WDW Commando Club

[zianha]

I vote for June because of Star Wars Weekends and Star Wars Weekends, and most importantly, Star Wars Weekends!!!

April won't be as hot though!

 

[shewill]

I would pick April as it is so much cooler in Orlando. IT may be a bit more crowded but the better weather will make it a nicer trip. I went May 21 this year and it was very hot, humid and miserable already.
Also in the South not every one has spring break Easter week.

 

[jmm476]

My vote is for April also, just based on weather. I can take crowds, but crowds plus heat makes me very cranky!

 

[Disney Commando]

I vote for June because of Star Wars Weekends and Star Wars Weekends, and most importantly, Star Wars Weekends!!!

April won't be as hot though!

Looks like someone is a Star War Weekend Fan

Let me ask you something about it, were there alot of character meet & greets ( besides the normal DV & Stormtroopers)

And from what I understand if you want to meet one of the guest stars, there is a kiosk outside the park, that you get a time to go and meet them, you can obtain this before the park opens

Did you get a Galatic Passport, if so where do you get it

 

[Disney Commando]

I would pick April as it is so much cooler in Orlando. IT may be a bit more crowded but the better weather will make it a nicer trip. I went May 21 this year and it was very hot, humid and miserable already.
Also in the South not every one has spring break Easter week.

Welcome Aboard you are member #158 I know you just got back, BUT is there any upcoming trip in your plans

 

[*sarah*]

I would go in April, especially if the F&G festival is still going on. I would LOVE to go to that one year. But if you're bigger into the Star Wars thing, then you should probably go in June.

 

[zianha]

Looks like someone is a Star War Weekend Fan

Let me ask you something about it, were there alot of character meet & greets ( besides the normal DV & Stormtroopers)

And from what I understand if you want to meet one of the guest stars, there is a kiosk outside the park, that you get a time to go and meet them, you can obtain this before the park opens

Did you get a Galatic Passport, if so where do you get it

Sadly, I only planned to do Jedi Training for my youngest son and try to get the fast pass to meet Ray Park then just hit whatever random characters throughout the park. This was just based on info from other DISers, who also told me to get there really early as the park has been known to open early during Star Wars weekends.

We got there a bit before 8am for the 9am park opening.....bad move! I don't know how long the park had been open but it was obvious it had been a while as there were not many people at the bag check or turnstiles and that's when I found that all the Celebrity Autograph FPs were loooooong gone! I didn't even see where they had handed out the FPs, but I stood behind a lady asking where Celebrity FPs were and the CM said they were already all gone! D'oh! So much for Ray Park!

There were just random characters at different spots for the time I was there like Queen Amidala, some Clone Wars characters etc. But we headed over to TSM instead and sure enough, just like people said, it was only a 20 min wait! So we rode that and got a FP for later then I was hoping to just get a *peek* of Ray Park since the meet was starting, but they had the celebs very well hidden in the the little tents:

We left before noon to go to Epcot again and we didn't see the Character and Celebrity parades they had.

As far as the Galactic Passport, I didn't see any at the Star Tours ride or gift shop (but I also wasn't looking) but the only place I had heard anything about getting one was the printable ones here: http://startourspassport.com/passports/choose_theme

I really wanted to stay and experience more but that was our last full day and I was having a major ankle problem all week so we decided to go back to finish some stuff at Epcot my kids wanted to do, then we came back for our Jedi Training.

I'm not too much help but this link might give you some info in addition to other threads on the DIS: http://www.wdwmagic.com/Events/Star-Wars-Weekends/Gallery.htm

 

[Disney Commando]

Thanks for sharing, too bad you didn't get to meet Ray Parks you did provide alot of good leads and with alittle tweeking, by next year I think it will be a whole different story. I know a couple of people, when they post next years dates I'll try to them on here to give us better outlook into this event

We have to get to the bottom of what time the park actually opens during this event (since it's not something they advertise) IMO this can be the key, I think if we can find this out next year will be a big success If do decide to go in June, most likely I'll find out some things that nobody really knows about, but everyone on this thread will know about it

 

[LAS321]

My DD and I go every August and have for many years.....with the trip only a little over a month away, I am consumed with planning. I find myself on the computer every chance I get trying to plan our attack! I have promised to spend some time at the resort relaxing this trip....we'll see!

 

[Disney Commando]

on our August trip on Day 2 HS has a EMH till 10pm, we will take advantage of it and see what we can get done after dinner (about a 3 hr window).

Now here's where I'm going to go out of the box, on Day 3 the AM EMH is MK at 8am, instead we are going back to HS for the 9am rope drop, What I hope is that most will go to MK, I need to get alot done in little time.

Plan is after rope drop My son & I will go to Jedi Training sign ups, while my wife gets TSM FP's, then meet and go on Star Tours, then I need to do a few meet & greets Phinias & Ferb are the big one, also Cars 2, Monsters Inc & we will drop into Art & Animation to see who's there. Then of course we have to see the Stunt show with Lightning McQueen I would like to have this all done and be out of the park by 1pm.

I know it sounds like alot, but I really think we might be able to pull it off, with MK having the EMH

 

[Disney Commando]

My DD and I go every August and have for many years.....with the trip only a little over a month away, I am consumed with planning. I find myself on the computer every chance I get trying to plan our attack! I have promised to spend some time at the resort relaxing this trip....we'll see!

You are member #159 I know exactly what you are going through, I'll be ther 2weeks after you I promised my wife that we will do some down time and have even fit it into the planning, I'm like 90% sure most days it will not happen since there will be things she will want to do that we will miss (mainly afternoon parades) but if she calls off the rest time, I'm golden and will not have to hear about it

 

[LAS321]

We have been trying to get to DTD and have ice cream at Ghiradelli's after a QS dinner. This year we have built that in after EMH at MK in the morning and breakfast at Crystal Palace, then back to the resort for some "down time" and to DTD at night. It seems like a good plan, but it might be tough to have that much time out of the parks...

