WDW Commando Club

[Cinderella's Fella]

Hey Ron, here are some pictures Jodi and I took the week Carsland opened.

 

[AirGoofy]

Something doesn't sound right there, why would lunch be available and not dinner, if they were doing a refurb I would think nothing all day would be available, I would call them to see what the deal is, it could be some kind of glitch or something
:

No glitch. I can book dinners on both sides. I called to verify, but yes, that one day is all booked up. Guessing that there is a special event planned. I went ahead and booked something for Wednesday as well. I think the better plan will be to miss ESPN club and go to Fulton's instead.

 

[stitchywoman]

I want to see me in Disneyland. Will you make that happen?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I can take a picture of you and hold it up in front of the castle?

 

[AirGoofy]

I can take a picture of you and hold it up in front of the castle?

I think Ron was thinking about photoshopping me into a DL picture. I'll get out there eventually. I'm thinking 2020, for our 20th wedding anniversary.

 

[MaMudduck]

Hey Ron, here are some pictures Jodi and I took the week Carsland opened.

Awesome pics Randall!
I was in DL in 2011 and Carsland was just being built. On the huge ferries wheel I could see "Radiator Springs" I was so disappointed that it wasn't open then but that just gives me another trip to plan to get back there!

 

[DisneyFamily7]

Welcome. Any commando planning secrets you have that you are willing to share?

I don't know that I have any secrets . I learn a lot from the boards here I almost always make rope drop. We do not go back to the resort and rest. My little guy can nap in his stroller, and the rest of us don't need the rest. I feel like planning is half the fun. I make plans down to the hour for park days. I study park hours, show schedules, character schedules, get our ADRs and then spend hours planning the best order to do things in to:

See and Do as much as possible. (We like to ride almost everything, see as many characters as possible and see the shows and parades.)

Enjoy our favorite restaurants.

Wait as little as possible.

Avoid too much backtracking and criss-crossing.

Avoid the hottest shows and rides in the heat of the day.

So, as you all know, this takes a ton of planning, (which I LOVE). I don't follow any traditional touring plans, I just make up my own and I can adjust pretty well on the fly to soak up Disney magic when it comes our way

I am not a big park-hopper person. I have done that on previous trips, but I feel like it sucks up so much time in travel, so for this trip in the middle of summer, we will have a WPFAM ticket, and stay in each park from rope drop to close. We are going for two weeks, and will be spending 8 days in the major parks, so our "down" time in between big park days will be four water park days, one resort day, one downtown Disney/Disney Quest day. On the water park days we will still do rope drop till close, but those days are our chance to relax

What are your best secrets?

 

[Disney Commando]

I don't know that I have any secrets . I learn a lot from the boards here I almost always make rope drop. We do not go back to the resort and rest. My little guy can nap in his stroller, and the rest of us don't need the rest. I feel like planning is half the fun. I make plans down to the hour for park days. I study park hours, show schedules, character schedules, get our ADRs and then spend hours planning the best order to do things in to:

See and Do as much as possible. (We like to ride almost everything, see as many characters as possible and see the shows and parades.)

Enjoy our favorite restaurants.

Wait as little as possible.

Avoid too much backtracking and criss-crossing.

Avoid the hottest shows and rides in the heat of the day.

So, as you all know, this takes a ton of planning, (which I LOVE). I don't follow any traditional touring plans, I just make up my own and I can adjust pretty well on the fly to soak up Disney magic when it comes our way

I am not a big park-hopper person. I have done that on previous trips, but I feel like it sucks up so much time in travel, so for this trip in the middle of summer, we will have a WPFAM ticket, and stay in each park from rope drop to close. We are going for two weeks, and will be spending 8 days in the major parks, so our "down" time in between big park days will be four water park days, one resort day, one downtown Disney/Disney Quest day. On the water park days we will still do rope drop till close, but those days are our chance to relax

What are your best secrets?

