WDW tips?

Prudence · 04-30-2005, 02:47 PM

I leave in two short weeks for WDW. Just three 3-hour exams between me and the Florida sun. It'll be our first trip to Florida, so we're looking for hints, tips, tricks, secret passwords to the LoT clubhouse, the usual. No general discounts were released for our stay, so we went for AP rates. So, we've ever been before, but we'll have APs.

We check in to the Animal Kingdom Lodge on the 16th. (The 14th and 15th will be spent with my grandparents.) We check out and fly home on the 21st.

Stan4dSteph · 04-30-2005, 05:17 PM

Boma. Boma. Boma.

Prudence · 04-30-2005, 09:01 PM

Already scheduled for Wednesday dinner, 6:30 PS. I have to figure out a morning to do Boma for breakfast, though.

Stan4dSteph · 04-30-2005, 09:24 PM

Okay, here are some more from my trip Jan. 2004. If they're wrong, hopefully I will be corrected:

- I loved the cinnamon-sugar toasted almonds. I got them at an ODV cart near the entrance of Adventureland. Super yummy, and IMO, better than a churro.

- Rock N Roller Coaster was excellent. I would suggest going on either this or ToT first thing in the day when you go to MGM. Get FastPass for the other one you don't ride.

- Keep an eye out for HTHBellCaptain and Flippyshark during your travels!

- At MK you can get a FastPass for Peter Pan. You might want to get that depending on the wait times.

Baileykat · 04-30-2005, 09:55 PM

Oh...I have to second the Rock N Roller Coaster....totally ROCKED!

Test Track...very cool ride...get the fast pass early!!!

The buses DO not run from the MK..they run from the Transportation center...at least they didn't run to the All Stars...(better to know this..than find it out when it's pouring rain!)

Take enough time to enjoy World Showcase...we didn't, kinda rushed thru it...and it's the one thing I wished we'd spent more time on...

Gosh...I wish I was going again!

mhrc4 · 05-01-2005, 09:55 AM

World Showcase - World Showcase - World Showcase

make reservations early at World Showcase, find a restaurant, and make reservations first thing in the morning, call the dining/reservations line, you will not regret this.

Also like baileykat said, ENJOY world showcase, probably one of the best places at WDW, hands down.

MGM is a half day park, so is Animal Kingdom. The water parks were fun as well, but hey, we have those here too. Magic Kingdom and Epcot are where you should spend most your time, adn experience everything.

Its been almost a year since we were at WDW and I want to go back so bad..... i LOVED it there... heat, humidity and everything.

oh, and at MK, poohs adventure is actually worth it

Stan4dSteph · 05-01-2005, 12:15 PM

The bird show at AK is very cool. No parrots riding bicycles, just displays of natural behaviors. The only negative is the sort of lame story line that comes in later with the "tourist", but the first intro bit is outstanding.

CoasterMatt · 05-01-2005, 01:40 PM

If they're doing the Hour Early Magic Morning thingy whatever they're calling it now, that's the park to avoid going to that day, for the morning hours anyway.

See if you can beat our riding Rock N Roller Coaster 31 times in one day (The CMs were announcing us to people waiting for the preshow by about midway through our day).

mousepod · 05-01-2005, 08:35 PM

Back when we lived on the east coast, Heather & I were WDW APers, and we've gone back several times since we've moved out west (from our honeymoon in Jan '97 through December of last year). We've amassed a ton of favorite nerdy things to do... if you want a long list, give me a PM.

For now, my nerdiest suggestion is to get to the Wilderness Lodge before dusk and walk the hiking trail to Fort Wilderness (I saw an armadillo and a deer), and make your way to Chip 'n Dale's Campfire Singalong. You get to sing, eat s'mores and watch one or two classic Disney movies projected on an outdoor screen. Never a huge crowd, and always a hoot and a holler.

cirquelover · 05-02-2005, 08:39 PM

You should do Boma for breakfast and dinner. I have heard wonderful things about Jiko and that was even from locals! I looked at the menu and made a ps but then my husband became ill and I canceled almost all our ps's. We even enjoyed the pepper pot soup at Mara, the snack bar. The refillable mugs came in handy too!

Do go out to the other viewing areas at the AKL. Don't miss the night viewing of the animals with the night binoculars. When you get to AKL they should give you a calandar with all the activities. We loved the night viewing of the animals, storytelling by the fire pit and mask making inside. Also just wandering around the lodge is fun. There are African artifacts all over the place and most have a placard with a story.

I just loved watching the animals from our balcony, I could've sat out there all day and night. If you have concierge level rooms I hear the sunrise safari is not to be missed! I'm afraid I'll never get to go myself.

I could keep going on about AKL, I loved that place. It was a once in a lifetime trip!
You should have enough days that you can catch the night shows at every park. We enjoyed them all.
I think you should give every park a chance and then go back for the things you missed or want to do again. As I think of more I will post it, or if you have any questions I'll try to answer.

