Anyone got a Disney World/Florida holiday planned? Part 3

[McKayz]

I thought I'd start a new thread as number 2 is nearly full.

Links to old threads:

thread 1

thread 2

We haven't got ours booked yet. But we are planning on going August 2016. DH and I both turn 30 in the next 11 months so it's like a big birthday holiday.

Hula Yep, you get to dance around the tables with Lilo and Stitch. We were all very excited! They are my favourites too. It's at the Polynesian resort. disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/polynesian-resort/ohana/

Belle is at the banquet hall in Epcot for a dinner there - it's Belle as you go in and have a picture taken with her, then Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Ariel come round the tables to say hello.

disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/akershus-royal-banquet-hall/

Nickname enjoy having a planning buddy. I don't think my lot have a clue the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into their holiday experience ! My DD is nearly 18 and ASD, so not a fan of noisy kids either, but most of the dining was quite calm. The characters do come to tables and see everyone in turn, so there's no fight and fuss, just in case you did fancy giving any a try.

Yes - seen we can see Belle at Royal Table and Banquet Hall - but neither accept DDP for 2017. And we will have tons of them to use so can't justify going elsewhere. She's met Belle tons of times on previous visits but we've never done a princess meal so had been planning using our DDP for them - don't know why they've pulled them from the plan but they have :(

We will look at princess dining in LA when we go in the summer instead as not linked to a dining plan there.

Dd will def want to do for breakfast with Stitch though.

San Angel in Epcot was DD's and DH's favourite last time

We loved it there too! It often doesn't get good reviews and we went for the setting rather than the food but we absolutely loved it and the food was delicious.

Sci-Fi Diner in Hollywood Studios for theme.

Yes, def one to go for for the theme and not the food :D You may know this already but make sure you ask for a car rather than a table as it's much more fun in a car. The 45 mins' peace that DH and I had in the back of the car whilst DCs were in the front was fabulous and worth every penny :D

Crystal Palace for lunch (did breakfast last time)

Did you enjoy breakfast? We've booked it this time, mainly for the early entry rather than the characters.

LucasNorthsTwiglets - which ADR places have you booked so far?

Be Our Guest for breakfast (mainly for Mine Train with a 5 min wait!). The plaza for lunch (I'm unsure about this one but we're a huge party and I think in the first few dyas we'll want somewhere where we are guaranteed an hour of aircon all together for lunch). Le Cellier for an afternoon off for DH and I - it doesn't get good reviews lately but I've always wanted to try it and it just feels like an unticked box at the moment! But the one I am most excited about is California Grill :D DH and I have got an evening off from the kids as well and we are going to eat there at sunset and then stay for Wishes! It has always seemed prohibitively expensive but I've just got a job so we are treating ourselves. I am beyond excited. The other places we love are counter-service - Columbia Harbour House for a hummous or tuna sandwich after burgers galore is heavenly.

Oh and if you have never tried a Nutella & fruit waffle from Sleepy Hollow then plan this into your days NOW - you will thank me :D

I just want to eat nice food. I'm not fussed about themes or characters.

hula a lot of restaurants aren't showing as accepting the DDP for 2017. People are saying that the list isn't finalised till January and the majority of restaurants will accept the DDP.

Fingers crossed Helga - though we will need to book before then as go in February.
I wondered if it is because the DDP is free at most restore now for most dates. Annoying though.

Just finished 10 nights at WDW gone to coast now. It was very hot but no humidity. We had a lot of dining credits left at the end.

We had dinner booked at California grill to watch wishes but we cancelled it as by then we just wanted to stay local, the travelling around between the parks and hotels does take up time and energy.
Breakfast at crystal palace was good. We were staying at a WDW hotel and he a car, still took us an hour to get to crystal palace we just made our 8.15am ADR.
Character interaction at various meals generally was ok but nowhere near as good as at DLP in my experience.

hulababy there's a thread here on The Dibb website on the DDP issue. Some people have e-mailed Disney and Disney have said that its just the list isn't updated and should be fixed late fall and restaurants will mostly be the same as last year.

We are headed to Disney in August. Doing my planning and the on our first day MK is open at 8 (magic hours). Am I mad to think we will be bright eyed and ready to go at that time on the first day??
Or should I plan an easy first day incase Jet lag kicks in?

NicknameUsed- If your on FB search for a group called Disney foodies. Lots of restaurant reviews and food photos.

NicknameUsed- If your on FB search for a group called Disney foodies. Lots of restaurant reviews and food photos.

Thanks Helga.
I have used The Dibb a lot.
Hopefully the list will be updated before we book.

Pigley - we always get up early on day 1 - combination of jet lag and excitement I guess. This year we were up bright and early day 1 for early access to Harry Potter

Thank you Pigley I will have a look.

I have another question:
I have just looked on google map to get directions from the airport to our hotel (I am hiring a car) The most direct route involves using a toll road. Can anyone tell me how much the tolls are?

Hi the tolls are cheap range from 50 cents to 1,2 or 3 dollars. You can pay at booth if don't have correct change. There are a lot of tolls if you are driving round Florida but only went through one whe we had to have correct change,

Can I join - we go back next spring! We were there for 2 weeks last year and so looking forward to going back - think we will actually have more fun!
Going to try and read back on the thread.
We're staying on site too with dining plan again, already making my restaurant choices!

Pigley I would say the first day is the best day for getting up early, because of the jet lag! We are always wide awake before 5am and can have a leisurely breakfast and still make it in time for rope drop at Magic Kingdom. The normal days, well that can be more of an effort!

For anyone looking at dining choices, www.disneyfoodblog.com has been a really good place to do research, she gets all the up to date news and there's loads of reviews. I was totally in the dark about Disney Dining a few months ago, now I feel a lot more clued up. Though have to wait until November to make ADRs, so I might be a bit overexcited ahead of myself.

317 days to go

336 for me

Where you/everyone staying?

We stayed at beach club returned couple of weeks ago had deluxe dining plan.

Cabana Bay

[Banana] hello fellow early booker! ( Have had our res since January - I just want to GO now)

We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside, have stayed there twice before and love it. Have done the trip all different ways (villa, offsite etc) and like staying on property the most. Am looking forward to using the Dining Plan, will save a lot on food this way, plus can't wait to try out the different restaurants.

But would love to upgrade to the Beach Club next time, if I can get enough money squirrelled away. What's it like [mouldy] ?

I mean Banana and mouldy sausage fingers

Beach club is lovely, very classy and elegant lovely decor, good restaurants and beautiful position on the lake overlooking the boardwalk. Pool area is fantastic and I think the largest of the .wdw hotels. You can catch a boat to Epcot and studios or its 2 mins walk to Epcot. Nice beach area. Good view of Epcot fireworks. Lovely walking around the boardwalk at night with entertainers etc. We chose it for the pool and the proximity to the parks and Boardwalk.
Service is not what you normally get at a hotel for that price i.e no champagne and cool,towels on arrival, nobody took our luggage to the room etc. I am used to a higher service level but hey ho it's Disney. We popped to grand Floridian for dinner, lovely hotel but the pool area isn't as good as the beach club. Did like the monorail though but we liked getting the boats to studios and Epcot it's a nice way to travel! I would stay there again.

Would not bother with memory maker photo pass again though.

We're staying at Old Key West again - it's quieter and we like the kitchenette

I already have the date when I can book restaurants noted - it's better doing it on the phone rather than online, woman on the phone helped me make some good choices

Memory maker is free now when you book to stay on site - I suspect no one was buying it!