Any swanky tips/suggestions for Walt Disney World?

[DisneyDaniel]

Yes, I know LoT is definitely not like other boards--which are sometimes filled with threads about Disney trip advice, FAQs, and Disney for beginners. However, this thread is intended to seek the expert advice and highly-regarded tastes/interests of the many cool and informed people at LoT.

I've already done much research and reading on other Walt Disney World sites/boards, purchased a couple WDW/Orlando travel-guide books, and read some WDW-related posts here, but what special advice/suggestions do you have for someone like myself (a Southern California-based Disneyland fan) visiting Walt Disney World for the first time?

I will be on vacation (and attending a work-related conference) directly in the Walt Disney World Resort and Downtown Disney area for two weeks, from June 15-27, 2006, so it's not going to be a rushed trip. Hotel stay will be split between Disney's All-Star Sports the first half and the Grosvenor Resort (in Downtown Disney) the second half. Myself and two other adults (fellow SoCal Disneyland fans), no kids. No waterparks. The tentative plan, for now, is to spend at least a full-day at each of the four Disney parks, a couple extra days for park-hopping, a full-day at Universal's Islands of Adventure, and a day at Kennedy Space Center.

--FOOD: I'm planning to "eat my way around the world" at Epcot, but, of course, there are probably many special restaurants and foods that are unique to WDW. Do you have any suggestions for any favorite foods, drinks, or restaurants that should not be missed? Several people here at LoT have already mentioned the Boma restaurant at Animal Kingdom Lodge, for instance.

--THINGS TO ENJOY, ATTRACTIONS and EXPERT TIPS: For example, at Disneyland, there are things that frequent DL visitors know about, such as the Disney Gallery, Dole Whip, Monte Cristo, Disneyana store, fireworks/Fantasmic! viewing spots, BTMRR goat trick, DCA Animation Building, best time of day to visit certain attractions, etc. Do you have any of these kinds of suggestions for WDW? For instance, should someone actually take advantage of the "Extra Magic Hours" as a Disney hotel guest, or will certain parks be extra-crowded due to the EMH on those days?

No matter what, it will be a great trip visiting WDW for the first time. I hope to apply the same casual, laid-back approach of visiting Disneyland toward Walt Disney World--except it will be much larger, spread out, new and different.

So, if any of you from the East Coast/Florida area would like to meet up at some point between June 15-27 at WDW, please send me a PM. I would love to meet some East Coast LoTers/swankers in person--I'll be visiting your territory!

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.