extra night/day to WDW instead of shortening the trip. Yay!
New plan (Told you, now it's official...)
Nov. 24th, we leave
We sleep somewhere around Harrisburg, PA
Nov. 25th We drive to Greensboro, NC and say hi to Dreamer17555 (Becca, you can thus already plan our dinner and evening for that night, haha)
Nov. 26th We drive to Jacksonville or close to.
Nov. 27th Drive to Universal (about 2hrs left), check in and ON WITH THE FUN!
Nov. 28th Continue our Universal fun and at the end of the day, transfer to WDW and spend our first night at BLT
Nov. 29th-Dec. 13th The World and BLT.
Dec. 14th We leave Disney and drive up to about Florence, SC
Dec. 15th We drive to Harrisburg, PA
Dec. 16th We visit the Hershey museum (yum!) and head home.
Yup... I decided since we were staying at a motel for our first night in Florida to save some money, we could as well save a bit of energy and stay outside Orlando, since the drive between Greensboro and Orlando is about 10hrs. And since according to Swwake 2 days in Universal is more than enough we'll stop a bit earlier and finish the drive that morning.
And Mama suggested stopping by Hersheys on the way home. We passed it on our way back home last June and were a bit sad about not going, and we feel it's going to be something to look forward to on the drive back, instead of just being sad about leaving WDW!
I wonder how long the tour takes though... it opens at 9am (and we wouldn't get up much earlier to leave anyways) but since we'll have 8hrs of driving to do... we'll need to hit the road around noon.
Now on the the big "news"... DVC points rental!
Now, Mama was fully on board with renting points from a member, since I knew what I was doing, would use references (both DIS and outside), talk to the member live (Skype or else) and use a contract. And use travel insurance to back everything up.
But she was quite worried we would end up not having any reservation come the 11-months mark (when DVC members can make ressies at their home resort).
Since BLT is very popular, and early-December very popular among DVC members... it IS more tricky than if we wanted any DVC resort at another, less popular time of year, when we could just rent points 4 months in advance and get a room.
Since we're stuck on our BLT idea and with our dates (well, kinda) the idea of ending up in January with no points available... and no more BLT rooms available when we could rent some...
Well she decided we'd go with David's Vacation Club Rental (well, I had told her of that option and she decided to go with it).
Renting points from a member, we could hit the jackpot and pay only 8$/point (rare and almost suspicious, to be honest), up to 12$/point (more usual).
With David's rental it's 13$/point.
But we only have to pay 91$ now, and since he has a big pool of points, we are more sure of getting the ressie. If he doesn't we just get the money back. And we'd either try another DVC (AKL is far from everything but I'd love to try it) or a moderate, especially if we could get free dining!
That place is endorsed by the DIS and registered with the BBB, so I'm not worried at all.
Now we just hope he can get us our ressie!
So many things to catch on...
First off, update on "getting in Disney mood" stuff... well not one meal prepared so far, started to organize my 2008 scrapbook... only to realize I need to make Christmas cards this year and I have about a month left, sooo... the Disney scrap stuff went back in the drawers and I made a trip to the scrap store for Xmas items... OMG I need to keep the heck outta that place! The smallest bag cost me 175$!
I better make damn good Xmas cards...
Thanks to Swwake's input
we decided on (final final final... hopefully )Only 1 night and 2 days at Universal, but adding the extra night/day to WDW instead of shortening the trip. Yay!
New plan (Told you, now it's official...
)Nov. 24th, we leave
We sleep somewhere around Harrisburg, PA
Nov. 25th We drive to Greensboro, NC and say hi to Dreamer17555 (Becca, you can thus already plan our dinner and evening for that night, haha)
Nov. 26th We drive to Jacksonville or close to.
Nov. 27th Drive to Universal (about 2hrs left), check in and ON WITH THE FUN!
Nov. 28th Continue our Universal fun and at the end of the day, transfer to WDW and spend our first night at BLT
Nov. 29th-Dec. 13th The World and BLT.
Dec. 14th We leave Disney
and drive up to about Florence, SCDec. 15th We drive to Harrisburg, PA
Dec. 16th We visit the Hershey museum (yum!) and head home.
Yup... I decided since we were staying at a motel for our first night in Florida to save some money, we could as well save a bit of energy and stay outside Orlando, since the drive between Greensboro and Orlando is about 10hrs. And since according to Swwake 2 days in Universal is more than enough we'll stop a bit earlier and finish the drive that morning.
And Mama suggested stopping by Hersheys on the way home. We passed it on our way back home last June and were a bit sad about not going, and we feel it's going to be something to look forward to on the drive back, instead of just being sad about leaving WDW!
