Walt Disney World Trip Planning
Topic: 2 Adults - first time at WDW ?s

#	Author	Message
1	WDWdreamin Fri 4/18/2008 11:09p	My fiance and I are going to WDW sometime. It probably won't be til 2010 but I am already planning. I just caught the bug and have been rather Disney fanatical for the past couple weeks. I wish we could go sooner but medical school and starting new jobs are preventing it. I think we will stay at Port Orleans because I've heard good things and I care about keeping the Disney feel and we would like something more quiet and nice than the Values. I haven't decided between Riverside and Orleans, maybe the smaller Orleans? We will probably not be getting a car unless we go to Gatorland or Kennedy. For that we could just rent for one day from the transportation center, right? We can use the Disney transportation to and from the airport as I understand. Having been to Universal Studios Hollywood, I am glad someone else thinks USO would not be necessary. I might want to go to USIoA though if Harry Potter is there then, but it looks/sounds like I wouldn't really appreciate much else there. I have the Unofficial Guide to WDW and have been looking at lots of websites. We will definitely go at a "slow" time of year and cross our fingers. I was thinking one day at MK since we've been to DL a lot, two at EPCOT, and one at AK and MGM. However, we'll probably take a week so we have rest days and it's not that much more expensive to buy more days once you have 5. I'm not sure if we'll need the Park Hopper Option. Maybe, especially because at a "slow" time some parks will close so early? I've heard that it's good to do Fantasmic last of the fireworks shows because it's the most impressive - anyone agree or disagree? Should MK be last because it's the most magical? I'm not sure if I should budget in the Backstage Safari at AK or not. I'm a vet student now (vet then hopefully), but if it's rather general I think I might just be fine with the normal animal viewing because of the price. I'm not sure about the Fantasmic Dinner Packages either since we might have bad weather when we go or have to go really early. We will have to check out Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island although we are not club people. The list of moderate restaurants on another thread was helpful. So many people recommend Deluxe Resorts like at Animal Kingdom (Savannah rooms look amazing!)and Albert and Victoria's restaurant for couples on a honeymoon, but that's not in our budget. The swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove would be cool too, but is not in our budget. Does anyone know how much dinner at the Contemporary (to see fireworks too) would run us? Does anyone recommend Sea World Orlando to people who have been to Sea World San Diego numerous times? Heck, I'm not even sure if the Dining Plan would be cost-effective for us or not. We would like sit down meals, but I worry about having to make reservations every night without knowing when we will want to eat or where in a park we will be. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any advice, in advance.
2	smedley Sat 4/19/2008 3:06a	Ok I think I can answer a couple of these.. First I would go FQ for the hotel, I know there are a variety of opinions on the boards, but I liked the feel of it being smaller, and as first pick up (they go to riverside too) you were always pretty much sure of getting a seat.. It's close enough that you could walk over to riverside too, again this is just my opinion... <We will probably not be getting a car unless we go to Gatorland or Kennedy. For that we could just rent for one day from the transportation center, right?> Yes that's correct, and I believe they will collect you from and drop you back to your hotel too. Your plan for days looks good, especially if it's a quiet time, although I can happily spend 2 days wandering round AK as I love it, can't comment on the backstage safari as we've never done it, maybe someone else will be able to throw in on that one. We have always had hoppers so can't comment on going without, but as 2 adults we like the flexibility of being able to move to a different park if one is closing earlier, AK as a case in point, as it can close as early as 5 in the winter.. If you don't want to do the Fantasmic dining package and are concerned about the weather then I think so long as you are going at a quiet time of year you should be fine, we were there last November, didn't book the package for the same reason as you, and had no problem getting a seat for the show, as I have mentioned elsewhere I don't think there is a bad seat in the fantasmic arena... As to fantasmic being the best, if you've seen the one at DL I think from what others have said you may be disappointed.. My personal favourite is Illuminations at epcot, although I love Wishes too, I wouldn't be too concerned as to which one to see last they're all great :) DTD is great, we don't club either but love to wander the shops, and to pass through Pleasure Island to take in the atmosphere (be aware that there are other things than music 'clubs' here too) If you're on a budget and looking to try something different food wise, and would like to spend some time hanging out at AKL then I would highly recommend the Boma restaurant there, it's a buffet, but it's a good one and quite reasonably priced in my opinion, here's a link to the menu for it. http://www.allearsnet.com/menu...adin.htm As far as dinner at the California Grill for the fireworks is concerned, then it just depends how many courses you're planning on having, I guess you could go and just have a main and that would keep the costs reasonable, again here is the menu with approx prices (subject to change of course!) http://www.allearsnet.com/menu...u_cg.htm If you do want fireworks seating though please do try to call 180 days out, it books up fast! I've not done any of the other things you mention so I can't comment, but I hope this helps as a starter :)