I like your outlook

My approach is similar but we do Park Hop (it's not for everyone) but I have found that it works well if done a certain way, yes it does take some travel time to do, what we do is hit a park at RD then dig deep into that park, knocking off as much as we can before the crowds get to where we are, usually around 11 or 12 the crowds start be on the same playing field, this is when we hit line rides or shows (rides or shows that let in a big crowd at one time) then around 3 we start to head towards our ADR for the day ( I try to pick something in a resort, since you don't feel rushed and are usually better quality restaurants, unless it's in the WS (those are about the only restaurants we eat in at the parks), I always try to get the 1st seating (usually at 5pm), then after dinner we will hit a totally different park (usually the one that has the EMH's) but it's almost like another day since everything will seem fresh, instead of passing or doing the same things over and over again Park Hopping also gives me opportunity to do one of my favorite activities, collecting Transportation Cards

 

[Disney Commando]

Hey Ron, here are some pictures Jodi and I took the week Carsland opened.

Great pics Randall, Carsland looks pretty big, what would you compare the size of it to in something at WDW

 

[Twin Dad]

I think Ron was thinking about photoshopping me into a DL picture. I'll get out there eventually. I'm thinking 2020, for our 20th wedding anniversary.

I'm hoping we get out there for a long weekend in a few years during a spring break.

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Great pics Randall, Carsland looks pretty big, what would you compare the size of it to in something at WDW

I think you can compare it to any of the lands in MK.

 

[AirGoofy]

. I study park hours, show schedules, character schedules, get our ADRs and then spend hours planning the best order to do things in to:

See and Do as much as possible. (We like to ride almost everything, see as many characters as possible and see the shows and parades.)

Enjoy our favorite restaurants.

Wait as little as possible.

Avoid too much backtracking and criss-crossing.

Avoid the hottest shows and rides in the heat of the day.

So, as you all know, this takes a ton of planning, (which I LOVE). I don't follow any traditional touring plans, I just make up my own and I can adjust pretty well on the fly to soak up Disney magic when it comes our way

I am not a big park-hopper person. I have done that on previous trips, but I feel like it sucks up so much time in travel, so for this trip in the middle of summer, we will have a WPFAM ticket, and stay in each park from rope drop to close. We are going for two weeks, and will be spending 8 days in the major parks, so our "down" time in between big park days will be four water park days, one resort day, one downtown Disney/Disney Quest day. On the water park days we will still do rope drop till close, but those days are our chance to relax
?

You have some good ones. As we are DVC, we do a trip once a year. So, we only do the parks every other day, with those off days at the resort spent swimming, playing games, a nice meal, DTD shopping, or some other fun. On our park days, we start at RD and go to close. We also like the 8:00 AM ADR so we can get in the park before it opens and ahead of the RD crowd. Last year, we did Epcot from 8:00 AM (Akershus breakfast ADR) to 11:00 PM EMH. What a day. Like you, we try not to wait for rides and double back thru the park. I think DHS is the most difficult with all the different show times, but it takes planning.

I am definitely not a hopper fan and agree that we lose too much time in exiting the park, riding transportation, re-entering the next park, etc. We don't do water parks as we have Holiday World/Splashing Safari less than an hour away, and they rank even with the Disney water parks.

 

[Disney Commando]

Has anyone seen Pete's silly side show, I've never heard of it so I'm thinking it's something new, Is Pete there, is it worth seeing and where is it at, If it's around in August I'll have to go see it at least to check it out, it would be pretty neat if Pete is there

 

[Disney Commando]

I was just checking park hours for when we are going to be at WDW, and I found a discrepancy The Disboards and Walt Disney World Resort site are showing different close times with the EMH's, I would say the Resort site would be the correct times, so it looks like I gained at least 3 hours of touring time

Be sure to check both sites for the operating hours

 

[Twin Dad]

Does anyone know how far in advance I can make reservations for BBB?

 

[Disney Commando]

Harmony Barbershop starts taking them 180 days out, I would think BBB would be the same

 

[AirGoofy]

Does anyone know how far in advance I can make reservations for BBB?

Harmony Barbershop starts taking them 180 days out, I would think BBB would be the same

Yes, 180 days.

 

[Twin Dad]

Thanks guys.

Opening day at MK kicks off with BBB at 830 and CRT at 10. I figure we can do a couple of FL rides in between. I know we're not going to knock out a lot of rides on day 1 but we plan on doing another day at MK and MNSSHP.

 

[Xclusive2WDW]

Alright, I am in full Commando mode seriously right now. I have the May trip planned already, no problem there. At this point my mom and I will just have to go and my commando skills will be put to the test.

Now on to the November trip. I know you can only book dining and whatnot 6 months out, but I wish Disney would provide the calendar for 7 months out. It would make it easier to plan accurately in order to make the correct ADR's. But alas, I must make like a commando and roll with it. I have created 2 plans. Each has day's/activities that are interchangeable.

 

[Xclusive2WDW]

Here is plan #1, which is I can now see is pretty much a definite no, I don't know how but I missed placing BOG in this one.

Friday Day 1: Arrival
§ Arrival via ME
§ Lunch @ WGP ($15pp)
§ Sightseeing around DTD
§ Resort down time (*Optional: Disney Quest/Splitsville)
Saturday Day 2: MK/Epcot
§ 8:05a.m. Breakfast @ Crystal Palace ($23pp)
§ MK touring
§ 11:45a.m. Parasailing
§ Food and Wine
§ Late Dinner @ Marrakesh ($40pp)
Sunday Day 3: Epcot
§ 7:30a.m. Breakfast @ Boma ($31pp)
§ 9 a.m. Church @ Main Gate COC
§ 10:15a.m. RP Experience
§ Food and Wine
§ 8:45p.m. Dinner ***time to see fireworks @ Cali. Grill ($60pp)
§ (*Optional: EMH/Disney Quest/Splitsville)
Monday Day 4: AK/BB
§ 8a.m.AK EMH RD
§ Tour AK
§ 10:30a.m. Breakfast @ Tusker House ($25pp)
§ Tour BB
§ 8p.m. Dinner @ Ohana ($40pp)
§ Fireworks and shopping
Tuesday Day 5: UIOA (US and UIOA should be Tu or Th, check event calendar)
§ 8:15a.m. Mears Shuttle to UIOA for 9a.m. RD
§ Lunch @ Mythos
§ 8p.m. Dinner @ Shulas
§ Resort down time (*Optional: Disney Quest/Splitsville)
Wednesday Day 6: DHS
§ DHS RD
§ 11:30a.m. Lunch @ Dine w/ an Imagineer ($165)
§ 3:45p.m. Wanyama Safari (Includes Dinner @ Jiko)($406)
Thursday Day 7: US (US and UIOA should be Tu or Th, check event calendar) *Transfer to BLT
§ 8:30a.m. Mears Shuttle to US for 9a.m. RD
§ Lunch @ Finnegans (reserve on Open Table) ($20pp)
§ Late Night Club Hopping on City Walk
Friday Day 8: AK/BB
§ AK RD (AM EMH only)
§ BB
§ Lunch @ Earl of Sandwich ($10pp)
§ 5:15p.m. Dinner @ Mama Melrose ($40pp)
§ 6:30p.m. Fantasmic! Priority Seating
Saturday Day 9: MK
§ 7:45a.m. Breakfast @ Kona (Based on 9a.m. RD) ($20pp)
§ 9a.m. MK RD
§ Lunch @
§ MK touring
§ 7:45p.m. Dinner @ Chef Mickeys ($36pp)
§ (*Optional: EMH/Disney Quest/Splitsville)
Sunday Day 10: Departure
§ Breakfast @ TBD (The Wave?)
§ Shopping
§ Noon Lunch @ Sanaa ($40pp)

 

[ShannaBanana]

[Do you think it is possible to accomplish this list in one day at the MK? The date would be 4/30/2013 no EMH 9am-9pm. Family of 4, we are 30, DD's both 9.

Not in specific order, and fast passes would be used.

1. Merida meet
2. Peter Pan
3. Winnie the Pooh
4. Dumbo
5. Tomorrow land speedway
6. Lunch Cosmic Rays
7. Space Mountain
8. Buzz
9. Splash
10. Pirates
11. Tiki Room
12. Parade
13. BTMR
14. Country Bear Jamboree
15. Jungle cruise
16. Hall of Presidents
17. CS dinner
18. Haunted Mansion
19. Small World
20. Mickeys Philharmonic
21. Carousel of progress
22. Wishes