I wonder how long the tour takes though... it opens at 9am (and we wouldn't get up much earlier to leave anyways) but since we'll have 8hrs of driving to do... we'll need to hit the road around noon.
Now on the the big "news"... DVC points rental!
Now, Mama was fully on board with renting points from a member, since I knew what I was doing, would use references (both DIS and outside), talk to the member live (Skype or else) and use a contract. And use travel insurance to back everything up.
But she was quite worried we would end up not having any reservation come the 11-months mark (when DVC members can make ressies at their home resort).
Since BLT is very popular, and early-December very popular among DVC members... it IS more tricky than if we wanted any DVC resort at another, less popular time of year, when we could just rent points 4 months in advance and get a room.
Since we're stuck on our BLT idea and with our dates (well, kinda
) the idea of ending up in January with no points available... and no more BLT rooms available when we could rent some...Well she decided we'd go with David's Vacation Club Rental (well, I had told her of that option and she decided to go with it
).Renting points from a member, we could hit the jackpot and pay only 8$/point (rare and almost suspicious, to be honest), up to 12$/point (more usual).
With David's rental it's 13$/point.
But we only have to pay 91$ now, and since he has a big pool of points, we are more sure of getting the ressie. If he doesn't we just get the money back. And we'd either try another DVC (AKL is far from everything but I'd love to try it) or a moderate, especially if we could get free dining!
That place is endorsed by the DIS and registered with the BBB, so I'm not worried at all.
Now we just hope he can get us our ressie!
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
I must say I'm disappointed...
I read today on mamabaarjo's PTR that I'll miss the Macy's parade at Universal...
It seems it starts the 1st Monday of December.
However we looked at our travel schedule options, we never were at Universal in December...
unless we decide, one day in the middle of the WDW part of the trip, that we want to go back in Universal and see the parade, and pay for 1-day tix, take the car and go.
A definite possibility... but unlikely at the same time. Mama is not a parade fan and altough I do like them and am very sad I'll miss it... I don't think it's worth a few hundred bucks.
I'm thinking it'll happen only if we feel we missed too much of Universal by going only 2 days. Which I doubt.
The more I plan, the more I think about the trip, the more excited I get... but not for the obvious reasons... because I realise how more fun it'll be because I'll be so much healthier and NOT IN A DAMN WHEELCHAIR!!!
How much faster and easier everything is going to be...
Lets say we're in a buffet for dinner... I'll be able to just get up and go get myself another serving of whatever... instead of waiting for Mama to finish her plate, bring me so I can show her what I want, bring me back to the table and go get us both food...
We'll be able to split up in stores and look at what interests each of us, but not BOTH of us, at the same time!
I can't imagine how free I'll feel!!!!!
I read today on mamabaarjo's PTR that I'll miss the Macy's parade at Universal...
It seems it starts the 1st Monday of December.
However we looked at our travel schedule options, we never were at Universal in December...
unless we decide, one day in the middle of the WDW part of the trip, that we want to go back in Universal and see the parade, and pay for 1-day tix, take the car and go.
A definite possibility... but unlikely at the same time. Mama is not a parade fan and altough I do like them and am very sad I'll miss it... I don't think it's worth a few hundred bucks.
I'm thinking it'll happen only if we feel we missed too much of Universal by going only 2 days. Which I doubt.
The more I plan, the more I think about the trip, the more excited I get... but not for the obvious reasons... because I realise how more fun it'll be because I'll be so much healthier and NOT IN A DAMN WHEELCHAIR!!!
How much faster and easier everything is going to be...
Lets say we're in a buffet for dinner... I'll be able to just get up and go get myself another serving of whatever... instead of waiting for Mama to finish her plate, bring me so I can show her what I want, bring me back to the table and go get us both food...
We'll be able to split up in stores and look at what interests each of us, but not BOTH of us, at the same time!
I can't imagine how free I'll feel!!!!!
swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Love the new plans! I wouldn't worry much about missing the parade at USO. I just haven't seen them do ANYthing as well as Disney does.
That is very exciting that you'll get to go in better health this time! I'm sure you'll enjoy it much more. There are probably things you haven't even thought of that you'll be able to do, that you couldn't last time.
That is very exciting that you'll get to go in better health this time! I'm sure you'll enjoy it much more. There are probably things you haven't even thought of that you'll be able to do, that you couldn't last time.
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
So, I went on TGM and looked at this years good and bad days and park hours and put all that into my Passporter's interactive spreadsheets... and a combo of that in my OWN special spreadsheet...