3	Mr X Sat 4/19/2008 3:54a	Sounds like a great trip! Awesome to hear you're working to become a veterinarian! I'm sure lots of people will chime in, but my ONLY advice given your situation would be rent that car if you think you might use it (even once!), as the freedom it will give you is important. You might stay around almost the whole week, but what if you guys want to cruise out to the ocean (only an hours drive either way, east or west), or just find a nice and REASONABLE place to eat (easy to find with wheels)... And so, since you seem on the fence with that one, I'd say go ahead and rent the car. It's useful while you're in the hotels and "on property" as well, since you get free parking as a hotel guest and can cruise around to wherever you want to. What does that add, $200 to your week? (or less?). Well worth it, and you can thank me later. ;)
4	davewasbaloo Sat 4/19/2008 4:13a	Congratulations. Hopefully I can help. Personally I prefer Riverside in the mansions - we honeymooned there and it felt like staying in DL's Haunted Mansion (but both resorts are good - but I do not think the theming is as good at FQ if you are used to NOS at DL). But they are both good choices. I far prefer Fantasmic at DL, I prefer Wishes, or the most awesome Illuminations (to me that is THE best show). Depends though, we are not really into characters so your milage may vary. I would say I also prefer USH to USO - but the Men in Black attraction and Twister are good and unique. Not enough to go to for a Californian though. IOA is fun, and Spiderman is pretty aazing, but I would rather be at Epcot, DAK, or Kennedy Space Centre. Sea World is wonderful, but again they are very similar to SD's with the exception that Atlantis is better in Orlando, and they have the Krakken - a floorless roller coaster. But I prefer the SD park, animal exhibits and SD is less busy than Orlando. If you are interested though, I have heard great things about Discovery Bay and Aquatica and they may be worth checking out. Back to WDW, as two adults used to California attractions, there is so much to do at WDW, other than Kennedy Space Centre (awesome place), I would not leave property - the resorts, water parks, Disney Quest, DTD (much bigger than Disneyland's with clubs) and wonderful restaurants, it fills a week on it's own.
5	WDWdreamin Sat 4/19/2008 8:38a	Thanks everybody! It's nice to hear the advice, and not be told I'm planning too far in advance. :-P I do realize some things may change by then, other than higher costs. I'll write more later.
6	smedley Sat 4/19/2008 9:54a	<-- currently planning trips for Dec '08 DLP Nov-Dec '09 DL Oct-Nov '11 WDW Don't worry wanting to plan early is fully accepted around here :)
7	WDWdreamin Sat 4/19/2008 10:13a	Yeah, I'm planning for DL in July 2009 right before my wedding. If the ceremony wasn't going to be in a Lutheran church I would totally be considering a Disney park. I don't think I'll mention that to my fiance though since it's not really an option and he'd be concerned about my mental health. But he proposed at DL so he knows what he's in for! Don't know when in 2010 WDW will be, but definitely before the Christmas craziness.
8	WDWdreamin Sat 4/19/2008 10:39a	Ok, so still undecided on the PO Hotel, but I'll look at reviews closer to when I need to book (or ask you guys again). I am leaning down from the fence on the rent a car side now. If we were staying at PO which parks would it be timely to drive to and park at rather than taking Disney transportation? AK and MGM? Mr. X, you'd suggest getting one from the airport for the whole time (and not using the Magical Express) rather than just renting as needed while at Disney? I can see the advantage to eating non-Disney occasionally. We will be bringing lots of snacks to cut down what we can too. We probably won't be hopping out to the ocean in off season when we have the Pacific so near so often. As you see, I shouldn't have trouble booking the California Grill 180 days in advance. As long as I can figure out what time would be good for the fireworks or they tell me. Glad to hear that I don't need to plan days based on the fireworks. Now I can try to base them on which parks are less busy on those days. Still undecided about hopping. If we buy extra days it costs less and we should be able to go back (like to AK for half a day or Epcot for dinner).
9	WDWdreamin Sat 4/19/2008 10:40a	Oh, and Boma sounds like a good one.
10	davewasbaloo Sat 4/19/2008 10:47a	Personally I would say as adults, park hopping is worth it. Also for great restaurants: California Grill Victoria and Alberts Whispering Canyon (is very fun) Ohana - again great fun Anything in World Showcase, but especially Le Cellier and Teppan Edo, though we love Bier Garten too. Boma and Jiko BTW - you asked about the MK, just allow a day tops and enjoy the other parks. Because we love DL so much, we do not spend much time at MK. But you will certainly enjoy the differences, and there are a fair few attractions that either do not exist at DL, or offer some differences.

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