04-30-2005, 02:47 PM	#1
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	WDW tips? I leave in two short weeks for WDW. Just three 3-hour exams between me and the Florida sun. It'll be our first trip to Florida, so we're looking for hints, tips, tricks, secret passwords to the LoT clubhouse, the usual. No general discounts were released for our stay, so we went for AP rates. So, we've ever been before, but we'll have APs. We check in to the Animal Kingdom Lodge on the 16th. (The 14th and 15th will be spent with my grandparents.) We check out and fly home on the 21st. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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04-30-2005, 05:17 PM	#2
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Boma. Boma. Boma.
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04-30-2005, 09:01 PM	#3
Prudence Beelzeboobs, Esq. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gavel - I haz it Posts: 6,287	Already scheduled for Wednesday dinner, 6:30 PS. I have to figure out a morning to do Boma for breakfast, though. __________________ traguna macoities tracorum satis de
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04-30-2005, 09:24 PM	#4
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	Okay, here are some more from my trip Jan. 2004. If they're wrong, hopefully I will be corrected: - I loved the cinnamon-sugar toasted almonds. I got them at an ODV cart near the entrance of Adventureland. Super yummy, and IMO, better than a churro. - Rock N Roller Coaster was excellent. I would suggest going on either this or ToT first thing in the day when you go to MGM. Get FastPass for the other one you don't ride. - Keep an eye out for HTHBellCaptain and Flippyshark during your travels! - At MK you can get a FastPass for Peter Pan. You might want to get that depending on the wait times.
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04-30-2005, 09:55 PM	#5
Baileykat Hotel Expert! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: follow the yellow brick road and take a left Posts: 396	Oh...I have to second the Rock N Roller Coaster....totally ROCKED! Test Track...very cool ride...get the fast pass early!!! The buses DO not run from the MK..they run from the Transportation center...at least they didn't run to the All Stars...(better to know this..than find it out when it's pouring rain!) Take enough time to enjoy World Showcase...we didn't, kinda rushed thru it...and it's the one thing I wished we'd spent more time on... Gosh...I wish I was going again! __________________ Me:"Bailey you need to eat some fruit! Fruit never killed anyone!" Bailey" "Yes it did..Snow White!"
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05-01-2005, 09:55 AM	#6
mhrc4 Call me Justin Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: sOCal Posts: 376	World Showcase - World Showcase - World Showcase make reservations early at World Showcase, find a restaurant, and make reservations first thing in the morning, call the dining/reservations line, you will not regret this. Also like baileykat said, ENJOY world showcase, probably one of the best places at WDW, hands down. MGM is a half day park, so is Animal Kingdom. The water parks were fun as well, but hey, we have those here too. Magic Kingdom and Epcot are where you should spend most your time, adn experience everything. Its been almost a year since we were at WDW and I want to go back so bad..... i LOVED it there... heat, humidity and everything. oh, and at MK, poohs adventure is actually worth it __________________ [Disneyland - Walt Disney World - Disneyland Paris] 3 down, 2 to go
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05-01-2005, 12:15 PM	#7
Stan4dSteph Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 3,156	The bird show at AK is very cool. No parrots riding bicycles, just displays of natural behaviors. The only negative is the sort of lame story line that comes in later with the "tourist", but the first intro bit is outstanding.
	Submit to Quotes

05-01-2005, 01:40 PM	#8
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	If they're doing the Hour Early Magic Morning thingy whatever they're calling it now, that's the park to avoid going to that day, for the morning hours anyway. See if you can beat our riding Rock N Roller Coaster 31 times in one day (The CMs were announcing us to people waiting for the preshow by about midway through our day). __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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05-01-2005, 08:35 PM	#9
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Back when we lived on the east coast, Heather & I were WDW APers, and we've gone back several times since we've moved out west (from our honeymoon in Jan '97 through December of last year). We've amassed a ton of favorite nerdy things to do... if you want a long list, give me a PM. For now, my nerdiest suggestion is to get to the Wilderness Lodge before dusk and walk the hiking trail to Fort Wilderness (I saw an armadillo and a deer), and make your way to Chip 'n Dale's Campfire Singalong. You get to sing, eat s'mores and watch one or two classic Disney movies projected on an outdoor screen. Never a huge crowd, and always a hoot and a holler. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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05-02-2005, 08:39 PM	#10
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	You should do Boma for breakfast and dinner. I have heard wonderful things about Jiko and that was even from locals! I looked at the menu and made a ps but then my husband became ill and I canceled almost all our ps's. We even enjoyed the pepper pot soup at Mara, the snack bar. The refillable mugs came in handy too! Do go out to the other viewing areas at the AKL. Don't miss the night viewing of the animals with the night binoculars. When you get to AKL they should give you a calandar with all the activities. We loved the night viewing of the animals, storytelling by the fire pit and mask making inside. Also just wandering around the lodge is fun. There are African artifacts all over the place and most have a placard with a story. I just loved watching the animals from our balcony, I could've sat out there all day and night. If you have concierge level rooms I hear the sunrise safari is not to be missed! I'm afraid I'll never get to go myself. I could keep going on about AKL, I loved that place. It was a once in a lifetime trip! You should have enough days that you can catch the night shows at every park. We enjoyed them all. I think you should give every park a chance and then go back for the things you missed or want to do again. As I think of more I will post it, or if you have any questions I'll try to answer.
	Submit to Quotes