Can you guess I'm one of those crazy planners?
And all that knowing full well that the info I'm using is just an approximation since it may well change (at least slightly) next year.
But I was going mad not being able to plan at all!
Doing that I realized that, unless something changes, we'll do our MVMCP on our 2nd Sunday... and unless we want to be in the crowd, we won't go to MK until our 4th day!
Altough part of the reason it will be so crowded in those first days is they'll be filming the ABC Xmas parade, and depending on the performers and Mama's willingness, we may brave the crowds to be there for at least some part of the shooting, as I love watching those things! I always wished to be there watching the parade Xmas morning... so being able to actually BE THERE... and we'll have enough time that we could spare a few hours in the crowds.
But it still wouldn't count as our real MK 1st day, we would just be there for the taping, really...
I'm happy the parks won't close that much earlier than when we went in April/May 2008 and the crowd level in general is supposed to be slightly lower! yippee! We felt it wasn't crowded at all, with a few exceptions, so it should be perfect!
And doing the calendar I'm thinking about maybe doing our self-guided Yuletide tour on our mid-trip day and doing the High afternoon tea at GF that day.
Of course we'll see AKL at another time, since I intend to eat at Boma AND Jiko.
One thing we need to decide : we want to make an early ADR in MK to take advantage of the "empty MK" feel, which we didn't do last time... I can't decide between Castle or Crystal Palace.
We don't care much for the characters, as we did both places last trip and, well, we liked both, but wouldn't choose based on characters. In fact we would go to another restaurant if a 3rd one without characters would offer breakfast, just to try something new!
I'm leaning towards Crystal Palace because it's a buffet and thus will offer more choices and maybe warmer than pre-plated scrambled eggs like at the Castle...
Anyone (well... Swwake, since it seems you're the only one here!) has an opinion on that?
Can you guess I'm one of those crazy planners?
And all that knowing full well that the info I'm using is just an approximation since it may well change (at least slightly) next year.
But I was going mad not being able to plan at all!
Doing that I realized that, unless something changes, we'll do our MVMCP on our 2nd Sunday... and unless we want to be in the crowd, we won't go to MK until our 4th day!
Altough part of the reason it will be so crowded in those first days is they'll be filming the ABC Xmas parade, and depending on the performers and Mama's willingness, we may brave the crowds to be there for at least some part of the shooting, as I love watching those things! I always wished to be there watching the parade Xmas morning... so being able to actually BE THERE... and we'll have enough time that we could spare a few hours in the crowds.
But it still wouldn't count as our real MK 1st day, we would just be there for the taping, really...
I'm happy the parks won't close that much earlier than when we went in April/May 2008 and the crowd level in general is supposed to be slightly lower! yippee! We felt it wasn't crowded at all, with a few exceptions, so it should be perfect!
And doing the calendar I'm thinking about maybe doing our self-guided Yuletide tour on our mid-trip day and doing the High afternoon tea at GF that day.
Of course we'll see AKL at another time, since I intend to eat at Boma AND Jiko.
One thing we need to decide : we want to make an early ADR in MK to take advantage of the "empty MK" feel, which we didn't do last time... I can't decide between Castle or Crystal Palace.
We don't care much for the characters, as we did both places last trip and, well, we liked both, but wouldn't choose based on characters. In fact we would go to another restaurant if a 3rd one without characters would offer breakfast, just to try something new!
I'm leaning towards Crystal Palace because it's a buffet and thus will offer more choices and maybe warmer than pre-plated scrambled eggs like at the Castle...
Anyone (well... Swwake, since it seems you're the only one here!
) has an opinion on that?
swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Well, I haven't done the castle since 1989 and they didn't have characters then, but I loved it. I don't remember doing CP either, unless it was before the character meals as well.
I would probably stick with CP, since you like the buffet idea, it's closer to the entrance than the castle, it's probably less expensive, and don't they charge your CC the full amount at reservation time for the castle?
I would probably stick with CP, since you like the buffet idea, it's closer to the entrance than the castle, it's probably less expensive, and don't they charge your CC the full amount at reservation time for the castle?
AnnieDan_Artlover
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2007
- Messages
- 404
...But if it's closer to the entrance, could we go close to the castle enought to get a nice picture of us in front of the castle in an almost empty park, which is part of the whole idea?
swwake
RIP our sweet Magic (09/27/10)
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 3,194
Absolutely! Right outside of CP is the best picture-taking spot for a castle background. And you can go even closer if you'd like!...But if it's closer to the entrance, could we go close to the castle enought to get a nice picture of us in front of the castle in an almost empty park, which is part of the whole idea?
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