Disney World Suggestions Anyone?

[carolinagirl77]

DH and I are taking DD (13) and DS (10) to WDW the end of May for a week. It's our third trip to Disney so we are pretty familiar but I'd love to hear any "secrets" or unique ideas you might have to offer, especially anything that may be new or has changed since 2004-05. We went to Discovery Cove in 2005 and swam with the dolphins but that's not in the budget this year--:rolleyes: ! We are staying on property and have 5-day hopper passes.

Any suggestions?

[clairea]

You might try a search, as there have been several recent threads on this topic. Here are some to get you started:

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=99621&highlight=disney%2ADisney Tips

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=101823&highlight=disney%2ADisney, Disney, Disney

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=102422&highlight=disney%2A Disney World Questions

[bekki]

My new favorite restaurant is the Kona Cafe at the Poly, you may still be able to get ADRs. Raglan Road at Downtown Disney is really good too.

A fun thing to do with kids is let them pick out a piece of candy from each country at Epcot and save it for when you get home. It's like going around the world again :)

The new Nemo show at AK (IMHO) is worth waiting in line for. I liked it very much, and we probably waited 30 or 40 minutes the week it opened. However, the new Nemo ride in the Seas at Epcot is really not that cool. No line, for sure, try it out, but any wait longer than 15 or 20 minutes (if that) is totally not worth it.

I think it's at the World of Disney store (or maybe the Toy store) at downtown disney, but there's a new thing where you can build your own "working" light sabre a la Star Wars. It's supposed to be super fun, and not too expensive.

That's all I can think of right now :) If I come up with something else, I'll let you know!

[mikesmom]

Be sure to ride Soarin' at EPCOT. Big fun. My new favorite ride at WDW.

Be sure to see the Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom and ride Expedition Everest and the Kilamanjaro Safari - FUN!!!

Have fun!

[ChristineVA]

I just got back from an Easter trip!

I don't really have any unique tips but if you are into "signature" dining, please try Citricos restaurant at the Grand Floridian. It is a bit pricey but the food is absolutely out of the world.

I agree with the other poster that Kona is good too. We have been there a few times.

We did get a few treats at Epcot that are different and the kids do enjoy that. We got the Japanese Ramune soda in their gift shop. I always loved that when I lived in Japan and my kids think it's so cool. It's a glass bottle with a little glass marble in the top.

We then went over to the England gift shop for chocolate!!!

If you are interested in really riding rides, go to the park as soon as it opens. Even during Easter, if we got to the park right at the rope drop, we walked on rides for a good 2 hours. The afternoons were HORRIBLE. But at the time you are going you will be fine!

Have fun!

[carolinagirl77]

Thanks for the ideas! DS is really excited to build his own light saber. The new food/drink experiences at Epcot always intrigue me. During our last visit, we didn't get to ride Soarin! and I was really disappointed so we won't miss it this time!

[bekki]

Oh! I forgot about my favorite new things at Epcot!

In China and France, they've added new "adult" slushie drinks.

I tried the Grey Goose Frozen lemonade in France and it was awesome. They also have a Grand marnier orange one that is supposed to be really good too. They sell them at a little stand on the fence next to the water (next to the crepe stand)

I haven't tried the China ones yet, but one is a peach oolong tea and peach schnapps concotion that sounds amazing. I think they have a green tea w/plum wine or something.

[millerd66]

I just got back from Disney, and went twice to my favorite restraunt, The California Grill at the Contemporary. The first night we saw Bobby Flay there.

Everest ride at Animal Kingdom is phenomenal
Hulk Ride Universal

Charley's steakhouse on International Drive is my favorite steakhouse, and they have won numerous awards.

Gloria Estephan has a restraunt that I like but could not get back to this time.

[carolinagirl77]

Thanks again--love the idea of adult slushies--peach schnapps is one of my favorites so that's a must try. I'd also love to see Bobby Flay. Everest is on the list, too!

[GingerPow]

I also just returned from an Easter break trip to Disney World - I saw Bobby Flay too! We were strolling through the Grand Floridian after a lovely dinner at Narcosee's and passed Bobby Flay in the lobby. (Surprised to see he is not as tall as I thought he was). He looked me right in the eye, probably expecting me to say something to him but that would have been uncool. :cool:

Those crowds were really something! CAROLINAGIRL, definitely take advantage of the "early morning" and "late evening" admissions for guests staying in Disney resorts. Makes a huge difference in the wait time for rides. Also, the late evening admission to Epcot means you can see a second "Illuminations" at 11:30.

Our kids (teens) loved the Mission Space, Everest, and our family favorite, Test Track. DH has been riding Splash Mountain with the kids since they were little so they had to make their traditional trek to that one! Also DD loves the Tower of Terror.

DD and I had a wonderful lunch in the Chefs de France one day, we all enjoyed dinner at Narcosee's, Olivia's breakfast at Old Key West, an excellent dinner at Portabella's at Disney Village, and as mentioned, a delicious dinner at Kona's at the Polynesian. I discovered a new favorite at the Rose and Crown during lunch one day - ever had a "Shanty?" It's half Sprite and half Bass or Harp ale. (I had Harp). Delicious! Great lunch too.

Few disappointments; one was lunch at the Sci-Fi theater. We have taken the kids there for years and always got a kick out of it. Well, the milkshakes are smaller, the salads were drenched in gloppy dressing, the hamburgers were just okay and the bill for the 4 of us was $125!

The other disappointment was the RainForest Cafe in Disney Village. DS and I enjoyed our food, but DH said his steak was not that great. DD ordered an assorted shrimp dish, including a grilled crab stuffed shrimp wrapped in bacon - all of which was practically inedible. Our server was a charming young lady, and I politely mentioned that DD's food was disappointing and she wouldn't be finishing it. She came back and told us that it had been removed from our bill. Good customer service.

Oh - and check out the new version of the boat ride in the Epcot Mexico Pavillion. They changed it to the Three Cabellero's (sp) which was good, but we kinda missed the old (but dated) Mexico ride. New version of the Pirates of the Carribean ride too - a Capt. Jack Sparrow animatronic pirate has been placed throughout.

Check out this message board for everything Disney - great information and tips.
http://www.disboards.com/index.php?

Have a great trip CarolinaGirl!http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w127/PerfectLinus/animatedmickeymousesparkle.gif

[millerd66]

My 11 year old daughter and I got on the line for it and it said 40 min which is great if you can't get a speed pass for a time that is convenienent. So we were waiting, and you keep hearing the warnings about if you don't want to get dizzy GET OUT OF THE ORANGE LINE get into the green line.

We waited an hour and a half, and upon arrival I questioned why. They said two people in the Orange line got sick twice, which means that they had to shut down those machines, and sanitize them.

Well after riding it was fun, but it wasn't that bad, the Hulk and Everest need more warnings than that.

Oh well.

Bobby Flay was sitting next to our table and was talking to some Disney people, I think they want him to open a restraunt there. The next day we say our waiter again, and asked him what he ate etc, and he told us but said that the rest of the information he was sworn to secrecy.

[knunes]

DH and I are taking DD (13) and DS (10) to WDW the end of May for a week. It's our third trip to Disney so we are pretty familiar but I'd love to hear any "secrets" or unique ideas you might have to offer, especially anything that may be new or has changed since 2004-05. We went to Discovery Cove in 2005 and swam with the dolphins but that's not in the budget this year--:rolleyes: ! We are staying on property and have 5-day hopper passes.

Any suggestions?

You've been one more time than we have, so I can't offer about anything "new" (our last time was in 2001), but I did have a question for you. Did you do the dolphin swimming with your kids? I know my 12 year old DD would love it, but the thing I saw on the website said "age 13", so I figured since we are staying on site and they know how old she is, that it would be a no-no. Am I being too paranoid?
We are going at the end of May too! The Wednesday before Memorial Day weekend until that Monday!
I agree with everyone who mentions going to the early openings---we did that last time and it worked SUPER! By the time things started getting crowded, we had been on things MANY times, so we had lunch, went back the hotel, spent the afternoon lazing around at the pool and then went out again for dinner and late night park hopping!

[MISSINDI]

We leave tomorrow and I cannot wait! :D

[bekki]

You've been one more time than we have, so I can't offer about anything "new" (our last time was in 2001), but I did have a question for you. Did you do the dolphin swimming with your kids? I know my 12 year old DD would love it, but the thing I saw on the website said "age 13", so I figured since we are staying on site and they know how old she is, that it would be a no-no. Am I being too paranoid?


They are very picky w/ age restrictions at WDW, so I think it would be hard to do the Dolphin experiance at Epcot.

However, I think the OP went to Discovery Cove (https://www.discoverycove.com) a Sea World park. Their minimum age to swim with dolphins is 6 years old. It's very $$$$, but a very, very cool day. You also get a 7 day pass to Sea World w/the entry to Discovery Cove.

[MISSINDI]

They are very picky w/ age restrictions at WDW, so I think it would be hard to do the Dolphin experiance at Epcot.

However, I think the OP went to Discovery Cove (https://www.discoverycove.com) a Sea World park. Their minimum age to swim with dolphins is 6 years old. It's very $$$$, but a very, very cool day. You also get a 7 day pass to Sea World w/the entry to Discovery Cove.


When we went on our honeymoon in '98, I signed up DH for the dolphin swim at SeaWorld as a present. He loved it (and did it again on a cruise last year). I think the cost was $300 or so, for 2-3 hours (going by memory). Received a few pictures of him with the dolphins as well, as part of the package.

[carolinagirl77]

You've been one more time than we have, so I can't offer about anything "new" (our last time was in 2001), but I did have a question for you. Did you do the dolphin swimming with your kids? I know my 12 year old DD would love it, but the thing I saw on the website said "age 13", so I figured since we are staying on site and they know how old she is, that it would be a no-no. Am I being too paranoid?
We are going at the end of May too! The Wednesday before Memorial Day weekend until that Monday!
I agree with everyone who mentions going to the early openings---we did that last time and it worked SUPER! By the time things started getting crowded, we had been on things MANY times, so we had lunch, went back the hotel, spent the afternoon lazing around at the pool and then went out again for dinner and late night park hopping!

Yes, all four of us swam with the dolphins (DD was 11 and DS was 8 at the time). The dolphin swim was at Discovery Cove which is not affiliated with Disney, though; it's a sister facility to Sea World. This is the web site: http://www.discoverycove.com/default2.aspx. It's fairly expensive but definitely a terrific experience!

[carolinagirl77]

They are very picky w/ age restrictions at WDW, so I think it would be hard to do the Dolphin experiance at Epcot.

However, I think the OP went to Discovery Cove (https://www.discoverycove.com) a Sea World park. Their minimum age to swim with dolphins is 6 years old. It's very $$$$, but a very, very cool day. You also get a 7 day pass to Sea World w/the entry to Discovery Cove.Sorry, I didn't read your post before I responded to knunes. You, obviously, were correct about Discovery Cove. By the way, what does "OP" mean--:o --?

[bekki]

Original Poster (when you're too lazy to scroll and look up the persons name :o )

[carolinagirl77]

Original Poster (when you're too lazy to scroll and look up the persons name :o )Thanks. Still learning! Definitely a time saver--sometimes I feel like I forget my own name, no need to stress my brain any more than necessary!