WDW Advice

[Stan4dSteph]

If you have iPhone/smartphones download the My Disney Experience app. It's recently been updated to include a lot of the menus around the resort, which can come in handy when trying to decide where to eat on short notice.

[Stan4dSteph]

Originally Posted by blueerica

It appears we'll be staying at the Yacht Club (originally thought we were going to be at AK) - looks like close proximity to Epcot (good thing for my first 5K, I suppose, which takes place there) and Hollywood Studios? I can't imagine I'll be at the hotel much, but what was the experience like?

I haven't stayed at Yacht Club, but have stayed at the Boardwalk, which is across the lake. It is close to the International Gateway of Epcot, so you will have easy walking access from there. You can also take a nice walk to DHS, but it's a little farther. I'll be there for the Goofy, but not doing the 5K. I get in Thursday night. I hope your race goes well!

Originally Posted by flippyshark

I hope I can get a chance to greet all you incoming WDW visitors! (Alas, I haven't got park access these days. But I enjoy the odd Downtown Disney or resort visit.)

My advice, of course, is don't miss riding the Walt Disney World Railroad. (The narrator on that train sounds like he must be a complete dreamboat!)

I hope we can meet up too!

[3894]

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

If you have iPhone/smartphones download the My Disney Experience app. It's recently been updated to include a lot of the menus around the resort, which can come in handy when trying to decide where to eat on short notice.

Interesting!

With three full days, what would be your itinerary? We will have that 1 hr. early entry through the Disney card. We will be splitting into two groups: hubs and me (slow and easy) and daughter and her bf (ready to rock the resort).

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by 3894

Interesting!

With three full days, what would be your itinerary? We will have that 1 hr. early entry through the Disney card. We will be splitting into two groups: hubs and me (slow and easy) and daughter and her bf (ready to rock the resort).

"Be our guest" is the new in spot, unfortunately it's probably been booked for months perhaps you could sneak in for lunch. I had more fun that I thought I would at the SciFi dine in restaurant. The stone crab claws at Fulton's in downtown Disney where excellent, I like the Cobb salad for lunch at The Hollywood Brown Derby, The Lunching Pad at MK is evil (and not in a good way), Tusker House in AK was meh, Yak and Yeti might be better. At Epcot Coral Reef is cool visually but just OK on food. Nine Dragons was uninspiring, Restaurant Marrakesh was quite tasty.

Note: These impressions are a bit dated, your experience may vary.

[bewitched]

Originally Posted by 3894

Interesting!

With three full days, what would be your itinerary? We will have that 1 hr. early entry through the Disney card. We will be splitting into two groups: hubs and me (slow and easy) and daughter and her bf (ready to rock the resort).

MK- one day
Epcot- one day
DS/AK- half day each with AK in the morning so you can actually see animals on the Safari (ride early).

Epcot is really a tough one day park but you can do it if you plan well and don't get bogged down riding/doing things that are better skipped in a time crunch.

IMO, the luau is meh and I agree with Alex about the food at the Poly (unless you have a little kid along...they tend to love Ohana) but overall it is an awesome hotel (the entry really does remind me of some of the hotels in Hawaii- I think it may be the smell). You can watch the MK fireworks from the beach (they pipe the music through their outdoor speaker system).

@blueerica...the Yacht Club is probably my favorite Disney hotel, beating out the AKL because of its proximity to Epcot (and because it is difficult to travel anywhere in the resort from AKL unless you have a car). Yes you are close to DS too. The YC and BC are sister hotels and very similar except YC seems to be more adult oriented, BC more family (kid?) oriented. The YC seems to have a bit more of a laid back vibe to it. I'll be surprised ifyou don't love it.

[3894]

Belated thanks to all for your advice and a (also belated) trip report!

How I looked forward to this first trip to WDW! (My last visit to a Disney property was the DLR in 2004. Many times, I planned a trip but one thing or another came up to prevent it.) There were four in our group: me, dh a.k.a. Tom, Daughter #2 and her boyfriend. The occasion: celebration of daughter and bf's graduation from college.

The young'uns zipped around while Tom (who was about to undergo open-heart surgery - he's doing fine post-op now) and I took it nice and slow.

Lodging: For us, the Polynesian turned out to be ideal. Atmosphere, transportation, eats - all dreamy. We were in Tuvalu, garden view, near the Luau Cove. Absolutely beautiful room on the 3rd floor. We loved:

• that many guests wore Hawaiian-type clothing because that is what we had planned to do, too.

• the luau. Every aspect exceeded our expectations

Eats: Two highlights besides the luau:

• Brown Derby and their glowing drinks

• Plain ol' kid's cone at Ice Cream Corner or whatever it's called. Best place to people watch. Tom and I had ice cream for lunch every day.

Stuff I Didn't Like Much:

• Epcot. Sorry but blech and/or yawn. Don't even get me started on that stupid Viking attraction. The Monsters University overlay on the shrubs was fun, though. Also, I got to speak French with the adorably sweet CM at the Frahhhhhhnce movie and, afterwards, eat a napoléon.

• Concierge service. A family member ordered surprise graduation ears to be delivered to the room. That got royally messed-up but eventually fixed.

• IASW facade looking shabby.

• The way-too-rapidfire and bored delivery of the Jungle Cruise CM. FAIL.

Stuff I Loved:

• The Hall of Presidents. Wow on the animatronics!

• Seeing Carousel of Progress again.

• The Frahhhhhhhhnce movie, esp. the scene with all the beagles.

• The Crocs sandals (True fax, I swear) I bought at Epcot. No blisters the entire trip.

• The parades. I don't know how those CMs do it in that heat but they keep on smiling.

And in conclusion: Disneyland is the original and still the best. WDW fulfilled our tropical dreams and showed us all a really fun time.

[Moonliner]

Happy Tom is doing well!

Glad you had a happy at WDW!

[lashbear]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Glad you had a happy at WDW!

What he said. (and Encouraging Recovery Vibes for Tom from one Heart Patient to another.)

Plus: Aren't Crocs the BEST for foot-slogging around a park? I love mine, and my DCA Crocs from 2007 are still going strong.

Also, I love the Carousel of Progress. I hope they never lose that.

Bear Hugs !!

[3894]

Visible mojo to Moonliner and Flippy! Thanks for the recovery wishes.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by lashbear

What he said. (and Encouraging Recovery Vibes for Tom from one Heart Patient to another.)

Plus: Aren't Crocs the BEST for foot-slogging around a park? I love mine, and my DCA Crocs from 2007 are still going strong.

Also, I love the Carousel of Progress. I hope they never lose that.

Bear Hugs !!

Death before Crocs! bleh!