Two of my girls want to take me

[LAS2AMS]

So, at EPCOT, are the registers and booths not separate? Do you get in line to purchase and item at the register and stay in the same line until you pick up your item at the booth window?

It is funny, because I think I figured out the big stuff, but the little things like this are going to throw me for a loop.

Regarding timing for booking reservations. ADR are 60 days in advance and open at 6 am EST? I saw somewhere that they open at 5:45-6 am. Do some locations open earlier than others?
Are tours and experiences also booked 60 days in advance? Is this also at 6 am. I've also read midnight EST.
LLMP/LLSP are booked 7 days prior to your first ticket day for resort guests and 3 days in advance for non resort guests.
Any other timelines/dates we should be aware of?

The booths and set-up at Epcot are identical to DCA. Wait in line to pay at the register, then present the receipt to the booth attendant.

Yes, ADR are 60 days out (plus the length of your stay if staying at a WDW resort, up to 10 nights). It’s around 6AM EST but they’ve been know to go live earlier or later. Lots of people hoard WDW ADR, making the most popular restaurants difficult to get. Less popular ones, and ones that require full payment up front (like the Hoop De Doo), generally don’t fill up as fast (if at all).

LL sounds about right.

Remember that if you’re staying at a WDW resort, you get free admission to the water park your first day. Most of the time we go, our room isn’t ready until around 4PM, and we typically take a redeye that’s in by 5AM-8AM.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Has anyone been to the Character Warehouses in Orlando? We used to have them in So Cal, but they closed.

It’s similar to the one that was in Fullerton. There’s quite a few people who go regularly, if not daily, and pick over the best stuff to re-sell. So pretty mediocre selection. In June they had a ton of merchandise for the Disney Wish (movie not boat).

Have you been to the Disney Outlet in Commerce? I’ve heard it now carries a lot of clearance DLR swag, but have yet to see it myself. Allegedly the Fullerton location closed after rents swelled due to gentrification.

 

[brightlined]

So, at EPCOT, are the registers and booths not separate? Do you get in line to purchase and item at the register and stay in the same line until you pick up your item at the booth window?

They vary a lot, but most of them are similar to DCA in terms of setup - queue line for the cashier then step over to the pickup window. A handful of them have barrier tape in the space between the cashiers and the pickup window to keep it functioning as a single line. Some of them are permanent structures that function as booths - they'll be more like a traditional counter-service stop.

It is funny, because I think I figured out the big stuff, but the little things like this are going to throw me for a loop.

LOL. You'll be totally fine. But I do feel like there's a lot of "wait, why is that here?" comparing the two coasts.

Are tours and experiences also booked 60 days in advance? Is this also at 6 am. I've also read midnight EST.

Tours and experiences are midnight ET. (The Enchanting Extras.) A few of them (eg, Rhinos) fill up very quickly, which is where resort guests have the big advantage. The 60+10 thing applies there, too.

(Only because it came up in another thread a while back - it's midnight prior to the 6am.)

Has anyone been to the Character Warehouses in Orlando? We used to have them in So Cal, but they closed.

I've been to both, but I haven't been to the International Drive one in a while. They used to be pretty great, but I think the eBay folks are basically raiding them as soon as interesting new merch arrives. My favorite era was before I was a DLR regular and finding cool DLR merch (including some Wonderground leftovers) often for dirt cheap. (The last time I was at the Vineland one, they had some cool leftover Galatic Starcruiser merch.) I'm always conflicted as to whether it's worth going over there or just going to Disney Springs / somewhere else.

If you're considering it - I'd suggest checking to see if any YouTubers have been there recently - I think some of those folks document the kinds of stuff they're getting so you can see if it's worth it. (Vineland can be kind of a pain to get in and out of in terms of their parking depending on how busy it is.)

 

[LKing]

I will be there for a conference and the hotel is close to the International Drive warehouse so might check it out. Thanks for the tip to look at YT closer to when we arrive.

Do you know if the Africa Trek sells out quickly?

 

[LAS2AMS]

I will be there for a conference and the hotel is close to the International Drive warehouse so might check it out. Thanks for the tip to look at YT closer to when we arrive.

Do you know if the Africa Trek sells out quickly?

It does during busy periods. When we went in mid-August, there were multiple signs up indicating same day and upcoming availability and it was announced on the safari trek as well.

Not sure when you’re going but have to point out that the weather sucks in Florida much of the year. When we went for two weeks in June/ July, it rained every day - so bad that it broke our umbrella - and the weather was so hot you could ring sweat out of our shirts. And the time Splash Mountain doesn’t provide relief . Thankfully Disney pools stay open until midnight in the summer, and we’re perfect for ending the day.

You’ll appreciate how much more of DLR is outdoors compared to WDW!

 

[maleficent55]

oh have so much fun! we've had 3 trips to WDW booked paid in full and cancelled for one reason or another. So I still have never been!

I think you know, but just in case, dining opens 60 days out like at DL but if you're staying on site you can book all dining for the entirety of your trip up to 60+10

book your most desired ADR's on 7+ and beyond for the best likihood
and your others (easy to get ones) at the beginning

this obviously depends entirely on how long your trip is.

Also, watch mammoth club! and paging mr. morrow

another thing that really excites me is the reserved seating/dessert parties for fireworks. I doubt the desserts are blow your socks off but the Seats & Sweets dessert party looks so desirable for me for the seats and Tinker Bell flying right over!!!

 

[brightlined]

I will be there for a conference and the hotel is close to the International Drive warehouse so might check it out. Thanks for the tip to look at YT closer to when we arrive.

Oh - if you're over by International Drive, it might be worth the visit if you have a free moment and have absolutely nothing else on the schedule. (For the average on-site guest, it wouldn't be worth the trip out that far just for that, but if you're already out there, that's the easier of the two locations.)

As an aside - I think a lot of DLR regulars would enjoy having one pure AK park day, then a second AK day with the Africa Trek. (In place of, say, a second MK or DHS day.) I did the Trek a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

Better tasting? Larger portions? We won't have a dining plan so don't need to worry about that. Can you purchase all of your items at one register and bring your receipt to the different booths to pick up your food like at DCA?

We only found a couple of things we really liked at DCA. At Epcot there seemed to be much larger variety and we could eat multiple meals just trying the options, some of which are quite good. We can make a full afternoon of snacking around the world and looking at topiaries.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

another thing that really excites me is the reserved seating/dessert parties for fireworks. I doubt the desserts are blow your socks off but the Seats & Sweets dessert party looks so desirable for me for the seats and Tinker Bell flying right over!!!

The parties are pricy and the desserts are basic buffet fare but we’ve enjoyed them because of the simplicity of finding a place to see the projections and fireworks.

Also there are Fantasmic dining packages in Hollywood Studios where you pay a bit more for a meal and then get a ticket for a reserved seating at the show. Fantasmic is in its own large theater at WDW.

Epcot also has dining packages but we’ve never done one as you can see the night show from so many places at Epcot.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I wouldn’t bother with DHS F! While the popularity of DL’s seems to be waning, DHS is still very popular and requires you to get in line super early for a decent seat (yes they have seats). It’s the same as the DL version with a few tweaks that make it not as good. Well they still have a dragon.

 

[LKing]

Well they still have a dragon.

But they don't have the Mark Twain.

 

[LAS2AMS]

If you want a bit of nostalgia, check out Festival of the Lion King at AK. When Disney killed the budget of AK, Imagineers got creative and reused everything from the DL Lion King parade that ran in the mid-90s to make a show. In the last 26 years I’m sure much of it got replaced but it’s still familiar. (Who are we kidding, Disney keeps everything until it literally rots).

I love AK but there’s not much to do there. In August, we got there when it opened at 7:30AM for WDW resort guests and by 12:30PM had done every attraction and show. Of course, everything was a walk on sans the two Avatar attractions (20 minute waits each).

The park closed at 6, which was a shame as Avatar lights up beautifully at night. WDW tried to make AK an all day park but it didn’t work out. They had their version of World of Color but it was cancelled during Covid closure.

Most of the zoo people who worked on AK came from the San Diego Zoo, fwiw.

 

[LKing]

another thing that really excites me is the reserved seating/dessert parties for fireworks. I doubt the desserts are blow your socks off but the Seats & Sweets dessert party looks so desirable for me for the seats and Tinker Bell flying right over!!!

It is interesting because, in this forum, I see WDW vets complaining about the DLR dining packages. When I first started planning my trip, I thought WDW must have great dining & dessert packages. I found that people are pretty critical about the WDW packages as well - especially the pre/post dessert parties at MK.

 

[DizMe]

If you want a bit of nostalgia, check out Festival of the Lion King at AK. When Disney killed the budget of AK, Imagineers got creative and reused everything from the DL Lion King parade that ran in the mid-90s to make a show. In the last 26 years I’m sure much of it got replaced but it’s still familiar. (Who are we kidding, Disney keeps everything until it literally rots).

I love AK but there’s not much to do there. In August, we got there when it opened at 7:30AM for WDW resort guests and by 12:30PM had done every attraction and show. Of course, everything was a walk on sans the two Avatar attractions (20 minute waits each).

