What will it be for trip #3? (August 5-14, 2012) About This Page:

[sc507]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

Is there any way to add a request to an ADR before we arrive at the restaurant?

Now that we are at the mercy of Disney transportation….Is making an 8:30 CP ADR when the park opens at 9 even possible? Do we need to plan to get a cab to make it with time to stroll down MainStreet?

I would try calling the restaurant directly? Not sure if that would work, but it's definitely worth a shot! As for the transportation, we have made 8am reservations at AK and taken Disney transportation. We were ready to grab a bus by 7:15 and made it there no problem. I pretty sure the buses start running at 7am. BUT if you don't want to get up and rush that early, a cab ride may be worth it

[Nimros]

Hi Shelly!

You should have no problem using Disney transportation to get to the park for your morning ADR. We're RD people, and I have definitely seen people getting off our bus and heading for their early breakfast with no problem. You will just need to make sure you catch the first bus of the day.

With that said, will it be too much chaos trying to get everyone ready and to the bus stop on time? If it's too chaotic or too much pressure, you might want to consider a cab. Just a thought...

I like your idea of requesting a table against the wall for your DD. I think Stacy is right: I'd call CP ahead to see if they can accomodate your needs.

Sounds exciting so far!

[OneLittleSpark]

Sounds like great plans! Buses start 2 hours before park opening to accomodate breakfast ADR's. So like another said, it all depends how early you want to get up.

I can't help with the table request. Sorry.

As far as the Plaza goes, I really like it and found the prices to be very reasonable. If you're looking for flexibility though, I would go with a CS where ever you may be. Sorry I know that didn't help much.

[Colexis Mom]

Great plans! You should have no problem getting to CP! We've enjoyed The Plaza! Great food and ice cream!

[HollyH]

Hi Shelly! You can absolutely take WDW transportation to get to an early ADR. We have done it many, many times. If you think it would be at all possible for your family to get up and out early enough, I would try for an 8:00 ADR, aiming to arrive at the MK by 7:45. We did this and were among the first seated in CP. We were the first to the buffet (not a dish had been touched) and we saw all the characters rather quickly. I say this because it sounds as if your daughter would do better with fewer people in the restaurant. You are also more likely to get your "Table against a wall" request.

You also might be out before rope drop. We had about 15 minutes to walk around Main Street after breakfast before the crowds were let in. This would help you if you want to queue up for Rapunzel. We don't typically do character meet and greets, but Josh at Easy WDW has some great character meeting strategies on his website.
Prioritizing the Magic Kingdom Characters – Locations, Pictures, Wait Times, Best Times to Meet etc.

Hope this helps! Can't wait for more.

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by sc507

I would try calling the restaurant directly? Not sure if that would work, but it's definitely worth a shot! As for the transportation, we have made 8am reservations at AK and taken Disney transportation. We were ready to grab a bus by 7:15 and made it there no problem. I pretty sure the buses start running at 7am. BUT if you don't want to get up and rush that early, a cab ride may be worth it

Thanks for the suggestion....Any idea how I get the phone number to the restaurants?

Originally Posted by Nimros

Hi Shelly!

You should have no problem using Disney transportation to get to the park for your morning ADR. We're RD people, and I have definitely seen people getting off our bus and heading for their early breakfast with no problem. You will just need to make sure you catch the first bus of the day.

With that said, will it be too much chaos trying to get everyone ready and to the bus stop on time? If it's too chaotic or too much pressure, you might want to consider a cab. Just a thought...

I like your idea of requesting a table against the wall for your DD. I think Stacy is right: I'd call CP ahead to see if they can accomodate your needs.

Sounds exciting so far!

Thanks for your feedback. I would love to take a cab if it would make things easier. However, we previously took a cab to MK (first trip newbies) and I was surprised when they dropped us off at the TTC and we still had to take the monorail to MK. That may not be less stressful....

Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark

Sounds like great plans! Buses start 2 hours before park opening to accomodate breakfast ADR's. So like another said, it all depends how early you want to get up.

As far as the Plaza goes, I really like it and found the prices to be very reasonable. If you're looking for flexibility though, I would go with a CS where ever you may be. Sorry I know that didn't help much.

I did not realize buses started 2 hours before park open-I thought it was one. That is very helpful. Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Great plans! You should have no problem getting to CP! We've enjoyed The Plaza! Great food and ice cream!

Thanks for the great review!

Originally Posted by HollyH

Hi Shelly! You can absolutely take WDW transportation to get to an early ADR. We have done it many, many times. If you think it would be at all possible for your family to get up and out early enough, I would try for an 8:00 ADR, aiming to arrive at the MK by 7:45. We did this and were among the first seated in CP. We were the first to the buffet (not a dish had been touched) and we saw all the characters rather quickly. I say this because it sounds as if your daughter would do better with fewer people in the restaurant. You are also more likely to get your "Table against a wall" request.

You also might be out before rope drop. We had about 15 minutes to walk around Main Street after breakfast before the crowds were let in. This would help you if you want to queue up for Rapunzel. We don't typically do character meet and greets, but Josh at Easy WDW has some great character meeting strategies on his website.
Prioritizing the Magic Kingdom Characters – Locations, Pictures, Wait Times, Best Times to Meet etc.

Hope this helps! Can't wait for more.

I just changed our ADR to 8:05 (the only morning availability it gave me!). With that, I am really appreciative of your suggestion and glad I made the change. If it was told out, we may have been walking into a crowd that would push DD over the edge on our first park day...

Having this more set gives me more clarity about our first day plans. If we need to be waiting at the busstop at 7am we need to make darn sure we are in bed early and well rested the previous night. I think a nice swim and exploring the resort will be a good plan!

[HollyH]

Glad you got the earlier ADR. I should have mentioned that CP's first of the morning is 8:05 as I did know that. So you should be good! I hope this works out as well for your family as it did for us.

[mfirst]

Just a thought about the cab situation - could you have the cab drop you off at the Contemporary? The walkway to MK is quick (10 minutes tops if you're walking slow) and would be right near where a cab would drop you off. It would save the hassle of the monorail/ferry crowd.

[benjiboo25]

Originally Posted by mfirst

Just a thought about the cab situation - could you have the cab drop you off at the Contemporary? The walkway to MK is quick (10 minutes tops if you're walking slow) and would be right near where a cab would drop you off. It would save the hassle of the monorail/ferry crowd.

That is a FAB solution!!!!!! Thanks for the tip!!!!!!

[Colexis Mom]

Yes, we've taken a cab to an early ressie at CRT, and they dropped us off at the CR and we walked over! Very easy!

[benjiboo25]

Monday, August 6

This is the day of Ben’s Y.E.S. program class. Here is a link to the Y.E.S Program for those who may want to check it out for themselves.

Programs | Individual Enrollment | Disney Youth Groups

The classes that were available during our dates were not Ben’s first choice, but I think any educational class done by WDW would be amazing. Ben will take “Synergy in Science.”

Here is the official description:
Synergy is everywhere and it isn't anything new! Through select Epcot® attractions, participants will come to understand that synergy is the integration of two or more things. At Walt Disney World®, technology and effects working together create fantastic attraction experiences! Participants will explore the science of people and processes connecting together to ensure that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Meeting Location
Morning Programs: Outside Epcot® Main Entrance near the flagpole
Program Length
3 hours
The Disney Difference
· Trained and knowledgeable Disney Youth Education Series Cast Members facilitate this high-quality and educationally sound program, while never forgetting that fun is a vital part of learning.

This package allows you to purchase park tickets at a substantial discount. We chose “ 7-Day YES Premium Package Seven days' admission to Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Parks, with the opportunity to visit multiple Parks on the same day as many times as you'd like. (Seven) visits to your choice of Disney's Blizzard Beach Water park, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park.”

The cost was $215.81 per ticket (adults and kids) for a total of $1079.05 for our family of 5. Purchasing these tickets at full price (3 “adults” and 2 children) would be $1881.32. Even though we would not have chosen the park hoppers without these tickets, it is still a savings over the 7 day Water park tickets we would have chosen for ($1631.32) and even a deal compared to the price of 7days of standard tickets (1381.32).

DH will be taking Ben to the class.

This was a hard decision for me to let the boys to this together and not to experience it myself. The class we chose was age-appropriate for both Ben and Hannah. I thought they would both like it and I REALLY wanted to go myself. However, it came down to a matter of time. We need to be outside Epcot at 8:45am. That means they need to be waiting for the bus to Epcot at 8am. Hannah has not always done well getting up early in the morning at WDW. We girls are also a little more time intensive to get ready, so we have decided to have this be a morning for daddy-son bonding and for mommy-daughter bonding. Although I cannot promise that we will not spend out bonding time sleeping in…

We have a lunch ADR at Le Cellier Steakhouse at 12:45 p.m. This was DH’s favorite meal last trip. We are going at lunch for the obvious reasons---to save a few bucks.

Epcot has been a favorite park for our family. It is the only park where we have NEVER had a meltdown or experienced overwhelming crowds. It is my favorite park…Ben and Hannah say they like also Epcot best –but I think that is mostly due to a couple of very bad experiences at MK. DH and Delaney like rides….so they like MK the best…

Other than “everything,” the only specific thing on our Epcot agenda this year is getting the character picture which is the benefit for Disney Visa Cardholders.

On this night, Epcot closes at 9…DHS has an EMH evening from 9pm-midnight…Would this be a good time to hop over to DHS to make use of the EMH from 9pm – midnight? I do not think any of us will be devastated if we miss Illuminations. We have not done well with the nightly shows unless it was an EMH evening—the crowds leaving the parks are too much for Hannah—and us. Last trip, we stayed at BC and we saw Illuminations three times…once we walked back just for illuminations after an evening swim gave us a second wind.

[Nimros]

We are looking into having Corinne take a dance workshop through the Y.E.S. program. I think it may be one of those times where I would want to make it a me-and-the-girls trip; Kelley could do a class and Corinne the dance workshop. I haven't had a chance to talk to the program reps in person and it looks as though the dance is not available to individuals, only groups. We'll check on it.

Can't wait to see what your kids think!

[Linnynad]

We had an 8:20am for breakfast at DHS, we got to the bus stop at 7:30am, buses were running but nothing was coming for DHS. 7:10am a bus finally came and we were of course late for our ADR, we still got in before the park opened and they still took us, but sometimes you never can tell with the buses. If it is important to you, I would think about the cab.
Rapunzel was in the front of the park to the left when we were just there and I think that is where she will be staying for awhile.
As for the Plaza, I agree on the dining plan it's not a great value, but OOP, it sure is. Great food. However, I feel the place is rather small inside and at times could feel crowded for Hannah maybe? They do have some booth seating, but not sure if they could accomodate you quickly because of how few tables there are.

[sc507]

Originally Posted by benjiboo25

Thanks for the suggestion....Any idea how I get the phone number to the restaurants?

I found this website with all the restaurant numbers. If it's not up to date, Disney Dining Reservations gave me Yak and Yeti's # recently, so you could try them

Disney Dining Directory

[Cam22]

Great MK plans! We've also had good luck with Sundays there. The Y.E.S. program sounds wonderful!