 

[Disney Commando]

Here is a list of refurbs that are current or will be happing soon

- (AK) Primeval Whril till mid Sept
- (MK) Frontierland Shooting Gallery - till mid Sept
- (HS) Voyage of the Little Mermaid - refurb starts Aug 13
- (AK) Tough To Be A Bug - refurb starts Aug15

There might be more, these are the only one's I know at this time

 

[Disney Commando]

We have been trying to get to DTD and have ice cream at Ghiradelli's after a QS dinner. This year we have built that in after EMH at MK in the morning and breakfast at Crystal Palace, then back to the resort for some "down time" and to DTD at night. It seems like a good plan, but it might be tough to have that much time out of the parks...

When we go to DTD we get off the bus at the 2nd stop and start by Circus Ole and catch the bus back to the resort by the Christmas shop. My son is a real shopper, he needs one of everything So going one way cuts spending abit since we don't go past the same store twice

I've never been to Ghiradelli's (if I eat ice cream most likely I'll end up in the ER) I hear it's really good, you should have a blast

 

[jmm476]

on our August trip on Day 2 HS has a EMH till 10pm, we will take advantage of it and see what we can get done after dinner (about a 3 hr window).

Now here's where I'm going to go out of the box, on Day 3 the AM EMH is MK at 8am, instead we are going back to HS for the 9am rope drop, What I hope is that most will go to MK, I need to get alot done in little time.

Plan is after rope drop My son & I will go to Jedi Training sign ups, while my wife gets TSM FP's, then meet and go on Star Tours, then I need to do a few meet & greets Phinias & Ferb are the big one, also Cars 2, Monsters Inc & we will drop into Art & Animation to see who's there. Then of course we have to see the Stunt show with Lightning McQueen I would like to have this all done and be out of the park by 1pm.

I know it sounds like alot, but I really think we might be able to pull it off, with MK having the EMH

I have faith that you'll get it all done! You'll have to let us know. And I'd like to add that I'm jealous too, because we won't be planning a trip for a while... we're expecting our first little prince or princess in December!

 

[Disney Commando]

I have faith that you'll get it all done! You'll have to let us know. And I'd like to add that I'm jealous too, because we won't be planning a trip for a while... we're expecting our first little prince or princess in December!

That's Great news Congratulations

 

[sweetandsour]

DH surprised me with my first trip to WDW for the 11th anniversary of my 29th birthday I'll be running the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on October 1.

We'll be there for only eight days (if I was planning it, I would have stayed 10 days) so I've got to plan everything down to the minute!

We are also staying off-site - DH got a smokin' hotel/car rental deal for way less than staying on-site without a car - so I can't count on the extended hours either

Oh yeah - the most important thing - DH did not start planning this more than 180 days in advance so EVERYTHING was booked up when we checked

 

[Disney Commando]

DH surprised me with my first trip to WDW for the 11th anniversary of my 29th birthday I'll be running the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on October 1.

We'll be there for only eight days (if I was planning it, I would have stayed 10 days) so I've got to plan everything down to the minute!

We are also staying off-site - DH got a smokin' hotel/car rental deal for way less than staying on-site without a car - so I can't count on the extended hours either

Oh yeah - the most important thing - DH did not start planning this more than 180 days in advance so EVERYTHING was booked up when we checked

You are member #160 I think we can help you out on some resturants at some of the Resorts, Some might be alot better then the one's at the parks I don't know if you have a dining plan, and if not how many are in your party and what are you expecting to spend, once we know this between myself and other Commandos we can most likely set you in the path of a great lineup

 

[sweetandsour]

Commando #160 reporting for duty

We're not subscribing to/buying a Disney dining plan. Although I think we will eat most of our meals at DW property. I know WDW is known for knowing what allergens are in their meals (DD is peanut-allergic) and I don't have that same confidence at non-WDW restaurants.

Besides DH, I have DD 8 and DS 9. They are both very laid-back and non-demanding travellers

We wanted to do the Fantasmic dining package but after spending about $10 on long-distance to try to make reservations, we've given that up. DD would love Cinderella's Royal Table and there's very little to choose from - out of 6 days, I found dinner at 8:30 - don't know if I should bite on that one. I just read there's a dessert thing you can book during the fireworks? But I bet that's gone too

Sigh...I should have planned this trip "in case" I ever went - I never thought I would make it to WDW! There's so much to do before the 180 day window closes in!

Tee

 

[APB513]

DH surprised me with my first trip to WDW for the 11th anniversary of my 29th birthday I'll be running the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on October 1.

We'll be there for only eight days (if I was planning it, I would have stayed 10 days) so I've got to plan everything down to the minute!

We are also staying off-site - DH got a smokin' hotel/car rental deal for way less than staying on-site without a car - so I can't count on the extended hours either

Oh yeah - the most important thing - DH did not start planning this more than 180 days in advance so EVERYTHING was booked up when we checked

Quick question - since you are in Canada are you able to book dining online at Disneyworld.com? If so, this would save the long distance call and you could check regularly to see if there are any openings.

If you can not book dining online, I would not give up hope. I would suggest two things -

1). Guests staying onsite have to pay their balances 45 days prior to arrival. I would call back beginning 45 days prior to your arrival to see if there is any availability.

2) Check the October cancelled ressie thread daily to see if people are cancelling ressies you could use - http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2690026

As far as suggestions for dining at the resorts, I would recommend Ohana (Character breakfast) and Kona at the Polynesian, Trails End (Buffet) at Fort Wildernerss and Boma (Buffet) and Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge.