Thread: I need FAST HELP in planning our DW trip!!!!

we are going to go as soon as DH returns and we will go for 5 days. to DW not including travel time there and back.

we want to go all out but also save money! :lol:

we will be using this offer and we could also stay at Shades of Green® Resort on WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort offical website is the only Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located in the continental U.S. Shades of Green® on WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort is a military resort serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air
but it is filling up quickly.

we could go anytime before the special ends, EXCEPT the last week in august first week in september.

sandi, rebecca, anyone else!! please help me set up an itinerary that is to die for and memorable. DH *should* be back by July 4th if it would be good to go then. he is 90% confident he will be home by then.

It is really really hot in July. Even though I know you really want to go then, you will be much more comfortable if you wait until October.

But what you need to do is first pick your dates.
Then call 407-wdw-dine and set up your meals.
Then base your days around where you're eating.
Plan for a day at the water parks!
If you get a one park per day 4 day pass, it will be cheaper than getting any other type. And then add the water park on as a single day admission. Oh nevermind on the tickets, I didn't read the offer.

ann - we get a $99 pass for five days to each park and $25extra per ticket for the water park and park hopper.

yes, I am interested in the dining.

and though HOT - we don't mind the heat we have lived in el paso, louisiana and san antonio. Heat, though nasty is something we are used too - well as used to it as one might be.

Originally Posted by TulaneMama

ann - we get a $99 pass for five days to each park and $25extra per ticket for the water park and park hopper.

yes, I am interested in the dining.

and though HOT - we don't mind the heat

Yes I went back and saw that.

Ok, let's talk dining then.

Can you get the dining plan at shades of green? If so, and if you like to eat, you should get it!

Here's the list of restaurants:
Walt Disney World Restaurants, Disney Dining and Restaurants

These are some places I enjoy a lot:
Princess Storybook Dining - Restaurant Akershus
Coral Reef Restaurant
Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House
Wolfgang Puck Express
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Kona Cafe
Liberty Tree Tavern

okay where would DH and I like to go on a special date, just the two if us?

SOG has a rest. but nothing fancy and it does not look like it has the dining program - how would i find out? w/out calling.

If you're doing 5 days, you should do:

Magic Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
Epcot
Typhoon Lagoon
Disney Hollywood Studios

Go first thing in the morning, take a break in the afternoon to nap & swim, and go back in the evening if you're up to it.

Originally Posted by TulaneMama

okay where would DH and I like to go on a special date, just the two if us?

SOG has a rest. but nothing fancy and it does not look like it has the dining program - how would i find out? w/out calling.

Do you guys have a favorite kind of food? I would want to try the place at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jiko. I would also like to try Artist Point, Victoria & Alberts, Ohana, and Le Cellier.

if you go in the summer, the crowds and lines are horrible. If you wait until after the school year starts, that's not an issue anymore provided you avoid school breaks.

Oh, and I'm asking on the Disboards for you about the dining plan and shades of green.

Can you get ddp if staying at shades of green? - The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com

No, guess you can't. Bummer.

You also might want to sign up with tourguidemike.com as he has touring plans and tells you about the best days to go.

Also, bring the rain ponchos, it will probably rain almost every afternoon between 3-5pm, but it's brief, and a nice break from the heat.

Downtown Disney has a new themed restaurant T-Rex. Haven't been but it looks cool from the outside. They are also redoing Pleasure Island to be more family friendly, and may have more stuff open then.

If you want to go off park for dining or adventure, let me know. There is a great little park on Lake Butler close to Disney and a nature preserve, too, all within about 10 minutes of the parks.

WOW! Sandi has GREAT advice, I just wanted to add that we've been looking at WDW for our tenth anniversary this year and in checking out different dates, July 4th seems to top all the lists of the worst possible time to go. Besides the heat, the lines are so bad you end up missing the majority of the park. I recommend going a little later in September, or if you don't mind later in the year early November (before the Thanksgiving crowd) and early December. I keep hearing that people don't have much lines at all if any, and with kids that is just icing on the cake (0: My kids would melt down if we had to stand in lines for a long time. Have a blast when you go!

Originally Posted by Sandi

BBBBBFor you and T, I would do Victoria & Albert's. If that's not available, I'd recommend California Grill during the fireworks - ask when you call 1 (407) WDW-DINE and they will tell you when the fireworks are that night. Dining reservations need to be made 90 days in advance, but we just called to do ours and they were already booked, so I suspect something has changed.

CCCCC
Jiko didn't rock my socks. We had mediocre service, at best, and I think that made the difference. The ambiance is much nicer at California Grill and you can see the fireworks from a bird's eye view. Incredible for your last night.

DDDDDMagic Kingdom has good counter service at Cosmic Ray's and Pecos Bills. I am not impressed by any of the table service restaurants there, but it is always fun to eat at Cinderella's Royal Table which is located inside the castle, purely for the sake of having been up in a turret of the castle. The breakfast food is decent and it's brought to the table (versus character buffet breakfasts). It's also wicked expensive, but I do think Olivia would get a kick out of it at her age and would definitely try for that first.

EEEEEEpcot has amazing food at every turn in the world showcase. We stop at the counter service places and just grab something small to share in each country. The beer and pretzels in Germany are awesome as are the crepes in France and the bake shops - omg. I miss all that gluten-y goodness For a good sit down, try Le Cellier (in Canada - pronounced lay sell-YAY for the sake of reservationists). Second is Coral Reef, in the Seas section, which isn't in the world showcase. But, that's where you'll find the Nemo ride, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the aquariums. Fun place. The mexico cantina - on the right hand side right after you walk into the world showcase (go left and work your way around, clockwise) has amazing frozen margaritas and churros.

A) I have travel book for WDW. How many days out are you? I would recommend that you figure out your touring/dining plan ASAP, but I do have the book.

B) When we were eating at California Grill, we were seated at a table next to a couple that clearly has mucho cash in life. They told us that the best meal they have ever had in their entire lives was at V&A. They also said that they upgraded EVERYTHING (think Kobe beef, etc) and had the wine pairings and the meal was around $1K, but they said that it was the best restaurant ever. Obviously, you wouldn't have to upgrade. BUT, if you do eat there, there is a dress code.

C) I had the exact opposite experience with these two restaurants as did Sandi. I would go back to Jiko in a heartbeat. California Grill was good, but it felt rushed unlike Jiko where we lingered.

D) You HAVE to have breakfast at Cindy's. You MUST. I completely insist. O will feel as if she died and went to heaven. If you do Cindy's, I will make her a Cindy dress to wear special when she is there. Now, this will be the hardest reservation to make. Also, I believe it was Sandi who said to do Magic Kingdom last because, for the kids, nothing will compare afterward. But, if you do the dinning plan (which we have liked a lot), you cannot make reservations until 180 days out from the first day of your stay, so if you go to Cindy's on one of the last days, you'll actually be making that reservation about 183/184 days out and will get a leg up on others making their reservations (did that make sense?).

E) I wish I had listened to Sandi about Epcot. This was what Sandi told me to do and what I will do from this point forward whenever I visit Epcot (my fav park). Bring a BUNCH 'o money. Have a drink and buy something cool in each of the worlds. I wish I'd brought several hundred for me to spend there and I would have drank my way through the world.

The Mexican Cantina would be a good place to have a late lunch because it is inside and cool.

We did dinner at Coral Reef and really liked it and it is right next to Nemo's world. Ask for an aquarium front table. Nice!

Oh yes, if you can choose when you come, early October is the BEST. That's when all of us locals like to go - walk right on the rides, etc. Perfect weather, not much chance of hurricanes, stuff like that.

Originally Posted by Korwynne

if you go in the summer, the crowds and lines are horrible. If you wait until after the school year starts, that's not an issue anymore provided you avoid school breaks.

VERY good point!!!