The park closed at 6, which was a shame as Avatar lights up beautifully at night. WDW tried to make AK an all day park but it didn’t work out. They had their version of World of Color but it was cancelled during Covid closure.

Most of the zoo people who worked on AK came from the San Diego Zoo, fwiw.

I'm very interested in AK, as I have a daughter (well, I have 4 of them but one in particular in this case) who is currently interning at a small zoo in Atascadero while she completes her degree. She graduates in June and then heads for Madagascar and then South Africa (I think). She loves working with animals and is thinking of taking a year off before completing her graduate work

edited to add that she was chosen to do a cultural exchange to Australia her Junior year and got to go all over the place in that and nearby countries. The highlight? Getting to see Robert Irwin at Australian National Zoo, who is going to be her husband someday, or so she hopes . She took the long way home and got to see all kinds of places and animals en route, and she had saved up the money herself to pay for it

 

[LKing]

@DizMe Have you looked into any of the extra tours available at AK?

 

[DizMe]

@DizMe Have you looked into any of the extra tours available at AK?

No, because I've been battling some very nasty bug. I'm finally getting past it now. Yay!

I'm editing this because that's not really the exact truth. Yes, I've been battling a flu bug. But I'm so overwhelmed by WDW that I've left it all up to my DD to figure out! I don't care what we do, I just want to spend time with her

 

[LKing]

No, because I've been battling some very nasty bug. I'm finally getting past it now. Yay!

I'm editing this because that's not really the exact truth. Yes, I've been battling a flu bug. But I'm so overwhelmed by WDW that I've left it all up to my DD to figure out! I don't care what we do, I just want to spend time with her

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well.

I completely understand feeling overwhelmed by WDW. I think I am in the mindset now that we won't miss what we don't know we are missing. I don't know anything about Slinky Dog and, if I come home without riding it, I won't be any worse off than I am today.

Where are you staying? Can your Disney daughter help you out?

 

[maleficent55]

No, because I've been battling some very nasty bug. I'm finally getting past it now. Yay!

I'm editing this because that's not really the exact truth. Yes, I've been battling a flu bug. But I'm so overwhelmed by WDW that I've left it all up to my DD to figure out! I don't care what we do, I just want to spend time with her

If you have someone to take the wheel and plan, then enjoy it! I am always the planner in my family, whether it's Disney, Hawaii, Portland...anywhere
I'd like to say I'd enjoy someone else doing it but actually in reality I am an obsessive type A planner and probably really couldn't! But if you can, go with it!

 

[brightlined]

I don't know anything about Slinky Dog and, if I come home without riding it, I won't be any worse off than I am today.

Random tip: do that as the "right before close" ride. The way the area is lit up at night is pretty cool, and the line will be less than a half-hour. (It's not an "amazing" coaster, but it's a unique style/design that's tame but fun.) That way you won't have to stress about the LLMP for it.

For more bonus time (if you don't have any other evening plans), consider grabbing a post-close reservation for Oga's (like 9:30pm) - even if you would never go there at DLR. Oga's usually stays open an extra hour later than DHS. The menu is actually a bit different from DLR (I actually prefer DHS's) - but the real bonus is getting to slow-walk out of a completely empty park at 10pm.

 

[LKing]

Random tip: do that as the "right before close" ride. The way the area is lit up at night is pretty cool, and the line will be less than a half-hour. (It's not an "amazing" coaster, but it's a unique style/design that's tame but fun.) That way you won't have to stress about the LLMP for it.

For more bonus time (if you don't have any other evening plans), consider grabbing a post-close reservation for Oga's (like 9:30pm) - even if you would never go there at DLR. Oga's usually stays open an extra hour later than DHS. The menu is actually a bit different from DLR (I actually prefer DHS's) - but the real bonus is getting to slow-walk out of a completely empty park at 10pm.

Thank you! Keep the the great suggestions coming. I added Ogas at 9:30 to my list. I've heard that Tron is also very cool at night.

I think I mentioned in this thread that I will be there for a conference before our visit. I have some of the evenings free so we are planning on seeing Luminous at EPCOT and fireworks at MK on the evenings of my conference. We won't focus on rides but will just get our bearings on those afternoon/evenings. The following week, when we are spending the full day in the parks, we don't have to worry about lining up for shows. I'm not sure how much shorter the lines are when others are waiting for fireworks or Fantasmic.

All of the restaurants that look attractive to us are in AK or AKL. We are two adults without kids. I'm not looking for a Napa Rose type of environment or a character meal. Do you have any favorite restaurants? If so, why are they your favorite? Did I mention that we are staying off site?